#i will wake up and not enjoy this piece tomorrow but brain is not operating in the early hours

[albapitri]

henlo, today i have madam director content tomorrow who knows

one-year redraw of this piece because it was my first post ever on tumblr eyyyy

#taz #taz b #taz balance #taz balance spoilers #taz balance fanart #taz stolen century #taz lucretia #madam director #it's been a whole year dang #and my heart is still full of lucretia sjdfad #i will wake up and not enjoy this piece tomorrow but brain is not operating in the early hours #so its posting time

[werezmastarbucks]

dayton

honeymoon masterlist

word count: 2631

music: air catcher by twenty one pilots

The tiniest part of you wanted to go to Columbus, because you loved that place. But the bigger part, the one that connected your brain to your hands clutching the wheel, told you if you fail, you’ll have all the time in the world to go back to Columbus. To wherever the fuck you want. Kai said he can operate practically any type of transport, but doesn’t like ships. Flying was fine with you as long as he really knew not to crash a plane. You had to constantly remind yourself that he had many years to learn everything.

As you drove, you were revising the CDs Kai found in the car. He was putting the disk in and pressing play, or sometimes he just read the names of the bands. He opened the window and threw away all the CDs that were named trash. Now that you two were misplacing them, they were supposed to stay there on the road after Kai sent them out of the window, you were asking. Right? But, crashing on the ground, they were damaged, so did it fall under the order part of the spell? Were they to return into the car after you deliberately got rid of them? 

“You’ll know tomorrow”, Kai replied playfully. Surely he knew how that works, but it seemed he was unwilling to just tell you everything about this prison, and wanted you to discover things for yourself. 

Dayton was empty, too. Just like Roanoke and Huntington on the way through. You found this stillness somewhat soothing. You didn’t like gatherings and crowds, didn’t like noise and people. You decided to dive back into the three foot world, and just enjoy the empty roads for once, and start worrying when the realization of utter loneliness settles in.

You looked on your right, where Parker was sitting, staring at the cover of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” by a-ha (do not throw them away under any circumstances!) in his hands, with one brow raised, belt across his chest. You still felt like you were alone here although he was next to you. He still didn’t feel like a human person - more like a part of this world. As inanimate. He was remarkably quiet, and you knew it wasn’t for good. 

On the Germantown Street, you stopped the car, feeling tired. The sun was about to set down completely, the May angle leading it onto your left. You got out and stretched, and Kai stepped out of the car a minute later.

“Where will we sleep? Any good hotels?”

He shrugged.

“I haven’t been in Dayton”.

“You haven’t been to Dayton?” you repeated.

“That’s what I said”.

“Ever?”

“Ever”. 

He looked around and stared at the sky again. Parker has been glitching like that since last night, when he stared up as if trying to cope. You looked at his upturned nose and his youthful face, thinking, he is in his forties. This dude is going to be fifty years old soon, and he is a nut case, and I have him on my hands.

He looked back at you.

“Adventure begins here”, his tone was half-questioning, and he smiled. The way it curled his capricious mouth, his eyes glowing, told you he didn’t really believe in getting out. You’ve only spent here a day, but he gave up already. He knew there was no getting out, and he just took it as a long journey, to keep his girlfriend sane. You had no idea where he thought he was going. 

You walked back to the car and took your bag and the phone. Kai’s eyes wouldn’t leave you.

“You’re changing the car again?”

“Uh-huh. Why not? It’s not like someone’s going to report them all?”

He smiled again. 

You walked down the street, ghostly and quiet. No stray dogs, no garbage being thrown around by the wind - but that’s likely due to Dayton being very clean. Kai wouldn’t bother taking the bag out of your hands, walking with his head turning right and left. You felt like in a museum, observing the 90s’ fashionable displays and stores. The eerie sight of clothes you had a habit of associating with your mother’s youth, and the lighthearted, distant, happy past years, the square thick screens and simpler times, were now a reality for you. You could reach and touch that sky-blue blouse on a slim mannequin, wearing posh plastic necklace, a picture from an aesthetic lookbook for inspiration. Aesthetic and nostalgia, that’s what the nineties were to you, but now they were here, brought right upon you, by magic, and they were very real. 

You slowed down in front of one of the windows of the Dayton Mall, a low, nice-looking white and green store, and looked at the leather jacket displayed.

The bag dropped on the ground as the understanding slowly creeped into your mind. Kai was standing few steps away from you, with his head cocked, watching you yet again. He seemed like a tour guide, a museum security guy who was more concerned about whether you enjoy this experience rather than keeping it all intact.

“I can do whatever I want”, you said slowly. 

“Absolutely everything. There’s nobody to stop me”.

“Don’t headbutt the glass”, Parker warned you, and there was this note in his voice that told you he’s talking from personal experience.

You took off your hoodie, the evening air a bit cool for only a tank top. You wrapped your hoodie around your hand and swung it, breaking the display.

The glass shattered loudly, pieces of it falling to your feet with ringing. Interesting, you thought, you get here, into this world of opportunity which poses as prison, and the first thing you do is vandalize.

The jacket wasn’t even that cool, so you didn’t aim for it. You looked down the street full of windows, and you could feel your blood boil. There was something inside of you, trying to get out, like the fuse that suddenly got lit. Everybody has it. Anybody would do it. You turned back to look at him - no need to mention his name, there is nobody else but this guy - and he grinned half-invisibly. It was a grin of indulgence, a hidden smile that lit his face when he did something bad: you recognized it from last week, when he said he’d kidnapped Elena on the first week after he got out of prison. It was the smirk that bloomed on his face as he spoke about how he gutted his own mother, and god save you, it was the same smile he had after you opened your eyes and still had a taste of his mouth in yours. 

You ran along the Germantown Street with the red pipe wrench you fished out of a car you found in the street. It was heavy in your hands as you swung it, crashing it into the glass, bothering the headless and armless mannequins, startled and falling down, creating the mess on their places. The glass was cutting your hands, flying in all directions, spitting sharp shrapnel like rain. With each broken window, your shoulder ached more and your head ached less, and you felt less like crying. Maybe there was a wake among that act of desctruction, but you missed it amongst the wild excitement of complete permissiveness. Parker walked after you, smiling quietly, as you raged around him, carrying the bag, and looked around. Finally, when you got tired, he sat on the asphalt next to you and looked at your hands.

“You’ve tapped one percent of what you can do here”. 

His sly hand took your palm, and your skin stung a little. It wasn’t as bad as that burn yesterday. You watched your own hands not believing pain could live longer than physical manifestation of it. Kai’s fingers wrapped around the cuts tightly, making you sigh sharply. He was so full of magic now, fresh prince of everything, that it radiated out of him. You could swear you felt it coming from his hand to yours. The cuts started sucking on themselves, and the ache stayed deep inside slender bones, phantom. 

“Another”.

“You shouldn’t waste your magic. Who knows how long we’re going to stay here”.

Kai gave you a meaningful look.

“Well, we decided we’d find a way, right? So, I’m doing it soon”.

“You know you’re lying. You’re only going to Oregon because I asked you”.

“See how nice I am?”

Your palm snaked out of his hand as soon as he healed you. 

“That’s what I don’t like about it”.

Parker eyed you down.

“You’re really hard to please, aren’t you?”

“I’m a bit grumpy cause I’m stuck here with you”.

“I have told you before, I never asked you to”.

You didn’t really have the energy to fight now. You wondered how you’re going to cope with his breakdowns in the future - and they’re bound to happen from time to time. Maybe become just like him, emotionally volatile. Seems easy enough. So far, everything here has been too easy, and you were waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

Darkness fell on Dayton, and there was intense white glow somewhere beyond a row of buildings in Madden Hill.

“There it goes. I think it’s a cool hotel. You should go to sleep, you have a long drive tomorrow”.

He got up and offered you a hand.

“It’s weird you’re not driving”, you noticed.

“I don’t like driving”.

You stood up without his help and he frowned again, like he was noticing every little thing crossing your mind. 

“How is that? I thought you liked being in control”.

“I am. I’m making you drive me everywhere”.

You sniffed.

“I do it because I like driving”.

“Then it’s a win-win, right?”

He patted you on the back and removed his hand as if afraid you’d bite. 

You walked on towards the glow, crossing lit and dark streets. Here the lightning is automatic, and here is not, Kai was commenting. He was commenting on everything which indicated he was in a good mood. 

“That’s the best ‘94 can do?” you inquired, looking at the tall rectangle building. 

“It’s a Hilton”, he noticed.

“It’s an ugly ass hotel”, you grumbled. Kai snickered and followed you inside.

“Are you hungry? I’m hungry”.

Parker knew his way around everything. He knew where the kitchen was, and, while you were coming up choosing a room, he went on raiding the huge space filled with food.

He was devilishly good with it, too. 

That evening, after you’ve eaten, you went strolling around the place and found out one more thing: you didn’t like being without him while you knew he was around. 

Empty space that was supposed to be filled with people creeped out your unprepared mind. The stairs sounded hollow, and you expected somebody to jump out of the long, empty corridors. In the windows of the hotel, there shone an empty city, lit for nobody. Shadows and silhouettes were floating around in the dark sky. You decided not to butcher every thing that came into your way and fought the desire to break the window to look outside. What will become of you if you use the foot and fist method for everything just because there’s no one to stop you? Kai wouldn’t mentor you. He’s more of a devil on the left shoulder than the voice of reason. He will definitely be willing to spoil you until you’re flexible material he can use.

You now had a great opportunity to reflect on all that, Parker included, and decide on your course of action, separate yourself from your cell mate. But instead of staying away to think you found yourself drawn to the place where he was, because the empty ugly Hilton was scary. 

You returned into the room and found him, sitting on the floor of the big top floor suite, with the little bedside light next to him, crouched over something. Walking closer, you found it was the charger from your phone, and something remotely resembling a part of a boombox. One of the loud speakers from it was torn out, and laid at his hand, and you couldn’t understand a single thing he was doing.

“What is it?”

“I’m making you a portable speaker, like one of those bluetooth things kids have”, he said shortly. 

You looked down on him, a little surprised, because he’s never acknowledged his own age or the era he’s lived in before. Preoccupied, he looked very smart, and completely normal. He even rolled up the sleeves of his hoodie.

“How?”

“See this thing? It’s from that player”, he motioned his hand towards a player lying afar on the floor. Looked like he’d kicked it away with force.

“I’ll adjust the wire so that it can see your iPhone, and voila”.

“But I need the charger”.

“It’s gonna work”, he nodded.

“Are you sure? Kai, I can’t lose my phone!”

He sighed, and looked up at you.

“Did I mentioned I studied at MIT?”

“No. You know there’s been a shooting?”

You didn’t know why you mentioned it immediately.

“Wasn’t me”.

“Clever motherfucker”.

Kai shifted as if you touched him. He looked at you as you walked away. Coming close to the bed, you felt you were almost collapsing with exhaustion even though you didn’t do much.

Just before you fell asleep, you looked at the time on an electronic clock next to bed. It was almost midnight.

You woke up as if someone hit you. The silence was pressing on your ears, pressing your head, and moreover you didn’t know where you were. Without opening your eyes, you tried to remember the place and what happened. The darkness was blue and black, and it was so warm you tried to pull the covers off of yourself, and failed.

Kai moaned, displeased, right behind your ear, and you realized his arm was wrapped around you, and that’s why you felt like you were lying in a cacoon. 

You rolled halfway, not without a struggle, and saw his face very close.

“Kai, what about personal space?”

His body was so close you could feel the heat coming off of him. Of course, he’s one of those boys who turn into stoves when they sleep. Somehow his body just did that, so that you didn’t really know what he was unhappy about. You were scared of how well your shape adjusted to his, and you were lying comfortably in such a position that you usually get when you wake up in the morning. Even if bed seemed uncomfortable last night, in the morning you don’t want to move an inch, and the pillow seems perfectly soft. 

Still, you could feel his invasive mass, almost pushing you off that king sized bed, cornering you to the edge, like he was trying to scope you and win over the bed at the same time. You felt for his hand against your ribs and found he formed a fist, clutching the fabric of your shirt, like you were about to roll away.

“What personal space?” he murmured. 

Fair enough. In this world, that was all yours and nobody else’s, this crowdless, lifeless planet, thounsands and thousands of miles of nobody’s land, in this spacious cursed desert, there was not space enough for the two of you to move separately. You had felt it while wandering around the hotel, when you decided to run back to where he was just to see another human next to you, to make sure you’re not alone. This prison was as claustrophobia igniting as it was hollow. There was no personal space here.

#kai parker #kai parker imagine #kai parker x reader #vampire diaries imagine #tvd imagine

[omigiry]

“𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐩𝐭. 𝟐”

Part 2 of Fireworks. Thank you to @waifuu-writerr​ for requesting, I’m happy that you enjoyed the first one  💕💕🥺

POV: Third Person (she/her)

ry’s notes: I am not an expert in the medical fields so everything was purely based on what I think is possible to happen. I also made Kuroo cry a lot  🥺. So much tears.

Here’s the first part of it

During the whole car ride, Kuroo was praying for her to be alive. Everything in him was going numb and he can’t think straight. He wanted to hold her hand and squeeze it tight. He didn’t want her to be out of his sight. Please, be alright. Please let her live.

He was in agony and if he could he would speed through the stoplight just to get there faster. He was restless, it was hard for him to sit still in the car. He was now wearing a flannel shirt to cover up the ripped shirt.

“Kuroo. You have to calm down.” His mother tried to comfort her. (Name)’s mother was with them trying to quiet down her sobs, she tries to be strong for (name)’s younger brother who was shaken up by the events.

Kuroo couldn’t utter a single word. So he just listens, but it hurts more when he hears her brother's cries of concern for his sister. 

“Mom? Will (name) be okay?” 

“She will be. Your sister is stronger than you think.”

Kuroo looked at his hands that were stained with her blood. His brows furrowed as he tried to hold his tears. The fresh memory of her weakened state and her eyes that lost its light keeps on haunting him. 

Why the hell was there a gun in the area? Why aren’t they strict with securities? What would that person get from firing a gun? 

He was angry. Angry at the person who did this. He wanted to beat whoever the person was, but with a large crowd it was hard to do so. He thought how cruel that person is. How could that person even live among them. He was feeling frustrated, pained, and angry. He wanted to shout and scream.

If he had only known, but that was impossible. No one could ever notice it. Everyone was thinking it was a normal night and let their guard down to enjoy the festivities. No one would know that someone was lingering among them with a gun. No one would ever know that there was someone out of their mind that would do that. 

