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atsukashii · 4 years

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❝chance encounter❞ // k. takami

SYNOPSIS: ➛ bickering with Japans number 2 hero about ice cream flavours in a supermarket wasn’t how you expected to spend your Friday night

» CHARACTER PAIRING: keigo takami/hawks x reader

» WORD COUNT: 2.9K

» GENRE: normal?

» WARNINGS: swearing & fluff and just crack really

« masterlist || ao3 »

You had been craving mint chocolate ice cream literally all day. But then again, craving anything with exceedingly high levels of sugar and crap-loads of chocolate wasn’t anything new recently. In times like these, owning your own bakery was both the best decision you’ve ever made, and a huge mistake. Considering you had been up since three am baking away in the kitchen of your cafe and had snacked on basically one of every sweet thing that came out of the oven and anything you had in the display cabinet, if you kept this up you’d have to get a gym membership. But right now, you wanted mint chocolate ice cream. You look down at your stomach and for a moment, the thought of eating healthily crosses your mind. The thought is, however, instantly pushed out by the idea of you, on your couch, in your pj’s, with a pint of mint chocolate ice-cream, watching TV and de-stressing about the absolutely crappy day you had. That sounds way better.

Walking straight down the candy aisle of the supermarket, you don't even bother glancing at your basket as you toss in chocolates, chips, soft drinks, and any unhealthy food you can physically get your hands on. Out of the corner of your eye, you see an old lady coming towards you with a trolley, who looks up from her list, and eyes your basket with disdain.

Cut me some slack, you want to snap at her, I’m heartbroken and pissed off!

You ignore the dirty look she gives you, and snatch a bottle of Coke off the shelf. You were very much aware that you currently looked like you had been digging through garbage all day. Your clothes - even though you wore an apron - no doubt have flour on them, your hair looks like a rat made its home on your head, and your eyes dry and itchy from crying. You knew you looked like a mess, you have just surpassed the threshold of actually caring about your appearance. Like your ex didn’t care about showing up at your shop with his new thing after dumping me only two weeks ago…

The second your friend and co-owner of the cafe saw him in the store, they kicked him out, wielding the broom like a weapon. You had wished that they smacked him in the face with it, but fearing assault charges - they didn’t. He didn’t leave however, until after he had flaunted his new relationship in your face. You had thankfully moved on past the whole, ‘why’ stage of the breakup, and came to the conclusion it was purely because he was a trash human being. However, to say that it didn’t hurt seeing him holding another girl’s hand and acting like he used to do with you, with someone else - well that would be a lie. It had been two weeks after all, and considering you had been together for two years - it felt as if those 24 months had meant nothing to him.

So now, you wanted to drown your pain in chocolates, and mint chocolate ice cream and no one was going to stand in your way.

You walk over to the freezer section of the store with confidence in your step, suddenly excited to get home and start bingeing the romance section on Netflix. That enthusiasm quickly dies as you reach for the handle of the freezer, your eyes locking onto the empty row where your favorite ice cream flavor always sat. You’re joking… You blinked at the glass as if trying to force the food into being before you.

There. Is. None. Left.

“You’ve got to be kidding me right now,” you groan. Of all days for there to be a shortage, it had to be today. You look down at your basket of Oreos, pocky’s, soft drink, chips, and everything else you had craved the second you saw it on the shelves. I’d trade it all for ice cream though… Resting your head on the cold glass of the freezer, you let out a groan of frustration. This was just the topping to an already crappy day. It was ironic when people say not to cry over spilled milk - and here you were wanting to cry over ice cream.

“Tough day?” A voice startles you away from the fridge. Following the sound, your head snaps to your left where your eyes immediately meet a golden pair that have your lungs spluttering and frantically, trying to figure out how the heck to breathe. Okay, he’s attractive. Like really attractive. His golden eyes are practically glowing at you with amusement, his hair looking like liquid gold - and super soft. You kinda want to touch it. In washed-out black jeans, a white t-shirt, and a denim jacket stopping the cold from the open freezers, he looks too attractive to be real. But then your eyes lock onto the red wings, peeking from behind his shoulders and you know who he is in an instant. The question though, was why the heck the number two pro hero Hawks was even currently talking to you right now. Realizing you hadn’t answered him yet, and instead, were just checking him out instead for god knows how long, you clear your throat and reply.

“Tough week.” You correct, pulling yourself together before looking down at your basket again, hoping it doesn’t look as pathetic as the rest of you. “And to top it off, there’s none of my favourite ice cream left.” Letting out a groan, you shift on your feet. You don’t know why you just said that maybe you didn’t want the attractive blonde hero to go just yet.

With an over-dramatic wince, Hawks leans his shoulder against the glass, as chilled out as the food inside the freezer. “Ouch, I know that feeling. That’s true betrayal,” he says, his eyes playful. It brings a small smile to your lips, and he takes that as an opportunity to stick out his hand to you. “Keigo Takami,” Hawks introduces himself as if you didn’t know who he was. Maybe he doesn’t think you would know… With a friendly smile and butterflies flying frantically inside your stomach, you shake his hand.

“Y/n Y/l/n. It’s nice to meet you,” you reply, trying not to think about how big his hand is compared to your own. God, was there flour on your hands right now? You prayed you had managed to wash it all off fully and that you didn’t suddenly look as run-down as you thought you did. Quickly -but not too fast to make him think you didn’t want to touch him- you drop the handshake and wipe your hands as inconspicuously as you can, on your jeans.

“Beautiful name,” he glances at the empty ice-cream shelf. “But a girl with questionable choices in ice cream flavours.” You gape at Keigo in utter shock. Oh, he did not just say that.

“You did not just say that.” You repeat out loud.

“I’m afraid so.” He answers, one hand in his pocket the other holding his basket, and a care-free smile covering his lips. “Who likes mint choc anyways?” For a moment you sputter for a response at this blatant ridicule against the best ice-cream flavour to ever exist. You will happily fight anyone on that, including the number two pro hero in Japan.

“Intelligent people, that’s who.” You argue back. “I bet you’re the kind of person whose favourite is vanilla.” His golden eyebrows shoot up at your words.

“What’s wrong with good old fashioned vanilla Y/n?” Your name slips off his tongue like pure honey and it would normally send shivers down your spine. No, you will not look past this obvious disrespect against your ice cream preferences, not even for hot guys. No, you will not.

“It’s the most boring flavour to ever exist.”

“And mint choc isn’t?” He asks like it's a loaded question. Shaking your head at both his uneducated taste buds and this whole conversation, it begins to dawn on you that you’re smiling. When was the last time you smiled a lot recently? You question yourself, trying to wind back through your hazy memories of the past two weeks - and coming up with nothing.

“Mint chocolate is the best. You should tell your taste buds that what the ice-cream they think they enjoy is crappy ice-cream.” and Hawks is grinning at you, it’s a smile that is contagious, and has your own growing bigger with every passing word.

“I’ll be sure to let them know.” God this whole conversation was one of the weirdest you had ever had in your life. And the fact that you had it with a pro hero, and Hawks for that matter...that just made it thirty times more strange. Looking back to the freezer, you decide you still want ice cream and settle for strawberry and cream, which earns a look from hawks as you put it in your basket.

“Shut up,” you defend, fake glaring at the blonde. Holding his hands up feigning innocence, Keigo shrugs at you.

“I didn’t say anything sweet-cheeks.” Your cheeks in question flush hotly at the term, and you quickly fiddle with the handle of your basket, giving you something to do so you don’t stand there looking like a complete idiot at his blatant flirting.

“But if you’re going to question my taste buds, then yours must be just as bad. Because last time I checked, Wagon Wheels were still way better than Oreo's.” His eyes meet yours, delight swirling inside his liquid golden irises and you can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out your lips, shaking your head slightly.

“Okay, you’re definitely crazy.”

“Only a little bit,” Keigo smirks before his smile falls at the contents of your basket. You square your shoulders, knowing that there’s a chance that he might give you shit for its contents like that old lady from before. But the words that do come from his mouth surprise you.

“Was that the last KitKat?” Immediately, you look at the red packaging of the chocolate block inside your basket, and then back to the pro hero who is now gazing at it like it's made of diamonds. Hawks look’s like you imagine you had when you’d grabbed it off the shelf, seeing that it was the last one and deciding that it had to be some sort of sign that things were looking up for you. That was, of course, before you had seen the travesty of the empty mint chocolate shelf of the supermarket freezer.

“I’ll trade you.” Keigo suddenly says, making you eye the man. “I’ll trade you the KitKat for this,” he finishes, reaching into his basket and… pulls out a fucking tub of choc mint ice cream. Are you kidding me??

“You’re joking.” Staring at him, at the sheepish smile across his face, you shake your head.

“Afraid not.” He tilts his head at you. “That is unless you don’t want it…” going to lower the tub back into his basket, a noise comes out of your throat that has him smirking again. Embarrassment flooding your features, you shift slightly and glare at the hero.

