#she doesn't know what else she'd been expecting but a year later and not a word and oh boy is she just an teensy bit bitter

[uglyducklingofthe2000s]

Switching Teams - Lewis Hamilton

Dark fic 18+ - if you don't like this or the warnings/themes make you uncomfortable. I can't stress this enough, DO NOT READ THIS

Summary: Toto bad mouthing Lewis during the time he was still in Mercedes had led to a bitter ending but now Lewis wears red but there's something in him that feels like he needs to do more than just beat his old team on track. He needs to take something that Toto loves more than anything work-related

Wolff!reader - age 23 (Lewis will be 40 with the timeline of this so a 17 year age gap 😮‍💨)

Warnings/themes: Age gap, smut, loss of virginity, coercion, manipulation, corruption/innocence kinks

Part 2 here

In general y/n had never been very much involved in the work side of Toto's life. In fact she wasn't involved in much at all. Toto had always kept her as sheltered and in the shadows as much as possible.

That's what made her such an easy target for Lewis.

He'd not actually met her till she turned 18 and Toto seemed to deem that an acceptable age for her to finally debut into the world. Other than that she'd only briefly been spotted when Toto was home but he didn't even post the young woman.

At one point there was even accusations that he was trying to abandon and disown the young woman. Which is not true, her own mother left her and Toto has been raising her since before Susie came along.

Despite now being in her 20s and very much flirted with by many of the younger drivers. Y/n remains as innocent as someone who was homeschooled and not exposed to the world in such a way.

To Lewis' knowledge she always has a bodyguard after a kidnapping threat when she was younger and the world seemed to learn of Toto's riches, she's not really got any friends because of her homeschooling, she didn't leave the house much because of it and now she just sort of shops, has private workouts with a trainer and then on occasion attends races.

To Lewis' knowledge she's never had alcohol, she's never had a boyfriend and she's very much an innocent little angel who probably doesn't even know what trouble is never mind how to cause it.

When Lewis saw her this morning, she was actually just sitting on her own in the paddock. Initially he wasn't even going to say hi, but then an idea that would maybe finally settle the bitter anger he has towards Toto appeared. It's possibly best described as evil and Lewis definitely knows it's wrong, but there's no way the idea is that bad.

"Y/n, hello." Lewis greets with a smiles.

"Lewis." Y/n beams pushing her headphones down around her neck and greeting him with an excited hug. "I didn't know if you were allowed to talk to me."

"You're not really part of Mercedes. You're just associated with them." Lewis states earning a hum before she sighs and steps back from him. "Are you out here on your own?"

"Oh...yeah, well my dad told me I need to just stay out the way and I'm not allowed anywhere else-but I was going to go walk around the track."

"If you wait for me. I'll come with you. I won't be long." Lewis states figuring there's no point in second guessing it. "If you'll let me?"

"Yeah, I mean...I've got nothing else to do." She shrugs actually looking pretty happy that anyone at all is giving her the time of day. "I'll just wait here."

"Ok, I'll be back."

This might be far easier than he expected.

-

Y/n is quite a talkative person, probably because of her social isolation and dad who did actually spend a lot of her childhood pushing her onto other people to take care of her, meaning she'll latch onto anyone who will give her the time of day.

So when Lewis invited her to dinner later in the day, of course she jumped at the invitation.

Perfectly as he planned there was some online attention to the shared photos of her and Lewis walking around the track together. He obviously can't be certain that Toto has seen it but he's certain that the Mercedes media team will have seen it.

Since y/n is in the same hotel as Lewis. He doesn't have to go far to knock on her door since he is going all out and "picking her up" for the dinner.

The restaurant isn't far so he figures getting her from her room would only help him in his plan.

"Hey, wow. You look...gorgeous."

"I feel like I'm overdressed." Y/n laughs nervously then swallowing. "But I didn't know what to wear."

"It's perfect. Don't stress." Lewis dismisses making her swallow and smile a little. “I think you look beautiful and you are definitely not overdressed.”

"Thank you." Y/n smiles before she picks up her bag then leaving her room. "I had my dad asking all about you, you know? I didn't realise how much things had changed between the two of you since you left."

"That was his doing more than mine." Lewis states making her look at him for a moment and nod a little. "But we don't need to talk about that."

Y/n seems to take the hint but doesn't let it dampen her good mood.

They head out and sitting down, Lewis makes sure to be the gentleman. He's going to charm this young woman and he's going to make sure that y/n never doubts his intentions.

He has maybe also purposely chosen a slightly more public spot to make them easily found and photographed. This is very much a moment he wants rub in Toto's face without having to even speak to the man directly.

"You know, I've really never noticed just how gorgeous you are."

Y/n's face flushes with a heavy blush but she doesn't really comment about it, instead taking the welcome opportunity of the waiter appearing asking if they're ready to order and what drinks they'd like.

Ordering their food and y/n seems to be getting more and more nervous.

"So how is life in Ferrari?" Y/n asks trying to make conversation that doesn't feel so tense, at least from her side.

"It's good, I'm happy there. Sometimes I miss Bono and other guys in the team, but it's nice being in a new team too."

"I'm glad to hear it. I mean it's good to see you doing well again...as much as it's a shame that Mercedes has fallen so much from grace. It's really important that you're happy."

"I think I'm definitely getting there." Lewis confirms then sighing. "Anyway, enough about F1 and me. I want to hear about you, what have you been doing?"

Y/n being the talkative little bug that she is, she tells him all about her day. Telling him all about how she is spending her time, which is predictably still very much under Toto's control and limited to not doing much really.

She seems to travel around a bit more with the team which is actually quite interesting given her lack of travel with the team until this season.

"You know we should spend more time together if you're here more often-and if your dad stops inviting you. I speak from experience in saying that Ferrari is very welcoming to everyone."

"Yeah?" Y/n laughs clearly assuming he's joking.

"I mean it, I think red would suit you too." Lewis smirks as y/n's dessert is placed down.

"Red?" Y/n chokes out in shock over the suggestion.

"You don't like red?"

"I...well I've never worn red."

No red is too promiscuous a colour for someone like y/n. Light colours like pink and powder blue, white and pale yellows all fit her much better. He's not even sure he's seen her wear a dark wash denim.

-

Pictures of Lewis and y/n were quick to spread and when y/n steps into the paddock on the Sunday, there's a lot of eyes trained on her. Watching her closely while she slows her steps.

She'd been in a pretty good mood but the attention really isn't something she's so used to.

"Y/n, can we have a talk?" Toto asks seemingly calm, collected and casual as he spots his slightly distressed daughter stepping towards the unit.

Y/n finds herself guided to his office and almost feels like she'd got in trouble once with her private tutor.

"You went for dinner with Lewis last night?" Toto questions making her look at her dad for a couple beats almost not sure if he's asking or if it's a statement instead.

"Yeah, he wanted to spend some time together and I couldn't say no." Y/n smiles lightly since she actually had a really good time with Lewis and he's offered to do more things together which she's already accepted with an open invitation of saying she'd be up for anything.

"That's good." Toto smiles since he can never really be mad at y/n. She's actually too happy and sweet of a person to be mad at, but he certainly will be warning Lewis to keep away from his daughter. "I was going to ask if you want to be in the garage watching the race with Mick and I today?"

"Ok." Y/n nods since she's never got such an opportunity.

"Good." Toto smiles brightly then patting her shoulder.

-

Y/n actually really enjoyed getting to be a bit more involved with standing and watching the team. Mick even made the effort to speak to her and very kindly explained anything that seemed to confuse her.

"Lewis." Toto calls as he walks up to the Ferrari driver. "What do you think you're doing with y/n?"

"She didn't have plans last night and I thought she could use the company." Lewis smirks then raising an eyebrow. "Problem?"

"You've never seemed interested in y/n before."

"You seemed to always keep her away from then team when I was there." Lewis shrugs before smirking as he looks around Toto. "Speak of the devil."

Toto turns to find y/n walking towards them.

"Y/n, what are you doing?" Toto questions with a smile.

"Lewis offered to give me a ride after the race." Y/n smiles making Toto look at Lewis who has an expression which is just challenging the Mercedes boss to say something. "Is that ok?"

"Of course it is, right Toto?" Lewis smirks earring Toto's attention again. "You can trust me to get y/n home safely."

"Right." Y/n confirms then moving to Toto and lifting to her toes to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you at the next race, dad."

-

Y/n yawns as she rubs her face and shuffles towards her hotel room door, her lazy eyes falling on the F1 champion stood waiting for her at her door.

"Hey-Oh did I wake you up?" Lewis laughs since they had agreed to travel back to Monaco together. He's talked her into spending a few days there with him and since she has no other plans and he's got plans only for her.

"No. No. I'm just...tired. Gimme a second, I was just packing up the last of my stuff." Y/n smiles tiredly then shuffling off while Lewis steps into her room.

Y/n is wearing light grey matching set of joggers and a hoodie, pretty oversized and sort of swallowing her alive as she seems to pack up the last bits.

"Ok. Let's go."

They get to the airport and on the flight y/n is sleeping all peaceful and actually spends some of the flight with her face squished into Lewis' bicep.

Even he thinks to himself that she's just adorable.

So innocent and sweet.

But all he wants to do is ruin that. He wants to be the one to take the sweet girl from Toto and ruin every innocent fibre of her soul.

-

When they arrive in Monaco, he decides the innocent game is over and he's going to make it clear what he wants to do to her. He'd been thinking about it the whole flight there and then the ride to his apartment and now he's certain he might set on fire if he doesn't see more of her at the very least.

It had dawned on him thinking about what might be under that oversized sweats set, she is never in clothes that give away much of what her body looks like.

A modest dresser if there ever was one.

"Your apartment is...amazing." Y/n sighs softly earning a hum.

"Thanks, it is home away from." Lewis smiles while he walks up to her and slides his hands underneath her hoodie. Soft skin as he feels her almost tense up at the feeling of his touch on such unfamiliar territory. "It's a bit warm for so many layers."

"It...It is a bit." Y/n mumbles before finding herself very much exposed in a matter of seconds.

"I've got so many plans for you..." Lewis groans while her face burns in a flush, too flustered to find her voice.

Lewis is a patient man in his opinion, but y/n is bringing out a very impatient side.

"Lewis, I've never-I've never had sex." Y/n finally chokes out and while Lewis had somewhat predicted that to be the case.

Now while virginity isn't necessarily of much interest to Lewis, the idea of being the one to take it when he knows Toto has spent y/n's life sheltering her and seeming to keep her from any threat of a man who would touch her in a such a way. Intentionally or not, Toto made her an appeal to his former driver.

"You can trust me." to rob you of that oh-so protected innocence.

He'll be gentle, he'll make it memorable and he'll make sure she's hooked on the feeling of him.

Y/n genuinely came here with this being the last thing she could've assumed to happen. She really didn't know that Lewis looked at her in such a way. But now it's happening, is she actually going to stop him?

She doesn't believe she would have the courage even if she wanted to.

How Lewis manages to get her completely naked and exposed, she's not even sure. But she knows that there's some feelings and flutters that she's never felt before and it's all from his touch.

Is she weak? Probably.

Is this wrong on every moral level that she's been raised to? Definitely.

Is she going to even attempt to stop him? Absolutely not.

"Can I touch you?" Lewis questions since he's not actually going to do anything that will be a step that can't be undone until he knows he's got consent.

"Yes."

"Can I do what I want?"

Hesitation, a thick swallow and shaky breath fill a pause.

"Yes."

And that's like a gun shot to start a race.

There's not an inch of y/n's body that he misses, hands everywhere, lips leave wet kisses as a path around her body. All leading to one place.

Predictably, there's a slick wetness already coating her pussy before he's even touched it.

"I want to hear you, so any sound you need to make. Don't hold back." Lewis states not missing the fact she can't bring herself to look down at him, and while he'd usually make a command for eye contact. Easing her into this is his best choice for not scaring her, after all this has all happened in a matter of minutes and maybe she wasn't quite prepared enough to handle this at such a speed.

But she said yes. Twice.

And while really he didn't need to see with his own eyes, the proof of her being untouched from anyone else before him. Seeing it really is something that makes him almost launch forward, needing a test and the sensation of his tongue licking over her hole up to her clit is enough to earn a moan that he almost wishes he had an audio clip of to replay forever.

Her moans, the taste and just the feeling of her almost trying to shy away from him when she feels herself getting close to orgasm.

"L-Lewis." Y/n stutters with panic laced within a moan as her voice wobbles unsure of what she's doing. "Lewis, I-"

"Don't fight it, it's going to feel so good. Just stop fighting it." Lewis instructs though he's sure she has no idea what he means exactly when he's saying that. Though he's certain she knows what an orgasm is, she's not quite that innocent but he thinks that may have been her first. As much as he could dream about the idea of her playing with herself till she cums, he doesn't think it's very realistic either.

"Lewis..." Y/n whines panting and seeming to follow his command when she arches up against him an almost breathless moan escaping her lips.

Describing her as looking angelic in the moment seems like an inappropriate choice of words given his position but she really does.

Y/n hardly gets to process what just happened when Lewis has moved up to kiss heron such a heavy way that she almost feels a second wave of her orgasm completely overcome with the feelings that Lewis is pulling from her.

"Y/n, this is going to hurt a little but I can't keep waiting." Lewis states making her frown a little but she actually squeaks at the feeling of his dick brushing against her.

He does do her the obvious kindness of going slow but the man is packing and while he tries to make sure he's hurting her a little as possible, there's really not that much he can do.

"Ah." Y/n gasps almost moving back when Lewis feels her hymen give and her expression contorting while Lewis is practically the most restraint he's ever managed in his life.

"It's ok." Lewis assures her while she looks up at him, big eyes definitely not entirely trusting of him.

Lewis keeps easing himself into her as far as he can go, which definitely isn't fully within her.

"Ok. You just tell me when to move." Lewis soothes making her swallow and nod.

"Move. Please." Y/n mumbles after a couple minutes of seeming to adjust and very much start to gush around Lewis' length and while he starts slow and very controlled movements, the self-restraint is proving harder and harder.

The initial resistance is finally gone after a few minutes of slow movements and he does finally lose the ability to control himself a little more.

Reaching to play with her clit as he gives some attention to her nipples. Both of which finally seem to settle her enough and be bringing so much pleasure that he can already feel her second orgasm building up.

He would usually try and push for a third. But honestly, he's surprised he's managed to last this long. He'd be lying if he said that she doesn't feel like another universe of amazing.

He's even forgot the whole reason he's doing this.

Y/n's eyes actually clamp closed as she locks down on him a hand gripping his bicep with a bruising grip but Lewis is far to focused on completely filling y/n as he manages to push himself fully into her. Spotting the bulge in her tummy from being literally stretched beyond capacity and the moan that passes her lips from the additional pressure, literally triggering a second wave of her orgasm.

Eventually she's calmed down and relaxed while Lewis sighs beginning to pull out.

"Ah." Y/n hisses feeling pretty damn raw since Lewis did sort of go rougher and harder than he maybe should've with her first time.

"You'll probably be a little sore." Lewis chuckles lightly while moving his hand down to pull at her lip. "Wait here I'll clean you up."

-

It took a couple hours for Lewis to realise, but it was only while y/n was curled up next to him on the sofa that he realised there's no way she's on birth control and the last thing he was thinking about was wearing a condom. As much as that should be something he things about.

"Fucking hell." Lewis curses grimacing as he slides out from under y/n gently placing her head down.

Now he's going to have to find a way to get a morning after pill in her without being caught getting hold of one.

Thankfully his assistant, Lola (idk his assistant so we're making it up) is in Monaco and he finds her available to pick one up but when she appears in his apartment, she raises an eyebrow at the sight of y/n Wolff lying still very much passed out on his sofa.

"Really? Toto's daughter?" Lola questions making Lewis frown.

"Any of your business?"

He's not usually bothered about such comments but on this occasion he's not happy.

-

By the time the next race comes around, Lewis and y/n have been spotted together nonstop. Lewis looking very much possessive and always seeming on the borderline of something not very PG.