They reached the hospital and Kuroo ran out of the car. (Name)’s father was waiting by the reception area, and when Kuroo saw him, he immediately asked where she was and her condition. 

“She’s in the operating room.” Her father said. “Thankfully there weren’t any excessive blood loss, as of the moment all we could do is wait and believe that she will be alright.”

When the family is all complete, they have waited by the seats in the hallway of the operating room. (Name)’s parents were booking a hospital room and signing papers. Time seems to slow down for Kuroo as he looks at the floor trying to keep it together. 

All of them were trying to hold it together, but every time they blink there’s always a tear that falls from the side of their cheek. The ones who were staying strong through it all were their fathers. Both their mothers were sobbing quietly. Kuroo’s mom was comforting (name)’s mom, as her brother also rubs their mother’s back. 

Kuroo keeps on rubbing his face and running his hands through his hair. He didn’t care to wash his bloodied hands. He was also fidgeting with the hairpin that fell from her hair, amidst all that had happened he was able to pick up that hairpin. It was the only thing that he could hold onto right now. He clutched it tightly and continued to hope that he would see her alive and smiling again.

After hours of waiting the doctor who was in charge of the operation called (name)’s immediate family. They were a few feet away from Kuroo and his family so they would still be able to hear what the doctor was saying. (Name)’s brother stayed behind with Kuroo, hoping that he would be able to comfort his sister’s boyfriend.

“She’s going to be, okay. She still has both of us to take care of, she wouldn’t just abandon us.” He said to Kuroo.

Kuroo gave a small smile at her brother’s comment. 

“The bullet wasn’t deep, so there was no major damage on her brain. But it may take awhile before she wakes up. We also speculate that it was a stray bullet judging by how the bullet was placed. It wasn’t directly aimed at her.” 

Everyone sighed in relief and felt the tension ease away. She was okay, and that’s all that matters right now. 

“She might not wake immediately, it may take a few days before she could.” The doctor said and discussed more about how the operation went with her parents.

Kuroo was relieved, but knowing that she wouldn’t wake up after a few days or so didn’t ease up his worry. For now, he was thankful that the operation was a success. 

They have moved (name) in the hospital room that they have reserved and as the nurses put on the machines that she needed to monitor her, they were discussing who would stay for the night.

“Kuroo, you should go home and wash up first.” (Name)’s mother said. 

“I don’t want to leave her, what if something happens and I’m not there?” 

“Nothing will happen, we will be here. (Name) won’t like it when she sees you in this state.” Everyone was telling him to go home first, but he wanted to stay by her side. He won’t feel comfortable at home knowing that she’s in this state.

“Okay, Kuroo, we need to go back home now. Visiting hours is overdue, you can come here immediately tomorrow. Let’s not make this harder for all of us.” His father said and gripped his shoulder signaling that this discussion is over. Kuroo nodded and said goodbye to (Name)’s family. (Name)’s mother was the one who stayed behind as the rest went back home to wash up as well and pack some necessities to bring in to the hospital. 

---

“It’s been almost three weeks, why isn’t she awake yet? The doctor said it will only take a few days.” Kuroo said. He counted the days hoping that she would wake up by then, but until now she still wasn’t awake, only the beeping of the monitors filled the silence of the room. They would always talk to her in her sleep in hope that she would respond to their voices. Kuroo wasn’t the only one who was worried, they all were. He was right, days have passed. (Name) was still lying in bed in the same position since she came in here. 

The only hope that they were holding onto was her heart monitor, her heart was beating normally. No complication occurred but she just wasn’t awake.  The doctors and nurses continued to check up on her, on a daily basis,  and monitor the state of her brain; there wasn’t any complication and her brain was still responding. They told the family that it may take a while, but rest assured she is in a stable condition.

“If you’re hearing this (Name), please wake up. You’re missing a lot, I miss you. Your friends miss you, your family miss you. A lot of people are missing you. So you have to wake up, smile at them, tell them you’re alright. And we’ll all be crying, but not from sadness but because you won the fight, because you’re strong and you got this.” Kuroo said as he held her hand caressing it. He lost count on how many times he cried at night, he cried so much that his body couldn’t cry more. The only thing he would hear in his room was his quiet sobbing, his friends would visit and call him to make sure he’s okay. 

A few days later, Kuroo entered the hospital room to see (name) sitting up on the bed. He quickly rushed to her side but he was held back by her father. 

“Don’t, not yet. She’ll be in shock if you do.” 

“What happened?” He asked. He was really tired, problem after problem just keeps on piling on him, but he has to be strong for her. 

“She woke up, when we went near her we saw panic flashed in her eyes, we called the nurses. They explained the situation for her, and after then she was staring blankly. She responds when we call her name, she turns her head but doesn’t say anything.”

“The doctor and nurses said, she may be adjusting and processing the situation, so we should give her some space, but not leave her side if something happens.” Her mother added. “We have also informed your parents, and they’ll be coming soon.”

Kuroo decided to test what her father said, whether she’ll respond when he calls her name and recognize his voice. “(Name)?” 

She turned her head at the mention of her name. Kuroo saw her eyes, it lost so much light. Her brows furrowed, trying to understand the situation. Flashes of broken memory of the day of the incident runs through her mind, she tries to piece it all together. She was so disoriented and lost. She looked at Kuroo’s eyes and a tear slipped through her eyes. She shifted her gaze to her family who was standing behind him, and more tears started pouring. 

“Mom?” She said meekly. Her mother moved closer to her, wary that she might get into shock, but when she showed no sign of recoiling, her mother held her hand tightly. 

“Sweetheart.” Her mother choked on her word and they were both crying now. Her dad also went closer to her to comfort them. As much as Kuroo wanted to hold her, he needed to wait until she felt comfortable enough. When the family was reuniting and hugging each other, she locked eyes with him again. Kuroo felt his breath hitched as he waited what would happen next. 

She pulled off from the hug and said, “Tetsuro.” With that,  tears that he didn’t know he was holding fell in his eyes. Her parents gave them some space for them. 

“Are you, okay?” Kuroo asked and she nodded as he pulled him to an embrace.

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu scenarios #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu angst #kuroo tetsuro angst #kuroo tetsuro imagine #kuroo tetsuro scenarios #kuroo tetsuro x reader #kuroo x reader #kuroo angst #kuroo scenarios #kuroo imagine

[queenieloveswriting]

Little orange bottles

A/N unedited little thing from a while ago, found loads of bits in my notes on my phone read this and though id post it let me know your thoughts ////hella old ngl sounds like shit srry ladsssss xoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxTW--Abuse//Blood//Bad thoughs ig sorry not good w warnings sorry if this triggers anhyone 

*beep     beep     beep*

Your alarm rang through the room for what seemed to be the fifth time this morning.It was now 6:30am and school began in two hours unlike the majority of students in kildare county you enjoyed school and, your (only) friend pope definitely made it worthwile.You both loved school,people like his friends jj and John b didn’t like school.

Why are you awake at 6:30 again?....right!

You look over to yourself in your mirror and glance at your schedule sticky taped to the corner; 

*DAISYS SCHEDULE*

6:30-wake up

6:45-shower

7:00-get ready

7:20-read

7:50-breakfast/pillz 

8:00-head to Heywards

Obeying the list, you hopped into the shower and got yourself prepared for the day, brushing your teeth washing your face and applying a light amount of makeup. A tinted moisturiser, clear mascara and brow gel, In attempt to tame your wild hair you collected into a cute messy ponytail, breaking three hair bands in the possess. Putting your glasses on you choose your outfit, due to the heat you opted for something casual, a blue denim skirt with a black crop top and a oversized blue flannel top  covering  just to the bottom of you skirt 

You went downstairs and packed some fruit into your bag. Opting to take your breakfast as today's lunch, knowing Mrs. Heyward would invite you in for ‘leftovers’ from their breakfast. Shouting  goodbye to your mum who was no doubt still in bed exhausted from her night shift.

Running out the door grabbing your phone, headphones and favourite book ‘to kill a mockingbird’. I plugged in my headphones playing my ‘reading playlist’ and read as i walked up to heywards,occasionally looking up so I don’t walk into any unwanted attention. The third time checking your surroundings you realise you made it to popes in record time, because his mom came out ushering you and him in in for ‘leftovers’ .Pope rolled his eyes sending you   a silent apology. You didn’t mind though she was more a mother to you than your actual blood.

“Hey nerd "pope greeted you pushing your glasses up your nose 

“Hey geek” you replied, slapping his hands away, he pulled you into a quick hug and followed h8im and his mum into the kitchen.

“Whatcha reading this time?”he asked making you laugh slightly “Harper lee my friend” you replied  holding up your book as he rolled his eyes “why am I not surprised ,you know the book doesn't change right every time you read it "he asked playfully “I know pope, but it’s a classic and i don’t have enough to get a new book until my shift next week so I’m not complaining “you sassed

“Yeah you're know that I’ve said you can borrow my books anytime “he asked

“Yeah but you won’t let me write notes in the margins pope! "you explained “because what about MY notes “he exclaimed and you both erupted into laughter.God,you're such geeks you mentally sighed.Mrs.Heyward scolded at us both for arguing and gave us some pancakes and fruit.

Mr.Heward barged through the doors shouting about some ‘arrogant snotty kook man’ and turned around shily when he heard you and pope laughing. "daisy hey sweetheart you need me to save you or you alright?” he asked, referring to his wife’s overwhelming mothering. You shook your head quietly declining his offer, smiling you replied “no sir it's fine, "you laughed "Heyward you need any help with deliveries?” you asked hopeful as you needed to buy some things for school. Being a pogue you tended to have to fend yourself, plus it gave you something to do. “Sure do doll, tomorrow morning,7 sharp you’n’my boy can help out and pope make sure you ask that Maybank if he's helping out too, need to know who goes so y'all come back alive”he joked”thank you sir”you shouted as he was halfway out the door.Turning back round to pope “maybank?” you asked, raising your eyebrow hinting you had absolutely no idea who he was talking about,”my friend jj you know the blonde who gets into all the fights i told you about”he answered and you nodded,still searching for an answer ”he's coming tomorrow?” you quizzed “yeah probably,plus i think it's about time you met my friends they all think i made you up”he laughed”c'mon we've gotta eat then go”

As if on queue Mrs Heyward shouted at you from across the hall telling you to eat before it got cold.After scoffing your breakfast down,it was time to leave.After regular smothering from your second mother you left.

“Sorry about them”he mumbled 

“It’s fine it’s nice having the whole parents as parents thing you know”you said .Pope knew about your mom not being around or well really a mom.He said you could come round whenever assuring his parents you were just friends,they loved you.

He nodded”you know your welcome whenever”he said and you nodded again

“Yeah but anyways how you feeling today about mrs.spiky hairs test smartass”you joked “we gon ace it y'all ready know her tests are easy”he dragged 

“True I’ve got all a’s every time”you smirked 

“Yeah same but to be fair even my friend John b could pass them and he didn't know that there were two different there’s until junior year so....”

You laughed “wait I though that jj was the the dumb one”you asked “there both delinquents but gotta love em.I’m brains of the operation anyways it’s my thang ”he sang causing you to laugh at the way he pinched his shirt and pingged it brushing dirt of his shoulders “you should come to the party tonight and meet them if you want?”he asked and you shook your head “i dont know pope,party’s and me aren’t really a good thing you know how my anxiety gets in groups”you said and he nodded “i know it’s fine don’t worry about it but offers there when you want you could even come out just us on the pouge if you wanted “he offered “they really wanna meet me?”you asked “well they wanna meet MY competition “he challenged “not really a competition there bud” you teased patting his shoulder “but I’ll think about it yeah?”you offered “sounds good and here we are” you turned facing each other then back at the school making your way inside.

“Hey i told jj I’d meet with him just before first  lesson give him his homework see you there”you gave him a confused look “they go here?”he laughed “yeah didn’t i tell you”you shook your head no “sorry see you in 10 nerd”he waved “in 10 geek”you repli,ex

Waiting for class to start,you set up outside your classroom and put your headphones back in continuing your book. The vibration of the bell and stampedes of teenagers scurry to their first lesson , you ended up waiting for pope who practically ran down the hall and laughed when your eyes met.

 You went in taking your seats next to each other this happened up until break. then lunch you’d go to all your lessons together hang out at break,being antisocial in the library, but at lunch he’s always go off,with the pogues you assume,now knowing they go to your school.At lunch you go outside and walk to the bleachers and sit reading basking in the sun.

After your  last lesson with pope you both headed home together dropping him off at heywards halfway.

“Mom I’m home”you shouted slamming the door dropping the keys on the sideboard .After no reply you expected her to be at work so you got started on your homework so you could”relax” on the weekend.

It was now 6:30,and pope texted you telling you the party started at seven and the offer was still up before you could reply,you heard your door slam shut and you ran downstairs hoping you could talk to your mum,and catch up.

You see her figure reach for a cupboard that hasn’t been opened in years  left. this was bad.

“Hey mama how was work”you asked with a shaky breath 

She glared swigging the bottle 

“You know what sweetie “she spat “Mama don’t have to go to work an more you wanna know why because i got fired from work apparently they couldn’t handle me anymore,took to many people on,so sweetie work was fucking awful OK”she shouted 

“Oh mum I'm sorry what are you going to do i mean i think the heyw--“

“Oh shut up you’re so pathetic you know,I mean you inside on a Friday night? should you be out like a normal teenager huh?god”she scoffed 

“What mom I-“by now half the bottle was empath,being drank with such desperation 

“I’ll get another  job I’ve already got the heywards they can give me more time and an I-I’ll  get a side job we’ll be fine w-we have dads money too”

“Sont talk about hijm!It’s your fault your father left you fucking incompetent piece of shit you make everyone want to leave,no wonder you have no friends. I mean look at you your pathetic  you know these people in your books there not real DAISY god why can’t you just be normal you drove everyone away.this is your fault”

Tears were now threatening your eyes,but as you looked into the person infront of you,you didnt see sadness,you saw anger,you saw red. 

“Mum Im sorry i-ill-“

Before you could say anything she downed the rest of the bottle and threw it at you.glass smashing everywhere cutting you up.your whole arm started to bleed as you cried out in pain your mum hit you,ran out and slammed the door shut.

she hit you.hit you.you ran upstairs not bothering to protect  your arm wrapping  it up in an old shirt.you needed your best friend,you didn't have many friends but he was yours you knew that nothing anyone said could change your friendship 

So you called him running out of your house in todays clothes covered in blood like you’d been in a fucking horror movie 

“Heyyy daisy you change your mind”he answered the phone 

“Hey pope I-I need some help my mom a-are you still at a-at the p-party”you stuttered 

“Woah woah breathe daisy where are you I’ll come get you okay”

“I’m near the boneyard you still there I-I’m sor-ry f-for calling i didn’t kn—“

He cut you off “no shut up it’s fine where are you,are you hurt what happened?”

