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#i miss him so much I still can’t believe we won’t see him on Christmas I-
wannabeschyulersister · 24 hours
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so long, chicago
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Without the warmth of your things in the apartment, it looked sad and cold. The boxes that you packed were stacked along the hallway. Movers were scheduled to help you in the next hour.
Your belongings would be traveling across the country with you following.
After one last sweep of the apartment to make sure you weren’t forgetting anything, you stood at the large bay window facing the city. A city that you once considered home.
You’d miss Chicago. You’d miss the people that you’d met. The connections that you formed. The memories. The laughter.
The sound of the front door opening snapped you out of your thoughts. You turned and saw Carmen walk in. You didn’t expect for him to be home anytime soon. You’d hoped that you could avoid the last interaction.
“Hey.” You said softly.
He nodded, “I thought you’d be halfway outta town by now.”
“The movers should be here any minute.”
Carmen took off his coat and placed it on the right hook near the door. Yours would normally go on the left but it was currently sitting on top of one of your suitcases.
“Richie said you stopped by the restaurant last night.”
“Yeah, I wanted to tell him goodbye.”
“I guess that’s nice.”
“You guess?”
“What do you expect for me to say, (Y/n)? I love that you’re abandoning me and everyone you’ve met here?”
“Abandoning you?” You couldn’t believe that he really said that.
“We’ve been together for six fuckin’ years! One day you wake up and realize you don’t want to be with me anymore out of the fuckin’ blue!”
“Out of the blue?,” you raised your voice, “Carmen, I dreaded making that decision for months! You were so out of touch that you didn’t even realize that we had stopped acting like a couple long before I ending things.”
Carmen chuckled bitterly, “That’s not true.”
You hadn’t planned on leaving on ugly terms with Carmen. If anything, you wanted it to be civil. You were huge parts of each other’s lives. Under all of the pain and heartbreak, there was love.
“I was the only person trying in this relationship. You would get home at one or two in the morning and I’d try waiting around just so we can have a conversation after not seeing each other all day. I planned date nights and tried to pry you out of that kitchen to notice that I was practically falling apart at the seams!” You confessed. It hurt you that he hadn’t even noticed.
“Relationships are hard! That why you have to make them work!” Carmen was visibly upset at how the conversation was going.
“I was the only one fighting for this, Carmen! When was the last time you bought me flowers or texted me to see how my day was going? I barely even heard an ‘I love you’.”
“I do love you. So much that I don’t want you to go and move to San Diego. You belong here with me and- and with your friends. People that care about you!”
“Sometimes love isn’t enough. I’m tired, Carmen. Tired of feeling like I don’t mean shit to you. I need to be with someone that wants to be with me. I want someone that won’t make me feel alone when we are together.”
Carmen closed the space between you two. It was the closest he’d been to you in days. He still smelled of the cologne that you bought him for Christmas with a faintness of the cigarette he must’ve smoked before.
“I thought we’d spend the rest of our lives together.” He said softly.
“If you thought so, then why aren’t we married? I’ve had friends in shorter relationships that have taken the next step. I’ve waited for so long for you to ask me to be your wife and every anniversary that passes, I know that it’s not going to happen. I don’t want to leave. I really loved living here. This felt like home more than any place I’ve lived in, but I can’t stay here.”
“I’ve been a fuckin’ selfish asshole. I’m sorry. You don’t know how sorry I am. Please, I’ll make things up to you. I’ll change.”
“And when things get hard? When you get busy and stressed at the restaurant, then what? It goes back to how things were? I can’t put myself through that. I can’t take that chance.” It killed you seeing him so upset but when you broke up with him, it was like you could breathe again.
You were becoming the person that you used to be. You didn’t want to sacrifice yourself for someone else that didn’t give you the time of day.
Three knocks to the front door made you step away from Carmen. You opened the door and saw the movers with a dollie and a couple of extra boxes.
“Excuse me.” You felt Carmen grab his coat and brush past you. Part of you wanted to chase him down and wrap your arms around him. You didn’t want the last image you had of him to be so hurt.
As you watched the movers grab your boxes and take them down to the awaiting truck, you grabbed the letter that you wrote for Carmen. You planned to leave it on the kitchen counter.
You didn’t know if he’d even read it. Maybe he would rip it up into tiny pieces. Maybe he would read it over and over again.
It wasn’t up for you to wonder. You were at peace with your decision and that’s all that mattered.
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peachhcs · 15 days
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because will surprised sam i think sam should tell will that her parents said she couldn’t go to Sweden but she actually is going with like ruts girlfriend and surprises him
a surprise in sweden
hughes!sister x will smith au (samy + will)
samy surprises will in sweden for the world juniors!
1.4k words
warnings: like the smallest tiniest illusion to sex, two kisses, mostly fluff though
this was so cutie to write. woo i'm posting again to make up for my lack of posts. i know kayleigh didn't actually go to world juniors, but let's pretend she did for this haha. pls keep requesting i enjoy writing these :)
au masterlist
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“did you hear? did you hear?” will's excitement made samy smile from her end of the phone. the girl giggled while nodding her head even though her boyfriend couldn’t see. 
“i did hear. i’m so excited for you. sweden sounds awesome,” the u.s. team picks for world juniors came out only minutes ago and in two seconds, the blonde eagerly called his girlfriend to tell her the happy news. 
“god, i can’t believe i get to play for my country for what might be the last time. leno, perreault, fort, minnetian, and cut are all coming along to,” will was most definitely rambling, but samy didn’t care. she loved hearing him so excited about something to the point where he couldn’t stop talking about it. 
“you guys are gonna dominate. rut, sean, gav, and nazar got picked too. i'm excited for you guys to play on the same team together,” the brunette chuckled a little. It was almost ironic how her two worlds of hockey were colliding on the same team in a few weeks. 
“oh god, mcgroarty’s gonna pick me apart isn’t he?” will groaned, but samy giggled again.
“he won’t, trust me. i’ll make sure they lay off you and won’t ask embarrassing questions.” 
the umich guys knew all about will and were definitely eager to meet the guy that stole their little sister’s heart. they only had ethan and mark’s words to go off and you could guess the things they said only playfully poked fun at the blonde, so will was determined to prove himself so the other guys could properly get to know him. 
“i’m sorry i won’t be in the states for break. i know how excited we were to finally see each other for more than two days,” will changed the subject, his tone laced with a hint of disappointment. 
samy smiled, “it’s okay. this is a big deal for you and i’m so proud of you. i’ll just watch you from the comfort of my living room.” 
her words had a grin spreading across the boy’s lips along with a small chuckle. “you’re sure you can’t convince your parents to let you come with me?” it was worth a shot to ask even though will knew how much samy loved spending the holidays with her family. he didn’t even wanna ask if she could come along knowing how much the holidays meant to her. 
“i doubt it. i know they trust me, but an entire like three weeks in a different country with my boyfriend..i don’t know if they’d be so keen on that idea,” the girl laughed, a slight blush coating her cheeks. 
a similar pink color spread across will’s face as well, “okay, just thought i’d ask. i’ll miss you. i’ll send your gift in the mail so you’ll hopefully have it.” 
“i’ll see if i can get yours to boston before you leave. i’m still waiting on something in the mail.” 
“i hope you didn’t go overboard. we said not to,” will said despite the smile on his lips. 
“even if i did, it’s the first christmas that we’re together and not getting each other gag gifts,” samy stated. 
“when have i ever gotten you a gag gift? i think my gifts have been very thoughtful no matter what our relationship is,” the boy quickly defended himself. 
“well whatever. i think you’ll really like my gift,” samy chuckled. 
“i think you’ll like mine too,” will eyed the unwrapped gifts sitting on his desk and he couldn’t help but smile thinking about samy opening them in a few weeks. 
the two stayed on the phone for the rest of the night just mindlessly talking and getting to hear one another’s voices. there was one thing will didn’t know though and that was samy texting with kayleigh as they bought plane tickets for sweden—their trip already thoroughly planned out because the two predicted very early on that their boyfriends would make the US team, they just needed the confirmation before they bought their tickets. they couldn’t be more excited to fly out and surprise everyone with the hope that ryan and gabe knew how to keep their mouths shut. 
will sat in his hotel room making an attempt to get some of his school work done, but the tv playing as background noise was taking more of his attention than he thought it would. his eyes were glued to the show, computer open because if it was open, then at least it seemed like he was being productive. 
samy followed gabe and ryan to the 5th floor, unbeknownst to will. her and kayleigh landed about an hour ago and the girl was trying to shush the boys before the surprise was ruined. Her and ryan shoved themselves against the wall while gabe knocked on his friend’s room—their surprise plan setting into action. 
will lifted his head when he heard the knock. he walked towards the door, eyes still flicking back to the tv as he pulled the wooden frame open. “what?” the boy asked gabe on the other side. 
“can you come to my room real quick? I think i broke something,” the dark-haired boy muttered. 
will raised his eyebrow, “what do you mean you think you broke something?”
“like, i was trying to open up the cabinet under the tv and the handle like snapped off in my hand.” 
ryan and samy struggled keeping their laughter from slipping out as they stood a few feet away from will’s door. the blonde crinkled his nose, “dude, i’m not getting involved if you broke something. you’re gonna have to pay for that shit.” 
“can you just please come look? i don’t know if it’s actually broken,” gabe tried. 
“how do you not know if something is broken? it’s either broken or not broken,” will argued a bit, not knowing gabe was only trying to get him into the hallway where he’d see samy. 
“please just come look? for like two seconds.” 
a sigh escaped the blonde’s lips along with a shake of his head thinking how stupid his friend was. he shuffled into the hallway ready to head down to gabe’s room when samy suddenly popped out from behind ryan, “surprise!!” 
will jumped back, a small screech falling from his mouth. it took him all of ten seconds to take in his girlfriend standing two feet away from him, ryan with his camera out, and gabe snickering to himself to realize what was happening. when it did finally click samy was swept into the boy’s arms. 
“what are you doing here? i-i thought you weren’t coming?” will could hardly form any coherent thoughts. it felt like he was dreaming or something. 
“i was coming all along. i said i wasn’t because i wanted to surprise you,” samy explained, giggling into the blonde’s shoulder. 
“what about your parents? Your brothers..” 
“they were cool with it. kayleigh and i have been planning this for like weeks,” the brunette pulled back so she could properly see his face. she brushed his little curls away, a blush spreading across his cheeks at her gentleness. 
his eyes slid towards gabe and ryan who nodded. “we knew all along,” gabe snickered. 
"i’m surprised you two could keep a secret as big as this,” will teased them knowing how bad they both were at keeping things from other people. 
“oh shut up. we got your girl here so now you can stop moping around,” ryan rolled his eyes which earned the middle finger from will. 
another giggle escaped samy’s lips as she squeezed her boyfriend’s waist, putting his attention back on her. “It’s good to see you,” she hummed. 
“you too. I’m glad we get to spend a few weeks together,” not caring that ryan and gabe were still watching, the hockey player connected their lips into a sweet kiss. 
“yooo, save that for the room. Iim out of here. don’t be too loud,” gabe mumbled before retreating back into his own room. 
samy and will shared a laugh. ryan quickly escaped as well, promising he’d send the surprise video. that left the couple standing in the hallway together, loving smiles on each of their lips. 
“you’re sure you’re okay with not spending the holidays with your family?” will wondered because he didn’t want to be pulling her away. 
the girl cupped his face, “i’m sure. mom and dad were cool with it and my brothers are hardly home anymore anyways. plus, how could i miss something like this?” 
her words convinced the boy for now. he planted one last kiss on her lips before pulling her inside his hotel room—a very long night ahead of them.
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damn-stark · 9 months
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Chapter 6 Love is a burning thing
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Chapter 6 of Stargirl
A/N- Hope you guys like it!!
Warning- angst, fluff! SLOWBURN, long chapter.
Pairing- Steve Harrington x fem!reader, male!oc x fem!reader
Episode- between 2x09 & 3x01
(Let me know if you want to be tagged)
————
Why is it happening? For the past month since the nightmare with the Demo-dogs happened, since you died for a few minutes, nightmares have been haunting you. Demo-dogs lurk in the dark corridors of your mind.
The doctor said nightmares are normal after getting shot. But this?
They haunt you while you’re awake too, they lurk in the shadows, now since that day, those beasts are all you can think of after fighting the nightmares and bad memories away. And it seems to be like you alone deal with this.
Nancy and Steve say to just forget, the memories fade soon enough, but are they plagued by visions of them too while they’re awake?
So much for a jolly holiday in an actual home….this sucks.
“Y/N?”
You look away from the colorful Christmas lights that make the green tree glimmer, and see Zion walking inside the parlor room.
“Zion,” you greet happily and fan away the smoke before turning the cigarette off and sliding off the couch. “You made it!”
Said man glances at the smelly smoke slowly crawling to the ceiling and then looks at you. “Yeah,” he nods. “Dad wouldn’t miss it. You look nice.”
Receive a compliment? Flirty smile, and act like you already know you’re what they tell you, but don’t make it obvious.
You swallow thickly and plaster on your best flirty smile like Steve advised, and try to be as smug as you can. But not enough to make you seem egotistical. “Oh…thanks.” You smirk. “I like your Santa hat. Cute.”
That sucked.
“I brought you a present,” he says, but there’s nothing in his hands.
“Really?” You probe and look around him. “Where is it?”
Zion slowly begins to smirk. “Outside. Left it in the car….”
Oh. Outside where the Demo-dogs lurk in the shadows?
“…I just thought perhaps it wouldn't be fair considering the only present we were supposed to bring was our gift exchange.”
Now he’s trying to flirt with you.
Try to get them alone for the best form of success. And Zion is doing it before you could, well the second parlor you’re in was empty, but you can hear the commotion of the party, and people wander close, so it’s not really alone.
“Well then,” you play along. “Let’s go. I love presents.”
Zion shoots you a smile, and you lead him out of the house. When you’re outside, away from all the noise you break your silence.
“I still can’t believe your dad is one of the police men of this town,” you muse. “Why didn’t you tell me when we met?”
Zion scoffs. “Some people think it’s weird. They would make fun of me in school. Didn't want to scare you away.”
You snort. “Funny.”
Zion sighs softly and then interjects. “Why weren’t you with the rest of the party?”
“Simple,” you answer somewhat truthfully. “I didn't want to hang out with a bunch of old farts.” You giggle. “I didn’t want to isolate myself either so I just kind of secluded myself.”
“In your fifth living room?” Zion teases.
You roll your eyes and shake your head. “Second,” you correct him. “It’s a parlor room by the way. Slash sunroom.”
Zion looks at you with a smile before he begins to chuckle. “Wow. That’s how you know you’ve made it.”
You shrug. “I won’t deny it.”
Zion flashes you a half grin whilst he reaches the car he came in with his dad. It’s in the short silence that you’re reminded of the terror.
Since you’re far from the front porch, the light doesn’t shine bright this far out on the driveway. You’re surrounded by darkness…Okay…
You shift closer to Zion as he gets the present out, and avoid looking around you even if it feels like you feel their presence all around you. When Zion turns around he backs up in surprise to how close you are. “Whoa, hey.”
You push back your fear, and blink to meet his dark eyes. “Hi,” you redirect sweetly.
Zion doesn’t question you and pushes a big box towards you. You beam at him and take the present.
“Open it,” he encourages your desire.
You don’t need to be told twice, you approach the hood of the car to open the present. The moment you manage to get inside the box you pull out a red helmet. A helmet.
“Wow,” you feign excitement as you’re actually very confused. “A helmet.”
Zion nods eagerly. “For when you ride on my motorcycle with me. I didn’t have a second one last time, so I bought you one…and this,” he leans over and reaches for a silver chain bracelet dangling from the chin strap, you didn’t notice before.
“Oh,” you react with more excitement. “Cool.” You lift the helmet to study the bracelet better and notice that theirs a single charm with your first initial on it. “That’s really nice Zion, thank you. I love the present.” You put the helmet back in the box and embrace him.
Zion seems surprised at first, but he gently returns it.
It’s sort of awkward though, you didn’t get him anything. You’ve been stuck at home, busy recovering and trying to ignore your nightmares that you completely forgot to buy him a gift. The only people you did get presents for were your dad of course, your mom because she's living with you, Eleven as one of your many apologies, Nancy and Steve. You totally spaced on Zion though. Damn.
You don’t even address it, you leave it as it is. And thankfully as you pull away from the embrace, headlights shine from the driveway. You walk over to the front porch with Zion and your gift, and your eyes glued on the approaching car. And when the person finally comes to view, you spot Steve.
“It’s Steve!” You point out happily.
When said man parks, and before he can turn his car off, you run over to him with a happy smile.
“Steve.” You wave at him even if you had just seen him.
Your friend gets out of the car with a long rectangle present box, but no name on the card. “Hey, don’t try and cheat,” he complains.
You stick your tongue out and step back and continue to smile. “You came back!”
Steve glances past you and finds Zion, they shoot each other a stiff wave before Steve nods at you. “Yeah, well you basically made me.”
You scoff and proceed to walk back inside. “Yeah well you commited, so unless you wanted to look bad in front of my parents, you had no choice.”
Steve huffs as he follows you at your side. “Both your parents like me so I’m good. But well there was nothing better to do.”
You drift your eyes over to him and can’t help but smile at him since you know he’s just being smug. “Sure, whatever you say.”
“What you got there,” Steve points to your present.
You lift the box and grin brightly. “Gift from Zion.” You glance at said guy following at your other side, but drift your attention back to Steve, and find yourself meeting his gaze.
His smile falters, and he sighs before he smirks. “Cute.” He mutters.
You hum in agreement, but find his reaction strange. Why is he so weird when it comes to Zion? It’s so sudden too…
Hm. Weird.
——
*LATER*
“What, what, what?” Steve says in a hushed tone as you pull him outside all by yourselves.
“I need help. I-I don’t know what to do in there,” you point inside.
Steve squints his eyes and knits his eyebrows together in confusion. “I don’t get it? What’s wrong?”
