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reidingmelodies · 3 years

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Sugar Rush

Summary: Who knew finding the perfect wedding day dessert was so much work? Pairing: Spencer Reid x gn!Reader Category: Fluff Includes: Food consumption, light kissing Word Count: 2.4K

“Did you know the first wedding cake was most likely served in Ancient Greece?” Spencer began, looking down to where you were laying with your head snuggled against his chest. You hummed in interest, moving your hand to meet his where it rested on his lower stomach, intertwining your fingers together. Spencer smiled at the gesture before continuing his spiel, “But one of the earliest mentions of wedding cake originates from Ancient Rome where the cake was actually broken over the bride’s head in the hopes of bringing them good fortune in their life together”.

Your brows furrowed at that, and Spencer couldn’t help but laugh at your reaction. “Well, we certainly won’t be doing that at our wedding,” you giggled, giving his hand a light squeeze.

Flipping your hands over, he brought your hand to his line of sight and admired the engagement ring resting on your ring finger. “Do you want to smash cake in my face after we cut it?”

You thought for a second before shaking your head. “I don’t think so- unless that’s something you want to do? I don’t even get why that’s a thing in the first place, it seems kind of gross”.

Spencer sighed in relief, beyond grateful that wasn’t something you wanted to do. He loved you, and he was more than happy to exchange germs with you in other ways- but throwing cake at each other definitely wasn’t his style. “I’m glad you don’t because I feel the same way. Cutting the wedding cake is traditionally seen as a symbol of a couple’s commitment to each other, and I don’t want to ruin that by throwing cake in your face”.

You smiled, rolling over slightly until your stomach laid against his and propping your head up to look down at him. Spencer hummed in approval at the new position, moving his hand from yours and resting it on your lower waist. “Plus,” you added, “we’re paying way too much for the cake to waste a single drop of it”.

Spencer laughed in agreement, pushing himself up lightly to give you a soft kiss on your lips. “So no cake smash- there’s one part of the great cake debate settled”. You groaned at his words, dropping your head and burrowing your face in the space between his shoulder and neck.

“I don’t understand why there’s so many cake flavors to choose from! Honestly, do we even need a cake?” you groaned, voice coming out as no more than a mumble against your fiancé’s neck. Spencer rubbed your back soothingly, before humming in acknowledgement.

“We’ll figure it out, babe,” he reassured you, giving your forehead a quick kiss. “On the bright side, regardless of whether we pick one or not we’ll get to try at least twenty different types of cakes for lunch tomorrow”.

“I’m still not sure if that’s a good thing or not,” you laughed, pushing your upper half up to once again look at his face. “But as long as you’re with me I’m sure it won’t be too bad,” you finished, leaning down to lay a sweet kiss on his lips.

“What a sap,” Spencer jokingly mumbled against your lips, causing you to pull away and playfully roll your eyes at him.

“A sap you decided to spend the rest of your life with,” you countered with a smirk, eyes softening in admiration at the grin that spread across Spencer’s face with your words.

“Best decision I ever made,” Spencer claimed softly, sealing his declaration with a concession of kisses against your lips.

You smiled, threading your fingers through his hair and continuing what you started- leaving the discussion of cakes and all things wedding behind, choosing instead to spend the night entangled with your fiancé, trading kisses and whispered declarations of love well into the evening.

***

The next morning, you sat in the kitchen nursing your cup of coffee while Spencer took a shower before you headed to the bakery. It had been six months of engagement bliss for you and Spencer, and you both found yourself on an impenetrable high for the first three months with no qualms. As far as the two of you were concerned, you were irrevocably in love with each other, full stop. You didn’t know when you wanted to get married, or where, but you knew that you wanted him by your side for the rest of your personal slice of eternity.

Eventually, that answer stopped being met with aw’s from your friends, and instead had been met with playful eyerolls followed by logistical questions regarding the wedding. It became apparent pretty quickly that there wasn’t a where or when anywhere in your plan, but the who, what, and why were pretty clear. And when it came to wedding planning, the last three took the back burner. Who would have thought?

Weekends cuddled up with your fiancé turned into Friday nights spent researching, Saturday afternoons filled with venue tours, and Sunday mornings comparing notes (and somehow, that was always the part that lasted the longest when it came to you and Spencer).

Once the venue was secured, you both became invested in the rest of the details that made your special day unique to the two of you, settling on a lilac color scheme and Save the Dates in the form of bookmarks. Everything settled into place pretty quickly after that, except for the dreaded cake.

There was just too much to it. Between the design, number of layers, and flavors there statistically wasn’t a high probability of pleasing all of your guests much to Spencer’s dismay. And as much as everyone said that the most important thing was that you and Spencer were happy with the cake, the two of you were more than happy with each other, and that’s all you really cared about.

“Ready, Y/N?” Spencer broke you from your train of thought and drew your attention towards him. He smiled, holding a travel mug of coffee in one hand and your car keys in the other, motioning towards the door with his head.

You nodded, taking the keys and heading towards the door with the love of your life in tow, internally cursing yourself for stressing out half as much as you have about a silly cake.

***

Two hours later, and one thing was for sure- you were right to be stressed. The owner of the bakery was one of the sweetest women you’ve ever met (the title of sweetest belonged to Penelope Garcia, hands down), but as welcoming and supportive as she was you still felt like a fish out of water.

You and Spencer were ushered into a room with exactly twenty-three cake samples laid out on tables, accompanied by open portfolios and photos of some of the bakery’s most renowned creations. In the time since your arrival you’ve tasted flavors ranging from lemon raspberry to mocha chocolate and you were exhausted.

You couldn’t help but feel like the universe was punishing you and Spencer for joking around the previous night about how great it would be to eat cake for lunch. You leaned over to tell Spencer just as much, and the exhaustion was almost worth it when you saw his smile illuminate the entirety of his face.

“What happened to ‘as long as you’re with me I’m sure it won’t be too bad’?” he jokingly questioned, booping your nose and giving you a quick kiss on the cheek when he saw the joking glare beginning to form on your face.

“Changed my mind when you called me a sap,” you retorted with a smirk followed by a quick squeeze of his hand so he knew you weren’t serious. Your comment made him laugh, and soon enough you were both in a fit of giggles surrounded by mountains of cake and half looked through portfolios.

As your laughter died down the reality of the situation you were in began to set it. You loved all of the cake you tried, but everything about what you were doing just didn’t feel right. The more you envisioned your cake, the cloudier the picture became. All you knew was that you wanted something that screamed you and Spence, but none of the flavors you tried did that. You sighed, and Spencer immediately perked up, forever in tune to you and your needs.

“What’s going on up there, love?” Spencer tapped the side of your head lightly with his pointer finger, causing the right side of your lip to slightly curl up.

“If I ask you something will you be honest?” you asked, putting your hand on top of his.

Spencer immediately nodded, grasping his fingers with yours and bringing your hand to his lips. “Always”.

“Do you picture any of these cakes at our wedding?” You questioned, bringing the closest portfolio towards you with your free hand and flipping through the first few pages. “They’re all so pretty, but I just don’t think they’re us, ya know?”

It was quiet for a beat longer than you expected, and for a second you were nervous you had somehow offended Spencer. But when you looked up and met his eyes, all you found was his understanding gaze looking back at you.

“I completely get what you mean,” he began, squeezing your hand before continuing his thought, “but Y/N.. do you really think that we’ll ever find a dessert that’s more us than donuts?”

You knew right away that he was joking, but you also couldn’t help but smile at the flood of memories that overtook you once he said it.

As Penelope liked to call your relationship, “the greatest love story of this generation” began just a block south of the bakery you were at over chocolate sprinkled donuts and coffee. It was a Tuesday morning, and you were running a few minutes late in your morning routine. You usually got to the cafe around 8:15, just before the majority of the 9-5 workforce showed up for their morning coffee fix.

That day though, you had missed your usual metro and walked in the door of the café at 8:27 AM. It was overly crowded, and you were already dreading waiting in the overpopulated line for your coffee, but as luck would have it Dr. Spencer Reid had picked that exact morning to treat the BAU to coffee and donuts.

He had walked in the door behind you, smiling in recognition at the book he saw peeking out of your bag. Before he could stop himself, he tapped you on your shoulder, reciting a fact about the author of the book. Almost immediately, his face dropped, worried that you were going to tell him off for being nosy.

To his relief though, you smiled and asked him for his opinion on the book- before you knew it, you both made it to the front of the line, and you found yourself longing for more time with the stranger who seemed to know an infinite amount of fun facts.

As you both waited for your coffee and donuts, you took a leap of faith and asked Spencer if he’d want to meet up for breakfast the next morning. To your delight he agreed, and the rest was history. After three months of sporadic breakfast dates whenever Spencer wasn’t away on a case (mainly consisting of you trying all of the donuts on the café menu and Spencer sticking to chocolate frosted with sprinkles), he took his own leap of faith and asked you out on a date beyond the comforting walls of the café.

As far as you were concerned, donuts were a fundamental part of your love story, and Spencer was a genius.

You smiled at the memory, turning to Spencer and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. He gave you a lovesick grin in response- “what was that for?”

“Have I ever told you you’re the smartest man I know?”

Immediately, Spencer nodded. “Just last week when I told you how many books have been published by Penguin Random House. You also said it the week before when we were talking about polar bears and I-” your laugh caused him to lose focus, all of his attention instead focused on the way your smile lit up your whole face.

“Okay, okay so I call you a genius a lot- sue me,” you countered, giggling with every word that came out of your mouth. “I think you’re onto something with donuts though”.

“Wait, really? I was just kidding,” the confusion was obvious on Spencer’s face, but it was laced with excitement as well and you knew right then and there that he was as hooked on the idea as you were.

“I know you were, but that doesn’t make it any less genius! It’s just so us. And not only that, but think of all the different flavors we can get! That way everyone has a choice over what dessert they have and we don’t need to stress over finding one most people will like. Oh my gosh babe, and Penelope can definitely help us think of a cute way to set them up! Maybe we can do a cake stand or put them out in a buffet style?” You made eye contact with Spencer, eyes widening as you realized you haven’t even asked for his opinion yet. Softly, you brought your ramble to a close, doubt slowly kicking in, “Unless you don’t think it’s a good idea?”

Smiling, Spencer stood from his chair and motioned for you to do the same. Considering the fact that you would do anything he asked you to, you followed suit and he pulled you into his side, planting a kiss to the top of your head. “I think you’re the real genius in this relationship, Y/N”. You giggled at that, and Spencer continued, “it’s an amazing idea. And you and I both know Penelope is gonna love that you thought of her to help us put it together. How about we go to the café and see if they’d be able to help us out, hm? Maybe grab some donuts while we’re there too?”

You nodded enthusiastically, before grimacing at the idea of having another sweet, “We’re gonna have a sugar rush for the next week, Spence”.

“Every day with you is a sugar rush, Y/N,” he quipped, trying to hold back his laughter at the disbelieving look on your face.

You chuckled, leaning in for one of many sugary sweet kisses awaiting you that afternoon before playfully retorting, “And you have the audacity to call me the sap in this relationship.”

***

Link to join my taglist ♡

Tagging: @calm-and-doctor

#spencer reid x reader #spencer reid #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x you #spencer reid self insert #criminal minds self insert #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid imagine #criminal minds imagine #dr spencer reid #spencer reid fluff #ash writes

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be-ready-when-i-say-go · 3 years

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AHHHHH YOU ALWAYS KILL IT W SONG REQUESTS (as you do w everything else you write bc it’s all gold). may i pls ask for only memories remain by my morning jacket w cal if you could 🥺

Hi, love! Thanks for your patience while I finished up some schoolwork before I got this request!

CW/TW: Mentions of Death.

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Calum grunts as he pushes up off the floor, hands pressed into the mattress to help assist him. It’s less his back and more of his knees that are not pleased with him. But he does this every so often, kneels on the floor on your side of the bed and digs out that shoebox full of pictures, your engagement band. He made sure that you kept the wedding ring itself. He wanted you to take that with you.

He should probably stop calling it your side of the bed--your scent hasn’t grazed that pillow in nearly three years. The nightstand is missing your mug in the mornings and your glasses that you always forgot where you put them down. Even if you did remember to hook them around your neck, the second you pulled the glasses down you’d forget instantly where you put them. And Calum wouldn’t be laughing at that, but sometimes he’s not sure how you got around in the world. You always told him glasses weren’t important; they were replaceable if you somehow managed to lose them for good. The only things you didn’t forget were the important things.

And it’s true. You remembered birthdays, anniversaries, just how the kids liked their plates arranged when they were younger and how a kiss to the back of Calum’s neck would always make his shiver spine. You remembered all the quirks to the dogs and you’d remembered songs from decades ago like they were still new to the radio.

Settling onto the edge of the bed, Calum pulls up the top to box and right on top is the letter you wrote to him while he was on tour, all those years ago. He had saved it, doing his best to preserve it in your handwriting but he had typed up and saved another draft of it, so he’d never forget it.

Dear Calum,

You might think I’m crazy. But I can hear the laughter in the walls--the sound of you laughing at all my purposefully bad dance moves and I can hear the kisses you give to top of Duke’s head. And I know the house is empty except for me and Duke. I know you are miles away. I know you are dazzling thousands every night. But if only they could hear what I hear in the walls. Your bass occasionally thumping the pictures frames and the shrieks when we fail at some new recipe and resign to take out. If only they could hear, the sound of you when you’re murmuring gently in your sleep or the snores that keep me up some nights. If only they could hear the whispers we don’t want to give power too, the anxiety that sometimes build, but knowing that the two of us can confide in each other.

If only I could capture what I hear just below that too, and send that to you as well. If only I had a way to let you hear what I hear. If I could tell you sometimes I hear a baby’s laughter, or the bickering of sibling. If only I could tell you about the years I hear waiting for us in this house, maybe other one--a place bigger for the dogs and kids. I can hear the splash of our pool with kids from the neighborhood.

I don’t know if you hear that too in the house when I’ve gone for a conference or even if you imagine it when I’m just in the next room. I know I do with you. Even if you’re just outside with your trainer, I can hear the house whispering for more. And I could totally be projecting on some poor house, that doesn’t ever have wants or desires, just an existence that which is it content with, but there is something happening, something that I want to let you know about. It hasn’t been easy for ys, but it’s always been worth it. I know our options around children may be a little tough, but I think it’ll be worth it.

I could easily call you, I could easily text you all things. But, no, I must write it down, as some way of working through my own thoughts. I hope I don’t sound crazy.

Though I can hear it now, you tsking at me with a shake of your head and a single raised digit--I am never crazy, just always thinking. Just always working through the thoughts that run faster than me.

I hope you’re well. I hope the tour’s going well and you’re sleeping good at night. Have you tried that lavender like I told you about? Duke’s well, in case you’re wondering. He did well at his checkup today, just sleeping a lot still. Vet says it’s normal for a dog his age. But when he does get a good burst of energy he’s happy to trot around the backyard or around the block. He’s still eating well, so don’t fret about that. Your old man’s still kicking it. He told me to tell you, he’s not going down anytime soon. He’s just taking it easy.

The weather is LA is turning for a bit. We’ve had some clouds for the last few days. But it’s been nice. You’d be displeased, needing that sun. But soon, you’ll be back home--see your mom and dad and be able to get that Australian sun.

Love you, Calum. To the ends of the earth, back again, and beyond.

Yours truly,

Dearly Beloved.

He’s not sure when calling you his dearly beloved became a thing. You’d remember. You’d remember to the exact date, time, and happenings. But Calum can’t seem to remember that kind of stuff. He just remembers watching you run after the kids as they shrieked about bath time and how you like kisses right on the back of your ears.

It’s a strange thing, to remember that, remember all the times he could sneak up behind you to kiss the back of your ear and watch you jump in the shock contrasted to the way you felt cool in his hands as he turned your head one last time to kiss the beloved spot and the way dead weight is actually much heavier, the way it took so much more effort to place your head back upright than it ever took to gently cup your chin and instantly you’d turn to him, with a smile on your face.

Calum places the letter to the side and finds your favorite old t-shirt--it was hardly a t-shirt anymore. The hole in the armpit was spreading just a little but it held the name of your old university and you wore it for everything from weeding the garden to painting the bedrooms, to gutting the kitchen during the remodel.

Calum bought exact matching t-shirts and made small decor pillows for the kids, sprayed your signature scent onto them so they could sleep easier at night. But they still curled up in bed with him, hugging their pillows, faces buried into the pillows on your side of the bed. He’d rather them take the last of your scent--he’s happier that they got those moments.

“Pops, I don’t understand this math question,” Trey states poking his head into the bedroom.

Calum snaps his attention up from the box and nods. “Coming. Algebra, right?”

“Yeah,” he nods, leaning into the molding. It’s crazy to look at him now, how he’s almost surpassed Calum in height. At fifteen, Calum thought he’d surely still have a few inches maybe a foot over him. Calum remembers when Trey found out he had officially been adopted but the two of you. He was six and cried more than Calum or you did--though the margin was probably still pretty close. It couldn’t have been nine years already.

“Do-do you have their glasses?” Trey asks quietly. “Today’s been hard. And I feel silly with a pillow in my lap as I do homework.”

Calum walks over, box in hand. “I kept a lot of their smaller things. Whatever you need--it’s always in this box.”

Trey pulls your glasses from the pile, noticing other letters and pictures scattered about in the box. He spies the college t-shirt but just next to it is a picture of you and Trey. He’s in your lap, giant headphones over his ears. “Is that from the first show I went too of yours?”

Calum only briefly catches a glance at the photo before Trey’s fully plucked it from the box. “I think so.”

Trey immediately places the glasses back into the box but holds onto the picture. “Thanks.”

“Of course.”

“So, do you happen to remember anything from Algebra?”

Calum laughs at the tease and put the box down on the dresser before following behind Trey to the living room. Brandy sits at the coffee table, her stack of color pages and pencils spread out. Calum did his best to keep her doing art. It was hard after you first died. But slowly over the years, she’s gotten back into it. “You all good?”

She nods. “All good in the Hood.” She got the phrase from you and here Calum was, with Brandy at ten, and he was sure she would never let the phrase die.

Calum stops just for a moment to kiss the top of her head and then carries on to the dinning room table. “Okay, so I know I’m not a math whizz like them. But your old man still knows a thing or two about a thing or two,” he returns to Trey’e earlier quip. “Now let’s see what new math magic they have you all working in.”

Trey laughs, slipping the tiny photo of him into the back of his phone case so it shows out to the world. “You calling it magic does not make me feel better.”

#calum hood #calum hood fluff #calum hood angst #calum hood blurb #calum hood 5sos #calum 5sos #calum hood imagine #calum hood fanfic #calum hood fic #5sos #5sos fanfic #5sos fic #5sos imagine #5sos angst #5 seconds of summer #5 seconds of summer angst #5 second of summer imagine #5 seconds of summer fanfic #h writes

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athingthatwantsvirginia · 3 years

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A Truman Show Star

PART FORTY-ONE OF THE DO YOU SEE HER FACE? SERIES

Pairing: Jess Mariano x Original Character (Ella Stevens)

Warnings: major discussions of parent death/death in general, plentiful pop culture references

Word Count: 5.5K

Summary: Ella goes to the little blue house for the last time.

Wringing her hands to keep herself from biting her nails off, Ella trudged up the front steps to Luke’s. Luckily, her old parking spot was open. It made her remember evenings when she’d come straight from visiting her aunt in New Britain. How safe the diner had always made her feel. A refuge from school and home alike. Her heart ached, traveling back into the past for just a moment. She couldn’t think of one second since her father’s death that she’d felt the least bit secure. Hopefully, Luke’s would help at least a little. But a strange, uneasy surreality flooded her as she entered the diner’s warmth. Life had gone on without her there. She noticed small changes to the place she had spent most of her youth in, slight differences in paint color, placement of certain mugs on the back display shelf, even new menus. At least the ‘No Cellphones’ sign hung behind the counter, as it always had. Ella doubted it would come down until Luke was long dead.

She didn’t take off her coat, and tried not to make eye contact with anyone for too long. Miss Patty was busy with her mid-morning tap class, Ella knew, and Babette wasn’t in sight at the diner either. Kirk must’ve been at work too. In fact, the diner was nearly empty, the transition between Friday breakfast and lunch creating a lull. She hopped up on a stool at the counter, right in front of the coffee machine. Luke was making a fresh pot, his back to her. He turned around once he had finished, coming to face her. For a moment, Ella felt a wave of relief at the sight of him. His baseball cap, his red flannel, his worn jeans. Luke hadn’t changed nearly at all over the course of her entire life. But then, an unwelcome thought about what she would do in the event of Luke’s death intruded her mind. Soon, she wouldn’t be able to think of anyone without picturing them six feet under.

Luke’s eyes widened at the sight of her. “Hey, Ella, are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she shrugged, fighting the urge to have any bit of emotion cross her features. “I just came to get my stuff out of the old house. Fiona’s putting it on the market pretty soon. At least, she says she is.”

“Oh,” he said, nodding. “You want something?”

Ella shook her head after a moment of thought. “No, thanks. I just wanted to stop in, since I was on my way by.”

“Alright,” Luke said, averting his eyes.

“What?” she asked, eyebrows raised in suspicion.

Luke sighed. “Jess called me this morning.”

Swallowing dryly, Ella breathed in a deep breath. “Did he?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s not coming, is he?” she asked. At some point on the drive, it had occurred to her that he might follow her to Stars Hollow, continue the conversation. But just the idea of seeing the hurt in his eyes was enough to make her stomach do a flip. She wasn’t ready to keep talking. Maybe she never would be.

A joyless smirk appeared on Luke’s face. “He told me you might ask that. No. He’s still in Philly. He just wanted to let me know you were coming, make sure you got to town safe.”

“Okay,” she said, again forcing down all her feelings, her face solemn. “I take it that’s not all he told you?”

“No,” he said, as Ella raked an anxious hand through her hair and once again tried to keep her nails away from her teeth. After a shot pause, Luke continued, trying to catch her eyes once more: “Listen, kid, it’s all gonna be okay.”

“That’s convincing,” she said with a humorless chuckle.

Again, he sighed, weary and frustrated. He readjusted his cap on his head. Eyes doing a quick scan of the diner, he found the other customers, all at tables, not listening, enjoying their food. “I know you don’t scare easy. And I know how angry being scared must make you.”

She rolled her eyes, and all of a sudden she looked just like a teenager to Luke. A teenager with no mother and not much of anything to go home to. No matter how annoyed she could make him, he cared about her more than he cared about himself.

“Don’t listen if you don’t want to, but I’ve lived a lot longer than you, Ella,” he began, curmudgeonly as ever. “Believe me, I know what’s gonna be okay and what’s not gonna be okay. And you are gonna be okay.”

“Sure,” she said, dejected but trying her best to go along with his advice session.

Luke sighed again. “Look, my mom died when I was a kid too. And then, when my dad died, I went a little bit nuts too. I spent thousands of dollars I didn’t have to open this place up. But eventually, things felt normal again. And look at me now.”

“Oh yeah,” she said, mocking. “You’re the most well-adjusted person I know.”

“Shaddup,” he scolded her affectionately. “I have no doubt in my mind that this will pass, and you’ll go back to your life just fine.”

She only nodded half-heartedly.

“Ella?”

“Yeah?” she asked, finally venturing to face him fully again.

“Jess loves you. You’re the thing he loves most in the world, as far as I can tell,” Luke said.

She swallowed harshly, looking away from the momentary eye contact she had held with him. For a second, she was worried she would cry, but she bit the inside of her cheek and focused on the pain instead of the sadness. “I know, Luke.”

At that, he decided to let it go. He’d never been the best with emotional, soul-searching chats in the first place. He smiled a bit at her in a way he hoped was reassuring. “You wanna come over for dinner tonight? Lorelai’s gonna bite my head off if I got to see you and she didn’t.”

“No, I can’t just show up like this and then eat your food,” she said immediately.

Luke only scoffed, watching as a customer began approaching the register. “You know you’re not getting out of it, kid. Dinner’s at six.”

Before she could reply, he went over to ring up some townie Ella could barely recognize. She wanted to protest further, but knew she didn’t have the energy for an argument with Luke. And, she had to admit, she couldn’t think of anything better than seeing Lorelai. For some reason, she had a deep, sorrowful longing for the Gilmore woman’s warm hugs and kooky way of approaching life, at just the mention of her name.

“Fine,” she said, as Luke came back over to grab the coffee pot and do refills.

Luke gave an affirmative grunt in response. Apparently, the conversation was over, and neither Luke nor Ella were particularly upset about that. She slung her purse back over her shoulder, hugging her peacoat around her a bit tighter as she prepared to go outside. As she passed Luke on the way out, she stopped in her tracks for a moment.

“Hey Luke?” she said.

He looked up expectantly.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, voice sincere, though his face barely softened a bit.

. . .

The sun would soon start to set. She looked out her old window, a view of tree branches and golden clouds. The sight made her remember the day Jess had taken her to the Met, showing up at her window. And other days, when he would climb in and her small room felt like the whole world, made special for just the two of them. Swallowing harshly, she sat down on the old carpet, back against the wall and one leg crossed over the other. On the right wall, she could still see the remnants of the last mural she’d painted through the fresh white color. The realtors hadn’t taken kindly to the artwork, Fiona had said, letting Ella in, showing her the room, and promptly leaving to go stay the night at her new apartment. She’d given Ella a kiss on the cheek before going. Ella had smiled, despite the lipstick stain she knew Fiona’s bright pink lips left. She was glad Fiona was getting away, wasn’t getting stuck. Not like Ella herself was. She focused on her breathing for a moment, and she could have sworn the room still had the faint scent of lavender candles.

She’d carved out more time than necessary to pack everything up. When she’d first moved to Lane’s, she’d only left her closet full, and a few odds and ends in the attic. Clothes she would be donating, childhood drawings she would be throwing away. The photo album was the only thing she was surprised to find. She’d forgotten about it. Maybe simply because she’d wanted to forget about it. It was the only thing she hadn’t managed to fit in the three cardboard boxes which now sat in the corner of the otherwise empty room. All she had left to do was load everything in her car and drive to Lorelai and Luke’s for dinner. And she would never see the little blue house again. No matter how much she’d disliked living there, she couldn’t shake the small part of her which wasn’t ready to lose it, let it go. Even if she’d known for a while the house would soon be gone.

Before she could think better of it, she grabbed the photo album from where it sat next to the boxes. She could have squeezed it in if she tried, but she didn’t want to risk breaking it. It was of her, her life. Her family. Her mother had made one for each of her children, adding to them all the time. A project left unfinished after her death. They’d gone away with the rest of her belongings. Had she not gone up into the attic, Ella probably would have assumed it had been thrown out years earlier. But there it was.

