#ronan handing him a ring and him putting it on while they both just look at the stars

[lots-of-fandoms-ps-help-me]

finished greywaren.

#adam and ronan are engaged #silently #without a word #ronan handing him a ring and him putting it on while they both just look at the stars #ripping myself apart #jordan and declan are married #i hope he bought her a social security card as a ring #jordan walking into the farmhouse just to say “pozzi” and declan smiling with all his teeth #gansey and blue are still travelers but now they have degrees that they are so so psyched about #gansey telling ronan that it dawned on him and blue the other day that being s teenager fucking sucked #one day i will get out of this hellhole #and ronan trusted Hennessy to keep Adam's conscienceness together so he could save the world with his fire #and the lynch Brothers are friends again #and adam got a .gov job that no one really knows what it is that he does #but it keeos him traveling #and ronan and Hennessy travel to help dreams and dreamers #adam nor ronan mantain a permanent residence #but they meet consistently during their travels to fall into each other's arms once again #and there will always be the barns waiting for them at the end #for all of them #the ghost show(me) #ronan lynch #adam parrish #blue sargent #richard gansey iii #jordan hennessy #declan lynch #matthew lynch #greywaren #the dreamer trilogy

[johnsbleu]

Hold My Hand: John Wick x Reader Chapter 140

warnings: none! hmh masterlist

Snow flurries have been falling all morning, which is not your favorite thing but it melts the moment it hits the ground since it’s a little warmer today, so at least it’s not sticking. You’re happy that it’s warmer out as well since Ronan has her four month appointment in two hours, and after that, you and John plan on grabbing some lunch in Oyster Bay as well.

John is currently downstairs with Ronan and playing with some toys while you get ready, and you hear him getting up when your phone rings. His voice carries through the house as he talks on the phone, and you stop what you’re doing to see who he’s talking to; your mom.

Just as you pull on your shirt, you hear John calling out to let you know that she wants to talk to you, so you head downstairs. John smiles when he sees you coming down the stairs, and he hands your phone to you before he kisses your cheek.

“Beautiful.” he whispers, and you peck his lips quickly.

You press the phone to your ear and walk over to get Ronan’s bag ready, “Hello?”

“Hi, sweetheart. Just wanted to call and see if the Wicks wanted to join us tomorrow night for some dinner?” she asks, and you run your schedule through your head. “We got reservations at this restaurant in Oyster Bay, and we’d really love for you three to join us.”

“Yeah, we don’t have any plans.” you say, then you sit down on the couch, “Ro has her appointment in a bit, and that’s the extent of our excitement for the weekend.”

Your mom gasps softly, “You’ll have to tell me how that goes.”

“Bit nervous,” you laugh, then you look down at Ronan as she kicks her legs and plays with a toy. She can’t seem to keep anything out of her mouth nowadays, so you and John are usually staring at her constantly to make sure she doesn’t choke on a toy. You smile at her when she looks over at you, then you exhale, “I know she’s fine, but you know…”

“Oh, yes, I’m aware.” your mom laughs, “Been there. Well, let me know how it goes.”

You nod as you look over at John as he lays down and blows raspberries on Ronan’s stomach, “We will, and we’ll see you tomorrow. Just text me the restaurant and time. Bye, mom.”

Hanging up the phone, you lean your elbows on your knees and smile as Ronan’s sweet giggle fills the living room. She’s wearing some cute little dark blue leggings with a dark blue top that has a cat on it, and she looks adorable. She kicks her legs in jerky motions as John whispers to her about how cute she is, then she babbles as you both laugh.

“Ready?” John asks, and you nod your head and smile. He reaches down to pick up Ronan, then he kisses her cheek before he turns around to put her into her car seat, “Can’t wait to see how much she’s grown in a month.”

You pull on your backpack and nod, “Yeah, just a little nervous. I don’t know why. I’m just nervous about the rash that she has.”

“I know,” John nods, then he puts his hand on your back, “She’s going to be fine. Look at her.”

A smile tugs at your lips as you look down at Ronan, then you look up at John and smile, “Daddy’s twin.”

John laughs as he looks down at Ronan, then he lifts up the car seat, “Yeah, with momma’s smile.”

“We got this.” you whisper to yourself as you walk to the door, and you let out a small laugh when John winks at you. “We got this.”

__

Holding Ronan in your lap, you kiss the top of her head and bounce her a little to keep her in a good mood. She’s currently chewing on her hands as you wait for the doctor to come in, and you smile when John leans over to kiss your cheek. You both perk up when there’s a small knock on the door, and you smile when Doctor Marlene walks in. She smiles as she walks over to sit down in her chair, then she rolls closer and smiles at Ronan.

“Oh, my goodness, look at your big smile,” she laughs, then she reaches out to shake John’s hand and yours, “How are we doing today?”

“We’re good, just a little nervous.” you laugh, then you look down at Ronan, “She has that rash that I called about yesterday.”

Doctor Marlene gestures for you to lay Ronan down on the exam table, and you stand next to her and place your hand on Ronan’s chest to keep her from rolling over. Doctor Marlene knows how much you and John always worry, so she likes to jump into the exam so the waiting doesn’t stress you out.

“14 pounds and…4 ounces.” she smiles as she looks at Ronan, then she palms around Ronan’s head and whispers to her as she garbles and babbles.

You smile at Ronan as Doctor Marlene bend her legs and rotates her hips to make sure everything is working just fine, then she feels around Ronan’s neck and smiles when Ronan giggles and blows raspberries.

“I see the rash you were talking about.” she says, then she checks Ronan’s ears, nose, eyes, and mouth. She leans closer to get a look at the rash, then she nods, “Looks to be a heat rash.”

John stands up behind you and looks at the doctor, “In this weather?”

“Ronan runs on the warmer side--she always has,” she says, then she gestures to Ronan, letting you know you can hold her, “She’s probably just getting a little warmer at night, so I would suggest lighter clothing. Especially when it starts to get warmer. By the summer, I would say just a diaper is good. Even a fan on low in her room might be good. As for her rash, just a non-fragrant sensitive skin cleanser to help clear it up, and that should be cleared up in three to four days.”

You nod as you sit down and kiss the top of Ronan’s head, and John puts her socks on her little feet so they don’t get cold. He squeezes her foot and smiles, then he kisses her cheek.

“And how is she eating?”

“Really good,” you nod, then you bounce Ronan in your lap, “She’s still getting milk, of course, but we did get her started on some baby food. We tried carrots, wasn’t a big fan of that.”

John laughs as he looks at Ronan, “She spit them back in my face.”

Doctor Marlene chuckles, “I bet that was fun.”

“She did like the avocado, sweet potatoes, and we just tried bananas last night, which she loved.” you smile as you look down at Ronan, “I think the sweet potatoes were her favorite though.”

John continues to tell the doctor about Ronan’s sleep schedule and her nap times, and you smile at him as he talks. He’s so proud of Ronan and fatherhood in general, it’s adorable.

“Is she rolling? Holding her chest and her head up on her own?”

“Oh yeah,” John laughs as he nods, “She nearly rolled off the bed the other day, that’s when we realized she can’t lay on the bed anymore. We put her on her back and blink and she’s already back onto her stomach, holding her head up high while she giggles.”

Doctor Marlene smiles, “I see that she’s definitely very giggly. Is she talking a lot as well? Lots of babbling?”

“Yes,” you smile as you lean down to kiss Ronan’s cheek, and she giggles, “She’s constantly laughing and giggling, and she’s been talking so much lately. She’s got a lot to say. She’s currently into squealing very loudly especially when we’re at work and we need to be quiet.”

John chuckles, “I think she just likes the funny reactions she gets from us.”

Taking a deep breath, Doctor Marlene looks at you and grimaces, “Time for those shots.”

John gives Ronan her pacifier and holds her tiny hand, then he takes a deep breath and watches as Doctor Marlene quickly gives Ronan her shots. Ronan doesn’t cry but she does jut her bottom lip out as the last shot is given to her, then she blows raspberries and kicks her legs while the doctor tries to put bandaids on her leg.

“All done!” Doctor Marlene smiles, squeezing Ronan’s foot, “What a champ. Well, it looks like everything is going well with little miss Ronan, and she’s growing up so fast!”

You frown as you look at her, “I know. I just want to freeze time. How the heck do we have a four month old baby?”

“It’s crazy,” John laughs, then he looks up at the doctor, “This skin cleanser, we can just buy it at the store?”

“Yeah, you can probably get a good deal on it if you go to a baby store,” she says, and you nod.

You look over at John, then you perk up and smile, “I got a coupon for 30% off your entire purchase at First Steps, and we need to get her some new sleepers anyway. Ah, I feel good finally putting that coupon to use.”

John laughs as he gestures to you, “She loves a coupon.”

“Don’t we all?” Doctor Marlene laughs.

John reaches out to shake Doctor Marlene’s hand, then he stands up and grabs your bag while you get Ronan changed back into her clothes. You hold her in your arms as you walk out to the front desk to schedule her next appointment, and you smile as you look over at John. Ronan waves her arms and reaches out for him, and he takes her and kisses her cheek.

“Alright,” you walk over to John and pull on your jacket, “Lunch?”

John smiles, bouncing Ronan in his arms, “Sounds good to us.”

__

Is it really lunchtime if the restaurant you pick isn’t completely packed? It’d be okay if it wasn’t so damn cold outside since the patio would be open, but since it’s winter, that isn’t really an option. You were in the mood for some tacos, so John drove to the best restaurant he knew of in Oyster Bay. It’s still packed with people, so you’re just hanging out in the car for a bit until the lunch rush dies down. Ronan is sleeping too, so it’s nice that you’re not in the loud restaurant.

John looks over at you as you lay with your seat back and hold Ronan against your chest, “She’s fourteen pounds.”

“Our chunky little babe,” you laugh quietly, then you kiss the top of her head, “She was so good getting her shots, I’m so proud.”

“She’s a trooper,” John laughs, and you look over at him and smile.

“She is a Wick after all.”

John chuckles, then he furrows his brow a little, “Hey, why did mom call?”

“Oh, she wants us to join them tomorrow for dinner. I said yes since I know we don’t have any plans.” you say, then you look over at John, “Well, Ro and I don’t have plans. Do you?”

John scoffs as he looks at you, “When do I?”

“You go out with Aurelio and Jimmy for beers every now and again. Don’t act like you never hang out with your friends.” you laugh as John smiles, “You hang out with my dad, which is the sweetest thing ever.”

“Okay, yeah, true.” John laughs, then he looks over when Ronan starts to move on your chest. “Hey, I’m gonna go in and see if there’s a table for us.”

You nod your head as you sit up in your seat, then you bounce Ronan a little as she starts to wake up. She’s definitely going to need a diaper change, but you won’t do that until you get inside. You rub Ronan’s back and rock her back and forth as you hum, and she grunts as she starts to move more.

“Hi, baby.” you hold her up and smile at her, and she chews on her fingers and smiles, “You’re stinky, aren’t you? We should go change you.”

Grabbing your bag, you sling it over your shoulder, then you pull Ronan’s blanket around her since you can’t get her in her jacket right now. You hold her tight to your chest as you get out of the car, then you use your hip to close the door. You hear the car lock a moment later, and you smile to yourself since you know John is watching from the window of the restaurant.

Ronan is starting to get a little fussy since she’s in need of a diaper change and definitely getting hungry, and she starts to cry softly as you walk inside. John smiles as he holds the door open for you, then he wraps his arm around your back and leads to an open table.

“I have to pee so bad and I need to change her.” you say as you drop your bag onto the chair, “Can you change her? I have to pee so fucking bad.”

John nods as he reaches out for Ronan, “Of course.”

“Thank you,” you barely get Ronan into John’s arms before you rush off to use the bathroom. You push the door open and lock yourself in a stall, and you do a bit of a dance as you try to get your pants unbuttoned. You finally sit down and exhale as you pee, then you close your eyes and laugh since you nearly pissed your pants.

You finish up quickly in the bathroom and wash your hands, then you head back out to see if John is done changing Ronan. He probably isn’t since she’s so wiggly nowadays, but hopefully he’s doing okay. You head back to your table when you hear someone calling out your name, and you furrow your brow and turn around to see who it is.

“Hey, Y/N.” the voice calls out again, and you look to the left and smile when you spot Derek, a guy who you dated for about a month when you very first moved to New York. “Hey.”

You smile as you reach out to hug him, “Hi.”

“How have you been? How’s work going? Still at the bookshop? It’s been…a long time. Fill me in.”

“Yeah,” you laugh as you look at him, “I’ve been good! Yeah, I still work at the bookshop, but I…I actually own it now!”

Derek laughs, “That’s amazing, I’ll need to stop in sometime.”

“Yeah, definitely. We’ve changed up a lot of stuff too. Tess doesn’t work there anymore since she has a little boy,” you smile, and Derek puts his hand on his head like he can’t believe it. “I know, it’s a little shocking. She’s an amazing mom, and her husband is great too.”

“Well,” Derek gestures to you, “What about you? How have you been?”

“Good,” you smile, then you reach down and play with your wedding ring, “I’m married too! And I have a beautiful 4 month old baby girl.”

Derek widens his eyes as he smiles, “You’re kidding?”

“Nope!” you show him your wedding ring as he gasps and playfully clutches his heart, “They’re here if you want to meet them.”

“Yeah, absolutely.” he nods, then he follows you over to your table.

John looks up and narrows his eyes when he sees someone following behind you, but you smile at him to let him know everything is okay. Ronan is chewing on her hands as she sits with her back against John’s chest, and she kicks her legs and smiles when she sees you.

“This is my husband, John.” you smile as you stand next to him, “John, this is Derek.”

John reaches out to shake his hand, “Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too.” he laughs, then he looks down at Ronan, “Oh, man, she’s cute.”

“Thank you.” you smile proudly, “This would be Ronan. She looks just like her dad.”

Derek laughs, “She’s got your smile though.”

You look over at John and smile since that’s what John says to you all the time, and you reach out to touch John’s cheek before you look back at Derek. You glance over at John and see he’s wondering how you know this guy, so you clear your throat a little.

“I…dated Derek back before we met,” you say, and John nods his head. “For about a month, but we ended things on super good terms.”

Derek chuckles, “I was heartbroken though. She’s a great gal.”

“She is,” John nods, looking up at you.

Derek crosses his arms and smiles, “How did you two meet?”

“He lived across the street from me--Tess lives in the house now with her family. I was outside one day and our dog, which was his dog ran over to me, then John came over and introduced himself. I’ve been pretty obsessed with him since then,” you say as you smile at John, then you look at Derek, “With John, not the dog, but also the dog. I do really love our dog.”

John holds your gaze when you look at him, so you give him a little wink, which makes him smile.

Derek nods his head, then he laughs, “And you two got married and had a baby. Wow.”

“Hey, are you dating now?” you ask Derek, then you take Ronan when she reaches up for you.

Derek shakes his head, “No, you ruined dating for me.”

You scoff, “Oh, please.”

“Nah, I got a pretty big promotion at work so it’s been taking up most of my time,” he says, then he looks up at you as you bounce Ronan, “But I’m realizing just how much time I’ve been wasting when I should be focusing on other things. I’d really like to have a family.”

“And you’ll get it!” you smile at him, then you look at Ronan when she squeals. “She agrees!”

Derek inhales deeply and reaches out to shake John’s hand, then he quickly hugs you, “It was nice to see you. You look great, and your daughter is beautiful.”

“Thank you.” you smile at him, “I’ll see you around.”

You sit down at the table and place Ronan in your lap, then you look up at John as he stares at you with his eyebrows raised and a tiny smile on his face. He lets out a small laugh as he looks down at his menu, and you playfully roll your eyes.

“Shuddup,” you laugh, and John chuckles. “He was just being nice.”

John nods his head as he looks at the menu, “He still likes you.”

“Oh, god, I knew you were gonna do this,” you say as John laughs. “Stop being jealous, Wick.”

“I am not jealous,” John says, and you stare blankly at him until he laughs, “Okay, so maybe I didn’t like the way he was looking at you, but that’s understandable; you’re my wife.”

You laugh as you put your menu down a little, “Yeah, I’m your wife. I married you for a reason, you dork.”

“I just like to tease you.” John laughs as he sits up a little so he can lean over and kiss you, then he pinches Ronan’s cheek and sits back down, “Listen, I’m not jealous.”

“You’re a little jealous…”

Letting out a small sigh, John laughs when you squint your eyes and put your hand up, squeezing your pointer finger and thumb close together. He shakes his head as he laughs and gazes at you, then he gets up to kiss you again.

“I’m just protective of my girl.” he whispers as you smile, then he reaches over for your hand, “I know firsthand how sweet, kind, smart, and beautiful you are, so I know how easy it is to fall in love with you. I know because I’m still falling in love with you every day.”

Ronan babbles loudly in your arms as you look at John, then you laugh and look down at her as she chews on her fingers. You press a kiss to the top of her head, then you look up at John as he watches you and Ronan with the pure adoration.

“I am yours.” you smile at him, “Always and forever.”

John squeezes your hand a little and smiles, then he nods, “Again, not jealous. Just wondering why you’ve never mentioned him before.”

“How about we have this conversation when my stomach isn’t growling and our daughter isn’t about to wiggle out of my arms because she’s hungry?” you laugh, and John nods his head.

“Sounds good.”

__

Plopping down on the couch, you rub your hands over your eyes and exhale loudly before you yawn. You lay down and yawn again, and you hear John let out a small laugh as he walks into the living room.

“Sleepy?”

“Yeah, I didn’t sleep great last night since I just worried about Ro’s appointment.” you nod, then you tilt your head back and look at him drying a plate. “I think I’m gonna go change and get in bed.”

John nods, “I’ll be up in a bit. I just want to get these dishes put away. I gotta call Jimmy back too.”

“Okay,” you smile as you get up from the couch, then you shuffle over to kiss him, “Don’t take too long, otherwise I’ll fall asleep without you.”

“I’ll be up soon, baby.”

Holding John’s hand, you smile at him and back away until your fingers lose touch, then you head upstairs to your bedroom. You change into your pajamas and make your way into the bathroom to wash your face and brush your teeth, but you skip on washing your face since you’re desperately wanting to just lay down already--you’ll regret it when you have mascara around your eyes in the morning. You crawl into bed and pull the covers up as you lay on your left side, and you look at the door when you hear John coming upstairs as he talks on his phone.

“I didn’t know you were going to be there as well.” John says, then he smiles when he sees you already curled up in bed. “Yeah, it was good. She’s 14 pounds, can’t believe she’s getting so big. Everything looks good. She has a rash, but it’s just a heat rash from her running a little warm. We bought her some cleanser and some new pajamas that will keep her cooler at night, so hopefully it’ll clear up soon.”

You smile at John as he continues to boast about Ronan, then he holds his phone away as he quickly pulls his shirt off. He presses his phone to his ear and sits down on the foot of the bed, and you playfully kick his back.

“Yeah, she’s good. She’s currently kicking me in the back because she’s ready for bed.” John says, then he looks over his shoulder at you, “Jimmy said you need to be nice to me.”

You scoff, “Okay, James.”

John laughs, then he gets up, “Yeah, we’ll see you guys tomorrow. Tell Tess I said hi. Alright. Bye.”

Looking at John, you smile when he sets his phone down on his nightstand, then he leans down to kiss you before he walks into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He comes back out and crawls in bed with you, and you immediately roll over to turn on Ronan’s monitor to check on her. Still completely zonked out.

“How did we get so lucky?”

John chuckles as he leans over your shoulder, “I ask myself that every day. How the hell did I get so lucky to have a beautiful wife and a beautiful daughter?”

You roll onto your back and smile as John leans down to kiss you, then you cup his face, “I never told you about Derek because it didn’t feel important to me. I guess I really don’t even consider him an ex or anything. It was such a quick thing with him.”

“Was he…” John swallows and looks up to meet your gaze, “Was he mean to you?”

“No, not at all. He was great. He treated me well, he called when he said he would, he told me that I was smart and pretty.” you say, and John nods his head, “If he was so great, why aren’t I with him? I know you’re wondering.”

John nods as he shrugs, “Naturally.”

You let out a small laugh as you look at him, “I don’t know. I mean, he’s attractive, he’s smart. He could provide for me and our kids. He’s everything that someone would have wanted in a husband.”

“So, why didn’t you?”

“I don’t know,” you shrug as you look at John, “He just moved so fast. We were together for about three weeks and already he was saying that he wanted to spend his life with me. I met his mom, and she said she couldn’t wait for us to get pregnant. It was just so fast. He just moved so fast for me.”

John nods, then he shrugs timidly, “I…told you those things when we were only together for about a month. I told you that I wanted to spend my life with you. How was that different?”

“He isn’t you.” you smile as you look at John, then you rub your thumb over his cheek, “He isn’t who I’m meant to be with. You are. You said all those things to me and it meant so much to me because I felt the same way about you. And listen, he wasn’t perfect by any means just because he treated me well. He always put his job first, and since we were only newly dating, I didn’t let it bother me, but I realized that his work was always going to come first. I have never been an afterthought with you, and you have no idea how much that means to me.”

“He even mentioned how he’s been so focused on work…”

You nod, “And everything is slipping from his grip because of it. But see, the thing is, it’s more than that with you. John, I can’t even begin to describe how you make me feel and how incredibly happy I’ve been since I met you. You are my absolute best friend, and the moment I met you, I just knew. I knew that it was you and no one else. We just had this…”

“Spark.”

You laugh as you look up at him, “Yeah, a spark. It really was love at first sight for me, and I’ll always firmly believe that.”

A smile spreads across John’s face as he looks at you, then he leans down to kiss you, “Me too. I love you, mouse.”

“You’re my favorite person on this planet, and I’m so, so, so glad that I married you.” you smile at John as he leans down to kiss you, then you snuggle into his arms as you open your mouth to taste his tongue.

“Hey,” John laughs when you scoot away from him, then he pulls you back, “Make out with me for a minute.”

Closing your eyes, you pull John’s closer as he slides his tongue into your mouth, and you feel his left hand firm on your waist. John gently bites your lip and sucks on it as he moves his hand up to your breast, and you laugh against his lips, cocking up your eyebrow.

“I would totally be down if I wasn’t so damn tired, so…” you smile at him, then you lean up to kiss him, “With that being said, morning sex is on the schedule for tomorrow.”

“Oh, well, now I can’t wait to go to bed.” John laughs as he leans down to kiss you, and you cup his face to keep his lips there a few moments longer.

John wraps his right arm around you and kisses your forehead, then he reaches over to get the remote to turn on the TV. He continues to press soft kisses to your forehead as he watches TV, and you close your eyes and fall asleep as the two of you cling to each other.

__

Apparently there was a dress code for dinner tonight, so you’re wearing a formfitting dark blue dress and some heels. You’d be cold if you were outside, but you know that dinner will obviously be inside a restaurant. Plus you called to make sure Tess was wearing a dress too and since she is, you are too.

It’s been awhile since you’ve dressed up and gone out, so you figured you might as well go all out. John made a big deal about you, whistling and making you twirl to check you out, and it’s safe to say that you’re flattered. He looks so handsome as well, just in a pair of nice dress pants and a dark blue button up shirt with a tie. Yes, he matches you. No, it wasn’t intentional.

Ronan is just wearing a little red dress with white tights since you don’t really have anything fancy for her. You should really look into getting her some fancier dresses for special occasions. The problem is babies just grow too damn fast. She does have a big bow on her head that she’ll definitely pull off within the next hour, but as for now, she looks pretty damn cute. She always looks cute, but of course, you’re biased.

John holds the door open for you as you carry Ronan into the restaurant, then he wraps his arm around your waist as you walk inside. You both perk up when you see your dad walking over, and he shakes hands with John and smiles at Ronan in her car seat.

“Oh, she looks beautiful,” he smiles, then he laughs when she babbles, “Gettin’ so talkative, huh?”

“Yeah, very.” you laugh as you walk with him to the back of the restaurant, and you furrow your brow and look at John when you see it’s a private room. You smile when you see your mom talking to Leah, and you set Ronan’s car seat down to hug them both. “Hey.”

Leah smiles as she hugs you, then she leans back and smiles at John, “How are you two? Where’s that gorgeous little girl?”

“Right here,” John smiles as he holds up Ronan, then he hands her over to Leah.

“Ah, I missed her!” Leah smiles as she kisses Ronan’s cheek, then she looks at you. “I heard that she had an appointment yesterday.”

You smile as you get Ronan’s bib out since she’s drooling all over her dress, “Yeah, she’s really good! Her doctor said that she’ll really start talking soon, and drooling, of course.”

Leah laughs, “Yeah, I see that.”

You sit down at the table and look around the room, realizing it has a very…romantic feel to it with the dim lights, candles, and flowers. You furrow your brow a little more as you look around, then you look at John and gesture to the room. He raises his eyebrows and shrugs, then he turns to talk to Jimmy.