You groan and point to the front door. “Me with Zion. I can feel how much I suck. I need help. You said you would, so I'm asking for your help.”
“Oh,” Steve gasps softly and licks his lips while he rests his hands on his hips. “Okay…uh.”
You grab both of his hands and plead in a sweeter tone. “Please, Steve. I need help, okay? Just help me. Give me tips.”
Steve drops his head and lets out a deep breath before he rolls his head to the side. “Fine,” he mutters. “Yeah. I mean I’ve already given you tips, but sure.”
You smile brightly and let his hands go and wait patiently.
“Okay first,” he continues almost lazily. “You’re…wearing lipstick.”
Oh?
You clasp your hands together in front of you and nod.
Steve sighs and slowly meets your gaze with those big brown eyes of his. “Bring attention to your lips. Reapply lipstick as you’re talking. Guys are driven crazy over that.”
“Okay,” you breathe out. “Next? One more tip.”
“Laugh. He says a joke, laugh. It’s an ego thing.”
You frown and shake your head. “I don’t know about that.”
Steve lifts his eyebrows and looks at you with a pointed look. “You want to be single? It’s just for this first phase. After that you can disagree. So let me hear it.”
You let go of your hands and look at him surprised. “What? You want me to laugh now?”
Steve nods.
This is ridiculous. But he is the expert, so you awkwardly share a dry chortle.
Steve crosses his arms over his chest and furrows his brows. “No,” he stifles a laugh. “What was that? You’ve laughed better come on. Giggle.”
You groan but after an exhale you share a sweet giggle.
Steve smiles but it’s brief because he then nods. “Better.”
You laugh again, a haha laugh, and he begins to chuckle.
“Oh, you said something funny.” You snort and begin to laugh for real.
Steve laughs harder, and you can’t help but do the same. The front door then opens and your dad stops under the door frame confused. “What are you two doing?”
Both Steve and you stop laughing and you just shake your head at your dad before you probe. “What’s up?”
Your dad hums and then points inside. “Gift exchange time. Come on.”
You clap gleefully and skip over to grab your dads arm and walk back inside with him and Steve trailing behind you. When you step inside the parlor room where the tree and gifts are Zion is the first person you see; you smile at him, and he offers you a softer smile. When he looks at who’s trailing behind you he sits up straighter and averts his gaze quickly.
“Okay! Now that my daughter is here let’s start this thing,” your dad addresses the party.
You grab your present from under the tree and sit down next to your mom since that’s the only seat available.
“Okay the person starting this thing is Mayra,” your shares and steps back.
Your mother grins happily and claps softly before she pushes herself off her seat and stands in the middle of the gathered circle. She looks around at all the faces gathered around with her present in hand. “I got,” she teases the group. “Now let’s see…Steve Harrington!”
Everyone looks disappointed that the rich actress didn’t get them, but Steve looks shocked and then a bit smug. When he takes the gift from your mom he gives her half a hug before he begins to tear the nice shiny gift wrapping.
When he takes out what was inside the bag, he finds a coat. Since there was a budget it isn’t luxurious, but it still is a nice brown cargo jacket with flannel lining.
“Now it’s your turn Steve,” your dad interjects. “That’s how it will go, the person that got a present gives theirs next. And so on. Got it?” He claps. “Yes. Good.”
Your mom sits down and passes you a small giddy smile before you focus on Steve in the middle of the group with his present. He of course grins as he sticks his gift out.
“Well I got someone very cool,” he says and spins around and faces you. “I got you, y/n.”
Your eyes widen, and a grin spreads on your lips. Without leaving him waiting you squeal and go up. You give Steve a quick hug and then excitedly open your long rectangle gift.
And once you tear off the gift wrapper there’s a black box. “A velvet box,” you share and show the guests to get them excited.
Is it a necklace?
It’s too heavy for one though.
You giggle and share a brief excited look with Steve before you open the box, revealing two pink wooden drumsticks. He remembered your goal. “What?” You gasp in awe.
You pick up one of them to show it off, but you freeze as you see the words, “Rio.” carved on them. “Oh my gosh!” You exclaim. It’s your inside thing. “I love them!” You throw your arms around Steve. “Thank you!”
He’s caught off guard but he hugs you back gently. “I thought it could be your first pair since you want to learn or what not,” he says as you pull away.
You don’t have drums yet—well not officially, you saw a huge gift box in the garage with your name on it, so your dad got them for you. You just haven’t opened it.
“Let me see,” your dad says.
You walk over to him and show him the drumsticks. “Look. Aren't they cute! My first step to learning how to drum!”
Your dad blinks repeatedly and points to the name. “What’s that mean?”
You smirk and blow him off. “Don’t worry about it, it’s an inside thing.”
Your dad hums and doesn’t investigate, so you all move on. You got one of your dads friends, so it doesn’t really matter whatever everyone else gets after. Zion unluckily is one of the last people to go, and he ends up gifting to his dad, which is quite a coincidence. And his dad then ends up getting your own dad, the exchange ends after that and the party rages on.
Now to do what Steve advised. Yes!
Oh maybe you’ll take Zion under a mistletoe for a first kiss!
He’s by the fireplace, by himself. Now is your time.
You walk towards him, but stop as you get nervous. You talk to him all the time, he’s come to visit you in your recovery, you talk on the phone, but this is different. You’re flirting, actually trying. Fuck. Okay.
Exhale. Go….
No.
You turn away and see your dad talking to your uncle, they’re saying goodbye it seems. You should—no, no! Exhale, go.
You slowly turn back around on your heels and slowly approach Zion. When he sees you approaching he stands up straighter and his lips perk up to a smile.
“Waiting for someone?” You tease hlm.
Zion scoffs. “Black boots, white beard, jolly demeanor,” he says.
You hum and slowly clasp your hands in front of you. “Ah, well it seems you’re gonna be waiting for a few more days.”
Zion shifts around to face you completely. “So you want to learn to play the drums?” He query’s.
You nod. “Yep. It’s my goal I need to accomplish. I want to join a band. Maybe I’ll become famous.”
Zion chuckles softly. “A band?”
“Yes?” You answer hesitantly. “Why is it strange?”
Zion shrugs. “You don’t look like the type.”
Is that offensive? It kind of makes you uneasy.
“Well,” you chuckle nervously. “Then you should get to know me better.” You sigh and think about bringing the lipstick out, bringing attention to the lips, but you hesitate.
Zion continues to talk, but his words get drowned by your thoughts.
Do you really, truly like him? You did when you first met him, you were ecstatic to get to know him, to go out with him, but now?
It’s been a month, neither of you have tried anything because you’ve been injured. You've been unable to see him because you’re stuck at home while he is at school or at work. And…whether you like to admit it or not, since the events of the Demo-dogs, you’ve been different. And there's been people who have snuck up on you, dug themselves deeper in your heart. And now that they’re single, there might be a chance.
Yeah that’s right, there might be a chance…
You look over at him by the snack table and he’s busy talking to your dad. He’s smiling. He has a nice smile.
And while you’re staring at him, Steve glances over at you and catches your stare, so you quickly look away and instead look out the back door.
However, that’s a mistake because you see them again in the shadows. A demo-dog. It’s there, staring at you. No, no—
You blink repeatedly and return your gaze back to Zion. He’s smirking at you, still talking, so you nod softly in comprehension. He brings you a form of peace right there and then.
That’s it. The same thing happened when you were outside getting the gift he gave you. You didn’t see the illusion of the demo-dog. He can bring you peace, fill the void?
You look into his eyes and get lost in them. He has nice dark eyes. He’s sweet.
Thus you pull out your lipstick and while he continues to talk you reapply some. And just as Steve said, Zion sneaks glances at your lips, he finds himself stammering.
It works!
“Maybe we can have that date now?” Zion asks as he drops whatever it was he was rambling about. “You’re better. You can go out. I can use my moms car so the wind doesn’t hit your chest.”
You snort.
“Maybe on Monday? We’re on winter break, I have no work that day, I can pick you up at…”
“3,” you add for him without debating this time. “3 is fine.”
Zion smirks and nods along slowly. “I’ll pick you up at 3.”
You smile at him and glance to the side, Steve and your dad aren’t there anymore, the party is busy talking amongst themselves. There’s no mistletoe though….
“Come with me,” you say sweetly before you take his hand and take him to the parlor room, near a large window that overlooks the lake behind your house, and under the mistletoe that your mom placed for fun she said. “Mistletoe,” you point up.
Zion lifts his eyes, and then snickers as he looks back at you. “Smart,” he compliments you.
You shrug smugly, and before anyone could come you lean in give him a small kiss on the lips. It’s your first kiss.
When you pull back Zion's smile is sheepish, but his eyes are soft. Albeit he then surprises you by cupping your cheek and leaning in to give you a deeper kiss you return slowly.
“Perfect,” he whispers softly as he pulls back.
Your face is burning and you giggle.
Wow. Your heart is pounding. Like very, very fast. You want more, but you must resist.
You can’t wait to tell Nancy.
——
*LATER*
The party has ended, everyone has left the house a mess that you’ll have to clean up, well everyone left except for Steve. He’s still lacking behind.
“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Steve asks as he comes to a stop inside the parlor room near the large window that overlooks the lake.
You nod. “Yeah. My dad can clean. He’s a semi-retired man now, so he’s got nothing but time. Besides, I think my chest hurts.”
Steve scoffs in amusement. “You should keep slacking off.”
You feign a laugh.
Steve smirks albeit he does respond. “There. That’s the laugh. That one is perfect.”
You giggle this time for real. “No that’s…that’s bad.”
Steve smiles faintly.
“Thanks,” you tell him and begin to fiddle with your fingers. “For the drumsticks. They were nice. When I get good, I’ll have to give you a show.”
Steve gently nudges you with his elbow. “You better. I'll be your first judge.”
You smile but you then sigh as something comes to mind. “Do you think I look like the type to be drumming?”
Steve’s gaze just squints slightly in confusion. “What do you mean?” He asks.
You shrug and sway to the side nervously. “I don’t know. Like me, is it weird that I want to drum? I mean…me.” You meet Steve’s gaze with a nervous look that he holds for a moment with a bit of pity.
“I think you can be what you want. I mean I don't think people can judge what you want to do based off your appearance. There’s no specific look that you need to have to do something.”
You let out a relieved sigh and nod softly. “So I shouldn't paint my nails black and dress punk?” You ask lightheartedly. “I mean It’s a cool fucking look. I'm jealous of the girls who can pull it off.”
Steve shakes his head. “No. I like your—this look,” he says and waves his hand over you.
“Good.” You grin and stay quiet for a moment just looking at him before you remember. “I finally scored that date…because of your tips, so thanks.”
Steve blinks repeatedly and hums. “Hm? Really?” He asks and crosses his arms over his chest.
You nod eagerly. “Yeah. I did it. So I will need more of your help. I mean if I want to, you know, have a successful date.”
Steve lets out a deep sigh, and swallows thickly before nodding quickly. “Yeah, sure. Cool. Cool.”
“Great!” You exclaim happily. “Oh! By the way,” you add on now that you’re excited. “I know I’ll see you beforehand but I’ll tell you regardless. You're invited to the New Year’s party my dad is hosting. This time more people will be invited, so it won’t be that boring, I can invite people too so it’ll be fun. Come!”
Steve shrugs. “I'll have to let you know.”
“Steve,” you insist and grab his arm. “Come on please.”
Steve meets your gaze and thinks for a moment before he sighs deeply. “I’ll try. How about that.”
You roll your eyes but nod hesitantly. “Fine, let me know.” You let him go and step back, Steve shifts back too and you both grow quiet.
He probably should’ve found his way to leave now, but he stayed a little longer, and you stayed there with him. And it’s at that moment, as silence lingered that Steve’s gaze wanders up and finds the mistletoe.
He keeps his eyes up there for a second too long, so you follow his line of gaze and see the same mistletoe, one you completely forgot about. Now you’re both standing under it. He knows that. He looks at you, and you slowly lower your gaze and meet his.
It’s not obligatory to kiss under a mistletoe, but you…want to. Because that’s how you wanted it, you wanted to find yourself under a mistletoe with Zion by accident, but you had to bring him here. Not Steve…
But no you can’t kiss Steve, you want to go out with Zion. You told Zion you’d date him, you can’t just kiss Steve.
Even if Steve makes your heart race, and causes your face to get all warm. No you can’t kiss him.
So you slowly avert your gaze and find yourself looking out the window. That’s when you spot what’s starting to fall from the sky.
“Oh my god,” you whisper excitedly. “It’s snowing!” You take Steve’s arm, and pull him with you as you run outside.
“What the hell did I say about running!” You hear your dad exclaim. You ignore him and when you’re outside you step past the porch, and stand under the soft flakes of snow that fall from the sky.
They're so gentle but cold. They’re fluffy and light. They’re quiet, peaceful and beautiful.
Yes they’re beautiful little snowflakes.
You tuck your hands in your pockets and smile sweetly. No Demo-dogs haunt you, no fears scare you. It’s peaceful even if darkness lurks beyond the lake.
Steve is near you so he watches you watching the snowfall, and exhales softly as he feels his eyes soften at the sight of you admiring something so mundane.
However, he still does sass you. Just to poke fun at you. “This is what you’re happy about?”
You turn away from him and keep looking up at the dark white sky, and close your eyes and clasp your hands together. “Quickly make a wish.”
“What?”
Besides wishing this paralyzing fear to go away, you wish to quickly get good at drumming and have your future band be successful.
“Hey, can you explain what you’re doing?” Steve steals your attention back.
When you finish you slowly open your eyes, and turn to face him. “When I was a little girl, my dad said that when I saw it snow for the first time, I thought it was stars falling to the ground, so I made a wish. He thought it was cute, so, after he made it a thing. Now everytime we see it snow for the first time we make a wish. That’s what I’m doing. Did you wish?”
Steve scoffs. “No. Its just snow. I didn’t know that was a thing.”
“Now you do,” you quip. “Make a wish. Do it.”
Steve shakes his head. “No. It’s not a me thing.”
“Steve,” you press. “Do it. One wish.”
“Tell me what you wished for first,” he argues back quickly.
You shake your head. “No. Just go.”
Steve groans. “Fine. Fine! I wish…ugh, to graduate.”
You laugh softly and clap. “See! Now your dream will come true.”
“Yeah,” Steve mutters. “I hope so.”
You walk to him and take his arm. “You will. I swear. I’ll help. And you help me.”
Steve exhales, but you don’t catch his annoyance that has taken root since he saw Zion at the hospital waiting for you. He knows he shouldn’t be jealous, you’re choosing to stick with Zion, and you’re his friend so he needs to be happy for you. But how can he put up with helping you be with another man?
He needs to tell you something. Something that might change your mind, or that will make you not seek his help anymore. Unless you see his annoyance towards Zion yourself soon.
Will you through? Will you notice Steve’s jealousy?
.
.
.
.
Tagged- @middle-of-the-earth @x-theolivia @redskull199987 @lilyhw1 @5sosjay
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holyghostbws · 9 months
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heartbreaks and mistakes ; bws 💔
| Based on this request: hiii, do you take requests? if so, could you do an angst imagine where Brad is going thru a tough time/breakup and the band mates help him out? |
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They met in december. Brad could still remember the first time it snowed that year because that same day he met her. In that very moment it had felt as if time had stop, he swore he could see the snowflakes falling in slow motion, glistening as they fell into the ground, almost as bright as her smile.
Every time they’d go out together, Brad would immediately reach for her hand. He didn’t have to look at it, he knew exactly the position of her fingers and how to intertwine them with his. If the air was too cold, he would gladly take his jacket off and put it around her shoulders; sometimes he secretly wished she would forget hers, just so he could give it his, let his arms be his blanket and let the world know she had someone. With time, forgotten clothes started to appear scattered around his flat, only for him to put them in an empty drawer that then became hers. Sometimes it wasn’t just clothes, sometimes it was an earring resting on her pillow, a scrunchie forgotten in the bathroom, the smell of her perfume in his sheets.
Brad could still picture every moment with her like it was a movie, he often found himself replaying memories in his head as if they were episodes of a tragic love story. It made no sense that he had burned and deleted all of their pictures together and even blocked her on social media, because their love was inked to his skin. Their relationship was built upon small, meaningful moments… she was home to Brad, but Brad wasn’t home to her.
Brad remembered the first time he met her parents. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something planned, they met them on one of their dates by accidentally running into them. She had introduced Brad as a friend although they were way past that state. Still, he said nothing and thought she had her reasons, maybe her parents were difficult, maybe she wanted to introduce him at a better time like a family gathering… he should’ve known. He should’ve known since the moment he said “i love you” and she never said it back, instead, she started a brand new conversation about weather. He had been foolish, he had been blinded by love and was too busy falling for her to see that he was the only one falling.
He had already pictured a future with her. They would host Christmas for their family and friends, full of peppermint-flavored kisses and presents, romantic dates on Valentines, picnics in the middle of flowers blooming, sweaty summers by the beach, matching outfits for Halloween… they never made it that far.
It was heartbreak after heartbreak for him during that relationship: “sorry I can’t meet your parents, I just think we should wait until the right moment”, “no, I can’t go out with you and your friends tonight, I have so much work to do”, “I’m so sorry I missed your concert, I know it was important to you and trust me, I hate myself for missing it but things got messy at work and they wouldn’t let me leave… you don’t want me getting fired, right?”, “I promise i’ll make it up to you”, “I swear it’s the last time that this happens”, “I’m sorry babe, please understand that it was out of my hands”, “Please believe me, I swear it won’t happen again”… There’s only so much pain a heart can take and Brad’s had been strong for so long, it was bound to happen: the breakup.
The blind fell to the floor on his birthday, when she didn’t show up. Just as many times before, she promised she’d be there on time, and he believed her, of course. Even he knew, deep in his heart, he was gonna be let down again, he decided to trust her; another mistake added to the already long list. Even in a room full of people who loved him, Brad felt miserable. How come everyone but her was there to celebrate him?