“I thought you didn’t like that flavour?” You point out, wanting to know what the hell was going on.

“Oh no I do - it's one of my favourites. I just needed a reason to keep on talking to you,” Keigo admits unashamedly as you feel your cheeks warm again. If I was ever questioning if he was hitting on me…

“Oh,” is all you can manage to get out before your brain begins to catch up with the world again. “Well, in that case, I’ll trade.” Agreeing, you pass him the chocolate block and he gives you the tub of ice cream, your hand brushes him and you try not to act like a crazy person about how attracted to him you are.

“Thank you,” you try to say but it comes out as a slight whisper. His mouth morphs into a cocky smile, which just makes you flush even more.

“No, thank you y/n” he says, shaking the Kit-kat for emphasis in his hand. “They’re the best chocolate to ever exist.”

“Finally we agree on something,” You laugh, finally turning you back on the freezer and begin to walk backward, away from the hero. When he notices you moving from him, with every step away from that you make, he takes one forward, following you through the store.

“No, we agreed on the ice-cream too,” he beams.

“That’s right because really, you were just being an ass and hiding that fact from me.” You sass back, spinning around so you can see where you’re going.

“In order to keep talking to you, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.” He says, hurrying forward until you are walking side by side down a different aisle, moving slowly towards the checkout. Your footsteps are both slow and leisurely as if neither of you wants to reach the check out just yet. “But it worked, didn’t it? So I’d say it was worth your glare.” You turn that ‘glare’ back on him and raise an eyebrow at his antics.

“You could have said something else you know.”

“Such as?” He asks, genuinely curious. You weren’t an intimidating person, so you weren’t sure as to why a guy such as Hawks would be wary of approaching you. Especially when the reality is that those roles are definitely reversed. Was your resting bitch face that bad?

“You could have said, ‘Hey, I think you’re cute. Can I have your number?” Rolling his eyes at your words, disbelievingly.

“You’re telling me that line would work on someone like you?” Unsure if that was a compliment or not, you stop in the middle of the aisle causing him to stop next to you. You look into his eyes, trying to judge where his mind is but he’s hard to read. The only thing you knew, was that his smile seemed genuine and very amused by you. That was good enough for you.

“Try me.” You test, confidence coming up from who knows where. With raised eyebrows and calling your bluff, Hawks smirks at you.

“Hey y/n, I know we just met but I think you’re really cute. Can I have your number?” He teases.

“Sure.” Keigo blinks at you for a moment, then two - as if he can’t believe the words that came out of your mouth. First, it comes out slowly, then all at once, the corners of his mouth pull up into a dazzling smile, and a deep laugh rumbles from his chest. It’s the smile though, and the happiness that seeps from him that has your head feeling dizzy. A small smile cracks across your face as you begin to rattle off your number. Keigo scrambles for his phone and quickly types it in, not missing a beat for a second. One he slips it back into his back pocket, you move your basket to your other arm and walk away from the hero. Only looking over your shoulder when you’re a few feet away.

“It was nice to meet you Hawks.” Keigo runs a hand through his blonde hair, a delighted chuckle slipping past his lips that has you grinning. He had so underestimated you.

“You’re going to keep me on my toes aren’t you?”

“Oh, you bet bird boy.” You say, turning away from him and walking to the checkout. Today might not be that bad after all, you think as the older lady scans your items and bags them. It’s only then that you realize again that the whole time you had been talking to Keigo, your crappy day had been forgotten and you had actually laughed. The entire thing, he did because he noticed you frazzled and looking down. Your respect for the hero grew, and it took everything in you to not turn around to where you knew he was now standing a few people behind you in the line. Instead, you left the store, the smile not moving from your face. You don’t even make it a few feet from the glass automatic doors of the supermarket before your phone pings, vibrating in your jacket pocket. Reaching inside you look at the new text, immediately knowing who it’s from.

From Unknown: Want to go get dinner with me sometime this week? - the KitKat fiend.

You giggle at the way he ends it, and quickly tap out a response.

As long as it’s not seafood I’m there. You reply, before you turn around, looking through the glass windows and finding his golden hair quickly. In the midst of a conversation with the store clerk, he suddenly reaches for his pocket and grabs his phone with furrowed brows. Suddenly, a beautiful, bright smile that even has the shop lady hesitating with her scanning just to witness it, stretches across his face. Keigo quickly fiddles with his phone before putting it away and turning his attention to the blushing woman behind the counter. Looks like he has that effect on everyone. Your phone vibrates in your hand.

To bird-boy: It's a date.

Who would have thought a small chance encounter with the number two hero where you bicker over ice cream would change your life in such a monumental way.

#hawks fluff #keigo takami #takami keigo #bnha takami keigo #mha hawks #keigo takami x reader #hawks x reader #takami keigo x reader #keigo takami fluff #takami keigho fluff #lolsplaysbingo

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janicho88 · 4 years

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Colder Weather

Pairing-Dean x reader

Word count-2965

Summary-Dean has to keep leaving his girl behind for hunts. She wishes she was enough to make him stay, or even take her with him. Can she continue to wait and worry over him coming back? Will he realize he wants more than calls and texts before it’s too late, and all he’s left with is colder weather?

AN- This is for @atc74 Collab Challenge. My song was Colder Weather by Zac Brown Band, Song lyrics are Bold and italicized. This is unbeta’d all mistakes are mine.

Rolling over in bed you tried to curl up closer to the man who was holding you tight when you fell asleep. Not immediately feeling him, you extended your arm out and kept reaching, feeling cold sheets which had your eyes shooting open. Quickly getting out of bed and hurrying to the window looking out at the still dark horizon. You had wondered if your love was strong enough to make him stay, you’re answered by the tail lights shining through the window pane. Sitting back on the bed mind wandering to the day before, and the brief time you shared.

Standing in the kitchen putting groceries away you heard the front door open and close quickly before the winter lets the cold in, over the music you had playing. Grabbing the rolling pin sitting out, it was the closest weapon you had, and made your way around the corner as heavy footsteps came closer. When you figured they were just about to walk past, you swung the rolling pin down to stop the intruder. Your time was slightly off and the man jumped back.

“Son of a bitch! What the hell are you doing woman!”

Hiding the rolling pin behind your back, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath to calm your nerves before answering. “I heard the door open and I knew it was locked so I thought someone was breaking in. I was going to stop them.” You finished the explanation quietly with a wince before finally meeting the deep green eyes staring back at you.

“Did you really think that rolling pin was going to do much good? And your timing sucks by the way, but at the moment I’m very glad. We gotta get you a better weapon, Sweetheart.” Dean just shook his head before he opened his arms to you.

Setting the rolling pin down you rushed into your boyfriend’s arms so happy to see him. Your lips quickly find his, both of you getting lost in the other before the need for oxygen separated you. “I wasn’t expecting you, and I didn’t hear the Impala pull up over the music. I’ve missed you so much! How long can you stay this time?”

“I wanted to surprise you, not sure I’ll be doing that again though. Missed you too, Sweetheart.” He hugged you a little tighter, but you noticed he never answered your last question.

Dean, was a hunter you had met two years ago when he was working a case in town. You were the bartender across the street from the motel they had been staying at. Dean came in just about every night and the two of you would talk while he drank his whiskey or beer and tried to flirt with you. It wasn’t too many of his visits in, when you put the pieces together and realized he was a hunter. The disappearances in town were the reason for his presence. You knew about the life, your dad had been a hunter before he tried to retire when he met your mom. He wanted you to be aware of what was out there so you could protect yourself.

Your house had a spare room and a pull out couch so you offered them to Sam and Dean instead of staying at the motel any longer since their case seemed to be dragging out. That case had gone on for two and half weeks before they finally ended the monster. During that time you and Dean had grown closer, yes he even ended up in your bed. After he left the two of you kept in touch by email, text and phone calls. Anytime they were nearby, he deemed 200 miles away close, they would stop by. Occasionally Dean would make the trip alone just because he wanted to see you.

It took a few months of this, before the two of you admitted to each other you wanted to be more than just friends with benefits. The thought of Dean possibly hooking up with someone else while on a hunt, always had you turning green with jealousy. You both decided to give a long distance relationship a shot. That had been a year and half ago, the only problem, the miles between you. You had lived in Denver your whole life and before meeting Dean, never thought you would leave. It hurt so much every time Dean walked out that door, you’d trade Colorado if he’d take you with him.”

Groaning in frustration you got out of bed once more, you needed to start your day, not dwell on the short time you shared with Dean before he left this morning. Heading to the kitchen for breakfast after your shower you found a note sitting on the counter.

Sweetheart,

I’m sorry to leave without saying goodbye, but I didn’t want to wake you, you looked so peaceful. We already had a hunt we were headed to, but I needed to see you first. I dropped Sam at the motel in town before coming to you, promising him we’d get an early start. We both know if I had woken you up to say goodbye, I wouldn’t have left like I should have.

Call you soon.