She ran the pad of her finger over the words on the front cover gingerly. Eleanor Mary Stevens. Heaving a deep sigh, she opened it and flicked through her early years. Her mother on the day Ella was born, long blonde hair and hazel eyes, a tiny baby in her arms. Another one, with her grandmother holding her as a baby. Ella felt for a chain around her neck without noticing. She flipped through a few more pages, and had to stop when she came across the photo of the whole family on her thirteenth birthday. The second to last before her mother’s death. They were all crowded around the small kitchen, the walls behind them painted a distinctive shade of peach. Ella’s smile was wide and naive, a big cake with candles about to be blown out sitting before her on the round table. The table where she and her father had sat for weeks, drinking, after her mother was gone. Her mother had blown up balloons, decorated a birthday banner, invited Julie and her family down for a small little surprise party. Thirteen was an important one, her mother had said. A whole new phase. It was Julie who had taken the picture, urging the five of them to squish together and fit in the frame. Ella’s mother looked arguably happier than Ella did. She’d always gone all out for birthdays.

But Ella’s mind didn’t take long to wander to the hours following the picture being taken. The dinner when her father had raised his voice over something she didn’t even remember. Ella had been feeling brave and confident, newly a teenager and high off the fanfare. She’d tried to interject, calm her father down, restore the light mood. She should have known better. He didn’t hit her, didn’t lay a hand on her. He’d yelled instead. Ella could tell, though, that he’d wanted to smack her. She could recognize how red his face got, and the particular way he spit out his words through gritted teeth. He was just so angry, for no reason at all. She hadn’t let him see her cry, of course. Later, after they’d all slunk to their rooms for the night in awkward, pained silence, she’d wept into her pillow. She never knew whether her mother had heard her, or whether she’d just sensed something was wrong. Ella could still hear the soft knock on her door, her mother’s gentle voice as she walked in.

. . .

“Hey, apple pie,” Sophia began, shuffling into Ella’s room and closing the door silently, carefully.

Turning on her side, facing away from her mother, Ella rolled her eyes at the nickname. She’d been stuck with it for years, since she was a little girl and was obsessed with helping her mother make holiday pies. She couldn’t help but be embarrassed by it, even when it was just the two of them. It made her feel like a kid in overalls, not a girl who was just about to start eighth grade. She was practically in high school, after all.

Frowning at her daughter’s silence, Sophia came over and sat on the edge of the bed. She stroked Ella’s messy hair. Ella tried to hide her sniffling, but was unsuccessful. Her mother was the only person she ever really openly cried in front of.

“Will you look at me?” Sophia asked, feigning a happy smile. They both knew the day hadn’t been exactly what either of them wanted.

Though she huffed in frustration, Ella sat up against the wall behind her bed, hugging her knees to her chest and wiping at her cheeks and nose. Sophia’s face softened at the sight of Ella, and she gave Ella’s knee a squeeze. Despite Sophia’s valiant attempts to get her to talk, Ella didn’t meet her eyes and remained quiet. She was struggling to stop her watery hiccups.

“You know he doesn’t mean it,” Sophia said.

Ella shook her head. Her voice was raw and unstable when she spoke. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No, you didn’t,” Sophia agreed.

“And it’s my birthday,” Ella continued, new tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

“I know,” Sophia sighed, willing herself to remain positive. It wasn’t the first time she and Ella had had this talk. “Look, Ella, he’s had a hard life. Sometimes...he just doesn’t know how to handle it when he feels angry. He loves you so, so much.”

Scoffing harshly, Ella finally turned to face her mother. “Sometimes it’s kinda hard to tell.”

Looking down, Sophia nodded. “He’s working on it. Baby steps, okay? I’m sorry about today. Tomorrow, I know he’ll make it up to you.”

“Okay,” Ella said tiredly. Weeping had made her feel exhausted. She just wanted to go to sleep.

“Hey, I’m serious. Perk up,” Sophia said sternly, though Ella knew she was just teasing.

Ella gave a weak smile. “Okay. I’m just tired. You’re right. Today wasn’t so bad, anyway.”

Sophia’s smile grew. “Yeah. It was nice to see Aunt Julie, right?”

Tugging anxiously at the ends of her hair, Ella nodded. “Yeah. Good surprise. Thanks for the party, mom.”

“Sure thing, apple pie,” Sophia said. She kissed Ella good night and rose from the bed. Before she left, she gave Ella’s shoulder one last squeeze. She pointed to the candles alight on Ella’s desk. “Tomorrow will be better. I know it will.”

Snorting a laugh, Ella let her smile become just a bit more genuine. She repeated the saying she had heard her mother utter about a thousand times as they gardened together. “Mmhm. Lavender is for luck.”

“That’s right,” Sophia said with a chuckle, shooting Ella an affectionate wink. Then, she padded back out into the hall and shut the door behind her.

. . .

Startling at the sharp ringing of her cell phone breaking her from her reverie, Ella gasped slightly. She snapped back to the present, shutting the photo album and placing it back atop the nearest box. She leaned back against the wall, frazzled, not bothering to look at the caller ID before answering. Breathing out slowly, she blinked back the shine from her eyes.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Ella,” Mabel greeted her through the line.

“Oh, hi,” Ella said dumbly, not expecting her call. Not that they didn’t talk on the phone regularly, because they did, but they also usually saw each other frequently. A cold call was a bit out of the ordinary.

“Are you feeling any better?” Mabel asked, and Ella could hear her take a quick inhale. She was probably smoking. Usually, Ella would accompany Mabel on her smoke breaks when they were hanging out, so she wouldn’t have to stand out in the cold all alone, even if Ella had been resisting the habit with relative success since the night after her father died. “I just wanted to check in. Jess said you were still too sick to come to dinner tonight.”

She cleared her throat. Apparently Jess hadn’t let them in on whatever was going on. “Oh, yeah. Thanks. I’m okay. Just still on the mend, I guess. How are things over there?”

Biting the inside of her cheek, she listened as Mabel told her about the fight Chris and Matthew had gotten into over where to order takeout from. Leo had also gotten involved, apparently. Mabel laughed as she spoke, and Ella missed the sound. It was not the first time she had considered what she would be giving up if she and Jess broke up. Chris and Matthew were his business partners. She would be the one who was iced out. And she couldn’t blame any of them for it. But she was suddenly homesick not for Stars Hollow, but for Philadelphia. She missed hours spent discussing Tennesee Williams on Mabel’s couch, or playing Leo’s keyboard while he messed around with some new song and asked for her help with an accompaniment, or mocking Chris about his sweater vest obsession and receiving some witty jab in return, or debating with Matthew about the best way to achieve world peace when drunk and hopeful. Another wave of regret and sadness washed over her. She had found a new family, despite her best efforts not to.

“Alright, I’m gonna head back inside. I’m freezing my ass off out here. Do you want me to bring you up and put you on speaker so you can say hi to the guys?” Mabel asked.

“Um, no, that’s okay. I’m probably just gonna head to bed. Will you…” she began, hesitating before she continued. “Will you tell Jess I said good night? I’ll probably be asleep when he gets back.”

She couldn’t remember the last time they had spent a night apart. And she couldn’t shake her worries about him, if he had a nightmare, if he had a panic attack. Would he call her? She knew she wouldn’t be able to get back in time to help him. Concern bubbled up in her throat, but she swallowed it down. At least he was with everyone at Truncheon, having takeout. Friday nights were takeout nights, after all.

“Will do. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?” Mabel said.

Ella sighed out through her nose. “Yeah.”

“Okay, love you. Get better, please.”

Biting harder on her cheek, Ella tried to ignore the smile she could hear in Mabel’s voice. She could see exactly the expression Mabel had at that moment.

“I’ll try,” Ella said.

. . .

Sipping her water while Lorelai drank her red wine, Ella felt her skin buzzing with nerves. Since the remodel, the Gilmore house looked completely different to Ella. The changes hadn’t been especially big, just some new wallpaper here, a fresh decoration there. But she missed the little things only she and the other people who had been in the right place at the right time could remember. There were no longer pencil marks in the guest room’s closet wall from when Rory and Ella were practicing their signatures. Dreaming of the days when they would be signing autographs, Rory a famous journalist and Ella a famous artist. She missed the reddish stain on the kitchen ceiling from when Lorelai had dropped a bottle of ketchup at just the right angle and the condiment had spewed up in a stream. They were there in her memory, but gone in her reality. Everything had changed, and she had hardly noticed until it was all different. It was too late.

“So, Michel finally made the exterminator sign this contract he drew up, promising no mouse would ever be found on the premises again,” Lorelai said, finishing her saga of a mouse recently wreaking havoc at the Dragonfly.

Ella snorted halfheartedly. “Well, I hope for the exterminator’s sake it’s not legally binding.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already mysteriously lost it,” Lorelai said with a conspiratorial wink.

Laughing along with her, Ella let her eyes linger on the red wine as Lorelai brought it to her lips. She didn’t want it, not really. But she knew how much better she would feel if she drank it, if she could get her thoughts to quiet down for just a little while. The thought made her grip the edge of the table momentarily, before it passed. She missed the feeling of Jess’s hand in hers, squeezing it, reassuring her. And then anger rose up inside her for missing him. Lorelai cleared her throat, breaking Ella from her daze.

“Oh, sorry,” Ella said, flushing with embarrassment.

Lorelai’s brows furrowed in concern and she sighed, preparing to finally address the elephant in the room. They hadn’t really discussed anything serious over dinner, keeping the conversation light while they ate some chicken made by Luke. He’d gone to bed a few minutes earlier, the night darkening past nine. The next day saw early morning deliveries and he had no intention of being sleep-deprived for a Saturday shift. Besides, Lorelai had formed the game plan before Ella even came over, after Luke told her why Ella was in Stars Hollow in the first place. She’d known the girl long enough, and through enough, to have an inkling of how she dealt with things.

“Sweetie?” Lorelai said.

Ella hummed, tilting her head at Lorelai in askance.

“What’s been going on with you?” Lorelai asked earnestly, a sympathetic glint in her sparkling blue eyes.

Chewing on her bottom lip for a moment, Ella looked down into her water. Then, she looked back up with tears stinging her eyes. And her words came out in a husky, rough whisper. “I don’t know.”

Lorelai nodded. “That’s okay, Ella. But you can’t ignore this. I know you want to, but I just don’t think it’s gonna work this time.”

“Why not? It’s worked so well in the past,” Ella said with a sardonic laugh, sniffing and trying to blink back her tears. She willed herself not to cry in front of Lorelai. She would not be a woman in her mid-twenties crying over a boy with her friend’s mother. Not even if the boy was the love of her life.

“But has it?” Lorelai asked doubtfully.

Taking in a deep breath, Ella swallowed thickly. “I just...I don’t want to lose him.”

“If you break up with him, I’m pretty sure you’ll lose him, sweetie,” Lorelai said, her tone hushed with gravity.

“Well, obviously, I know, but…if I have to lose him, then at least it’ll be on my own terms,” Ella continued, feeling squirmy and embarrassed speaking to Lorelai so openly. She had confided in Lorelai in her teen years, but for so long Jess had been the only one to hear about the inner workings of her mind.

Lorelai nodded, thinking.

“I’m just...I’m so fucking mad,” Ella admitted, shaking her head. She scoffed at herself, at how childish her own words sounded.

“Why?” Lorelai asked simply.

“Because when my mom died, it just ruined...it ruined everything. It killed my dad, it killed my brothers. She...it ruined everything,” Ella said.

Frustration brewed in her gut as she spoke. She didn’t want to be mad at her mother. It wasn’t her fault she had a heart condition. It wasn’t her fault she died. But, for whatever reason, Ella couldn’t help the sick rage in her stomach. If her mother hadn’t died, her father wouldn’t have started drinking again, maybe. And then he wouldn’t have crashed his car. And she wouldn’t have felt so terrified about Jess. She wouldn’t be so utterly exhausted, so drained from the grief. And it was easier to be mad at her mother than at the whole world.

“But it didn’t kill them,” Lorelai insisted. “And it didn’t kill you. You’re allowed to be happy, Ella. You are.”

Bottom lip trembling, Ella looked away from Lorelai. “No.”

Lorelai sighed heavily, hoping to make her see. “Not everything in your life is going to be a beginning and an end. You deserve a middle. Let yourself have a middle.”

Ella blew out a shaky breath, but didn’t speak.

“You told me at Thanksgiving that you had everything you wanted. And I saw it. I saw you there with Jess, with your art. You can have that. Don’t stop yourself from having it because you’re scared and you don’t think you deserve it.”

Ella’s stomach did a flip and she fiddled with her hair to keep herself from crying. Somehow, Lorelai had always been able to get to the root of her problems, to see things as they were. Maybe it was because both of them had grown up earlier than other people. Biting at her cheek, Ella let her mind drift back to Jess, to the way he made her feel. She had been in love with him for so long, she didn’t remember what it felt like not to be. To not instantly feel at home when she heard his voice, to not relax at his touch, to not feel her heart fluttering each time he smiled at her, like she was still sixteen.

Sixteen. She’d been mixed up then as she was now. And she had gotten herself through it on her own, but she would have been lying if she said Jess didn’t help. Jess showed her what it was to live with intensity again, with passion. To let herself feel the deepest things and not be afraid. Her mind wandered back to her walk over to the Gilmore house a few hours earlier, as the January sun was setting. The air was freezing, but it felt only right to walk, since she’d just been inside the little blue house for probably the last time. For old time’s sake. She’d left her key on the kitchen counter. She didn’t know the next time she would be back in Stars Hollow. She wanted to say goodbye to the town, in case she didn’t get to later. Passing over the bridge, she’d spotted two red cardinals flying around in the dusky light of the evening. One was chasing the other, and then they would switch. A lively dance. They were so vivid against the dull blanket of winter. They reminded her of the way she was with Jess, the way they were together.

Sniffing again, Ella nodded. She locked eyes with Lorelai, sincere. “Okay.”

Lorelai let a soft smile across her lips, and pressed a kiss to the top of Ella’s head as they said goodnight.

. . .

Driving so early in the morning, with Stevie Nicks on the radio, made her feel like she should be smoking a cigarette. Usually, it would take Ella less than four hours to make it back to Philly from Stars Hollow. But the frigid ice made the roads slick, and she was forced to go much slower than normal. Her lips were bluish with cold as she bit at her nails, the cloudy sky lightening to a murky pink. It was half past five and her eyes were heavy, but her body was wired with energy. After her chat with Lorelai, Ella had made a decent effort to actually get a good night’s sleep. She just couldn’t get Lorelai’s words out of her head, and her thoughts of Jess. She’d started up her Station Wagon just a little after midnight.

A middle was something she hadn’t considered. Truly, she hadn’t. She felt so silly. But it hadn’t occurred to her that she and Jess were just beginning. Their middle was coming. Maybe sooner than she had realized. For so long, she had been expecting the worst, even when she wasn’t. It was always there, in the back of her mind, whispering at her not to let her guard down, not to get comfortable. Not to feel love. Ella knew she couldn’t change overnight, and she felt like she was going to throw up just thinking about facing her fears. But Jess was right, as much as she hated to admit it. If she worked hard enough, she could feel better. She knew she could.

So, there was a scribbled note left on Lorelai and Luke’s fridge and she sat bleary-eyed in her driver’s seat. As she pulled up in front of the apartment building, small flurries began to fly down on her windshield, glistening in the muddled sunlight. She trudged up the stairs, trying to stay quiet in her dirty snow boots. But her feet seemed leaden in her exhaustion and she felt bad for her neighbors. She bit at the insides of her cheeks as she ascended the stairs with her suitcase in hand. Tears were welling in her eyes, and for once, she couldn’t bring herself to hold them back. She let them drip down her cheeks, which had just begun to pink up in the warmth of the building.

When she got to the door, she fumbled with her keys, her hands shaky. At first, she had the instinct to knock, before she remembered it was her own house. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. So much, she thought, and then let a bitter laugh slip from her lips. She really was exhausted. Just before she could stick her key in the lock, the door opened for her. Jess stood on the threshold, disheveled. His hair was mussed up and she could tell he hadn’t shaved in a few days. Soon, he’d have a full beard. His eyes were reddish and she could tell he had just woken up.

She swallowed dryly, dazed. She was aware she was still crying, but hardly knew why. She dropped her suitcase next to her, and her keys jangled to the ground as well. She raked both hands through her hair and sniffled.

“Hi,” she began, her voice weak and watery. “How’d you know I was here? Am I the star of the Truman Show or something?”

He shrugged, letting a sad smirk cross his face and then fade immediately. “I heard you.”

She furrowed her brows. “Well, you should’ve brought a bat or something. What if I was a murderer?”

Again, the joyless smirk. “I was in the kitchen making coffee and you laughed. I could tell...it was your laugh.”

“Oh,” she said, nodding. She scoffed self-consciously. “Yeah. I didn’t really sleep and I guess I’m kinda punch drunk. But I um...I just...had to come home.”

“You did?” he asked, keeping his voice even. If he sounded too hopeful, then he might be hopeful. And he couldn’t have that. But she’d said she would be back on Sunday, and it was only Saturday morning. Surely, that had to be a good sign.

“I did,” she said, then her face crumpled and she uttered a little whimper. She looked down at her shoes, stomach swirling with embarrassment. Then, she looked back up to face him and sniffled again. “I was just really fucking scared. I’m sorry, Jess.”

His face softened and he nodded, watching as she put her head in her hands to hide her face. Silent sobs overtook her.

“I know. I know,” he said gently, then wrapped her up in his arms.

She cried into his chest.

“It’s nothing for you to be sorry over, alright?” he said, leaning back slightly and taking her face in his hands. “It’s okay.”

“But it’s not okay!” she exclaimed, pulling away from him, speaking earnestly through her tears. “I can’t believe I said I wanted to leave! I’m such a fucking coward. We said we would always try, and I wasn’t fucking trying! And I’m just-”

“Eleanor, honey, just take a deep breath,” he said, running his hands up and down her arms in an attempt to relax her. “We can figure this out. You and me.”

“But you don’t have to-”

“Hey, Daria,” he began calmly, taking her suitcase and her keys from the floor beside her, “just come in and get some sleep. We’ll talk about it when you wake up, okay?”

She eyed him for a moment through a blurry, watery haze. “Do you promise?”

For the first time all morning, his tiny smile held the hint of something pleasant. “I promise.”

#jess x oc #jessocfanfiction #jess mariano #jess mariano fanfiction #gilmore girls #gilmore girls fanfiction #oc fanfiction #gilmore girls oc #jess mariano au #gilmore girls au #luke danes #lorelai gilmore

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toughfaun · 3 years

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Hi, I don't really post what I'm writing here. I've never really had the confidence and I am in a constant battle with my agoraphobia.

I only showed this story that I'm working on to one person. He never got the chance to tell me what he thought about it.

I don't like the silence so I was hoping that in posting this here, even if no one sees it, even if no one cares, that it will bring some type of peace.

Word Count: 1.5k

Title: Lucy Lovingstein

Status: Work in Progress

View on Google Docs

She rushed into the room bringing a gust of wind with her, her shoulders tense, her hair tousled as if fingers were ran through it repeatedly with ambition, and her face a scowl held hostage, cheeks puffed out as if her mouth was full though I knew it wasn’t. “I left him, Patty.” She threw her body down onto the chase in front of me, the place I would have normally sat while I was reading, but decided not to today. “I left him.”

Him, being the man she left us for, left me for. His name was. . .well, is that important? No, it is not. It was an ugly name anyway.

She fell in love suddenly and left just as so. Sudden was her nature, after all, slow was too much for her. It always had been and always would be, which is why she fell out of love with me far quicker than I could have or wanted to. She left for a dazzling city with him. The city being New York, where life was so fast that you had to run even in your sleep. She’d sent a postcard, barely any handwritten words. I could count them on one, maybe one and a half hands. ‘Life is great.’ She started, ‘Miss you much.' and there at the bottom she signed her first name as I knew it, ‘Lucy’ but with a new last name, his last name ‘Lovingstein’ it was likely made up by one of his ancestors but it was real for him. As stupid as it were, was, is.

He took her to places that she had never seen, lived life faster than a winning racehorse. While I sat here at home, working as I usually did and then coming home to an empty home as I usually did and made dinner and read all alone as I usually did. Nothing ever changed for me, not even that, not even the pain in my chest when I got the picture she sent me, the return address was in Vegas. The Vegas. And when I opened it, sure enough, there was a photo of them there, lips locked, hands in places nearing the obscene but the ring was still visible, gleaming even in the photo. Even now where we sit, my heart beats to her rhythm as if she and I were lying side by side again.

I’d made my peace with our lost love many years ago now, she was gone all of twelve, it took me ten and my late cat, Valentine, to feel less lonely. But now she walks in out of the blue, the first I have ever laid eyes on her in years and she barges in undeterred as if she’d left only yesterday, without a single call or even a letter or hell, another postcard. Her confidence has never shocked me more.

“Lucy,” I started placing a bookmark between the pages. “There are so many problems that you have risen that I don’t even know where to start.”

“Do you really still talk like that?” Her eyes were blue still, duller now than in my memory. Perhaps they were the same hue and my memory just applies a filter of sorts, one that makes things brighter and heightens the emotions.

Should I allow her to distract me? “Talk like what, Lucy?” I guess so.

She looked away as she removed her scarf, “As if your life is a book. As if everyone’s life is from pages of text instead of a world of color.”

I placed my book down on the table next to my mug of tea, still steaming but likely not for long. “Why do you talk as if you know me still? As if this is not the first time we have seen each other in twelve years?”

“I wrote you, sent postcards, pictures.” She laid her scarf down on the arm rest and looked back at me, I once again noticed her eyes. Such dull, sad eyes. “You never sent anything back. That is not my fault.”

"Ah yes, because you didn't constantly move and travel. Because I always knew where you were. It's certainly all fault of mine." She would forever be infuriating. I wonder, even now, how I ever loved her.

She waved her hand in the air, "It's no longer important, really. But I must tell you everything now, about him, about why I'm here, about all of it." Her voice cracked toward the end, perhaps it was emotion, or perhaps she needed a glass of water - either way I had little patience for it.

Most of me wanted to yell at her. Tell her how wrong she was to barge into my home, though it was probably on me for that. I'd never moved the spare key in twelve years, she must have guessed so, perhaps it was clear to her too that nothing had changed for me. Though that was no excuse for her to not even express the slightest glimpse of courtesy. Not a hello, or a how are you. But that was Lucy, she often skipped over greetings but not often did she skip over a goodbye. Maybe she liked muddied beginnings and clear endings.

She wanted you to know when she was done with you.

Over the years of both knowing and knowing of Lucy, I have received many a clear ending and muddied beginning. From friends to lovers suddenly when she kissed me. From lovers to nothing when she left me. From nothing to. . .distanced acquaintance when she sent the first post card and many start and stops whenever she felt like.

Though remembering it now, I'm unsure if our ending was ever truly clear. Perhaps our relationship was more of the metamorphosis type, not that I'd ever decided that or cared that it was. She left me.

I knew it was probably my weak willpower that allowed the thoughts of simply conceding and allowing her room to talk to enter my mind. Though perhaps, I was on to something, that if I allow her to speak her mind that maybe, just maybe I will finally be done with her. That the dull ache I feel now will finally subside and I can move on. Heaven knows I've already given my wounds much time. "Fine." I said finally, after a long stare down with her. The air in the room had gathered intensity, but not the uncomfortable kind, or the heated kind. It was the air of an anxiousness that had urgency, excitement, and a tad bit of familiarity. "Go ahead and tell me everything." As I gave her my full attention, I realized that even I, after all these years, missed her and the sound of her voice. I suppose that too had not changed.

"There are so many stories to tell, there are so many paths and timelines that overarch into what he and I had and what it became. But I'll spare you those different tidbits-"

"How kind." I added.

"Please save it until the end, Patty. I really would like to just say what I have to say and be done with it."

I nodded and continued my silence, a feat I had mastered over the years. Perfect silence.

"As you know, we married in Vegas eleven years ago now. And it was a happy marriage for awhile, for a long time." Her voice became somewhat solemn for a moment before it picked up. "But I was having the time of my life, seeing new things every day. Meeting new people every second. It was hectic and I wish I could describe how fast my heart was racing throughout all of it. The joy I felt, the amazement, the fulfillment. It was exhilarating."

She had a smile on her lips and her eyes were faraway, likely reminiscing. Images from her mind's memory banks pulled to the forefront, she probably didn't even see me sitting there anymore. A memory was projected over me, maybe it was of the busy crowds of Vegas, the ancient beauty of Greece or Rome, perhaps even the Amazon jungle. Whatever it was she was seeing, it brought joy to her lips and a slight spark to her eyes.

In a blink it changed.

"Eventually things changed between us. His love didn't feel the same anymore, he only wanted me to see the world through his rose colored glass. I wanted to see so much, but he wouldn't allow it. So I began to sneak off. I saw so much, the poverty, the history, the real people these places created. And I learned so much from them, for years I would just take a week and say I was going shopping or something and just disappeared learning all I could then coming back with random items to disguise my whereabouts." She chuckled. "It was when he finally caught me, that I began to see that I was simply a woman behind a lens for him. That everything about me, in his mind was rugged at first and so he was going to sand me down over the years. Transform me into his version of Lucy Lovingstein, the real me didn't matter to him, it never did."

She stood then, walking towards the window slowly. Passing my tea that was definitely no longer steaming, and looking forlornly at the street through the glass as she pressed her body against the wall.

#work in process #original writing #first person narrative

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bbrandy2002 · 5 years

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Little Sh!t

Wacky Drabble #10 That wasnt so hard, was it?

I've had this one in my stash for a while, thought I'd finally finish it up and use it for something.

Warning: PROFANITY

Drake, Liam, Riley and 5 yr old Nikolas.

1106 Words, just barely over the limit.

Wacky Drabblers: @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore @burnsoslow @jessiembruno @jovialyouthmusic @dcbbw @brightpinkpeppercorn @katedrakeohd @sirbeepsalot @bobasheebaby @stopforamoment @romanticatheart-posts @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria @pedudley @theroyalromancexx @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @emceesynonymroll

Permatags that arent listed above: @eileendannie @janezillow @ao719 @hopefulmoonobject

Riley crouched down to place a loving kiss on her sons cheek, "I'll be home soon....be a really good boy for Uncle Drake while I'm at this meeting okay?"

A wide grin with two front missing teeth is flashed and he hugs his mother tight, "I will mommy....I love my Uncle Drake".

Drake's big marshmallow heart melted upon that proclamation and he gripped his godson's shoulders, "I love you too kiddo".