He wondered what he had done wrong to deserve that, maybe it was karma, maybe he was a shitty boyfriend, maybe it was a lesson he had to learn. It didn’t mattered why anymore, she didn’t love him and the only way to get through it was to blur everything out by getting wasted with his best mates, the ones that did show up, the ones that did care for him.
A week after his birthday, the call came.
“Hey, I think we need to talk” she said. The sentence every lover fears the most. The sentence that ends it all. Her voice sounded distant, like it was muffled. Hearing her break his heart for the millionth time would destroy him, he need to protect himself, so he tried to dissociate as much as he could from the conversation.
“About what?” He asked, trying to play it cool. He already knew, he knew exactly how it was going to go, he knew how she would try to act like she cared, like it was a difficult decision to make but after all it was the right choice.
“Can I see you? I’ll drop by your place.” He didn’t want to see her ever again, it would only make things worse for him, it would make him feel guilty when he didn’t have any reason to feel that way. It was true, but it was also true that he did want to see her, he wanted to see her everyday for the rest of his life, he wanted to see her when he woke up and when he went to sleep, he wanted to see her smiling and wanted to see her crying. Brad wanted to see her young face and then also her face after time had aged it. He wanted her, forever.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t make it” Was the first thing she said when he opened the door. Brad stood still and quiet and watched her face filling with something that seemed like regret.
“Did you even try to go?” He asked after a while. His voice was calm, he tried to appear neutral and unbothered but his eyes gave him away. There was no hiding the sadness and disappointment in them.
Her dropping her head to the floor was enough answer for him. She didn’t. And he knew that, still, it didn’t make it easier.
“I honestly don’t know what to say to you. I don’t even know why you’re here. It’s so obvious that you never cared and that you don’t feel the same way, so why bother? Don’t you have better things to do?” He still kept calm but could feel his insides shattering with every second that passed.
“Stop being so dramatic, Brad. I had a really shitty week and came here to apologize.” She rolled her eyes.
“Oh, sorry for bothering you and interrupting your apology, I have no right to be mad at you.” He could feel himself running out of patience.
“Oh god” She whined. “I knew it was a bad idea coming here, it’s impossible to talk to you when you’re like this…”
“You’re right, it was a bad idea for you to come here, you should go.” Brad said.
“I’m trying to tell you something, you asshole” She started raising her voice.
“I don’t want to hear it. I’m sick and tired of you, of always waiting for you just so you never show up, of keeping up with your bad moods and hurtful words, of always giving and receiving nothing back, I-“
“I’m sorry! I really am! I’m trying my best to be enough for you. I just want to be with you.” Her voice sounded high pitched, like she was about to cry but her eyes were dry.
“Cut the bullshit and don’t go wasting my time. Don’t waste yours. I see through your lies, I just pretended I didn’t because I loved you and wanted to believe you, but we can stop now.” The calmness in Brad faded away and was replaced by anger.
For a second, silence filled the atmosphere.
“I love you.” That was a stab that stroke to kill. It fueled him with rage and suddenly he wanted to stab her back, to hurt her as much as she did to him, but how could you hurt someone that simply doesn’t care?
Months ago, those three little words were all he wanted to hear. It’s funny how words mean nothing when they’re a little too late.
“Goodbye, y/n.”
💔
A week and a half was the longest he could keep the break up a secret from his band mates, they noticed his eyes had lost its sparkle and the bags under them.
“How you holding up mate?” James was the first one to ask. James already knew the answer to that question but felt like Brad could use the talking… that would’ve worked if Brad was communicative about his pain.
“I’m fine, actually.” Brad answered. The first days were rough for him but he had already managed to keep his feelings bottled up, regretting it and beating himself up would be of no use and besides, why would he keep being sad and mad about a relationship that was already dead? It was better to just move on and keep going on with his life, after all, the world wasn’t going to stop and nothing would change just because she didn’t love him.
“You know it’s okay to talk about your feelings, right? There’s no shame here.” James reassured him.
“Yeah, you can talk to us about anything.” Tristan intervened.
“There’s nothing to talk about. She never cared about me, why would I care about her?” Brad said, it sounded way more harsh that he intended to.
There was nothing his band mates could say that would make him feel better, that would at least ease the grieving. Memories stung him, it was like a disease with no cure and time was only a cruel reminder of a love that had maimed him.
“Yeah, mate. Fuck her. You can have any girl that you want, we should go out tonight.” Connor said. James wanted to kill him.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go out! You’ll forget about her in no time” Tristan chirped in.
“I think it’s a good idea to distract yourself but I also think you should talk about your feelings with someone and not just go and fuck the first woman you find.” James intervened, afraid of how the others would take his words.
“Oh shut up, James. What Brad needs right now is a night out to get wasted and meet a pretty face.” Tristan said with a laugh.
“Hey! Let’s go to Ibizaaaaaaa!” Connor screamed.
Brad stopped listening to his friends plans after that. He loved them, he really did, but none of them had the answers for mending his broken heart.
“Hey, uh, what if we try writing something?” Brad said after a while. Tristan and Connor stopped talking and turned their heads to him.
“Writing? Seriously?” Connor said in disbelief.
“I mean… sure, if that’s going to help you.” Tristan said and gave him a pat in his back.
“It’s a great idea! I’ll bring the guitar.” James said, seeing it as an opportunity for Brad to open up.
Brad had handwritten notes he found deep in his drawer right in his pocket: words of love that he had thought of turning into a song, into an album even… maybe those would now turn into an angry song or a sad one, or maybe into nothing. That was the magic of songwriting. After all, music and his friends had always been his therapy.
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ghost-party · 1 year
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Today’s gift is a darker one — and honestly closer to a fic than a drabble — so please heed the tags and warnings. 😱 And if you’re a minor, do not interact!
Want a sneak peek? Now a newlywed, it feels as if your life is perfect. Your husband is the partner you’ve always dreamed of having. But will you feel the same when you discover his terrible secret?
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Warnings: abusive ex, drowning, death and loss, deceased parents, alcoholism, parental abuse, physical abuse, fatal car accident, sexual content, swearing, stalking, murder, pregnant reader, manipulation
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“I won’t be gone long. Just a few days.”
You hum in acknowledgment of your husband’s words, head tucked against his bare chest. It’s nearly midnight. The two of you are lying in bed, and even in the darkness, you can see the moving boxes still stacked next to the closet.
“You won’t miss much,” you murmur. “More unpacking. Seems like I’ll never be done.”
Zeke’s lips press against the top of your head. “I’m glad you moved in. You make this house feel like home.”
You softly laugh at the Hallmark card platitude, and his beard tickles your forehead as he leans in closer. “What? It’s true.” His hand finds yours, his thumb rubbing back and forth against the gold band on your ring finger. “You breathe life into this old place, Mrs. Jaeger — and into me.”
Tilting your head up, you can just glimpse the warmth in his gaze, the affectionate tilt of his lips. Oftentimes, you can’t believe your luck, being able to call him yours.
Two years ago, you met at your local bookstore. He was perusing classics, while you were on the hunt for an elusive volume of poetry you needed for a class you were teaching that spring. Coffee led to a date which led to another and another…
If you were honest, he was the one who breathed life into you. In the six months prior to running into him, you had been mired in a strange sort of grief. Your former high school sweetheart, whom you had dated for five years, died after getting drunk one night and taking his boat out on the lake.
No more random texts from different burner numbers you had to block again and again. No more wondering if he would show up at your school, asking to see you. No more checking your locks at least three times before going to bed. One of your friends bitterly joked that he really did drown his sorrows, and you laughed until you cried, hard sobs that silenced the whole group.
It was just another loss tossed onto the already significant pile. Your mother died when you were nine, and your alcoholic father, who vacillated between pretending to care and slapping you when you forgot to do the laundry or wash the dishes, died in a car accident the year before your ex.
You felt weighed down by death, as if it were an unwelcome friend who continued to trail one step behind you, a heavy hand always resting on your shoulder.
But then you met Zeke. He listened. He cared — deeply, openly, passionately. He charmed your friends and remaining family. He was incredibly thoughtful, always making sure you were alright, exceedingly generous with both his time and money.
For a while, you had felt guilty about the latter. But when he explained that he had inherited a fortune when his father died after years spent battling cancer, and that he could think of no better use for it than spending it on the woman he loved, it was hard to argue.
When he proposed, you were elated. And when you walked down the aisle and saw him standing there, crying, smiling at you like you were his world… Your heart felt whole, perhaps for the very first time.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks now, pulling you on top of him.
“You.” He grins, and you can’t help but smile back. “Us.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmhm…” You rest your chin on your crossed arms. “When I’m done unpacking, I should start decorating for Christmas. I want it to be special — our first one as newlyweds.”
He rubs your back. “Don’t do the tree yet. We should put it up together.”
You nod, then bite your lip, hesitant before you ask, “I brought all of my stuff, of course. But… do you have any other decorations? Maybe in the basement?”
Zeke flinches just slightly. His face, however, is impassive, revealing nothing. “You know it’s just my office down there, sweetheart. A computer and a shit ton of paperwork.” The barest sliver of a smile curves his lips. “Remember what we talked about.”
His words settle in the pit of your stomach with a flash of shame. The only thing your husband has ever asked of you, and still, you keep subtlety prying. But it’s almost like you can’t help yourself.
“I won’t go down there,” you whisper, and his hand resumes its languid movement over your skin. “I’ve just never —”
Your words turn into a gasp as Zeke’s hand slides lower, until it’s pushing between your thighs, his fingers stroking you through your panties.
“I like having you on top of me,” he says, voice low and mischievous as he continues to tease you, reveling in your huffs of breath and the way you squirm against him. “But even more than that…”
In one quick movement, he has you on your back. He’s propped above you on one muscular arm, his wandering fingers now pushing inside you. “I like you like this… looking all helpless and desperate.”
•••
It only took one day for your curiosity to grow too insistent to ignore. And as you stand there, in the one room you were always told not to enter, a room whose key you had to search for in the toolbox Zeke kept under the stairs, a sudden voice startles you.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
You turn around to find your husband leaning in the doorway, arms crossed. You didn’t even hear him come down the stairs.
He must have come home early. The worst possible timing.
But he seems surprisingly unconcerned with the fact that you’ve broken his one rule and violated his privacy.
“What… is this?”
You gesture at the photos, the desk messily piled with maps and call logs, your personal bank records, school transcripts, text conversations you’ve had with friends and exes — fuck, you know what it is. What it means. But you want to hear him say it.
He tilts his head, a hint of concern in the crease between his brows. “You’re upset. I thought you might be, if you saw all of this.”
Stepping into the room, he loosens his tie. “It was a risk, of course, keeping it here. But I have a soft spot for mementos.” His eyes flicker to the cardboard boxes sitting on nearby shelves.
“It’s simple. I saw you. I wanted you. And so I made you mine.”
You try to take a step back, but you bump into the desk, and you can only turn your head away as he moves even closer, your heart pounding painfully in your chest. “You stalked me?”
Zeke makes an irritated noise, something between a grunt and a sigh. “I watched over you — kept you safe, even before we first met.”
His fingers graze your cheek, and you try to suppress your shiver. “I‘ll admit, it began as a selfish desire — to know you, possess you. But I wanted you to be happy. I’ve always wanted that, more than anything.”
Your mind is struggling to keep up with his words, your gaze now focused on the papers just beside you. A chill settles into your bones. Your ex’s address, his daily schedule, habits of note — including the fact that he often enjoyed hitting the bar on Thursday nights before going out to the lake, either with friends or by himself.
“You killed him.”
Zeke’s hand hesitates, still lingering at your cheek. “Yes.” His voice is low and cold, unrepentant. “He hurt you. And I knew he would just keep doing it if I didn't step in.”
You finally manage to meet his gaze, flinching at the hard resolve you find there. “Did you…” You swallow hard. “My dad, too?”
Seeing the fear in your eyes, Zeke’s expression softens, his other hand settling on your waist as he slowly nods.
“He was a vicious drunk. It didn't take much digging to figure that out.” His touch is so familiar, it’s hard not to lean into it. “He hurt you, too — for much longer, in different ways…”
His expression clears, becoming unreadable. “I did what I had to do. For you. Always for you.”
“Have there been others? Before me?”
How many lies has he told you over the years? How tightly have you been wrapped around his finger?
He shakes his head. “You’re the first. And I’ve always intended for you to be the last, my only. I’ve tried so hard to make things perfect for us.” He looks plaintive, desperate for reassurance. “You’ve been happy, haven’t you? I’ve made you happy.”
The word lingers unspoken on your tongue, thick and cloying. Yes. Of course he has. From the moment you met, it all felt so easy, like something had clicked into place that had always felt misaligned within your life.
He was a kind, supportive partner. Devoted to you, determined to see you succeed… Eager to start a family. Determined to grow old together. You don’t realize you’re crying until he gently wipes the tears away, patient as he waits for your answer.
“Yes. But I…” He looks nervous and guarded, his hand squeezing your hip a little tighter. “What if you change your mind someday?” You take a deep, shaky breath. “Will I end up in a lake? A car crash?”
He fervently shakes his head. “No, no… Sweetheart, never.” Pressing his forehead to yours, he sighs. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to make you cry. But I promise — I would never hurt you.”
But if anyone annoys or displeases you — a coworker, a student, a random, rude stranger at the grocery store — and you let it slip… Would he hurt them? Would he even hesitate?
“Please say something.” His voice is suddenly small and scared, and you react on instinct, arms reaching around to hug him closer. He relaxes into you, large hands warm on your back. “It’s all out of love. You can see that, can’t you? I love you.”
You think about how you didn't go to your ex’s funeral, and how at your father’s, you didn't shed a single tear. Both of their deaths had brought grief — but also a relief so profound, you avoided talking about it, ashamed of your response to their tragic ends.
You think about your perfect husband. The way he handles you with such care, the love in his eyes, the thoughtful gestures, the way he’s always seemed to know you so well. I suppose now I know how…
And you think about the two positive pregnancy tests you placed in the bathroom drawer, having decided to wait to tell him until he came home from his trip.
He’s a monster. He is. But you love him. You’re not sure if fear can coexist with such tender feelings. Time will tell. The alternative, however, rejecting him in this moment, knowing what you know… I can’t do that.
“I know you do,” you whisper. “I love you, too.”
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memestockpile · 8 months
Text
fried green tomatoes (1991) feel free to change as needed.
did you hear that?
you got a negative sense of direction. 
we brought you something.
don’t you know [name] loves you?
honey, i guess it’d be better if you wait out here for me. 
don’t you pitch a fit like that!
you sit and relax a while. i’ll tell you all about it.
you’re gonna be the most beautiful bride.
try to act a little grateful.
c’mon down, little bit. there’s no firing squad waiting for you.
you look awful nice in that.
i’m sick of people making fun of me. 
i’m not ever coming down for as long as i live. 
the hell with them.
i don’t know what we’d do without your generosity. 
gimme that, you rascal!
i had the biggest crush on him. 
come a little closer. i wanna give you something.
you know, a heart can be broken, but it still keeps beating just the same.
you’ll have to keep this blanket on or you’ll catch your death of cold, you hear me now?
i enjoyed talking to you, honey.
have you gone insane?
why don’t you come in and sit down at the table and have dinner with me?
you’re meaner than a damn snake. 
funny what you miss when you’re away from home.
god never shuts one door without opening another.
you a politician, or does lying run in your family?
put your money where your mouth is. 
well, look what the cat drug in!
who are you to boss me around?
turning your back on your family is not gonna help. 
i don’t want to walk that far back. 
don’t say “never” to me. 
we better get you to a doctor. 
why did you do that? you could have been killed. 
we’re gonna play some poker. 
i have never had so much fun in my whole life.
you gotta stop worrying about what people think. 
do you have a problem with your sexuality?
you look so grown up. 
where’d you get that shiner?
i’m gonna kill him.
you turn around and leave this minute, you understand?
you’re just a goofy girl, [name], a goofy girl.
i wouldn’t do that if i was you, mister. 
we’ll be talking about masturbation. 
excuse me, young man. there was no reason for you to be so rude to me. 
now, you tell me what’s bothering you, sugar. 
i just feel so useless. so, so powerless. 
a candy bar ain’t gonna hurt you none. 
i’m too young to be old and i’m too old to be young.
i used to burst into tears for no reason at all. 
sometimes i can’t wait to get into heaven to see him again. 
i’m talking to you as a friend. 
you’re gonna get yourself in a heap of trouble. 
see that piece of land over there? that used to be a lake. 
don’t be shy. tell me how you feel.
what in the name of christmas are you two doing?
i believe [name]’s been a bad influence on you.
promise me you won’t do anything crazy, no matter what. 
hey, little buddy. 
could i interest you in some pie?
i’ll arrest you faster than you can slap a tick.
you’d do anything for [name], wouldn’t you?
right now, i don’t know what to believe. 
i felt like i could beat the shit outta all those punks! 
how in the hell can you hit someone six times by accident?
if i was gonna kill you, i’d use my hands. 
hold your horses, honey. 
life has a funny way of working things out. 
let me fix you some lunch. 
ice cream and cake for everybody.
there’s a separate god for children.
look at me and let me see your face. 
you’re absolutely, unconditionally, positively the most stubborn person i’ve known in my life. 
that’s right, you gump-faced, blown-up, baboon-assed bastard!
you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? 
if i live a thousand years, i will never forgive you. 
it takes time getting used to a strange place. 
you couldn’t be sweeter to me if you was my own daughter.
hold on, baby. i’m right here.
you’re gonna be back on your feet, feeling just fine, in just a few days. just you wait. 
what’s the matter, son?
did you get into a fight?
i got punched in the nose. 
you listen to everything i say, don’t you?
see, now is the time for courage. 
give me a big kiss then and i’ll never be sad again. 
you go and wash up. 
will you do one thing for me? be good to yourself. 
there’s so many things i want to say to you. 
tell me a story.
it’s alright, honey. 
i hate death. it scares me so. 
you’re so brave. 
it’s never gonna happen. so just forget about it. 
someone helped put a mirror up in front of my face, and i didn’t like what i saw one bit. you know what i did? i changed.
it never occured to me that you would take it this hard. 
i didn’t even get to say goodbye. 
i’m not a child. 
this is the first time i can remember when i don’t have a soul to look after.
you’re the reason i get up every morning. 
come on. i’ve got your room all ready. 
you’re a thickheaded son of a bitch, aren’t you?
come on, darling. come on, sweetheart. it’s all right. 
it was self-defense. 
you’re a good man. 
smells so damn good, i just can’t wait to get some. 
i thought it’d be best under the circumstances. 
are you pulling my leg?
truth’s a funny thing sometimes. 
i feel better now. 
you reminded me about what the most important thing in life is: friends. best friends. 
