#my mom would kill for those chairs and chandelier

[tiyoin]

goldilocks reader

1/31/23 -> 2:52 pm

I’m your host, Tiyoin and welcome back to everyone’s favorite game show!

HOW DID Y/N BECOME AN ORPHAN

👏👏👏👏👏

is it;

A. Missing child

B. You’re parents died in horrific accident

C. They abandoned you in the woods

or D. and my personal favorite WAS IT A HORRIFIC FAMILY CAMPING TRIP GONE WRONG!

I mean it could really be any of those cause the reason changes with every joke 🤷🏻

You started living with the bears when they found you in their summer home, a cozy little log cabin on the banks of some lake somewhere in the Kingdom of Roses.

Bowls on the floor, chairs flipped over, with all the chaos they expected a large, scary beastman to be the culprit

Yet the bears were quite baffled, to find some scrawny 4 year old sleeping soundly in the youngest bear’s bed.

Like how did a 4 year old caused $3,000 in damages????

Of course, they decided it would be better if you stayed with them while the police investigated everything. The cuts, bruises and ticks that littered your body softened their little hearts like butter.

Not Koda though, oh no, he was the only one who saw past that quivering lip and bloodshot eyes act.

He was suspicious 🫵😳

Making some radical theories on how convenient it was that it was their cabin they were literally just about to use. How it was his bed, his toys, his clothes you had mainly tampered with… suspicious 👁️👁️

It was like you were… trying to replace him 🤨😮

“They're’ a disheveled orphan! Not some criminal mastermind!” Mama smacked him.

With the police investigation turning sour, they decided that it was time for their darling son to have a sibling (which saved mama bear the pains of childbirth. So it was killing two birds with one stone! 😝)

Though Koda was less than excited with getting the attention rudely snatched away from him by some bed stealing orphan.

Obviously, you were not a beast man :), and unfortunately for you, your new family were a bunch of…🐻🐻🐻

it did take a while for you to get used to the… larg furniture. Yes, as a child everyone was short, but even now, as a teenager you're still having to climb counters, use stepping stools to even reach the first shelf of the cabinet. (it wasn’t too bad, but it was higher than the regular households)

It was like a jungle gym- which mama bear really didn’t appreciate.

One time, she caught you hanging off the chandelier in the entry way???? How- How did you get up there???

(Papa had to act as abet to catch you)

They were Grizzly Bear Beastmen, one of the largest land beastmen there were. And as far as they were aware when house hunting, they didn't have a human child in their future plans

Sevens, the height difference is even worse. Since the bears in both the fairytale and movie are Grizzly’s. And as anyone who had a hyper fixation on a certain animal and knows a huge chunk of facts about them. Which, of course, mine were bears) Grizzly’s are the second largest bear species.

So your mom is 6’1, dad 6’6, brother 5’11 (middle school) while you're probably around 5’0-5’5?? … So it's always funny when your family tries to talk to you. At first they were used to just turning their head, maybe even tilting down to talk to each other.

But then you came in like a wrecking ball, causing monthly visits to the chiropractor

So they had a better idea, either picking you up or just texting / calling you. smart right 😼

They always had to watch where they were going, and it didn’t help that you were a quiet child. Like a rabbit who spotted a lazing bear, you were quiet, discreet, hopping to and from places as fast as you could, trying not to make much noise or cause too much trouble.

Though this got much better when you got older, now announcing your presence, or expertly weaving around them. You felt like a fairy in a world of giants. Or like you were exploring the tall red oaks of the forest. (Which you luckily went to over summer holiday!)

Also, lots of kudos to the bears for getting you the trauma therapy you deserve. 👏👏👏👏 (*stares at Crowley*)

Oh yeah, the bears, (legal last name) were filthy rich, owning chains of bake shops around Twisted Wonderland. They owned ‘Bears Bakery’’, a thriving family business in the baked goods industry full of pies, cakes, brownies and many more delicious sugar sweets. Although, everytime you asked about how they turned their small, humble bakery into what it is now…

“All you need to know is that it’s a family business my little cub” Mama bear would always coo, smothering you in affection as Koda smirked, shrugging at you in your peripheral vision.

This meant they could afford high quality, specially made furniture, vacations, special schooling, extra curriculums, and the luxurious clothes they lather you with, (Not matter how many times you tell them you don’t want that many clothes) oh yeah and the food bill…🧍🏻🧍🏻

Oh my. That’s another thing. They’re bear beastmen and professional pastry chefs. And if you thought they were only good at baking sweets, then you are horribly wrong. Your kitchen is a chef's wet dream. You had the best of the best in fresh produce, personally inspected eggs, the finest grade A meats, and a spice rack personally filled by some rich people because of some business deal.

So it’d be kinda hard not learned how to cook in a family full of cooks

Now for the moment you're all here- nrc!

You were utterly perplexed on why you were selected to attend. Like yeah, your father was an alumni, you went to prestigious private schools, have a rich influential family and are excelling in your hobbies. But like, you didn’t have a dick?? You were 100% positive you were gonna be accepted to Siren’s Cove, some cliffside girls school that overlooked the beautiful wasters of the Coral Sea

But I mean, this was better than nothing?

Your brother Koda was a grade older than you and was ‘so excited to show you the ropes!” (Mom made him)

And having that close ‘brother sister’ dynamic people already knew who you were. Koda was always groaning about his ‘demonic sibling’, how they were going to wreak havoc upon NRC.

Having Mr.Koda (Now 6’0 and currently 200 lbs)

Cause how did the Koda, all 6 feet 200 pound muscular (yet a little chubby cause mama bear is a baker) get a scratch from his sibling?? When asked how you looked after the fight Koda grumbled something about ‘not hitting you’ because of moral bullshit. (Ruggie caught the red tint on his cheeks as he looked away)

So expect some savanaclaw students to avoid you like the plague, or be strangely civil with you once you get into NRC.

Oh, you thought you’d be in Savanaclaw just because you were a beast man? oh no. no no no no no. No.

You’re in Heartsbyul! I think that’d be absolutely hilarious cause I mean. That already gives you an entry into the first year squad, and you get to fan the flames of your rivials to lovers relationship with a one Mr.Trey Clover.

Sighs dreamily 😻🫶

You definitely have a schitck about things being ‘just right.’ Sorry. It’s a given.

The classroom is either too hot, too cold, or just right. Sebek’s screaming is either too loud, too quiet (I dunno dawg) or just right, Riddle’s mad face is either too red, not red enough or just right. That guys is either too hot, too ugly or just dreamy enough so you don’t seem delusional.

Actually, wait, that's such a cute unique spell idea omg. “Just Right” where the conditions of something are just right. Like today’s weather, your outfit, conditions where you can land a nasty punch (Which explains Koda’s bruised and battered arms)

Speaking of hotties, if there’s someone who likes you- wish them well in hell cause there's no way Koda is letting you get a boyfriend. It’s even laughable that you think you’ll ever date.

You’ve tried complaining to mama and papa bear but they literally only encourage him. Telling him not to let any filthy boy near their darling cub

They’re just looking out for you sweets. cause if he doesn't have a trust fund or polished shoes, he ain’t worth it ✋🙄

My sevens do you have an appetite 😦 I mean, yeah. You come from a family of bear beastmen who own a massive baked goods enterprise. There’s no way in hell you're

1. Not at least a bit chubby

or

2. Muscular. Cause beating up Koda takes a lot of time and a lot of effort

That is all in my professional opinion (No I don’t own a mass baked good enterprise) but I do, however play sports and have a rather a slightly above average appetite and I’m shredded 🤭

And of course, you have gone rogue every once in a while, your poor tum tum grumbling in pain, tossing n’ turning in agony. :( so of course- you steal some food! May it be Riddle’s tart, someone’s lunch, and even free food Ruggie was about to snatch up, but unfortunately, you got to first.

I think Sebek's the one with the massive appetite? well, doesn’t matter cause y’all are having competitions. Not that you’re always a willing competitor. But with the way Sebek’s usually glaring at you across the table as you’re just trying to enjoy your food-

How are you supposed to let that disrespect slide??🤨🤨

You weren’t.

You’re the winner. every time. Usually you stop mid bite, shoot out of your chair and loudly whisper, ‘Malleus!’, which of course gets Sebek’s undivided attention and he immediately stands at attention looking like an idiot as you’re happily munching on your food.

I like the imagine a meter going down of labeled ‘Respect for Y/N’ everytime you pull that stunt

OH YEAH- you wrestle. You're already so good at it so why not actually wrestle? I can just imagine Epel helping you practice, already used to wrangling things in and all that junk (Deuce wants to help but he feels like that's not something a model student would do)

Speaking of Epel- definitely tries to get into business with you. I mean, if hes your families main apple supplier, than his family is set for life

So on more than one occasion you can see him trying to use a sales pitch on you

Besides that, there’s one more thing I’d like to mention

The bake off

dun dunnnn

Every unbirthday party (and birthday boy that requests it) you and Trey have bake off’s. whether it be baking cakes, macarons, tiramisu, you guys fight tooth and nail to create the best dessert for the birthday boy / Riddle to judge

Of course they’re put in metal dishes with lids over them, and brought out by dorm members so no one knows whose dish is whose until the winner is revealed

It’s pretty close every time

One time, a birthday boy got so stressed over which was better he had a nervous breakdown. I mean, they’re sweets practically made by professionals! Wdym they’re supposed to taste different when they both have that same, delicious texture that creamy tang-

So there’s been more ties than wins/loses

Of course, Azul Ashengrotto, the business deal hound has also approached you- numerous times.

He thought you’d be easier than your brother to cooperate with, making some kind of deal to personally improve the lounges pastries quality.. 😸

😸😺😸😺

Does… Does he think you’re that dumb??? Does he think you don’t talk to your brother??? That you don’t know who he is???

Especially the twins, you’ve heard all about them from your brother- which made it all the more hilarious when you said ‘no’ to Azul.

I mean, it wasn’t your business to hand out, and yes, you could talk to your parents about it but that would go into legality issues.

Over all, too much work yawn 🥱

Azul : It would be most beneficial-

You : 🥱 sorry not interested 🥱

you give him brain aneurysms

#tiyoin 🔎 #twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland epel #azul x reader #azul ashengrotto #leona kingscholar #ruggie bucchi #trey clover #trey x reader #twst heartslabyul #twst savanaclaw #twst x reader #twisted wonderland headcanons #twst headcanons #twst scenarios

[stiffyck]

Hey hey, what's a story you really wanna tell but never came up? - Elven Bedazzledpiss

OH I KNOW JUST THE THING.

One of my favorite things to randomly bring up is how my mom tried to kill me and my siblings multiple times.

It wasn't intentional but it became a joke to me and my brothers.

So basically, our mother has accidentally almost killed us a few times over the years.

One time she dropped a chandelier on one of us, I think on my younger brother but I'm not 100% sure.

Another time she was carrying a big long wooden thingy and she told me to move out of the way and to go to a different room so she doesn't hit me with it- and I didn't listen and she hit me with it while she was turning.

Then there was the swing.

So we had this swing in our garage and my mom would swing my older brother on it. He loved it when she swung him with a lot of force so he almost hit the ceiling every time- so one time the rope snapped and my brother basically flew into the garage door. My mom thought she killed her son for a second but he was fine.

The next one involves needles so I'm putting it under the cut

The most recent attempt was during 2020 when covid was at its peak and my mom was supposed to work at a different hospital for a bit to help out with the elderly people (she works as a kids nurse) and one of the things she was supposed to be doing was like put in those flexible needles in your arm? And she hasn't done that in a bit so she asked our family members if they would be willing to let her try on them.

The only two people who said sure was me and my grandma. So when my mom one day asked me if we could do it then I said yea sure let's go. So she sat me in the kitchen on a chair and started the whole thing. She tried putting in the needle and stuff but she was out of practice and well there was quite a bit of blood- and I passed out.

I woke up on the floor really confused.

At least the cold tiles were nice and soothing djfjdngnd.

Also a note for that last story- my dad was in the room with us when I passed out and he thought I was like joking? So he laughed while my mom was trying to support my weight DJFJFJFJD

Anyway yea no I don't care about blood or needles but I think what got to me was the fact that it was in the morning and I haven't really eaten much so skfkdkfkd

My mom also decided to take a picture of me when I was lying there unconscious and sent it to my older brother with the caption "when your mom is a nurse and is learning how to put in a needle...."

#asks

[ichangeintothemule]

im trying to finish killing eve s3 and god that russian ep doesn't make any sense whatsoever

#them speaking eng in the 1st place having weird exclusive stuff in a rural decrepit place obsession with elton john...literally WHAT #my mom would kill for those chairs and chandelier #also flat earth lizards etc conspiracy theories are not that popular in russia but rather making fun of americans for them #ALSO that ogorod...man if they survived from farming they'd be dead long long ago...those plants are goners #butttt we do be throwing cow's shit in my krai soooooooooo

[kiribaku-queen]

Secret Hero [5/10]

Pairing: Bakugou x reader, Ushijima x reader

Angst, Drama, AU

Word Count: 2.8K

A/N: very Ushijima focused this chapter. I loved seeing all the guesses and everyone pretty much guessed right! Great detectives skills, loves! Please let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

Summary:  After becoming the number 2 hero, Bakugou accomplished everything he ever wanted. He beat Deku in a few matches, even if he wasn’t the number 1 hero. He got all the fame, beat countless villains, was acknowledged by all his friends and family. But he wasn’t satisfied. He wasn’t happy. Bakugou realized that this wasn’t the life he wanted. So he left the life of a hero and decided to hide to live the rest of his life as a normal person.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

After lunch with your family, it was clear that you were not feeling the best. All those comments about your weight and your career and everything you were doing wrong was going to your head. You cut breakfast out of your daily routine, as well as lunch. Even if you did eat lunch, you ate very minimal. Dinner was a different story. You were eating a normal portion but never to the point where you were stuffed. Your days were very fatigued and you could feel yourself losing energy to perform simple tasks. But if that’s what you had to do to get skinny, then you would do it. Beauty is pain, as one would say.

But your mother couldn’t get the hint. Since you took up on her offer to meet the boy she wants you to meet oh so badly, she’s been bugging you nonstop to meet him and his mother for a nice lunch. And so here you were, standing in front of the restaurant your mother picked.

“Be on your best behavior, dear,” your mother warned. You knew she wanted this meeting to go well, but now you were starting to take back your words. You were nervous for sure. You had no idea who this guy was. You didn’t know what he looked like, what he did for a living, his hobbies, nothing. Your mom left it to be a surprise till the very end and the anticipation was killing you.

“I know, mother,” you say. Well, time to put your mask on. All you had to do was meet this guy for your mother’s sake and hope that after this, she will leave you alone. Or not. But you would worry about that later.

You enter the beautifully aesthetic restaurant. Colors of gold and white covered the walls and ceiling, a chandelier hung in the middle of the room. Each table was organized neatly with the correct silverware, napkin and plates. Bouquets of fresh flowers sat at each table which set the atmosphere nicely. The waitress took you two to a private area where you were to meet this boy. As you walked to your destination, you looked around the restaurant. Neat, organized, everything looked exactly the same. Someone who was not raised in this environment might think coming here was a treat and would be lucky to dine here. But no matter how beautiful everything might look, you felt it was suffocating. Like you always had to act a certain way because you lived in luxury. But that wasn’t you.

You and your mother arrived at the private room, your guests waiting patiently for you. As soon as you guys opened the door, the man and his mother stood up to greet you two. Your mother and the other woman happily greeted each other, giving each other a hug and a kiss on each cheek. The man you were meeting bowed to show his respect and softly introduced himself.

“Ushijima Wakatoshi,” you heard him say.

“Yes, and this is my daughter, (y/n),” your mother introduced you. But when she saw you still standing by the door, she clicked her tongue in disapproval, snapping you out of your daze. “Honey, come introduce yourself.” You bowed back at both of them and finally looked up to introduce yourself.

“(y/n), pleasure to meet you,” you say in your most fake voice. It took you years to perfect it and people believed it every time. You looked at the other mother and she came to embrace you in a hug.

“You are more gorgeous in real life than in your pictures,” she complimented you. Yikes, they’ve seen pictures of you? You bet that they just really want you two to be together, that’s why she’s complimenting you so graciously. Your gaze moves from the woman to the man you were supposed to meet. And boy oh boy were you in for a surprise. You tried not to show it, but your eyes widened slightly when you saw who you were meeting.

Tall. Stoic face. Olive brown hair. He was the guy who ran into you the other day! And didn’t apologize! Your mom wanted you to meet this guy? This was going to be an awkward lunch.

“Nice to meet you,” you say to Ushijima, despite starting to have petty feelings for him.

“Likewise,” he says back with his deep ass voice.

“Let’s order, shall we?” your mother clapped her hands, clearly very excited for this encounter to finally happen. Every is in agreeance and takes a seat at the table. But before you could sit down, Ushijima comes over to your side to pull out your chair for you. That made both women very excited.

“My, what a gentleman!” your mother in absolutely in love right now. You accept his offer with an awkward smile and sit down, Ushijima scooting your seat in at the same time. He goes back around to sit back in his seat, but is keeping eye contact with you the entire time. It makes you start having cold sweat. Does he recognize you? Does he remember how you acted and practically embarrassed yourself that day? You pray that that wasn’t the case.

“Tell us, Ushijima. How is your work life?” your mother started the conversation. If you knew any better, she was basically interviewing him.

“I just got promoted at my father’s company. So I am head of the new office in town that I believe (y/n) resides in,” Ushijima informs. Upon hearing your name, you look up at him only to find him already looking at you. That got you embarrassed and so you immediately looked back down.

“Ah, is it that new office that Momo works at?” your mother was starting to connect the dots.

“Momo Yaoyorozu? She is actually my secretary.” Oh perfect. He’s already come into contact with the gorgeous Momo. There’s no way he was falling for you now. You might as well stop trying because you already lost, again.

“I’d actually like to know what Miss (y/n) does for a living,” Ushijima turns his attention to you, waiting for your answer. You looked surprised, not expecting for him to take any interest in you.

“Oh, uhm. I’m a teacher,” you quietly say, a bit embarrassed that you had to say what your profession was. You were already put down by your family for that. You didn’t need to hear it again, especially from strangers that you just met and who don’t even know you.

“So you like kids?” he asks.

“Yeah, I do. I love being around them,” you started to get excited. You loved talking about your kids and how proud they made you. But you physically had to stop yourself. He probably wasn’t interested in hearing your stories anyway.

“I think that’s very admirable,” Ushijima compliments you, giving you an encouraging smile. And that threw you off guard. It actually made you more nervous. “Tell me more.” He insisted. You looked and your mother and then at Ushijima’s mother. They were both looking at you as if to say that they were interesting in hearing more from you.

So you gave a few stories about the kids in your classroom. How sometimes they can make your stomach hurt from laughter or how proud you were every time they learned something new. With each story, your eyes lightened up and Ushijima was silently listening to every word that you were saying. You were surprised that he didn’t interrupt one bit because you were just so excited to talk about something you were just so passionate in.

“You two fit so well. I think this is going to be a beautiful marriage,” Ushijima’s mother clapped her hands in satisfaction. Your mouth dropped and your eyes immediately went to your mother, who was actively avoiding you.

“Mother,” you harshly whispered her name. You simply just wanted to meet him, not get engaged with him. And she knew that, yet she just pulled you right into her trap.

“Why don’t you two take a walk in the garden. Get some alone time,” your mother was avoiding the situation. She looked pleadingly at Ushijima who got the hint. He stood up and made his way to you, sticking out his hand for you to take. You groan internally, taking a mental note to confront your mother later. You take his hand as he escorts you out into the garden. The mothers watch as their children walk away.

“They’ll be fine,” they reassured themselves, taking a sip of tea and starting their own conversations.

Ushijima takes you around the small garden they had in the back of the restaurant. Of course they had something like this. Flowers and plants engulfed you at every which angle. The beauty in front of you doesn’t distract you from what his mother just announced. An engagement?

“I’m so sorry. They must have forced you into this too,” you assumed, apologizing for this situation. But why were you even apologizing. You didn’t have anything to do with this. Just like him, you were also the victim.

“Just a little bit,” he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck. “But, I’m willing to try if you are.” You stop in your tracks to snap your head to see if he was joking. It was hard to tell by the poker face he was wearing.

“You actually want to do this?” you question his mentality.