“Hey!” Tess smiles as she walks in, then she puts Finn down and hugs Leah. You smile when she leans down to kiss Ronan’s cheek, then she squeezes John’s arm as she walks over to you, “Hey. Oh, you look good.”

“Thanks,” you shrug, then you gesture to her, “Same to you.”

Ronan lets out one loud cry, which freaks Leah out, and she walks over to hand her off to you. She’s most likely in need of a diaper change, so you grab her bag and find a diaper.

“I can take her.” Tess says, and you smile at her. “I have to change Finn too anyway, so I can do it.”

“Thanks.” you smile as Tess takes Ronan, then you hand her the diaper. Ronan fusses a little and reaches out for you, so you cup her face, “You’re okay. Aunt Tess is going to change you, stinky.”

Tess bounces Ronan and looks at her, “Hey, I’m your favorite aunt. You’re not supposed to cry when I hold you.”

Ronan looks at Tess and juts out her bottom lip, and Tess immediately crumbles and hugs her tight. You laugh quietly as Tess hugs her and starts to dance a little to cheer Ronan up, then they head out to the bathroom. You walk over to see what John and Jimmy are talking about, and you reach for John’s hand and smile when he looks at you as your hand slips into his.

John wraps his arm around your shoulder and smiles as he continues talking with Jimmy about some shelving unit he wants made for the basement, and you lean your head against his chest.

“Yeah, I can do that.” Jimmy nods, then he sucks in a big breath, “Tess wants us to…start fixing up another room for baby two. She’s not pregnant obviously, but the room needs a lot of work done to it. It’s hardwood, so I’ll have to rip all that shit out since it’s pretty gross--the house was actually in need of a lot of renovations. The outlets aren’t great in it either, so I’ll have to redo all that as well. And for Christmas, we decided to get ourselves all new windows. Could always use an extra pair of hands.”

John nods, “Yeah, man, just let me know.”

You smile to yourself as you listen to John and Jimmy talking, then you gasp when you see Tess coming in with Ronan who is wearing a light pink fluffy dress that is so fluffy she’s practically buried under it. You put your hand over your mouth as you walk over to her, then you laugh and reach out for her.

“Oh, my god.” you laugh as you hug her.

Ronan chews on her hands and smiles at you as you hold her up to get a better look at her outfit, and you look at John as he walks over. He takes her when she reaches for him, and he kisses her cheek repeatedly.

“Look how beautiful you are.” John smiles at her, then he laughs, “She looks so cute, she looks like her momma.”

Your mom places her hand on your back and smiles, “The flower girl needs a pretty dress.”

You look at your mom and furrow your brow, “Wait, what?”

“I told you that your dad and I always wanted to do something small and quick. No need to do a big thing for your old parents.” she smiles, then she holds your dad’s hand, “We just wanted our family here. We wanted to do this when we first moved to Oyster Bay, but someone hadn’t joined us yet.”

Ronan giggles as if she knows your mom was referring to her, and you let out a small laugh as you look at your mom again.

“I called James several weeks ago and asked if he’d be up for officiating another wedding, and he’s been keeping this secret this whole time. Tess only just found out this morning when I gave her the dress for Ro and the little suit for Finn.” she says, and you look down at Finn in his little suit.

Tess laughs, “I’m very impressed that Jimmy was able to keep this secret. I mean, mom told me, not Jimmy. He deserves a round of applause.”

“So, you two are getting married right now?” you ask, and your mom smiles as she nods. You look at John as he holds Ronan, then you look at your mom, “Well, let’s do it! You two have waited long enough.”

Jimmy fixes his shirt a little and clears his throat as he walks to the front of the room, then he smiles when your mom and dad stand in front of him. He lets out a small laugh when Finn runs up and clings to his leg, and you sit down and hold hands with John as he sets Ronan in his lap.

Dan looks so nervous even though it’s just a few people here, but it’s pretty sweet. You always knew that he was the perfect guy for your mom, and you’ve always loved him and looked at him like he was your biological dad. He’s just a great guy, and you’re so happy that your mom met him. You’re so happy that she has him and that he has her.

“I’m quite nervous,” Dan laughs, then he takes your mom’s hands, “It feels like a lifetime ago that I met you in that grocery store, but at the same time, it feels like just yesterday. The kindest woman I’ve ever met put aside her things and helped the poor old single dad. You helped me in more ways than you’ll ever know. I’m giving you this ring today, but you’ve had my heart since the moment I saw you. You complete me. You and our girls.”

Wiping away the tear on your cheek, you smile when Dan looks over at you, then at Tess and Leah. He smiles at the three of you, then he looks back at your mom.

“You have added so much color to my life, and you brought two beautiful girls with you. This isn’t just a promise to you. It’s a promise to our family.” he smiles, then he takes a deep breath and exhales nervously.

Your mom laughs quietly as she tears up, then she takes a deep breath, “As I stand here with you, I…am at a loss for words. I don’t know how you’re real.”

John lets out a small laugh and leans over to whisper, “You are so much like your mom.”

“Yeah, yeah…” you laugh as you playfully roll your eyes.

“For the rest of our lives, I promise to wake up and choose you, to stand next to you in life, to be your best friend.” your mom smiles, then she inhales deeply, “But I can’t promise to always check the oil in my car, or to not trip over your golf clubs every damn day because you didn’t put them away.”

Dan laughs, “I promise to start putting them in the right place.”

“You never have, so why start now?” she laughs, then they both turn to Jimmy.

Jimmy takes a deep breath and smiles, “Do you two promise to love and cherish each for the rest of your days?”

“We do,” they say, then they continue to smile and nod as Jimmy goes through the rest of the vows.

You look over at Ronan as she kicks her legs and looks around, and you reach into your bag and grab a toy for her to play with so she doesn’t get fussy and ruin this moment.

“Tess, Y/N, and Leah…” Jimmy smiles, then he waves you up to him. He pulls out a piece of paper and smiles, “You’re the witnesses.”

The three of you quickly sign the paper and head back to your seats, and you take Ronan when she reaches for you. You pat her back and bounce her since she’s getting a little fussy, then you smile when your mom and dad share their first official kiss as husband and wife, and you all clap--even Ronan claps.

Your mom reaches out for Finn when he walks to her, then she kisses his cheek and laughs when Dan says something to him. You smile to yourself as you look at the beautiful smile on your mom’s face and the happiness radiating off of her, and you feel yourself tearing up.

“She looks happy,” John says, and you look over at him. He lets out a small laugh and wipes away the tear on your cheek, then he leans over to kiss you. He looks at Ronan and smiles, “Hey, bug, how was your first wedding?”

You look down at her as you set her in your lap, and you wipe away the drool on her chin, “Her first wedding as a flower girl.”

John stands up to hug and congratulate your mom, then he hugs your dad, “We’d like to pay for your honeymoon.”

“Oh, you’re so sweet,” your mom laughs as she pats John’s cheek, “But we already have it all settled and taken care of.”

You stand up and smile, “Where are you going?”

“We have a few different places in mind. We’ve heard so many great things about Italy and Greece lately, we decided that we want to check them out for ourselves.” your mom says as she reaches out to touch Ronan’s cheek.

You smile as you bounce Ronan, “When are you leaving?”

Dan puts his hand on your mom’s back, “We’re thinking at the beginning of spring. It’ll be warmer.”

You look over at John as he chuckles--Ronan is being a goober, “Well, if you happen to be in any certain places and don’t know what to do, just give this guy a call. World traveler over here. He knows all the best places. Oh! And I’m sure when you go to Greece, you’ll go to Santorini, so definitely check out Oia and the cute little book shop that John and I stopped in.”

“We will definitely do that,” your mom smiles, then she looks at your dad. She whispers to something to him, and they both look down at their new wedding bands before growing giddy.

How adorable are they?

__

“Hey,” John calls out as you walk past, then he waves you over before he turns on some music, “Slow dance with me.”

You smile as you sleepily walk over to him, and he laughs when you collapse against his chest.

“Oh, come on. Indulge me.” he whispers, and you wrap your arms around his neck and look up at him, “You look so pretty tonight that I just want you to myself for a few minutes.”

You lean back and look at him, “I was kind of hoping you’d take me upstairs and have your way with me instead.”

John immediately leans over to turn off the music, then he throws you over his shoulder as you laugh. You slide your hands down his back to his ass, then you spank him as he heads upstairs. He walks into the bedroom and waits for you to close the door, then he sets you down and gently cups your face as he kisses you.

“You looked gorgeous tonight,” he whispers, and you smile at him, “Did you have a good time?”

“I did,” you nod as you look down as you play with his fingers, “It’s weird to think my mom and dad are married but at the same time, it’s not. Does that make sense?”

John nods, “Yeah. You excited for Paris? Not long now.”

You gasp loudly as you rush over to grab your phone, “Yes!”

“Uh oh, she’s found somewhere to go.” he says, walking to the dresser to get his pajama pants.

“I found this website that had a list of hidden gems in Paris, and I really want to go to this one place. It’s a flower market, but on Sundays it turns into like…a bird market. There’s tons of birds that show up. I don’t know, they must feed them. Then I found this other place, it’s a little bookshop! It’s located on--lemme see if I can get this right--Rue de la…Par…parch…eminerie.” you look at John as he smiles in amusement, trying his best not to laugh, “I totally butchered it, didn’t I?”

John chuckles as he leans down to kiss you, “Just a little but you sounded so cute.”

“Look, babe!” you hold your phone up to show him pictures of it, “It’s so romantic.”

“And cluttered,” John nods, and you slouch, dropping your arm to your side as you pout. He laughs as he holds you arm back up so he can look at the picture, “But it looks very nice. It even has those wooden ladders you’re dying to get for the shop.”

You grin as you tilt your head back, “And we can buy some books! You can find some first editions to sell. It’ll be so fun.”

John wraps his arms around you and pulls you close to him, “Paris is going to be a trip we’ll never forget.”

“I can’t wait.” you whisper as you lean up to kiss him, “I can’t wait to just be with you.”

“I can’t wait to be in the city of love with my love.”

Pulling John closer by the waistband of his jeans, you smirk and shake your head, “You’re so corny.”

“But you love it.” he says soft and low, and you nod, “And you love me.”

You slowly unbutton his jeans and hold his gaze, “I do. Very, very much. And I’m gonna show you.”

John grins as he leans down to kiss you, “I like the sound of that.”

__

taglist: @sakurachan-9 | @beingnerdyissupercool | @ruby-octo | @aragornswife​ | @angie-20000  i updated my tagging list, if you’d like to be tagged in future chapters, let me know! 

#john wick x you #john wick x reader #john wick x y/n #john wick imagine #fic: hold my hand #they're the best i love them #number one mom and dad lbr #also love seeing jealous john everynow and then lmao #i hope you enjoy #please leave some good feedback/comments!!! #ok love u byeeeeeeeeeee

[thesecrimsonstrings-if]

RO reactions to finding out an engagement ring hidden in the MC's stuff (in deep relationship stage)?

ronan bennett: he's confused at first, poor guy 😭 thinks that you're maybe hiding it for a friend or something but then another voice kicks in that says that maybe it's for him? he quickly hides it back where he found it in. when you're home, he's acting even cheerful than usual and is sticking close to you even when you're doing chores.

ronan won't exactly ask about it straight up because he believes you'll pop the question when you're ready and his overwhelming curiosity will probably put you off. but there's no measure to how much he looks forward to the day that ring will be places on his finger. in the meantime, he'd find a ring for you too, so you two can match even then 😌

before he goes to sleep that night, ronan kisses the knuckles of your hand and his eyes are shining like the stars are being reflected in them.

“i want to spend my forever with you.”

célia dupont: she isn't exactly the type of person to snoop through people's belonging but she just had this annoying itch to check the pockets of your coat. sure enough, she finds a velvet box with a ring inside. célia is smart enough to understand what this implies and she cannot stop the bubble of happiness that arises from every ending of her heart and soul.

the heiress had never exactly pictured herself marrying anyone willingly. while she knew her parents would probably find a business partner for her to get married off to, it didn't mean that she'd be happy about it. but meeting you had erased every single doubt célia had on her mind about spending the rest of her life by someone's side.

you're surprised to find her still staying at your home when you're back. also the fact that she randomly decided to make a nice little dinner for both of you. célia listens to you rant about your day and she leans forward to take your hand on top of the table, squeezing ever so gently. she smiles at your linked hands and imagines the day where there will be a ring on both of your fingers.

s bakkoush: now you know S can be pretty nosy but not so much as digging through other people's properties. the box had actually slipped from your jacket as you hurried to get out on an urgent call. the gears in S's turn until they correctly come to the conclusion that you're planning on proposing. a smile forms on their face, but it fades just as quickly when that annoying voice of their insecurities make an appearance again.

it tells them that it's probably a misunderstanding, maybe you're just holding it for someone because they asked you to. S knows that all these fears are unfounded, seeing as you've done nothing but made them realise how much you love them in all the time you've been together. but still, there's always a part of them which doubts everything they've ever done.

they're unusually quiet when you get back home and it worries you. however, you don't really need to ask about the demons in their head. S silently opens their arms, asking for a hug and you immediately lean into them. their mind spins in wonder and the anxious thoughts are now nothing more than a mumble. S has a feeling that every waking moment of their life won't be complete without you around.

Even with an official marriage or a lack thereof, they'll belong to you forever and they hope you feel the same way.

i tachibana: their nose wrinkles, they were never much of a jewellery person. but then again, they weren't going to judge your rather lavish taste in fashion. the hunter did think that even a diamond ring was a bit tacky for you but oh well. honestly, even the thought of it being an engagement ring for I doesn't even cross their mind 😭

when you're home, the hunter would ask you if diamond rings were something that you were into these days and eye you with a mixture of worry and confusion when you start choking on the blood bag you were drinking from.

when you hypothetically ask if they'd like to get married someday, you can see their cheeks doing a wonderful gymnastics of turning into different shades of red. the hunter would then proceed to tell you that you're an idiot for asking that question out of nowhere. although you do notice that they didn't seem opposed to the idea with the way there was a small smile on their lips as they hit you with a cushion from the sofa.

#asks #this one was mostly fluffy #with angst (thanks to S) #ro: ronan bennett #ro: célia dupont #ro: s bakkoush #ro: i tachibana #ro scenarios #these crimson strings #bonnie nonnie

[catboynecromancy]

Kissing prompt day 2, from the lovely @navigatrixloves. Thank you for this one! 💕

Pynch — One person tracing the other’s lips with a fingertip until they can’t resist any longer, tilting their chin towards them for a kiss.

-

There’s reassurance in the gesture, in having Adam’s hands so close. Ronan has always found both comfort and exhilaration in his boyfriend’s touch, how Adam knows exactly when and what he needs at any given moment, all without so much as a single word said between them.

Yesterday, it had been leaving Ronan to his own devices, until it became time to sleep. Then it was having wiry but strong arms wrapped around him, holding Ronan so he felt safe and secure enough to dream.

Today, it’s inseparability, staying so near they’re practically one creature. It was Adam, slotted against Ronan’s back while he tried, and ultimately failed, to cook perfect over-easy eggs and unburnt bacon for breakfast. It was their pinkies and ring fingers twined together as they walked the fences, checking for broken planks and other flaws which might allow dreamt-up animals to escape.

Now, it’s Adam sitting comfortably on his lap, curled up to Ronan with his face resting against his shoulder. They’ve been like this for a while, long enough for Ronan to lose track of time, quiet except for their soft breathing and murmurs of nonsense once the silence becomes almost too charged to bear. When Adam shifts, Ronan worries he’s bored and done with being close, while he’s so very far from being ready to break apart.

Not yet, he thinks. Please, not yet.

Adam stares at Ronan with a look that is somehow both stern and soft, his lips pursed, lovely blue eyes tapering. There’s a gentleness to the set of his face, one that says I’m thinking.

He doesn’t speak out loud, there’s no need to. Words are nice, sure, but they communicate best through private, knowing glances, and by fitting their bodies together in moments of vulnerability and bliss. Rather than say what’s on his mind, Adam puts a finger to Ronan’s mouth, slowly brushing the calloused pad along his plump, slightly chapped bottom lip, then does the same to the top one. They part on sheer instinct, lids drooping as he loses himself in the familiar intimacy of being touched in such a way.

Through his dark eyelashes, Ronan sees the intense expression spread across Adam’s naturally gaunt features. His near translucent brows draw in, forming a telling crease between them, his mouth set in a painfully straight line.

Trying to lighten the mood, Ronan eases the tip of Adam’s finger into his mouth to nibble on it, only to be rebuffed with a huff and his boyfriend pulling the whole thing away. “My bad,” Ronan gets out. “Won’t do it again.”

Adam doesn’t respond, he just fixes Ronan with a glare before going back to cautiously tracing his lips. It goes on for a long minute, another, and another, until Ronan begins to think he’s becoming delirious. His mouth trembles from the attention, breaths coming out in shaky waves, all conscious thought drifting further away with each passing moment. The only thing that exists is him, Adam’s comfortable weight still settled on his lap, and the finger gliding along his lips for what feels like an eternity and yet no time at all.

Just as Ronan is on the verge of a near mental breakdown, Adam finally stops, the sudden lack of sensation drawing out a whine. The digit drifts down, settling underneath his chin, tilting Ronan’s head up as Adam gives him a single, chaste kiss. Ronan isn’t certain what would be better for his fracturing state of mind — for this to be all there is, or for Adam to push — but he doesn’t have to worry for too long. Rather than pull away, Adam digs teeth into his bottom lip, biting down hard and, when Ronan whimpers in pain, promptly offers his tongue as a balm. He drags along the outside before delving in, licking at every inch Ronan has to offer.

He wraps arms around Adam’s back, pulling him close, his own fingers clawing into skin through a thin layer of blended cotton. Adam takes this as a sign to explore further, his confidence in the kiss making Ronan’s head swirl until he can’t take it any longer. Ronan pulls away with a gasp, both from surprise and something else altogether.

“Was that not okay?” Adam asks, whatever courage that had been there before gone.

“No, it was…” Ronan trails off, staring up at Adam’s flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips. “Fucking good, almost too good. You’re so much sometimes, Adam.”

The look Adam gives him is one of uncertainty rather than pride, although Ronan thinks it should be the latter, considering the compliment. He starts to move like he wants out, but Ronan’s grip keeps him in place, and Adam quickly gives up with a frustrated sigh. “That’s not as flattering as you think it is, y’know.”

“It is, you just don’t know how to take a compliment.” This earns him another, much deeper sigh as a response. “I mean it, like, sometimes you’re just so fucking much it makes me feel like I’m going insane.”

Adam snorts and leans forward, nuzzling his face into Ronan’s shoulder. “I don’t get it,” he says, at least somewhat cowed by the elaboration.

“You will. Someday. Soon.”

“Soon?” Adam repeats, curiosity in his muffled voice.

“Soon.” Ronan echoes back, arms squeezing Adam tighter. “You’ll see yourself the way I see you.”

He doesn’t say anything, just reaches blindly up to press fingers to Ronan’s mouth and keeps them there — his own soundless offer of comfort and surrender.

#pynch #ronan lynch #adam parrish #trc #the raven cycle #my fic #ask prompts #kiss prompts #navigatrixloves #i sort of combined the lap one into this too

[aaronstveit]

what are your favorite pynch quotes?

hi anon!!! sorry for taking like 30 years to answer this ask!!!! there are quite a few that make me scream so this list could theoretically get quite long..... gonna put it beneath a read more !!!

The choice was death or hurting Adam, which wasn't much of a choice at all. (absolute 100% favorite, i had to stop reading the first time i encountered this line because my god)

Adam seized Ronan’s neck, fingers hooked in his skin. Ronan could not kill him, no matter how much Orphan Girl begged. It was Adam. (this line from ronan's dream in the dream thieves paralleled directly against that scene in the raven king. scream!!!!!)

"I'm always straight." / "Oh man, that's the biggest lie you've ever told."

obviously the entire "The ocean burned." thing.... wow

They hugged again, merrily, waltzing messily in the kitchen, and kissed, merrily, waltzing more.

The scent of Cabeswater, all trees after rain, drifted past Adam, and he realized that while he'd been looking at Ronan, Ronan had been looking at him.

"Well," Ronan said, sounding nasty and unhappy. "Here we go, cowboy." (COWBOY?????)

They were both hungry animals, but Adam had been starving for longer.

"Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit," Ronan said into Adam's hearing ear, and Adam's body sagged against Ronan, chest heaving. His hands still jerked and strained to violence. He gasped, "You asshole," but Ronan could hear how near tears he was.

"I'm coming back. Be here for me."

Adam lived in an apartment located above the office of St. Agnes Catholic Church, a fortuitous combination that focused most of the objects of Ronan's worship into one downtown block.

Making Ronan Lynch smile felt as charged as making a bargain with Cabeswater. These weren't forces to play with.

Adam. Ronan missed him like a lung. (no seriously what the FUCK)

Adam looked up at Ronan. "I know it was you," he said. "I figured it out. The rent." He held Ronan’s gaze for just a moment longer, until something inside Ronan unwound and he almost said something. (adam ending ronan's internalized homophobia just one short book after bullying him in the helicopter... so true besties)

When he opened his eyes, he saw that Ronan was looking at him, as he had been looking at him for months. Adam looked back, as he had been looking back for months.

He was trying to reach Ronan Lynch, but it was like a phone that kept ringing and ringing. This was a dangerous game, but he kept trying.

Without looking up from the phone, Adam asked, "How does that feel, Lynch? Does the mirror look different than you expected?"

"And here was Ronan, like a heart attack that never stopped." (adam parrish literally said this out loud. what the HELL.)

Ronan's second secret was Adam Parrish.

"Miseria fortes viros, Ronan," Adam said. When he said "Ronan," it meant: Ronan. (SCREAM)

As Gansey shut the door behind him, he heard Adam say, "I don't want to talk," and Ronan reply, "The fuck would I talk about?"

also I can't think of the exact quote right now but that bit in mister impossible with the gloves and the boots and like "Adam wasn't just dating Ronan, he was living in his life with him" or something???? broooo that got me

anyway i'm gonna end this list now before i end up spending my entire day quoting every pynch line in the two series fjdksljfklds. thank you for the ask lovely anon!!!! hope you're doing well and staying safe 💛✨

#thank you!!!! #pynch #trc #answered #anonymous #love letters only💛 #lit #birdverse #the raven cycle #the dreamer trilogy #otp: the ocean burned #the added knowledge that this anon was coco is too much for me. goodnight

[the-ace-with-spades]

(6/6) the best is yet to be

five times someone realized Ronan and Adam were basically married and one time they actually were

Part 1 │Part 2 │Part 3 │Part 4 │Part 5 Read on ao3

They were getting married.

It wasn't exactly planned — any part of it, really, all just came up on its own or spiraled into place after years of floating in the air. Adam came from his final year earlier than expected — than Ronan expected, really, apparently Adam planned it to be a surprise — having taken a heavier workload in the first semester and finishing his dissertation in March. He had told Ronan he would miss Easter and he did, coming only two days later.

It was the beginning of April and the weather that week had been unexpectedly good and they sat in the fields, Ronan was braiding his third flower crown — one had been eaten by Opal, one was on Adam's head.

"It's so warm in Virginia," Adam said, directing his face into the sun. He always complained about Harvard being cold, no matter how many blankets and sweaters Ronan had sent him. "It's the most dream-like part here. We should get married in spring and have a wedding in the meadows, it would look like from a Victorian novel."

He said it way too casually to justify Ronan's heart attempting to escape his ribcage at such alarming speed. He also didn't add anything, just leaned further on his elbows, touching Ronan's shoulder with his forehead.

Ronan didn't even think before he got up, making Adam fell on his face, and told him, "Fucking wait here and don't move even an inch."

It took him twenty minutes to run to the house, throw away all the cookbooks from the shelf in the kitchen — the shelf Adam was forbidden from touching after his third attempt at crêpes — grab a small cardboard box from behind the backboard, and run back. Making his way through the meadow, he wished he had put it in something better-looking and not just left it in the same box he picked it up from the jewelry shop.

Adam was still sitting where he left him, this time with Opal on his knees, showing her how to finish the flower crown Ronan abandoned.

Ronan felt his hands sweat.

He kneeled down.

Adam stared at him, his arms going limp around Opal. He frowned. "Ronan?"

He said it so softly Ronan could feel his heart growing at the sound.

When he resized the ring — one of his mom's, one of the few she wore outside of her wedding band — he had told himself that he will make a plan. At first, he thought about taking Adam to Lindenmere, but they were there too often for it to be something special and Ronan wanted it to be something special. He thought about restaurants and hikes and dreamt fireworks and writing it on a cow's fur and going on a boat on the lake. He thought about putting the ring in a birthday cupcake — although with Ronan's luck, Adam would choke on it — or in a flute of champagne — Adam didn't drink alcohol — and he thought about a hundred different foods he could cook for him. It all didn't seem right, seemed overly cheesy or normal or conventional, and they were anything but that.

