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#julians is just you hitting him with your car and swearing
ok here i go full hc prompt🥳🤩🤩
m6 in the ✨✋Future🤚✨ or at least to them, relatively, from their medievaissance-y mixed bag nonspecified time period to something resembling our times! i personally like to consider it still Their World, fictional, which just progressed to look like ours now (it literally makes zero difference to anybody except the inner machinations of my annoying ass but yeah ifykyk) basically yknow shooting a medieval peasant into 2023 & giving him mountain dew type beat
The Arcana HCs: M6 in the Future
~ @tetsuooooooooooo this was so much fun, thank you for sending it in and I hope you enjoy these!! ~
-- for headcanon purposes, MC is from the future and is tasked with taking care of M6 during their 24 hours there --
Julian
It takes him less than two minutes to figure out where (read: when) he is and his response is nothing short of enthusiastic
Please, he's been around the world, and he's got a delightful guide, and he really, really wants to know if his theories about leeches ended up being correct
He actually gets a little emotional when a quick google search shows him how wrong he was and you end up having to take him exploring to cheer him up and distract him from his failures
You have a really hard time explaining to him that clinics don't allow doctors without medical degrees to waltz in and observe random patients getting treatments
You take him to see a movie and he's transfixed
The screen is so big. The actor's faces are so clear. The drama is so much more than anything he could have imagined. And they come with music?? Hums the soundtrack for the rest of the day
If you show him that one version of Jurassic Park with Jeff Goldblum in it Julian will imitate him sporadically afterwards
Enjoys fast food way more than he should. Especially instant noodles. Will spend half an hour trying to pack some to take back
Fascinated by the concept of typing
You hit a button to make the next letter appear instead of writing it? But MC, this means that everything he wants to communicate through text could be easily readable. Imagine!
Freaks out a bit when you try to take him in a car. He's surprisingly comfortable in a metro, though, so you'll have to do with public transportation and bicycles
Oh yeah, he loves bicycles. He only crashed into three trees, a wall, and a stranger's parked car before getting the hang of it
He's convinced that earbuds don't actually play music, they just trick your brain into thinking that you can hear it
Almost exploded when you gave him coldbrew coffee
Asra
They know instantly that they're in a different version of reality. Sure, they've never traveled through time, but they've traveled through plenty of other dimensions
He's the least ruffled, and unfortunately, the least impressed. Don't get him wrong, this looks super cool, but this isn't any more otherworldly to him than the otherworldly places he's already been
Wants to go on a food tour immediately. Not the nice stuff though
No, they want the questionable food. The is-this-going-to-make-me-regret-existing food. The food that, if it was shown in an anime, would be pixelated and have threatening auras around it
So chill about what you tell him to do it's almost concerning
"Here Asra, climb into this four-wheeled hunk of metal that can travel over 100 miles an hour and hold yourself in with a single fabric strap while I pilot this through hundreds of other things just like it, driven by people we don't know and can't predict."
"Cool. Where do I put Faust?"
Don't tell them about edibles unless you want them to spend their day hunting some down and absolutely going to town on them
You swear you saw his hair stand on end the first time he tried popping candy
When you took them to get their radioactive meal (a.k.a. the closest fast food chain with the fewest ethical violations) they insisted on picking up one of every sauce packet to try them all
... and when he saw a nine-year-old mixing two different fountain drinks, he of course grabbed the largest cup available and went down the line so he could taste all of them at once too
You've never seen them this jittery and sugar high, so of course the next place to go is a trampoline park, with the bright lights and loud music and bodies hurtling through the air
He should not be getting the amount of air time that he does
Has a meltdown over modern fluffy blankets. They're so soft
Nadia
Gobsmacked. As in, she's a highly intelligent woman, and therefore able to really wrap her head around what she's seeing
The future!! She's in the future, Arcana help her
But she's got you and she adores you and she knows she can trust you so she's going to be okay. That said, start explaining. Now.
First things first: how's the infrastructure? She can't see any canals or aqueducts. Or fireplaces or lanterns, for that matter, what do you do for light? And cooking? (Cooking uses fire, right?)
Literally cannot walk past anything new without stopping to try to figure out how it works and if there's a way to recreate it herself
Bicycles on a rack? She's spinning the pedal and trying to figure out the balancing dynamics of two-wheeled movement
Almost lost it when she found out that it was possible to lift the hood of a car and look at the engine inside that makes it go. You decided to take her on public transportation instead
Which turned into all kinds of excited brainstorming about public carriages, and gondolas built for 20 people ferrying people along the aqueducts, and new and terrifying uses for the catacombs
Wasn't very impressed with the fashion she saw
She knows what good quality cloth looks like. This is a women who grew up in silks and fine linens, polyester does not impress her
Except for the stretchiness. She does like that
The perfume counter, on the other hand, takes up a good hour and a half of her time. She's smelled plenty of fine scents before, but she's never been in a shop where she could sniff so many at a time
This one smells like Prakra. This one smells like Vesuvia. This one smells like the beach. This one smells like the woods. This one ...
Yeah, it was an excellent opportunity to take a nap, if you're the napping sort. You wake up to her testing perfumes on you because she ran out of space on herself
Gets so frustrated when you explain your government setup to her
Muriel
Oh no, please be very gentle with him
He likes to live in the woods because it is peaceful and quiet and it's one place he doesn't stand out in
He stands out in this place very, very much and he doesn't like it
Refuses to leave the room he appeared in until his appearance is as unremarkable as possible (which is not easy to do, by the way, the man is a mountain. modern clothes in his size are hard to find)
Does not want to go in the car. It's way too fast and it makes him seasick when he closes his eyes to shut it out
Buses are somehow easiest - they feel the least claustrophobic when they're not crowded and it's rude to stare on them
You two end up going to a natural history museum in the middle of a weekday when hardly anybody is there, and he lights up
There are so many animals, and there are enough other people in the world who find those animals interesting that they gathered so much knowledge people had to make a building to hold it all
Has never heard evolutionary theory before and is fascinated by it
Once he starts talking, it's hard for him to stop
He's not being loud at all - you can only hear him so clearly because you two are holding hands so he can't lose you - but he's being quietly submerged in his own special interest and he loves it
He just wishes there weren't so many skeletons. But he's glad the species they belonged to aren't forgotten this way
Long story short, Muriel's inner Nerd is unleashed and he goes hoarse from the amount of murmuring he does all day
Does not like getting food in public. Does not like eating food in public. Does not like being publicly perceived. As soon as it gets into afternoon and it gets busy, he wants to go home
Which is where you show him what the internet is and he's in awe
People can work from home? People can make friends without leaving their house?? People can talk without being seen???
Portia
Spends five minutes hopping in place and squealing into her clothes to let out her nerves and excitement before you can decide what to do
Then insists on taking half an hour to hear you describe every single fun or interesting thing to do so she can make a list
Yes, she's determined to hit every single one in one day
First things first: food. Take her to a cafe and watch her sigh over all the baked goods and sugar-loaded caffeine beverages
Then (if there is one nearby) a mall, so she can see all the stuff that people buy so they can have the lifestyle they do. You have to drag her out of both Bath & Body Words and Bed, Bath, & Beyond
Please, it's full of fluffy fuzzy things and good smelling mystery goo, she wants to live in it also what do you mean "no stopping at the pet store", what even is a "pet store" -
Oh. OH -
You will have to physically pull her away before she adopts all the kittens. She does cry about it later, just a for a bit, they're so cute
Next is a library and cafe, of course, because she lives for books
This place is way bigger than the Palace library! The one in the Palace is just a large room, this is a whole building!! And people get to come here, whenever they want, just to read, for free?! What?!
You had to remind her about the "no loud noises in the library" rule several times. She's doing her best, she's just passionate
Completely demolishes her first chocolate croissant
Goes feral at the amusement park she has you take her to afterwards. This woman is an adrenaline fiend. You're cursing the pop up add for it by the fourth consecutive free fall ride
The only way to get her to leave is to tell her that one of her favorite stories was turned into a movie and that you'd have to go home to watch it. Don't take her to Target to get snacks. She'll disappear
Flicks the lightswitch 30 times in a row because she can
Lucio
He's immediately panicking. Not because he's in the future, no, but because of what it's done to his arm
It's changed. It's not running on magic any more. The only way to resolve his design is for it to be some kind of high-tech electrical prosthetic that even modern scientists would have difficulty with
Once he's adjusted to using it, you're good to go
Lights up like a firework the first time he rides in a car
MC. MC how fast does it go. MC that's a very high number. MC, he wants to drive. Please. Please! Pleeeaaaassssseeee
DO NOT LET HIM DRIVE.
Makes you pull over after seeing ads for Sephora because he's convinced that he could pull off that eye makeup even better
Tries every single makeup sampler and then gets offended when one of the poor employees suggests an anti-aging cream
Him? Aged?? How dare they - oh wait that really does brighten his eyes. He'll take ten, please, they're so small, they can't cost much -
You'll have to pull him out before he sees you use a credit card, because once he does he's going to keep asking to use it and you're not sure he understands why maxing it out is a bad thing
His arm does run out of battery at one point, which does cause some panic. All of a sudden he's stuck with a limp hunk of metal swinging from his shoulder, it's not ideal
You're able to find the retractable charging cable on the side and plug him in, but then he's stuck sitting in the same spot for two hours and a bored Lucio is a dangerous Lucio
There is a solution to this, of course. You can give him an iPad with games on it. He won't move a muscle after that
The caveat is that he will turn into an iPad kid and get glued to every single screen he sees afterwards. You don't know how to fix it
Falls in love with vending machines and tries Cheetos because the leopard on them looks cool. Develops an artificial cheese addiction
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starluvsx · 4 months
Text
★𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐦𝐚𝐧
Triplets x fem!reader|platonic|
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Proofread: eh sorta
Word count:611
WARNINGS: swearing!reader is mentioned as having a light skinned brother,if that doesn’t make sense like for you then he’s your step brother.also reader is mentioned as dating Chris but it’s not big to the storyline.ok ALSO nick says like “both my brothers”but he just means Chris and Matt😁👍
A/N: been wanting to do sum where Nick is actually a prominent character so here you goooo
𖦹 𖦹
The awkward silence in the video needed to be filled.especially since the topic of conversation, old crushes.“Nick had a crush on my brother”I blurted out.chris and Matt laughing at the comment and its abruptness.it was true though.
I wasn’t surprised when he told me he liked my brother.He was sorta nicks type I suppose.curly hair,lightskin,goes to the gym.he was a ladies man too, always having a girl with him.most of my friends have liked him at some point in time so this news wasn’t shocking.
“Bitch you had a crush on both my brothers”Nick retorted.The claim caused the boys in the front to turn around sharply.
“Wait what?!”Chris asked, shocked.
“I thought you guys knew this.”I said with my face heating up.I could’ve sworn we’ve had this conversation before
“Uhm no we didn’t”Chris,my current boyfriend said, matter of factly.
“I liked Matt in like junior year, and well obviously I like you your my boyfriend”I confessed.I knew Chris wasn’t actually upset.he was just being dramatic for the camera,and probably cause he felt like it too.
“Wait I’m sorry I just processed this, you liked HER brother?!?”Matt was shocked as well.The boy's reaction was insane to me seeing as I thought they were already aware of all of this.
“What's that supposed to mean?”I budded in.my response made Matt laugh.
“Nothing I just didn’t think Julian was his type,like at all”Matt said putting his hands up in his own defense “yes he is hello?”i said back. “You think I don’t know my own brothers type?”matt responded
“You didn’t know I liked y/hc girls”Chris said,proving my point.I gestured toward Chris to show how he was proving my point.
“Ok we’ll in my defense-” Matt began before I cut him off “guys do not believe shit that Matt is saying,nick likes light skin curly head dudes over the age of 18, go hit him uppp!!”i said hyperactively
“WOAH WOAH Y/N.” Nick said loudly as he put his hand over my mouth to silence me.at this point everyone else besides the two of us were dying laughing.
“I’m literally your wingman dude like trust me.''I began “you've been single for way too long”I said as I looked at him.Nick was holding in his laugh like crazy.
“Ok Matt your next, what do you like fuckin Pokémon?” I asked jokingly.not getting a response from Matt.only laughing being heard coming from him as he covered his face. “Ok so Matt wants to fuck Pikachu guys so if your over the age of 18 and look like that than slide into his dm’s ”I continued too joke around.
My laughs were threatening to join everyone else in the car but I had to keep the bit up. “Alright guys so vote me #1 wingman in the world, I’m out” I said as I flicked the sunglasses from the dollar tree down to cover my eyes and stepped out of the car.
“Where is she going?”Chris said weakly.Nick pulled out his phone to record me running away through the open door.Once I felt that I had gone far enough away I scurried back to the car,cold and scared of the dark parking lot.
“That was a bad idea”I said as I sat back down in the car, rubbing my arms roughly for friction and eventually heat.my actions making everyone in the car,including me ,laugh again
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dreamwritesimagines · 3 years
Text
Burn The Witch 23 - Haunted Heart [Bucky Barnes x Reader]
A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful support and feedback my loves ! ❤ Here’s the next chapter, I hope you like it as well and please let me know what you think! ❤ Thank you! ❤❤❤
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader
Warnings: Enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies, fake dating, mentions of blood, sex, violence, death, manipulation, language, guns, knives.
Summary: Coming home can cause issues.
Series Masterlist
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                          SIX MONTHS LATER
You flipped the knife in your hand as the guy tied to the chair glared at you.
“You know,” you trailed off, “I’ve had a really shitty couple of months, Johnny- can I call you Johnny?”
“No.”
“Rude,” you commented, “Fine. John. I’ve had a really shitty couple of months so you really don’t want to try me right now. Just tell me where I can find your boss.”
“You’ll never find him you stupid bitch.”
You rolled your eyes.
“Since I’m going to kill you in a couple of minutes I feel like I can share some things with you,” you said, “My best friend says I keep everything bottled and I should talk about my feelings.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“See, that’s exactly how I feel!” you pointed at him, “Thank you. I mean, I feel angry at myself. I kind of fucked up with the man I love.”
“Jesus Christ, just kill me already.”
“I’m waiting for a text to do that Johnny,” you pointed out, waving your phone at him. “So, I tricked him and used him and threw him to wolves. And then Accords 2.0 didn’t pass and he has been pardoned once again, and he’s a free man now. I have a strong feeling that he’s not the ‘forgive and forget’ type of guy. You know, assassin to assassin.”
“You’re the chattiest assassin I’ve ever met.”
“Thank you, I’m trying to improve myself,” you said, “I mean what exactly should I do? I don’t even trust my agency at this point, my handler lied to me and I have been at this fucking place for six months now, hunting you down. Well, your boss but…”
“You’ll never find him.”
“We’ll see about that my friend,” you said, “So anyway, like what am I supposed to do? I lost the one guy I actually loved. How do you cope with that? Because drinking doesn’t work, sleeping with others doesn’t work…. Nothing seems to—“ you were cut off when your phone vibrated and you touched the screen to open the text message.
From: Julian
Go for it.
“Wait, no no no, I’ll talk—“
“Kind of too late,” you pointed the gun at him, “Nice to meet you Johnny.”
With that you pulled the trigger, silencer doing its job as there was no loud bang or anything. His body fell back with the impact, and you heaved a sigh.
“Maybe I need a therapist I can’t kill,” you mumbled and walked out of the warehouse to approach the car before opening the door to the passenger seat to get in.
“Is it done?” Julian asked and you nodded, rubbing at your eyes.
“Yep.”
“Are you hungry?”
You made a face, “Just because the General sent you here does not mean we’re going to become buddies.”
“I’m not trying to become buddies with you,” Julian stated, “I just want to eat fries and there’s a two for one deal.”
You eyed him up and down.
“Fine, I could eat fries.” You leaned back in the seat as he started driving, keeping your eyes on the road. Soon enough, you reached the city center and Julian got fries from a food truck, then sat across from you.
“So,” he said, “You do realize this whole thing would’ve been over by now if we actually worked together?”
“I’m not going on the field with you.”
“The General sent me here to help you.”
You dipped the fry into sauce, then popped it into your mouth, “You can help me by pretending you’re not here.”
“Y/N.”
“You know what they say Julian. Fool me once…”
“Don’t tell me you’re still holding that grudge.”
“You mean when you left me behind to die on the last mission we were together?” you asked back, “That grudge?”
“I told you—“
“I’m not going to talk about that with you,” you cut him off, “And I work better alone. Who told you we could waste the guy by the way?”
“The General.”
You grabbed the salt shaker to pour some salt on the fries, causing Julian to make a face.
“Are you kidding me? That was salty enough-“
“Why did he not text me?”
“No idea. Maybe he’s avoiding you because he promised you handler and here you are. Field spy.”
Your jaw clenched.
Or maybe he’s avoiding me because he fucking lied to me.
You had to give it to him, it was the perfect plan. The moment he had suspected you were getting too close to Bucky, he had come up with the one thing he knew that would make you switch sides.
And that-
That was below the belt yes, but that was also masterly.
But at the end of the day, you barely had two people to trust in the entire world, and you seriously doubted you could ever forgive the General for what he had done. You knew he held duty above all, above family and surely above you, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
You shook your head at yourself and grabbed another piece of fry.
“So um…” Julian shifted his weight, “Are you okay?”
You shot him a glare, arching a brow, “Peachy.”
“No I mean… About Barnes.”
“What are you talking about?”
“This whole Accords 2.0 failure, there’s no way we could go after him again.”
“I don’t want to go after him again.”
“You don’t want revenge?”
That made you straighten up your back and you put the fry down, “And why exactly would I want revenge?”
That made Julian fall silent and you nibbled on your lip.
“What exactly did the General tell you before you came here?”
“That there was a job here.”
“Bullshit,” you replied way too quickly, “Did he send you here to be my babysitter? He thinks I’ll go after Barnes myself is that it? That’s why they sent you here months after I left the country but right after Accords 2.0 didn’t pass.”
Julian licked his lips.
“Listen, the agency wants to keep you safe—“ he started but then his phone beeped. He grabbed it to take aa look at the screen, then cussed under his breath.
“What?”
“Check your texts.”
You touched the screen and frowned as your eyes skimmed the text.
From: General
Time to come home.
“Well,” you muttered, your heart dropping to your stomach, “Shit.”
                                                   ***
Coming back home was harder than ever now. After catching up with Keith and Chloe, you were taken to your new apartment that was given to you by the agency as usual, and for the whole night you couldn’t sleep.
Even if there was no trace of Bucky in your new apartment –in your new life, you still couldn’t shake off this feeling. It was as if the moment you had entered the country, Bucky had entered your life in an instant.
Odds were, you wouldn’t really see him again. After all it was a big city, and Bucky wasn’t exactly the social type.
So your first week back in New York wasn’t exactly terrible. You were still waiting for your orders while getting to know to the city slowly, because after long missions it always took time for you to remember you had a real life there, real memories—
Well, as real as it could be, for a spy.
“Just see it as a vacation,” Chloe had said, “They threw you into another mission as soon as you got out of the country, it’s just a delayed vacation.”
As far as vacations went though, this one just sucked.
Maybe it was because you couldn’t keep away from places you and Bucky had been too, like this coffee place where you had first officially met.
You sipped your coffee, scrolling down on the news website as your eyes skimmed yet another article about Accords and whether you could trust superheroes or not, but you were soon distracted when someone pulled the seat across from you, making you look up from your phone.
And as soon as you did, your heart dropped.
You had to give it to the General, he was manipulative, he was a liar and he had betrayed your trust terribly but the one thing he had done right was training you well. Aside from that one second, you managed to adapt a look of nonchalance on your face, slowly putting your phone down.
“Hello Cap.”
Sam raised his brows and eyed you up and down.
“You’re back?”
You could swear he could hear your heartbeat and you shrugged your shoulders, looking around.
“Yeah,” you said, “Big apple and everything.”
“So much for the small town girl.”
“I have never been a small town girl,” you drawled, “Never been to Oregon either.”
“Yeah, I can tell.”
You turned your coffee cup on the table just so you could do something with your hands.
“Why?” he asked after a beat and you shifted your weight despite your whole training of feeling calm and collected, nervousness hitting you out of nowhere.
“You’re a veteran, Wilson,” you managed to say, “You don’t need me to tell you how the chain of command works. Army doesn’t care how we feel about orders.”
“I’m very familiar with how chain of command works,” he pointed out, “But you’re not a soldier, Y/N. You’re a spy.”
“That makes it even worse,” you stated, “I know it sounds like an excuse, but… you don’t know how my agency works. I don’t get to say no to orders, and I sure as hell don’t get to blow my own cover.”
“But you wanted to, didn’t you?”
Jesus Christ, Wilson was really good at this observation thing.
“Doesn’t matter what I want,” you said, “I’m no use to anyone if I develop a conscience.”
“But you did,” he insisted, “Why else would you come to help us? Why else would you warn him beforehand?”
“He told you about that?”
He shot you a look, “What do you think, Y/N?”
You scoffed a laughter. “I was feeling generous,” you said, “No other reason.”
He kept his gaze on you for a couple of seconds, as if trying to see whether you would cave before he took a deep breath.
“You know he was going to propose, right?”
That-
That was just too much. You could feel your jaw hanging as you stared at him in complete silence, his words echoing in your ears.
“No,” you said after a moment, then shook your head fervently, your nose in the air, “No you’re wrong.”
“I’m not,” Sam said, “Apparently he was looking for this… house painted in white with—a red door or something.”
Don’t cry.
Do not fucking cry.
Spies don’t cry over heartbreak.
You clenched your jaw and blinked back the tears, straightening your back.
“It’s a good thing he didn’t get to, then.”
“Y/N, he loved you.”
“No Sam, he loved someone who doesn’t exist,” you replied, “Sweet small town girl with sundresses and smiles and some house in the suburbs with kids and all that shit. Girls like me don’t get that ending, I have way too much blood on my hands.”
He pressed his lips together and you cleared your throat.
“How much does he hate me?”
“Why do you think he hates you?”
“Assassins aren’t good at forgiving,” you said, “I would know, we don’t have that talent.”
“That’s not a talent, that’s a choice.”
“It really isn’t,” you muttered, “So?”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
You let out a bitter laugh, “Yeah no. Actions have consequences and I’d rather not cross paths with the deadliest assassin in the world after double crossing him.”
“But you want him to forgive you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Intuition,” he said and pushed his chair back to stand up.
“He didn’t kill your father, Y/N.”
You heaved a sigh.
“I know,” you said, “Trust me, I would’ve walked away so much easier if he had.”
“Enjoy your coffee,” he said and walked out of the coffee house. You threw your head back, closing your eyes.
“Yep. I shouldn’t have come back.”
                                                  ***
“I never thought I’d say this, but I kind of hate that we’re not living so close anymore,” you pressed the phone between your shoulder and your ear and opened the door to your apartment as Keith chuckled.
“I knew you’d miss me.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re a softie deep inside. Very very deep inside.”
“If you repeat that in front of anyone I swear to God…” you muttered and he groaned.
“Have I told you they’re putting me in the same team as Julian?”
“You guys have a new mission?”
“Not a long one probably.”
“Why the fuck am I—“
“Because you’re on a vacation,” he cut you off, “And also they’re probably going to make you a handler, that’s worth waiting for.”
“That or….”
“We’re not talking about that on the phone,” Keith said quickly, “Amateur.”
“Careful there, I’ll outrank you soon enough,” you said, walking to the bathroom to wash your hands. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Alright, see you later!” he said and hung up. You put your phone into your pocket, then washed your hands and made your way to the kitchen.
It was only when you put the wine bottle back into the fridge that you noticed something was off. Your body moved on its own accord, before you knew it you had already grabbed the knife in your boots and threw it to the figure in the dark corner of the room but he easily caught it, metal hitting what sounded like another kind of metal before he stepped out of the corner. Your breath caught in your throat, and for the first time in your life you froze, all the training leaving your mind.
You were supposed to be looking for a weapon, any kind of weapon but somehow, your body refused to move.
Bucky turned your knife in his hands, his gaze pinning you to your spot before he tilted his head.
“Hi honey,” he said, his voice way too cold. “I’m home.”
Chapter 24
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atlafan · 4 years
Text
Office Neighbors - Part Eleven
a/n: another part where a lot happens, I think you all will be happy the little surprise at the end, enjoy! (reblogs and feedback are super helpful!) not proofread, sorry!
warnings: slight angst?, fluff, and smut
words: 13.8K
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Another school year down, you couldn’t believe it. Two entire years done, and only more until it’s your turn to walk across the stage. Now that it was getting nicer out, your new favorite to work was the back deck, especially when Harry would come out and bring you a glass of wine. It wasn’t lost on you how much he doted on you. If you got cold, he was right there with a blanket and your fuzzy socks, if you were hungry he was right there with a snack. There was plenty you did for him, or that you did equally, like laundry and cooking and cleaning, but it was hard not to notice the way her almost…babies you.
Now, most of the time, men were the ones that liked to be babied in relationships, and that’s not to say that Harry doesn’t. He loves when he gets to lay his head on your chest and you play with his hair, or when you scrub his head in the shower, or the mornings you get up before him and lay his clothes out for him. You both took care of each other in different ways, which was nice, but he was used to taking care of someone in a parental way.
Harry was extremely different at work, though. He didn’t want to give students or colleagues a reason to tease either of you, so despite his clingy nature, he wouldn’t be too kissy or huggy with you. He was thankful that the school year was over so he could love on you all he wanted.
He had his own work as well, he had his latest manuscript. He would try to work when you were working, but sometimes he got writer’s block, or inspiration would hit at an odd hour. You loved watching him work, and if it was the middle of the night with him working away, you’d crawl into his lap and tell him it was time for bed. To which he happily listened.
It was weird being home while Andy was still in school, but it left you with plenty of time to plan his party. This year his party would be at your house since it was at Paige’s last year. You wanted to make sure there were tons of yard games for all the kids to play, and also things for the adults to do. You and Andy started crafting a playlist together that Harry was not allowed to help with because “no one my age wants to listen to Fleetwood, get over it!” was an argument you were sick of listening to, plus it was nice to have something to do together.
“Okay, we’ve got horseshoes, badminton, water balloons, and corn-hole, that should plenty of things for people to do back here.” You say as you look around the yard. Andy and Harry were just getting the badminton net into place.
“We also have a volleyball in case they wanna play that instead.” Harry says. “And we’ve got all the snacks in the world to keep everyone happy until I get to grilling.”
“So is this less of a family party?” You ask him.
“Little bit, I mean, Lydia, Allie and Ned will be here, but that’s it for Paige’s side. There’s more friends coming this year, that’s for sure.”
“I’m getting the Bluetooth going so there’s music when people start to show up.” Andy says. “I’m really excited, Caroline’s sisters are coming, and they’re really nice.”
“Is her oldest still coming to the university in the fall?” You ask.
“Yup.” He smiles.
Andy and Caroline had remained…close oddly enough. Brandon was still with Molly, and Andy couldn’t quite figure out why. Although, it was giving him more time to sort out all of his feelings. He really didn’t want to be in a relationship just yet. He just wanted to have fun with his friends.  
“I hope they’re not bored here.” Harry runs a hand through his hair.
“The corn-hole should keep them occupied, babe, don’t worry.”
“What are their names again?” Harry asks.
“Emma is the oldest, then Sophie and Charlotte.”
“Right, the twins.”
“I’m gonna go put the sign on the door to let people know they can just come to the back.” You say.
“I’ll tie the balloons to the mailbox!” Andy says and Harry sighs as he watches him go inside.
“What’s wrong?” You ask Harry as you walk up the stairs to the deck.
“Nothing…he’s just…twelve.” He pouts at you and you pout back.
“Please don’t cry.”
“I’m not.” He huffs. “He’s getting too old, I’m over this whole growing up thing.”
“But look at what a nice young man he’s growing into!” You put your hand on his shoulder. “Try to celebrate instead of dwell.”
“What are we, at a funeral?” He smirks.
You roll your eyes at him and go inside. The house was spick and span, thank god. This summer you’d be tackling renovating the kitchen since Andy would be at Paige’s. You were excited to do this with Harry. The new cabinets and granite were all ordered. You both just needed to do all the demo yourselves and then the contractors could come to do the rest.
“Mum and Noah are here!” Andy yells from outside, and you and Harry go out front to greet them.
“I…I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but look at you, you’re twelve!” Paige blubbers and throws her arms around Andy.
“Mum, please.” He groans as he hugs her back.
“None of your friends are here yet, I get to do this now.” She kisses his cheek and lets him go. “Gram will be here soon with your aunt and uncle.”
“Happy birthday, Andy!” Rachel says brightly as she hops out of the car, giving him a hug.
All it took was for Paige and Harry to make eye contact and they both burst into tears. They side hug each other as they both look at Andy.
“He’s so grown up, and I swear he’s getting taller by the minute.” She says.
“It’s not fair, he was a baby just yesterday.”
“You two need to get a grip.” Andy says.
“Yeah.” Rachel agrees. “I’m getting second-hand embarrassment.”
The two giggle and start walking around back. You and Noah stand there awkwardly as Paige and Harry let each other go.
“Right, well, we, uh, brought some extra snacks, and all the gifts are in the trunk.” Noah says.
“I can help bring all that in.” You say. “What do you all typically do for Rachel’s birthdays?” You ask him as you lead him inside.
“Well, we usually go to Florida to visit with her grandparents. She loves it. Sort of a daddy-daughter thing.”
“Oh, that’s so nice!”
“Yeah, her birthday’s in October, so the weather is usually perfect.”
Friends and other family members start to show up. Andy was such a social butterfly. You could really tell that he was popular amongst his friend group. He was making everyone laugh. All of the yard games were a big hit, and Caroline’s older sisters even seemed to be having a good time. You were up on the deck sipping a drink when Harry came up from behind you to hug you.
“Having a good time, darling?” He says to you.
“Yes, thank you.” You chuckle. “Are you?”
“Mhm, I’m really glad the weather stayed so nice, I was nervous it would rain.” He kisses your cheek. “I’m gonna get the grill fired up.”
“Alright, do you want some help?”
“Maybe if you could just help me organize the food out here on the table? We could set it up buffet style.”
“On it.” You head inside as Harry turns the grill on.
Harry was feeling a lot of things today, his son was officially a preteen, and all sorts of things could start changing for him this summer. He could start to see pimples, or his voice may start getting lower, or pretty much anything else. Then there was you. Harry usually had to recruit another parent to help him with his parties for Andy, but he didn’t have to do that this time because he had you. You were on top of everything, and he was grateful. He was also just proud to show you off to so many people. For years everyone saw him as this single dad, but now they got to see him in a fully functioning relationship with a wonderful person.
“Okay, here’s all the burgers and dogs.”
“Y/N!” You whip your head and see your parents, Phil, and Julian.
“Oh good!” You say and head down the stairs of the deck to go greet them. “Did you get stuck in traffic?” You ask as you hug your family.
“Just a tad.” Phil says. “There was an accident on the other side, and you know how people love to rubber-neck.”
“Well, you’re here now, that’s all that matters. Feel free to go inside and freshen up, Harry’s just getting the grill started, but there are other snacks, and there’s drinks in the coolers.”
As you were talking Noah and Paige were playing a game of corn-hole with Ned and Allie.
“Oh, who’s that?” Noah points over to you.
“That must be her parents and brother, and his partner. How nice for them all to come!”
“Just don’t pounce on them Paige.” Allie tells her.
“What are you talking about? I’ll be friendly…”
“I’m not saying you won’t, just let her bring them over to introduce you, don’t go over to them first.”
You lead your family inside, after they all say hello to Harry. You wanted to give them a tour of the place you now called home. You explain your plans for the kitchen, and they all nod along.
“It’s a lovely home, honey.” Your mom says. “Very spacious, plenty of room to grow.”
“Yeah! The basement couch has a pull out in case we need to turn the guest room into a nursery at some point, and the loft could easily be converted into a bedroom too.”
“Slow down there, you just moved in.” You dad chuckles.
“I’m just saying, we’ve thought ahead.”
You lead everyone back outside, and down the stairs. Andy notices your family and smiles, he had no idea they were coming. He runs over to you.
“Andy, look who’s here.” You say to him.
“Hi!” He gives everyone a hug. “Thanks for coming to my party.”
“We wouldn’t miss it!” Your mom says. “You’re twelve today?”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “Would you like to meet my friends?”
“Sure.” Phil says.
Andy waves over Brandon and Caroline, and they both come jogging over.
“You guys, these are Y/N’s parents, um…”
“Rebecca and Richard.” Your dad says with a smile.
“Right, and this is her big brother Phil and his Julian.”
Phil and Julian smile at each other and say hello.
“These are my two best friends, Brandon and Caroline.”
Brandon felt bile in the back of his throat. Since when did Andy consider Caroline to be his other best friend?
“Hey, Andy, your friend Tyler…” Rachel had come over but she trails off.
“Rachel, these are my parents and my brothers.” You tell her.
“Hello!” She smiles brightly. “I’m Andy’s step-sister.”
“Well aren’t you just a precious little thing!” Your mom says.
“You’re Jewish like me, right?”
“Why yes we are.” Your dad says.
“When we went on our ski trip together, Y/N sat with me and helped with my alefbet.”
“She was pretty good at reading from the Torah as a kid.” Phil says. “I wasn’t so lucky.”
“You just never studied.” You tease him.
“Not all of us can be book worms, Y/N.” He sighs.
“My mum’s over there…” Andy points. “Do you all want to meet her?”
“That would be great.” Your dad says. You look back at Harry who was talking with Mr. Stewart as he grilled, and then you look over towards Paige.
“Yeah, let’s have everyone meet.” You say and lead them over. “Paige? I hate to interrupt the game…”
“Not at all!” She says with a smile. “Hello.” She says towards your family.