15 notes · View notes
crystalninjaphoenix · 9 months
Text
Friction Friendship
Paranormal Preteens AU: Episode Fourteen
A JSE Fanfic
As promised, here’s the second fic part for the week. Don’t expect this to happen a lot XD But be prepared to see these two AUs a lot this week as I inevitably reblog them both. Anyway. Onto the summary. The boys (and Stacy) don’t know how to deal with the planetarium situation, but they discuss it anyway. Without any real solutions, the next few days pass as Chase deals with personal drama and the twins ask the others to a birthday party. And then guess which shadowy entity shows up? :)c It’s not a lot of action this chapter but a lot of character building! Hope you enjoy that XD
++++++++++++++++++++
It was October, and that meant two things: a lot of school, and more importantly, Halloween. Chase had always loved the holiday. Not as much as Christmas, of course, but it was his second favorite. He remembered being really disappointed when his family first moved here and he found out that they didn’t trick-or-treat here like back in America. But he was a bit too old for that now. At least Mom still put up decorations and went costume shopping with him.
This year was going to be a bit different. For a couple different reasons. One was Schneep. Apparently he’d never celebrated Halloween before. “What?!” Chase had gasped when Schneep told him that. “They don’t have it in Germany?!”
“I think they do?” Schneep said, confused. “But it is not a big celebration that is all over.”
“Do you at least wear costumes?”
“I never have.”
“I can’t believe this.” Chase shook his head. “Don’t worry, Schneep, we’re gonna have the best Halloween ever this year.”
Another reason was the twins. Their birthday was actually on October 31st: the spooky day itself. That was probably why the two of them were already super excited. They were basically wearing orange and black all the time. Marvin could be seen wearing a black witch’s hat at school (which he had to take off during class) and JJ was frequently doodling little pumpkins in the corners of his notebook.
On Monday, Chase’s mom had a meeting after work, and couldn’t pick him and Schneep up from school. She called Jackie and asked if he could get them after classes were out, and maybe do some babysitting for a couple hours. Jackie’s own classes ended earlier than theirs, so he agreed. Chase decided that meant today was a good day for a meeting. He texted Marvin and JJ to ask if they could come over after school. They could. And... for the first time, Chase asked someone else.
“You want me to go over to your house after school?” Stacy repeated what he’d said, surprised.
“Yeah, I mean... you’re kinda in this,” Chase said. “We sometimes all meet up and talk about the, uh, you-know-what stuff. So I thought... yeah.”
Stacy frowned. She glanced around their classroom. Mr. Bartley had stepped out for a moment so everyone was taking the moment to talk to their friends while he wasn’t there to quiet them down. Half the students were out of their desks, including Chase, who’d walked over to talk to her. No one was paying attention. “I can’t tell my parents I’m going to a boy’s house!” she whisper-shouted.
“Well don’t tell them, then,” Chase said. “Right, Schneep?”
Schneep’s desk was still right next to Stacy’s, so he could hear everything. “Yes,” he agreed. “It may be hard, but it is better than missing out on things.”
“Yeah. They won’t even have to pick you up, Jackie can drive everyone.” It would be a bit crowded in the car with Stacy there, but probably fine.
“I... guess I could tell them I was going to hang out with Heather and Kat,” Stacy said slowly. “But no one else can know I went over to your house, okay?! I don’t want anyone to think I like like you.”
“Got it!” Chase gave her a thumbs up and quickly hurried back to his desk. He could see Bartley moving around through the bubbled glass window in the door. No doubt about to walk back in. He’d have to wait until after class to text JJ and Marvin.
The twins could come over, too, no problem. So after class let out, the kids all met at the school’s front doors, where Jackie was going to pick them up. They all piled into Jackie’s car and drove all the way to Chase’s house.
“Why is your house so big?!” Stacy said the moment she walked inside. “There’s only three of you!”
“I dunno, I guess we got lucky?” Chase shrugged.
Stacy glanced back and forth between him and Schneep. “Do you two have to share a room?”
“No,” Schneep said.
“Luckyyyyy. I have to share with Roxy, and she goes to bed super early so I can’t hang out in there before I go to sleep.”
“Nice decorations, Chase,” Jackie said, tapping a paper bat taped to the wall. “Did you make them?”
“Yep!” Chase grinned. “Mom and I showed Schneep how to do it! Look at that spider he made, it’s so cool! And he made that bat, too, to look like that stuffed animal he has.”
The twins were also examining the Halloween decorations. They were currently picking up the fake jack o’lanterns on the staircase to see how they worked. Marvin found the switch for one, and amused himself by turning the light on and off. Chase, are you going to carve pumpkins? JJ asked excitedly.
“Oh yeah! Definitely! We just need to find them. Mom says there aren’t any pumpkin patches anywhere nearby so we need to get them from the grocery store.”
Marvin and I never get to carve pumpkins, JJ complained. We ask every year and Dad always says it’s a waste because we’re going to throw them away right after Halloween.
“Well, maybe if we did it earlier, then we would have them out for longer,” Marvin muttered. “But no, he and Mam always ‘forget’ until a couple days before.”
And then they say that same thing about getting the pumpkins from the shop, JJ added. And that they’ll all be bought by then.
Stacy watched the sign language with a slight frown, trying to figure out what JJ was saying. Chase had seen her carrying around a book on BSL recently. It looked like it came from the library. Maybe that was why she hadn’t brought it today; she might have had to return it. “Uh... so are we gonna talk about this greenlight stuff and the planetarium and everything?” she asked hesitantly.
“Yeah, we haven’t really talked about the photos I took,” Jackie added. “They’re, uh... strange.”
“Alright, we can go sit down or something,” Chase said. “Uhhh let’s go.”
They all ended up in the living room, with Chase, Schneep, and Stacy on the sofa. Stacy was on the end next to Chase, sitting straight up and shifting awkwardly. The twins sat on the floor, leaning up against the TV stand, while Jackie took the armchair. His digital camera was in his hands, along with printed copies of the photos. He’d been prepared for this.
“So... Jameson and I still have not seen the planetarium basement,” Schneep said. “Was that crack there when you guys were?”
“Yeah! I got my foot stuck in it!” Stacy said.
“Oh shi—oh really?” Jackie asked. “Must not have been roped off at the time. Maybe that’s why they set up those barriers.” He looked down at the strangest photograph: the one that had been tinted green. “Did... while you guys were down there, did you feel like you were being watched?”
“I didn’t,” Chase said, and Stacy shook her head. “Uh... Marvin?”
Marvin was messing with the back of Chase’s TV remote. He looked up. “Huh? Oh, uh, no. Not until we heard those guys in the stairwell.”
We still don’t know anything about this mystery group, JJ mused. It’s been over two weeks. Nobody’s found anything out?
“If we did find something out, we would’ve talked together a lot sooner,” Chase said.
“We have been busy with homework and everything,” Schneep agreed. “But even if we were not, how? How are we supposed to learn anything about this group? We cannot spy on everyone in town, and we cannot go to the planetarium all the time. The group would notice us.”
“Y’know, I kept asking Mincy stuff about the planetarium staff,” Jackie said. “She says that all the senior employees are acting really weird. They’re being really hard on the other employees. A lot of people have quit because of that. She says she might soon, too. Maybe that’s what they want. They want everyone who doesn’t know about the basement to quit so they’re in total control.”
Are we going to DO anything about the basement, by the way? JJ asked.
“I mean... what?” Chase asked. “It’s not something we can fight. It’s a room. How do you defeat a room?”
“Take out the support pillars?” Marvin suggested.
“What?! Then the whole building might collapse!” Stacy gasped.
“Perhaps that crack in the floor has something to do with it,” Schneep said. “Jackie, can you show everyone the pictures?”
“Yeah, sure.” Jackie handed them to him, and Schneep began passing them out.
“We all notice the weird stripes in the carpet, yes?” Schneep asked, pointing them out on his own photo. “They all go to the crack in the floor eventually. Maybe if we seal up the crack then all the weird things will stop.”
“Okay, but how?” Marvin asked.
Cement? JJ suggested.
“How the fuck are we gonna get cement, JJ?”
JJ shrugged.
Marvin sighed. He looked down at the picture in his hands. “...wait a minute.” He stared at it. Schneep had handed him one of the crack in the ground. “I think... I’ve seen this before.”
“Yeah, when we were down there and I got my foot stuck,” Stacy said.
“No, before that. Jackie, can I see the weird green picture?”
“Uh... yeah.” Jackie handed it to him. “What’re you thinking, dude?”
Marvin brought the photo real close to his face. Then he held it out at arm’s length. He squinted, narrowing his eyes until his vision went a little blurry. “This was under the pool!” he gasped.
“Was?!” Schneep cried.
“Wait, really?!” Chase shouted.
“Yeah, I saw it when Jackie and I went down to fight the water monster. Its weird-ass body was sitting on top of a crack in the bottom of the pool, so I only saw it when the monster moved. But it was all black inside like this!”
“Whoa whoa whoa, wait.” Jackie’s eyes widened. “The pool—the water monster, it—did it cause the crack?”
Maybe! JJ said. Did anyone notice weird cracks anywhere else?
Everyone else shook their heads and muttered “no”s. “There has to be a connection,” Schneep said quietly. “Maybe, if we saw something else with this greenlight stuff... Has anyone heard of anything weird?”
“Ohhh there are weird things everywhere,” Marvin muttered. JJ looked at him, confused and concerned.
“A few months agoI you guys mentioned hearing stuff about the hospital and the secondary school,” Jackie recalled. “Maybe we should focus on those places. It shouldn’t be hard to poke around the school, since we’re there all the time.”
“Hey, are you guys coming to our birthday?” Marvin suddenly asked.
“Uh...” Chase blinked. “I don’t think you’ve mentioned it before. Are you guys having a party?”
“We’re having cake and presents on Halloween,” Marvin said. “But Mam always wants us to have a big party with lots of people. But we don’t really know anyone we’d want to invite before this, so we’ve never done it before, it’s always been our parents and our grandma. It’d be fine if you guys are busy or something, cause it’s Halloween, but I think you should come over to our house.” JJ stared at Marvin, even more speechless than usual, still with that expression of confused concern.
“Uhhh I don’t think we were gonna do much,” Chase said slowly. “I mean, I promised Schneep we’d have the best Halloween ever, cause he’d never celebrated it before. But a party sounds like it’s part of the best Halloween. So sure.”
Schneep nodded eagerly. “Yes! I have never been to someone else’s house before! Well, we went to Jackie’s for his birthday, and I have been to many relatives’ houses, but I mean for other children. Other kids. I want to see!”
“If you guys are including me in that, I’d love to go,” Jackie said. “My friends and I were planning on doing Halloween and Fawkes stuff on the first, anyway.”
Stacy looked nervous, chewing on her lip. “A boys’ party? What do boys do at parties?”
“I dunno,” Marvin said. “When we had Schneep’s party we just opened presents and had cake and did video games.”
“Well... sure. I-I’ll see if I can go,” Stacy said slowly. “But my parents might not let me. They might want to do family stuff together.”
“That’s fine,” Marvin said. “You’re fine.”
Silence fell. It lasted for a few seconds, but it felt much longer. “Well, uh, glad we’re doing that!” Chase said quickly. “Mom’s not gonna be home for a while! So, uh, what now?”
Jackie sighed. He put his camera in his hoodie pocket. “I don’t think we’ll get very far with the planetarium or mystery group stuff. Unless someone can figure out how to fight a basement or seal up a weird crack in the floor. But I don’t think we have any ideas.”
But speaking of birthdays, JJ said. Something happened Friday night. Hang on, this will be too much sign language for Stacy to understand. He pulled his notebook out of his shoulder bag and quickly wrote down what happened, explaining the brief encounter he and Marvin had with Anti. Then he handed the notebook to Stacy, who read it and then passed it around.
“I don’t like that,” Jackie muttered as he read what JJ wrote. 
“Why would this Anti... person... wanna do that?” Stacy asked. “Is that something he normally does?”
“No, we don’t really see him that much,” Chase said. “I dunno why he’d show up to you guys if he wanted a happy birthday. Which is... weird. Cause like... does he have a birthday?”
“Everything has a birthday, because everything is created one day,” Schneep figured.
“Well... yeah, but... it’s still weird.” Chase shook his head. “I dunno. What are we supposed to do about this?”
“It’s hard to know what to do about Anti,” Jackie agreed. “He doesn’t show up that much. I’ve never even seen him. Can you, like, punch him or something?”
“Ha!” Marvin grinned. “I don’t think we’ve tried, but next time I see him, I’ll fucking deck him.”
Everyone smiled. “Anyway, uh... I think that’s everything we wanted to talk about,” Chase said. “D’you guys want to play something?”
“That’s not fair, I’ve never played a video game before!” Stacy protested. “Why do you guys get to do something but I can’t?”
“Wait... never?” Chase asked. Stacy shook her head. “Well we have to play something now so you can try. I mean, you don’t have to, cause Schneep never plays, but at least watch. What’s something easy?”
The next couple hours passed with Chase and the other guys showing Stacy some of their favorite games. She wasn’t all that good, but she was clearly enjoying herself. Chase’s mom arrived home soon, causing the hangout to break up as Stacy, Jackie, and the twins headed out, leaving Jack and Schneep alone to do their homework.
But Chase couldn’t concentrate. He couldn’t stop thinking about everything they had brought up. Anti, the mystery group, the planetarium, the cracks in the ground, the greenlight... What did it all mean?
++++++++++++++++++++
Chase was still distracted in school the next day. He didn’t pay attention at all during the first class. In fact, when the bell rang he couldn’t remember a single thing that just happened.
“Chase?” Schneep poked his shoulder. “Is everything alright?”
“Huh?” Chase shook his head. “Yeah, I was just... thinking about stuff.”
“What stuff?” Stacy asked, standing behind Schneep. “Like... the secret stuff?” she whispered.
He was, but he didn’t want to talk about that right now. “No, I was thinking about—about Chad,” Chase said. “Uh, he’s my friend.”
“That tall kid with curly brown hair?” Stacy asked. “You were hanging out with him a lot last year. But I haven’t seen him around you this year. Is that what you’re thinking about? What happened?”
“Uh... I don’t know,” Chase said honestly. “He just... hasn’t talked to me. At all. This year.”
Schneep’s brows furrowed. “That is rude.”
“I guess, but like, maybe he’s busy,” Chase defended. “I mean, it is bothering me. I want to know what happened or if I did something wrong or something.”
“Can’t you ask him about that?” Stacy asked.
Chase blinked. “What d’you mean?”
Stacy rolled her eyes. “Just ask him why he’s not talking to you.”
“But... he won’t talk to me in the first place,” Chase explained. He glanced at Schneep to see if he was seeing the obvious problem. But Schneep looked thoughtful. “Right? I can’t ask him if he won’t listen.”
“Well, then, Schneep and I will go with you,” Stacy said. “He can’t ignore you if there are people watching.”
“Ah! Yes, that is a great idea.” Schneep nodded eagerly. “We all have a lunch period together, so you can talk to Chad then.”
“But—but he won’t talk to me!” Chase repeated. Why didn’t either of them get it?
“But it’s better to try than not, right?” Stacy said.
“Yes, talking has always helped,” Schneep agreed.
Chase looked back and forth between the two of them. Then he sighed. They clearly weren’t going to leave this alone. “Alright. Fine. If we can find Chad at lunch we can talk to him.”
“You can talk to him,” Stacy repeated. “We’ll be there for support and nothing more.”
“Fine. Whatever.”
And so, that day in the cafeteria, Schneep dragged Chase over to the corner table where Stacy said she would meet them. She was already there, clutching a pink lunch box and waiting for them to approach. “Ready?”
“Yeah, sure,” Chase mumbled. He idly scanned the cafeteria. Every available spot was packed with round tables, and every available table was already packed with kids. “Uhhhh I don’t see Chad anywhere.”
“He usually sits near the middle, ja?” Schneep prompted.
He did, and Chase knew that, but he was trying to find an excuse to avoid this. Sure, he wanted to know why Chad hadn’t talked to him once in months, but he didn’t want to actually ask him about that. What if he didn’t like the reason? What if Chad didn’t want to be friends anymore? As long as Chase didn’t bring it up, he could pretend that nothing had changed and Chad was just being weird about it. But the moment he found out...
Stacy climbed onto the bench attached to the table, using it as a stool to see over the heads of the other students. “I see him,” she announced, and climbed back down. “C’mon.” She started weaving in between the tables. Chase hesitated. Then Schneep nudged him, and he had no choice but to follow Stacy.
Chad was sitting at a table with a bunch of other guys. Keith, Terry, Alex, Miguel—Chase recognized them all. They’d already gotten their lunches and were all laughing at something. Chase stopped walking. “Chase, for the sake of god,” Schneep muttered, just barely loud enough to be heard through cafeteria chatter.
“I can’t do this in front of a whole group of guys, Schneep,” Chase muttered back at the same volume.
“Well it looks like Stacy will not let you do it some other way,” Schneep pointed out. Stacy had noticed that Chase stopped and was now staring at him as she stood right next to Chad’s table. All the guys had noticed her and stopped laughing. They looked like they weren’t sure what to do about it.