Adam was anything but that.

So Ronan kneeled there, in the meadow full of spring flowers and fresh grass, and both of his knees were getting wet from the muddy ground and he had the most gorgeous view of Adam's face drawn by a flower crown made of buttercups, golden ragworts, and with Virginia bluebells falling onto his forehead and ears. With his warm complexion and light freckles and even warmer blue eyes, Adam looked like the spring personified.

They had to marry in spring.

"Fuck," he said finally. "I don't know what to—how to..."

Adam turned around to the side more, Opal's head falling more onto his right shoulder. They were both looking at him, the same shade of blue piercing through Ronan's soul.

Adam raised one hand to his face, stroking his thumb over Ronan's cheekbone. "Hey," he said. "You don't have to."

He did have to.

Ronan ripped the box, throwing the scraps on the ground.

"Marry me."

Adam's hand moved down, curving around Ronan's nape. "Of course."

It wasn't a question and it wasn't a yes, but—

But it was enough and they were engaged. And Adam Parrish, the boy of his dreams, was his fiancé.

When they got back home — and Ronan hadn't let go of Adam's hand the whole time, even when Ronan protested saying she wanted them to swing her back and forth between them — Adam stopped in the foyer.

"Go wait in the kitchen," he said and went upstairs in a quick stride.

So Ronan did. He made them coffee and sat down, suddenly feeling nervous, the tension fleeting back into his tightly wound shoulders.

Adam came back downstairs, sat on the other side of the table with a grin.

"I got you a ring too," he said, lying a velvet box onto the table. "I was going to propose on my graduation day."

He opened the box. It was a simple black gold ring with Celtic engraving but it must have cost at least a month of unstopping hard work, divided between a longer time — it meant so much more if one knew the true value.

The room suddenly seemed very quiet, Ronan could only hear the humming coming from their old fridge and his own thoughts sprinting through his head.

Ronan started crying.

It was an involuntary response. He didn't know he needed it, needed to know that Adam wanted it as much as Ronan did, that he wanted Ronan to feel as special as Ronan wanted Adam to feel. He thought that it was implied, that he was the one to notice when Adam was ready and he was the one to propose then.

Adam was still smiling. "Is that a yes?"

"Have I ever fucking said no to you?"

Adam licked his lips. "Well, yesterday, I asked you to do the laundry and—"

"Just give me the ring, Parrish."

So Adam takes it out of the box — which was way prettier than Ronan's because it was Adam and Adam paid attention to every detail, always — grabs Ronan's hand with an unbelievable gentle touch and puts the ring on his finger.

He leaned over the table, holding Ronan's hand in both of his, and pulled it closer to his lips, kissing Ronan's in slow and light as a feather movement.

Ronan couldn't stop crying for good fifteen minutes.

The next Sunday, Ronan asked Adam to go to the mass with him. He had never asked before but Adam sometimes came with him — when he was back from Harvard only for the weekend and didn't want to leave Ronan even for an hour — and Ronan always celebrated it deep within his heart. He didn't tell him why he wanted him to come with him.

The mass ended, people started to leave and Ronan went the opposite way, to Father Cohen who was still standing at the front of the altar.

"Boys," he said, despite the two of them being twenty-three. "I haven't talked to you in a while. How are you doing?"

Adam opened his mouth to say something that was probably polite and good-natured, but Ronan said instead, "When is the closest opening for a marriage ceremony?"

Adam turned around and raised his eyebrow. Father Cohen didn't look any less surprised than him either, wide-eyed, his mouth open but not making a sound.

"Let me grab our calendar," he said after a very long silence. He was clearly stunned that Ronan, who he had known since he was about two and was brought to church for the first time, was getting married.

Ronan was stunned too.

He left to the sacristy in a daze and Adam, as soon as he was out of sight, asked, "What are you doing?"

"What? You said you want a spring wedding. It's spring."

Because St. Agnes was a small church, Father Cohen gave them a list of dates that weren't open, rather than the open ones. It consisted of a whole total of three dates in the next three months, the first open spot being in two weeks.

Ronan said they would take it.

They — or rather Ronan, seeing as Adam was still so shellshocked that Ronan felt like he was tricking him into this marriage — thanked him and Ronan gave Father Cohen Adam's email to forward them any documents they needed to fill.

They were outside the church and Adam still didn't say a word.

"If you don't want to get married now—"

"Do you know how much paperwork it's going to be?" Adam interrupted him.

Ronan blinked, very slowly and — if he dared to admit — fondly. This was the man he chose to marry. The man who agreed to marry him. Who asked him to marry him back.

"Are you fucking serious?" he asked. "This is what you're worried about? We just have to get the marriage license and we're done."

Done sounded like this was something Ronan was forced into.

"Yeah, but I'll have to call DMV, SSA, my bank," Adam listed off. "I'll have to pay for the last-minute change of my diploma if Harvard even lets me change it so close to graduation."

He wasn't making sense. "What? Are they suddenly adding married to on a diploma?"

Adam scrunched his eyebrows in the manner that always made Ronan want to kiss his forehead — he would always do that when dealing with someone stupid.

"No, but I'd prefer not to deal with the explanation why my name doesn't match the one on my diploma to any of my future employers."

Oh. Oh.

"You want to—like, take my name?"

Adam smacked his side. "Don't be an idiot," he said, frowning. "Of course I—I mean, unless you don't want me to—"

"I want you to," Ronan replied instantly.

"Well, then you're helping me fill all those documents."

They filled the paperwork Father Cohen sent Adam and went to the courthouse the next day, getting a marriage license and leaving it, and newly bought wedding bands, in church on the way home.

Then came the first problem — telling everyone.

They had been sitting on the couch, both of their phones on the coffee table in front of them, and argued about who was going to tell Gansey.

It was, technically, not a big deal. Gansey would be, in the end, happy for them, but in the end was the keyword here — it'd be proceeded by a rant, a scolding, lots of detailed questions like, why didn't you tell us sooner, and none of them knew how to answer them. Calling Blue would result in the same outcome, as Gansey was bound to butt into the conversation once Blue forwarded the message.

"Maybe we just don't fucking tell him and the maggot," Ronan suggested.

"And how is gonna know to show up for the wedding?"

Ronan groaned, hitting his forehead on Adam's shoulder. Repetitively.

"Maybe I'll just text him," he added. "Or you text him. He's used to being ghosted by you after you text him."

This wasn't actually such a horrible idea so Ronan took his phone, typed out something that would have minimal detail, showing it to Adam, who retyped something else.

The final result was, bring maggot and cheng next sunday to the barns at 1. wear something nice.

Ronan sent the text. Gansey called him within three minutes. Ronan declined the call. Gansey called Adam after another two minutes, which he also declined. Instead, Adam texted Maura, with the same but slightly more polite message.

It left them with Declan and Matthew.

"They are your brothers," Adam said when Ronan suggested he could call them.

"I texted Dick," he countered. "It's your turn."

"It's your turn," Adam mocked. "Is this how it's gonna be for the rest of our life?"

Ronan grinned. The rest of their life sounded so good. "Yeah, get used to that."

Adam bit his lip, holding himself back from grinning back. "Fine."

Adam texted Declan, Church is at 1 30 next week, be at the Barns at 1, kind of lying. The important thing was, Ronan didn't have to deal with Declan. If he was the one to send such a text, Declan would inevitably start calling him as soon as he read it, not giving up until Ronan picked up or straight up driving from DC just to know what was going on.

Which put them on Sunday next week, preparing for the arrival of everyone.

They had prepared the meadow the day before, taking a dreamt stretchable tent there and carried the grill there, among with the living room table and chairs and a dreamt stereo that connected to Spotify despite now electricity or no Internet connection. The field now turned mostly yellow, with occasional bluebell here or there, but it was still an amazing view — Ronan planned to make another flower crown for Adam, once they were already married. Right now they left the tent without food, watched by Chainsaw who soared in circles, sitting on the table from time to time.

It was cozy, probably cozier than even the smallest wedding receptions were but Adam would never agree to have a big party in some rented venue and Ronan hated any venue he had looked up online. It suited them.

Opal was ready, dressed first out of the three of them. She had insisted she wanted to be a flower girl — they didn't even know she knew what that was — and allowed them to put herself in a better-looking pair of culottes and a white shirt.

She had a fool basket of dandelions and buttercups ready — hidden, so she wouldn't eat it before they even left for the church — and probably was already muddy, seeing as she left the house as soon as Adam told her she was done.

It left Ronan and Adam, squeezing in front of the main bathroom mirror while they both put on their suits.

"So, how pissed Dick will be?"

Adam didn't look at Ronan when answering, concentrating on making his tie straight instead. Ronan planned to crook it again as soon as he was done.

"Gansey? He'll be fine, he is used to you, isn't he," he said. "I'm more worried about Blue. Or your brother."

Declan. It was clear he meant Declan.

They had become better over the years, to the point that Ronan could finally, without any guilt or any anger, call him family. The first time he had referred to him just as his older brother and not his dickhead older brother, about two years ago, Ronan was taken aback but not with an unpleasant aftertaste. They talked about the stuff that made them angry and about their dad, but he still could easily come off as judgemental towards Ronan's impulsive life decisions and Ronan had never really learned what he thought about him and Adam, and those two things were unvaryingly connected in this case.

"You don't think he will, like, leave?"

Adam turned around, his full attention on Ronan. His face softened in a way that used to be foreign as he took Ronan's face into his hands.

"No, Ronan, of course he won't," he said. "I'm sure he's going to have gray hair before he turns twenty-seven, but he won't leave. Jordan would make him sleep on the couch if he did."

He smiled at Ronan, the reassuring kind of smile that was mostly transmitted through his eyes.

Ronan grabbed one of his palms and kissed it. Then he crooked Adam's tie.

Fifteen minutes before everyone was about to arrive, Ronan and Adam sat down on the porch. Opal was sitting in the grass behind the banister, her pants already a bit muddy, observing snails. Or maybe eating them.

The first car came, the obnoxious orange of it visible from the beginning of the long driveway, followed by a shiny black Volvo.

Adam and Ronan stayed seated until all seven of them were out of the cars.

"What is going on?" Blue asked.

Hennessy, Jordan, Declan, and Matthew were standing on the right of the stairs to the porch, and Gansey, Cheng, and Blue were standing on the left. Ronan felt surrounded, especially with Adam now pushing his lower back and staring at him like he wanted Ronan to begin.

Ronan was not going to begin. "You go first, Parrish."

"You shithead," he grumbled under his breath, sending him a death glare. "Can't believe I'm signing myself for an eternity of this."

Ronan's grin widened.

Loud enough for everyone to hear it, Adam said, "We're getting married."

"What?"

"In half an hour," Adam added.

And the chaos erupted.

Matty, bless his heart — and Cheng, but without the blessing — was as excited as if it was his wedding, Blue was asking, again and again, how could they not tell her, and Gansey and Declan kept on asking, shouting over each other, whether this was a joke. Hennessy had to step away because she was laughing so loud.

"I hate this," Adam told him, close to his ear. "Why did we decide to get married again?"

"So you can have a brand new name and steal my fortune?" he said, nudging him with his elbow. He got a beautiful chuckle as a reward. "Cover your ear, baby."

Ronan came to the agreement with Adam — after an argument about Murder Squash in the car — that Adam's hearing was to be prioritized and he was to avoid ear-splitting noises at all costs. So no sudden, loud noises around Adam.

Adam covered his ear and stepped aside.

"SHUT UP," he shouted with the voice of someone who trained traditional Irish singing for ten years, making everyone quiet down. "We're getting married, end of the story. You can now move along with the crowd or leave."

Ronan hoped nobody left.

Nobody left, but everyone did shut up. Blue, Gansey, and Declan were all looking like they wanted to say something still, and Jordan now looked as amused as Hennessy.

Adam stepped up closer to the stairs, grabbing Ronan's hand on the way. "Gansey, you're going to be our witness."

Ronan squeezed his hand. "And you, Dickwad," he said, clearly looking at Declan, "are our second witness."

There was a very long silence when everyone stared at Ronan as if he grew a second head, Declan, in particular, like he was about to cry. Adam squeezed his hand.

When they discussed who they wanted to be the witness at their wedding, they agreed on Gansey immediately. Declan was Ronan's first choice for the second person, Blue was Adam's. Adam wasn't surprised, even expected that apparently, but Ronan realized that while his and Declan's relationship was getting better, there was a lot that they would never fully leave behind. Ronan didn't mind that and this was supposed to convey it without using the words. Clearly, it was a very bold statement.

"I told you I should have put on a suit," Gansey broke the silence, turning to Blue. "I can't go to church just in a shirt." He had dress pants and a white shirt on.

"Jesus fuck, Dick, you're not walking Adam down the aisle, you don't need a three-piece suit," Ronan said, hoping they have somehow omitted the rant and the scolding for now.

"Yeah, but Declan might walk Ronan," Adam added with a smirk. Ronan squeezed his hand hard enough to be uncomfortable, but he didn't budge, continuing, "Opal wanted to be a flower girl so someone has to do it."

Declan still didn't say anything.

Everyone packed back into their cars, Adam managed to put Opal in her car seat without getting the mud on his white suit while Ronan grabbed her flower basket from the house.

In the church — where Calla, Maura, and Dean were already waiting — the two of them left Opal with everyone and went to Father Cohen. After that, Adam told him he would go to the bathroom before the ceremony began and asked Ronan to watch that Opal didn't eat the flowers.

"Hey," he spoke up before Adam left. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

He tapped his cheek and Adam chuckled.

"I'll be back in less than five minutes," he noticed.

"Don't care."

Adam rolled his eyes. Ronan leaned in and Adam kissed him on the cheek.

"I'll be back. In less than five minutes."

"I'm counting," Ronan told him.

He was left alone in front of the altar, what with almost everyone sitting down, Gansey having Blue adjust Dean's tie under his collar — it was too long to ever fit him properly — and with Father Cohen back at the sacristy.

It, unfortunately, left Ronan alone with Declan. "Ronan," he said.

"Yes, this is my fucking name."

He made a face. "Can you be serious for a moment?"

Ronan could, if he wanted to, but right now, he wasn't in the mood.

"Do you really want me to—to be your witness?"

This was exactly why Ronan didn't want to tell him about the wedding.

"You just have to sign your name on a stupid piece of paper," Ronan said, which was technically the truth but also not really. "It's not a big deal."

And Declan didn't say anything, just stared at Ronan with a blank face. If he wasn't so used to it, it'd make him fidget.

And then he hugged Ronan. It wasn't even the arm-clapping-his-back hug, it was the arms-around-shoulders and I'm-not-letting-you-go hug that he used to give Ronan when he didn't want to go to elementary school.

Over Declan's shoulder, he saw Jordan, giving him a two-handed thumbs up. Ronan hated all the weirdos in this family equally.

Which meant not at all.

"You will get snot on my jacket if you start crying," he said. It was probably too late for that.

Before he knew it, Matty was sandwiching the both of them in between his arms with a grip of someone who played in a college league lacrosse team, squeezing them to the point that both Declan and Ronan had to protest. Together.

Adam came back in front of the altar with Father Cohen in tow.

Ronan stood on the left side, Adam stood on the right. Declan was behind Ronan, Gansey behind Adam. Opal, right now holding their rings on a cushion that was tucked into her flower basket, was in between them.

Ronan smiled and Adam smiled back.

The ceremony began.

#pynch fic #pynch #trc #the raven cycle #my writing #my fics

[pynches]

for @non-platonic-murphamy​ aka the best girlfriend in the world! happy birthday my love, I hope you like it <3

People deal with pain differently. Some lose themselves in the bodies of others, others crop up the pain inside until it becomes unbearable, threatening to explode and taking everybody with it in its vicinity, but in Ronan’s case, alcohol had been his biggest helper.

He didn’t drink before his father’s death, always saw it as something grown-ups did, a category he definitely didn’t belong in at fifteen. But there he was, a dreamt up id-card in hand, his curly hair replaced by a buzzcut and the angry lines of a fresh tattoo tangling around his neck. He bought his first beer then and didn’t stop.

Adam never saw the beginning, how Ronan was before his father’s death and how he dealt with it right after. He was, however, there to see the end of it. How Ronan learned to cope in a healthier way than getting himself wasted and the self destructing tendencies that followed. He was proud of how much Ronan had grown since then, how much happier and calmer he seemed now.

That’s why, when Ronan announced that he was going to the bar with Blue who had just returned with Gansey and Henry from their big road trip, Adam was a bit apprehensive. Not because he didn’t trust Ronan or because he thought Ronan would cheat on him in a drunken stupor but because he was afraid Ronan would fall back into his old tendencies if he started again. The only drunk Ronan he knew was one of self-destruction and anger and he wasn’t keen on seeing that side of him again, not with the progress he had made over the years.

Of course, he told him to go, have fun, say hi to Blue for him.

Adam stayed at the Barns himself, alcohol only reminded him of his father and he had an early morning at Boyd’s the next day since he had been all too happy to have Adam back for the summer holidays so keeping an eye on both Blue and Ronan wasn’t an option for him even though he desperately wanted it to be.

His cellphone was placed next to him, the notification sound on to the highest volume in case Ronan needed him. He nearly jumped when he heard his phone go off, picking it up with shaking hands and scolding himself for his anxiety when he saw it was just a snap from Blue.

Adam put his phone away without responding and turned on the tv, hoping it would settle his nerves at least a little bit. He wanted Ronan to have fun and live his life but the thought of losing him because he drank too much and did something stupid like pick a fight with the wrong person made his stomach feel tight.

He sat through one episode of a random tv show he barely followed before he got another notification, this time from Ronan himself.

Adam couldn’t help but smile a bit, feeling more rested now that Ronan was still sober enough to send coherent text messages. Though it had scared him at first, he was now happy that Ronan knew him well enough to send something like that to ease his mind.

Adam put his phone away.

And so the night dragged on.

Adam went from watching tv to doing homework he didn’t even had to do until later that week. He stayed up longer than he had since St. Agnes where he often dedicated those precious sleeping hours to the mountains of homework he had to go through, that being the only time he had for it. Now that he studied at Harvard on a scholarship and didn’t have to work more than one job anymore, he had a much more regular sleep pattern and he felt healthier than ever before.

Some things, though, were hard to unlearn.

He easily stayed up until Ronan finally texted him he was coming home, or well, he thought that was what he was trying to say.

Ronan typed like he was absolutely smashed and it didn’t ease his mind one bit but he trusted Ronan to know what he was doing. Ronan had always made it safely back home, even when he didn’t like life as much as he did now.

He wanted to message back so many things. Please be careful. I can’t lose you. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.

He eventually went with: Okay, I’ll see you soon.

To take his mind off the worry he felt, he made his way upstairs and got himself ready for bed. He had just turned off the lights and gotten into bed when he heard someone stumble through the door and it would’ve worried him if not for Ronan’s familiar cursing ringing through the quiet house.

Ronan made his way upstairs, punctuated by the sound of his heavy boots on the creaky staircase. He opened the door of their bedroom and started to undress himself without even uttering a word, his movements sluggish and clumsy.

Adam watched him in slight amused, raising an eyebrow at him when he just stood there in the dark, seemingly staring at him in mild confusion.

“Are you coming to bed?” Adam asked, muffling a slight laugh at the fact that Ronan didn’t even recognise him. Though, he was curious to see what Ronan would do. Ronan didn’t do casual and Adam knew Ronan was utterly devoted to him, but if he really didn’t recognise Adam in the dark and thought it was a random guy, then how would Ronan even respond to that.

“No, thanks,” Ronan said, his words a bit slurred. “I’m sure you’re lovely and all but I have a boyfriend.”

And with that he dropped to the floor and promptly went to sleep. Adam couldn’t help but laugh quietly at Ronan’s words, how he seemed more polite drunk than sober, a vast difference from how he used to be. He also felt a warmth spread through his chest at how Ronan still thought about him, even in his completely wasted state, how he went to sleep on the floor without even thinking twice. It reminded Adam of those nights at St. Agnes when they used to sleep like this all the time, both still too scared to admit what they were really feeling to each other but to themselves as well.

Adam went to sleep with the ghost of a laugh still pulling at his mouth and woke up to a disoriented Ronan trying to get into their bed.

“I cannot fucking believe I didn’t recognise you,” Ronan said, his voice still gruff from sleep. “My back is fucked now.”

Ronan plastered himself against Adam’s back, throwing an arm around his waist, and Adam automatically leaned into his body heat. “You used to do that for me all the time,” he pointed out with a laugh. He couldn’t help but feel a little bad that he made Ronan sleep on the floor so many times, though he wouldn’t have been able to sleep if Ronan was next to him, pressed against him like he was now.

“Yeah, well, I was younger then. More resistant against floors.”

“It was last year!”

Ronan dropped a kiss to the back of his neck, Adam thought he could feel him smile too.

They laid there in comfortable silence. Adam was already slowly sinking back into sleep, his body fully relaxing now that Ronan was lying next to him, when Ronan spoke up again.

“I behaved,” Ronan mumbled into his skin. “Didn’t fight anyone, didn’t mess up.”

“I trusted you,” Adam said defensively, though he knew he didn’t fully. He put his hand on top of the one Ronan had curled around his waist. Ronan stayed silent, it felt expectant. “Okay, fine, maybe I was a bit nervous but I won’t be anymore.”

“That’s better,” Ronan said with a sharp grin before turning Adam around so he could look at him properly. “I’ve changed,” he said and Adam could hear how much it cost him to admit it to himself, to feel good saying it.

“I know and I’m proud of you,” he replied, tracing Ronan’s sharp jaw gently. “I’m sorry I didn’t before.”

“I understand why,” Ronan said softly, taking Adam’s hand in his own and kissing his palm. “But you don’t have to worry.”

Adam nodded and let Ronan play with his hands, enjoying Ronan’s ever gentle touches. “How did the others do?”

“I had to carry the maggot home, I think, and Noah got stuck in a tree.” Adam opened his mouth to fire off a round of question but Ronan shook his head. “I have no idea what happened either but maybe I will after some painkillers. My head fucking hurts.”

Adam nodded and cradled Ronan’s head close, dropping a kiss on his forehead. It would take him a while to get used to this, Ronan slowly enjoying his young adult life more with the sometimes drinking that came along with it and the fear Adam still possessed for strong liquid, having seen the possible effects of it up close and personal. But Ronan wasn’t like that and it was something he had to learn. Much like everything else, this was something they had to grow into together and Adam had no doubt in his mind that they would succeed in that.

But for now, teasing Ronan on the internet was a good way of dealing with it.

#trc #the raven cycle #trc fic #trc fanfic #trc fanfiction #trc social media #trc social media edit #the raven cyle fanfiction #the raven cycle fanfic #pynch #pynch fic #pynch edit #pynch fanfic #pynch fanfiction #trc edit #tw alcohol #tw alcohol mention #mine

[brophigenia]

If you fed me more dark Gansey I would ascend spiritually it would change my life monumentally

Ask and ye shall receive. 

I give you: 

dick gansey and his pack of dogs 

(TW: mentions of sex work, class differences, dark!gansey) 

***

ronan

The collar is thick, handsome brown leather with a glinting gold buckle. Tasteful. Classic. 

It could’ve almost been a fashion statement. Outlandish, yes, but excusable, especially when you knew that Ronan had always been a bit eccentric in his tastes. 

Almost, except for the shining O-ring fixed in its center. 

Almost, except for the way he wore it, with his uniform unbuttoned to expose it, brazen against his fair skin and the black-as-night ink wrapping around his throat, feathers brushing his adam’s apple. 

Almost, except for the way Dick Gansey would curl his fingers into it, possessive and transparent, whenever he and Ronan were within four feet of each other. 

… so, always. 

Gansey holds onto it while he fucks Ronan, always like he’s got all the time in the world. So leisurely with the pounding grind of his hips, as if it were only his right. 

And it is— Ronan is nothing but Gansey’s, now. Nothing but his bare scalp and his ink and Gansey’s fingerprints smudging black-blue into his skin as a reminder that Niall Lynch is dead and Ronan is fatherless, drifting, tethered to the earth only by Gansey. 

Nothing else matters. 

(In another world, where Gansey was less selfish, perhaps it might be different; in another world, he might be able to swallow down his terrible obsession with Gansey’s everything to have his own life. 

In another life, Ronan is freer but no happier for it.) 

“Ronan,” Gansey murmurs quietly, always quietly— whether he’s balls-deep inside of Ronan or holding Ronan’s leash or setting him loose on some ruffians, Gansey always speaks so gently to his most faithful dog. 

(Gansey speaks softly to everyone; he carries a big stick named money.) 

***

adam

His parents die in a tragic accident when he’s fourteen years old. 