“These are my parents, Rebecca and Richard, my brother Phil, and his partner Julian.”
“It’s so nice to meet you all, I’m Andy’s mother, this is my fiancé, Noah, and my sister Allie and her husband Ned.”
Everyone shakes hands. The kids had run off to go play, so it was just the adults right now.
“We absolutely adore Andy.” Your mom tells Paige. “He’s a sweet boy.”
“Oh, thank you.” She smiles. “He raved about those paints you got him, he uses them all the time.” Out of the corner of her eye, Paige spots Lydia and waves her over. “This is my mother, Lydia. Mum, these are Y/N’s parents, and brothers.”
“Nice to meet all of you.” She smiles to the best of her ability and shakes their hands.
“Well, I need to go see what else Harry needs help with, so I’ll leave you grown-ups to chat.”
“We’ll help too.” Phil says. “I am a chef after all.” He tugs Julian along, full well knowing how nasty Lydia can be from what you’ve told them. Your parents could easily handle it. “She looks too nice to be a bitch.” Phil smirks.
“Trust me, she has her moments, although, she doesn’t make many comments too me anymore.” You smirk back.
All of the kids enjoy the freshly grilled food that they were ravenous for. After lunch was the balloon toss. Harry pairs up with Andy, just like last year, and you decide to participate with Phil.
“I swear, if you whip this thing at me…” He says as you’re still relatively close.
“Don’t be such a baby. It’s a trust exercise if anything.”
“Mhm, exactly.”
“I prank you with one whoopee cushion and-“
“You did that in front of my prom date!”
“Well, good thing you’re gay or else I’d be more concerned that I embarrassed you in front of her.”
Phil bursts out laughing as you continue to toss the balloon. He ends up dropping it at one point, which disqualifies you. Caroline and Rachel are out next, and then Tyler and Alexis. Brandon has paired up with his dad, and it was down to the four of them again. Mr. Stewart drops the balloon at the last second, which causes for Andy and Harry to be champs once again.
Once everyone settles a bit, it’s time for cake and gifts. Andy’s friends got him some good gift certificates and other little things.
“A new skateboard!” Andy beams. “Thanks, Noah.”
“You’re welcome, buddy.” Noah smiles proudly. Things were going really well recently between him and Andy. “That’s from my parents, they send their love.” Andy nods at him.  
Next up you had passed him the gift your family brought him. You had no idea what it could be.
“Holy shhhh-cow.” Andy corrects himself as he tears the wrapping paper open. “A home pottery kit?!”
“Y/N mentioned to us how much you enjoy the clay in your art classes, and we found this for kids.” Your mom explains. “Do you like it?”
“I love it! Thank you so much.”
Lydia had gotten him some new ski equipment which he was grateful for. You give your family a thumbs up. The last gift was one from you, Harry, Paige, and Noah as it cost a pretty penny. It was just in an envelope. He opens it carefully, and his eyes widen, nearly welling up with tears.
“No way.” He looks at the four of you.
“What is it, Andy?” Brandon asks.
“Three tickets to the Ariana Grande concert and…a pass for a meet and greet.”
“Whoa!” Caroline exclaims. “That’s incredible!”
Andy stands up and gives everyone a hug, thanking you all profusely.
“Think this’ll hold you over until you get a phone next year?” Paige asks him.
“Definitely.”
He knew the three tickets implied that he could bring a friend with him, and the obvious choice was Caroline. Brandon didn’t mind Ari, but it was something that Andy and Caroline really bonded over. He could talk to her about it later.
The party was a huge success, and Andy was feeling super happy. It was nice for him to see so many people interacting.
“Well, we better get going since it’s getting late.” Paige says to him, giving him a big hug and kiss. “I’m so glad you had a good birthday, baby.”
“Me too, thanks again for everything, Mum.”
He says goodbye to Noah, Rachel, Allie, Ned, and Lydia as well. Then he takes his time saying goodbye to your family. Needless to say he was pooped by the time everyone left.
“When can I use the pottery kit?” He asks Harry as he cleans some things in the kitchen.
“I can set it up in the garage one of these weekends and you can go to town.”
“Alright!” Andy exclaims. “I’m gonna go to bed early I think, I’m tired, but thanks for everything today.”
“You’re welcome, but don’t just thank me.” He nods towards you and Andy gives you a hug.
“Thanks, Y/N.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
He lets you go and heads to his room. Once his door is closed Harry yanks you towards him and you giggle.
“Laugh all you want, but I’m going to ravage you tonight.”
“Oh?”
“Mhm.” He ghosts his lips along your jawline before kissing on your neck, sucking a little making you moan softly. “You were incredible today. Well, you’re incredible every day, but…everything just meant a lot to me.”
“I really feel like we’re a family, you know? I love it so much, more than I ever thought I would.”
Harry kisses you, a little more passionately than you were expecting, but it was still nice.
“Go on into the bedroom, I’ll be in after I finish with the dishes.”
“Nonsense, I can help.”
“Don’t be silly, I’ve got it.”
“Harry, I can help with the dishes.”
“I know you can, and you usually do, but you don’t have to worry about it right now. I want you to go in and wait for me.”
“Okay…” You turn away and stop short to look back at him. “I think I’m gonna run a bath…long day outside.”
“Put in that lavender bath bomb for me, would you?”
You smile and nod and head into your room’s en suite. Tonight was going to be a good night.
//
Harry slips into the tub, and you sit in front of him. He had checked on Andy before coming in, and the poor kid had all but passed out in his bed. You rest your head on Harry’s shoulder as you both relax.
“This was an excellent idea.” He sighs. “Feel like we don’t take advantage of the tub enough.”
“We don’t usually have time.”
“Well, with school over we will, especially during the day with Andy at school.”
“I’m gonna miss him when we send him off to Paige’s…”
“It’s a month away, babe. Plus, we’ll still see him plenty.”
“I know…”
“You’ll come camping again, yeah? He and Brandon are really looking forward to the annual trip.”
“Oh, definitely! And this time when we wake up all snuggled up it won’t be weird.”
“Can’t believe that was almost a year ago.” He kisses your temple. “Now we’re living together, it’s wild.”
“I’m really glad the school doesn’t care about colleagues dating, or we’d be in a real pickle.”
“Oh, I would have just secretly dated you.”
“Oh, really?” You turn slightly to look at him.
“Yeah, you’re talking to an unapologetic romantic here, a secret romance would be, like, right up my alley.”
“You’re an idiot.” You giggle and kiss his cheek. “Can you believe I only have one more year of doctoral work to do and then I’m done? I can’t wait for my work to be published.”
“I was thinking…the journal that publishes my works is always looking for younger people in the field, if you ever wanted to chat with them.”
“No, that’s your thing, babe, but thank you. Lisa has a few names of some people for me anyways.” You take his hand and kiss his soapy knuckles. “But, I will need your help soon. I need to start working on my defense presentation.”
“Who’s on your committee?”
“Lisa, Sandra, Dan and Alice from English, Patricia from Psychology, and Greg from Philosophy.”
“Good group.”
“Thanks, I thought it was pretty decent. And then obviously whoever else wants to come can. I just want the presentation to feel fun and eye-opening. You’re so good at captivating your audience, I wanna work on that.”
“You know I have horrible stage fright?”
“No way.”
“Way! I get all these nerves right before I need to give a lecture like that, but I accept the fear and use it to help me give a good performance.”
“Do you ever get nervous before teaching a class?”
“I’m always nervous on the first day, but once we get rolling and I can gauge how the kids will be I’m usually fine.”
“Same for me.”
“Well, I’m more than happy to help you, baby, you know that.”
“Thank you.”
His arms were wrapped around you stomach gently. One of his hands starts to drift lower, and between your legs, causing your breath to hitch.
“Alright?” He says into your ear.
“Mhm.” You say as you part your legs a little for him. His other hand come up to grope one of your breasts.
His fingers rub circles into your clit before slipping into your center. You groan and buck your hips forward by accident. His other hand comes up to your mouth.
“Gotta be quiet, baby.” He coos as his fingers pump in and out of you. You nod against him and removes his hand. “That’s my good girl.”
“Harry.” You whine softly. “Wanna ride you.”
“Okay.” You move to turn around but he stops you. “Should be able to just slip it in like this, yeah?”
“Let’s give it a try.”
You lift yourself up enough for him to line himself up with you and you sink down on him. He thrusts up into you and you gasp. He brings his fingers to your mouth for you to suck on and you reach back to do the same thing for him as you continue to fuck each other. His other hand stays rubbing your clit, and you feel yourself getting closer and closer. You start squeezing around him, tighter and tighter. You moan out around his fingers once you’ve gotten your release. Harry as to quickly lift you off him to come on your back.
“Jesus, shit.” He pants. “That was a close one.” He kisses your shoulder before pressing his forehead against it. He reaches for a washcloth to dip into the water to clean your back up. You hum your response as your eyes flutter closed.
“M’sleepy now.”
“Me too, love, come on.”
He helps you stand up and you both towel off and get ready for bed. Harry gives you kisses and smooches before you turn over so he can spoon you.
“Love you so much.” He sighs as his arm wraps around you.
“I love you too.” You adjust against him and sigh as well.
//
“Straight A’s again!” Andy says as he slaps his report card down on the table when he gets home from his last day of school. “Also not to brag, but Caroline and I won the three-legged race during field day, so I think ice cream is in order.”
“You didn’t partner up with Brandon?” Harry asks.
“Caroline got to me first.” Andy shrugs. “Please, Dad, can we get ice cream?
“Yeah, please, Dad.” You pout with Andy, and Harry sighs with a chuckle.
“Alright, we can get ice cream after dinner tonight.”
Y/N and Andy high five to celebrate.
“Andy, things are okay with you and Brandon, right?” Harry asks him.
“Yeah, they’re fine.”
“Did he ever, um, try to teach you anything again?” You ask, carefully.
“No.” Andy shakes his head. “We never really talked about it. He’s excited for the camping trip though.”
“Well, that’s good.” Harry says. “It’ll be a nice couple of days.”
After dinner you all go downtown to get ice cream at the local shop, and sit outside to enjoy your treats. You smirk to yourself as Andy bites into your sundae.
“You know, I’m pretty sure I joined you for this last year, but I recall you not being able to get topping because you texted me with your dad’s phone.”
“Oh, yeah!” Andy chuckles. “That was pretty good.”
“You’re a little too sly for your own good.” Harry says. “I could have gotten her to come with us on my own.”
“Yeah, but you were taking too long. Sometimes you have to take some initiative, Dad.” Andy smirks as Harry rolls his eyes.
“Eat your ice cream.”
You laugh at that, and gives Harry’s hand a squeeze.
“Either way it was nice to be included. Do you have big summer plans with Mum, Andy?”
“Yes and no. I mean, her wedding is next month, so that’ll take up some time, and then Rachel and I will come stay with you when they’re on their honeymoon. But I think in between all that Noah’s got some boat trips planned. I like fishing with him.”
“That’s right…they’ll be with us for my birthday…” You look at Harry. “I don’t know what my family has planned…”
“I was hoping to take everyone up to the cabin that week so it still felt like a little vacation.”
“Oh, that would be fun!”
“Your family could come up if they wanted.”
“I don’t wanna create more work.”
“You wouldn’t be, I think it would be fun.”
“Yeah! We can go on the jet skis.”
“You mean you can go on the jet skis. I’ll watch from the shore.” You laugh.
“It’s actually pretty fun.” Harry grins.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
//
Brandon slept over the night before the camping trip so you all could leave bright and early. Harry was taking you up a different 4,000 footer. You must have asked him a dozen times if there would be a bathroom there, and every time Harry said yes, so you believed him.
The boys were really excited. You could hear them up late talking about the view they’d have since Andy had hiked it before. Brandon seemed thrilled to be having some one on one time with Andy. As you started up the trail, you could tell they were having a good time by the sounds of their laughter.
“Doing alright so far?” Harry asks you. “Other than the couple of small hikes we went on last month, this is, like, your first big one of the season.”
“Oh, sure, I’m fine. I’ll probably be sore tomorrow. I’m just happy to be outside, you know?”
“Definitely. I hate seeing you all cooped up.”
“Can’t help it.”
“I like seeing you do your work out on the deck.”
“I love having an outdoor space to do it in, you have no idea.”
It was a very long hike, full of breaks, and look out points. You all weren’t in a rush, which always made things more fun. Once you’re at the summit you all drop your gear with relief. Tons of pictures are taken, and then you head off to find the bathroom while the boys set up the tents. It felt like an anniversary in a way. This when you sort of realized you might like Harry as more than a friend. You’ll never forget waking up with him like you did.
“You guys are speedy.” You say after coming back.
“I’d say we’re professionals at this point.” Andy says and it makes you laugh.
As the sun starts to set, you all get cozy around the fire. Harry had made a nice dinner, and now you were enjoying some s’mores. The boys say goodnight first, and then you and Harry clean up before heading into your own tent.
“Look at us, sleeping in a double wide sleeping bag.” You giggle as you cozy up to him.
“Should have just done this last year too. I think that really would have put out there how I was feeling.” He chuckles and kisses your hairline.
“At least it won’t be awkward when you wake up spooning me.”
“I never thought it was awkward.” He strokes your cheek with his thumb. “Especially not with how you looked up at me.”
“I wanted you to kiss me that morning.”
“I did too.” He pecks your lips.
“I love kissing you.”
“Love kissing you too, baby.”
While you and Harry were whispering sweet nothings to each other, Andy and Brandon were have their own conversation in their tent.
“So, your mom’s wedding is next month, are you excited?” Brandon asks Andy as they get settled into their sleeping bags.
“Yeah, I get to walk her down the aisle, so that’ll be cool.”
“Is your dad going?”
“Officially, yeah.” Andy sighs. “I think Y/N told him it would be good to go for the whole thing, and he agreed. Although, I think he said he plans on sitting all the way in the back.” Andy laughs. “I know it’s gotta be awkward for him.” Andy rolls over onto his side to look at Brandon easier, and Brandon does the same. “When do you, um, go to camp?”
“Last week of July through the first week of August…well, that’s when I usually go, I don’t know if I wanna go this year. I have another week to decide.”
“Why don’t you wanna go?”
“Because of Molly.” Brandon groans. “We broke up again.”
“You did?!”
“Yeah.”
“When?”
“Like…two days ago…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I figured I’d tell you this weekend, it’s not a big deal, but I don’t really feel like dealing with her for two weeks. I’m keep my fingers crossed that we won’t have the same schedule next year.”
“So, you don’t think you’re immediately going to get back together with her when school starts?” Andy laughs.
“Nope.” Brandon smiles. “I’m over her.”
“Cool…” Andy blushes. “Well, if you don’t end up going to camp, um, my mum said I could invite a few friends to her wedding.”
“Oh, yeah?” Brandon raises an eyebrow at him. “Who else are you going to invite?”
“Probably Caroline and Tyler.”
“Andy…if you still like her so much, why did you break up?”
“I like being friends with her, I don’t know. I don’t think I was ready for all that…dating someone…maybe when I’m older.”
“There were a few rumors going around that you liked someone more than her.” Andy’s eyes widen at Brandon. “Is that true?”
“Yeah.” Andy swallows. “Yeah, there’s someone I like more than her, but I’m still not really ready to date so I’ve been keeping it to myself.”
“Who, um, who is it?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why?” Brandon frowns. “You’re my best friend, Andy…I’d tell you if I liked someone.”
“Would you?” Andy sits up and looks the other way. Brandon sits up as well.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
“Can I ask you something first?”
“Okay.”
“If…if Tyler had been nervous about kissing Alexis…would you have offered to show him how like you did with me?”
Brandon’s face flushes. He was thankful that it was dark in the tent.
“Well, he’s not even with her, so it doesn’t matter does it?”
“Yes it does. Would you have done that with anyone?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re my best friend.” Brandon takes a deep breath. “You have been for as long as I can remember, Andy. I mean…the day you told me that you weren’t going back to your mom’s for the school year was, like, more exciting than any present I’ve ever gotten. Getting to start middle school with you was like a dream come true. Ty’s great and all, but he’s not my best friend.”
“So…that’s all it was then? Because I’m your best friend and you just wanted to help?”
“Yeah.”
Andy nods and lays back down. Brandon does the same. They both lay on their backs.
“You’re gonna tell me who else you like, are you?”
“No.” Andy looks at Brandon slightly. “Not yet anyways.”
“If I don’t go to camp I’ll come to the wedding.” He looks at Andy. “Just don’t dance with Caroline the entire time.” He smirks.
“I won’t.”
Andy rolls over to his other side, facing away from Brandon. He blinks a couple of tears away. How could he tell Brandon he liked him when Brandon was telling him he was just a friend? He didn’t want to do anything to ruin their friendship. He also knew he just wasn’t ready for kissing or things like that, so he wasn’t going to say anything until he knew he was really ready.
//
The next morning you wake up in Harry’s arms, like always, and give his cheek a kiss before sitting up to stretch.
“Sleep alright, baby?” He yawns.
“Mhm, did you?”
“Yup.” He smiles and you smile back at him. This weekend felt like an anniversary to him too. Your actual one was coming up soon.
You both get up and use the bathroom, and see that the boys are already up and ready to go. They seemed to be tired.
“You both sleep alright?” You ask as you start your journey back down the mountain.
“Mhm.” Brandon yawns. “Just tired, it’s early.”
“I’m so glad school’s over so we can just sleep in.” Andy says.
“I know the feeling.” You say. “Although, your dad makes it impossible sometimes.”
“Well excuse me for trying to stick to a routine.” Harry scoffs. “I do my best to stay quiet.”
“Mm, sure, Jan.” You say and it makes him laugh.
“Is that something Auntie Janette would say?” Andy asks.
“No, it’s from The Brady Bunch.” Harry says. “You know that old show, we’ve watched it a couple of times. Jan can’t stand her older sister Marsha, and Marsha always catches Jan in a lie. It’s pretty funny.”
“It’s, like, a catchphrase, right, Mr. Styles?” Brandon asks.
“Exactly.”
It’s a smooth trek down the mountain. You all take your time just as you did going up, and eventually you get back to the car. Harry drops Brandon off at his house, and Andy walks him up to his door.
“Well, thanks for another great trip.” Brandon say.
“Sure, I’m glad you came.”
“When do you go to your mom’s?”
“In a few days…”
“Okay, maybe we can hang out before you go?”
“Definitely.” The boys hug and then Brandon goes inside. Andy sighs heavily when he gets in the car. You and Harry look at each other before he drives off towards the house.
“Andy, when you come back later this summer the kitchen’s gonna have an all new look, are you excited?” You say, trying to break the tension.
“Yeah! You better send me pictures along the way.”
“We will.” Harry says. “We’ll need your expert input I’m sure.”
//
Doing demo in the kitchen was a liberating experience. Knocking out the old cabinets with Harry was more fun than you thought it would be. Then again, how could it not be a good time watch him use a sledgehammer?
“I say we’ve earned ourselves a couple of drinks.” He says as he gets a couple of beers out of the fridge. “I know beer’s not your favorite, but-“
“It’s fine.” You take it. “Let’s go sit outside, it’s all dusty in here.”
He agrees, and you both head out to the deck.
“I’m glad we rented that dumpster, clean up shouldn’t be too difficult.” Harry says as he cracks his beer open. “Especially with how much we already did.”
“I know! We got so much done today. I can’t wait to see what the new stain on the floor will look like.”
“I was talking to the floor guy about that, he said since he’s refinishing it as well we won’t be able to walk on it properly for a few days. I was thinking we could go up to the cabin while it’s getting done. We both can still work without a ton of fumes.”
“Good idea. I certainly wouldn’t mind the view of the lake for a few days.”
“Cabinets should be installed by the wedding.” He says as he takes a sip.
“You’re sure you’re okay to go? I don’t want to force you…”
“No, I know I need to be there. I wanna see Andy walk her down the aisle and all that. Besides, my suit is gorgeous, I can’t let it go to waste.” He scoffs and it makes you laugh.
“Just making sure.” You reach for his hand and give it a squeeze. “Ugh, I need a long, hot shower. I feel gross.”
“Same here. Feel like sharing?”
“No, I’m on my period.” You pout. “Just need a little alone time.”
“Fine.” He sighs. “Go do your thing.”
“Thanks, babe.” You get up and kiss the top of his head before going inside.
Harry knew you were going to take a shower by yourself, but he wanted to play it cool. He had ordered pizza and made sure to get your favorite wine, but had to hide it from you. He cleans himself off quickly in the other bathroom, and gets everything set up outside. He lights a few candles. Satisfied with his work, he waits for you.
“I’m all done, thanks for…” You walk outside in an oversized shirt and pajama pants. “What is all this?”
“Our anniversary dinner.” He smiles and wraps his arms around you. “It was a year ago today that you came here with this exact meal and we kissed for the for the first time.”
“Oh my goodness, Harry.” You kiss him and wrap your arms around his neck. “This is so sweet, I…I thought we were celebrating in a couple of days though, I-“
“That’s what I told you so I could surprise you. Normally I’d cook, but the kitchen isn’t functioning at the moment.”
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
You both kiss again, and you decide to sit on his lap as you ate and drank. You just really wanted to be as close as possible right now. He didn’t mind one bit, he liked when you’d cling to him a little more.
“The candles were a nice touch, very romantic, Har.” You sit back against his chest and he wraps his arms around your stomach.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it! I’m not super into overdone surprises, so this is literally perfect.”
“You really do like keeping things simple, huh?”
“Mhm, I mean, the gesture is always appreciated, I just don’t like people making such a big fuss over me, you know?” Harry hums his response and moves some of your hair so he can kiss on the back of your neck.
“But you’re worth making a fuss over.” He mumbles as his lips move up your neck. “How heavy is your flow, baby?”
“Should be minimal since I just showered.” You bite your bottom lip. “Do you really feel like it?”
“Yeah, we can just put a towel down like we’ve done before.”
“Okay.” You smile as he nibbles on your earlobe.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” You giggle and get off him. You bring the pizza and leftover wine inside before going into the bedroom.
Harry puts a couple of towels down while you go into the bathroom. You come out and quickly walk over to the bed to lay down. Harry rolls a condom on, and puts some extra lube on it so he doesn’t hurt you.
“All set?” He says to you as he knees onto the bed.
“Mhm.” You smile.
His lips slot over yours and his hands knead your breasts. He pushes inside you and you gasp into his mouth.
“Lube was a little cold.” You giggle.
“Sorry, baby, is it better now?” He asks as he rocks in and out of you.
“Yes.”
He squishes his nose to yours, and you wrap your legs around his waist. He comes closer so you’re chest to chest. You lick into his mouth and he groans against you. You feel tears start to form in your eyes and you start laughing.
“You haven’t even come yet, why are you crying?” He laughs as he uses his thumbs to wipe the small droplets away.
“I’m just really happy we’re together.”
“Me too, darling.” He kisses your forehead.
“I’m also hormonal.”
“Mhm, sure, blame it on that if you want.” He smirks and continues thrusting in and out of you.
“Fuck, that feels good.” Your nails rake down his back and he groans into your ear. Your nails dig into his ass as he fucks you harder. “Just like that, Harry, don’t stop.” You moan.
He bites down on your neck, and you whimper. It always felt so fucking good when he would do that, and with you not having to work and Andy being at Paige’s, Harry was free to litter you with marks. Well, within reason. He’d save the really nasty bruises for your inner thighs.
You cry out as you come undone, and Harry fills up the condom not too long after. You both get cleaned up and you grab the bottle of wine as you get settled for a movie in bed. You each take turns swigging from it. You were sitting in front of Harry, all cozy.
“I’ll need to work on my paper tomorrow.” You tell him. “Taking a couple of days off for demo was good to clear my head, but I need to get back at it.”
“That’s fine, I have some work I need to do for my manuscript. Are you planning to go to the CMT conference again this summer?”
“Can’t.” You take another swig from the bottle and look up at him. “It’s in California this year, and it’s right before the fall semester.”
“So?”
“So…that’s time I would need to prep for my classes. I’d be gone for about a week with the traveling.”
“Do you want to go?”
“Well…yeah, there’s going to be some really good speakers this year.”
“Then you should go.” He smiles. “I’d go too, but I need to be around for Andy once August hits.”
“You’d really be okay with me being gone an entire week across the country?”
“Baby, no one loves a lecture more than you, I don’t want you to not go because of me.” He kisses your hairline.
“I’d literally be getting back the day of our first faculty meeting. I looked into it already. I’d have to go from the airport to the school.”
“You’re always hours early for the faculty meeting…”
“Yeah, because I like getting my office in order.” You scoff. “Is there a reason you want me to go?”
“No.” He shrugs. “I just think it’s rare when we don’t have to cancel class to go to a conference, and the school will pay for you to go.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, you can apply for a scholarship, I can show you. Then it would just be the air fare which isn’t that expensive out there this time of year.”
“I suppose that’s true…if I can get the school to pay for it then I’ll definitely go.”
“Good.” He smiles.
//
A few days away at the cabin were just what the doctor ordered. It felt weird not having Andy around, but you honestly weren’t upset at having a break from parenting. You texted with him here and there, just to check in and let him know you were thinking of him, as did Harry. You really cherished the time you and Harry could just be you and Harry. He got you to go on a jet ski with him, and even though you screamed the entire time, it was still fun. It was the perfect getaway home, and when you got back to your actual home your new kitchen floors looked stunning. The cabinet people came in a couple of days later, and you made sure to send Andy all of the pictures. July was flying by.
“Okay, so, for your birthday, we’ll go to the cabin and bring the kids, and your parents and brothers will meet us up there for a couple of nights as well?” Harry says as he looks over his planner.
“Yes.” You chuckle.
“What?”
“You just look so serious. I feel like I’m having an appointment with you at your office.” You clear your throat. “You wanted to see me, Dr. Styles.” You pout at him and he swallows hard.
“That’s not funny.” He puts his pen down and takes his glasses off to look at you. “I could get in a big heap of trouble if a student came onto me like that.”
“Did it ever used to work on you when you were younger?”
“No.” He scoffs. “Although the girls, and some boys, would try, I have to give them credit. I’d get offers from them to babysit Andy just because they wanted to know how I lived and all that. It was more difficult when I was closer in age, now I don’t even give it a second glance. They know not to flirt with me anyways because my girlfriend would probably step in and pummel ‘em.” He grins at you.
“Got that right.” You smirk. “Although, you’re the jealous one, not me.”
“I would strangle any kid at that school if I saw them trying to make a move on you, no doubt about that.” You burst out laughing and put your hand over his to give it a squeeze.
“Okay, okay…are you ready for tomorrow?”
“Am I ready to see my son all dressed up? Yes. I hope he’s been behaving at the rehearsal dinner.” Harry looks at his watch. “Should be over soon.” He chews on his inner cheek. “Y/N…someday…when we, you know, get married…” A smile grows on your face. “I don’t think I’d want to invite them.”
“Wow, really? I’m…shocked…”
“At a petty level, I truthfully just don’t think she deserves to see me so happy, and I feel like she’s rubbing how happy she is in my face. She’s always been like, just, painfully oblivious.” He rests his chin on her palm. “I know it would hurt her, but I wouldn’t want her there.”
“Okay.” You get up and sit in his lap.
“Okay?”
“Yeah, I don’t need your ex at our wedding.” You laugh. “Maybe it’s different for her since she’s the one that called it quits. I know you’re over her, but I can understand how all this might still hurt.”
“It brings up a lot of things, yeah.” He looks up at you and smiles. “But I’m really happy with how everything worked out. I’m happy I’m with you.” He gives your shoulder a squeeze. “You-you’ve become like a second mum to Andy and…I feel like for so long I was just living my life on auto, just doing the same thing every day, but now…I have more of a purpose again.”
“Harry.” You coo and stroke his cheek. “You’ve changed my life for the better too.”
//
You were able to get your hair in a cute low bun, with some curls left out. You bought a light blue semi-formal dress to wear to pair with Harry’s suit. He was just getting his contacts in as you were slipping on your heels.
“Be honest, how do I look?” He says to you.
“Like I don’t wanna let you leave this house.” You bite your bottom lip.
“Excellent, just what I was going for.” He rubs his hands up and down your arms. “You look stunning, baby.”
“Thank you.”
“Ready to go meet her entire family and Noah’s?”
“Is everyone really going to fit in her backyard?”
“The ceremony is in the back yard, the reception is in a tent on the beach.”
“Oh…fancy.”
“Nothing but the best for her.” Harry rolls his eyes. “Got the gift?”
“In the car already.”
Harry nods and you both head out.
Andy looked handsome. His hair was perfect, and he essentially never looked more like his father. It was the tan he had from being out so much. He wouldn’t be able to see his friends before the ceremony since he needed to stay in close proximity with Paige. They were able to take all of the bridal party photos beforehand. Same with the groom’s party.
There were a ton of chairs set up, and people were finding their seats. You and Harry sit in the last row of seats on the bride’s side. He puts a pair of sunglasses on. The last thing he wanted to do was be recognized and exchange pleasantries with Paige’s extended family.
“I have some tissue in my purse if you need some.” You say to him. “I don’t know about you, but I always cry at weddings.”
“So do I, thanks.” He holds his hand out for the tissues and you give him a couple. He puts his arm around you and kisses your temple.
“Think there will be an open bar?”
“Oh, for sure.” He scoffs. “We’ll be drinking well tonight.”
“Hi, Mr. Styles.” Brandon and Tyler come up to you and Harry. “Can we sit with you? We don’t really know anyone else.”
“Sure!” Harry says.
“Yeah, plenty of room.” You say. “Where’s Caroline?”
“Why should I know?” Brandon says as he sits down next to you.
“Because you’re all friends, duh.” You say to him.
“She’s in the bathroom.” Tyler says. “She’ll be here in a second.”
Caroline eventually joins everyone, but she’s a little fidgety.
“What took you so long?” Brandon asks her.
“There was, um, a line.” She says.
More and more take their seats, and music starts up. Everyone looks forward as Rachel walks up with Noah and the rest of the groomsmen. She looked lovely. Noah gives her a hug and kiss before she gets in line with the rest of the party. A couple of Paige’s younger cousins act as the flower girls. Allie and Ned walk Lydia down the aisle, and then come the bridesmaids. Harry knew them all well. Friends from college, and friends from work. Some of their eyes widen when they notice Harry, but they keep walking. Everyone stands up when Paige’s bridal music starts. You get your phone ready to snap a few shots of Andy.
“Oh my god, look at him.” Harry whispers proudly. He lifts his sunglasses to see him better. Andy waves to his father.
Paige and Harry briefly make eye contact. They nod at each other as Andy continues to walk her down the aisle.
“He’s a spitting image.” You whisper to Harry, and he smiles at you.
The ceremony is quick, there’s some Hebrew from a rabbi, and Noah steps on the glass. Everyone’s told where to go for cocktail hour, and they start making their way.
“Dad!” Andy shouts to get his attention. “Mum wants a family picture.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, like, with all of us, come on.” He tugs on Harry’s jacket sleeve, and Harry looks back at you panicked. You follow them to the spot where the photos are being taken.
“Hey you two!” Paige beams. “Of course your suit is amazing, shouldn’t have doubted it for a second.” She says to Harry. “And you look lovely, Y/N.”
“Um, thank you. Congratulations.” You say to her.
“Thank you.” She giggles. “I’m a missus!  Can’t believe it. Anyways, I thought it would be nice if we took a blended family photo.” Harry just nods and follows her. “Okay, so I was thinking I could stand in the middle, Rachel on one side, and Andy on the other, like, in front, and then Noah on one side and you on the other, and Y/N next to you.”
“Wait, you want me in the photo?” You ask.
“Of course! You’re family now, have been for a while.”
Harry snakes his arm around your waist and pulls you close to him, and uses his other hand to put on Andy’s shoulder. They take a few photos like that as everyone else stands to the side watching.
“Okay, well, we’re going to the cocktail hour, thanks for including us in your very special day.” Harry says with just an ounce of sarcasm and an ironic grin, and tugs you along.
“Alright, I can see what you mean now, painfully oblivious.”
“Jesus, thank you! Was that awkward or was that awkward?”
“Nope, very awkward. Come on, let’s go drink.”
The tent on the beach was exquisite. There was an open bar, a DJ, and waiters walking around with appetizers. You and harry go right up to the bar for cocktails before finding what table you’ve been put at.
“Harry!” A woman squeals and lunges onto him, making him almost spill his drink. “God, it’s been years!”
“Sarah!” Harry hugs her back. “I know, how are you?”
“I’m doing well.” She steps back from him. “You haven’t aged a day.”
“My hair would beg to differ.” He runs a hand through it.
“Oh, please, you look distinguished.” She smiles and looks at you. “And who’s this?”
“Oh! Sorry, um, Sarah this is my girlfriend, Y/N. Y/N, Sarah and I went to uni together with Paige.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you.” You shake her hand.  
“Same to you. My hubby, Joe, is just getting us some drinks. Seems like we’ve been put at the same table. I wonder if we all were.”
“All?” Harry asks.
“Sure! Jane and her wife are her, and so is Greg, he came stag…” She leans into Harry. “Divorced recently.” She whispers. “Oh! And Lauren’s here too. Basically the reject list for the wedding party.” She laughs.
Harry didn’t think Paige was still this close with all of their old college buddies. It would be like a mini-reunion, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He almost wished he was put at the kids table with Andy and his friends.
“I’m shocked to see you here, I mean I’m happy to see you and all, but-“
“Well, as you saw, our son walked her down the aisle and she really didn’t want me to miss it, so here I am.”
Slowly everyone else makes their way over to the table. Harry introduces you to everyone. The last one to make their way is Lauren.
“Harry Styles.” She smiles and he turns to look at her.
“Hey.” He smiles back and hugs her. “Um, this is my girlfriend, Y/N.” He hooks his arm around your waist and pulls you close to his side as you shake your hand.