“My arm s-she h-hit b-bottle “

“Fuck where are you daisy “

“Oh-oh my god there’s so many people here”you were sure you were having a panic attack by now,-you could barely breathe

“Wait daisy I-i see you I’m coming okay wait there”

“O-okay”

Hanging up the phone you were now just balling your eyes out in pain and hurt. You curled up into a ball only looking up when you  could hear pope shouting in the distance.

“Shit daisy”he shouted 

“I’m sorry I didn’t know where to go,my mum she she my arm I- I”

Pope wasn’t unfamiliar to your panic attacks,usually being  the one to calm you from them,/

“Daisy breath okay”he stroked your hair making you look into his eyes 

“What happened “he asked and you showed him your arm “shit daisy that’s close to a main artery your losing loads of blood C'mon let’s get you cleaned up back at the chateau “you just nodded following him his hand holding yours hiding you from the people as you walked past. Arriving at a group of people probably his friends,the pogues,. As your vision begins to go hazy you think that maybe your mum was right you are pathetic .He was out on a Friday night ,I looked like the whole damn school was here.he has his life maybe he didn’t want to be your friend maybe he didn’t want to just hurt you .realizing you were fading out he shook you “shit daisy no no no “he cursed“John b keys I need the keys”you heard him say and they were saying something about him getting some “dude shut up this is daisy she’s hurt “you heard him say and all of them looked at you,but you couldn’t bring your eyes too meet them.Soon enough pope was dragging you away and towards a shack,the chateau.

He dragged you inside and you were sitting on the Island In the kitchen/living room,this was a home.

where was your home now?.

“Here lemme see ''he pulled your arm and started to work. It didn’t surprise you he was so good at this he was always good at first aid but this?

Lucky it wasn't on a actual artery but the blood made it look worse,acknowledging the fact you'd been so quiet,he spoke up “hey D look at me “he said pointing your chin up,looking at you straight in your eyes”what happened,when your ready”he asked.As your breathing steadied,you began to speak “my mom,she got back from work sh-she just lost her job a-and”you stuttered,pausing to collect your breathe 

“hey it’s okay take your time okay”he calmed you”she hasn’t drank since..”you stopped and he looked in your eyes.Pope knew all about your dad,leaving you when you were about to go into junior year,you never knew why but one day he was their next he wasn’t,pope helped you through it,when you began to get closer.

“Your dad?”he answers for you 

You nodded

“She said that it-it was my fault that he left and that she lost her job an”you gulped,recomposing yourself“How I push everyone away and that’s why I have no friends I mean let’s face it”laughiing a breathy laugh “she’s right”popes head snapped up “Daisy!you have me,D its okay I’m you best friend and you know she’s wrong okay now this is going to hurt”he assured you,before you could ask questions your arm burned up from the straight alcohol he’d put on your arm “FUCK POPE SHIT WARNING PLEASE FUCK”you shouted and he laughed,frowning when he came too “Sorry,shit this is bad daisy,like really bad,I dont know what to do,I can just wrap it up But ii think you should go to the hospital“he said and before you could fight,a deep voice filled the room.

“What the fuck is going on pope”curse from the back of the room.After observing the heaps of bloody tissues and your T-shirt laying next to you“What the fuck happened to her man,who is this?”he asked pope who looked up at you,asking the silent of’should i tell him’ you shook your head with pleading eyes 

Pity took over popes vision as he answered JJ’s question“Jj this is  daisy,daisy jj”he introduced you and you sighed,finally meeting the blue eyed boy with watery vision“hey,sorry we,urm, woke,you”you stuttered “oh i wasn’t sleeping princess”he winked causing you to furror your eyebrows at the boy you heard stories about ,following up to the elephant int he room.”what happened”he asked,re-observing your surroundings,eyes finally meeting your bloody arm “holy shit you gotta fucking c-cat or something”he demanded .Before you could awnser,a half naked girl stumbled out of his room,pouting

“oh you really weren’t joking when you said you weren’t asleep”you giggle then pope accidentally pressed to hard into your arm making you scream “fuck pope Jesus fucking shit”you cursed 

“Fuck I’m sorry but its clean and the plasters won’t do much but I’ll wrap it up anyways i still think you might have to go to hospital”you shook your head “no no no no  I can’t pope you know that”he sighed “look nerd you know where she cut look how close that is daisy okay” pointing to your bandaged arm jjs eyebrows furrowed in confusion

You tore away from his gaze to the the floors 

“Hey jj,what's taking so long sweets”his guest said,in a thick country accent causing him too sigh turning around going back into his room.You don’t know what he said but five minuets later she was storming out the rusted doors,huffing and puffing, and left and he walked back to you two 

“Sorry”you looked at him and his eyes softened.You were gorgeous and so innocent who would do this to you?.he asked himself”don’t be she was to Whiny anyways you saved me”you smiled ,slightly rolling your eyes at the player you'd been warned from.

“Daisy”pope snapped you back to reality “hospital?”

“Pope I can’t I-I’ll just go home and-“you babbled

”no no way you're not going back there daisy okay not if your moms like she is right now”he said under his breath in attempt to be secretive

“Your mom?”jj thought out loud and you just looked at him,mentally cursing yourself 

Ignoring the blondes “you know i can’t do that pope”you mumbled looking down. 

“Why”he snapped

“Because I live there pope”you paused,forgetting the blonde”you know and it’s not like this is new, you know it’ll blow over”you urged,trying to convince yourself 

“And what if i doesn't daisy”he quizzed” what are you going to do then”he asked causing you to freeze and stand in silence. 

You walked up and hugged him,stifling a sob.Skilfully dodging your arm,you let go of him and held his stare. 

“Pope,your my best friend, okay?Well my only friend. You know that, but you gotta understand why I’ve gotta go home,Besides, she’s probably not even in,she left straight after, she’s probably out okay”you insisted”I’ve got that job with you and your dad tomorrow I’ll see you okay”you insisted

After some silence he looked at you,”I’ll drive you home okay and if she’s there your coming back to mine”he hissed”You can crash in the couch like you did last time okay “he urged”let me just go talk to jj okay”he said leaving you in the kitchen ,now only realizing the blonde had left the room.After overhearing some not-so hushed whispers,pope came out followed by a blonde who carried an angered but also slightly pained expression that left you wondering what pope said in there.Did he tell him about your mum?

After snatching the keys from the side,where you left them,he led you guys into the van.You and pope got into the back and he and just hugged you there it was nice he calms you and you calm him .“Hey pope”you break the silence“Yeah”he returned“Sorry”you apologised“Stop”he spat.

You looked up to him,eyebrows arching up in confusion“What?”you pleaded,provoking him to roll his eyes and your tendency to apologise after any slight inconvenience“Doing it”he grumbled“Doing what”you urged,oblivious to what was annoying him“You always apologise,after everything”he answered letting out a slightly breathy laugh“Sorry”you laugh realising you already subconsciously apologised.“See what I mean”he tutted“Right but thank you”you pushed“Always nerd”he promised“Geek”you sassed,falling into a comfortable silence,enjoying who you considered your family now

“Hey daisy” he broke the silence

“Hm”you humed

“Did you take them today”he asked,you sighed

“I thought I’d be okay pope,i was i promise”you pleaded

“Daisy”he sighed

“I hate them pope,they make me feel so deflated,they make me feel  like a monster”you mumbled into his shoulder

“You have to take them daisy you know that”he scolded

“I’m know i Just”you paused

“I know”he cut in 

“I don’t want to be a monster anymore pope”

“Your not a monster daisy,i promise,you're amazing bub”he praised

Finally pulling up to your house,met with a cleaver driveway you turned back to pope who was checking for the same thing you were “see”you deflated”i'll be fine see you in the morning,7 sharp kids” you teases in his dad's warning tone 

“Daisy i still think you should come back to mine  i don't think you’ll b--”

You pleaded his anxious babbling with a kiss on the cheek”see you in the morning”you demanded and he sighed

You popped your head through to the front

“Thank you for the ride jj sorry about interrupting your night” you apologised and he smiled at you”no worries princess,we oughta be seeing you in daylight too though”he asked “maybe blondie”you winked giving pope one last hug before you made your way through the door,treading carefully,just to be safe.

#jj #jj outer banks #jj imagine #jj x reader #jj maybank #outerbanks #obx #obxfic #pope heyward #jj x y/n #jj x oc #pope x yn #pope x reader #pope x oc lovetriangle? #newfic #anypotential whatsoever? #I HAVE A PT2 BC IT WAS SO FFFFFING LONG #LMK IF U WANT IT

[itsthemoofacewriting]

You’re the only high that I want

Well… it’s been a while, huh? And I’m not even back with something grand, just a silly little thing that would not leave me alone until I wrote it.

Summary: Sanji’s a flirt at the best of times, but after an operation when he’s drugged up? Nami doesn’t know whether her cheeks will ever return to their normal colour. AU. SaNami. Rating: T

This can also be found on FFN and AO3

Enjoy some hilarity.

Everything had happened very quickly.

One minute, Sanji was doing an inventory check at his restaurant and the next he was stooped over as an unbearable pain shot through his abdomen, sweat beading on his forehead. That’s how he was found by his staff as they panicked, rushing around in a flutter as their normally tough, hardy manager was writhing in pain.

Sanji had bragged one too many times to Zoro about never having been sick before and really, when he’d done it that one time when Zoro was sick, this was probably karma coming around to give him a reality check.

“I miss Sanji’s cooking already,” Luffy whined, hanging off the uncomfortable hospital chair next to Sanji’s bed.

“It’s been a day. If you’re hungry go to the café down the hall,” Nami sighed, rolling her eyes from the other side.

“Food sucks,” he muttered like a child being told they can’t have ice cream from the truck. The hospital food wasn’t awful, but Luffy’s problem was that it wasn’t Sanji’s. Nami rolled her eyes.

Usopp and Zoro walk into the room shortly after. They’d all been at work when they’d gotten the call but only Nami and Luffy had been able to leave immediately, she’d swung by to pick him up on the way. Zoro and Usopp had text to say they’d be over as soon as possible. Well, Usopp did. Zoro just grunted when asked if he was going to come. That was confirmation enough for Nami.

“Is he okay?” Usopp asked, handing Luffy a packet of crisps from the vending machine outside. It seemed to be enough to brighten Luffy’s mood and get him to stop sulking.

“Yeah, the operation went well, they’re waiting for him to wake up. Should everything be okay when they check him over, he can be discharged,” Nami informed them but it didn’t stop her worrying.

He was so still and pale. He’d never bragged to her about never being sick, but she knew the fact well, so it never prepared her for when he would eventually get sick. Why couldn’t he just get a cold like the rest of them and be done with it?

A bag of crisps was thrust in her face, blocking her view of Sanji and she blinked. Luffy was leaning over the bed and smiling at her. “It’ll be okay!” He reassured, then looked contemplative for a moment, sparing a glance at Sanji. “Maybe he’ll feel better if he had some.”

That did it.

“As if! Sit down you idiot,” she barked and Luffy laughed. The tension in the room lifting as Usopp and Luffy started loudly chattering. Even Zoro nodded at her. She knew she was being a bit of a worry wart; it was a straightforward appendectomy after all.

The room went silent when Sanji stirred and his eyes slowly started to open. They all stared at him with bated breath as he blinked at each of them, eyes slowly moving around the room, as if trying to piece together what was going on by himself. His gaze finally settled on Nami and he just stared.

Her hand came to rest on his arm. “Sanji, how do you feel?” Admittedly, it was a stupid question, how else would he feel? But he wasn’t saying anything. He was looking at her oddly, almost stupefied.

“Oh beautiful angel, I’m blessed just by being in your overwhelming presence, let alone your concern for me,” Sanji crooned, taking the hand on his arm to clasp in his own.

“Yeah. He’s fine,” Usopp said blandly, unimpressed.

Nami squeezed his hand, relieved but that just appeared to spur him on.

“I’ve never seen someone so gorgeous in all my years. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve having you look upon me, but I won’t curse my good fortune.”

Luffy starts asking him questions in the background, food related of course, but Sanji’s eyes don’t leave her. It appears he’s not even listening. They run from the top of her head and as far down as they can before the bed blocks her and then back up. Did he just check her out?

“It’s like you’re carved from marble, just utterly flawless.” She doesn’t miss the way his eyes flick down to her lips and then back up to her eyes. “This is probably a stretch, but considering my good luck already, I have to know, are you single?”

“Uuuh-” Her brain short circuits and she can’t get it to form words at the unexpected question.

“Because if you are, I’d be honoured to take you out,” he said lowly and brings the hand in his grip up to his lips to place a delicate kiss to her knuckles and she almost can’t believe the hot flush working over her face at such an innocent gesture.

“Holy shit, is he hitting on you?” Usopp questions in disbelief and behind him Zoro snorts.

“Course he is, idiot can’t keep it in his pants even when he’s been cut open,” Zoro replies.  

And suddenly it makes sense. The stupefied look he sent her, the heated looks he’s giving her… the ridiculous, over the top words coming from his mouth. Well, the last thing wasn’t too out of character for him, but over the years he’d toned it down. He hasn’t been like that since they met.

But- he’s loopy from the anaesthesia… and is trying to woo her.

Zoro snorts behind her and she directs a glare at him. When she looks back at Sanji, he’s no longer giving her an adoring look but instead looks suspicious. Apparently, she’d been silent for too long and he’d taken it as a negative to his question.

“Who is it?” And Sanji’s glaring at the three men in the room, sizing them up. He disregards Luffy quickly, who looks utterly bored and then eliminates Usopp a second after, who looks confused. Although, Usopp soon looked offended after when he realised he’d been overlooked so quickly.

His eyes settled on Zoro.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” He sneered at Zoro as he said it, and even though he’s the one in the bed, Sanji still somehow managed to look down his nose at the other man. “You could do so much better than him, just look at that nasty face.”

“Oi, I can still kick your arse, operation or not!” Zoro replied angrily, Nami’s laughter no doubt infuriating him further.

“It’s not him,” Nami said, humour thick in her voice.

“Whoever it is, I’m sure they couldn’t look after you as well as I could. You’re a goddess, you deserve to be treated like one,” Sanji babbled, grasping her hand desperately. “Run away with me.”