Chase sighed. “God... dang it,” he whispered. He adjusted his blazer, took a deep breath, and kept walking. As he got close, he put a grin on his face and tried to relax. “Hey, Stacy,” he said as he got closer to her, as if he’d just met her randomly.
“Hi, Chase,” Stacy said, not smiling. Her eyes darted back to the group of guys.
“Oh hey, Chad,” Chase said. He managed to keep a casual tone despite the way his heart was pounding with nerves. Schneep walked up next to him, staying slightly behind.
“Hey, Chase!” Chad gasped. “Bro! I haven’t seen you since I got back from camp! I don’t think we have any classes together, that’s crazy. How’ve you been?”
Chase laughed. “Uh, yeah, I’ve been good, bro. I’ve, uh, been wanting to talk to you for a while.” He noticed the way Stacy stepped back but didn’t actually leave. Her eyes drilled holes into the side of his head.
“Oh shoot really?” Chad looked over at the rest of the guys. The four of them had started eating lunch, but they were paying attention. Chase knew because they were quiet. They would have started talking about something else if they really didn’t care. “About what?”
“I mean, uh...” Chase swallowed a lump in his throat. How was he supposed to phrase this? “I’ve, uh, seen you a couple of times in the hallway and stuff, and here at lunch, and you like... haven’t said anything. And I have your phone number, I called you a couple times. So I was just wondering... is there, like, something going on, or...?”
“Oh. Uh...” Chad stopped smiling. He leaned back, but didn’t stand up. “I mean... I dunno.”
“Right.” Chase nodded. “I mean... I just want to know. Cause like... if I did something wrong, I want to know... so I can stop doing the thing.”
“Yeah, uh... that makes sense.” Chad stopped talking. The silence stretched between them, somehow louder than the surrounding chatter. “I, uh, I’d love to hang out sometime,” Chad finally said. “If you’re, like... not busy.”
“I’m not that busy,” Chase said. True, he and the others had stuff to deal with. Like Anti and the planetarium and the mystery group. And school. But he’d drop all that if Chad wanted to do something. “I dunno if you thought I was, but I’m not busy.”
“No, I didn’t think that. I just wasn’t sure if...” Chad hesitated. “If you were gonna keep being all...”
“All... what?” Chase prompted.
“You know, like... being a bummer and stuff.” Chad looked embarrassed. It wasn’t clear if that was because he didn’t want to say it to Chase, or because he didn’t want to say it in front of other people.
Chase blinked. “What? What’re you talking about?”
“You know, like, all last term,” Chad continued. “You never wanted to do anything or talk about anything. And when we did stuff you just kinda... sat there. We went to the park to skate once and you just stayed on the bench the whole time. And if we got snacks you never ate what you got. Like, why’d you get it in the first place? It just... wasn’t all that fun.”
Chase could only stare at him. “My dad left.” His voice was completely flat.
“You talk to him on the phone and stuff, right?” Chad said. “And you still get presents for your birthday. It’s kinda like you get two parties, hah. And he can come back whenever he wants. It’s not like he’s gone forever.”
The silence continued to stretch. Chase continued to stare. This... couldn’t be real, could it? It had to be some sort of dream. It was too unbelievable. This wasn’t a real conversation. This wasn’t really Chad. It couldn’t be.
Someone coughed behind him. “Chase, we still need to get lunch,” Schneep said, grabbing Chase’s hand. “We should go right now.”
“Oh hey, you’re the new kid!” Chad said, eagerly changing the subject. “What’s your name again?”
“Henrik. I am Chase’s cousin.” Schneep’s voice was cold. Businesslike.
“Oh cool! I don’t think he’s ever mentioned you. But I’ve seen you around. You guys hang out with the Jacksons together, right?”
“Yes.” Schneep took a step back, pulling Chase’s arm. “Come on, Chase.”
“Yeah, we have stuff to do after you get your lunches,” Stacy jumped in. “C’mon.”
“...yeah.” Chase nodded. He took a step back. “Bye, Chad.”
“Uh... bye.” Chad looked a bit confused. But as Chase, Schneep, and Stacy walked away, he turned back to the other guys at the table and started talking again, the confusion instantly vanishing.
The three of them didn’t go to the line to get lunch. Instead, Schneep pulled Chase around the tables, out of the cafeteria, and a little way down the hall. It was empty out here. Most students were inside the cafeteria, and the ones skipping lunch were gone by now. The three of them were completely alone. “Is everything okay, Chase?” Schneep asked gently.
“I-I don’t know.” Chase’s voice was quiet. He couldn’t make himself talk louder.
“What a jerk!” Stacy put her hands on her hips.
“He’s not a jerk, he just doesn’t get it.” Chase stared absentmindedly at the lockers across the hall, not really seeing them.
“Well, he should want to get it, and he didn’t!” Stacy huffed. “I know you don’t like Heather, but at least she would try to understand! I mean, I don’t think she’d really... do anything about it...” She trailed off for a moment. Then shook her head and returned to righteous anger. “But this isn’t about Heather! It’s about that guy, and that guy’s a jerk!”
“Who would—who would say that to—to someone who looked—” Schneep struggled with the words. He suddenly cried out and shouted something in very angry German. Then kicked the base of a nearby locker.
That got a smile out of Chase. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so mad.”
“You deserve to be mad over!” Schneep shouted. “I should be mad when the bad things happen to you! And you should be mad, too!”
“It’s fine.” Chase let out a breath and leaned his head back against the wall. It hit a locker with a gentle thunk. “At least I know what it was all about now.”
“Yeah.” Stacy nodded sharply. “Now you can forget about him and move on.”
“Sure.” Chase didn’t think he would forget. But maybe he could move on. “I can’t believe the Jackson twins were better at... what they said when I told them about Dad...” he mumbled.
“Why wouldn’t they be?” Stacy narrowed her eyes.
“I dunno. I just...”
“Is it because they’re magic weirdos?” Stacy asked in a weirdly demanding tone.
“Bro, don’t call them that,” Chase said defensively.
“Omg, you called them that first!” Stacy gasped.
“I what? When?”
“When we were walking up that staircase from the weird basement beneath the planetarium! You said you hung out with magic weirdos!”
“Oh!” Chase suddenly remembered. “No, I didn’t mean it like that, I meant it like that’s what other people would say.”
“Yeah, and you said you didn’t want other people to say that about you! That you didn’t want to be called a weirdo, too!”
“Well I don’t.”
“Chase!” Schneep gaped at him.
“That came out mean, I didn’t mean that,” Chase said, turning to him. “Look, no one wants to be called names or insulted or anything.”
“You’re right, no one does!” Schneep agreed. “I don’t want to be! And yet, I have heard what other kids have said. You know, Chase, I am also a weirdo to them, because I am short, or I talk different, or I am too smart. Anyone will be a weirdo! It means nothing! I do not care what other kids say. You should not care either! Especially when you know that someone is not weird!”
“I... the twins are weird, though,” Chase whispered.
“And so?” Schneep challenged. “Have you not fought monsters with them? Are they not your friends?”
“N-no, of course they are, I just...” Chase trailed off. Shame heated his face. He looked away from Schneep and Stacy. “I know I shouldn’t care,” he muttered. “But I do, and I don’t know how to not care about it the way Marvin and JJ do.”
“Are you sure they don’t care about people calling them weird?” Stacy prompted.
“I... I was sure, up until you said that.” Weird people didn’t care that others thought they were strange. If they did, they would have stopped being weird a long time ago. Right? That’s how Chase would have reacted. Was he doing it wrong?
“O... m... g.” Stacy stared at him. “Of course they care! Didn’t you notice how Marvin reacted when you called him a magic weirdo?!”
“...No?” Chase squirmed. “Am... am I a bad friend?”
Stacy sighed. “No. You’re not. That Chad guy is a bad friend. You’re just dumb. Just say you’re sorry the next time you see them.”
Schneep nodded. “These sort of, ah... mistakes seem to be common with you. I think Marvin will understand.”
“Right.” Chase nodded.
“Great.” Stacy grinned. “Now we have to eat before lunch period is over. You guys should go get your lunches.”
“Uh...” Chase glanced back towards the open cafeteria doors. “I kinda don’t want to go back in there...”
“Is fine, Chase,” Schneep assured him. “Stacy and I can get food and take it out here for you. That is allowed, ja?”
“I think so.”
“I have to go through the lunch line? Ugh.” Stacy shook her head. “I hate that. It’s crowded.”
“Is that why you always bring your own lunch?” Schneep asked, pointing at her lunch bag.
Stacy shrugged. “My parents don’t like the school food. But anyway, I gotta get your lunch before they stop serving food. C’mon, Schneep.” And she headed back inside.
Schneep patted Chase on the arm. “We will be right back,” he said quietly. “You... be... take, ah, care of yourself.” And with that awkward but heartfelt wish, Schneep followed Stacy inside.
Chase would later learn that students were not, in fact, allowed to take food out of the cafeteria. But for this lunch, the three of them sat on the floor of the hallway together, silently eating. And even though it was a bit uncomfortable, Chase was much happier sitting here than he would have been sitting with Chad.
++++++++++++++++++++
“Chase, do you still have homework?” Mom asked in the car after school.
“Uh... yeeahh,” Chase admitted, squirming in his seat.
Mom sighed. “You have to keep on top of it this year, you know,” she said gently.
“I know, I know.” Chase nodded. “Why don’t you ever ask Henrik if he has homework?”
“I do not have homework,” Schneep offered from the back seat. “If you need help, Chase, I can help.”
Mom chuckled. “I don’t ask Henrik because he always tells me. Which I really appreciate, Henrik, but you don’t have to worry about it so much. Chase, however, might have to worry about his grades.”
“I’ll do it right when we get home, I promise,” Chase said.
And indeed, the moment he got home he took his backpack right up to his bedroom, Schneep following him up the stairs. “I did mean it when I said I can help,” he said. “I do not mind.”
“Nah, bro, you don’t have to. Go have fun reading or whatever.” Chase reached his bedroom and pulled open the door. “I can handle some—”
There was a person in his room.
Chase stared. Schneep gasped. Anti, sitting on Chase’s bed, smiled and waved. “Hi,” he said quietly.
“Wh...” Chase glanced over his shoulder. Mom was still downstairs, but if he shouted, she would definitely hear it. Should he? He looked at Schneep, who was pale; he reached out and gripped Chase’s arm tightly, but didn’t run from Anti. Chase took a deep breath and turned back. “What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? What are you doing?” Anti asked.
“Uh... h-homework?”
Anti stood up. His shadowy body was a bit less translucent than Chase remembered. “Why?”
“Because... it’s... important?” Chase said, confused.
“You have more important things to do,” Anti insisted. “The planetarium. Do you remember the planetarium? Did you forget?”
“Um, no, but... but what do you mean?” Chase asked. He noticed Schneep moving slightly in the corner of his vision, but didn’t dare look away from Anti.
“You haven’t done anything about the greenlight in the planetarium,” Anti said in a low voice. “Why? You’ve done something about all the other greenlight things you’ve found. Take care of this one!”
Chase took a step backwards. “Do something? Like what?”
“I don’t care. Just something.” Anti tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Like you’re supposed to. You’re ruining everything by just waiting.”
“W-well, we...” Chase’s eyes flicked to the side. Schneep had entirely disappeared from his field of vision, and was now crouching down close to the ground. “We don’t know what to do yet. It’s a big empty room, not a monster.”
“You’re all smart, aren’t you?” Anti took a step forward. “You should have a plan by now.”
“Maybe we just haven’t had enough time!” Chase protested. “I mean—i-it took us all summer to catch that monster dog, right? And we didn’t have school and homework and stuff taking up all day.”
Anti seemed to consider that. His posture relaxed slightly. “School, hmm? Making you busy?” He giggled. “That’s funny. What’s the word? It’s ironed.”
“...Ironic?” Chase asked hesitantly.
“Ironic. It’s ironic that the school is keeping you from the greenlight.” Anti grinned. “Maybe it’s not as far away as you thi—”
Suddenly, Schneep stood up straight and moved his arm. He threw something! Chase’s baseball had been lying by the bedroom door. He’d grabbed it and thrown it right at Anti. But the ball went right through Anti’s shadowy chest and bounced against the glass of the window behind him.
Anti’s smile vanished. “I was talk͠ing̢,” he growled. His voice sounded strange. Crackly, like an untuned car radio.
Schneep stiffened, white as a ghost. “Es tut mir Leid,” he whispered.
Chase stepped in front of him. He could feel Schneep trembling slightly, his grip on his arm squeezing tighter. “Our mom is right downstairs,” he announced. “If we scream she’s gonna hear it and come running.”
Anti’s green eyes stared into his. The lightbulb in the overhead light flickered on, then off. “That’s nice,” he said in a flat voice. And then without another word, he disappeared.
The two boys waited for a few seconds to see if he would reappear. When he didn’t, Chase immediately whirled around to look at Schneep. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Ja—yes.” Schneep nodded. He’d stopped shaking and was regaining some color. “I thought—I-I wanted to see if he could be touched—and then I—I did not like... the way he said that.”
“Yeah,” Chase said. “But you’re okay. He left.”
“He did.” Schneep nodded again. “Ah... thank you. That was very brave, stepping in front.”
“Well what’s he gonna do? He’s like a ghost. You just proved he can’t touch anything.” Chase looked at the spot where Anti had been and stuck out his tongue. “He’s just a jerk.”
Schneep laughed. “H-he is.” A moment passed. “You... said ‘our’ mom.”
“I did?” Chase blinked. “I didn’t even realize. But, uh, are you okay with that?”
“I... do not know,” Schneep said slowly. “I like ‘our.’ But... things are complicated.”
“Alright. I’ll try not to do it again, then.” Chase paused. “Y’know, actually, can you help me with homework? I’m having trouble with some chemistry equations.”
Schneep nodded. “Yes! Of course! I have those in my memory.”
“Already?” Chase laughed. “Okay. In that case, you can sit in my beanbag and quiz me.”
As the two of them settled in, neither of them noticed the strange shadow outside the open window. Neither of them realized it watched them for a couple minutes before finally leaving.
++++++++++++++++++++
“Hey Jackie, did you hear?”
Jackie jumped slightly. He’d been staring absentmindedly into his locker, still thinking about the meeting he’d had with the kids at Chase’s house the day before yesterday. Anti appearing in JJ and Marvin’s room had really worried him. So had everything about the mystery group. But he put that out of his mind for now. “Hey, Syl,” he said, turning to look at Sylvester, who’d walked up next to him. “Hear about what?”
“The planetarium collapsed last night!” Sylvester said.
“What?!”
“Yeah, crazy, right?! Mincy told me everything in Math this morning.”
“That’s—what?” Jackie repeated. “How?”
Sylvester shrugged. “No one knows. Maybe it was built on a sinkhole or something. Or maybe something happened with the structure, like it was weak or something.”
A sinkhole wasn’t very likely, but... there was a big, wide-open space below the planetarium. That strange basement. If something happened down there, could the whole building have collapsed into it? “Was anyone inside?”
“Uh, some of the senior staff members were, so that sucks.”
“...yeah.” Jackie nodded. He turned back to his locker and grabbed the textbook he was looking for. “Yeah, that... really sucks.”
As he closed the locker, he could have sworn it was darker inside than normal. As if there was an extra shadow there.
He left too quickly to notice the faint laughter.
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nodirectionhome-ao3 · 11 months
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Oooh that letter from James to Remus. You've got me hooked now that you've mentioned!
Thanks!!
Received the same ask from @crumbofmoon and @funbunnypotter26, so here it is!
The letter from James to Remus. 31 October, 1981:
Dear Remus, Happy Halloween! I hope you’re doing okay. Lily and I have been watching the moon and thinking of you. Not much to report on our end. Things are quiet here. You won’t believe how much Harry has grown since you last saw him. He’s started walking (very slowly) and it’s such a thrill to see him tottering about downstairs! We seem to have misplaced our camera, but we’ll find it and Lily will get you a photo soon. Speaking of, Lily misses you loads, I can tell. Have you been getting her letters? She’s been reading those books you got her last Christmas, to pass the endless time here, and I know she’s just dying to talk to you about them. I try my best to listen, but I’m no use. I keep forgetting which characters are which, and it’s hard to talk about a story when you can’t remember who the good guys are! I’m going to read the first book when Lily’s done with it, though, so that will help. I know you’re busy these days, so I’ll understand if you can’t make it, but we’re throwing a surprise party for Sirius’s birthday on Tuesday, and we’d like to see you. I know you and Sirius haven’t been on good terms for a while, but I hope you’ll still come. I really need to talk to you. Pete will be here too, obviously. He’s been really sad lately, but he won’t tell me why. I think he misses you too. Our location is under some new protections now. I can’t explain it to you here, so just let me know if you can make it, and we’ll work out the details. Hope to hear from you soon. And please, for the love of Merlin and Quidditch, stay safe out there. James P.S. Harry says hi. Yours is still the only nickname he can say correctly!
WIP Game
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Don't Blame Me | John 'Soap' MacTavish x F!OC
Chapter 9: Run
Ao3 | Masterpost
John 'Soap' Mactavish wasn't thrilled to be given an escort mission to bring a young woman halfway across the world to a secret safe house especially when he has to pretend to be her husband. At least she's pretty.
General Tags: Fake Marriage, Eventual Romance, Fluff, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Slow Build, Canon-Typical Violence
Words: 2k
CW: Mentions of Domestic Abuse
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He taped a piece of tarp to the broken window. He thought about stealing another car and decided against it. He felt bad enough about this one. He couldn’t steal someone’s car just before Christmas. He’d stopped believing in God a long time ago but he knew if he was real that would get him sent to hell for sure. 
It would take almost twenty-four hours to get to British Columbia from here. They decided to stay stateside till Washington. 
They’d get new clothes, toiletries, and anything else before they crossed over. He just wanted to put as much distance between them and Chicago as possible. 