They've also noted that y/n's wardrobe has taken a change from modest to very much more easily accessible for Lewis to touch her however he wants. Very rarely keeping his hands far from her arse.

Walking through the paddock there's several drivers who seem to be watching the two along with a lot of media and even a lot of fans.

"Y/n...are you with us for this weekend?" Charles asks as Lewis keeps a tight hold on her hand, she couldn't walk to Mercedes even if she tried.

"Yeah, she is my guest." Lewis confirms seeming to surprise the young woman before she smiles brightly.

"Welcome. Is there sort of pipeline from Merc to Ferrari I wasn't informed about?" Charles jokes earning an innocent shrug from the young woman while Lewis spots Toto walk with James through the paddock and he looks angry.

Lewis has pretty purposely been making sure y/n ignores any and all messages and calls from her dad. Always distracting her and teaching her something new in the bedroom, he actually thinks he's morphed her into almost an unrecognisable woman.

"Shall we go?" Lewis asks catching y/n's attention as he smoothes the short skirt she's wearing down over her butt.

-

Y/n was apparently not the priority for Toto when it came to speaking about the new relationship. But Lewis certainly was because Lewis found himself summoned to Toto's motorhome and he couldn't wipe the victorious smirk off his lips.

"Using my daughter to get to me is not nice. She's not invloved in this."

"Y/n's happy with me and I can promise that I'm taking very good care of her in every way...including ways you can't." Lewis shrugs then smirking. "Well not without committing some serious crimes."

Toto looks like he's about to explode when Lewis stands up completely unbothered.

"I have lunch with y/n, so unless there's something else you need. I should get back to her-you know I think that neglect of attention with her might've given her some daddy issues." Lewis smirks then moving to the door. "Don't worry though, I treat her very well and she enjoys everything I have to to offer her. Maybe you'll respect your daughter's boyfriend a bit more to the media now."

#f1 #fanfic #formula 1 #lewis hamilton one shot #lewis hamilton #lewis hamilton imagine #lewis hamilton fanfic #lewis hamilton fic #sir lewis hamilton #mercedes amg petronas #lewis hamilton x reader #lewis hamilton smut #lewis hamilton x you #lewis hamilton y/n #lh44 x you #lh44 #lh44 x reader #lh44 imagine #lh44 x y/n #lh44 one shot #lh44 smut #lh44 fanfic #lh44 fic #mercedes amg f1 #f1 fic #f1 x reader #f1 fanfic #f1 imagine #f1 2024 #f1 2025

[cryptidghostgirl]

Unrequited (Alastor x Reader)

Pairing: Alastor x Reader

Description: It is too late for him to change things now. It doesn't matter what else has happened, that he's gotten to know her, seen her light. Some broken things can never be fixed.

Warnings: Uh, angst. 'You came' 'you called' but make it sad.

Word Count: 1,218

Master Lists:

Master Lists 

Hazbin Hotel Master List

“You came.” he felt oddly breathless as he stepped up behind Y/n.

She was standing on the guest's side of the bar, helping Husk clean glasses. As she carefully dried the crystalline objects, she delicately placed them to the side to be put away later. Her back was to him.

"Yes, Alastor. Not like I had a choice."

Husk shot the pair a glance from the sink. It was night, the first moment the pair had had since they were so rudely ripped from their lives and dropped into the Hotel. Neither soulless sinner particularly wanted to speak to their master but, there he was.

Y/n could feel Alastor's eyes burning holes in the back of her neck. She sighed, turning to face him.

Seven years, Alastor thought to himself, his eyes savoring every detail as they drank Y/n in. Seven years and she was still just as enthralling. Not as the day he had met her, no. On that day, she'd been nothing more than another hopeless soul ripe for the taking.

She had shook, cowering before him like every other sinner. It wasn't until long after he had met Y/n, until he had gotten to know her, that he saw the beauty. It was a gentle thing. It snuck in and enthralled slowly. There had been no head first dive off a cliff. It had been like quick sand, it had clawed at him, slowly dragging him down.

Y/n's displeasure at his presence was written into her features. He read it in the slight crease between her eyebrows, in the irritated way she ran a hand through her hair. He had expected nothing other, but that didn't mean he hadn't hoped for some other reaction from the girl.

"How long are you gonna make us stay?" Husk called from the sink, shutting the water off and turning to Alastor as well, "How long is this shit hole hotel gonna be your new passion project?"

Alastor turned to the cat demon, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"As long as it amuses me." he answered sharply and Husk sighed.

He took the towel off his shoulder and let it fall to the back counter of the bar. Shooting a look at the back of Y/n's head, Husk crossed his arms.

"We're all done here for the night. You can go."

Y/n turned her head to the side, smiling softly at Husk over her shoulder. There it was, that smile, his downfall. It had been a long time since Alastor had seen it, longer still since she had directed it toward him. He wondered if it would ever be sent his way again. If he had known then what he knew now... if only he had known.

"I got a few more of these to dry still."

Husk sent Y/n a pointed look and she sighed, shaking her head slightly.

"Don't worry, Husker." she hummed softly, "I'm okay. I promise. Go to bed, you look like you could use some rest."

She turned back fully to Husk as he nodded slowly. Y/n picked her dish cloth back up and started working on the glasses again. With a wave goodnight, he slid out from behind the bar and headed upstairs. Alastor watched until he was out of the room before turning back to Y/n.

The grace with which Y/n held herself: it wasn’t something Alastor had ever noticed, not until years after their contract had first been made.

See, the thing was, Alastor hadn’t known Y/n when they’d made their deal. She had been young and naive, timid and jumpy. He had offered her protection after getting her out of a sticky situation with Valentino and in return, he had only asked for her soul. She hadn’t known then, what a thing that was, how serious. She’d only been down in hell for a few days, after all. The worst crime she’d ever committed when alive was stealing lighters from a CVS with her friends as a teenager. She had been innocent, unfit for the dark. He had been her guiding light.

For years after the deal had first been struck, Y/n still didn’t really understand. Alastor never had to ask her twice for anything, never had to drag her to his side so, of course she didn’t. She was loyal. Y/n trusted him, even called Alastor a friend.

Alastor wasn’t one for regretting things. It wasn’t in his brand, his view of the world. The more time he had spent with Y/n, the more he had regretted the deal and the potential horrors it could bring her way. As long as she didn’t understand what it meant, however, he was in the clear.

Introducing her to Husk was where he had misstepped. The cat demon had told her everything, explained it all down to the last detail. Suddenly those smiles, those snide remarks and teasing comments, were gone. Y/n wouldn't come near him unless she had to, wouldn't even look his way.

She knew he had tricked her, that she was trapped. Eternally bound to Alastor's side, the man wasn't her friend anymore. To be perfectly honest, she couldn't tell if he ever really had been.

The worst part about it wasn't even the betrayal. The worst part about it was how stupid she felt. She had cared for the demon, she had even begun wondering if she might love him. He had always been a gentleman, always kind and caring once she got to know him. Now there was this sudden distance between them, this 'had she ever even known him at all.'

"What?" Y/n sighed, turning to face him as she slammed her last glass down on the table.

"Whatever is the matter, dear?" Alastor asked, taking a step closer.

He could feel her breath, the slight breeze made by her movement through the air as she crossed her arms defensively over her chest. His heart pounded against the constraints of his ribcage, his hands trembled.

"You wont stop staring at me. You must want something so, what is it?" she replied shortly, "Am I doing something wrong? Did I upset you?"

Alastor fell silent. There was vitriol dripping from her mouth, aimed towards him. Twenty years since she'd found out about the true nature of their relationship and he still didn't know how to handle it.

"Just a pleasure to see you is all."

Y/n raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah right."

"No, really. It always is."

The air between them could be cut with a knife, it was thick with tension. Alastor wished he could turn back the clock, undo the curse, do something -- anything. There was nothing. They were stuck, he owned Y/n but not in the way he wanted to. No, he had realized everything too late.

"You came." he said again, his voice soft, barley a whisper.

The words fell lamely to the floor between them. Y/n dropped her arms. She suddenly seemed very tired, utterly exhausted in fact. Her hair slipped from behind her ears, dancing gently around the curves of her face as she raised a hand to her temples, rubbing them softly as if to rid herself of a headache.

“You called.”

----

→ Unrequited Pt. 2

#x reader #fic writer #x reader one shot #x reader fics #x reader writer #alastor #alastor the radio demon #alastor x reader #fanfic #fanfic writer #hazbin alastor #alastor hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel alastor #radio demon #hazbin #the radio demon #hazbin hotel x reader #hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel fanfiction #alastor fanfiction #angst #hazbin hotel angst #x reader angst #you came you called #unrequited love #alastor hazbin hotel x reader #x reader fanfiction #x reader fanfic #x you

[heeliopheelia]

"look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't fucking lie to me" (heeseung x reader)

genre: angst word count: 0.7k requested by @flwrshee ♡

warnings: swearing, break up, heartbreak, lying

a/n: fuck i love angst sm LMFAO absolutely looooved writing this one

The silence is starting to feel heavy as you sit in Heeseung's parked car right next to your apartment complex. You're just coming back from a meeting with his friends and throughout the entire ride you haven't uttered a single word to him.

"Baby, talk to me, please," he sighs out after the uncomfortable atmosphere starts nearly itching his skin.

"What do you expect me to tell you? I just found out our entire relationship is basically a fucking joke," you say, face turned towards the window.

You don't even try to maturely approach the subject. Because how else is one supposed to react after realizing that their boyfriend most likely still has feelings for his ex? The sole thought of it makes your skin crawl and Heeseung can clearly see it as he swipes his eyes over your frowned side profile.

He tries again, feeling as if he's losing you already, one by one. "Nothing about us is a joke to me."

You want to get out of the car, you really fucking do, but at the same time you know that it's probably the last time you see him, the last time you're this close to him and the weak part of you that still wants to stay with him doesn't allow you to leave yet.

You feel goosebumps spiking your skin when his fingers hesitantly touch yours, so you quickly jerk your hand away.

"I feel like some fucking rebound, Heeseung."

"YN, baby," he starts quietly, trying to gain your attention. Pressing your lips together, you try your hardest to hold your tears back. "Will you please look at me?"

And you do, turning your head away from the window, hard eyes finding his immediately. For a second you take in the uneasiness painted on his face, his wide open eyes only making you want to cry even more. So you drop your gaze to your knees.

"I hope you had fun at least," you finally say, fiddling with the bracelet he gave you on your birthday three months ago. "Playing with my feelings like that, hope it was worth it."

"Don't say that, love," he pleads, hand itching to reach out to you again. "You can't believe everything people say so easily."

You scoff, looking at him in disbelief. "These people are your best friends. I see no reason as for why wouldn't I listen to them."

Realizing he's a step away from blowing his entire relationship with you, he finally engulfs your slightly trembling hand in his and brings it to his lips to press a kiss on your knuckles. His jacket around your shoulders suddenly feels all too heavy and burdening, a complete opposite of the comfort it used to bring you so many times before. The smell of his cologne is too strong all of sudden, the warmth of it nearly suffocates you.

"You know I lov-"

You interrupt him quickly, the sharpness or your tone startling him slightly. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't fucking lie to me." You swallow the bile in your throat as he sits in stunned silence, eyes gaping at you hopelessly. "I need to hear that she means nothing to you and we'll forget all about it."

"I- I can't," he stutters out, rubbing his face with his hand. "Fuck, I'm sorry. But I'll get over it, I promise. I can't lose you too, YN."

You jerk your hand out of his hold as if it was burning you alive and shake your head with a bitter scoff. "Then what the fuck are you even doing? Leading me on like that, do you realize how much this is hurting me? It's like the entire year we've been together meant absolutely nothing! That's so fucked up, Heeseung!"

"I know, I know!" He groans, pressing his palms to his eyes. "I'm sorry, I just thought that I'd lose these feelings along the way in a relationship with you. I never expected that she'd still have such strong hold on me even a year later."

"Well, since my love is clearly not enough for you, I'm finally gonna stop wasting both of our time," you nearly hiss at him, shrugging his jacket off your shoulders and shoving it into his chest. He catches it, eyes as wide as a deer caught in the headlights. "Thanks for the ride, Heeseung."

"Wait, YN!" He calls after you as you walk out of his car. He reaches out to grab you and somehow try to make you stay but his fingers only manage to graze the edge of your top as you turn around to him. "Don't leave."

"Stop being so fucking selfish. Goodbye. Don't call me again," you let his pleadings go past your ears before you shut the door and leave Heeseung in shambles.

permanent taglist: @bambisgirl @arizejkt19 @luvmura @milisabunny @cathy-1997 @venividibitchin

#carly's 1k event ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა #1k event: requests ✎ #enhypen imagines #enhypen x reader #enhypen angst #heeseung imagines #heeseung x reader #lee heeseung x reader #heeseung drabbles #enhypen drabbles #heeseung angst

[railingsofsorrow]

I can see it

[emily prentiss x reader]

summary: you and your girlfriend make plans for the future.

pairing: e.p x f!reader

w.c: 1K

warnings/content: making future plans; discussion about having kids and marriage; two girlfriends being incredibly cute and cheesy; sergio our little king!!; spelling errors.

A/N: i feel like there isn't enough emily prentiss fluff in here so I decided to add my own. (I wish there were more bau!women fics!!!)

navi

masterpost

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“what? why are you looking at me like that?”

on one of the rarest days that you had a day-off, you and emily would rather have a stay-at-home movie night instead of going out. some popcorn filled with butter and chocolate to accompany.

you were cuddling on the couch as an old rom-com played on the TV, her feet intertwined with yours and her arms caging you in her hold.

you could feel her stare burning in your cheek for about five minutes now. to see the faint blush growing in her neck because she was caught was a sight to behold.

“nothing.” she muttered, shifting under your gaze, biting her lip to hold back a grin.

“is there something on my face?” you said, poking her cheek. “or is it because you love me too much that you can't bear not look at me?”

“shut up.” emily rolled her eyes, her lower lip jutting out. a chuckle escaped from you and when she looked at you again, she had that fond gaze that made her eyes sparkle.

you felt her cold hands on your cheeks before her lips touched yours. emily's hands were always cold, even on the warmest days of the year. you always used it as an excuse to wrap your hands around hers, to warm it up because you're always cold, love.

in spite of the coldness in her fingertips, emily prentiss was the sun personified to you. she made you feel better by just her presence alone and her smile was contagious. it brought warmth and comfort to your chest. you loved that woman more than you loved anyone else in your entire life. and it was scary, frightening, even. and it was beautiful, because with her by your side, you could face the horrors of the world every day, knowing that you'd be okay in the end.

“i was just thinking...” emily mumbled in-between kisses. “that I could, you know, see it.”

you hummed, thumb grazing her jaw tenderly. “see what, baby?”

emily leaned down, kissing the tip of your nose as her mouth stretched into a soft grin.

“what?” you said, now feeling shy because of how she was looking at you. “stop being all cryptic.” you laughed, hiding your face behing your hands. you felt the sofa shift under your girlfriend's movements. both of your hands are pulled away from your face by hers, gently. the touch of an angel.

“i can see it. a future.” she elaborated, brushing your hair behind your ear. “me, you, sergio, maybe someone else. I can clearly picture it.” you blinked at her, lips parting as if you were about to say something and then you closed them again.

you weren't expecting that.

yes, you and emily have discussed the possibility of having a future together, which you were already working on. you've recently moved in together, you're talking about adopting another cat and maybe a dog — though emily isn't very fond of them but you're working on your persuasion skills — and marriage is something you both have agreed on, but in the right time, not now.

kids, however, you haven't touched this topic yet. you've seen emily around children, her awkwardness existed only in the beginning, because she would be a natural five minutes later. and she'd act just like them. you liked children, she likes children, you just never thought it could be a possibility for the two of you.

the idea doesn't sound bad. it doesn't sound bad at all.