“You’re a very lucky woman, Y/N. Harry’s the best.” She says.
“Yeah, he is.” You say.
You all take your seats as the wedding party makes their way into the tent. Harry keeps his hand on your thigh the entire time. Harry could see on Paige’s face that she was desperately trying to keep it together. She missed her father. Everyone stands up and crowds around the dancefloor as Noah takes Rachel’s hand for a father-daughter dance.
“She is too cute.” You say to Harry.
“I know it, absolutely precious.” He agrees and takes a sip of his drink.
Next up is a mother-son dance for Andy and Paige. You watch as the smile grows on Harry’s face. He was proud of Andy for being such a good sport, and he could see that Andy was having fun. You take your phone out to take a video of the dance so Andy could see it later. Noah has a dance with his mother, and then Paige has a dance with Lydia.
“I’m shocked.” Harry says to you. “Lydia’s so traditional.”
“I’m glad to see her doing something nice for Paige.”
Once all of that is out of the way, everyone takes their seats again for the first course. Just a Caesar salad and some bread. You listen as Harry and his friends reminisce. You wonder, briefly, what his deal with Lauren is. She seemed to be the most sentimental. She was sitting next to you and you could feel her eyes burning into you.
“So, how long have you and Harry been together for?” She asks you.
“A year.” You smile. “But we were friends a year prior to us getting together.”
“Oh, do you work with him at the university?”
“Yes, we met because I ended up being his office neighbor. I guess that’s why we became such good friends too.”
“You know what solidified us being friends?” He leans over you, joining the conversation. “That first game night you came to. We were playing charades remember?”
“How could I forget?” You smile and kiss his cheek. He goes back to the other conversation he was having with his friend Greg. “How did you and Harry meet?” You ask Lauren.
“At a party.” She shrugs. “I was a year ahead of him, same with Paige. I think Greggy brought him out, they were roommates their sophomore year. He fit right in with our group. He immediately had a crush on Paige, everyone could see it.” She laughs and your mouth forms into a straight line. “Don’t worry, all of that was a long time ago.”
“Yeah.” You finish your drink and tap Harry’s shoulder. “I’m going to get another one.”
“Do you want me to get it?”
“No, I need to stretch my legs.” You stand up and walk towards the bar. Harry looks at Lauren.
“What?” She asks him.
“Did you say something to her?”
“About what?” He gives her an obvious look. “No, why would I mention that?”
“Because you’re you.” He smirks.
“All I said was that it was obvious that you had a crush on Paige from the first time Greg brought you out, nothing about you and I.”
“Maybe don’t mention how much I used to like my ex?”
“She asked me how you and I met, it was just part of the story. Lighten up, H.”
“Here, I got you another one too.” You say as you sit back down.
“Thanks, babe.”
The main course is served, and toasts start being made. Allie gives a small toast, but tears up. Noah’s best man lightens the mood with some funny jokes. Andy and Rachel even give a toast, a poem they worked on together. Harry had to dab his eyes with your tissues to wipe a few tears away.
“I’m just so proud of him. He looks so grown up.” He pouts at you.
“I know.” You smile. “It’s okay.”
Noah and Paige thank everyone for coming, and then most people make their way to the dancefloor. Andy comes racing overo to your table and throws his arms around Harry.
“How was it?” He asks.
“You did amazing, buddy.”
“Y/N, will you come dance?”
“Sure, let me just kick these heels off.” You giggle and get up. Andy takes your hand and leads you to the dancefloor.
Harry watches as you twirl Andy around and just be silly with him. It warmed his heart.
“I’m gonna go join them.” He takes his suit jacket off. “Hope you all will dance too.”
“Need about three more drinks.” Sarah says. “But feel free to warm it up for us out there.”
Harry laughs and heads over to you. His dance moves make Andy laugh hysterically. The wedding photographer comes over and takes a picture of the three of you. After a few songs, Andy says he’s gonna go dance with his friends, and enjoy some cake.
“Are you having a good time?” Harry asks as you both make your way to the bar again.
“Mhm, are you?”
“It’s not too bad. I’m really glad you’re here.” He gives your hand a squeeze. “This’ll probably be my last one, I don’t wanna get so fucked up that I can’t drive us home.”
“I can cool it if you wanna keep drinking.”
“No, it’s okay. I also don’t want Andy seeing me sloshed, you know?”
“Oh, true. Let’s nurse these ones then, yeah?”
“Harry!” Paige comes over to you both. “Would you come take another picture with all our college friends?”
“Um, sure.” Harry hands you his drink and you follow to where the photo is being taken. He stands as far away from Paige as he can, and flashes that toothy smile of his.
“Not that I don’t love Noah, but seeing Harry tonight…makes me sad that Paige couldn’t work it out with him.” You overhear a woman say to another. You try not to make it obvious that you’re listening.
“I know! How could you not make it work with a man like that? Must be his personality, good dick can only make you happy for so long.”
Your mouth falls open in shock. You turn to the women and grimace. Before you have a chance to say anything Harry’s coming back over to you, snatching his drink and tugging you back to the dancefloor. You shake what you heard from your head as you look at him. Harry had a wonderful personality, and if those bitched were too dumb to see that, then fuck them. It was fun to dance with Harry like this, just goofy and without a care.
Andy was having a good time dancing as a group with his friends. A slow song comes on to give everyone a break from the fast paced music. He looks over and sees you and Harry coming together for a dance and he smiles.
“Now this is my favorite kind of dancing.” Harry says into your ear.
“Really? So when we went to that club up north and I backed my thang up against you...?” You raise an eyebrow at him.
“Okay, this is my second favorite kind of dancing.” You both giggle. “That was a great night, I have to say.”
“Mhm.” You smile and kiss him quickly before resting your head on his shoulder as he leads you.
“Andy, wanna dance?” Caroline asks him shyly.
“Yeah.” He smiles and puts his hands on her waist.
“You look really handsome.”
“Thanks.” He blushes. “I like your dress. You know you always look pretty.”
She smiles at him.
“I’m glad we’re still good friends.” She says as they sway back and forth.
“Me too.”
“During the next slow song you should ask Brandon to dance.”
“What?”
“It’s like you’re always saying, rip the band aid.” She grins at him.
“Caroline, I…”
“Look, I’m not trying to assume anything, but if I had to guess who it was you liked I’d say it’s him, and I think he likes you too, but you both are just being stupid by not going for it.”
“You really think he likes me back?” It was the first time he had admitted his feels to a friend.
“I think so, I think he’s just nervous.” She shrugs.
“This whole thing has been really confusing. You were the first girl I ever really liked, and I like him too, so…”
“My oldest sister deals with the same thing.”
“She does?!”
“Yeah! She came out to us earlier this year, she said she’s bi.”
“And your parents were cool with it?”
“Sure, they were just happy she felt comfortable enough to say how she was feeling.”
“Wow.”
“See? It’s way more common than you think.” The song ends and they let go of each other. “And, just for the record, you were the first boy I ever really liked too, and I’m happy I get to say Andy Styles was my first boyfriend.” She kisses his cheek and he smiles. “I have to use the ladies room, I’ll be back.”
“What was that about?” Brandon asks Andy as he and Tyler step closer.
“Nothing.” He shrugs.
“Are you back together?”
“No, she just kissed my cheek, uh, thanking me for the dance. It’s no big deal, B.”
Brandon nods and they all start dancing again. You and Harry sit for a bit to rest your feet, and to munch on some bread. You notice that Lauren and Greg have been pretty chatty.
“Think anything’s going to happen between those two?” You nod over to them.
“Wouldn’t put it past her.” Harry scoffs. “I bet she was hoping I wouldn’t be here with someone.” Alright, so he was a little drunk, and that statement just slipped.
“Why’s that?”
“Hm? Oh, I don’t know.” He shakes his head and you narrow your eyes at him. “What?”
“Harry if you used to hook up with her you can just say so, it was, like, fifteen years ago…”
“You make me sound so old.” He pouts. “Alright, yeah, we used to hook up, but it wasn’t serious, and we kept it quiet, not wanting to disrupt our circle of friends. She’s just one of those people that you think is really sweet and wholesome, and then she’s not. I didn’t like it.” He stands back up and puts his hand out to you. “Come on, let’s go dance some more.”
“Okay.” You take his hand and go back out to the dancefloor. Another slow starts and you happily wrap your arms around Harry’s neck. “I take back what I said earlier, this really is the best kind of dancing.”
He smiles at you and then leans in for a kiss. Your lips press together and then you both sigh as you dance. Andy takes a deep breath and goes over to Brandon who was sitting down, drinking some water. Tyler and Caroline had been picked up to go home already. Brandon’s parents wouldn’t be there to pick him up until a little later.
“Hey.” Andy says to him.
“Hey, my parents are on their way.”
“Oh…so you don’t wanna dance?” He rubs the back of his neck.
“To this song?” Brandon stands up and puts his hands in his pockets. “A little slow, don’t you think?”
“I’m okay with the tempo.”
“There’s a lot of people around…”
“We could go outside, I’m gonna walk you out anyways.”
“Okay.”
Andy and Brandon go outside the tent. There were a few people out there having smoke breaks and just a breather from dancing. They go to the side where things are a little more secluded.
“How…how should we do this?” Andy asks.
“We could just hug and sway back and forth.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.” The boys hug and start swaying back and forth. Andy’s heart was racing like never before. “I’m really glad you didn’t go to camp this summer.” Andy says and they stop to look at each other.
“You are?”
“Yeah.” He smiles at his friend.
Brandon daintily cups one of Andy’s cheeks, and Andy closes his eyes. Just as Brandon leans in his phone goes off. He sighs and presses his forehead to Andy’s for a moment before getting his phone out of his pocket and letting Andy go.
“Hello?” He says obviously annoyed. “Yeah, I’m ready, are you here? Okay…I’m down at the tent, I’ll wait outside for you.” He hangs up. “My dad’s, uh, gonna come get me out here, so…”
“Right.” Andy nods. “How long do you think he’ll be?”
“He said five minutes.”
“Alright, well, I’ll wait out here with you.”
“Thanks.” The boys walk close to the entrance of the tent to wait for Brandon’s dad.
“Brandon?”
“Yeah?”
“Were you going to kiss me?”
“Yeah, I was.” Andy’s face flushes as he looks at his friend. “Got sort of interrupted.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Maybe another time, though?”
Andy smiles at him and nods yes. Mr. Stewart comes to the tent and the boys say goodbye. Andy goes back inside and heads to the dancefloor with you and Harry.
“There you are!” You exclaim. “They’re gonna do the cha cha slide.”
“Great!” The song starts and Harry watches a ton of you follow along with the steps of the song. “Come on, Dad!”
“Fine!” Harry jumps in and follows along as well.
It ended up being a great night despite some of the awkwardness. You get your shoes on, but they sting. You contemplate just walking out barefoot, but you could easily step on broken glass outside, so you decide against it.
“All set?” Harry says to you. “Just confirmed with Paige. The kids will get dropped off in a couple of days, and then we’re headed to the cabin.”
“Perfect. It’s gonna be a great week away.”
You both say goodnight to Andy, who was about ready to pass out from all the dancing he did. Him and Rachel head up to the house.
“So, how were things with Brandon?” She asks him.
“Good…we danced together outside the tent.”
“Oh, how was that?!” She squeals.
“Shh, do you want the neighbors to hear? It was fine.” He smiles. “Just fine.”
Harry gets the two of you home, and you give him a devious grin as you get inside. He raises his eyebrows at you as if to ask if you’re not too tired, but you wink and start walking towards the bedroom.
“Feeling a little frisky, eh?” He asks as he takes his suit jacket off.
“Mhm, you looked so sexy tonight, and watching you dance really did it for me.”
“Oh, yeah?” He pulls you close to him.
“Yeah.”
You press your lips to his, and swipe your tongue along his bottom lip. He opens up for you and your tongue molds to his. He reaches behind you to unzip your dress, and it falls to the floor, pooling at your feet. Your hands work to unbutton his dress-shirt, and you push it off his shoulders. Next you get his pants undone and he leads you over to the bed. He shimmies out of his trousers and gets on the bed with you. You get between his legs and tug his boxers down. You kiss his tip and he hisses from the sensation. You lick up and down his shaft before wrapping your lips around him. You bob up and down slowly and look up at him.
“That’s so good, baby.” You raise your eyebrows at him while your tongue runs over his slit. “You’re a good girl, Y/N.”
Your eyes flutter closed, and you continue to suck on him how he likes, drool dripping down your chin. You don’t suck on him for too much longer since you want him to fuck you. You crawl up his body and grind your covered center over him. He unhooks your bra and kisses on your chest. He rolls ones of your nipples between his teeth and your head falls back.
“I need to get these off.” You grunt and get your panties off. You grab his length and line it up with yourself. “Okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll just pull out.”
You nod and sink down him. Your mouth falls open as he stretches every inch of you. You grip his shoulders and move yourself up and down.
“You got this wet just from sucking on me?” He grunts as he grips your hips to help move you back and forth.
“Can’t help it when I’m doing that and you call me a good girl, Harry.” You peck his lips. “It’s so hot.” You move to suck on his neck, and he presses you as close to him as possible.
You move in sync with each other, and you grind against him in the perfect way. You start breathing heavier as you feel yourself getting closer. You breathlessly tell him to keep going. You tighten around him as you come undone around his hard dick.
“Shit, fuck, Y/N!”
“Oof!”
He had to toss you off of him so he wouldn’t come inside you, leaving quite the mess on his lower stomach and thighs.
“Sorry, are you alright?”
“Yeah.” You giggle and prop yourself up on your elbows. “Are you? Normally you can hold it a little longer.”
“Not when you tighten up like that, Jesus…” He sighs and looks down at himself.
“I’ll go get a rag.” You get off the bed and go into the bathroom to grab a washcloth and run it under some warm water.
You come back and clean him up. He smiles up at you and you lean down to kiss him.
“We need to be more careful.” He says as you get into bed with him. “Just suck it up and use the condom, you know?”
“I know.” You sigh. “It just feels so good.” You pout at him.
“I know, darling, but you said you didn’t want to get pregnant until you have your doctorate. I’d feel terrible if it happened, and you got really stressed out…”
“Harry, if it happens it happens. It would be stressful, but plenty of women do it all the time. Now’s not the most ideal time, but I can’t tell you how excited I get when I think of carrying your baby sometimes.” You bite your bottom lip as you look at him.
“Don’t even fucking tempt me, Y/N, you know I’d put one in you now if you really wanted it.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” You kiss him quickly before turning over. “Soon, I promise.”
//
A week with Andy and Rachel at the cabin was interesting to say the least. Watching their dynamic was fascinating. They really did act like brother and sister. They’d bicker one minute and be laughing the next. He showed her how to use the jet skis, and they built sand castles together. Your family came up, and it made it ten times more fun for your birthday. Your parents even stay in to watch the kids so you, Harry, Phil, and Julian can all go out to a bar to celebrate. You couldn’t believe you were already twenty-eight. It was hard to feel old, though, when you could still have such a great time dancing and drinking. The day of your actual birthday you all enjoy some cake, and a few gifts.
Andy was back home with you and Harry now that it was just about the middle of August. It was nice having him home, it was too quiet without him, even if you did enjoy the alone time with Harry. Andy loved all of the changes that were made to the house. He had kept what happened with Brandon, or what almost happened with Brandon, to himself. He just wanted to keep that moment for himself. The Ariana Grande concert wouldn’t be until November, but Andy was already talking to you about outfit choices for the meet and greet.
“I just got back, and you’re leaving for a week?” Andy asks you at dinner when you tell him about your trip to California.
“Yeah, I have a conference to go to, I’ll be back before you know it.” You smile. “You’re gonna have some nice quality time with Dad.”
“Yeah, we’re gonna have a lot of fun.”
“Mhm, I can’t wait to go back to school shopping with you and Mum.” Andy rolls his eyes.
“That’s a day that should be way more fun that it is, and we’re not doing that until after Y/N gets back. We’ll have another pot painting day.” Harry takes a bite of his dinner. “I was thinking we could go to the pottery paint place, though. Have a little father-son date.”
“Ew, don’t call it a date, Dad.”
You burst out laughing. You’d miss your boys over the next week.
//
“Dad, can we do the pottery thing another time, Brandon invited me to go to the skate park tomorrow.” Andy says to Harry the night before they’re supposed to go to the pottery place.
“Oh, well, you can go skateboarding with him any time, can’t you? Or even afterwards?”
“Why can’t we just go paint another day?”
“I was sort of looking forward to spending the time with you.” Harry frowns. “We haven’t done much just the two of us in a while.”
“That’s because you spend all your free time with Y/N.” Andy smirks and sits down on the couch with Harry.
“Not true, we do stuff as the three of us. I feel like you like spending time with her more than me.”
“That’s not true! I guess I can go skateboarding with B another day.”
“I don’t wanna go tomorrow if it’s gonna be a force for you.”
“It won’t be. It’ll be fun.” He looks at Harry. “She’s only been gone two days, you know?”
“I’m aware.”
“So, she’ll be back in another three. It’ll go by quick.”
“I just feel bad that she has to go right from the airport to our faculty meeting.” He sighs. “But I suppose it’s all going to work out perfectly.”
“Yeah, she’s gonna be really surprised.”
//
Spending a week in California was amazing. You felt like your old independent self. It was nice to explore in the evenings, and you got a lot out of the sessions you attended. You had a ton of new ideas for your classes and for your paper. You spoke to Harry when you could. The three hour time difference was much more manageable than the six hour one like when he was in London.
You were happy with the tan you managed to get out there, and did your best to sleep on the plane home so you weren’t totally exhausted. You take the bus back to town, and load your things up in your car and drive over to the university. You managed to freshen up at the airport, and you texted Harry updates so he knew when to expect you. What you refrained from telling him was that you were going to stop by your office quickly just to open it up and let it get some fresh air from the window. You also needed to grab your spare laptop charger.
There was something you liked about the quiet before the semester started. It was like the calm before an incredible storm. You were feeling extremely prepared for this semester. It would be your third year teaching at the university, and you were feeling really good about it. You key into your office and set something down.
“Well, if it isn’t my not so new neighbor.”
“Jesus!” You nearly jump out of your shoes. Even though you knew Harry’s voice well, he still found ways to scare the shit out of you. You sigh and turn around. “And to think I was…excited…to…see…you…” Your eyes widen when you see him down on one knee with a small velvet box in one hand, and a shit eating grin on his face. “How…how did you know I’d come here first?” Your eyes start to water.
“Because I know you very well, come here.” You step towards him and take his free hand in yours. You were shaking. “Are you gonna be okay?” You nod your head yes. “Good, because we don’t have a ton of time before our meeting.” You chuckle slightly at that. “Still excited to see me?”
“Yes.” You whisper.
“Do you know what’s in this little box?”
“I have an idea.”
“I truthfully never thought I’d be buying another one of these for someone. I…I didn’t think I deserved to have someone love me the way that you do, but I know now that I do. Sometimes I’d wonder why things didn’t work out the way I thought were supposed to, but I realized that everything I went through was just part of my journey to you, Y/N.” You cough out a nervous giggle as you had tears running down your cheeks. “I was trying to think of the perfect moment or place for this, and nothing felt better than the place we first met and became friends. Plus, I knew you’d nearly shit yourself.” He smirks and you shake your head. “So, with all that being said, and may I remind you I don’t care about how long we’re engaged for because I know your doctorate comes first…will you marry me?” He opens the small box and you gasp at the ring. It was stunning, beyond stunning.
“Yes, oh my god, yes!” Your hand was shaking terribly, but he manages to slip the ring on.
He stands up and swings you around in his arms. He slots his mouth over yours, and you almost forget where you are until you hear a bottle pop.
“Woo! Congratulations!” Janette says with a freshly opened bottle of champagne. Lisa, Mateo, Lucas, Andre, and Sandra all come out as well. “You should have seen your face, Y/N.” She chuckles.
“You guys!” You laugh and go to hug your colleagues. “You all knew?”
“All Harry said was that we should wait upstairs and to bring champagne, we just assumed.” Lisa says as she holds out some cups for Janette to pour the champagne in.
“Where’s Andy?” You ask him as you take a sip.
“At Brandon’s.”
“Did he know?”
“What are you, new? Who do you think helped me design the ring?” He smirks and nudge his shoulder. “We’ll celebrate with him tonight when we get back from dinner, there’s an ice cream cake in the freezer just waiting to be eaten.”
You all chat about the excitement before you need to actually go through the things you needed to in your faculty meeting. It was hard to concentrate, though. You wanted to call your parents, your brother, your friends; everyone! Not to mention the ring itself was distracting. You weren’t expecting something quite so…large. Then again, Harry was the gaudy ring type, so it shouldn’t be that surprising that he went all out.
“You two should go home to be with Andy to celebrate.” Lisa says. “We can all go down to the pub another time.”
“No, it’s alright, he’ll probably be annoyed if we pick him up too early from his friend’s.” Harry says.
“I actually wouldn’t mind going home...had a six hour flight earlier, you know?”
“Shit, you’re right. No one minds waiting a few days?”
“Not at all.” Janette says. “Let’s just all meet up Friday, it’ll be more fun.”
You drive separately back to the house, and Harry helps you get your things inside. You wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him. You suck on his bottom lip and he moans into you.
“This is why you wanted to come back, huh?” He smirks.
“You’re not the only one that’s good at being sneaky.”
You couldn’t feel luckier than you do now, to be engaged to the absolute love of your life.  
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seyaryminamoto · 3 years
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my school works are piled up this past few weeks (graduating tingz) and i just started reading the deadlock novel it feels like i'm reading a sokkla fic every time Mcashe has a scene because they just give off the vibes skskskskksksks. BTW, what's your top5 fav scenes from the novel? PS: I'm smiling like an idiot while reading the novel ughh i hate myself
I KNOW, RIIIIIGHT?! *-* and don't hate yourself, my anon friend, I spent the whole novel smiling and laughing and losing my goddamn mind because I was having the time of my life xD enjoy this beautiful content as best you can!
I mean, frankly, Reunion already had all the Sokkla vibes I could've wanted/needed to ship these two like FedEx and I always knew I wasn't getting off this ride anytime soon. But gosh, this book... it gave me everything I wanted and MORE! Their dynamics are soooo similar to Sokkla team-up dynamics, two power couples kicking ass and taking names... oh, I just love it so much. I probably will end up reading the book a third time soon x'D
As for my favorite scenes, damn, this is tricky xD
KEYCHAIN! HE MADE HER KEYCHAIN!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!! God, it's just amazing how the book explains the "vintage" look for Ashe's hoverbike the way it does, and that they literally built it together *screams!!!*, but then he gives her that keychain for her birthday present, and the implications!! THE IMPLICATIONS!!! He gave her a keychain she's held onto for TWENTY YEARS?!?!?! Ships in the OW fandom have sailed far and wide with less than breadcrumbs: we literally have been granted a boon from the GODS with all this extra context for the little things in Reunion xD
Ashe going to hell and back to save her kidnapped BFF-for-whom-she-totally-doesn't-have-feelings-yeah-yeah-sure-Jan. I love the fact that McCree is, in a way, Ashe's damsel in distress and not the other way around xD Of course, it's what you'd expect from an Ashe-centric story, but it's still an amazing sequence, all around. Gotta highlight how she loves the way he smiles like a madman when they have that shootout at the end, and how he worries so much over Ashe's injury when he took an even worse one than she did (the Sokkla vibes in that particular situation were SO STRONG! I SWEAR!).
"Jesse McCree, are you trying to make me say you're handsome?" "Am I?" ... do I need to say more. That FLIRTING. These two were on fire already and they'd only known each other for like... weeks, at this point? x'D He has no sense of moderation, he's soooo into her and doesn't hide it at all. Ashe is so busy trying to plot all the crime and Jesse's practically like a shojo heroine, "oh I can feel it, this is how my love story begins!", basically xD
Finally I pick a not-McAshe scene... to bring up the one where Ashe picks up the Viper on her last moment in Lead Rose Manor. That moment was just... POWERFUL. The feeling of epicness in that scene just overwhelmed me when I was reading it xD
The ending of the book :'D the fully formed Deadlock Gang ready for business, down to the explanation for the Est. 1976 in the logo... *sobs* the fact that so much about the character design choices in these two characters is a shoutout to the past they share is just... *gross sobbing* oh, I just love it to pieces, I'm not even sorry.
Ashe's bike race to save B.O.B. x'D that whole situation was bonkers but I looooved how fierce she was about protecting her one and only buddy while growing up (AND THAT JESSE BLUSHED WHEN SHE TAUNTED HIM WAS JUST THE CHERRY ON TOP!). I appreciated learning more about the Omnic War and its consequences, how Ashe reflects on having escaped it practically untouched in virtue of her money and societal privilege while her new friends all faced many hardships to survive. But I can't help but also love that, however uneasy others could have been about the Best Omnic Butler, Ashe was so fiercely loyal to B.O.B. that she nearly broke Julian's nose herself over his ridiculousness x'D That's HER big omnic buddy and she's not about to lose him to anyone, not her shitty parents, not a bet in a race, NOTHING! (and it's so cute that B.O.B. is just as loyal to her, too *sobs*)
Ashe grabbing McCree's arm to explain things to him on their first heist and him being all "you gonna leave that there?" and only then does she realize her hand's still on him x'D what a McCree line, and he was absolutely enjoying the attention, he doesn't even pretend otherwise.
Everything poetic McCree says or does... meanwhile Ashe's like "um yeah I don't care about poetry I want money", right until his poet soul totally smashes her square in the heart with the KEYCHAIN!!! But damn, I swear I thought McCree would hold back a lot more, and yet there he was, saying things like Calamity was brilliant and mysterious... you could practically hear B.O.B., Julian and Frankie going "I can see what's happening..." in the background xD
The conversation about what they wanted to do once they were loaded with all the cash they could possibly want. That one was a real number on my heartstrings. It ties up to what I said earlier with Ashe finally being in touch with people who are completely removed from the ridiculous social circles of her parents and her school, people who really lost a lot in the war. But where Julian and Frankie seem to look at the past a lot, I loved that Jesse is basically just thinking about the future. The fact that he says he wants to chill out in a farm and that this is what he wants in life... many, MANY, shippy wheels have turned in my head since I read that <.< maaaany...
WHEN JESSE NEARLY FALLS AND ASHE CATCHES HIM!!! UNDERRRATED AS HECK!!! The fact that he's taunting her about fear of heights, then he nearly plummets to his death because ironies are beautiful xD and Ashe pulls him back to safety only to say that she's not afraid of heights but afraid of ~FALLING~??? I mean, okay, sure, maybe I'm reading too much into that line... or maybe I'm not <.< either way, the truth is I just love how absolutely broad of interpretation that scene and that DIALOGUE are :> ehehehe.
Oh, their first encounter. The fact that it's so cute and fun, and that it's this low in the list tells you how GOOD this book was x'D "You've got an awful lot of grit for a rich girl," first words he spoke to the love of his life xD then how they talked and laughed together about the crazy stories he shared (she was crying of laughter for the first time in her life! precious girl!), and then how she sat in the car thinking about the strange feeling she was left with after meeting him... they seriously had a meetcute in prison, how can a ship get any better? xD
WHEN HE COMES BACK TO HER WHEN THEIR FIRST HEIST GOES WRONG!!! That Ashe expects him to just leave after she falls off their getaway vehicle, but Jesse saves her and goes "pfft that's just not my style", basically... *sobs* without realizing it she ends up picking up that particular philosophy of his, saving her friends no matter the cost...! Honestly, though, the fact that every time something like this happens it hits Ashe like a truck racing downhill with no brakes because she's NEVER been cared about by anyone but B.O.B. and she's completely new to friendships and bonding with people... and in the mean time, Jesse immediately is "ride or die" with her because that's how he rolls... beautiful relationship dynamics between characters who influence each other for the better are just beautiful :')
A silly one here: Jesse enjoying the good life in Lead Rose. That description of him looking like a marshmallow in the CHAISE LOUNGEEEEE!!! (the one he references in their in-game interactions *CRYING SO MANY TEARS*), was just too cute to bear x'D Ashe just jumping back into work mode... while he was just thrilled to be a marshmallow in a towel xD
... So, um, I went overboard because I love this book a little too much for my own good :> what can I say? When things I love are good, I go wild xD There's probably more scenes I loved, but these... thirteen? XD are the ones that came to mind.
I think one of my favorite things now is reexamining Reunion with all this extra context in mind. The first time I watched that cinematic I, of course, fell in love with these two outlaws because how could I not? But while subsequent rewatches revealed a lot of things I didn't pay enough attention to the first time around, the book has done even more than I could imagine possible for a short that was already as shippy as could be xD
Ooookay so, shippy ramblings about Reunion, coming up! (simply because I have to put these down SOMEWHERE XD and your ask was a good idea for that, anon!)
First off, Jesse very much staged the whole rodeo in Reunion. He sent the tip to Ashe, he wanted Echo's crate specifically. He thought they could work together, basically, despite knowing it was entirely possible that those hopes wouldn't pay off. This train, according to the wikia, was a government train, so Jesse is very much telling Ashe to give a finger to the government for all he cares, all he wants is one (1) crate.
Ergo, Jesse, for all his "nice guy bountyhunter" deal, doesn't disapprove of Deadlock's actions. If anything, he counts on them to be exactly what he needs in order to get what he wants. He practically trusts Ashe to pull off the train heist disaster perfectly and only steps up when it's time to collect Echo.
Then the wacky shoot-out happens, it's veeeery charged (the UST is so thick, I swear...), and Jesse wins. He ties up Ashe, floats her off on the payload with the rest of the gang, and he sets Echo free. He's helping her out very nicely and everything, but the context in question is... he received the recall notification thingy XD Winston called him back to Overwatch, and Jesse...
... Jesse doesn't want to go back.
Jesse says "they want me", and the displeased tone of his voice, paired with the look on his face when he says that line, speak for themselves.
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That, in my humble opinion, isn't the sequence of expressions you'd expect from someone who intends to return to the group where he thrived, had the time of his life and found his true calling. To me, he actually looks irritated about the recall (the sequence of expressions during that line is much better when you watch the full thing x'D), as though he REALLY doesn't want to return. He's not against Overwatch, I'm not quite saying that, otherwise he wouldn't have set Echo free and told her to go back at all... but this isn't remorse. It's not "Oh, I'm not good enough for Overwatch anymore". Nope... this is "My time with them is over and I don't plan on going back unless I have no choice", as far as I can tell.
If OW2 does bring him back into the fold and he's a perfectly chill and happy guy about it, I'll seriously be surprised. I mean, he could have set Echo free and, once his business is over, returned to Overwatch with her, he could have been in the Paris cinematic if he'd done that...
But he's not there.
Which outright says he didn't do that :> oops.
Basically, I think Jesse's reaction in Retribution (where he's markedly the most morally correct one of the bunch, and he's the former outlaw :'D) tells you his displeasure with Overwatch ran very, very deep. And someone can very easily say he felt the same way about Deadlock and that's why he left them for Overwatch... but that's conjecture. His displeasure with Blackwatch (and, in consequence, Overwatch), however, is FACT. And the previous conjecture falls flat pretty quickly considering he's perfectly fine with Ashe's train heist, even sets it up himself, from what the story suggests, so... how ~appalled~ was he over her choices and actions? Not appalled at all, if you ask me, and after you read Deadlock Rebels, you actually understand why: Jesse trusts Ashe.
From the first moment she enters the same prison block he's in, he's drawn to her. He wants to impress her, he absolutely enjoys her company and making her laugh (just as much as she enjoyed laughing at his wacky stories), and he's plain thrilled that she comes back for him when she does. Ashe manages the gang with inexperience but she's always willing to improve, and you see Jesse sticking with her through thick and thin, supporting her at the best and worst times alike, always putting his faith on her and constantly watching out for her (he protected and shielded her from attacks with his own body sooooo many times *sobs*). Ashe starts out intending to keep most profits for herself, and Jesse doesn't care much at first... but then she starts to share profit equally between their team. She works on her own bike herself, her own ride, and she plans and solves problems as best she can, to a point of even going overboard with planning too much. She's wild, reckless and takes insane risks... and this guy loves every second of it. The matter of morality regarding the actions of a criminal gang is, of course, something to think about... but as far as the book goes, Ashe mainly targets her own family, their specific brand of bullshit, and in the process she ends up helping lots of people and even saving lives that might not have been saved otherwise. I'm not going to put my hand on the fire here and say Deadlock never ever did anything absolutely wrong to people who didn't deserve it... but for a criminal gang? They're honestly the most wholesome one the OW team could have come up with, if you ask me.
So where you see Jesse is very much antagonistic with Reaper/Reyes, where he loses his temper with the guy's choices, he doesn't ever do that with Ashe. Overwatch ARE supposed to be the good guys... so how weird that Jesse McCree, reformed outlaw, ends up so disappointed with these guys when he was actually thrilled with Ashe's managing of their gang, as far as we saw. So much so that, when it came down to it, Jesse McCree, 20 years later, still counts on Ashe to give him a hand (without her full awareness) with a little operation to help out an old friend of his. Also worth pointing out: he doesn't want to fight at all, while Ashe, of course, does. Deadlock for life, is what Jesse said... and he's not Deadlock anymore, hasn't been for who knows how long. Worse yet... his tattooed arm is gone. It's like all his ties to Deadlock have been severed.
And even so, he came to Ashe and hoped she wouldn't want a shootout with him. Even when he knows she might be beyond unforgiving because of the betrayal (he has seen directly how outraged she was about a certain someone betraying her in the book...), Jesse goes back anyway and hopes it won't come to this.
THE IMPLICATIONS, MAN!!!
Carrying on: Echo is surprised that Jesse shows no intentions of going back to Overwatch. She asks him what he's going to do... and what does Jesse say?