They hadn’t talked much since the restaurant. They’d both dug into each other a bit and it still stung. It wasn’t out of cruelty, just genuine curiosity. Maybe he should have opened up a bit more to her. It’s not like she would know who Hassan was. 
He couldn’t stand the silence in the car and turned on the radio. Most of it was Christmas music. He flipped through till he found one he liked.
“Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away!” He sang along, nudging her with his elbow to get her to join in “This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special. Come on, Nina!”
“I remember this song.” She pushed his arm away but there was a smile tugging at her face. 
“Trust me, by the time we get there you’ll know all the Christmas songs.” He wanted to see her smile fully break through. “You celebrated Christmas when you were younger, right?”
“Younger, keyword.”
“I can fix that. We have to make it up for all that lost time.” 
“We don’t.” She was shaking her head.
“Listen, if we’re gonna be stuck together for it we’re celebrating. Cook up something nice and drink ourselves stupid. Pure blootered.” 
He was running through plans in his head. Most trees would be sold out but he was sure he could find a good bottle of scotch and a couple of steaks to cook. She didn’t seem entirely convinced. 
“It’ll be fun, Neen.” He turned up the music and tugged on her coat sleeve to get her to sway along with him.
The driving was easy. Just long stretches of straight highways cutting through the plains and farmland. Everything was covered in a layer of snow, it made him feel like he was driving through a snow globe. 
“Why did Price call you Soap?” She asked a little after they crossed into North Dakota. They’d broken into a bag of crisps. 
“It’s a nickname. Lots of people get them.” 
“I know what a nickname is. Why is yours Soap?” 
“Can’t tell you.” He said, reaching into her lap to grab a handful. 
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Classified,” He smirked, before eating. 
“You’re so boring sometimes,” She rolled her eyes and groaned.
“Because I won’t tell you classified information?” He chuckled.
“Who am I going to tell? Price? I’m sure he knows already.”
“You could tell your future friends.”
“I’m not going to live that long,” She laughed. 
“Don’t say that, Neen.” He stopped laughing, his mouth forming a thin line. 
“It’s just a joke.” She was getting defensive now. He didn’t want a fight.
“It’s not funny.” His knuckles turned white around the steering wheel. He didn’t know how to tell her that the past twenty-four hours had been his most terrifying. That he kept his hand on her knee to know that she was still alive next to him, afraid her brain would bleed out of her head. That when he woke up and saw his knife missing he wanted to throw up. He’d never failed a mission, come close but always won over in the end. Trying to keep her safe felt like holding water in his hands. “I kill anyone who tries to hurt you.”
“I think I killed the last guy who hurt me, actually,” She smirked.
“Aye, ye did. Absolute weapon you are.” He was smiling again too. “I could have handled it though.”
“He was going to stab you in the face.”
“Would’ve gotten a nice new scar if it wasn’t for ya.” He ran his thumb over the scar on his chin. “I think one by my eye would have looked cool.”
“What happened here?” She asked, dragging a finger over her own chin. “Or is that also classified?”
“Cheeky.” He playfully pushed against her arm, “Just a fight when I was kid.”
“What was the fight about?”
“Couldn’t tell ya. Got punched in the back of the head, fell, and cut my chin open. My mates had to drag me to hospital. My maw was pissed.” He laughed. “So, you got any cool scars?”
“I don’t know if it’s cool but I have this.” She rolled up the edge of her shirt, and on her left side was a divet. A gunshot wound, small probably from long range. It was years old judging from how healed it was. 
“Who fucking shot you?”
“It was a hunting accident.” She said, pulling her shirt back down. “My dad and I were unknowingly going for the same deer. I hit the deer, he hit me.”
“Steamin’ bloody Jesus. How old were you?”
“Fourteen,” She shrugged. “It wasn’t on purpose, I know that. The first and only time I ever saw him cry was when he had to dig it out. It’s not as bad as it sounds.”
“I’ve been shot before it’s pretty fucking bad.” He was always surprised at how casually she could talk about her life. It made him wince hearing her treat getting shot like it was a skinned knee you get from falling off a bike. 
“Maybe you were just a baby about it then,” she giggled. She fucking giggled and that made him grin. 
It was getting dark by the time he decided they needed to make a full stop. He pulled into a larger truck stop. There were a couple fast food restaurants inside as well as a convenience store and gift shop. He slipped her a hundred.
“Get whatever you want. I’ll fill up the car.” He kept his eye on her from outside, using any window to keep track as she walked around filling up a basket. Even over some of the shelves, he could see the top of her head. He only lost sight of her as he put the pump back. 
He grabbed his own basket and immediately went to the fridges, grabbing multiple energy and sports drinks. He would sleep when he got her there. He hadn’t found her again but he could hear the slap of her slippers on the linoleum. He could hear her voice, she sounded irritated. Someone was talking back but he couldn’t make out the words. 
“Don’t touch me!” It was Nina. He dropped the basket, rushing down the main way till he saw her. An older man was hovering over her, a hand still outstretched towards her face. A red hand print blooming on his cheek. He moved faster than he could think. He pushed himself between them, placing an arm across Nina’s chest to move her behind him. 
“This is your wonderful husband, I assume?” He was English; London accent. He was older, in his later forties probably. He wasn’t dressed for the weather, oxfords, black pants, and an older-looking green jacket. 
“Do we have a problem?” John growled. His fingers wrapped around her arm protectively, and her muscles were tense. 
“You’re lovely wife seems a little worse for wear. Doing the civil thing and making sure she’s okay. Isn’t that right, love?” He craned his neck to look at Nina. She was holding onto the back of his coat. Her soft tugs pleading to let them leave. 
“You touch er’?” He couldn’t hide his rage. The man was the same height as him but John was bigger, stronger. ‘Give me a reason, fucker’ he thought. 
“George, we should go. It’s not a big deal.” She hadn’t called him that since New York. He could hear in her voice she was scared, he tightened his grip on her arm reassuringly. 
“I should ask you the same thing. Poor thing’s bruised like an apple.” He knew he didn’t need to defend himself to this stranger but did people think he did that to Nina? It made his stomach flip just at the idea. “Got a bit upset about the world cup, did you?”
“Did you touch my wife?” He barked it like an order. He grabbed the front of the man’s jacket, letting go of Nina. His other hand was clenched tightly. He would have taken all his anger and fear out on this man, beaten him bloody into the floor. He would have if he didn’t feel Nina’s hand wrap around his fist. Her mouth was against his shoulder, he could feel her warm breath on his ear. 
“Let’s just get our stuff and leave.” He let go of the man and let Nina pull him to the front register. He kept his arm around her, anyone who wanted to get close to her would have to go through him. 
“Enjoy your honeymoon, lovebirds,” the man called from across the parking lot as he helped Nina into the car. 
He slammed the door as he got in the car, it took him longer to get it started than usual. Nina was watching the man in the rearview for him. As soon as the engine started he pulled out as fast as he could.
“Are you okay?” He asked, his hand on her knee again. She was still looking in the rearview, not listening. He shook her leg a little. “Nina, are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh…yeah… I’m okay. I just…I don’t know.”
“Nina, did he touch you? I need you to tell me what happened.”
“Just my face.” She said, her own hand glossing over her bruised cheeks. “He sounded familiar.”
His stomach dropped.
“What do you mean? Do you know him?”
“I don’t know. I just felt like I’ve heard his voice before.” She was drifting away from him, gazing out the window. He shook her out of her head. 
“What did he say to you?”
“He was asking about my face and what happened and he saw the ring so he was asking if my husband did it. I told him I didn't want to talk and he touched my face and then you were there and you were yelling and I thought you were going to kill him and I didn’t know what to do.” She was blazing through her words, breathing hard. 
“Nina, you’re okay. I’m right here.” He rubbed circles on her knee, wishing he could do more. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Nina. You’re safe though. He won’t follow us, he won’t find us. If he does, it’ll be the last thing he ever fucking does.”
All his promises were followed with threats. Violence had become his greatest love language. He didn’t know how to show he cared besides that. He’d kill that man for her but he wouldn’t touch her, not more than this. He’d call her his wife but he wouldn’t kiss her. He’d clean her wounds but would fight about sleeping in the same bed. 
Her hand rested on his. It was warm and he could feel every muscle and tendon twitch beneath her skin. The involuntary movements, just her being alive next to him. Her hand fitted perfectly with his and it made him sweat. He thought about the train and how that seemed like half a lifetime ago. The warmth of her fingers against his skin in the dark. 
He flipped his hand over so their palms were against each other. He was slow as he took the band of her hand and pressed his lips against it. He didn’t know how else to tell her he cared. 
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Tag List: @yeyinde @queen-ilmaree @yearningforsappho
LMK if you want to be added for this or any other fic 💗
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kaythekat · 3 months
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This is the only social media I can just send this into the void and most of the people in my life won’t see it. So here goes.
I had a dream about an ex partner last night. We were having Christmas. Gifts all around. It was happy, there was so much joy, I felt like I belonged and had a home. It felt new, exciting, fresh, and so good to be a part of a family that loved each other so hard.
With conditions of course.
I can’t tell you how many hours in my life I have woken up from a dream and spent countless hours trying to understand what it meant. Laying in bed trying to figure out my subconscious and what it meant to me.
Google tells me that if you have a dream closer to when you wake up it indicates you are coming to realize that you are mourning the relationship or you miss who you were during that period of your life.
My last long term partner was great, made good money, loved me, had a beautiful house, friends, a family, everything I ever desired. House wasn’t a house, it was a home. Or so I thought.
It’s officially been three years since that breakup. Three years is how long we were together. He’s married now.
I tell myself so much I made the right choice. That man loved me, conditionally. It felt right from the outside, but I didn’t feel it on the inside. He wanted the house, the job, the wife, the family, the image. You know what I wanted? To be seen. To be heard.
As I’ve been working in therapy this year I’ve come to the realization that I have so many wounds. Emotion wounding that was the base line for who I was. My body has been in survival since I could remember. I never felt unconditionally loved, never felt safe, never once felt like I belonged until I was with him. But as time passed I just realized how conditional it really was. It wasn’t about me, he wanted a wife and a mother I knew I couldn’t give him that. I knew that what he wanted didn’t align with what I wanted. I made poor choices, I had bad behavior, I ruined our relationship time and time again and he forgave me, why? He wanted someone to fill his dream and I just sat in the first row spot.
After the breakup I mourned him, his family which gave me so much love— it felt like a family I belonged in. They hugged me, told me that they loved me, it was what saved me when I didn’t want myself. But realizing that it wasn’t about me, it was about their son.
Now here I am three years later still mourning a man - that never could have worked out. He’s married now to a woman who probably wants those same things he is after. Not on his clock, but soon I’m sure. After a fake dream of a memory that never happened.
I now have a partner who shows me what it’s liked to unconditionally be loved. He sees me. Sees my heart and soul and I never once think I can’t ask or tell him for anything. It’s a strange feeling being so broken and weak and feeling that unconditional love is not as good as conditional. I’ve never had to be anything other than myself around him and his family. I’ve never once had to not be myself or hide what I believe in because his family agrees with me. I’ve never felt ashamed of who I am around them. And yet, it still feels so foreign.
My parents don’t tell me that they love me, it’s always an afterthought or a forced interaction. An act covered with a blanket of sarcasm and fear. I realize now that they too have emotional wounding so far beyond themselves. They don’t say good job, or ask about work, they only care about my future spouse or what he can do for me. It’s so hard to understand what love is.
To me love was being controlled. Being taught that if someone gave you the time of day to take it because who else would? I’m high maintenance, I ask for too much, I have too high of standards. Ok? As if basic human connection is a high standard. I realize now that asking for something gets you something. Not being passive, not waiting for someone to offer. Asking will get you something.
I have the love you dream about, the bend over backwards love and it still stings. It feels so hard to accept. This past year has been a transformation of who I am.
I’ve learned the brain is a muscle and although it’s hard to retrain it can be done.
I love my partner, I do not love myself, and I’m working on that.
So having the dreams that make me miss who I WAS makes it so hard to feel like what I have is valuable. It makes me miss when I was comfortable in my misery being a slave to misogyny. It makes me miss not having my own thoughts, it makes me want for a person who would rather have sex with a person who was not interested, it makes me miss someone who never actually wanted, me, but themselves.
That’s not who I am anymore. And it’s uncomfortable. But I’d rather have this then pretending or keeping a false image
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bitletsanddrabbles · 1 year
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The Gift Reflects the Giver
Since I did Valentine’s Day fiction last Christmas for @alex51324 ‘s Island of the Gays, I decided I should do Christmas for Valentine’s Day. Got an idea all thought up...made a false start...or two...and then burned out on writing for ages.
It being Christmas time again and me being stuck at home for the day (It’s raining! IT’S RAINING! Go little rain drops! Melt that ice!) I decided it was a good time to write it.
This probably won’t actually go up on Ao3 for Christmas...at least not the first day. Might get it up before the 12th, we’ll see. I need to read back over the Island and see if I can’t get Mr. Braceridge sounding more...well...himself. Turns out it’s kinda hard to write from his PoV and still have him sound right. But for now, Merry Christmas, everyone.
-
-
John looked around the cottage’s parlour, frowning. The place looked as festive as one could ask, but there was something missing. Much of the village had gone out gathering greens for decorating. Timothy had been kept at home by his rheumatism, John had eagerly lead the party, pointing out which plants had weak branches that could be sacrificed for the cause, which were too young and should be left alone, and which plants - namely ivy - were invasive weeds that didn’t belong but which somehow kept making their way to the island and could be ruthlessly harvested for the season. Berries had been added to the collection and strung on strings for garlands. John and Timothy had gotten their fair share of these and they were now strewn artistically around the room. An empty bird’s nest from the barn perched on a particularly sturdy set of boughs, for luck.
Timothy had proclaimed it perfect, but there was something missing…
“We need a tree.”
Timothy looked up from where he was working on notes for the coming Sunday’s sermon. “We do not need a tree, John.”
John turned his frown on his husband. “But it’s tradition! Surely you want one.”
“I’m happy with the room the way it is,” Timothy informed him, setting down his pen. “Besides, if we get a tree, other couples will want one too. We can’t afford to chop down that many, especially the conifers. Alders, perhaps, but alders don’t make very good Christmas trees, even if you could find one that would fit in here.”
“If you say so,” John muttered, turning back to his examination of the room.
“I do.”
John let the subject drop, but despite the other man’s assurances, he couldn’t bring himself to believe his husband wouldn’t be happier with a tree. He looked at the time and shook his head. “Ah well, time for me to get started on the stew, I suppose.”
Timothy had gone back to his sermon notes. Without looking up he said, “It’s raining cats and dogs outside, so cook it in here or you’ll catch your death.”
“Yes, dear.”
-
The tobacconists shop had a shipment of mistletoe shipped over from the mainland, since unlike the ivy it hadn’t made its way over. Fitzroy had also gotten in a selection of Christmas cards and ornaments, which other island residents had purchased for hanging off the greens they’d gathered. After a boat shipment had brought over a collection of ornaments from Brancaster castle, specially requested from Lord Hexham from some cousin he had on the mainland, John could stand it no longer.
If the Marquess was surprised to find the former scout master on his doorstep, he hid it well, simply inviting the other man in and offering him a cup of tea.
“I wouldn’t say no,” John replied, taking in the interior of the other man’s cottage. It was certainly well turned out, and far more glamorous than his own home, although John privately thought he preferred the strings of berries to the glittering gold and silver of Lord Hexham’s ornaments. At the other man’s gesture he took a seat in what proved to be a very comfortable wingback chair as Lord Hexham placed the order for tea with his butler. John didn’t think a cottage this size really needed a butler, but it did, he suppose, provide employment for at least one of the villages residents.
“Right then,” the Marquess settled himself in another chair, which was a completely different design than the one John occupied, but no less elegant. “What can I do for you, Mr. Braceridge?”
“Well, it’s like this,” John explained, frowning, trying to gage the best approach to his request. “I think Timothy would like a Christmas tree. I know,” he added hastily, “we’ve never had one before. Everyone’s said that, including Timothy.” He had, by this point, broached the subject with several other members of the community and run up against just that protest. “But I can’t help feeling that he’d be happier if he did.”
“Alright,” the other man replied, frowning slightly. “Er, has he said he’d like a tree?”
“He hasn’t, but that’s because there are so many reasons not to get one. Lack of room in the cottage, lack of proper trees…they’re all good points, but the don’t mean he wouldn’t like a tree.”
Lord Hexham didn’t look overly convinced, but he didn’t interrupt.
“But I’ve been thinking and there’s that spruce just off the cricket pitch, between it and the church, that’s not too large -”
Here Lord Hexham did cut him off. “I say, old thing, I’m not overly familiar with Father Timothy, and I’d certainly not imply that you don’t know your own husband better than I do, but I can’t see him smiling on the idea of cutting down a village land mark like that. More to the point, I can’t see anyone else smiling on the idea either.”
“Oh, no, of course not!” John hurried to assure him. The thought honestly hadn’t crossed his mind. He wasn’t certain whether Timothy would disown him, skin him like a hare, or simply write a year’s worth of very cross sermons, but none of them bore thinking about. “No, I had something else in mind completely. Still, I’d like it to be a surprise, and so I’d need help pulling it off…”
-
John was up and out of bed early enough on Christmas morning to have the tea brewed before he heard Timothy stir. He quickly poured a cup, added the cream, and made his way into the bedroom where his husband was just blinking awake.
“Heavens, you’re up early,” the other man noted in a groggy sort of manner, propping himself up on the pillows and reaching for the offered beverage. “Thank you.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” John explained, trying to make it sound off handed, as if he’d simply suffered from a bit of insomnia rather than being too excited to lie still any longer. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” Timothy smiled at him over the rim of his cup. “Did you make breakfast too?”
John shook his head. They normally made breakfast together for Christmas, instead of the meal being made by whoever was up first, and he wasn’t about to break that tradition. Then he admitted, “No, but I did get the eggs laid out and the pan ready and sliced the bacon, so that’s ready to go.”