“someone else as in—”

“a new member to the family.” she sat up, bringing your hands to her lap. her gaze was careful, hesitant, but you could see it in her eyes the determination that meant she has been pondering over this for a while. “a baby? I don't— I know we've never discussed it but—” you cut her off by crashing your lips to hers. she emitted a sound of surprise but she eventually kisses you just as intensely. her shoulders lowered, the tension that was previously there is gone.

emily exhales slowly, her forehead resting on yours for the time being. “what was that for?” she questioned. when her eyes fluttered open, your lips are the first thing she sees. they're swollen and red, practically begging to be kissed again.

i can see it. a future.

me, you, sergio, maybe someone else.

your heart could burst out of your chest. if that proposition was something you hadn't even think about considering, now it just sounded and looked right.

a family with the woman you loved? that couldn't be more perfect.

when you thought there was just no way that you were able to love emily prentiss more than you already did...

“i can see it too,” you let out in a whisper, your voice weak, you didn't have strength to speak because you fet like crying. “emily, I want everything with you. everything.”

she studied your features thoroughly, hope and a tinge of desperation in her voice as she asked if what you were saying was true. if you really wanted this. if you meant it.

“i love you. I love you. I love you.” she repeated over and over again as she laid kisses across your entire face, jaw, neck, everywhere she could reach. it rendered you into a mess of giggles.

“cheesy.” you finally stopped her attack by locking her up against you with your legs wrapped around her middle.

emily gave you a dopey-grin, joy sipping through the crinkles in the corner of her eyes. “only for you.”

you beamed at her, kissing her cute nose. “yes, only for me.”

suddenly, a soft weight settled upon your shoulders, causing both of you to jump slightly. emily groaned at sergio's fussing between the two of you. he wanted attention.

when he finally settled on the spot you've made available on the couch, you scratched behind his ear, feeling his purring against your touch.

“we can be cheesy for you too, baby.” you whispered to the cat. he leaned his head into your hand, begging for more affection. you smiled.

when you looked up, emily still had that fond gaze that made her dark eyes sparkle.

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A/N: sorry for this shitty ending. I couldn't come up with anything better.

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taglist: @lilyviolets

#emily prentiss x female reader #emily prentiss x reader #lesbian emily prentiss #emily prentiss x you #emily prentiss fanfic #emily prentiss fluff #emily prentiss blurb #emily prentiss one shot #criminal minds oneshot #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds drabble

[heliiacus]

to traverse this with you

tags: armin x reader, forced proximity, one bed, yearning, the consequences are arriving, bashful armin, reader uses she/her pronouns

warnings: none!

words: 1.8k | masterlist

They used to love one another, long ago. Not loudly, nor ferociously, or even in a way that the other knew about, but they did. She knows that now. It could have stayed simple. They could have stayed apart. It has been years since she's been deployed to Marley, to live and work under a secret identity; and grieve as she may have for him, she could have lived with it. She really could have. They could have stayed star-crossed, torn away by war, but things just had to get difficult. Now, with tensions rising, she is forced to relocate – to trek through the lone mountains in the desolate Marleyan wilderness, in an attempt to clandestinely reach a port outside Liberio. And in another world it would have, perhaps, been a task of a casual undertaking. It could have been simple. Were it not for him, by her side: the man she has grieved for this entire time. Were it not for this one simple, stupid mistake.

The birds startle her. It is gentle, not violent, but still it is stark enough for her to realise she is far from her home. She feels off, for a moment, though she does not know why.

Then she feels it. A shifting against her; faint, but there. A warmth that is foreign.

She is in Armin's arms this morning, and now she remembers why, her throat heating with embarrassment. Suddenly, she is startled once again, and she feels just how thoroughly tangled her limbs are in him. Hands flushly at his back, legs encircled with his, and his arms, so chastely careful first, are now wound tightly around her waist.

She is mortified, for a moment. Then she is ashamed. What else could she expect? She knew she is a busybody with her arms in her sleep, and yet she clung to him so eagerly that night, as if it was nothing. She did not think that night – not really. Pulled into panic by the cold in her bones, she grasped onto Armin with an almost reckless abandon, and now here she is – burning with embarrassment, with his arms tight around her frame. If only she hadn't fallen into that damn river beforehand. If only she'd been more careful.

At least it doesn't seem like it was just her. That alone allows her to ease, the rattling in her chest calming soon after.

Looking around, she sees it's not yet breaking light. She notices, amusedly, that one of their blankets has been kicked off; he must have been hot, or maybe she was.

Then she looks up and allows herself to watch him, if only for a moment.

It has been two weeks since they've set foot outside of Ambersturg. Long and grueling and yet short all the same, the two of them, forced by the circumstances, have used all that time to trek their way through the west Marleyan mountains, aiming to reach Liberio port by the end of the month. Trains aren't trustworthy, he'd told her; neither are boats.

Marley is on high alert, he'd told her then. He did not tell her why, or for who, but she could surmise. She could surmise a lot from the look on his face.

How he'd scared her that day. His frame tense and oddly, uncomfortably tall, gaze hard and steeled in a way that had her mind growing rabid with fear; she'd had no piece of mind to stand still and look at him then, to recognise him the way she'd ached to for years.

It was only half a day later, with them settled and weary at the foot of the Marleyan alps, that it truly struck her. There he is, she remembers thinking, staring at the man who looked almost like a stranger to her now, and she remembers feeling an odd sense of aching in her throat.

They've done nothing but walk since that day. On and on, day after day, walking side by side and sleeping side by side. Each time the sun would set they'd talk, the thin sense of wariness around them melting night after night. Slowly, they would regrow a sense of one another, and yet a gap remained; a proof of the time past stood steadfast between them.

She feels it just as starkly now, watching him. He looks different now; where once soft lines were now lay hard edges, cheekbones sharp and skin a harsh white. His frame is larger, heavier; even his hair is different, short and bleached bright from the sun. It hits her now that where once a boy were, now lay a man, and she wonders, with a suffocating reverie, at just how much change a few years could wreak. Watching him, her chest fills with a painful sort of feeling, and yet she marvels at him sleep so peacefully, off-guard to the rest of the world; something she has not witnessed before, though a past version of herself would have liked to.

It is so quiet. So quiet she can hear him breathe. A different feeling overwhelms her, the urge to disentangle her hand and reach for him, to cross her fingertips over his cheekbone and drag the golden hair behind his ear. He would wake to it, he would look at her right after, and the thought almost suffocates her, and for a moment she lay there, watching him, both in awe and in discomfort, and for one last time she wonders if she should reach for him.

Instead, she closes her eyes, wishing herself back to the time back when everything was not so brittle or so strange in her world.

"Y/N," she hears a voice, "dawn has broken."

A hand wounds around her shoulder, gentle and warm. A coldness seeps into her, remnants of warmth melting slowly out of the bedroll she's shared with him, and it feels like a mirage; like a ghost enveloping her.

"Y/N," he sighs again, and it sounds almost cooing, and by then she knows she has to give into it, to rise and to wake.

"I’m up," she whines out, feeling, succinctly, the loss of his hand when he moves away. "I’m up, I’m up."

"Good," he says, and in some way she knows he is smiling, even if her eyes are too blurry to see it. "Sit up for me? I want to see how you are."

She hums in response, hauling herself up slowly. She rubs at her eyes, trying to adjust to the stark brightness, and when she opens them she sees him much closer than she anticipated, eyeing down at her with a worry.

"Good morning," he says sheepishly, his smile careful, almost nervous. "I need to check if you're running a fever."

It's like a sudden, cold shower. The sentence heaves the sleepiness out of her, and suddenly she is sitting up, waiting for him to check her health.

She didn't even consider it, last night. She did not think at all, it seems. Were she to catch cold, they could kiss their tight schedule a well-loved goodbye. More than that: out here in the mountains, with no medicine or an abundance of clean water, there could be complications. Real, tangible complications.

She feels, then, Armin's hand press gently against her forehead. Then, like the night before – the back of his hand presses into her throat. He eyes her the whole time, expression barely readable.

"I think you're okay. How are you feeling?" He asks her, taking back his hand.

"Fine, I think. I don't feel a cold coming on or anything," she reassures him, and it's the truth. "But we should perhaps be careful for a bit. I don't know how we'd have to deal with me being sick on the road," she admits.

"We'd find a way," he tells her simply, watching her still, that apprehensive look glinting in his eyes. "Don't worry. For now, like you said, let's be careful and keep you warm. We'll make for camp on earlier hours, and you should take my jacket," he lists off, looking at his hands as he thinks on how to approach this. It warms her to see him like this; to observe the meticulousness of it, the care of it, like a hen fussing over a sickly chick.

Then, all at once, his listing pauses, and she watches, with growing confusion, as his shoulders tense, his gaze steadfast on the floor. Quietly, he curls his hands, as if looking for words, and when he looks back at her, she is surprised to see a soft, pink sheen in his cheeks. "Look," he says, the determination in his voice such a contrast to the clear timidity in his eyes. "I don't know how else to keep you warm. We're not ready for this weather if you get sick. We should– and I mean, I really think we should probably sleep close to each other from now on." He says it quietly, word following word indelicately, and there it seems his determination flusters, his gaze falling back down, away from hers. "We can't have a repeat of last night, Y/N. You were nearly hypothermic – I don't know how it got to that point, but it can't happen again," He tells her, soft and firm all at once.

She nods at him in response, feeling a worry fester, and a feeling of regret. She opens her mouth to thank him then, to ensure he knows she appreciates how much he cares, or to, at the very least, apologise, but he cuts her off: "And I’m sorry."

It comes out briskly. Rushed. Slowly, the red on his skin turns crimson, and his shoulders hunch over with discomfort, and there he goes again, looking up at her, that timid, guilty look in his eyes. "I was all over you. In my sleep," he admits then. "I–I fixed it as soon as I woke up, of course, and I’m so sorry. I don't know how it happened. I was asleep and I woke up like that, and I–" he inhales, sharp in his chest. "I’m sorry. It won't happen again."

She blinks at him, quiet in something that burns closer to amusement. She thinks he will add something, but he does not. He simply sits there, swaying on his hind legs, waiting for her to forgive him – or to admonish him.

And it is there, with him kneeling there, hands tight at his sides and voice high from nerves, that he looks like a boy again, flustered and chirping, pockets full of notes and inkstains on his sleeves; here, suddenly, he looks like the boy she knew years back. If just for this moment, something feels familiar, and she grasps at it with a desperation. Suddenly, an odd, inexpressible divide closes, and she bursts out laughing, the sound so loud it startles even her.

"Maria," she laughs, clutching at her head. "It's like you've killed somebody! Please calm down!" And there it is, that timid look she knows so well. He watches her laugh, shoulders easing, and there is something, something so peculiar that passes through him; he relaxes, sure, but there is a recognition that she may understand – a type of reminiscence that she may not have been the only one to seek all this time.

"To be fair," he says once she's finally calmed down. "It was inappropriate. I thought you'd yell at me."

She just laughs, and laughs. "I’m not sixteen anymore, Armin. I’m not going to yell at you."

"Okay, well," he says, laughing with her, these small, tittering giggles following hers. "I made breakfast, in case you did."

dividers by arlerts-angel

tag list: @arlerts-angel @arminarlertssword @nilaaaas @sukunascrustyfinger @supersupper @levistealeaf @layla240 @funkkage @ryoiii @siy-draws @er3nscottonpicker @lemontrees-things @katestrophes @bel-https

thank you to everyone for your continuous interest 💗 as always, reblogs are dearly appreciated

#armin x reader #armin arlert #armin fanfiction #armin fluff #aot fanfiction #aot headcanons #armin aot #armin x you #attack on titan x reader #levi x reader #jean x reader #eren x reader #eren jaeger x reader #aot x reader #aot smut #aot fluff #armin smut #attack on titan #attack on titan x you #shingeki no kyojin #aot x reader smut #armin arlert smut #armin arlert fluff #armin arlert x reader

[julieverne]

HG Wells shouldn't be alive.

But she is. And she's here, in Myka's bedroom.

In Myka's bed.

Abigail had warned Myka. Abigail had said she'd been unable to locate HG's room.

Because HG Wells shouldn't be alive, and the B&B knows that. The Warehouse knows that. Myka knows that.

But she's sleeping in Myka's bed, and though she lies still she's clearly not dead.

Her hair is a shimmering mass of wonder. Her lips are curled into a smile. She's in one of Myka's shirts, and probably (hopefully) pants too.

HG Wells finally got into Myka's pants. Heh. Myka chuckles to herself under her breath, careful not to wake the sleeping woman in her bed.

Her arms are curled around Myka's teddy bear, and she holds him to her chest the same way Myka does. She seems comforted.

She's alive. She's asleep. And Myka is watching her because there is nothing else in the world she would rather do right now.

Finally Myka steps forward, and she grasps HG's shoulder.

HG blinks sleepily up at her, then a smile breaks across her face, the way waves break on their way to shore. Slowly, steadily, then all at once.

"I apologise for the imposition, but Abigail is still rather new at the business, and she said you were out of town." HG yawns and stretches, and Myka is breathless at the sight of those little limbs under her baggy shirt. She leaps forward and hugs HG, bringing them both crashing down to the mattress. HG is technically trapped, but that's never stopped her from escaping before.

She doesn't struggle. She never does. Not when it's Myka holding the gun, the handcuffs, the gun (again), the Tesla. HG just sinks deeper into the blankets under Myka with a soft, pleased hum as she relinquishes Myka's teddy bear in favour of his owner. Her hands are soft, but her body is hard from years of fighting.

Myka can't quite manage words. HG is alive. HG is in her arms. HG is holding her.

"S-stay," Myka stutters, blushing when she hears HG's pleased chuckle from beneath her, feeling the expansion of HG's chest when oxygen enters it.

"I have nowhere else to go."

Myka should ask what happened, how HG escaped, if this is real, but she's so scared it's not that she can't.

She just holds the only person who knows her until she can form a full sentence.

Which is several hours and several naps later.

When she wakes, HG is sleeping. Sunlight casts long shadows across her face, her delicate brow, her soft lips. Myka nestles closer and tries to stay awake. Just in case the next time she wakes it's not real.

When she wakes, she's cradled in HG's arms. HG is looking at her like she's an invention she's not clever enough to think up on her own, and Myka glows.

She's always known. Since the moment they met. Even after being betrayed, Myka hasn't stopped knowing. She's always known HG, just as HG has always known her. HG's fingers trail over the skin of Myka's arms and the rest of her body hates not being touched by her. The rest of her body resents and envies the tender flesh of her inner forearm, of the inside of her wrist, and finally her palm.

They're never held hands before. They've never slept together before, either, but they both knew that one of them would cave and the other would follow in relief.

"I missed you," HG says, and she's solid. She's not a holograph, or a shell. She's not a dream, not this time. She's together, she's whole, and her clipped accent is music to Myka's ears. A whole sympathy, a whole symphony. Myka lets her fingers thread through HG's so they're entwined. So HG can't skip away again.

"Where have you been?"

"I was in a hospital for rather a while," HG says, and of all things, Myka had expected an artifact to save her, not science. She'd checked all of HG's known aliases. "I appear to be better now. I'll never walk unassisted again. You should know that now, before..."

"Before what?" Myka challenges her.

"Before you kiss me," HG says, so irritatingly certain that Myka had been about to. "Before you commit to someone broken."

"You've never been broken," Myka tells her, and she kisses HG's knuckles. "You've been angered by injustice, and the world has been unjust to you. Are you in pain?"

"Not - not right now. Not anymore."

"Can you forgive me?" Myka asks, her voice cracking, and HG's hand leaves hers only so she can hold Myka tighter.

"Whatever for?"

"For not being in time. For not saving you. For not thinking of a way to save you. I still can't think of one."

"It's you who must forgive me, darling. I could have come sooner. I could have let you know I was alive. But I thought you wouldn't want me."

Myka can see the crutches now, propped against the bed. She wonders how long it had taken HG to get back on her feet this time.

"One more question," Myka says, and she feels HG nod, her chin against Myka's head where it rests on her chest. "Can I kiss you?"

"You would?" HG's voice is shy this time, and filled with wonder. Myka answers that question with a kiss, and HG is filled with enough wonder for an eternity.

HG Wells shouldn't be alive, but she's warm and responsive and moaning into Myka's mouth. And Myka can't waste another moment with her.