“Why not? We both can’t find someone, so why not do the alternative?” he shrugs it off like it was nothing. But you still couldn’t wrap your head around in.

“How do you know I can’t find someone?” you challenge him, feeling a bit insulted. You mean… it’s true but he didn’t have to call you out like that.

“Then why would your parents put you up to something like this,” he points out. Yeah, he had a point. But still! You didn’t want to admit that you couldn’t find someone in your life. But if this was the only way…

“Mhm, I can try. But I can’t guarantee that anything will happen,” you gave him a fair warning.

“That’s okay,” he says and moves so that he’s in front of you. “Because I want to make this work. And then I’m going to make you fall in love with me. And repropose when it’s the right time.” You stared into his olive brown eyes. He meant every word of it. And as sweet and romantic that may sound, your heart didn’t skip a beat. You wanted it to so badly, but it doesn’t.

 “Mother isn’t this a bit too soon?” you asked your mother on the phone. You were standing outside what you thought was an office building, but it instead wounded up to be a bridal boutique.

“Well if I told you, then you wouldn’t have gone! Hurry inside, your appointment should be starting soon,” and hung up soon after. You sighed, putting your phone away in your purse. You’ve only met your fiancé for a few weeks now and you’re already trying on wedding dresses so soon? Not only did you not feel confident, but you were discouraged because you were alone. You didn’t have anybody by your side, not even your mother. It was very tempting to leave and come back sometime later, but you could never go against your mother. If she found out that you missed your appointment, she would go ballistic on you. With a regretful sigh, you entered the boutique.

“Welcome!” the lady at the front desk greeted you.

“Uhm, hi. I have an appointment,” you say very softly.

“(y/n) right?” she asks, like she knew who you were already. You nodded your head, confused and shocked how she knew your name.

“Perfect, right this way!” her cheery voice rang in your ear. It was the same fake voice you used whenever you are with your family. Gross. She takes you over to a private room where many dresses are already laid out.

“Now, (y/n). What kind of dress are we looking for?” she asks. And it left you wondering. What did you want? The news of marriage was so sudden that you didn’t have time to think of what you wanted. You just assumed that the older adults would take care of it and you were just there for the ride.

“I’m actually not sure,” you say embarrassed. Your consultant was probably judging you by now.

“That’s okay! We can try on a few and decide what you like and don’t like and go from there.” The consultant smiled at you, not a single ounce of judgment on her face.

So you tried on many dresses. The big, poofy, traditional style wedding dresses looked horrendous on you. The fishtail was interesting but you didn’t like it. Lace looked old. You were starting to feel like finding a nice dress for you was hopeless.

“So, tell me about the groom,” your consultant started a conversation while fitting you into your next dress. Gosh, what do you say to that? Do you just confess and say that, oh it was an arranged marriage I don’t know this man at all?

“He’s very handsome and nice,” you decided to say. You weren’t wrong. Ushijima was very handsome and from those interaction that you did have with him, he was pretty nice. So technically, you weren’t lying.

“Are you excited for your wedding?” she asks another question.

“Not really,” you blurted out without even thinking. You realized your mistake, now having said too much and covered your mouth. She starts to laugh which throws your off guard.

“I can tell,” she says. It was like the information you told her didn’t surprise her at all.

“You can?”

“Of course. The look on your face as you came in today, the way you talked about your husband and the fact that you brought nobody with you? It was clear as day, honey. But we get those kinds of brides all the time. You may not love the man you’re about to marry, but you still deserve to look beautiful on your wedding day.” She advices, tightening up the last bit of the dress.

“Okay, how about this one?” your consultant backed away and you saw yourself in the mirror. It had a corset bodice that hugged your waist beautifully. Embroidered flowers covered the top, all the way down to half of the dress and slowly faded out. The skirt was flowy and had a long train. The dress was beyond gorgeous. And for once, you thought you looked really pretty. You couldn’t stop looking at yourself in the mirror.

“Wow,” you breathed. You looked completely different, like you haven’t seen this side of you before.

“I knew you’d like it. I’ll be right back. I’m going to bring a veil to bring the whole thing together,” she says and quickly runs out of the private dressing room to retrieve the item. You’re left mesmerized by the sight of you that you didn’t even notice someone come in.

“You look stunning,” a deep voice comes out of nowhere, scaring the living shit out of you. You turn around and Ushijima is standing there with his arms crossed, an amused look on his face.

“Ushijima!” you scream his name, covering your heart with your hand. “You scared me!” He laughs at your response, a chuckle coming from deep in his throat.

“Sorry,” he simply said, making his way to stand next to you. He looked like he just got out of work since he was wearing a suit. He looked clean and well put together. And when he stood next to you, it was like seeing you already at the wedding.

“Is this what we are going to look like at the wedding?” you joke. You thought it was funny how you two looked dressed for the occasion.

“No,” he said, wrapped his arms around your waist from behind. “Because you’re going to look even more gorgeous than you do now.” His low, deep voice tickled your ear, making you feel a little nervous. You get a glimpse of him in the mirror and you had to look away when you saw that he was staring right back at you.

“Okay, I think this one oh-” your consultant comes back in with the veil and is surprised to see that you have company. And it looks like she was ruining a special moment too. “I can just come back.” She says as she’s already backing out the door.

“Oh, no it’s fine,” you reassure her, slapping Ushijima’s hands away.

“We’ll take it,” he tells the consultant and gives her his credit card. She gladly accepts and is about to ring up the charge. While you were getting changed into your regular clothes, Ushijima was walking around the part of the shop where they sell other kinds of dresses. He comes across this one blue, off the shoulder dress and picks it up. Then he’s on his way back to the register with the dress in hand.

“This one as well,” he puts the dress on the counter. It might have been an impulse buy but he knew that it was going to look amazing on you at the party.

A/N: Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

Starting from tomorrow, I will be releasing those requests every day until they are all out there. So look forward to much content from me this week. And as always, I’d love to hear what you have to say or what you think about the chapter :)

Tagged: @superblyspeedydragon @simpforeveryone @bakasbitch18 @sam-i-am-1025

#bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugou #bakugou #bnha bakugou #bakugou imagine #bnha imagines #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #ushijima x reader #ushijima wakatoshi #haikyuu #ushijima imagine #haikyuu imagine

[msotherworldly]

Blame for Bethany

Title: Blame for Bethany

Fiction Type: Fanfiction

Fandom: Dragon Age 2

Warnings: Minor swearing, mention of death

Prompt: “I’m not saying I told you so...”

“I’m not saying I told you so...”

“That’s funny, because it sounds like you are.” I smirked. The clink of tankards surrounded us. There was a low hum of voices, and the smell of nug shit. It was home sweet home—at least for him. Face turned only half to the fireplace, he looked older.

I frowned. How old was Varric? Admittedly, I didn’t know much about dwarf aging. I’d always assumed they aged as quickly as humans or elves, but...

“Get it off your chest.” He sipped his drink, eyes sparkling.

“Another day.” I sank into a chair.

He shook his head. “It’s bad to pent shit up, Hawke. I knew a fella in the carta who got by weeping into his pillow every night. It had a nickname and everything. Of course, when the other carta men in his squad found out, they filled his back with knives.”

“Thanks, Varric.” I waved the waitress for a drink. “You always know what to say to make me feel better.”

“That’s my specialty. But seriously, what’s eating you?”

“It’s just a conclusion I’ve had. We’ve survived the Deep Roads. I’ve made enough money that I barely have to work. And Mother seems happy. I thought it would go away, but it hasn’t.”

The dwarf raised his eyebrows. “Go on.”

“I think...I have to talk to her about this.”

“I’m going to say it again. If it’s bad, dump it on me. Your mother’s been through enough crap.”

“And deprive you of the chance of another ‘I told you so’ speech?”

Varric sighed. His chair creaked as he leaned back. “We’re not talking about an ogre this time, Hawke. We’re talking about your mother. Maybe give her some time before you hit her with something heavy.”

“I’ve given her time!” I laughed. “Varric, I’ve had this thought since I started work with Athenril. I’ve been carrying it around for two years now.”

“Do you need a shrink? I can recommend a good one I know. He works in Darktown.”

“He’s not a healer, is he?”

Varric grinned. “No, but I know a healer there who I’ve also recommended to see the guy. To be fair, he did attend one session.”

“But?”

“But it’s probably better if you don’t mention you’re a mage.” Varric’s face darkened. “Since that lovely therapy session, Briggs has a paranoia of being lit on fire. That tends to happen when you try to do therapy on a Fade spirit.”

“Maker.” I shook my head. “I think I’ll pass, Varric, but...thanks for the tip. Why Darktown?”

“If you talk to a therapist in Hightown, they might gossip. Any therapist there will likely be a noble looking for extra cash or a fun time, and well, you know your neighbours better than anyone. All they care about are scandals and social clout. If it got out that Marion Hawke was having mommy issues, it would be the talk of Hightown for at least a month.”

“I don’t have mommy issues.” I rolled my eyes. “But I see your point.”

“I’m not saying you do. It’s what they would say.” He winked. “Trust me, Hawke. I have a good read on people.”

“And a vivid imagination.”

“Exactly! If I say something is going to go wrong, it will likely go even worse!”

“And here I am, taking advice from the guy who loosed Anders on a therapist. Do wonders never cease?”

Varric chuckled. “I know you don’t listen. Hell, do any of you? But be gentle with her, Hawke. She’s had a hard time.”

I was halfway to Lowtown before I remembered my new home. I kicked a stone, and turned around. Would I ever get used to this? Even after three weeks, it felt strange to walk into Hightown and think I belonged there. In my rough leather jacket and scuffed boots, I felt as much like a ruffian as I’d always been. When I drew the key from my pocket, I had the unnerving feeling I’d stolen it from someone—or, as was more often the case, killed someone for it.

Smells of flowers and greenery washed over me. Mom had filled the manor with potted plants. Three shattered pots in the corner gave evidence that Sandal had managed to destroy half of them just as fast. The dreamy eyed dwarf looked out over the balcony; was he planning to swing from the chandelier again?

I dropped my satchel at the foot of my bed. When I emerged from my room, I was clean and dressed in finery. I drifted down the stairs, frowning.

“Is there anything I can get for you, my lady?” Bodahn bowed. “Name it, and I’ll be happy to oblige.”

“Just a bottle of wine, Bodahn, and a glass.”

“Right away, my lady.”

“It’s Marion.” I sighed as he ambled off. “There’s no need to be so formal.”

Mother sat by the fire, embroidery in her lap. Her wrists flashed with silver, and her hair was pulled into an intricate braid. To look at her, one wouldn’t have known at first glance that she had spent twenty years tilling earth or bathing a Mabari coated daily in mud. Still, I could see it—in the wrinkles around her eyes, and the whitening of her hair, I saw a harder life. Most of the nobles who were Mother’s age looked ten years younger.

“Mother.”

“Hello, dear.” She gazed into the flames. “Have you heard from your brother?”

“Mages and templars aren’t friends as a general rule.”

“He’s your brother.” She grimaced. “It’s just as well. He needed space. It could be a lucrative career for him.”

“Hunting people like me? That’s a ‘lucrative career’?”

“I’m sorry, Marion.” She glanced up, and smiled. “I’m just trying to make the best of things. He’s been discontent for a long time. If this brings him happiness, I’ll be grateful to the Order for that much.”

I pulled up a second chair. Bodahn left the wine on a small round table of polished wood. I filled my glass. The liquid was a deep red.

I studied the flames, seeing shapes, seeing houses, blackening ruins crumpling as darkspawn swarmed over them. Did Mother see the same thing, or was the fire a mere comfort?

“He might have joined the Order in Fereldan too.” I picked up a poker, and jabbed the logs. “After being kicked out of the army, that is.”

Mother chuckled. “I suppose it would have been a matter of time. Carver always did find trouble. I hope he’s settled down now.”

I frowned. “It would have been natural if...”

Mother glanced at me. “If what?”

If you had been strong enough to do what you should have.

I stood up, setting my glass down. My heart thrummed. I bit my lip.

Be gentle, Hawke. Varric’s voice was low and smooth in my head.

I wheeled to face her. “It wasn’t my fault that Bethany died.”

“I’m sorry I said that, darling. I never meant it. Not really.”

“Even after you apologized the first time, I still believed it was. I played it over in my head. If I had gotten to the ogre sooner, I could have knocked it down. If I’d thought to throw fire, I could have distracted it. But I wasn’t the only one there. If it was my fault, it was Carver’s fault, Aveline’s. We were surrounded. Everyone was just trying to survive.” I shuddered. “It wasn’t my fault that Bethany died.”

Mother reached for me.

“It was yours.”

Mother flinched as if I’d electrocuted her. Then she bowed her head. “You wish it had been me instead of her. If the ogre had grabbed me instead...”

“I don’t wish that.” I sat down. “But I was angry at you. When we were at Gamlen’s, what did you do? You stared into the fire and you didn’t move. You didn’t even take in washing to help us pay the rent. You didn’t try to sell fruit. You didn’t offer to stitch up clothes for a couple of coppers. You didn’t do anything! You left it to Carver and I. You’ve left it to us since Dad died.”

Mother’s eyes watered. She closed them. “After she died...after your father...each time, it was like another part of me, somewhere in my chest, had just been ripped away. I couldn’t even think. I was sad and angry, and I couldn’t see anything else. Then, when Carver left, I thought I was having a heart attack.”

“But he didn’t leave, not truly.”

“I realized that.” She took a breath. “When I realized he was just going to be on his own, with a job he might enjoy, I even felt a little better. I know you tried with him...but he needed to find his own way.”

“I didn’t want you to take Bethany’s place, Mother.” I took her hand. “I was angry because you could have prevented it.”

She met my gaze.

“I never wanted to go to the Circle. I liked the feel of grass under my feet. I savoured looking up, and seeing the sky. I even enjoyed the constant reek of filthy Mabari.”

She chuckled.

“But sometimes I wondered about the Circle. I thought of all the books there I could be reading. And I thought of Bethany, on those winter days when we had less to eat, being able to have her fill. They get three meals a day at the Circle. There was one winter where I even considered sending her off myself. It was a chance at a richer life for her.”

“But not you?”

“Not as long as you needed looking after.” I shook my head. “It’s just...if you had sent us, she would still be alive right now. She was capable. She would have survived the Harrowing. She might have even attained a position, become a senior enchanter. She might have written books, had friends...been safe.”

Mom slumped over. “I’ve made so many mistakes.”

“We could have stayed together. If you had been well, if Carver was there, I might have gone with her. And if Carver had joined the Order, he would have been able to send decent money your way. He would have kept us together with letters and stories. When he wasn’t watching over his sisters, he could have visited you, seen you were alright.”

“And all three of you could have been safe.”

“I shouldn’t have said this to you. Keeping us free wasn’t the wrong decision. Not really. You couldn’t have known the Blight was coming. If it hadn’t, all of us would still be in Lothering now. Poorer, but alive.”

“I’ve thought too much of myself.”

“Mother.”

“No, I have. You’ve played it through your head, too. You’ve watched Bethany die over and over. When you look into the flames, do you see it like I do? The homes falling, burning, being swarmed?”

“It’s all I see.”

“I wish I could look after you now.”

“But you don’t have to anymore. We’re set for life.”

“There must be some way I could be useful.” Mother pursed her lips. Her eyes glinted. “I have old friends from my childhood here. Many of them have their own children. Perhaps I could set up a meeting with some of them? I know Sir Laurence is very handsome.”

I laughed. “No, Mother. Thank you. I’m sort of already...seeing someone.”

“A noble?” Her voice was critical.

“Not at all. I have too much of my mother in me.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“He understands, Mother. If I married a noble, how could I be happy? I’d have to hide all the time. I’m so tired of hiding.”

“Is he...like your father?”

I nodded. “Like mother, like daughter.”

Her lips thinned into a severe line. She opened her mouth, and then she shook her head. She chuckled. “Well, it’s just as well I’m not like my mother. You can rest assured I won’t disown you. But be careful, darling. If you’re talking about who I think...well, he can be a bit wild.”

“You’re just upset he trailed that weird mud over the floor from Darktown.”

“Whatever it was, it had red stains!” Mother shuddered. “But it’s just as well. If you’re happy, I won’t get in the way.”

I stood up: I pulled her into a hug, folding her in. I was a head taller than she was. I stroked her hair. “I don’t mind looking after you, Mother. It gives me something to do.”

“Is Anders interested in children?”

Maker, I’ve said too much.

I blushed. “I...don’t know.”

“Well, grandchildren would give me something to do.” Mother drew away, beaming. “I could teach them how to curtsy, dance, sew, cook, sing!”

“After you were done teaching them not to light the house on fire.” I grimaced. “With their genes, it’s certain they’d all be mages. You could handle several apostate toddlers?”

“I handled two, didn’t I?” Mom puffed herself up. “I’ll figure it out.”

I bet.

“I love you, Mother.”

“I love you, Marion.” She pulled me in for another hug and stroked my hair.

#fictober21 #fictober #fanfic #dragon age #dragon age fic #writing #creative writing #writers #writeblr

[otherworldliness]

I R O N   M O U N T A I N

I walked up to the pens through the canted storm glow into the cathedral of dust the horses built over themselves with the wind and their circling and their eyes blazed that orange like the day's last light into the arena and threw their shadows around them and flickered and I got the work because how I edged up to the black and white one that likes to be a ass sometimes and I walked him down with him feinting side to side to side while his mane got all tangled in the glowing gusts and I stretched out my arms and backed him until he was in the corner but he didn’t run and I spoke to him and touched his neck flicking and nervous like lightning and when I got my arms gentle around his face and held it to my chest I could whisper to him there and I kept whispering until all suddenly the winds died down in him and the storms stilled and all their voices went quiet I can’t always make it happen like that but sometimes I can Mr. Moses walked up to me all

who the fuck are you and I said

hey Boss and he looked at me for a few seconds and he said

you run a saw and I said

sure can and he said

good I don’t need no more cowboy wahoos round here and I said

y’all got a room and he said

feed these horses and come up to the house and I said

OK Boss

at the headquarters Mauricio had Chile Colorado stewing in the big pot on the stove and he turned and looked at me and knew who I was but I gave him the sign and he acted like we were strangers nobody else was there from before Mr. Moses was drinking a beer and he said

what’s your name and I said

Major and he looked at me like what kind of name is that but he shook my hand and said

Major I’m William Moses and I said

good to meet you Boss

and he introduced me to Mauricio and Mauricio shook my hand and smiled at me and Mrs. Moses was in the living room reading the Sunday comics and listening to Emmylou on the record player and I knew right away we’d be pals Moses put me in the same room I used to share in the summers with John when the ranch was ours and I put my bag down on the boards of the floor and pulled the silver raven out of it and put it under the loose board so I could dream but then I remembered you and I had to sit down on the bed real hard and hold myself to keep all of my secret night from spilling out

I got up in the morning dark and turned the light on and the room was cool from the windows being open and the late August dark coming in and I pulled on my pants and shirt and boots and walked into the kitchen where Mauricio and Mr. Moses and another man stood smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee around the table and Mrs. Moses had a skillet full of eggs and sausage and their cigarette smoke whorled up around the tines of the elk antler chandelier over the table and Mrs. Moses said

Major this is CB

and I shook hands with the man who was skinny and tall as a Sotol bloom and Mr. Moses turned to Mauricio and said

you know the old fence at the west end with all those holes and Mauricio said

yessir and Moses said

why don’t you and Major go out there and fix that up we’re gonna need to move the mares over there pretty soon and Mauricio said

will do

the truck bumped along the road with the windows down and the morning light in the dust behind us bluer than prayer and Mauricio said still looking up over the road

I heard about Elle and I said

oh and looked down at the knees of my blue jeans because how there was always a silver knife chopping around in my heart and he said

I’m sorry Major are John and your parents OK and I said

we’re all about making it and he said

do they know you’re here and

my voice went away and he put his hand on my shoulder and took his old felt hat off the dashboard and put it on and I whispered

I’ll tell them

and we got out of the truck and he handed me some Mooremakers and we cut all the old wire down off the fence and rolled it up and put it in a big blackred mess on the bed of Mauricio’s truck and it scourged our shirts and raised up dark rusty scars and we pulled out the bright lines of new cable across the expanse and tied them onto the far H brace and hooked up the comealong and stretched them off the ground and made it where you could tap them and they’d sing wavy as Hank’s yodel and we tied them off to the close H brace and slicked them up to the posts and stays and Mauricio sang and two Prairie Falcons called down at us from where they held at the edge of a cloud