“Hmm, well…” She pretends to consider his offer and smirks when the grip on her hand tightens slightly and he’s looking up at her with so much hope.

“Would you just tell him already?” Zoro growled, his temper thinning, still not over the previous insult and the idiots prattling was starting to grind on him.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Usopp asked, trying to peer around at her face.

When she looked over her shoulder at them, the look she gave them was downright evil. Sanji was a flatterer normally, it wasn’t anything new but to hear him so fervent when he had no clue who she was… well, it was an ego boost to say the least.

But her fun had to come to an end at some point, especially as he was still going on in the background.

“-Grow old with me?”

She paused for a second, considering how she wanted to respond, before shrugging, “Okay.”

“R-really?” Sanji asked, stunned at her simple answer, almost like he wasn’t expecting it. Or at least expecting more of a fight.

“I already promised to do that anyway,” she explained simply and lifted her previously hidden hand from her lap so the ring on her finger could twinkle cheekily at him.

“Me?” Sanji pointed to himself and looked blown away, gobsmacked as he stared at her. All she did was smile back at him and nod.

There was a pause as he took this all in.

“You’re my fiancé?” His voice raised an octave.

“Oh for god- yes, yes! She’s your fiancé!” Usopp snapped, bored and irritated with the show in front of them all.

“But you’re so beautiful?” He said like a question, still in awe.

Nami laughed. “Seems you’re quite lucky, indeed.” And winked at him.

Sanji almost looked like he was going to pass out as she did when the door suddenly opened, and a nurse walked in. Nami looked at Sanji apprehensively, if he was still loopy and couldn’t remember that she was his fiancé, was he going to go back to his old flirting ways? She would hit him, surgery be damned.

“Well, it’s nice a lively in here, that’s always a nice sign,” the nurse said cheerfully.

Sanji eyed the nurse for a second but it seemed Nami’s worries were all for nothing when he looked back at her. “Can you believe this is my fiancé? I still can’t, she’s out of this world. I’m the luckiest man alive.” He beamed and squeezed both of her hands in his.

The nurse laughed in response and Nami could feel her cheeks growing hot. “Ah, the anaesthesia has all sorts of different effects on people, looks like you got the fun one.” She winked at Nami. “I’ll go get the doctor.”

When the young doctor had entered, he’d ushered out Luffy, Zoro and Usopp. Nami told them to go home now that he was awake, and she’d call them later. They’d probably all be invading their home tomorrow anyway.

It didn’t take much more convincing when Usopp said he saw a McDonalds close by. With a whoop, Luffy was out the door and running down the hallways with Usopp and Zoro hot on his heels.

With them now gone, Sanji had been given a quick once over, asked how he felt (“I’m on top of the world with this goddess next to me.” Jesus) and that was it. She was told that he had to take it easy for two weeks and no heavy lifting. That wouldn’t be easy, he struggled to sit still for long periods.

They were left after that, so he could get changed out of his gown and they could leave.

“Can I kiss you?” And he was looking down at her, so earnestly, as his arms slipped into his shirt and she worked on buttoning it up.

This was the second time he’d asked, the first had been with Luffy, Usopp and Zoro in the room. The latter had looked disgusted and she’d quickly denied him out of embarrassment.

But with that look she couldn’t again. “Okay, just a quick one.”

He didn’t hesitate and swooped down to connect their lips. Apparently, he hadn’t heard anything past her ‘okay’, as his lips pressed against hers firmly and his hands grasped her hips to press her up against him. She tried to pull away to reprimand him, but he followed after her to reconnect their lips and when his tongue brushed her bottom lip, she found herself throwing caution to the wind.

When her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she slanted their lips together, he hummed in delight at her enthusiasm. She found herself forgetting where they were when his tongue reached out to caress hers and she wrinkled her nose at the morning (or afternoon?) breath but she found herself not caring. Sanji was before her, well and safe and apparently really getting into this as a moan slipped from his mouth and his hands were groping at her behind.

Okay, that’s more than enough.

She leaned back, turning her head to avoid his lips but he brushed them under her ear instead, nuzzling there afterwards.

“Wow,” he whispered, sending goose bumps down her neck.  

“And that’s all you’re getting, so you better have got your fill.” Her tone still a bit too breathy to be believable but she did push against his shoulders slightly to create a bit of distance.  

“I don’t think I ever will.”

Nami snorted but nonetheless was delighted. “Come on, let’s get you discharged.”

Getting over to the nurse’s station took far longer than it should have, but Sanji kept stopping to inform anyone who passed them that she was his fiancé and wasn’t he the luckiest man alive? She drowned out his babbling and lead him by their connected hands, she was a woman on a mission. She was ready to leave this place.

She signed whatever was put in front of her, asking any questions and listened as the nurse explained everything, occasionally throwing an amused look towards Sanji who would not shut up.

He cut off his own rambling when a thought occurred to him. “Can I kiss you again?!” He asked excitedly, already moving closer.

“Not right now,” She said, cheeks flushed when the nurses nearby started to giggle and smile over at them. This was all incredibly flattering but it was starting to get embarrassing, he had no filter right now. She smacked his hand away when it started to wander lower. She needed to get him home.

“Okay, you’re all set! Any issues, please call your doctor and they’ll advise you,” the nurse informed her.

“Thank you,” Nami said to the nurse and then turned to Sanji, “Let’s go home.”

“You’re taking me home with you?” He asked eagerly, a glint in his eye.  

“Oh my god,” she said, exasperated and started guiding him towards the sliding doors so they could leave.

He let go of her hand to slide it around her waist and murmured into her ear, “You can do whatever you want with me.” His breath is hot against her ear and if he hadn’t just had surgery, she would elbow him so hard right now.

“But I really do want forever with you,” he follows up with and that takes the murderous edge off her face.

“Forever to do whatever you want with me.”

She doesn’t feel bad about elbowing him after that. She just wishes it was on the side they’d made the cut. That’d teach him.

For all his big talk at the hospital and perverted uttering on the car ride home, he passed out on the sofa the moment he sat down.

Perverted he may be, but that was her pervert she thinks as she plays with the ring on her finger.

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

Did some light googling on appendectomy and anaesthesia, but I’m no doctor. So please don’t come at me about details.

As always, please forgive any errors.

Thanks for reading.  

#SaNami #SaNa #SanjiNami #SanjixNami #opfanfic #opwriting #One Piece #Nami #Sanji

[ao3theskyisblue]

(Stay) I Need You More Than You Think

Big thank you to @summerfiing for the prompt for this post 😊 I hope you enjoy reading it 🤗

Hopefully this shows up in the tags lmao

Summary: Some days are harder than others.

The life of a first responder never gets easier, and Carlos experiences one of those days.

Click here to read on AO3, the fic is also under the break 😊

There were days that, when the sun showcased its brilliant glow beyond the horizon, Carlos woke up in tune to the new day, the sunlight offering an ethereal glow as the warmth kissed his skin. The comforter would be soft and pliant underneath his fingertips, flowing with the movement as he pushed it aside to sit up.

Spotlights would be created by the shining beams of light, waiting up with him calmly for the alarm to sound, which he would then turn off with the quick press of a button. The floorboards would mold to the shape of his bare feet, allowing him to soundlessly glide to the bathroom to clean up. The kitchen would then welcome him in, sunlight peeking through the gap between the curtains, enticing him towards the coffee machine. He would operate it effortlessly to produce a hot drink that would truly start to wake him up as he made breakfast to get the energy he needed to start his shift.

Even so, days that started with a simple rising of the sun, sometimes didn’t end with the moon graciously offering its light to allow the sun to cast their vivid rays across the other half of the Earth.

Instead of bathing the world with warmth, clouds would populate the sky to present a new dawn, one that did not allude a welcoming atmosphere.

His keys scraped against the lock, the object stubbornly refusing to slide into the allotted space smoothly, instead deciding to give Carlos a hard-felt battle of resistance as he tried, for the fifth time, to unlock his own damn door.

He then proceeded to trip over his own entranceway, feet getting caught in absolutely nothing causing him to grab at the wall to steady himself with a muffled curse. He didn’t really need any light to see where he was going – knowing the layout of his apartment like the back of his hand – but he still fumbled to find a light switch that seemed to have moved from its usual position on the wall.

The room was freezing, floorboards sending chills through the soles of his feet causing him to shiver. Forgoing trying to find the light switch, his gaze wandered to the kitchen that was too quiet, almost seeming to be taunting him about his lack of appetite. There was a haunting chill in the hallway leading to the bedroom, and Carlos barely registered the creaking of the floorboards underneath his weight as he carelessly climbed into bed. The comforter was cold to the touch, feeling heavy in his hands as he worked to climb underneath it, the weight encasing his body in a false sense of security. Closing his eyes, arms curling around himself to provide a warmth that didn’t exist, Carlos willed his body to succumb to a world where darkness fed on the deepest recesses of his mind.

Death had taken a little girl today.

He had stood on the sidelines, eyes watching a scene his brain had not caught up to, his senses too slow to respond – standing too far to respond – as an AC unit came toppling down and crushing the girl underneath it. The mother’s screams were a shrilling sound that couldn’t seem to stop echoing in his mind.

Carlos had been in that apartment, had been the one to answer to a complaint about a neighbour that just would not comply with safe placements of household appliances. And even through his many warnings, along with the many others from officers responding to the same complaint on different days, today was the one in a million where something went wrong.

And he couldn’t do anything.

The man had immediately been arrested, this time the police needing no more reason to slap on handcuffs that should have been on those wrists since the first complaint. The scene left a bitter taste on his tongue, as he had watched the man’s head being shoved into the back of a squad car.

Out of everything, it had taken a little girl’s life to cause enough reason for the punishment of an action that shouldn’t have happened in the first place. The man would be getting time in prison, while an innocent child would never again see the light of dawn announcing a new day.

Weighed down by dread, his limbs cried the tears he couldn’t as he lifted the comforter tighter around him, burrowing his nose into the pillow to seek for any source of warmth. There was no clock in the bedroom scarce his phone, thankfully leaving him devoid of its rhythmic ticking.

The rest of Carlos’ shift had gone by in a blur, the flashback of the tiny body being covered by a white sheet in stark contrast with the blood pooling on the pavement making his gut twist painfully. His partner had also been unnaturally quiet, not picking up the usual banter the two often shared between calls.

Carlos’s entire body felt like lead lying on the same sheets that had felt so warm just that morning, now turned frigid as if mourning with him about another life he could not save. Time was merciless – passing by in a manner that he could not quantify, not knowing whether he’d been lying in an exhaustedly restless state for minutes, or maybe hours.

Head swimming with images that only spread further anguish through his veins, Carlos knew that sleep would not come easy tonight. The life of a first responder never gets any easier, and there were some days that caused a sleepless repose in the sheets, physically at rest but mentally in pain. Tomorrow would be a new day, and Carlos would just have to accept the newly added weight on his shoulders and acknowledge that time does not stop to grant healing for the scalding ail of grief.  

Through the muffled pieces of the world Carlos could vaguely make out in the dim lighting of his bedroom, his fingers suddenly twitched in apprehension when rustling noises sounded from his living room.

There were only a handful of people that had the key to his place, and only one who could have heard about what happened and would be paying him a visit.

His body a mere dead weight, Carlos forced himself to roll out of his comforter cocoon that depicted only an illusion of console, feet padding against cold floorboards once more to head towards the living room. Unlike when he first came in, the lights were on, and a familiar figure lifted his gaze from where he had been staring down two mugs of…something, to offer him a small smile.  

“Hey.” TK said softly, his voice quiet, but a welcome sound penetrating through the silence Carlos had secluded himself in. The firefighter made his way to him slowly, hands twitching as if wanting to reach out, but held back at the last second.

“I made some tea. Lemon balm. Would you like a cup?” TK asked, eyes gentle and devoid of judgment at Carlos’ rumpled nature. His hair had to be sticking in every direction from him not bothering to fix it when rolling out of bed, but TK didn’t seem the least bit fazed.

Looking at the openness to his expression, his green eyes staring at him unblinkingly - patiently awaiting his next move, Carlos felt his throat closing at the wave of emotion hitting him at full swing.

Oh.

“Yeah. Tea sounds...sounds good.” It goes to show how out of it he really is when Carlos didn’t even recognize the sound of his own voice. Wincing at how small and shallow it sounded, Carlos opened his mouth to apologize, explain, say something, but TK only gave him a comforting nod and gestured to the couch.

“I’ll bring it over – you go and make yourself comfortable.”

Carlos’ legs worked on autopilot after that, dragging the rest of his body towards the couch. He sank into the soft cushions, shoulders hunching at the invisible weight he didn’t bother to hide now, and that had already piled on without him knowing.

A whiff of something tangy invaded his senses, and Carlos looked up to see TK standing in front of him holding out his favourite mug, labelled ‘eat more hole foods’ with a picture of a donut that had been a gift from Michelle the day he came out to her. The mug pulled out a hint of a smile at the memory, before it faded.

Accepting the hot drink that still had steam rising with the unmistakable scent of lemons, Carlos pressed the palms of his hands against the heat protruding through the porcelain. He didn’t bother removing his hands when the heat started to burn, giving him a welcome tether to the real world.

“It’s my mother’s favourite, the tea. She was always drinking loads of the stuff, claiming it gave her a sense of peace after hours in the courtroom.” TK spoke quietly, and Carlos vaguely registered him taking a seat on the coffee table in front of him, their knees just shy of brushing against one another.

Carlos raised the mug to his lips, carefully taking a small sip. He was immediately greeted with a sharp tang of bitterness, a taste that wasn’t normally accustomed to this type of tea. He couldn’t hold back a wince, nose scrunching up at the bitter taste that slowly faded away after he swallowed, leaving him to stare at the mug in bewilderment. A light titter of laughter ringed in his ears, and Carlos looked up to see TK watching him fondly.

“I may have steeped it a little longer than necessary to give it a kick. Did it work?” TK smiled, lifting his own mug to take a sip of his own cup of tea. Carlos had half a mind to wonder why TK hadn’t recoiled at the taste like he did, and was about to ask, ‘did what work?’ but the words got caught in his throat.

The ache in his chest from earlier, had receded into a dull throb. Blinking away the mist that clouded his gaze, Carlos lifted his mug again, taking a longer sip - this time welcoming the sharp bitterness on his tongue.

The glow from the lights TK had decided to turn on cast a comforting shadow around them, encasing them in a secure bubble of space filled with two mugs of relaxing tea – and one heart carefully cradling another.