#bering and wells #myka bering #helena wells #warehouse 13

[sunflowerseedsandscience]

Various Storms and Saints- Chapter One

Previous Chapters: Prologue

Maybe it was because he'd never had any relatives or close friends have kids, but for Mulder, the hospital had never been a place he associated with joy.

His earliest hospital memory had been when Samantha had broken her collarbone, and since his mother had decided the incident had been his fault-- hadn't she told him a hundred times that the rope swing was too worn out to play on, so what had he been thinking?--most of what he remembered from that particular hospital trip had been his mother's cold anger. He'd been taken to the hospital two years later when Sam had disappeared, when first responders worried he might be in shock, and that visit had been no better.

All of Mulder's adult hospital experience up until this point had been similarly awful. Visiting injured witnesses or colleagues, meeting family members in the waiting room to deliver bad news, suffering through injuries of his own... and now, most recently, the interminable vigil by Scully's bedside, watching and waiting while the cord tethering her to life slowly frayed to nothing.

But now? As Mulder strode down the hospital hallway towards from Scully's room, where she sat waiting for him, alive, awake, and returned to him beyond all probability, there was nowhere else he'd rather have been. Even the drab green linoleum was beautiful to him as he raced along it towards her room. Her mother and sister had been with her earlier, and under their close watch he hadn't been able to be as free and open with her as he would have liked. Maybe today his luck would be better and she'd be on her own.

But then again, maybe not.

"Hi, Mulder!" Melissa greeted him enthusiastically before Scully had even had a chance to open her eyes. She leapt up from her seat by the bed and embraced him, catching him off guard. Over her shoulder Scully looked on with an amused expression, clearly enjoying his discomfiture. As soon as Melissa released him he approached the bed, and after a brief hesitation, he bent and kissed Scully's cheek. Her face flushed red as he straightened up, and he could feel Melissa's eyes on him as he took a seat by the bed.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Tired," Scully said, chuckling ruefully. "You'd think I'd have more energy when I've done nothing but lie in bed all this time, but...." She sighed and shook her head. "I'm still exhausted."

"You have to give yourself time to heal," said Melissa sagely. "Your body knows what it's doing. You have to trust it."

"Thank you, Melissa. As a medical doctor, I am, of course, entirely unfamiliar with the workings of the human body." Mulder laughed, his chest flushing with warmth. This was the Scully he knew, the Scully he'd missed: the dry wit, the impatience with anyone trying to tell her something she already knew better than they did.

"Doctors really do make the worst patients," Melissa intoned, and Scully scowled at her.

"It's one thing to know something clinically," Scully said. "It's another thing when you're the one stuck in bed, waiting to have enough energy to be on your feet for more than fifteen minutes at a time."

"Well, be a good patient and do what your doctors tell you," said Mulder. "The quicker you heal, the quicker you can come back... and Skinner really doesn't like me investigating cases on my own. He's probably not gonna get a full night's sleep until you're out there keeping me in check again."

Scully frowned. "Mulder," she said, "what are you talking about? The FBI has me doing autopsies. I can't exactly watch your back from the morgue." And suddenly it hit Mulder: she had no idea about any of what had happened while she'd been missing. As far as she was concerned, the X-Files were still closed, he was still on wiretap duty, and she was still expected to teach pathology at Quantico once she'd recovered enough to return to work. He grinned, about to tell her... and then stopped.

Scully's involvement with him had been exactly what had put her in danger in the first place. She never would have been abducted if she had stayed safe in the morgue. They'd taken her because she had refused to stop helping him... and because he had refused to stop asking her. If he offered her the chance to come back on the X-Files as his partner--and he had zero doubts she would take it, if he did offer--what else could happen to her down the line?

"What?" Scully frowned at him, concerned. His hesitation must have shown on his face. "Mulder, what is it?"

If he didn't ask Scully to come back to the X-Files with him, she would find out about it, one way or another. And she would be furious. He could lay out his concerns, he could try to dissuade her, but consequences be damned, it had to be her choice.

"Skinner re-opened the X-Files after you were taken," Mulder said, and the pure joy on Scully's face somehow made his heart both swell and sink at the same time. "But listen, Scully, you need to think long and hard about it before you come back to work with me."

"No, I don't." Mulder glanced at Melissa, sitting in the corner and watching the exchange with great interest, and wished he'd waited until he and Scully were alone.

"Yes, Scully, you do. They went after you because we kept working together."

"You have no way of knowing-"

"Yeah, I do. None of this would have happened if I'd left you alone." He glanced at Melissa again. "You should at least take the time to discuss it with your family. You don't need to decide right now."

"There's no need, Mulder," insisted Scully. "It's my decision. I want to work with you on the X-Files again." She set her jaw and glared at him, daring him to keep trying to talk her out of it. At a loss, Mulder looked at Melissa, who held up her hands.

"Don't ask me to intervene," she said, smiling. "You should know Dana well enough by now to know that once she decides to do something, there's no talking her out of it."

Mulder smiled reluctantly. "Yeah," he said. "I do."

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

Scully kept trying to hide her yawns behind her hands so Mulder wouldn't see how tired she was, but by the fourth time, it was clear she didn't need to bother. Melissa and Mulder were so deeply engrossed in conversation that she might as well not have been in the room at all. Mulder was regaling Melissa with stories of the cases they'd investigated together back before the X-Files had been closed, and Melissa, predictably, was fascinated.

"So the murdered officer's consciousness was possessing the little girl?" Melissa asked.

"Not quite possessing, not the way you're thinking. It was more of... a reimbodiment. It ended suddenly the moment Officer Morris's unfinished business with his killers had concluded."

"Wow," breathed Melissa, sitting back in her chair. "You never told me about any of this, Dana." She and Mulder looked towards the bed just as Scully unsuccessfully concealed another yawn. Mulder stood, smiling sheepishly.

"I think that's my cue to head out and let you rest," he said. He approached the bed and took Scully's hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'll come by after work tomorrow, okay? Give Skinner a call whenever you're ready and we'll get the paperwork started to get you reassigned." And with a nod and a smile to Melissa, Mulder was gone.

The moment the door had closed, Melissa sprang up from her chair and came to sit on the bed. "Wow, Dana," she gushed. "He's not just cute. He's gorgeous."

"Is he?" Scully closed her eyes and leaned back against her pillow. "I hadn't noticed." A blatant lie, of course, but right at that moment, all Scully wanted to do was sleep.

"You're really not interested in him like that?" Melissa asked, a peculiar, almost hopeful expression on her face. "Not at all?"

"He's my work partner, Melissa. And my friend."

"Then...." Melissa bit her lip. "You wouldn't mind if I asked him out, would you?"

A weight seemed to drop into Scully's stomach.

Yes. She did mind. She minded very much, in fact. But how could she possibly admit that to Melissa when she'd been trying so hard to claim that she didn't feel that way about him? She swallowed hard. She could claim that it might compromise her professionally, if Mulder and Melissa dated and it didn't work out. But....

"No, of course I don't mind," was what she heard herself saying instead.

Melissa beamed. "I'm gonna go see if I can catch him before he leaves," she said, and leaping up off the bed, she rushed out of the room.

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

Mulder's hand was on the door to exit the hospital when a voice behind him called his name.

"Mulder, hang on!" He turned to see Melissa Scully hurrying out of the elevators and rushing across the lobby towards him. He crossed to meet her, immediately concerned.

"What's going on? Is your sister okay?"

"She's fine," Melissa assured him with a wave of her hand. "She's probably going to be asleep before I even get back up there. I just had something I wanted to ask you before you left." For some reason, her cheeks flushed red. "I was wondering... if maybe you might like to get coffee with me sometime?"

Whatever Mulder had been expecting, this was definitely not it. For a moment he wondered if he'd understood her correctly, but really, why else would the question make her blush unless she meant it the way he thought she meant it? Still, best to be sure. He'd misread more than a few signals in his time.

"You mean like a date?"

"I don't really like to put labels on things, but... sure, a date, if you want to call it that. I asked Dana if she minded my asking you and she was fine with it, so don't worry about that."

A confused mix of emotions settled in the pit of Mulder's stomach. Scully had told Melissa that it was fine. What did that mean? Was it "fine" as in, "I'm fine, Mulder," when she clearly wasn't fine? Or was it "fine" as in it truly didn't bother her? The thought that Scully wouldn't care at all if he went out with her sister was somehow troubling.

But Melissa was standing there, waiting for an answer. Did he want to have coffee with her? She was an undeniably beautiful woman who seemed genuinely interested in the things he had to say. He'd asked women on dates with far less to go on than that.

Really, why the hell not? It was just coffee.

"I'd like that," he said. "Let me get your number."

Melissa beamed.

#my fic #x-files fanfic #Various Storms and Saints

[sayafics]

Just For A Moment - Part 1

Jay Halstead x OC/reader

This is my first time trying to write something angsty, so please be kind! I've seen quite a few fics where the partner always gets seen when they see their SO cheating, and its always teary denials and breakups, I wanted to put a spin on it and go down the line of "she knows, but she doesn't tell anyone" and the OC kind of just thinks of them as broken up and strangers without telling their SO that.

My plan with this storyline is that everyone kind of sides with Jay because no one really knows why she's being so cold with him, and it just carries on building until it reaches the breaking point. The question is, who'll break first?

Please let me know if you enjoyed this!

TW: cheating, (slightly?) angsty

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Masterlist

Voight had extended an offer for Aurora Gallo to join his Intelligence department a few days after Erin had left, Erin's departure left a gaping hole in the team and Voight was hopeful that Aurora would be the one to mend it.

Aurora was the daughter of an old friend of Hank's. She'd spent a few short years working her way through different organisations such as the CIA and FBI as an undercover operative.

But she needed a break. She was slowly losing herself in the multiple lives she had lived, and she needed a change.

Aurora hadn't expected the offer from Voight, but she was grateful all the same.

She moved to Chicago shortly after his offer, joining the Intelligence office and being partnered with him.

Jay Halstead.

Jay was an enigma - one she couldn't get enough of.

She had heard the rumours, of course. Of how Jay had been in love with Erin before she left.

And she had been the one to replace Erin, in both the team, and now in Jay's life.

It was hard not to draw comparisons. The whispers of the department always found their way to her, and, sometimes, when she looked into Jay's eyes, she always thought she could see him longing for more.

But she told herself not to worry, that Jay cared for her, that Jay chose her.

Not Erin, and definitely not anyone else.

That's what she continued to tell herself. Even after Hailey joined the team, even after Hailey found ways to get close to Jay when she wasn't his partner.

Soon, the small habits that Jay carried out for Aurora, he would carry out for Hailey too.

Checking up on her after a tough case, bringing her coffee in the mornings, dropping her off home after a late day at work, and picking her up bright and early in the morning. All of it, once done just for Aurora, were now moments and memories she shared with Hailey.

And just like that, those actions lost their meaning. But Aurora learnt to hide her hurt, instead choosing to ignore her heart and listen to Jay.

They were just friends.

That was what Jay had said the first time she expressed her concerns over their relationship, and she believed it. That everything Jay did for Hailey was out of the goodness of his heart because he was just so good.

So, on the night of their six month anniversary, when Aurora had dolled herself up and grabbed the cake, she had spent the whole day baking, on her way out of her apartment, she had left with a heart full of love and excitement.

The team had the day off today, and she had spent most of her morning at Jay's house before drumming up an excuse to go back to her apartment so she could finish her preparations.

Aurora held no sadness in her heart at the idea Jay might have forgotten their six month anniversary, after all such a thing wasn't significant to everyone.

But it was special to her, and she wanted to celebrate it with Jay - surprise him even.

Before leaving his place, she had asked Jay if he had plans, and he denied saying his only plan was to drink beer and watch the game. The revelation had calmed her nerves as she promised to text him later if she was free, knowing that she wouldn't because she wanted to surprise him instead.

And that was why she now stood in front of Jay's apartment, a small box with the cake she had baked and decorated that afternoon laid by her feet as she rummaged for the spare key Jay had given her for emergencies.

This seemed like the biggest emergency of all. If she stayed outside any longer, the frosting on her cake would melt off. And no one likes melted frosting.

As she quietly opened the door, she prayed silently that Jay had fallen asleep on the couch as she bent over to pick up her cake before walking through the door. As she closed the door behind her, her heart had calmed at the silence that rang through the apartment, hopeful that Jay truly had fallen asleep so she could set up the kitchen table before waking him.

She had taken two steps towards the kitchen before her eyes landed on the couch, and through the dim lights of a table lamp, she could make out that it was empty. She frowned slightly, hoping Jay wasn't asleep in bed - he rarely slept well, and the idea of waking him from a deep sleep rather than a nap would have just made her feel guilty.

If he had, she would just have to surprise him in the morning, and the thought brought a timid smile onto her face.

She continued her walk towards the kitchen, her steps quiet but hurried as the skirt of her deep blue dress billows around her thighs. She sets the cake on the kitchen counter, hands ready to lift up the lid to see the damage her journey here had done to the cake before she heard it.

Aurora felt her heart sink, pressure building in her sternum as the sound she heard repeated over and over again, not only in her head but in the apartment.

It sounded like... a woman?

She felt her breath stutter, the quiet moans she heard building in volume as she slipped her heels off and treaded cautiously towards the room she knew to be Jay's. After all, she and Jay had been in there many times.

As she got closer towards the room, her hands trembled as she stumbled, her feet catching on clothes thrown astray. The sight caused her to hesitate, frozen in a stupor as she looked at the articles of clothing which littered the floor.

Shoes, trousers, shirts. Women's clothes.

Aurora screwed up her eyes harshly, her breaths coming out in ragged pants as she tried to control herself, trying to convince herself that she was wrong. That Jay couldn't do anything wrong. He cares about her. He loves her. He said so himself. Her Jay wouldn't do something like this.

She opened her eyes, determination painted her gaze as she continued her path to Jay's room. His door was cracked open, and she held her breath as she peaked through.

Aurora's heart fell to the ground - shattered and broken. She had hoped, and she had prayed that the grunts and pleas - sounds she was so familiar with - were just a trick her paranoia was playing on her.

But looking into Jay's room, there was no denying it.

There sat her boyfriend, on the bed they had made love in, fucking another woman. Jay was leaning against the headboard, his head thrown back in pleasure as his hand gripped the waist of the blonde woman perched on his lap, his knuckles blanched as he ground her hips against his, the motion causing a moan of pleasure to wrench itself from her throat, his name on her lips as she spoke - "fuck, Jay, I'm so close."

The blood had drained from Aurora's face, she knows that voice.

"I know, baby. I'm close, too. God, Hail you feel so good."

Baby?

Tears began to well in Aurora's eyes. Jay calls her baby, and now he's called her too?

This wasn't some one night stand or some mistake. No, Jay cares about Hailey, so much so that he is willing to betray Aurora to have her.

Aurora's throat ached as she held back her sobs, her heart burning in agony as she stepped back quietly from the door. She made her way back to her things and hastily grabbed her box of cake and shoes as she scrambled away from Jay's apartment, running away from the her own nightmare.

She made it to her car, hands shaking as she shut herself in and sobs poured out from her.

Aurora had no one to go to. She didn't know the team as well as Jay, and she hadn't been around Chicago enough to make close friends. Her previous career and her lifestyle made it hard to make friends, much less keep them.

And now, when she needed someone the most, she had no one.

And she had lost the one person she thought she could always go to.

Aurora's eyes were filled with tears, and her heart filled with pain as she drove home. Her hands were shaky on the steering wheel, and she relied on muscle memory to bring her back to the place she felt the most safe in.

The place she had allowed Jay in, the place she was the most vulnerable in. And he ruined it. He ruined her.

Without warning, anger began to bubble in her chest. Anger towards herself for being so naive to believe Jay when he said they were just friends, anger towards Jay for lying to her, for betraying her, anger towards Hailey for being a friend to her only to betray her too.

The anger that built up in her on the drive home festered throughout the night. As Aurora lay in bed, struggling to quieten her mind enough to get some sleep, her eyes burning from all the tears she shed and her throat raw from her screams and cries, she felt her anger morph into dread.

Tomorrow, she would see the man that betrayed her, and the woman she called a friend.