Mauricio and I redid fences for a month before Mr. Henry visited the ranch for the first time it was hot in the day and our sweat puddled into our shirts deep to where the Tiger Swallowtails landed on us to water I didn’t know Mr. Henry was coming and on the way back when Mauricio turned up the big hill to the main house my heart started flutterskipping because how I hadn’t been there since you were still here and the world wasn’t so full of all its black horse music and my heart still sometimes had doe deer lain down in the shadows of its trees like secrets I whispered

where are we going and he said

to say howdy to Mr. Henry

I looked up the hill and didn’t think I could be there but he said

he’s not a bad one Major

we pulled up into the gravel lot and the house swept out from us like a white bird to the cliff edge and the oak trees swayed huge around it in the light wind

Mr. Henry and Mr. Moses sat on the porch looking onto the valley below and when Mauricio and I walked up Mr. Henry stood and shook my hand and he said

James Henry and his voice was deeper than bullbellow and I looked up and said

Major

he looked at people that slow way like he actually saw them and his eyes were quiet and held me strong so that none of the ocean of night inside me had to leak out even though I was at our house and he turned to Mauricio and shook his hand and while I sat there and Mr. Henry and Moses talked I could feel your words coming off the white stucco walls touching my face like quail down but I couldn’t hear what you said even though I tried and Moses said to me

Major

and my eyes startled up I’m always getting woken up from something and he said

Mr. Henry wants to know if you can cut some firewood for the house and I said

yessir and Mr. Henry said

good then I’m going to go take a drive around the ranch but you all come back up for some dinner a little later tonight

Mauricio drove and CB was with him up front and Moses and Mrs. Moses were in the backseat and I rode in the bed with the dogs and Rhett was up close at my legs with his long coat and his warm and they were playing the country station out of Stockton in the cab and it came out of the yellow glow of the radio and deer floated over the fences like spirits under the high beams in front of us as we moved up through the smell of piñon smoke to the house that was shaking beneath all the weight of night and there was the first chill of autumn and the truck stopped and the dogs poured out of the bed in front of me in a falls and circled round Mr. Henry’s big lab whining and pawing and I said

come on there pups

and jumped down and Mr. Henry had the long table on the porch set and a fire in the hearth that was wide so I could of lied down in it and the mouths covering the walls moved in the flickering light like they were trying to say something but no sound came out but I tried to read what they said but they all spoke different and I couldn’t see long enough to tell but Mr. Henry sat at the end of the table smoking a cigarette and drinking wine and when he greeted us he buried the dark under the deep of his voice

evening

and he shook hands with us and gave Mrs. Moses a hug

Sharon I’m sorry my wife couldn’t help you out of being the only woman at the table and she said

please I’m used to all these men

and he poured us glasses out of an old bottle and it was wine that was like a velvet blanket and I said

thank you and he said

sure thing Major and the dogs trotted back and forth silently along the edge of light and Mr. Henry said

Major can you get the steaks off the smoker and I said

yessir

he’d cooked good thick steaks and he scalloped potatoes inside and made a Caesar and I liked that he was that kind of man that made friends with the people who worked for him and while we ate the dogs came one by one and laid down in the firelight that stayed bright because of how CB was nearest the hearth and kept throwing logs crushing onto the coals when it burned down and once I saw Mr. Henry watching the walls like he could see the mouths too but I wasn’t sure

Mr. Henry walked into the headquarters before leaving and said

you all got anything needs to go to town and Moses said

no sir and I said

give me a second and he said

I’ve got five

and I ran into my room and took out my book and wrote tell mom I’m ok on a page and tore it out and put it in an envelope addressed to John and ran back out and gave it to Mr. Henry and I said

thanks and he said

sure thing Major

I cut out the fire killed oak for three months I only cut the best trees when it was that right point of evening when the wind was always just right and the light would turn purple and flow down through the hills like water but I stopped cutting before any night got into it and then I hauled the wood down the mountain because that’s how he asked and I took the trunks and the thick boughs that hadn’t got burnt up but just got killed and I logged them and the logs that weren’t rotten I split and stacked and I got ten cords up against the adobe wall of the house before the night that I was out with Mr. Henry and Moses by the fire and everybody else was gone in and the first cold front of the year slid down over the land and sent the sparks from the fire spiraling southward about our legs and against the canvas of the coats we had on to keep out the shards from the cold and the Iron Mountain hulked further south still and we watched it pull the stars down close to it but it always stayed dark even though it took more of the light than we could and Moses was asleep in his chair so that it was just me and Mr. Henry and we’d drunk enough whiskey where our eyes turned to amber and opened up and could see the ghosts of the iron oaks up there swaying in the wind like silk and glowing darkly and he said softly

can you see them Major and I whispered back

yessir

do you know why you see them and I said

no sir

I want you to cut some logs from it

how I asked

I don’t know he said and I whispered back

I think I can figure it out maybe and he said

I think maybe you can too

I moved to the little cabin off from the main house and I forgot the silver raven but it didn’t matter because I didn’t sleep anymore anyways because the day was too bright to be able to see the ghost oaks and I kind of stole Rhett from CB not like I did it but Rhett just started sticking with me and CB didn’t care because of all the other dogs stuck with him Mr. Henry told Moses how I was going to just report to him and Moses said

OK

and I went up to the hills over the main house at night and tried with my chainsaw but it was like passing through air and I tried with my axe but it didn’t work either I kept going back but I didn’t know what to do and one day I got real sad and went down into the valley where the red oaks all bent like fire in the gusts of autumn and I strung all the biggest trees together with spiderweb to make a machine because I was trying to listen to heaven so I could hear you again but in the nights when I put my ear to it everything got all drowned by the clamor of God up there drunk and murmuring to himself in the dark and running into furniture I just wanted to hear you say goodnight like you used to I just wanted you to tell me again that I’m your good little brother and how you lovemelovemeloveme but I couldn’t hear you and the wind kept blowing and I laid down on the cold ground not remembering anything anymore except that you were here and now you are gone

I can’t figure out how I said into the receiver and he said

you can take a while and I said

alright and he said

just don’t worry too much about it and I said

OK I won’t and he said

are you doing alright out there in the cabin and I said

yessir Rhett stays with me and we keep that stove burning so it’s warm and he said

who’s Rhett and I said

he’s that red merle Aussie and he said

alright then Major I’m glad you’re keeping up I’ll see you all out there afterwhile

after we finished up dinner Moses asked me if I would shoot a deer in the morning early because he wanted to have some backstrap for when Mr. Henry came the next week and I said

I don’t have a gun and he said

you can use that 30 aught 6 I’ve got over there in the cabinet and I said

I’ll be up early

I walked down from my cabin later that night to the headquarters to grab a beer and when I opened the door into the kitchen CB was standing in the refrigerator light taking out a bottle and he said

you want one and I said

yes please

and he popped the tops and we sat down at the table in the dark and I said

where you from CB and he said

I grew up down 90 outside Sanderson and I said

so you’ve been out here the whole time and he said

I’ve been here for a while but not the Iron Mountain for long and I said

you’re family out there in Sanderson and he said

used to be but my dad died and my mom kind of split off after that I don’t really know where she is things fall down on this land kind of hard some times

and we sat in the dark and drank in silence for a while and he got up and the light spilled out of the refrigerator into the kitchen again and he got two more beers for us and I said

you know where the trapper piles up the bodies and he says 

yeah what of it and I said

them all piled and stinking those bodies they’re all through us

but I could tell maybe he knew but he wasn’t going to say and he said

how old are you

and I said 18 but he knew that was a lie

he went and got us each another beer because we were drinking too fast and said

time for bed

yeah I guess I better

I’ll be around 5:00 to get you

and I shook his hand and walked up the trail to my cabin

the cold was ringing when I woke and I got up and put some kindling onto the coals in the stove and stacked some logs on that and blew the fire going and I put on my thermals and my pants and a shirt and zipped my coveralls on over everything and there was a knock at my door and Rhett stirred up whining from my blankets with the fire flicker in his eyes and I said

come on in 

and CB walked in and said

morning and his voice made fog inside my room and he patted Rhett’s head and I said 

howdee

and he poured me some coffee out of his Stanley and I pulled my gloves on and grabbed the rifle and slung it onto my shoulder and shut Rhett in the cabin and we drove out a ways and parked the truck and walked up onto the mountainside and CB said

you stay here and glass the valley and I’ll go around and watch that other side and I said

OK

shoot a doe if you can

I nodded and lay down in the grass and watched out as the light came I kept having to switch my hands holding the binoculars because of how fucking cold it was and every time I stuck my right hand in my pocket I could feel the extra brass shells banded together to keep them from ringing

deer come out in the morning because of how they are the same color as it and you have to watch so careful because it’s like trying to see water in water but I finally got my eyes right so that I could see an old doe come through the dim and I took off my glove and switched the safety off and put the cross on her neck and the shell cracked open and the bullet went hurling out away from me to her

CB walked around from the other side of the hill when he heard the shot I don’t like killing deer because afterwards I can hear all that low thunder out of death’s horn and I try not to hear it but I can’t not after I brought it and I remember you telling me how it was what made the dogs whine in their sleep and how every now and again it gets loud so that car alarms go off in the streets I don’t like hearing the sound from it CB walked up and said

that’ll do

and we put a rope through her back ankles and pulled her up from the bough of an oak and cut her guts out and left them where they fell grey and steaming on the ground for the coyotes and CB said

Mauricio will make us some chili tonight and I said

hope so

and then I looked down at the bloody knife and I threw up on the dirt and CB just shook his head at me but I wiped my mouth off and got up and CB dropped the doe into the grass under the tree and I picked her up and put her on my shoulders and he said

come on crazyass

and we walked back up to the truck and I put her in the bed and her eyes turned to frost from the inside

the next evening I was walking water line and I heard the elks bugling at each other and I looked but I couldn’t see them because how the grey was down on the earth but then all of a sudden I saw first one and then another big bull come out from the clouds and when they walked their antlers tore up the fog so that they dragged all these ribbons of emptiness behind them through the air and I knew how to cut the ghost oaks I don’t know how but I just knew and I ran back to the truck and drove to the house and I ran in past Mrs. Moses and she said

where are you off to

but I ran past and into the room and I pulled up the floor board and took out the silver raven and I went and jumped in the flatbed that had the welder on the back of it and I drove it over to the barn and I got my chainsaw and filed all the steel teeth off it and I cut the raven into little pieces with the torch and welded them onto my chain and filed the lumps sharper than the moonlight and then I went and sat by the forest and time changed I watched the sun rise and fall and rise and fall until I lost count

I got so skinny sitting there all those days I needed the milk of your voice I needed the warm bread of your words but finally I saw the night anchor pulling across the world and it caught on the Iron Mountain and the dark stayed and I took my saw onto the hill and found the stand of ghost oaks all dark and gusting in the wind and I walked to them and pulled the saw going and set the blade against one and blue sparks burst like little galaxies everywhere and the sparks went through me like I was the one that wasn’t there instead of them and I worked the long night through and I had to keep going back and welding on more teeth because the silver wore down so fast but I cut a little stack and laid it invisibly next to the other logs by the house and at the end I fell asleep beside the wood and Rhett was sleeping there too and the night closed all its eyes and came over close and lay down against us to keep us warm

I mailed Mr. Henry a letter

I figured out how to cut it

I made a silver blade

Moses let me take a truck into town and I pulled up to The Blues where there was a fire burning out of some shitty lumber stinking up the air and someone was singing old Marty Robbins inside and people were turning on the dance floor in quick circles through the spindled light that the disco ball hauled through the cigarette smoke and I walked over to CB and he slid me a bottle of Jack across the rough boards of the table and I slugged on it and slid it back and he said

look who’s out tonight and I said

howdee and he said

you gonna have a time and I said

might turn that way

and then the warm of the whiskey went through me and the world got soft and dark and I looked up and saw her there in the glow of the can lights and she looked all alone and quiet from the others and she wheeled from me and then back again and our gazes caught together across the room in the breeze from the song and I couldn’t even see who she was with but when I tried to look away our eyes got caught up like wind knots and I couldn’t turn she had on a dress covered in horses and the song ended and another fast one was on and it was just like that that she was in my arms and laughing and we turned like a dust devil all over the place and the horses went and bucked and galloped across the cloth plains of her dress and the sea of night inside of me flashed away for then because how she took my loneliness in her hands and pushed it away she said

lets get out of here and I said

OK and she said

come on then

and we ran out to the truck and drove west down 90 out there to old Nopal where the heavens push down hard on the earth and pulse and blaze and it was just us sitting there with the truck engine shaking and she kissed me so delicate that I couldn’t figure out what was happening how the softness hit me all brutal everything bunched up and the red lights flashing on us as that train went by in the night the horn blowing so loud that the dark got ripped away and the ground shaking and we were just alone there and it made it where I felt like horses loose on a highway or like moths like grass burning and there was all that flint in us that was rubbing along our ribs when we breathed and I thought it might have been light that filled us but I didn’t know for sure I never know for sure and then she took her dress off and her body was the moon and all at once the air filled with the ghost lights swarming and near and they circled round us like little stars and brought close their burning faces to whisper to us every name of night and they passed over again and we lay there holding together breathing like we’d run miles and we grasped to each other while our shadows turned circles around us always behind us to the lights and as fast as they were there they left again and the cab of the truck exploded into dark except for the soft waxing of her body

Lucia came out to the ranch the next weekend in her dad’s flatbed because I told her about the ghost oaks and she said

let’s burn some and I said

OK

she drove out on one of those days where it was real cold out and the clouds were down low and were rubbing off on the hills so that the grass and trees turned silver and thick with frost I already went around with Moses breaking the ice off the water tanks and there wasn’t anything else to do because it was so damn cold

she came into the cabin and Rhett walked up against her leg with his head up so she could pet him

who’s this she asked

oh you mean Stinker Bell there

she’d sat down and Rhett was nuzzling up in her lap and she was making those noises at him that people make with dogs and I walked over to the ice chest and got us out some beer and brought it and gave it to her and I said

his name’s Rhett and she said

well hello Rhett and I said

he’s got two different color eyes

and she pulled me down with them and kissed me

I cooked venison and we ate and when we were done I went and got the logs from outside first I lit red oak and then I burned piñon and after that I lay the dark ghosts of the old iron oaks onto the bed of coals and I understood why he wanted me to cut them it makes the smell like a chapelfull of myrrh smoke but the warm of it doesn’t touch your skin or your face but it sounds into you and calls all the wild and tender things that hide high up on the game trails in your heart down and it makes the moon rise through the dark of you like a mother of pearl disc and all the creek beds in your soul fill up with cold water

we lay there naked in that warm on the Navajo rug in the cabin and the ghost fire came out of the stove like snow light and the small brown spiders crawled out to us through the shadows and wrapped us there in their silentest silks and we didn’t have to be afraid of anything anymore because how in that garb not even the night can see you

she stayed with me in the cabin for three nights and every word she said had a bunk where I could lay up and sleep for a night she’d say

Major

and take my hand and put it down between her legs where the warm ocean was only barely inside her and she would pull me down and as I rocked in and out of her our hearts sloshed back and forth so full of stars that death was with us too we got so close and I knew she couldn’t stay forever and that evening we walked outside and she washed the creek in her hair and then the stars got hold of her and tossed her nightward and she flew up and up and she didn’t fall and I knew how she had to leave because she was the moon but I’m getting too used to all these leavings

that night my dreams rode in in the dark their horses the color of flood water under a flashlight and the dreams breathed as hard as the horses and their breath got so hot when they whispered close it made my ears ring all I could hear was how God talked in symbols but I already knew that and I kept wincing away into my blankets because it was like when someone breaths real hard on a microphone turned up too loud but I wanted to hear but I couldn’t hear what they said and I whispered out to them

tell me if you can pray to just one part of God and maybe can He keep it secret from the other parts of Him like could I ask Him to open my dreaming eyes and help me find the heavens I hid in myself but lost

and my dreams bent their heads to me

but ask it from the gentle part of Him and not the part that’s always drunk and angry and would open all my eyes and then burn nightmares into them forever

and my dreams leaned in close

like sometimes He seems to like answering prayers as mean as He can and I just want to find the God that’s actually better at being good than us not just the one that says He is

and my dreams put their heads against my head and ran their fingers through my hair until I fell to sleep in sleep

the next afternoon I saw the fire start I knew it was coming because how the ground was so dry it smelled like rain even when I pissed it was the storm with no rain that did it I tried to stop it I said to the wind and I said to death and I even said to God but none of them were listening I was cutting cedars on the hill but I saw all the smoke column up and I dropped the saw and ran down the road and I ran so fast that my breath fell behind and I took off my coat and kept running and my mouth tasted like it got full of pennies and I found CB but I couldn’t say anything and I had to hunch over there to let my breath catch up with me

you crazy fucker he said

but I caught my breath and I told him and he said

where and I said

by the gate

he was in a valley fixing up a hole in the fence but he climbed the hill with me and he saw the smoke because the fire got big while I was running and he said

how the fuck did that get started and I said

I tried to stop it it was the storm I tried to make it go away but he said

nevermind

and ran down the hill and started his truck and raced up the road to go get the firemen I guess and I ran down the hill after him but now my legs felt funny and I said

shit

and had to slow down but I kept trying to go fast so I could find Moses but the sun started sliding down and the edge hit the earth and the fire got bigger and even though it was night now the wind kept rising and the smoke made my head ache and behind me the mountains flickered and in front of me the tree shadows swung around in the light but then I had to stop because the hills turned into a gold river and my eyes were spinning around and I had to sit down and make the world stop so I could go again and then it stopped and I ran up to the headquarters where there wasn’t a light on and I knocked on the door anyways but no one was inside and I kept turning around to see the fire get bigger and the smoke smash against the Iron Mountain

prow of the earth I whispered breathlessly up to it

I couldn’t let the house burn I had to not let it burn Elle got born there and when we were young and she’d never been too jealous of the dead she would laugh so loud and blazing white as the stars that the rooms and the halls would get full and silver and you could see them there glowing if you were out in the night and it would bring you back from whatever trouble sort of thing you were about and now after I got all the rivers in me full up with tears it’s the only place left where I can go hear the shadows that her laughing cast and not have to feel sadforever

I ran up to the dozer and tried to start it but it didn’t start because the batteries were dead because nobody had driven it since who knows but the flatbed was there so I brought it over and turned the welder on and I put the ground on the black and the lead on the red and turned the key of the dozer and the engine rolled over like a fuckcrazy horse and the lead off the welder made burning stars shoot all over the place from the battery and I jumped down on the flatbed to turn the welder off but it was already stalled 

piece of shit I yelled at it

and jumped back up on the Cat and put it in reverse and gunned it because bulldozers run fastest backwards I don’t know why but it still wouldn’t go fast enough but I turned it towards the house and the tracks that had got rusty sitting there were polished like mirrors after the heavy thing touched them on the ground and I could see the stars that were living in them and the flint under the treads burst out with sparks to light my way

I got up to the house that was glowing clear white like the moon even though the fire snaked next to it huge and orange and the smoke flowed over the hills like the world was coming apart and the wind pushed the grasses into waves and the fire was twice higher than the house when I came up and spun the dozer the treads shrieking like giant barn owls and dropped the silver blade into the earth and rammed a wide swath of clean dirt between the house and the fire and the engine all low down growled and the turbo whined and the exhaust went dark in the dark and filled the woodsmoke air near the house with diesel smell and I screamed

COME ON FUCKING COME ON

and I got one break down when the fire got there and a second break started and everything was swirling and full of bright and dark but the fire jumped my line into the meadow by the house and I tried to chase it but the wind turned it huge so I couldn’t chase it and the flame surrounded me and I killed the dozer in the middle of the firebreak and jumped down and ran into the courtyard of the house hoping that the walls would hold long enough for the flames to pass but the oaks were too huge and hot and the herd of bright red horses ran all along the floors up the walls and set the paintings on fire and I went to the fountain to lay inside it but the fountain was empty and I yelled to you

HELP ME

but I couldn’t hear you and I turned to the flames

no please no

and I ran out the back of the house but the flames were at every side and I jumped out off the deck over the cliff into the night below and I dropped and dropped and went through some tree to the ground and my head spun to darkness

I found the rock pool at the edge of the meadow that’s never in the same place twice and I got in the cool water and drank the bottle of whiskey from the stone edge and my liver turned to ember and glowed into the water and you walked into the dark gold light like from out of nothing and I knew you were my dream but how it didn’t matter and the stars still saw your face and got drunk off it and I watched them lose their ways and stray through the black up there staring down at you and you said you could talk to me for the night only but that was all and I thought that was ok it was ok and all again you held me and I was shaking but all I could tell you was about how I keep trying to build the heaven in myself so you can come be with us again but I have to make sure it’s hidden enough that it doesn’t get broken but how it’s so hard because I keep not being able to find it after I hide it and I have to start all over again and you whispered to me 

it’s okay Major   it’s alright

and your voice was quieter than smoke so I could hear and I heard you but I couldn’t keep you there and I wanted so bad to keep you there

I woke late the next evening and I heard CB and Mauricio yelling my name on the cliff top and I whistled back to them and Rhett ran down the hill to me and licked my face where I lay and they came down and CB said

you crazy motherfucker and I said

I think my ribs are busted

and he looked at the cliff and he said

yeah I bet they are

and they helped me up and half carried me and lay me on the back of the truck and my sides pulsed like shards of suns when I breathed and the house was burnt and smoldering and Mauricio got into the pickup bed with me while CB drove slow down to headquarters that was still there and they had the horse trailer hitched in the driveway I think they all thought I’d died or something because Mrs. Moses ran out crying and Moses told me how they’d followed the dozer tracks up there in the night and yelled and how I hadn’t said anything back and I said

I guess I was sleeping

my head ached so bad with all the night crashing around in it and Moses said

we got to get these horses out of here but they’re kicking up a storm in that trailer and I said

it’s because they got too much fire into their eyes and they all looked at me like they always look at me but I got off the truck and limped through the yard under all the stars that were falling in flurries now and I got up into the trailer with the horses and they stilled down and I said

close that up and keep the light on in here

and they did it and the fastener screeched as they pushed it down into place and the truck started up and I was surrounded with the heavy smell of the horses and I leaned against the black mare and winced at the bumps and all the stillness in the horses asleep in the lit trailer hauling through the dark filled me up and I could feel the massiveness of heaven just out there heaving breath in and out and how alive it was and how I just had to find a pure place to put it into the world and then we just had to believe in it and love each other even though we’re all the ruined but we still can love even though our hearts are wrecked and that’s what I had to know so I whispered every heaven that I could find to the mare and I thought that the ocean of her heart would keep them safe but I didn’t know anything for sure I never know anything for sure

[iamtotallycool]

In the Case

This is an EOA Fantastic Beasts!AU that I had sitting in my drafts ever since I saw The Crimes of Grindelwald...so it’s been in there for awhile!