Worried, Riley took Drake aside, "I just want to warn you....he spent the weekend with Leo and his boys and returned with some....shall we say.... colorful language and now likes to play tricks on everyone....so be careful Drake."

Drake chuckled, "Have we met Brooks?...I've been known to use some "colorful" language from time to time....I don't think it will be a problem".

Riley grimmaced back at him, "Its different when it comes to a five year old prince though....he actually told Madeleine to fuck herself yesterday.....damn it Leo".

Drake snorted loudly, "he's only saying what the rest of us want to, and besides, its probably the first fuck she's had in years".

Riley shrugged her shoulders in agreement, "I suppose, but after what he's done to Liam, we can't let our guard down".

"What he do to Liam?".

She looked at her son, playing innocently with his toy truck on the floor, shaking her head. "What hasn't he done....he's removed all the L's from his computers..he shaved one of his eyebrows during a nap...oh...oh..and the kicker was the super glue in his underwear yesterday, that was horrific".

Drake snickered, "I thought he looked a little pale yesterday.....Nik is just all boy, I wouldn't worry about it".

"Well, if you need me or Liam, text us".

He grabs both of her arms and gently glides her to the door, "It'll be fine, trust me....Nik and I are amigos".

After she leaves, Drake turns in time to see Nikolas bolt up the stairs and he follows after him curiously, "Hey, where ya going pal?".

He searched Nik's room, the guest rooms, the bathroom, and the hall closets, however, he could not find him anywhere.

Drake finally heard a buzzing sound from Liam and Riley's bedroom, so he opened the door, "Hey pal, you in here?"

A purple flash crosses in front of him and hits him square in the face.

"You're terminated fucker!", Nikolas yells as he jumps around in victory, highly proud of himself.

Drake rubs his sore nose and with a scowl looks down to see what Nik had thrown at him. His eyes widened as he realized what the purple vibrating object was, then noticed the boy had a larger, pink one still in his little hands. He ran his own hand along the back of his neck, "Ugh...buddy...where'd you get those?"

"In mommy's drawer.... they're light sabers dumbass, now prepare to die you scummy bastard!"

Nikolas charged full speed towards Drake with the pink one aimed directly at him. Once he was close enough, Drake grabbed him around the waist and hoisted him upon his shoulder, "Boy....I swear, I'll wear your little ass out...calm down and put those things....".

He wasn't even able to finish his sentance when Nikolas started jabbing it into the back of Drake's head causing him to lose his grip. Nik fell to the floor and immediately took off again, not even phased.

"That little shit", Drake groaned before running out of the room to find him.

Drake walked downstairs and saw him sitting on the couch watching cartoons. He was hesitant to approach him at first, but, Nik seemed to be more relaxed, so Drake sat on the other end of the couch.

The boy sat quietly watching his show, Drake eyeing him the entire time. After several minutes, Nik jumped up suddenly, causing Drake to duck for cover. "Uncle Drake, can you make me some hot chocolate, PLEASE", he asked with pleading eyes.

With that kind of look, Drake couldn't say no to him as he relaxed from his hypervigilent state. They both walked into the kitchen and Drake prepared the ingredients as Nik watched keenly at his side. When it was finished, Drake poured two mugs full and topped them off with marshmallows.

Drake handed a mug to Nikolas, cautioning him to be careful. Nikolas sneered at it, "I WANT SPRINKLES!!! I WANT SPRINKLES!!", he yelled.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!", Drake yelled back at him in frustration as he slammed open cabinet doors looking for sprinkles. "Fuck your damn sprinkles!"

While he was searching, Nikolas pulled a laxative from his pocket, unwrapped it and placed it in Drake's mug.

Drake finally found the sprinkles and went to pour them in Nik's drink, but, the child covered his mug and smiled back, "Nevermind". Taking his drink and sitting at the table.

Drake mumbled several obsenities under his breath and contemplated what the consequences of treason against the crown prince entailed. He was afraid to sit next to Nik so he stood at the counter, sipping his drink, wondering why Nikolas was smiling so brightly at him. I bet that little shit is plotting my murder right now.

Several minutes passed and both had finished off their hot chocolate. Nikolas's blue eyes glistening with uncontainable anticipation that gave Drake an uneasy feeling in his stomach. In fact, the growl and rumbles were becoming more and more unsettling, as he washed both of their mugs and put them away.

Drake clutched his stomach as he felt his face warm and flush. He gulped loudly when his lower intestines started to gurgle wildly, taking off for the nearest bathroom.

He sat down and let go, suddenly realizing everything is not as it seems. He opened his legs and looked between them, there was clear wrap over the toilet. As he tried to get up, he found himself stuck, as well.

"NIKOLAS!!!!!!!!!!!".

Nik innocently opened the bathroom door, cell phone in hand, live streaming to Liam's official facebook page.

He waves at the camera, "Hello everyone, I'm the Prince of Condomonia", he flips the camera around to show Drake sitting on toilet, "...and this is my Uncle, Drake Walker taking a shit", he giggles.

The Royal Council was in the middle of their meeting, when several phones start buzzing one after the other. Each member, including Liam and Riley taking a nonchalant peak, to appear as if they were still interested in Godfrey's ramblings.

The CBC was now broadcasting the live stream coming from the King's Facebook page.

Liam and Riley watched in horror as a shot of Drake sitting on the toilet, wiggling furiously to unloosen himself, cursing words they had never heard of before, was shown. Their young son singing in the background...

"....when you're running from the police and you feel that anal grease...diarrhea...diarrhea!..."

Maxwell sits up excitedly, "Hey, I taught him that, and he's getting all the words right this time".

Liam and Riley dashed from the meeting room and headed for their quarters; Liam running a little slower, due to the burning, raw feeling still in his balls from the super glue incident.

"...when you're sitting on the commode and your butt starts to explode...diarrhea...diarrhea".

Liam snatches up his son's cell phone, live stream still going. He looks in the camera with a stoic face and using his Kingly voice, "Diarrhea is the number one killer of men in Southeast Cordonia....please remember to take your vitamins everyday and eat plenty of fiber. This has been a message from you monarch...good day".

Due to the fierce rage in Drake's eyes and the incessant use of the word fuck, Riley picked up Nikolas, who was now crying, and carried him away to safety.

Liam inched closer to Drake, holding his hands defensively in front of him, "Easy there buddy....Im not gonna hurt you".

Drake was seething and almost appeared manic, "Liam", he whispered with a growl.

Liam decided to take a small step back to give Drake some breathing room and to avoid any sneaky, killer moves Drake could manage with his hands. Speaking softly to him "Drake...my best friend since we were kids....can you use your inside voice to tell me what happened?"

"My inside voice?", Drake grinned back at him. "My.... inside voice?", he said a little louder. "Come a little closer Liam, so you can hear me using my inside voice while I tell you how I'm going to cut your sons nuts off and feed them to the fucking corgi's".

Liam gasped out at hearing his precious son threatened in such a manner. He stood taller and straightened his suit jacket, "I see we have reached an impass....I will have Bastien get you loosened from the toilet once you can assure me you won't hurt Nikolas and call housekeeping to clean this mess up.....and Drake, I'm truly sorry for your unfortunate situation at the hands of my child".

Drake continued to wiggle, getting more and more of himself loosened by the minute.

Liam called Bastien who arrived shortly after, more for security reasons than to help Drake. Bastien helped Drake break free while keeping his tranquilizer gun close by in case he became beligerant....well, more than be already was.

Drake washed up and exited the bathroom, then walked into the living room where Liam, Riley and Nikolas were huddled on the couch. Nik was still crying and Liam was trying to shield him from a sudden, sneak attack.

Riley stood to face him in concer , "Drake, Im so sorry, are you okay".

Drake nodded his head calmly, "I'm fine...just please tell me you are going to beat his ass though".

Liam covered Nikolas' ears, "Drake!! we use positive consequences in this house, we don't believe in corporal punishment...Dr. Spock says..".

"Fuck Dr. Spock.... I believe in an eye for an eye and since my ass hurts right now, I want that little shit's ass blistered".

Riley placed both hands on Drake's chest, easing him back. She turned to Nikolas and tried to pull him away from Liam's protective grip, "He's going to apologize and then we will discuss a proper punishment later".

Liam relunctantly let go as Riley led her son up to Drake, telling him to apologize for his behavior.

Drake didn't want an apology, he wanted death, however, one look at Nikolas and his tears of fear, broke his heart. He leaned down and picked Nik up in his arms, consoling him, "It's okay little pal, its all over".

Nik continued to sniffle, hugging Drake tightly, "I'm so sorry Uncle Drake....I love you".

"I love you too Nikolas"

Riley smiled at them both, " See, that wasn't so hard, was it?".

Drake left the quarters and headed to his room. He was exhausted, sore, and a little worse for wear, but, decided to let it go.

He opened his cabinet and pulled out a whiskey bottle, opting to drink straight from it. He took one sip and spit it out immediately, "What the hell....this tastes like....piss?". He noticed tiny finger prints and smudges on the cabinet glass and it finally struck him what happened, "That little shit!"

#liam x mc #the royal heir #the royal romance #drake walker #trr fanfic #the royal romance fanfic #choices fanfic #choices fanfiction #choices trr #trh fanfic #choices trh #trh liam #trh #riley brooks #wackydrabbles

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szopenhauer · 4 years

Text

Are you more positive or a debbie downer? Debbie Downer should be my name lol

What would you love to drink right now? I’m drinking water rn, second mug in a row, my belly is going to explode

Is that an alcoholic drink or not? it’s not this kind of water :P

Oh good. What would you love to eat right now? I’m not hungry...

How many meals do you eat a day? depends

Do you brush your tongue with your tooth brush? sometimes

What are you favorite type of jeans? I’d say skinny even tho I don’t wear jeans anymore ^^”

Do you eat your nails? wait what swallow? ewww I don’t even bite them :o

Do you enjoy making or taking surveys? taking them more

Name something that is blue that you like Sadness from Inside out

Name something pink that you like PYNK music video by Janelle Monae? XD

If you could have one more pet, what? meh

If you could sleep next to a tame wild animal what? woah

Would you rather have an owl or a snake? both are cool

What would you name it? Bowl for owl and for snake either Ksysio or Wonsz żmieja?

Do you eat the ice in your drink? no

Have you ever been addicted to cigarettes? I had one cigarette in my whole life but I still keep a package in my room :x

Which do you use more? Facebook or Instagram? fb, I don’t care for insta

Do you watch beauty videos on You Tube? nah

Do you like Star Wars? love

What kind of surveys do you like the most? interesting, not just YES or NO questions, I want to go deeper

Have you ever dropped something down the garbage disposal on accident? omg luckily not

What CD would you never buy for yourself? anything Justin Bieber for sure

Is sex a must in your life? absolutely not

Would you rather be cute and ugly or hot and stupid? cute and ugly? lmfao ok

Are you evil in any way? everyone is, more or less

Would you rather be a clown or a garbage man? can’t decide :D

Would you rather be a rockstar or a librarian? librarian but rock star ain’t that bad of a choice ;)

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE? again? I just got this question on ask today and that really made me anxious

Did you and your mum ever have a big fight that caused you to move out? sigh... Has the last person you kissed ever been to your house? yep but not to my room as I’m super ashamed of it, it’s not what I really want, it’s more like a storage room for mine and my mom’s things, I wish I could move and out and do what I want instead of cleaning this mess just to have it ruined days after, not that I have money now to fix things the way I imagine my bedroom to be someday :( Have you had a good day today or was yesterday better? yesterday was better but today I got a T-shirt so that was a good moment Do you have any plans for the upcoming weekend? hospital

Could you date someone very attractive, but who thought they were better than everyone else? blergh, r u kidding me?... Do you always feel like you’re making mistakes? constantly Does anybody have a tattoo with your name on it? not because of me but someone somewhere definitely has that name on them for another reason How would you feel if you got the person you liked? I'm in a relationship Is there anyone who likes you? it seems If the last person you kissed saw you kissing someone else, would they be mad? of course What’s the first thing you heard this morning? you mean a sound (doorbell) or words (I don’t remember)? If you fell pregnant to the last person you kissed, what would you think? not possible Are you young or old? young, at least according to my ID and being childish Are there always other fish in the sea? there are but maybe I don’t want them and/or they don’t want to be catched etc. What can your tongue do? pfft Do chickens have feelings? sorta Do you think the body is the most beautiful thing that was ever made? ... So how are you feeling today? not good enough Where is your sister right now? don’t know nor care What do you smell like? it’s so hot, I smell like sweat and I can’t stand it but I can’t shower all day long What colour is your mum’s hair? grey When was the last time you talked to one of your siblings? last week Do you like fire? as an element of magic in fantasy movies Does your mum vacuum early in the morning while you’re asleep? she’s noisy in different ways Does wearing glasses really make people look smart? that’s a lame stereotype Do your band-aids have cartoons on them? they’re useless but one time I bought Moomin ones because I’ve been walking through the store and they fallen right under my feet and there was nobody around nor the shelf/aisle that they could come from so it was weird and I love Moomins so I took them home (I paid) and they’re probably stored somewhere Have you ever kissed someone you shouldn’t have? what do you mean? Who’s the funniest drunk person you know? my gf apparently - in a cute way - that’s surprising for a teetotalist like me What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? my tee came! When was the last time you saw your father? he just left for work and I was waving to him through the window which is our tradition What if your partner went through your cellphone? I have nothing to hide Has anyone ever been with you while you were throwing up? my parents and sister

Robert Downey Jr. — Bet you have a crush on him. he’s handsome but I’d prefer to be him instead of having a crush on sex I’m not attracted to

What would you do if you were to get stuck on a ski lift overnight? ... freeze? and pee myself Have you ever received an anonymous gift? one time when we were really poor that we couldn’t afford food someone left a package under our door, knocked and ran, bless this person whoever knew we have hard times :* What kind of laugh do you have? many kinds that happen randomly Will you have a Valentine next year? I have a bigger chance than any other year before Macaroon or a cupcake? cupcake Did you kiss or hug anyone today? hug my mom and my dad too Are you currently waiting on someone to do something for you/to you? kinda Do you know anyone, personally, who is in an abusive relationship? Are you? I’m not in an abusive relationship but I know those who are as it’s common and it’s really sad that ppl think only beating makes relationship toxic Are you planning on going anywhere with someone, some time today? I’ll stay home Do you find your school to be loaded with hot guys or not so much? I remember E.W. once said that we have a lot of elves around because LOTR movie had very ugly ones as we did in high school, I tried to find that pic someone posted back in the day but I failed, it was from the council from what I remember

Is there anyone you are currently trying to get out of trouble? Why? mostly I just keep my eye on my father and my mother all the time because of covid (and not only because of it) if that counts Are you plotting anything at the moment? another chapter of the book? Have you ever wanted your significant other to get rid of a friend? because they were evil to them, it wasn’t about ME If you have siblings, have they moved out or do they still live with you? she moved out :3

Do you have a therapist? no longer Have you ever gotten a good grade in math class? yeah, in middle school I was getting awesome grades in math class What do you think of the last person you texted? we’re dating Have you ever gotten a bloody nose from snorting cocaine? I’ve never done cocaine wtf

Do you post pictures were you look good but your friends look bad? I ask them first Are you friends with any of your exes? me and one of my exes are together Are you a whiskey person? I’m a no alcohol person

Has anyone ever made fun of your taste in music? tiny bit, wasn’t that bad

Have you ever overflown a bathtub? I have not Have you ever thrown food at a stranger in a movie theater? not in a movie theater Are you somewhat of a perfectionist? somewhat Do you like sour candy? by Lady Gaga not eat Do you usually wear sunglasses when you’re driving? but I don’t drive Is there ever a time that you enjoy cold showers? brrrr no way Are you good at painting nails? am not but it doesn’t matter Are you good at filling silence in awkward situations? doubt it What word should you really probably remove from your vocabulary? kurwa Do you rip out the page if you make a mistake writing, or cross it out? cross it out, if I ripped the page then there would be nothing left Do you use a full length mirror daily? we don’t own one Can you walk in heels, or do you feel awkward in them? I think they don’t match my style and they’re uncomfy in a long term Mac or PC? PC Will you tell someone if there’s something in their teeth? sorry but probably not Do you ever actually make your bed? when I have guests Do you make an effort to eat healthy? yup The last time you kissed someone, what color of shirt were they wearing? black, that’s easy What’s something you want to purchase next time you’re at the mall? food If you had to choose between a million dollars or to be able to change a regret? money because one regret won’t help me and even might make things worse Are you taller than your mom? almost 10 cm What would you do if your best friend told you they were moving today? my gf - break up my dad - try to stop him or move out with him You’re locked in a room with the person you last kissed, problems? no problems Do you have any ‘naughty’ photos on your phone? 0 Could you handle living with a male roommate? my dad, no one else What were you doing at 10:00 this morning? waking up Why aren’t you texting the last person you kissed? who said we aren’t texting? Do you think you’ll actually live a happy life with somebody? don’t feed my paranoia Connection between you and the last person who messaged you? love Where is your biological father right now? bus/job already Who else is in the room with you? I’m alone Water with ice or no ice? no ice Are you wrapped in a blanket? too hot for that

Has anyone done anything nice for you today? I’m thankful for all those nice things people do for me - big or small The last time you hung out with your sibling(s), what did you do? took a walk

Do you usually bring or buy a lunch for school? bring

The last time you had sex, was it in their bed or yours? their

How old were you when you figured out you were definitely straight, or bi, or whatever? middle school was the beginning

Do you fit in at work or in school? I was always an outcast

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, “Oh God, Ew.”? 99% of time

Have you ever cried at a real wedding? nope

Is there someone you need to forgive? *annoyed sound*

What’s your brother(s) / sister(s) names? personal

Suppose you saw your crush/bf/gf kissing another girl/guy, what would you do? why tho

What is your favorite color for bridesmaid dresses? whatever bridesmaid wanna wear besides white

Do you have a secret crush right now? it’s no secret

Do you know anyone who doesn’t want to have kids? me

Would you rather visit Tokyo or Paris? dunno

Do you think you would like living in New York or Chicago? Why or why not? too overcrowded/loud etc.

Name 3 celebrities who are the same height as you. Lady Gaga, Ellen Page, Reese Witherspoon

Are you happy with your height? I’d like to be taller, not too much tho

Do you have big or small hands? small

Have you been baptized? I have been

Have you ever been abused in any way? sadly

Do you like unicorns? they’re fine

Is there one book you have read over and over again because it’s so good? if so, which is it? I don’t reread books

Do you play games on your phone a lot? recently I became obsessed with LOVE ISLAND game

Have you ever had to put out a kitchen fire? my mom took care of it but it wasn’t a big deal tbh

Have you ever been kidnapped? wut

Do you have anything glow in the dark in your room? stars

Do you wear a scarf, if so, what does it look like? not rn

Is there a video or computer game that you can get lost in for hours? mhm but not too long

Do you get breadsticks with your pizza? breadsticks and pizza? it’s like bread with bread - no thx

Did you ever have a waterbed? I hate those

What toy from your childhood do you miss? rubber toys?

Did you sleep in late today? yes

When was the last time you were disappointed? this day

Do you like listening to love songs? I like a variety of music which includes love songs

In your group of friends, are you the smart one, athletic one, etc.? funny mom friend... ok, fine, a dad because my puns are daddy jokes

Has any of your friends’ family ever yelled at you? no but they said bad things about me behind my back

Did you ever watch the show Full House? with my sister What was the last thing that scared you? how I feel physically Do the librarians at your library know you by name? they do

What ten people would you most likely bring on a roadtrip? 10 ppl?! shoot me...

Is there anything you’re really stressed out about right now? health issues

What was the last thing that made you cry? I’m about to cry...

What are the last three songs you listened to? Crystal Castles - Suffocation frnkiero andthe cellabration - neverenders Major Lazer - Be Together (Feat. Wild Belle)

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she-is-tim · 5 years

Text

I love hating you | Elu enemies to lovers AU | Ch. 3

Previous Chapters: 1, 2

Lucas is an angry, closeted and frustrated gay teenager, while Eliott is the handsome, smart and popular guy in school. They hate each other… but not forever.

You still owe me

Lucas woke up happily the next day. For other people it could have been the vibe of friday, but for him it was different. The first thing he did was to check his phone. He got a few notifications on facebook, some likes on instagram, but no messaged. He didn’t let that to ruin his mood. He got out of his “bed” and walked to the kitchen, only wearing briefs.

Mika was already there, wearing a red shirt and grey sweatpants, drinking coffee while leaning to the kitchen counter. As Lucas walked in, mumbling a quiet “Morning”, his flatmate slapped his butt playfully, while whistling at him.

“What a nice ass you got there, kitten.” he said smirking. Usually Lucas would shut him down, but today he was in a good mood, so he just chuckled and grabbed his mug, pouring some coffee in it. Mika was utterly shocked by his behavior. “Oh, my! What happened to you, Dear Kitten? You got laid or something?” he asked, trying to analize the expression on Lucas’ face.

“No, I’m just feeling good today.” he said, taking a sip of his hot drink, enjoying the taste of pure caffeine.

“Well, whatever or whoever made you so happy, it could happen more often. I definitely like the happy kitty more than the grumpy one.” Mika said with a soft smile and right now, Lucas could totally agree with him. He himself felt much better in his body too.

When he got to the school, he saw the boys on the schoolyard, talking and laughing. He walked to them, giving a fistbump to Yann and Arthur, leaving Basile out again. It was just so natural, he didn’t even think about it.

“You look better today, Lulu.” Arthur said with a soft smile.

“I’m feeling better for sure.” he said. “I slept like a baby last night.” he admitted.

The boys continued their talk about whatever they were speaking before Lucas arrived, trying to involve him too. They weren’t really successful, since the short boy catched a familiar, very handsome face among the other students. His eyes met those sky blue ones, which made his heart beat faster. Eliott smiled at him, raising his eyebrows, like he’s trying to flirt with Lucas. They were far from each other, but at that moment it was like nothing was between them.

Lucas was so lost in Eliott’s eyes, he felt like he’s floating on water, feeling free and careless. A little smile appeared on his face, which made Eliott’s eyes widen, his lips forming into a huge smirk. Lucas felt the blush appearing on his face, so he quickly looked away, trying to join into the conversation with his friends.

Later the day he was still in a good mood, feeling butterflies in his stomach when he remembered that his class just before lunch break was literature. With Eliott... He grabbed his stuff, walking into the classroom. Eliott was sitting at their table, there was a book in front of him, but he was just staring out of the window with a dreamy expression on his face. The sun was lighting up his face, making his eyes look like two beautiful pool of clear water.

Lucas made sure he was taking in all the beauty and handsomeness of this boy, before sitting down next to him. Eliott turned when he heard the noise of the chair moving next to him. He looked at the short boy, lips forming a soft smile.

“Hey there!”

“Hey!” Lucas mumbled shyly. He couldn’t say anything else, seeing Eliott like this, so early in the day just made him speechless.

“You look good today.” Eliott said, which made Lucas gasp for air. He wasn’t expecting something like this from him, so he just looked at him with wide eyes, not believing what he just heard. Eliott laughed, putting his forearm on the table. “I love these expressions you make.” he said smirking, which made Lucas frown his eyebrows and crossing his arms.

“Excuse me?”

“You know, I can make a lot of people blush, mostly girls, but I will never get bored of your reactions.” he said smiling. Lucas had to admit that he looked even more handsome like that. Fucking hell.

“You are fucking annoying.” Lucas said now, looking grumpy. He decided to face forward, not looking at the other, he was doing it for an experiment. What are you going to do now, Demaury?

He saw from the corner of his eyes that Eliott is searching for his phone, pulling it out from his back pocket. He seemed to be busy, typing something to someone. Lucas was feeling something in his throat, his stomach got tiny all of the sudden. He was regretting that he decided to ignore Eliott, because he seemed to found something much better to do. At least he thought that until he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. He grabbed it, opening the message he got and he almost choked on air. It was a message from Eliott. Are you serious right now?

srodulv Look, I found a picture of you

Lucas had to cover his mouth to cover his giggle. Eliott was such a stupid asshole, but he kinda liked how he did some things. This was in fact pretty funny. He couldn’t remember when Eliott started to call him hedgehog, probably back in first year when he had much shorter hair than he does now. It was around the time when they got to hate each other.

He couldn’t clearly remember why he started to be so annoyed by Eliott’s presence, it just happened one day. Everything he did made Lucas upset, especially when he was flirting with the girls. Daphné was always giggly and shy around Eliott in first year, Alexia basically undressed him with her eyes all the time. It pissed him off, because those girls were too good for such a douchebag.

He shook his head, coming back to reality. He stared at the grumpy hedgehog on his phone. He was sure Eliott was fidgeting on his seat, not knowing what Lucas thinks of his stupid message. He let himself have a half smile, then he put away his phone without answering. This time he will be the one that controls the situation. He heard Eliott letting out an annoyed sigh. It made him feel victorious.

Later the day Lucas joined the girls in the common room, helping them make some decorations. He was painting some wooden chairs, making them look much better than they actually are. Alexia and Imane were working on decorative lightings, Emma and Manon were decorating the shelves with cute statues, vases with flowers, stuff like that. Daphné was sitting at the table, making plans, looking through her folder she made. It was really thick, full of pages filled with pictures cut out of magazines, printed out or drawed by hand. She seemed to take this thing really seriously.

Lucas was so occupied with painting the chairs, he didn’t notice the buzzing of his phone. Not like he could check it, since his hands were covered in pink and yellow paint anyways. When he finished, he walked to the bathroom, trying to take off the colors, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. After long minutes of scrubbing, his arms were still stained. He sighed and decided to leave it for now, it was friday anyways, so he will have the weekend to take it off.

He walked back to the girls, they were all sitting at the table now, inviting Lucas to join them, so he sat down next to Manon, who offered him a cupcake that was made by Daphné. He accepted it and was chewing on it, while he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He opened instagram and noticed that someone tagged im on a picture. It was manon, she made a photo of him as he was painting the chairs with a serious face, like it was the most important task he ever had to do in his life. The caption said: “The only guy we trust”. He rolled his eyes and looked at Manon.

“Seriously, girl? What is this picture?” he asked, showing his flatmate his phone.

“Isn’t it adorable? You were so focused, I had to make a picture.” Manon said smiling.

“And post it on instagram?”

“You know if it’s not on the internet, it never happened.” Alexia said, drinking some pink liquid from a bottle.

“That’s true.” Emma said smirking.