On her nightstand, her phone continued to light up the ceiling as notifications popped up. But Halstead's texts went unanswered.

***

The next morning, Aurora had awoken from a restless sleep, and she instinctively reached for her phone, a ghost of a smile on her face as she looked for the sweet 'good morning' messages her Jay would send her every morning.

Hey baby, you okay? You didn't come back over yesterday.

Aurora felt her smile falter - the most recent text Halstead sent caused the memories of last night to flash past her eyes. The remembrance of his lies and his betrayal once more brings tears to her eyes as they fall, leaving hot trails in their tracks.

Her eyes then fall to a text from Voight - Case. Meet at 9.

It was currently 7:30am, which gave her plenty of time to pull herself together and push away the dread of having to see the two people she trusted most after their betrayal.

She pushed herself out of bed, shuffling towards the bathroom - dear God, she looked a mess. The makeup from last night still painted her face, but her mascara and eyeliner were now smudged and drawn down her cheeks in smeared streaks, and through the smudged-off makeup, the faint lines of the scars she hid could be seen.

And her eyes, they looked sad.

And that realisation made fury bite at her, she looked so pathetic.

God, it was her fault. To let him in so easily, after all she had been through and all she had learnt about men. She had still gone and trusted one with her heart.

Aurora had come across all kinds of men and stood against them undefeated - those who beat their wives and children, those who hurt and raped the innocent, those who killed without fear of consequences and those who tortured with hearts full of glee.

And yet, it was Jay Halstead who broke her. All because she let him in, let him get too close.

Determination set in her gaze once more. She wouldn't let Halstead be the end of her. No, she was stronger than that, better than that.

With that thought in mind, Aurora got ready to face the man she once called her boyfriend and the love of her life.

***

When Aurora stepped into the district, it was obvious to Sargent Platt that something was different.

She looked the same - her hair pinned up in the same sleek ponytail, dressed in the same long sleeve jumper and cargos. But her face was void of emotions, and her eyes looked like they were drowning in them.

Sargent Platt liked Aurora. She was a good kid, and despite all the years she spent around violence and horror in her years undercover, she had managed to keep a pure heart and a joyful soul.

It seemed now that both of those things had been drained out of her.

"Hey, kid. Come here a sec."

"Sorry, Sargent, got a case," Aurora nodded stiffly in Trudy's direction before walking up the steps to the intelligence office.

Sargent?

Aurora has called her boss, even Platt. When she tried to push her friendship with her, Aurora would even call her Trudy, sometimes, in a teasing manner. But she had never been so formal, so devoid of emotion.

Trudy felt worried for the girl, her mind running countless scenarios as she wondered what had made her lose her light in such a short amount of time.

***

When Aurora had made her way up the stairs, the office was already buzzing, her team talking and walking around in circles as they discussed the case on hand - a twelve year old boy had been kidnapped, this was the third case over the last ten days and the other victims had been found dead. Homicide had turned up empty in their investigation, and given how close the last case was to their district, Voight offered to take it off their hands, to which they gladly agreed.

She looked over her colleagues, scanning the room for the one person she was unsure of if she would want to see. But it seems his eyes found her first.

"Babe, there you are," Jay's voice sounded exasperated as he leapt up from his seat at his desk, and just like always, Hailey was hovering over his shoulder.

Usually, the action would cause her to feel slightly annoyed, the feeling being quelled when Jay would hold her hand or kiss her cheek or just say her name.

Now, the sight brought a burst of emotions, all of which she fought down and locked away to face at another time when she was alone and it was safe to be vulnerable.

Halstead made his way to her, his hands cupping her cheeks as he looked at her in concern, "baby, you didn't answer my texts, I was so worried."

Aurora shrugged lightly, her face still blank as she found she had no energy to even fake a smile to him, "I was tired."

No apology, no placation. Because he didn't deserve that.

It seemed that Jay had noticed her lack of reason and apology, too, the concern in his eyes growing as Aurora pushed his hands down gently - "we have a case to work."

She pushed past him and walked to her desk, ignoring the 'hey, Aurora' Hailey had thrown her way, grateful when Voight had chosen that exact moment to step out of his office and brief them.

Unbeknownst to her, Jay continued to eye her in worry. He had already been struggling to fight off the guilt he felt when he stepped out on Aurora and slept with Hailey, but to see her so drawn away and isolated only made that grow. Paranoia ate at his heart, but he knew there could be no way she caught them.

Voight had given them the basics of Aurora's past career as an undercover agent, and Jay knew that if she had caught him and Hailey, they would be working on their murder case right now instead.

What do we think? Do we want a part 2?👀

#jay halstead #jay halstead x y/n #jay halstead x you #jay halstead x reader #jay halstead x oc #chicago #chicago pd #chicago one #chicago fire #chicago med #jay halstead x hailey upton #upstead

[primalmagic]

stars in the noon sky

linh's coming over, marella's room is a mess, and she's just a little bit stressed about her mom.

──────────

Marella tightens the red bow in her hair for the one millionth time, humming softly to her favorite song. It'd been playing on repeat for an hour now, but she hadn't been paying attention- her mind was occupied with... something else.

Finally satisfied with how she looks, she closes a cabinet door. As she wipes a suspicious stain off of her mirror, a sharp knock echoes across the bathroom walls.

"Marella, darling, what have you been doing in the bathroom for so long?" Caprise's clipped and unfocused voice floats through the door.

Fuck.

"Nothing, Mom! Do you need anything?"

"I want to take a bath."

"You alright took two baths today," she frowns, nearing the door.

"I want to take a bath," Her mother repeats stubbornly.

She unlocks the door and lets her mother in. It was one of her mom's good days anyway, and the last thing she wants to do is make things worse. See, ever since she had manifested and started throwing fireballs everywhere, something had shifted between the two of them. Because yes, she'd stood up for Marella, but now she was more... skittish around her. Maybe she was reading into it too much, but it made her feel sick. It wasn't her fault she was a pyrokinetic.

"Just be out by the time Linh comes, okay? I'll see you then." She kisses her mother's cheek and leaves the bathroom, ignoring the confused look on Caprise's face- she either forgot Linh was coming over, or forgot who Linh was.

She spends the next two hours tidying up her room, which was saying something, because Marella Redek absolutely hates cleaning up her room. It isn't just a chore, it's absolute torture. Plus, it's not like anyone has ever bothered to remind her to clean it. Her dad barely interacts with her anymore, and her mom... well, her mom was her mom. So, after months of throwing things around, her room was beginning to look like a dumpster fire.

She isn't proud of it, and she's damned if she'd ever let Linh come over to this sort of mess. So now, for the first time in forever, she's cleaning up.

And look, she's nervous. Linh is, well, amazing. She's kind, and talented, and funny, and all the things Marella has ever wanted to be. Plus, she's gorgeous. And not just in looks- but in action. Watching her around water was one of the most fascinating things Marella has ever witnessed. She was elegant, and graceful, and-

"Marella?"

She looks up from the ground, hands on a textbook from years ago. "Oh, hi Linh," She manages weakly, "I was just... studying?" She gestures towards the book in a rather awkward manner.

And Linh, ever the sweetest, smiles at her and asks "Anything I can help with?"

"No, uh, I was just finishing up. Sorry." She thrusts the book into a nearby closet and stands up. Idly, she looks at Linh, only then realizing that damn, when had she grown this tall?

Marella has always been taller than her, it was a fact. One that she'd tease the older girl about relentlessly. Now they are practically eye-level, and she doesn't really know what to feel about that.

Linh blinks, "What?"

For the love of mallowmelt, she'd been staring, hadn't she?

"Nothing, I just realized that we're almost the same height," She frowns, "It's a pity. I won't be able to see your hair anymore."

Linh scoffs, "You'll see my face. Isn't that better?"

"Yeah," She looks her in the eyes, smiling slightly, "It kind of is."

That didn't seem like the response she'd been expecting, and Linh turns a light shade of pink and looks away. "Anyway... uh, your mom let me in and said there were cookies in the oven, want to go grab them?"

At the mention of her mom, her smile dims slightly. She walks past Linh and grabs her hand, dragging her down to the kitchen.

The cookies are not in the oven, in fact. They are sitting unbaked upon the kitchen counter.

Linh frowns, "Oh well, we can put them inside, and come back later?"

At that, Marella giggles. "I know it's really easy to forgot, but I'm a pyrokinetic, darling. I'm like, a living, breathing, oven. Except I get things done a hundred times faster." She waves her hands around dramatically as if it emphasizes the point.

"Oops," Linh laughs, "Sorry?"

Marella watches her hand, willing the smallest spark to answer her call. A tiny flame begins to lick her hand, swelling and waving as it hits the air. She puts the cookie tray on top of her hand and watches as the cookies slowly turn harder and form a clear shape.

"Damn." She hears Linh mutter.

"What?" Had she done something wrong?

"I don't think I could ever get used to you doing that."

Unease curls in the bottom of her stomach, fear pulsating and whispering in her head. She hates you. She hates your fire. You're an idiot. Fuck, you're such an idiot.

Linh's eyes widen, "Shoot, that came out wrong. I mean, like, it's really beautiful. The flames, and the way you control them. It's- it's really cool."

Marella stands there a while, partially in shock and partially basking in the warmth of her friend's words.

"Marella?"

"Marella?? You alright?"

She blinks, then sees Linh point at her hand. The cookies, now a harsh charcoal black, lay in ashes upon the slightly-bent tray. Flames dance upon the edges, high enough to reach her face.

"Sorry," She mumbles, "Sorry. Somehow my fire ends up messing everything up."

"I don't blame you," the older girl shrugs, and after a moment, adds: "Or your fire."

She wills out a large droplet of water and plops! it on top of the still-burning cookie tray. She looks up and grins, "There you go! Problem solved."

"Thanks," Marella laughs lightly, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Linh nods, "I take my job of being the only one that can put you out very seriously."

"You mean, put my fire out." Marella snorts.

"No, I mean you. You and your fire aren't different people. It's your ability, and a part of who you are." Linh looks at her curiously, "Why do you always act like it's on its own?"

It's not accusatory, but it causes the blond to look away. "Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," She steps closer to Marella, "Are you alright?"

The truth spills out of her before she can remember to keep her mouth shut. "My mom does it, a lot."

"Does what?"

"She's a flasher. Whenever you ask her to use her ability or just... do something, she'll always just frown and say her light 'doesn't want too'. It's... I think I know why she does it, honestly. It's so much easier to pretend that it's not my fault that my ability did something wrong. Especially when everyone's so goddamn set on calling me the villain because I'm not Talentless, but somehow, I'm ten fucking times worse!" She yells, not sure what the hell she's doing anymore. But she's started, and she's definitely not done.

"And my mom... they say she's getting better. They say she's learning and she's going to be okay but I know her, and I know she's not. And it sucks, because I love her, and I need her, but maybe I'm wrong and I don't know who she even is anymore. I'm constantly walking on broken glass around her now. It's like- it's like, before we would be able to do things together and now... now it's like we have nothing in common at all."

Linh interrupts, looking at Marella with an expression she can't quite pinpoint, "You have her freckles."

"Sorry?"

"You have your mom's freckles. They aren't super noticeable but they're still there. One right next to your nose and the others on your cheek. Your mom has them in the same places. Not that it matters or anything, but uh, you know, just an observation." She mumbles, turning away.

"Oh." Marella blinks, willing her blush to go away. "You've got a good eye for details."

She shrugs, "Not really? It's just, easy, when it comes to you, I guess?"

"How come?"

"They're like stars," She leans on the countertop and looks up at Marella, "Like the really small ones you can only see during the dead of night. The ones that have always been there, but you just don't notice 'cause you haven't been looking close enough."

Marella opens her mouth to speak, but closes it when she realizes Linh isn't done.

"They're like stars in the midnight sky. But you're not midnight, you're the freaking sun. Stars in the morning sky? What's the opposite of midnight?" She frowns and scrunches her eyebrows (it's not cute, Marella thinks).

"...Noon?" She supplies.

Linh snorts, "Sure, noon. Stars in the noon sky."

"My freckles... are the stars in the noon sky." She blinks again, because she doesn't really know how to reply like that.

"Yep!" She laughs.

The silence that follows isn't awkward, but it's not quite comfortable either. Marella grasps for something to say, and eventually speaks.

"Hey, Linh?"

"Yeah?"

"You're a really awesome friend."

She beams, "Thank you!"

"Want to go grab mallowmelt?"

Linh's smile never disappears, "How could I ever say no to that?"

#marelinh #FireHydrant #marellinh #linhella #marella redek #kotlc #kotlc fic #keeper of the lost cities #fanfiction #queer #sfw #lesbian #they are in love #but they don't know it #</3 #kotlc fandom #linh song #kotlc marella #kotlc linh #fire hydrant #lgbtq+ #wlw fanfiction #i hate editing sorry #caprise #fluff #please please please give me feedback !! #i have no written in three years and i am super rusty #this took me a solid three hours #if i messed up tense please lmk i hate doing that

[everydayyoulovemeless]

I am in dire need of a lone wanderer & companions reaction to the dunwich building and the krivbeknih.

Fo3 Companions Reactions to the Dunwich Building and the Krivbeknih

➼ Word Count » 0.9k ➼ Warnings » None ➼ Genre » Platonic/Romantic

Charon doesn’t have any real opinion on the book itself other than it makes him feel incredibly uneasy. If it were up to him, he’d have it destroyed. There’s nothing good that could come out of an occult item such as this, and selling it for a profit just doesn’t sit right with him. The Dunwich Building doesn’t make him feel any greater, he’s just happy to be able to drop the book off and leave. Although, when you do place it on the altar, he gets burnt along with the rest of the ghouls in the building. It's not as bad, just a few scorch marks, but it still stings him.

The entire idea of the book being able to control people makes Clover uncomfortable, but as long as it's in your hands, she won't voice her opinions. Surely you know what you're doing, and she puts her full trust in you. If you mention anything about selling it to Obidiah, though, she'll panic a bit and beg you not to. How can you be so sure about this? Maybe you should think it over? On the flip side, however, she doesn't want you to take it to the altar either. I mean, why not just keep it for yourself? Control the swamp folk however you see fit? She would much rather it be in your hands than some old man anyway, and you're not so bad of an owner to her. So why not?

Star Paladin Cross thinks it's an abomination that should be terminated immediately. What kind of person would need something like this anyway? It's despicable, and she expects you to take it to the Dunwich building to have it destroyed instantly. In fact, she feels so strongly about it that if you were to sell it to Obidiah, she'd pull her sledgehammer out and ask you to reconsider. When the two of you finally find time to go down to the altar, she'll feel incredibly relieved. She finds the building itself to be odd, but at the end of the day, she's a realist who tries to explain all the paranormal instances with logical conclusions.

Jericho hated going down into the swamp folks' ritual site just to grab some book and would snatch it out of your hands to go sell it off so that the two of you could make some money out of your troubles. I mean, seriously, why go all the way down in some lousy cave for something you just plan on destroying? No, thank you. He's selling it. He also refuses to go anywhere near the Dunwich building. There have been a lot of stories he's heard from other raiders over the years, but none have ever been as chilling as the ones surrounding that place. He just wants to snag some caps out of it and leave.

Butch will act all jittery the entire time you spend around the Krivbeknih. It's unnatural, and he thinks that the two of you should put it back instead of carrying it around. What if it makes you both a target? Who else wants this book? He doesn't want any kind of threat following you guys around and would beg to just get rid of it. He genuinely couldn't care less about what you do with it as long as you discard it somehow. However, taking him to the Dunwich building to have the book burnt doesn't make him feel much better. He'll have his gun unholstered the entire time and will aim it at anything that moves, even his own shadow. He never wants to look back on this experience and doesn't want to involve himself with any cults for a long time to come.

Fawkes finds the book and religious aspects intriguing and might ask to study them a bit further before either of you do anything. Things like these don't ever lead to anything good, he's aware, but he also finds knowledge to be important when making decisions on such a broad scale. Who knows, maybe what he learns while looking into the book might help the two of you out later on down the line. Of course, at the end of the day, he thinks it's better to destroy it than to sell it off. The idea that someone could have complete control over an entire race of people is sickening to him, and he'd hate for anyone to feel any kind of entrapment. Fawkes isn't afraid of the paranormal, in fact, he finds it dreadfully interesting, and would probably spend way more time than necessary in the Dunwich building.