The onslaught of feelings he had pushed to the side from earlier cascaded out in a trickle, starting with a stray tear slipping down Carlos’ cheeks. He reached out his fingers to brush against TK’s arm carefully, unsure whether his touch was warranted. Without missing a second, TK placed both their mugs off to the side, getting up from the coffee table to step into Carlos’ arms.

Carlos didn’t waste any more time in wrapping his arms around the other man’s waist, burrowing his face into the soft fabric of TK’s shirt near his stomach. His legs widened their stance to fit TK in between them, his arms tightening around the solid warmth. Carlos shivered as fingers gently sifted through the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, feeling a hand splayed on the muscles of his back, thumb moving in slow circles in an offer of silent solace.

They stayed there, in the built comfort of the living room for a long time. TK hadn’t so much as mentioned why he had decided to come over, solely content in giving what Carlos was willing to take, and never once questioned why.

Slowly but surely, the ice began to thaw in his chest. The living room no longer felt absent and cold, the floorboards turning palpable and grounding, the soft material of the shirt he had buried his face in soaking up his tears in a gentle caress.

Carlos tipped his head up, red-rimmed eyes meeting TK’s gentle ones, sighing softly as the hand that had been running continually through his hair moved to cradle his face, the thumb running along the ridge just underneath his left eye. Carlos leaned into the touch.

“Will you stay?” Carlos whispered hoarsely, hesitantly, giving TK an out if he didn’t want to. It was a little silly, having these kinds of thoughts now. But the day’s events were still raw, and if TK had better things to do than stay with his bleak stature, Carlos would never blame him.

Seeming to understand where his thoughts were going, TK leaned down to press their foreheads together, green eyes filled with nothing but affection as they bore into brown orbs that had lost their usual light.

“Always, Carlos.” TK murmured. Carlos closed his eyes, relishing in the small spark of warmth starting to build in his chest at the words.

“Always.”

#Day 6 - Romance #tarlos #tarlos fic #summerfiing #Some hurt/comfort #lonestarweek2020

[joshslater]

Grimsby pt. 4

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Fucking kill me already. If it’s 1 hour walk and I need to be at the fish market at 7, why the fuck did I set the alarm for 5? I had no memory of going to bed, but apparently I had managed to do that. How much did I drink? Was I still drunk? Fuck! Was I still high? I don’t know how long that shit lasts. Did I even get high at all? I must have slept on the side, because the right ear piercing hurt.

I decided to get up and take a shower after all. Some hydration and 3-in-1 adidas bullshit would probably do me good. At least my reflection wasn’t a surprise anymore, though I winced a little. I gambled that the tape holding the plastic wrap over my tattoo could withstand a quick shower. If not, the 24 hours would have to be shortened a bit. Showers have the magic ability to awaken the sleepy, chill the sweaty, thaw the frozen, heal the sick and refresh the hangover. This shower needed a refill of magic, because I wasn’t feeling it. At least I smelled better, and the bandage remained in place.

I couldn’t use the same clothes for a third day, I realized. If for no other reason because they reeked of weed. I dug through the heaps of clothes in my bedroom. There was no way of telling what was and wasn’t washed. Correction, some were clearly not washed, but there was no way of telling if something was clean. I managed to pull out two socks that matched, underwear that looked clean, and a T-shirt and an adidas tracksuit that weren’t wrinkled. I doubt whatever adidas use even can get wrinkles.

I grabbed my phone. Fuck! How could I suddenly be short of time? I grabbed the cigarette pack and the lighter from the Nike joggers and threw myself downstairs and out the door. It’s way more than one hour walk to the fish market, and I have just about an hour to get there, so somewhere along the way I would have to jog. Fuck. Before that though, I really craved a smoke.

I ended up doing low intensity interval training, with shorter and shorter sections of jogging mixed with longer and longer sections of walking. I wasn’t sweaty when I arrived, late, but definitively flush. I tried to look like I had problem finding Jamie.

“There you are!” “Glad you bothered to make it, Chayse. Talk with Peter over there, in the orange wader. He’ll tell you what needs moving.”

Peter must have been really imposing when he was younger, and still in his late 50′s he was tall, loud and a tangle of beard and hair. Talking to him wasn’t the easiest though. After having spent a lifetime with the fishermen, even if his accent wasn’t incomprehensible, he used a shorthand for everything that made it hard to understand what he wanted. But as I soon found out, it almost always came down one of filling boxes with ice, moving boxes, or squeegee the floor. By 10 it properly hurt, by 12 I was considering to just walk away. Doing this job was however one of the few explicit things Butcher Jones had told me to do, through Declan, and somehow I managed all the way to 2, when Jamie handed over my £60.

Peter had told me the chippie at the end of the market sold some of the odder looking pieces for £5 to workers. It was past lunch, so I managed to bargain for a £3 with old chips and take away. As I sat down in the clean but worn break room and started to eat, I had mixed feelings about the meal. On one hand I had worked harder than any time before in my life, and was starving. On the other I was eating 5% of my net worth, so I should pace myself and savor it. But the chips were stale, so faster was better. Sitting down and having a break with a full belly for the first time in days was however calming. A bit of a break in craziness of the past few days. It had been jarring, sure, but if things started to move along now at a more normal pace, it wouldn’t be that bad. Wake up, move boxes, have some chippie, do chores, sleep early. That should be my goal routine. Then three months from now I could hit up some old friends in London to crash at their place for a bit, grow out the hair, remove the studs, and this would all be an odd adventure with a memorial tattoo. But first things first. My plan was to sort out some essentials. Do a laundry run first thing back home, then move out some of the most obvious trash, old take away boxes and the like.

When I tried to stand up I was again reminded that I wasn’t used to this kind of work. My back muscles where sore after all the standing, walking and lifting, and I had to really push through the soreness to stand upright. I’ve heard walking is good for your back. I hope that is the case, because spending another £2 to get home wasn’t going to happen. I went slow, 2 hours perhaps, but I didn’t feel any worse by the time I got through the door. Not really any better either. Still exhausted I collapsed on the couch again. No sight of Declan. There wouldn’t be any laundry runs, nor any other run today, that’s for sure.

Not even five minutes went by when the front door opened. I was just about to ask Declan where he’s been when Jace walked in, looking exactly the same as the evening before. I vaguely recalled something about playing Xbox.

“Alright bruv?” “Oi Jace. I’m fucking knackered.” “Should be fucking easy to beat you then, mate.”

He confidently walked into the kitchen and grabbed us each a Stella, and after giving me mine proceeded to get the Xbox and FIFA up and running. While he still behaved as a cocky cunt, I did enjoy sitting down and watch someone else work for a change. I knew he was there for selfish reasons, but oddly it felt like being taken care of. I had never played FIFA even once, so I claimed to have forgotten all about it. He didn’t show any sign of disappointment, and just threw himself down next to me in the couch and began teaching me the basics. He then completely crushed me in our first game.

“That was alright, bruv” “Thanks.” “Let’s play for real now.”

While the game was starting he pulled out a blunt from somewhere and lit it. Looking for any advantage, I didn’t wait and started playing immediately. He didn’t seem to mind, and effectively retook the initiative as soon as he returned to holding the controller. He then held out the blunt in front of me and asked “Want some?” I didn’t want to let go of the controllers, so instead I had to lean forward to inhale from it. Despite the distraction, and the weed, I managed to score some points, but I was clearly outmatched. I didn’t mind though. Just sitting down, not working and not thinking was a luxury.

“You smoke weed every day, mate?” “Yeah. Me and Daz deal around here.” “So you’re his muscle?” “Wanna fight, bruv?”

I was too tired and too high to realize what I had done until seconds later. Jace had told me he was a criminal, dealing drugs. I then implied he wasn’t the brains of the operations. But the way he said the last thing, challenging me to a fight, didn’t sound as much of a threat as it ought to. Like he was happy about it.

“Sorry mate, I meant no disrespect.” “No, no bruv. I do boxing twice a week. You should come.” “Thanks, but I’m not really that into sports.” “You should come. Next time is tomorrow.”

There was a bit more force behind the last bit. I remembered Declan’s instructions on doing whatever Daz and Jace suggested. Perhaps that was still valid.

“OK. I’ll join.” “Sweet. I’ll beat you in FIFA one more time.”

[bubble-tea-bunny]

a.m.

[arthur curry x reader]

author’s note: part 2 to “what we find in the water” which i wrote aaaall the way back when jl came out. it feels like so long ago haha. hope you enjoy <3

word count: 2,366

These days, you can’t quite say for sure if the warmth blooming in your chest and seeping through your veins is from the heat of the summer months, or from the return of the man in the water at an unusual time of year.

It catches everyone by surprise. It’s a shock, even. Though could they be blamed? No crowd stands waiting at the shore as Arthur emerges and you figure he might be glad. He doesn’t seem to like being in the spotlight, but it doesn’t last long because people do stop to watch once they realize what’s happening. He’s back. And he’s six months too early. Someone asks why (doing their best not to sound like they’re irritated because they’re not, but they don’t want him to get the wrong idea because he’s certainly an intimidating figure)  but he understands there’s no hostility and all he says is that he wanted to take in the new scenery. You don’t like to be in the spotlight either yet he enters the pub and spots you behind the counter wiping down glasses, and you glance up to see him in the doorframe, so broad his shoulders almost touch each side, and you’re the center of his attention.

Of course, it doesn’t go unnoticed by the other villagers. You know there are whispers of speculation when Arthur sits at the bar right in front of you, about his reasons for an early visit. If when he said he was interested in the scenery, he was talking about you. But you pay it no mind, and neither does he. Bright brown eyes are trained on you as you seem to glide in your space behind the counter, swiping up empty mugs to wash and put away. You weren’t working here last time I came by he remarks, and you tell him it’s a new gig—just started last month. You grab a glass and pour his drink without asking him what he wants because you’d seen him order it over and over on all his past visits. He raises a brow once you set it down before him.

“I don’t know if I should be impressed or concerned that I’ve drunk this so much you have it memorized.”

You laugh. Arthur thinks you’re summer poured into a soul and brought to life.

He stays late. Past closing, but you’re not bothered. You clean up while you talk, wiping down tables and arranging glasses to be ready to go for tomorrow. Your boss is out of town for the week, which means you’re manning the bar every day. You wonder if Arthur plans to stay that long, and a part of you hopes he does, because he’d make the shifts less boring. The hours today had flown by.

“Don’t you feel it?” you inquire out of the blue, counting the cash in the register.

“Feel what?”

“The alcohol.” It comes out matter-of-factly and you look over at him with what he can surmise to be an expression of confusion since his words aren’t slurred nor are his eyes cloudy. One might not ever know he’d been drinking (especially as much as he has).

“I mean, I do feel a little dizzy.” But that could be from something else. The second half of the sentence nearly escapes his mouth but he stops himself. He knows that it’s from something else. Some days he chases even the faintest buzz, and he’d never been successful during his days in the pub over the numerous winters. Who knew all he needed to make it happen was you?

He stands up to follow you outside, and he does so with ease, no wobbling of any sort (but you did watch him closely to make sure he was fine, and to support him if he stumbled even though you’re both confident your smaller frame would do little to keep him upright, but it’s the thought that counts). You lock the front door and inquire where he’s off to from here, and you’re trying to hide the disappointment in your voice because you take this to be the end of your interaction at least for today. He had plans to visit the pub as he always did, and you had a conversation because you happened to be there too. A case of being at the right place at the right time.

But Arthur doesn’t think that, and he raises a brow, though you can’t see it since you’re checking the door is secured. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” he teases.

The joke might have made you nervous before, worried that he’d taken your words the wrong way and was offended, but now you know that’s not it at all and you allow yourself to chuckle. “Of course not. I just figured we’d been talking because we were both at the bar, but now it’s closed up for tonight, and, well, I assumed that meant we were going our separate ways…” you trail off with a shrug.

At your response, he sighs quietly and glances out at the ocean, listening to the gentle crash of waves. There’s a light breeze this evening; the water is calm. Then he returns his attention to you, and you’re staring up at him with eyes like the moon and momentarily he’s pondering if it’s you who controls the tides after all, not him. “When the others asked why I came back in the summer, I gave a vague answer, and it was because I couldn’t tell them the truth.”

You tilt your head in curiosity, waiting for him to continue, but he can see the cogs spinning in your head as you put two and two together.

“I came back for you.” He doesn’t know if you’d gotten four yet, but even if you had, he would’ve given the answer anyway.

There are books and movies about two people dancing around their feelings, full of doubts until finally at the end they confess their love and they live happily ever after and yada yada yada. But there’s no wondering for him. He might’ve only been here for a day, but he’d spent the whole thing with you and it’s minuscule in the wide scope of time, but it’s long enough for him to catch a glimpse of your beautiful soul and know that what he feels for you is what the sky feels when kissed by dawn.  

A flurry of thoughts swirls in your brain and all that leaves your mouth is Oh. But its connotation isn’t bad. There’s a quick flash of something like excitement which passes over your face that you try to hide but you know you’ve failed when he smiles at the sight of it. And then you’re glad you couldn’t hide it.

If people hadn’t been talking before, they certainly were now. Arthur spends every waking hour in your presence. At first, it was owed to the fact you worked at the bar and that was a place he frequented. Simple coincidence. But outside your shifts, he’s still with you. This is the most he’s ever spoken and almost every word has been said to you. Even your brother has got to questioning you, but you don’t give a straight answer. I know before I said he didn’t like talking much, he says one afternoon, but maybe he just didn’t have the right person to talk to.

You’re laying on your bed, staring up at the ceiling. It’s dark, the only light pouring into your room the light of the moon. There are no curtains on your window. You’d meant to get some, but changed your mind because the sun operated as a sort of alarm for you. You woke when it rose and shone on your face, and instantly felt tired when it set and the moon came out to play. Tonight, however, even with the moon high in the sky, you aren’t sleepy. You gave up trying to fall asleep a while ago, instead choosing to lay there with your thoughts until you became drowsy. But all the thinking only serves to make you more awake.

A gentle knock on your door breaks your train of thought, and you sit up and ask Yes? It creaks open slowly and Arthur peeks his head through. He’d been sleeping on your couch while he was visiting. His size practically dwarfed the poor piece of furniture and you apologized that there wasn’t anything better. But he just smiled and told you it was perfect.

“Can’t sleep either?” he asks quietly once he sees your wide awake eyes. His voice is gravelly like he’s just woken up, though you assume it to have been a short-lived rest spent tossing and turning.

You shake your head. “No, I can’t.”

His hand is curled around the doorknob as he thinks, and you watch him patiently. “Let’s go for a swim,” he resolves finally.