He puts his cowboy hat back on (the symbolism in this short, I swear...), and when she asks him what he's going to do, he tells her "I've got some business to attend to."
THE MUSIC PICKS UP.
AND THEN HE CLIMBS ON THE BIKE HE BUILT WITH ASHE.
YOU GET A DELIBERATE CLOSE-UP TO THE KEYCHAIN.
THEN THE CAMERA PANS UP TO FOCUS ON THE PICTURE, TORN AND TAPED BACK TOGETHER, THAT ASHE CARRIES ON THIS BIKE, A BIKE WHICH, LET'S BE REAL, IS BASICALLY A MCASHE BABY CHOPPER/HOVERBIKE HYBRID, AND AS SHE PUTS IT LATER, IS...
HER
BIKE!!!
When Jesse says he has business to attend to, he could pick up any bike he wants (since it'd stand to reason that the other guys Ashe came in with would have bikes of their own). He could escape on horseback for all we know xD so there are lots of options... but no. He takes HERS. Right after saying he has "business to attend to".
Look, I could be wrong. I could be dead wrong. I can absolutely be digging around and going INSANE because nothing I ship EVER gets this much content.
But we literally get a guy saying he has "business" to take care of, and the cinematic focuses exclusively on elements that, even BEFORE Deadlock Rebels, all point towards Ashe?! You could easily say that taking her bike is just the final nail on the coffin, his last trolling idea to mess with his one true love... but that picture is right there. That picture, with them in their youth. The picture, btw, was bigger than just them: B.O.B.'s hand is there. The top of the picture is uneven, suggesting Ashe probably tore it to shreds in a fit of rage... and then specifically put together THEIR PART. And then she taped that to her bike's dashboard. Meaning, she carries the goddamn memory of Jesse with her EVERYWHERE SHE GOES. And she does it WILLINGLY.
Which, in turn, answers why Jesse expects MAYBE Ashe wouldn't go full-on hostile when they meet: this trolling cowboy knows exactly what he means to Ashe. He's not surprised when he sees that picture on the bike. He doesn't toss it away, which he could have, if he were saying "we are history now, forget it gurl" (and let's be honest, what a dick move that would have been @_@), he doesn't flinch after noticing and then goes "yeah, no, I'm picking another bike".
NOPE. The familiarity with which they talk, the way he hopes she'll just let him walk away, the fact that she DIDN'T change the keychain and bike in all those years and he's not even SURPRISED...
Jesse knows how much she loves him, point-blank. He's completely aware of it... and he's very much okay with it.
So much so... that I'm something of a 90% sure that the business he intends to deal with is ASHE HERSELF.
And no, I don't mean he's going to go on another shootout with her... I mean, evidently, that Jesse wants to come home. That he's tried the life of Overwatch, and he's decided to leave it behind. He's turned bountyhunter now, vigilante, pretty much... but he comes back to Ashe all the same. He's come back for the first time in who knows how long (going by Ashe's expressions and sarcasm with the "you promised you'd write" line, it miiiiiiight be they haven't seen each other since he got recruited into Blackwatch), and he expected a peaceful encounter, no less.
A good question to ask here is... what did Jesse hope would happen, if the encounter HAD been peaceful? He would've released Echo, sent her away to her business, and stayed behind anyway because he had business to deal with. Which business? :'D why... the business that would've been standing right in front of him.
There's no other, logical reason why this cinematic would put Ashe and McCree's picture into focus right when McCree says what he does to Echo. There's no other reasonable choice why McCree would turn his back on Overwatch quite so firmly. We know he had two important ties in his life: Overwatch and Deadlock. And Overwatch stole him away from Deadlock for a VERY long time. Well over half the time Deadlock has been in operations, as far as I can tell. He picked Overwatch over Deadlock once before... and now, it seems he's picking Deadlock over Overwatch instead :')
The follow-up short, Roadtrip, doesn't do anything to change my mind. The trolling jerk, Jesse McCree, hovers past Ashe's payload, where she's just... complaining, as she hovers xD going by what I know of the game and that map, the payload may just be en route to the gang's hideout, so that, I'd say, could explain why she hasn't climbed off it or escaped in any way (which she reasonably would have, if Jesse was trying to, I don't know, send her and her people to the authorities).
My point here is, however, that Jesse is headed the same way the payload is. If his destination is the same one, he'll beat it there for sure. Maybe, yes, he'll go away and drive well past the hideout... but maybe that's exactly where he intended to go.
Maybe, in the end, Reunion is about a man who's finally coming home :D
In addition, goes without saying, Ashe's rant about how everyone falls to pieces over Jesse showing his "stupid mug" (uh-huh, stupid, ANGELIC mug, we know what you really think, girl xD) ends with her saying she should have "put a bullet in him the minute he showed up".
Which begs the question of why didn't she.
Then, of course, she says she hates McCree when he drives past her while listening to some really ridiculous honky-tonky-sounding music x'D I cannot even help but imagine him deliberately picking that radio station or whatever it was just to annoy Ashe when he drove beside her, and so that she can get extra pissed when she retrieves her beloved bike, turns on the music and it's just more honky-tonky stuff x'D but anyway, the thing is she shouts after him, tells him that's her bike and says she hates him. B.O.B. wordlessly speaks for us McAshe shippers by giving Ashe the most "sure, Jan" side-eye in the history of side-eyes, and Ashe notices and is outraged enough to knock B.O.B.'s little hat right off his head again.
Again... this is renowned outlaw Elizabeth Caledonia "Calamity" Ashe, sitting on a payload, groaning about the guy she once very much had feelings for (and that doesn't even begin to cut it, if you ask me x'D) and for whom she tooooootally doesn't anymore, that picture on her bike doesn't MEAN that, OBVIOUSLYYYY!!, and so, she sits up, complains and doesn't do much of anything to get out of her current situation, right? :>
So, summing up my current understanding of EVERYTHING, thanks to Deadlock Rebels and my obsessive rewatches of Reunion + Roadtrip:
Jesse deliberately sought out Ashe so she would indirectly, unknowingly, help him set Echo free from the government's clutches.
Jesse hoped for a peaceful encounter despite knowing he might not get one.
Jesse has no intentions of returning to Overwatch but was willing to perform one final act of service for them by releasing Echo so she'd go give Winston and co. a hand.
Jesse is NOT surprised to see that Ashe: 1. Didn't change bikes at some point in the twenty years since they built it. 2. Didn't swap the ignition key for a button, the way she says she thought to do it in the novel until he gives her the keychain. 3. KEPT THE POETIC AF KEYCHAIN, despite resenting Jesse for his betrayal. 4. KEEPS A PICTURE OF THEM IN THEIR YOUNGER YEARS PASTED ON HER BIKE'S DASHBOARD.
Jesse claims he has business to deal with: he doesn't clarify said business verbally, but every shot after he says those words focuses on elements related to Ashe... and then, along with the novel's context, it's elements related to their BOND. Everything in that shot, EVERYTHING, is connected to the two of them. Elements that weren't shown before or during their shootout, and that are only introduced in that final moment when McCree is off to deal with his "business".
Ashe doesn't climb off the payload or stops it (which, going by how McCree simply pressed a button, and Ashe isn't immobilized in the least, she easily could have done it too if she had wanted to). Suggesting that, wherever the payload is heading, it isn't anywhere dangerous for Ashe and her crew, ergo, she is 100% sure McCree isn't trying to screw her over by turning her in to the authorities or so (or, at worst, she's completely confident that, even if he is going to do this, she'll be able to get out of it easily).
Jesse drives in the same direction the payload is headed. Another hint that suggests he might intend to head to the Deadlock hideout and that, whatever business he has left to deal with, it involves them.
If his intent ISN'T to go to the hideout... Jesse is still guaranteeing that Ashe will come after him by stealing her bike, the 18th birthday gift he gave her, and the picture she keeps of them. That he takes that very bike practically serves as painting a target on his back for her to hunt down, and he KNOWS IT.
In short: Jesse will have plenty of business with the Deadlock Gang in his future, and going by how pleased he seems to be when riding the bike, he's perfectly happy to handle that business on his terms, whenever he wants to handle it.
Extra tidbit: there's nothing in Deadlock Rebels about Jesse's smoking habit, something he definitely did pick up at some point while in the gang because, hahaha, he IS smoking in the picture Ashe keeps of him :> Which makes me wonder why, of all pictures Ashe chooses to keep on her bike's dashboard, she picks one where he's smoking.
Then, it makes me wonder about the fact that Jesse deliberately starts smoking when he's standing right in front of her (and then he winks at her!). He tosses that cigar after things get kind of dangerous for him because B.O.B. does something, and then... then he goes back to smoking.
RIGHT WHEN HE'S CLIMBING ON THE BIKE.
Like... seriously...
*unintelligible fangirl screaming*
I could be looking too deeply into this. I know I could be. Maybe Blizzard just wants me to go CRAZY with little symbolism and hints charged with SO MUCH MEANING that maybe don't have as much meaning as I thought it did...
... But man, I've sailed into the depths of the shippiest oceans for many ships that have gotten actual breadcrumbs from canon. I've gone wild over ships that have zero opportunity to become a thing in canon continuity. I've written a nearly 3M words story based on a ship that is just UNEXPLORED AMAZING POTENTIAL and ngl, I love exploring it myself, so I don't even begrudge canon that much for not giving it to me anymore.
But the fact is, no ship in OW, as far as I've seen, has remotely as much content, hints and strong ties as McAshe does -- at least, no ships between heroes. We had a cinematic that was CHARGED with significance, with little gestures, with even the smallest facial expressions that carried soooo much more meaning than whole episodes or even seasons in TV shows. And then? We got a novel. A full novel depicting their origins and exploring their dynamics, how tight their friendship was, and how some strong feelings were certainly brewing there, even if neither one was ready to act on them yet (as far as we saw...).
Finally... I'll say I did start working on a Sokkla Western AU ages ago because the idea I had for one was pretty amusing. Then Reunion dropped, and I said "Why would I need to finish that story anymore when the Sokkla Western AU is RIGHT HERE?!"
And that's it, I will stop rambling now because this got insanely long x'D but thank you very very much for giving me this chance to go WILD on everything I can see, within all those canon hints, with these two *-*
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hyukiee · 3 years
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Chapter 2: Backseat
Warnings: cussing, drug use, mental illness (future fluff, smut, angst, etc.)
I’m so sorry for not updating, a lot has been going on but be ready for a double update! :)
Taehyung is the type of person that is never fake. He can read people like an open book and when he sees that their intentions are fake, he doesn’t hide his annoyance or frustration. He has been in many of these situations with celebrities while in America. There’s a reason people say to never meet your idols. Chances are, their assholes. It’s unfortunately rare to come across a genuine person in the industry. Taehyung just doesn’t have the energy to be someone he is not, he’s been having this feeling of loneliness a lot more everyday. Not really loneliness but just this incompleteness. He can’t say anything though because that would make him greedy in other people’s eyes. What does he not have, right? He’s in the biggest group in the world, he can get anything he wanted. He’s never understood the whole ‘money can’t buy happiness’ phrase as much as he does now. “Yah, we’re getting your favorite coffee why do you look like someone just stole your favorite toy,” Yoongi chuckled hanging his arm around Taehyung’s shoulder. “Just tired, it’s hot out today,” “Mhm, good ole California,” Hoseok piped in with his iconic smile. The heat consumed Taehyung’s mind until he saw someone sitting in front of his favorite cafe. Not just some homeless person but weirdly the prettiest one he has ever seen. The urge to help her was obviously because she was pretty because they have passed many homeless people here and never gave a second look. He really shouldn’t help her, right? Homeless people are there for a reason, she may use his could of been good spent money on drugs. Little did he know you mentally hit yourself for not taking his money for an extra Xanax. Fuck it.
“Where did Tae go, he needs to order?” Namjoon frantically looked around the shop as if he was looking for his lost child. On que, Taehyung walked in with even more of a depressed look. “Was I the only one that saw him get rejected by the homeless??” Jungkook held onto his stomach from laughter and soon pain from Taehyung’s fist. “What is up with you today? You’re never like this,” Jin spoke for the whole group. Taehyung really is never like this. Everyone knows how insanely honest he is, he wouldn’t just give some crackhead money. No, he would give it to someone that deserved it. Something told him she didn’t deserve the money but she deserved something... he wish he would be able to find out what it was.
“Yahh, i’m much taller than you, i’ll catch up eventually so you might as well stop,” Taehyung had a smile stuck on his face as he sped walked behind you. He expected this to happen, it wasn’t really planned to have you find out that you were talking to someone famous all along by seeing him perform but it was just too good of an opportunity. He didn’t see you in the crowd but he saw you walking away with your head down. He would of never assumed it would be that easy to embarrass you. “What? I thought you wanted to meet celebrities here?” he spoke almost cocky after grabbing your small wrist making you turn to him abruptly. “Is this a joke? What do you want from me? I don’t want to be your charity case if that’s what this all is.” Ouch. Was he that bad at flirting or do you have a million walls holding you back? “I’ve been feeling empty recently. You know, like I have everything but it’s not really what I want. I’m interested in you, this isn’t a common thing for me when i’m in a foreign country. Your not a charity case but...,” Taehyung’s cheeks turned red at his sudden confessions. You kept eye contact with him as he rambled though, it almost felt like you found relief in what he was saying. “I’ll be your charity case if you really are as interesting as i’m assuming.”
Is he asking you for drugs? No... it can’t be that. He doesn’t know you, how does he have such a big assumption of you out of one conversation. You probably can’t run now, he really is much taller than you. What is holding you back? Some ridiculously attractive artist is asking you of all people to show him a life he has been missing. Oh you can do that. It’s practically your second job. “Fuck it, let’s go.” You turned back around and started walking slower to the exit, assuming Taehyung was following. You might be able to scare him out of this before you even get on the road back to L.A. People always swear they want to live this carefree life but that is just what it looks like on the outside. It’s a scam. Give you a good time at first and by the end of it your just a sleep deprived drug addict. That could never be Taehyung. If he can make assumptions about you, you could do the same. He’s a good guy, the type to try and change you into a better person. He’ll stick out like a bug with you. So out of place but so desperate to find whatever is missing in his life.
“So, BTS huh? How’s that?” you and Taehyung sat in the back of Julian’s car waiting for him to find his way back so you can get some sleep at a hotel. “Exhausting, honestly but my members are amazing and so are our fans so that keeps me going,” he played with his fingers, smiling as he thought about the guys and army. He feels terrible for feeling lost when he has such amazing people around him. “Interesting,” you responded back uninterested. Not on purpose, you were just trying to cut up some cocaine on your phone. Taehyung noticed how you spoke and looked at you. “What’s that?” “Do you really wanna know?” You laughed at his innocent expression. “I don’t know why I asked, I know what it is,” why does it feel like your getting judged by your father? He sounded so disappointed, you almost felt guilty. Almost. “Sure you do,” you laughed before snorting your perfectly made line you might say. You released a long sigh as you entered your own world made by your dearest cocaine. Not a single thing in this world could replace the feeling. Taehyung sat almost uncomfortably looking out the window, pretending you weren’t literally abusing drugs right beside him. He’s stubborn, he hasn’t left yet even though you can tell he is reconsidering his decision to come with you. It reminds you of yourself, stubborn as fuck and so desperate to find a new meaning in life.
“Jesus christ y/n, when I said people would kill to meet celebrities here I didn’t mean go off and kidnap one,” Julian loudly made himself noticed in the drivers seat, noticing the perfectly built man before he even opened the door. “Oh fuck off, he asked to come,” Fuck, now you have to playing fucking translator. “Taehyung, this is Julian,” you tapped on him pointing to Julian. “Yeah, right .. what’s up man,” Julian greeted Taehyung like he did everyone else. It isn’t rare for the both of you to bring around random people, it’s apart of the life you live, vibing with complete strangers and quite literally trusting them with your life sometimes. Taehyung greeted him the best he could in his own awkward way. “He doesn’t speak english so just use hand gestures like a dumb ass, I don’t feel like translating right now.” You spoke laying your head back on the headrest. As Julian begin to drive you could feel Taehyung shaking his foot anxiously. You do that all the time but you never really took him for someone with anxiety. You probably give him anxiety. You probably scare him. You know better than anyone that comfort is what you needed when you were that innocent girl getting involved in the dangerous life so you instinctively placed wrapped your small hand ontop of his that layed on the middle seat. You felt him look at you. His leg stopped shaking.
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amyscascadingtabs · 4 years
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i’ll walk through hell with you
chapter 6. i’ll be your arms, i’ll be your steady satellite
read on ao3
read earlier chapters
The Santiago Siblings with families spend a weekend together, Amy’s feeling weird, and Jake’s getting suspicious.
september.
Amy throws out the ovulation tests first. Then, most of the pregnancy tests.
She keeps a few, in case of emergencies, but she hides them so far inside their bathroom cabinet, buried underneath boxes of band-aids and disinfectant wipes, she tells herself it’s the same thing.
 She also throws out the vitamin supplements and the gross herbal teas, and puts the cherished pages of the fertility binder through her paper shredder while Jake shakes his head at her.
“You’re being crazy,” he states when she empties the paper confetti in the trash, immediately tying the bag shut and placing it by the door.
“Nope,” she responds. “I’m finally being sane.”
She stops doing yoga, not that she got into a habit with it in the first place. She goes back to her usual diet and coffee habits. She deletes every fertility-related bookmark off of her computer and unfollows all the Instagram accounts she once tried to find support in. There’s a smidge of panic and hard-hitting grief the first few times she sees a pregnant person somewhere, a harsh pain that comes with knowing for certain she’ll never experience it again, but most of all, Amy feels free. As heartrending as the knowledge is, she’d take it over uncertainty any day of the week.
 Her days of the week are moving quickly, too. It's like the moment she stopped being consumed by this, the rest of her life caught up with her, and now it’s speeding past. Leah starts her first Tiny Tots preschool class, and her parents cry for a good ten minutes after dropping her off the first time because their baby is growing up and it’s all moving too fast. They start doing proper research on allergy-friendly cats and even schedule a visit at a cattery. Work speeds up and she has to work overtime for more days in a row than she's done since having a kid, making her fear their apartment will fall into pieces and her daughter forget who she is, but she comes home each night to dinner on the table and Leah in pajamas begging her to read a bedtime story. She makes sure to thoroughly thank her husband, especially the night when there’s a takeout box with potato pancakes waiting for her, and promises him a proper reward once the weekend rolls around.
“Cool, cool,” he mumbles half-asleep as he makes himself the little spoon in bed. “Also, while we’re on the topic, those potato pancakes definitely weren’t because Leah and I had ice cream for dinner. In case you were thinking that.”
“Jake.”
“Mm. Goodnight, babe.”
 Even without the fertility treatments, her free time between work and family life remains strictly limited, but she does manage to squeeze in something much needed. Every other Thursday night at eight o’clock sharp, Amy finds herself outside the door to Rosa’s apartment, and every night Rosa cuts right to the chase.
“You’re not pregnant?”
“Nope.”
“Not taking any fertility medication?”
“Stopped them all.”
“Take a shot, Santiago.”
She’s decided not to tell more people about her experiences, doesn’t see the point when all she wants is to forget, but every other Thursday night, she vents. Rosa lets her speak, sometimes offering commentary but mostly just nodding, and Amy’s pleasantly surprised to discover it helps.
She’s not alone, and most importantly, she’s going to be okay again.
 ~
 october.
As the end of October arrives, it becomes time for the weekend with all the Santiago siblings and their families renting a cabin upstate. Tony calls it a tradition even though it's the first time they're doing it, but when Amy points this out, he simply shrugs and says it's important to have goals in life.
At first, she's skeptical about it - spending four days in a cabin with fifteen adults, thirteen kids and one dog feels like a polar opposite to the relaxed family time she craves - but it's been forever since she saw them all and she supposes she could use some time away from Brooklyn’s buzzing city life, so they decide to go. She nearly regrets it after three hours in the car with the Frozen-soundtrack on repeat, but then they reach their destination, and all is forgiven when Leah runs to hug all her cousins.
 Friday morning, they arrange a big leaf fight in the yard. At first, it's kids against adults, but as more and more children drop out, it becomes Santiago siblings against partners, and as more and more adults drop out too, eventually it's just Amy and Julian against Jake. The fight lasts until Jake starts complaining about there being leaves in his ear. At that point, Amy's laughing so hard her stomach hurts.
“Loser does all the dishes after lunch,” Julian grins, and Jake looks like he's about to cry.
Amy checks in on him after ten minutes. His shirt is wet from the soapy water and she can see the terror in his eyes as he looks to the mountain of dirty plates, glasses, and cutlery, but he’s scrubbing hard at them one by one with furious determination.
“Need any help, babe?” She sneaks her arms around him from behind, pressing a kiss to his neck and pulling out a small twig that’s still stuck in the back of his hair.
“Desperately,” he groans, wiping his hands on his jeans and facing her. “But I have to prove my strength to your brothers.”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure Julian just wanted a reason to see you in a wet t-shirt.”
“He could have just asked.”
Amy laughs, shaking her head. “I’ll help you out.”
He squints. “Are you sure? You look kind of... tired.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Not like that,” he says, rolling his eyes. “But you look a little - I don’t know - pale? Did you not have coffee this morning?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t finish it. Creamer tasted weird.” He opens his mouth to say something, but she shuts him up with a glare. “I’m fine. Come on, I’ll help you finish these.”
 -
 They manage to get done right on time for a family walk in the woods. Leah makes it about a quarter of a mile before she starts complaining, so Jake carries her on his shoulders, which results in immediate chaos and tears from David’s twins when they demand the same and David can’t carry them both. Amy helps her brother by carrying Samuel on her shoulders, but the kid must have dog hair on his clothes from playing with Julian's dog, because her nose gets stuffy after only a minute. If it weren’t for the animal being straight-up adorable, or for Leah's excitement when Julian asks her if she wants to hold Oscar’s leash for a minute, Amy swears she would be yelling at this dog, too.
 The stuffy nose lasts for the entire afternoon, and she curses the fact that she forgot her allergy nasal sprays at home. Luckily, she’s surrounded by plenty of good distractions, and the afternoon disappears in a jumble of trying to keep different children from hurting themselves or others while also trying to make sure they’re happy, and if she’s not watching any kids, she’s trying to keep up with what feels like a billion different conversations going on at the same time. It’s enough to make anyone exhausted. She tries to have another cup of coffee, black this time to avoid the probably-bad creamer, but she only gets down a few sips before her throat goes all dry and she has to breathe real hard for the nausea to pass. She pours out the rest in the kitchen sink.
 Despite her tiredness and stuffy nose and sudden coffee aversion, Amy has a lovely day. When afternoon becomes evening, everyone who isn’t cooking dinner makes their way down to the nearby lake to watch the sunset. Leah’s in Jake’s arms with her head on his shoulder, looking all cozy in her purple fluffy hoodie as she sings the lyrics to Moana in the wrong order, and Amy can’t fight the urge to kiss her sweet little face until Leah grimaces and says stop, mama, hiding her face in Jake’s shirt as he laughs.
They’re her favorite sight in the world - the love of her life, and the child who’s held Amy’s whole heart in her hands since the first time she waved to them on an ultrasound screen over three years ago. Jake whispers something to Leah that Amy can’t hear, the girl giggles, and her heart aches with how much she loves them. She may never get the kids-plural family she pictured in her younger days, but she gets this, and it’s better than anything she could have imagined.
 -
When all the kids have gone to bed - save for seven-month-old Charlie, who’s wide awake and happy to get passed around between different pairs of arms - the adults gather in the living room for a chance at uninterrupted conversation and a glass of wine. Amy finds space in the corner of a couch, with Jake on her left and Tony’s wife Clara in an armchair on her right, and gratefully accepts the glass of red wine Lucas gives her. She takes a sip, first enjoying the taste, but the second sip tastes off and the third is awful. She tries to hide her grimace as she puts it down on the side table and asks for a glass of water instead.
 She's not really listening to the conversation, zoning out and just enjoying the comfort of Jake's arm around her shoulders, but Clara nudging her arm gets her attention.
“Do you want to hold Charlie for a while, Amy?”
“I’d love to,” she says, and the next second there's a baby in her arms who's shooting her the brightest of toothless smiles and reaching for her necklace. Charlie’s chubby fingers try to grab the L and J-pendants, so she gently separates his hands from them and he starts playing with a sling of her hair instead.
“Oh, you're strong,” she laughs as he grips it. “Wow.”
“Tell me about it,” Clara laughs. “Sometimes he’s lucky he’s cute.”
Amy smiles. The baby is already snuggling his head into her chest, making himself comfortable. He's truly adorable with round cheeks and light-ginger hair, melting her heart as he grips onto her shirt.
She's missed this. Still, it’s less painful now that she knows - she might never have more babies of her own, but she’ll always have plenty of nephews and nieces to hold, cuddle and play with.
“You're adorable,” she whispers to Charlie with a kiss to his forehead. “Yes, you are.”
“Hey, Amy?” David catches her attention from the opposite couch. “Aren't you guys going to have more kids?”
She can feel Jake freeze next to her.
“We’ve thought of it,” she says calmly. “But we landed on one kid. We’re happy with that.”
Jake squeezes her shoulder.
“Really? Huh.” David nods in surprise. “Don’t you want more kids, Jake?”
“It's not my decision to make,” he shrugs, like it was an obvious fact. “I'm just hoping we can get a cat soon.”
 Charlie falls asleep in Amy's arms, staying there even as people begin to drop out and head to bed. She gives him back to Tony when it’s time for a diaper change, closing her eyes and leaning against Jake's chest once her arms are free again.
“You okay, Ames?”
“Yeah,” she promises. “Just sleepy.”
“You didn't drink anything,” he notes, nodding to her untouched glass.
“Did you try the wine?” He nods. “I hated it. I think Julian has crappy taste in alcohol.”
Jake shrugs. “It tasted fine to me. Maybe your taste buds are being weird.”
“Or I have better taste than you.” She kisses him on the cheek. “Let's go to bed, babe.”
 -
 She’s barely closed her eyes before Leah climbs into their bed, full of energy as she makes space between her parents.
“I wanna go outside and play,” she insists, and when this doesn’t garner enough of a response, she frowns. “It’s morning!”
Amy reluctantly opens her eyes to reach for her phone, reading the time. “Half-past seven.” Weird. They went to bed at one a.m. and Leah’s slept through the night, yet it feels like she was woken up after ten minutes.
“Hey, I have an idea,” says Jake, pulling his daughter close and tickling her neck. “How about we play in here for a while? I have a great idea for something.”
“What?”
“Well, you see, bumblebee, you’re a super brave space pirate. This bed is your spaceship, and mama and I are your innocent, weak humans that you’ve captured.” He yawns. “The rules are that we have to lay still. If we move, we’ll fall out into space and, uh, die.”
“Okay! Dada, still!”
“I love this game,” Amy mumbles, pulling the covers closer around herself.
 The spaceship game lasts a full ten minutes before Leah tires, deciding that her parents are too boring captives for her taste and starting a new game that circles around her trying to jump from the bed onto her mattress in increasingly creative and less-than-safe ways. Jake defuses the situation before she tries to do a backflip, suggesting that they get out of bed and see if any other cousins are up yet, and Amy tries to open her eyes again. It’s painful - her body screams for more sleep, and she channels this into the pleading look she gives Jake.
“Can I get another half hour? I feel like I’m going to collapse if I get up now.”
“Huh.” A line appears between his brows. “Are you sure you’re fine?”
“Yeah,” she yawns. “I just need thirty minutes, like I said.”
“Okay, I’ll wake you up when there’s breakfast - Lee, wait!”
He disappears out the door chasing after their daughter, and Amy sighs in relief as she lets her eyes fall closed again.
It still feels like no time has passed before Jake comes to tell her the thirty minutes are up, but she forces herself to get out of bed anyway. They have a long day ahead of them, and Amy’s not risking getting teased by her brothers for wanting to sleep in. Instead, she throws on a hoodie to hide the fact that she’s freezing, and pours herself a big cup of coffee at the breakfast table. She manages four sips before it threatens to come back up again. Luckily, one-year-old Milo chooses that exact moment to almost choke on his piece of toast, and no one except for Jake seems to notice the gagging expression on her face as she tries to swallow everything back down.
 She must be getting the flu, or maybe she’s picked up some other bug from her daughter. She’s cold, a little dizzy, and the stuffy nose refuses to pass even though she keeps away from the dog. They go to play in the woods while the sun is still shining, and Amy’s enjoying herself as she watches Jake run with Leah in his arms towards a tree, touch her feet against the wood and yell Parkour! only to make the girl lose it with laughter every time, but she’s so tired when they get home, she’s barely sat down in an armchair before she’s nodded off again.
 “Hey, Ames.” Jake’s firm hand on her shoulder makes her return to consciousness. His mouth is set in a hard line, and there’s a seriousness to the way he watches her that reminds her of the way he gets whenever she’s really sick, all worried and overly protective like he thinks she’ll instantly drop to the floor if he’s not right there. “Can we talk in private?.”
She nods, following him back to their bedroom where he closes the door. He sits down cross-legged on Leah's mattress, and she takes her chance to lay down on the bed, propping her head up with two pillows. “Okay. What’s up?”
He gives her a scrutinizing look. “Are you sure you’re just tired?”
“I mean, I feel a little off, I’m sort of dizzy and my allergies are annoying.” She sniffles. “Probably coming down with some bug. Why?”
“Your immune system is way better than mine, though. I’m always the first one to get sick after Leah and I’m fine. I don’t even think she’s been ill in weeks. Isn’t it weird that you’re the only one feeling sick?”
Amy shrugs. “Exception that proves the rule?”
“Yeah, or you’re not sick.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ames,” he says in a low voice, his tone slightly hesitant. “You don’t think there’s a chance you might be - I don’t know, pregnant?”
“Come on. How would that have happened?”
“Uh -”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure, but I think we established my body didn’t want it to happen for us again.”
“Maybe, but face the facts. You’re exhausted, your taste buds are funny, and you were like, seconds away from throwing up your coffee this morning. You’re cold, you’re dizzy…” He counts on his fingers as he lists the symptoms. “It sounds a lot to me like before we found out you were pregnant with Leah?”
“Or it sounds like it's been a couple of intense months, my body's fighting an infection and I’m getting ill once I'm relaxing.”
“Have you gotten your period this month?”
She glares at him. “Stop.”
“Well, have you?”
She sighs and pulls out her phone from her pocket, opening it to her period tracker. Current Cycle - day 33. “It's a few days late.”
Jake’s eyes go wide.
“No.” She shakes her head before he can say anything. “Nope. That doesn't mean anything. My cycle got screwed up after the treatments and they said it could take months to return to normal.”
“Yeah, but…”
“No. Seriously. We both know I’m not pregnant.”
He squints. “We do?”
“Yes. And I can’t let myself think about it, Jake, because if I do…” She bites her lip at the crystal-clear memories of ovulation strips, shots and negative pregnancy tests, of feeling betrayed by her own body time and time again. “I’ll start to go crazy. I just got away from that obsessive headspace. I can’t go there again, I can’t have another negative staring me in the face, I just… can’t.”
He nods slowly, gaze still full of worry as he sits down next to her. “Okay. I just thought I’d ask.” His hands rub soft circles on her neck to ease the tension there, his lips brushing against hers for a few seconds. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” She sighs. “God, I need another nap.”
“I’ll make an excuse for you,” he says, and she swears she’s never been more in love with him in her entire life.
 -
 Jake doesn’t bring it up again, and Amy’s grateful. It's not that she doesn't wish for his suspicions to be true - her falling pregnant naturally would be a miracle - but she can't let herself think about it, let alone hope. She spent a year hoping and it led nowhere. This isn't the first time she's imagined symptoms that turned out to be nothing. If she lets herself have hope another time, only to be faced by cruel disappointment, she's certain she's going to shatter.
The weather changes from gorgeous sunshine to heavy rainfall, effectively locking every present Santiago family member inside of the cabin and creating yet more chaos. Luis and Christian organize a game night for the kids, first consisting of child-friendly memory-games and puzzles, but as more and more kids go to bed, eventually the adults drag out Monopoly and get drunk. They also get insanely competitive. When Simon starts threatening Tony about having him do another challenge for his YouTube channel, and Tony threatens to wrestle Simon right there on the floor, the game is quickly changed to Cards Against Humanity which soon becomes a dangerous game of Never Have I Ever. Amy opts for alcohol-free wine, and it’s probably lucky, because her brothers are ruthless. Never have I ever had a catastrophic double date - drink. Never have I ever made out with someone at work - drink. Never have I ever accidentally startled a man with a genetic heart condition, resulting in his immediate death - drink, remind Julian he’s an asshole, and come up with a good revenge question. She’s relieved they go to bed before anyone can suggest a game of truth or dare.
 The next day, she's feeling much better, and manages almost half a cup of coffee without nausea. She must've been right about it being some kind of infection, she thinks, pleased that it seems to be passing.
The weather isn't improving, so she teams up with a few of her brothers and their families to go to a nearby, kid-friendly, museum while Jake, Julian, and Simon visit a sneaker outlet. Leah finds an activity station and plays there for nearly fifteen minutes with her cousins before breaking down in tears when someone takes a crayon from her, and after it’s been another ten minutes of crying, Amy eventually chalks the child’s sudden fury down to low blood sugar. She ruffles through her bag for a snack and finds an unopened bag of dried mango, and two slices later, Leah is back to normal. Amy also finds an unopened tampon package, giving her a nudging reminder that her period’s still nowhere to be seen, but she shakes away the thought. Had this been a couple of months ago, she would've been rushing to take a test, and she gives herself a mental pat on the back for acting so calm about it now. She knows this means nothing and she's not stressing out. There’s this tingling, cramping, feeling low in her stomach anyway, aching for a moment before immediately fading. Surely that must mean her period is coming.