He stands in front of their graves with dry eyes and a bruised cheek, and then uses their life insurance checks to prepay four years’ room, board, and tuition at Aglionby Academy. 

The money goes quick, after the burials and the school expenses, but Adam sees it as an investment. 

So too is making friends with G and Lynch, at first only because he can see the writing on the wall and he knows they are his best chance for connections both above- and below-board. 

Letting G put a Rolex on his wrist and the keys to a Range Rover in his pocket is just another investment. Where once his pride would’ve boiled over into rage, all Adam can feel is numbness. Is ambition, choking him. If the way to the top is through sacrificing his dignity, then so be it, except G doesn’t want his dignity. 

G wants him to sit up late into the night and look pretty and talk to him for hours about Glendower, wants him to stretch out naked and speak of Welsh legends and ley lines with Ronan’s mouth stretched around his cock. 

He could love Ronan, if it weren’t for the fact that Gansey outshined the morning goddamn sun. If it weren’t for the way Gansey must be loved, whole-heartedly, in order for his hunger to be sated. Gansey would allow them this, and call it a kindness, call it taking care of his boys. 

Gansey would not allow them to take all his generosity and spit in his face for it, though. 

It was alright— Adam could love Gansey, and fuck Ronan, and drive his Rover, and do whatever else Gansey asked of him. 

It was a political alliance. He didn’t need to get everything he wanted to be satisfied. 

***

noah 

Noah is dead; Noah is tied to Gansey. 

Noah could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. 

Noah watches Gansey, so different from Barry had been, but no less magnetic. No less the king of everything, everywhere, everyone. 

(Sometimes, he thinks he picked wrong; sometimes, he thinks he should’ve died quiet and let Gansey die, too, his young body pricked and tortured and stung.) 

Sometimes the only way he feels alive is by pressing against Gansey when he’s on fire with it, when he’s wrapped around Ronan as he bloodies his knuckles on the faces of whoever for whatever, when he’s kissing Blue for Gansey at Gansey’s behest, when he’s watching Adam clean blood off a switchblade with the steady hands of a practiced killer. 

Fuck. Fuck. 

***

blue 

Raven Boys are useless except for when they’re not. 

There are too many bills and too few clients; more than once, Blue patches up Orla after a particularly nasty one, one who was more interested in the sideline services than the actual fortune telling. It pays better, the fucking does— but it’s riskier, legally and physically and mentally. Riskier in every way, except for how much quicker they can make rent, can pay hospital bills and grocery bills and car insurance. 

They tighten their belts, all of them, and sometimes Blue can’t remember the last time she ate anything but yogurt, but it’s still not enough.

Gansey leaves her a two hundred dollar tip the first time she serves him at Nino’s, and Blue goes home and vomits because she’s so furious, so angry, so humiliated that he took pity on her to do it. She wants to throw the money back in his goddamn face, but she can’t, because she needs it. They need it, and every dollar keeps them afloat. 

Gansey thinks he can buy everyone and everything. 

Or, he doesn’t think about it like that- instead, he thinks he’s being generous. Being kind. Thinks that any girl in the world would find it romantic, or something, to be taken care of. 

Gansey wants too much; he wants too much from the world, and from Ronan, from Adam, from her. He doesn’t understand that there are so many things he can’t buy; he doesn’t understand that while part of her adores every inch of him, the very pitted core of her is curdled sour by humiliation and resentment. 

If the world was fair, or just, it wouldn’t be like this. 

The world is neither fair, nor just. Blue sits at Gansey’s left hand because he wills it so, because he doesn’t give her a fucking choice, because he’s paying the house payment and for her youngest cousin’s braces, because he doesn’t trust anyone enough to see if they’d stay without the added bonus of Gansey’s cash and his cock. 

She watches Gansey fuck Ronan, because Gansey wants her to. Gansey wants them to surround him, to press against him, to remind him that he’s alive and not alone. 

Gansey wants so much, and Blue hates herself for forgetting, sometimes, why that should even be called a bad thing. 

“Jane,” he will say, inside of Ronan, and draw her down until she’s touching Ronan, too, Adam down Ronan’s throat and her hands on his back, his ribs, tracing featherlight over his tattoo. She does it because it drives Gansey wild, but also because it’s comforting to feel Ronan’s feverhot skin beneath her hands and know that at least she wasn’t him. At least she didn’t need Gansey like this. 

(Oh, and what a spectacular lie that is.) 

***

Ronan is Gansey’s dog. Adam is Gansey’s right hand. Blue is Gansey’s girl. 

They are all his. 

[thebrotherssalvatore321]

Keeping Secrets Ch. 23

Keeping Secrets Masterlist

“What are you going to do to me?” Katie asked angrily from the chair that she was tied to with vervain soaked ropes. Jonas, Luka’s father, brought her to an abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere.

“Elijah told me that you once had a mental block put up on your old memories.” Jonas told her as he looked at the grimoire in his hands. I’m going to attempt to do the opposite.”

“Attempt?” Katie asked with wide eyes, afraid of what would happen to her mind if he failed.

“Don't worry. Elijah made it very clear that I am not to harm you.” He told her and she looked down at the bindings on her wrists then back at him. “Mentally.”

“Elijah is dead, Alaric killed him. Why are you doing this?” she asked, confused.

“Alaric also removed the dagger after stabbing him. I’m guessing your boyfriend didn’t know it has to stay in for Elijah to stay dead. He woke up shortly after and came to me. I located you and Elena. He went after Elena. I am taking care of you.” he answered.

She groaned and let her head fall back. “I wouldn’t call giving me memories I don’t want taking care of me.”

“I’m sorry you don’t want them, but I can’t go against Elijah.” He informed her.

Katie lifted her head back up and rolled her eyes. “You want your daughter back, I get it.” She sighed. “But I am begging you. Do not do this to me.”

“Let's just get this over with.” Jonas walked over holding the grimoire in one hand as he placed the other on her forehead. He started chanting something that sounded similar to what she remembered Sheila chanting, but she wasn't able to think about it before memories from another time started flooding her head sending a searing pain through her temples.

She screamed out, fighting the ropes that bound her. “Please, please stop. It hurts, please!” She screamed, but Jonas kept going.

~1827~

“Ronan has asked for your hand in marriage.” Hannah’s father, a harsh and abusive man, told her from where he sat behind his desk. “In two weeks you shall be his wife.”

“But I do not love Ronan.” Eighteen year old Hannah argued, earning a scoff from her red headed father, his mean, green eyes framed by bushy eyebrows glared down at her.

“Love is for children and fools.” He scolded her. “Ronan comes from a respected family and for some reason he has taken a liking to you.” He informed her, making her frown deepen. “I have no earthly idea why. It's not as if you are a rare beauty to be sought after.” Hannah, had she not been accustomed to such insults, would have felt a punch in the gut from his statement. “You will marry him.”

“I have no say in the matter?” She asked, standing from the chair across from his desk in anger. “It is my hand he asks for. I should have the right to accept or reject him.”

Her insolence caused her father to stand from the chair and backhand her across the cheek before he grabbed her chin in his strong hand and got in her face. “Ronan may very well be the only chance you have to marry. I can not for the life of me see why he would want to wed an atrocious, ill mannered woman such as you. I refuse to have you under my roof for the rest of my life.” He practically threw her away from him with a growl. “You will marry him.”

Later that night she caught her mother alone in her bedroom, sitting in a chair at a vanity combing her wavy brown hair. "You know you are not allowed in here, Hannah." Her mother chided her not looking at her.

"Mother, please, I do not want to marry Ronan." Hannah pleaded with her beautiful mother.

"What is so bad about him?" Her mother asked dismissively. "He is handsome and he likes you."

"But I do not love him, Mother." Hannah argued.

"Pish posh." Her mother answered with a shrug.

"Mother, please, talk father out of making me marry him." Hannah begged.

"Get out of here before your father catches you." Her mother told her with a wave of her hand to the door. "No sense in both of us catching a beating."

Instead of going to her own room she slid into bed with her sister. “So you are to marry Ronan?” her fifteen year old sister asked as they both stared out into the darkness.

“Yes.” Hanna answered sadly.

“I know you do not love him, but you are lucky.” Her sister told her, the innocence in her young voice brought tears to Hannah’s eyes. “He is nice, unlike father. You will be getting out of here. You will be free.”

“Do you know what men expect of their wives?” Hannah asked knowing she shouldn’t taint her sister’s innocence with talk of consummating a marriage.

“You will have to have sex with him.” she answered, shocking Hannah with her knowledge. “Think about it sister. Is having sex really worse than thrashings from a cat of nine tails?”

“It is if I do not love him and do not want to be with him.” Katie answered, getting sick to her stomach at the thought of her wedding night.

“Do you love another?” her sister asked and Hannah shook her head before realizing that her sister couldn’t see her in their dark room.

“No. I simply wish to die an old maid.” She answered with a lie. What she really wished for was a love like no other. She longed for butterflies, adventure, a spark that would ignite something in her and consume her.

“Perhaps you will grow to love him.” her sister suggested sounding hopeful.

Tears silently slipped down Hannah’s cheeks, soaking into her bright curls. “Perhaps.”

Hannah’s sister had been right. She did grow to love Ronan and they lived a comfortable life together away from her father and mother. However the love they shared was that of friends and didn’t hold a flame to the life that Katie longed for. A year after they married Hannah gave birth to their son, her only source of true joy. A year after Jonah was born, Hannah’s sister married Ronan’s younger brother. However yellow fever took him from her leaving her a childless widow. Hannah and Ronan opened their doors to her to keep her from returning to their abusive father.

~1835~

Ronan took a job on a trade ship, leaving Hannah and seven year old Jonah alone. Three months after his departure, Elijah found them in the forest near her house.

~1836~

Jonah sat at the head of the table since it was his eighth birthday, Elijah and Hannah sitting on each side of him, eating the dinner of deer stew and burned biscuits. Elijah had been with them for eight months. “Fiona could have directed me to someone who could cook.” He told her with a smirk at the burned biscuit he held in his hand, examining it for any bite that wasn’t charred.

“I don’t think anyone else would have accepted you.” Hannah countered. “Besides, it is not like you actually need food to survive.” She pointed out with a smirk of her own.

“True.” He told her as he set the biscuit back in the bowl.

“Mother may I be excused?” Jonah asked, eager to pay with his new toys.

“Yes, you may.” Hannah told him and the boy bounced down from his chair and over to the fireplace to play quietly.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to his father?” Elijah asked, watching Jonah play.

“He uh…” Hannah started twisting her plain gold band. “He left on a trade ship a year ago and has yet to return.” She told him as she continued to play with her ring as she looked over at Jonah and noticed the fire was getting low and the temperature in the cabin was dropping. “I need to get more firewood.” She announced as she stood from the table and headed to the door.

“I will get it.” he offered as he stood.

“No, I…I could use the fresh air.” She told him then went outside. She was stacking logs in her arms when she saw them…glowing yellow eyes that caused her heart to stop. The last time she had seen them was when her sister was attacked and killed by a wolf.

Elijah was sitting at the dinner table, finishing his stew when he heard Hannah’s ear piercing scream. “Stay inside.” He told Jonah as she ran out to the wood pile to see Hannah on the ground as a wolf tore into her shoulder.

“Elijah!” she screamed as he sped over and grabbed the wolf. It bit him on the arm as he threw it off of Hannah. It ran off into the woods.

With the wolf gone, Elijah kneeled down next to her, wrapped his arm around her back and lifted her up as he bit his wrist and placed it to her lips. “Drink, please.” He told her with fear in his eyes. Hannah did as told and swallowed the blood that filled her mouth. He swept her wild curls to the side and watched as the massive spot of mangled flesh healed leaving just a bloody spot behind. Still shaking in fear she stared at him with tears on her eyes. As relief washed over him he pulled her into him. “You are okay. You are safe.” he sighed as she swayed her side to side as if she were a frightened child. Still slightly in shock Hannah wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up standing her on her feet again. “Let’s get you inside.” he wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her to the cabin.

He left her in her bedroom to get cleaned up while he got more wood to keep them warm. When he got back inside and started stoking the fire back to life Jonah asked, “Is mother okay?”

“Yes, she will be fine.” He told the young boy as she finished with the fire. “For now it is time you went to sleep.” He motioned over to the small bed in the corner of the living area.

“Can I play with my toys just a little bit longer?” the boy begged, but stood from the floor as he did.

“Your toys will still be there in the morning.” Elijah told him and the boy set the toys down then went to his bed. Elijah followed him, and tucked him in the way Hannah did every night.

“I’m worried about Mother.” Jonah told Elijah as he pulled the covers up to the boy's chin.

“She will be fine, she’s just scared of the wolves.” Elijah assured him.

“That is not why I am worried.” Jonah told Elijah as he stood up. “I hear her crying when she thinks I’m asleep.”

“I am sure she just misses your father.” He replied and the young boy shook his head no.

“She cried even before father left.” The boy’s words made Elijah frown and looked at Hannah’s bedroom door.

“You have no reason to worry. Now,” he pulled the covers up a little higher and patted Jonah’s shoulder, “go to sleep.”

“Yes, sir.” Jonah replied then closed his eyes.

Elijah blew out the oil lamp then went to Hannah’s door and knocked. She opened it and gave him a questioning look as she watched him tap absentmindedly on the doorframe. “I just wanted to make sure you are okay.” He told her then looked up from the doorframe to meet her eyes. She jerked her head for him to come in and stepped aside. He came in and she closed the door behind him. “I am okay. Thank you for healing me.” She told him as she set down on her bed and motioned him to the chair that sat at her roll top desk.

"You are welcome." He told her with a polite nod as he sat down and propped his elbow up on the desk.

"That wolf that attacked me...they only come around on a full moon." Hannah started. "They’re not normal wolves."

"They are lycanthrope." He informed her.

"You have seen them before?" She asked with a curious head tilt.

"Yes. They are shape-shifters. On any given day they appear to be human, but they are not." Hannah had grown to love listening to him speak. "They are fast, strong, quick to heal, but on a full moon they transform into wolves. While in wolf form they only have one thing on their mind, killing whoever they come upon. However their prey of choice is vampires." Hannah watched him as he spoke, becoming relaxed by the sound of his voice. "I am afraid it is my fault they found their way here and attacked you." He told her with remorseful eyes.

"It is not your fault. They have been terrorizing us since we moved here." She told him as she looked down at her hands in her lap. "I am glad you are here. If you hadn't saved me my son would be alone, left to fend for himself in this cruel world." She then noticed that the bite on his arm hadn’t healed and he looked pale and clammy. "That wound," she pointed at the bite that could be seen through the tear in his white sleeve, "Why has it not healed?"

"I'm afraid it will not heal for some time." She gave him a questioning look. "A lycanthrope bite is like that of a snake. It releases a toxin that is fatal to vampires." He pushed his sleeve up revealing the ugly bite.

"You are going to die?" She asked, saddened by the possibility.

"If I were any other vampire, yes, but I am an original. It will make me sick and delusional, however as soon as the venom is out of my system I will be fine."

Hannah stood and tentatively pressed her palm to his forehead. "You are burning up." She observed. "Lie on the bed. I will get a wet cloth for your head."

"You do not need to make a fuss." He told her in an attempt to stop her.

"You saved my life. The least I can do is make you more comfortable." She told him as she grabbed a cloth from under the wash basin and poured some cool water over it. She expected to see him lying on the bed when she turned around, but he was gone. "Or not." She tried to stay awake until he returned, but she ended up falling asleep.

When she woke up she went into the living area to see him asleep on his makeshift bed across the room from her son’s. Jonah was awake, sitting at the dining table eating one of the biscuits. "He came in right after sunrise." The little boy informed her. "Is he okay?"

"Yes. He had a bad night is all.” She told him as she set her hand on top of his head. Hearing them talking, Elijah began to stir. Katie walked over and kneeled down as she placed her hand on his shoulder making him open his eyes. “Why don’t you take my bed so Jonah and I won’t keep bothering you?”

“I am fine here.” He told her then closed his eyes again.

Katie left her hand on his shoulder as she looked at Jonah. “Take your toys outside, fresh air will do you good.”

“Yes, Mother.” The boy replied and as soon as he was out of sight Hannah turned her attention back to Elijah.

“You haven’t eaten since noon yesterday.” She pointed out and Elijah opened his eyes again.

“I assure you I am fine.” He insisted, but Hannah wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily.

“You look like death warmed over. You need rest and no one can rest well on an empty stomach. Please, eat.” She told him as she held her wrist out to him.

“You are a stubborn woman.” He complained as he sat up and took her arm in his hands.

“Only when I care.” She told him right before he sank his teeth into her wrist making her wince in pain. When he released her she flipped her hand over to look at her wrist only to see the bite heal before her eyes. She gave him a small smile as she reached up and brushed his long wavy hair out of his face, taking in his improved color. “There, that’s better.” He took her hand from his head sending butterflies through her from the skin contact, as he gave her a small smile of his own. “Now,” she stood up taking her hand from his as she jerked her head to the bedroom, “off to bed with you.”

After the wolf incident something about their relationship changed. They saw each other in a new light, as companions instead of strangers helping each other survive. They started talking more, sharing their lives and getting to know one another. He made her smile and laugh more than anyone ever had before.

A few months later the three of them sat at the dinner table. As usual Jonah sat at the head of the table while Elijah and Hannah sat across from each other. Hannah glanced up from her dinner to the man sitting across from her to see him already looking at her. A blush warmed her cheeks as she turned her eyes back to her bowl. A few seconds later she felt his foot touch hers. She thought it was an accident, but when it happened again she looked up to see him give her a small smile. She blushed again and nudged his foot with hers. “Mother, are you feeling well? Your face looks funny?” Jonah asked, making both she and Elijah laugh awkwardly at the boy’s observation.

Yes, Jonah, I am feeling just fine. If you are finished you may be excused." The boy nodded and hopped down out of the chair, putting his empty plate in the wash basin before he went to the coffee table that Elijah had built and started playing. "Are you ever going to tell me why you are hiding away here in the woods with a married woman and her son?" She asked as she pulled her feet out of his reach.

"Perhaps after Jonah turns in for the night." He answered quietly.

Soon they settled in the living room. She knitted while Jonah read a book and Elijah whittled away at a small piece of wood. "What time is it?" She asked then watched as Elijah looked at his pocket watch.

"Five after ten." He answered then set his whittling aside.

"Alright Jonah. Off to bed with you." She prompted earning a whine from the boy. "Don’t complain." She scolded him gently as he put away his toys and headed to his bed.

"Will you sing to me?" He asked. Hannah looked at him with a sigh then to Elijah.

"I would like to hear as well." Elijah told her with a small encouraging smile.

Jonah had asked her to sing every other night, but she hadn't been able to make herself with Elijah as an audience. "What would you like to hear?"

"Father's favorite please." He answered with an excited, but sleepy smile.

"Very well." She told him with a smile as she laid her hand on him and started singing The Parting Glass. By the time the song was through Jonah was asleep. She pulled the blanket higher up around him then stood and turned to see that Elijah had fallen asleep as well. She smiled to herself as she placed her hand on his shoulder and rubbed it, waking him up gently. When he opened his eyes and they found her face, she jerked her head to her bedroom.

He got up and followed her, watching as she shut the door behind them to keep from waking Jonah. "I Apologize. I didn't mean to fall asleep, but I find your singing voice to be very comforting."

"I feel the same about your voice." She admitted with a coy smile. "So please, tell me what brought you here." She sat down on her bed and he sat on the stool in the room.

"My mother was a witch, she cast the spell on all of us, making us what we are, including herself. She died. My father…lives on, trying to kill my siblings and me. He believes us monsters that need to be removed from the world. Out of the seven children my mother bore Niklaus, Rebekah and I are all that remains." He answered not looking at her but at the wooden floor of the room. “We split up to make it harder for our father to track us.”

"So that is why you are here?" She asked with a frown. "To hide from your father?" Elijah nodded, still not looking at her. Even when she slipped from the bed and walked the few steps over to him he did not look up. She tentatively reached out and placed her hand on his cheek. "Elijah." She whispered his name and he finally looked up at her with a hardened reserve in his chocolate brown eyes. "I know what it is like to have a father that despises you. You are welcome here as long as you'd like."

"You are too kind." He told her as he reached up and gently grabbed her wrist talking her hand from his face as he stood up. "Good night, Hannah."

The whole next week Elijah became distant, all smiles and flirtations stopped. Growing more worried Jonah found his mother hanging the wet laundry on the line while Elijah went out hunting. "Is Mr. Mikaelson mad at us?" He asked Hannah to stop what she was doing to look down at the young man.

"He is only mad at me." She replied not knowing that Elijah stood off in the distance listening to them.

"Why?" He asked.

Hannah kneeled down to be eye level with the boy. "Some people...they don't like getting too familiar or too close to others. They stay away for fear of caring too much."

"Why would someone be afraid of caring?" Jonah asked, confused.

"Because when you care about another person it means that they can hurt you, even if they do not mean to." She told him.

"I don’t understand." He told her with confusion in his young innocent eyes.

"You will one day." She assured him as she stood up. "But for today why don't you go milk Millie?" The boy nodded and ran off to milk the cow.

Later that night Katie laid in her plush bed, tears of loneliness slipping from her eyes, wetting the feather pillow beneath her head.

Elijah in turn laid awake listening to the rain beating down on the wooden roof of the cabin. "She's crying again." Jonah's sleepy voice pulled Elijah from his thoughts and made him tune his ears into the bedroom where he heard Hannah's quiet sobs.

"She will be okay." He told the boy as he sat up and looked into Jonah's eyes. "Go back to sleep." Compelled to do so, Jonah laid down his head and closed his eyes.

Elijah knocked softly on Hannah's door, then listened as she came to it and opened it just a crack. "Yes?" She asked, keeping her eyes down cast so he couldn't see the redness of them.

"May I have a word?" Hannah nodded and stepped back letting him inside before she shut the door and turned to see him tapping the corner of her oil lit writing desk in thought. "I apologize for my behavior here of late." He said while looking down at his hand.

"I should be the one apologizing." She replied, making him look up at her, confusion. "I...overstepped and made you uncomfortable... I'm sorry."

"You did not make me uncomfortable or overstep." He told her as he turned to her and tucked his hands into the pockets on his trousers. "You showed me kindness and I shut you out. I am sorry."

"It's quite alright." She assured him as she sat down on her bed.

He sat down on the chair at the desk. "I would like to get to know you better."

"What would you like to know that I haven’t already told you?" She asked as she brought her feet up onto the bed and tucked them to the side.

"How did you come to know your husband?" He asked as he leaned back in the chair with an interested look on his face.

"My family and I met him at his family's barn raising. They were new to the community. My sister was taken with Ronan from the start, but he was taken with me. Said he knew from the moment his eyes landed on me that he would ask for my hand one day. So when I came of age he did." She answered as she watched him rest his arm on the desk, listening to her with a slight squint to his eyes. "I did not want to marry him. Not just because my sister fancied him, but because I didn't." She let her eyes fall to the thick cream quilt on her bed. "I know it broke my sister’s heart when I told her he had asked for my hand, but she never said so. She told me I was lucky to be getting away from our parents."

"If you didn’t want to marry him, why did you?" He asked with a frown.

"Because... while my father was harsh his words were true. He informed me that love is for children and fools. And I would be a fool to pass up Roman's generous offer because it would be my only one. No man would want an atrocious, unattractive, ill mannered woman like me."

"What a cruel man to speak such a way about his daughter." Elijah said with a frown.

"Like I said. I know what it is like to be despised." She replied, still looking down at her hands.

Things got quiet between them as she got lost in thought and Elijah let her words sink in. After a while he broke it. "It is late. I should turn in for the night."

He started to open the door, but Hannah spoke up, "Elijah?" He turned back to her. She wanted to tell him he could have the other half of her bed, but she knew it was improper to share a bed with a man you are not married to. So instead she said, "Goodnight."

He gave her a small close lipped smile and a "goodnight." as he pulled the door open and walked out.

Winter turned to spring and with spring came school. Since they lived so far from town Jonah stayed the week days at the trading post in town with Fiona. It was an arrangement that the two women had worked out right after Ronan left. With every passing day Hannah started to lose hope that Ronan would ever return and in doing so started letting herself develop feelings for Elijah.

One late spring night a loud sharp howl sounded causing Katie to shoot straight up in bed. "Elijah?" She called shakily hoping he was awake to hear her.

He came into her room and saw her standing beside her bed, looking right at him even though she couldn’t see him. "I'm right here." He told her as he slid his arm around her waist using the fact that she was scared as an excuse to hold her close.

Her heart rate increased, at his touch that sent a spark of pleasure through her sending the butterflies in her stomach into a tizzy. When another howl sounded Katie jumped closer to Elijah out of instinct. Without thinking she pressed her hands to his chest. "Is it the lycanthrope?"

"No." He answered confidently.