“But it’s so late.” Your brows furrow.

“Neither of us is gonna fall asleep anytime soon anyway. Come on, what do you say?”

You end up saying yes. You follow him to the docks, walking to the very end where you can jump off without being blocked by fishing boats. His eyes light up at the sight of the water, and he grins at you before slipping his shirt off and tossing it to the side. He takes a running start and dives in, and you chuckle at his enthusiasm. However, you don’t jump in after him. You settle down at the edge, feet dangling and swinging back and forth. You’re content to sit and observe. He probably missed being in his element, despite it only being a few days.

Arthur emerges several seconds later, no deep breaths taken because he doesn’t need them. He finds you sitting on the dock and frowns slightly. “You’re not coming in?”

“It’s too cold.” In the day, you might’ve entertained the idea, but the evenings are cool and the water more so. Your body isn’t built for the water like his is. He probably doesn’t even notice the temperature.

He swims over, the water shifting gently as he moves. The surface ripples behind him, rays of moonlight distorted like one is looking at the horizon on a hot day in a desert. He comes up to the dock and hefts himself up enough that he can rest his arms comfortably on the wood. His hair sticks to his shoulders and back, the ends dripping. He looks up to meet your eyes.

“It’s not that bad,” he says. He wears a little smirk that’s the tiniest bit mischievous and so you’re not inclined to believe him.

“You’re just saying that,” you shoot back playfully.

He doesn’t respond, but the smirk is still on his face. Then you catch him glancing down at your hand, and you wonder why. The second it clicks is a second too late because suddenly he’s grabbed your wrist and pulled you forwards, bringing you in with him as he falls back into the ocean.

You’re quick to pop your head up with a sharp inhale, and you let out the breath in a shudder. You were right—it is cold! Arthur is laughing and you attempt to glare at him as you stutter out You jerk! but you’re unsuccessful, and soon you join him. It does well to warm you up, and your body steadily adjusts to the temperature. Since you’re in the water and your clothes are soaking anyway, you decide to stay there for a little longer. You don’t go too far from the dock, and Arthur, though he’s able, doesn’t either. What fun could he have out there if you weren’t with him?

He takes a moment to stop and watch you, a fond grin forming on his lips as he does. Your hair trails behind you in tendrils as you twirl around, like you’re as much at home in the sea as he is. You’re clearly an experienced swimmer, and briefly the thought crosses his mind that maybe in another life you could’ve been Atlantean.

You drift over to him. You’d noticed he was floating in that one spot for a while. “You okay?”  

“Yeah.” He nods reassuringly. “I’m fine.”

You nod too and smile, your silent response of Good.

The two of you lapse into silence, the waves jostling you slightly but not enough to move you from your places. It was already late when you came out to the dock, and Arthur knows the sun will start rising in a short while, painting the sky orange. Yet he swears that the clock seems to slow as he looks at you, morning still a far and away notion, and he hopes you know you have powers in your own right.

He leans in to kiss you and your lips taste of salt but so do his. It reminds him of home. You remind him of home. And the clock stops ticking and he holds you close and thinks he could stay like this forever, with you in the small hours between late night and early morning. The water might be cold but your skin is burning, and if you’re summertime personified, he’s found his favorite season.

You sit on the dock to survey the approaching dawn. Your clothes are clinging to your body but you’re long past the point of caring. Though the sun isn’t quite out yet, the sky is getting lighter and fading from black into a hazy blue, a telltale sign of morning. Arthur presses a quick kiss to your head and you smile softly.

There’s the familiar sensation of warmth spreading from your chest throughout the rest of your body and you consider the fact that maybe you feel this way because he’s the piece of a puzzle you hadn’t realized was missing. Maybe he’s the keystone holding your soul together. It’s always ourselves we find in the water. You read that line in a book once. You sneak a glance at Arthur, the first light of day washing over his face, and you reckon maybe whoever wrote that is right.

#arthur curry x reader #arthur curry imagine #aquaman x reader #aquaman imagine #jason momoa x reader #jason momoa imagine #justice league imagine #arthur curry #aquaman #jason momoa #justice league #bubble-tea-bunny #queue

[steadyfirepastabagel]

FOREVER UNDER THE SAME MOON

‘Hi Y/N! It’s good to see that you’re back!’ Says Manager Sejin with a warm smile, I never imagined that he will still be the one to pick me up after all these years.

‘It’s good to see you, oppa! How’s the wife? Btw, thanks for taking care of the brothers. I know they’re a handful.’ You answered, while your eyes rolled on the last part as he blushed when you called him ‘oppa’ like you used to call him.

‘They’ve been better specially when they got out of the ARMY. Taetae now wakes up without setting the alarm clock. Haha! They don’t Jimin so much anymore’ He reports because if there’s one thing that delays everything, it’s how hard to wake Tae up and when you say ‘I Jimin today’, that meant that you were late

‘That’s good! I missed you guys! I’m excited to spend my coming days with the boys. It’s been a while!’ You said with eyes filled of excitement.

As you entered the van, six handsome faces welcomed you like you’re an Idol. But ofcourse you’re not, you’re an F1 race car driver while being a member of a family who owns a lot of hotels and restaurants all over the world. These six handsome faces own the hearts of a lot of people because, well, they are famously known as BTS.

‘Looks like we are missing someone. Where’s Seokjin? Not that he needs to be here if he’s busy’ You asked because you’re used to seeing them all together in one car.

‘You just got here, never even gave us a hug individually, and you’re looking for Jin hyung immediately?! I thought I’m your favorite?!’ You wanted to pull Jimminie’s pouty lips by that time. This little boy never really learned when to shut his lips!

‘Excuse me Chim, I’m Noona’s favorite! I was the one who asked her to stay with us duh!’ Hobi replied to Jimin like you’re not even there

‘Nope! I am! I’m the one she called up when she’s about to board the plane!’ Said Tae, with that smug smile on that computer generated perfect face

‘Hey! Hey! I’m just used to counting you guys like Joonie does everytime specially I know some idiots might get lost. Like before, right, Chim? I’ll hug you all later while giving my gifts. Hobi, I’ll stay in one of our hotels after tomorrow. Ofcourse I can’t stay with you for a long time. You’re all busy. Taebear, I called you up because I know you’re still up that time, and you’re holding your phone. That’s the main reason why I called. Hehe!’

You heard some protests and it got really chaotic. So noisy that Namjoon cracked up

‘Guys, let Noona rest. It’s been a long flight. Let’s smush her when we get to the dorm.’ and the car got silent for a while, and it made you reminisce that one crazy day when you met the three beautiful souls you are with today that opened the gate to meeting three more.. and a special one, the one you silently love differently amongst them for the longest time.

It was around 11’o clock in the evening and you are auditing your accounting process flow for your pub. It was your uncle’s before he passed away but he gave it to you as a gift. You’re not really into pubs but you know how a restaurant operates as you have many of that. Technically, your family runs a lot.

You were starting to get involved when you heard a knock on your glass door that has a ‘closed’ sign facing out. Three men are standing outside, looking frantic and a little lost, one with a pair of bunny eyes that are pleading for you to talk to them.

‘Hi. We’re closed. Feel free to drop by tomorrow for the Tapas. We are also open for brunch’ you said with a smile

‘H—hello. We are tourists and we are looking for a shelter for a little bit. Some people are chasing us!’ The guy with a blonde hair wearing a big black shirt and a straw hat pleaded with a Korean accent. You know because your eomma is a Korean.

‘Please. We are not bad guys. Please help? Please?’ Said by the guy who’s wearing a bucket hat and black long sleeves. Sure, you’re a black belter in Taekwondo and Karatedo but three tall strangers are dangerous, right? But in the spirit of being half Korean, you let them enter.

The shorter guy with a striped shirt hugged you tightly you were taken aback. You did not feel any danger but you’re surprised that they are chased after, and got curious for the reason.

‘Hi. I am Y/N. May I know why are you being chased? By whom?’

‘Hi. I’m Tae. We are being chased by saesangs’ the guy in straw hat answered

‘I’m Jimin. We got followed from Korea. We are supposed to have a vacation here in Malta for a week’ the guy with stripped shirt added

‘These girls got crazy lately. A lot of our fans are not like this I promise. I’m Jungkook btw’ said the guy with a bucket hat

‘Fans? So you’re famous? Really?’ You said while laughing. Because they don’t really look like they’re famous. Hell, the Jungkook guy is even wearing a Birkenstock. Hello? Is he a dad or something?

and they laughed shyly that you took it as a ‘yes’. You asked for their group’s name and they told you to search for BTS on the internet. True to their words, they are really famous together with four other members who really look gorgeous. Specially the blonde guy with broad shoulders though his fashion is a little bit off for you. Pink and white plaid shirt and striped necktie in different color palette was a no-no for you.

‘You can stay as long as you don’t break things. Help yourselves, on the house.’ You said while going back to your task before these three appeared. Even though you want to know more, it’s not in your nature to ask questions to strangers specially like them. You may be sassy but you’ve been taught well.

‘Hey Noona, can I try some of your wine?’ Asked by Jimin. Who can say no to that smile?

‘Yes. Just keep quiet. I have a lot of things to learn. Feel at home. Just don’t break things ok?’ You answered while taking down notes without taking your eyes off your monitor

‘Don’t worry. RapMon hyung is not here. Nothings going to break’ Jimin answered and you just nod. You don’t know the RapMon guy but you’re too busy to care.

After an hour, you got to join them on the corner table. They are talking about their failed busking where in they tried to sing for the crowd for free. Apparently, someone tried to do a live video and some Saesang fans saw it as that’s how they got followed.

‘Don’t forget to keep in mind that safety is priority. How old are you guys?’

‘We are 23. Jungkookie is 20. How old are you?’ Asked by the guy named Tae

‘I’m 25. I’m your Noona.’ You answered

‘Oh! Just like Jin-hyung! How come you know what should we call you?’ Tae again. Seems like he’s the extrovert of the group.

‘I’m half Korean. My eomma is from Seoul’ you explained while being curious who’s Jin-hyung is.

Tae takes out his phone and makes you look at his phone’s lock screen. The picture seems from a photo shoot and they look amazing. There are seven of them in a greyscale picture, all of them look dashing in a three piece suit. They are looking straight to the camera with a very serious face but your your eyes are stuck to the man with the broad shoulders and plump lips.

He gives information enthusiastically. ‘Here, this is our leader RapMon hyung. He’s the brain of the group. He makes most of our lyrics with our producers and he’s a genius! This is Yoongi hyung, he looks like a cat right? He also raps like RapMon hyung and Hobi hyung. He raps so fast and he’s kinda an old man. And this is Hobi hyung. He’s our sunshine. He makes us laugh all the time and he also produces songs like Yoongi and RapMon hyungs.’ He said proudly. You can see that he’s very fond of these guys.

He continues ‘This is Jin hyung. He has high vocal tone and a good range. He often cooks for us. Kind of our baby sitter. Then here we come! We are the youngest of the family. Jk is our Golden Maknae, he’s our center because he’s so beautiful! This is Jimin when serious. Very different right? He’s sensual when he needs to. He dances contemporary. Then here I am. I sing and dance and I am trying to rap but they don’t want to hear it.’ He ends his introduction with pouty lips as if he never got a gift from Santa last Christmas.

‘Are you always like this? Giving out information as if I’m asking?’ With a smirk as a response, you continued ‘do you think they are not looking for you now? The babies roaming around Malta like nobody’s business?’

To your surprise, Jimin answered ‘don’t worry. I told our Manager Sejin that we are here and he will fetch us after Jin Hyung gets home. He’s at some bar now, so don’t worry. We can keep you company if you like’ you wonder if he is really this sweet to everybody because you can feel the sincerity in his eyes. Your heart is starting to get soft with these three.

‘I’m just here for the week. Don’t worry about me, you may have itineraries for tonight.’ You said, afraid that you’re keeping them from enjoying Malta.

‘Ani! Sesangs are here now. We can’t walk around like we did for the past days. Anyway we’ll leave the day after tomorrow, and tomorrow is our off cam day. We can do whatever we like. I can sleep the whole day if I want to!’ He said matter of factly as if he’s not the youngest. He scrunches his nose afterwards and lets out a giggle ‘I wonder where Jin hyung is. Last night he forgot our door code he almost slept on the pavement’.

‘He’s good in speaking English now. He will get by’ said Jimin. You are starting to think how this guy thinks about his group.

Hours went by, and you just sat there. Eating chips, cheese and cold cuts. Your favorite wine on the side, and a good company from the three strangers.

At around three AM, Manager Sejin knocked, he thanked you for keeping the three safe and for keeping this incident a secret. You joked that you need an autographed cd to commemorate the experience and they happily agreed. You called it a night, went to your hotel and slept after taking a bath.

Imagine your surprise when you came to the pub in the morning. There are the seven faces you saw from Tae’s phone the night before, smiling at you. Tae was beaming as he sat beside Jungkook at Jimin while having breakfast.

‘Hi Noona! We came here to pay! The box has every merch our manager brought with us!’ That’s Jungkook in between chewing his Tapa.

You went to their table. Bowed like a hospitable pub owner that you are and introduced yourself like how you do it regularly. Then you met the eyes of the person you are most interested in since last night. Seokjin.

It was just a split second but you felt something different-but you can’t pinpoint it right now. Hence, you just thanked them for coming over and went straight to your daily chores.

Before they leave, Tae went to the bar where you’re sitting. He asked for your number and laughed at you when you asked if he likes you. He replied ‘oh I like you so much! But ofcourse not in a romantic way. Look at Jungkookie, how can you not love that face? So, nope. I just feel like we’re friends from now on.’

You laughed so hard a lot of people eating in the pub looked at you. The attention made you blush but you can’t help yourself. You’re starting to think that these people might stay in your life for a period of time. You agree to Tae’s proposition of seeing them later after the pub closes to have a drink. They will go home to Korea tomorrow.

Time passed so fast. You are now sitting on a bar stool while Yoongi was asking about the architecture of the place, its history and your Tapa’s recipe. Hobi was taking a lot of selfies and Jin was giving his daddy jokes that you find really funny.

The night is growing older and the only sober person who came home was Tae. Who gets drunk for Coke anyway? Before the night came to an end, you had a group chat in Kakao talk named Malta Memories with a group picture taken by Manager Sejin where in all the faces wore a smile. It’s the very same picture you keep in your office in Paris.