 They go to bed early on their last night away, ready for the drive home the next day. Leah wakes up crying about a nightmare, so Amy ends up sleeping next to her in their bed with Leah's little legs curled against Amy's stomach and her hand gripping her wrist. As far as sleeping positions go, she could think of far more comfortable or ergonomic ones, but there's no denying the coziness of it. Leah snuggles her nose into the crook of Amy's neck, and Amy falls asleep just smelling her head, and if she’d ever been asked to describe the word peaceful with one situation, she would have chosen this.
 -
 At first, she thinks she's dreaming about a real past event. She's back in the bedroom of their apartment, with Jake sleeping on her right and Leah asleep in her room, but Amy's awake. She can't tell why, isn't fully aware of the narrative here, but she can tell that dream-Amy has an instinct. Something is causing her to get out of bed, walk towards their bathroom and grab a pregnancy test - one of the cheap paper strip ones - from a visible spot in the bathroom cabinet. Something is making her take it. Dream-Amy watches the test, sitting perched on the toilet and staring intently at the first line, and after what feels like the blink of an eye inside of her dream-reality, a second, faint but clear, line shows up.
Even though it's a dream, the explosive happiness is every bit as real as if she'd been awake. She takes the paper strip, wrapping it in a bit of toilet paper, and is about to go ask dream-Jake if he can see it too when she’s pulled out of the dream and back to reality.
“What the hell,” she mumbles as she opens her eyes. Jake and Leah are still sleeping, and it's every bit as dark outside as when they went to bed, but Amy's wide awake and officially weirded out. She's never been one for dream analysis or seeing them as omens of any kind, but something about the realistic feeling has caught her attention, leaving her confused and wondering if there’s any truth to it. She tries to repeat to herself that there isn’t, she isn’t pregnant and should go back to sleep, but her mind is reeling. She tries to do some breathing exercises to force her mind and body back to a relaxed state, but it’s out of reach. The what if-narrative plays on repeat in her head, and eventually, she accepts that she’s going to need to at least outrule the possibility. She’s pretty sure there’s a spare test left somewhere in her bag.
Carefully, she frees herself from the three-year-old’s grip and climbs over Jake instead. He grunts and opens his eyes for a second, but closes them again in the next.
 Amy uses her phone’s flashlight to dig through the contents of her bag, finding her calendar, pencil case, notebooks, and a crossword magazine. Headphones, painkillers, an extra phone charger. More snack bars and packets of dried fruit. Wet wipes, tissues, hair ties, and some makeup. She moves on to the inner pocket, finding allergy medication, tampons, even an expired condom that seems to have nestled its way into the bottom of the bag and stayed there for years, but no spare pregnancy tests. She almost thinks she’s found one, but a closer look tells her it’s an ovulation indicator, and she groans with disappointment. She could have sworn she left one for emergencies, but suddenly it’s gone, and she could wait until tomorrow and buy one, but she wants - scratch that, she needs - to know now.
 “Ames? Are you looking for something?” Jake’s voice is raspy, a mix of surprise and pure confusion in his tone, and she hums vaguely without looking back at him.
“I thought I had something in here,” she says in a whisper. “But I can’t find it. It’s nothing, you can go back to sleep.”
“What’re you tryna find?”
She sighs. “I had a weird dream, okay? So I want to take a pregnancy test, because I just need to know it wasn't real so I can go to sleep. I thought I had one in here, but I don’t, so…”
He yawns, and then, in a movement far swifter than she would expect from someone barely-awake, he gets out of bed and walks over to the plastic bag he brought home from the sneaker outlet.
“Jake, I’m sorry, but I don’t care about your sneakers right now,” she wheezes. He shakes his head and brings out another, smaller CVS plastic bag.
“I know,” he says, “but you might care about this.” He throws her a familiar, pink-and-white carton, and she’s not even caught it before she knows exactly what it is.
“You bought a pregnancy test.”
He nods.
“What - when - why?”
“There was a CVS close to the outlet, I told Julian and Simon I needed to buy some Aspirin, ran in and got this. They didn’t see it,” he assures her, noticing the worry on her face. “I was smooth. And as for why - I know you said you didn’t want to hope, but I thought in case you changed your mind and wanted to know, well... “ He shrugs. “It would suck if you were stuck here with no way of finding out, even if it was just another day. I know how much you hate not knowing.”
She twists the carton in her hands. “I really do hate it.”
“So, are you…”
“I’m going to take it. Now.”
“Now - now?”
“Now.”
 There’s a beat of silence, and then they’re silently racing each other out the door.
 Amy’s so used to the steps at this point, she doesn’t even feel the anxiety kick in until she places the test on the sink and nods at Jake to start the timer. There’s barely space for them both to sit on the floor of the tiny bathroom, so they’re squeezed together, him stroking her hair and holding her hand as she focuses on keeping her breathing steady.
It doesn't matter what it shows, she tries to tell herself without success. It’s just to check.
And yet, there's this odd sense of hope in her heart she doesn't recognize from the last months.
 “How did you guess?” She asks Jake, and he wrinkles his forehead, so she clarifies. “You remembered all the symptoms.”
“Oh.” He blushes. “This is going to sound bad, but… do you remember before we found out you were pregnant with Lee? There was like a week before you took a test, where you kept complaining about how it felt like you were getting the flu, or some kind of infection, because you were feeling off.” He draws quotation marks with his fingers. “You kept repeating that. And I was so proud of myself, because I'm always the first one of us two to get sick, but I was feeling fine. I thought I’d finally get to brag, and I was so excited, but then we found out you weren't sick.”
“Just pregnant.”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “Which, of course, was so much better. Except I never got to brag. It's haunted me since then. So this time, when you said you were feeling off and like you were getting sick… I remembered, and I made a guess. Also, I’ve read the list in your binder. But honestly, it was mostly the first thing.”
Amy laughs, genuine and hearty despite her nervosity. “You're ridiculous.”
He puts his arm around her shoulders. “And yet you keep wanting to have kids with me.”
“It’s like I must be in love with you or something.”
Her comment makes him snicker, and she thinks, not for the first time, that there could never be another person she'd want to do this with - no matter the results on that test.
 The timer rings. Jake turns it off.
“Do you want to check, or should I?”
“I don't think I can see another negative test,” she whispers, the fear making her heart beat out of her chest, and he nods and tells her to close her eyes. She hears him fumble for the test, and then he finds it, and there’s a moment’s silence that drives her crazy.
    “Ames?”
    “Yeah?”
    “What’d you say two lines meant, now again?”
    She opens her eyes, immediately snatching the test from his hands. “No way.”
    It’s faint, but there’s an obvious second line.
Amy just stares at it. She's worried it’ll disappear, like her mind’s playing tricks on her, but it stays.
“This is crazy.” Tears of happiness flood her eyes once she speaks. “This is - this is absolutely insane.”
“Told you so,” says Jake in an attempt of sounding smug, but she can tell he’s about to tear up, too.
“This is positive.”
“Sure is.”
“Oh my god.” She can’t tell if she’s laughing or crying, but she’s shaking, unable to believe her eyes as she looks from the test to Jake and back at the test. “Oh my god, you’re going to brag about this forever.”
He grins. “Consider the fact that I won’t to be a testament to how much I love you.”
She’s too overwhelmed to know what to say, so she just hugs him, smiling into his chest as he peppers kisses to the top of her head.
“Hey, Ames?”
“What?”
“We’re having another baby.”
She’s spent a year wishing for it, getting used to the thought in her desperation to get there, yet his words are impossible to take in. Another baby.
“Seems that way,” she whispers, and he laughs.
 There’s a second test in the carton, and Amy wants to take it right away, but Jake convinces her to save it for tomorrow so they can go back to bed before anyone notices they’ve been occupying this bathroom for a suspicious amount of time.
She doesn’t think she’ll be able to sleep, not when a thousand thoughts are running laps in her head and she’s so in shock she thinks she might still be dreaming, but then Jake’s hand sneaks under the hem of her t-shirt and rests low on her stomach to make sure they're warm, he mumbles, and she places her own hand over his and relaxes.
 ~
  november.
Logically, Amy knows she’s pregnant.
All of the tests, a new one every day even though Jake tells her she’s being crazy again, are coming back two dark lines and plus signs and bolded words Pregnant, and the expensive test with the week indicator which shows how long it’s been since ovulation changes from 1-2 to 2-3 and 3+ Weeks. The fertility clinic gives her a blood test, confirms it’s a healthy pregnancy and schedules an early ultrasound two weeks later, which feels like an eternity. Time is moving excruciatingly slow, even slower when the nausea fully kicks in and she wants to spend as much of the day as possible laying down. She’s secretly happy she’s feeling terrible because that means the hormone levels are rising, and Jake insists on high-fiving her after the first time she throws up, but it does make the days feel even longer when all she wants is for them to pass.
Emotionally, the knowledge is much more difficult to wrap her head around. She’s terrified, analyzing every minuscule shift in her body in fear of there being something wrong and checking for blood in her underwear several times a day. She’s short on distractions, because she’s exhausted and moving too much makes her feel sick, so she’s mostly stuck on the couch after work watching movies and cuddling with Leah. They're not telling her yet - they're not telling anyone, except Rosa who figured it out soon as Amy declined a tequila shot - and Amy feels like a shitty parent who doesn't have the energy to run around and properly play with her kid right now, but Leah seems to get that her mom’s not feeling well, because she's more than happy to read books together and watch iPad until Jake comes home and takes her to the park for a bit.
 She wants to be happy, and every time she adds another positive test to the growing collection, she is, but she’s also dreaming nightmares and waking up in cold sweats in fear that this will be taken away from them. It’s too good to be true, the kind of happy ending you read about but never experience, and she can’t for the life of her try to fathom that it’s real. In short, she’s so hormonal she cries at stubbing her toe in the doorway, so nauseous she has to force down the few things she can consider eating, feeling guilty over how little energy she has to give Leah and how much responsibility this puts on Jake, and she can’t even allow herself to trust that they are having another baby.
 “This isn’t forever,” Jake tells her on a particularly exhausting evening after she's cried in his arms and eaten three lemon popsicles because they're the only thing that tastes remotely good. When she's cried a little more, about her fear and bad conscience and the deep shame in not being able to feel happy about something she's dreamt of for a year, he tells her, “just three more days until the scan,” and that does help.
-
 Amy doesn’t want to exaggerate, but she’s pretty sure the hours between six a.m., when Leah wakes up, and nine a.m., when the ultrasound appointment is, are the longest three hours of her life. Mornings are enough of a struggle to get through with a stubborn three-year-old who’ll put up a fight about anything from clothes to breakfast to brushing her teeth if she’s in the wrong mood, and they’re not made any easier when Amy’s feeling like this, but it’s moving particularly slow today when nearly all of her focus is divided between worrying about the scan and trying to keep her breakfast down. In the end, Leah doesn’t brush her teeth this morning and she has a yogurt smoothie in the car, but they manage to drop her off in time and she gives them a long hug each, so Amy considers it a success.
 Unfortunately, it’s a temporary one. She’s so nervous she can’t think straight, can’t focus on the Taylor Swift-tunes playing in the car or reply when Jake asks if she’s excited. Her head is playing possible nightmare scenarios on a loop, of there not being anything there, of them not seeing a heartbeat, or something else that will leave them no choice but to terminate the pregnancy. Taylor Swift sings something about cloaks and daggers and bright mornings, and Amy tries to see if she can memorize the lyrics for a distraction. She doesn’t get far before they get stuck in a traffic jam, though, giving them no option but to drive a few feet at a time, accelerating and braking on repeat.
 She knows that Jake tries to drive as smoothly as possible. He’s a good driver. She doesn’t have a problem with his driving, but the constant starting and stopping, the inevitable jerking movements, is absolute hell for her morning slash all-day sickness and suddenly all her focus has shifted to trying not to throw up in a moving car.
“I’m really sorry, Ames,” says Jake after casting one glance at her pale complexion, and she doesn’t dare to move her head but she mumbles a ‘not your fault’ before she goes back to taking deep breaths.
 She makes it through the congestion, and the nausea’s easing as they drive the last stretch to the clinic, but then there’s a slight bump as they drive into the parking lot and the fight is lost. She stumbles out of the car in search of a trash can, but it’s too far away. Instead, she has to publicly humiliate herself by throwing up right there on the curb just as another couple is walking out of the clinic and giving her what she assumes are grossed-out looks. She feels Jake’s hands on her shoulders as she coughs up the last bit, grimacing at the foul taste.
“Everyone’s going to think I’m hungover,” she mutters as he leads her to a spot further away, urging her to sit down.
“Oh yeah. That’s definitely what they think about all the women who puke outside of fertility clinics.”
His comment makes her laugh, but the laughter makes her feel sick again, so she stops.
“You okay?” He asks, carefully scratching her neck with one hand as he digs in his messenger bag with the other. “I have water if you want to rinse your mouth, and I’m pretty sure I have gum somewhere.”
“I’ll take water,” she says, accepting the green kid-size bottle that was definitely originally Leah’s and taking a cautious sip. “Sorry about this.”
“You’re sorry?” He lifts an eyebrow. “Damn, queen of unnecessary apologies. It’s okay.”
“I feel like crap,” she groans, ignoring him. “Sorry for whining.” “Okay there, ridiculous. Stop apologizing. It’s not something you can control.”
“But I don’t want to whine about this,” it comes out of her before she can stop it. “I don’t want to be sad, or scared. We fought so damn hard to get here! It fucking sucked! And now - I guess we’re having a baby, but I don’t know how to believe that, and I have to deal with the fact that pregnancy sucks, too!” She shakes her head, instantly regretting the quick movement but continuing to speak anyway. “I just want to be happy, and grateful, and I am. But I’m terrified. I can’t trust that it’s really happening, that it won’t be taken away from us again, and on top of that I feel awful all the time. I just… thought it’d be different.”
 Jake looks a little taken aback by her sudden outburst, opening his mouth before closing it and watching her with that same worried look she’s seen way too much during the last weeks.
“It will be,” he promises once she stops talking. “You’ve done this before. You know it gets better. You get a baby out of it, which - there are worse deals.”
“Yeah. But it feels so far away. It doesn’t feel remotely real. I wanted us to be happy now, to relax and enjoy this, but it feels like everything sucks.”
“Isn’t that just life sometimes, though? It sucks, and then there are awesome parts, and then it sucks again, and then there’s more awesome stuff.” He grimaces, looking down at the curb before meeting her eyes. “I know you feel like crap. I know you’re scared. Honestly, so am I. But we’re about to see our baby for the first time,” he smiles, “and that’s at least one of the crazy awesome parts.”
She nods. “It is.”
“Yeah.” He reaches for her hand, squeezing it. “I just think that… there’s always going to be shitty things, right? Sure, this year was rough, and I wouldn’t want to do it again, but we also had a million amazing moments with Leah, and together, in-between the bad parts. When this baby comes,” he nods to her still-flat stomach, “we probably won’t be sleeping and everything will be nuts for a while before we figure it out, but we’re going to have two kids and it’s going to be the best.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to tell you something I heard from a very smart person once,” he grins, looking proud of himself. “Life is unpredictable, but as long as you’re with the right people, you can handle anything.”
“That person sounds smart. Did they also make a butt joke after that?”
“Sure did. Made me cry, and everything. But what I was actually trying to say was…” Jake blushes, and she can tell there’s a moment of emotional sincerity coming. “I’m with you. I know that. I also know that as long as I’m with you, all the bad stuff is survivable, and all the good stuff is a million times better. And I’d rather have hard days with you, and Lee, and I guess soon whoever this is,” he holds his hand to her stomach through her sweater, “than good days with anyone else.”
“Me too,” she snivels, having to wipe the tears on her shirt sleeve because of course, this is making her cry. “How’d you get so wise all of a sudden?”
“Married you,” he shrugs. “And had kids. Also, I got hella old.”
“You’re forty-two.”
“Exactly. Shh.”
Amy laughs, with tears in her eyes because he’s hitting that perfect spot between wisdom and humor that’s one of the many reasons she loves him so much, and the smile on his lips grows wider once he sees that he’s made her laugh.
“I love you so much,” she whispers, cupping his face with her hands.
“I know. Love you, too.” She kisses him, and he kisses her back for a second before immediately pulling away and scrunching his nose. “Okay, ew, no. Vomity breath. Gross.”
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to apologize,” she teases. “But I’ll take that gum too.”
“Let’s just go inside and look at our baby,” he says as he hands her the packet, and she doesn’t protest.
 There are some routine questions and another blood test, and then they’re ushered into the ultrasound room. She’s nearly holding her breath as she lays down, eyes glued to the screen and Jake’s hand squeezing hers so tight she thinks he might stop the blood flow if he squeezed any harder.
At first, she’s scared she was right and there’s nothing in there, because everything is blurry and she’s not sure what’s what, but then it clears slightly and the ultrasound technician points out a white blob the shape of a lima bean, and there are tears of relief running down her cheeks.
 The technician says and here’s the heartbeat, and Amy has to clasp a hand over her mouth to keep from crying harder than she already is when a whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh sounds through the room in quick little beats.
She could listen to that sound forever.
 They get printed sonogram pictures of their fetus, which is slightly over an inch and just looks like a white blob but is well and truly perfect according to their doctor, and then they’re advised to go home and celebrate. They both have to stop crying first, though, so they stand outside the clinic for another while, just hugging without needing to say anything else.
 “So,” Jake says when Amy’s finally found space to breathe again. “How do you want to celebrate?”
“Do you want to go to Target and look for another shirt that says Big Sister and some stupid cute tiny clothes?”
“Oh, you know I do.”
 They get a long-sleeved pink shirt for Leah, six pairs of baby socks with animals on them and tiny pajamas with rainbow stripes, and then they buy alcohol-free champagne.
 ~
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cilliansaccent · 4 years
Text
Class of Temptation - CHAPTER TEN
Leave a like, reblog or comment below to show your support and love! Enjoy…
PLEASE READ:
No mention of Cillian’s true family or relatives. All names are made up.
This is a TEACHER x STUDENT fanfiction, it’s going to be kinky and very taboo!
I will write whenever the mood grabs me, so I apologise if there are long breaks between chapters :)
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Background: Tessa is a twenty-three-year-old model from a broken-up family, living in London with her best friend and starting a course on Drama and Theatre. Though, when she gets closer to the super hot Mr Murphy who is her much older teacher, there is a battle of lust and love between them. They’ll have to figure out what to do with their tight relationship as other issues begin to rise and nip at their heels…
Word Count: 5,452
!!Warnings!!: Major sex scene at the end!
Chapter Name: Princess
Brief Chapter Outline: A new week starts and Tessa spends another afternoon with Cillian, her feelings wild for the man as she realises that this won’t go away. The day ends with Elijah and some very passionate exchange...
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Tessa walked up to her Uni after she had driven here. It was a first after a long time that she got to drive, Esther had to use her car most of the time when she had to travel around London and outside of it. Which was fine, but when it was raining, Tessa didn't like to walk from the station to her class. She always got drenched.
She shook her umbrella before tucking it into its sleeve and putting it back into her bag. She had half an hour to get to class but she didn't want to go in first. Not after what happened yesterday with Cillian... Fuck, she had a night. She really couldn't get him out of her mind. All she could think was of him, his hands roaming along her body, his hips parting her legs to make room and a single thrust into her which she knew would make her back arch...
"Fuck! Watch where you are going!" Sofia yelled as she dropped her books on the floor.
"You are so stupid! What the fuck!" Camila, Sofia's second in command, shoved Tessa against the wall.
"Sorry!" Tessa let out a gasp as her back came into contact with the hard wall.
"Sorry isn't enough, bitch." Victoria chimed in, Luna and Layla circled in.
"Whatever, I gotta go." Tessa tried to shove through but she was pushed back.
"Not so fast. You need to fucking pay up, whore." Sofia was all up in her face. "How much you carrying, huh? Let's see." Sofia went to reach for Tessa's bag to take her wallet but Tessa was not having it.
She shoved her hand away, "Fuck off. I am not giving you my money anymore."
"Oh? You getting all tough now, huh?" Sofia moved closer, almost chest to chest.
"Yeah. I've had enough of this shit. I don't even know why you need money, it's clear you got enough. So move the fuck away so I can go." Tessa went to shove her but she was pushed back again.
She let out a gasp again, the force was harsh and she felt a painful sting in her shoulders, "You have no right to talk to me like that." Sofia grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back.
The worst thing was in this part of the hallway, no one really came by. It had very small, private rooms students would rent out and at this early hour, no one was here. Fuck.
"You are nothing here. Just another whore. You don't own anything." Sofia snarled as she yanked Tessa's bag and gave it to Camila who riffled through it.
Tessa hated that word. Whore. It made her angry and she pushed Sofia back by using her hands against her face, "Get the fuck off me! Jesus Christ!" She struggled as the hold in her hair only tightened.
"You can't tell me what to do bitch! Hold her down!" Sofia had let her go as Camila and Victoria grabbed Tessa's arms and held her back.
"You are so gonna pay," Sofia balled up her fist and made to-
"HEY! What the fuck is going on?!" Elijah's angry growl cut through the group and the girls jumped back.
"Oh get lost, Elijah. We're only teaching your little toy here a lesson." Sofia rolled her eyes as he came over.
"Fuck out of here, you really are such a bitch." He grabbed Tessa's bag, staring down at the brown-haired woman.
"Whatever. I'd recommend not being with this slut. God knows what she's been up to all week in that hotel room with all those other people." Sofia scoffed as the girls walked away leaving them be.
Tessa was shaken up, hugging herself as she leaned against the wall. Her eyes were wide as tears streamed down her face.
"Jesus." Elijah set her bag down and gently cupped her face, "Tess. Hey, look at me." He said with a gentle voice, bringing her pretty eyes upwards. "Let's go and report them for this. This is not right."
"No, Elijah. I don't want to." She shook her head, wiping her tears quickly.
"Why not? They are literally tormenting you." He frowned, shocked to hear that.
"Just- No. I can deal with this. Please." She picked up her bag and the other cotton one that had the clothes Cillian had offered to her.
Elijah's shoulders sagged, but he sighed, "Fine. Fine." His hands were on her shoulders before he pulled her in for a hug.
Tessa welcomed the hug and wrapped her arms around him, his strong body enveloping hers. She was warm, "I know you want to help, Elijah. But I want to do this on my own."
"But she was going to hit you, I can't allow that to slide." Elijah murmured.
She glanced up, "Let it slide. I will deal with this." She said with a stern voice, giving him a look to make it as she meant it.
His lips were a thin line, "Okay. I trust you." He said but he would make sure to keep an eye out for her. "Can I ask you something?"
She nodded as they began to walk together, "Go ahead."
"Could we go out tonight? Like dinner?" He asked her.
"Dinner?" She raised her brows as she looked up at the handsome man.
"Yeah. I could pick you up at seven?" He looked hopeful.
She laughed lightly, "Okay. Sure. Seven it is. May I know where it is?"
He grinned, "Nope. It's a secret." He said.
She rolled her eyes, "Okay. I'll be ready by then."
"Sweet. I best let you go then. Meet up for lunch too?"
Tessa thought for a moment, "Yeah. Come back here and we can go together." She said before she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Elijah." She smiled sweetly and ducked into her classroom, leaving him blushing red.
Julian was not in class for a change, usually, he was here before anyone else.
Cillian was here though, seated behind his desk. He glanced up and smiled at Tessa, "Morning, Tess."
"Morning. Here you go." She had come over and handed him the bag.
"What is it?" He took it, peering in.
"The clothes you gave me. I washed them up. Also here." She handed him the handkerchief he had given to her a couple of weeks back. Sofia and her squad had walked in as well and seemed to notice the interaction.
"Oh, thank you. You didn't need to go to such lengths but I appreciate that." Cillian smiled as he took the cloth from her hand.
"You can also keep the bag too," Tessa returned the smile, "I've got plenty." She said.
"Alright. Thanks again." He nodded once.
She turned and went to sit down, pulling out her stuff and organising herself for the day. Class started soon after and Julian still had not made an appearance. Only thirty minutes before class ended he came but seemed quite troubled.
"You okay?" Tessa asked when it came to working with a group partner, she made sure they were good.
"I'm fine." Julian gave a curt reply and began to work on the given questions.
Tessa knew she wasn't going to get through to him so she let it go. But as she looked over at the snakes sitting across from her, they were snickering and looking over at them.
Something must have happened again and she wasn't there to stop it. She cursed silently and looked back at her best friend, "Julian. I want you to know I am here for you, okay? I don't want you to be silent and let whatever eat at you. You know it's no good and you are really hurting-"
It was like a switch had been flicked and Julian turned to her with such anger she was shocked, "Just shut up! I don't need anything from you!"
Cillian looked up from the folder he was looking at, his glasses sat on his nose, "Julian. What is the matter?"
"Nothing! Oh my god. Just- I want to work. Please." He kept his head down, shaking it.
Tessa frowned. She had no idea what just happened, she hadn't even pestered him about anything either.
"Well, it's not nice to talk to Tessa like that. She is only trying to help." Cillian had heard Tessa talk softly to the boy and was surprised the anger Julian had shown her for something so simple.
"Yeah, bit late now. She wasn't even here for a whole week to fucking help me." Julian snapped.
"Excuse me, do not swear in this class, Julian. Apologise to Tessa." Cillian said.
"Oh, no it's fine. He doesn't-"
"Julian," Cillian cut of Tessa, "Apologise."
Julian grounded his teeth and looked at her, his eyes held so much hurt and pain, "Sorry." He said without meaning it. He then got up and packed up his stuff.
"Where are you going? Class has not finished." Cillian said, his brows furrowed and annoyance shone in his eyes.
"Home," Julian said.
"We have half an hour to go, you can wait." Cillian's harsh tone only made Julian angrier.
"Yeah. Whatever. Too long for me." He grabbed his backpack and headed out.
"Julian!" Cillian called out as he stood to go stop him but he was already out of the door. He sighed and looked over at Tessa. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine." She nodded, settling back in her chair. Sofia and her girls snickered softly to each other as if they knew this was coming.
Tess watched them whisper and laugh, they must've done something to him. Fuck, she thought with dread. She had to talk to him one way or another. Maybe she should tell Cillian. She debated it till the class ended and everyone filed out.
"Is everything okay with you and Julian?" Cillian had come over, his work bag slung over his shoulder.
"I... Think so. I don't... Really know why he acted like that, really." She stood up, lifting her bag.
"Huh, I see. He did seem quite strung up last week as well. I'll have to talk to him." He said.
"Leave it to me. I can get through to him, might make it easier for him as well." Tessa quickly said, wanting to find out herself and see whether Julian wanted a teacher involved.
"You sure? I don't want any issues to hinder your studies or your project with him." Cillian gestured for her to follow him out of the classroom.
"I'm sure. I promise you I will come to you if there are any issues." Once out of the classroom, the bitches were hanging around a little further down the hallway and watched them.
"Okay. I trust you with that. Now, I could not book a room for us today in the afternoon so we will head into my office. Is that okay?" He asked.
She liked how he always asked her first if she was okay with doing anything with him during these private lessons. It made her feel safer, "Of course. Fine by me."
"Alright." He reminded her of the building number and the level and told her to ring him on the phone in the foyer. He left and soon after Elijah came around with a wonderful grin.
"Hey, pretty lady." He winked and hugged her.
"Hi," she laughed softly, "I'm hungry. Let's go." She bumped her hip to his.
"You're always hungry." He rolled his eyes.
"Indeed. I am a growing girl, and growing girls need plenty of food!" Tessa said. Elijah was someone she had not expected to warm up so fast, he had a wonderful personality and was cool with whatever she was doing. He always made sure to find time for her even if it was only for an hour or less. Though she could not find herself telling Elijah about her issues behind closed doors, those things were... A sensitive topic for her and she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to talk about them.
Tessa had tried therapy at one point, but it became way too stressful for her and she found herself almost falling back into that dark pit. It would take a hell of a lot to overcome her past and the shit she had to go through when she lived with her dumbass father and that witch of a woman. Especially with those sons...
That was something she did not want to think about right now. She would enjoy her lunch with Elijah, make her way to the library and do some work before meeting up with Cillian later today.
Yeah. She would enjoy her time now, no need to dwell on the past. A waste of her time.
It was now late afternoon and Tessa was heading to the building Cillian had his office in, headed up the elevator and called him up through the phone provided in the closed-off foyer. She waited for a few minutes when he came through the doors with a wonderful smile.
"Hey, Tess. Good to see you, come on." He waved her over and she followed him.
She glanced around, taking in the space and walls, hearing the chatter of other teachers talking to each other or on phones.
Cillian brought her into the office and shut the door behind him. The room was fairly large but clean and tidy, shelving lined the walls on either side of the desk, packed with folders and boxes and a couple of books. His desk was big and covered in papers all neatly stacked. His laptop was open and music was playing through it.
"Take a seat. Let me just move some things around." He said as he began to pack away the stacked files into drawers as Tessa sat down in the chair.
She stayed silent the whole time as she pulled out her laptop and held it on her lap and watched him but at the same time didn't. More like glance quickly as he moved around. She couldn't help it though. He looked absolutely adorable in his glasses, mumbling softly to himself once the desk was cleared.
"There we go. I'll sit next to you." He said as he pulled out what looked like notes and turned his laptop around for her to see. He brought up last week's stuff and got right to it. They managed to do a day and a half worth of work in the two hours they spent together. Tessa worked hard to keep up and type away her notes and any extra's he told her.
"Hey, you managed to talk to Julian?" Cillian asked once they were done and he was packing up his stuff as well as she was too.
"Uh, no. He hasn't responded to my texts. Might try and talk to him tomorrow if he shows up." Tessa said as she pulled on her coat. She watched how he did the same, he was fixing the lapels of his coat and smoothing it out. But he hadn't fixed his collar and it was bothering her.
"Huh, okay. Well, I hope he does come. Tomorrow's lesson is- what are you doing?" He cocked an eyebrow as she had come closer, those delicate fingers reaching up and behind his neck. He felt her fix the collar, the soft tips and the gentle scrape of her nails against his neck made his skin rise in gooseflesh.
"Collar wasn't folded right." She said. Her cheeks warmed a little, the sudden courage to fix his coat was something that had suddenly come out of her. Totally not because she wanted to be close to him. Definitely not because of that reason.
"Oh, alright. Thanks." He said without an ounce of judgment or awkwardness. Cillian took it as it was. Her hands slid down his shoulders before she stepped back with a smile. God that smile made her wonderfully beautiful. Fuck, what the hell.
"Now you look better. Gotta check yourself more thoroughly." She nodded as she slung her back over her shoulder.
He smiled as they walked out of his office together, "I know. But why should I when I got you." He teased.
She scoffed, "I am not your maid." She rolled her eyes.
"Just a friend looking out for me, then," Cillian said as they entered the elevator.
"Friend?" She blinked, looking up at him.
"Yeah. I consider all my students as friends and I'd like to make sure they know that. And that they can come to me for any issues they have. Friends do that." He said with sincerity.
Her heart fluttered and she looked away quickly, her emotions suddenly rolling through her. Glee, hope, desire and excitement. She could tell he was genuine about his words and his motives, he had always been like that since the first week.
"I understand I could be overstepping the line, but I really want you especially to know I will not... Hurt you or do anything you do not like. You may talk to me about whatever that concerns you, may it be big or small." His hand came to rest on her forearm, his thumb moving up and down.
The touch made her stomach flip and fill with butterflies and she slowly turned to him, her eyes moving up his body to hold his gaze. She was sort of surprised by what she saw in them; longing. Everything about this seemed so... Wrong and yet she was so willing to go with it and push those thoughts aside. Step over that boundary and say fuck it.
Tessa hadn't realised she had stepped closer to him until the elevator doors slid open and she jumped back and they both cleared their throats.
"Thank you for today. I will see you tomorrow." She said quickly and darted out of the metal cabin and headed to her car before Cillian could reply to her.
He watched her scurry off and wondered what had just happened in the elevator. He licked his lips and looked around as if he had walked into something foreign. First, he was simply reminding Tessa that he was there for her and then... She had stepped closer. He could still remember that sweet perfume she had on, it seemed like fuel for his soul, her gaze that seemed to take him under a spell... Fuck, thoughts wandered into his brain and he cursed again. This was so not right and yet, he couldn't fucking get her out of his head. "Fuck me." He muttered as he stalked to his car, catching her driving off.
Tessa was like a train at full speed, rolling down the tracks without a care in the world. She was flushed all over, her breasts aching and tight and her core like fire. She needed pleasure, and she wanted it from one person only.
Her goddamn teacher.
She had thought these feelings were just fleeting, something that would pass eventually and she would be fine. But it seemed these quiet feelings were only growing more and more the longer she stared at him. She shook her head, trying to rid them.
Tonight she would see Elijah. And enjoy her night with the guy who had taken in such interest in her.
Nighttime...
Dinner had gone swell with Elijah. He had picked out a good place to eat, a nice pub in the middle of London. She ordered Fish and Chips as it was her go-to thing when it came to pubs here, she loved the dish. They chatted about new music that was coming out and had organised to go to a gig this coming weekend. He would bring some of his own mates to and she would bring Esther if she could come.
But she couldn't stop staring at him. Elijah had kept his hair natural and simply combed back the long strands out of his face. He had a light scruff along those sharp cheeks and jaw. He wore tight skinny black jeans and a turtle neck jumper the colour of chocolate.
"What?" He laughed as he took a swig of his beer which was his second... Or third. Who knows.
"Nothin'." She huffed, taking a sip of her third red wine. She had worn a black jumper that was tight on her with a leather black skirt and polka-dot stockings and pointed toe heels. The only splash of colour she had was the bright blue bag which had a floral design of multi-coloured flowers.