Anyways, this was a chance for me to write something featuring the Core 4 Amigos and I hope you guys enjoy it!

PS It is quite long, hence the read more link XD

“Ouch!” Naomi yelped loudly.

“Sorry, just a couple of more shards,” Gabe said as he held her foot in his lap, tweezers in hand as he pulled out the last bit of glass from a broken bottle that she had stepped on during their daring escape at the Blind Pig Pub.

Across the way, their wizard companions were putting the last of the captured magical creatures back into their respective enclosures.

“Don’t worry, mommy’s here,” Mateo said as he slowly placed the baby Occamy back in the nest with the rest of his younger siblings.

The chicks each took a turn wrapping and sliding over his forearms and hands, all chirping with excitement and anticipation.

“Yes, yes, mommy hasn’t forgotten about dinner time.”

Elena smiled at the sweet sentiment as she picked up Dougal and placed him back in his hanging hammock. The exhausted Demiguise let out a great yawn and Elena covered him with a small quilt.

“Thanks Ms. Flores,” Mateo said, as he threw a few meat pellets into the Occamy’s nest.

“Oh, I think we’re long past formal titles Mateo.” Elena pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, “You can just call me Elena.”

“Ok…Elena,” Mateo said as he shot her a smile, which she happily returned. “And you’re sure that was everything that came out of your case right?” Naomi then asked skeptically, not that anyone would blame her. 

The group had had several close encounters with the law and creatures a like just in the past day. They were only now catching their breath inside Mateo’s magical suitcase, which itself was securely tucked away in a far corner on the Macy’s store roof. 

“I promise you it was,” Mateo said as he pulled off his ruined vest and untucked his dress shirt. “Delgado has no reason now to keep blaming my creatures for these attacks.”

“Right, now it’s just the easy part of trying to convince the entire MACUSA team of that.”

“Nice to see where your optimism lies Naomi,” Elena joked as she began removing her sparkly and chunky jewelry.

“Just trying to keep everything in a realistic perspective–OUCH!” She yelped again, and smacked Gabe on the shoulder for good measure.

“Oh here, let me grab my wand and I’ll fix that right up,” Elena said as she made a reach for her thigh holster.

“Oh yeah, what am I doing?” Naomi said as she began to pull away.

“No magic,” Gabe said sternly as he grabbed Naomi’s foot again. “If you three want to jump on to chandeliers, or dive off second story landings, or taunt creatures the size of houses, then you are going to be treated and healed like a muggle or else you won’t learn your lesson.”

The three accused looked at each other, seeing who would be the first to speak out in protest. But from the sheer amount of cuts and bruises they had, they knew it wouldn’t be an argument they could win against someone like Gabe.

So, instead they replied in unison, “Yes sir."

“Then can I least get a drink that’s not any of that god awful giggle water.” Naomi groaned, “Stupid prohibition.”

“Here,” Mateo said as he went over to the small kitchenette and grabbed a bottle off the top shelf. “It was a gift given to me while I was over in England.”

“Now were talking,” Naomi said when she saw that it was a bottle of Firewhiskey, “Grab some cups then, I think we could all use a little.”

“What were you looking for in England?” Elena asked, grabbing four mix-matched cups and mugs from Mateo’s cabinet and bringing them over to the table.

“Was just helping out a friend of my grandfather’s with a giant squid situation,” Mateo said as he poured everyone a small some of the whiskey and began passing them around. “Poor creature was injured and acting out, scaring the young wizards at the school.”

“Wait, are there schools that teach you guys magic?” Gabe asked in astonishment as he finished bandaging up Naomi’s wound.

“Of course!” Mateo exclaimed, “Where else do you think we learned magic?”

“Hey, 48 hours ago, I didn’t even know all of this existed,” Gabe said as he widely gestured around to emphasize the 'this.' “Where did you go to school at?”

“Avalor,” Mateo said excitedly. “It’s a school hidden within an old Maruvian temple deep in the jungles of Latin America.”

“What was it like?” Elena then asked in a longing tone, placing her chin in her hand.

“Incredible,” Mateo said, his smile stretched so wide on his face. “I remember holding my head high as I walked through the doors with one of my grandfather’s tamoritas clutched tightly in my hand. The colorful Jaquins would fly around and sing songs while they guarded the school. And two years later, I was able to summon my spirit guide, Cacahuate.”

“And what about the graduation ceremony?” Elena asked, grabbing his arm eagerly. “They said that the King of the Janquins himself comes, presenting words of wisdom to only those wizards.”

“Wouldn’t know what that is like actually,” Mateo said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I…kind of got expelled from the school during my 5th year.”

“Does it have anything to do with the girl whose picture you’ve got over there?” Gabe asked, pointing to Mateo’s small office area. “Rita, right? That’s what it says on the frame.”

“Nothing gets past you Detective Nunez,” Mateo said sarcastically as he took an unusually large gulp of his Firewhiskey. “It was a misunderstanding. She…she just wanted to take care of a creature on her own.” 

Mateo unbuttoned his shirt enough to reveal a large and deep scar that covered his entire left shoulder and some of his collarbone.

“The Professors ended up finding me soon after the creature went on a rampage, and it took me a week to recover.” Mateo bent his head up, staring at the star illusion that floated above them, and absorbing their bright light to fight back the dark memory. “Turns out some people got hurt though, luckily it was no where near as bad as me. But I should have never left her alone, so I thought I should take the fall for her.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Naomi said coolly.

“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time,” Mateo replied nonchalantly. “So, now that I was expelled, a disgrace to my grandfather’s legacy and not wanting to be a burden to my mom, I decided to head out and drift around.”

"Worked out though, since I ended up realizing that what I really wanted to do was save and preserve these guys," Mateo glowed with pride as he swiveled around in his chair to look at his creatures. The constant and comforting reminders that his life and work had meant something, despite what others still whispered when they saw him. "And hopefully I'll get to educate fellow wizards about them as well.”

“Have you seen Rita since you got expelled?” Elena then asked.

Mateo didn’t say anything as he just shook his head.

“Well, if I can speak freely, she seems like a taker Mateo,” Elena said in a gentle tone, laying a hand on top of his. “And you need a giver. You’re too sweet and kind to have anything less.”

The young wizard looked back at her with a wide eyed expression, waiting for her to take back the kind words she had just said. But she didn’t, and instead gripped his fingers tighter.

“It's nothing to really dread about. It was a long time ago.” Mateo then let out a forced cough and turned his attention else where. “Anyways, what about you Naomi, did you attend a school here in the states?”

“Nope,” Naomi said, making a popping sound on the ‘p’. “I didn’t attend any school, I’m surprised you haven’t figured out that I’m a squib.”

“What’s a squib?” Gabe asked, feeling slightly exhausted from all the questions he had to keep asking.

“A non-magical child born from wizard parents.”

“That’s the PC way of saying it,” Naomi said with a harsh edge to her words. “My parents did attend magical schools though, my father went to Ilvamorny and my mother went to Nordburg, a small Norwegian School. And by the time I was born, my parents were firmly in the trading business; so I’ve been learning about the wizarding world and muggle world since I could walk.”

“That wasn’t hard at all?” Elena inquired.

Naomi shrugged, “At times. But my dad was a muggle-born and my mom was always open-minded. So together they had the strong belief that any skill learned could be useful, magical or not.

“Like for one…” Naomi quickly reached under her and pulled up Niffler by one his feet, “Being able to detect pick-pocketers, especially little kleptomaniacs.”

“Oh jeez,” Mateo said with an exasperated tone as he grabbed Niffler from Naomi and went to, once again, put him back in his cage. “I swear I can’t take my eyes off of you for a second.”

“Are you going to be taking over your parents business then?” Gabe asked sincerely, as he gently ran his hand down her foot to smooth down her bandages.

“Not exactly,” Naomi said as she ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “My parents might be open-minded, but the same can’t be said for the crew or, more importantly, our noble, pure-blooded clients.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Especially since I ended up breaking one of those pompous windbags noses after he called me something along the lines of a ‘filthy little squib that should have been killed at birth.’”

“Surprised he only got away with a broken nose,” Elena said as she placed her hand back on top of Mateo’s once he rejoined the group.

“Well, as good as it felt to do that, my parents ended up getting some pretty bad backlash. Because for whatever reason, no matter what I do, it seems to not mean anything. And even my parent’s crew thought–”

Naomi stopped herself abruptly and bit her lip. She closed her eyes tightly and let out a frustrated and staggered sigh. She remained that way for a couple of long seconds before she opened her eyes and waved her hand, as if to bat away her negative feelings.

“Anyways, I didn’t really want to be a part of the wizarding world for a while. So I decided to build connections and reaffirm old ones my dad had from his days when he was still living between both worlds here in the states. And it's not a lot, but it's a start.”

"That's some really impressive dedication you've got there," Gabe praised, hand still on her ankle. 

Naomi smiled. “Well now I’m curious about you Mister Muggle.”

Gabe laughed, “I can guarantee that my school wasn’t anything big, and certainly not as exciting as a wizarding school.”

“No, but you told me earlier that you fought in the war,” Mateo said, noting back to the awkward small talk the two of them had been making on their way to Central Park the previous night. “Were you drafted into it?”

“No, I enlisted for the army on December 16th of 1914.″

“Wait,” Mateo interrupted, the wheels in his head turning and calculating. “But that means you would’ve been underage at the time, right?”

Gabe shrugged, “Honestly, when you’re a kid like me growing up in the Bronx, there wasn’t really a difference between being 16 and 18. Besides, there were kids a lot younger that signed up and someone had to keep an eye on them.”

“Still, what did you’re parents think?” Mateo asked, remembering how a lot of wizarding families had felt about rogue wizards joining the efforts, his mother included.

“About as well as you could imagine,” Gabe said as he began loosening his tie, letting out a deep sigh once he was free. “My mom just kind of had this blank and confused look on her face while my dad was furious: yelling and screaming about how he didn’t immigrant to this country so that his son could end up dead in the mud in some foreign place. But, it worked out for me in the end, still have all my limbs and my life.” 

Gabe then let out a bitter chuckle and dragged his hand through his already messy hair. “Of course, fighting the war had been the easy part. Trying to find a place here when I returned had been a very different story. I tried so hard to get a job on the police force, but I guess I had been in the war too long and I didn’t have the right ‘look.’ So my only options were to either work in a canning factory like a lot of the other guys, go back to my parents, or, for the best I could do, work security at the bank. Wasn't really hard decision to make in the end.”

“And what about your parents?”

“They’re doing good, still running their small bakery where you have to try the empanadas if you ever go,” Gabe smiled fondly. “My mom and me still see each other and talk when we can, but my dad and I on the other hand…still a little touchy.”

“Anyways that just leaves you Elena,” Gabe said hastily before an awkward pause could even start, “did you go to a different wizarding school in Latin America?”

“I actually didn’t attend any schools either.”

“Really?”

Elena nodded, “My father was the President of Magic, just as my grandfather had been before him, and his mother before him.”

“No wonder they used to call you the Royal Family,” Mateo teased which Elena responded by lightly shoving his shoulder.

“You can imagine then that my family and our curriculum changed to be more focused on homeschooling.” Elena shrugged, “It wasn’t much a surprise since everyone was expecting me or my cousins, Esteban and Cristobal, to become the next leader. Though I really wanted to attend Avalor more than anything.”

A deep shadow then fell over Elena’s eyes as she stared down into her cup of alcohol, getting lost in the dark color of the liquid.

“But when I was 15…” She cleared her throat, trying to choke down the sob. “When I was 15, my parents were killed.”

Gabe froze in shock. “Do you know who killed them?”

“Yes,” Elena said as her voice remained very solemn, “Her name is Shuriki, she’s an international terrorist that is still on the loose. And she made a grand show of power not too long ago by murdering my parents with the killing curse on the grounds of the Mexican Ministry.”

She and her fanatics disappeared though before she could have a chance to get me and the rest of my family. However, knowing that she would come after us again, we went into hiding.” 

Elena took a sip of her alcohol before she continued. “And while it was a large and beautiful castle we stayed in, it was still a gilded prison, I felt myself going insane in there as every day passed.”

So, when I turned 17 and a little help from the international council: I cut my hair, stowed away my family’s scepter, and began training as an Auror, much to the disapproval of my grandparents. And after a couple of years of pushing papers and shadowing others, I finally got a chance to pick where I wanted to be located.”

Elena leaned in closer to her companions, letting them in on her top secret information that she had not shared with anyone, even her little sister Isabel. “I heard a rumor that Shuriki came to the US and I know she’s here, I've been feeling her presence for months. And I’m going to find and bring her to justice for my parents if it’s the last thing I do.”

The group fell silent. The empty air around them began being filled with the various sounds of the beasts, continuing on their simple existences and completely oblivious to what had just happened. Meanwhile, all the humans could do was keep staring at each other as they felt somehow freer and heavier than they had a few moments ago. And all, no doubt, wondering if more alcohol would be a viable option right now.

“Wow, that got…unintentionally deep and personal," Naomi commented.

“Well, there are some things you can’t do without liking each other in the end,” Mateo responded.

“Like capturing a 20 foot Occamy.”

“Or thrashing a Goblin’s bar.”

“Or breaking out of MACUSA.”

“Or having some very nice mugshots plastered all over the wizarding world.”

They all let out a small laugh, nothing quite as hardy or jovial like when they had worked together to capture the Occamy, but still warm and very much needed.

“Alright, we have to find this mystery creature,” Elena then said in an unwavering time as she turned to face her friend. “Mateo, are you positive that it is an obscurial?”

“Absolutely, the markings were a dead give away.” Mateo scoffed, “I hate to burst the President’s bubble, but just because obscurials aren’t as common as they were a long time ago, doesn't mean they're gone. I’ve come across many cases of these poor, troubled kids.”

“So since it’s from a form of powerful repression, we can easily rule out kids in new money families,” Naomi noted. “I highly doubt they would be against their kids using magic if it meant prosperity.”

“That’s a good point, but that could easily mean that rich families from old money could have an obscurial, if they don’t want to face anything out of the norm,” Gabe chimed in. “But I suppose class doesn’t mean anything, does it?”

“Not in the grand scheme of things, but you’re on the right track," Mateo said as he reached for his notebook, where he jotted down quick and messy observations. “I’m talking about a really dark environment though, usually the child is under heavy abuse, being constantly punished for their magical powers, and knowing that they have to repress this power in order to survive.”

“Alright, I have a few places in mind, either from reports or things I’ve noticed,” Gabe said. “We’ll need to get cleaned up and head out as soon as we can.”

“I agree” Elena said determinedly. “We can’t afford to waste anymore time, muggles and wizards are going to get increasingly paranoid the more these attacks keep happening, and I fear there could be a point that we can’t come back from and the Statute of Secrecy will be null and void.” 

Elena pulled out her wand and waved it so that their glitzy formal clothes began to melt away into their more suitable civilian attires. “The last thing I want to happen is for Shuriki or her fanatics to get even the slightest hint of success for their insane crusade.”

“Well, I know we’re with you, all the way,” Mateo said encouragingly, using his own wand to summon medical supplies from his workshop table.

"They won't even know what hit them," Naomi chimed in.

“And besides," Gabe began in a confident tone. "After everything else we’ve faced, how much harder could this really be?”

#Elena of Avalor #elena castillo flores #mateo de alva #naomi turner #gabe nunez #Disney #disney jr #harry potter au #fantastic beasts au

[write-havoc]

This Is How I Disappear Ch. 4

Summary: A girl named Chuck finds herself in the exact place she doesn't want to be, living with violent men in a desolate nursing home. After her former gym teacher finds her, will he be the savior she was looking for?

Fandom: The Walking Dead AU

Pairing: Negan/Original Female Character

Status: Completed (story continues in The Flame Is Gone, The Fire Remains)

Contains: swearing, violence, sexual assault, blood, smut

Readers 18+ of age only

Masterlists in my bio

Chuck snaps back into consciousness seconds later. Negan has her clutched to his chest, walking quickly down the hall.

“Wh-what's going on,” Chuck says softly, her mind still foggy.

“I'm taking you to the doc,” he growls.

Waking fully, she says, “No, I'm okay. It's just low blood sugar. You don't need to bother Dr. Carson.” She still feels a little bit dizzy, but she knows it’s not serious.

“You passed the fuck out. That seems like something the doc would be fucking concerned about.”

“Only for a few seconds, right? I just need to eat, Negan. I'm fine. I promise.”

He lets out a huff. “Fine.” By the time Negan responds, they are on the first floor and almost to the infirmary. Negan pauses, switches direction, and heads for the stairwell to the upper floors.

All that Chuck can focus on at that moment is Negan. The way his arms feel around her. The smell of his clothing. The scruff on his neck. The way that she feels completely safe for the first time in a long while.

  Negan’s always been so good to me. He's done so much for me. Without anything in return. I don't think I deserve him…

 “I can walk. You don't have to carry me,” she says as she squirms a bit in his grasp.

He sets her down gently, not completely removing his hands from her. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” She looks up at him and smiles slightly, trying to convey that she doesn’t need his help. He turns her around and puts his hand on her back, pushing her gently through the stairwell doors. Chuck makes it about halfway up the first flight before she slows down, starting to become winded from having no energy.

“Alright.” He lets out a huff. “I should've known better than to believe you. Turn around,” Negan says from behind her on the steps. After she has turned to face him, he says, “Put your arms around my neck,” as he makes a “come on” gesture with his hands.

She knows fighting him on this would be pointless, so she does as he asked. She gingerly wraps her arms around his neck and he brings her to his chest slowly. She awkwardly wraps her legs around him and he puts one of his hands on her bottom to hold her securely.

“You okay with this, baby girl?”

“Yeah,” she says bashfully.

  He must think I'm so pathetic. Carrying me like a child the whole way through The Sanctuary. I guess I am pathetic…

 After some time, she looks around and recognizes that they are heading into Negan's office. As soon as they enter, the smell of spaghetti sauce and garlic wrap around her, making her stomach grumble loudly, almost painfully.