Lucas just rolled his eyes again, but decided to like the picture. Manon was just so caring and soft, he couldn’t be mad at her, and the picture wasn’t bad at all. He had much more embarrassing pictures on his own profile, so he had nothing to worry about. After that he looked at his messages, there was a new one from Eliott.

srodulv That pink paint looks good on you

Lucas’ heart was beating faster, he still haven’t replied to the hedgehog message, so seeing that Eliott trying to reach out again made him feel happy and a little satsfied with himself. Now he was the one in charge.

lucallemant I still have some on my hands, that shit is not coming off easily

srodulv Oil can be really helpful

lucallemant oh really? I will try that out when I get home

srodulv I was actually wondering if you wanna hang out I have some beer and a joint to smoke

Lucas had to really control himself not to jump up from his seat and leave the girls immediately. Spending time with Eliott AND smoking weed? What else could top that? He took a deep breath, finishing his cupcake. He totally forgot to reply to the message, so he was surprised when he got another one.

srodulv Or maybe some other day, whatever is good for you

lucallemant No, I’m fine I’ll say bye to the girls and go

srodulv I’ll wait for you at the bus stop

lucallemant Cool

srodulv Cool

Lucas got up from his chair now, saying bye to the girls. Daphné even got up and kissed him on the cheek. She was so sweet, Lucas liked her company a lot. He picked up his backpack and left the common room, walking to the bus stop. It seemed to be an eternity until his bus arrived, he was looking at his phone while he was traveling, reading his conversation with Eliott over and over again. He couldn’t believe it. Someone so handsome and popular as Eliott shouldn’t be flirting with Lucas. It basically went against the law of nature.

When he got off the bus, he saw Eliott sitting on one of the seats. He was wearing a dark blue denim jacket over his hoodie this time, which made him look like a model. When he noticed Lucas, he smiled at him, stading up. The smaller boy was holding onto the straps of his backpack, because he wasn’t sure what to expect from this guy.

“Hey!” Eliott said as he walked closer to Lucas, his eyes checking him out from head to toe. Lucas felt like he was completely exposed, with Eliott he had no walls around himself and it scared him a little.

“Hey!” He mumbled, looking everywhere but in the other’s eyes.

“You coming?” Eliott asked, starting to walk backwards, staring at Lucas with his beautiful blue eyes.

Lucas sighed and smiled a little, going after Eliott, who now turned around, walking towards his apartment building. It only took a few minutes, none of them said anything, but it wasn’t awkward at all. The short boy wouldn’t even be able to form any kind of sentences right now, he was still struck by how perfect Eliott looked in that jacket.

They got inside, Eliott opened the door to his flat, letting Lucas inside. He put his jacket on the hanger and told Lucas to get himself comfortable, while he brings them some beer. The small boy did that, walking to the living room. He put down his backpack near the wall, then took off his jacket, carefully putting it on the armchair that was next to the coffee table alongside another one and a couch on the opposite side. The place wasn’t big, but it seemed really nice. Lucas first noticed the few drawings on the wall, but then his eyes catched the piano right next to a bookshelf. He looked at Eliott when he came back with two bottles of beer, handing one to Lucas.

“You play the piano?” he asked, pointing at the instrument.

“Not really.” Eliott chuckled and took a sip of his beer. “It was here when I moved in, haven’t really touched it.” he said honestly, looking into Lucas’ eyes. “You could play something on it.”

Lucas swallowed, he was holding the beer so tightly that his knuckles were white. He looked at the piano, back to Eliott and he continued this for a whole minute, before he found his own voice to say something. Congratulations, Lucas. You are winning the game.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. I haven’t played in a while... well, except this wednesday, but that was just so random.” he said and now looked at the drawings on the wall, trying to change the topic. “You made these?”

“Yeah, but it was a while now, most of them are a year old.” he explained with a soft smile.

Lucas checked out all of the arts when he noticed something on the top of the piano. It was a drawing of a hedgehog, the only color was the pink stains on his face and his hand. Lucas blinked, not believing his eyes first and he heard Eliott making a weird noise next to him, quickly reaching out and grabbing the paper, pulling it away from Lucas’ sight.

“That’s just... a doodle. I was bored.” he said, avoiding eyecontact with the small boy, which amused Lucas a lot.

“Yeah?” he smirked, drinking from his beer now.

Eliott rolled his eyes, which was usually Lucas’ speciality, folding the paper and sliding it into his backpocket. He seemed to be kinda nervous, his bottle was almost empty, though they just started to drink.

“Whatever, let’s smoke.” he said grabbing the joint that was sitting on his ear all this time. Lucas was too busy examining the apartment to notice that.

They sat down on the couch, putting the beer bottles on the coffee tables. Eliott pulled out a lighter from his pocket, lighting the holy cigarette. Lucas was excited to get high with him, it might not have been the best idea, considering his mixed feelings towards the tall boy, but he was too whipped. Eliott put the cigarette in his mouth, breathing in the smoke, then handing it to Lucas. He grabbed it with a happy smile, taking it between his lips, but he almost choked, when this god damn model looking guy next to him decided to blow out a smoke ring. That was so fucking hot.

Eliott looked at Lucas, leaning back on the chouch, stretching his long legs under the coffee table. He seemed to look so different than in school. Usually he was the good looking, always cool and perfect student, but here he just seemed to be like everyone else: a carefree teenager. Lucas turned his body to the side, to see him better and he was leaning on the back of the couch like this too. They were listening to some chill music from Eliott’s phone, it was a nice background noise to their stupid laughter. Both of them were telling silly stories from their childhood.

They were doing this for long minutes, probably for a couple of hours. There were a lot of empty bottles of the coffee table now, the air around them smelled like smoke, so Eliott decided to open the window. As he got up, Lucas had some time to breathe. It was so unbelieveable to sit here in Eliott Demaury’s living room, smoking weed, drinking beer and talking about his 6 year old self who got chewing gum stuck in his hair.

“Are you hungry?” Eliott asked suddenly, leaning to the window as he looked at Lucas. His eyes were a little red because of the smoke.

“Yeah, I am.” Lucas said, being surprised how he didn’t even notice his own hunger. Maybe because he was too busy watching this handsome boy laughing like a happy child, then blowing out smoke like a professional model.

“I’ll go make some sandwiches in the kitchen.” he said smiling and started to walk now. Lucas got up, he was just a little bit tipsy, so he could still move without stumbling.

“I’m coming with you.” he said, which made Eliott smile like an idiot.

“Okay.”

The kitchen was small, it only had a square wooden table with two chairs, so Lucas settled down there while Eliott was searching for stuff in the fridge and the cabinets. He seemed to be so occupied, even sticking his tongue out in the process. The small boy decided to check his phone now, letting his host to make those sandwiches peacefully.

He got a couple notifications from instagram, he didn’t really care about that, but he also got a text from Manon. He just noticed that it was almost 21:00, he was here at Eliott’s place since 4 hours now? How is that possible? He quickly opened the message.

From Manon Hey, is everything ok? It’s getting late and you are still not home

To Manon Yeah, sorry, I am at Yann’s place, but I’ll be home soon

From Manon Okay then, next time tell me if you going out for so long, I was worried

To Manon I’m sorry, mom!

From Manon Very funny

Lucas smiled at his phone, feeling warmth in his chest. Manon was always the typical mom friend, but it was still making him happy how caring and kind she was with him. She was the one in the first place who offered Lucas to live with them in the apartment and even now that she took her room back, she tried her very best to make the boy feel welcomed there. It was nice, even with the struggles he had to go through with Mika or Lisa.

“Lucas?” a soft voice snapped him back from his phone to reality. He looked up, eyes widened, facing with the most beautiful guy on this planet, who was just a step away from him, leaning down so their heads will be at the same height. Oh, you smooth fucker.

“What?”

“I was asking you something.” he said crossing his arms now. He seemed to be a bit frustrated. Was it because Lucas focused on his phone rather than him? It’s possible considering the huge ego this guy had.

“Can you ask again? I wasn’t listening.” he said with little smirk, enjoying the expression that appeared on the tall boy’s face.

“You are unbelieveable, Lallemant.” he said, frowning his eyebrows. “I’m inviting you to my place and you rather chit-chatting on your phone than listening to me?”

“Come on now, we were talking for hours in the living room. I just wanted to check my messages.” he said, rolling his eyes at the childish behavior of Eliott.

“Your boyfriend can wait. We have more urgent things to discuss, like if you want ham or sausage slices on the sandwich?” he asked with a serious face. Lucas had to laugh, because he was really acting like a 5 year old who just got told that he can’t play with his favorite toy.

“I was answering Manon. She is worried that I’m not home yet.” he explained, being amused by the tall one’s concerned expression turning into something that was probably his realization of being overly dramatic. “And I want ham on my sandwich, with double cheese please.” he added smirking.

Eliott took a deep breath and turned back to the bread on the kitchen counter, buttering the slices and putting ham and cheese on them. He didn’t look at Lucas, so the boy had a lot of time to observe him. It was really amusing to see him doing normal stuff, like making a sandwich. In the school he always seemed to be someone who only does things with elegance and perfection, but he was actually struggling with the damn butter or the package of the cheese.

“Here you go.” he said, finally handing Lucas a plate with two sandwiches on it. He was staying at the counter, holding his own food.

“Thanks.” he grabbed the plate and took a bite of the sandwich. Eliott watched him closely, making sure that he is not gonna choke on it or anything, at least for him it seemed like he was doing that. “You should eat too.” He said looking at the sandwich in Eliott’s hand.

“I was just... you have pink paint on your face.” he said, pointing at Lucas’ left cheek.

“It got there before I washed my hands probably.” he mumbled, touching his cheek to look for the paint.

He was so busy doing this that he didn’t noticed the long fingers slowly sliding on his face, cupping it gently. He raised his head, looking into deep blue eyes filled with desire and something Lucas couldn’t put into words. The world around them seemed to disappear, they were in their own little bubble, staring at each other, leaning closer by each second, until they could feel their breath on their lips. Lucas’ heart was beating faster, his lips were parting, ready to get kissed by Eliott. Right now, right here in this exact moment it was all he wanted.

They startled to the loud noise of the doorbell. Eliott’s hads slipped down from Lucas’ cheeks to his neck, looking at the direction of the front door. He cursed under his breath which made the short boy smile. He was disappointed that they got disrupted, but seeing how much it annoyed Eliott too made his heart flutter.

“I swear to god, this happens all the time.” Eliott mumbled, unconsciously rubbing Lucas’ skin with his thumb, still not wanting to leave him to open the door. The bell was ringing again, longer and louder.

“You should really open it.” the boy said softly, grabbing the hands on his neck and pushing them away gently. “Eliott, go.” he said seeing that the boy was still not wanting to move. He looked at Lucas, with the face of little kid who had been separated from his favorite plushie.

He then took a deep breath, stroking Lucas hands before walking to the door. The small boy had time to breathe out, collecting his thoughts. Eliott definitely wanted to kiss him, god, they almost did. Deep in his thoughts he was really disappointed that they didn’t. He finished one of the sandwiches while he waited for Eliott to come back, and he did, with two other person.

He recognized one of them, tall, even taller than Eliott, dark skin, big smile. It was Idriss, the older brother of Imane. The other guy he didn’t know, but he was really gorgeous, dark, curly hair, handsome face and the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. They were wearing casual clothes, jeans and hoodies, holding some books and notes in their arms. Eliott seemed to be a bit annoyed that they were there, but he still had a smile on his face.

“Hey, We didn’t know you had a visitor.” Idriss said and his eyes widened as he recognized Lucas. “Look at here! Little Lucas!” he yelled and walked to the boy, giving him a fist bump. “Haven’t see you in ages.”

“Yeah, we mostly study with Imane at the common room, so...” he smiled and shrugged a little, looking at the other boy who walked to them.

“You know Imane?” he asked, voice soft as the warm wind on a summer afternoon.

“Yeah, she’s my friend.” Lucas said, reaching his hand out, the boy grabbed it, shaking it softly. “I’m Lucas.”

“Sofiane.” he said smiling. Wow, such a beautiful name to a beautiful face.

“Great, now that you guys introduced yourselves, can you go the fuck out of the kitchen?” Eliott said now frustrated.

Sofiane and Idriss smirked at each other and walked to the living room after high fiving Lucas. They were awesome guys and seemed to be really kind. It was unbelieveable how they were friends with such and egoistic and rude person as Eliott. But Lucas had to admit, this guy had his good sides too.

“Sorry about that, I totally forgot they wanted to study here during the weekend.” he said, scratching the back of his head.

“It’s okay, I should go home anyways.” he said, standing up from his chair. He wanted to leave the kitchen, but Eliott blocked his way, looking at him seriously.

“You still owe me, you know.” he whispered, leaning down until their foreheads touched, keep looking into Lucas’ eyes.

“I know.” the short boy mumbled, his legs were weak, his heart was beating fast. He could smell Eliott’s cologne and even some smoke too. It was making his head feel dizzy.

“I wish I could walk you home...”

“It’s okay, I’m a big boy.” he smiled softly and Eliott shook his head.

“You don’t get it, don’t you?” he asked and just smirked at Lucas’ confused expression. “Doesn’t matter. Text me when you get home, okay?”

Lucas nodded, feeling like he’s going to pass out, but luckily the tall boy pulled back, walking to the door with him. He put on his jacket and walked out, saying goodbye to Eliott before leaving. As he stepped out of the building, cold air touched his face, making his dizziness to fly away. He gasped, glancing back for a short time. A wide smile appeared on his face as he walked to the bus stop. He looked down at his phone while waiting and he got a new message from Eliott.

srodulv Take care, and don’t forget to message me when you get home

Lucas chuckled, this guy was so extra. He just left his place a few minutes ago and he already had to text him to make sure Lucas is okay. He shook his head, typing him an answer.

lucallemant You should be studying now, Mr. Demaury

srodulv I can’t stop thinking about you

Lucas’ heart skipped a beat and he barely could step up on the bus as it arrived. His legs felt like they were made out of jelly, he felt butterflies in his stomach. This was the first time that someone made him feel things like this. He did have a crush on Yann like a year ago, but that was nothing compared to what Eliott made him feel with just a text message. He waited with the answer until he got home, cuddling pillows on his couch.

lucallemant I’m home now, study with your friends We’ll talk tomorrow

srodulv Sleep well, Lucas

lucallemant Good luck with studying, Eliott

Writers note: You guys probably hate me, because of the almost kiss, but hey, they will have a lot of time for that later, and don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that scene, cause I did enjoy writing it! Make sure to give me some feedback after reading the chapter, I love reading your comments and messages. I’ll put it on AO3 later tonight, because I gotta go to work.

#Skam France #Elu enemies to lovers AU #Elu #Eliott Demaury #Lucas Lallemant #Eliott x Lucas #I love hating you

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strawberriestyles · 5 years

Text

Chapter 1: First Impressions

(Banner made by the savior herself @tiostyles)

Harry X OFC (AU)

In which Blue, a perpetual wanderer, finds herself drawn to the mystery of Wolver Valley, and to a certain motorcycle-riding mechanic named Harry.

Read previous part here.

Author’s note: WELCOME TO WOLVER VALLEY. I hope y’all get the same vibe as I do from this place and these characters. Please like, reblog, and LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. Enjoy. Xx

Thank you to my lovely betas: @biteharrysthigh // @lilacobscure // @metinthehallway // @belle-ofthe-sea // @nofoookingway // @lyllibug // @justsaying20

Blue traveled back into town, balancing on the edge of the curb all the way. She hadn’t been in Wolver Valley for more than an hour before she’d seen everything Main Street had to offer: an old-school movie theater, some little boutiques, a diner, a florist, a bookstore, a record shop, a tattoo parlor, and something that looked suspiciously like a strip joint. Not even a cafe.

Deciding that she’d lugged her bag around for long enough, and finding that her strawberries were diminishing at an alarming rate, she made her way to the next block, where she’d caught sight of the Red Roof sign. She checked herself into a room, threw her duffel on the double bed, and stuck the rest of her fruit in the mini fridge. She left before she’d even noticed the pattern on the wallpaper.

As Harry said, The Five and Jive really was just around the corner. A little brick structure with a pot-holed parking lot and dying neon signs lighting up the front windows. Even at six in the evening, it was loud. Music and shouting filtered out through a wood-framed screen door.

Blue pushed her way inside and glanced around. A couple of pool tables, both of which were crowded around. Scratched up booths and a rather empty bar top. Blue swung herself up onto a stool and checked her pockets for cash.

“Oh, new face,” said a woman who appeared on the opposite side of the counter, bronze skin and full lips and cheerful dark eyes. “How exciting."

“Are you Leya?”

The woman looked taken aback. She raised an eyebrow as she leaned backward, toward the lines of bottles arranged on the glowing shelves behind her. “Who’s been talking about me?”

“Harry says hi.”

A wide, white smile spread over Leya’s face. “Well, in that case, first drink’s on the house. What’ll you have?”

“Vodka tonic,” Blue ordered. “You serve fries?”

“Wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” said a man, passing behind Leya and laying a hand on her hip as he worked his way to the end of the bar. “Jack likes to add so much salt, you’ll dry your tongue right out.”

“Actually, he’s right,” said Leya. “Onion rings are probably a better option, if you like those.”

Blue sighed. “I guess I’ll take an order, then.”

“Zayn?” Leya cued.

Zayn sipped a glass of water that he’d pulled out from beneath the bar and rolled his eyes before making his way back around her and into the kitchen. Leya returned her attention to Blue and began mixing up her drink.

“So, what’s your name? Where are you from?”

“Blue. And I’m not really from anywhere.”

“Blue. Like the color?”

She nodded shortly. If she was going to have to keep introducing herself to these strangers, she might just stay in her motel room for the rest of her time here. She’d only done it twice so far and she was already finding it tiresome.

“Not from anywhere?” Leya reached beneath the bar and stuck a lime wedge on the rim of Blue’s glass, pushing it across the counter toward her. “You’ve gotta be from somewhere. You didn’t just appear.”

“I was born in California.”

“Oh. Cali girl, huh?”

“Not really,” Blue deadpanned, sipping from the little yellow straw that Leya had stuck in her glass.

“Mysterious, then.”

“You’re not from around here either,” Blue commented, noticing the way that Leya framed her syllables.

“No,” Leya agreed with a short nod. “Jamaica."

Blue glanced around the bar, at the older men tucked away in a corner, dressed all in black and brown leather. There were a few kids who certainly weren’t of drinking age practicing shots at the pool table closest to her, and another of their friends messing with the old jukebox against the far wall. The girl stepped back to the pool table when she’d made a decision and the twang of a country blues song sounded through the room.

“So,” Blue began, spinning back around on her stool, "who would I have to talk to about getting a job here? Just for about a week or so.”

“You have experience bartending?” Leya asked, just as Zayn returned with a basket full of greasy onion rings. He set them down in front of Blue and looked between her and Leya.

“You’re hiring her?” he asked. “Some stranger? What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Her name is Blue,” Leya told him with an irritated look. “And I will hire whoever I’d like.”

Zayn scoffed. “It took me two weeks to convince you to hire me, and we’ve known each other since second grade.”

“Because we’ve known each other since second grade, Zayn. And you’ve been a pain in my ass ever since.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Zayn muttered. He leaned in and pressed a rough kiss to her cheek and then flitted off down the bar to serve another customer.

Blue watched him leave and then raised a brow at Leya. “I should be talking to you, then? Do I have to sleep with you to get a job, too?”

Leya let out a chiming laugh. “Wouldn’t hurt,” she said. “This is my uncle's place. You never answered my question. Do you have experience?”

“I have experience drinking,” Blue offered, sipping at her vodka tonic again. “But I’m a quick learner.”

Leya took a deep breath, leaning back and crossing her arms. “Could be interesting. Where are you staying? Red Roof?”

Blue nodded.

“I’m guessing you don’t have a resume or something for me, huh?”

“No, ma’am.”

A large group of men burst through the screen door. Middle-aged, dads probably, wearing cut-off t-shirts with numbers on the back. Leya tipped her head to them. “All right. I’ve gotta get back to work, Blue. How about you come back tomorrow evening. It’s pretty slow on Sundays. We’ll get you a little training.”

“Sounds like a plan, boss,” Blue responded.

***

The strip-joint-looking place really was a strip joint. Blue knew when she walked past it for a second time, when the blazing sun was beginning to fall at the end of the valley, and a wide-set bouncer newly positioned at the entrance hit her with “You looking for a job, honey?”

“If only you’d asked me a few hours ago,” Blue responded, stuffing her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and continuing on down the street.

She poked her head into a couple of boutiques. In one she bought herself a new pair of sunglasses, just before the store was about to close, to replace the ones whose frames she’d bent just a few days ago. She slid them into her hair on the top of her head as she stepped back out onto the sidewalk. The sun still wasn’t down, but it was falling, and somehow she was already growing hungry again. Probably because she never finished her onion rings.

Blue trailed up the strip to the neon-lit diner that read “Shelly’s.” She stepped through the door to find it filled with teenagers. Some on dates, some groups crowded into booths too small for the lot of them. There were only two tables left. Blue picked the one closest and threw herself down into the chair facing the windows. She drew out the notebook and pen that were tucked inside her leather jacket—all of which she’d collected from her motel room after she left The Five and Jive.

“What can I get you?”

Blue glanced up to find a waitress standing over her. She had big eyes framed by dark glasses, black, sharp bangs, and bright red lips that she licked at when she had Blue’s attention.

“Do you guys happen to have blueberry pie?”

The waitress—Ava, her name tag read—glanced toward the counter across the room and squinted her eyes. “I think we might just have one slice left. À la mode?”

“No, just the pie, please. Oh, and a black coffee.”

“Sure thing."

Blue opened up the faux leather cover of her notebook as she was left alone again and began to flip through the used pages until she found a blank one. Then she removed the cap of her pen with her teeth and scribbled, in fluid black ink, the date at the top left of the paper: Saturday, July 27, 2019.

She’d only jotted a few words down before Ava returned with a plate of warmed pie. The waitress set a mug on the table, beside the plate, and filled it from a pot of what Blue hoped was fresh coffee.

“Enjoy,” Ava said, withdrawing to fill more emptying mugs at the other tables.

Blue forked a bite of pie into her mouth and studied the diner’s floor as she chewed. The tiles were all different colors, arranged in patterns at some points and completely randomized at others, probably replaced and patched in countless times since this place opened. The pie was mediocre, just like The Five and Jive’s onion rings.

She blew over the lip of her mug, hoping to cool her steaming coffee just enough to take a short sip. The liquid still scalded the tip of her tongue. She teethed the spot, already growing sore, as she began to recount the day’s events, the people she’d met, the words that had been spoken.

Blue thought that perhaps Ava would stick out to her. A pretty, red-lipped waitress, the only person who hadn’t asked for her name all day, the one she’d spoken to most recently. Or even Leya, who was to be her new boss. And she did journal about both of them, along with Zayn. But she was surprised to find it was Harry who held most of her pen’s attention.

Blue didn’t even like him, she didn’t think. He’d been rather rude, acted like she’d inconvenienced him, as if her car’s decision to break down wasn’t an inconvenience to her. But there was something about the short clip of his words and the way that his eyes moved that she must have found interesting.

It was nearly an hour later when she finished writing down her thoughts of the day. Ava refilled her coffee twice. Now Blue’s mug sat half empty and the crust of her blueberry pie still sat on its plate, but she shelled out some cash for the food, along with a few dollars for a tip, and left the money on her table. She placed the chewed-up cap back on her pen and tucked it into her pocket, fitting her notebook under her arm, and left Shelly’s. Despite all the coffee, the day’s events had tired her out, and she craved the stiff sheets of an unfamiliar motel bed.

***

Blue slept late into Sunday afternoon. She awoke to the low glare of sunlight through the thin yellow motel curtains. She turned over, away from the windows, as she stretched against the day.

She was unsurprised by how late it was. The previous night she had driven straight through hoping to make it into the Carolinas before she needed to stop. But here she was stuck on the western end of Missouri, pointlessly deprived of sleep, bunkering down in the musty, scratchy sheets of Wolver Valley’s Red Roof.

Blue forced herself out of bed when she saw the red numbers on the side table’s digital clock. Leya hadn’t given her a time to be at The Five and Jive, but Blue wasn’t going to burn her bridges on the first full day in town. She showered to rinse of the scent of long car rides—the inevitable scent of a traveler. She slipped into a pair of jeans, a thin t-shirt, her worn-in boots, and pulled the front of her hair out of her face, still damp. She clicked the door to her motel room shut behind her and headed off, munching on the rest of her farm market strawberries on the way.

The sun, even from the far end of the valley, was hot on Blue’s back until she reached the corner of the street and turned right. The crowds at the bar really were thinned out tonight, although she was sure they would pick up at least a little before the evening was through. But for now the parking lot was nearly empty. Just a few cars, and on the bit of pavement just in front of the windows, a bike that struck a familiar chord in Blue’s mind.

Her footsteps slowed as she approached the screen door, puffing on the last dregs of her cigarette. She scanned the motorcycle, glinting in the sunlight that seeped through the town’s shadows. She knew whose it was. That familiarity, after only being in town for less than a full day, made Blue uncomfortable, like there was something crawling just below the top layer of her skin. She crushed the sparks of her cigarette out into the pavement just in front of the rubber tire of the motorcycle before slipping into The Five and Jive.

The inside of the bar reflected its barren parking lot. A couple of old-timers were seated at the bar. Leya was wiping down the wood. And Harry was there, as Blue knew he would be, bent over the edge of the left-hand pool table, hair spilling around his face. Another man stood at the table’s corner, hands twisting around the stick clasped between them. A short blond sat on a stool that had been pulled across the room. She twisted the seat beneath her, apparently bored and impatient with the game being played out in front of her. Harry flashed a quick grin as she muttered something to him, revealing a deep dimple in one of his cheeks.

“Oh, good,” Leya said by way of greeting. “Perfect timing.”

Blue offered her a thin smile as she worked her way around to the other side of the bar, crushing the empty pulp basket that had once held her strawberries. She tossed the container into the trash can as she passed it and came to stop beside Leya.

“I’m gonna show you how to mix up some basic things,” said Leya. “But first, can you take these over to them?” She nodded toward the pool table as she pulled out a couple bottles of beer and began pouring tequila up to the rim of a shot glass. “You’ve already met Harry, right?”

Blue sighed as she took the beer bottles in one hand and carefully balanced the shot glass between her other fingers, trying to keep the alcohol from spilling. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Leya went back to wiping down the bar top. Blue took that as her cue. She spun on her heel and trailed across the room. Only the blond noticed her approach, eyeing the tequila shot in Blue’s hand and leaving her doubtless it was meant for her. Blue passed the shot over and was taken aback by how easily this tiny girl downed the alcohol without any type of chaser.

“Thank you,” the woman said.

Harry glanced up at the sound of her voice. The other man with them was still tilted forward, eye squinted as he lined up a shot and sent the cue ball across the table. It bounced off of the eight ball and then rolled into the corner pocket closest to Blue. He swore beneath his breath and then he was looking up, too.