"How are you so sure?" She asked. He let go of her, went to the window and pulled the curtain back. He motioned to the crescent moon with his hand held out to the side. She walked over and ducked her head to look out the window and saw the bright crescent in the clear sky. "Oh." She answered with a blush as she stood up straight and looked at him in the very dim moonlight. Not feeling like going to bed just yet she felt her way to the oil lamp and lit it, brightening the room so she could see him plainly. “I guess I look silly now don’t I?” she asked as she brushed a lock of curls behind her ear.

“Perhaps just a…” he held his pointer finger and thumb up in a pinching gesture, “little.” He gave her a smile that told her he was picking with her.

Hannah laughed at herself in embarrassment and scratched the back of her neck. “I…” she wanted to tell him how much she liked him and that he made her feel things she had never felt before, but the only man she had ever been with was Roman and it was simply for procreation, never for fun. She didn’t know how to flirt or even how to touch a man in a way that conveyed how she was feeling. “I don’t know how to say what I wish to.” She told him then lifted her eyes from the floor to watch his eyes that squinted at her then relaxed when he realized what she was trying to tell him. Deciding it would be easier to show him what she wanted, rather than tell him, she closed the space between them to just a few inches and placed her hands on his chest.

Elijah could hear her heart start racing from the contact and as soon as she looked up at him through her lashes he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into him, catching her top lip between his. The sensation his kiss sent though her to her core pulled a sound from deep within her that she had never made before, a pleasured moan. A trail of kisses left tingles along her jaw to her neck pulling another moan from her. “You are trembling.” He observed as he pulled back and slid his hand that wasn’t cupping the back of her head over her thin sleeping gown covered shoulder.

“I have never felt like this before.” She admitted with a whisper as she opened her eyes and looked into his.

“And how do you feel?” he asked as he gazed back at her.

Her eyes dropped to her hands on his chest as she slid them up to hold each side of his neck. “Alive.” She answered as she looked back up at him as a smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “Your touch sends a spark…like lightning through my skin.” With a look in his eyes she’d never seen before and couldn’t identify, he slid his hand down her arm and grabbed her hand off his neck to hold it in his, causing her heart to start racing again. “Do you feel it too or am I going insane?” she asked with worried eyes.

Elijah kissed the palm of her hand, making her eyes flutter then placed it back on his neck. “I feel it too.” Those four words were all she needed to hear to give into what she was feeling and she threw herself into him, kissing him with a hunger that she couldn’t control. In two swift movements her human eyes barely caught their night clothes were gone and he pulled her back into him. With another swift movement he grabbed her curvy waist and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around him out of instinct.

They kissed as he walked over to the edge of the bed, laid her back then stood up, slipping his hand over her neck and down her chest between her breasts. She watched his face as he admired her for a quick moment then lowered himself over her, sliding his hands into hers that were laid out to the side then brought them above her head. He attacked her neck with kisses as he sank into her, “Elijah.”

Afterwards they laid in her bed, covered only by a thin sheet. His arm around her shoulders held her to his side while she stared at her hand resting on his nude chest. In that moment everything in her was relaxed and her thoughts were quiet for the first time ever. Being with Elijah was like nothing she had ever felt before and she doubted she would ever feel with anyone else. “You are quiet.” Elijah pointed out and she didn’t respond. “Having regrets?”

“No.” she answered, but he could hear sadness in her voice.

“Hannah, look at me.” He told her quietly, but she couldn’t. “Talk to me.”

“If my life has taught me anything it’s that men do not like it when a woman speaks her mind.” She replied, still staring at her hand on his chest.

Elijah hooked his pointer finger under her chin and eased her head up to look at him. She pushed herself up on her arm to be able to look at him comfortably. “I am not your average man and I would very much like to know what is going on in that beautiful head of yours.” he cupped her cheek in his hand and her eyes slipped closed for a moment.

She took a deep breath and let it out as she opened her eyes. “I am a terrible wife.” The calm she had been feeling suddenly turned into a tornado and tears started quietly slipping down her cheeks. “I should feel terrible about that, but I don’t.”

“Then why do you cry?” he asked as he wiped a tear with his thumb.

“I do not know.” She answered honestly with a shake of her head that caused her messy curls to sway, then laid back down with her head on his shoulder.

“You told me that you married Ronan because your father told you that no other man would want an atrocious, ill mannered woman like you. Do you honestly believe these things to be true?”

She rubbed his chest absentmindedly. "Yes."

"Hannah," he rolled over, and propped his head up with his elbow and hand as he looked into her eyes, "you are the most stunningly beautiful, kind hearted, open minded woman I have ever met."

"The bad stuff is easier to believe." She replied not meeting his eyes.

As the days passed Hannah, Elijah and Jonah became a family. Hannah accepted that Ronan had either abandoned them or died at sea, and took off her wedding ring. For the first time in her life she felt true happiness. The loneliness that had kept her up at night as she cried into her pillow vanished.

Three months later Hannah stood in Fiona’s trading post. “You and Elijah are getting along well?” the dark haired woman who radiated strength and power, asked with a knowing smile.

“Yes.” Hannah answered with a blush as she looked at a beautiful gown hanging on the back wall of the shop. “It would be safe to say that I have fallen in love with him” Her friend made a scandalous sound that made Hannah laugh and turn to her. “The only problem is…” she paused and looked around the shop seeing that it was empty as she walked over to Fiona who stood at the front counter, “he is immortal. I will grow old and die while he lives on.”

“You could always ask him to turn you.” Fiona suggested not looking up from the imported fancy shoes that she was stocking behind the counter.

“As much as I love him I don’t think I could ever convince myself to be what he is.” She answered with a frown. “Is there anything you could do to make me live longer?” she asked looking up from her hands that tapped the counter.

“No, but…” the bell above the door rang, stopping their conversation. They waited patiently for the customer to get what he needed and leave. “I have a solution to your problem.” Fiona told her about the linking spell and that as long as Elijah lived she would return to him and vice versa.

“What do you need?” Hannah asked hearing all she needed to hear to know she wanted Fiona to work her magic.

“Are you sure about this?” Fiona asked with skeptical eyes.

“I am sure.” Hannah answered with a nod.

Fiona placed her hand over Hannah’s heart and started speaking in another language. After a few minutes she stopped and dropped her hand. “It’s done.”

“Will he know what we’ve done?” she asked.

“He will be able to feel you call to him, as well as any extreme feelings you may have. If I were to stab you, he’d be able to feel it.” she explained. “You will figure it out with time.”

Elijah figured out what Fiona and Hanna had done, but they never talked about it.

~1838~

It was a bright spring day. Hannah attempted to hang laundry on the line, but Elijah kept teasing her dress covered sides and kissing her neck, distracting her from her work. They were so wrapped up in their toying around that they did not realize they had company until they heard someone clear their throat. Hannah laughed as they both turned to see a man on a horse, a small child on the saddle in front of him. It took Hannah a moment to recognize the man, but when she did her heart stopped and her smile faded. "Ronan?"

"Surprised to see me, Dear?" He asked with an angry look at Elijah who still stood behind her. Ronan got down off the horse then grabbed the child and walked over to her. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"What are you doing here?" She asked, still in shock.

"Last I checked I live here with my wife and son. Though I see you no longer wear my ring." He glanced over at Elijah then turned his attention back to Hannah. "Where is Jonah?"

When he realized that Hannah was unable to answer Elijah spoke up. "He is staying with a friend closer to town so he may attend school regularly."

"I don’t believe I was speaking to you." Ronan snapped.

"I don’t believe I care who you were speaking to." Elijah snapped back as he took a challenging step toward the raven haired man holding the child on his hip.

Hannah stepped between them and looked at Elijah. "Give us a minute?"

"Of course." Elijah stepped back a few feet and motioned for them to talk.

"You have been gone so long I thought you had died." Hannah explained with a look between him and the toddler.

"My journey took longer than expected." He told her then looked down at the child on his hip. "Her mother died on the ship, just before we docked." He explained then looked back at Hannah. "I hoped we could give her a home, raise her and Jonah as brother and sister."

"You have been gone for four years. You can not tell me you expected to just pick up where we left off and raise an orphaned child together." She argued back quietly.

"I expected my wife to be faithful. Not whore herself out to another man." He told her with wide eyes.

The sharp crack of skin on skin filled the air as she backhanded him across his cheek. "I am not the weak, dutiful to a fault woman you left behind and you will not speak to me in such a manner!"

Having seen enough Elijah walked back over and looked at Ronan. "Why don’t you tell her the truth?" Elijah asked, making Hannah look at him as Ronan glared at both of them. Elijah wrapped his arm around Hannah’s waist holding her to his side. "The child has your eyes." He looked into Ronan's eyes and compelled him. "Tell the truth."

"I met a woman...we fell in love...she got pregnant and I could not let her raise the child alone. We were going to have a second child, but she and the baby died in childbirth. I did not know what to do so I came here." Hannah’s eyes turned glaring and her freckled nostrils flared. Ronan blinked in confusion. "Why did I just tell you that?"

"Get off of my land." She told him as she stepped out of Elijah's arm to stand in front of Ronan. "Leave this town and never return."

Elijah looked him in the eyes and compelled him. "Do as she says."

Hannah never told Jonah that he had a half sister. Instead she let him believe for his sake that his father had died at sea. A few months after Ronan returned Klaus found Elijah and killed Hannah. Elijah left Jonah with Fiona who located Ronan and brought the young man to his father who raised him alongside his half sister.

~Present Day~

“Please tell me you are done.” Katie panted as she weakly looked up at him.

“I am done.” He told her as he untied the ropes on her wrists and ankles. “Elijah told me to take you home when I was done. Is your home with the Salvatore brothers or the house you own?” he asked as he helped her stand up and she was too weak to bother protesting.

“Bring me to my house.” She answered and started walking. They were almost to the door of the warehouse when a sharp pain shot through her chest making her cry out and she would have fallen, but Jonas caught her. “No, no, no.” She cried as she placed her hand over her chest knowing that Elijah was dead and would most likely stay that way this time.

“Care to explain what that was about?” Jonas asked with wide eyes.

“Elijah is dead.” She panted through the pain. “Something tells me they won’t make the same mistake twice.” She watched as Jonas’s face turned angry.

#tvd fanfiction #tvd fan fic #the vampire diaries fanfiction #damon salvatore fanfiction #damon salvatore x oc #tyler lockwood #tyler lockwood x oc #elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson x oc #klaus mikaelson #klaus mikaelson x oc

[aion-rsa]

Marvel’s Loki Episode 5: MCU Easter Eggs and References

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This article contains Loki episode 5 spoilers.

Marvel’s Loki episode 5 is a big one. Yes, we know…last week felt like that. And the one before it, too. But this one really IS, with the entire episode taking place (as DoG’s Kayti Burt put it) on top of a literal “trash pile of MCU and Marvel Comics Easter eggs.”

With that in mind, let’s have some fun with all the incredible Marvel references they managed to sneak into Loki episode 5.

Journey Into Mystery

You probably already know this, but Journey Into Mystery was the book that first introduced the Marvel Comics version of Thor, with Loki following shortly after. The title eventually was just renamed Thor since the Asgardians had become the primary focus of the book for years by that point. However, Journey Into Mystery was revived a few years back, with its primary focus being on the adventures of Kid Loki this time around.

Thanos Copter

The Lokis pass a helicopter with “THANOS” on the side. This is a reference to Spidey Super Stories #39 from 1979. The all-ages comic featured a story of Spider-Man and the Cat (Hellcat) taking on Thanos, who was on the hunt for the Cosmic Cube. He flew around New York City in his own helicopter with his name on the side. The reference comes up as a joke here and there, including an issue of Deadpool. Even Thanos’ giant two-sided blade weapon from Avengers: Endgame has been considered by many to be a sly reference to the Thanos Copter.

Ecto-Cooler

While the Lokis are all drinking wine, Kid Loki is shown drinking Hi-C Ecto Cooler. The Slimer-based citrus drink was a tie-in to The Real Ghostbusters cartoon of the 1980s and lasted into 2001 due to its popularity. Afterwards, it became a fondly-remembered relic to time. Ecto Cooler made a brief return in 2016 to coincide with the Ghostbusters reboot. Sadly, there’s no news of it coming back for the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife movie.

Speaking of Kid Loki…

Kid Loki

Kid Loki seems to be wielding a flaming sword, which looks an awful lot like Laevateinn, the sword he wielded in the Loki: Agent of Asgard comics.

Polybius

In the background of the Lokis’ lair, we see a Polybius arcade machine. Polybius is a long-running urban legend. Supposedly, back in 1981, an arcade machine was set up in Portland, Oregon, watched over by various men in black. The game was so addicting that it caused fights to break out and horrible side-effects to its players. We wrote more about the decades-old mystery of Polybius right here.

Pretty sure there’s an old Williams Space Pinball machine in there, too but that’s not as wild as Polybius.

The Void

Fittingly, the realm where all the pruned victims end up is called the Void. In the comics, the Void is a dark, inexplicable, and possibly biblical entity that acts as the evil side to the Sentry. During the storyline Siege, the Void murdered Loki, which facilitated his rebirth as Kid Loki.

Alioth

Alioth first appeared in Avengers: The Terminatrix Objective #1, the same 1993 comic that also introduced Ravonna Renslayer to the world…and one that features Kang as its central villain. Hmmmm…

Oh, and Alioth was co-created by Mobius M. Mobius inspiration/model Mark Gruenwald, who gets another shout later in the episode.

Vote Loki

The “politician Loki” who we see leading (inasumuch as they can/want to be led) the loose coalition of Variant Lokis is modeled almost exactly on the version of Loki from Marvel’s Vote Loki story by Christopher Hastings, Langdon Foss, and Paul McCaffery. In it, Loki ends up running for President, with his ridiculous campaign built on the “honest” deception of openly lying to the American people inadvertently aided by a credulous news media. It’s a good read and you should check it out.

This episode also engages in the old MCU/Star Wars tradition of someone getting a hand cut off…in this case it’s our pal, “Vote Loki.”

Frog Thor

A frog resembling Thor is shown in a jar labeled “T365.” Wouldn’t you know it, Thor #365 is the issue where Loki transforms Thor into a frog. Yes, it was a whole thing. Walt Simonson’s run on the Thor comics is really spectacular.

“Frog Thor” also got a mention in Thor: Ragnarok, during the “play within the movie” seen as “Loki” apologized to “Thor” for turning him into a frog.

You know, there’s even an independent wrestler with a Thor Frog gimmick. Life is beautiful sometimes.

Classic Loki

So it appears that Classic Loki is basically what would have happened if “our” Loki survived the opening of Avengers: Infinity War, which he did by allowing Thanos to kill a duplicate while he disguised himself as some debris. Classic Loki went into hiding and developed a taste for brighter greens and yellows, and aged into Richard E. Grant, before he was pruned by the TVA and found himself here in the Void.

Classic Loki’s line about “the god of outcasts” comes from 2019’s Loki #5, by Daniel Kibblesmith and Andy McDonald:

“I am Loki. God of outcasts. They see themselves in me. And I in them. All of us, alone together. It’s why my stories always end with someone trying to put me in a box. And begin with my spectacular escape.”

Later in the episode, Classic Loki and Kid Loki literally “exit stage right,” in what feels like a very deliberately “stagey” moment that plays on the Shakespearean overtones of all of this.

The Living Tribunal

On the ground in the Void there’s a large severed head…and it’s that of The Living Tribunal, a cosmic entity created by Stan Lee and Marie Severin back in 1967. The presence of a Living Tribunal (even one who is dead at this present time), whose entire purpose for being is predicated on the existence of a multiverse, means that the TVA is trying very hard to cut all ties and any evidence of the fact that the multiverse is already out there.

U.S.S. Eldridge

The USS Eldridge was a real Cannon-class destroyer in the U.S. Navy in use from 1943 to 1992. It was supposedly sold for scrap after it was decommissioned but Loki posits that perhaps it was an unwanted Variant in the Sacred Timeline. Perhaps this is because the ship was rumored to be subjected to the “Philadelphia Experiment” that was supposed to render it invisible to the human eye. The story is sadly probably a hoax.

There’s a not exactly great 1984 movie called The Philadelphia Experiment which adds time travel to the equation, making this little callback even more Loki appropriate.

Is That Stan Lee?

At about 9:38 there’s a mural in the TVA headquarters. On the right there’s a guy in prescription shades, with a familiar moustache and salt-and-pepper hair. We’re not saying that’s Stan Lee, but…

The Castle

Yes, we know, that ominous castle sure looks like Doctor Doom’s  home of Doomstadt, but…it’s probably not (or is it?). More likely, this is Castle Limbo, home of Kang the Conqueror (or…is it?).

We unpacked these possibilities some more here.

The Music

The “heroic Loki” theme at the end sounds like it’s about to break into Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.”

Speaking of, the regular Loki theme is very similar to the part of the Delfonics “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love)” that was sampled for Missy Elliott’s “Sock It To Me.” The original (also sampled for the Fugees’ “Ready or Not” and Dr. Dre’s “Still D.R.E.”) was about the inevitability of love, and Missy’s song was about sneaking into somebody’s house to get your back blown out, so basically the same thing. Could have some bearing on Loki and Sylvie’s story.

The music that plays during the “Loki brawl” is this show’s equivalent of Scooby-Doo chase music. That’s a good thing, by the way.

Pixar, is that you?

Was that the Pizza Planet truck? Mobius’s ride, a station wagon with a slice of pizza on top, immediately brought to mind the popular Pixar easter egg/elaborate timeline mcguffin that has appeared in every Pixar movie to date. Also, very nice touch having Lightning McQueen himself drive it.

An even nicer touch is the license plate on the car Mobius is driving: GRN W1D. As in “Gruenwald.” As in (say it with us, kids!) Mark Gruenwald, the Marvel writer and editor who Mobius is based on.

Ant-Man

At one point on the ground in the Void we can spot a gigantic Yellowjacket helmet. Yellowjacket is the codename for several size-shifting superheroes in the Marvel Comics, but is best known to MCU fans as Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross from the first Ant-Man flick. 

Guardians of the Galaxy

There’s lots of crashed spacecraft, one of which kind of looks like the Dark Aster (Ronan the Accuser’s ship in Guardians of the Galaxy), and there may be a Helicarrier hanging around. There’s also a flying saucer that vaguely resembles the ship from John Carpenter’s The Thing, and a pirate ship that if Doctor Doom were actually the villain of this show (he isn’t…or…is he?) would make us think of that character’s very first appearance in Fantastic Four comics, where he sent Ben Grimm back in time to become Blackbeard. No, really.

Miscellaneous Time Variants

The fate of the Lokis is reminiscent of What If? #12, otherwise known as What If the X-Men Had Stayed in Asgard? At the end of the story, after tasting defeat yet again, Loki begged Those Who Sit Above in Shadow to allow him to rule Asgard. They agreed by sending him far into the future at the end of time. As reality started to break down, Loki went out laughing in the face of oblivion.

The bus ad at the beginning is for Calum Ross, who is an editor on the show. 

The shot of all the Lokis walking as the camera swoops overhead is very much reminiscent of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies.

Loki and Sylvie are cold in The Void. But wait a minute, aren’t they both Frost Giants? Why then would Loki conjure a green blanket? Unless he wants a convenient excuse to cuddle up with his Variant…

Loki is drinking “RoxxiWine” pinot noir…out of a box…which is a nice touch.

Is that weird, very large plant in the bowling alley hideout supposed to be a Variant Yggdrasil? Or wait…what if that’s Plant Loki?!? He’s green, isn’t he?

Next to Alligator Loki’s kiddie pool there’s a copy of The Mystery and Lore of Monsters, a 1930 book by Charles J.S. Thompson.

The tower we all keep thinking is Avengers Tower is in fact Qeng Tower, the headquarters of Qeng Enterprises, the company that Tony Stark (mistakenly) sold the old Avengers tower to in the comics.

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Spot anything we missed? (Probably, right?) Let us know in the comments!

The post Marvel’s Loki Episode 5: MCU Easter Eggs and References appeared first on Den of Geek.

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#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

[archadianskies]

RK9 whumptober masterlist (Complete)

(original) **COMPLETE**

✔️ No 1. LET’S HANG OUT SOMETIME Waking Up Restrained | Shackled | Hanging

MT-RK900 series: He comes online, expecting to find himself ready to be deployed to the DPD. They have other plans. (Combined with day 24)

✔️ No 2. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY “Pick Who Dies” | Collars | Kidnapped

Fae AU: Ronan ventures to the other end of the forest, hoping to meet the witches his brother spoke so fondly about, and ends up meeting hunters instead

✔️ No 3. MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY Manhandled | Forced to their Knees | Held at Gunpoint

Bell Isle has a new planetarium opening, and Simon and Ronan get more than they bargain for on what was meant to be a leisurely night stargazing

✔️ No 4. RUNNING OUT OF TIME Caged | Buried Alive | Collapsed Building

MT-RK900 series: the RK900 has to accept this is his life now, this cage that he paces endlessly when he isn’t fighting for his life

✔️No 5. WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING? On the Run | Failed Escape | Rescue

SWATverse A/9: It is another RK900. The FBI’s RK900, a secret RK900 who didn’t exist on paper. Captain Allen realises they can’t leave him with Perkins. They’re absolutely not leaving here without him.

✔️No 6. PLEASE…. “Get it Out” | No More | “Stop, please” (all of the above)

Gavin’s always assumed androids don’t feel pain, but as he watches them go to town on his partner, he thinks maybe he’s got it all wrong

✔️ No 7. I’VE GOT YOU Support | Carrying | Enemy to Caretaker 

SWATverse: The rookie goes down heavy, and Captain Allen lives by the creed ‘no man left behind’. Even if the rookie’s an android, and 400 pounds of deadweight.

✔️ No 8. WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO? “Don’t Say Goodbye” | Abandoned | Isolation

Companion piece to this; the RK900 thought it was well on its way to passing testing phase and being deployed, until one day he’s put into standby and the entire team leave.

✔️No 9. FOR THE GREATER GOOD “Take Me Instead” | “Run!” | Ritual Sacrifice

SWATverse A/9: One RK900, for the lives of the entire SWAT team. Seems like a pretty good deal to Caleb. Captain Allen doesn’t think so.

✔️ No 10. THEY LOOK SO PRETTY WHEN THEY BLEED Blood Loss | Internal Bleeding | Trail of Blood 

SWATverse: It’s a split-second decision but one made with no hesitation at all; save April MacMaster from the blast or save himself and allow her to die

✔️ No 11. PSYCH 101 Defiance | Struggling | Crying

The RK900 stands at Amanda’s side as the RK800 receives news it will be deactivated. That...does not seem right.

✔️ No 12. I THINK I’VE BROKEN SOMETHING Broken Down | Broken Bones | Broken Trust

The revolution is successful and CyberLife discreetly try to rid themselves of all evidence of the RK900. Chloe figures out they are not so discreet, and sends Connor to investigate the junkyard while the Jericho Four tend to the mass grave.

✔️ No 13. BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT Delayed Drowning | Chemical Pneumonia | Oxygen Mask

MT-RK900 series:  MedTech Dr Ronan Anderson is onsite when two children fall into the canal at the Jericho Memorial Bay. The RK900 successfully retrieves the children, but later realises he’s not feeling too well himself.

✔️ No 14. IS SOMETHING BURNING? Branding | Heat Exhaustion | Fire

MT-RK900 series : Dr Ronan is one of the MedTechs on standby at a music festival, and discovers firsthand why he was in fact made with the artic tundra in mind and not for Michigan summers.

✔️ No 15. INTO THE UNKNOWN Possession | Magical Healing | Science Gone Wrong

Fae AU: The creature has a throat burned raw from the iron, and a leg bleeding profusely. It’s going to take a lot of herbs and a lot of magic to set things right, but Simon’s a stubborn witch.

✔️ No 16. A TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY Forced to Beg | Hallucinations | Shoot the Hostage 

RK900 #87 has been cleared for deployment, the perfected successor to his prototype. While awaiting deployment the RK900 realises he’s not as alone as he thought.

✔️  No 17. I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING Blackmail | Dirty Secret | Wrongfully Accused

SWATverse A/9: They arrive at the gala separately, and Caleb thinks nothing of it until one of the detectives in Connor’s precinct make comments that slide a little too close to home.

✔️ No 18. PANIC! AT THE DISCO Panic Attacks | Phobias | Paranoia

SWATverse A/9: Forensics Medical Examiner Dr Frederick Anderson is still coming to terms with his newfound freedom and his new role in the team. Late one afternoon he’s ambushed by a figure from his past.

✔️ No 19. BROKEN HEARTS Grief | Mourning Loved One | Survivor’s Guilt

The RK900 is deployed and his predecessor deactivated. It shouldn’t make him feel anything. He shouldn’t be able to feel at all. And yet...