“Jesus Christ, sweetheart! I fuckin felt that. When was the last time you actually ate?!” After walking into his kitchen area, he sets her on her feet by the table. She plops herself down into one of the chairs and watches as Negan opens the refrigerator and pulls out a jug of orange juice. “Drink,” he demands after he pours the liquid into the glass sitting in front of her.

As she gulps the juice down, Negan brings the prepared food over from the stove and sets it in the middle of the table. The spaghetti and homemade sauce along with the basket of garlic bread has Chuck reminiscing of family dinners with her mom.

Negan makes up a plate for both of them and sits down across from her. “Eat,” he demands as he digs into his own meal. “I thought I should fucking feed you after throwing you in a cell for 24 hours. I guess I thought right since you fuckin’ passed out on me before I got you up here.”

She takes a few bites then pauses. “You made this?”

“Yeah,” he says, his mouth full. “I can fuckin’ cook.”

“It's, um, it's really good.”

“Good. Clean your plate.”

“I-I don't think I can. You gave me so much.”

“Because you need it. Eat.” He points to her plate with his fork.

She takes a few more bites and then looks back up to Negan when she feels his gaze.

  He wants me to eat all this, but I know I can't. When did this all get so hard for me? I feel like such a failure. I don't want to disappoint him. He's done so much. He made this all for me. I know he's busy and he wasted his time doing this just for me.

 “I'm trying, Negan,” she says so softly that she isn’t sure if he heard her.

“You haven't been fucking eating, have you?”

“Yes. I do... A little. Maybe not enough…” she admits and looks down at her plate. “I haven’t been hungry.”

“Have you been fuckin’ sleeping?”

She simply shakes her head, too tired to try to deny it.

He sighs. “I want to help you, Chuck. Why didn't you tell me you were having a hard time?”

“That's not your job-“

“Yes it fucking is, Chuck.” He snaps. “There's no fuckin’ way I took you away from them just to have you fucking kill yourself in my house.”

“I'm not going to kill myself,” she bites back.

“Well what the fuck do you think you're doing to yourself by not fuckin’ eating or sleeping. That sure as shit ain't fuckin’ healthy. And fighting with my men? That shit’ll get you killed.”

“I just… I need some more time to adjust, I guess. It's not that bad-“

“You look like fuckin’ shit, Chuck. Don't tell me it's not that fuckin’ bad.” He sets down his fork and pushes back from the table a bit, letting out a huff. “Are you done?” He points to her plate.

“Yeah… I can't eat any more. I'm sorry.” She sniffles and hangs her head low.

Negan stands from the table and starts to put the leftover food away. “Don't apologize.” He pauses. “Your stomach fuckin’ shrank from not eating enough for so long, so I’ll heat this up for you later after you digested some. And you're gonna fuckin’ eat it, Chuck. You hear me?”

“Yes. I hear you.” She watches him move about the room for a few minutes. “Can I go to my room now?”

He stops and turns to her. “No. We got fuckin’ shit to talk about.”

  Great. I don't want to talk. Why is this so hard for me? I don't want him to see me so weak. But I do want to get better, I guess. He's trying to help me. I know I should work with him, but it's just so hard…

 After putting all the food away, Negan opens a door on the wall opposite the archway coming from his office.

“Come on, sweetheart,” he says as he walks through the door. Chuck stands up slowly and follows him.

The room she walks into is gorgeous. A beautiful king sized four poster bed with black and red linens is directly to the left of the door. There is a sitting area to the right, complete with a dark leather sofa opposite two armchairs with a glass coffee table between them. Windows with thick black drapes line the right wall behind it. A large armoire and matching dresser are on the left wall, past the bed. On the back wall, directly across from the foot of the bed, are two doors spaced apart from each other. The whole place is decorated beautifully, paintings and drawings hang on the dark gray walls as well as stuffed animal heads. There is even a large modern chandelier hanging in the middle of the room.

  Oh my god. This is Negan's bedroom. Of course it would be this over the top gorgeous. Negan never did things in half measures.

 “Take a seat,” Negan says as he motions toward the couch. They both sit down, one next to the other. “Do you wanna fuckin’ tell me about what's been going on with you now, what happened with you and Andy?”

Chuck really doesn’t want to talk about it, but she knows she has to. She doesn’t have it in her to hold it all in anymore. She lets out a sigh and begins, “He sounded like… Andy, I mean. His voice. It sounded like… Jacob’s.” She fidgets in her seat, uncomfortable saying the man’s name. She looks at Negan and sees that he looks confused. “He was the leader back at Rolling Acres. One of the men who-“

“It’s okay, baby girl,” he coos as he places his hand on her knee in reassurance.

“Anyway... Andy... he called me ‘honey’. Jacob used to call me that. All the time. I hated it. When I heard Andy call me that, I just… I don't know what happened. I-I snapped. I didn't know what I was doing.” She pauses, trying to keep herself calm. “I'm so sorry, Negan. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I promise it won't happen again. I promise.”

Negan gently picks up her hand and squeezes it. “I know, Chuck. I knew there had to be a fuckin’ reason. Why didn't you just fuckin’ tell me?”

She shrugs in response.

Negan sighs. “I don't want you to keep anything from me from now on, Chuck. Whatever you’re going through, I want to fuckin’ hear about it. You hear me? Keep fuckin’ nothing from me. Tell me everything.”

“Okay,” she mutters sheepishly. She was never one to open up about her feelings, but maybe now is a good time to start. “This all has just been… so much for me. Coming here. After… all that. I just… I don't know. I just feel like I have nothing left anymore. Like everything was taken from me back there. After losing everyone I cared about. And then… what they became. What they did to me. What they made me do. I’m just so ashamed… I just feel like, maybe I could've done more, you know? To stop it all. I could've fought. I should've fought. I guess I didn’t really realize all that until I got here. Everyone here is so strong. And I'm not. I just feel like I don't deserve to be here when better people didn't get the chance to survive. If I had just tried harder…” The tears start to pour from her eyes as her voice cracks.

Negan comes forward and scoops her up into a hug. He holds her gently as she cries into his chest. “Shhh. It's okay, baby girl. You didn't do anything wrong.” He rubs her back gently as he speaks. “You have nothing to be fuckin’ guilty about, okay? Those fuckers hurt you. They should’ve been the guilty ones. And now that you’re here, you have nothing to be scared about, okay? I'll always protect you,” Negan whispers into her hair. He pushes away from her gently when her tears subside.

“Look.” He scratches his neck as he pauses. “There are women up here. My… wives. They're untouchable, safe,” he says hesitantly.

“Simon told me about them… a little bit,” Chuck responds.

“Of course he did.” Negan runs his hand through his beard as he sighs. “You can be one. You'd stay up here. You wouldn't need to work. You could read all day. Do whatever you fucking want. No one comes up here without my fuckin’ say, so you wouldn't need to worry about any-fuckin’-one. You'd be perfectly safe.” He pauses, studying her face. “We wouldn't have to… I wouldn't fuckin’ force you to do anything you didn't want. I don’t force them . They’re here because they choose to be. They can leave whenever they want.” He pauses to let out a breath. “I wouldn't touch you unless you wanted me to.”

“You want me to be your wife?”

“I just want you fuckin’ safe. That's the easiest way.”

  No. I can't do it. I know it might be easier, but I can't just… do nothing. Not provide for my group. I can't be a trophy for Negan, either. I can't be property like that.

 “I don't want to be a wife,” Chuck says meekly, hoping Negan would honor her wishes.

Negan lets out a huff. “Okay.” He stands from the couch and turns away from her. “Stay here.” He walks across the room and opens up one of the doors. As Chuck wipes away the last of her tears, she begins to hear water running into a bathtub. After a few minutes, Negan peeks his head out of the door and beckons her in with his hand.

Negan's bathroom is just as lavish as his bedroom. To the right of the door is a tile walk-in shower big enough for two people. Behind that is a large corner bathtub. To the left of the door is the sink with a long counter and behind that is the toilet. The whole black and white room is expertly lit and completely spotless.

“Here. Take a bath. Clean yourself. Relax a bit. I'll grab you some clean clothes to wear,” he says while leaving the room.

“Oh. Uh. Okay. Thank you,” Chuck calls out.

  A bath sounds awesome right now. I haven't had a relaxing soak in… forever, really. I feel a little weird getting naked in Negan’s bathroom, though. But, oh well. My mom always said that a nice bath could soothe a weary soul.

 Negan walks back in, handing Chuck the clothing. “Here. You can wear these.”

“Wait,” she holds the clothes out, “These are your clothes.”

“Well yeah. What the fuck else did you expect?

“Uh. My clothes?”

“I'm not stomping my old ass all the way down to your room and back when I got perfectly good clothes up here.”

“I guess,” Chuck giggles at his indignant tone.

With Negan back in his room and the bathroom door locked, Chuck removes her clothes and settles into the bath. The warm water works wonders on Chuck’s tight muscles and soon enough, she is feeling relaxed. She lounges for a while then exits the tub once she washes her skin and hair. After drying her body, she puts on the clothes that Negan provided, which consists of a grey t shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. She feels a little silly in the oversized clothes, but comfortable nonetheless. She throws her damp hair into a messy bun and exits the bathroom with her dirty clothes in her hands.

“Just throw those in the hamper in my closet,” Negan says from the couch as soon as she steps out. She turns away from him to put her clothes in his closet then turns back toward him, finally noticing what lays in front of him on the coffee table.

She lets out an excited gasp and exclaims, “No way! Is that the same one?!” Chuck’s gaze is fixed on the chessboard set up in front of Negan.

“Same one, sweetheart. I saved it,” he says, a smirk fixed on his face and a pair of glasses resting on top of his head. ���Sit your ass down. I want to see if you still got it in you to fuckin’ kick my ass.” He pulls his glasses down onto his nose.

She laughs out slightly, “Oh, I think I just might.” They begin taking their turns moving the pieces, falling into an easy, familiar rhythm.

“You know, I tried to start a fuckin’ chess club after you graduated, but no one was interested.”

“Really? Why didn't you do that when I was there? I could've used another extracurricular on my college applications.” She laughs.

“I didn't fuckin’ need a club since I already had a chess partner. After you graduated, I guess I fuckin’ missed playing.”

  Wow. That's kinda… sweet. Oh jeez. I can feel my cheeks burning.

 “Uh. I guess I missed playing, too. I went to this chess group thing and tried to play with some kids at college. It wasn't very fun, though. They were way too serious about it. One guy screamed right in my face for distracting him by crossing my legs too many times. You know… sorry I get uncomfortable easily,” she trails off in the end.

“What a fucking dick! No way I woulda let that shit fly.”

“Yeah, well. That was the last time I really played with anyone.”

The game ends with Chuck winning and, true to his word, Negan brings out reheated leftovers for Chuck to eat.

“Thanks.” She picks at the small portion, managing to eat all the food after some time. “Okay,” she pushes the plate away from her on the coffee table, “my stomach is seriously full now.” She chuckles.

“You did good, baby girl. I want you eating dinner with me every-fucking-day from now on. I want to make sure you're actually eating enough.”

“Okay. As long as we can play chess afterward,” she says and gives him a friendly smile.

“It's a fuckin’ deal. You up for another match?” He smirks at her.

She giggles. “You just don't want to leave a loser.”

“Maybe.” They both laugh as they set up the board for another game. After several minutes, they are interrupted by Negan’s radio.

“Negan, sir. We got a little situation in the armory. You might want to come down here.”

“Fuckin’ shit,” he growls.

Chuck looks at him a bit warily. She hopes the problem isn’t anything serious.

“It's probably nothing to worry about. These fuckers can't figure out shit without my fuckin’ say. Just stay here. I'll be back in a few minutes.” He stands from the couch, making his way to the door. “Don't fuckin’ cheat and move those pieces, either,” he throws back, over his shoulder.

“I don't need to cheat to beat you, Coach.”

He laughs out, “Watch that smart mouth, sweetheart.” With that, he leaves his apartment.

After a few minutes of idleness, Chuck starts to wander around his room, running her fingers over his soft bedspread, smooth end table, and deep grained dresser. The pictures on the walls hold her interest momentarily before she moves on from them. She feels too awkward in his personal space, so she moves to his office. Rifling through the bookshelves, she stops her meandering fingers on an old black hardback. The complete works of Edgar Allen Poe. She carries the book back into Negan's bedroom and curls up on an armchair.

  God, I used to love Poe as a moody teenager. It seems like so long ago now. Like it was a lifetime ago. I suppose it was, in a way.

 She reads a few stories before the world of ravens and telltale hearts drifts away and sleep envelopes her.

 ———

 Where am I? I'm in my room. No, not my room now. It's my childhood room.

“Mom! Mom, are you here?!”

“Down here, sweetie.” Her voice. It’s too far away.

I need to find her.

The staircase is too long. The hallway, too wide.

“Mom, where are you? I can't find you.”

I'm frantic. Everything is too dark. She sounds so strange. I need to find her.

“Where are you, sweetie? Why didn't you come back for me? ”

“I did! I did, mom! It was too late. You were already dead. I thought you were dead. But you're here now. We can be together now. If I can just find you.”

I open a door. I'm in my room at Rolling Acres.

I’m in my bed. The door opens.

“Ready for me, honey?” It's him.

“No! No, not you! Mom! Where are you?!”

“Shut up! I hate when you scream. You'll only make it worse for yourself, honey.”

His weight is on top of me. His hands under my clothes. I can't push him away. My arms won't work.

“Please don't hurt me, Jacob! Don't! Not again. Not anymore. Please!”

I feel him push into me.

“Mom! Please! Help me…”

His hands grip my neck, squeezing tight.

“Don't. Please! Ne-Negan! Help me, Negan!”

 ———

 “Chuck! Wake up!” Negan gently shakes her shoulders, coaxing her back into consciousness. The realization of where she actually is slowly creeps back to her.

“Negan?”

“I'm here. You're in my bed. You're safe.”

  What? I'm- How did I get here? Did I get into his bed? I don't remember that. My mind is still so fuzzy.

 He reaches over and snaps on the lamp to her right. The illumination allows her to see that she is, indeed, in Negan's bed. She looks to him standing beside her and sees that he is wearing only his underwear. She immediately tenses up and closes her eyes tightly.

“Hey. You're okay, Chuck. I found you asleep on my fuckin’ chair, so I put you in my bed. Then, you started having a fuckin’ nightmare, or some shit. I could hear you fucking whimpering from the couch. You yelled my fuckin’ name.”

She opens her eyes and looks around. There is a pillow and blanket strewn haphazardly on the couch. He must've been sleeping there. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

“I'm sorry. I, uh. I didn't mean to wake you up. I should go back to my room. Get out of your hair-“

He interrupts her. “Is that why you haven't been sleeping? Nightmares?”

“Yeah, I guess,” she mutters. “I’ve been… having a lot. All night, usually.”

“Stay here then. If you have another one, I'll be right over there to show you that there's nothing to be fuckin’ afraid of.” He turns to go back to his couch.

“Wait.” She grabs his hand. “I don't want to kick you out of your own bed. We can share. If you want, I mean.”

  I used to crawl into my mother’s bed when I had terrible nightmares after my father died. Just being beside her helped me so much. Maybe… being beside Negan will help me, too.

 “You sure?” he asks hesitantly.

“Yeah. I don't want you having to sleep on your own couch. And, um, it might, uh. Maybe it'll help… me. With the nightmares, I mean. But if you don't want to-”

He turns the light off and crawls in beside her to her left before she finishes her thought. “If you want me to leave, you just fuckin’ kick me out, okay? I'll be fine with it.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “Night, Negan.” She turns a bit awkwardly so she faces away from him and curls up in his soft blankets.

“Night, baby girl.”

She closes her eyes and tries to ease herself back to sleep. No matter what she does, though, she can’t stop her racing thoughts. At least they aren’t about her past this time.

  Is this weird? I'm in Negan's bed. With him. That's kinda weird, isn't it? We're not… doing anything though. Of course not! We're not even really laying that close together. He's just… helping me. I'm trying to let him help me. I know I need it. Maybe him being here will calm me and I can sleep.

Okay, it doesn't seem to be working because I'm freaking out about being with him… like this. He's almost naked! I'm almost naked, actually! I don't even have underwear or a bra on under these clothes. I wonder if he noticed. Oh god, he probably-

 Negan's heavy arm comes down and wraps around Chuck's torso, pulling her close to his chest.

“Stop fidgeting around and just sleep, baby,” he croaks out, half asleep.

“Oh.” She squeaks out in surprise. “Uh. Sorry. Okay. I'll try.”

  Am I okay with this? I know I can push him away. I trust him. He's just so warm. He feels… nice. This feels nice, actually. And safe. Like how my mother used to hold me when I was a kid.

 Before she knows it, Chuck drifts off to sleep.

 The warm light streaming through the windows gently brings Chuck out of her restful slumber. She stretches her limbs out as she yawns.

“Bout time your lazy ass woke up.”

She sits up quickly, now fully awake upon hearing Negan’s voice, and looks over to him, sitting on his couch with glasses on his nose and a notebook in his hand. “Oh, uh. Sorry,” she says as she rubs her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Just past fuckin’ noon.”

“What?! I have to get to work.” She jumps out of the bed before really thinking about what she is going to do.

“Don't worry about that, Chuck,” Negan says quickly. “You got the fuckin’ day off.” He sets his glasses and the notebook on the coffee table and gets up from the couch. “I'll make us something to eat.”

“Oh, no. That's okay. Let me do it. You've done so much for me already. I feel bad. Let me return the favor and try to make you breakfast... Or lunch, I guess.” She giggles and turns to leave the bedroom. Her motion is halted as he wraps his hand around her arm and pulls her back from his door gently.

“I'm gonna give you an official order here, sweetheart,” he says, leaning into her personal space causing her to gulp nervously. “Stop putting fuckin’ everyone else in front of yourself. Put yourself first, for once. Be a little selfish. Don't fuckin’ ‘feel bad’ because I'm helping you. I’m helping you because I want to and you fuckin’ deserve to be helped. So accept it. That's an order.” He stares directly into her eyes, his face hard.

“Okay, Negan.” Her tone is soft as she looks up to him. He lets go of her and enters his kitchen, Chuck close behind.

“Omelette?” he throws over his shoulder.

“Sure. That sounds amazing. Can I help?”

“Yeah, get all the shit out of the fridge.” She gets all the ingredients out and starts to dice some veggies as Negan gets the pan and the stove ready. After a few minutes, the two sit down at the table to eat their meals.

“Wow, Negan. This is delicious. You’re a very good cook. I bet Lucille loved it when you cooked for her.”

He tenses up visibly at the mention of his former wife, but Chuck keeps going.

“M-my mom, uh, told me that she was sick and in the hospital. You know, before all this. Lucille was always so nice. I liked her a lot. My mom did-“

“Stop fucking talking, Chuck,” he growls out.

“Okay. I'm sorry…”

“Did you fucking tell anyone about her?” He breaths hard as he glares at her.

“No, I didn't-“

“Don't tell anyone about her. I fuckin’ mean it. And don't bring her up to me again.”

“Okay. I won't. I’m sorry.”

  I didn't mean to upset him. What she went through… What he went through with her must’ve been horrible for him to have reacted that way. I knew she had cancer and didn't have long, but I don't know what happened to her. It seems I won't get any info out of Negan about it. I shouldn't have brought it up. I mean, he named his bat after her. Her death must've messed him up.

 “I brought some of your clothes up here. You should get dressed,” he says as he picks up their empty plates and puts them in the sink.

“Okay.” She stands and goes into his bathroom to dress. She puts the clothes on and washes up as the soft sounds of a guitar being strummed from the other room fill her with nostalgia. She thinks back to when her mother taught her how to play. How her father sang to her-

  Wait! Is Negan playing a guitar?!

 She rushes out of the bathroom and is met with Negan, sitting on his bed, with a very nice acoustic guitar in his hands.

“You play?” she says, trying to curb her excitement.

“A little. Not fuckin’ much, really.” He strums again. “I know a few chords.”

“That's a really expensive guitar. It sounds a bit out of tune, though.”

“Well, have at it, sweetheart,” he says as he pushes the guitar into her hands.

“Oh jeez.” She feels herself blush. “I haven't had my hands on a guitar in years.” She gives out a nervous chuckle, but takes the guitar into her hands as she sits beside Negan. She gets to work tuning the instrument, all the while with a huge smile on her face. She strums it once and tries to hand it back to Negan.