“What’re you doin’ here?” Harry asked.

Blue chuckled drily and held out the beers in his direction. “Again with the rude greetings.”

He scratched the back of his neck and leaned forward to take one of the bottles. The other man traveled around the table to take the other, tipping his head toward her as he took a sip of beer.

“Right. Blue, this is Niall and Boston,” Harry introduced, gesturing respectively to the man beside him and the woman still perched atop her stool. “They work with me.”

Blue raised her eyes to Boston, barely more than five feet tall, eyes glazed over with the effects of alcohol and feet tapping to the rock drumbeat playing through the bar. Blue couldn’t picture her covered in grease and pulling apart the pieces of a car, but it was fun trying to conjure up the image.

“Ah, Blue,” said Niall after he’d swallowed his drink. "The one that tried to set the garage on fire. You know, we’ve already had our fill of arson in this town."

Blue raised her brows. “Is that so?"

"What’re yeh doin’ here?” Harry repeated, cutting Niall off before he could even reply. His bottle was hanging unsipped at his side.

Blue took the glass from Boston’s hand and rounded the table to collect the empty beers that Harry and Niall had already finished from a wooden shelf against the far wall. “I work here.”

“Leya hired you? Thought yeh weren’ stayin’.”

“Just for a week or so.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Boston spoke up from behind her. “You’ll miss the party.”

“Oh, yeah,” Niall echoed. “You should stay another week. Wolver Valley’s bicentennial is coming up. Boston’ll probably be drunk off her ass, but we can take you to the fair and—”

“No,” Harry interrupted again. The other three all turned to stare at him. He finally swallowed a mouthful of his beer and then shrugged. “She’s a traveler. Wants to get outta town. Rushin’ me to get a new exhaust pipe in and—”

“Actually, take your time,” Blue told him. She waved the empty beer bottles in her hand. “I might just stay a few more weeks. Could use the money.”

Harry slipped a hand through his hair as he surveyed her. He didn’t look pleased about the news. Niall, however, nodded in approval. Boston clicked her heels together before hopping down from her stool at last. She really was short, especially beside the two boys.

“Perfect,” she said. “Could you get me one more shot, Blue? It’s my turn to kick Harry’s ass.” She peeled the stick from Niall’s fingers and began re-racking for a new game. “And also, if I could bum a cigarette when you go out for a smoke, I would really appreciate it."

Blue nodded and turned back toward the bar. She dropped the empty bottles in the receptacle that Leya directed her to and then poured out another glass of tequila for Boston. She felt Harry’s eyes on the side of her face, even as she trailed back over to the pool table, where Boston was breaking. And on her back as she returned with the empty shot glass. Hot like fire. The heat only faded as Harry lined up his own shot, and it didn’t return for the rest of Blue’s shift.

#harry styles #harry styles writing #harry styles one shot #harry styles blurb #harry styles angst #harry styles smut #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fan fiction #harrys styles fanfic #harry styles fan fic #harry styles fic #mechanic!harry #harry styles drabble #wd

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artboitrash · 4 years

Text

His Bloody Rose (Stefano Valentini fanfiction) Chapter 4 - Guest Speaker

I walked into my second class of the day, still shaken from the morning's proceedings. Stefano had been nothing but kind and respectful to me for the two times I had spoken with him. Questions fluttered around in my head all day, especially why an absolute stranger felt the need to kiss me on the head.

Why would he show me his work when I was just a gallery attendant? Why would he be so kind to me after the first impression I seemed to make was "rude observer" and "clumsy woman."

I set all my things down as I took my usual seat, pulling out my laptop to take notes. My muscle memory was ingrained enough I could probably take notes without thinking too much. Hopefully at all, hopefully distracting myself from literally anything.

People chatting filled the room until the teacher walked to the front. The voices died down and waited for her to speak, recognizing that as the sign that class was going to begin. I rubbed my temple as I felt a headache coming on, pulling out my second coffee thermos to try and stay awake through this class.

I opened my laptop and typed in the password, opening a webpage to get to my documents saved in a cloud. The teacher began speaking as a new page loaded, making glance up as I typed out the date and waited for the information.

"Well, I hope everyone is having a good Monday." said the teacher as she usually did every Monday.

The class rippled with some quiet laughter. I smiled without joining in. I didn't feel like emoting right now, I wasn't in the right mindset for that.

"Like I said last time, we have a guest speaker today. It's the Chief Officer from Krimson City's police department."

The class half-hardheartedly clapped as the police officer made his way to the front of the class, the professor making her way to the back of the classroom to observe. He smiled and raised his hand, causing everyone to become silent again.

"Hello, everyone, thank you." he began, turning to the computer and inserting a flash drive. When a window opened, he opened a PowerPoint and turned it to full screen.

I began typing along with the officer as he spoke, keeping my mind on my hands on the keyboard. "Criminology class, guest lecture, name..."

"I am Officer Phi," said the officer as he walked to the side of the presentation, holding the remote to the projector. "I am the chief at the KCPD, and I'm sure I've met or will meet all of you eventually."

The class laughed again.

"Today, I've been asked to talk about the mentality of most criminals that we come across in this profession." The slide changed as he talked, a picture of several drugs laying on a table near a ruler after being seized appearing.

"Most of what we deal with are drug users, homeless, and burglars or muggings." He turned with a knowing smile to the class. "Who can tell me the difference between a burglar and a robbery?"

A few people raised their hands. He selected one of the students across the aisle from me, "A robber takes something from a victim that's present, and a burglar doesn't need or doesn't have a victim present while the crime is being committed."

"Absolutely correct." Officer Phi switched the slide, now presenting a photocopied sheet from a book. "For this class, let's go over the personality traits of some of these people. Or, more importantly, what leads these individuals to commit these crimes?"

I typed out the notes along with the slides, listening as the officer monologued with his slides and occasionally asking questions to keep the class engaged. I listened and tried to commit it to memory, since some of what he was saying I knew would be on the next test. I wondered slightly if the teacher had encouraged him to make his presentation about certain things to relate his lecture to real life. I typed the traits of common criminals, desperate situations tend to lead to robbing, depression or helplessness leads to substance abuse, and several other things that were being highlighted.

As we were moving on from common traits that make someone a common criminal, someone raised their hands.

"Yes, do you have a question?" Officer Phi asked as he pointed at them.

"Sorry, sir, since this is a little off topic, but could you tell us about the traits that make a serial killer?"

The room went silent. The atmosphere felt tense and the question hung in the air. No one seemed to move, as though someone had hit a pause button on the scene.

Officer Phi eventually sighed, then walked to the teacher's desk and sat down on an open spot in front of the computer. He still paused, and I could see him looking at the teacher in the back of the room. Eventually he straightened up and spoke again.

"I suppose I should have prepared for this question," he laughed slightly. "Unfortunately we don't have enough information on this serial killer's habits just yet. However, there are a few things that we can say about this one."

"We haven't covered serial killers just yet," the teacher spoke up from the back of the room. "But if you want to take notes for when the chapter comes up, feel free."

Officer Phi nodded, then continued. "The evaluations of what we do know has come back from the FBI, and a behavior profile has been made of them. What we do know, from previous serial killer cases like this, is he or she is likely to be a charismatic individual."

I went to the top of the page and made a new paragraph and typed along with what the officer was saying. Writing notes at the top of the page on an unrelated subject felt best.

"From what we know, it's likely they are attractive and lead people to believe they are safe around him or her."

I mentally scoffed. It's rare that I see anyone as attractive, and especially any serial killer story I've looked into doesn't appear to be attractive. But whatever, some people think they're attractive, and kudos to them. I typed out the attractive note and wrote "subjective, I'm sure" as a mental tagline.

"This killer seems to view the woman he or she has killed as objects, and seems to believe he's entitled to their body, and seems to only have interest in women since no men have shown up dead with the same Modus Operandi. Perhaps not in a sexual way, since none of the victims seem to have been sexually assaulted, but certainly in a very perverse and... enigmatic way."

Officer Phi took a breath and paused, closing his eyes as though to compose himself.

"From what we can tell, the victims didn't know their killer long term, only briefly knowing them. Perhaps a modelling agent as most of the women were aspiring models in some form, which would be a quick way to allow these women to lower their guard around the murderer."

He paused again. Something picked at the back of my head, about the mention of models. I decided to ignore it for now, but I could always come back to it. I made a note in the back of my head to revisit it once I reread these notes.

"This serial killer seems to have a distinct affection for actions while dismembering his or her victims." Phi scratched at the back of his head.

I wrinkled my nose. I had an issue with how he used the word "affection" and "actions" in the way he did. It sounded more like poetry than a statement or cautionary explanation from a police officer. It was definitely a romanticism of what the serial killer was doing; he was filling in the gaps for the students with information we don't know, for all anyone knew he was just interested in dismembering his victims to hide their identities and throw off police.

"He prefers to know how they react to their surroundings, perverting their environment and shifting the scene from trustworthy to nightmarish."

Officer Phi looked out at the crowd of students as he spoke. I could see him glancing over each student, studying each one carefully.

"The killer seems to gravitate towards young women especially, women upcoming in their lives, moving forward with their dreams. This serial killer likes to victimize women with pale skin, with as few imperfections like freckles, scars, or acne and so on as possible. They like victims with dark hair, brown or black, none we seem to have found have had a lighter hair color."

I realized that we were no longer just students to him. At least for the pale females in the room, he was looking at all of us as potential victims. He was trying to look at all of us through the serial killer's eye, see us as they might see us, and single out who could be the next victim in order to catch the killer or save the life of the next girl.

"Unfortunately other details completely vary. The length of the victim's hair, the ages, the eye color, and their heights all change from each victim."

I continued typing as he talked.

"Make no mistake, we are doing all we can to stop this killer. We are using all resources available to us, and we will be receiving more detectives and more help from the FBI shortly. While we don't know much just yet about this killer, we will catch them, and we will hold them accountable for their crimes."

"So how do we keep ourselves safe?" asked one girl. I glanced up and saw she was pale with a fair complexion and dark hair. I mentally agreed with her, seeing the fear written clearly on her face.

"Make sure everyone knows who you're meeting and where you're going. If you think you are likely to be attacked or targeted, please make sure that you are in contact with someone at all times. Don't believe everything anyone says, and especially if someone tries to get you alone make sure you do not spend time alone with them. Even if you trust them, make sure at least one person you also trust or especially are meeting later knows who you are going alone with."

I wrote at the top of the paragraph "How to protect yourself" since I was unable to keep up with what the officer was saying. I frowned slightly, hoping the note would be enough as I continued typing.

"Well that's certainly some food for thought." The teacher spoke up from the back of the class. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut these questions short. Let's get back to the presentation."

Officer Phi nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry for getting so off topic. If you have any more questions or worries about the serial killer, I'll still be here for a little bit after your class ends. I have to make a public statement later today, so going over the details again is always good. Now, where were we with this presentation...?"

The subject moved on and we continued talking and listening to the officer's lecture about common criminals. I continued typing out notes along with him, but every once in a while I would scroll back up to review the list of things about the serial killer. I kept filling in what I could remember from the last statement he had made about staying safe. I tried keeping a level head, knowing that I would be safe since I'm not likely to be targeted.

The class ended, and I gathered my things. I tucked my computer and coffee thermos into my bag, pulling it over my shoulder, and making my way out the door. I hoped I could make it to the bus, sometimes the class runs too late and I miss my bus to go home.

I made my way home to my apartment and tossed all my school supplies by my bed when I got in the door. I pulled off my bra and changed into some pajamas. I couldn't care less about anything else happening around me, ignoring any other assignments assigned or lectures I had sat through, knowing I had earned a long and heavy sleep. So many of the thoughts and interactions today left me drained. I hadn't slept well over the weekend, so hopefully today is what's enough to completely knock me out.

I collapsed into my bed with a sigh, trying to let my mind unwind from the day's proceedings, the time I had spent trying to draw and scrolling through the social medias I had. The news story of the dismembered woman and what the chief had said in class floated back to me. My mind couldn't help but think on what the chief officer had said about being safe. How can you stay safe when you know so little about a killer other than their killing habits.

The ride home had gone by, thankfully, without much need for cognitive thought. My eyes fluttered closed with the fleeting thought of how my class in criminology was the only one with constant guest speakers.

Unavoidably, my mind went back to Stefano and the pictures he showed me. The curiosity about him surged back to life in the back of my mind, the way he had looked at me after he had kissed me continuing to draw itself up from the surfaces of my subconscious. He had looked at me so intense both times he moved his lips away from my skin, eyes like an electric storm at sea, lit up and wide, as though ready to pounce at another word. I was oddly curious about that man, wondering what he had gone through to prompt a change in how he had seen the world, and what was going through his mind when he would act like an old friend to me.

But I couldn't let myself think about that right now. I'm too tired to think it through. My mind is just too full of information and too groggy to sort any form of properly coherent thoughts.

For now, all I desire is sleep...

#Stefano Valentini #the evil within 2 #tew #tew2 #tew2 stefano #the evil within stefano #stefano valentini fanfiction #stefano #His Bloody Rose #Chapter 4 #Guest Speaker

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someinvisible-string · 5 years

Text

Magnificent and Furious Ch. 12

Summary: After many years, rumors swirl that the Evil Queen is back and filled with more vengeance than ever. But instead of setting her sights on Snow White she goes for the thing Snow loves most, her beloved daughter Emma. For her own safety, Emma is to be transported to safety on an unassuming merchant ship, where she meets two indentured servants hoping for a way to find their freedom.

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday season! This is the last full chapter of M + F and I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you all for all the kudos and the reviews, they mean the absolute world to me that you all have stuck around and reviewed each and every chapter. Huge thank yous to @justanotherwannabeclassic for betaing and to @princesse-swan for each and every piece of art she made for this fic.

last chapter/ AO3

The journey home took nearly a week, little by little everyone separating and going off on their own ways. Elsa and her smiths left camp two days after the battle in order to get home to her sister as soon as she could. Melody met them at port, two ships ready to transport the prisoners back to Arendelle. Melody smiled knowingly when she saw Killian’s arm slung around Emma’s shoulders, Emma smiled and blushed.

“I’m really glad you’re all okay,” Melody said, rushing to hug everyone she recognized. “I wish I could have been more helpful.”

“You’ve been more help than you can even realize,” Killian assured her.

“I’m sure I realize a little bit,” Melody smirked at him, her eyes flicking between him and Emma.

“All prisoners are loaded and secured your Highnesses,” a sailor came up and told them.

“Thank you, we’ll be ready in a moment,” Melody told him. She threw her arms around Emma and Elsa one last time. “I’ll be seeing you all soon, and under much happier terms I hope.”

“Of course,” Emma chuckled. “I’ll write you.”

“You’d better,” Melody winked and boarded her vessel.

Emma pulled Elsa into a tight hug as they said goodbye. “I can’t thank you enough,” she whispered in her friend’s ear. “And you’re going to be fine. Whatever you decide to do with them, I support you fully.”

“Thank you so much,” Elsa let go, her eyes misty with tears. “I’ll see you soon.”

Emma smiled through her own tears. “Give Anna a hug for me.”

Next Merida and Alexandra’s men journeyed north with their forces. “Now try to keep out of trouble for a while, lassie?” she said from her seat on Angus.

“I’ll try but no promises,” Emma smiled up at her friend.

“Ah well, better than I could hope for, just call me for the next round. You know I’ll always have your back,” Merida smiled warmly at Emma before reigning her horse around.

“Captain Arbarca, give Alexandra my thanks for me?” she called to the grizzled captain.

“Of course Your Highness, best of luck to you all,” he said, as stately and composed as ever.

Roland, Robin, and the other Merrymen traveled with them until they reached the forest surrounding their castle. “Well I believe this is our stop,” Robin said. “I wrote Marian ahead and she was able to find a nice spot to set up camp near here.”

“Robin, we really cannot begin to thank you,” Snow said.

“T’was the least we could do, you’re one of the few good rulers we have,” Robin nodded to her and David. “We’ll talk later about the state of my people?”

“Absolutely,” David said.

“Emma?” Roland said, tugging slightly on her elbow. “I never really took the time to thank you for well what you did for me.” He rubbed his shoulder nervously.

“I’d do it again if I had to, but I’d really prefer if I didn’t you know?” Emma smiled at him.

“Yeah, I’d prefer it that way too,” he laughed. “See you soon.”

“See you,” Emma smiled as he and the other Merrymen disappeared into the forest.

It was another day’s hike until they returned to the castle. Together Emma and her parents pushed open the heavy castle doors, taking in the quiet emptiness and the dust that swirled in the stale air.

“Well, it’ll take some work, but we’ll get this castle back to normal before we know it,” Snow wiped the dust from her hands and set them on her hips.

It took some time but with the help of the dwarves, the dust cleared, cobwebs were swept away, sunlight poured in through freshly cleaned windows, the castle soon busy with the hustle and bustle of getting things back to normal. Regina along with her Black Knights and the Camelot soldiers were whisked down to the dungeons, everyone tried to forget that they were down there.

“This place looks marvelous,” Killian said when he found her one day in the library.

“Wait until you see it finished,” Emma said, furiously dusting a desk with an old rag. “This used to be my favorite room in the castle. I’d come here in the afternoon when it was just bathed in light from those windows,” she pointed to the south facing stained glass windows. “It’d turn the pages all different colors, I remember reading until the pages had turned from red to blue to green as the sun went down.”

“That sounds wonderful love,” Killian quickly looked around before kissing her lightly. While her parents still haven’t asked what Killian was to her; Emma tried to keep things between them quiet. Once they had rescued her parents, she slept in their tent with them while Killian bunked with Roland. She only kissed him when she was sure her parents weren’t looking, she kept a respectable distance from him whenever they walked together. But here in the library, which no one around, she could take some liberties. Emma smoothed her hands over Killian’s shoulders, feeling the fine velvet of his borrowed doublet. Once they reached the castle, Snow had shown Killian personally to his rooms and the closet already full of fine clothes for him. Killian had carefully run his hand over nearly everything, his eyes wide and full of wonder. He had mainly stuck to the more simple items, sturdy canvas breeches and linen shirts like he usually wore.

“You’re dressed nice today,” she said, running her hands down his chest.

“I have a very important meeting today, I want to look my best,” Killian smiled.

“What’s this very important meeting about?” Emma smirked.

“They’re here,” was all Killian had to say. Emma had been waiting with bated breath for the safe return of her brother and sister. Thank the gods they had both been safe and sound where they were.

Emma ran down to the entrance hall, Killian quick on her heels, they both got there just in time to see the doors open. Emma took the last couple of stairs two at a time to make it down to her siblings. Charlotte launched herself at Emma, squealing as Emma lifted her up.

“Emmy, I missed you!” Charlotte giggled as Emma set her on her hip.

“I missed you too,” Emma peppered her little sister with kisses.

“Did you forget about me?” Leo asked, a sarcastic smirk on his face.

“Of course not,” Emma smiled as she pulled her brother into her side, the three of them linked together in a hug. David and Snow burst in, enveloping their children in a family hug. Emma looked up and saw Killian watching them sheepishly. “I want you guys to meet someone,” she said, pulling back from the hug and walking over to Killian. “Charlotte, Leo, this is Killian. He helped me rescue Mom and Dad.”

“Hello,” Killian blushed and waved, slightly embarrassed at the attention.

“Emmy,” Charlotte whispered loudly in Emma’s ear. “He’s very handsome.”

Emma and Killian both burst out laughing at the little girl’s statement. “Yes, Charlotte he is,” Emma smiled at him.

“Are you going to marry her?” Charlotte asked Killian. Emma had expected Killian to balk, to laugh nervously and change the subject but instead, he looked at Emma and smiled shyly, scratching behind his ear.

“One day, if she’ll have me,” he said.

A door slammed shut above them, everyone looked up and saw Snow and Charming hurrying down the stairs to greet their two youngest children.

“Oh you’re home,” Snow threw her arms around Leo’s shoulders, her eyes shining with tears. “How was the trip, are you hungry?”

“I think someone probably wants some hot chocolate at least,” David chuckled as he lifted Charlotte from Emma’s arms. “What do you say little one?” he smiled widely at his youngest, balancing her on his hip.

“Yes please!” Charlotte burrowed herself into David’s side. “With extra cream on top too please?”

“Well since you asked so nicely,” Snow smiled and placed a kiss on Charlotte’s forehead. “Shall we go to the kitchens then? You can tell me all about Andalasia and Agrabah and your adventures?”

“Sounds good to me,” Emma piped up, hurrying to lead her family down towards the kitchen.

“What about Killian?” Leo asked.

“Oh I’ll be fine, you go on, catch up,” Killian said with a wave of his hand.

“Nonsense, you are welcome to join us,” Snow assured him. “Granny makes a wonderful cup of hot chocolate.”

“Thank you, your Majesty, but really I have some matters to take care of” Killian smiled, turning and walking back up the staircase. Emma could sense a sadness that had fallen over him, he was distant and withdrawn and she could understand exactly where he was coming from. Her parents were able to find 4 survivors of the shipwreck that had started Killian and Emma’s journey together, but Liam had not been one of them. She longed to reach for his hand, to squeeze it and reassure him that she was there, he could tell her anything, but instead, she kept her hands around her mug.

Emma heard a light knock on her door, she looked up from the book she had been reading not realizing how late it was. The candles on her desk had burned low and it was pitch black outside. She went to her door and found Killian there.

“Evening love,” he smiled.

“It’s a bit past evening, it’s the middle of the night,” Emma said opening the door for him.

He came in, looking around her room. “I couldn’t sleep, it’s just so quiet and,” he confessed. “I just...I was so used to sleeping with you that-”

“You can’t nod off?” Emma finished. “I can’t sleep either,” she gestured to the stack of books on her side table.

“I know that we shouldn’t… you know. But maybe I could,” he patted the bed, his cheeks a brilliant shade of pink.

“You want to sleep here?” she asked; Killian nodded. “Okay, but just sleep, right? I don’t want to risk us being overheard by someone passing by.”

“Whatever you wish, love,” Killian smiled at her. They both crawled under the covers, Emma curled into his side with his arm around her protectively, the same way they’d been sleeping since they started sharing a tent in Robin Hood’s camp.

“Why is your bed so much more comfortable than mine?” Killian whispered.

“Just a perk of being a princess I guess,” Emma sniggered against his chest. She felt his fingers dig into her ribs as Killian tickled her. Emma squealed and tried to wriggle out of his grasp but Killian held on tight.

“I’m not letting you get away, love,” he chuckled pressing a kiss to her temple. Emma smiled and placed her hand on his stubbled cheek, running her thumb over his skin. She thought back to that moment in Regina’s dungeons when she had nearly lost him. Killian’s hand rested itself over her’s, noting her silence. “Everything okay love?”

“I almost lost you,” Emma said, her voice catching in her throat.

“Aye, but you didn’t,” Killian kissed her knuckles. “You made sure of that.”

“Killian I...” Emma’s eyes clouded with tears. “I don’t know what I would have done to her if she had-”

“Hey, I’m right here love and Regina is far, far down there,” he pointed to the floor in the direction of the dungeons. “Whatever you might have done, you would have made the right choice. And wherever I might have ended up had you not saved me, I would have been so proud of you no matter what.” He gently wiped the two tears that were rolling down her face. “But I can’t thank you enough for saving my life.”

“I’d do it again if I had to,” Emma whispered.

“Well love, lucky for you I’m a survivor,” he smiled and leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. His hand gently caressed her cheek, his thumb sliding down her chin to her neck. Emma shivered, feeling as if energy was trailing all throughout her body. Her hands found his body, rolling him on top of her.

“I think I changed my mind about just sleeping,” she whispered into his ear.

“You’re sure?” Killian asked, pushing himself up on his elbows, looking into her eyes.

“I’m sure, let’s just try to be quiet,” Emma threading her fingers through his hair and pulled him down against her, kissing him deeply.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he chuckled as he peppered light kisses down her neck.

Come sunrise, Emma sat up in bed, trailing her fingers through a still sleeping Killian’s hair. It had been the first night since they rescued her parents that her sleep had been uninterrupted by nightmares. He muttered something she couldn’t understand into her pillow, hugging it tighter; she chuckled lightly before leaning down and brushing her lips against his ear.

“It’s time to wake up,” she whispered.

“No, sun’s still rising, plenty of time,” he mumbled still half asleep.

“Killian come on unless you want my lady’s maids to find you in my bed,” Emma shook his shoulder, hoping to bring him into waking.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” he lifted his head off the pillow and smirked at her.

“Someone could tell my father and for now I’d really prefer to have him not know about what we get up too when we both can’t sleep,” Emma quirked her eyebrow at him.

“Good point love,” he rolled himself out of bed, stretching his hands up high above his head, Emma gave herself a moment to appreciate the view. “See something you like?” he said looking over his shoulder at her.

“A lot of things, but you’re still going to have to get dressed, unfortunately,” she held out his shirt to him.

He pouted as he pulled on his pants and avoided eye contact when he grabbed his shirt out of her grasp. Emma was taken aback by his sudden shift in mood, silently crossing the room to her wardrobe and stuffing her arms through the sleeves of a robe.

“Are you embarrassed of me?” Killian asked.

“What? No, never,” Emma said, walking over to him.

“It’s just that ever since we started the journey back here, you seem to be keeping me at an arm’s length, especially in front of your parents. I mean a part of me knew we couldn’t be as open about us as before but, I just don’t know it feels like you’re avoiding me when we’re in front of your parents.”

Emma looked down at her feet, he was right. She had been keeping him at an arm’s length and that wasn’t fair to him at all. “I’m sorry that I made you feel that way, I just- it’s different bringing you here. I don’t regret it for a moment but a part of me knew that once we were here me and you wouldn’t be just well me and you anymore. It would be you and me and my kingdom and court and everybody would be involved in one way or another. This love wouldn’t just be ours anymore,” she took his hands in hers, squeezing tight. “But I should have talked to you about how I was feeling instead of shutting you out. I’m really sorry Killian.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “It’s all right, love,” he whispered into her hair. “I understand that you’re under a lot of pressure, but Emma I’m ready to share that with you. I want to be a part of your life, by your side, loving you openly and honestly.”

“I want that too,” Emma whispered. “So I need you to be honest with me, you seemed a little upset yesterday after Leo and Charlotte came home. Are you okay?”

“I thought I would be, really I did, but seeing your whole family reunited a part of me wished that Liam would come striding in after them,” Killian looked down at the floor. “I didn’t want to dampen your happy day with my feelings.“

“Oh Killian,” Emma said before wrapping her arms around him. “I am so sorry.” She could feel him crying softly on her shoulder. “I know he meant the absolute world to you. But you are not alone in this, you have me to lean on whenever you need me. You are not a burden, how you are feeling matters, you don’t have to keep it all bottled up inside.” “I love you,” Killian said through teary eyes, capturing her lips with his.