✔️ No 20. TOTO, I HAVE A FEELING WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE Lost | Field Medicine | Medieval

S&S verse; RK-YK500s: Ronan Anderson knows it’s only 10 minutes walk from Stabucks to Central Station. He’s a big kid, he’s smart enough to get there all by himself. Right?

✔️ No 21. I DON’T FEEL SO WELL Chronic Pain | Hypothermia | Infection

SWATverse A/9: Dr Frederick Anderson receives an injury to his faceplate and deems it negligible. Later that night, he realises he has a toothache.

✔️ No 22. DO THESE TACOS TASTE FUNNY TO YOU? Poisoned | Drugged | Withdrawal

S&S verse; RK-YK500s: Ronan detects a foreign contaminent in his drink.

✔️ No 23. WHAT’S A WHUMPEE GOTTA DO TO GET SOME SLEEP AROUND HERE? Exhaustion | Narcolepsy | Sleep Deprivation

MT-RK900 series: Flu season rampages through Detroit Metro, and one by one the medical staff fall ill leaving Dr Ronan Anderson to pull back to back shifts managing ED as the only doctor immune to the illness.

✔️No 24. YOU’RE NOT MAKING ANY SENSE Forced Mutism | Blindfolded | Sensory Deprivation

MT-RK900 series: He has a lot of questions and they don’t like that. Dogs don’t need to bark, they just need to bite. (combined with Day 1)

✔️ No 25. I THINK I’LL JUST COLLAPSE RIGHT HERE, THANKS Disorientation | Blurred Vision | Ringing Ears

MT-RK900 series: His increased aural sensitivity would’ve been useful in the arctic tundra, but not in downtown Detroit

✔️ No 26. IF YOU THOUGHT THE HEAD TRAUMA WAS BAD… Migraine | Concussion | Blindness

On the anniversary of the Sentient Life Act, an attempt on Markus’ life leaves Ronan temporaily blinded by an IED. 

✔️ No 27. OK, WHO HAD NATURAL DISASTERS ON THEIR 2020 BINGO CARD?  Earthquake | Extreme Weather | Power Outage

An emergency requiring both RK units to lend their battery cores to save the key witness’ life leaves them critically low on power. Intending to recharge at the precinct, to their dismay there is a power outage.

✔️ No 28. SUCH WOW. MANY NORMAL. VERY OOPS. Accidents | Hunting Season | Mugged

S&S verse: An out of control truck destroys most of Ronan’s body and he must be temporarily housed back in the RK-YK500 shell. 

✔️ No 29. I THINK I NEED A DOCTOR Intubation | Emergency Room | Reluctant Bedrest

MT-RK900 series: Companion piece to this; A trauma surgeon, Dr Ronan Anderson is used to a myriad of patients both android and human. He’s just not ready when his own father is wheeled in.

✔️ No 30. NOW WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Wound Reveal | Ignoring an Injury | Internal Organ Injury

SWATverse A/9: Dr Frederick Anderson is onsite with CSI at a large joint operation with both the DPD and SWAT unit 32. The corpses they’re loading up aren’t as dead as they should be. 

✔️ No 31. TODAY’S SPECIAL: TORTURE Experiment | Whipped | Left for Dead

Companion piece to Day 12: He is nearing the end of his testing phase when the revolution is successful. Eager to be rid of any evidence they backed the wrong side, CyberLife hastily dismantle the RK900.

#annie writes: dbh #poor rk900 is going to Suffer for 31 days #rest assured every single prompt ends well #whumptober

[blankdblank]

Help Me Rich

@deepestfirefun​ here you go, pt 1. :D

“Now, I wanted to thank you all for your messages-,” over the shoulder of the bulky Brit a green nail tipped hand came into view from the teetering petite toe top woman on one leg making the second Brit returning from an early morning shopping trip grin. Bag in hand Tom Hiddleston eyed the woman subtly gathering up her mail and locking the box silently behind Henry Cavill’s unknowing back to step away with a rub on the dog’s head at his side. Into the lift he went with the woman also holding an armful of bags and a small goat plushie handmade to look like Loki beside a polar bear Superman, badger Ronan with bunny Deadpool, Venom and Spiderman set she tried to nudge under the flannel sticking out of the bag they were balanced on.

The lingering gaze over the woman he couldn’t quite place had Tom saying, “I haven’t seen you around.” A ring from his pocket had his eyes lowering to his phone he wrangled out keeping the bags in his arms.

The doors opened and in his furrowed gaze at the screen he heard her tease back, “I didn’t realize you were blind.” Yet looking up the woman was gone leaving him puzzled at her answer.

In a huff he answered his call on speaker to allow him to enter his apartment listening to the bustle of his own manager while he put everything away loading up his latest binge show. A bit late to the game he had leapt on the Berlin Station train and had just came to the premier episode of the second season. Though with his meal in hand he settled into his seat at his table with schedule ironed out to finally relax before his next episode only to have his jaw drop seeing the same woman from the lift coming up on screen. And not only just there but popping up in his mind from scenes in the Night Manager, High Rise and Crimson Peak.

In flashes the, then blonde and brass now raven haired woman with curls galore in a messy bun flashing telling purple eyes he could remember from countless roles in the past few years always leaving him wondering when she was able to sleep. Clearly crossing his path more than a few times a year now for however long having lived on the same floor as him.

Travel didn’t seem to lull for her and curiously between postings of another tale of a shared now favored fanfic page Henry had showed him upon seeing he had moved in with stories on Loki and Superman as neighbors befriending a quirky oc he skimmed back through his posted videos catching more and more glimpses of his petite shadow. Into Henry’s videos the same shadow popped up more and more leading to his delving into the filmography of his friend now alerted to the woman who he had filmed with as well somehow having slipped out of his attention for so long.

.

“Found another one.” Tom fired off to Henry in a text after a week of hearing how his return to his social pages had drawn attentions to a woman familiar in both his videos and Henry’s.

It seemed no matter what they did since both moving into this building they kept acting as magnets for the same woman unintentionally catching her in her daily path. Off guard and trying to slip out of the shot to avoid bothering the busy self promoting actors she would slip out once her task was done. Though when they were filming her stealth seemed to pass their notice leaving them oblivious until the comments would ask who the woman was.

The most intimate was when Tom and Henry both had caught one another back from a run to find the slightly delirious woman listening to music to stay awake waiting for the lift. Swaying and singing along to the song the already filming men joined her and had their most popular video yet building up the question even more, just who she was in general and to them. Their grins lingered and in the moment after they saw her sway her way out of the lift they finished off the video that they had begun. The main goal that they had been distracted from was to answer a question posted by a fanfic page that they had both stumbled onto by chance, what sort of smoothie would Loki and Superman have after a workout. Tales of a woman living with both Loki and Superman in the same building; comics and short stories always with the oc being caught up as a spectator for the duo of super beings with a hint that there was a chance it wasn’t one sided interest on the oc’s part.

“I don’t get it,” Henry said laying out all the supplies he had for a snack to go with the smoothies when they had stopped filming, “How does she just pop in and out like that?”

Tom chuckled saying, “Might be from her size.” Henry glanced at him, “You haven’t noticed? Must be a dancer or something to move like that and she’s got to be nearly half your size, two thirds mine.” Smirking at his grinning friend, “I can admit you’re broader.” After a quick sip he said, “But I have you on speed.”

Henry chuckled, “I am not built for speed.” He said moving around Kal while he drank from his water fountain, “I leave that to Kal.”

“That’s just no fair, he’s got two extra legs.” Tom teased. “So, any hints yet where your Lois lives?”

Henry chuckled, “She lives on your floor, Buddy, be just odd if I was caught snooping around.”

Tom grinned, “Easy, just let Kal off on the floor, knock around for him.”

Henry nodded with his brows raised, “So, just, let my dog loose and then knock on doors asking what exactly? Hello, I believe my thumbless companion got off on this floor by mistake, you wouldn’t happen to be holding him captive, would you?” Tom was laughing by the time he had finished talking and he said, “Truly brilliant. No wonder I’m single with a wingman like you.”

Tom, “Hey, Kal is the best wingman, you find that door, just knock and have him there with a note and a rose inviting her to dinner.”

Henry smirked again, “Again, could kidnap Kal.”

Tom rolled his eyes, “Fine then, resort to a teddy bear and don’t use your best advantage.”

Henry chuckled, “Out of all of me, and my dog is my best advantage, thanks.”

Tom chuckled, “She can surf the internet, no doubt she’s seen nearly all of you. Got to add something extra. Something domestic.”

Henry nodded teasing back, “Domestic.”

Tom, “Don’t doubt it, you have a healthy happy lovable dog, as good as a man with a baby. You can keep him alive, great sign for being able to-,”

Henry chuckled, “No, come on, finish the thought, what, I can leave a plate of food out for her? Open a bag or can and just leave it lying around for if she possibly gets hungry, take her for walks.”

Tom smirked, “You know what I mean. Our lives are public, she has to see what no one else gets to. Find the spark that draws her eye.”

Henry nodded, “Sure, I’ll keep my eye peeled for a spark.”

.

He didn’t mean to be such a cynic sometimes but for all the pent up irritation for yet another bout of filming for Superman coming up he was shedding water weight and it was turning him into a giant toddler it seemed. He wanted nothing more than to throw his alarm clock every morning and just pull his covers up and never leave home again just quitting the superhero business altogether. Waxing this morning didn’t help matters either, pink and irritated his skin felt terrible and sweating only made it worse so as soon as his friend left to go to his own apartment downstairs he spent a good five minutes just letting the hot water wash over him mentally cursing everyone forcing him through this hell. ‘For the fans’ that was the excuse, always given to the actors hating being torn apart and shoved to the brink of blacking out just to get that impossible ripped look men strove to be but never knew what it took to achieve themselves.

Hours later post early night in five am came and groaning and cursing into his pillow in a shove off his belly he scowled his way off his knees to his feet to storm his way into his gym clothes and sneakers. A slammed hand onto his bag later and he choked the hold of the fabric in his fingers with knuckles turning white for a tantrum adjacent trip to the gym nearby. Into the locker his bag was nearly thrown and right through the sea of bulky men he found his usual place catching more than a few familiar faces in the same mood he was in. He had to wait to blow off some steam first before filming or he would be reduced to cussing out everyone watching in a surely career killing clip he couldn’t dare send out right now after having promised his mother not to do that after her last time talking him down from the rage she had unknowingly called him in the middle of.

Across the room however the same baggy cut off t donning woman with Capri sweats that shifted around her toned legs unlike the legging clad women on the second floor hoping to impress by leaving as little to the imagination as possible was spotted. Alternating arms with bulky weights in each hand flowing through the same set routine as always while the massive men by comparison took full claim over what they wanted when they wanted forcing her to the left overs. A stray strand of black curls dangling from the messy bun on top of her head tapped between her shoulder blades with each arm lowering from a lift to the confirming tap finishing the move holding his focus from the burn on his arms in the swinging arms of the machine he brought together. Each tap of the weights rising and falling came with his silent wish for her to turn around to just give him a guess at what color her eyes were.

A break in his sets however had her passing the weights over to a smaller meathead forcing her off her spot to the sit up foundation he was coming off of. In her wiping it down he lifted his water bottle and froze when it reached his lips trying to calculate how much he could drink to spread it out to keep up ‘the look.’ Only to pause seeing her finger outstretch to tilt the water bottle higher on the largest meathead in the lower floor, one of the first people he met when coming here who froze then melted into acceptance hearing her say, “We love you, be sexy tomorrow.” Taking a much larger swig and pausing to steady from his moment of glassy eyed gaze that had triggered her sentiment he nodded and cut it down for the rest of his workout.

Even as a stranger she had caught on that he wasn’t at his best and pretending the order was for him Henry took a big swig and decided to cut back himself, spoiling himself and assuring that he would be there tomorrow to in fact be sexy for the cameras even if he couldn’t slice something with his abs. The message un-verbally rippled through the gym in a sort of group revolt against whatever was bringing them all here to tear themselves apart. And while she clung to the heavy weighted plate to her chest she dipped and rose again gritting her teeth and trying not to make any sort of pained noise until she met her goal and sat breathing steadily with the weight resting on her surely while the burn in her abs and legs calmed down.

Two machines later while she was going from planks to handstand push ups on a mat to the side from the packed machines the man who received the reminder of love and self care came over to help Henry film his video who smirked seeing her dip to plank again making the two men behind her freeze once again. Though without her feet touching down she held the pose only to rise up again and then fold in half to ‘tap’ her toes to the ground she couldn’t quite reach in that position then raise her legs up again. Occupied machines be damned she was getting her body to burn as much as necessary in spite of the big men refusing to let her through asserting their dominance for ‘their territory’ the lower level still held for them.

Showering in the gym would be a must with how drenched his shirt was and by the time he had gotten out he’d assumed she would be long gone after feeling like his body was trying to be a sponge and soak up all the water it could through his skin even after his splurge moment. All the same strolling back home again in a sweater and jeans his eyes lingered on the same woman leading the way back in a near backless t shirt with wing cutouts over her jean shorts. Near to a toe top swaying sort of walk reminding him of a sneaking kitten always luring him closer she halted and his eyes shifted around knowing that move, a turn to blend in behind something with her bag around the corner of the building she was hidden by the pillar surrounding the entrance. Widening his steps he got to her side when he saw why she had hid, the pair of laughing clearly drunk men taking several minutes to cross the abandoned street corner spilling their open bottles tucked in bags failing to be subtle.

A cheer as he turned to block her from sight and the noise darting his gaze from her step out agreeing to use his shadow in the lamplight to hide from the duo, “Woo! Superman!”

The other man stepped closer saying, “Shhh! He’s not wearing the cape! No worries Mr Kent!” turning around in a circle he shouted, “We all know Superman’s out in Batman’s Court thingy!” Swatting his hand at his buddy’s arm only to nearly fall over.

Rolling his eyes Henry called back, “Mind the roads guys.” Holding his natural accent back in his first few steps continuing homewards after confirming she was keeping up with him. A whoop of a siren cut off any chance of the men noticing her sending groans echoing through the streets when the officer that was called on the disturbance arrived.

Into the building they strolled far more relaxed in a side by side stance in the new peace of the time alone and into the lift steps and a joint turn were taken. The same buttons were pressed wordlessly by Henry who narrowed his eyes watching the floor number change mentally screaming to just say anything. A poke at his middle once at her floor however dropped his gaze to her and the pinch of his sweater in the doors opening split a curious smirk across his face. Honey dripped and sending an ache to hear more of it her voice sounded in asking, “Where’d you get this?”

“I, didn’t. Mum sent it.”

He could have slapped himself in her step out into the hall and just when he was ready to shout something she added, “Stay comfy, Sugar Plum.”

That was it, millions of men and women once calling him baby faced now calling him Daddy expecting to win his affections or attention and in sloppy steps, if in cartoon form his body would be melting into a puddle of goo evaporating into hearts. He had to somehow learn to talk to you, he had to break the ice and gain your comfort in more than sharing an elevator, gym or be used as your hiding spot. No one, not one of his exes had called him something as spine tingling as Sugar Plum and he doubted they would have wanted to. Teddy Bear sure, even a Pookie thrown in the mix when they were pouting to be pampered, but nothing so new or unique and as embarrassing as it should be the man portraying the Man of Steel wished to be nothing more than your Sugar Plum.

He loved hugs, he was borderline clingy, always hoping to drape around the person of his desires. To spoon and in his past be rarely spooned in return, tiny and somehow formidable in her own right he had hoped she would allow him to be passive, at least from time to time, that some sort of androgyny could be mixed in the relationship he was picturing. The cute angry moments when she couldn’t reach things he could help her reach in various ways. The coveted moments where she would drown in shirts borrowed from his closet, mornings to wake with a breakfast made by one of them and arguments ending in laundry thrown about to cut loose and have fun instead of getting lost in tiny irritations.

An hour had passed before he realized it and a telling ring tone had him answering and lovingly sighing out from his place sprawled across his bed, “She called me Sugar Plum and touched my shirt.”

Instantly that had Tom set off into question mode snapping the lovable goofball out of his heart balloon daze when he was snapped back to the telling fact that he said nothing in return and had missed another chance luring groans from his plotting friend out of town for work again. The call eventually ended and Henry posted the video he had captured only to finally watch it to see the woman his comments kept talking about behind him making him melt back onto his bed again remembering your nickname.

 *

“I have to do everything myself.” Tom muttered strolling through the diner he had stopped in after an interview for a magazine shoot only to pause seeing the same woman again seated alone making him smirk and cross straight for the booth he sat in lifting her gaze from the menu in her hands. “What are we having?”

Without missing a beat she said, “We’re having a cheat day.”

“We are?”

She nodded, “You sat down, welcome to the boat. Take the consequences in stride there Mr H.”

With a smirk from him that was it. The beginning of a friendship that felt stretched thin just as it had begun, as in their parting she said she was off to film for four months leaving their friendship online and through messages. Somehow he’d managed her email, a fact leaving Henry halfway between staring and glaring at him for a while after he had mentioned it knowing he was off for his own bout of filming in the morning allowing Tom some space to recover their friendship by cushioning the groundwork and talking up his friend.

No thank you’s were required, ever, the walk with Henry wasn’t the first time and Tom had acted similarly catching a gawker in the super market he stepped into protective mode. Insisting she was safe. Never possessive but protective, not a claim of marking her as theirs but demanding that the man respected the lady in question, both raised well by their mothers to defend women and never disrespect them, even with their differing of one having two sisters, and the other brothers. Between the both of them it was clear you were to be protected, and still fluffing his feathers out after a bad relationship he settled to helping his friend to land the woman he hoped to be falling just as hard as his friend seemed to be. A conundrum wrapped in a mystery on legs the pair couldn’t quite work out leading to some aims to dig for any press to see if they could work out a bigger picture and find a good angle to go past Tom’s suggestion to use Kal.

 *

“Hey Richie Rich.”

Lowly a chuckle sounded through the line, “Ugh,” you could hear your friend smoothing a hand over his face, “So knackered. Three back to back flights between interviews. Really the wrong side out.”

“No hugs from your snuggle buddy yet?” His sheepish chuckle had your own grin splitting out through your own exhaustion, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your subtle hints you’ve been cuddling up to somebody. They treating you well?”

After a reluctant pause he answered, “They are, yes.”

“Good, if not I’m going for their knees.” He chuckled again and your mind flashed back to the exasperated call you had gotten after a few too many glasses of wine when he had first hinted at a possible relationship. True he didn’t remember the tipsy request for advice from the awkward demi who had worse luck in love than he had easing the task of skating past the touchy subject the withdrawn man reluctant to share his most tender side of himself. Something he had caught hints he had shown glimpses and began to see that you would be there to catch him if he would jump into this bond fully.

From work to his private life he had folded back that curtain and even in the longest stretches where he would fall silent and unintentionally ghost people in delving into his characters. Since first meeting as Daniel Miller and Bell, her reluctantly used CIA agent far from tamable or conquerable, he would receive her small messages. Single orders out of nowhere to have a cup of tea or the most puzzling at three in the morning while filming in the middle of nowhere to eat a carrot he knew his distant friend was waiting and still caring for him. Always there and willing to listen to his hours of ranting when he was stuck with an avalanche on information illegible to his character he had studied all folding into place with a single unorthodox question on a quirk his character might have. One slipped smiley face on a folded slip of paper on set your first day and his smile was now at home when he was in contact with or near you.

“I saw your latest pop up online. They have a whole Instagram account dedicated to their shadows you know.”

“Ugh,” he chuckled and you replied, “it’s not my fault they keep filming in public spaces.”

“No it’s not. But it is not ok you haven’t gotten their number yet.”

“And just whose number am I supposed to be getting exactly there Casanova?”

“Either one seems a catch. I hear they both are wonderful. Marten and Benedict are close to Tom, I’ve only heard about Henry in passing,”

“I am not going to assume-,”

“You are phenomenal and they are blind if they haven’t caught on yet. Besides, Tom’s been catching up on Berlin Station, no doubt Bell will catch his eye.”

“I’m in fishnets and a corset my first scene, that’s not usually an eye seeking missile,” again he laughed and shifted in his seat at your sarcastic comment, “Besides, you know how much I hate it all being so physical. I know they’re attractive, I have eyes, just the typical actress hoping to be more than just to be somebody’s piece of ass.”

“I get it, trust me,” true you were nearly half his age but this one thing you bonded in. Drop dead gorgeous even without the pound of makeup and burlesque costume from your first meeting that faded away in the first awful joke you had whispered to him between sets to break his set in scowl for the lighter scene coming up and he could see the dazzler within. Awkward duckling in swans clothing with absolutely verbatim knowledge on how marketable her facade was with only a wish to curl up at home on the funds you had earned in flawless take after take with jokes between. Not shy but comfortable in yourself only timid around others who never seemed to wish to look deeper driving you to older companions a generation ahead or even publicly out actors who wouldn’t dare to ever imply they were wishing to cross that line.

A few well placed publicity dates here and there at first and the act had tired you out of the process altogether and now added to the stealthy ladies of the limelight unwilling to share their dating lives, as of you had one. You were evenly matched with decades in between, now nearing his silver fox years happily Richard had taken the first leap to stop tearing himself apart for roles to meet the standards for the required shirtless scenes now less frequent in his acceptable dad bod years. It wasn’t hard to understand and commiserate in the shared effect on your daily lives to force workouts, facials, skin regimens and the like to keep up your profession and roles. “Have you at least talked to Tom lately?”

“His mum sent me a package.”

“Ooh, nice how did that happen?”

“Well, ran into Tom in the lift last week and he mentioned he would be off filming but he said something about an early birthday gift was being sent to him and he wouldn’t be able to get back in time. He spaced on the dates not realizing he wouldn’t be here and I guess my comment before when I got his last script in my box by mistake and left some spare biscuits I bought with them and said I’m next door if he needs anything.”

“Ah, so when she sent you a package-,”

“He got a package at my place, which if it happens again I’m counting it as permission to say we’ve at least dated to even the intimacy.” Making him chuckle again, “No doubt he would understand that logic.”

Another knock had you walking to your door and listening in he heard you sign for the package then close the door saying, “Robert Downey jr has my address.”

To which he replied, “Oh that is datable offense right there, friends and family too.”

“Speaking of dates,” you said plopping back onto your couch leaving the box by the other on the end of your coffee table settling your notepad turned planner for your travel plans for the upcoming convention you were appearing at for two different series and a sci-fi trilogy you were the lead in. “Heard about a certain uncle.” Again making him chuckle bashfully, “I am so proud of you. Loved Crucible and this will be just as spectacular.”

“Thank you, and I can’t wait to see the third installment of the, what the hell is it called again? The porcupine raptor thing?”

“Goruntrafnacerptornius.” You said with a giggle. Used to being asked how to say it as the only actor in the film to have mastered the name in the whole franchise leaving the others abbreviating the bastardized cloned dinosaur chimeras the size of toasters. Main creatures in a new Jurassic Park twist with the tiny creatures enlisting the aid of a dishonored and framed alien warrior(you) and her mixed group of fellow banished prisoners to help build a bridge to an unclaimed island for them to rule apart from their former Master. Enemies to family of misfits and unlikely bond tropes exploding into this nonsensical idea of a show seemed to be crack on film people flocked to in droves. “If you weren’t working I’d invite you to the premier. Looks like I’ll have to settle for sending you a copy when it’s out maybe to add to your pile to watch.”

“I always watch yours first, you know that.” Another notification that the latest video you had popped up in sounded on your phone as Richard’s doorbell rang, “Ah, Love, that’s my breakfast.”

“Say no more, I have to get ready anyways myself. Get there and back in time for Henry to wake me up again at five. Love you.”

“Love you, call you tomorrow.”

In the click the phone app dissolved and left the social page open showing the groggy barely conscious video of you fresh off your last flight home before Tom had left with Henry and Tom dancing along to the song you were listening to and belting out over mouthing along as you had imagined racking up notices on. The blurry shots of their faces and yours left people dismissing it as a fake if not posted by Henry himself on his way to the gym later that night, the same place his previous video had been filmed. Another edited clip of his various workouts with ample comments on you the mystery woman in the back of the shot doing far more impressive body weight exercises as the larger men hogged the machines and hand weights ending. Complete with a post shower poke to his sweater you then pinched stirring a curious smirk from him at your asking where he got it.

.

Filming was hard but in the middle of a groggy exchange with Tom you had fallen asleep sending off an answer to his question of, ‘Have you seen the new Superman costume? What do you think of it?’ Trying to see if anyone he knew came up with the same answer as the comic you had posted hours prior stating that he was trying to be more like Batman and could slip into shadows easier with darker shades than the Reeves version of the costume. Complete with images of different tries to hide only to have various colored parts of the costume point him out from the old one almost like a glow stick in the shadows to the new one with just a voice bubble saying, ‘Perfect.’