“Play me something,” Negan requests.

Chuck laughs nervously in response. “Uh. Like what?”

“Whatever you want.” He smiles at her, waiting for her to start.

“Um. Okay.” She looks toward the ceiling as she thinks of something to play. “Don't laugh at me. I'm super rusty, after all,” she says as she picks out of the perfect song. One that’s short and sweet.

 “Her Majesty’s a pretty nice girl

But she doesn't have a lot to say

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl

But she changes from day to day

I wanna tell her that I love her a lot

But I gotta get a belly full of wine

Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl

Some day I'm gonna make her mine

Oh yeah

Some day I'm gonna make her mine”

 “The Beatles. Good choice,” Negan says with a pensive look.

“My parents used to sing that song to me all the time. It was one of the first real songs I learned how to play, actually,” she says with a sad smile, remembering how her father used to sing the song to her before bed. “That kinda hurt my fingers. I don't have any callouses anymore,” Chuck laughs, wiggling her fingers in the air to illustrate her point. “I think I was a bit flat, too.”

“Nah. You sounded fuckin’ good to me.” He lets out a breath and stands from his bed. “I better get up and fuckin’ run this place, I guess. Lunch break is over. You can hang out here or whatever. I don't give a shit. Take that guitar, though, if you leave. It's yours.”

“Oh, no. I can't take this. I didn't earn it.”

“Remember my order?” He asks in an authoritative tone.

“Be a little selfish?”

“Exactly.”

“But being selfish would make me a dick.”

His hearty laugh echoes through the room. “But you'd be a fuckin’ dick playing that sweet ass guitar.”

Now she laughs. “I suppose,” she concedes as he leaves the room, giving her a wink.

Chuck plays just about every song she can think of, belting out all the lyrics to songs she thought she'd long since forgotten. It’s bittersweet remembering the songs that had so much meaning to her previous life. She lets out a few tears, but is so thankful to have that connection to the time before again.

“Excuse me?” A soft voice comes from behind Chuck, startling her.

She turns around and is faced with a beautiful brunette woman wearing a black dress standing in the doorway.

  A wife. Oh god. I'm sitting on Negan's bed. I slept with him! Well not slept slept with him. Does she know that I was here all night? Is she mad that I'm here in her husband’s room? Should I just blurt out that I didn’t have sex with him?!

 Chuck clears her throat nervously. “Hello.”

“Hi. I'm Sherry. We… me and the other wives, we saw Negan bring you here last night. We wanted you to come into the parlor and talk with us.”

  Oh crap.

#negan #negan fanfiction #negans thirst squad #negan x oc #negan / oc #negan x ofc #negan / ofc #negan x original female character #negan / original female character #jeffrey dean morgan #the walking dead #the walking dead fanfiction #the walking dead au #twd #tihid #this is how i disappear #writehavoc writes #writehavoc this is how i disappear

[kellieinthecapitol-blog]

Lifeline

From 2015-2018, I loved writing about the parts of DC that didn’t show up in my stories each evening, hopefully it helped you to get to know me better and get a fresh perspective on this highly partisan town. 

Three years later, and there is nothing like an evening in Georgetown to inspire me to write again. 

I don’t know if it is because I don’t get there often enough, or maybe because it just felt like I was traveling alone again, but something about tonight just made me want to get BACK into the BLOG. 

So, thanks for indulging me Tumblr. (Do people even use this anymore!? No offense Tumblr.) 

Anyways back to tonight’s story. I was heading over to Georgetown for a meeting with a friend who works in the industry. First off, I discovered a whole new bus route to get me to G-town. Two years after living here and finding a new bus route- is bliss in itself. 

I was 30 minutes early so I decided to walk up and down Wisconsin avenue. The temperate was perfect. The first thing that came to mind was - “it was the perfect date. Not too hot not to cold you just need a light jacket.” (or in my case a sweater). (Miss Congeniality reference). 

I wandered into stores, soaked up the music playing on the street corner, called my Mom to check in, walked in and out of Sephora because I just wanted to be outside again. Then I walked back up the Wisconsin Ave hill past a lovely little antique shop. I was a goner. 

I was welcomed in by two men arguing I think over the cost of an order. The room was PACKED full of incredibly ornate statues scattered around massive paintings piled on top of one another because there was no more room for them to fit as countless chandeliers floated above the crowded floor. 

The two men arguing joked with me that I just missed the sale outside, “50% off,” they said. Now it is “50% added on” if it came back inside. They were funny. I immediately liked them. 

The one man went on his way. I was about to leave but I had some time to kill still before dinner so I hung around. I decided to ask the owner, “what in here is your favorite item? What in here has the most unique story? Anyone famous have this in the past?” 

It turned out to be the perfect question to ask the man who I learned later is called Peter, from a box with his name on it. 

Peter began to tell me about the statue in the front of the room, a statue you would see as soon as you enter, but almost miss it if you weren’t really looking for it because so much is happening around it. 

He explained that it was a woman holding a love potion -- a goddess of young love. Which was funny because I have been thinking a lot about love lately. So I was intrigued immediately. 

He says the potion makes whoever the person wants to fall in love with them, happen. But if that person - as Peter said- “pardon my French, fucks them over,” then the Goddess becomes vengeful. 

He started telling me the story of how he first saw this statue. Get this, he saw it DECADES ago when he was a student in New York City. He saw it in the window of a gallery. Now that same statue sits in his gallery. God, I love stories with strangers. YOU NEVER know what you will hear. 

He began telling me the story of how it came to be in his possession when a delivery came. 

He started telling me how he ordered a painting online and that must have been it. I helped bring it over to him as he sat in his chair. And he said here sit with me and open this it will be like Christmas. 

I just thought well here I am sitting on the floor of this strangers antique shop helping him open an expensive painting and I thought this is awesome. I love random moments like this. It is the beauty of human existence. 

So we started opening the box and he started talking about how he hates online shopping and how he never does it. He says it is so impersonal. Like online dating he says. He says finding a date is like finding a painting you need to see it in person. I whole heartedly agreed. 

He paused for a moment and said let me see your hand. I turned it over confused by what he was looking for. And he said, oh good you have a long life line. I never even looked at my lifeline before! But good to know. 

He then continued with his dating/painting theory and shared a story of a woman who walked into his gallery years ago. He heard her British accent and lower voice and immediately felt attracted before he even turned around, he said. She bought something and I thought he was going to say they never spoke again. Turns out they’re still together and have one child and one on the way. 

During all of this we were still unboxing the painting. He said again how it was like Christmas. I said “I love Christmas.” And he said, “you look like you love “Christmas.” I swear it was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. 

We got the painting open and it was the most majestic photo of a large ship with its sails in full taking on the wind in the sea. I wish I could have purchased it then and there. 

I had to check the time and it was 6:36. I was now late for my evening plans. 

I had to rush off but thanked him for such a lovely visit. We both grabbed our cards and he said to come back. I could have listened to his stories for so much longer- and hoped we’d have the chance again to meet one day. 

But the moment stuck with me. Or the experience rather. It reminded me how much people make me feel alive. How small little experiences add up to bigger moments. How inside this room full of treasures and memories- I made my own with a stranger named Peter. I think we all need those reminders of how simple life can be, and how precious. 

I am glad to know, thanks to the help of Peter for checking it, that I have a long life line ahead to enjoy many more of these moments. And I hope you get the same. 

Welcome back to the blog, here’s to many more stories like this in the year ahead. 

[bestfriendforhire]

Children of BFFH, Entry 77

 “Since we’re sharing, I’ll drop the illusion.” stated Messy, her eyes changing from a natural brown color to a glowing gold.

 “Wh-What?” I asked, staring at her.

 “I know.  Mom chides me when I do that, saying my normal eyes are beautiful, but many people can’t get over it.  They’re just eyes, really.” claimed Messy without a hint of joking.

 “They are beautiful, but… are they really glowing?” I questioned in disbelief.

 Everything around us suddenly went dark, except the glowing gold of her eyes.  Before I could say anything, the light was back.

 “Yes, they glow, and they are beautiful.” stated Four with a smile.  Realizing why I was still staring around, he said, “Sorry if I startled you, but quick demonstrations can often get the point across more easily.  That was just a little trick I learned from Father.”

 A few seconds after he was done speaking, I was still staring at him, enjoying those beautiful violet eyes of his.  He was way too cute.  “I’m not allowed to date yet.” I blurted, my cheeks heating a moment after I said it.  What was wrong with me?

 “You probably wouldn’t be interested anyway.  What you’re feeling is a byproduct of my magic.  Sorry.  Father and I have a large aura that encourages people to like us.  Can’t be helped.” he told me earnestly.  “If you wish to escape it, I’m sure Mila won’t mind giving you a ride home.”

 As I fumbled for a response, Rona begged “Please stay!  We haven’t even done anything yet!  Just give him a hug if you need to.”  She demonstrated, making me feel a little jealous as I considered following her lead.

 “Just remember to let him go.  Gets awkward after a while.” claimed Damien, poking Rona.  She was quick to hug him too.

 “Mila has already taken your bags to your rooms, but we can show you where you’ll be sleeping tonight if you want.” suggested Aid into the brief silence.  “Or would you like a general tour of the place?”

 They all watched me, waiting for a reply.  Some adults I didn’t know walked past us, waving at us without even stopping as some of the kids greeted them.  The silence stretched as my eyes went up and up, taking in the twin stairways leading up to a balcony.  The ceiling was so high, and engraved.  There were chandeliers up there.

 Rona’s voice brought me back to the rest of them as she said, “Let’s just get started with the gaming.  You guys can show her around after our lunch break.”

 I nodded.  “Gaming sounds good.  Dad said I didn’t need to bring my computer when I asked last night.  He wasn’t wrong, was he?” I asked hopefully.

 There were several laughs before Luce grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her with strength like my dad.  “This way, Layla.” she told me, smiling as I matched her stride.  “Our ballroom is used for gaming more often than dancing.” she informed me as we entered.

 The room was large and had… eight sides… floor-to ceiling computer screens!  Well, some of them were mirrors.  I could see Ancient Tribes of Earth being played on them and had to resist the urge to go ask about what sort of gear they were using.  These were people who had played for many years for sure.

 “That’s Deo’s father over there.” she told me as she pointed.  Then she pointed to others, saying, “And there’s Crazy’s mom, don’t call her a mother.  Auntie Portentia, and… oh.  Hello, Mother.”

 Mrs. Somerset seemed to approach us in one step, crossing at least twenty feet in an instant.  She looked identical to Mila!  As she fondly brushed a hand over her daughter’s head, she smiled at me and said, “Nice to meet you, Layla.  You may call me ‘Alma’.  I apologize if my daughter was too rough with you.  She’s just excited.”

 Luce released my hand, looking sheepish.  “I didn’t pull her that hard.” she insisted.

 “Use a feather touch, dear.  Anything more from you can be dangerous.” replied Alma, bending down to look Luce in the eye.

 Luce looked like she was going to make some argument, but nodded instead.  “Yes, Mother.” she stated obediently.

 Straightening and looking at everyone else, she said, “Don’t be late for lunch this time, or I’ll ask Mila to put all of you on dish duty for a week.”

 I frowned as I considered how many dishes a place this size might have, but several of the others snickered.

 Alma smiled warmly as she said, “Off you go.  Don’t want that monster to eat any of you.  We’d have to raid it in revenge.”

 In a whisper as we went down some stairs that were hidden by one of the enormous mirrors, Luce said, “Dishes only take a minute, since they let us use magic.  Mother was just teasing us.”

 “Then why are you whispering?” I asked in a whisper.

 “To sound like we’re conspiring.  Mother can easily hear us from back there.  She’d hear us several rooms away through the soundproofing if she’s paying attention.” replied Luce, still whispering.

 Whispering loudly, Aspy said, “Don’t we need something to conspire about if we’re conspiring?  I’m not missing some coded message, am I?”  He actually sounded worried that he was.

 “What are we even talking about again?  Why would we be using a coded message?  Sorry.  Trying not to forget Layla’s expression when the doors opened.” asked Ella as she whispered too.  She really sounded confused!

 “Huh?  My expression?” I asked, wondering how far down these stairs went.  We had already passed another floor.

 Someone behind me laughed, and I recognized one of the quadruplets saying, “You did look a bit surprised!”

 “Sorry if we startled you.” came the same voice from a slightly different direction.

 Then the voice moved again, saying, “We don’t get visitors often.”

 “Other than you and Rona, we haven’t had any kids our age show up here.  Some people find our home intimidating.” asserted Four, sounding amused by the idea.

 “You’re leaving out Alaric.” pointed out one of the quadruplets.

 “Sorry.  Him too.” stated Four in a resigned tone.  “I’m betting we’ll be seeing Marisha here eventually as well.”

 Luce seemed to tense slightly, and then she had a smile that made me take a step back, stumbling on the stairs before she caught me with a lightning fast hand.  “Will she really?” she asked in a tone that was far more innocent than her expression.

 “Probably.” stated Four without seeming to notice his sister’s expression.  “Marisha’s father might see me as an ideal match for her, so he’ll encourage her to come visit or something.  Father mentioned it, but I assure you that girl won’t be your sister-in-law.”

 “No, she won’t.” stated Messy in a quiet voice.

 I didn’t see her expression as I was too startled by… something…  There had been a motion around us as she spoke, but I didn’t catch what had happened.

 “Easy there, Messy.  Don’t want to make a mess right now.” stated Crazy teasingly.

 “Who’s Marisha?” I asked, getting the idea she was someone to avoid.

 “The child of the guy who rules Russia and a few other countries behind the scenes.  She made the mistake of attacking Luce and Ella.” replied Deo.  “Crazy broke her dad’s arm.”

 “Not on purpose!  I really thought he’d be… sturdier.” she insisted, her wide blue eyes looking sincere.

 “Behind the scenes?  Huh?” I asked, not sure what he meant by that, but I couldn’t ignore the other part either.  “What do you mean she broke his arm?”

 “I just playfully bumped him.  Not my fault he broke.” argued Crazy as she seemed to study the wall.

 “If you weren’t trying to help me, Mother would have scolded you.  You know you need to hold back more than that against people who aren’t trying to kill someone.” insisted Luce.

 I didn’t even know what to say.  This whole conversation was weird and…  Was the tiny girl really that strong!?  Crazy was easily the smallest one here.

 “Ignore all that, Layla.  The point they were trying to make was that we’re really happy you could come today.” asserted Damien.  “Righty, guys?”

 There was general agreement very quickly.

 “My apologies.” stated Luce.  “The idea of getting a chance to fight Marisha without her father interfering is a bit exciting to me.  I want to really see what she can do.”

 “Do you guys fight all the time?” I asked, startled by the idea.

 “More or less.” replied Four to my shock.  “We have daily martial arts and magic training as part of our lessons.  Don’t worry.  Our fights are supervised and perfectly safe.  You’d have to be completely obliterated to not come out perfectly fine, and most of us are careful not to injure the others.”  He looked significantly at Crazy.

 “What!?” she exclaimed.  “I mainly injure myself, and that’s only when it’s helpful!  I still don’t get why you worry about some cuts and bruises.”

 There were a number of groans from the others, but I was now stuck on the words “completely obliterated”.

 “I don’t recommend diving into one of their snowball fights.  They take fights really serious here.” insisted Rona, squeezing my arm from behind for emphasis.

 “Lucky for me, the snow’s all gone.” I told her with a smile.

 “That doesn’t have to be the case.  We can have a yard of snow in midsummer if we feel like it.” stated Luce as she opened a door.  “We’ll be in here today, Layla.  Half the others are going to be in the next room down.”

 “Sorry.  The adults get the upper levels.” apologized Aspy.  “They’re all really the same though.”

 Other than the perfectly black ceiling and floor, the room looked like the ballroom above us.  I could hardly believe I’d be gaming on a screen that big.  The chairs looked comfortable too.

 “Oh!  Don’t do the chair tutorial.” stated Crazy, appearing right next to me, despite having walked in the opposite direction.  “Grandma writes tutorials that are… long.  Very informative, but often unnecessarily convoluted.”

 “Hold old are you?” I asked, still struggling to wrap my head around the idea that this tiny, adorable girl used words like “convoluted” and could break an adult’s arm.

 “I turned nine last month.  Why?” she asked, her wide eyes staring up at me curiously.

 “Nothing.  You have quite the vocabulary.” I told her, despite being shocked by her age.  She didn’t look nine.  Even at nine, who talks like that?

 “Depends on the language.  Messy still speaks at least a dozen I haven’t bothered learning yet.” she told me with a shrug.

 Messy could speak a dozen languages!?  I really, really needed to ask my cousin some questions about this place.  I sighed and took a seat, almost forgetting my questions as the giant screen illuminated immediately.

 Mila’s voice came out of the chair, sounding amused as she asked “Would you like to try the chair’s tutorial, or should I teach you the basic features before we log you into the game?”

 “Basics, please.” I told her, deciding to take the nine-year-old’s advice.

 The chair had all sorts of adjustments I could do, but Mila had various parts slide around to fit my size even better for me.  Then she explained how the keyboard and mouse system worked.  Not feeling keys move would take some adjustment, but I thought I’d manage, though she did offer to get me physical ones if this proved too odd.  In no time, I was staring up at the giant screen in anticipation.  The game was about to continue.

#Children of BFFH #Children #of #BFFH #Jovial Times #Jovial #Times #Fantasy #Fiction #Story

[nhlhoser]

On The Rocks - 16

Part 15   Masterlist

Word Count: 3328

minor swearing as usual

    Driving through Toronto is frustrating, traffic sucks - especially if you're exhausted and your annoying little brother keeps flipping through radio stations and singing along horribly when he finds something but changing it right after.

Speaking of changing stations as he's hand inches towards the knob again I swat his hand away with force, he gets the message and silently sits in his seat.

"Party girls don't get hurt..."

I don't have to see Ricky's face to know he's smirking, slowly he reaches the hand to the knob to turn up the SIA song but I beat him to it with volume control on the stirring wheel.

"IM GONNA SWIIING FROM THE CHANDELIER!!!!!!!!" I belt out the familiar lyrics with a huge grin despite the exhaustion weighing on my shoulders, at this moment I am carefree singing horribly as I drive my brother to his lacrosse practice, He's lucky the Arena is 5 minutes away from my apartment or he'd be shit out of luck.

I am way out of breath by the time the song finishes. I am in fits of laughter and so it Ricky, my core just gets more and more sore with every laugh.

"Oh, my....My abs....they hurt" I wheezed leaning my head on the wheel as I stop in front of the lacrosse arena, Ricky's still incomplete fits his head leaning against the window, tears rolling down his cheeks as he tries to catch his breath but going into fresh hysterics every time.

"Okay...get out of my car before you make me suffocate because I can-I can't breathe," I laugh out some more before finally getting some control, resting my hands on my clenched belly, taking deep calming breaths.

"Okay, okay I am going but I have a question," He's tone gets serious at the end making my brows furrow, slightly worried at what is next to come out of his mouth.

"So... My birthday is coming up and I was hoping I could have a party........at your place?" Ricky's puppy dog eyes have always been a weakness those big baby blues can make anyone weak. Right now that is what I am facing, the infamous begging face that Ricky only pulls when he really wants something.

"Did you ask Dad or your mom already?" I quizzed not really want my place to be overrun by Rick and his buddies. Ricky's shoulder slump and he don't look me in the eye, I raised my brow at him.

"..no..."

We lock in a staring contest, my face 'are you kidding me' Ricky's eyes are pleading. My eyes narrow at him.

"Why my place?" I whined pouting.

"Uhm Have you see the view? also, your place is fucking amazing!" He grins sensing he's winning the battle but I am not giving up that hard.

"I hate you" I started as his face morphs into sheer happiness making my heart swell, happy people are the best.

"You clean everything whether it's you personally or someone else, as long I am not doing it. Something goes missing you're replacing it, same goes for if anything breaks. The last call is 3 am everyone out by 4 and we'll discuss a date when I am not this exhausted and if I say it's over you bet your little ass IT IS OVER," I raised a brow challenging him to disagree with anything i just said. Ricky instantly jerked up and hit his head on the roof in excitement before literally tumbling out my car and onto the sidewalk before getting up and jumping up.