You stopped reminiscing when the van stopped. It’s been five years since that happened. A lot of special memories are added to the list and the group chat was kept active even though you all matured. BTS’ fan base grew bigger as they hit the world wide fandom, you now hold the Operations team for Europe hotels and restaurants. They went to the ARMY and you retired from racing because of an accident.

You felt a little thug, a little pain in your heart when you remember an incident last year. But never mind, it’s all in the past now.

‘Penny for your thoughts?’ It’s Joonie. Your big boy who destroys everything. You can’t remember how many shot glasses were shattered because of this guy. But you know deep in your heart that never ever in this lifetime that he thought of hurting anything and anybody. He even gets upset when you kill the bugs that try to suck some blood whenever he asks you out to the park.

‘Nothing. I’m just happy to see everybody. I missed you guys!’ you hug his big body tightly while tapping his back.

‘I missed you too, Noona. And I know you missed somebody more than how much you missed us. He’s upstairs cooking your welcome food. The Bibimbap is waiting. Let’s go?’ Smiling with his dimples showing, you grabbed his hands going to their dorm where the younger ones went to minutes before with your luggages.

You entered their new dorm and you felt very proud. Five years ago, their old dorm was not as big as this. Not as fancy. Not as established. But you felt at home, specially when you smelled what’s cooking. All of your favorites from the Samgyupsal to the Odeng.

You saw who’s cooking and your heart skipped a beat. There goes the most handsome face you’ve ever saw. He’s not the Worldwide Handsome for nothing, right? He’s wearing the apron you gave as a gift that one Christmas party three years ago with his name embroidered in front.

‘Hi. Everything smells delish!’ You said, hands a little bit shaky as if you never outgrew the feeling whenever he’s around

‘But my face is more delish! I’m Worldwide handsome you know?’ He blew a flying kiss that made you laugh your ass off. He came nearer for a tight hug and a peck on the cheek.

‘Here we go again. Where are my toys, Noona?’ Jhope tugs as he storms your luggages.

‘It’s in the box. It’s all named there. Got a lil something something for everyone.’ You answered while tasting Seokjin’s Jjiggae.

‘This is good! I’m getting more and more hungry!’ You complimented while giving him back the spoon. Yoongi came in to give you a hug for his Lamb skewers and Wagyu cubes. Moments later, the other guys entered to kitchen to thank you one by one like it’s Christmas. It makes you wonder how come these boys who can buy anything at an instant but still gets very excited for the little things coming from you.

You gave Tae a Gucci tie. Jimin some bottles of well aged wine and cheeses, Hobi his KAWS toys, Joonie some books and paintings, Yoongi his meat, Kookie with the Triple S that he’s been looking for a while, and Seokjin’s bag contains herbs. Good quality herbs for cooking.

You started the feast and you did not even bother to ask why there’s a lot of Soju. You felt elated once you hit your limit but everybody’s having a great time! One by one, they freshened up and went to bed like the adults that they are now. You asked for a cup of tea and Yoongi gave you Iced Americano instead.

‘Meow meow, I’m so proud of you! You’re now well known not because of BTS but as a PD-nim!’

‘Noona, as if you’re not updated. You even come to our shows from time to time. Why are you so shocked? You’ve been there when we started Wings and until now you’re here!’

Then came in Joonie in his pajamas and glasses. He has his Caramel Machiatto on hand, smiling widely as we look out at their balcony. The city lights look amazing!

‘How are you? I saw auntie last time. She was asking me to talk to you to finally stay here in Korea.’ Said Joonie. Knowing him, he never keep secrets like this specially to you guys.

‘I’m coping up. Right now there’s an invitational cup I’m going to attend in a month. Just for old time’s sake. I want to drive fast again!’ You reply with a reserved smile

‘Don’t you want to stay here for good? At least Jin hyung is here. You can now add to the story we’ve been waiting for!’ Said Hobi coming out of no where, while having his mask on his face.

You are sure they saw you blush. Contrary to what people in the company think, you are not a cold, hard, empty rock. When it comes to your family and these guys, you feel everything even the simplest warmth of smiles.

‘No. It’s all in the past. He looks better than ever now, I’m sure he has a special someone by now.’ Saying matter of factly. Sadness glints from your eyes.

Yoongi smiles knowingly. That gummy smile that melts a lot of Army hearts. ‘are you fishing for Jin hyung’s love life status? You’re subtlety asking if he’s dating someone now!’

‘No. I’m just saying, I missed the opportunity before. I might have lost it for good’ you try to be as poker faced as possible

‘Noona, you promised Jin hyung. If you’re still single until this year ends, you’ll do everything to make it work with him. Remember?’ Hobi stated frankly. You wonder how they know. As your eyes grew big, you heard his sunshine laugh together with the two who smile knowingly. You put both of your hands to your face for cover. Wanting for the tiles of the balcony to eat you or teleport you or something.

‘Noona, don’t even try asking how we knew. We’re not good in keeping secrets in this family, remember? But don’t be bothered. Though all of us know, we’ll keep on pretending that we don’t and we’ll wait patiently for the next stories to be untold’ that’s your not so little brother Joonie who spoke. With eyes full of love as he gives you a hug. You said goodnight and went straight to Jungkookie’s room. He’s sleeping beside Tae like usual, and his room is like a guest room. They often say that it’s your room from the very beginning as there’s no single soul who slept in their dorms except them and you.

You turn around a couple of times and you can’t help but remember that night.

You had an accident in the race track. Nothing serious, just a few cracks on your shoulder. You came to watch their Wembley concert with a cast on your shoulder and a heavy heart. You still don’t want to go home to Korea and want to continue the businesses in Europe. The boys were booked to one of the hotels your family own but never had the chance to talk to them pre show because of tight schedule.

After the show, Manager Sejin fetched you from the VVIP area and asked if you want to ride with them going back to the hotel and you agreed. You saw them one by one and you can’t forget their faces when they saw your cast. It was panic, horror and pity. Things you never wanted to see when somebody looks at you lest these boys who you call your brothers.

In the hotel, Seokjin was having his VLive to thank the fans when you entered. You motioned that he carries on but he said goodbye as soon, and hugged you for a long time. He kissed your forehead like before and whispered ‘I missed you’ like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Not that you don’t talk everyday, but knowing how this guy prefers personal conversation than over the phone, you give in and fill your lungs with his scent.

You never really knew how it went that way. You just remember that one night three years ago, while walking around in London after a show, he told you he loves you in a romantic way and you replied with same intensity but you asked for some time to let the love flourish. They were still promoting their present album at that time, he was working with his mixtape and your career as a racer was at its peak. You both agreed to be ‘steady and be the constants of each other.’

He then pulls you out of the room saying ‘I don’t want people to think we stayed in the room with just the two of us.’ Being a gentleman that he is, you just let it be. It’s not like how you sleep beside Jiminie or Taetae and Kookie sometimes.

You went to the buffet where the rest of the boys are. Giving you a knowing smile that you’re getting used to, Jiminie let’s out a squeal.

‘Noona! Where’s my hug? Will you come with us back home? We’ll have a month of rest and I’m thinking of going to Soop and just relax even for a week!’ Jimin giddily says

‘I’m sorry Chim but I have a launch in a week. I’ll try to catch up once I’m done with the new hotel okay?’ You replied with a sad smile

Jin held your hand like before whenever you need support ‘it’s okay. We can wait.’ He assures while fiddling with your fingers. You heard gasps from the new staff members but you know they won’t squeal.

You sat beside Tae and Kookie after giving them kisses and hugs. ‘Your rings are with me, safe and sound. Get them later in my room.’ Were your words and Hobi out of nowhere asked if they can ’chill’ with you in which you all agreed.

It was getting late and almost everybody are tipsy except you and Tae since you can’t drink alcohol for your meds to work, you heard muted voices from the balcony. Based on the voices, it’s Tae and Seokjin talking.

Tae: when will you tell her that you really want her to be in Korea? The rings are here! You’ve been telling us that auntie wants her to stay there as well! All of us!

Jin: I can’t. She might run farther away

Tae: but hyung, auntie has been bugging you for a year now!

Jin: I don’t know, Taehyung. I don’t know. I’m pressured right now. Please don’t add on the list.

Tae: but auntie said if it’s not you, then she’ll find somebody-one of their partner’s son to marry Noona!

Jin: it’s up to her. Whatever makes her happy.

You stood still. Heart shattered like a glass that slipped from Joonie’s grasp. Is Seokjin proposing just to let you go? Is he doing these things just to help you secure your freedom? Does he pity you so he helps you with your dilemma by talking to your mom, extending your freedom by telling her you’re together, then prolongs the so called relationship from marriage then backs out in the end?

You never let you tears fall. Instead, you cleared your throat and asked Tae to leave you two. You started with ‘how long have you been in contact with my mom?’

He answered ‘from the first time. Malta.’

‘Since when was this plan running?’

‘Three years ago. But it’s not what you think!’

‘So here we go. I can’t afford to lose you even though you’re dumb to put your relationship with anybody for my sake. We remain friends. Best friends. You will tell my mom I won’t marry anybody and I’ll keep doing what I do. I’ll keep loving you but I want you to explore your possibilities with others. You’ve been locked with me for my sake. I don’t need your pity.’

‘But.. it’s not like that. I love you. I live this life with you and I’m happy with you. I’m happy that you’re doing things that you love even if I’m not beside you and I’ll do everything to ensure that you’ll be in that disposition until you tell me you’re ready for more mature roles!’ He tries to crack a joke

The tears fell even though you tried hard to keep them in. ‘No. Let’s respect our boundaries from now on. Please do as I ask. Don’t worry, if our love is true, we’ll come back to each other’s arms.’

He answered ‘I’ll give you two years to soar. And if we’re still both single,it’s a sign. Deal?’

And you shook hands as if you closed a partnership.

You still can’t sleep. It’s been a while and the feelings are still there, even flourished. You still talk to each other everyday either through the group chat or via call. You video chat every no need then and he sends you potted flowers from time to time.

You stared at your walls. It’s around four in the morning and you still can’t sleep contrary regarding jet lag. You try to go out and visit Tae and Kookie’s room because you know Tae sprays something to the sheets to make them sleep faster. As you’re walking on the corridor, you heard Seokjin’s voice talking to somebody. He was laughing his heart out and he was joking with the person on the other line. Your senses went back and you’re ashamed of yourself for trying to eaves drop from your friend.

You tried to knock the couple’s room but it’s locked. You went to Hobi and Jimin’s room but their beds are separated leaving you a little room to sleep on. You were thinking of Joonie but he snores like a drunk dad always so you’d rather go back to Kookie’s room.

As you walk past Seokjin’s room again, you decided to give it a try. You tried to knock twice and he opened the door on the third.

‘Hi. You’re still awake?’ You asked

‘No. I’m sleepwalking!’ He jokes. He got a pinch on his side because of it

‘Can I come in?’ He opened the door and he went back in front of his Mac talking again to the person on the other line. You just looked at him and he seemed to zone out. He the remembers you after a while

‘Oh. Sorry. I’ll just finish this. It’s fun!’ Then gets his attention back to the monitor. He continues again to talk to the other person.

‘You can use my bed. I’m enjoying myself here. We are playing. I won’t sleep until after breakfast for sure’ with a grin on his face.

‘I think I’ll just go to the kitchen and try to clean the fridge or cook breakfast.’ You replied after an hour of him just laughing and playing. He even forgot that you’re there.

#seokjinxreader #kim seokjin #bangtan #bts imagines #bat speaks #friends #lovers #brothers #bts x reader #reader insert

[kuriquinn]

Prompt / Request: ShikaTema Belated Realisations

Anonymous said:

I have been wanting someone to write this for ages, and I love the way you write... Are you up for a different ship? Remember when Temari was confused about Shikamaru'a request that she go with him to the hot springs room. I imagine him on his own at home no longer flustered by the whole miscommunication and finally realizing that Temari essentially said yes to sleeping with him. He can't sleep for the rest of the night because his brain won't shut up...

Blanket Disclaimer

AN: Here’s my second Friday Fic Request - I meant to put it up yesterday but I was sooooo exhausted when I got home from Quebec City I basically published the thing I already had finished and passed out. 

Anon, I hope I did okay with this. Thanks for the opportunity to write a different ship from usual :) Luckily, I actually enjoy ShikaTema.

Shikamaru stares down at the shogi board, glaring at the formation of the pieces as if they hold all of life’s answers.

Usually playing against himself in the evening is a good way to wind down from the day, but today he just can’t seem to get his thoughts in order. It might have something to do with the throbbing bruises across his entire body or the slick, all-pervasive sense of mortification from the day’s misunderstandings.

Seriously. I thought I was being pretty clear. Why the hell would she think I wanted us to go to an inn together?

He and Temari have only ever had the one dinner together, and they spent most of it talking about work. It wasn’t an actual date and he can’t think of any point in time when he might have indicated…

Damn it, this is Chōji’s fault.

In fact, Shikamaru is fairly certain that his friend set him up. The guy might have food on the brain at every waking hour, but they’ve known each other long enough for Shikamaru to be familiar with the hidden deviousness that is his best friend. What makes Chōji especially dangerous is that he is such a gentle soul, no one expects it from him – and when his occasional bursts of premeditated evil manifest, no one is ever prepared.

Even Shikamaru, who analyses patterns and factors the incalculable into every decision, cannot predict when Chōji will tap into his secret slyness, because it happens so infrequently and without pattern.

Which is why he’s definitely sure Chōji set him up, because he hasn’t ended up in such an embarrassing predicament since the time his friend thought it would be an excellent idea to soak Ino’s training bra in wasabi.

His left cheekbone still aches before it rains...

There is a short staccato knock against the door frame and then the shoji slides open to reveal Shikamaru’s mother.

Yoshino Nara is a little greyer and has a few more wrinkles than she did before the Fourth Great Shinobi War, but her tongue has lost none of its sharpness. In fact, with her husband gone, she’s even more focussed on her son than she ever was.

It’s a drag.

“You’re still out here?” she demands, not bothering with a greeting. “Don’t you have work to do tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’m just clearing my head before bed,” Shikamaru replies as she closes the door and looks him up and down.

“What are all these bruises?” she wants to know. “You don’t get bruises like that apprenticing as Hokage’s assistant – you’re not getting into fights now, are you?”

“No, it’s nothing,” he dismisses.

When his mother crosses her arms and frowns at him, making clear that she won’t leave him alone until he gives her aa batter answer, he sighs.

“Temari and I went to a hot spring together and there were…misunderstandings.”

His mother gapes at him.

“Temari?” she repeats. “The Kazekage’s sister? You’re seeing each other?”