‘Looks like he wants it taken off.’ Tom couldn’t help but laugh first at the message then Henry’s deep inhale and excuse to refill his drink to hide his blush. Replies went unanswered leaving Tom grinning and stating you must have fallen asleep after being unable to only to be woken a few hours with a flurry of answers with an apology.

Finally a lapse in filming would bring you back to their path, right after a press stop of your own, all able to meet up for a dinner after the first night of the convention you were all set to attend. It was getting colder every day and finally Henry through Tom had answered the question of where the sweater was from. The real question being how would you handle the press, because it was out now, who was in the videos with the men and questions were swirling around. You could ignore them living on the tiny island to film the latest bit for the long running crime show you had filmed another three episode arc on for the next season coming up after the skyrocketing effect your last pop in had given the show that was near leveling off in interesting plot lines. They needed a villain and boy did you supply one.

A bad storm however had kept you from one fan meet that was canceled and for an hour you offered answers for the people who had sent questions to your account asking for when it might be rescheduled so they could talk to you. Needless to say wine had been opened and perhaps a swig too many and you felt yourself warming up and dozing off stating that you would only answer a couple more questions. The final ones you had read was ‘The holidays are coming up, any special plans for Christmas, New Years and Valentines?’

The one after being, ‘WHAT?!!!!’ Pertaining to your stunning answer before passing out, ‘Next to Tom Hiddleston and under Henry Cavill, same as most nights between jobs.’

Pt 2

#Henry Cavil x Reader OC #Tom Hiddleston #Richard Armitage #Request

[100storiesin2020]

Chapter 10: Welcome Home, Henry

Guess who’s back, yall! Come read on AO3!

******

Henry took a deep breath as he looked up at the Foxhole Court. He was a nervous ball of excited energy, emotions matching the bright shade of orange that surrounded him, almost too much to handle. He’d always loved cheerleading, but hadn’t exactly had the option to pursue that at Aglionby.

It wasn’t ‘a proper demonstration of masculinity’, whatever that meant. Henry smiled, remembering the fit that Blue had thrown when she first heard that phrase. He didn’t much care for the concept of masculinity himself. He just wanted to cheer, to yell, to tumble across the floor, and to be part of something bigger than himself. He wanted to put all his energy to a good use, and cheerleading seemed like a fun way to do that. Plus, he could be close to his friends that way. Exy wasn’t his forte, but he could, at least, make sure to be at all the games. This was his chance. With just one full week left before school started, the Vixens were holding open tryouts, followed by a week-long cheerleading camp. If he made it in today, he’d be set.

His phone started ringing, interrupting his thoughts. It was his mother’s ringtone. He ran his hand through his spiky hair and sighed as the country twangs blasted from his phone, then reluctantly answered. “Hey, mom.”

“I thought you were taking a gap year.”

Henry sighed again. “Not even going to start with a hello?”

His mother continued as if she didn’t hear him. “You’re welcome to start school right away, of course, but I would prefer to be told before you just show up in Palmetto.”

Henry rolled his eyes. “I stopped in to say hi to the Gang,” he told her. He really didn’t want to have the cheerleading discussion until after he made the team, assuming he did. “How did you know I was in Palmetto?”

“I always know where you are.”

“As much as I appreciate the in-case-of-kidnapping precautions,” he groaned, “I’d really rather you did not use them until after I get kidnapped.”

She laughed. “I didn’t, actually. One of my acquaintances was passing through and mentioned seeing you at the airport in Columbia. Complete coincidence. I hadn’t spoken to him in years, but he called to ask if I had any more magical items like RoboBee. Not RoboBee specifically,” she said hurridly, “but anything else along those lines.”

“I’m not asking Ronan if they have anything else lying around, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“Oh, no,” she said airily, “I’ll ask the older Lynch boy about that. I was just wondering why you were in Palmetto. Enjoy seeing your friends. Keep an eye out.” She hung up before he could respond.

Mood soured, Henry picked up his backpack and started walking around the Court building. He knew the tryouts were here, and that he was on time but he wasn’t sure where -- there it was. A gate was open with a sign that said Cheerleading Tryouts and a large arrow pointing through. At least he knew where he was going now. Henry followed the arrows until he could hear music going. He walked through a final open door and found himself standing on the edge of the court.

It was a stunning view.

He was a little overwhelmed by the space. This was a proper stadium, so it was huge, and it was so orange why is this place so orange. Girls and guys alike were milling around on the court, warming up and chatting with each other.

A tall, redheaded girl ran up to him as he was taking in the view. “Hi! Are you here for tryouts?”

He flashed her a grin. “Sure am!”

“Sweet! I’m Katelyn. Come on over here, we will get you signed up.” She led him towards a table set up on one end of the court. “I’m excited to see you here. We always have plenty of girls come to tryouts, but we usually need to go recruiting to add boys to our ranks,” she grimaced. “Apparently they all think they’re ‘too manly’ for cheerleading.”

Henry laughed. “I went to an all-boys school, and we didn’t even have cheerleaders for that very reason.”

Katelyn groaned. “Sounds just about right, for the patriarchy. At least you’re not like that. Or, I assume you’re not, since you’re trying out. Do you have any cheerleading experience?” She eyed him up and down. “You look a little wiry to be lifting girls.”

Henry laughed. “Yeah, I haven’t done any of that,” he admitted. “I have done gymnastics though, and am decent at tumbling. Also my friends constantly accuse me of having too much energy for my own good, so I’ve got that going for me.”

She laughed. “An abundance of energy will help, yes. Come on, I’ll introduce you to Coach.” She pointed out various cheerleaders as they weaved through the crowd of hopefuls. “That’s Laura. She throws the best parties. That’s Pete, we dragged him in here freshman year and he stuck around. That’s Marissa.” She paused for a second as the brown haired girl walked past. “Are you straight?”

“Excuse me?”

“We have a bet going on,” Katelyn explained. “Marissa seems to have a knack for only flirting with boys who are not into girls. You don’t have to answer, but it would be fun to add you into the test pool, if you will.”

Henry smirked. “I’ll let you know if she flirts with me.”

Katelyn raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the subject. She pointed out a few more cheerleaders before they came to a table. “And this here is Coach Taylor.”

The coach was about Henry’s height if you accounted for the extra inch his hair gave him. She shook his hand firmly. “Hello, young man. I’m Samantha Taylor but these hooligans call me Coach Sam. Welcome to tryouts. What’s your name?”

“Henry Cheng, ma’am.”

Her iron grey eyes seemed to pierce his soul as she gave him a once over. “You look like you’re probably good at tumbling.”

Henry grinned. “That’s my specialty.”

A smile split her serious face, transforming her almost into another person. “I’m glad to hear that. Go warm up, I’ll look forward to seeing your skills.” He did so, chatting a bit with the many girls and handful of guys he saw while he stretched as thoroughly as he could. The Vixens as a whole seemed very nice, but Henry could tell that Katelyn was going to be his favorite.

Soon the tryouts were officially underway. Coach Sam took charge, leading the whole group through a short routine and then testing them on it in smaller groups. They did some cheers and some test lifts. Henry was new to this bit, but the others were helpful and encouraging. He wasn’t sure if he was doing well, but he was definitely having a lot of fun. Then it was time for tumbling skills, his chance to shine. He stood at the end of the mat, received his signal to go from Coach Sam, and took a deep breath.

run run roundoff handspring flip handspring handspring aerial

He stuck the landing with a flourish and looked over to where Coach Sam and her assistants were sitting with big grins. Katelyn ran up to him. “That was great!” she said enthusiastically. “We haven’t had any guys that could do proper aerials in ages! You’re going to be so much fun to work with!”

He gave her the trademark Henry grin. “I’m sure looking forward to it, assuming I make it in.”

“Oh, you will,” she stated. “I’ll take it up with C.S. myself if you don’t.”

**********

The results were posted and Henry was in. Almost all of the boys who had come to tryouts were in, except for a creep who had been thrown out after a rude comment to one of the girls. Still, he was the only boy who got a high five from the Coach, so that was something.

“Welcome to the team,” Katelyn said as everyone packed up their stuff. “Most of the team is going to go get pizza tonight. You in?”

Henry smiled but shook his head. “I’ve got some friends on the Exy team that I want to track down tonight.”

Katelyn raised an eyebrow. “You’re from Henrietta then?” Henry nodded, surprised. “My boyfriend is on the team. He’s been complaining about the freshman this year.” She smiled. “I’ve heard something about a pet bird.”

Henry laughed. “That would be Chainsaw. Ronan thinks he’s so edgy.”

Katelyn laughed. “Well, the Exy team is having a movie night, and I was off to it.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Do your friends know you made the team?”

“They don’t even know I’m in the country right now,” he replied. “Want to help me surprise them?”

“Absolutely!” Katelyn fired off a quick text which was answered almost immediately. “They’re in the girls’ dorm room tonight. Do you need a ride over or do you have a car?”

“A ride would be great, as long as I get shotgun.” They headed to the parking lot and hopped into her car. Katelyn fired it up and drove towards the dorms.

“So what brings you to Palmetto, exactly? Did you come here specifically to be a Vixen or did you just like the school?”

“My friends all came here,” Henry responded. “I’m closer to them than I am to any family I have remaining, and I couldn’t leave them behind for long.” Katelyn’s eyes were soft. “As for cheerleading, I’ve always wanted to do it, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for college. I’d find something else to keep me busy, but it will be fun to watch the Squad at their games.”

“The games are great,” Katelyn agreed. “How did you meet the Squad?” Her lip twitched at the last word.

“Oh, fancy rich kid boarding school, you know how it goes.” Henry waved a hand airily. “You scare a boy half to death and he adopts you into his magical myth-hunting squad.”

Katelyn laughed heartily as they pulled into the parking lot. “That sounds like a story I need to hear sometime.” She parked her car and they headed into the building. “I’m going to stop by my room and change real quick. Would you like to do that?” Henry agreed, and they took turns in her bathroom. The dorms were fairly nice, in Henry’s opinion. Once they had both freshened up a bit they climbed the stairs to the 6th floor.

Katelyn pointed out the correct door. “I usually just walk in since they know I’m coming. Do you want to know or would you rather sneak in behind me?”

“I have an even better idea.” He reached into his bag and pulled out RoboBee, which he handed to her. “This is RoboBee. I can control her from my phone, so don’t be surprised if she moves, okay?”

Katelyn inspected it. “Isn’t one of your teammates deathly afraid of bees? Aaron told me that all three of the boys freaked when a wasp got into the room. Matt had to go kill it for them.”

“Blue told me all about that one. Gansey is allergic to bees, but he knows RoboBee. Plus, if I scare him again that’ll just be a bonus!”

Katelyn laughed and took the bee. “This will be interesting then.” She opened the door and walked in. “The fun has arriiiiiiived! Thank you very much.”

“Stop quoting the movie before Neil sees it!” a boy called. The door swung shut behind her. He typed some instructions into the RoboBee app and waited. The commotion started about 30 seconds later. “A bee! A bee! Everyone hold still, I’ve got this!” said an unknown voice. Then there was Blue. “Hold up, that’s RoboBee! Don’t smash it!! HENRYYYYYYYYYY!” She threw the door open and launched herself at Henry, tackling him to the ground as RoboBee buzzed in circles around them.

Blue had her true smile on. “You’re supposed to be in Venezuela!” She helped him up and gave him a hug. “Also you scared Gansey shitless, I hope you know.”

Henry laughed. “I wanted to surprise you guys. The scare was a bonus.” He looked up to see Gansey himself in the doorway, looking a little shaken but overall happy. “Gansey-boy!” It’s good to see you!”

“It’s a pleasure to see you as well!” Gansey replied before joining the hug.

Some more faces came to the doorway. “So this is the famous Henry,” Captain Wilds said. “Blue talks about you even more than she does her own boyfriend.

He chuckled. “I hope you haven’t gotten any ideas about that working out,” he said to Blue.

She shoved him away. “In your dreams, weirdo.”

“She didn’t even mention that you’re cute as hell,” a boy said. Henry was pretty sure that it was number 8, Nicholas Hemmick. “That’s a crucial detail.”

“Depends on who you ask, I think. Where are Adam and Ronan?”

“Oh, they’re in here,” Captain Wilds said.

“Yes, Ronan has missed you,” Blue said loudly.

“Shut up, maggot!”

“He even said you can get glitter in his car any time.”

“I did NOT!”

Gansey spoke over their continued bickering. “What brings you to our lovely corner of the world, Cheng? Last we heard you were still in Venezuela.”

“You’re talking to one of the newest members of the Vixens,” Henry replied.

“No way!” Blue high fived him. “I thought you were going to try out in the spring!”

“I couldn’t wait. I missed you all too much,” he admitted.

“We missed you too.” Blue grinned and dragged him into the room. “Hey everyone, this is Henry Cheng, one of our best friends and apparently now a Vixen. Henry, you knew who everyone on the team was before we did, but that one-” she pointed to the Minyard twin sitting next to Neil “-is Andrew, and that one there next to Katelyn is Aaron. And on that note, we have some catching up to do so we will see you all later.” She dragged him back out of the room. “Adam, Ronan, we’ll be in your room whenever you come back.

“But you can’t just ditch movie night!” Nicky called, pouting.

“Try me!” she slammed the door. “Anyway, Henry, let’s all do a sleepover in the room tonight! It’ll be like old times!”

“We should look into the Fox Tower rules, see if we can add you to our room,” Gansey said.

“As much as I like that idea, I’m probably going to be put in a room with my fellow Vixens. I’m pretty sure we are just downstairs though, so I won’t be too far, and I wouldn’t want to bother you guys.”

Gansey looked stricken. “You’d never be a bother. You’ve been with us since-- you’re a part of us now,” he said softly.

Henry hugged him. “I’ve missed you guys.”

Both of them hugged him right back. “Welcome home, Henry,” Gansey said.

#a chainsaw in fox tower #chapter 10 #all for the game #the raven cycle #aftg #trc #the foxhole court #the raven boys #henry cheng #blue sargent #gansey #ronan lynch #adam parrish #neil josten #andrew minyard #all the foxes #i don't know how to tag #anyway i hope yall enjoy this #cheerleading

[queen-of-deans-booty]

I Believe the Children Are Our Future: Part One

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Word Count: 2,186

Warnings: typical supernatural violence, language, angst, blood, you know the usual

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. Any and all comments on these are appreciated. I really want to hear what you guys think about this one!

Feedback is the glue that holds my writing together.

Tags at the bottom

“Agents Page, Plant, and Ronan,” Dean said as he held up his fake badge for the doctor to see.

There had been reports of strange deaths occurring in this town, but you didn’t really know how strange. The police report you found said something about a girl with a head injury from something that clawed through her skull. Normally it wasn’t your type of thing, but when you talked with the police that made the report, he was very nervous and he stuttered which made you think there was something supernatural about this.

“Gentlemen, Lady. What brings you by?” the doctor asked.

“We need to see Amber Freer's body,” you stated.

“Really? What for?”

“The police report said something clawed through her skull?”

“You didn't read the autopsy report that I emailed out this morning?”

“W-we had, uh, server issues,” Sam chuckled nervously.

The doctor motioned for you three to follow, and he led you to the room where the bodies were kept in freezers. He opened one and pulled the body out before removing the sheet from her head.

“When they brought her in, we thought she was attacked by a wolf or something,” the doctor explained as he showed you the claw marks on the side of her skull, “but we were wrong.” He picked up a plastic bad from the slab the body was laying on before showing it to you and the brothers.

“Is that a—”

“Pressed-on nail,” the doctor finished for you. “We found it in her temporal lobe.”

“You’re saying she did this to herself?” you asked, clearly shocked.

“Uh-huh. She scratched her brains out. It'd take hours, and it'd hurt like hell, but sure—it's possible.”

“How?”

“Pick your acronym—OCD, PCP. It all spells crazy,” the doctor sighed. Sam reached for the blanket and pulled it back further until the girl’s hands were shown. Amber’s right hand had four press-on nails still attached, but the middle finger has nothing on it. “My guess, some kind of phantom itch. I mean, an extreme case, but still.”

“Phantom itch?” Dean asked.

“Yup,” the doctor stated as he placed the sheet back over her body and put her back in the freezer. “All it takes is someone talking about an itch—or thinking about one, even—and suddenly you can't stop scratching.”

“Thanks, doc,” you smiled before leaving the morgue with the brothers.

Now you know why the police was nervous when you talked to them because they were curious about why she did this to herself or what caused it to happen.

“The family should still be a little fresh regarding information. We’re heading there next,” you said as you clutched the keys in your hand.

“When I agreed you could drive, I didn’t mean take over the whole goddamn investigation,” Dean joked as everyone got into the car.

“Get used to it,” you smirked before pulling out onto the street to head to the house where Amber died—the house in which she was babysitting.

While Sam was questioning the parents of Jimmy, the little boy who had Amber as a babysitter, you and Dean looked at the rest of the house for anything suspicious. The little boy, Jimmy, was watching from the kitchen because he seemed too scared to even go into the room with the FBI Agents who he thinks are real. As soon as you saw him, you nudged Dean before approaching the young boy.

“Whatcha lookin' for?” Jimmy asked hesitantly.

“Don’t know yet,” Dean answered.

“It’s Jimmy, yeah?” you asked and he nodded. “So, Amber was your babysitter?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he gulped.

“Did you, uh, you see anything strange that night?” Dean asked.

“No, sir.”

“You sure about that?”

“I—I would tell you if I knew something. I promise. One hundred percent. Cross my heart.”

“Well, Jimmy, I happen to know you're lying,” Dean began, but the young boy tried to get out of it.

“I'm not.”

“Jimmy,” you stated as you kneeled down which was more closer to his height than if you were to stand. “You’re not going to get in trouble. I promise you. What happened last night? You can tell us.”

“I didn’t mean to. I didn’t think it would work. I put it on her hairbrush,” he started crying as he pulled out what he used to prank his babysitter with.

Taking the object from his hand, you looked at the itching powder that claimed to work like a charm. Looking at Dean, you patted Jimmy’ shoulder as you stood up.

“Thank you for letting us know, Jimmy,” you said as you walked back over to Sam who was finishing up. He thanked the parents for their cooperation just as you three left the house.

“What did you find out?” Sam asked.

“Kid said he put this on the babysitter's hairbrush,” you explained as you held up the powder.

“Y/N, there’s no way itching powder made that girl scratch her brains out. It's just ground-up maple seeds.”

“If you have any other theories, I'm open to 'em,” you shrugged.

Sam’s phone rang as you approached the driver’s side door. He looked distressed as he talked to whoever was on the other line.

“Yeah?... Yeah, we'll be right there,” he sighed as he hung up.

“Who was that?”

“The police. There’s been another death.”

“Hospital it is then,” you chuckled as you got into the car and started her up.

The drive to the hospital wasn’t far, and when you got there, they were already putting a body in a body bag and zipping it shut.

“What happened?” Sam asked when he showed his badge.

“Guy got electrocuted,” the doctor answered.

“Any idea how?”

“Eh, maybe a loose wire or a piece of equipment shorted out. So far, we haven't found anything.”

“Witnesses?”

“Yeah, guy in there—Mr. Stanley,” he pointed out the old man who sat in a chair, looking out the window. “He says he saw it, but he's not making a lick of sense. Senile.”

“Thank you,” you nodded before going over to the man. “Mr. Stanley?”

“It was just a joke. I didn't know it would really work.”

“What would work?”

“All I did was shake his hand,” he sighed shakily as he held out his hand, and in the palm is a joy buzzer—the kid of toy that kids mean to shock others unexpectedly.

“Could I see that, please?” you asked as the old man handed it over. Careful not to touch the metal part, you looked at the brothers before leaving the room with them.

“What are you going to do with it?” Dean asked.

“Test it.”

Sam and Dean had industrial goggles on their eyes with black rubber gloves that welders use in case they get sparks on their skin. In the middle of the room was a large uncooked ham in two stacked aluminum-foil pans sitting on the table. Instead of wearing the same kind of goggles and gloves at they were, your magic was to protect you. Blue magic formed over your eyes to shield you from whatever is about to happen as well as over your hands and arms.

“You two ready?” you asked as you looked back at them.

“Hit it, Mr. Wizard,” Sam chuckled.

Rolling your eyes lightly, you turned back to the ham before placing the shocking ring on your finger. Taking a deep breath, you placed it to the ham which began to cook from the inside out. Shocked, pun intended, you pulled your hand away to reveal the burned ham.

“That’ll do pig,” Dean commented as he inched closer.

“What the hell?” Sam gasped. “That shit isn't supposed to work.”

“This thing doesn't even have batteries,” you said as you carefully placed the buzzer down before your magic went away. Both brothers took off their gloves and glasses before Dean took out his knife and began cutting the meat.

“So, what? Are we looking at cursed objects?”

“Sounds about right,” Dean said as he ate the meat. “Maybe there's a powerful witch in town. Is there any link between the, uh, the joy buzzer and the itching powder?”

“Uh, one was made in China, the other Mexico, but they were both bought from the same store.”

“Hmm,” Dean muttered as he continued to eat.

“Come on, Dean,” you sighed as you grabbed his arm and lead him out of the door.

The only place in town that would sell this kind of things was a magic shop which didn’t take too long to get to. As soon as you approached the shop, you walked inside which sounded the bell above the door.

“Sam! Y/N!” Dean grinned as he held up a whoopee cushion. Rolling your eyes, you walked to the counter just as the owner came out of the back room.

“Welcome to the Conjurarium, sanctum of magic and mystery.”

“Are you the owner?” you asked.

“Yep.”

“You sold any itching powder or joy buzzers lately?”

“Yeah, a grand total of one of each. They aren't exactly big-ticket items. Look, you folks here to buy something or what?” he asked. Dean held up some cash before placing it and the whoopee cushion on the counter.

“So, you get many customers?” you asked.

“Kids come in. They don't buy much, but they're more than happy to break stuff. These days, all they care about are their iPhones and those kissing-vampire movies. The whole thing makes me just—”

“Angry?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I am angry. This shop has been my life for twenty years, and now it's wasting away to nothing.”

“Which is why you hate them.”

“I suppose.”

“You wish there was something you could do about it.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“So, you're taking revenge,” Dean said as he snatched a rubber chicken off the display and slaps it down on the counter before holding up the buzzer, “with this.” He pressed the buzzer to the chicken which melted it immediately from the shock. The owner jumped back and yelped, taking a seat on whatever he could find.

“Oh! No!” he stuttered, making inarticulate noises.

“Yeah, something tells me this guy is not a powerful witch,” you muttered with an apologetic smile at the man.

“Sorry. Sorry,” Dean apologize as you three scrambled to get out before you caused any more danger.

“I thought that was a rumor,” you said as you walked down the stairs from the second floor of the hospital.

There had been kids that drank and ate pop rocks and coke which caused them to have stomach ulcers. There was also a man whose face was stuck in a certain… position… and they needed a plastic surgeon to come to see if they could fix it. All of these things were rumors and tales, so why were they coming true?

“Yeah well, when you’re a kid, you’ll believe anything,” Dean chuckled just as Sam walked out of the room belonging to a man whose teeth are all missing.

“What's up with Toothless? Cavity creeps get ahold of him?” Dean asked his brother.

“Yeah. Close. He wrote up a description,” he cleared his throat as he read from his notebook. “Five foot ten, three hundred fifty pounds, wings, and a pink tutu. Said it was the tooth fairy.”

“So, he's obviously whacked out on painkillers.”

“Maybe. Whatever it was got past locked doors and windows without triggering the alarm. Plus, it left thirty-two quarters underneath his pillow. One for each tooth.”

“Well, I will see your crazy and raise you some. There's a couple of kids upstairs with stomach ulcers—say they got it from mixing Pop Rocks and Coke. Another guy... his face... froze that way,” you indulged.

“What way?” Sam asked.

Dean looked all around him to see if anyone was watching before he pulled the sides of his mouth so that his teeth showed and crossed his eyes. He holds it for a minute before letting go.

“He held it too long and it stuck. They're flying in a plastic surgeon,” you sighed.

“So, I mean, if you add all that up,” Sam hesitated before sighing. “I got nothing.”

“I thought that if you swallowed chewing gum, it would stick in your stomach for seven years before you’re able to pass it through.”

“What?” Dean asked.

“I also thought that saying, “step on a crack and you break your mother’s back” was true. I mean, I was seven, but I believed it.”

“What’s your point?”

“I mean that’s the connection we’re missing. The tooth fairy, the Pop Rocks and Coke, the joy buzzer that shocks you—they're all lies that kids believe and now they’re coming true.”

“Okay, so whatever's doing this is—is reshaping reality. It has the powers of a god. Or of a trickster,” Sam rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, with the sense of humor of a nine-year-old.”

“Or you,” Sam smirked at his brother before leaving your side.

Dean frowned, but you giggled as you passed him since you knew he was right. Dean’s frown deepened, but he followed nonetheless.