RL-3 thinks the swamp folk are disgraces to America, and would try to burn the Krivbeknih himself once you both obtain it. Honestly, it's embarrassing to know that such scoundrels are living in the States as we speak. That being said, he would scold you if you went and sold it to Obidiah. Have you not learned anything in your training? These kinds of behaviors are not to be tolerated. Besides, the wasteland could use a little community service, and the Dunwich building needs to be cleared.

Dogmeat's fur stands on end whenever you take it out of your bag. There's a certain aura around it that he can sense and it makes him anxious. He'll growl and bark until you finally put it back into your inventory. The Dunwich building isn't much better. He's much less on edge, but there'll be moments when he seemingly stares at nothing and barks uncontrollably. It's unsettling, to say the least.

#fallout #fallout 3 #fo3 #charon fo3 #charon #clover fo3 #fo3 companions #fo3 companions reactions #fo3 reactions #star paladin cross #star paladin cross fo3 #jericho fo3 #fawkes fo3 #rl 3 fo3 #dogmeat fo3 #butch fo3 #butch deloria #point lookout dlc #point lookout

[anabdaniels]

It's not too late for a goodnight kiss

Agent Whiskey comes home late just to find his wife and daughter missing him.

Paring: Agent Whiskey x Female Reader

Word counting: 920

Rating: General audiences

Masterlist

Warning: Brief alcohol consumption, GirlDad!Jack (needs its warning).

“Katherine, go wash your hands for dinner, baby.” A few moments later, your daughter showed up at the kitchen door.

“Daddy not coming?” The little girl asked, holding her teddy bear.

“He called and said he doesn't know what time he'll be back. I'm sorry, darling.” You were ready for her to cry but she seemed to handle it not as bad as you expected.

After dinner, Katherine asked to stay awake a little bit longer, hoping she'd see her father. You agreed, after all, she was only a three-year-old wanting her dad. When she was finally defeated by the sleep, you took her to bed. You checked the clock, it was 10 p.m. Knowing that you wouldn’t sleep so soon, you went to the kitchen and got a bottle of wine and a glass, hoping it would help time run faster.

-----------

At that point with an empty bottle, you started considering going to bed too. When, finally, you heard the front door be opened. You stood considerably quick and didn’t hesitate to move to the living room, involuntarily smiling when you saw your man standing there, taking off his jacket and his hat.

“Honeybee, I wasn’t expecting you were still awake.” Jack said with a soft tone and a warm smile, approaching you and holding you close.

“I wasn’t feeling sleepy, so decided to wait and hope I had the luck to see you coming home.” You answered before burying your face in his neck.

“Seems that you’re on a lucky day.” He chuckled and kissed the top of your head.

“Since I’ve managed the feat of turning you into a family man, I think I can accept that my luck isn’t the worst.” You tried to sound serious, but you failed, especially after seeing the expression on Jack’s face.

“The way you talk makes me deeply question my whole life.” He had an eyebrow raised while trying to not smile.

“I’ll take this as a compliment.” You answered with a proud smile. At this moment you stopped to pay more attention to his face and you didn’t need to look much to know that his day had been hard. Even with a sincere smile, Jack looked exhausted.

Before you could ponder anything else, you heard a sound coming from the stairs, you and Jack looked in the direction of the noise and just a few seconds later your sleepy daughter appeared wrapped in her blanket. She blinked two or three times to be sure that she was not wrong and when she was certain that her father was home, Katherine walked the faster she could towards him. Jack stooped with open arms, smiling more when the little girl crossed her arms around his neck.

“What you’re doing awake at these hours, baby?” He asked after hugging her tight and holding her in his arms

“Me want to see daddy.” She said with her speech slurred by both age and sleep. You were sure that Jack was about to melt looking at the little girl nestled in his arms.

“Then I think you’d like it if I put you back in bed and stay in your room till you fall asleep again.” Katherine shook her head, trying to keep her eyes open.

Calmly, Jack walked up the stairs with his daughter in his arms, nestling her gently. You watched the scene until you lost sight of them, then returned to the kitchen only to clean up your little mess and then headed upstairs. You stood silently in the doorway of Katherine's room and watched as she and Jack talked.

“Dad will come dinner tomorrow?” The little girl asked holding one of Jack’s hands. Even in the dim light, you could see Jack smile with a dose of guilt.

“I can’t promise anything, my love. Dad’s work has very variable schedules.” He answered in the gentlest way it was possible “But look, at the weekend I promise I’ll spend all my time with you and momma. What do you think, baby?” Judging by the way he spoke you were sure he knew you were there.

“Baby like this.” Katherine sounded excited even if she was already almost asleep.

“Good. Now go back to sleep, Kathy.” Jack carefully pulled the blanket while he spoke, your daughter settled better on the bed.

“Night, daddy.” Her voice came out more like a whisper and her eyes were already closed.

“Good night, my love.” Jack answered in the same tone as her and gently kissed her forehead. After being sure Katherine was fully asleep, he stood and turned to the door, smiling while walking towards you.

“So, the most handsome agent of Statesman will be free this weekend?” You questioned with a smirk.

“Be free ain’t the most accurate description. It’s more like I’ve made a little scene to Champ saying that if he didn’t give me a free weekend, I would resign.” Jack shrugged before closing the bedroom door and passed an arm around your waist.

“That’s my cowboy. Causing trouble every chance he gets.” You laughed while you two walked to your bedroom.

“A man has to do what a man needs to do.” He said in a playful tone, holding you from behind and kissing the curve of your neck.

“I hope you know that this man will be doing a lot of house chores this weekend.” You mentioned after closing your eyes to appreciate the sensation of his breath and mustache against your neck.

“Anything you want, sugar. I’ll not complain.”  

#agent whiskey #agent whiskey fic #agent whiskey x reader #agent whiskey x you #jack daniels #jack whiskey daniels #Kingsman: the golden circle #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedrostories

[theresawritesstuff]

Prompt - Midge finds out she's pregnant after her night with Lenny in the blue room.

She'd had this feeling she couldn't shake for the better part of a week. Nothing monumental or show stopping or obvious, just…Something. An intuition. 

One she hadn't been truly sure of until the moment she saw him standing in that empty hallway. Bound for California…

Still, they made small talk. She held her tongue. 

They were already leaving things unsaid that were much more certain than this. He had enough on his plate…

"Okay…You take care."

He turned to go, bag in hand. Off to make a life for himself on the west coast for who knows how long. Maybe forever.

She should let him go. She should…

"I think I'm pregnant," she heard herself say.

He turned back, not sure he heard her right. "What?"

"It's early," she told him quickly, the words tumbling from her mouth or their own free will. "I-I haven't even been to the doctor yet to confirm anything but I just…" She let out a shaky breath. "Christ. And now you've got a plane to catch and a lease and–" 

"Wait…" He strode back to meet her at her side, processing. "You're saying it's…"

"Yours," she confirmed. "Yeah…"

He nodded, looking a little pale as he covered his lip with his finger. "You're sure? That I'm…"

"There hasn't been anyone else in a long time so…"

"Wow…" He puffed out a breath, glancing at the terminal anxiously. "Um–"

"I'm sorry. I know it's terrible timing. I shouldn't have said anything but–"

"But we don't call?" he offered a little sadly, turning her own words back on her.

She deserved that. 

She hadn't been expecting a call from him after the way things ended at Carnegie, after she'd screwed up so astronomically. 

Doesn't mean she hadn't wanted him to…

"We probably could have made an exception," she replied, attempting for light-hearted and not quite succeeding.

Lenny nodded. "Probably. Still, a guy likes to hear this sort of news in person when he can."

A tinny voice announcing the start of boarding for his flight to Los Angeles echoed off the walls around them, intermingling with the quiet strains of their song on the radio…

Lenny exhaled a sigh. "Look just…wait here. Okay?" 

"Lenny." She knew she couldn't ask him to stay. That it wasn't fair to spring this on him like this. It wasn't fair to either of them.

"Just…wait. Please," he begged.

She nodded quietly. "Okay."

She'd always had a hard time saying no to him when he said please.

He got a flight attendant to help him retrieve his checked suitcase from the luggage, a pink baggage tag hanging brightly against the handle.

"You didn't have to do that," she told him when he returned, even if she was grateful he had.

"I'll catch the next one," he replied.

"Is there anyone you need to call? Let them know you'll be late?" she wondered.

"I'll call my mother later," he promised. "But we should talk first."

"I suppose we should," she admitted.

"Bar? Not for you but–"

She held up a hand mercifully. "I get it. Bar is fine."

They made their way to a quiet corner of the airport lounge in hesitant silence.

He pulled out her barstool for her, treating her with kid gloves.

"Thanks," she gave him a smile, hoping to hide her nerves.

God this sort of thing had been so much easier to talk about when she had a ring on her finger and a ten year plan carefully laid out.

He took the barstool next to her, ordering a whiskey for himself and a club soda for her, tapping the bar nervously as they waited.

"So," he ventured. "Pregnant?"

"'fraid so," she murmured.

He took a moment, letting them both come to terms with it.

"Haven't you got a rocky history with that word on stage?" he teased finally.

She laughed despite everything. "Maybe they'll give me a few extra seconds if it's my own condition I'm talking about."

"Maybe," he conceded, downing a bit of his drink. "How are you feeling?"

"Good. Fine. Really good actually. No nausea or anything like that yet."

He nodded quietly. "Okay. Well that's something. Otherwise I'd feel like a real schmuck."

"I'm sorry for dropping this on you," she told him genuinely.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "Pretty sure I'm the one who asked to see your corset that night. We both had a hand in…well, you know."

"I do," she replied, smiling softly as she stirred her straw idly around her glass. "At least it was a memorable night."

"I aim to please."

He looked down at the bar.

"How um…how far along would you guess you are?"

"Not very. They actually start tracking from when your last cycle was instead of from the actual doing of the deed, so…about a month?" she guessed, belatedly realizing what she was admitting to. "Too much information?"

Lenny chuckled. "I think we're passed that point, Midge."

She shrugged. "Just wasn't sure how squeamish you were."

"I'm not," he assured her.

He took another fortifying swig from his glass.

"So…what do you want to do?" he wondered hesitantly.

Midge blew out a breath, giving it some thought. "We could try calling?  I've heard a few positive remarks on the concept. And you could visit if you want or I could come out to California, at least while it's still okay to fly." She fiddled with the edge of her sleeve as she second guessed herself. "Or I could send pictures if you'd rather we just…"

She trailed off, noting the tender, bewildered look in his eyes.

"What?" 

"Nothing," he shook his head. "I just assumed you wouldn't…You want to have this baby? My child? Our…"

He swallowed, struggling to find the words. "That's something you want?"

"Well the timing isn't ideal but…yes," she admitted.

"You're sure."

"Yes," she replied.

"There might be a little Lenny Jr running around making your apartment a mess, ruining your wallpaper in the not exactly distant future, and you're on board with that?" he asked again, a fond sort of smile creeping into his expression.

She shrugged. "There are worse things."

Lenny smiled, sipping his drink slowly. "Yeah I suppose there are. Timing isn't exactly ideal but…"

"But…" Midge agreed.

He turned towards her cautiously, considering his words carefully. "I don't mean to sound indelicate, but what about your career?"

"I've got two other kids at home, what's one more?" she quipped dismissively.

He gave her a look. "Midge."

"It's fine, Lenny. I'm not exactly new to juggling motherhood with stand up. I'll figure something out," she assured him. "I'm not gonna blow it. I promise."

He reached over, putting a hand over hers atop the bar. 

"We'll figure something out," he corrected. "And I'm going to hold you to that promise."

She squeezed his hand gently. "I appreciate that, really. But I'm not trying to make you feel like your on the hook or that you're obligated to–"

"Miriam," he said, looking at her fully. "As the mother of my future child, please give me a little bit more credit."

She felt a flush creep across her skin at the sound of her full name on his lips. 

"Okay," she agreed quietly.

He nodded, removing his hand from hers. "Good."

She sipped her drink, averting her eyes towards the bar. 

"I don't think you've ever called me Miriam before," she informed him.

"No?" he asked curiously.

"No." She shook her head, glancing up at him. "...It was kind of hot."

He put a hand over his mouth to hide a very bad smile. 

"Something to keep that in mind for next time, I suppose," he replied.

She arched a questioning brow at his confidence in a next time, laughing to herself.

"What?" he chuckled. "I can't exactly knock you up any more than I already have now, can I? Wouldn't hurt to make the best of it."

Midge smirked, stirring the ice in her drink. 

"That depends. Do twins run in your family?"

"Not that I'm aware of," he replied. "You?"

"No." She smiled, feeling more at ease with their old patter back.

After a moment she admitted, "You know. If this sort of thing had to happen, I'm glad it was with you."

"Yeah? Why's that?" he wondered.

She swallowed, wetting her lips.

"Because no one else has ever made me feel like you did that night. Made me feel cared for in that way."

"You mean when I hooked your leg over my–"

"Not that." She swatted at his shoulder lightly as they received a sidelong glance from the bartender.

Lenny smirked, looking rather pleased with himself as he arched a contradictory brow in her direction.

"Okay yes, also that," she conceded, keeping her voice hushed. "But I meant after. When you held me just to hold me. It was…it was really nice."

"I concur," he murmured. "At least until the slow runners called."

"And I found that bag in your bathroom."

He nodded, growing somber.

"Right. That."

"Is all really well?" she asked gently. "I know I didn't handle bringing it up well last time but I need to know, given that you knocked me up and all…Are you okay?"

She reached out to retake his hand in hers.

He turned his palm over, lacing their fingers.

"I'm working on it," he replied eventually. 

"Well if there's anything I can do to–"

"There isn't really," he informed her softly. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

She nodded quietly. "We can talk about it another time. Now what about that pack of lawyers of yours? What are we dealing with there?"

"Midge, this wasn't supposed to be a talk about my problems," he reminded her.

"Too bad," she replied, hopping off the barstool to dig one of his files out of the bag at her feet. 

"Miriam," he admonished, lowering the timber of his voice as he slid around her to get the file.

"Nice try," she smirked, flipping it open on the bar, glancing over what appeared to be a billing statement of some sort.

"Jesus Christ Lenny, are you really paying these guys that much?"

He shrugged, slumping back into his bar stool in defeat. "It's either that or face some options I'd care for even less."

Midge shook her head. "You're getting ripped off."

"You know your way around a courtroom better than I do?" he wondered incredulously.

"I know a guy. Mike Kessler. He'll charge you way less than these vultures and he's good. Better than good. You should call him. I might have his number in my purse actually."

"Midge, I've got a lot more charges against me than just saying a few naughty things to a crowd in the Village," he reminded her.

"And flashing my tits. Allegedly," she corrected with a smirk.

He blinked at the image. "I think I missed that."

"You were waiting for me out front. We just didn't know it yet," she replied, pulling the card in question from her purse.

She placed it against his chest, holding her hand over his heart. "Call him. I'll put in a good word," she insisted.

He shook his head, lifting her chin with the crook of his index finger to kiss her.

She was more than happy to oblige, letting herself get pulled in by his embrace, her eyes drifting shut.

"Thank you," he replied when their lips parted, holding the business card between his fingers, pocketing it pointedly. "Now back to why we're really here."

"You've still got the lease and the daughter out in California," she reminded him.

"Kitty," he informed her.

She smiled. "Kitty. That's a sweet name."

"Thanks. She's a sweet kid. Yours are…"

"Ethan and Esther," she answered.

"Right," Lenny nodded. "Are they in school?"

"Ethan just started kindergarten this year." 

"So did Kitty."

Midge couldn't help but notice the proud little spark in his eyes at that.

"How long's the lease?" she wondered.

"Six months. At least to start had been the plan."

She nodded to herself. "We can work with that."

"Maybe Kitty and I could come visit over Hanukkah," he ventured.

"I'd like that," Midge beamed.