"Yeah, sure. You looking at me as if I am like, dessert." He mused, leaning forward on those powerful arms.
She snorted, "Mm, well, you might be since you look like that." She admitted alcoholic drinks tend to make her a little more confident in flirting than sober.
"Oh yeah? I look that good you wanna eat me?" Elijah's hand slid over the table and over hers. His skin was warm and soft as he turned her palm, his fingers tracing her wrist and down into her palm.
She glanced down, the tingling sensation of his touch moving up her arm, "I'd be a cannibal but I don't care." She said lowly, holding his gaze.
"Mm, I know I taste good. Look at me, I am a perfectly cooked chicken nugget." Elijah said with no shame whatsoever. And sort of killing the mood.
But Tessa let out a bark of a laugh from his words, clutching his hand, "You're so stupid, you know that?" She was still giggling.
He laughed with her, finding her laugh sweet, "Oh yeah I am. And a hopeless flirt. I cannot do the whole serious thing without ruining it."
"Oh, you didn't ruin it really. I just didn't expect it." She shook her head, her smile grand.
Elijah scooted over to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I didn't?" He asked, his head bowed to her.
"No, you didn't. I promise you." She looked up, his green eyes shone in the low light. She felt his hand move down from her shoulder and to her waist.
"Okay, I believe you." He murmured, his fingers slipped under the waistband of her skirt.
Tessa leaned more into his hard body, her fingers splayed on his thigh, "Eli..." She murmured, her skin growing warm once more. Right now, she felt fully safe with this man beside her. They had known each other for some weeks now and she could easily call him her best friend despite he didn't really know her backstory. Nor did he ever ask or seemed bothered she never told him.
Elijah cupped her cheek with his other hand, "You know you are incredibly beautiful." He said it in a way that it wasn't a question.
"I don't believe that but I can believe it when it comes from you." She spoke with a soft gasp, his thumb stroking her cheek.
"Always believe that. You are a beautiful woman who I am thankful for meeting." The next moment shocked her.
Elijah kissed her. It was a soft caress type, testing the waters.
She reached out and gripped his shoulder, pulling him in and indicating she wanted him to kiss her more. So he did by deepening it. She parted her lips and welcomed him in, letting his tongue swept over hers. A sound escaped them both and his hand that was on her cheek moved down, brushing over her breast and he let out a grunt as he felt around her chest.
"No bra?" He muttered against her lips.
"I tend not to wear one, gets uncomfortable." She had her arms half around his neck and pecked at his lips as he squeezed her breast. She let out a gasp.
"Like that?" His lips brushed her nose.
"I do." She bit her bottom lip her eyes darted around the main floor of the pub but it seemed no one was looking at them. "Maybe we should take this elsewhere?" She asked.
"Why? Afraid you might get caught?" His hand continued its descent, over her abdomen and to her thigh.
"No. But I don't want to get in trouble." Tessa's legs parted slightly with the help of him before that damned hand began to go up the inside of her thigh. "Elijah! No!" She laughed softly as she tried to push his hand away.
"You like this, I can see it." He growled against her ear as his hand shot forward to meet the barrier of stocking and cloth. His middle finger rubbed up and down against that barrier.
Tess let out a soft moan, clutching him as she leaned further back into the booth they were seated in, "O-Oh Elijah." His finger continued to do its motion against her before he pressed harder, "God, are you drenched already?" His lips were hot against her neck.
"Yeah. Oh, Elijah- I want to take this elsewhere." She locked her legs around his hand, gripping his forearm and tried to stop his touching.
"Where would you like to go then? I could drive us somewhere quiet and dark." Elijah grunted when she began to rub against his crotch with her leg.
She looked around and then to the bathroom, "Toilets. I don't think I can wait till you drive and find a place." She sighed in relief when he pulled back and looked over to the dark hallway that leads to the toilets.
"Oh? Wanna fuck in public, hey?" He smirked getting up and holding out his hand for her to take.
She stood and smirked back, "It's not really public." She said as they walked to the bathrooms. He took a peek in the men's bathroom.
"All clear, beautiful." He said and she looked around and ducked in quickly. He took her to the farthest stall and lucky for them it had a broken light. Once in, he had her back to the hard wall and was kissing her feverishly. Her arms locked around his neck and her fingers deep into his hair.
Elijah's hands roamed all over her and hitched up her skirt to her waist and then ripped her stockings between her legs.
"Elijah! No! My stockings!" She cried out frowning as she glanced over.
"I'll get you new ones." He kissed her to shut her up and she instantly forgave him like that. Tessa reached down to his belt buckle and swiftly undid them, pulling out his hard length. She felt no man as big as he was and she moaned in delight.
"Fuck." She said, stroking the velvet shaft.
"You like it, hm?" He had his hands braced on the wall on either side of her.
"Yeah. And I want you inside me, hun." She gritted her teeth.
"Gladly." He reached down and lifted her up and got her to lock her legs around him. "Get me in, princess. I want you." He kissed her cheeks and her jaw then her neck.
"Mmm," She replied. She pushed aside her lacy thong and brought his thick head to her dripping core. "Thrust." She whispered with anticipation.
Elijah grunted as he pushed forward. He came with resistance but felt her open up as he kept going deeper and deeper. Her moans were muffled as she buried her head into his shoulder, biting down on the fabric of his jumper. "Holy fucking Christ." He said, stilling once he was balls deep in her.
"Fuck me, Elijah. Please, Christ, fuck me." She begged softly, her body undulating against him.
"I am no God." He groaned and began to thrust.
The fucking was rough, he bent her legs more outwards to get further into her and it made her cry out suddenly. He had hit a sweet spot and kissed her to quiet her heavenly moans. Her lovely breasts under her jumper bounced from the thrusts he gave her and he wished he could just tear the damn shirt to see them. But God he didn't want to wait any longer, he wanted to be inside her. Her walls were tight and hugged him, drawing out the pleasure in intense waves.
They had almost got caught when a group of guys walked in and they had to suddenly stop. Tessa held back a laugh as she kept her face buried in his neck.
"Oi, you two back there. We know you in 'ere. We won't be long." The boys snickered and one of them banged on the door.
"Give it to her, man!" One yelled.
Elijah gave Tessa a look and she smirked, nodding.
Elijah did indeed, give it to her. Her loud cry from his sudden speed made the guys holler in the bathroom and cheer him on. It wasn't long they left them be.
The idea of being caught thrilled Tessa and brought her to the edge, and it was soon after she was crying out his name and she came hard on his cock.
"Knees. Now." Elijah grunted as he set her down. She collapsed on her knees and she opened her mouth wide for him as he pumped himself. His groans were deep and guttural, one hand braced on the wall above her before he barked out and came on her face. His seed was hot and thick and a lot. 
He panted when he stilled, his knees bent and his hair disarray on his head. He looked down at her, seeing her messy face and her black jumper had thick blobs on it.
"Oh, my God." She whispered, leaning back against the wall with a grin. "You animal." She wiped his cum off her face and began to lick her fingers.
Fuuuuuuuuck, he thought as she did her best to clean herself up.
"Indeed. Holy crap that was amazing." He reached down and helped her up before getting her to sit down on the toilet lid.
"It was." She giggled watching him clean himself up with tissues and tucked himself away.
"Did you like it?" He asked before he began to clean her face up. She let him and smiled more.
"Oh, it was so good, Elijah. So, so good." She said softly.
He smiled and leaned in, kissing her deeply, "I'm glad you liked it, Princess."
She shivered at the nickname and stood. Her legs were wobbly but she was okay, she tried to fix herself up but her stockings were ruined. She simply tugged her skirt down after she cleaned up and adjusted her jumper.
"Stay at my place tonight," Elijah said as he pulled her close, hands on her ass.
"Okay. I will." She nodded and they left the stall and the bathroom.
Those same boys were outside and smirked at Elijah, "Damn bro, you are totally mad."
She watched the interactions and it seemed he knew them, she raised a brow as they walked away from them, his arm around her waist, "You know 'em?" She asked.
"Yeah. Buddies from work. They mean no harm." He smiled at her as they came to his car.
"They hype you up like this? Or is this like, a random chance that they saw us?"
"Not really. I think it's just the chance they saw us. You aren't upset, are you?" He held open the door for her.
"No. I'm not." She leaned up and kissed him softly.
He squeezed her side and closed the door after her. He drove back to his apartment he shared with his best mate who was still back in the pub, he had explained that to her as they got into his room.
"Interesting. I bet he'll be there for a while?" She asked as she stood at the end of the double bed Elijah had. His room was full of band posters and shelves covered in Pop Vinyls, superhero figurines and many books. She smiled at the disorderly room. She loved it.
"Yeah, I think so. Why?" Elijah had gone into his own bathroom to wash his face. As he walked out he let out a gasp.
Tessa had stripped and laid face down on his bed, her ass up in the air and she was fingering herself.
"Cause I don't want that toilet fuck to be the only fuck tonight." She moaned, slipping her fingers deep inside her.
Elijah hissed as he discards his clothing lightning fast and was upon her in no time, grabbing her hair and yanking her back and made her scream all night long.
Neither of them was sure whether it was the bed banging on the wall or the neighbour's fists to shut them up. Oh well, they can deal with it. Tessa wasn't too concerned, too wrapped up in pleasure.
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Road Trip : Punk!AU
Fandom: The Witcher Pairing: Punk!Jaskier x Reader, Punk!Geralt x Punk!Yennefer Word Count: 5,238 Rating: T Taglist: @heroics-and-heartbreak​ @whatevermonkey​ @mynamesoundslikesherlock​ @magic-multicolored-miracle​ a/n: Here is the long-awaited update to our series! It’s a big one but I hope you all enjoy it! Part V will be coming from @heroics-and-heartbreak​ sometime in the future so keep an eye out and let us know if you want to be added to the taglist!
Part IV –  But Where’s Your Heart?
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{Part I}{Part II}{Part III}
Something was very, very wrong.
Jaskier was sitting shotgun while Yennefer rode behind him next to Y/N. Aevryn and Win still sat in the far back but no one spoke much. Geralt had music playing from his phone but no one sang along. It seemed like a white noise intent on covering up the awkward silence but everyone knew better. No one was talking, though. Jaskier had tried to ask Geralt about it when they pulled over at a rest station but his trademark stoicism was back with a vengeance and he shrugged him off. He’d tried to talk with Aevryn who just plastered a smile on her face and when he broke through that she just told him to let it be. Yennefer approached him first, having watched him try and get answers from the others, and told him plainly to stay the fuck out of it.
“Shutting out your friends isn’t very punk rock of you, Yennefer!” he’d called at her retreating back. She flipped him off without so much as a glance back and Jaskier made up his mind.
“There,” he said, pointing to a spot on the map.
“What’s that?” Geralt asked.
“Chicago. We’re going to Chicago. We’ve been driving without so much as a World’s Biggest Yarn stop. I know it’s called a road trip but you are actually supposed to get out and see things once and a while,” Jaskier explained. Geralt rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Aevryn, what do you think?” Jaskier asked, calling back to his friend who looked up from her phone with a startled expression. Yennefer didn’t turn to look at her, but Aevryn felt her gaze all the same.
“Sure, sounds good,” she said. Jaskier brightened a bit and turned to you.
“That’s one vote in favor, Y/N, I know you’re with me?” he asked.
“Of course!” you said quickly. You’d picked up on the odd vibe in the van and it had begun to pick at you, making you think about and face your own insecurities and doubts when you’d really wanted the trip be a fun, breezy distraction.
“That’s three, Win?” Jaskier asked, shooting her a charming smile.
“You know I’m up for a good time,” Win replied. Jaskier turned to Geralt holding up four fingers triumphantly.
“And when did this become a democracy exactly?” Geralt grumbled.
“Since I said so,” Jaskier retorted.
“Oh very democratic of you, don’t recall voting on that,” Geralt muttered.
“Think of it like this, Geralt. You all are Parliament but I am the Queen,” Jaskier replied giving the drummer a magnanimous grin.
“Infirm and needing to be overthrown as soon as possible?” Geralt retorted.
“Oh for fuck’s sake Geralt are you going to Chicago or not?” Yennefer snapped. You and Jaskier shared a wide-eyed look and then quickly looked away. Geralt stiffened in his seat and you thought the steering wheel may break in his grip. Another silence settled over the car but when the sign for the exit came, Geralt turned onto it without a word.
-----
“Navy Pier!” cried, arms thrown open wide as your little group stood at the entrance.
“Where’s the bean?” Aevryn asked, looking up from her phone where she’d googled Chicago just to try and remember which of the states that was.
“No bean here,” Win explained, threading her fingers through Aevryn’s, “Lots of other cool stuff though. My parents took me here when I was a kid. We gotta go on the swings.”
“Swings?” Aevryn asked, giving her a bemused look, “We have swings in England too.”
“Not that kinda swing, babe,” Win said with a little wink and then, a little pointedly, “You’ll have to put the phone down while we’re on it though.”
Yennefer looked intently out towards the ocean and you felt another thread of tension wend through the group. Aevryn and Win set off and you heard Win asking, “real quick, how do you feel about heights?” as they disappeared into the roaming crowd of tourists.
“Hey,” you said, turning to Jaskier, “I have an idea. How about we pair up and take on the park. Divide and conquer, you know?”
“Um,” Jaskier glanced at the group and then back at you, “I mean… yeah…”
“I’ll go with Yennefer!” you declared, a look of relief immediately coming over Jaskier’s face.
“Alright Geralt that leaves us!” he said, walking over to his friend who grunted in response. You took Yennefer’s arm and walked off with her, trying to decide what would be the perfect activity to do with the coolest person you’d ever met.
-----
 Yennefer clutched the golden pole sticking out of the bright, teal dragon she sat on. You squeezed the center of the brown horse you sat on and held your arms up as you had when you were a little girl.
“Look!” you cried, pulling Yennefer’s attention to you, “No hands!”
She laughed, looking relaxed and happy for the first time in days. She shifted in her seat so she was sitting side-saddle, rising and falling as the carousal wound its way in a circle.
“Admit it, you thought it was gonna be lame but it’s really fun going back and doing the stuff from childhood,” you said with a smug grin.
“This is my first carousal ride actually,” she admitted.
“Oh… does England not have…?”
“Oh, they do,” she said with a laugh, “I just didn’t go out much. My foster parents weren’t big on trips.”
Your stomach flopped with the motion of the carousal horse and Yennefer saw you freeze in a way she was used to people doing when she let slip that she’d been a foster child.
“They weren’t abusive, they just had too many kids to wrangle to the fair and stuff. It wasn’t bad,” Yennefer insisted.
“That’s cool,” you said, nodding, uncertain what else to say.
“Also, I didn’t think this was going to be lame. You had me at ‘you can ride a dragon’,” she said with another smile that lit up the usually cool, impassive face.
“Hey,” you said, trying to sit side-saddle as well and nearly falling off the horse, “We don’t have to talk about it, but I just wanted to check in. Cuz things aren’t ok. And you should know that you can talk about it if you want. I won’t even tell Jask, swear on MCR’s entire discography.”
You said this with a solemn face, holding your hand up as though you were in court. Yennefer considered your words and you held your breath, wondering if she might actually confide in you.
“What would you do if Jaskier and you broke up?” she asked. You blinked, the words hitting you like a bucket of ice water and sinking deep down to the thoughts you’d been fighting against.
“Um. Well… cry?” you offered lamely.
“Would you still travel with him or would you go back home?” she probed.
“Well, I would probably go home. I mean, that’s gonna happen anyway, right? I still have school to finish and this isn’t… we haven’t really talked about what happens next,” your voice trailed away and your nails chipped at the golden paint of the pole you gripped a bit tighter.
“Oh shit, Y/N, I’m sorry that was a senseless question,” Yennefer apologized, jumping of off her dragon steed to walk over to you.
“You can’t do that!” a kid yelled behind her. Yennefer shot them a baleful glare then turned back to you.
“Hey,” she said, “You and Jask are great. Whatever you’re facing you’re going to do it together. It’s different for you. You… you really have something, you know? It’s not like… I mean… It’s not…”
Her voice trailed off as well and she held onto your horse, the swirling of the carousal suddenly hitting her as well. You took a deep breath and looked at Yennefer, a fierce determination in your eyes.
“Once this thing stops you wanna go eat just a fuckton of corn dogs?” you asked.
“What’s a corndog?” Yennefer asked. Your eyes widened and she grew nervous at the intensity in your eyes. Apparently she would be learning what a corndog was very, very soon.
-----
Geralt gripped the rock in his hands, muscles rippling beneath the loose, white tank top as he pulled himself higher. He was only halfway up but that still left him a good 12 feet above ground. He took a deep breath, a sense of relief flooding him as he rose above the pain and problems that awaited him back on earth.
“You’re doing great!” a voice called somewhere below him a good six feet, “Well done Geralt!”
Geralt peered over at Jaskier who gripped the piece of rock with white knuckles and frowned.
“Why did you do this, Jaskier? You hate heights,” Geralt called down.
“I do not! Well, I didn’t know that I did,” Jaskier amended, marveling at how relaxed Geralt seemed while hovering above the earth in a way humans were surely never intended to be. “Anyway it seemed like something you’d enjoy and I was right! Look at you! You almost look human!”
Geralt shook his head but Jaskier could see a hint of smirk in the corner of his lips. It spurred him to climb a bit higher, Geralt watching with concern that did not help Jaskier feel any better about things. When he was about eye-level with Geralt’s knee he paused and looked up into his friend’s amber eyes.
“Alright Geralt, talk to me,” he said between gasps.
“Was this your plan? Isolate me in the air and get me to talk?” Geralt asked, looking almost a bit proud.
“Well that’s one way of putting it. Another is that I would help my friend relax and hope he may open up to me a bit,” Jaskier replied. Geralt looked up to the top of the wall and back down at Jaskier, a dangerous smile on his face.
“If you can meet me up there, we’ll talk,” he said, and turned to start climbing, scaling the wall with a nearly inhuman nimbleness while Jaskier sputtered and then set his face, determined.
“Alright you bloody bastard I’ll show you that Julian Pankratz doesn’t back down from a challenge,” he mumbled. Geralt looked out across the pier, the cool breeze of the air blowing his hair back and cooling the sweat off his face a welcome balm. Somewhere out there, among the millions of people, Yennefer was walking around. He wondered if he looked right now he could find her, seemingly always drawn to her no matter how much they tried to pull away. His musings were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice calling his name. He looked down and paled as he saw Jaskier gripping a rock much closer than he’d expected. He’d thought Jaskier would give up and head back down and Geralt would get more of his quiet contemplation. Instead his friend had apparently taken the challenge in earnest. It hadn’t felt like a long way to climb when it was just him but now that he saw Jaskier hovering over the earth it was a dizzying expanse and he quickly climbed down where Jaskier stood. He knew that his friend wasn’t weak by any means but his arms trembled, from exertion or fear he couldn’t tell.
“Jaskier,” Geralt said, gripping one of Jaskier’s arms.
“Oh hello Geralt I was just, uh, well I looked down which was deeply stupid of me and now I seem to be paralyzed,” Jaskier replied, a slightly manic smile on his face. His breathing was a bit shallow and Geralt locked eyes, amber seeking sky blue.
“Jaskier, the only way at this point is up. I’m going to get you there,” Geralt said, speaking slowly.
“Cool cool cool brilliant but the part where I’m paralyzed, Geralt, what of that?” Jaskier asked.
“Just stay focused on me, alright? Take some deep breaths with me.”
Geralt helped Jaskier slowly deepen his breathing and once that was done he began to talk to him about random things, trying to distract him.
“So, is the road trip everything you’d hoped?” Geralt asked.
“Well it was before everyone got so weird,” Jaskier said, pinning Geralt with a meaningful look.
“Hmm,” Geralt replied.
“I’ll make a deal with you Geralt,” Jaskier suggested, the sly tone in his voice making Geralt very suspicious, “I will climb a bit more with each answer you give me.”
“That’s extortion,” Geralt argued.
“Are you in a position to barter?” Jaskier asked.
“Are you?” Geralt bit back.
“C’mon, Geralt, we both know you’re hating this more than I am. And that’s saying something because gods knows I’m hating this with every fiber of my being,” Jaskier argued. Geralt took a deep breath and nodded tersely.
“But I have the right to refuse the question,” he said. Jaskier nodded in agreement and thought about what to ask, not wanting to shut him down by asking the bigger questions too quickly.
“What do you think of Y/N?” he asked. Geralt blinked in surprise, relieved to have an easy question.
“I like her,” he replied, “She doesn’t suffer your bullshit but she’s also good to you. She fits in with the band well.”
“I like her too, a lot,” Jaskier said, a dreamy smile coming over his face. Geralt looked pointedly at Jaskier who remembered his side of the deal and took a few tentative steps, Geralt watching him carefully though he knew that he was strapped in a harness that would prevent any lasting damage if he fell.
“Who’s a better musician? Me or Valdo Marx?” Jaskier asked, his tone fierce and his blue eyes steely.
“You,” Geralt answered quickly, “Where the fuck did that come from?”
“Just checking,” Jaskier answered, seemingly distracted by his anger at Valdo as he progressed up the wall farther than Geralt had expected, stopping a few feet from the top.
“What is one thing we haven’t done on this road trip that you want to do?” he asked. Geralt furrowed his brow, thinking over the question. He only really wanted one thing anymore and he couldn’t have it. All other things felt small in comparison.
“I want to put my feet in the ocean,” Geralt said, trying to figure out a thing that may be nice. Jaskier’s face lit up and he crossed the last bit of wall, sitting next to Geralt at the top.
“I can do that, Geralt!” he said excitedly, “We can go right after this!”
“Jaskier you did it!” Geralt said. Jaskier looked around, suddenly realizing that he was no longer clutching the side of the wall. He took in the beautiful view and exhaled slowly.
“Well I guess I did,” he said offhandedly before turning back to Geralt, “Seems I have one last question.”
Geralt ran a hand through the silver hair he’d tied up in a bun, pulling some strands out as he did.
“Geralt, what is going on between you and Yennefer? I don’t need gross details, but I want to know what’s happening,” Jaskier implored. Geralt knew it was coming but it didn’t make hearing the question any easier. Jaskier waited patiently, hands in his lap as he left his friend the silence he needed to ponder his answer.
“I proposed,” Geralt said. Jaskier’s eyes widened.
“Oh that’s – Oh, ah,” he said, is excitement shifting to pained sympathy as he realized that it must not have gone well.
“Last year,” Geralt added.
“What?”
“Yeah,” Geralt nodded and sighed deeply.
“And she…”
“Said no.”
“Right.”
The two men stared out at the pier as Jaskier chewed over the words in his mind, trying to decide what to say next.
“Geralt, why didn’t you tell me?”
“What? Oh hey Jaskier, I asked Yen to marry me, she said no and also broke up with me,” Geralt said sarcastically.
“Yes, sure, why not? We’re friends, Geralt, friends share these things,” Jaskier argued.
“I guess I’m not really sure how this all works yet,” Geralt mumbled.
“What, friendship?”
Geralt didn’t answer but Jaskier understood his silence.
“Well… fuck her, right?” Jaskier asked, trying to sound confident in his declaration. Geralt glared at him.
“It’s not her fault,” Geralt said, “I’m not mad at her. Well, I am. But I’m also not. It would be easier if I was just angry.”
“How have you worked together so well? I mean there’s been fights and awkwardness, sure, but you both still show up,” Jaskier said.
“Of course we show up,” Geralt replied, “We’re not going to abandon you, Jaskier.”
Jaskier laughed and blinked back the tears that the words brought to his eyes. Geralt glanced at him and then quickly looked away.
“So, uh, where does that leave you now? I mean is there any chance that you’ll… I dunno. What do you want?” Jaskier asked once he’d composed himself. Geralt closed his eyes, remembering the feeling of her skin, still able to conjure her sweet scent and the sound of her voice in his ear. She was always with him and somehow never fully there.
“It doesn’t matter what I want,” Geralt said, “Not if she doesn’t want the same things. And she doesn’t.”
“Well that’s… balls,” Jaskier finished lamely.
“Yeah, it is,” Geralt agreed. They shared a sad smile and looked out onto the pier where Jaskier’s eyes fell on something that made him sneer.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he bit out.
“What?”
Jaskier pointed to a billboard in the distance. It was a black board with two initials in emerald green: VM. Below it was a date 07.31.21.
“Ugh, I almost forgot he was releasing an album. I don’t like it, Geralt. Its smug aura mocks me,” Jaskier complained. Geralt chuckled at his friend’s vehemence but shared his dislike for the advertisement.
“Well that’s ruined this air, how do we get off this damn thing,” Jaskier grumbled and Geralt moved quickly to help his friend over to where they could begin their descent, moving away from the all-seeing eyes of Valdo Marx.
-----
Aevryn screamed.
The world spun below her, legs dangling in the air as she was thrown around in a large, yawning arc and she screamed louder than she had in her entire life. She screamed out of sheer exhilaration at the weightlessness and adrenaline pumping through her veins. She screamed for the frustration she felt at Yennefer and herself and Valdo and nearly everyone in her life. Most of all she screamed because it felt like the only thing she could do right now that wouldn’t cause someone pain. When the ride slowed she tilted her head back and closer her eyes, bidding farewell to the reprieve she felt from her problems. Once reunited out of the ride gates Win pulled her into a hug.
“Are you ok?” she asked.
“Yeah that was great! Why?” Aevryn asked.
“You just screamed a lot I was worried you’d been trying to look brave for me when you agreed to ride it,” Win replied. Aevryn planted a soft kiss on Win’s cheek and looked into her eyes.
“You’re so sweet,” she said. She knew it wasn’t fair to compare Valdo to anyone but she had to admit it was clear between him and Win who was kinder. Then again, it wasn’t about Win or Valdo, really. It wasn’t a competition. That’s not how love worked. Aevryn slid her hand in Win’s and walked her over to a bench that looked out onto the ocean, steeling herself to have a conversation she hadn’t been expecting to have until the end of the tour. As soon as they sat down Aevryn’s phone vibrated in her pocket but she forced herself to leave it alone. Win looked into Aevryn’s sea green eyes and pulled her in for a kiss, cupping her face as she pulled back to look her in the eyes again.
“I release you,” Win said dramatically.
“What?” Aevryn asked.
“Aev I know what’s about to happen,” Win replied with a little smile, “I’m not dumb. I know that the ex is in the picture.”
“It’s not that s-”
“Babe,” Win said, giving her a look that halted Aevryn’s attempt at an explanation, “It’s ok. We knew what this was when we entered it and while you’re an amazing woman, I’m gonna be ok.”
Aevryn worried her lip between her teeth as she considered what Win said, wondering if anything really could be this easy.
“Are you sure?” Aevryn asked. Win nodded and patted her knee.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” Win asked, nodding to the phone in Aevryn’s pocket.
“Not really,” Aevryn answered, though a part of her desperately did. She didn’t have Yennefer to talk to anymore and while she trusted you, she was afraid Jaskier would somehow find out. The fewer people who knew the better.
“Ok,” Win said, “Then we won’t. But the offer stands.”
“You’re a really good friend,” Aevryn said sincerely, heart filling with gratitude. Everything felt out of control but Win remained the eye of the storm, a calm reprieve amidst the chaos.
“I really am,” Win emphasized with a playful smile that made Aevryn laugh. “Did we make plans to meet up with the others?”
“Uh I don’t think so, let me see if Jask texted about it,” Aevryn said, pulling out her phone.
@valdomarxofficial: My new album is coming out tomorrow. I hope you’ll listen to it, even if your music tastes have changed.
Aevryn sighed and Win pulled out her phone to text you about plans instead as her friend typed back.
@aeverona: just bc Im with vicious mockery doesn’t mean I hate your music, Valdo. Ive always loved it. That hasnt changed.
“We’re meeting up at the Ferris Wheel,” Win said.
“What?” Aevryn asked, looking up at her. Win smiled and shook her head.
“C’mon,” she said, standing up and holding out her hand for Aevryn’s. Aevryn let Win lead her through the crowd, trying to pretend the buzzing of her phone didn’t send a jolt through her heart as she made herself leave it alone as they made their way to the looming Ferris Wheel.
-----
You and Yennefer arrived at Wheel first, Yennefer holding an untouched corndog. Two hands covered your eyes and you could smell the telltale cedar that followed your boyfriend around.
“Guess who,” he sang into your ear.
“Geralt we have to stop meeting like this,” you joked. Jaskier swatted your ass and pulled you around to face him, pulling you in for a kiss. Geralt walked up, the flannel he’d tied around his waist to climb back on his shoulders as the evening air cooled. Sunset began to creep across the sky and it was lovely. It also escaped Geralt’s notice completely as Yennefer walked up to him and thrust out the corndog.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“It’s a corndog,” she said, holding it out like an olive branch.
“What do you… do with it?” he asked. She smirked at his confusion as though she hadn’t asked you the exact same question when you’d handed one to her.
“You eat it,” she said. He shrugged and took it from her hands, fingertips brushing against each other’s in the briefest caress, and took a large bite. He chewed for a bit, face ponderous for a moment.
“If nobbad,” he mumbled through a mouthful of cornbread and hotdog. Yennefer chuckled and Geralt softened, happy for a reprieve from the tension though he knew it was only a matter of time before it was back.
Jaskier pressed his forehead against yours, nose brushing against yours.
“I missed you,” he said, sky blue eyes gazing into yours.
“I missed you too,” you said, tilting your head up to plant another soft kiss on his lips.
“I have a plan for some alone time but we’re going to have to engage in a little celebrity pandering,” Jaskier said.
“I don’t care if you have to buy the whole park to do it, I want some time with you. But I mean. Don’t actually do that,” you said. He smiled and kissed you again, taking your hand in his and walking over to where Aevryn and Win now caught up with Yennefer and Geralt.
“Alright gang, I hope you’ve all had a wonderful day, I nearly died no fewer than 27 times as Geralt will attest-”
“He was perfectly safe.”
“As I was saying, I am a hero among men and I have missed you all but not as much as I’ve missed Y/N so I am going to do the thing we always promised each other we wouldn’t do unless there was a dire need,” Jaskier announced dramatically. You and Win exchanged confused looks while Yennefer, Geralt, and Aevryn exchanged judgmental ones.
“I am going to name drop,” Jaskier said. “I am going to offer a selfie, I am going to offer a review, I am going to whore myself and in turn all of us out for a shot at getting one of those brilliant blue buckets for Y/N and I to share alone.”
“Just go fuck in the porta potty like a normal person,” Win said, rolling her eyes.
“Bro,” you said, sound betrayed. Win just shrugged but shot you an amused smile.
“You realize once we’ve done that it’s going to be a madhouse,” Yennefer argued.
“I do,” he agreed, “But we will sneak out and run away. After I sign a few autographs. Maybe take a few selfies. Agree to host a few karaoke parties…”
“Jaskier!” Aevryn cried.
“Kidding!” he argued, though you could tell he wasn’t. “Anyway, I felt it was only fair to warn you before I go do this. I will try and keep you out of it if possible but all’s fair in love and war and at a carnival, you’ve got a bit of both. Ooh that could be a lyric maybe…”
He walked off with you before anyone could protest further. It turned out to be much easier than he anticipated. The operator of the ride knew him on sight and was thrilled at his offer of a selfie as well as a generous tip. The next bucket came down and the two of you climbed on, trying not to feel bad about the people left waiting in line. Jaskier wrapped an arm around you and snuggled in close, holding your head against his chest as the bucket slowly rose in the air.
“Wait, you hate heights!” you said, sitting up so suddenly you nearly gave him a black eye.
“Oh I’ve conquered that fear today,” he said casually, wrapping an arm around you again, “Speaking of, what did you and Yen get up to today? Any new piercings I should be warned about?”
He peered at your waistband and you shoved him playfully.
“No! We rode the carousal,” you replied.
“Really? Oh man what I wouldn’t give for a photo of that,” he mused.
“It was actually really nice. We just talked,” you said and then your heart sank as you remembered what you’d talked about. Jaskier sensed your mood drop, pale blue eyes lined with kohl giving you a meaningful look. You took a deep breath and shifted to face him.
“Jaskier I…”
“I love you.”
Jaskier blurted out the words that sat between the two of you, lingering in the air like the sweet scent of cotton candy and salty tang of the ocean.
“Oh,” you said, uncertain what else to say. Well, you knew what you wanted to say, but it wasn’t that easy.
“It’s ok,” he said, “I mean, say what you need to say I just… needed you to know that.”
He looked down and his hands, still holding one of yours, and you lifted a hand to cup his face. He leaned into it, pressing a kiss into your palm, the soft, chestnut hair brushing against your fingertips.
“I love you too,” you said, because it was true, regardless of the unanswered questions. His eyes rose to yours and saw a mix of fear and relief.
“I feel like people are usually happy when they confess their love for each other but… you don’t look happy. What is it, love?” he asked, the endearment hitting you harder now that the full weight of the word stood behind it.
“I love you so much,” you said, fighting back tears, “But… Jaskier what happens next?”
Jaskier took a deep breath and looked down.
“We keep saying we’ll deal with it later but we’re running out of later, Jask. Summer’s almost over and I’m scared… I’m scared that this is just going to… I don’t know. I’m not sure,” you mumbled.
“Yes you do,” he said, looking back up at you, “You’re scared that you’ll go back to school and I’ll go back to LA and we’ll try and keep in touch and visit but it’ll peter out.”
“Yes,” you admitted, “That’s exactly what I’m scared about. And there’s really no way around it because you have your life and I have mine and I’m not going to give up school.”
“Y/N I would never let you do that. I’d never support the choice, anyway, not for me,” Jaskier insisted, “But I’ve been thinking about it and I have an idea. It wouldn’t mean no time apart and it wouldn’t mean that our lives wouldn’t still be busy but… I’m willing to do what it takes, Y/N.”