Love,

Dean

The only reason you looked peaceful was because he had been holding you. His work was important, and you should be happy he even stopped by in the first place. It was just so dang hard to watch him leave. You never knew when he would be back, lately it seemed like there were more hunts keeping him away. The little bit of time the guys weren’t hunting they were cleaning, fixing and taking care of themselves and their weapons at the bunker. Or picking up whatever lore might help them with the current evil they were up against. Sometimes though, you just wished your love for him was enough to keep him here but you knew that was wishful thinking on your part.

Later that night, two states away Dean was sitting at a bar in Montana, nursing his second whiskey of the night thinking back at the girl he left behind. It was never easy walking away from her, but he couldn’t get you, anymore involved in his life than you already were. He had to keep you safe. Paying his tab he left the bar to walk back to the motel and see if Sam found anything.

Walking through the snow which winter in Montana left behind, Dean decided to call you. The colder weather reminded him of times with you in Denver. Your phone went to voicemail, looking at the time he realized you would still be working the bar so he left you a message. At Least he still got a chance to hear your voice, even if it was on a recording.

It was just after two when you finally had everything cleaned, put away and the bar ready to be locked up for the night. Walking quickly through the cold windy night you arrived at your car pulling out your phone as you got in. There was a missed call and a voicemail from Dean waiting for you.

“Hey Y/N, we made it to Montana, man I hated leaving you today. I wanna see you again, but I’m stuck in colder weather. Maybe tomorrow will be better, can I call you then? Love you Sweetheart, stay safe.”

It was your first instinct to call him back after listening to his message, but a quick glance at the time had you putting your phone away. Dean should be asleep by now, and knowing him, his phone would still be on. The man didn’t get much sleep as it was so you weren’t going to chance interrupting any that he was hopefully getting. The last thing he should be is sleep deprived on a hunt. You needed him to come back to you.

The next day you were sitting in your kitchen picking at your cereal when you dialed Dean back. Unfortunately for you, his phone also went to voicemail. This slightly leaves you on edge, not knowing if he didn’t pick up because he was busy with something case related or if he was hurt and unable to answer. You always worried about him and Sam when they were working. Leaving a voicemail for him, you hung up hoping to hear something from him soon.

Dean walked out of the coroners office with a laughing Sam, and his own head starting to pound. They were trying to get answers from the doctor who had seen the three victims, but the receptionist proved to be a bit of a problem. She kept trying to catch Dean’s eye and would interrupt the doctor who was explaining the injuries to them. After a few minutes of fighting to hear over her, Sam guided the doctor to the other side of the room and left Dean to fend for himself. He didn’t want to be rude in case they needed something from the office later on, so he tried to appear like he was happy to listen to her. Man she was a talkative one. Sliding into Baby, he picked up his phone he had forgotten on the seat. ‘Damn’ he thought, awakening the screen he saw a missed call from Y/N. Putting the phone to his ear he couldn’t wait to hear your voice.

“Hey De. I’m sorry I missed your call, I didn’t want to wake you by calling back when I left work. As much as I hate you leaving me, Winchester, you’re a ramblin’ man and you ain’t ever gonna change. You got a gypsy soul to blame, and you were born for leavin’. I love you and be safe. I’ll be here whenever you can come back.”

He tried to call you back but missed you again, simply leaving a voicemail saying he misses you, and would try back later. The case dragged on for another two days, instead of driving back to Colorado, Sam found another case. This one took the boys to northern Washington.

Getting out of the car at the next motel Dean looked around and then up to the sky. “If it keeps snowing like this we might be stuck here awhile.”

Walking to the office to get a room he just shakes his head, because being stuck here is the last thing he wants. He just wants to finish up and get back to Y/N. The few hours he had with you last week weren’t long enough.

This case was a bit tougher than the last, they had been in town for a week, the snow and wind were making it more difficult. After spending the last two hours going through notes and reports Dean hit up a 24 hour diner just to get out of the room. He wasn’t feeling the bar tonight, always takes him back to how he met his girl, and makes him miss you even more. He already needed to see you again as it was.

Sitting at a table by the front window looking out, the night is black as the coffee he was drinkin. When the waitress first walked over he had to do a double take, she reminded him of Y/N. They had the same color hair, around the same height, and her eyes even had that familiar sparkle. He thinks of Colorado and the girl he left behind him. Taking out his phone he sees your smiling face on his screen, dialing that familiar number he once again gets your voicemail.

Dashing through the heavy falling snow, which signaled the start of a big storm the local meteorologist had warned about, the only thought on your mind was to get out of the cold. Sliding in your car you didn’t even think to check your phone before heading home from work. When you were finally all secure in your house you finally realized you hadn’t looked at your phone all night. There was a new voicemail from Dean waiting.

“Hey Sweetheart, just checking in. I’m stuck in colder weather, maybe tomorrow will be better. Soon we’ll be together, and I can’t wait till then. Love you.”

You hated that you two kept playing phone tag, nothing seemed to be working out for either of you lately. His call was from over two hours ago, too late to call again. You wondered if this was how it would always be, him leaving you to go and fight the next big bad, the constant worry of him making it back. Could you really handle being with this rambling man, or was it time to move on?

Finally finishing up the case in Washington the guys head out, the destination in Dean’s mind Colorado, until his phone rings. Sam answers seeing it’s Garth, and Dean is battling the road. He spends a few minutes talking to the other hunter, and glancing at Dean occasionally. Just before hanging up he tells Garth, “yeah, it’s fine. Dean and I can handle it.” Shooting Sam a glare Dean waits for his brother to tell him what they are ‘handling.’

“So there is a Vamp case near Boise, Idaho, Garth is up near Pennsylvania. He can’t find another hunter to take it, and we are going through the state anyway. I’m sorry, but there is no reason we shouldn’t take this case Dean.”

Dean has a pretty good reason, but he won’t tell his brother that. He thinks of seeing his girl and shakes his head knowing they do need to work this case. Sitting alone in Baby, a few hours later Dean closes his eyes and remembers the good times the two of you have shared together. That’s been his way of coping since you two met, thinking of you can get him through anything. Waiting for Sam to come out of the gas station he picks up his phone. This time it didn’t even ring once before going to voicemail. Thinking about it he hasn’t actually heard from her since he left the message at the diner.

Hi Sweetheart, just thinking about you. When I close my eyes I see you no matter where I am. We caught another case, but hopefully I can see you soon. Miss you, love you.”

Thankfully, they finished up the vamp case in just a few days. Dean told Sam there was no way they were taking another case until he checked on Y/N. He hadn’t gotten an answer to any of his voicemails in days, and he was worried. The last two text messages still went unread. Was something wrong, or did he push away the best thing that ever happened to him.

They had to stop in Utah to get some sleep, Sam wouldn’t let Dean keep going once Baby started swerving. “You are no good if you kill us trying to get to her. Get a couple hours sleep, shower then you can see her tomorrow.”

Dean reluctantly gave in, the snow was making the drive longer than it should have taken anyway.

Pulling up to her house the next day everything was dark. Dean got out of the car, using his key he let the two of them in. Something wasn’t right here. No one was there, the power was off, the bag you use for travel was gone along with some of your favorite things.

“It’s as cold in here as outside, Dean.” Sam said to him, “Something’s up.”

Dean looked for sulfur or signs of a struggle and found nothing. Did she leave to get away from me, he wondered? He was standing in the living room with Sam when he heard the front door open.

“Dean? Are you here?” You walked into your house looking around for one or both Winchesters. Walking into the living room you found them.

“What happened to your house?”

“What do you mean?” Looking around you didn’t see anything wrong.

“Were you leaving, everything’s off. Even your heat. You haven’t answered me in days.”

“Um, did you notice driving here that there is no power in most of the town? We had a major snow and ice storm last week. It lasted a couple days, they only started getting to repairs yesterday. Took out some of the cell towers too. I’ve been staying at a friend's. They have a fireplace for heat, and got the generator running today. I came home for my phone charger, and to check on the place.”

Walking over to pull you into his arms, Dean holds you tight filled with relief to have you here. “I was too busy thinking of getting to you, to notice anything else. I love you, but I leave you. I don’t want you, but I need you. I’m a ramblin man and I ain’t ever gonna change. I got a gypsy soul to blame, and I was born for leaving, but baby I don’t want to leave you anymore. You know it’s you that calls me back here baby. Come back to the bunker, move in with me. I don’t want to leave you behind anymore.

“I thought you would never ask, Dean. I would have traded all this to be with you more a long time ago. Are you going to help me pack?”

Leaning down to softly meet your lips with his own he takes his time kissing you before answering. “Anything to get you home with me quicker. We can even take your rolling pin, I can teach you what it’s really meant for. Pie crusts.”

The cold weather swirling outside didn’t stand a chance against the heat building between the two of you.

Thank you for reading!