"Me too."

Lenny smirked to himself, finishing the last of his drink, setting it aside.

"God, I feel like I should be offering to buy you a ring. Getting down on one knee to make an honest woman of you or some shit," he admitted, pulling some money for their drinks from his wallet.

Midge let out a laugh. "Well how could a girl say no when you put it like that?"

His eyes searched hers, looking for an answer to the question he hadn't quite asked.

"I don't need you to propose, Lenny," she replied gently. "Not right now. I…"

She let out a breath. "I don't want you to marry me just because you think it's the right thing to do."

"I can think of a few other reasons," he drawled, placing the money on the bar.

She shook her head. "I need to know that if you propose it's because you love me. First and foremost."

He nodded, getting to his feet slowly.

His hand came to cradle her cheek as he looked into her eyes, taking her hand in his other and bringing it to his lips tenderly.

"First and foremost," he promised.

He exhaled a sigh as the clock on the wall caught his eye.

"You need to go," she guessed.

He nodded, his thumb tracing circles across her hand, reluctant to let go.

"Promised Kitty I'd be home for her birthday. Should probably try to make good on that."

"Lucky girl."

He smiled softly, gathering his things.

"I'll call you when I get settled. Promise."

"Okay," she agreed, getting to her feet. "I guess I'll keep you posted on what my OB has to say."

"Please do."

"Not exactly how you expected your afternoon to go, hm?" she teased.

"One could say that."

She took him in in that moment, memorizing the lines in his face, the light in his eyes. 

She'd never expected Lenny. Her whole life she'd made careful plans for herself but she'd never once expected him. Never thought to imagine that someone like him would drop into her life, become one of her dearest friends and steadfast supporters. Never expected him to slowly steal her heart along the way.

Was it any wonder that an unexpected pregnancy after a night spent in his arms felt strangely right, even now with the cards stacked against them?

"We'll figure it out," she promised. 

He nodded, gathering his things in hand, a little bit of hope in his eyes that hadn't been there at the start of this.

"See you at Hanukkah?" 

"Can't wait."

She watched him walk away, still bound for the west coast. But this time it wasn't a goodbye.

It was the start of something much better.

#Midgelenny #midge x lenny #Tmmm ficlet #Prompt fill #tw pregnancy #cw pregnancy #unplanned pregnancy #canon divergence #A bit of a stretch of the original prompt. Hope that's okay #Rewriting the airport scene felt like the way to go

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

Castaway AU Post Rain Scene

Kara returns to National City. She needs distance from Lena, and proximity to Alex, as she struggles to feel... anything. The bone deep ache she feels could be the loss of Lena and whatever future they might have had, but is identical to the chill of the phantom zone.

Part of her expects--hopes-- that Lena will come after her, and reinsert herself in Kara's orbit. Instead, she finds someone else standing in her parking lot one night a few weeks later.

"James," she greets quietly.

She doesn't know how to react to this man, this father and husband who seems far wiser than she last saw him.

James offers a thin smile. "Kara." Then his eyes crinkle warmly. "I'm glad you're okay."

Okay is relative, but Kara understand his meaning, and gives a close-lipped smile in return. "Thanks."

They both fall quiet, the unspoken conflict between them weighing heavily in the air. Kara knows what she should say: she'll stay away, she'll leave them be. She knows what James wants to say: to leave them alone, stay away--

"Be careful with her," James says.

Kara looks at him, searching for warning. All she finds is concern.

"I don't know what you mean--"

"Yes, you do," James asserts.

Kara's mouth opens robotically. "I'll stay away--"

"Stay away? I don't want you to stay away, Kara."

"You-- you don't?"

"No!" James exclaims. "I want you to come over for Christmas dinner. I want you to visit just because. I want you to meet our kids! Do you know how excited they are to finally see their Aunt Kara?"

Kara blinks. "You told them about me?"

"You've always been a part of our family, even when you were gone."

Confusion pulls at Kara. "Then what do you mean...?"

James sighs quietly. "Lena almost killed herself trying to bring you back. When she couldn't... it tore her apart. She wasn't-- she wasn't living anymore."

Guilt twists in Kara's belly, dark and acrid. She never wanted that for Lena. She'd hoped for-- dreamed of-- rescue, of course she did, but not at the expense of anyone's wellbeing.

"For years, it was all she did, even after the rest of us gave up hope. And we couldn't bear to stop her, until..."

James never gives voice to the tipping point. But Kara can see in his eyes that whatever it was, it had taken a long time to work their way clear of the destruction.

"She finally found her way back to happiness. It's never been perfect without you, but she found a way to exist in her own way." James gazes at her with regret and compassion both. "And now that you're back..."

He's afraid she'll upset the balance, Kara realizes. Perhaps she already has.

"If you're going to be back, I need you to be back for good," James continues. "I need you to not run away. I need you to love Lena as much as you always have, and as much as she loves you. If you don't..."

Kara waits, and James can only sigh.

"I don't know if she'll be able to come back this time."

Tears burn at Kara's eyes. This time, there is no rain to hide them as she blinks them away, only to fail as they roll down her cheeks. For so long she's been alone, and cold. After learning the new world she's come back to, she expected to stay that way forever. Yet here James is, inviting her into the warmth of his family.

Lena's family.

She nods, swallowing to clear her throat.

"I promise."

#supercorp #castaway au #guardiancorp #angst #post rain scene

[buckybarnesss]

Oh hey, it's me again. While I was up half the night, I thought of something I wanted to ask you because it's been kicking around my head for a while.

Back before the reveal that Derek is a True Alpha, a lot of my fellow Derek stans were irritated by the True Alpha thing because the implication we all got from the show was that Talia died and and then Laura inherited her Alpha powers. So, wouldn't that make her a True Alpha, or did that mean that she mercy-killed her mother to become an Alpha? We didn't know but we were salty.

So, what is your headcanon? Do you think Laura killed her mom, a random Alpha, or did the Alpha spark just go from mother to daughter?

The more I think about it, the more unsure I am - as far as I remember, there is nothing in the show that explicitly says that Laura was MEANT to become an Alpha. It's implied for sure (although I maintain that if Derek had more time then he would have done better) but really, we're all staring at shadows.

@dear-massacre getting me long winded about teen wolf's concept of power transfer.

a lot of the confusion the whole true alpha concept caused amongst fandom is because power transfer in teen wolf isn't understood very well by fandom. not entirely our fault either as the information is scattered throughout the show.

there are three ways to become an alpha: inheritance (laura), kill for it (peter) or create it (scott).

so first let me explain true alphas. a true alpha is so rare because the only way to become one is to transform your own spark through sheer force of willpower.

this is what scott does.

scott's special circumstances are more so his own lived in experiences and traumas than anything else. he may have also drawn upon the telluric energy that flows through beacon hills but that's less important to the concept.

look at what deaton says in currents:

"it's rare. it's something that doesn't happen within 100 years,  but every once in a while, a beta can become an alpha without having to steal or take that power. they call it a true alpha. it's one who rises purely on the strength of character, by virtue, by sheer force of will."

to me, the idea that one cannot have killed or cannot kill at all, or that there's some conditional to it other than one's own willpower is the mythos surrounding true alphas.

just like with eye color changes morality has nothing to do with it therefore this doesn't exclude derek from becoming a true alpha later.

this is what i believe caused the most ranker amongst fandom because it drove the division between scott and derek further framing scott as more pure or whatever when it simply isn't the case.

just because a character says it doesn't make it true. peter and morrell have their own reasons and motivations for saying such things.

derek witnessed scott become an alpha under his own willpower. therefore derek knows it can be done and understands it as a possibility.

take that with the idea that a lot of teen wolf's supernatural rules run on the concept of belief.

if you believe therefore it is.

than it's entirely within the realm of possibly that derek could become a true alpha.

derek may not have done it on purpose but because of his own knowledge and belief it can be done his spark recharged itself by drawing on his own willpower and may have even been enhanced by the telluric energy from the nemeton itself.

but i also don't believe derek is dead and instead captured by the nogitsune as a lure for stiles but you know whatever.

now what does any of this have to do with laura?

laura was meant to become talia's successor. her sole appearance in visionary confirms this for me. she was the one who went to the werewolf summit with talia and she was the one who told derek that the other packs were in town. laura was the one cora was clearly expecting to be the hale alpha she'd heard about and not derek. peter also knew it was laura that had to lure to beacon hills despite being in a coma for six years.

going off how i understand how power works within the universe laura inherited the talia's alpha spark when talia died because it works the same way as liam or hayden inheriting scott's alpha spark or malia taking part of corinne's power when she was born.

see, peter could never steal scott's alpha spark because scott created it. it's unique and incompatible with anyone who isn't scott or who wasn't created with that spark.

the only people in canon who can inherit scott's alpha spark are liam and hayden. they could then be killed for it however.

to add another example into the mix here, malia was born with a piece of corinne's spark which made her a werecoyote.

laura was born with a piece of talia's spark which made her a werewolf and not just human.

being first born may just have put her first in line when talia died which is why she was the one trained by talia to take over.

this is how i believe supernatural creatures continue to propagate by birth and not just by transmission. our sample size is small though so it's hard to say for absolute certain.

we just don't know conclusively the effect the father has on if a child is born supernatural as we don't know anything about derek, cora and laura's father and both malia's parents are supernatural with her mother's species winning out.

so standing hypothesis is that it may be something that can only be inherited from the mother. this idea would add another contrast to the argents and hales. the argents giving lip service to being matriarchal while the hales were truly matriarchal in that their power comes from their mothers.

it could also be why peter was so resentful of talia (and to some extent laura). he wouldn't inherit the alpha spark when their alpha parent died as he was the younger sibling and once she had children it wouldn't go to him either because they carried part of her spark.

in conclusion:

#my blog #thoughts on teen wolf #teen wolf #laura hale #derek hale

[diamanties]

you drew stars around my scars, but now i’m bleeding

SUMMARY - your relationship with natasha had been perfect from the start. she had been distant lately, but you knew she’d never cheat on you, right?

WARNINGS - dark!natasha, cheating, abuse, slapping

AUTHORS NOTE- reposting this one on this blog as its probably my fave fic i’ve wrote idk

Natasha had been more distant than usual lately, and she always somehow had a different excuse for her absence. They were believable enough for you, her poor wife, to fall for them and so Natasha could get away with her lies. Again. She knew living two lives wasn't ideal, one with you and your two shared kids in your shared family home, the home she would come home to every single nigh for dinner and affection, and the lie she lived whenever she supposedly left for work. You knew that when you accepted her proposal, most of her time would be spent at her company, and you were okay with that, as you were promised her love at the end of the day.

Everything was just perfect only a few weeks ago, but recently, everything had got too much for Natasha. But she loved you, and that was all that mattered, right? You had a simple schedule. Natasha would leave for work and bark orders at you like you were just a house maid, and with your mind fogged up by your love for her, you would comply everytime. The orders were mostly easy. Make dinner, wash the clothes, clean the dishes, raise the kids. That was the one that really got to you.Your kids looked up to Natasha as if she was a god. They loved her to pieces, so they took it very hard when you had to sweetly explain to your two young kids who didn't know any better about how their mama wouldn't be around as much, and comforting them through their soft cries for their mother. That was the worst part. They thought she was an angel that fell from heaven, and it took a heavy toll on you when you realised they blamed everything on you.

Some nights Natasha didn't even come home, and couldn't be bothered to tell you until the morning and leave you on edge and restless all night. And the nights she did, weren't any better. She would join you for dinner with the kids, and entertain them with a softness no one else ever saw. A softness she used to use with you. When she would decide she had enough of her dinner, she'd take the kids to their bedroom and tuck them in. After she'd come and join in once you had washed the dishes, and act like everything was how it was before.

The spark wasn't completely gone, and she took advantage of that. She took advantage of the hold she had over you, and wrapped you around her finger. That was how it always went. Natasha's absence turned you into a new person. Sure, you were still the same person, but were you really? Her harshness changed your appearance over the years, and soon you become unrecognisable. All your friends warned you about Natasha and you ignored them, but now all you wished for was to go back and listen. It isn't like Natasha doesn't love you, she just doesn't how the best ways of showing it, that's all.

So When Natasha started to come home later than usual, your suspicions grew, but you know she loves you, and that's all that matters."I'm gonna be home late again, baby." Natasha confessed one night when you were finishing your dinner after the kids went up. Natasha didn't know how to put it, so she was just straight up. She knew her words would affect you for the worse whichever way she put it, so she didn't stall any longer.

"What? Why?" You knew to expect this. All you wanted to know was why. Surely work couldn't be so important that she had to say overtime almost every single day? But even if something was different, you'd never be able to tell through Natasha's poker face. You were sure Natasha could lie with anything and get away with it. In fact, most of what she'd promised you were probably all lies, but you'd never be able to tell with her. "Carols asked me to stay late again.. something about unfinished paperwork. You know how busy the company gets sometimes. I'm sorry, baby."

You nodded. Her excuses were always something you couldn't say no to, but they were always painfully obvious that it wasn't the full truth: but even if you questioned her on it, she would become fully defensive and shut you out, accuse you of not believing her. "You don't believe your own wife?" She always had a way of making you feel guilty, it was almost like she was made to manipulate you. Maybe she was. Maybe she enjoyed the way you cried yourself to sleep over her, or how your revelled in the pain her harsh words gave you. Maybe it made her feel powerful. Even though Natasha had a way with her words, she would never lay a hand on you. She promised to the grave.

"Oh. Okay." You continued to poke at your food, and Natasha noticed your discomfort. "I'm sorry, babygirl. I know you hate when i have to work late. But you need to understand, without this i wouldn't be able to buy you all the luxuries i know you love." This was what Natasha always did. Guilt-trip you into believing her and bathing in the comfort she gave you. After that night, you knew Natasha was lying about her work. It was painfully obvious, but it wasn't like you would ever act up on it.

The thought of upsetting Natasha was a hard one you hated to think about, for two reasons: firstly, what Natasha would do. The woman didn't take accusations about her lightly, and would do anything and everything to clear her name. And by anything, literally everything. Secondly, you could never dream of leaving Natasha. She provided you with everything a girl could ever need: a lovely home, children, money, all the luxuries and the world, love and comfort.

Natasha could be sweet when she wanted to be, but only to you and the kids. No-one would ever believe you if you told them about the complete different woman Natasha became with her children. They loved her to the moon and back, and more. And that was what hurt. She was their role model, because they only saw one side of her. The confident, strong loving mother, completely different to the one the rest of the world saw. Oh well. They would find out when they were old enough, if she was still even present then.

Again, another night came where you were alone with just the bottle of expensive champagne stored in the back of the cupboard, waiting for Natasha to return. But what you didn't know, was that this would possibly be the worst night of your life so far. But without Natasha by your side and your side only, you didn't know any better. She was the only comfort you had, and the only calloused hand you could hold onto. You had stayed up all night, the alcohol taking effect on you as you cried for your wife.

So when you finally heard her keys jingle in the door, you were happy. Happy that your wife could give you the comfort only she could. But when you heard giggles from a woman you had never met in person but who's voice you knew, you immediately froze. Natasha hushed the woman as she quietly closed the door behind them, and it wasn't long before the woman's hands were around Natasha's neck loosely, pulling her in for a seemingly passionate kiss, which meant absolutely nothing to the red-head. But would you know in your distressed state? Of course not. So there you stood, watching silently from further down the hallway with a straight face as Natasha slipped her tongue into the other woman's mouth.

The woman moaned loudly, and Natasha immediately cursed her out. The former spy followed her instincts and quickly eyed the hallway, freezing when her eyes met your own teary ones. "Baby.." Natasha turned to you, the other woman quickly reciprocating her actions. Natasha's first instinct was to kick the woman out, and that was what she did. With the woman gone, there was nothing else to say. Natasha ran over to you, cradling your small body in her muscular arms that could crush you without a second thought.

"Don't.. don't touch me." You managed to try and whisper out, and get yourself of her embrace. Luckily for you, her grip was surprising loose and it was easier then you expected. You weren't in a mood to fight with her today after what you'd just seen, but you knew you had to. Everything was clear to you now. It was so obvious before, how could you not see through Natasha's act.  Before, love clouded your senses for the woman, and now, it was all worse."I thought you loved me."