“I love you too,” Emma breathed as they broke apart. “I want you to be a part of my family. My family is yours if you want them.”

“I would love nothing more,” he smiled softly before kissing her again. “Perhaps it’s about time I talk to your father about courting you.”

Emma laughed before giving him one last kiss before shuffling him out of her room and when they met again at breakfast Emma tried to keep her smile dainty and ladylike as Killian spoke to her father in hushed tones. She beamed when David smiled and clapped Killian on the shoulder.

Emma knew her parents were trying to keep her out of the dungeons and far away from Regina. One too many times they had “spontaneously stumbled upon” Emma as she walked down towards the dungeons with requests of hot chocolate in the kitchens or sparring on the grounds or horseback riding through the forest. She knew why they were going out of their way to keep her away from Regina, but it didn’t stop her from needing answers that only Regina had. She kept looking for any opportunity, any chance, to break away and just talk to the imprisoned queen.

“I think we should have a ball,” Snow announced one day at breakfast. “We’re all together again and we need a way to formally thank our allies and I think it’s a good way to signal that things are back to normal around here.”

“Can I come?” Charlotte asked, her little voice full of excitement.

“Sweetie I just don’t-” Snow leaned down to Charlotte’s level but Emma saw her shot, a long shot but a shot nonetheless, and spoke up.

“I think Charlotte can come for at least a little while, I can take her up to bed when it’s time,” she offered.

“Oh, Emma you wouldn’t have to, you shouldn’t miss out on the fun,” Snow said.

“It’s all right and we all know Charlotte isn’t going to go quietly with anyone else,” Emma smiled innocently at her mother, hoping she wouldn’t hear the gears shifting in her head as she formulated a plan.

Snow looked from her eldest to her youngest and sighed. “All right, I suppose you can come little one,” she tickled Charlotte under her arms as the little girl squealed with excitement. Emma looked up to see Killian looking at her, eyebrow raised in that dangerous way of his. She kept her eyes down for the rest of breakfast but couldn’t shake him once they were separated for the rest of the day.

“You’re planning on sneaking out to see Regina,” was all he had to say.

“What and you’re going to try to stop me?” Emma replied stonily.

“On the contrary, I want to help,” he smiled wickedly.

“What?”

“Emma, you haven’t had a chance to speak to Regina since we left her castle; I know you have got to have questions for her regarding what the Apprentice told you, what I don’t know is how I can help?”

“By coming with me, I have a feeling I’ll need someone with me after,” she ran her hand through her hair, anxiety settling on her chest.

“Whatever you need love, I’ll be there,” Killian’s smile softened. “So long as you save me a dance before we sneak off.”

“I think I can manage that,” Emma smiled.

Months of planning seemed to fly by, Emma tried to be attentive in meetings about table settings and menu planning, the only thing that could hold her attention was her gown. A full ball gown made of the softest silk and a vibrant shade of red. She couldn’t help but twirl in front of the looking glass during her final fitting, much to the delight of her mother.

“Oh, honey, you look beautiful,” she tried to discreetly wide a tear from the corner of her eye. “I think your friend Killian will love it.” Emma felt her cheeks warm as she smoothed the front of her gown. “Emma I wanted to ask you something.”

“Is it about Killian?”

“No, not that I don’t have questions but I’ll let you tell me about courting in your own time,” Snow smiled. “I think that you should open the ball with a few words.”

“But you usually do that.” Emma blanched.

“And we wouldn’t be able to have this ball or even be a family if you hadn’t succeeded,” Snow took her daughter’s hand. “You can do this, Emma, and you have me and your father here to help you.”

“What would I even say?”

“Whatever you want,” Snow smiled reassuringly. “Honey, it’s a suggestion, but I think that the people and our allies need to hear from you about these past few months. You just had a major victory, it’s okay to talk about it at a ball celebrating that.”

Emma thought, her mother had a point the people did deserve to hear from her personally, she was to be their future sovereign she should be able to address her people in at least this celebratory occasion. But giving the speech could possibly cut down on her time to question Regina. “Okay,” Emma nodded apprehensively. “I’ll make the speech but is it okay if it’s on the shorter side?”

“Of course,” Snow White beamed. “So long as you feel you are speaking from the heart then however long or short it is won’t matter.”

Finally, the night of the ball came, the menu finalized, the flowers abundant, the musicians tuning their instruments, and the candles in the great chandelier were lit casting a warm glow over everyone in attendance. Emma stood in the receiving line with the rest of her family, greeting everyone in attendance, trying to keep an excitable Charlotte relatively calm.

“This is taking so long, when are we gonna dance?” Charlotte’s voice was on the very edge of whining.

“Just be patient,” Leo whispered very impatiently.

“You should follow your own advice,” Emma said out of the corner of her mouth, though she couldn’t help but agree with them. Greeting a nearly endless string of nobles and royals had always been her most loathed part of the many balls her parents hosted.

“Oh like you’re not dying to rush into the ballroom so that you can dance with your ‘dashing sailor’” Leo rolled his eyes.

“Shut up,” Emma rolled her eyes.

“Nice comeback,” Leo chuckled and hissed when Emma pinched his arm. Emma looked up to see her mother’s narrowed eyes over the head of a foreign dignitary’s balding head. All three children settled down almost instantly. Emma tried not to fidget her way through the rest of the line when finally the last few stragglers had been escorted into the ballroom. Emma’s body buzzed with anticipation, with shaky steps she walked with her family into the grand ballroom. They stood together in the center of the dance floor, surrounded by family, friends, and allies, Emma took a shaky breath and stepped forward, clearing her throat for the already quiet room.

“I would like to thank everyone for being here tonight, it’s been quite the time since we’ve had one of these,” she chuckled nervously, thankfully she was met with polite laughter from the crowd. “We probably wouldn’t be here, together and safe, if it wasn’t for the help and aid provided to me and my family. To Arendelle, Dunbroch, Glowerhaven, and Aquitaine I would like to extend my gratitude for helping me in the battle against Regina and to Andalasia and Agrabah for fostering my brother and sister and keeping them safe during these dangerous times.” Her eyes found Killian’s in the crowd, he smiled widely at her and she felt her back straighten, she held her head higher, her shoulders back. “Now I also couldn’t have succeeded in rescuing my parents without the help of some unfamiliar faces here in court, namely Robin Hood and his Merrymen who so kindly provided me with shelter as well as Killian Jones, who has been by my side through this entire journey to rescue my parents. I think it is also important to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in this war, namely Sir August, or as many others knew him, Pinocchio. He and so many others fought valiantly to protect me and the kingdom from Regina’s rule. We plan on commemorating their service with a monument that will be placed on castle grounds at a later date. Allies such as this may be unusual here at court but as my parents proved so many years before, help can come from any number of unlikely places be it from fairies, dwarves, bandits, and sailors, everyone has a unique perspective to bring to the table. In times like these, we must stand together in order to rid this world of evil. If we try to go it alone, our own doubts and questions can stew and fester into our own darknesses. So with tonight’s ball, we are not only using it as a way to celebrate my family’s reunion but to also usher in a new era of unity.”

Applause filled the ballroom, Emma exhaled and accepted the applause with a gracious smile. Behind her the band picked up their instruments and began to play, her father lead her mother to the center of the ballroom and began to lead the waltz. Couples filled the dance floor around them, soon turning the ballroom into a sea of color as lords turned their ladies this way and that to the beat of the music. Emma saw Killian striding confidently towards her, his eyes bright and his smile even brighter.

“You were brilliant,” he said when he reached her, his hands going to reach for her waist but stopping just short. The faintest hint of pink-tinged his cheeks as he quickly bowed before her.

“Thank you,” Emma smiled, she knew he was trying to remember all the rules of court that she had been teaching him when he snuck into her room each night.

“May I have this dance your Highness?” he asked, neither of them missing the hint of irony in his use of her title.

“Of course,” Emma took his arm and allowed him to lead her to the dancefloor. They fell into step with the other dancers, Emma saw Melody smiling knowingly at her over Prince Phillip’s shoulder. Emma rolled her eyes at her and laughed quietly.

“Melody is having a field day,” Emma said to Killian.

He looked over his shoulder as he spun Emma out and smiled at the young mermaid. “Aye, she has seen us come a long way, I suppose,” he whispered into her ear as she spun back into his arms.

“She was rooting for you,” Emma confided as she walked in a half circle around him as he knelt down. “She saw something in you before I could.”

“Aye, but you did eventually,” Killian clasped her hand in his and got back to his feet facing her and stepped closer to her. “I didn’t exactly make a good first impression when we first met, I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s all right, I was naive and didn’t fully understand what I was getting myself and you into-”

“Emma, you don’t have to apologize for stopping them from whipping me, not at all,” Killian squeezed her hand tight.

“We helped each other,” Emma said, squeezing his hand just as tight. She felt a familiar tugging on her skirts and looked down to see Charlotte looking up at her.

“I suppose you want a dance?” Emma smiled down at her sister.

“Yes,” Charlotte nodded and smiled widely up at her sister. Killian let Emma hoist her sister on her hip.

He bowed low to Charlotte. “Thank you for letting me borrow your sister for a while,” he smiled at the young princess.

“Your welcome,” Charlotte waved at Killian as he disappeared back into the crowd. Emma twirled around still holding her sister, making her laugh loudly.

“Are you having fun?” Emma asked.

“The most fun!” Charlotte replied. “Everyone looks so pretty, Emmie. You’re pretty, Mama’s pretty, Daddy’s pretty, the room is pretty,” Charlotte twisted herself in Emma’s grip to get a better look around the room, Emma could practically feel her wanting to explore the room more, nothing excited Charlotte more than color and sparkle and beauty. Emma wouldn’t be surprised if Charlotte became a big patron of the arts of Misthaven when she grew older. Emma listened as Charlotte continued to list all the things she thought were ‘pretty’ including the music, the food, Emma’s shoes, Elsa’s necklace, Killian. “You think Killian is pretty?” Emma giggled.

“The prettiest boy I’ve ever seen!” Charlotte assured her. “When are you going to marry him?”

Emma blushed so hard she was sure she matched her scarlet dress. “Charlotte, not so loud,” Emma tried to shush her.

“But why?” Charlotte asked. “You like him, you get all blushy and mushy around him like Mama and Daddy do.”

Emma tried to find a way to explain her hesitation with announcing her and Killian to court, but how does one explain to a six-year-old that she just wanted her relationship to be just hers and Killian’s, something distinctly theirs and once it is announced their love isn’t just between them it’s between everyone? Especially when she not only has to juggle being the future queen, but also the Savior? “It’s complicated little one, but trust me when I say it’ll happen soon.”

Emma’s dodging luckily seemed to please Charlotte enough to get her off the subject of Killian for the rest of the dance.

“Emmie, I don’t wanna go to bed,” Charlotte whined as the band finished the song.

“You know the deal, it’s late and you have to go to bed,” Emma started carrying her towards the door, keeping her eyes peeled for Killian.

“But I’m not tired,” Charlotte said through a yawn.

“Sure you’re not,” Emma locked eyes with Killian. He nodded to her, knowing to follow her out of the ballroom in fifteen minutes so they could venture down to the dungeons to interrogate Regina.

“I’m not!” Charlotte insisted and somehow dragged the word ‘not’ into 3 syllables, but Emma kept walking through the ballroom doors and up the great staircase towards the nursery.

“You’re very lucky,” Emma whispered to her sleepy sister. “I didn’t go to my first ball until I was twelve.”

“When will the next one be?” Charlotte asked, trying and failing to stifle a yawn as Emma carried her down the hall past her parents’ bedchambers.

“I don’t know but probably sooner than you think,” Emma opened the door to the nursery. She handed Charlotte carefully to one of the royal nannies who would prepare Charlotte for bed. Her eyes lingered on the door of the wardrobe in the corner of the room, her eyes darting back to Charlotte as the nanny helped her into pajamas. What if Regina had cast the Dark Curse? Where would that wardrobe have taken her? What would have happened to all these people in her life? To her parents? Her siblings?

“Good night, Emmie,” Charlotte said as she got into her bed. “I love you.”

“I love you too little one,” Emma whispered, walking over to her and placing a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep tight.” Tears welled in her eyes as she turned and walked out of the room, she didn’t want to wonder about all those ‘what-ifs’ anymore. She quickly rushed down the stairs to the entrance hall, finding Killian there waiting for her.

“You alright love?” he asked as she neared.

“I’m fine, just thinking too much,” Emma let him encircle her with his arms, tension flowing out of her as she rested against him, collecting herself. “Come on, we don’t have a lot of time before people start to notice,” she pulled herself out of his embrace.

“You can tell me, Emma,” Killian said as he followed her through a side door and down a flight of stairs.

“I know, and I will I promise but I just need to do this first,” Emma continued down the dark stairway, holding her skirts so she wouldn’t trip.

“Aye, you know what you’re going to say to her?” Killian asked.

“More or less,” Emma nodded, trying not to shiver as the air became cooler the deeper they went.

“Your Highness,” the guard on duty stood straighter as she approached him. “Isn’t there a ball?”

“Yes, there is,” Emma said, producing a small bag filled with coins and holding it out to him. “And this should be enough to convince you to not tell my mother or my father that I was down here.”

The guard took the coin purse and weighed it in his hand before tucking it into his pocket. “You have my word and more importantly my silence your Highness,” he nodded. He unlocked the door that led to the cells and let Emma through. Killian remained with the guard, ensuring that he kept his word.

Emma walked quickly, breezing past cells filled with Camelot soldiers, through a door that led to a wing of the dungeons that were seemingly empty. She almost didn’t recognize Regina in the last cell, she was wrapped in a tattered cloak and her hair resembled a rat’s nest.

“I was wondering when you were going to make time to see me,” Regina sat up as Emma approached.

“I have questions for you,” Emma stood in front of Regina’s cell, her hands on her hips.

“And what makes you think I’ll answer them?” Regina asked, chuckling.

“I can help you, get you a nicer cell, better food, maybe a better blanket or two-” Regina laughed and shook her head.

“Oh darling, I am going to be a prisoner for the rest of my days in the castle of my most mortal enemies, do you really think I care one bit about my accommodations?”

“I also have this,” Emma drew a small vial of bright green liquid out of her dress. Regina’s eyes widened as she realized what Emma was offering.

“I wouldn’t have expected Snow White’s daughter to offer me poison as a way to get me to talk,” Regina twitched an eyebrow at her.

“One gulp and it’s over Regina, you won’t be in this cell or any cell for much longer. Plus you can see your father again,” Emma said holding the vial closer.

Regina’s jaw tightened and her eyes sharpened. “Don’t you mention my father to me you urchin.”

“Fine,” Emma shrugged and turned to walk away. “Have fun down here Regina.” Emma walked back towards the door, her fingers had barely brushed the doorknob when-

“Wait!” Regina yelled from her cell. “Fine, you have a deal.” Emma smiled to herself as she walked back to Regina. “What do you want to know?”

“The Dark One,” Emma said. “Where is he?”

Regina cackled. “You think I know where he is? He hasn’t talked to me since I was supposed to cast his curse.”

“Did he have any other students?” Emma asked, ignoring Regina’s jabs.

“My mother a long time ago and one other,” Regina said. “Her name is Zelena, more commonly known as the Wicked Witch of Oz.”

“Why were you the one the Dark One wanted to use to cast his curse?”

“My mother loved nothing but herself and Zelena loved only the Dark One; I had someone I loved more than anything in this world,” Regina’s eyes flicked to the vial still in Emma’s hands.

“The Dark One’s powers, how powerful is he exactly?” Emma asked, bringing Regina’s focus back to her.

“He is the most powerful purveyor of Dark Magic in this world, but his curse is what gives him the power.”

“Wait, his curse?”

“The Darkness needs a host, the Dark One provides one and takes on all of that power but there’s a price.”

“As there always is,” Emma grumbled.

“The Dark One’s dagger holds his magic, control the dagger and you control the Dark One.”

“Interesting,” Emma nodded, a plan forming in her head. “Why was Camelot helping you? King Arthur doesn’t make alliances, and neither do you.”

“He wanted information,” Regina said. “The same information you seek actually, our correspondence was filled with his many questions about the Dark One. So I offered a trade, help me by lending me some soldiers, I give him all the answers I have.”

“But you don't have any answers.”

“Well, Arthur didn’t know that did he?” Regina sniggered.

Emma rolled her eyes. “Do you know anything else? About the Dark One?”

“Not much else, Camelot would actually have more answers than I do,” Regina wrung her hands, still looking at the vial. “Please, I told you everything I know.”

“Yes you did,” Emma smiled. “Thank you for your help Regina, it was most appreciated.” Emma walked towards the door.

“Hey wait! Our deal!” Regina grabbed onto the bars of her cell. “Give me that vial!”

“Oh, this?” Emma held up the vial and dropped it, the glass shattered and the liquid inside leaked onto the floor. “You wanted to live forever Regina, now you’re paying the price.”

Emma turned on her heel, ignoring Regina’s screams and curses, as she exited the dungeons.

“Everything go okay?” Killian asked as soon as she closed the dungeon door behind her. Emma nodded and thanked the guard.

“Find us a ship to Camelot,” she said as they climbed the stairs back to the castle.

“Why?”

“We are going to bring down the darkness once and for all,” Emma said, taking her hand in his. “That is if you’ll come with me.”

“Of course I will,” Killian smiled. Emma stood on tiptoe, catching his lips in hers, relishing a moment of quiet before their next journey.

#csbb #cs fic #cs ff #cs au #captain swan #only the epilogue left yall!#that's crazy to think about!#or maybe #there might be a sequel in the works #you never know #(maybe i know)#(there's gonna possibly be a sequel)#(maybe)#my fic #M+F fic

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explosiveglitterqueen · 5 years

Text

Merry Christmas @kurotome as I am your Secret Santa~ I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that you enjoy my gift to you~ <3

It was the day before Christmas as Liz and Azusa were decorating the tree together with various ornaments and lights that were once stored in boxes. After their first Christmas together Liz and Azusa made it tradition to spend the holiday break back in Liz’s hometown as this would be their third Christmas together. “Hey Azusa I’ll go make us some hot chocolate and we can take a break,” Liz said with a smile after putting up one of the beautiful colorful glass ornaments as she took a step away from the tree. “Sure that sounds lovely,” Azusa said with a gentle smile as he went looking in one of the smaller boxes as he heard the light footsteps of his girlfriend going into the kitchen. While digging through the box he found the one that had a picture of them both which he couldn’t help but chuckle remembering that moment as it’s slightly funny how fast time has gone past since their first year together.

“A lot has changed since then,” Azusa said to himself as he hung the ornament up on the tree where it could be easily seen in which afterwards he went and took a seat on the couch to admire their work so far as it was coming all together beautifully. Azusa glanced over to where the way to the kitchen as he heard soft humming before looking down and taking a small glass geometric box out and looking at it for him to shortly after put it away not wanting to risk Liz seeing it before he properly planned on asking. Right on que, Liz came walking in carrying both mugs by the handles as the big marshmallows could be seen which soon she handed Azusa his mug before taking the seat right next to him.

“The tree is coming along great, we’ll put up a few more ornaments and then finish it with the topper,” Liz said with a smile looking over at the tree as it was nearly complete as seeing Liz happy like this caused Azusa to smile himself as she got excited easily over the simplest of things. The couple sat and talked all while drinking their hot chocolate together along with Liz showing Azusa some of the magical stones that contained memories of her and her parents during the holidays: there was one where Liz’s mother and her father ware playing the piano together with younger Liz on her lap as the family happily sang Christmas music, another memory where young Liz and her father were building a snowman until young Liz hit him with a snowball thus starting a snowball fight.

“Your parents were truly wonderful,” Azusa said with a smile as he had an arm wrapped around her shoulders as he placed a kiss on the side of her head causing her to smile. “Yeah, I loved them a lot but I know they’re watching over me,” she said leaning into Azusa feeling happy being able to spend time like this as well as watch a few old memories of her parents. “Oh right can’t forget we’re going over to my neighbor’s for dinner since, if that’s alright with you,” Liz said looking up at Azusa which he nodded in a yes manner all while drinking the rest of his hot chocolate. “I’m perfectly fine with that, though I will always prefer your home cooked meals,” he said causing Liz to giggle while he chuckled a bit along with his beloved. With their bellies full of hot chocolate goodness to the get back to work to finish up decorating the Christmas tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was finally morning of Christmas Day as Liz and Azusa were sitting by the fireplace opening presents that they got for each other while in their pajamas. There weren’t many presents but it was still fun to be able to open the presents together as they were on their last presents that were to be opened. The last gift Azusa received from Liz was a small book which ended up being a scrapbook which held pictures of the two of them along with some of their friends, cute little drawings and small heart-warming notes which made Azusa smile brightly at the sentimental gift which he hugged Liz close and giving her forehead a kiss. “I love it, thank you so much,” he said feeling extremely lucky to have Liz in his life. “And I even left extra pages blank for future memories that we can add to later,” she added on which was brilliant.

As the last gift Liz had received from Azusa was a beautiful glass spherical ornament with a mix of snow material and glitter that was loose and swirling slowly as a few different memories of the couple played inside of it causing Liz’s eyes to sparkle as happiness swelled up inside of her as she happily gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Azusa this is beautiful, I love it so much thank you,” she said as she held the gift close to her chest as she admired the present as she got up and carefully place it on the tree still wearing her smile which Azusa slightly chuckled glad that she liked his gift since it took him sometime to actually perfect while trying to make it in the beginning. ”How about I get us some hot chocolate,” Liz said looking over her shoulder in which Azusa smiled and nodded as he quickly replied, “Thank you that sounds like a great, while you do that I’ll clean up in here in the meantime.” And with that Liz nodded as she headed off into the kitchen to make the hot chocolate as Azusa got up to quickly clean up the ripped up wrapping paper and gift boxes which didn’t take him too long.

Shortly after cleaning up Azusa ran a hand through his hair as he decided that he would finally propose to his beloved girlfriend as he went over to the old framed photograph of younger Liz and her parents and carefully grabbing the glass geometric box that held the last and biggest surprise for her this holiday along with setting up a magical stone to record the moment. He stepped away from the fireplace once he heard footsteps coming closer as he hid the box behind his back as he turned to see Liz returning with two mugs as she came over setting the mugs down before taking a seat on the couch. Azusa walked over and joined Liz on the couch as the smell of the chocolate and a hint of peppermint tickled his nose while Liz carefully eyed him noticing him holding a hand behind his back. “Azusa are you alright,” she asked slightly tilting her head to the side as Azusa only chuckled and nodded his head.

“But of course, why wouldn’t I be? I’m blessed to be able to spend the holiday with the love of my life as if I didn’t have you in my life who knows what would have become of me,” he said as with his free hand he reached and took Liz’s left hand and held onto it. “It only feels like yesterday we were spending our first Christmas together yet here we are three years later and… I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done and for you staying by my side,” Azusa added which Liz was surprise to hear as where was this all coming from. “Of course, I wouldn’t have it any other way Azusa! I’m so happy to be able to spend the holidays with you like this,” she replied back as she could see in his eyes the love he held along with some nervousness as she recalled how hard it used to be to try read how he felt by looking into his beautiful blue eyes. “Which brings me joy to hear that you feel the same as… I don’t think I’d have it any other way as I want to continue to celebrate future holidays like this every year with you which leads us to your last surprise,” Azusa says as he lets go of her hand so he can get off the couch and gets on one knee in front of Liz resulting in her to let out a soft gasp and her pinkish brown eyes to widen as she couldn’t find the right words to say at the moment.

“Truly there are days I come to think that I don’t deserve you because of the things I’ve done in the past, but then again if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t of been able to overcome the obstacles that trapped me in a dark place. I probably wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have you in my life which I am forever grateful for as I could never thank you enough… But there’s one thing I’d like to ask you my beloved,” he said looking up to her waiting for permission to proceed which Liz started to slightly tear up from the strong emotions swelling up inside her chest as she nodded yes for him to continue. Azusa took a moment to breath before moving the hand that was hidden behind his back to hold out his hand which revealed the beautiful glass box resulting in Liz letting out another gasp as was this really happening; was the love of her life for three years actually proposing to her or was this some sweet dream.

“Liz Hart, I know we’re both still in school; however, when we’re finally finished with our studies… Will you marry me and give me the honor of becoming your husband,” he asked while opening the box to fully show the beautiful ring that was gold band that had a round teal diamond in the middle with three white diamonds in the shape of leaves of each side. The tears of joy and surprise fell from Liz’s face as she was filled with happiness and love as she lunged forward and hugged him around his neck smiling as she instantly replied, “YES! Yes I’d love to marry you!” Azusa let out the breath he was slightly holding as he smiled happily returning the hug as he held the open box in his hand still. After the hug Liz pulled away in which Azusa took out the ring carefully and then setting the box on the coffee table as he proceeded to take her left hand and slowly slip it onto her ring finger. “I love you,” Azusa said smiling to his now fiance in which she was smiling as well as she said in return “I love you too Azusa, with all my heart,” as the two leaned in sharing a passionate kiss. Needless to say this Christmas is one to be remembered though there will be many more lovely memories to be made in future holidays that the now engaged couple will get to make together as for now the two will enjoy the memories they make at the present.

#Wizardess heart secret santa 2018 #secret santa #gift for Kurotome #Merry Christmas #azusa kuze #liz hart #fanfic #wizardess heart fanfic

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etherealblasphemy · 5 years

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Africa

oooh wow look at me actually finishing my shit

now to deal with all the freaking formatting bullshit no you know what screw it i’m not formatting this 13-page beast

I highly recommend you listen to Jonathan Young and Caleb Hyles’ cover of the song Africa by Toto. (Logan would sing the second verse and all of Jonathan’s parts after the instrumental.) The prequel to this story is called Falling Slowly- you don’t have to read it to understand what’s happening in this story, but it provides some background on some of the featured relationships, both platonic and romantic. (Tumblr has killed links as of 11/17/18 so I can’t link it, unfortunately! Apologies!)

Enjoy, my lovelies!

…

“I hear the drums

echoing tonight”

…

He leaned on the doorway, his lips curved up as he watched the band practice their set list one final time, eyes trained on the man at the keyboard, whose fingers danced across the keys as if he had been born playing them. As the final chord ebbed away, he found himself moved to applaud the band, the sound of clapping drawing their attention.

“Come to take Virgil away from us so soon?” the guitarist called, waving to him.

“Unfortunately, I have to. I don’t think we want Remy handling customers when he’s had three espressos,” he joked, smiling brightly. Virgil, lounging in the front row, let out a loud groan, pushing himself up from the polished oak chair.