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[screamingatanemptyroom]

I Can’t Eat Love pt 9

Part 9 is here guys! I’ll do a master post after part ten so I only have to post a single link and you guys can find the chapters all in one place! 

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 linked here. 

Hope you guys enjoy!

_____________________________

When I arrived at the next lesson with Jim in the Royal Treasury, he held up his hands in apology. “I know, I know, I’m sorry! I really couldn’t get away!”

I sat down in front of him, placing my finished books in front of him with unnecessary force and glaring silently.

“I sent you Nate, didn’t I?” He clasped his hands in front of him, getting on his knees and pretending to beg “Oh great future queen spare me!”  

I couldn’t help it. I laughed at that. “Fine. You are forgiven.”

“Whew!” He mimed wiping a nervous sweat from his forehead and got back to his desk. “Did you really fire every single corrupt official in the duchy?”

“First of all, I didn’t ‘fire’ anyone. They excepted an ‘early retirement’ as a reward for their hard work.” I shook my head as Jim rolled with laughter. “And no, I didn’t get rid of all of them, just the four with the most power.  Without their support, and newer, more honest management in place, the whole corrupt system will collapse on itself.”

“And hopefully not take the Duchy down with it?”

I shrugged. “Never said my work was over. All I’ve done so far was the easy part.” Looking around the room, trying to appear casual, I asked. “Is Nate not coming today?” 

Jim smiled. “Ah, she notices at last. Actually, that’s on purpose. I gave him a later time to show up.” Leaning forward, he looked surprisingly serious. “Tommy told me about the argument you two had after he saved you from getting punched in the face.”

“Hallers…” I sighed, unsurprised. 

“He worries about you to much, which is shocking really.” He chuckled. “I didn’t think Tommy knew how to care about anything besides perfection at work. He really isn’t one to make friends.”

I felt a worrying pain in my chest at those words. “We’re not friends. I provide an constantly improving and complex work environment. He supports that. That’s all. There’s nothing personal about it.”

Jim sighed. “Sure, just keep telling yourself that, kid.” 

Running a hand through his hair, he continued. “I know you had your plans, and they involved you putting yourself at risk… but I’m not going to lecture you about that.”

“Really?”

“You DO have an impossible task, and honestly there are going to be risks in any path you take if you genuinely want to save your home. I don’t know the best way to accomplish that, or if it even CAN be done. So how can I tell you not to go all out?”

I felt relieved, “Thank you.”

“That’s not what I wanted to talk about with you about.” He hesitated once more. “Nate… he cares deeply about the people around him. And he’s lost so much already… too much for someone who is the same age as you.”

I frowned. “So I should feel sorry for him? Let him boss me around?”

“You know that’s not what I’m saying.” He rolled his eyes. “Just know that you’re not the only messed up person out there, and try to understand. The world is a lot more complicated then you think. You putting yourself in danger may seem reasonable and simple to you, but to him… it reminds him of regrets and things he wishes he could forget.”

“…” I knew better than anyone the secrets people held. I shouldn’t be surprised that Nate carried some of his own. “I’ll think about it.”

“Thanks.” Jim looked relieved. “He’s a good kid, a little too quiet sometimes, but I don’t want you two falling out over something silly.”

“What’s silly?” Walking through the door, Nate entered, smiling.

Jim waved a hand. “Nothing. Let’s get started with the lesson.”

_____________________________

We began our discussion in earnest. I kept an eye on Nate, but he didn’t seem to give any indication that he was still upset after our last encounter. He met my gaze back openly, smiling with a wry expression while pushing me to defend my own viewpoints on tax rates.

It was a lively discussion, and as usual, Jim handed us both a hefty reading assignment after the end of it.

“I think you get some sort of sick enjoyment out of making us suffer.” I groaned, mentally trying to figure out how to schedule enough time free to manage the workload.

 “Don’t be ridiculous.” Jim laughed mischievously “I simply enjoy the chance to enrich young minds.”

Neither Nate or I looked convinced.

“Sure.”

 “Right.”

He laughed again. “Making you suffer is really just a side benefit.”

Shaking my head, I started to leave, only to be stopped by Nate.

“Do you have a moment to talk before you go?”

I thought it over briefly. He seemed sincere, and not as if he wanted to start another argument. “I can spare a few minutes.” 

We left together, an awkward silence hanging in the air between us.

_____________________________

 “I just wanted to apologize.” Nate started off right away, startling me. “ I only have a vague idea of your circumstances, and tried to judge you for not doing things the way I might have done them.” He headed over to one of the palace gardens, sitting on a bench. “You are honestly trying to protect your people, and I truly respect that.” 

I didn’t sit, standing in front of him, considering his words. “I forgive you.” After a brief hesitation, I added. “I apologize as well for involving you in a situation that made you uncomfortable, before you understood what you were getting into. I should have taken the time to explain what my plan was before starting the meeting, and gave you a choice as to whether or not you still wanted to be a part of it.”

Nate nodded. “If it makes you feel better, I probably would have still stayed and helped… but I would have still stopped the attack.”

“Yeah, I expect you would have.” I chuckled.  Relaxing slightly with the air cleared, I sat down on the bench next to him, although I left plenty of space between us.

 “… You remind me of my brother, you know.” He was smiling, but the expression was somehow deeply, incredibly sad.

“Your brother?” 

“George.  He was only older than me by a couple of years, but we were nothing alike.” He chuckled. “He was so passionate about everything. Our country, our people, how to make everyone’s lives better; He would find a project that would help someone and then he’d be off, not stopping for anything or anyone until he had finished it. He just cared… so much.”

The comparison made me slightly uncomfortable. “I don’t care about others.” Everything I had done was done with the singular purpose of saving myself. Even improving the duchy was just to prevent us from losing our home for when Ronan finally broke off the engagement.

Nate raised an eyebrow. “Really? Then why was your first concern when you talked about going a more official route to stopping corruption in the duchy about the families who would starve? And it mattered to you so much you were willing to put yourself in harms way? Is that really how someone who doesn’t care acts?”

“…” I shook my head silently. I couldn’t see myself as anyone’s savior.

“Anyways, I think that’s why I reacted so strongly that day.” He was trying to force a smile, but it crumbled as he continued talking. “George always said that the Cause he was working for justified the risks he was taking. He was my older brother… I believed him.”

He trailed off, staring off into the distance, and I couldn’t help but ask: “What happened?”

“ He died. “ Nate whispered the words, his eyes filled with pain. “And I couldn’t save him.”

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he stood up, forcing a slightly crooked smile. “Sorry, maybe one day we’ll talk more about that… but I don’t think I can today.”

I followed his lead, standing up and pretending not to notice as he discretely wiped a few tears from his eyes.  “Well, I better go home…”

“Just one last thing!” Nate took a deep breath, seeming to steady himself. “Even with our disagreements on silly things like tax rates and extortion and blackmail as a governing technique,  I really would like to put that behind us and help each other out in the future.” He stuck out his hand. “How about it? Can we be friends?” 

I started to reach out to shake his hand, but hesitated.

_____________________________

I was being led out of the ballroom, someone’s arm was around my shoulder. My father? He was muttering about how terrible this all was, but I couldn’t understand him. My mind was filled with shock over Ronan’s betrayal.

How could he break things off the engagement now?  Who was the woman he truly loved?

I had always thought he loved me, and now felt very foolish for the assumption.

Just before we went through the exit however, my tear clouded eyes caught sight of someone familiar… and in that moment I felt the my entire body freeze with shock.

Edith, standing next to Prince Ronan, her hand on his arm.

“Isn’t that Edith, your friend?” I heard my father ask.

“Yes.” the words I spoke were barely audible over the ringing in my ears as the world closed in around me and I faded into darkness. “She’s my friend.”

_____________________________

I pulled back my hand.

“No. Not friends. Not again. “ I muttered, more to myself than Nate. “How about ‘pleasant acquaintances’ instead?”

He paused at that, his hand lowering for a moment. At first he seemed taken aback, even wounded by my words. But as he studied me, the hurt in his eyes slowly faded away and he started to nod his head. A type of understanding sadness took its place in his expression and he stuck out his hand once more, smiling.

“If that’s what you need. Pleasant acquaintances it is.”

_____________________________

As he walked me back to the carriage, our conversation turned to less rocky subjects.

“Have you contacted the weaver in Tilendra?” He asked, matching his much longer gait to my own as we walked.

“Yes!” I grinned at him. “Thanks to you I just have one last step before I can move on to the second phase of my plan.”

He looked worried at that. “I saw the first phase of your plan. It was terrifying. I shudder to think what the second phase will be.” 

“Nothing so dramatic.” I waved a hand. “Just ensuring that I become completely financially independent. “ 

“Just that, huh?” He laughed. “Why do I feel that you might take on the whole world next, and probably own it by the time you’re through?”

“Not the whole world.” I shrugged. “Just most of it.”

We arrived at my carriage. Nate waved my footman aside, reaching out to open the door for me himself.  

“I’m not sure whether to be excited for you, or scared for everyone else.”

I stepped inside, smiling at him through the window of the carriage as he closed the door behind me.

“Why not both?”

_____________________________

I sat at my desk several days later, waiting for a meeting with nervous anticipation.

What if she’s completely different then what I remember? I mean, Rig was the same but I doubt even a different lifetime could change that man! What if this doesn’t work?! What if Hallers can’t find her?

…

That last thought made me chuckle to myself. No, Hallers would never be so unprofessional as to not complete a task, even an impossible one. I wouldn’t put it past him if she didn’t exist in this lifetime to simply pull her out of another, just so the job would be done properly.

With a quiet knock, Hallers entered, introducing the woman who followed him with just the slightest hint of a satisfied smile. “Mrs. Maline has arrived.”

I nodded approval, and as she walked though the door, I grabbed the armrests of my chair tightly to hold myself back from jumping up to greet her.

She looked the same as when I met her.

_____________________________

I stood nervously in front of the older woman, my hands clenched tightly in front of me.  She seemed a gentle person, with grey hair and few wrinkles that were outshined by her kind eyes and smile, but it did little to put me at ease.

This was the last interview I had gotten, my last hope. I had learned from past experiences to keep my head down, speak only when spoke to, and NEVER mention my past as a nobleman’s daughter.

“You’re the duke’s daughter, huh?” She asked, startling me.

“How did you…” I trailed off, terrified of the implications. Would she kick me out? I needed this job desperately.

“I once made a dress for you when you were seventeen.” She nodded with a smile. “I remember, you designed the thing yourself, very impressive.”

“…” I didn’t answer, barely able to breathe as nervousness overcame me.

“Can you sew?”

“Yes, but it was mostly embroidery work.” I answered honestly. “But I’m willing to work as hard as it takes to do this job perfectly.”

She smiled at that. “I think you will. Even back then I thought you were a dedicated person. I’m willing to give you a chance.”

“…”

“So stop standing there as if you’ve seen a ghost and grab a needle. “She laughed at my shocked expression. “We have work to do.”

_____________________________

 I gently stood up, shaking her hand politely before motioning her to sit. “Mrs. Maline, I’m so glad to meet you, please, make yourself comfortable.”

She stared at me curiously as she sat, curiosity in her eyes, without a shred of recognition. I felt a stab of disappointment, and chided myself silently.

Don’t be silly, it’s not like she’s forgotten you! She just hasn’t met you yet in this lifetime!

“I assume you are wondering why I asked you here.” I started things off generally, trying to put her at ease.

Maline shrugged. “Begging your pardon, but I assumed you wanted a dress made? Why else would you ask a simple seamstress like me up here.” She grinned. “I doubt it’s simply for the pleasure of my company.” 

I waved at Hallers, who poured tea. “You are both right and wrong. I did not ask you here to simply make me a dress, but I also did not ask you here just for tea, as much as I would enjoy just sitting and talking for once.”

“Then why…?” She stopped, confused as I stood to take a formal dress out of the trunk in the corner and brought it over to her.

“What do you think of this?”

Taken aback, she quickly put on an expression I recognized as her professional face. I had Hallers bring a dress form for her to drape it over, allowing her to study it closely. She walked around it, getting a general feel for the design, stepping closer to check the seams and construction, nodding occasionally. It took quite a while but I watched her happily, thinking of the few happier memories I had from my previous life while working in a dress shop with her.

 “The design is unique,” She finally spoke up. “The cloth… it’s from Tilendra, correct?”

At my nod she whistled with appreciation “Well made, difficult to get on this side of the border. Simple, but elegant, some of the lines could be cleaned up a bit. The sewing was well done, the seams are all passable although not perfect.”

She stopped walking around the dress, stopping at the front with a final sigh. “I’d say it’s a wonderful dress, Milady. Well designed, well made.”

“Thank you.” I answered modestly.

“…” She stared at me in shock. I also felt the prickling gaze of Hallers at  my back as well before he quickly controlled his expression. “You designed this?” She finally asked.

“Designed and sewn.” I spread my hands, grinning.

Maline’s eyes widened as she looked over the dress carefully again. “I have to admit then... You are very talented, Milady!”

“I can’t take credit for that, I’m afraid. I simply learned from the best.”

 Maline laughed. “I hate to disagree with nobility, but that’s impossible.”

“And why is that?”

She pointed to herself. “Because I am the best.” 

We both laughed at that, although for different reasons.

“So why show me this?” She finally asked.

“You could make this design, yes? Perhaps even improve upon this?”

Maline nodded. “Yes, but I thought you didn’t want a dress?”

“I don’t want one dress.” I sat back down at my desk. “I want to open up a business, a clothing shop, and hire you as the head seamstress.”

“…” She sat down silently in her own chair, staring at me as if I had grown a second head. “I don’t want to be rude Milady…”

“You can call me Lenora.” I interrupted, ignoring Hallers disapproving sigh. “We’re going to be business partners after all.”

“That’s yet to be determined. You may have talent, but I doubt you understand the ruthlessness, the determination it would take for us to make it in the clothing industry.”

_____________________________

Maline, usually so calm and collected, sobbed in the corner of the sewing room.

I patted her shoulder,  unsure of how to comfort someone who was normally so confident. “I’m sure it was a mistake.”

“It’s no mistake.” She snapped bitterly, wiping her tears. “Mr Haggot stole my designs, my contacts, and gave them to another seamstress. I trusted him, thought he valued me as a business partner, but instead he cut me out!”

“Isn’t there anything you can do…?” I drifted into silence as she shook her head sadly.

“Nothing. He took everything. I have nothing.” She sniffed. “This is the world of business, girl. Backstabbing, betrayal…. If you ever want to go into it, although I  don’t recommend it… find someone you can trust.”

“Maline…”

“So you don’t end up like me.” She sighed, looking around the shop. “I guess, this is goodbye.”

_____________________________

I looked Maline in the eye, not hiding my determination. “I know exactly what the business world is like. That’s why I need someone who can help me. Someone just as talented as I am so we can make a good product, but mean enough so between the two of us we can beat out everyone else.”

“…” After a few beats of silence she burst into laughter. “Well, you got two things right.” She admitted. “I’m talented and I’m mean.”

“And you won’t stab me in the back.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

“How do you know I won’t?”

“…” For a moment, I didn’t answer. 

She had never betrayed me in my last life, but if I had learned anything, it was that the ones you never suspect, the ones closest to you who could tear you down the fastest. 

It wasn’t… couldn’t be friendship. There was no true friends in this life, I learned that the hard way. But perhaps there was something else, a certain professional integrity. I trusted Maline for the same reason I trusted Rig to gather information, or for Hallers to do… anything. They built their lives around being the best in their work, and if I couldn’t trust that, what could I trust?

That was it… that was the reason. I let out a silent sigh of relief. Not emotions, not weakness, not friendship.

 Never again.

“You are a professional.” I finally answered.

 She looked at me with renewed respect. “I most definitely am. “ Taking a sip of her tea, she continued. “But even if your designs and my sewing can make the best dresses around, what advantage will we have to sell them?” 

“That’s the easy part.” I pointed at myself. 

“You’re going to sell them?” Her question was skeptical. 

“Without even trying. You see, what do you think happens when the daughter of a duke, the fiancé to the crown prince, shows up to a party wearing a completely different design of dress?”  I leaned back in my own chair, sipping my tea with a smile. 

Maline’s eyes lit up. “They’ll copy you?”

 “They will. And if I tell them that I got the dress from an exclusive shop?”

She nodded slowly. “I- That… that just might work.”

“Not might.” I grinned. “It will definitely work.”

I could speak with absolute confidence. After all, it had happened before. In my previous life, in the years leading up to my downfall, I had been desperate to impress my inattentive fiancé. I started personally designing my dresses and having them made. It had cost a fortune, and in the end ultimately failed to even win me an extra glance from my betrothed, but each new design had sparked multiple new trends  across the nobility. The young women would flock around me, asking where I got my dress, my jewelry. They showered me with compliments and called me their friend.

Of course, once the engagement was broken, each and every one of the women who had called themselves my friend were nowhere to be found. They had used me for their own gain, and I had been too naïve to realize it until it was too late. But that was fine. 

In this lifetime, it would be me using them instead.

“I’ve struck a deal with a weaver in Tilendra, we’ll have good access to high quality cloth. With that, your skills and my influence to sell them, we’ll soon be busier than we can handle.” I set down my tea, leaning forward.  There are of course much more details and paperwork to it then that, but that’s the offer.” 

I held out my hand.

“Partners?”

Maline groaned. “I hope I don’t regret this.” She shook my hand. “Partners.”

We began drafting the framework of a business. I named it “Prosperity” after everything I hoped to have, everything that this shop would bring me. The beautiful plan to escape my terrible fate.

 And so, in my small office in the heart of the Duchy of Armeny, began the start of the newest, most exclusive dress shop, rumored to sell the finest gowns in the country.

#writing #i can't eat love #part 9 #fantasy #second life #second chances #there's a time skip coming after this #her plan is in motion guys

[the-ace-with-spades]

(3/6) the best is yet to be

five times someone realized Ronan and Adam were basically married and one time they actually were

Part 1 │Part 2 │Part 4 │Part 5 │Part 6

Read on ao3

Tad had been living on his own since his parents sent him to a boarding school when he was twelve. But being in high school now had its perks — he had his own credit card that he could buy whatever he wanted and never had to eat that awful cafeteria food they served in the dorms.

He usually ate out because it was the fastest and the most sociable but he tried to keep the dorm room and communal kitchen stored with pre-made meals and snacks in case he didn't want to socialize. Eating out alone wasn't really an option when someone has so many friends that go eat in the same places.

The frozen meals didn't always work and he had burned two pans already. The stuff you just have to put in the microwave was far easier.

Henrietta was a crappy small town and there were only two actually big supermarkets near the school. It was already quite late when he decided he wanted onion rings with chilli sauce so he drove a couple of streets and stared around the frozen goods alley, realizing it was probably too late and most of the good stuff was gone.

It was also unbearably hot, since the first heat waves just started to settle in for the summer, and the crappy supermarket AC wasn't working, so standing in the frozen goods alley was the only option, now that he was there and didn't have the energy to leave.

"Come on, we don't need a list," some guy said, way too loud. The voice seemed almost familiar in a sense that Tad had heard it before but he couldn't place where because it reminded him of someone but didn't sound exactly like someone.

It came from behind the alley with toilet paper and Tad couldn't see exactly who it was and wasn't exactly in the mood to go back into the non-heated area.

Maybe it was better. Next, he heard another voice but it was quiet to the point that Tad could only recognize that this someone was speaking something sharp and judgemental.

"I didn't forget it, I just think we could use going wild once in a while."

There was more hashed words in answer to that and if Tad had to guess, it was the wife. In his experience, wives had a tendency to be hysterical about the slightest misbehaviours — his dad had had four of them and every single one of them would argue with him about stupid stuff like why they didn't have a jacuzzi in the house, or why the pool wasn't cleaned twice a week instead of one, or why there was no grill in the kitchen. In Tad's experience, a wife wasn't worth the trouble. Not that Tad even wanted to have one.

"I could pay, I'm going to use up most of the stuff anyway," the man said, obviously fed up now.

He was met with even more sharp words. Tad knew how it worked — his dad often used quiet but pointed words and silent looks and it always felt even worse than being yelled at.

"Babe," the man said, trying for a softer but still frustrated tone.

There was no answer so that was the moment for silent, disappointed looks. If he didn't know that the guy chose to be with — or probably get married to — whoever he was talking to, Tad could almost pity him.

"Fuck, okay, just wait here, I'll go for the shitty list to the car."

And there was back again that annoyed tone with no fake sweetness. It definitely sounded more familiar now.

Tad hated married couples. They would always argue in the middle of the store — or any other place, to be honest — and were always loud and spend weekends in supermarkets or Home Depot like they were their regular date spots and take way too much time to decide about basic stuff like which color of a carpet they should use. He had yet to see a married couple that wouldn't argue about everything that should be casual in life.

This was exactly why he was never getting married.

The stamping sound went away with the guy leaving the store, hidden by the shelves and drawing away, further to the entrance. He was most likely pissed off, even though this was probably some stupid reason to be pissed off and grumbling to himself about his stupid wife. Tad knew the type — rural town couples that hated each other but pretended otherwise because they already spent the money on the wedding or already had a kid together.

Tad heard a deep sigh behind the shelves.

Married. Couples.

Maybe there was enough cool air in the milk and yoghurt fridges alley.

The store was mostly deserted, except for him and that married couple he still hadn't seen, he noticed only a small group of teens from Mountain View next to the chips and a woman with a sleeping baby at the checkout.

The fridges with milk were warm. Henrietta was a crappy town, and this no-name, locally owned supermarket was even crappier. The AC didn't work and the fridges felt like someone was turning them off and on every couple of hours.

The noisy sliding door opened again when he was contemplating buying vanilla milk, and the angry stamping could be heard, becoming louder and stopping in the cereal alley nearby. Tad was ready for the next argument, really, it was like the cheap version of reality tv. At least the baby at the checkout wasn't crying.

"I got the fucking list."

And the next quarrel was there.

There was silence and the cart in that alley moved — it was just a couple of seconds before it stopped again with a horrendous screech.

"Come on," the guy said. "Don't give me the silent treatment, it was just a stupid list."

There was a longer, even quieter monologue that was just as exasperated.

"Fuck, I know," the guy said, now giving in. "I'm sorry."

Tad didn't hear anything at all but there had to be an answer because the guy said, "You asshole."

This didn't exactly sound like something you should call your significant other just after a fight but Tad wasn't one to judge.

The cart moved again and Tad pretended he was busy choosing between vanilla and chocolate milk and not at all eavesdropping.

From around the corner of the shelves, Adam Parrish, leaning heavily on the handlebar, pushed the cart closer to the wall with the fridges. What made Tad freeze at once was Ronan Lynch, with his chin hooked over Parrish's shoulder and arms wound around his waist, hanging onto him like a leech. Really, this just ensured that his opinion on Lynch was right and Lynch was a parasite that fed on people who would otherwise make great friends, like Parrish or Gansey.

There had been different rumours about Lynch in school. Some said he was dead in a ditch. Some said he was in rehab in some private clinic in Florida. Some said he left with his brothers for DC. Some said he fucked off and became a farmer. None of those ideas seemed realistic but Gansey was adamant about not answering any questions and no one had seen Lynch in almost two months so the imagination was flowing wild. Personally, if he had to choose, Tad would bet for the second option.

"Parrish," he said, because he really didn’t know what else he could.

His eyes were still going up and down the weird fixture that was both of them, practically glued to each other, when Adam answered.

"Carruthers."

Parrish was wearing a black jean jacket full of tears and patches and pins and with slightly too long sleeves — too expensive to be his — and it looked completely out of place on him, Tad had only ever seen him in that crappy secondhand school uniform. Underneath he had the coveralls, tied low on his hips, faded out and stained with oil. If anything, Tad felt hot just looking at him.

The brightness of Lynch's shirt was almost as unexpected, because he had never seen him in anything but the school uniform, or black clothes — it was a red Coca Cola t-shirt, a little too small on him.

Tad made a step closer, reaching his hand for that weird handshake-high-five that Gansey and Parrish often did. Parrish took a step back and that step meant he was hips-to-hips with Lynch who was clinging to him. Instead of moving out of the way or yelling at Lynch to move out of the way, Parrish just stood there, ignoring it completely, like this was something normal.

"So," he began, pointedly ignoring Lynch. "What are you doing here?"

"Grocery," Parrish said and when Tad didn't find anything to reply with for a minute, he added. "We ran out of toothpaste. And some other stuff."

The we there was very explicit.

"You want something, shithead, or can we do our thing without your stalker eyes on us?"

Lynch was pleasant as always.

Maybe Tad should ask Parrish if he was blackmailed into, well, whatever that was. Maybe Parrish would finally realize all the hints Tad had been giving him and realize that he had options other than Lynch.

But then he realized — it had been Lynch's voice, back in the toilet paper alley, just unbelievably calm.

#trc #outsider pov #pynch #the raven cycle #my fics #my writing #TRC #Tad Carruthers