Natasha gave you a look that made you feel almost stupid and like a child, like it was the most obvious thing in the whole world. Natasha almost felt pity for you. After all these years of marriage, you never thought she could betray you like this. In reality, Natasha could not care less about this, you would always and forever be hers because she was in control. And she will destroy anything in her path for it to stay that way. It's almost funny, really. If anyone were to disrespect or upset you, Natasha would do anything to make the person who hurt you's life a living hell, literally. She could do to the end of the world to protect you, to keep you safe in her grasp.

Maybe that was the problem. Maybe she isn't as safe as you initially thought. Natasha's a hypocrite. All these promises to protect you, when she's the one causing you the most harm. If someone were to bring her up on this, they wouldn't live to see another day. You were Natasha's baby, and she would fight until the end to keep you as hers. To make sure you could never escape.

"Don't be stupid, of course i do, baby. She means absolutely nothing to me. You and i till' the end, doll." Natasha's statement angered you, the way she thought that would make every thing she's done to you better. Her tone of voice made you shiver, but the look ok her face of hoax comfort put you in distress.  You were to far gone to think anymore, and Natasha revelled in that.

This was her plan from the start. To pull you so far, just to grab you back so you were good for nothing but her and only her. So from all the pain you received, all you wanted was comfort, and you would welcome her back into your heart with open arms, and you would become one perfect family again. As Natasha had planned, all the distress she caused you out you in a bad mindset, but she never thought it would cause you to lash out. "You make me feel so fucking stupid! Like I'm actually crazy or something!" You ran your hands through your hair, panicking as your breathing rate on died and trashed. Loud sobs escaped your lips as you shook and cried further. Sure, you might've upset her with your words, but you didn't actually realise the extent. 

A loud crack invaded the quiet hall, and you didn't feel the harsh sting on your numb cheek until Natasha pulled back. She had slapped you. Hard. Your eyes caught sight of her bloody palms, and the dog in your brain cleared out like a pathway. The pain quickly became more evident as your cheek throbbed and you fell to your knees. Your sobs grew louder as you folded up on the floor, hiding your head between your legs, forgetting about the young children residing upstairs. Your body shook and your limbs ached, but you couldn't think  about that.

You couldn't think about anything except Natasha's calloused hands. Red with blood. Your blood. It took a moment to register in your brain Natasha's actions, and what she had promised not to do when your marriage was still pure. Natasha truly didn't mean for it to happen, the anger and rage she felt just got to her head and she couldn't control herself. She crouched down on the wooden floor to join you, gently moving your hands out of your face to stroke your cheek with her deadly ones. She smiled softly in faux concern which you believed in your state of mind. More tears escaped onto your mascara stained cheeks, and all the red-head could do was shush you to be quiet. It didn't work.

Natasha froze when she heard the thuds of small feet making their way down the stairs. She quickly rose to go check on her daughters, cursing you for being so loud. Natasha was already waiting at the bottom step when your youngest daughter appeared. She rubbed her eyes, smiling gleefully when she saw Natasha.

"Mama!" Natasha immediately picked the little girl up, placing a small kiss on her face as she giggled. She rocked the young girl in her arms, sighing as she heard you go completely silently, hugging her daughter closer. "I'm sorry, baby. Did we wake you?"

The little girl nodded, and Natasha frowned. This wasn't a part of her plan. She didn't know how your little family would recover from here, but she knew it would. Well, it was her choice, you had no say in it. Really, all she wanted was the best for your little girls, and she knew she was the only one who could give them that. The stress of being a single parent would be too much for you, and she would never dare to leave you. Everything would be perfect in her mind. She would have you safe, just how she wanted you.

"Is mommy okay?" The little girl babbled, and Natasha smiled. "Mommy will be okay, baby. She's just a little upset right now," she continued to rock the young girl in her arms, humming a familiar lullaby to her daughter which made her smile a toothy grin. "Right, it's time you get back to bed, isn't it little love? Want me to tuck you in?"  The girl babbled in Natasha's arms, and the former spy held her closer. "Good girl, Cmon let's get you back to bed."

Once Natasha had her daughter back in bed and safe, she could refocus her attention back on you. She quietly made her way back down the stairs, unsurprised to see you still in the exact same position from where she left you. She crouched back down, seeing the dried tear stains on your link cheeks nearly made her cold heart break. Natasha used little effort to pick you up and rest you in her arms bridal style, carrying you up to your shared bedroom. She closed the door gently behind you, letting go when she heard the soft click of the lock. She rested you on the bed and you complied, too far gone to fight back.

No words had been said since she took you up to bed, but she wasn't complaining. She didn't need any added stress. Natasha left you on the bed to go brush her teeth, and when she looked up in the mirror, a sadist grin was resting on her face. It wasn't that she was happy that she hurt you, it was just that she finally had you where she wanted you. And now she could give you what you wanted to her full potential, you just had to let her in.

#natasha romanoff smut #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #natasha marvel #dark!natasha x reader #dark!natasha romanoff x reader #carol danvers x reader #carol danvers smut #captain marvel x reader #jock!carol #captain marvel #carol danvers #yelena belova #marvel #wanda maximoff smut #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #dark!wandanat x reader #dark!wanda maximoff

[kedreeva]

Steve and Eddie reunite 15 years later. mood: bittersweet. >:)

(My askbox is open for ST prompts!)(Previous Prompts)

You think you're real stinking cute huh

------

Eddie nervously attaches the sticker with his name on it to his chest. He'd kind of expected they could write their own, but someone had already filled them all out with the approved guest list. Something to keep their hands busy, maybe. He regrets not bringing his own. He kind of regrets coming here at all, except that he's already here, and it would feel worse to run, bring up even more bad memories.

So he doesn't. He sticks his hello my name is sticker to his shirt and he strides into the school gym, and he holds his head up like he practiced. He notices the stares he promised himself he wouldn't, but he ignores them like he promised himself he would, and that's enough for now. That's enough bravery to count.

Nancy is already by the punch on the long refreshment table. She's got a bottle of water in her hands and her eyes meet his across the room, and she nods. She's not there to have any- she's there to guard the bowl. She's there to make sure people only take things out, not put things in. He sidles over between groups of chatting folks, and comes to a stop beside her.

"Wheeler," he greets.

"Munson. I didn't think you'd actually show."

He shrugs, one shouldered. "You either, hotshot."

Even in the low light he catches the pink in her ears. He hasn't seen her in a few years, not since she rabbited off to New York for her big reporting gig, and he'd finally caught a break, moved away from Hawkins. He still calls sometimes, leaves messages for her to let her know how things are, and she leaves the same kinds of messages for him. It's hard to talk, when he doesn't know what to say. It's harder not to talk, when there are so few who understand, when he knows how much they all need each other.

"It's been enough time," she says, smiling in her quiet way. "I guess I wanted to see if the scars were still here. Make sure they're still healing."

Eddie nods, knows the feeling. It's not about the healing, not entirely; it's about the festering. It's about making sure the infection stays gone, that it hasn't come back. That they did save the world, save this town, and that it stays saved. That no other children have to go through what they go through.

"Have you... seen anyone else yet?" she asks, attention turning to the group approaching her punch bowl. "Is he...?"

He shakes his head. If Steve's here, he hasn't found Eddie yet. "You?"

She nods in indication, and Eddie twists to see Robin across the room, hands around a red solo cup of punch, leaning close to a woman Eddie doesn't recognize. He wonders what happened to Rachel; the last new year's letter from Robin - a staged photo of her in a terrible sweater beside her girlfriend in an equally terrible sweater - he'd hung on the fridge so he'd remember her face. In vain, it appears.

"Jonathan's around somewhere," she adds, doling out punch still. "I think he was taking Argyle on a tour."

Eddie isn't sure if that means an actual tour, or a tour to someplace quiet to make out- it's hard to tell with Argyle. He'd love either option. Maybe it's both. Eddie smiles.

"How long are you in town?" he asks, accepting a cup of punch from her. She'd made one too many for the group moving away, or maybe she'd just made one for him on autopilot. It's not bad, a bit zingy.

"A few days." She picks up her own drink like a shield. "Visiting my family. Mike's back for the weekend, too, if you want to see him. He heard we were all coming back for the reunion and planned for it."

"Oh," Eddie manages. He'd expected to see Nancy and Robin, and even Jonathan and Argyle a little, but not- "Any of the others?"

Nancy shrugs, but there's an apology in it. "I only found out a couple hours ago that Mike was coming in."

Eddie nods, smiles. He opens one arm and she skirts the table to hug him, both of them careful of their drinks. She's as small as she ever was, and just as big. It feels like hugging sunlight, of touching the only good memories of this place. He kisses the top of her head because he can, because it's been so long since he got to, and lets her go.

"You should talk to Robin," she tells him as she returns to guard duty. He's pretty sure she's not even actually part of the volunteering group.

He nods, holds up his glass in thanks, and ambles back into the crowd. It's a few years worth of graduates; the devastation of the Upside Down the year he'd graduated had left very few of his classmates alive, and the lowerclassmen, either. Their years had been grouped, to even make the event worthwhile- one more healing scar in Hawkins, he supposes.

Robin sees him before he can get to her, and she practically launches herself at him from several feet away. He catches her, because there's no other choice, and lets the momentum of her hug spin them part way around. She squeezes almost tight enough to wind him, and smooches both his cheeks loudly.

"Can't believe you made it!" she exclaims gleefully. "I thought for sure you'd have a gig or an interview, or whatever the hell rock stars do these days."

Eddie blushes, the way he always does when friends make a point about his job, and doesn't correct her about the truth of the matter. "And miss a chance to see you?"

"Sweet," Robin tells him, "but I know who you're here for. I haven't seen him yet... Did you...?"

"I don't think he's here yet," Eddie says for the second time.

He's supposed to be, but just like the rest of them, coming back to this place after leaving it... Eddie hears of people saying they're homesick, hears people talk about how some things feel like coming home like that's a good thing. Coming back to Hawkins doesn't feel good. It feels terrifying. It feels like walking on thin ice in the spring, waiting for the drop, the icy chill of another disaster. It isn't a home- it's a pursuit predator, stalking after every step they take no matter where they go, and turning to face it - even for these people, even for the ones who fought side by side through it - is terrifying. He wouldn't blame Steve for skipping it.

He won't, because Steve's never turns away from terrifying things, but Eddie won't blame him if he does this time.

"Who's your friend?" he says, instead, and sees the flash of hurt in Robin's eyes that tells him Rachel hadn't ended well. He twitches a sympathetic smile before she turns away.

"Jessie," Robin calls, and the woman turns, eyes bright at hearing her name. She takes in Eddie, must recognize him, because she excuses herself from the couple she'd been entertaining in Robin's absence, and joins her in front of Eddie.

She holds out a hand, and Eddie even takes it politely; she's new enough not to hug him, then. "You must be Eddie. I've heard a lot about you.

"Ah, it's all true," he says with an open grin, the sort he gives after gigs when he's tired but friendly. The sort Robin clocks immediately and rolls her eyes at, though she doesn't call him on it.

"Even the bad stuff?" Jessie asks, but it's light. The sort of joke that doesn't know what bad stuff even is, and Eddie knows this one won't work either. It never does, not with someone that doesn't know.

"Especially the bad stuff," he says, just as light, and gives a little wink. "I'm sure I could tell you a story or two about Robin, later."

She smiles, looking at Robin like there might be a scandal. There's not, at least not one Eddie can actually tell her, but they'd had a few easier years after high school. They'd had a few good times, to sweeten the bad stuff. The road trip they'd all taken together around the US in '87, living in one another's pockets and getting into trouble, has a few good tales tucked into it.

Robin smiles back, and then tucks her drink into Jessie's free hand as if something's caught fire, and Eddie turns just in time to see him before Robin shouts over the crowd: "STEVE!"

He's standing at the entrance, sticking his little name tag where it used to sit at Family Video, and he looks up at the sound of her voice. Eddie sees his glance flick sideways, clocking Eddie, before he breaks into a broad smile for Robin and hurries to meet her in the middle. She pounces him worse than she'd pounced Eddie, and Steve catches her even more surely, still more than strong enough to hold her up, keep her feet off the ground entirely as he squeezes right back.

She laughs as he sets her down, and together they walk back to Eddie and Jessica. Eddie watches Steve glance over Jessica, come to the same conclusions as Eddie, and smile politely. She doesn't offer her hand to him, and he doesn't offer his, too busy looking at Eddie. Robin murmurs something to Jessie, who nods and leaves them, heading for the punch table.

"You came," Steve says, like he's actually surprised.

"You, too."

"Almost didn't." Steve shakes his head and looks around like an indication. "Coming back here..."

Eddie nods. "What changed your mind?"

"Dustin," Steve said, smile a little helpless even after all this time. "Said we couldn't hang out until I hung out with the rest of you."

"Maybe they made a pact," comes a familiar voice from behind Eddie, and he opens their small circle to include Nancy as she joins them. He glances over, sees Jessie is manning the guard post now. "Mike said the same thing to me. Pretty sure Will sent Jonathan."

"Am I the only one who wanted to come just to see all of you?" Robin quips, but her smile is genuine, and a little bit of a relief to see.

"We wanted to see you, Rob," Steve says, exasperated. "It's just..."

"We got away," Eddie says. "It wasn't all in one piece, but we all got away alive. Hard to come back when that almost wasn't the case."

She nods, looks down. "I know. But, there was good, too, wasn't there? We all found each other."

Steve takes her hand and squeezes gently, smiles over at Eddie and Nancy. "Yeah, we did. One good thing to come out of this place."

They stand quietly, palms on the open wounds of their shared past. Eddie's always appreciated visiting with the others here or there, the reminder that he hadn't imagined all of it. The scars are a strong reminder, but not a good one, not one he wants. But this? This he could do forever, even if it always leaves an ache in his chest, seeing even one of them. It's been fifteen years since they'd all last gathered in the same place. Too long.

"We should grab Jon and Argyle," he says, almost an impulse, definitely a desire. "Ditch school and grab dinner out together, like old times."

Nancy smiles, glancing between Steve and Eddie, and then holds out a hand to Robin. "I have an idea where the boys are. Come help?"

Robin takes her hand too quickly, and Eddie has to hide a smile. Still a thing, then. He nods his thanks to Nancy, and watches as they sneak off to the areas of the school they're not supposed to be in. Eddie laughs softly, runs a hand through his hair, and leans toward Steve.

"Maybe this time it'll take?"

Steve snorts, and nudges at Eddie's arm. "Robin won't go to New York, and Nance won't leave it."

"Ah, well," Eddie laments. He's not as convinced, but Steve knows Robin better than anyone.

Steve looks over at him, a fond smile on his face. "Look at you. You really are a hopeless romantic."

Eddie glances around, but they're off to the side, out of the way, out from under the lights. There's no one here that would look twice at them that hasn't already, so Eddie leans in close and murmurs quietly: "And whose fault is that?"

Steve turns his head enough to kiss the blush on Eddie's cheek, and gives him a wink as he puts his hands in his own pockets. "Pretty sure you were a sap way before you married me. Tried to set me up with Nancy because you thought-"

"Okay, okay, enough," Eddie laughs, shoving at him. "Flight was okay, though?"

"Yeah," Steve agrees. "Checked into the hotel. Big enough to take everyone back to, if we want to hang out."

Eddie nodded. He'd booked a suite, just on the hope they could all stay at least one night together. "They'll come," he says. "They miss us just as much as we miss them."

Steve smiles, not quite as bright as Eddie's used to, but better than Eddie had thought he'd get here. "I know. Let's go find them."

He holds out his hand, the gold band on it glinting in the shifting glow of the reunion lighting, and Eddie takes it with a smile. Together, they sneak off into the darkness to join their friends.

#Stranger things #stranger things 4 #Steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #stranger things fic #my writing #LISTEN #you were not specific enough to avoid this twist #you can lead a ked to water but you can't make them fuckin drink #I WILL make things happy now #canon was sad enough!! #askbox prompts