“What’s your idea?” you asked, wiping away the tears that had fallen despite your best efforts, smearing your eyeliner in a way that you were sure was ghastly but Jaskier’s eyes remained just as filled with love and adoration no matter how much of a raccoon you became.
“Seattle’s a pretty big city. A lot of great opportunities for musicians there,” he said. Your eyes widened as you realized what he was saying.
“Jaskier you can’t just up and move,” you cried.
“I can, though! That’s the thing about being rich, you can literally do whatever you want pretty much. It’s actually a bit terrifying. And I know what you’re going to say and yes, I’ve talked with the band. And I talked with Andrzej when I first had the thought and he said it’s possible. But I want to respect your space as well. So if this is something that would be too much or you don’t want me that cl-”
You cut off Jaskier’s words with a kiss, pressing yourself as close as possible. He deepened the kiss, tongue sliding between your lips as you nipped at his bottom lip. When you pulled back for a breath he kept his forehead resting against yours.
“I want you as close as I can get you,” you said, “I don’t care how creepy that sounds, it’s true.”
“Gods I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you too.”
“I love how that sounds,” he said with a little laugh, “I love love.”
“Ok we’re getting gross we have to pull it back,” you said. He nodded in agreement and settled on kissing you again and again. Outside the bucket the world rose and fell, the sun waned and the tides turned and a thousand questions and choices and uncertainties waited for all of you. But in that little bucket, Jaskier in your arms, you knew deep in your bones that you would find a way through.
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collective-laugh · 5 years
Text
Julian and Portia - Cryptids
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Warnings: angst, swearing (especially in Julian’s) Word Count: 850 ish, so about 425 a piece
@missrabbitart
Julian Mothman
“I swear to fucking God, Asra, if you don’t stop fucking yelling at me, I’m not coming in on Monday.” The Apprentice yells into the phone, trying to balance the phone and the steering wheel of the car, swearing again when they try to turn their high beams on, “No, Asra, I’m not fucking swearing at you, and I’m sure as hell not going to drop off you and your goddamn ‘associate’ in the middle of who-knows-where. No. No! You are going to either drive yourself or realize that that is a legitimately terrifying deal because that’s -.”
All that follows next is a scream, a terrifying, blood-curdling scream that has Asra yelling into the phone, demanding that they tell him that they’re alright.
It’s over in an instant, as soon as it started, a flurry of black crashing into and onto the hood, resting there like a…
“Asra I’m gonna call you back.” They pant, eyes wide as they try to fathom what the hell just happened, “I just...I just hit a bear.”
They drop their phone, not bothering to hang up, wondering how they, miraculously, didn’t flip and weren’t completely dead.
They could still hear Asra screaming on the other end of the phone, probably on his way to call 911 if they didn’t say something soon...they probably ought to call 911, report this bear on the hood of their car.
They shut their eyes a moment, and then, suddenly terrified that, perhaps, the beat could possibly still be alive.
Obviously the most rational train of thought was to get out of the car and look at it.
Obviously.
“Are, um…” They start, unsure of how to address this bear, and wondering if they have a concussion, “Are you alive?”
It jolts up, as if that were the electric shock it needed to come back to life, and they scream, watching as the mound of...not fur looks at them, looking baffled and terrified and painfully human.
It starts to scream in response, putting its arms against the windshield like it was scared of them, and they throw their phone at it, watching the small item crack against its skull.
“What the fuck!” It - he? - screams, scrambling to catch the phone, in spite of the fact he fails miserably and it cracks on the pavement.
“Don’t talk!” They scream, wishing they didn’t sound so pitiful, “Don’t...don’t say a word! What are you?”
He furrows his brow at them, trying to understand why they asked him a question after telling him to shut up, “What are you?”
They furrow their brow, wondering how he doesn’t know what a human is.
Portia Mermaid
“I didn’t know if you were gonna make it today.” Portia surges forward, capturing the Apprentice’s mouth in a kiss, hands roaming over their chest, their hips, their thighs, anywhere she could find purchase because it had just been too long since she last saw them.
They smile against her mouth, drawing her closer, “I come every day.”
The boat rocks, and Portia grips hold of the Apprentice, and they laugh, holding her tight, “You want in?”
With her face smushed against them, she’s left half in the boat and half out, “Yes please.”
It takes no short amount of tomfoolery and fear that the boat could tip at any moment, but they manage to get her in the boat without any major disaster.
Portia laughs, head tilted to the sky as she rests her elbows on the edge of the hot, metal boat, her beautiful tail resting on the other edge. “You know, I do think this thing’s overrated sometimes.” She shakes her tail, and, as if on cue, a seagull announces its presence in the annoyingly loud manner seagulls have a tendency to do.
“What?” They ask, poking her with their foot, “Would you prefer these gangly things?”
“As a matter of fact,” She sticks her tongue out at them, “I would.”
They smile, trying to keep things light, “And what would you do with them, hm?”
Portia smiles, spreading her arms wide, “I’d go to a theater and I’d watch a movie.”
“Really?” They ask, “Why a movie?”
“You talk about them all the time!” She exclaims, shifting to face them, “I want to try popcorn and straighten my hair and, ooh, I want to wear a cardigan!”
They twine their fingers together, pressing a long kiss to her middle knuckle, “I think that you’re absolutely breathtaking like this.”
Portia rolls her eyes, “Right, just like the rest of the humans think I’m ‘absolutely breathtaking’.” She sighs, “Your people would rather study me than let me watch a movie in peace.”
“If I had my way, we’d watch every movie in every collection ever made.” A particularly large wave crashes on the side of the boat, rocking them.
Portia smiles at them sadly, “Not the sad movies, right?”
They press a kiss to her temple, then to her lips, wondering how things got so sad so quickly, and they mutter against her lips, “Just the ones with the happy endings.”
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jade4813 · 5 years
Text
Sparks Fly, Chapter 2
Title: Sparks Fly
Rating: NC-17
Synopsis: Everybody knows sparks fly whenever Barry Allen and Iris West are together. Their mutual animosity is legendary. But when Iris returns to Central City to investigate recent sightings of a mysterious red streak, she discovers a hero she just can’t resist…and Barry struggles to hide the unrequited feelings he can’t deny.
Chapters: 2/?
Chapter 1
Barry could barely believe his eyes when he looked up and saw Iris on the other side of the yellow tape. They hadn’t seen each other in years. He had almost forgotten how the sight of her took his breath away. His heart started to race, just as it had the night they’d first met, when he’d reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged to a Phi Delta Epsilon party. He’d walked in and seen her across the room, and when their eyes met, for just a moment, time itself seemed to stop. He still remembered the way the rest of the world seemed to disappear when she walked towards him. When she asked him to dance and took his hand, he felt like his entire life had been building to that moment. And when she stepped into his arms, her breathy laugh in his ear sending a shiver of desire down his spine, he still remembered the thought that came unbidden to mind – I’m going to marry this girl someday.
Of course, that was before the two of them realized they couldn’t stand each other. But that had never stopped his body from reacting to her every time she was near.
Distracted by the memories – and trying to slow his racing heart – his voice was subdued as he stepped towards her. He wished he could see her eyes, but they were hidden by the sunglasses she wore. “Yeah, it has. Been a long time, I mean. Uh – I didn’t know you were in Central City.”
He watched as she sucked her lower lip between her teeth and lifted one shoulder in an awkward shrug. “Yeah, I just got back. I work for the CCPD now. Um, I’m a reporter.”
Barry opened his mouth to congratulate her on the new job, but what came out instead was, “You look amazing.” He hoped her tinted lenses hid his blush as he tried to recover, stammering, “I-I mean, it’s g-good to see you.” He lifted a hand to run it through his hair in an unconscious betrayal of nerves and grimaced when he realized he was still wearing latex gloves. The sight reminded him of what he was supposed to be doing. “You here on a story?”
Iris cleared her throat and tilted her face away, scanning the area behind him instead. “Uh, yeah, actually. Lieu – sorry, Captain Singh said I could talk to his CSI, but I didn’t – I didn’t realize it was you.” He watched her shift her weight from one foot to the other as she clutched the strap of her bag and wondered what she was thinking.
He wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he stayed silent for several seconds, until it was clear she wasn’t going to say anything more. “Oh. Well. Is there something I can help you with?” he prompted.
He could swear he could feel the assessing weight of her gaze as she returned her attention to his face. After a moment, her mouth twisted, and he knew what she was going to say before she even shook her head. Still, he scowled in irritation when she took a step back, silently conveying her eagerness to leave, and replied, “No, I don’t think so. Could you give Julian Albert my card?” Digging into her purse, she pulled out a crisp business card. Barry slipped it into his pocket without thinking. “If he could give me a call and let me when it’s convenient to come by, I can talk to him then.”
Annoyed – if unsurprised – that nothing appeared to have changed since college, his voice was acerbic as he shot back, “I hate to tell you this, West, but if you want to meet with Julian, you’re going to need to go to the airport and not the police station. If you head out now, you can probably catch the last flight out.” He actually had no idea when flights to London would run, but it drove him crazy that his body couldn’t help but respond every time she was nearby while she seemed completely immune to him. There was something satisfying about seeing that he could get a reaction from her, even if only irritation – a muscle jumping in her jaw as she clenched her teeth. Still, she didn’t ask him what he meant. She probably didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. So into the silence that fell between them, he explained, “Julian went back to England.”
“Oh, really? When I talked with someone at the precinct and they gave me his name, they didn’t say anything about him planning to leave. What happened? Did you join the force and he decided he’d rather flee the country than put up with you for any longer than he had to? Can’t say I blame him,” she asked with an overly sweet smile.
Barry glowered at her. “No, I’ve actually worked for the CCPD for a few years, now. But I was out for a while, and he was just a temporary replacement until I got back.”
“Pulling your usual disappearing act, Houdini?”
He bristled at the familiar nickname she’d given him a decade earlier. “Actually, I was in an accident. I spent a few months in the hospital. In a coma. Thanks for asking.”
He expected her to make some sort of joke about him sleeping on the job, but she didn’t. Instead, she stepped forward and reached over the yellow tape to grab his wrist, wincing slightly when a spark of static electricity arced between them. But her voice was soft when she asked, “Really? Oh, god, Barry, that sounds terrible. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” As though wanting to see for herself that he was unharmed, she pulled off her sunglasses and swept her gaze over his body, looking for any sign of injury.
When their eyes met, he felt like the ground fell out from under his feet, leaving him freefalling. Suddenly ashamed of his behavior, he flushed. “I’m…better,” he replied, his voice thick.
He couldn’t move, couldn’t look away, until she blushed and released her hold on his wrist. “I’m…I’m glad,” she admitted in a soft voice. “Anyway, I should let you get back to work.”
As she turned to leave, he blurted, “Wait. Are you sure you don’t want my help? It’s been a long time. People can change, you know.”
She seemed to consider his question for a moment, but finally she gave him a firm nod. “I’m sure. People can change, but the truth is, they usually don’t.” 
Unable to think of words to convince her to stay – and uncertain why he even wanted to – he could only watch as she walked away. Out of his life. Again.
EXPLOSION AT S.T.A.R. LABS KILLS FIVE, INJURES DOZENS. Iris barely noticed the headline as she scrolled through the pages of the online newspaper. For the last few hours, she’d tried to put her unexpected encounter with Barry Allen out of her mind – with absolutely zero success. She finally convinced herself that she was just curious to know what had happened to put him in the hospital, and so she’d searched the online archives for his name. Finally, at the bottom of page three, she found the article. CCPD OFFICER HOSPITALIZED AFTER LIGHTNING STRIKE.
It sounded horrible, and her heart twisted at the headline. She’d just begun to skim the article when her phone rang. When she saw the name that flashed on her screen, Iris smiled and leaned back in her chair, stretching a few kinks from her back as she answered the call.
“Tell me you are not still at work,” the woman on the other end of the line chastised her before she could even finish her greeting.
Iris glanced at the time and grimaced and hit the button to turn off her monitor. Bending, she grabbed her purse out of her drawer. “What? I don’t know what you mean. I submitted my story hours ago,” she prevaricated as she moved hastily towards the exit.
“Which doesn’t mean you’re not still at work,” Linda pointed out. Iris stifled a sigh. That was the problem with being friends with someone long enough that they could tell when you were splitting hairs. “You really do have to get a life eventually, you know.”
“I will!” she cried defensively. “I mean, I do! I totally have a life! I’m just…still getting settled in, is all.”
To her relief, her friend let that one pass without comment. “So, how was your first day as an official part of CCPN? I’m sorry I couldn’t be there, you know. Stupid last-minute assignments. But we’re totally going to celebrate when I get back.”
“It’s all right, I understand. And it was great!” Walking towards her car, she said, “You’ll never believe who I ran into today. Barry Allen,” she supplied before Linda could guess. A long moment of silence greeted that revelation, so she pressed, “Linda, why didn’t you tell me he’d been in an accident? It sounds pretty serious.”
She heard the heavy sigh on the other end of the line. “Honestly? I wasn’t sure that you’d want to know.” At Iris’s offended gasp, she exclaimed, “I didn’t mean it like that! But it’s just…look, everybody knows how to two of you are. You’ve never gotten along. And you had a lot going on. Your engagement with Eddie had just ended, and you were…well, I just figured you had enough to worry about that a freak accident involving some guy you couldn’t stand in college probably wouldn’t be your primary concern.”
Iris understood where Linda was coming from, but somehow the words still hurt. “I wouldn’t say I couldn’t stand him. I mean, okay, we were never friends.” She felt a slight twinge of guilt as she said the words, telling herself it was just a little white lie. They never had been friends…exactly. If she told Linda now that there had been a couple times they might have become something more, she’d never live it down. Ignoring the memories, she continued, “But that doesn’t mean I hated him. I mean, he wasn’t just some guy. He was your friend. He was part of the group. If I’d known he’d been in an accident, I would have come by. I always assumed the two of you stayed in touch after college.”
“We have,” Linda admitted. “I don’t see him as often as Caitlin does, but we grab lunch together once a month or so. Listen, I’m sorry, Iris. If I’d known that you’d want to be there, I would have told you. I mean that. I just assumed that you…you know…”
“That I wouldn’t care,” she finished with a sigh. It still hurt a little, but she could hardly blame her friend. Her friends, really. Her fights with Barry had been practically legendary back in the day. She supposed in their shoes, she’d have assumed the same thing. “So, how long was he in a coma?”
There was another long silence before Linda admitted in a reluctant voice, “Um…about…nine months.”
“Nine months??” she practically shrieked in shock. “Jesus, Linda!”
“But he’s okay now! I mean, you obviously know that if you saw him today. He was in a coma for a while, and the doctors weren’t sure if he would come out of it. Then one day he just…did. It was…amazing, if you want to know the truth. So, are you working with him on a story, then?”
Iris snorted. “Hardly. I mean, I’m glad he’s okay, but you know what it’s like when two of us are together. We’ve always been like oil and water. Toothpaste and orange juice.”
“Gasoline on a fire?”
Iris grinned. “More like cyanide and…well, pretty much anything, I guess.”
“So, which of you is the cyanide?” Linda asked with a laugh. 
Feigning offense, Iris tried not to laugh in return as she retorted, “I’m going to pretend that you didn’t even have to ask.”
Barry leaned back in his chair and sighed, staring at the small scrap of cardstock on the desk in front of him. The edges were no longer crisp; though new, the card already looked slightly worn from being handled so often over the last few days. 
He tried to turn his attention to the stack of cases by his elbow, but his attention was drawn once more to the card’s lettering.
Iris West Central City Picture News
Her e-mail address and phone number were emblazoned below, and Barry stared at the string of digits. He could call her and apologize. They’d never gotten along, but that didn’t stop him from feeling guilty over his behavior. He’d given in to his frustration that she didn’t want anything to do with him. Just like he always did. But if she was working the crime beat for CCPN – as seemed likely, given her appearance at one of his crime scenes – then their paths were bound to cross again. They didn’t have to like each other, but surely they could be professional.
That decided it. He would call her and suggest a truce. It was time to put the past behind them. Before he could lose his nerve, he picked up the phone and dialed the number on the bottom. It was only when the phone started to ring that he glanced at the clock and realized it was after nine. There was no way Iris would be working so late. Well, he could leave a message, he decided. Then the ball would be in her court, at least.
However, much to his surprise, Iris answered the phone after the third ring. Her voice was a little higher than usual as she answered. “Hello?”
“It’s Barry. Um…Barry Allen.” He grimaced, realizing how lame he sounded, but he’d called her on impulse, before taking the time to think through what he would actually say. “I was calling about the other day. I wanted to apologize–”
“What? Barry? I appreciate that, but this really isn’t a good time.” He straightened abruptly in his chair, hearing the tension in her voice.
“Iris? Where are you? Are you okay?”
Lowering her voice, Iris murmured quickly, “Listen, I need you to call Singh right now. Tell him if he wants to know who’s running the operation to smuggle in the drugs that have been flooding into the city lately, he should send a squad to Cavendish Tower. Eighteenth floor. Tell him – hold on.”
He heard Iris move, and then silence for a long moment. Finally, he heard her yelp as a muffled voice on the other end of the line said, “Well, well, well. What do we have here? Someone poking their nose where it doesn’t belong?”
Another voice replied, “Get rid of her. No, not the gun. Do you want the police crawling around this place? Make it look like an accident, stupid.”
Barry was moving before the sentence was finished. Luckily, he’d stored a spare suit nearby, because he doubted he would have bothered to take the time to change, otherwise. Even though his speed let him change into his suit in a fraction of a second.
Though he’d spent endless hours in training in the last few months, trying to test the limit of his speed, he had no doubt he ran faster than he ever had before as he raced to the Cavendish Building. On the other end of the line, he heard the unmistakable sounds of a scuffle, followed by a man cursing. Then his heart stopped as he heard glass break.
“Throw her out!” one of the men yelled.
Barry was still a block away when he saw a large figure toss Iris through the open window, her petite body falling towards the ground below. Although he hadn’t yet tested whether he could move fast enough to run up the side of a building, he didn’t have time to doubt himself or second-guess his plan of action.
Pushing himself even harder, Barry ran as fast as he could. His eyes locked on Iris, he barely noticed that his plan was working. He was actually running up the side of a building. Instead, he focused on her angle of descent, realizing only a second before he reached her that she was falling too far away from the building. If he wanted to catch her, he would have to jump.
Although part of him was scared that it would cause him to lose just enough momentum that the two of them would go hurtling towards the ground, he didn’t hesitate. When he was a few feet away from her, he crouched quickly and leaped into the air as high as he could, swallowing a silent prayer that it would be enough.
Barry almost sobbed in relief when she landed hard against him, but he knew he couldn’t stop yet or they would die. Straining to pick up the speed he’d lost in the jump, Barry turned and ran back down the building. Once back on the ground, however, he wasn’t sure what to do. Even with his mask, he was afraid she would recognize him if she got a good look at his face, and he wasn’t sure he should risk it. But he didn’t want to just leave her without asking if she was okay.
Acting on impulse, Barry ran a few blocks away and carried Iris up the side of a coffee shop that was closed for the evening. The roof was dark, too high for the dim glow of the street lights below to reach. It was only then that he stopped and held her close, savoring the feel of her in his arms. But he knew he couldn’t hold onto her forever. Breathing heavily – more from lingering fear than exertion – Barry slowly, reluctantly, put her back on her feet though he still held her tight against him. Standing like this, it was easy to forget the animosity that they’d shared over the years as he remembered the first time he’d held her in his arms. Like it had then, his body ached with the desire not to let her go.
“Phi Delta Epsilon? Really?” he asked, his voice filled with dread as they walked towards the front steps.
Cisco laughed. “It’s a party, not an execution. Come on! It’ll be fun!”
Barry snorted. “I’ve heard about their parties. I’m not entirely sure they aren’t the same thing.”
“Yeah, I probably wouldn’t have come either, except…if you saw the girl who invited me…trust me; it’s worth it.” Stifling a chuckle, Barry rolled his eyes and followed his friend inside. “I’m going to see if I can find her. Try to have fun, okay?”
As Cisco walked away, Barry stifled a sigh and scanned the room, hoping to see someone he knew to talk to. That was when he saw her, standing across the room. In her bright red dress, she had drawn a crowd of men to her like moths to a flame, but she looked like she wanted to escape. Then their eyes met, and he found himself unable to draw breath.
She murmured something to the man who was trying unsuccessfully to convince her to accept the drink he offered. Then she stepped forward, weaving her way through the crowd. Barry’s heart started to pound as she approached. Even in heels, she was tiny; he had to bow his head so she could murmur in his ear. “You look like you’re as happy to be here as I am,” she said, her voice lightly teasing.
“My friend wanted to come, so he dragged me along,” he admitted.
She nodded, as though he had only confirmed something she’d suspected. Wrapping her hand around his wrist, she gave it a tug. “Dance with me?”
“Are you sure? I’m not a great dancer,” he admitted, though he followed her readily enough.
The stranger wrapping her arms around his neck and started to move to the music, silently encouraging him to move with her. “Even better,” she replied, laughing in his ear.
“Just follow my lead,” she directed. She was intoxicating. He’d follow her anywhere. I’m going to marry this girl someday. The words came with an almost bone-deep conviction.
Oblivious to his thoughts, she turned, pressing against him as she lifted one arm to curl around his neck to run her fingers through his hair. Grabbing his hand, she brought it to her stomach, holding it in place. He moved his other hand to her hip, stroking the soft fabric of her dress.
I’m going to marry this girl someday.
Iris started to pull away to look up at him, and he sped behind her before she could get a good look at his face. “I-” He caught himself just in time. Using his speed to vibrate his vocal cords and face, he asked, “Miss West? Are you okay?” Iris froze as he stepped behind her until he repeated his question. “Are you okay?”
She turned slowly and stared at him with wide eyes. “Oh, my god. It’s you. It’s really you.”
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sinners-paradiseme · 4 years
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GRAVEYARDS ARE ONLY FOR THE DEAD || SELF PARA FOR JAYDEN & JOCELYN
TRIGGERS: NEGATIVE THINKING, SUICIDAL HINTS, SELF HARM MENTIONS, SURVIVOR'S GUILT
MENTIONS: RUBY, MARCUS, MICAH, XAVIER
Jocelyn knew that Jayden wouldn’t have left her daughter’s grave without flowers, especially during the holiday season, but she never thought that Jayden would be the one placing them herself. She clenched her jaw as Jocelyn as Jayden’s security guards dragged her from her hiding place. She wasn’t sure how she was gonna face on of the many people she lied to because she didn’t think she was gonna live. She never thought in a million years that Julian would purposely OD to safe her live just a few moments before she went into complete heart failure.  Jocelyn had made her peace with death, but she knew Julian wouldn’t have let her go so easily. God, things would have been so much easier if she had fallen in love with Julian instead of Micah. She groaned as she landed next to the dirt by her daughter’s grave. “What happened to not hurting girls?” She asked as she sighed softly looking up at Jayden.
Jayden ran her fingers through her hair, there is nothing she hated more than people disrespecting her and her family. She was trying to pay respects to Jocelyn and her niece, when her bodyguards told her there had been someone lurking in the shadows and watching her. She had to teach said person that mourning wasn’t something to be interrupted. She never expected to see her. Jocelyn in all her flesh and glory. She clenched her jaw as emotions rattled through her body. She didn’t know which one to focus on first but like always anger was her go too, before she could react her hand stung and the resounding sound of flesh hitting flesh was heard. Her eyes widen as she realized her handprint was now a shining red against Jocelyn skin. “I should feel sorry for that asshole, but I fucken buried you.” Jayden said through a choked sob, as she gathered Jocelyn in her arms. She hugged her tightly.
Jocelyn was honestly shocked to feel the sting and hurt and stung in her cheek, she didn’t expect any less from Jayden though. The female had always been a hurricane lead by emotions, anger always leading the charge when she felt vulnerable. She took a deep breath, “Okay, so I see that only applies to the ones you didn’t bury?” She whispered softly in her ever present sarcastic tone. She ran her fingers through her hair, “What did you want me to do, Jayden? Comeback? Say oh sorry, I didn’t fucken die like I had worked everything around for? That I couldn’t do the one thing I was supposed to do.” Jocelyn’s own eye had gotten watery because just like her true self. She had run away from all her emotions and thoughts since the day she woke up after they told her she wouldn’t make it. She kept running and she hadn’t planned on stopping. “I left my son…” She whispered softly as she buried her face into Jayden’s hair as the other woman gripped her tightly. 
Jayden couldn’t help but let the let out a dry chuckle at Jocelyn’s reply. She knew they were good from dealing with their feelings, that’s why they had gotten along so well when she was brought around. She was so much closer to Jocelyn’s age than she was to Aaden’s. They had become like sisters before she had gotten pregnant with Gabrielle. Before she suffered her first heartbreak at the hands of Aaden. “I swear, if I didn’t miss your ass as much as I have I would have given you another slap for that reply.” She honestly thought that after living with the Coldburn’s she would have gotten used to the snappy replies since they seemed to fly off Micah when he decided to speak but nothing was like Jocelyn’s personality. Even Aaden had been surprised at her decision to go towards Regina instead of Jocelyn. She clenched her jaw as she listened to her friend. She kissed her forehead, “Do you honestly think we would be upset if you are still here, dummy.” She whispered softly. She rubbed her friend’s back softly as she tried to get her to breathe and calm down. “He is okay, he is happy and safe. He is everything you wanted him to be.” Jayden told her softly as sat both on the piece of grass next to Jocelyn’s and Micakayla’s tombstones. “You aren’t coming back are you?” Jayden whispered softly as she looked out into the distance. 
Jocelyn couldn’t help but let out a soft grin, she was happy that her two best friends had found happiness in each other at the end of things. She was happy that she had been there to witness it for a little while. She cleaned her tears as she sat with Jayden on the grass, she let out a shaky sigh. “Tell me that me being gone has made a difference? You can’t really can you?” She shrugged softly, “Other than you, marcus and my sisters, who can really miss me?” She ran her fingers through her hair as she thought about her pretty boy. He was the only perfect thing she ever made. She missed him so much, but she knew one day she would see him again. She hoped her son would understand her decision. “I hope Micah doesn’t lose him.” She joked softly knowing that even in his worse state Micah would look after his son. She licked her lips as she shrugged softly, “I don’t know, I’m not ready… I don’t know if I will ever be.” Jocelyn had to much survivor's guilt to deal with anything right now. She lot Julian and had been her own rock since she woke up across the world alone. Jocelyn got up and kissed Jayden’s forehead. “Te amo, Amada. If you ever want to find me, come alone. I’ll be where your heart lies.” She whispered softly before giving her friend a soft hand squeeze before squeezing her eyes softly as she walked away once again.
Jayden wanted to scream and make Jocelyn sit and listen to her, but she knew neither of them responded well to being cornered. Plus even if she did all that, there was a slight chance that she might push Jocelyn right over an edge they both loved to linger on. The reason why they were so quick to throw themselves in front of danger and not care what happened to them as long as the people they care about they were safe. “Well all four of us are a couple shit show, if that makes you feel any better. Jesus, Jos. I can’t even tell you how much I wish you were there, when Marcus lost it completely. I gave birth to another baby alone, just like I did with the girls. Who I almost lost.” She said with a soft whisper, knowing she couldn’t beg her friend to stay because that would be extremely hurtful to many not just Jocelyn. Jayden chuckled softly as she shook her head, “If I can trust Bentley with a part of my heart, I think it’s safe to say your baby boy is going to be just fine. I’ll make sure of it.” She took a deep breath as she nodded as she squeezed Jocelyn’s hand in return. “Te amo, Jos. Cuidate, Hermana.” She whispered softly, knowing she had to let her go. She cleaned her cheeks as she watched Jocelyn leave.
Jocelyn took a deep breath as she watched Jayden, she knew she was battling the same tornado of emotions that Jocelyn knew far too well. It was why their bound had always been so strong because of it. They knew what emotions ravaged their minds stronger than everything did at times. She clenched her jaw softly as she was told about Marcus, her golden retriever of best friend. Who had the darkest place to hide. She brushed her tears clean, “Amada, I wish I could have been there but… Even if I hadn’t gone through all the plans. I still a fucken mess from losing, Julian. I’m not good for anyone right now. I’m not even good for my son.” She smiled softly, “So I have another niece.” Jocelyn handed her phone over to Jayden. “I’ll text you when I get settled. Send me pictures when I do of them.” She smirked softly as she licked her lips, “Green eyes were always your weak spot love, I’m not surprised.” She said with a soft grin as she nodded taking in a deep breath. “Don’t ever let him forget I love him. Either of them.” She whispered softly and nodded before disappearing into a dark car. 
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redfoxwritesstuff · 5 years
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Clover And Lace - Chapter 6
Happy Friday! I do hope you all are doing well. Me, I’m excited to be finishing up writing this series and I’m just as excited to share it with you all over the next 12 weeks or so. As always, thank you to @winterisakiller who has been more than valuable in the development of this series. 
For those who don’t know- Links to the prior chapters are in my Masterlist. If you can’t find it, give ‘kit’s masterlist’ a search. I do very much love to hear what you think. 
Rosemary let her head thump against the door when she heard his footsteps reach the bottom of the staircase. It took all her self control to hold her head up and not again thump it against the door as she listened to the sound of Steve’s footsteps go down the stairs. It was like as soon as the door closed behind him, her sanity returned and reality crashed down around her.
Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to breath calmly. It felt like the walls were crashing down around her. He was everything she wanted and more. Tears dripped from her chin as a shaking hand reached up to touch her lips. They were soft and swollen still from the kisses they had shared. She was well and truly in over her head.
The sound of her phone vibrating in her purse finally drew her away from the door. At least she was lucky enough that Mrs. Jones hadn’t found her way up the stairs yet. She thought about ignoring it but she knew who it was calling.
Jillian had a special ring setting in her phone. It never had any sound regardless of what her phone was set to. Rather it just vibrated, starting strong and tapering off until nothing twice and that was it. Enough to get her attention without raising any red flags.
He would have known she left the house today and would be looking to know why. She didn’t really feel like getting into it with him. Yet if she didn’t answer he would worry for good reason. She moved around and hid not because she wanted to but because she had to.
It was better if she could never be tracked down. Within the underground world it was assumed that Julian was a sole operator. Rosemary herself was treated as a myth. Some people claimed to have seen her. Others claimed she didn’t actually exist. It was safer that way.
With a sigh she walked back to the now silent phone. It was still ringing inside the purse as she picked it up though the phone was now still and the screen was dark. Still she unlocked it and hit the call button and like magic a call was received from a cryptic contact labeled only as ‘J’.
“Hey.” Rosemary hated how defeated she sounded.
“You okay?” Julian seemed to pick up on the emotions in her voice right away and put the twenty questions on hold for a moment.
“Yeah. I’m just feeling… I don’t know.”
“Did something happen today? You went out.”
“Yeah. No. I don’t know?” Julian laughed at her confused and conflicted response but sobered quickly.
“You sound like you’ve been crying?”
“Yeah I have.”
“Did someone find you?” Julian was probably pacing the secure room that was behind his office right now. It was where he often went to when they actually talked on the phone. They mainly communicated by texts that were wiped within an hour of being read or the text program being closed.
“No one found me.” She reassured him. That was a fear that lived just as much in his mind as hers.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“I went to see a movie.” She admitted as if it was some dirty secret.
“And? Who did you go with?”
“Steve.”
“You shouldn’t even still be seeing him.” Julian scolds but she knows it is out of true concern for her well being.
“You don’t understand.” That was something she’d never told him before. “I’m always alone Julian. Always-”
“No you’re not. I’m always right here for-”
“No, Julian you’re not. You’re in the big city two hours away. And that’s the closest we’ve really been in the last five years. He’s kind and sweet.”
“And he could get you killed.” Julian heaved a sigh and she was sure he was pinching the bridge of his nose. Some old habits would only die when he did. “What about when he gets tired of you hiding things? What about when you have to just up and leave?”
“He said I could have my secrets.”
“For now.” She cringed because that’s essentially what he had said. She could have her secrets for now. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’m not going to be found-”
“I don’t just mean- Listen to me, Rose. I don’t want him to break your heart. I don’t want you to fall in love and have to leave him behind. I just want to protect you.”
“I want you to trust me.” Never in her life did she think she would be pleading Julian for anything yet here she was with tears in her eyes while she fought to keep her voice steady.
“Rosemary.”
“No.” One deep breath. Two deep breaths. “I’m sorry. I swear I wont tell him anything. I swear if I have to pack up and leave, I’ll do it. But let me have this.”
Steve lounged on the couch, beer in hand as Bucky wondered out of the bathroom. His dark hair was a damp mess of waves and sweatpants slung low on his hips. Any woman would kill to have a man like him if not for a few tiny details. The lingering shadow of mental instability, history of murder and missing limb all very valid reasons to run the other way. Still Steve loved his friend like a brother and like a brother Bucky took an interest in Steve’s personal life even when he didn’t want him to.
“How’d it go?” Bucky’s voice carried well enough though the apartment for him to be heard even as he rummaged through his closet in his bedroom.
“Good.” Steve called back. “Then not so good. Then great.”
“What does that even mean?” Bucky came down the hall while pulling a shirt down his torso. “What did you fuck up now?”
“Nothing, why do you automatically assume I fucked up somehow?” Shock crossed Steve’s face.
“You’re the one that said things went ‘good, then not so good, then great’.” Bucky pointed out as he sat down on the coffee table that somehow managed to hold up to the both of them using it as another chair more often than not. “What happened and start from the beginning.”
Six beers between the two men and one long recounting of Steve’s somewhat odd day in great detail later, it was late and they both were tired. Steve’s head was tilted back, resting against the back of the couch and closed his eyes. He was wholly done with the conversation.