Tags- @talesmaniac89 @katehuntington @winchest09 @flamencodiva @whatareyousearchingfordean @waywardbeanie @smol-and-grumpy @emoryhemsworth @anathewierdo @malfoysqueen14 @superfanficnatural @jensengirl83 @deanwanddamons @sandlee44 @akshi8278 @fantasydevil2002

#angelina’s collab challenge contest #dean x reader #supernatural #dean winchester

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detectivejay-chuckles-halstead · 4 years

Text

Finally // Jay Halstead x Reader

Description: You were Jay’s partner the day Ben Corson was murdered. What happened that day to lead Jay to where he ended up?

Words: 4664

Warnings: Crimes Against Children

Pairing: Jay x Reader

A/N: I think we all deserve a few fluffy fics after this. So much ANGST recently. As always, I hope you guys enjoy!

Jay was the best partner you’d had. You’d been bounced around from district to district until you landed with him. The rest was history. Nights at the bar after shift, hockey games, baseball games. You were more than partners, you were amazing friends. That’s all you could hope for when it came to your job. Things were starting to take a turn though, friendship slowly easing into something more. An arm around your shoulder, a hand on your knee. Neither of you said anything though. You were too scared to admit that there might be more, that you might want more from him.

“You ready for today?” he asked when you walked out of the locker room. You just smiled, shaking your head as he pushed himself off the wall to follow you to the desk. The sergeant handed you the keys for your patrol car, nobody saying anything. It was a silent trade-off and it worked. Your patrol hadn’t really changed in the almost two years you’d been working with Jay.

“You’re driving,” you announced when the two of you approached the car, tossing the keys to him. Honestly, you weren’t the biggest fan of driving, and Jay seemed to prefer it. Occasionally it would switch, but it was not one of those days. You repositioned the seat as you got in, relaxing back into the seat, hands holding onto the top of your vest.

“Breakfast?” he asked. You looked over to see him push his aviators down over his eyes. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if things progressed with the relationship.

“Yeah. How about that bakery off Racine and 47th?” you suggested. Jay nodded, putting the car in reverse. “My friend Jilly is getting married next month. Interested in being my plus one?”

“You asking me on a date, Y/L/N?” Jay countered with a smile, his right hand moving from the steering wheel to rest on the center console. It was the right opportunity, hands dropping from your vest, hand finding his quickly. He laced your fingers together, giving your hand a squeeze.

“Do you want it to be a date, Jay?” You didn’t realize you were worrying your bottom lip until you tasted familiar copper. You couldn’t tear your eyes off him, trying to figure out what he was thinking.

“It’s a date,” he agreed, letting out the breath you didn’t realize you were holding. “On one condition. I take you out on a proper date beforehand. Let’s say Saturday? I’ll pick you up at eight?”

“That’s a deal.” He was nearing the bakery when the radio went off.

“All available units near 38th and South Lowe respond for a missing tender age child. Name: Benjamin Corson. Last seen wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans last night at 20:00. Approximately four foot six, sixty five pounds. Brown eyes, brown hair, caucasian.” Jay turned the lights on, turning the car around to head that way. The way he held onto the wheel, knuckles white, was worrying. You’d seen him tense, worried, but this was different.

“Jay?” you asked softly.

“I know Ben,” he admitted, jaw tight. “I dated his older sister when I was in high school. Their parents came to my academy graduation. Today is his birthday.” You didn’t want to tell him it was going to be okay, that he’d be found. They drilled the statistics into your heads in the academy. It wasn’t yet 24 hours, so there was still a chance.

He parked outside of a house, quickly getting out. There were multiple other officers there already, but Jay barreled past them into the house. You quickly followed, seeing an older woman embrace Jay in a tight hug, tears on her cheeks.

“What’s going on?” Jay asked her, a man coming up behind her to get her to let go of Jay.

“He was outside playing last night,” the man answered, voice steady. Yet you could clearly see the grief on his face. “We heard him come in and go up to his room. And then when Gail went to wake him up this morning, he wasn’t there.”

“He likes that park, Donovan Park, right?” Gail nodded. “Then that’s where we’re going to go check. We’ll find him, Danny,” he assured them, your heart dropping. The two of you shouldn’t have been there to begin with. Jay was too close to the case. Danny shook his hand before Jay went to tell the leading officer where he was going to go look and why. You didn’t pipe in, just getting in the car.

The park was less than a mile away, Jay barely getting the car in park before getting out again. You knew who you were looking for, staying close to Jay. Sure, splitting up would have ensured you covered more ground. However, if you found something that wasn’t good news, being close to Jay would be a better idea. The two of you began walking the perimeter of the park, working your way in.

Jay was a few yards ahead of you when he suddenly stopped. He leaned down as you continued walking towards him, moving the brush. You saw a tennis shoe. Jay’s breathing was quick, shallow, not moving from his crouching position. You assumed the boy was Ben, matching the description. His eyes were closed, lips blue, bruising around his neck. It wasn’t a surprise that Jay was in shock, so you reached for your radio.

“Patrol 3887 to Main. Please send Homicide to Donovan Park. Victim is a tender age child matching the description of Benjamin Corson. Officers on scene,” you called out, your eyes stuck on Jay.

“Who…?” He couldn’t get the rest of the sentence out, standing up and taking a few steps back. You knew you had to stay on scene at least until Homicide arrived. He couldn’t tear his eyes off of Ben’s body.

Homicide came and taped off the area, having the two of you explain how you found the body, if you touched or moved anything, etc.

“You knew the victim, right?” the lead detective asked Jay.

“I dated his older sister in high school. I saw him and his parents regularly,” he answered.

“I want you to go back to your district. I’m going to give a call to your Sergeant. The two of you are taking the rest of the day,” he insisted. You nodded in agreement. Honestly, you didn’t need to go home, but Jay definitely did.

“Do you have any leads on who did it?” your partner asked, the older detective sighing.

“One of their neighbors, Lonnie Rodiger, was caught masterbating outside of a school a week ago. We’re going to start the process of getting a warrant to search the home. We’re going to figure out who did this.” Jay didn’t say anything as you led him back to the car, getting in the driver’s seat. This was one of those times he didn’t drive.

It was silent, which was never a good sign. Usually Jay was talking, joking, something other than just staring out the windshield, his lips pressed into a line.

“I’m here if you want to talk, Jay,” you reminded him as you parked the car in the lot. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”

“I know. Can you come over? I just...I don’t want to be alone right now.” You two walked in, getting ushered into the Captain’s office as soon as your keys were in the Sergeant’s hands.

“How are you holding up, Halstead?” the Captain asked, as if it was a loaded question. Which it was.

“I’ve had better days, Sir. I just want to find whoever did this to Ben,” he answered.

“I know you do. But it’s a conflict for you to actively work on the case. It’s in Homicide’s hands. I have asked that they keep Y/L/N in the loop. It’ll be up to her to keep you informed of any developments, at her own discretion,” the man explained. “This is a courtesy. Treat is as such. Both of you, go home, get some rest. You’ll return for your shift on Monday. No exceptions.”

The two of you nodded in agreement, heading for the locker rooms. You were the first one done, waiting for him with your bag slung over your shoulder. The feeling of your phone vibrating in your pocket pulled you out of your thoughts. Did Lonnie kill Ben Corson? You didn’t know enough to form a full opinion, but it was looking that way.

“Got an expedited warrant. Searching the house now,” the text read. At least homicide agreed to keep you updated. Jay walked out, eyes rimmed red. It looked like he just threw his clothes on, not worrying about straightening himself out.

“Go home, Jay. I’ll pick up pizza and beer. I have stop at home first,” you suggested. He swallowed hard before wrapping his arms around you in a tight hug. It took you by surprise, returning the embrace. He was hurting, you understood that. And he was your friend. It was your obligation to make sure he was alright.

The two of you stood there as the rest of the precinct hustled and bustled around you. Jay was the one to pull away.

“I’ll see you in a bit?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon,” you agreed, walking out to the lot with him before going your separate ways.

-----

“Found child pornography on his computer. Pictures of the victim when he was alive. Nothing to actually tie to the murder. Father is his alibi,” was the text you received as you walked up the stairs to Jay’s apartment, overnight bag on one arm, beer and pizza in your hands. It wasn’t the first time you’d crashed at Jay’s place, letting yourself in.

“Hey, I’m here!” you called out so that he wouldn’t get startled. You didn’t see him in the living room or kitchen, figuring he was probably in the bathroom or something. You sat the food down on the counter, grabbing plates out of the cabinet, situating everything for him. “Jay, you okay?” you then called out after a few minutes of silence. Still, there was no answer. It was worrying, so you went looking.

When you pushed his bedroom door open, he was sitting on the bed. A military issued pistol in his hand. You looked between him and the gun, his eyes meeting yours. You’d never seen so much anger and sadness in someone’s eyes before.

“Jay. Put the gun down,” you coaxed, getting a dark laugh in return. “Whatever is going through your head, it’s not going to fix anything.” Obviously, you thought he was going to shoot himself. It was the only explanation.