"AH! Yes, okay we'll talk when you're no longer a zombie," Ricky was all smiles as we said our goodbyes as he got his gear from my truck and into the facilities where some of his teammates met and him. By the cheers, I am guessing he told them that I said Yes- with conditions. I honk and wave before leaving for my apartment where I have food to make and a bed to sleep in.

Pissed is an understatement.

I was livid.

Mitchell Marner the little shit that he is is eating the food that he watched me meal prep last Sunday, and he is well aware that the food he is eating is the last of my prep for this week.

He sat at the barstool at the counter looking like a deer caught in headlights, a guilty look in his eyes as the empty container lay on the surface before him before he pushes it towards an unsuspecting William who is eating a salad.

"Nope, this is your problem," the words slightly muffled by the salad he's shoveling into his mouth as he pushes the container back to him shaking his head.

Taking a deep- a very deep breathe, I lock my eyes with Mitchells scared ones. Emotionless I approach the man-child.

"I am going to shower because I have had a long day, I would love to of been able to eat relaxed for the rest of the night. Having worked out this morning, gone to work and more training after. Thinking 'Oh I have food ready at home' otherwise I wouldn't have gone to training but now here's how we're gonna do this, so I don't murder you. The only reason you're still breathing is that I have burned all the energy in my body and I can't replenish unless I have the specific amount of protein, calories, and carbs." My face and voice level and calm, making Mitch squirm as William watches with wide eyes.

"You are going to go get me food, and it's going to match my nutation plan, reasonable if I say so myself," I held back a smile as Mitch's shoulder slump in relief when he learns that he gets to live for another day, only because all of Toronto would kill me.

After giving Mitch earful of the exact grams and ml of what needs to be in my food and what food I do or do not like. Like a little puppy with, his tail between his legs he retreats out of the apartment collect his jacket and keys.

"Thanks for not killing my boyfriend! I would of if I was you, No one touches my food," Steph said coming down the stairs, by her still wet hair she just out of the shower.

"Will, Honey you know you don't live here right?" Stephanie approached her fellow blonde with a teasing smile as she throws her arm around his shoulders giving him a side hug. A red tint started to spread across his cheeks as he's still eating. He takes moment to swollen the contents in his mouth before responding.

"That I am aware, but that brings up what I was meaning to ask Amelia this morning," He pauses and his face looking shyer than I have ever seen it. My brows furrow with concern, Steph face mirroring mine.

"Uhm.... well Can I stay in the guest room tonight?" His eyes big and sad.

I responded the same time as Steph.

"Of course,"

"Why?"

Steph's face morphs into one of confusion and suspicion as she steps away from the poor boy, as if William burned her, making William frown and making my heart ache.

Sad William is the worst and most terrible thing I have ever witnessed and if there's a way for him to not be sad, I'd most likely do. I am a pushover, especially when I am this tired.

"Awe Steph don't be mean to him," I whined as I brought Will into a hug squish him, resting my chin on his head. "How can you be mean to this face?" I squish his cheeks as he narrowed his eyes at me not impressed.

"Nylander you broke my roommate," Steph giggled as I rolled my eyes and playfully push him away but he in return almost fell off the stool.

"I am starting to think I should have just asked Marty," Will huffed regaining his position on the stool.

"Don't worry, William. Amelia is just in delirium right now from a lack of multiple things." Stephanie teased bringing me into an awkward side hug and it's my turn to glare. Gently pushing her off towards the couch where she dramatically threw herself over to watch TV.

"Whatever, Where you want to stay if up to you. I am going to have that shower now. Will, the room should be made already if not just bugged Steph," I smirked as Steph huffed from the couch but didn't protest.

  Collecting my gear that I dropped at the front door when I caught the food thief, I toss my nasty gym clothes into the wash and then poured some baby powder into my box gloves and my gym shoes to absorb the sweat and the odor. Empty the bag I take with me to the rink, my collection of oils, creams, and physio tapes tumble out onto the folding table before I rearrange the bottle back into place in my medicine cabinet where I keep all my first aid gear and massage oils.

 Grabbing my massage chair I bring it out of the laundry room and lay it against the wall before grabbing sanitizer spray to spray it down for tomorrow because Morgan will be over for his pre-game shoulder massage which has become a vital part of his routine or that's what he says at least.

Finally having everything set for the morning, I'm gassed. I yawn leaning against the door frame of the room watching Steph click through the movies on Netflix and William disagreeing with anything she suggests before she smacks him and chooses the notebook much to Williams dismay and whining.

"Have you even watched the Notebook?" Steph snapped at the hockey player who silently shook his head and both of us girls groaned.

Grabbing the box of tissues from the cabinet to myself I push myself off the doorframe and hand the box to Will who passes it to Steph but Steph hands them back before smirking.

"There for you, big boy," I clapped him on the back before head to my awaiting shower.

  I'm practically sleepwalking by the time my shower is done, the hot water relaxed me to the core. Mindlessly drying myself off, brushing my hair and going into my closet, I throw on a soft loose shirt and black shorts before yawning extra hard and walking to my bed throwing myself over to another side to Check my phone on the side table.

Somewhere between reading a text message from Ricky and my dad, I must have fallen asleep because I'm slowly blinking open my eyes when there's a soft knocking on my bedroom door.

"M'come in" I sit up in time to realize I never actually put on my shirt, quickly tossing the white fabric over my head as a blonde I head pokes in followed by the rest of his body, a shaker bottle in hand.

"I thought you might want a protein shake to tide you over until Mitch returns," William offers the bottle, shyly standing in the doorway. I wave him over eyeing the shake with heart eyes, I practically snatch it from him when he gets closer. Drinking about half in the first go earning a chuckle from Will.

"Mmm so goood, thank you Will," I tiredly beam at the blonde.

"It's no problem, I got bored with the movie and Steph was really into," Will casually shrugs his shoulders before flopping in my bed face first with a groan and a giggle from me.

"You good?" I poke his tense shoulder as he lets out a sigh and turns his head to face me exposing a frown.

"I'm scared," He confesses making my heart ache for him.

"Of tomorrow?" slightly shocked

"Yeah, just its scary if we don't win tomorrow we're so screwed, it's just some much easier for us tomorrow than have to win on Sunday and hope Tampa loses. The what if we don't win tomorrow or the next and Tampa wins. We're so potentially screwed but not it hurts my head," Will groans in the pillows before his shoulders slump and facing me again still sad.

My head hurts for him and all the leafs but the rookie's success brings this added pressure for them. Now that they've done big things, that's all people expect is great.

"Well, Willy you have to remember you're only human just like everyone else on the team and on the ice. You're also not alone out there, you guys have already proved yourself all you can do is play your damn heart out and if that's not enough- well fuck them. As long as you played your hardest screw everyone else," My voice firm and soft like I was with Auston earlier.

"You're also not the only one freaking the fuck out, Auston was hiding in a private therapy room and told him almost the same thing," I chuckle at the memory from earlier. William flips on his back staring up at the light gray ceiling before looking back at me with a soft smile making his feature look much younger.

"Amelia you're really good at this making people feel relax thing, Auston told me about his little meditation session but didn't tell me about his freak out," Will's lips quirk up into a smirk at the end earning him a glare.

"If you think you can chirp him for being a human being with emotions, I'll personally let the team know about your freak out, William Nylander." I threaten the smirk right off his face making him pout.

Before anything else could be said the door of my apartment is slammed open then closed with a yell from Mitch about my food and probably a grumble that only could be heard by Steph because of an auditable slap and a yelp from Mitch.

"He's whipped," William laughs.

"And you wouldn't be?" I tease giggling at Williams grumpy face.

"You know you're just as good at making people feel bad as you can good," William whines getting up from my bed before dragging me up too, grabbing the almost empty bottle of shake and finishing it off much to my protests.

"Hey!"

"Shouldn't have been mean," William taunted pushing me out of the room.

I near attacked Mitch for my food when I get to the living room, leaving the poor boy wide-eyed as I attack my steak, broccoli and salad the smell assaulting my nose and making my stomach roar in hunger so loud I was now the one left Wide-eyed as everyone laughed.

"Down girl," I muttered rubbing my tummy as I set my food on the dining table and plopping down into a chair ready to devour the delicious contents but stopping in my greedy quest id chew to thank Mitch even though he is his own reason for going out.

"Thank chew," My words muffled.

"No problem," Mitch smiles as he plops between the empty space between William and Steph throw his arm around his girlfriend.

"Better not be a problem YOU ate her food," Steph poked his chest with gusto before cuddling into it. shaking my head now over the little episode from earlier now that I am eating.

Food and showers work wonders.

Halfway through my food the familiar sound of hockey starts coming from the Tv meaning Mitch probably is watching gameplay, Williams confession earlier makes me stop mid-chew to look over to Will practically hiding in the couch now looking at the screen, making my heart ache. Looking at food then back at Will, I sigh before finishing my salad and closing the container before sticking it in the fridge with a longing stare.

"Hey, Uhm Amelia my shoulder is stiff do you have any of the shoulder cream?" Williams' voice breaks me from my staring contest with my food, startling me. Turning around and almost knocked into him he's so close.

"Jesus William, Yeah it's either in the cabinet or upstairs," I know it's down here but I think he just wants to not be watching hockey. Heading to the laundry room with William in tow, I pull him in and open the cabinet door open blocking off the view into the room.

"Actually need this," Holding the A535 in my hand "Or just don't wanna be here?" I said ridiculously gesturing around the apartment. Will's shoulders drop relief.

"Just don't wanna hockey, you know?" His expression pained and sad.

"Well, let's go upstairs and 'work on the shoulder' leave these love sickos alone," I teased closing the cabinet, nudging Will with wink pushing him towards the stairs. Wishing Mitch and Steph a good night.

William gets to my bed before I do and lays starfish taking up the entire queen sized bed.

"Better move your ass over boy,"

"or what?" William challenged like a child wagging his brows getting more comfortable on the bed. Rolling my eyes at the man-child that is William Nylander. Turning my back to him to set up my laptop to my tv and turn on netlix and queueing up Pirates of the Caribbean, turning back to bed where William is still taking up the bed eyes closed. Turning the lights off, I jump on the unprepared blonde.

"ah," He groaned.

I laid on my stomach across his giggling as his arms surround me and flip me over to his side and adjusts us so my head lays on his chest his arms still around me. He's incredibly warm making a chill run down my spine.

A good chill.

I reach down the bed to pull my fuzzy blanket that I keep folded at the end, pulling it over us. Making me snuggle closer to William because of the heat his producing and the fabric of the blanket still cold from the air.

"Thank you for letting me stay over," William whispered halfway through the movie slightly starling me, forgetting my personal heater is, in fact, a person. Tilting my head up lazily, my blue eyes connect with him, full of emotions that I can't pinpoint.

"It's not a problem," I smiled softly up at him as he smiles down, his large surprisingly soft hand (not that surprising knowing Will) brushes the hair from my eyes to behind my ear before his handsets under my jaw. My cheeks are on fire due to my blush, I am not used to-to this type of intimate-IS THIS INTIMATE?- contact. Williams thumb faintly brushes over my lip before leaning his head down brushing his lips against mine softly.

This would have been great if I didn't squeak causing him to jerk his head smashing his head down against my nose spring instant tears and another squeak. My hands fly to my face instinctively protecting my nose from more damage.

"Oh my- are you okay? are you bleeding?" Came Williams frantic words helping me sit up straight, my hand's still over my face as I stare wide-eyed into Williams equally wide eyes. Embarrassed being an understanding.

"I am so sorry, just I thought there was a moment, I, I just went for it. Oh, man, that's one way to say you don't wanna kiss," Will ramble trailing off at the end look dejected.

"No, it's not that its - I-" I paused taking my hands from my face a tiny bit of blood on my hands, grabbing a tissue from the nightstand to my left cleaning up a little, stopping the bleeding before going on.  "You're hot, believe me- but I don't like you like that,"  My face was scolding hot with a blush.

"Thank god," William huffed falling back in the pillows. "I thought there was a moment then nothing- I felt nothing it was like kissing a relative,"  a chuckle and a snort turns into a fit of laughter only stop by my aching my nose.

NEXT

#auston matthews imagine #auston matthews #william nylander #482754 #on the rocks

[vizhi0n]

Sawney - Part 12

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11

If you wanna be tagged or untagged, lemme know!

@castielwinchester22 @i-am-negan-trash @flames-bring-a-ton-of-ash @genevievedarcygranger @kijilinn @ladylorelitanyfanfiction @lucifers-trash-stash @superprincesspea @doyouhaveavacancy @hannibalssweaters @heartfulloffandoms @strangersangel9 @kellyn1604 @crzcorgi @mypapawinchester @my-achilles--heel @moonypetyr @darkangel66a @backseat-negan @vinylmadwoman @embracetheapocalypsewithme @lovingzombiechaos @jasoncrouse @mcnegan @melodicdolls @itstotalyblue @imjustmakingsuffupagain @jeffreydeanneganstrash @gremlinfuck @originalwinchestervamp @negans-network @toxic-ink

No warnings for this chapter (amazingly.) Thank you guys so much for reading. All of your comment and reviews make me so happy. *sends yall a million hearts*

Desa slept like a baby. It was the first time in almost a year since she got some form of deep, relaxing sleep, her body sated and a bit sore from the sex — she didn’t mind. When she opened her eyes, she could still feel Negan’s arm draped across her torso. He was snoring lightly, eyes twitching beneath closed lids. Only when his breathing hitched and he gave a low whine did Desa slip from beneath him. She watched as his facial muscles contracted, teeth clenching together. 

He was having a nightmare. Desa recognized it — she’d had to calm Jack down several times. The only difference was that Negan was much, much larger and stronger than Jack. 

Negan gave a low groan, falling stiller. Desa observed, waiting until she felt he wasn’t going to lash out, before placing a hand against his bare shoulder. 

“Negan,” Desa shook him. “Negan?” 

His eyes snapped open. Desa pulled her hand away and Negan groaned once more. He lay, staring at the ceiling before mumbling, “Shit.”

“Morning to you, too,” Desa flopped back down, chuckling. “You were having a nightmare. A pretty vocal one.”

“I fucking saw him. Again. It was like a replay of what happened down in that goddamn sewer,” Negan grunted. Desa placed her hand against his shoulder once more, trying to show that she was listening. 

“Is it because he’s still out there? Alive?”

“I don’t fucking know. I’m not a goddamn therapist. The shit is fucking complicated and fucking embarrassing—”

“It’s not embarrassing. Negan, you don’t have to be tough all the time.”

“I do for my men. They all know what happened. That shit spread like a wildfire,” Negan said harshly. “If they saw me whimpering like a fucking pussy, who knows how they’d see me? Not as the big-dicked, badass leader of he Saviors, that for sure.”

“You want to be a character? Is that it?” Desa lifted her head. “You don’t need to put on a show for people to respect you—”

“It’s too late to go back. This is who the fuck I am to my people,” Negan glanced over to where Lucille rested against the desk. “The risk of changing shit far outweigh the benefits.”

“You can be vulnerable around me. You already have been. Because I’ve been vulnerable around you.”

“I will be when I’m ready. I’m not fucking there yet,” Negan slipped from the bed, giving Desa a view of his bare backside. She snorted, remaining on the bed while Negan dressed. He said, “We shouldn’t stay here long.”

“I’m not going back there.”

“What?”

Desa sat up, running fingers through her hair. Negan, now clad in his pants, stopped to look at her. Desa said, “I know it’s probably been suggested to you. This place, this mansion, it’s already fully operational and pretty much stocked. It would make a good outpost—”

“Fuck no—”

“Think tactically. Put everything else aside. I know Father hurt you, and that there are memories attached to this place — It’s the same for me. The biggest insult to Father and Mother would be taking what belonged to them, and claiming it as your own. That’s what we should do. Make it so they could never come back here.”

“And what about you?”

“I’ll stay. I know the grounds, I know every nook and cranny. I’ll oversee the operation and make sure everything runs smoothly,” Desa explained. “Negan, please. It’s better for the both of us. I know how you run things, I know how you operate back at the Sanctuary. I know you’re not going to change, so it’s better if I’m not there.”

Negan sighed, shoulders sagging. In a rare admission of compliance, he said, “Okay. Okay, fine. That shit will work. I’ll send Simon with a crew and he’ll help out.”

“Thank you, Negan.”

“I trust you, Desa. I fucking do, and I know what your capable of. So I expect you to get shit done.”

“I don’t fuck people who I don’t trust, or like. Consider whatever you want, done,” Desa crept to the edge of the bed, pushing herself onto her knees. Negan’s arms snaked around her waist, while hers slipped around his neck. His kisses were desperate, needy. As were Desa’s.

“God, you’re fucking beautiful.”

“So are you. Now get dressed — I’m making us both breakfast.”

“Why is your bat named Lucille?”

Negan nearly choked on his glass of water, coughing while Desa awaited an answer. She’d sprung the question after they’d ate, hoping Negan would be a bit more compliant with food in his stomach. The glare he sent her way was enough to tell her that she’d been wrong.

“I named her after someone I fucking knew. That’s all.”

“That’s pretty ambiguous.”

“It’s meant to be. It’s a sob fucking story and not one I’m in the mood to tell,” Negan leaned back in his chair. “Hell, there’s still stuff I don’t know about you.”

“Like…?” 

“Little tidbits of your life before everything went to shit. Why the fuck you stayed with Mother and Father for so damn long…” 

“I wasn’t at all interesting before the world went to shit. As for the second part, I stayed because we were given food and water, and Jack was relatively safe. Anytime that boy saw a biter, he’d climb a tree. He would have died out there.”

“It’s a damn shame I never got to meet him.”

“You would have liked him,” Desa smiled sadly. “What’s done is done. I can’t be like I was when Mom and Dad and my sister died. I can’t.”

Negan stared longingly, ducking his head when Desa lifted hers. “You said to me a while ago…that you don’t feel shit. You just deal with it. I know that feeling.” 

“It’s the only way to keep yourself from going crazy.”

“Yeah,” Negan said distantly. He was looking at something behind Desa — something through the window, though his gaze was off. In a quiet voice, he said, “Don’t fucking move, Desa.”

Desa’s shoulders went rigid, and she remained deathly still. Still peering past her shoulder, Negan murmured, “There’s someone fucking watching us. Right against that tree near the courtyard. I can fucking see them.”

“Just one?”

“So far, yeah,” Negan said. He finally looked away, gesturing of Desa to stay seated while he stood, grabbing his dishes and placing them in the sink. 

“The truck is parked out back.”

“Good. Go to it,” Negan said, scrubbing his plate. “There’s a handgun in the glove compartment—“

Their watchers gave them no time to move. Glass shattered behind Desa and she screamed, falling to the floor. Ceramics plates shattered, and the wooden cabinets became peppered with bullets. Desa kept her head down, crawling beneath the table while Negan slipped into the hallway. 

“Desa! Go to the fucking car—”

Gunfire erupted from the right side of the house. Desa heard the chandelier shatter and fall with a tremendous crash to the ground. Voices echoed around the building. 

“Go,” Negan hissed, drawing his own gun. “Fucking go—”

Desa made a mad dash towards the back porch, bursting through the door and onto the grass. The truck was parked on the wraparound driveway — as Desa wrenched open the door, she immediately popped open the glove compartment, pulling out the handgun. 

The windows shattered from a barrage of bullets. Desa peered over the hood, raising the weapon and firing. Her attacker — a silent, masked figure, toppled. 

Negan burst out the door, Lucille in hand. The moment he leaped into the passengers seat, Desa inserted the keys and floored it. They tore out the open gate, ducking as a final bullet destroyed the back windshield. 

“Shit.”

“That’s an understatement,” Desa let out a breath, the roar of the wind causing her eyes to water. She glanced over at Negan, letting out a small chuckle. “No time for fun anymore, right?”

“No time to let our fucking guard down,” Negan spat. He raised one gloved hand to his forehead, adding, “You think those were Father’s guys?”

“They had masks, so I couldn’t recognize them,” Desa said, easing off the gas a little bit when she realized that they weren’t being followed. “I don’t know how many of Father’s people survived. I looked at all the bodies in the courtyard…not everyone was there.”

“They’re fucking stupid if they think they can take the Estate back,” Negan said. “Father is fucking stupid. Once we figure out where they all are, we’ll fucking kill them—”

Negan’s words were abruptly cut off when a van careened into the center of the intersection, slamming hard into the side of the truck. Whatever glass remained shattered. Desa experienced the brief sensation of being airborne while strapped to her seat, mouth open as she let out a scream. 