“Look, I like her- okay?” Steve didn’t even look over at Bucky as he spoke. “I like Sara. A lot.”
“Okay, yeah. I get that. But she’s got secrets big enough that she tried to break things off with you before you’ve even started. And she won’t even tell you what they are.”
“So? It’s not like I’m going to marry her tomorrow or next week.” Steve reached down and picked up his beer only to find it empty and set it down again. It didn’t matter- it wasn’t as if he could get drunk off them anymore. Still, drinking them gave him a sense of normalcy he craved.
“Is her name even Sara?”
“I have no reason to think it isn’t. Anyway it’s not like she’s Hydra or anything.”
“How do you know that? Have you looked into her? What’s her last name?”
“Buck. She’s a small town artist who paints watercolors. She doesn’t eve own a car.” Steve laughed at the absurdity of the idea. “What ever it is that upset her it’s probably overbearing family or something.”
“Or maybe drug lords she owes money to? Maybe a husband she’s hiding? Maybe she’s the daughter of a Hydra official?”
“You do realize how crazy you sound, right?”
“In your line of work- can you really be too careful?” Buck stood, snagging his empty bottles and Steve’s off the coffee table.
“In our line of work its healthy to embrace the normal and she is just that, normal.” Bucky scoffed while tossing the bottles into the trash. Steve rolled his eyes before standing to face his life long friend. “If and when her and I get serious if she still doesn’t trust me with her secrets I’ll consider looking into her.”
“Man, I’m telling you this stinks so just be careful.” Bucky offered.
“Find yourself a relationship so you can stop meddling in mine.” Steve called out to his friend’s retreating back.
“Why are you pacing?” Bucky’s groggy voice cut through the morning air. “It’s not even seven.”
“I’m thinking.”
“Not about making a pot of coffee it seems.” Grumbling, Bucky set about making a pot of coffee since Steve clearly had other things on his mind.
“She doesn’t know.”
Bucky sighed and squeezed his eyes closed. It was too early for this shit. “Who doesn’t know what?”
“Sara and who I am.”
“How the hell does she not know who you are? Did you give her your actual name? You did, right?” Bucky watched intently as the dark liquid began to drip into the pot. It wasn’t filling fast enough.
“Yes I told her my actual name.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Bucky glared at the coffee pot. It was filling too slow for this conversation.
“She doesn’t watch much TV or pay much attention to the news.” Another trip across the living room and back was completed and the next was started. Steve still hadn’t slowed his pacing.
“So?” The pot finally finished and Bucky wasted no time in filling his mug. A generous splash of cream lowered the temp enough that he could begin sipping it.
“I told her I work in security.” Steve finally stopped, collapsing into a stool at the breakfast bar in front of Bucky.
“It’s not a lie, I guess.” A few more sips of coffee and Bucky was starting to think better. “I guess you can’t hold her secrets against her if you keep your own. Why didn’t you tell her?”
“Because she was talking to me to talk to me. Not to talk to Captain fucking America.”
“Bitter over your title now?”
“No. Maybe, a bit. Sometimes? It’s nice to not have it be the first thing she saw.”
Steve hated to admit it but the weight of the title was heavy and the fans were tiring. He’d long ago given up on a social life outside of those he worked with because all he was ever seen as was ‘Captian America’ by the general public. He couldn’t blame them, really. In their place he would have been the same way in the 40’s.
“Why’s this an immediate problem that has you pacing at half till seven? She’s got her secrets so she can’t be too mad about you having one.”
“Because we’re going on a mission. We leave in the afternoon.”
“You didn’t think about leading off with that? Like, ‘hey, maybe drink some coffee and pack for work and I’ll unpack my drama on the jet.’?” Bucky grumbled as he downed the rest of his mug only to refill it.
“You’ve got a point.”
“How long we looking at?”
“A few weeks.”
“How deep?”
“Minimal contact but not a total black out.” Steve stood, knowing he needed to start getting his things in order, make sure the bills for the next few weeks would auto pay and he would have everything he needed and would want during the weeks away packed.
“You’ll at least still be able to talk to her.”
“Not as much as I am now.” Steve sighed. “I’ve got to tell her.”
“She’ll probably just worry if you do.” Bucky pointed out, coming around the kitchen island.
“True. But if something were to happen she’d never know.”
“Nothing ever happens.” Bucky offered.
“But if something did. Even if we end up having to go dark without warning- I don’t want her thinking I don’t want to see her anymore or that she did something wrong.” Steve was justifying his choice but they both knew he would tell her. His strong moral compass wouldn’t allow him to go on a mission for over a week and not tell her.
The ping of an incoming message drew Rosemary’s attention from her computer. She was tired and her back was stiff but today was a busy day it seemed. Her web of informants were providing a steady stream of information. Some of it was outright profitable, other things not so much. Yet most of it was useful in some way.
Steve: Good Morning, Doll. Sleep well?
Rosemary smiled. He texted her something similar most mornings though she didn’t realize it was in fact morning already. She managed to work through the night.
Rosemary: Stayed up too late painting
Steve: I didn’t wake you, did I?
Rosemary: Not at all. I’ve not actually slept yet. Oops?
Steve: Can I come by?
Steve: Or call?
Steve: Calling probably would be better. I don’t really have the time to drive out.
Rosemary frowned at her phone as she watched the string of messages come in. Something was up. Steve wasn’t acting or at least messaging as he normally did. He seemed nervous and that put her on edge. Was he going to break up with her? Did she do something wrong? Did he decide that the secrets were too much after all? Did he find out she wasn’t who she said she was?
Rosemary: Sure. Everything okay?
The phone started ringing a moment later.
“Mute music.” Rosemary ordered the computer as took a deep breath and answered. “Hey?”
“Hey Sara.” He sounded as anxious as he did in the texts.
“What’s up?” She tried to sound relaxed herself but feared she didn’t do a good job of it. “Everything okay?”
“I just… Look, Sara- I wasn’t completely honest with you before when I said I work in security.”
“Okay? So what, you’re security for the Mob?” She tried to laugh at her own joke as she thought about if she should have done an information search on Steve before after all.
“No. Nothing like that. I mean, nothing illegal like that at least.”
“Okay.”
“I just, I was so caught off guard when you asked me what I did for work. No one ever asks that. Everyone just already knows. It was nice that you didn’t know. I liked that you saw me for me and that it didn’t matter.”
“You’re rambling, Steve.”
“Right.”
“Why would I know who you are?”
“Because I’m… Look, are you sitting down?”
“Yep.”
“I work with the Avengers.” Rosemary cringed. Of fucking course he did.
“Doing?”
“I’m Steve Rogers.”
“You said that already.”
“I’m Captain America.”
“Excuse me, you’re who now?” Rosemary shut the lid of her laptop with far more force than intended.
“Sara, I said I’m Captain America.” Steve repeated and Rosemary could hear laughing in the background on his end. Her mind clicked into overdrive as she tried to place who could be there.
“Okay. What does that mean for-” Her voice trailed off. She wasn’t sure if they even had an ‘us’.
“Us?” He offered the word softly and she nodded, though he couldn’t see it. “It doesn’t have to change anything. I’m still the same Steve, my job’s just a bit different.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rosemary felt guilty for asking with all that she hadn’t told him but she was curious. “It’s okay if you don’t want to explain it. It doesn’t matter, really.”
“I didn’t mean to. It’s just… you didn’t realize who I was and just saw me for me. I didn’t want to become just Cap to you.” She listened as he heaved a sigh from the city. “If you don’t want to hear from me again, that’s fine. I’d understand.”
“No- I do.” She answered impulsively and cringed. “I just… what made you tell me?”
“Well it’s about work.” Rosemary nearly dropped her phone.
“What’s that?” She tried to keep her voice calm.
“I’m going to be going out on a mission for the next few weeks.”
“Will it be dangerous?” Rosemary bit her lip as she tried to think.
“Any mission can be.” Steve admitted. “We don’t expect this one to be too dangerous though.”
“So you’ll be gone for a while?”
“Yeah. But this one isn’t expected to be a total communication black out. I’ll have my phone on me and be able to text during down time. I may even be able to swing a few calls.”
“Will that be safe?” She took a deep breath. “That’s a dumb question.”
“I won’t access my phone unless it’s safe for me to do so. I won’t call unless it’s safe. I won’t put you in danger.”
“Okay. Promise you will be as safe as you can be?”
“I will. If I do have to go dark I’ll try to let you know.”
“What if…?”
“Something goes wrong?”
“Yeah.”
“Nothing will go wrong.” Steve reassured.
“But if it does?”
“If things go bad it will probably be in the news.” Steve laughed for a moment but stopped when she didn’t join in. “Okay- not funny. I’ll let the team know that if something happens to me to let you know. But nothing will happen. It’s routine.”
“Okay.” She breathed the word twice as she tried to convince herself that it would be okay.
“I needed you to know who I really was. I didn’t want you to be upset if I couldn’t talk as much as we have been.”
“That makes sense. I’ll just take what I can get. You’ll let me know when you’re back?”
“First thing.” Steve promised. “But also- I wanted you to know that whatever the reasons you have for your secrets, I can keep you safe if and when you let me in on whatever it is.”
“I can’t.” Her voice was tight and she suddenly wanted to cry as dumb as it was. “I can’t tell you. You can’t ask me too.”
“I won’t. I won’t right now but I hope in time you’ll trust me. I want to earn your trust.”
“In time.”
“I should get going. I’ve got to pack still…”
“Let me know when you leave?”
“Will do.”
Rosemary ended the call with a sigh and threw her phone on the bed behind her. Wasting no time she started pacing the bedroom. Wine was a good idea, surely. Or maybe not. She needed to call Julian. She needed to leave, get off Steve’s radar. He was a fucking Avenger.
“Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuckity fucking fuck.”
She didn’t want to go. Surely there was someway she could spin it with Julian some way that he would allow her to stay. That thought caused her to stop in her tracks. Julian wasn’t her keeper. He wasn’t her boss. He wasn’t her elder brother. He wasn’t her father. They were equals, partners. She wouldn’t allow him to make her choice for her.
Now she just needed to decide what she wanted to do.
Tag list: @bambamwolf87, @dangertoozmanykids101, @alexakeyloveloki, @theoneanna, @0-0-0-0-0-0-0-7, @missaphrodite23, @j-u-s-t-4, @fairlightswiftly, @princess76179
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happilywithharold · 6 years
Text
A Lullaby for Julian Part Three
Harry had spoken very few words since leaving my house to the emergency room. The tension was so prominent, I could have sank into my seat and he would have never noticed. Not to mention the doctors and nurses avoided us at all costs until out stepped Anne from one of the corridors.
“Harry. Y/N. We’re down here in this room.” She said, gesturing towards one of the spaces beyond the small and pristine waiting area. Her face appeared distraught, the crease engraved on her forehead a clear sign something was awfully wrong. “The doctor is still running some tests, but I swear it all happened so fast. I turned around for one second, and the- Oh, God. Harry, I am so sorry.”
Harry stalked behind his mother with urgency. “What exactly happened to him? He was fine when I left.”
“He fell.” Anne led us down the hall, stopping at outside one of the exam rooms. “I was feeding him some of his little snacks on the couch. I ran to get his bottle but before I could even leave the room, I heard him screaming. He hit his head, so I brought him as soon as possible.”
“S’alright, mum. These things happen.” Harry wasted no time in bulldozing his way through the door to get to Julian. “How is he?”
I could only hope the poor baby wasn’t in any pain. My mind sorted through a list of the worst scenarios, but the moment I saw him I knew everything would be okay.
Julian laid against the doctor’s chest but sprung up the instant he laid eyes on Harry and I. The area where he had hit his head was painted a bright variation of pink and red. The ghastly thought this was my fault popped into my head. If Harry had been with him instead of me, then this would have never happened.
The doctor peered at Harry and smiled. “He is going to be just fine. I just ran the last few tests on him, but it looks like little Julian is in the clear. I would check in on him periodically while he sleeps, but that’s about it. Lucky for you and your wife, the extent of his injuries is the bruise he’s going to wake up to tomorrow morning.”
Wife. My face fell as soon as the words slipped from the doctor’s mouth. Of course, he was oblivious to the implication he had made, but Harry and I weren't. It was like adding salt to the already stinging wound.
“I'm not his wife.”
Harry gave me a look, one that made me second guess even correcting the doctor. It was easy to understand why he was so angry. I had rejected him more than once and now, we had an audience to accompany us.
The doctor nodded curtly, finally catching on to the awkward atmosphere shared between Harry and I. “My apologies. If there are no more questions, you are all free to go.” Harry nodded his head no, opting for silence. “Alright. Then I shall see you at your next appointment,” He exclaimed, gently tickling Julian’s chin.
The doctor escorted us out and parted ways with us after reaching the next exam room. We all quietly walked out of the hospital and towards our respective cars. Anne was the first to break the silence.
“Harry, let me know if you need anything.” She hugged him and placed her lips on Julian’s head sweetly. “See you soon, sweet boy. Feel better.”
She parted with one last knowing look towards me and got into her car to drive away. Anne was more than knowledgeable about Harry and I’s history. She was the main one I confided in about my crush after she found me completely wasted at his eighteenth birthday party. Everything seemed so complicated then but little did I know Grace would only further complicate things three years later. I knew she, along with everyone else, would never accept the idea of Harry and I now.
Harry buckled Julian into his car seat and tugged on it to assure it was secure before jumping into the front seat, all the while not saying a word to me.
I followed his actions and sighed. “Are you going to talk to me?”
“You aren't my wife. What does it matter? I'm not obligated to talk to you just like you aren't obligated to talk to me.” I slumped into my seat in defeat and peered out the window, while he continued. “Besides, I think we've both done more than enough talking.”
“You’re mad. Great.”
“I’m not mad. You've made your feelings pretty clear, Y/N.”
He could not possibly understand the gravity of what he was asking from me. Grace used to come to me for advice when she and Harry had their little tiffs about this and that. She also came to me when she wanted to know what she should surprise him with for Christmas. I was her confidant in her time of need even when I longed to be in her position. Now that it was a possibility, I could not fathom the idea of being with Harry. It would never be okay.
“I’m not her.”
His knuckles grew white as he clenched the steering wheel. “I never asked you to be. You think I don’t know how strange this is? I do. It’s not easy for me either, but there is no easy way out of this. I can’t just ignore how you make me feel. I care about you as you are, Y/N.”
Listening to him talk about us with such determination was difficult. It made it impossible for me to doubt his feelings any longer. Grief or no grief, Harry felt the same earth-shattering infatuation I had all these years.
“I might even love you…” He whispered.
At first, I didn’t catch the barely there words he spoke. I knew he meant them though. I knew Harry like the back of my hand. His favorite color was green. He loved to listen to music when sleep failed him, more specifically acoustic music. He played with the stubble on his face and scrunched his forehead when he was in deep thought. All of these things and more, I knew. Yet, this was one thing I could never have predicted.
Tears pricked my eyes as I ripped my tortured gaze from him. “Let me out.”
“What? Y/N, please-”
“Let me out!” I had to do what was best for the both us and right now, which was to lie to him. He would never see things the way I did. “I don’t love you. I never want to see you again, Harry. I mean it. Let me out.”
He bought every word. The expression on his face would always haunt me. He looked as if he was physically hurt, his eyes completely void of any affection or love. Instead, they held fear. Fear of what, I could not be sure.
He stopped the car and parked, so I could get out. I flashed a parting glance to Julian in the backseat. The baby was also who I was protecting. Harry may not have understood now, but one day he would thank me. They both would.
I know it's kind of sucky, but I promise there is more to come. I wanna hear what you guys wish for Harry and Y/N though. What do you think will happen??? Feel free to send me your thoughts!
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cyrelia-j · 6 years
Text
[Ficlet] The Hunted (minor Garak/Bashir)
A twisted prompt fill for @dayoldhakarl Don’t say I didn’t warn you ;)
garashir for Sir Sly’s “Gold”
Summary: Everyone knows to fear the Hunters. Miles O’Brien is no different. And then he meets a man travelling alone in the English countryside.
Warnings: Horror
       “Are you Elim Garak?” The man asks the question as the two of them stand stopped at the overgrown roadside. He’s tall, slim, almost frail looking with a head of dark curly hair cut short, and hazel eyes that look out from dark circles. The man that he’s speaking to is older. His face is ruddy and pinched, eyes narrowed suspiciously as he regards the other. He’s heavier, the frayed flannel shirt layered over a dusty T shirt that says “Zombie”. The slender man has a few days’ stubble. It’s clear the older man with the light brown hair hasn’t shaved in weeks. He regards the slender young man with suspicion.
        “Not as I can tell. The two of you supposed to hook up here?” He speaks with a Dublin accent.
        “I don’t know,” the slender man answers. He’s looking out into the field past the tilted stone wall and chicken wire along the top. There aren’t any sheep in the field any longer.
        “S’not a good time for a fella to forget himself. Dangerous, you know?” The older man looks around furtively. The sun is starting to hang low on the horizon and he shifts from one foot to the other. He’s carrying a backpack and the barrel of an old rifle is visible behind it. The slender man is silent a moment then blinks at the statement.
        “Well, you’re a long way from home, aren’t you?” The slender man speaks more deliberately and his accent is more Southern English. He’s wearing a Smiths T shirt and jeans. His hands are tucked into the pockets, the bottoms hanging over red Converse that appear quite clean in comparison to the older Irish man’s brown work boots.
        “Family vacation,” the older man answers more tersely “Haven’t made it back home yet.” It’s suspicious to see a lone figure carrying nothing with them.
The Hunters are everywhere.
        “Right,” the slender Englishman says, looking past him discreetly. “Do you think I might walk with you a bit? I think I saw an old cottage off that way and well, you can see I’m not really in a position to defend it.” He gives a shrug, an apologetic smile. The Irishman barely relaxes.
        “What about this Garak fella? He comin’ ‘round any time soon?”
        “If he’s late, that’s his loss I suppose,” the slender man says with a small quirk of his mouth. “You know it’s not safe to wait around out here and I’d miss him terribly but ah… he can take care of himself.”
        “I don’t have nothin’ here ‘cept this old huntin’ rifle.”
        “I don’t have anything either. Just my company if you don’t mind a spot of chatter. I’m afraid I don’t always know when to keep quiet.”
        The older man snorts.
        “Maybe once upon a time I’d be cheesed off by a fella not knowin’ when to shut his gob but… S’pose it don’t matter so much now. Keep a little in front of me though, will ya? Yer leadin’ the way and all besides…” He steps back carefully into the road as the man walks slowly past him. Neither of them have a concern for vehicles. The cars attract too much attention to use. The slender man pauses as an afterthought and holds out a hand.
        “I’m Julian, by the way. Julian Bashir.” When he says that the other man rubs at his eyes and the tension goes out of his shoulders considerably.
        “Julian Bashir… Christ, I know you! Took second place in the Nationals that last year before…” He pauses here, that brief moment of respite. “Yah, ‘fore the world went to Hell.”
        “Would’ve been first if I hadn’t hit the wall,” Julian answers with a grin.
        “Yeah, literally, mate, bit of a tough break there.” He shakes Julian’s hand firmly. “Miles O’Brien. Honored. I used to play a little myself. Maybe coulda given you a run fer yer money too in my day.”
        “Well, the honor’s mine, I promise,” Julian says as he starts walking. “I haven’t seen another soul in I don’t know how many weeks. I was starting to worry that I was the last man on Earth or something.”
        “You and the Spoonies,” Miles answers falling into step beside him.
        He doesn’t see Julian’s step nearly miss at that.
        “The Hunters. They’ve done a thorough cleansing. The last I heard, Wales was nothing but ash after The Fire.”
        “Makes ya wonder what they’re even saving this shit for.”
        “Hunting,” Julian answers finding a break in the stone wall and stepping through it. “The house is this way. I don’t think anyone else would have found it since I passed it earlier. It was pretty well hidden from the road. I… don’t mean to pry but are you alone or is your family-”
        “Gone,” comes the strangled reply. “Gone quick,” Miles continues with a whisper. “Keiko, Molly, Yoshi... You?” He picks up his pace after answering that question, as if now just becoming aware of how exposed they are in the open field.
        Julian matches his paces but doesn’t seem particularly hurried.
        “My mother and father. It wasn’t quick for my father.” There’s another small quirk of his mouth at that one. “It shouldn’t be much further- just on past the tree here.” He walks closer and looks at it a moment. “Right, this is it then.” He turns his head, hands back in his pockets. “It’s a left here back a ways.”
        “Sure we’ll make it ‘fore dark? Ya know their eyes in the dark… like bloody pit vipers.”
        “I thought all the snakes got driven out?” Julian teases.
        “Apparently not all of them,” Miles says with a snort. “Hear they can smell ya too. I try and keep clean, try and mask it with dirt otherwise. Don’t eat anything too fragrant. You ever see one of those fuckin’ lizard monsters they got?”
        “Riding hounds,” Julian corrects automatically as they walk deeper into the forest.
        “Hounds is it eh? Not like an yhound I ever seen and my da’ kept plenty fer huntin’. Ya sure we’re goin’ the right way?” Miles asks as the thick tree covering casts darkness over them both. Julian shrugs unconcerned.
        “There’s a tributary running around up ahead. We can burn the bridge after we cross it.”
        “Sorry mate, ‘fraid I don’t have a light. ‘sides, the fire might attract ‘em this way....” Julian reaches into his pocket and takes out a lighter in response.
        “For my cigarettes,” he explains with another shrug. “I know it’s an awful habit and there’s not really anywhere to find them anymore. I like to be prepared when I can though.” Miles snorts.
        “Christ you patio people and yer fags. Nothin’ on ya but yer fags and a lighter. My da’ used to smoke the damn things. S’probably what killed ‘im.”
        Julian doesn’t immediately answer him, searching around, finally pausing and raising a finger.
        “Right, there it is.” He indicates a bridge far off in the distance though Miles doesn’t seem to be able to see it. Still, he expresses relief as Julian leads him closer to the fast rush of water and the old wooden bridge over it. “But I suppose you’re right. The fire would attract them, wouldn’t it?” he murmurs softly, looking back out into the darkness across the water.
        “Jeez, ya think? It’s a wonder they haven’t got ya before now. Gotta figure this Garak fella must be lookin’ out right good for ya. Bloody Spoonies… You ever seen one up close? Nasty looking buggers, they-”
        “There it is,” Julian interrupts him, gesturing again through the dark woods. “It’s been overrun with ivy but I think that’s for the best. It makes it more difficult to find.”
        Julian takes the lead, Miles carefully walking behind him. He walks faster through the brush, the path long overgrown and Miles curses as the ground grows uneven and he nearly trips.
        “Oi, look, I know we gotta take cover ‘for long but I’d rather not break a leg in the process.” He’s breathing heavier from the extra weight of hit kit. Julian stops so that he can catch up but he doesn’t turn around.
        “Ah, sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. Right, break a leg that’d make it pretty hard to run, wouldn’t it?” he says with a soft nervous laugh.
        “We can’t all be Racquetball champs, ya know,” Miles says clapping a hand on Julian’s shoulder.
        “No… we can’t all be… there it is now, do you see the path?” Julian follows a few more steps, brushing Miles hand off him.
        “Can’t say that I…” He trails off as Julian stops in front of what appears to be a massive ivy wall. “Well I’ll be damned.”
        Julian pushes the door open and for a moment the pitch back of the inside makes the dark woods look almost bright by comparison.
        “What’d I tell you? Watch your step.” Miles follows him quickly.
        “Think ya might make use of that lighter, mate?” he asks as he shuts the door behind them. “Not all of us are bloody English owls here. S”funny. Used to think the bombings were the worst thing I ever lived through.” Miles sets the backpack down by feel, hand lingering on the rifle a moment before takes it up. “Never thought it’d come a day when I’d miss The Troubles.” His hands have a faint tremor to them. “Shoulda been in Monaghan in ’74…” He stops at the sound of footsteps.
        “Shit,” he swears under his breath as he raises the weapon. “Julian get back,” he whispers under his breath, reaching out in front of him. Mile’s hand on Julian’s shoulder turns him around.
It’s then that he realizes Julian’s eyes are glowing green in the darkness of the room.
        “Oh God… yer one of them,” he chokes out as the gun is snatched from his shaking grip and thrown back into the house, firing off with a loud bang and a flash of light. He takes a step back going for the door, blinded when Julian flicks the lighter on. There’s a figure behind him. The door won’t open. The shadows bounce off the cruel ridges if its face as that scant light illuminates the Hunter. Miles nearly trips over his bag as he steps sideways. The Hunter smiles at Julian wickedly before seizing his mouth in a long kiss, a stream of red swapped between the both of them.
        “God, that’s bloody brilliant,” Julian gasps as the Hunter takes the lighter, letting it go out. There’s a crash as Miles blindly stumbles towards the direction where the gun was thrown. The Hunter takes Julian’s hand in the darkness.
        “Such a thoughtful gift, my dear,” it purrs against his mouth. “Perhaps there’s hope for you yet.”
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kimmyiewrites · 6 years
Text
Moving On ~ Chpt 5
Things were going well, surprisingly well. Bex had yet to meet the sister but she had met quite a few new faces that added to their tree. She had made herself an asset and the Capello’s couldn’t risk letting her loose. With the help of Nolan Cooper, Owen Collins and William Phillips; pack mules working for the Capello’s turned criminal informants for Bex and Declan, Bex was able to bring in two more agents with her for the pack mule job. Agents Miles Stewart and Gabriel Parker helped Bex fill in the rest of the photos for the Capello soldier role.
There was Piero Damiani, Samuele Capello and Jasper King. With each of these men revealed more pieces to the puzzle were uncovered. They uncovered that a few of the Damiani’s were involved. The Damiani’s were Luka’s mother’s family. Piero was the younger brother to Michele, who was placed as a Capo for the Capello family. Samuele was a nephew to Giovanni and the younger brother to Nicolas, who is another capo and the eldest son to Alessandro, the younger brother to Giovanni and the consigliere to the family. A capo is like a captain leading soldiers. A consigliere is the counselor or advisor to the boss.
Not everything can be smooth sailing however. Bex was touching up her make up when Lua stormed into the bathroom. She was staying at his apartment for the weekend since the Capello’s were throwing a benefit dinner for Senator Julian Roberts. The sound of the door slamming against the wall startled her, causing her to poke herself in the eye with her mascara wand.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?!” Luka yelled as Bex blinked constantly until the burning sensation stopped.
“No, I think I’m the idiot for stabbing myself in the eye with my mascara!” She replied.
“Now is not the time for your wit, Rebecca.” He hissed as he pulled her to face him. “Declan told me he knew you when he worked for the feds. Are you using me? Did you think you would get away with it?”
Bex froze, her eye was still burning like mad but she needed to focus in order to get out of this. “Babe -”
“Don’t babe me. Tell me the truth, Rebecca.”
“Fine, Luka, you want to know the truth? You got played but not by me. Declan’s just jealous of us and wanted us to split. I am no way working with the feds. I avoid them. They take all you worked for away from you. Why would I want to work for them?”
“You swear on your life that you are not working for them?”
Bex nodded. “I swear on my life that I’m not working for the feds.”
Luka breathed a sigh of relief. He had been more heartbroken than anything when Declan had told him that. Bex had made working for the family fun and he didn’t mind it so much anymore. If their relationship had been a whole lie he would have gone mad. He wiped a mascara tainted tear away and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you and that I made you poke your eye with your mascara. How about I make it up to you by treating you to a good time tonight?”
Bex smiled, glad that this seemed to have blown over. She vowed to herself though that she would have a few choice words with Declan tonight. “Sounds like a plan to me. Just need to get my shoes on and I’m ready to go.”
They arrived shortly to the Library of Congress. The main lobby before reaching the many rows of books was being used as the ballroom of sorts where all of the guests could mix and mingle. Bex always loved coming to the library. She could get lost in it for hours taking in the architecture or reading one of the many books they had and have done so on multiple occasions.
When the two arrived, Declan met Bex’s gaze with a shocked one. He had hoped that his plan would have worked. He knew that Bex was close, knew how good Bex was and he couldn’t have her ruin what he had going for him. He knew that as soon as the Capello’s came down, he would be out of a job and out of a life of freedom.
Luka kissed Bex’s cheek, smiling apologetically as he is beckoned away to do some work related things. Bex replies with a reassuring smile before giving him a sweet kiss. As Luka left, a waiter with a tray of champagne walked by and Bex plucked a flute off before making her way to where Declan was standing. She stood next to him, looking out at the party goers and sipping on her drink. “Well, you certainly get an A plus for effort.” Bex finally said.
Declan chuckled uncomfortably, maybe he could talk her out of this, maybe he could even talk her into joining the Capello’s like he did. “You’re getting awfully close, Bex but it seems like you’re really enjoying Luka’s company. Are you sure you really want to take down the Capello’s?”
Bex snorted. “Yeah, I should get an Oscar after this case. Luka’s alright, not my cup of tea though. So why exactly did you try to get me killed? Don’t you want this case to be over? You can finally go home and not have to watch your back.”
He popped one of the horderves in his mouth, thoroughly chewing it before answering. “You don’t get it Bex. I don’t want this to end. I won’t be able to have my life back if it does.”
Then it clicked and Bex nearly dropped her drink. She turned to finally face Declan with wide eyes and she swore her jaw was on the floor. The look on his face confirmed what she had pieced together. He was no longer working for the FBI, he was working for the Capello’s. She slowly began to back away. “I’m not going to stop, not until you and this whole operation is stopped.”
Bex had to leave. She couldn’t breathe. It felt like she had been hit in the stomach. All that she believed about her fellow agents had been ripped out from under her. She needed to leave. She needed to figure this out, wrap her head around it. She needed Mike.
“Whoa, you don’t look so good.” A voice said before an arm was wrapped around her shoulders.
Bex looked over and there was the person she was hoping to meet tonight. “Yeah, it must have been something I ate. You’re Izzy, right? Your brother talks a lot about you.” She smiled.
The other woman returned the smile. “Yeah, that would be me. Luka speaks a lot about you as well, Bex. How about we sneak away and take a seat until whatever has you down passes?”
Bex nodded. “That sounds lovely.”
The two walk further into the library and stop to sit when the music can no longer be heard. “I’ll have to make sure to tell Luka to yell at the cook for making you not feel well.”
Bex laughed. “He would do it too but that’s not necessary. Thank you though.”
“You know, I didn’t really want to even come to this thing? Everyone in that room either knows what my family does or is completely clueless that the senator is on our payroll.”
“Senator Roberts is on your payroll?” Bex asked, oh this night was just getting better.
“Yeah, you didn’t know? He’s the one leading the whole keep our second amendment rights battle so it’ll be easier for dad to transport his weapons and ammo.” Izzy rolled her eyes, clearly not agreeing with her father’s practices.
“Huh, I honestly had no clue. I’m just the money girl.” Bex laughed.
“Oh, trust me, to Luka you are much more than the money girl.”
The two shared a smile before Izzy stood. “I guess I better get back out there before father sends the search party. Take all the time you need. I’ll let Luka know you aren’t feeling well.”
“Thanks, Izzy but I think I’m just gonna sneak out the side and head home. I’m not going to be much company right now anyways.”
Izzy nodded. “I wish I could do the same thing. You feel better then. It was good to finally meet you Bex.”
“You as well, Izzy and thanks.” The two women gave each other a hug before going their separate ways.
Bex pulled out her phone and gave Mike a call as she made her way out of the library. When he didn’t answer the first time, she began to worry and called him once again, thankfully he answered the second time.
“Hey, sorry I didn’t answer at first. Was finishing up some stuff at the bank and didn’t want to lose count.” He apologized.
“I’m just glad you’re okay. Are you still there?” Bex asked as she stood on the street trying to flag down a taxi.
“Yeah, what’s wrong? Aren’t you supposed to be at the gala thing tonight?”
“Yeah but I’ve got some info that just can’t wait. Meet you at the bank or should I go somewhere else?”
“No, the bank’s good. I’ll see you in a few then?”
Bex finally got one to stop as she answered. “Yeah, just got a cab. See you soon.” As she got into the back of the car, they hung up. Bex told the address to the driver and the rest of the ride was quiet as she contemplated what she had to do next. This case just got so much bigger than what she was anticipating.
Mike met her outside, offering her his coat when he noticed her shiver a bit at the cool breeze. She took it gratefully and followed him inside. “You look beautiful, by the way. I’m sure he forgot to tell you that.”
“Mike Warren, are you jealous?” She teased.
“What? No.” He emphasized with a shake of his head causing Bex to giggle.
She wrapped her arms around his and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thanks, Mike.”
He smiled and patted her hands with his. “Now what is this urgent information or did you just say that cause you missed me?” He teased her once they settled into his makeshift office.
Bex giggled. “You got me. It’s really only because I missed you.”
“Really?” Mike asked, shocked that his teasing was actually right.
Bex smiled. “No, that’s not it really but I have missed you. We’ll have to have a jelly crescent eating party when this is all over.” She laughed causing Mike to join in with her.
“Well, that certainly sounds like a plan to me. So what did you find out tonight?”
Bex took a deep breath to prepare herself for what she was about to say next. “Declan has been burned. He is now on the payroll and who knows how long that’s been going on. Oh, and Senator Roberts is also linked with the Capello’s. He’s leading their little make sure gun laws are still wide open as possible so it doesn’t hurt their business.”
Mike couldn’t respond right away. He was processing through what Bex had just told him. He was afraid something like this could be happening. This was why he was nervous to take this case so close after all that happened at Graceland. He too took a deep breath before speaking, after all he had Bex and this wasn’t Graceland and everything was going to work out, right? “Well, then it looks like we need to factor these two in our takedown plan.”
Bex nodded. “Looks like it, indeed.”
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