“Have you heard anything from Homicide?” he asked, gun still firmly in his hand.

“Yes. I’ve gotten updates from Homicide. And I will tell you what I know when you unload the gun and put it down.”

“Ben is dead,” he reminded you, loosening his grip on the pistol. You knelt in front of him, carefully taking the piece out of his hands. Instinctively you made sure the safety was on before placing it on the floor.

“I know he is, Jay.” You took a breath, knowing what you were about to tell him was going to make it all worse. “They got an expedited search warrant for the Rodiger house. They found child porn on his computer. As well as pictures of Ben while he was still alive. The last they told me, they hadn’t found anything to tie Lonnie to the murder. His dad gave him an alibi.”

He looked between you and the gun again. “Stay with me tonight, Y/N?” he asked, eyes still on the floor. “If you leave…”

“I’ll stay,” you assured him. “Where’s your gun safe?” His head tilted towards the closet. You picked up the gun, unloading it before putting it back in the safe. “What were you going to do with the gun?” you then asked. You would never be able to forget how calm he was when he answered.

“I was going to kill Lonnie.”

-----

He’d managed to get a couple beers and some pizza in his system which calmed him down enough to where he didn’t want to murder anybody. At least not then, which was a step in the right direction. He’d turned on some random movie, neither of you really caring what you watched. It was more as a distraction than anything else. A quick glance at the clock let you know you’d been there for four hours, not having really moved from your spot, your head on his shoulder and his arm around you.

“Whatcha thinking, Jay?” you asked softly as the movie went to a commercial break.

“Just wondering how I got lucky enough to get assigned with an amazing partner like you,” he answered, the two of you looking at each other. He had a goofy grin, easy to tell that he was a bit tipsy. It wasn’t like you weren’t in the same boat though.

“Sure,” you agreed with a laugh, thinking he was joking at first until he pressed his lips against yours. It was a surprise, but you took it in stride, kissing him back. It wasn’t going to go further than that for the time being, knowing he was hurting. You didn’t want to just be some distraction. “I’d understand if you want to reschedule this weekend,” you finally told him when he pulled away.

“No.” He shook his head. “No. No rescheduling. We’ll wait forever if we wait for the quote-un-quote right time.” You kissed him again, hoping it would last.

-----

It had lasted, the two of you just shy of celebrating your five year wedding anniversary. It had been going great, obviously having ups and downs like any couple. It was around this time, though, that you knew it was the hardest on him. Homicide had never charged Lonnie Rodiger with Ben’s murder. You and Jay both knew the man had done it. Even those in Homicide who were around when the case was new knew that he’d done it. There’d just never been enough evidence.

You’d gotten detailed into Homicide around the same time Jay was detailed into Organized Crime. It was a sad day when you two rode out for the last time together, but you knew it was the natural course of things. You wouldn’t be beat-cops forever. Then, he’d gotten brought into Intelligence. You knew there might be problems, knew that Hank Voight wasn’t the cleanest cop ever. But it’s what Jay wanted, so you supported him.

There was one thing Jay didn’t know, one thing that you’d never been able to tell him. You kept an eye on crimes against children in the area, looking out for anything suspicious. You didn’t want to give him false hope that maybe you’d find something on Lonnie.

He’d come home the night of Ben’s birthday completely worn out. Part of it was the case they were working, but you knew it was because of Ben and Lonnie. He didn’t have to say anything as you grabbed a beer for him out of the refrigerator, wrapping your arms around his neck from behind as he sat at the dining room table.

“He would have been fifteen today,” he told you as he took the first drink. “I might have...Phil Rodiger is getting a restraining order against me. I may have threatened him.”

“May have?” you asked, not moving. Honestly, you weren’t surprised though. It was a long time coming. Seven years to be exact.

“I parked in front of their house like I always do. Gail had convinced me to have cake this year. So, I leaned against my car and ate it. And Phil came out yelling that it was harassment -- after he’d called the cops on me, a patrol guy showing up. Then he said he was going to get a restraining order. I was just so angry about it all. How he helped cover it up, how he keeps protecting that sick fuck of a son.” His jaw clenched as he took a breath. “So I told him I’d give him a reason to need one oneday.”

“You can’t go around threatening people like that, Jay,” you reminded him, kissing the top of his head. “You’re not Voight. I promise, one day we’ll find a way to pin it on Lonnie.” His hand reached up, holding onto your wrist. “It’s late. Let’s go to bed.”

“I’ll meet you in there in a bit,” he assured you, giving your wrist a squeeze before you stood, leaving him to his own thoughts.

-----

It wasn’t even a week later when your Sergeant pulled you in her office, shutting the door behind you. You weren’t currently working on a case, so it was unusual that she called you in for a meeting. She wasn’t the talking type.

“I thought you would like to know that your husband has had a formal complaint filed against him from the Rodiger family,” she told you from behind her desk. You stood there, dumbfounded.

“I’m sorry. What? That...That can’t be right,” you insisted. Surely Jay wasn’t stupid enough to keep going after Lonnie. First, he had no jurisdiction in Intelligence to do so. Second, he actually liked his job enough to not risk everything. Lastly, he’d promised you he’d drop it.

“It is. I just got a call from Chief Perry. Sergeant Voight is going to speak with him today. I know you both were on the Corson case. Some calls hit us harder than others. Just...Halstead is going to lose his job if he’s not careful,” she reminded you. You nodded.

“I understand. I’ll speak to him. Can I ask a favor, Sergeant?” you finally asked, not sure how she was going to take it. It was worth a shot though.

“I understand the Corson case has been classified as a cold case. Would it be okay with you if I combed over it? Make sure nothing was missed?” She sighed, leaning back in her chair.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” she mumbled before looking at you again. “Off the books. On your off time. Files do not leave this building. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

-----

You hadn’t told Jay about your talk with your Sergeant. He didn’t even tell you about the formal complaint, acting as if everything was okay. It made you feel a little less guilty when you told him over the course of two weeks that you had to work late, that you were working on back to back cases. You’d canceled date nights and dinners to try and save his job.

“Figured you might be hungry,” Jay told you from the side of your desk, startling you with a gasp. You flipped the file closed, not even realizing you were the last one there. “What’s going on?”

He pulled up one of the desk chairs, sitting across from you as you rubbed your eyes. You’d gone over the file time and time again, just waiting for something to change, for something to stick out like it hadn’t before. You were half tempted to agree that it was a cold case.

“It’s just work, Jay,” you assured him, taking the fries out of the bag he’d set down.

“This isn’t just work. You see, when it’s just work your colleagues don’t tell me that you just closed a case, that none of them have been working as late as you. Look, if...If you’re not happy…” His face dropped.

“God, no, Jay,” you quickly said, grabbing his hand. “I love you. And I’m still very happy with you. That’s not what it is.”

“Then what is it, Y/N? I’ve been driving myself crazy the past few weeks trying to figure out why my wife is gone before I get up and is back long after I fall asleep.” Your head dropped, eyes squeezing shut. You were exhausted, but this...this was so much more important.

“Why didn’t you tell me Phil Rodiger filed a formal complaint against you, Jay?” you finally asked, looking back at him as you popped a couple of fries into your mouth. He looked confused. “My sergeant told me as a courtesy. She told me that if you keep it up, you’ll lose your job. Jay, you told me you were going to drop it.”

“I can’t just drop it!” he exclaimed with a sharp shrug of his shoulders. “I can’t just...Lonnie Rodiger murdered Ben. And he’s out there, free. God knows if he’s done the same to other kids. And every year I see Gail and Danny. They have to see him every time they walk by that house. It’s not like they can just move. That would mean letting Ben go for good. Y/N.” His voice dropped into an almost whisper. “If that was our kid, I’d want to know there was somebody still trying to find justice.”

“I was allowed to look at Ben’s case off the books, on my off time. That’s what I’ve been doing the past few weeks. I’ve been trying to find something they missed, something that got overlooked. And since I’ve been in Homicide, I’ve kept an eye on crimes around the neighborhood, flagging anything suspicious and looking at it further. Jay, I haven’t let it go. But for right now...You do. For my sake?” He agreed, the two of you finishing the make-shift dinner before going home for the night. Ben’s file would still be on your desk the next morning.

-----

You actually had back to back cases that kept you at work late into the night. It was rough, having to put Ben’s case on the backburner again. It was necessary though. You weren’t expecting to close the case you’d been working on, just be told to go to Donovan Park for a DOA.

When you arrived, your heart sank. You’d been expecting another kid, another one of Lonnie’s victims. Instead, you were met with the face of Lonnie Rodiger, staring up at the sky with a glassy look in his eye. You couldn’t get past the irony before you were pulled to the side.

“Where were you last night?” your Sergeant asked quickly, quietly.

“I was at the office until about eleven-thirty. Marks, Poulston, and Riggs can vouch. Why?” The older woman sighed.