The truck landed on it’s roof, the metal crumpling beneath the asphalt. 

Silence.

Desa could see out the window — the van’s hood was crumpled, but the truck had taken the force of the hit. She turned to Negan — his eyes fluttered and he shook his head, looking dazed and confused. The moment he realized what had happened, he cursed.

“Where’s the gun?”

Desa craned her neck. She extended an arm, grasping the handgun from when it had fallen. Her ears were ringing and her limbs were shaking. A pair of boots stopped next to the flipped vehicle, and Desa raised the gun, taking aim while Negan began struggling to remove his seatbelt. 

Still wearing a seatbelt during the end of the world? 

Safety first.

The boots didn’t move.. Negan stopped, tilting his head to the side. Then, in a quiet voice, he said, “Holy fuck. Those are my boots.”

“I know. They fit me well,” the figure got onto it’s knees, and Desa angled the gun. She heard an audible click come from behind her, sighing when she felt the cool barrel of a rifle against the back of her head. The figure said, “If you even point that weapon in my direction, I’ll kill you. Lower the gun, Desa. Let’s talk.”

Desa dropped the gun. It clattered against the upside down ceiling of the car. The rifle against her head eased back a little, but she could still feel the barrel brush her hair. Whoever it was, they were crouching, poking the weapon through the destroyed window. 

“Fuck you,” Negan growled. The moment Father’s head popped into view, Negan lashed out, fingers clawing at his face. Father drew his head back, smiling with amusement. 

“I abhor foul language,” Father said. “There’s no reason to curse because you can’t make your point.” 

Negan glared. 

Father walked around the car, forcing Desa to turn her head as he rounded on the drivers side door. He knelt once more, and Desa could only snarl. When he reached for her, she opened her mouth and attempted to snap off his fingers.

“You always liked to bite,” Father murmured. “We’ll have to fix that as well. Amy, round them up. We need to get back before the sun sets.”

#vizhi0nw #negans thirst squad

[hanminbin]

Chapter 3

I want to protect you. He finished.

It made Hannah laugh.

Why? Why would you do that?You're not responsible for me. I only am.

I feel if I don't. I'm not doing my job properly. Chanyeol answered back.

Hannah lifted her head, her face now flushed red. She scrunched up her nose at his response. She glanced into his melancholy eyes.

Why does he look so sad? She wondered.

You're effected by this, Mr. Min?Aren't you? She questioned him in a blunt manner.

Of course I am. I promised myself to protect you! And...you...He trailed off.

You? Hannah repeated, not understanding.

You're too gullible for your own good. He mumbled, folding his arms against his chest.

Huh? Hannah lifted up her eyebrows, still perplexed.

You...He trailed off, looking away in embarrassment.

What? She asked, completely clueless.

You're a single woman. You don't have any friends or family? Why do you live on your own?!! He argued back, flustering Hannah more.

Hannah was more confused.

I told you. I don't need anyone. Ok?! I have been living on my own for 8 years now and I am completely capable of taking care of myself. She snapped back harshly to him.

She's a feisty thing, despite what happened to her? He mused to himself.

I can't allow that. You'll need to be supervised. He said in a louder tone. His baritone voice ringing, rich and smooth to Hannahs ears.

No way? Was he always this tall? She thought, looking up to him. He practically towered over her.

Was his face always this small? Did his eyes always sparkle that way? Were his teeth always that bright and perfect? Was his skin always that flawless and smooth? He looks intimidating.... She thought as she stared in awe.

For that strange moment, she felt as if everything was suspended in time. Everything appear to stop. She couldn't hear the wind blowing through the trees from near by. She couldn't hear the birds chirping from the distance.

She closed her eyes. Get a grip Hannah. She murmured under her breath.

Mr. Min, if you're done arguing with me. May I please go? She replied back quickly. She turned to walk away. Suddenly her arm was being jerked back.

Idiot!!You were almost killed! He interrupted angrily.

Hannah looked up again and it seemed the hallucination he had over had finally diminished.

If something happened to you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself....He uttered out.

The other police officers said that too. What makes you any different? She asked back.

They're not like me. I won't back out on my words. I will protect you at all costs. Chanyeol said in a clear voice.

Hannah looked down to the ground at his words.

How...how...can you guarantee that? She asks him.

You will need to forget everything you know. All the people you loved...where you live now has to change too. He explained.

You don't have anyone. You lost your grandmother 8 years ago. The old womans voice replied sadly in her head.

Ok. What do I have to loose? If it's for me to be safe, is that a bad thing? She wondered silently to herself.

After a long awkward pause, she finally answered.

Ok. I'll do it. What do I have to lose? She agreed, holding out her hand for him to shake it.

Chanyeol took a step back, flabbergasted. He was sure she would tell him no again and that he would have to force her to leave with him. Her answer was too happy. He wondered why she has suddenly changed her mind.

You're not sad that you are leaving your family behind? You're not worried at all? He looked at her in confusion.

Hannah shrugged her shoulders. Mr. Min, There isn't anyone. I have no family. I lost my parents a long time ago and my grandmother passed away 8 years ago. Hannah explained to him.

So where am I going? She cracked a uneasy smile.

You'll be staying with me. He replied back with a smug grin.

W..why? She gasped.

With me, you'll be the safest. He said in a confident voice.

But...you're a..She stuttered out, blushing.

What? He narrowed his eyes.

Is she going to say I'm scary? He thought.

I've never even been friends with a man? I attended an all girl school. I'm not familiar with the opposite sex. Just my dad from my past. Aside from that interaction, I don't know anything about them... She mused, biting her lower lip.

Why? Why? Hannah? Why did you agree without hearing the whole stipulations? She argued silently to herself.

Chanyeol sighed at her awkward silence. He wondered what she was contemplating.

What am I? He barked back, bringing her back to reality.

A man. She murmured, loud enough for him to hear.

Chanyeol scoffed at her answer. He noticed her cheeks burning and her ears flushing red.

Don't be worried, Miss. Park. Chanyeol flashed a bright smile at her.

I have no interest in you. You are simply someone, who is a valuable asset for our case. You'll also be living in a separate quarter than me. Your room is on the opposite side of my home. We'll barely interact with each other, with the exception of our meals. That's if you choose to dine with me? I won't force you. He said.

Oh...she said, blushing more red.

Yes..I don't see you as a woman. I have no interest in them at all anyways...He smiled.

Is he gay then? She wondered.

And no, I'm not interested in men either, if you are curious. He laughed, as if he read her mind.

Oh...she mumbled under her breath.

So don't get your hopes up too high when you're living with me. I have no intention of falling in love or starting a relationship with anyone...especially you. He replied matter factly.

Jerk. She thought, clinching her fists.

Don't sound so arrogant. I'm not interested in you either. She lied back.

I don't like men, who boast about themselves. As you mentioned before, this is for my safety only and me being apart of your case. So in the meantime, I'll just be your tenant and you will be my landlord, Correct?

Yes. He said nodding in agreement.

-----

Dak-ho awoke from his sleep. He was dripping sweat.

He rose from his bed, now sitting on the edge of it. He bent his head down, covering his head with his hands.

Am I....having those strange dreams again? He thought.

They were still fresh in his memory.

Brother....?, the little girl said.

Are you hurt? She asks him, placing her hand softly against his cheek.

She looked over her shoulder,as if she was afraid of something.

Dak-ho was trembling.

You're shivering. She smiled up at him.

Did you see anything? He asks her. His eyes becoming watery then. He gazed down.

The little girl shook her head.

No. You told me to close my eyes, so I did. She remarked back.

Good. He replied quietly.

Brother? Where is mom and dad? She finally said.

Dak-ho lifted his face to stare back at her.

Her clothes were shredded now. Her skin appeared to be clawed and torn at. There was a scratch mark down the middle of her face. It started from her forehead to the end of her chin. The blood navigated down her face like a small river.

Dak-ho gasped.

What's wrong? She questioned him in concern.

He looked down at his himself. His clothing and his hands were covered in blood. He stood up in panic. She was acting normal, while he was frightened by their appearance.

Why? He whimpered, tears streaming down his face.

Brother, don't cry. She whispered, standing up now to face him.

He simply shook his head in disbelief.

She wiped the tears from his face with her thumb.

Are...we dead? She asked him then.

Dak-ho took a step backwards.

Dak-ho opened his eyes from the vision.

Did I have a sister? He says to himself. He stares at himself in the reflection of the rectangular mirror in front of him.

Am I crazy then? I am a single child to a mother and father. I grew up in Busan before moving to Seoul for college and staying permanently. I had a normal life like everyone else but why...do I keep having these weird memories? They seemed so real. He said quietly.

He looked over at the medication on his night stand.

He picked up the bottle in his hands. Is this a side effect of this? He says out loud.

No...That can't be it. I requested this because I was having those nightmares. I was afraid of going to sleep. I developed insomnia after that first episode. Or is it just my job or what happened recently? Do I need to quit my job? He thought aloud.

Ugh. I don't know anymore. He said out again, feeling frustrated.

-----

I hope you enjoy your stay here until the case is over. Chanyeol replied back softly to Hannah.

Hannah looked over at the large mansion she was standing in.

It was too nice of a place. She never imagined that the agent lived in such a fancy way. There was a spiral black stair case in front of the entrance. A large crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. Marbled grey tiles graced the floors.

Hannah looked over to the room to her right first. It was the living room. There was a cream small love seat, a blood red reclining chair and 1 long black leather couch. A long, rectangular coffee brown wooden table stood in the middle of the furniture. Art pictures adorned the white walls. Pictures from artists like picasso and Andy Warhol were hung up there. And one in particular picture caught her attention the most. It was placed over the fire place, near the black grand piano.

She felt herself walking towards it amazement.

The night of the ball. She read out loud.

The painting was lively, yet dark. There were people clothed in black dark Victorian clothing standing around. Women wore bellowing gothic gowns and men dressed in tailored suits and top hats. They were all crowded around a couple dancing in the middle of the ballroom floor. This is what caught Hannah's attention first. They stood out the most because the woman wore a bright burgundy dress. Her long brown hair flowed to her back and the man was dressed in all white. It was quite the contrast. They looked like a red and white spade card. They didn't match with the scenery. They were some how out of place there, while everyone dressed as if attending a funeral.

Hannah closed her eyes, mesmerized by it all. She could almost smell the strong aroma of cologne and cigar smoke from the older men in the air and the burning essence of the candle sticks lightning up in the room. She watched eagerly, as the couple twirled and moved gracefully across the dance floor.

They are so free. She whispered, enjoying the scenery.

She felt so gleeful in that moment, until the male partner suddenly stopped in his footsteps. He turned to stare towards Hannah's direction and winked back. His onyx eyes were dancing with excitement and his lips curled up into a satisfied grin. He was looking directly at her.

Chanyeol cleared his throat.

Hannah jumped.

What is it? He murmured back. His rich voice startled her then.

This painting is something else. She told him quietly.

Ah..yes. He mumbled.

You can get lost in it sometimes, if you don't pry your eyes away.

Hannah agreed and looked away. The painting made her feel oddly dizzy.

Let's go somewhere else. Ok? He nodded his head.

Hannah's eyes followed to the room on the left of the entrance.

Inside there was a mahogany wooden table with ten spiraled cut chairs. The table was empty, with the exception of a crystal vase filled with red roses settled in the middle.

In front of the table, on the beige colored wall was a huge oval mirror.

Along the opposite side of one wall, was another painting. This time it was of the ocean during the night. Hannah could see the waves painted in great detail, each line and streak was prominent. She stared in awe at the dark, black sky sprinkled with dozens of brilliant stars. There was something about this one. It was different compared to the last one she saw. It looked so mysterious, yet lonely. Not as fast paced as the other.

You like this one too? Chanyeol chuckled back to her. He found her expression amusing.

Hannah sighed to stare back at the table.

This room doesn't look like it's been visited too often. She replied.

That's because it isn't. I don't eat in here. I dine in the kitchen instead. He said to her.

Kitchen? He has a kitchen? Hannah mused, licking her lips unconsciously.

Hannah's stomach suddenly grumbled in that moment.

Are you hungry? He beamed back.

Hannahs cheeks flushed again.

------

Here. He said, placing the bowl of noodles in front of her. It was pasta with a vinaigrette sauce, filled with tomatoes and vegetables in it. It looked healthy.

They were now in the other smaller dining area, adjacent to the kitchen. The table was long, yet beige. Another Chandelier hung from the ceiling,above the table.

Sorry...I don't really cook like an expert. I have a cook, but they only come during certain times. As well as the house keeping. He chimed in.

They don't live here? Hannah blurted out.

No...just me. He smirked to her confusion.

Oh well..thank you. She smiled, catching him off guard.

For what? He looked at her, feeling dumbfounded.

Oh...you mean the food? He interjected, raising his eyebrows.

Well....yes but that's not what I meant. I mean...for protecting me. Even though, you are not obligated to. She simply said.

Oh..yeah. he recalled, nodding his head.

But Mr. Min...you could have let me stay at my place for one night? I still have all my belongings over there.

Chanyeol chuckled. All is well. I'm ordering a truck to come collect your things tomorrow. I also broke your leasing contract. He grinned.

What? She looked at him in surprised.

How did you know I would come to you? She asked.

I just did. He smirked. Mrs. Park. I know you are awfully tired now. I'll show you to your room.

After cleaning up, he walked her to her room. She followed him. They passed door after door, until he stopped in front of one of them. Here. He smiled, pushing the door handle gently open.

The room was painted a rose pink. The bed was a queen size and victorian style. It was made of brass metal. The sheets were quilts sewn with a variation of pink, red, and white Rose's. There was two white end tables beside the bed. A book case in one corner. Another shelf filled with nothing. Aside from the bed and book case, it looked practically vacant.

I will let you rest then. He replied, cutting off the silence.

She nodded her head.

-----

[thegraysonzanderthings]

The Last Smile

"I just want to see her smile one last time…," Harry said as the last semblance of life left his dying body.

                                              Sometime Before

"Mom, I don't want to go to that dumb birthday party!" Harry screamed at his mother from across the hall. Martha did not have time for this angsty teenager and his fits. "Harry, if you don't get down here this instant, I will take away your Xbox for a month!" she screamed back.

Harry looked at her in shock as if she had said something vastly profound. "you wouldn't," Harry asked his mom sheepishly. Martha knew she had won this battle. "yes, Harry, I would."

Ten minutes later, they were at Harry's dreaded cousin's birthday party, "Harry go bring Nelson his present and be nice!" Harry looked at his mother with disdain but did as he was told. "GOD WHY DO I HAVE TO BE HERE!" Harry screamed in his mind as he walked inside his uncle's home.

"Harry long time no see," exclaimed his uncle as Harry walked inside the house. Harry gave him a wry smile and handed the present to him, hoping he wouldn't ask him to bring it to Nelson. He did not get what he hoped for. Henry shook his head "no, no, I'm sure Nelson would be overjoyed if you were the one to bring him his gift," Henry told Harry as he gave him back the gift. Harry sighed in defeat and made what felt like the longest walk of his life to the pool house where Nelson and his friends were.

Knock Knock. Nelson opened the door, smiling smugly at his younger cousin. "Hey, dipshit, you and your whore of a mother better have gotten me something good," Nelson said to Harry. Harry ground his teeth tightly but kept his mouth shut. He knew that if he did anything about it that it would only hurt his mother.

"Yea, Nelson, of course, we did," said Harry. "I'll be the judge of that, but either way, I doubt your whore mother could make enough to get anything good" Harry's knuckles were white from the force he was using to keep from swinging at Nelson. "We tried our best I'm sure you will like it," Harry told Nelson with gritted teeth.

"Hmph," Nelson exclaimed as he sat down on his expensive leather chair. "Nelson was a jock he had muscles that made all the girls drool and all the boys jealous. His hair was a perfect shade of blond like the morning sun. He had shining white teeth with small freckles just off the right side of his mouth. Basically, he was perfect. But not only that, his parents were rich, and he loved showing it off." Nelson's room was nicer than Harry's entire house, with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A king-size bed in the corner. His own fridge stocked with everything from soda to beer. A pool table and every gaming system that was out. Harry looked in awe at all the things he wished he could have but knew never would.

Nelson looked up at Harry, who was goggling all his stuff. "If anything goes missing tonight, I know who to come to," Nelson says to Harry. "You know I wouldn't do that Nelson," Nelson shrugs and looks up at Harry with a gleam in his eye. "yea yea sure whatever you say dipshit."

          As the party went on, Nelson and his friends got drunk and played dumb games while Harry tried to stay away from them, preferring to stick near his mother. "Harry wouldn't it be more fun out there with all your friends," said Martha. "Those aren't my friends, and you know it, mom. Why are we here all they do is look down on us. And all my so-called uncle does it look at you with lustful eyes". Martha was a beautiful lady; she had long black hair darker than midnight. Eyes so blue, it felt as if the ocean lay behind them and a body most women would kill for.

          "Harry there, your family, your father would have wanted us to be here," Martha said. "No, he wouldn't have he hated it here he didn't get along with Henry" Harry spat his name like it was poison. "Your fathers gone now, and you don't talk to anyone anymore. I thought that being here might give you a chance to meet someone, maybe make a friend?" Martha says to Harry with worry in her eyes.

        Harry paces back and forth for a bit before answering her. "Mom, I know you're trying to help. I know you're worried, but being here it's not helping. Seeing these people who are my so-called family laugh and joke about us is not helping! I mean, you know what they say about you, don't you? They call you a whore, mom!" Martha takes a deep breath and looks up at the ceiling fighting back the tears. She finally manages to say, "Harry, I don't care what they call me. They can call me whatever they want. I just want you to be happy," she says as tears roll down her face.

          "Mom, if you want me to be happy, then let's leave this place," Harry says. "Ok, Harry, we can go home just let me go, say goodbye." "No, mom, I don't mean this party. I mean this town. There's nothing for us here; all that's left is pain. Let's leave and go somewhere new and start over where no one knows us." Harry's mom looks at him very seriously. "And that will make you happy, Harry," she says. "Mom, it's not just about me being happy; it's about you too; this place isn't good for us. We have to leave so we can both be happy," Harry says with a look much beyond his years. Martha takes a moment to look at her son's face then says "Ok, Harry, ok, but I have to get somethings taken care of first, but I agree something has to change,"

                                               One month later

          "Were finally doing it, Harry were finally leaving this place," Martha screams as the wind slaps her face as she races down the highway. Harry looks over at his mom, feeling happier than he's felt in a long time. "Yea, mom, we are, and it's gonna be great. I've always wanted to know what city life is like," Harry says, trying to speak loud enough so she can hear him. Martha is driving fast; she feels free for the first time in a long time. She is so happy she listened to her son, and the truth is that she wanted to leave, but she thought that staying was what was best for him.

                                           Further down the road

          "God, I'm so tired I knew I should have stopped at the rest stop, but if I don't get this delivery there on time, I'll lose my job. Come on, Jon, keep it together; you got this just think Emily and Jason they need you." said the exhausted truck driver.

          "Mom, do you think dad would be happy with us right now," Harry asked with worried eyes. Martha stayed quiet for a moment after a little while; she looks over at him and says "Harry, if your father is looking down at us right now, then I can guarantee you that he is smiling at us and yelling about how we should have done this months ago." Harry looks up and starts to say something but stops. "Mom, look out!" Harry screams in terror.

                                         Edging closer and closer

          The truck driver is swaying now; he can't seem to keep his eyes open. "I'm so tired, but I gotta get this shipment there, or it'll be my ass on the line," he slurs barely audible. Those are the last words the truck driver ever says as he slams into a blue SUV on the freeway.

          Martha looks at the road and jerks the car to the right trying to avoid the collision, but it is too little too late, and the truck slams into them.

            Martha awakes, confused, and with pounding pain in her head. "What…what happened," Martha says with a hoarse voice. Everything that has just happened comes back Martha as she looks off to the side at Harry's bloodied face. "Harry! Harry!" Martha screams as she holds her bleeding son in her arms. "Harry, please! Please be ok! I need you to be ok!" she screams.

          Harry looks up at his mother's face wondering why she is crying. "Mom, it's ok. It's ok. Everything will be ok. Just smile for me, mom. I promise we'll be happy once we get to the city." Harry says, barely audible. Harry thinks to himself, "I just want to see her smile one last time," those are Harry's last thoughts as he drifts off into the endless abyss.

#short story #sad #new #family #real #serious #feedback #new life #life goes bad #try again