Timothy gave a little laugh of surprise. “Gracious, and here I am lounging around in bed! I should get up so we can get started on the cooking.”
“No, no, you have a lie in,” John protested. “It’s Christmas and you’ve been busy. I’ll just get myself a cup and come sit with you.” Before his husband could reply, he ducked back out and went to pour himself a cuppa’. While he was in the kitchen, he sporadically checked the weather again. Not that it would hurt if it was raining - and would be quite picturesque if it was snowing - but he was quite pleased to discover it was still dry, if overcast. That would allow for good visibility. Armed with his tea and a triumphant smile, he headed back into the bedroom. “Weather’s looking good for caroling later,” he announced, settling himself on his side of the bed. Caroling was one of Timothy’s annual projects, although since most of the village came along the actual door-to-door part was rather short. It ended with everyone in the parish hall having a general sing along and good time.
“Good,” Timothy sighed. “Not that I mind the snow, but it will be nice not to have my rheumatism acting up. And rain just isn’t very festive.”
“Not very, no.” The two of them drank their tea in companionable silence. John thought he did a very good job of acting natural through the whole thing, as if he wasn’t dying to suggest that Tim get up and dressed and they go make breakfast and that Tim look out the window…
Finally, after what seemed twice as long as normal, Timothy set his cup aside with a sigh. “That was a wonderful start to the day,” he smiled up at his husband, “thank you, dear.” With a stretch, he pushed back the covers and swung himself out of bed.
“It was no problem,” John assured him. “None at all. Christmas deserves something a little bit special, doesn’t it?”
“It does.”
John waited as patiently as he was able for his husband to get up and dressed, which wasn’t very patiently at all. In fact, he left after a couple of minutes to putter around in the kitchen and check out the window. It might have been his imagination, but it seemed like the overcast had lifted a little, making the world lighter and the scenery more visible. He smiled, then stoked the stove, got the lard ready, and pulled out the remaining kitchen utensils.
Timothy walked into the kitchen to find everything ready and waiting. He gave his husband a puzzled smile. “Are you particularly hungry today, dear?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” John smiled. “More that I’m invigorated. Ready for the Christmas festivities to begin.”
Still looking bemused, Timothy went over and looked out the window, clearly checking the weather.
John held his breath.
The other man blinked once. Twice. Then, without turning from the window, asked, “John?”
“Mm?”
“Are there berry strings on the spruce?”
Slowly, careful not to rush or betray any signs of excitement, John slid over to the window.
“And, are those ornaments?”
Unable to contain his excitement anymore, John grinned from ear to ear and slipped an arm around his husband’s waist. “Merry Christmas.”
Timothy laughed, shaking his head. “How did you manage it? You were inside all night, I know. It’s cold enough I’d have felt if you got up.”
It was true, the one down side of the whole project had been that he hadn’t been able to help decorate. That would be fixed next year. “I was, yes. It was supposed to be a surprise, after all! I asked Lord Hexham, as one of our foremost citizens, if he’d take control of the organizing the thing. He got some of the lads, not sure which ones, to slip out with lanterns after we’d turned in last night, and dress it up.”
“So that’s why you were in such a hurry to get to bed!”
“I was thinking we could make it an annual tradition,” John continued. He could see future trees in his minds eye as he spoke. “Since there aren’t enough trees for everyone to have their own, I thought we could have a community tree. Lord Hexham has already donated some ornaments, along with a few other people, but I thought we could have everyone donate something each year. Maybe have Bill Thorn teach people how to carve their own. That way it would really be our tree. What do you think?”
By now Timothy had turned and was watching him with a warm, if perhaps slightly exasperated, smile. He glanced back out at the tree and said, “I think it’s a lovely idea. And I’m glad I could give you an excuse to get your Christmas tree.” He leaned over and kissed his husband’s cheek. “Now, let’s get started on breakfast.”
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calypso-finale · 1 year
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Sixty Five.
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Lowering my snapback and pacing the airport arrivals in LAX, waiting on Rylee to come out, there is a slight delay with them getting off and it’s driving me mad just waiting around, I am trying to be incognito and it’s hard to be that when people are staring so hard, I have shades on but I don’t think it’s working but I assumed that Rylee was going to be quick off the plane and go. Seeing my daughter and Aziel, finally. The way Rylee is dragging him I just know he’s being a bad ass. Making my way over to them, I did a little jog. Waving at them, Rylee let his hand go and pointed at me, Aziel noticed and then ran to me “my big man, hello” catching him and picking him up “I missed you Aziel” hugging him close “kiss!” He started taking my shades off me as he does “hey” hugging Rylee “welcome home you fake British” Rylee laughed hitting me away “shut up dad” I am glad my kids will be home, that’s all I want is to have a good time with them, I have things planned out with Robyn to make sure we all get the most of them while they are all home, once they leave then it will be months until I see them all together again, I say that like I won’t be wanting them over for Christmas “how was the flight here?” Walking to get the suitcases, Aziel is busy trying my shades on now “it was ok, once he woke up it was hell. But when he was asleep nothing could wake him about then when I fell asleep, he woke up. Made sure I knew he was awake too, pulled my hair” I laughed “you pulling your momma weave off?” I laughed saying “yeah you” he touched the top of his head “you have been bullying mommy?” I asked Aziel “no!” He is such a liar this kid “sure, well you better be nice to her now. She is home” Rylee cooed out “well it’s nice to visit this place, that’s all. Other then that” she drifted off “other then what huh?” I questioned “nothing” nudging her “it’s nice to visit but home is UK now dad, you know that. I’m happy there” smiling at her “I can tell you’re happy, Monte Carlo? How random of him to take you there, like the usual Paris would be normal but Monte Carlo? That is different” Rylee laughed “you like the pictures?” Nodding my head “he’s in love and it’s showing on him, tell him that” I pointed “my case!” She spat running, next time this girl needs to get on a jet instead of just commercial business class, it’s all long this is, I didn’t think it would be or I would have bought a bodyguard with me. Luckily it seems like people are doing their own thing “oh no” Aziel said “you broke them right” I know that sound when the kids break things, I huffed out because he had to break my Versace glasses like that. Rylee has bought two big cases, putting Aziel down “let me take them, you hold him” I pointed, she done lied to me because what the hell is this “why are you bringing so much?” I asked “because it has some of Oakley stuff in here” letting out an oh, I was wondering where he was but I didn’t question it because you never know they may have fallen out, kids these days are always arguing so I just left it.
My daughter is stupid because I could have bought my sports car, I didn’t know she was bringing two big cases, how silly of her “I can’t believe you bought him candy dad, he will be hyper” waving her off “why didn’t you pre-warn me about the cases, I could have bought a sports car” I’m never picking her up again “well I didn’t know” side eyeing her “how didn’t you know? You packed it” she laughed “true, ok fine. I forgot, but it doesn’t matter we are all safely here” she has a point “where is Oakley? Like he could have done all that shit, did he make you struggle to get on the plane? You did it alone” I pointed “no dad” she laughed “he dropped me off; he checked me in and everything. Just he warned me that he would become busy, that he will have a lot on. So when we came back from Monte Carlo, he became busy, we haven’t looked for homes or anything, he’s in a hotel still, he’s been working day and night, I gave him a key to my apartment to keep, I would be woken up about five in the morning, nothing being said he would just you know get in bed with me and hug me, I would wake up, he’s gone. Then I would think I’m dreaming it but he said yeah I been coming, then I said look Emi party, you coming. He said I’m in Bulgaria, I’m like shut up Oakley that’s not right, so what happened was he dropped me off and in those cases he put his stuff in there, he’s gone there and I’m coming here, and he will meet me, Imani could have picked me up but seeing as she is also away, that’s why I asked you so that’s what happened and why he isn’t here, but he will meet me after, so he is coming just late. I personally feel he wanted to say he can’t, but he couldn’t” she really explained that “ok then, you answered that all” I chuckled “well I can sense you was mad with him that I was struggling but like he is actually busy, it’s hard. He’s trying to keep me happy, and I see it, but I miss him” nodding my head slowly “that is sweet, coming to you at the middle of the night” I said “I said that to him, and he goes it’s not, just I was tired. He’s such a liar but we are moving in together, a house up north. He’s moving away from west so to me this is the best news I heard, I am happy” least she is happy, I can’t be mad at that “you’re happy, I can’t fault it really” she is right, I was going to bite about him not being there. I don’t want my daughters suffering, I just wish they didn’t have to go and rely on men, but I will always be there for them.
Robyn and Rylee act like they wasn’t just beefing, women are different. They move different, Rylee asked to come home first which was nice she said that, and Robyn is happy her baby is home that’s what she said, I hope this time is just us bonding and having fun, I am learning to deal with these men they have too, I have no choice in that “are you happy though?” Mel asked her “I am in a better place then I was, I can’t lie. I am mentally better too, I am happy” resting against the frame of the door, watching Robyn, Rylee and Mel “oh god; don’t, I had a scare. I thought I got caught pregnant” I pulled a face “what” I said “dad! That’s nosey oh my god” Mel laughed out “I was embracing the moment! I didn’t think you was going to come out with that!” I spat “ugh! Well I had a meltdown, I felt like I did when I first thought it, I called him and he came with tests again, and he wasn’t happy, I mean we was protected. Then the rest was showing I was, took more of them and then it said no. I don’t know what that was about, I was so scared. I literally take something, and he was too” mean mugging Rylee “you going to end up like Robyn, ten kids deep” Mel laughed saying “no way! But it didn’t happen, dad. Relax” these kids are annoying always doing dumb shit “I am relaxed but what you playing at” Rylee side eyed me “literally happened, we was protected” Mel laughed even more, I walked off “you know he doesn’t want to know his daughters are having sex, he’s sensitive” Robyn said, turning back around “I’m not sensitive, of course people have sex but another baby? Like you need to not be stupid” Robyn waved me off “please Chris, stop being uptight” rolling my eyes “where is he anyways? He’s not coming? Ignore dad” oh now it’s ignore me, hearing Aziel crying “dad, I didn’t do anything!” Raihan said before anything “mommy” Aziel cried out “what happened though?” Oh he’s yelling “what happened?” Rylee rushed over “mommy” Rylee picked him up “oh what happened to his leg?” Raihan shrugged “he literally fell down, and he’s bleeding” Junior said “how?” I asked “Raihan pushed him” Junior aired him out “I told you about this! He is little!” Rylee shouted at them “wasn’t my fault! I was playing nice” he defended himself “shut up, get out of my face, move” Rylee walked off “he is still young” I said to Raihan “he spit on me though” I sighed out “don’t worry about it” walking off to see to him “those boys always play rough!” Rylee ranting “I know; but they wouldn’t harm him on purpose, they are kids themselves” she placed Aziel on the kitchen side, he looked at his leg and his lower lip poked out, poor him “you’ll be ok son, you’re a big boy” he put his hands up “awww ok, your mom will clean that too” Raihan is upset now too “I didn’t mean too” he said “don’t play with my son, you can’t be nice” I’m no getting involved with that, she will get over it eventually.
Sitting next to Mel “how do you feel to have the kids home?” She asked “happy, I just messaged Imani asking if she wants me to pick her up tomorrow, she said no she’s got it and then I asked Ti and she said she has Taylan and they are ok, they grown but I’m happy, it’s nice to have the kids together. I miss it; I miss them. And as we extend there is more drama, but I hope there is peace, we deserve some peace” I laughed “well it’s going to be busy for you, Robyn was saying you want to do a beach day, movie night with the family. You’re getting old” when Mel says it out loud it’s making me sound old “as long as the girls can kick their partners out we good” Mel shook her head “you still not used to them having a man” I shrugged “it’s weird, like even if I have a soft spot for Oakley it’s still weird to have them together, it’s just me as a dad. I get annoyed, even then I did” I spat “that’s why I laughed, I was like Rylee, your dad about to burst a vessel. Just appreciate time with them, they are becoming busy girls. They are too just for us, them being in different parts of the world, it’s just time goes quick. I worry about melody now she is growing” nodding my head “and cause drama” Mel groaned out “I know, I said there would be a time where the kids would make us fall out and it happened” nodding my head slowly “kids will always be the issue, and then Robyn and I had Emi, poor girl. She is going to feel weird though. Imagine she is hitting her I am doing what I want age and her sisters are turning forty, weird age gap” I said “it’s normal; I don’t see it being an issue really, they do this a lot in the Caribbean” she has a point, they do this “you can come if you like, to the beach and stuff” Mel shook her head “you enjoy yourself, I am here for the after stories” she winked, I huffed out because there will be some drama “Robyn told me that you gave Momo a different date so she doesn’t ruin family” I snorted laughing “best way, she always being there and nosey as shit, I can’t deal with her for too long” which is true, I can’t.
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Aziel hasn’t moved off my lap now since Raihan did what he did; he is now being good, so I guess I’ll be happy about that. I was initially going to go straight to my house but then I thought I would pay a visit and my mom was ok, we are ok. So I’m going to stay and eat and then go, least I can then just put him to sleep and have the rest of the night to myself “what?” I caught my dad and Auntie just looking “it’s different, I can’t accept that you’re a mother still” I laughed out “oh wow, are we still on that” I chuckled “it’s just something I didn’t think, sorry. But you’re a good mom, I think you have settled well into it” I chuckled “erm, it’s been hard. Weird I think; I’m the same, I didn’t think I would have been a mother but now I can’t see myself without him” Raihan made his way over to me “can I speak now?” He asked, “I am listening, Aziel” he tried to kick him “he’s naughty Rylee, he spit on me and I didn’t know he would fall, I only touched him a little but he did try, I am not lying” my smile grew “I believe you” I said “thank you!” He spat “but please come to me, and Aziel!” Turning him to me “you do not spit! That is naughty” looking to the door and seeing Ti and Taylan “I will; Junior staying at your house? Dad said he is” I laughed “erm, dad thinks I need protecting, Junior can barely take care of himself” what do I even do, I mean she has been speaking a lot of shit about me, but she is here, I need to grow up. Oakley said I have to be good, it’s not about me. Getting up from the couch and placing Aziel on my hip, I hate this. I didn’t know she was coming today, I thought I would be out of the house but no, unless it’s a ploy with my mom “TT baby” Ti said to Aziel, he hid his face “I think he’s fallen out with you really” I said “awww no, Aziel. Come to auntie, how are you?” She asked, “I’m ok thanks, you?” I said “same, thank you” looking at Aziel “auntie wants a hug, go on. She will let you play on her phone, and show auntie what Raihan did” he touched his leg “I hurt” he said, he went to Ti which is good “oh no, what did Raihan do” Raihan is mad with me “sorry” I said, he stormed off “hi Rylee; nice to see you again” Taylan said “likewise, how are you?” I said to him “good, good thank you. Busy with all the football business but had to make it out here, Rihanna. My fave person” I smiled “that’s sweet” the way he hugging my mom, it’s like they besties. Catching my dad’ eyes, he smiled at me and put his thumb up at me.
The best I can do is be silent, to not say anything, to be here but not be here because I am not the one to not have the drama, but I refuse this time. Watching Aziel with Emi, he is playing nice with her, I am watching him because he could just snap and do something stupid. The conversation is about the couple of the year, they are the couple everyone wants to be, I mean why not. Who wouldn’t want to be with a grown ass kisser that is perfect, I am bored at this point but what can I say. Getting my phone out, Oakley text me now after all this time; he took forever.
From: Oakley
U got there!?
To: Oakley
Didn’t my message say that? I am at my parents’ home, so I’ll eat here and then go home I do miss you x
I sighed out heavily and looked over at my mother “Ti was asking you” my mom said “oh what? Sorry, I was just thinking” I have been in my own thoughts “oh I was asking how the Dior contract is” she knows I lost that “for my son or me?” I questioned “you?” Taylan said, now I can be an asshole or just answer “we parted ways” I said “that’s a shame, I’m sure you will get better things, I’m sure your mom will help” Taylan said “she always helps us” I smiled, looking at my phone.
From: Oakley
Apologies! Apologies! My mind is just everywhere but I am in Bulgaria, and I’ll come out to u so is everything ok? Happy?
To: Oakley
Wouldn’t say happy I would say awkward because I am having to be good x
As soon as pressed send he called me, didn’t even give me a moment “hello” I answered “Lee” I smiled “yeah” I don’t know what I’m smiling at “can you speak or not?” He asked, “yeah I can what’s up?” I am so happy to hear him “I love you” I just instantly giggled “are you saying that alone or with your friends?” I bet he’s alone saying that “alone” I knew it “I miss you though, I just seen your text now. Is like everyone there?” Nodding my head like he can see “yeah it is” I sighed out “awww you sound sad, I’m sorry. I’ll be there soon, just you keep yourself good. No trouble right, I’ll be there soon. Promise, I love you Lee. Like I’m missing you like crazy” poking my lips out “say it back?” I chuckled “I love you too” I mean I have nosey people listening but who cares “I’ll be there, promise you” I believe him, I can’t wait to see him “shit has been too busy for me, this America trip is going to be work thing but not too much. Ybeez is coming” I groaned “Oakley I am serious if you work throughout it all me and you will fall out” it just came out of me, like I snapped and the whole room fell silent “relax, I never said that. He’s staying elsewhere, I’m staying with you, chill” he’s saying chill but now I’m being side eyed “I can’t wait to see you, you not mad at me right?” Shaking my head “I’m not, I just not seen you or be with you for a while. Miss you too, call me later if you can” I feel awkward now “I will. And Rylee” he said and then paused “don’t let anything get to you, you’re doing well” I grinned “thank you, call me later though” disconnecting the call “Aziel come here” waving him over, I feel he’s playing a little rough with Emi now “mommy look” smiling at him “that is her hair clip, you leave my sister hair alone” taking it from him and placing him on my lap.