“Jay is at the top of our list for suspects. I was hoping you’d be able to give him an alibi.” A chill went up your spine. “I made a few calls. He’s being suspended for the time being until this is figured out. You do not give him information on this case. Understood?”

“Understood,” you agreed before going back to work.

-----

A sigh escaped your lips as you dropped your backpack at the front door, kicking the door shut behind you. Jay was sitting on the couch, hunched over papers spread across the coffee table, a beer sitting at the edge. Quietly, you walked over, glancing over his shoulder.

“Where did you get the Rodiger file?” you asked him. When he turned his head to look at you, you saw the beginnings of a black eye. The first place your mind went was to the possibility that he’d done it. You hadn’t seen him since yesterday afternoon when he’d stopped by to drop off your bag that you’d forgotten at home. Yesterday afternoon, he didn’t have a black eye.

“Dawson got it for me. They suspended me. Did you know that?”

“Yeah. I was told. I was also asked where I was last night, in the hopes I could give you an alibi. I’m not supposed to tell you anything about the case, but it seems like Dawson got you in the know,” you sighed, sitting down next to him. You noticed pictures that weren’t part of the file. “I know you didn’t, but just...Jay tell me you didn’t kill Lonnie.”

“If I was going to kill Lonnie, I wouldn’t have let you stop me seven years ago,” he assured you, leaning back on the couch. “What if...Phil Rodiger said that Lonnie left the house to go for a drive and didn’t come back.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, knowing that because you were the one who took the statement. “Why?” He looked at you with guilt.

“What if I told you that was a lie?” Your brow furrowed as he handed you several photos, quickly looking at them. “I was following Lonnie last night. I found out...He was buying camping supplies, rope, and duct tape.”

“You think he was going to take another kid?” Jay nodded as you examined the pictures closer.

“I took those photos. The last one,” you flipped to the last picture in the stack, “was taken at 22:15 last night. Lonnie, walking into that house. That’s when I came home.”

“So, Phil is lying?” Jay nodded, reaching out to grab his beer.

“The Sergeant isn’t going to be too thrilled when I bring these pictures in tomorrow. But at least it should clear your name. You’re an idiot, you know that?” He smiled softly. You looked at him, really looked at him for the first time in weeks. This case was the one that haunted him the most. You had your own, but now that it was back at the surface, you saw how tired he looked. Placing the pictures back on the table, you leaned over, kissing him.

“I love you, Y/N. You know that?”

“Of course I do,” you agreed, kissing him again. “Now, why don’t we head to bed, unwind. I’ve missed you.” He grabbed your hips, pulling you to him, knowing he agreed with your suggestion.

-----

“Jay,” you said softly, waking him from his sleep. Since he’d been off work for a week, his sleep schedule had been thrown off kilter. Or maybe it was the beer that had done that. You weren’t sure. What you did know was that the case was closed. Both of them.

“Hmmm?” he hummed, rolling onto his side to look at you, still dressed from your day. You’d been sent home early, knowing that it had worn you down.

“Phil confessed to Lonnie’s murder,” you told him. “You’re officially reinstated starting tomorrow. There’s one more thing.”

“What?” he asked, sitting up, sheet barely covering his lower-half.

“We were able to get another warrant for the Rodiger house. This time for more than just the computer. Since it was just Lonnie and his dad, there was a lot less red tape than before. We found pictures of Ben, Jay,” you told him softly, carefully watching his face.

“I mean...they found pictures of Ben last time,” he reminded you. You reached out, squeezing his hand.

“Those were pictures of Ben from the weeks leading up to his murder,” you corrected. “These pictures were of Ben the night he was killed. At the park.” You saw tears glistening in his eyes. “Ben’s case is officially closed. And we were able to tie Lonnie to two other murders since then.”

“It’s over?” he asked, voice cracking slightly.

“It’s over, Jay. It took a lot of convincing, a lot of convincing...but I managed to convince not only Voight, but my sergeant as well as Chief Perry to let you be the one to tell Ben’s parents. You were the one that promised them that day that you’d find out who did this; that you were the one who never gave up. It’s only fitting that you be the one to tell them it’s over. If you want.” You weren’t expecting the tight hug he pulled you into, your hand stroking the back of his head softly as he held you close.

“Thank you,” he whispered before pulling back to get ready. Finally, it was over.

#jay halstead #jay halstead imagine #jay halstead x reader #fanfiction #tw crimes against children

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somuchnonsense · 3 years

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October Drabbles

Previous drabbles

26. Garden (post-canon Wangxian featuring bunnies)

Wei Wuxian doesn’t have a farm yet, but he does have a garden on the back hill in Cloud Recesses. “Why here?” Lan Wangji asked him when he started planting. “The rabbits will eat everything.”

“I don’t mind if my hard work goes to feeding the rabbits,” Wei Wuxian responded, grinning. “Besides, I’m not here consistently enough to tend to it and harvest things when they’re ready. At least this way, someone will enjoy the fruits—or vegetables, I suppose—of my labor. And maybe then they’ll love me like they love you.”

Lan Wangji smiled, petting one of the rabbits as they both curiously watched Wei Wuxian work. “I’m sure they will.”

It’s debatable, a few months later, whether the rabbits love Wei Wuxian any more than before, but they do love Wei Wuxian’s garden, and Lan Wangji loves watching him kneeling in the dirt, celebrating the first shoots of a new plant or complaining when the rabbits ate one before it even had a chance to grow. He looks so happy, so comfortable, so relaxed, not the fearsome Yiling Laozu or the brilliant cultivator Wei Wuxian with his ever-active mind, but just an ordinary young man, content with his simple life, with no fears and no painful memories weighing on him.

“What’s that look for?” Wei Wuxian asks, eyeing Lan Wangji with a freshly pulled carrot in his hand. There’s dirt on his cheek and a sparkle in his eyes.

Lan Wangji says nothing, keeping his thoughts to himself, but Wei Wuxian smiles like perhaps he knows anyway, and cheerfully turns back to his garden.

27. Serendipity (Wei Wuxian canon gen/character study)

It would be easy to think that Wei Wuxian has bad luck. He lost his parents young, and then the people who took him in when he was alone. He lost his adopted sister, and the people who lived with him like family for a year. He lost his golden core and the trust and respect of his peers, and the love of his adopted brother. He lost his home, and the one he found to replace it. And after all of that, he lost his life too soon.

But if you ask Wei Wuxian, he’ll tell you he’s lucky. He lost his parents, but then he was taken in by a new family. Sure, they weren’t perfect, but they saved him from a lonely life on the streets and they loved him, mostly. He lost them too, though not all at once, but then he had the Wens to care about him. That didn’t last, but he got Wen Ning and Sizhui back, at least, and he has the other junior disciples who are ready to fight for him, and Lan Wangji, of course. As much as he’s lost, he’s also been loved by many people, and isn’t that lucky?

As for the rest, well, the loss of his golden core was a fair trade for Jiang Cheng’s life, and it led him to abilities that helped avenge the Jiang Sect and defeat Wen Ruohan and later Jin Guangyao. He’s not the strong cultivator he was as a teenager, but he’s found new ways to be strong and fight the battles he needs to fight. He’s also blazed a new path and invented new things and made a name for himself, in his own way. Isn’t that lucky?

And yes, he died once, painfully, but that’s over and done with and he got a second chance at life. In his second life, he’s fallen in love, made new friends, done some good in the world, and at least done a little to make up for his past mistakes. So few people get a chance like that, including many who are much more deserving than him, so in the final sum, isn’t he lucky?

28. Drunk Confessions (junior quartet gen)

It started with a few bottles of wine and Zizhen declaring that true friends share their secrets with each other, but nobody could have imagined that it would end like this.

"You're what?" Jin Ling asks, his voice low and strained.

"You're what?!" Jingyi echoes in a loud squawk.

"I'm a Wen," Sizhui repeats, his nervous expression belying his calm voice.

"You never told me!" Jingyi's voice is still far too loud, his expression almost comically betrayed. "How could I not know that?"

"You knew Hanguang-Jun took me in," Sizhui points out.

"Yes, but I thought your parents were Lan cultivators who died back then, or at least non-cultivators from Gusu. Not...Wens." Jingyi grimaces, but wipes the expression of his face when he sees Sizhui's face fall.

“Sizhui is still the same person, right?" Zizhen puts in. "And we know Wen Ning's a nice guy. It's not like all Wens are bad."

"Right," Jingyi firmly agrees. "But I can't believe you didn’t tell me sooner!”

"I didn't know until recently. After meeting Wei-qianbei and Wen Ning, some memories came back." Sizhui finishes the drink in front of him, getting some liquid courage before he looks at the conspicuously silent Jin Ling. "I'm sorry," he says quietly. "I hope this doesn't change anything between us."

Jin Ling clenches his fist on the table, brow furrowed, and for a long, tense moment, the whole group is silent. Finally, he sighs exasperatedly and says, "Well, it's far from the worst secret I've heard about someone I knew. Do you two at least not have any dark secrets?" He waves his cup and Jingyi and Zizhen.