“Five minutes, Patton?” he asked, his eyes pleading. Patton sighed, shaking his head, cocking an eyebrow.

“Five minutes, and then we have to go before Remy goes full Espresso Mode on us,” he relented. Virgil thanked him and clambered onto the stage, not wasting a moment of his precious time. Patton drew closer to the stage, watching Virgil and his boyfriend Roman with a sad smile.

He was happy for Virgil, he was… but he couldn’t fight off the jealousy in his stomach growing like poison ivy. He sorely wished for somebody to look at him like he was the only person who ever mattered, for somebody to visit him on rainy days and pepper his face with quick kisses, for somebody to hold his hand and never let go. He sorely wished for somebody to love him.

He sat down in the chair Virgil had previously occupied, caught up in his thoughts as someone hopped off-stage and stood in front of him. “It’s nice to see you back again,” they said, sitting down next to him.

“Oh, Logan, I didn’t see you there, sorry!” The punk waved off the apology, shrugging in his usual nonchalant manner. He crossed his legs as Patton snuck a peek at his washed-out jeans, admiring the strong legs beneath them. “You guys sound really good,” he told him.

“...thank you…” Logan mumbled, concentrated on the floor underneath them. “You seem to be coming around more often. May I ask why?” Patton flushed, ducking his head as he shrugged.

“I just really like hearing you guys play,” he mumbled, swallowing the rest of the truth- how he also really liked watching Logan’s fingers dance across the keyboard, liked watching his dark blue eyes light up when he was passionate about something, liked watching his lips move to sing back-up, his voice a deep baritone against a bold tenor- down his throat. Logan seemed satisfied with the response, and they fell into a comfortable silence.

“Patton, may I ask you-” Logan began, before being cut off by Virgil’s call.

“Alright, Patton, I’m done. We gonna go to work or are you going to keep talking with your boy-toy?” the emo teased. Patton spluttered indignantly as Logan fell into a coughing fit, hiding his colored cheeks.

“Virgil!” Patton warned. Virgil cackled, smirking as he grabbed Patton’s arm, pulling him out of the folding seat. “I’m sorry, Logan, what were you going to say?” The punk looked up, clearing his throat.

“No worries, Patton, it was- it was nothing,” he replied, refusing to meet Patton’s eyes. He ran a frantic hand through his scruffy hair, saying a quick farewell to the frequent visitors.

As the duo left the band to continue their practice, Patton swatted Virgil’s arm playfully. “Virgil, why would you say that?!” he whispered.

“Patton, you’re my best friend, and I love you, but sometimes you’re just too dense to be bearable…” At Patton’s confusion, Virgil continued. “Logan is obviously into you. You do realize that, don’t you?” Patton paled, stilling as they reached the front doors. He glanced behind him, his eyes settling on the vivacious punk who had returned to his place on stage, eyes reserved for the keys he was playing. His heart leapt into his throat as the punk glanced up and met with Patton’s eyes as he gave a quick, polite smile and a wave goodbye. Patton waved back slowly, his appetence gone unseen as Logan turned back to his music, a bittersweet smile falling from his cheeks.

“I don’t know, Virgil, he doesn’t seem like the type to… do romance,” Patton said. “And that beside, I don’t think he would be into me. I’m just not… outspoken enough for him.” Virgil scoffed, rolling his eyes as the two stepped out into the rain, Patton opening up his umbrella.

“Considering you’re the one that helped me snag Roman, I’m surprised you’re such a hopeless romantic,” the emo retorted. “And who cares what his type is, he’s obviously your type! Don’t think I didn’t see you making googly eyes at Logan!” Patton froze for half a moment before he opened the door to his car, sliding into the front seat with ease.

“Shut up!” he groaned, burying his burning face into his hands. Virgil smirked, having gotten the proof he had been looking for. “Let’s just go to the bakery before Remy beats both of us over the head with a rolling pin.”

Patton sighed as he leaned against the counter, catching his breath. As much as he loved talking with the kids who came into the bakery with their parents, gawking at all the treats, sometimes their incessant whining and laughing and crying and talking gave him a massive headache. And he had happened to forget to bring Advil today.

As the flow of customers ebbed away, Patton let his gaze wander over the patrons sitting down on the quaint little stools he had found at a flea market. Some were typing away madly on their computers, college finals approaching quickly, while others were chatting with friends, laughing loudly at shared secrets and inside jokes. His gaze fell on a couple sitting by the window, the depiction of serenity.

One of them was staring at the other, a wistful smile on their face. Patton felt his heart wrench as his tore his gaze away. “You good, gurl?” he heard from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Remy, owner and manager of the bakery.

“Yeah, just a little out of it today. Forgot to bring Advil with me,” he mumbled, wringing his hands.

“...Ah. Lemme know if you need a break, gurl. I can handle the register,” Remy offered, though Patton quickly waved it away. “And promise me you’ll take your meds tomorrow, ‘kay, gurl?” Patton blanched, on the verge of explaining as Remy turned on his heel and walked into the kitchen.

Patton ran a hand through his hair as his gaze fell back onto the couple. The one with blue hair laughed loudly at something the one wearing a black leather jacket had said. If he closed his eyes, he could picture Logan sitting in front of him, chuckling at some joke Patton had made. Patton, of course, would tell Logan how beautiful his laugh was, like an angel’s hymn in his ears. Logan would smile shyly and take Patton’s hand, running his thumb across Patton’s knuckles, whispering sweet nothings.

But, of course, he reminded himself as he returned back to reality with a start, that would never happen. It was nothing more than a vivid fantasy where Logan was no more than a puppet. No. It was wrong of him to treat Logan like that, like a pet who would do everything his heart hoped for. And besides, Logan wasn’t into him. Nobody in their right mind would fall for him, an emotional mess who couldn’t even break a mug without breaking down.

He heard the doorbell ring as another patron walked in, and switched to autopilot, throwing on a brilliant smile as he slid towards the cash register, ready to take their order. “Hello! Welcome to the Night Shift! How may I help you?”

“Good morning, Patton!” the person responded. Recognizing the voice, he tuned out of his thoughts be to met with one of the regulars, Emile. Patton’s smile turned genuine. “Could I get my usual?”

“Of course, coming right up!” he replied as he went in search of a Stitch cookie. Virgil, having noticed the arrival of the psychiatrist, began preparing a small black tea with a hint of camomile. Patton delivered the goods to a smiling Emile. “Meeting with another client?” Emile nodded, leaning over the counter conspiratorially.

“Yeah, one of my newest ones, a kid named Kai. Thought he might appreciate a more… casual encounter of the third kind.” The two shared a laugh at the joke, their brotherhood built on dad jokes and cartoon references.

Emile sat down in a corner booth, leaving Patton alone again. He jumped suddenly, feeling his phone buzz in his pocket. Sneaking a glance at the text he’d received, he felt his breath hitch and butterflies flood his stomach.

[chatlog: dark strange sun]

dark strange sun: heads up

dark strange sun: logan just walked in

happy pappy patton: Wait, are you serious??

dark strange sun: dude. yes.

He looked furtively around the bakery, heart leaping as his eyes fell on a familiar blue-grey color scheme. Logan looked uncomfortable and out of his element as he scanned the sweet-smelling, pastry-selling shop, almost as though looking for someone. Patton took the moment to admire how the sun lit up Logan’s chestnut hair as though he wore a halo, how he bit his bottom lip in concentration as his sparkling blue eyes darted around the room, until they met his, and a relieved smile flashed across the punk’s face before he composed himself- wait a second.

“Salutations, Patton,” he called. Oh. So Logan had probably seen him staring. Great.

“Hi, Logan! I didn’t expect to see you here,” he answered, giving the keyboardist a cheerful wave. “Can I get you anything?” Logan paused, his face coloring pink for a moment, as though he were… embarrassed?

“Ah, no, I… came to speak with you.” Patton froze, stunned as he processed Logan’s words. “Do you have a spare minute?” He struggled to form a response, catching Remy moving around in the corner of his eye.

“Hey, Remy!” The sleepy baker looked up from his tray of macarons. “Could I maybe take that break now?” Remy glanced at Logan, giving him a typical once-over, and decided Logan was no threat to his precious paternal childling, nodding. “Thanks, Remy!” Patton ran over to give a quick hug to Remy, who squealed in surprise, and took off his apron, hanging it on a nearby hook.

He darted around the counter, coming face-to-face with Logan. At this proximity, he could hear Logan’s soft breaths, reminding he was very much alive and this moment was very much real. Logan grasped his arm gently, leading Patton to a nearby table. He seemed loath to let go, though Patton told himself it was just a trick of the mind.

Logan was rubbing the back of his neck. He seemed… nervous about something, though Patton had half-believed it was near impossible for the confident, stoic punk to feel nervous about anything. “I… uh, I actually did wish to ask you something this morning, before we were interrupted.”

Patton was sitting on the edge of his seat, unconsciously wringing his hands underneath the table. He waited for Logan to continue, waiting anxiously for his words.

“I wanted to ask you… if… you would come to our show this weekend.” Logan’s shoulders deflated as he finished, relieved with having finally spoken up.

Patton tilted his head, confused. “I was already planning to with Virgil. Didn’t Roman tell you?” Logan blinked, taken aback.

“No,” he said, gritting his teeth. “He didn’t.” He seemed mildly miffed at the discovery of this new information. He shook his head, pushing onward. “I meant…” Logan took a shaky breath. Patton leaned forward, grabbing the punk’s hands and squeezing them reassuringly. Logan gulped. “I meant… would you like to come… as my guest?” Patton felt himself inhale sharply.

He could hear the little voice in his head whispering to him, reminding him this could be nothing but a friendly gesture. Logan wasn’t asking him out on a date. He didn’t love Patton. He couldn’t. Patton wasn’t worthy enough, the voice told him. Logan would never love someone like him.

Logan was still expecting an answer.

“Sure!” he blurted, praying his nervousness wasn’t tangible. Logan’s eyes lit up with pure happiness, a relieved smile breaking across his face. See? the voice asked. It was just a friend wanting to hang out with another friend. He’s showing goodwill because he pities you. Patton’s smile wavered for half a second, not gone unnoticed by Logan, before he forced his smile wider. “I’d love to see you guys perform. It’d be so much fun!”

A silence fell between them, prolonged and uncomfortable. “Well, thank you for inviting me Logan,” Patton told him as he stood up. “I should get back to my shift, but you’re welcome to stay as long as you like!”

Logan opened his mouth as if to say something, but thought the better of it and let Patton walk away, the punk’s smile falling as though things had not gone according to plan.

Patton pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his headache coming back as his phone buzzed once more.

[chat log: dark strange sun]

dark strange sun: okay what happened

happy pappy patton: Nothing

happy pappy patton: He just wanted me to come to their performance

dark strange sun: ...and?

happy pappy patton: ...as his guest.

dark strange sun: holy shit.

dark strange sun: holy SHIT

happy pappy patton: Language!

dark strange sun: PATTON, THIS PROVES LOGAN’S INTO YOU!

happy pappy patton: You can’t be serious, Virge

happy pappy patton: Logan doesn’t like me.

happy pappy patton: I’m sure he meant to ask me platonically!

dark strange sun: do you realize how dense you sound

dark strange sun: do you realize??

dark strange sun: how dense you sound??

happy pappy patton: Virgil.

happy pappy patton: Don’t.

happy pappy patton: You know he’s better off without me.

dark strange sun: ..

dark strange sun: patton.

dark strange sun: you told me you took your meds

dark strange sun: you didn’t take them, didn’t you?

dark strange sun: patton, we’ve talked about this.

dark strange sun: how long?

Patton blinked away the forming tears in his eyes as he turned off his phone. If Virgil really wanted to talk, he would find Patton during their shift. He shook his head, trying to clear it, and went back to work, plastering a brilliant smile on his face as he approached the little kids trying to see over the counter, forcing himself to bear with just a few more hours of joy he couldn’t feel.

Just a few more hours.

…

“I seek to cure what’s deep inside

frightened of this thing

that I’ve become”

…

The rain was beating down on the roof of the small little garage-like club they were performing at. Logan twiddled his thumbs mindlessly, the sound of raindrops a gentle lullaby to him. He jumped as the door slammed open suddenly, not surprised to find Roman on the other side.

“Nikola Tesla! Roman, don’t scare me like that!” he groaned, shaking his head.

“Ten minutes to showtime, hun,” Roman gushed, chewing nervously on his lip. “I’ve been looking out from behind the curtain for the past forever and I still don’t see Virgil!” Roman let out a shaky breath, brushing his hair back.

“Perhaps he’s just running late,” he said curtly, knowing this meant Patton wasn’t out there either. He sighed, slouching in his chair, defeated. “You don’t think Patton misunderstood me, do you?” he asked quietly, refusing to meet his best friend’s eyes. Roman fell silent, unsure how to respond.

“We have no idea of knowing, Lo. If he does think this is just some grand, platonic, certainly not romantic gesture… well, to quote a wise man I know, ‘my advice to you is to see what he does… if he shows signs of romantic interest, you can take things from there.’” Logan involuntarily cracked a smile. “If you can manage to get my love life sorted out, I’m sure you’ll do just fine, hun.”

Logan sighed, slumping further in his chair. “Thanks, Roman.” His head fell back, his eyes trained on the ceiling, studying the cracks that wove throughout the white-washed roof of the room. “I never thought I’d be needed romantic advice, but…” His smile widened as he thought of Patton and his vibrant smile, always willing to listen and actually care about the words flowing from his mouth, rather than hear them and use them to finish the homework. “...it seems I can be proven incorrect.” His gaze fell back onto his best friend, who was staring at him, both eyebrows raised, his hand covering what Logan knew had to be a smirk. “Not one word, Prince.”

Roman snorted, shaking his head, as he playfully flipped the punk off, leaving to go peek out from behind the curtains once more. As the hopeless romantic left, Logan let himself straighten. Patton would come. He had to trust him. Patton would come.

Clearing his head, he stood from his chair, going over to the countertop and picking up the thin necklace that glittered gold in the lights surrounding the dressing room’s mirror. It had been a birthday gift from Patton. Though they had only known each other for the short time their respective best friends had been dating, Patton had quickly warmed up to him, despite his initial cold and offstandish demeanor. He didn’t know when his heart had begun fluttering every time Patton smiled at him like he was his whole world, when he began catching himself staring at Patton every spare moment he had, when he fell in love with a man too pure and wholly good for this world.

“Logan!” His head snapped towards the door, where Roman was leaning around the corner, staring at him pointedly. “Come on, we’re about to go on!” Logan cursed under his breath as he tossed the necklace over the head, its small heart pendant resting on his chest, starkly cool against the warmth of his skin. He followed Roman through the catacomb-esque labyrinth of hallways. With each turn, the two could hear the cheers and shouts of the crowd waiting for them grow in noise.

They picked up their drummer Elliot on their way to the stage; they showed off their new black skirt that had gotten tailored especially for the show to the two, who allowed themselves a moment of appreciation before returning on their journey. Logan felt the apprehension rise in his heart. He could picture it clearly within his mind: Patton would be standing in the middle of the crowd, and of course Virgil would be with him, but it was the cheerful baker who his eyes would be on. He would perform a special song for Patton, and he would understand just how deeply Logan cared for him, and perhaps maybe then he’d have the courage to ask Patton out on a rendezvous. But… those sort of things only happened in a perfect world; and while he was intelligent enough to understand astrophysics without a second thought, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that whatever world he was living in, it was not a perfect one, and thusly things would never go as planned. The thought made Logan’s stomach churned, though he brushed it off as nerves.

After what seemed like an eternity, the trio reached the wings. The crowd was nothing but a raucous mob, all cheering for their favorite of the band. Logan loved this moment. His anxiety was through the roof, no doubt, but he knew that just on the other side of the curtain was a throng of people who needed to hear his words, hear his voice, hear his logic, and let them know everything was going to be alright. He knew that the second he walked out on stage, he would be nothing but a songbird taking flight over valleys of emerald grass and mountains of rustic blues.

“What is up, everybody?!” he heard from the stage. A roar emanated from the crowd. “How y’all doing tonight? I hope everybody is feeling good! We got quite the performers for y’all tonight, so be ready to be amazed! To be entranced! To fall in love with! Kalopsiaaaaaa!” A deafening cry came from the crowd as the band members ran onto stage as they had rehearsed for ages. The cry increased as they waved, greeting their loving fans. The emcee grinned. “Let’s introduce our lovely little players for tonight, shall we?” As the crowd shouted their acquiescence, the emcee meandered over to Elliot, who had taken their spot in the back, resting on their beloved drum set.

“In the back, playing drums with wicked talent is the one, the only, Elliot Shapiro!” A couple eager fangirls screamed, waving frantically at the shy drummer. Elliot finger-gunned the audience, flashing their trademark smirk. “And playing keyboard like he invented the damn thing is Logan Sapienti!” As the crowd shouted and rallied the keyboardist, Logan let his eyes drift across the darkened blob of the audience, scanning the foreign faces for a far more familiar visage he was hoping to see. But he couldn’t see Patton. He bit back the welling worry, instead giving the audience a curt nod.

“And finally, my lovelies, we’ve got the singer and guitarist, the ladies’ man who I hear is more of a gents’ man, Roman Prince!” Logan held back the urge to roll his eyes at the emcee’s dramatic reveal of Roman’s name. Honestly, it wasn’t like they hadn’t played in the venue before. “Alright, ladies, laddies, and non-binary maddies, before I hand the mic over to Princey, have a safe and fun night, eat your vegetables, and take your meds! And for our resident drivers named Chad, remember to wear a seat belt!” A select few hooted at the emcee, knowingly used to this sort of fuckery. The emcee gave an enthusiastic bow, handing the mic to Roman before sashaying off stage.

“Hello, everybody!” Roman said. The crowd responded as usual, cheering. “We’ve got a great set list for you tonight, with a couple of surprises we’ve thrown in there just to make sure you don’t get too hungover before the fun’s even begun!” Roman glanced at Logan, who gave the singer a subtle smile, nodding once. “Our first song tonight is a little song we wrote when we first got together, called Mellifluous. Now, without further ado, let’s kick it!”

Without another moment to waste, Elliot started up the drum line, Logan soon joining in on the keyboard. This was now his favorite song to play, mostly because the title reminded him so much of Patton’ laugh. Patton. Suddenly reminded of his true motives for this show, he looked up at the crowd. Now that the lights shining in his face had dimmed, he could make out the facial features of each person much better. There was a fair amount of people, some 50 or 60 all gathered in the small space allotted for the concert, but it was beginning to look like Patton was not among the patrons present. His heart dropped as one of his fingers hit the wrong note. Logan immediately noticed and cringed, correcting his mistake quickly. He caught Roman sending him a worried glance from the corner of his eye.

“And the sound of your voice is mellifluous. Boy, you know you’re promiscuous. And maybe I’ll never get to have you, but I’ll somehow get through.” Logan blinked back the tears that were threatening to form. When he, Roman, and Elliot had originally written the song, it had been Roman who was hopelessly in love with someone he never got; now, though, it was himself, so deeply in love with Patton he didn’t even know where to begin.

And then he spotted those familiar baby blue eyes that sparkled in sunlight. Logan nearly choked on his breath, unable to keep a small smile from his face as his brain recognized the eyes, and the person they belonged to: Patton. Almost as though he heard Logan’s thoughts, Patton’s eyes flickered from Roman jamming out the chorus to him, stopping his heart with the bright, wavering smile Patton gave him, waving.

The song ended all too soon. The roar of the audience was deafening, but knowing Patton’s voice was somewhere in the babbel made it slightly more bearable. After the din subsided, Roman took hold of the mic once more, introducing the next song on their playlist. It went by like a blur, and all too soon they were at the last two songs they would play that night. The first he cared little for, it was some typical love song that meant the world to Roman and Virgil. He played as though it meant the world to him, too, but inside he was longing for the finale- Africa. The one by Toto. While he knew many of his age considered the song to be a meme and paid little critical attention to it, he enjoyed its melody and rhythm. There was also the added plus of it being Patton’s favorite song, thanks to an overhead conservation between the baker and Virgil, but, well… it’s not like Logan liked the song only for that reason…

He watched Roman with envy as he sang so beautifully, so truthfully of his love for Virgil. His eyes unwillingly flickered towards Patton, whose sky eyes glanced away as he blushed, indicative of being caught staring. He offered a bright smile to the baker as soon as he looked back.

All too soon the song ended, Roman sending a quick wink to his lover hidden within the throng. His nerves began to creep into the forefront of his mind like ivy crawling up the ancient brick wall of a tenant building. If their last song was for Roman and Virgil, this song was for him. And, hopefully, for Patton.

“Alright, guys!” Roman quipped, his smile brighter and wider with the end of Falling Slowly. “We have one final song for you guys on this rainy night! It’s a song you all know and love, a song you’ve heard since forever, a song we grew up knowing. Can anyone guess what it is?” The audience all called out songs from their childhood, some well-known and others far more obscure. As the calls died down, Roman spoke again. “To be honest with you guys, all I heard was someone screaming ‘All Star’, and while I, too, enjoy that song, that’s not what we have in store for you all tonight.” From the back came a loud groan, sparking laughter from others. “Instead, we have one of Logan’s favorite songs, Africa by Toto! Enjoy, my lovelies, and have a wonderful rest of the night!”

This was it. He was going to put his heart and soul into this song, and goddamnit he was going to make Patton see how deeply he’d fallen if it was the last thing he ever did. He gave himself a moment to collect his thoughts before he began to play, fingers tapping each key as though the melody was ingrained in his memory. He heard Roman begin to sing, crooning in his typical style. Of course, they had decided to go with a more pop-rock cover of the song, with a heavy bass guitar accompanying his keyboard. It suited his edge.

He almost forgot to sing when the chorus came up. It took him out of his headspace, back into the real world, to focus on the keyboard and the words spilling from his mouth. The second verse came up, and Roman dropped out, leaving him alone with his raw voice full of all the emotions he’d been bottling up those past weeks.

“I seek to cure what’s deep inside. Frightened of this thing that I’ve become,” he sang, nearly cringing at the hard edge in his voice that revealed all the feelings inside of him. Do it for Patton, he told himself. Do everything for him.

He was finally allowed to let his mind wander a few paces during the instrumental- they had practiced this sequence specifically so many times he could do it with his eyes closed. Which, in fact, he was. He was picturing Patton in front of him, swaying on the dancefloor, dancing for him and him alone. His innocent blue eyes were watching Logan, teasing him of what he might never have if he didn’t do this.

Logan remembered he was still alive, still in this moment, still playing a song. His eyes ripped open, blinded by the stage lights that were watching him so judgmentally. His heart jumped into his throat, recalling the part that came next.

“It gonna take a lot to drag me away from you; there’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.” He and Roman sang together a capella, their voices the sole noise in the venue. Both of them, he knew, were singing for someone they couldn’t bare to let go.

He was desperate for Patton to hear the truth in his words, to hear the hidden meaning behind in his voice. Perhaps this limerence was but ephemeral, but he would be lying if he said he would not regret knowing what sort of special memories he would make along the journey to oblivion. He only hoped Patton would understand.

He began pressing each chord in rhythm with the beat. His voice rang out, a deep bass against Roman’s tenor. “I bless the rains down in Africa.”

Please, Patton. Be my rain. Drench me in love, and all things foreign to me.

His eyes locked with Patton, whose eyes beheld something unfamiliar, something wild and… scared. Patton’s face scrunched up as though he was about to cry and then his eyes left his own, leaving him alone and searching once more.

He could only watch and keep playing as Patton turned away, unseen by anyone but him, and pushed through the crowd, running outside into the rain. The song wouldn’t end quick enough. But he still had the applause to get through. He had to be polite, of course.

The second the curtains dropped, Logan raced for the back door, grabbing an umbrella from the coat check on his way out. He didn’t even tell Roman where he was going, he just bolted after Patton, praying he was still outside.

The raindrops splattered across his face, feeling more like bullets that little drops of water from the heavens. His breath was in his throat, his heart beating to a time too fast to be counted. Patton, Patton, he had to find Patton. His head snapped up, eyes searching frantically for this chance before it slipped out of his hands like sand in an hourglass.

And then he saw him.

Patton was hugging his sides awkwardly, swaying in the pounding rain as he waited for someone. The glow of the venue’s sign lit up his body, an aura of bright blue surrounding him like some sort of fluorescent angel. The luminescence also lit up the tears rolling down his face as he bit his lip, choking back soft cries.

“Patton? Are you alright?”

Patton’s head whipped towards him, his face contorting into something unknown to him. The baker put on a brave face, his smile wide but wavering. “Oh, hi, Logan… I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me!” Logan cocked an eyebrow. Something was off. Patton’s smile was too tight, his eyes were too tired, his breathing was too shallow- oh.

“Patton, are you having a panic attack?” he asked frankly. Patton’s eyes widened, embarrassment flashing across his face before he schooled himself into a calmer expression.

“N-no. I’m okay, Logan. Please, don’t worry about me,” he replied a little too quickly. Logan watched Patton for a second, studying him, before he threw all logic to the wind and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around the baker in a tight hug. Patton squeaked at the action, freezing in his arms.

“It’s alright, Patton. It’s just you and me out here. If you need to let anything go, I’m here to listen,” he whispered. He felt Patton’s shoulders begin to shake as he went limp in Logan’s arms. “Patton…?” he asked gently as he heard a quiet sob come from the baker.

“...I’m sorry…” he cried.

“Wh- hey, hey, Patton, look at me, look at me,” he ordered, taking Patton’s face into his hands. Patton’s eyes were red, full of tears, his usual smile now absent. “I don’t what you’re apologizing for, but I promise, it’s alright. There’s no need to apologize.”

“I feel so guilty…” Patton whispered, burying his head into his chest as Logan rubbed Patton’s back tenderly.

“...for what?” He didn’t want to ask it- he was scared of what the answer might be- but he knew Patton needed to tell someone, for his sake and for Logan’s.

“...every time I look at you, I feel guilty for feeling so many things all muddled together inside my heart. You deserve someone… someone who can smile all the time and mean it. Not someone who has to take stupid pills to keep himself sane. Not me.” Logan felt the air rush of out him at Patton’s revelation, unsure what to say that would soothe the sobbing baker.

“Patton, I… I’m rather unsure of your meaning…” he said carefully. Patton pulled away from the embrace, his big eyes staring into his soul. Galaxies above, he wanted to kiss Patton so badly right now, kiss away all this man’s pain.