I need to get Aziel hair done, I think tomorrow I will call someone over “you’re quiet” looking away from Aziel, why is he speaking to me “yeah, just tired. Long flight from London, he is hyper, nothing will stop him, he didn’t let me sleep but he did sleep” he smiled “kids for you, I can imagine how much sleep you loss because of it” sometimes I wonder if he is serious or not “yeah but he is bad now, just likes to be wild, but that is just him” I guess conversation over “I heard his dad raps, I heard his song. Then erm, I realised it was about you, it was catchy” squinting my eyes “I don’t want to repeat the words” he laughed “mhmmm, such a hoe. You can say it” smiling at him “it’s a catchy song” nodding my head “seems so” I have nothing to say to him “we have busy schedules but it’s nice that we all can come out here with our partners and be here for this moment” looking at my mom “you can just say it, how is it being on the side-lines again? Must be nice to just be there” my dad looked at me, I can’t help it. I know Oakley told me not too “oh it’s good, to get paid for something still, least I’m there, doing something I love” I laughed “watching other men play football, I know” I grinned “very passive aggressive” my dad cleared his throat “I think it’s from both ends” catching Ti place her hand on his leg “it’s all fun, honestly” Taylan chuckled, he says that but that’s because my dad is here “yep, all fun” I added.
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atopearth · 11 months
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White Album 2 Part 6 - Setsuna Ogiso Route (Closing Chapter)
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Finally to Setsuna! We can finally not cheat on her..right?! I guess when you go on the Setsuna route, the side heroines all get rejected or give up in their own way. I liked how Koharu got rejected by way of Mihoko, but anyway Mihoko pisses me off every time I see her so I hope this is the last time we see her. Honestly, when it comes to Takeya and Io, I really don't like Io. She always just goes with whatever she judges to be "right" and is always too stubborn to think that any other option or thoughts are okay. It pisses me off alot of the time tbh lol. Especially in this route when she blames Setsuna for hitting Haruki's hand away and not being able to accept that Haruki will never forget Kazusa. Yeah, Setsuna knows that Haruki will never forget Kazusa, but knowing and seeing it and feeling it is a completely different story, and why is it Setsuna's fault when Haruki was so blatantly lying on Christmas Eve that she finally exploded? And Io has been beside Setsuna all these years, shouldn't she understand better than anyone how much this would crush her? How much Setsuna hoped that Haruki would forget about Kazusa and only love her?
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I think that conversation with Haruki was the most meaningful one they've had in years, I'm glad he finally genuinely told Setsuna his true feelings properly. I can't believe Setsuna ignored him for two weeks though, that's pretty slack. But I guess I can understand why she's avoiding him, especially after she said she was comfortable with always chasing after him when he was always running away, but now that he's facing her and approaching her, she doesn't know what to do. She just really wanted to keep some sort of connection between them but she can't actually face having that proper connection again because she's scared of getting hurt again, which is very understandable. On the other hand, Setsuna is getting frustrating because she refuses to move forward but won't go back either, she calls Io mean but I think Io is right this time and Setsuna really needs to get a grip together even though as Io says, it's Haruki's fault that she became like this. I wonder if WA2 wins other visual novels in terms of how annoying their side characters are because Yanagihara is so annoying and bothersome and really needs to take her inferiority complex somewhere else. Honestly, Setsuna should have just dumped Yanagihara there, she can take responsibility for her own actions. What if they got kidnapped by those random men, it's dangerous and dumb. Yanagihara is so obnoxious, I wish I could punch her. Wow, she's such a bitch, there's so many ways to prove a point and she has to do it in one of the worst ways. Leaving Setsuna in a car with strange men that are obviously lusting after her and making her think she has no escape is so disgusting. What if they drove off? What if their car plate was fake? So many possibilities but because she's so up herself, she never bothered to consider it and just wanted to make Setsuna cry in the worst way ever. Anyway, I still don't like Tomo (Yanagihara) but I guess it's cute to see Setsuna so honestly complain about someone for once and even argue with her publicly without thinking about her image lol.
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Lmao, I have to admit I had the exact same thoughts as Takeya. Haruki and Setsuna’s phone calls with Haruki playing her the guitar etc is such a high school thing haha! They're such kids, but that innocence is nice since they missed out on it because of everything that happened. Honestly, for this route, I have to say, I don't know whether I'm liking both Haruki and Setsuna at all lol. They've progressed and it's good that they're talking but at the same time, they're not really communicating since all they're doing is dancing around each other in a different way. But yeah anyway, I'm happier with the Haruki here. Especially since he honestly conveyed his feelings to Setsuna and is willing to wait for her. Honestly, even if he doesn't end up waiting "forever" for her to get over things, I would still be happy because the most important thing is that he is genuine now and I believe that he would wait. He's done all he's can trying his best to not hurt Setsuna any further and that's enough for me.  Anyway, Setsuna really frustrates me so I constantly need to take breaks from this game because I can't take it. Yanagihara is annoying but at least she's trying to talk some sense into her along with Io, it just sucks that Setsuna still refuses to do anything knowing that this can't last forever especially when they're just slowly tormenting each other in a different way now. 
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It broke my heart when Setsuna talked to Haruki about why she doesn't want to sing anymore, because it just makes her remember everything from 3 years ago again - from the happy memories to the betrayal to Haruki and Kazusa tearfully saying goodbye. Things she doesn't want to face and has always been running away from. I was so glad when Haruki told Setsuna that the person he loves the most is the Setsuna who loves to sing and does whatever she wants. And I'm glad he didn't do anything with her and just played the guitar as she went through all her emotions and eventually decided for herself whether she wanted to sing at the concert or not. Honestly, even though this route was frustrating, the moment I heard Setsuna singing on stage again , I couldn't help but cry as well. Not as much as Yanagihara though haha. As expected, the H-scenes were very very long lol! Satisfying end for the couple though considering how much they had to get through to get to this point so I'll forgive it haha. It's nice to see them get to truly enjoy being in each other's embrace and company now. And what better end than for Haruki to finally give Setsuna the birthday present he was supposed to give her three years ago! And for everyone to celebrate her birthday properly with snow falling down. Now she can finally think of happy things when it comes to her birthday party. That's the best thing. In terms of all the routes, it's expected that this was definitely the best because it really felt like Haruki and Setsuna finally moved on. It was satisfying to see. At least until I realised that this just leads up to Coda, the last chapter of this game. At least we get a Setsuna True End? Haha, hopefully Coda will be even better, but I guess it has to be because Kazusa is back!!
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Overall, Setsuna's route is definitely a frustrating one. So frustrating that I had to take breaks for days because I got so annoyed with Yanagihara, and then more breaks because I was annoyed with Setsuna haha. Even though it was frustrating, I'll admit that the ending was worth it all because seeing Setsuna singing again just makes everything worth it. It was honestly so difficult to watch how terrible her life basically was in every other heroine's route, so seeing Haruki try his best to face her in this route and do his best to soothe her, reassure her and then get her to trust him again was very sweet. It really was a long journey with the two of them at a standstill, so seeing them finally get past that was very satisfying. But I guess one thing that was never addressed was Kazusa so I guess Coda will deal with that and give us the true happy ending with Setsuna haha.
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lethiepie · 2 years
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Is it too early for RWBY Christmas art ? 
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messers-moony · 3 years
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Forever and Always | S.B
Paring: Young!Sirius Black X Fem!Reader
Summary: Sirius departs his girlfriend after the Potter’s death to start his time in Azkaban but comes back to an amazing welcome.
She was pacing in the living room that belonged to her and her boyfriend. Said boyfriend had just left the house to check on their best friends, James Potter and Lily Potter. It had only been months since leaving Hogwarts, yet they had to become adults almost instantly due to Voldemort rising. Now she was bearing the news of being pregnant in the midst of a war. Nothing could be worse, right?
Everything happens for a reason. Moments later, her boyfriend had apparated back into their shared home. His body was shaking with sobs, and his eyes couldn’t meet hers. Sirius’s body collapsed on the floor. He didn’t have the strength to bring himself back onto his own feet. She took him into her arms, holding him securely against her chest.
“ They’re dead. “ Sirius managed through sobs, “ I couldn’t save them. “
It became hard to swallow, “ I- I heard her scream. I couldn’t do anything. “
“ It’s okay; we’ll get through this together. “ Y/n shushed as he cried, “ We- We won’t. “ Sirius murmured.
“ What do you mean? “ Y/n pulled away to look at him, “ It was him. “
“ Who? “ Y/n questioned, “ Peter. He- He gave away their position, and I went after him. Bloody idiot turned into a rat after cutting off his finger. The Aurors will be coming after me soon. “ Sirius confessed.
Without explanation, she took his face in her hands. Y/n’s eyes roamed over the entirety of his face. She was taking him in entirely before he’d be out in Azkaban for a crime he didn’t do. Sirius sniffled but did the same to her. His airway felt blocked as he took in his soon-to-be wife.
“ When they take me away, there’s a box in my nightstand for you. Take it. “ Sirius swallowed, “ I love you. “
She nodded, “ Of course. And, there’s something I need to tell you as well. “
“ I- I’m pregnant. “ Y/n’s voice wasn’t louder than a whisper, and a smile crept on Sirius’ face, “ I trust you, more than I probably should. “ Sirius began.
“ I’m sorry I can’t be there. But I promise I will escape, and I will come back for you and them. “ He completed, “ I know, and I love you. Forever and always? “ Y/n stated.
“ Forever and always. “ Sirius confirmed.
On cue, a knock echoed through the house. They both stood, and Sirius opened the door where he met his inevitable fate. He was sentenced to life in Azkaban with no trial and sentenced to prison with the charges of the deaths of his best friends. But strangely, he felt no remorse. He felt content leaving because he knew that his fiancé and child would be waiting for him.
It was a rough year for both of them. Sirius was adjusting to Azkaban, and Y/n was getting used to having a newborn and a two-year-old. Thankfully after much fighting, she was able to take custody of Harry. The only embodiment of her two best friends. Y/n couldn’t have been happier to receive news that Harry would be in her company for the rest of his life.
Years past and now Harry was beginning his shopping at Diagon Alley for shopping with Y/n and his unrelated cousin. After a long debate in her own mind, she decided to name her son after the strongest man she knew, Regulus. It took nine months to select and confirm that it would be his name finally. Y/n could only hope Sirius would be okay with it.
“ Are you excited, Harry? “ Y/n asked after he had received his wand, “ I can’t believe it! “ Harry exclaimed excitedly.
Y/n smiled, “ James and Lily are proud of you, love. Please remember that. “
“ You think so? “ Harry questioned, “ I know so. “ Y/n replied with a playful scoff.
“ How about we get some ice cream at Florean Fortescue's and apparat home? “ Y/n queried, and Regulus perked up, “ Ice cream?! “
“ Yes, please! “ Harry responded, and she smiled, “ Come on, boys. “
The night was young when they returned home. Both boys thrilled with getting ice cream for dinner instead of the typical savory meal Y/n would cook. Harry and Regulus got along fantastically. They indeed were the embodiment of their fathers. Regulus couldn’t be more like Sirius, and Harry couldn’t be more like James. Sometimes she had to take a step back and remember that they weren’t them.
Her statement was only proven true when she found out that Harry had fallen into step with a three-headed dog. Y/n couldn’t do anything but chuckle lightly at the mischief he was creating while only being a first year. It was strangely refreshing after the years of quiet. Y/n stood at the kitchen countertop looking at the half-filled moon twisting the ring on her finger.
Two more years went by, and finally, Regulus was in his second year. Harry now in his third. Both boys managed to get into Gryffindor. No surprises there. Their parents were Gryffindors. The news of Sirius Black’s escaped made things more than hopeful for Y/n. He fulfilled his promise just like she knew he would. Now knowing his escape was successful, the house couldn’t have felt more empty.
Until a big black dog showed up on her doorstep during Christmas, Harry always opted for staying at Hogwarts while Regulus stated he missed home. Regulus was in his bedroom when Y/n opened the door. The black fur made her laugh and cry tears of joy while he trotted in the house as if nothing ever happened. It was a breath of fresh air. Padfoot panted as she petted his fur, closing the wooden door behind her and the blinds.
Then he was human again, “ Hi, love. “
“ Hi, Sirius. “ Y/n smiled and hugged him tightly, “ I missed you. “
“ I missed you too, darling. “ His arms felt skinner, but he held her close to him.
When they pulled away, he pulled her in for a kiss. It was slow and sensual. The kiss wouldn't lead up to anything. It was a promise fulfilled. His arms went down to her waist while hers went around his neck. Her hands were running through his matted black hair, but that didn’t matter. She had her fiancé back. After the kiss, he nuzzled his nose with hers.
“ A little birdy told me that I was bound to have a son before I left. “ Sirius began, still holding Y/n tight to him, “ I’d like to meet him if he’s here. “
“ Are you sure? “ Y/n queried, cupping his cheek noticing his nervousness, “ Yeah. “ Sirius kissed the palm of her hand.
Carefully she separated from him and cleared her throat, “ Reggie! “ She called, and Sirius was taken aback, “ Regulus? “ He murmured.
“ Coming, mom! “ Regulus called back as he came down the steps to see a man beside his mom.
Their appearances matched. The same black hair but slightly wavy. The inherited grey eyes that seemed to be passed down through the Black family. The defined structure of the face. Everything was there. Just by looking at him, you could tell he was a Black. Instead of the coldness in the grey, there was warmth and kindness—something most Blacks didn’t have.
“ He- He’s Sirius Black. “ Regulus muttered, “ You’re- You’ve escaped Azkaban. “
“ You know who he is. “ Y/n stated, and he nodded, “ You’re- You’re my father. “ Regulus stammered out, staring cautiously at the man.
Sirius chuckled, “ I believe so. “
It didn’t take much. Regulus was already in his arms, hugging tighter than he should’ve. The pain in Sirius’ back was throbbing at the tightness of the hug, but that didn’t matter. His son was in his arms, and he finally made his way back to his family. It didn’t matter, and it didn’t feel like twelve years had passed because with his son in his arms, Sirius felt strong.
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Take me back
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Pairing: Dick Grayson x male reader
Tags : getting back together
words : 856
Day one Christmas Challenge
Y/N hadn’t seen Dick Grayson since they were both teenagers, they had the typical first love romance, but they couldn’t last, being robin meant too much to him. There’s was only so many times Y/N could see him beaten and bruised before it got too much so he did the challenging thing and broke it off. So, it was a shock to see him again after so long especially at his front door.
Y/N stared at his ex taking in his appearance He hadn’t changed much in the last couple of years they’d been apart. He had mostly grown into his looks if the broadness of his shoulders said anything.
“Hey” Dick said softly
“Hey”
Dick shifted from one foot to the other stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets
“Can I come in?”
Y/N continued to look confused before dick’s words finally registers with him, he quickly moves out the way holding the door open “erm... yeah, of course come in” allowing Dick to stepped through.
“Can I get you something, coffee?” Y/n asks closing his front door behind them both
“Sure” Dick says following him into the kitchen
“Still the same?”
“Yeah” Dick watches as his childhood lover navigates his way around, Y/n hadn’t changed he still looked like the guy he fell in love with as a teenager. He was still the boy he uses to sneak out at night to see. The boy he had his first kiss with his first I love you.
It made Dick think about how much he had missed him. Dick is brought out of his thoughts by Y/n placing his drink down in front of him. He thanks him as he takes a seat in front of him. They both sit in silence waiting for the other to speak.
“So, how have you been?”
Y/N lets out a frustrated noise “okay, what is going on”
“nothing”
Y/N rolls his eyes “Dick, I haven’t seen you in years and now you just decide to show up on my doorstep”
Dick stays quiet under Y/N's scrutinizing watch after a few minutes of silence he gives “I gave it up”.
“Gave what up”
“Robin” dick answers before taking a sip of his drink
Y/N’s shock must show because dick huff out a laugh, Y/N quickly schools his features he can’t believe it “you’re kidding”
Dick shakes his head in response as he continues to drink his coffee.
“Wow..., how’d you do it”
“I burnt the suit” dick explained
Y/N stared at dick before he began to snicker “that’s dramatic”
“yeah”
Y/N sobers up a few seconds later  “ but it still doesn’t answer my question on why you’re here"
“ I missed you, Y/N ”
Y/N face soften slightly “dick don’t”
Dick moves his hand to grasp Y/N's hand across the table “But it’s true and you were right about being robin, I should of listen to you back ”
Y/N doesn’t pull his hand away, but he also doesn’t tighten the hold. “it doesn’t matter if I was right, it doesn’t change anything”
“it can, if you give it chance, we could try again” dick practically begs
Y/N pulls his hand away as he stands up quickly from his seat enraged “have you ever thought maybe I've moved on, huh”
Dick stays silent but follow Y/N by standing up “of course you didn’t” Y/N shouts “you made your choice years ago Dick Grayson you don’t get to walk back into my life and expect me to just welcome you with open arms”
“I don’t, I know I messed up, but I hoped you would give me another chance” dick argues closing some distant between them both “I just hoped at least some part of you would still love me”
“I still love you asshole” Y/N mutters quietly but dick stills hear him
“really ?”
Y/N sighs “of course I still love you, but you hurt me dick”
Dick cups Y/N’s cheek “ I know and I'll spend forever trying to fix it” Y/N keeps his gaze fixed to the floor as dick talks.
Y/N knew he shouldn’t, but he missed Dick  and it felt good seeing him again. He never was one to chose the good option.
“ fine you get one date” Y/N says finally meeting dicks gaze “ one only you screw it up your done”
A smile begins to form on dick’s face “ I swear I won’t”
Y/N returns the smile finally he also leans into the hand on his cheek “good, I'm free Friday”
Dick's phone text noise interrupting them he lets go of Y/N to look at it , he sighs “ I have to go”
“i’ll walk you out”  Y/N walks dick to the front door then holds it open for dick as he leaves. Dick doesn’t walk far before Y/N stops him. He grabs dick by the front his jacket as he pulls him into a kiss. Dick caches on quickly and returns it. It doesn't last long before Y/N pulls away
“ bye” Y/N says before quickly closing the door.
“ bye” dick says to close door with grin
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