"None, I promise," Zizhen declares.

"If I do, I don't know them myself," Jingyi says.

"I've met his parents," Sizhui interjects. "They're nice, normal Lan cultivators for several generations back."

"Good," Jin Ling says. To Sizhui, he adds, "For this, you can at least buy us another bottle or two of wine."

Sizhui smiles brightly, getting to his feet. "Right away."

29. Cars (modern AU Wangxian featuring the Jiang sibs)

Jiang Cheng says Wei Ying drives like a maniac. Wei Ying says Jiang Cheng is a wimp and also boring and besides, he doesn’t go any faster than he can safely drive, but he does always slow down when he sees Jiang Cheng’s knuckles turning white.

“You’d better drive more carefully on your date with Lan Zhan,” Jiang Cheng tells him. “He probably drives perfectly the speed limit and obeys every traffic law to the letter. He won’t be able to deal with you.”

“I’ll be fine,” Wei Ying insists. “And it’s not a date!”

“Just don’t rush,” Yanli says. “You’ll have more time with Lan Zhan that way. And I’m pretty sure it is a date.”

“Not you too,” Wei Ying whines.

Later, though, when he picks Lan Zhan up and sees him looking very dashing even though he’s in what passes for casual clothes with him, Wei Ying has to admit that okay, yes, he wants it to be a date, and sure, okay, he wants to impress Lan Zhan, or at least not scare him away by driving too wildly. He forces himself to go only a little above the speed limit as he drives to the cafe where they’re going to study together, and Lan Zhan doesn’t complain or grab the panic handle like Jiang Cheng does.

On the way home, though, after endless hours of Lan Zhan sitting across from him looking casually hot but looking at his textbook or talking about economics instead of kissing Wei Ying, he forgets himself and drives as usual. Lan Zhan doesn’t say anything, so Wei Ying doesn’t realize what he’s doing until he stops in front of Lan Zhan’s building and sees him looking suspiciously paler than usual, his hand still gripping the door handle. “Oh, uh, Lan Zhan…you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Lan Zhan says tightly.

“Say, um…” Wei Ying feels bad and all, but he’s spent hours not kissing Lan Zhan and wishing this was a date and he just has to know if maybe it was, or at least could be. He unbuckles his seatbelt, turns in his seat and presses his lips to Lan Zhan’s. He’s not expecting to promptly get pulled into Lan Zhan’s lap, but he’s definitely not complaining, especially when it’s followed up with a whole lot more kissing.

They only stop when someone honks and Wei Ying realizes he didn’t pick the best parking spot for making out. “So,” he says, grinning shamelessly as he moves back into the driver’s seat, “let’s go out on another date some time soon?”

“All right,” Lan Zhan agrees without hesitation. He’s not smiling, but he is eyeing Wei Ying in a way that he really likes. “But next time, I’ll drive.”

30. Dessert (modern AU Wangxian, just a tiny bit NSFW)

The first time Wei Ying sees Lan Zhan in a cafe daintily eating whipped cream off the top of a parfait, he can’t believe his eyes. There’s something so unexpected about strong, serious, stoic, ever-responsible Lan Zhan enjoying any kind of dessert, let alone the same kind Wei Ying’s sister and her friends love—unexpected and adorable.

“Wow, Lan Zhan! I had you pegged for the health food 24/7 type,” Wei Ying says, sneaking up on him from behind. He’s obviously trying to surprise Lan Zhan, but he doesn’t expect it to actually work, so he’s thrilled when it makes Lan Zhan jump and then turn a glare on him. “Hey, no judgment. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying something sweet.” The temptation to stick his finger in the whipped cream and dab some onto Lan Zhan’s nose is so strong, but Wei Ying doesn’t want to die today, so he restrains himself.

It takes nearly a year after that encounter for them to start dating, though Wei Ying does manage to put whipped cream on Lan Zhan’s face twice before that. (Maybe he should have guessed that Lan Zhan liked him, despite never mentioning it, by how he didn’t murder Wei Ying for doing that.) It takes another five months after they get together for Wei Ying to convince Lan Zhan that whipped cream will also be delicious when licked off his body, but oh, is it worth it.

31. Trick or Treat (modern cultivation AU, A-Yuan and Wangxian)

“I want to go as Uncle Wen!” A-Yuan declares. Wei Wuxian blinks at him, turns and blinks at Lan Wangji, and then starts to laugh. “I mean, I think a ghost or a vampire or a cat or something is more typical, but sure, you can go as a fierce corpse.” “Not a fierce corpse!” A-Yuan protests. “Uncle Wen!” Lan Wangji gives Wei Wuxian his patented You are not treating this child as he should be treated look. “Yes, of course,” Wei Wuxian amends. “We’ll find you the best Wen Ning costume anyone has ever had.” “Can Uncle Wen come with me?” A-Yuan asks. Wen Ning won’t do well with crowds or a sugar high A-Yuan, but on the other hand, he’ll blend in on Halloween in a way he usually can’t. “We’ll all come with you,” Lan Wangji tells him. “Yay!” A-Yuan jumps up and down in excitement. “What will you be? Ooh, I know! You should be a bunny.” He gestures at Lan Wangji, and then to Wei Wuxian, “And you should be a carrot.” “A carrot?” Wei Wuxian grimaces. “Come on, between the two of us, don’t I look more like a bunny?” “At least he didn’t say a donkey.” Lan Wangji keeps his voice low, and before A-Yuan can demand that he repeat it, says, “Those are excellent choices.” “You’re so mean to me,” Wei Wuxian whines, but that doesn’t stop him from going out on Halloween evening in a big carrot costume, hand in hand with rabbit Lan Wangji, with mini Wen Ning skipping on ahead of them and actual Wen Ning looking fondly on.

#mo dao zu shi #mdzs #cql #the untamed #mdzs fic #cql fanfic #the untamed fic #wangxian #wangxian fic #wei wuxian #lan wangji #lan sizhui #jin ling #lan jingyi #jiang cheng #jiang yanli #mine #fic #flufftober

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treatian · 3 years

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The Chronicles of the Dark One: Magical Loopholes

Chapter 24: Jumping Through Loopholes

He'd just about thought he'd finally got it right. She was so happy against his side that she had practically purred at his words, and he expected they'd fall asleep just like this, just like they always did.

And then she moved. She moved so swiftly and deliberately that for a second he wondered if she'd already fallen asleep and was reacting to a nightmare. But instead of flinging herself up and off of him while screaming and breathing hard, she rolled onto her stomach and angled her body so she could look right at him with a gaze that was so serious he felt his blood freeze in his veins.

"You can't keep everything to yourself, Rumple. You can't be afraid to tell me things! You can trust me with anything!"

"I know that," he answered, biting his tongue when he sensed the irritation returning to his voice. He'd only just fixed one problem he didn't need to fix it again, no matter how wonderful the reward might be. Besides, he knew. He did know that he could trust her. The fact that he trusted her was why he found himself wanting to tell her about his son. He needed to tell her about Bae. It was time to tell her about Bae, and he knew that. It was just that every time he tried, the words never seemed to come out. He wasn't good with secrets.

No, that wasn't it. The problem was that he was too good with secrets. He was a vault! Secrets and scheming and planning, that was what he did best, better than anyone he knew! What he wasn't good with was sharing those secrets. How could he be? Ever since he'd shared some of those secrets with Cora and she'd used them against him, he'd never told another soul. He'd lived a long time in secrecy. It was no wonder he couldn't get the words out��he hadn't had to for years. That was the secret, he needed her to know that just as much as he needed her to know about Baelfire.

"But Belle, I need you to understand…I'm not used to telling people what they want to hear. I've perfected doing the exact opposite for centuries and breaking that habit, doing what you ask…doesn't come easily anymore. I've depended on no one but myself for as long as I can remember, and I'm not used to having someone I can trust, someone who won't betray me."

"I understand that," she nodded before reaching for his hand and holding it secure between her own. "But you're also not used to this."

She kissed his palm tenderly before moving her cheek to rest in it, and, oh, he knew. His stomach fluttered at her gestures and looks, his desire to touch her and hold her grew stronger every time she touched him and held him, and he knew it! She was right. He'd had romantic feelings before, he'd had romantic relationships, and he had romantic relations, but he'd never had all three of them so perfectly wrapped together in one woman one he craved so much.

He had to tell her. Cora and Milah had burned him in the past with their ambition and secrets, using his own ambition and secrets against him to get what they wanted. But Belle was different. He could tell her, and she'd be different.

But still, the words didn't come. The silence stretched on between them, the perfect amount of space that he needed to tell the tale of why they were really here and where he wanted to go, and why he'd been so angry today. And yet, nothing came out of his mouth. Fear kept his tongue paralyzed. And regret meant he couldn't look away.

"Make me a deal."