“What? No, we’re not, it’s was just –”

“Then why on earth did you take her to a hot spring, unless your relationship is progressing in that way?” she snaps, and then smacks him upside his head. “And why didn’t you say anything to me about this? If I had known you were courting someone so important, I’d have told you to make yourself look more respectable!”

“’Courting’?” Shikamaru echoes, and chokes. “No – no it wasn’t like that! I’m planning on giving Naruto and Hinata a honeymoon at a nice hot spring, but I needed help getting a woman’s perspective so I asked Temari to come along.”

His mother purses her lips, and then asks, “And did she know that?”

“Of course – well, at first there was a bit of a mix up, but at the end of the day we figured it out and she said it was fine.”

“Before or after she beat you?”

He winces. “After.”

Yoshino considers his bruises and shakes her head. “Judging from how deep those knuckle prints are, I imagine you waited longer than you should have to have that conversation.”

“Geez, you’re both blowing it completely out of proportion,” he complains.

“And you’re making light of it!” his mother barks, making him recoil. “That girl went around with you all day operating under the assumption that you were looking for a hot spring from the two of you.”

“So? It’s really not that…big…a deal,” Shikamaru begins, but his mother’s words sink in.

Temari thought they were looking for a hot spring and an inn for the two of them. The whole day, she was walking around thinking that they were going to spend the night together.

To stay in.

Together.

Alone.

And she still went along with him.

Which means not only did she pretty much agree to the idea of sleeping with him from the onset, but considering she could have left at any point, she actually wants to sleep with him.

Or, wanted to, before his monumental stupidity.

“How did I raise such a clueless idiot?” Yoshino sighs and walks back into their home. Shikamaru is still having such a hard time processing how he feels about this whole thing that he has no rebuttal to offer.

Temari.

The sister of a former homicidal maniac and a grown man who makes creepy, poisonous puppets.

A woman who can probably decapitate men without even using that fan of hers.

Shikamaru blinks.

On the heels of that idea is a mental image of Temari leaning over him, brandishing her fan and pressing him back into the ground with one foot. Her chest heaves with effort, but she smirks down at him, drawling at him in challenge.

“Give in,” he imagines her saying, in that husky voice of hers.

That image should not be as appealing as it is.

Shikamaru swallows now, and glares down at his lap.

Inappropriate erection – damn it!

He jumps to his feet, nearly spilling the shogi pieces all over the floor and paces back and forth, trying to will himself back under control.

“This is your fault,” he tells his father, glowering in the direction of their home butsudan, where a picture of his father rests. “You and your genes and passing on your submissive tendencies to me – all your fault!”

He never really understood why his parents got married or what attracted his father to such a brash woman as his mother and now –

Now he’s thinking about parent sex, which is far more disturbing than anything he has ever thought before.

No. None of that. And I don’t even like Temari in that way.

So what if he starts stuttering the simplest words, and suddenly finds forming proper sentences impossible when they are around one another?

Or that earlier he thought it was kind of endearing the way she got flustered when he mentioned the word “honeymoon”. It’s always such a treat to see her change from hard and intimidating to beautiful –

That’s a fact, not a personal opinion, he reasons quickly, as if defending himself from some inner cross-examination.

Although…

Although, he can’t help feeling a little honoured of the fact that someone like her even considers him a potential sexual partner.

The mortification begins to ebb now, replaced by something warm and primal and proud.

And then he shakes his head again.

No, no, no, there’s no time for this, especially not now with so much going on with Naruto and Hinata’s wedding coming up. And I have work, and she’s organizing the exam. Not to mention she’s from another village. This really is the most inconvenient situation, so there’s no point to pursuing it.

Of course…he might just be overthinking it.

Maybe it’s all just about sex.

Temari wants to sleep with him – have sex with him.

This could be a good thing.

Humans are sexual creatures and need release in order to function well. He’s always been too lazy, or too uninterested or just too busy to find anyone he’s wanted to sleep with. His right hand does the job well enough, and allows him to keep from wasting his time.

But an actual woman to have sex with…well, he’s lazy, but he’s not stupid. He knows which option is the most preferred, biologically and socially speaking.

And hey, he’s a man, he has fantasies…and if those fantasies have started to resemble a certain blond, green-eyed warrior woman in recent years he doesn’t intend to admit that to anyone, least of all himself.

But being with an actual person in that way presents complications.

What if she starts expecting things from him?

That’s what women do – they expect grand gestures and attention and relationships. And he doesn’t want to do any of those things because from what he’s seen of his paired-up friends, it seems like a lot of effort. And headaches.

Maybe she just wants to have sex.

It would certainly be uncomplicated, which is his preference, but does that mean they could be casual about it and continue to work well together when she visits Konoha? Or would sex just screw up their friendship?

And if she decides after a while that she wants something more?

She’ll expect him to step up. And she’s not the type to wait around, which means if he wasn’t ready, she could easily find someone else.

That feeling in his stomach is back now, although it’s more hot and angry, an ugly, clawing feeling that he has to swallow down.

No, he doesn’t like that idea. Not at all.

The idea of another man touching her – or even having her grace him with that flustered, demure glance – makes Shikamaru feel sick.

“Damn it,” he sighs.

It seems quite without his awareness or permission, his appreciation of Temari has gone from casual affection to actual feelings.

Possibly even something as inconvenient and irritating as the beginnings of love.

It seems wedding gifts are the least of his problems now.

“And I’m going to have to apologise, too,” he groans, rolling his eyes to the heavens. He’s not going to sleep tonight trying to figure out how to do that. “What a drag…”

終わり

 Reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated!

クリ

#shikatema #friday fic requests #humour #shikamaru nara #temari #geniuses are blind #legacy of fire #kuriquinn

[bleedingcoffee42]

Absent- Part 7

prev parts.      I stared this to avoid working on a fic and it turned into it’s own fic.  I have no idea why I do this to myself.

xxxxxxx

“I'll need one stew to go.”  Roy said and ran his finger down the menu.  “Apple pie too.”

“Will that be all sir?”  The waitress asked and took the menu back.

“Yes, thank you.” Roy said and waited for her to total up the check before snatching it really quickly as soon as it hit the table.   Riza was waiting to grab it, he could see her trying to casually not look for it but he saw it in the way she was sitting.  “My treat.”

“I asked you out.”  She countered.

“I insist.”  He said and placed the check on his lap before finishing his wallet out of his pocket.   Then he counted up the Cenz needed and handed it back to the waitress.  “No change needed, thank you.”

“Come again.” The waitress grinned when she realized how much he left her as a tip.

“Thank you, you didn't have to do that.” She said and he smiled back at her, that boyish happy smile that just about killed her.  

“How about I let you buy the next one?”  He asked and watched her cock and eyebrow at him.   He realized he'd hate to play chess with her because she seemed to see through his moves and anticipate his reactions so well. No, he'd probably enjoy that.   He'd enjoy it a lot actually.   “Tomorrow?”

He was asking her out?  He wanted to see her again so soon?  Riza was actually caught off guard.   She and Roy had been together so long they were actually in the “old married couple” state the men liked to joke about.   Yes, they loved being with each other but it was more of a need..an acceptance of their relationship instead of an excitement of dating. Granted this put her in an odd situation since she didn't live in this city and had nowhere to go home to.  This situation needed to be rectified today.  However she couldn't deny him and said  “I...would love to.”

“Great.”  He said and realized he needed to come up with something else to do or this date would end.  So as the to-go bag for Ed arrived he quickly said, “Maybe you want to stop by the park to walk your dog before I take you back to HQ?”

Some things didn't change.  He wanted to play with her dog in the park and was probably going to feed him the food he clearly bought to bring home to Ed. “As long as that doggy bag is not for him.”

“No, it's for Ed.”  Roy said.  “Different kind of military dog.”

“I'm sure Hayate would appreciate it.”

“Great!”  Roy said and stood up.  Mission to extend date was a success!  Who said he was bad at this? Suck it Maes.

Riza stood up and made sure she still had her coin in her pocket.   She felt a little guilty about enjoying the date when she was supposed to be getting information from Roy to get back to the life she belonged in.   This wasn't even her Roy, just who he could have been without her, but she couldn't get enough of his smile.   “I said don't feed him table scraps!”

Roy cringed as he dropped the remaining piece of dinner roll into the dog's mouth. “It's wrong to let food go to waste.”

“Then feed it to the squirrels in the park.”

“Like those tree rats need more excuses to be aggressive.  Feeding them is like direct shipping your supplies to the enemy.”  Roy said and grabbed his doggy bag.  He loved that she wasn't afraid to order him around off-duty.  

Roy did hate the squirrels.   However it would be a vastly different stroll without him screaming 'I'll roast your nuts, you furry asshole!' at least once.   Riza smiled as he dropped another crumb for Hayate as he was pretending to check his shoelaces.  “Let's walk to the park, if you don't mind.”

“Sure!”  Roy said and stood again.  That would give him even more time to spend with her and he could come back for his car later.   “There is a bakery around the corner, perhaps you'd like to get some cookies and coffee?  They have good shortbread.”

And those were her favorites.  She had to remember this was probably her own memory. “As long as you don't feed them to the dog.”

“I promise.” He said and as they walked around the corner he darted into the bakery before she could and then pointed at the “No dogs allowed” sign in the window.   Riza gave him the most expressive glare he had ever seen in his life.  That was an accomplishment considering his Mom was the absolute queen of wordless communication.   He purchased the cookies and realized he had no idea how to make her coffee.   He remembered she had a spoonful of sugar in her tea and doubled that since coffee was much more potent.   He gambled on a splash of milk, just enough to take the bite off the coffee but not enough to dominate the flavor.   He could just ask....dammit he should have just asked! She was right outside.   He still had his own to mix so he opened the door and gave her a smile, “How do you like your coffee?”

“A little milk and two sugars.”  She said and was shocked hen he handed her a cup. Victory written all over his face and she knew total and complete shock all over hers. Then he ducked back in the store and got the rest of his order and came out with his head head high and eyes shining bright.   There was no way he could have known, he didn't know her.  It was probably just...her own memories and mind playing this out for her but still she had to ask.  “How...did you know?”

“From how you made your tea.  I noticed you liked it sweetened but not drowning out the flavor of it.   I guessed on milk.   I have no explanation for that.”  He sipped his own coffee to make sure he didn't burn his mouth and then took a sizable gulp of it.   He handed her the bag with the cookies since he was still carrying Ed's stew and pie.   Something he should have thrown in the car, but then it would smell like stew for a week and he'd hear Ed's stomach growling constantly.

They walked towards the park and Riza snuck a cookie out of the bag.   They were her favorites.   It was however time to get back to business.   “So what do you think about that coin?   The transmutation circle is...mental only?”

“Yeah.”  Roy said.  “It really is only a manipulation of how your brain works. Instead of neurons firing in the part of your brain that sees things in real time, it's firing only in your subconscious.   I'm sure it makes things seem more real because your brain always tries to make sense of things.  If you're not in a  sleep mode, which is when our bodies inhibit all sensory and muscle activity and can't respond as well to stimulus.  This is dreaming while awake, which is actually pretty scary.”

“How so?”

“Because our minds process things differently while asleep and while awake.  Most of what you dream you forget and dreams are always a little more odd, however this coin seems to want you to live in your subconscious thoughts and find your way out of them.   You're literally trapped in your own head exploring an opposite reality that is most likely what you fear could have happened.”  Roy said and looked over at her as she thought about it.

“You got all that from just a glimpse of the coin?”  She asked and glanced over at him.  He shrugged.

“I've had all day to think about it.   Ed saw it  too so of course he scribbled it down as fast as he could to work it out.  I can't take all the credit, Ed and Al helped talk through it with me.   My specialty being bio-electricity I have a very good understanding of the nerves and pulses being sent back to the brain and how that flow of energy works. “  Roy could see her face just glow with amazement.   He...was actually impressing a woman with alchemy instead of scaring her!     This day was almost unreal.

“That's pretty amazing.”  She said.

He his his bashful smile behind the rim of his coffee cup.   It was really something to hear that from another alchemist, especially one as beautiful as her.  

“I can't help but wonder why someone would create this?”  She said and they made it to the local park.   She gave Hayate the signal to chase some squirrels, much to Roy's delight.   “It's not beneficial in any way that I can see.”

“As a weapon it is.”  Roy said and smiled broadly as Hayate chased a squirrel up a tree and the critter barked and chattered at him from a branch. “Imagine someone picking this up on the battlefield or in a village they raided.   They'd be immobilized immediately.”

Riza stopped and felt the color drain from her cheeks.  Oh no...

“While you're engrossed in this fantasy world your body is still where you left it.  You're moving around your mind and while you're away your body will eventually waste away from lack of an operator.   You're essentially in a coma.”    Al made that connection.  Poor kid has some struggles with his condition that he doesn't ever voice until things like this came up.   Roy sipped his coffee and watched Hayate stalk another squirrel that was burying a nut.  “The only way you could reverse this would be to see through this very real dream and activate the array.  Assuming that coin is still in hand, you don't need the body to be functional to active it since it's just a conduit for energy.   I assume someone could come along and do it for you but they'd have to understand what is happening and the likelihood of that is pretty slim.  You come across an unresponsive body you don't gather up their belongings and investigate, you take them to get medical help.   By then that coin will probably be lost.   “

Riza couldn't help but think about how she was probably laying in the lot alone, her dog watching over her body or nudging her to wake her.   The team was giving her space, they knew how pissed she was.  Her only hope was that Roy would come and apologize with lunch but he also had meetings to go to today and might not have the time.   She wanted to count on him to come save her but he would be the one who panicked and took her to the hospital then came back later for answers.  Much later. He wouldn't leave her side.   In addition that warehouse was not frequently visited, it was a storage lot for obsolete equipment and many people were actually scared of the ghost stories as well.  She had to find an answer to this and activate it herself, the only problem was that she wasn't really an alchemist.

“I guess if it was a weapon you wouldn't really seek medical assistance, you'd just take advantage of having a paralyzed enemy and kill them.”  Roy said.

That made her feel so much worse.   Not that she feared for her life but that this coin was very possibly where she found it because it was intended for an actual alchemist to pick up.  An alchemist would would have never been able to resist a relic with transmutation circles on it, there would have been no power in this world strong enough to keep him from picking it up for inspection.   This coin was meant for Roy and someone had fabricated ghost stories about that warehouse to draw him out there.   Worse, she was now incapacitated and if he came to find her he would panic and completely focus on her....lowering his defenses and opening himself up to an attack.  He'd be alone because he was there to apologize.   She was going to get him killed.

#fic #absent #royai