“I shouldn’t be feeling this way every time you speak Logan. I shouldn’t feel my heart skip a beat every time you look at me. I shouldn’t spend my nights wondering what you’re up to, wondering if you think about me the way I think about you. But I do, Logan, I do feel all of these crazy things and I don’t know what to do with it. And I feel guilty because… well, I shouldn’t be feeling this way,” Patton blurted. In a whisper, so hushed he could hardly hear it over the sound of rain’s heartbeat, he added, “I shouldn’t be in love with you.”

He felt his heart stop, his hands freezing in their motions. Holy shit. Had he heard Patton correctly?

His shock was misinterpreted, apparently, as Patton’s face fell, tears brimming in his eyes. Perhaps it was just the rain. “Oh… you… you don’t…” Patton untangled himself from his arms as he screamed at his mind to start working once more. He turned away from Logan, ready to run, when at last the performer’s brain rebooted. He grabbed Patton’s arms, breath catching in his throat.

“Patton! Please, don’t leave,” he pleaded, blinking away the raindrops that blurred his vision.

“Why?” Patton demanded, words full of hurt and heartache. “You only invited me as a friend. It’s not like you love me. Why do I have to stay if it only means my heart is going to ache a little while longer?”

He fell silent, the only sound between them the patter of rain on unfeeling concrete. “...I thought you understood what I meant by asking you to the performance…” he mumbled. Patton’s eyes finally flickered back to meet his, full of hope. “I meant to ask you out… as a date.”

Patton stepped back, utterly stunned at his confession. “You… as a… are you serious?” Logan swallowed nervously despite knowing full well there was little to be nervous about.

“Yes. In the months since we have met, I have become quite enamored with you, Patton. I enjoy your company and your smile and your laugh and dozens upon dozens of tiny little details about you that I could write entire journal entries about. Everything about you fascinates me, Patton- more than fascinates me. I’m enthralled by your existence, and I’ve become obsessed as a result. I can’t stop thinking about how your eyes crinkle in the corners when you smile, how you smell like comfort food and freshly baked cookies, how your kindness extends to each and every being. To put it quite frankly, Patton, I’m no longer infatuated with you; rather, it seems I’ve fallen quite deeply in love with you. And, if you would be willing, I would like to date you, to see if perhaps you love me, too.”

Patton’s mouth was agape in surprise. “Are you… are you asking me out?”

“...Yes? Forgive me, I’ve never really been one for romance, so I’m… inexperienced on my part,” he replied sheepishly. For each moment Patton was silent, the dread in Logan’s stomach grew exponentially.

“I think I would really like to be your boyfriend, Logan,” Patton at last whispered. All of a sudden, he felt his world shift, and Patton had never looked more beautiful, standing under a blinking neon sign, rain drenching him, his eyes and smile full of bittersweet hope. Maybe they would crash and burn and remember nothing but the taste of rain gone sour with time. But maybe they wouldn’t, and they would let themselves run free, creating memories they could look back upon and smile at. They at least had to try.

His heart was soaring, his smile unstoppable. Patton suddenly sneezed as Logan realized they were still in the pummeling rain, and he’d yet to open his umbrella. Swiftly, he shook off the beads of water collecting on the umbrella and opened it, protecting them both from the rain. He glanced back at Patton, who was biting his lips, staring up at him. His heart pounded. “Patton, may I… may I kiss you?”

Patton gasped softly, steadily nodding.

He moved slowly, hesitant in his movements, ready to pull back at moment’s notice. Logan’s eyes closed just before Patton’s as their lips met. It was a short, shy kiss, but the moment they broke it, Logan knew he wanted to kiss Patton again and again for the rest of his life. It seemed Patton wanted it, too, for he grabbed Logan by the collar of his sleeveless jean jacket and pulled him closer, their lips crashing together with far more force than their first kiss.

He, of course, had no idea what he was doing with his hands or his mouth or his head or his legs or his anything. It was Patton who guided him through it, clasping his head between two tender hands, moving against his lips to fit perfectly against them. His mind was spinning, unable to decide whether he should focus on the soft sigh Patton let out or the electricity running through his veins like lightning or the sweet taste of Patton’s lips that reminded him of cotton candy.

They broke for air as all lovebirds must, pressing their foreheads against one another and allowing themselves to smile in the privacy of each other. Logan found himself beginning to giggle at the silliness of it all. He fell silent, however, when he phone buzzed urgently twice.

He pulled it out and paled. “Oh, shit, I forgot to tell Roman where I went.” Patton blanched, having forgotten to tell the same to Virgil. “Virgil is likely with Roman, I’ll let him know you’re with me,” he mumbled, pressing a calming kiss to Patton’s forehead.

[chat log: gay or european]

gay or european: Where are you???

gay or european: Are you with Patton?

gay or european: Virgil’s getting kinda worried

according to the encyclopedia: Apologies for not replying.

according to the encyclopedia: I had

according to the encyclopedia: activities

according to the encyclopedia: to attend to.

gay or european: Wait a fucking second

gay or european: Are you with Patton right now?

according to the encyclopedia: Yes, I’m right outside, why?

gay or european: Oh, hun.

gay or european: Oh, HUN.

gay or european: Did you??

according to the encyclopedia: Did I what?

gay or european: Did you flipping kiss him, nerd?!

according to the encyclopedia: ..

according to the encyclopedia: I’m pleading the fifth.

gay or european: HA!

Logan turned off his phone with a roll of his eyes, chuckling. “Well, I think Roman and Virgil have been adequately informed of our… activities…” he said with a faint blush. Patton smiled demurely, giggling. He was about to turn away and lead Patton back into the venue to meet up with the others when he heard him gasp. He turned back.

“Logan, are you wearing the heart necklace I gave you?” he asked quietly. He nodded shyly, unusually embarrassed. Patton’s face melted into a grin bright enough to outshine a supernova. “That’s so sweet!” he cooed. “It’s looks great on you,” he added gently, grasping Logan’s hand serenely.

Without thinking, he blurted, “Well, of course it look great. I have to dress fantastically. I spent so many years in the closet, after all.”

“Logan…”

“Yes? Is something wrong?”

“Did you just make a dad joke?”

“...none of this makes its way to Roman.”

“Only if you kiss me again.”

“...deal.”

…

“I bless the rains

down in Africa”

…

okay but honestly logan is such a mood in this

also I have NO FREAKING IDEA how to end stories, which is why you get crap like what I just wrote

oh fun fact kalopsia means “a condition, state or delusion in which things appear more beautiful than they really are.” the lyrics for mellifluous are my own, so please for the love of all things Thomas Sanders don’t fucking steal them without my permission first. idiot.

#logicality #Sanders Sides #Sanders Sides AU #human AU #fanfic #decided hell no to formatting because we learned the hard way last time tumblr gives no fucks about how long you spent formatting it in html #Patton Sanders #Logan Sanders #Roman Sanders #Virgil Sanders #Remy Sanders #sleep sanders #africa #the cover is so great I chills every time they do the acapella thing

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userlando · 6 years

Text

frozen || sebastian stan

Summary: Sebastian is terrified of ice-skating so you make it your mission to get him out on the ice rink of Rockefeller Center. Warnings: None. A/N: I couldn’t stop thinking of a terrified Seba on the ice, ever since that interview about him never being on the ice. So naturally, this is what happens. Huge thanks to my darling Mimi ( @babylevines ) for coming up with the marshmallow idea, for being a cute lil peanut and helping me with the title. xx

“I don’t get why you’re forcing me to do this.” Sebastian said as he bent down to reach his ice skates, gripping the thick laces with his nimble fingers.

You straightened up after having pulled your own onto your feet, sighing at the overexertion of having to struggle into the tight fit. Sebastian was grunting as he pulled the laces as tightly as they’d go, eyebrows scrunched into a frown and lips set into a tight line. You couldn’t help but giggle at his expression, hand automatically touching his clothed arm.

“I didn’t force you into anything, you agreed to it. And besides,” You paused to stand up, wobbling slightly before standing tall with a grin larger than necessary on your face. “You’re gonna have so much fun!”

You watched as your boyfriend sat up straight, a little flushed from the cold as he narrowed his eyes at your enthusiasm. He looked so kissable and you had to hold yourself back from leaning down and pressing a kiss to his delicious looking mouth.

“I only agreed because you looked at me with those eyes! They’re evil.” He let out a small laugh as you grabbed his hands in yours, pulling him up.

He wobbled, hands reaching out to grip your shoulders in a panic as if he was afraid of falling. You refrained from laughing at how adorable he looked, wrapped up in his thick wool coat and the wide scarf encased around his throat, protecting him from the freezing cold. His nose was red and the apples of his cheeks were flushed. You couldn’t help it, hand reaching out to pull at the sleeve of his right arm to get him closer to you; Sebastian automatically leaning down to kiss the corner of your mouth, his thick beard scratching your sensitive skin.

“Hi.” He gave you a boyish grin, looking like fifty shades of sin where he was standing, towering over you.

“Hi.” You smiled bashfully, squirming as he gazed at you. “Are you ready?”

The far away look in his eyes disappeared, and the frown on his face came back in full force as he realized what you were about to do. The familiar crinkle on his forehead increased and he sighed, as if he was accepting his fate.

You laughed, taking his hands in yours to guide him over to the opening of the rink. It took some time, but you finally stepped out on the ice, gliding gracefully over it only to turn back and look at Sebastian who was studying you, still on the edge about getting out on the ice.

“Seb, it’s really fun, okay? Don’t be afraid, I’m right here with you.” You tried to reassure him, giving him a gentle smile as he grimaced.

“I’m not afraid, just... Not too fond about being on the ice.” He said and to prove his point even further, a small boy went flying past you, squealing his little head off as he lost footing and landed on the ice.

You winced as his back made contact with the cold surface, trying to mask your facial expression as you turned your attention back to your rigid looking boyfriend. Gently, you skated over towards him and grabbed his gloved hands in yours. He murmured small profanities as you lead him out on the ice, watching as he slipped around and wobbled like Bambi on ice. You couldn’t help but let out small laughs, shutting up when he’d glare at you.

“That’s it... Easy...” You encouraged him, trying not to grimace when he’d squeeze your hand a little too hard whenever he slipped and wanted something to hold on to. “I’m gonna let go now.”

Sebastian’s head whipped up, blue eyes widening, “What? No!”

“It’s fine, baby. Just stand up straight.” You trailed off, letting go of his hands before skating a few meters away from him. “See? You’re good!”

Sebastian’s eyebrows pulled together in distaste as he looked at you.

“Now skate over to me.” You gestured with your hands, beckoning him over to you. He was scrutinizing your face, looking like he wanted to sit down and never move again. And knowing your boyfriend, he’d definitely do it if he wasn’t so afraid of falling on his face and breaking an arm.

He hesitated for a few seconds and then he slid his foot over the ice, grunting when he wobbled a little. You watched him in silence as he slowly but surely made his was over to you, arms stretched out just incase he was about to plummet. You couldn’t help but squeal in happiness, clapping your hands when he reached you, letting him envelop you into a hug.

The day went on like that, with him skating around and you proudly grinning from ear to ear. He eventually warmed up to it, relaxing bit by bit as you slid across the icy surface hand in hand.

At one point, he crashed into you and sent you both flying across the ice with him on top of you. You’d groaned, laughing at the panic in his eyes as he cupped your flushed face with his hands to check if there was any damage. Even though you’d assured him that you were feeling completely fine, he’d called it a day, saying that he was done with roaming around the ice rink.

On the car ride home, he insisted on holding your hand while blasting old school songs, singing along to them just to watch you throw your head back and laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. It started snowing by the time you made it back to your apartment and after you’d shed your outdoors clothes, Sebastian set off to the kitchen to cook a late dinner.

“Babe?” You heard Sebastian ask a few hours later, breaking the peaceful silence in the living area. The crackling sound from the fireplace was almost lulling you to sleep, but you were too invested in finishing a Stephen King novel before you’d drift off.

“Hm?” You hummed, taking a small sip of your hot chocolate that Sebastian had made, almost moaning at the sweet taste of it.

“I’m bored.”

You looked up from your book, your eyebrows raising so far up on your forehead that they might as well have disappeared into your hairline. Sebastian locked his phone, setting it down on the table before picking up his own, pink mug to take a sip of his potion. You let out a small giggle when the whipped cream stuck to his mustache.

“You’ve got cream on your lip.” You pointed out and he giggled childishly, making you roll your eyes. “Oh, shut up.”

You jabbed him in the thigh with your foot, going back to resting them on his lap before shifting your attention to your book in hand. A few minutes passed before your boyfriend lost interest in staring at the fire in front of him, sighing in boredom. You tried your hardest to ignore his small noises of contempt, but when he started fidgeting and pulling at your toes, you lost concentration completely.

“Stop fidgeting, you man child.” You snapped at him, but he looked unfazed as he grinned at you, pleased to have finally caught your attention.

“But I’m bored, babe!” He complained defiantly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Which, it was.

“Well, go on Instagram... Do whatever, just leave me alone to finish this.” You held up your book for him to see, and he narrowed his gorgeous eyes at it like it had personally offended him.

When he didn’t say anything, you returned to your book. You barely acknowledged him when he hauled your feet up from his lap, getting up and setting them down gently on the couch before disappearing from your sight. The silence didn’t last long as you sat there, warm and toasty in your biggest sweatshirt you could find.

“Doll?” You could hear his voice and soon he walked back into the livingroom, this time with a back of mini-marshmallows in his hand. “How many do you think I could fit in my mouth?”

You set your book down after bookmarking the page, thinking that your little private, alone time was over judging by the pensive look on his face.

“I don’t know, let’s find out.” You said, earning a grin from him as he plopped down on the couch next to you. “They’re small though, you can probably fit hundreds of them, if not more.”

“Even better.” He shrugged, reaching his hand into the bag to grab a handful of the colorful marshmallows.

You watched in amusement, “I prefer the big ones though.”

Sebastian turned to you, and you knew what was coming before he even opened his mouth to utter the words out loud to you.

“Big, huh? I guess that’s why you’re with me.” He waggled his eyebrows and you let out a laugh, shoving him to the side with the help of your hands.

He laughed at your attempt to shove him off the couch, angling himself so he was sitting with you in front of him. And then it began, counting how many small marshmallows he could fit in his mouth. By the time he reached seventy of them, he was drooling and you were laughing so hard that your stomach started hurting.

“103!” He cried out after he’d spit out the wad of melted treats, looking like he’d won a million dollars. “I think that deserves a congratulatory kiss, don’t you?”

“102, actually. You gagged and spit out the hundred and third one because you couldn’t fit any more in your mouth,” You said with a laugh. “Also, don’t even think that I’m gonna kiss that mouth of yours after seeing you drool and gag all over the place.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes, “Oh please, as if you could beat the champion.”

“I don’t see a champion anywhere.” You squinted your eyes for show, looking around the dark room before landing on him, giggling at his offended facial expression.

He stood up and gathered the trash that he’d placed on the sofa table, taking the two empty mugs with him before walking away toward the kitchen. You watched in amusement as he disappeared from view, listening as he banged around the kitchen before appearing again.

“Did you wash your mouth?” You asked. “I think it’s gonna take a lot more than water to cleanse it.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes, rounding the couch before plopping down again. You giggled, scooting over so you could snuggle up to his side. A pleased hum left your throat when he placed an arm around you, cuddling you into him.

“Your beard is tickling me.” You let out a small laugh when he bent his head down to bury his face into your neck, scratching the sensitive skin in the process. “Seb!”

“Payback.” He laughed against your neck and you would’ve shivered at the way the warmth of his breath hit your skin but you were too busy panicking.

You cried out, laughter in your voice as you pleaded for him to let you go. But Sebastian was relentless, pinning you effectively to his side and nuzzling his face into the conjunction of your neck and shoulder.

“Fine! Fine, Seb!” You yelled out as you were running out of breath from laughing too hard. “Kiss.”

He stopped, pulling back to look at your wild eyes and the giant smile on your face. His own lips pulled into a smile as he took in your futures that he knew like the back of his hand, smoothing back the strands of hair that had fallen in front of your face with the help of his hand. You were huffing, feeling like you’d run a mile, but he still looked at you like you were the most beautiful creature on this earth.

“Now that’s...” He paused, bopping your nose with his finger. “That’s what I like to hear.”

You rolled your eyes with a bashful smile, bringing a hand up to cup his scruffy face before pressing a long kiss to his smiling lips.

Message me to be added to my permanent taglist!

@babylevines @timemngmtoptimisationproblems @ssweet-empowerment

#sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan #sebastian stan fluff #my fic #fics #sebastian stan imagine #imagines #imagine #one shot #one shots #marvel fic #sebastian stan x you #sebastian stan one shot #sebastian stan imagines #sebastian stan writing #sebastian stan one shots #fic

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chaos-weekly · 3 years

Text

extra, extra, read all about it!

Nollie had taken London back to her apartment after she’d picked him up. He was absolutely trashed. She didn’t mind, but she didn’t really enjoy seeing him like that. Drunk men terrified her, and even though she knew London would never hurt her, it didn’t bring around good feelings. But she would take care of him anyway.

She sat outside the bathroom door while he showered, just in case he fell. She made him drink a full glass of water before bed and had woken up and stayed awake while he went to the bathroom at four in the morning. And when she’d gotten up at six, way before he did, she left a glass of water and a Tylenol on the nightstand for him. He was going to have a nasty hangover.

Sure, all of these things were thoughtful and loving, but Nollie knew her intentions behind her actions were selfish. One, she needed to prove to him that she was worth sticking around for even after she allowed him to have sex with her, and two, she felt responsible for his wellbeing. The last time she’d left someone to fend for themselves, her brother had died in a house fire. People she cared about got hurt on her watch too often. Nollie wouldn’t let that happen with London.

Bishop had sent her a text around six thirty that said, “URGENT, YOU NEED A NEWSPAPER!!” She’d asked him to bring one over, and he had. While London remained passed out in her bedroom, she shared a pot of coffee and analyzed the tabloids with his best friend. She and London were on the front page, hugging. She knew who has taken the most recent photo, and judging by the fact it was a Snapchat with the caption, “Smh bro, he’s whipped *laughing emoji*,” Nollie doubted Mark, the man in the chair, meant for it to get out. Likely, one of the people he’d sent it to had screenshotted it and sold it to the paparazzi. Nollie wasn’t mad and her manager wasn’t mad (she’d checked, and thank God, Frankie seemed to be basking in the fact that her darling Nollie was with the bad boy of LA), it was only London that she and Bishop knew would be reeling.

“I can stay until he gets up,” Bishop offered. “Help you break the news to him.”

“No, I can handle it,” she replied, shrugging. “People were going to find out eventually, he’s just going to be pissed at Mark. Which I can deal with.”

Bishop sipped his coffee, nodding and leaning back into the chair. He was still planning on staying, and Nollie didn’t mind. She enjoyed his company, and besides, London wouldn’t be up for a few hours based on how gone he was last night.

“So, why haven’t you had sex yet?” he asked.

Nollie would have been offended if anyone else asked, but this was Bishop, the man who had single handedly helped her breakup with his other best friend. He was a good friend. So she shrugged and leaned back into the couch.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I do. I don’t know what London told you about me visiting him yesterday, but….” Nollie trailed off, her cheeks coloring. She could still feel his hands on her, his lips by her ear, the breath sucked out of her as he’d laid her down on his desk. Bishop laughed lightly.

“Clearly not enough, but I don’t need details. The blush is enough. You really want him. So why haven’t you?”

“It just hasn’t felt right? The timing is off? I don’t want to f-k in public the first time?”

“Yeah, that’s not true and we both know it. Except for that last one.” Bishop set his mug down and leaned in, hands clasped in his lap. “So what is it, Nollie?”

“Intimacy issues,” she admitted softly. “I’m scared of how much I want it.”

Bishop nodded like an all-knowing god. He kind of was, though. He was wise and calm, just like how she imagined Buddha or a spirit guide to be.

“You know it’s natural to want sex. I know it’s been ingrained in your head to not want it, but you’re supposed to. It’s part of life, part of love. It’s part of having a romantic relationship with someone. And London’s falling in love with you, Nollie. He really is, he just doesn’t know that yet and he sure won’t tell you when he does know. But he is. He would have left a girl who wasn’t giving him sex a long time ago if that’s what he really wanted. He’s spent a month and a half with you and he hasn’t seen another girl since he laid eyes on you. He is all yours, Magnolia. Really and truly all yours.”

Nollie swallowed, hit with the reality of her situation. She was absolutely falling for him and London was falling for her, too, probably harder and faster than she was for him. He would do anything she asked of him, even wait for sex, and she felt safe and comfortable around him. So what was she waiting for?

Wanting was not a bad thing.

“Okay,” she said. “Okay, then I’m going to let him know I’m ready.” Her stomach had butterflies, and not the pure kind.

Bishop grinned.

“Keep me posted,” he said, standing up. “And look, you both better be at my exhibit Friday night. And I swear Magnolia, if you haven’t f-ked my best friend by then I’ll tell him everything we just talked about myself.”

Bishop left at eight thirty and Nollie started making cinnamon rolls. She remembered making them with her grandmother when she was little and had carried on the tradition when she moved to LA. Hopefully they would both soften the blow of their relationship going public and sweeten the pot of her willingness to get more physical.

London rolled out of bed around ten, and walked into the living room yawning and stretching. He was wearing the pair of pajama pants he kept at her apartment in the door she’d cleared for him. She had one at his place, but with her new agreement, maybe she needed to keep some nicer undergarments there….

“Good morning,” he said, his morning voice husky and very sexy. His arms wrapped around her waist and he kissed her cheek. Nollie smiled and untangled herself from his arms, continuing to ice the warm cinnamon rolls. She scooped one onto a plate for him and set it at the bar.

“Eat,” she said, setting a glass of water in front of his spot on a barstool. “I have news.”

“This is sounding promising,” London said sarcastically, sitting down and taking a bite. “But these are amazing. You’re amazing. I don’t think I’ve told you that today.” Nollie rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Well, this isn’t as amazing. Let me preface this by saying I’m not mad or upset or whatever.” London’s face looked like she’d found out his deepest secret, but she brushed it off. He was tired and hungover. Nollie set the tabloids in front of him.

“It was going to happen eventually,” she said quickly, right before London started swearing like his life depended on it.

“I’m going to kill Mark,” he growled, crumpling up the paper. “He’s not getting business from me again. He can absolutely kiss my--”

“London! It’s fine! It’s really fine. Did you think we could keep this a secret forever?”

“No, but it could have definitely come out way later. And it didn’t have to come from one of my clients!”

“He didn’t know what he was doing,” Nollie defended. She’d hardly interacted with Mark, but if he was as loyal of a customer as London had said he was, she doubted he’d do anything to intentionally screw him over.

“Not everyone can navigate paparazzi and publicity like we can, London.”

“If he’d just thought for five seconds longer--”

“So what? People know. I’m not upset about that, but it kind of feels like you are.” She leaned back on the counter, arms crossed over her chest.

London was silent, his fuming settling into resignation.

“I want the world to know about us, Nollie. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. I’m not upset that this is public. That we’re public. I’m upset that someone I trust put me in a difficult situation.”

Bishop was right, he was smitten. This was the first time he’d been so serious in admitting his feelings about her, directly to her at least. It made her smile.

“And I’m sure Mark feels awful,” she said quietly, crossing the kitchen to put her elbows on the bar in front of where he sat. Her chin rested in her hands, and she looked at him with soft, warm eyes.

“I’m still going to give him a hard time,” he replied just as softly, leaning in and kissing her. “I’m going to stick up for you. You’re my girl.”

“Am I?” she whispered against his lips, pulling away just enough to look into his eyes. She could see hesitation, a lot of it from what she was sure was the leftover trauma of Kendall’s relationship. But it was gone in a flash, and he kissed her again.

“Officially, if you’d like. I’ve wanted you to be my girlfriend for weeks, Nollie.”

“I’d love that.” She pecked his nose, pulling away and moving back to sit on the counter opposite him. “Now, I have something to tell you.”

“Another thing?” he groaned, running his hands through his hair. “This is a rollercoaster of a morning, Magnolia.”

“I’ll save it for later, if you’d like,” Nollie teased. “But I think you’re going to regret not hearing this now.”

He leaned back in his seat, folding his arms over his chest.

“Alright, I’ll bite. What’s so good that you need to tell me right now, exactly twenty minutes before I need to leave for work?”

Shoot. Nollie forgot about the time. But it was too late, she’d already started and demanded that he listen then and there. Now she had to finish. She swallowed, cheeks already growing pink.

“I’m ready,” she said more confidently than she felt.

It took London a minute to process, but when he did, a smirk slowly spread across his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but she held up a finger to cut him off.

“No, stop, I’m not done. I have a lot of feelings about sex that I need to get out right now or else I never will and I need to not bottle these things up anymore.” Nollie took a deep breath, and London settled back in his seat, still smirking. He gestured for her to go on.

“To be one hundred percent honest, I haven’t had sex in five months. I definitely have a lot of pent up sexual energy that I need to release, and I’ve been able to do so a little bit the past few weeks with you. But I need to apologize because it hasn’t been fair to you to keep turning you on and then shutting you down, even when I’ve wanted to take the next step. It’s just been embarrassing how much I felt like I actually needed to have sex with you instead of the more simple want.” Wow, that was terrifying, and Nollie’s racing heart and red cheeks gave away her fear. London was staring intently at her. But she wasn’t done.

“I’ve wanted and needed you for a while now, London. I don’t like admitting that because I don’t want to depend on sex to sustain my relationship, but it’s true. I genuinely can’t imagine not being that close to you anymore, and I am going to need you to f-king rail me.” That last bit slipped out of her mouth before she could stop and reevaluate that, but there it was. She wanted to be railed by her now-boyfriend, London Lovell.

Maybe one say she’d laugh at this situation, but as London made his way towards her, she only wanted this to be a bad dream. His hands slid up her legs and rested on her hips, and she swallowed, meeting his intense gaze.

“I wish you’d told me this when we had more time,” London began, “because now I’m going to be thinking about you all day.”

And he kissed her. She tasted the cinnamon roll on his lips, smelled her shampoo in his hair, and felt his muscles tighten under her fingers. She’d kissed him plenty of times, but this was the one that took her breath away.

“London,” she sighed softly as he pulled back, and he chuckled, the tension only growing between them.

“I need to go get ready before I cancel all of my appointments,” he muttered, walking backwards out of the kitchen, his eyes never leaving her. Normally Nollie wouldn’t let him miss work for her, but this time she was tempted to let him. She just kept her mouth shut, making herself busy cleaning while he got ready.

A few minutes later, London had come out of her room ready to go. She met him by the door, and he kissed her cheek.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he said lowly, and Nollie blushed again.

“Wait one minute,” she said, running back into the kitchen and grabbing something from a drawer. Returning, she pressed their extra apartment key into his hand.

“Let yourself in.”

#chaos weekly #rising from the ashes

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