The hum of interested Dark Ones waking up in his mind drowned out the silence. Her voice, those words, carefully chosen words, words that she knew he wouldn't be able to resist piqued his interest as she'd known they would, though probably not for the same reasons. She wanted a deal with him? She didn't need it. Whatever she wanted, she'd have it, he'd go to the ends of the Earth if she required him to, but the fact that she'd lay beside him and insist on a deal…it was amusing to him. But to the Dark Ones he shared a mind with, those words were catnip.

"What is it that you want?" he asked, removing his hand and pushing hair over her shoulder. That was a mistake. Without her hair in the way, his vision was good enough to provide an unhindered look at her breasts again. If he hadn't wanted to give her the world before, he did now.

"I want you to trust me."

Frustration overwhelmed him. The Dark Ones hissed. They didn't make deals for such things as "trust." Money, magic, jewels, flesh, they'd trade for anything…except a state of mind. Even they knew that there wasn't enough magic in the world to make someone "trust." Like love, not lust, trust had to be earned. Otherwise, it was just blind obedience. And besides, even if it could be traded for, there was no deal to be made. He couldn't make a deal for something she already had.

"I do trust you," he reiterated. Just because he couldn't get the words out, just because he couldn't seem to tell her, didn't mean that he didn't trust her.

But when he opened his mouth to tell her, to explain, he found her hand at the side of his cheek, one finger delicately over his mouth as she stared down at him. "I wasn't finished," she stated with insistence in her voice. "I want you to trust me, to tell me about your life, and to answer me truthfully when I ask a question. Can you do that?"

Yes! Yes, he could!

But again, when he opened his mouth to tell her this, all the things he'd told her since she returned came flooding back into his mind. He hadn't been entirely honest in their relationship thus far. It wasn't just Baelfire he was keeping a secret. It was the state of the town, who had been responsible for the Curse that got them here. Hell, he hadn't even confessed his guilt at not coming after her when Regina took her yet. Some of those things he regretted. He wanted to tell her about Bae, he wanted to apologize for not coming after her, for believing Regina's lies. But he also wanted to keep her safe. If she asked him about town and he told her, then she'd want to come with him, and he wasn't sure he could protect her out there yet. He wasn't sure how she'd react to knowing he'd set all the wheels in motion to make this Curse possible. He was confident that this fantasy he was living in with her wasn't going to last forever, but he wasn't ready for it to end yet. He wasn't ready for her to leave him again. So if she was asking him to be honest, to tell her the truth…then no, he couldn't promise that.

He hadn't been aware that he'd looked away from her until he felt the bed beside him shift, and he felt her skin graze against his. When he looked over to find her, she planted her mouth on his in a deep kiss his body responded to immediately. She moved closer over him, and he let his hands pull her closer as they worked…

But the damn voices wouldn't go away! They were smart! Just as smart as he was, smart enough to see through her rouse. She was trying to distract him, using sex to pull his head out of the clouds. As much as he wanted to roll over and teach her how to really distract him from the subject at hand, this wasn't a discussion that the Dark Ones wanted to let go of so easily. They never did when there was a deal that was neither made nor rejected on the table.

"Deals work both ways, dearie," he answered in a menacing tone when she pulled away. "You have to have something that I want."

"I do," she answered before he could tell her that he was rejecting her proposal. Her words had the other Dark Ones holding their breath, practically salivating as she moved her fingers over his hair. The way she wriggled her body over his was what had him practically holding his breath. Heaven help him if she'd just move her hip a little bit to the left!

"And what's that?" he managed to choke out.

"Privacy."

Privacy. She wanted honesty, and the return was privacy. Well, if those didn't seem to contradict one another…

"You give me honesty, and in return, I promise not to bombard you with questions from your past, no more than three at a time."

"One in a single day."

"Two."

He hadn't meant to barter with her, not when he had no intention of taking the deal, but bartering was something that came naturally when it came to deals. And besides, he was beginning to see a flaw in her thinking that he could exploit. He knew that she thought she'd learned how to deal with him in the castle, but obviously not, and the idea of doing what she asked, of making a deal where she could ask him any two questions about his past in a single twenty-four hour period, and he'd have to answer honestly, be bound to answer honestly…that was no deal. Accepting it was unthinkable but turning her down was just as unthinkable. She'd see through it and wonder why. She'd want answers, and if she left before he could figure out how to protect her…

There was a loophole that he could exploit, one that made no deal while making her think a deal was made, one that allowed him a way around what she wanted. It might be cruel and manipulative, but exploiting that loophole was just as much for her safety as it was for his sanity.

"Honesty or nothing," he stated, applying the first layer to see if his trick went over her head. He wasn't promising lies. Quite the contrary. He was promising honesty or no lies; "nothing."

She nodded sadly in response, an agreement to the deal she thought they were about to make. But that was the second trick, the second loophole he was about to pull her gladly into. There couldn't be a contract in place if she didn't realize there was no deal.

"So...do we have a deal, Rumpelstiltskin?" she asked, shifting over him again. Damn that knee of hers!

She made it easy to reach up and pull her mouth down to his, to kiss her and touch her until she forgot he hadn't answered or assumed that their contact meant "yes" when no verbal agreement meant their "deal" was null and void.

He wasn't proud of what he'd done, wasn't celebrating it as a victory, though he suspected that one day when she discovered his trickery, she'd think he did. Later that night, when she fell asleep like always, his actions kept him awake, the puzzle at the town line tormented him in a way it didn't with her, and though he kept his body still for her, he felt like he would die if he didn't expel the energy welling up inside of him. Hours later, he politely asked her to roll over so he could use the bathroom. When he came out again and saw her sleeping soundly, he kissed the top of her head, using magic to push thoughts of Regina out of her mind, then left.

He found himself wandering down to where the night had begun, out the back door, down the storm doors, and into the basement again. With a sigh, he tapped the wheel in front of him, then gave it a small casual push to send it spinning. Another night with Belle. Another day without Baelfire. He blew the breath he was holding out of his mouth as he sat down at the table where he'd laid a few of the items he'd found and brought here out before him, a worktable with no work to be done. What a conundrum that was, considering that from where he sat there was nothing but work to be done-work he hadn't expected.

To leave Storybrooke was to leave behind Rumpelstiltskin forever, to become Mr. Gold entirely, forget about the Enchanted Forest, about Belle, about Bae…it wasn't an option. Becoming Mr. Gold again on the other end of the town line had some implications he could figure out. It was likely, more than likely, that it happened because there was no magic beyond the town line. The world didn't have magic, just Storybrooke. He hadn't planned on that. He'd planned for the Curse to break entirely, that he could take himself and his magic and go find Baelfire! He'd figured that magic might be weak or work differently here as it settled, but this?!

He hadn't planned for this. In fact, he'd never much thought beyond ever breaking the Curse and bringing magic to this land to craft a plan for this. Everything had always been about getting to the Realm Without Magic, bringing magic to it, and then leaving to find Baelfire. He had made no plans for after that. He had no plans for what he'd do or even say to his boy. Because of the Seer's prophecy, a boy who would lead him to Baelfire and be his undoing, he figured that his time would be limited. He assumed that he'd spend whatever he had left with Baelfire. But now with Belle…

He blew out another breath and dropped his face into his hands, rubbing them over his skin, places she'd kissed only hours ago despite how he'd behaved and the fact that he'd lied to her yet again and how he'd failed to tell her about Bae. Belle was another problem, a wrinkle in a plan he wasn't prepared for.

Belle couldn't go with him over the town line. She wasn't like him or the rest of the town. If he reverted back to Mr. Gold, it wouldn't be good, but he'd survived as Mr. Gold for a long time and probably could again, but Belle was different. From her nightmares, he knew that what she would revert to was nothing; no him, no her, no family, memories, no name or past, just…nothing. He couldn't risk taking her anywhere near that line now, not knowing what might have been on the other side. But for him…

He couldn't give up. He'd masterminded all this, gotten this far. The Seer was saying it was going to happen, and she was never wrong. So, he could do it. He could make arrangements to keep Belle safe from Regina and get over that line. If the Seer was saying it was going to happen, then there had to be a way to break the Curse, truly break it so that he could deliver magic to this realm entirely. There had to be a way he could retain his memories and find Baelfire.

Retain his memories…maybe that was it.

Maybe he didn't need to break this Curse. Maybe he just needed to find the right loophole. He needed a way to leave Storybrooke and retain his memories. He just needed time, time to figure out the magic, time to find the loophole, time to exploit it. He had time. He had patience. With Belle at his side and Baelfire within reach…he had as much time and patience as it would take.

#Rumbelle #Rumple #Rumpelstiltskin #Dark One #Mr. Gold #Belle #Baelfire #ouat #ouat fanfiction #fanfic

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fernwehbookworm · 4 years

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Woke The F*ck Up- Chapter 24

April 28th, 2018

Lena tries Kara’s cell one last time, scanning the room as panic grows. After five minutes, she had grown irritated, after ten, worry had begun to gnaw at her, now it had been fifteen and Lena had called Kara four times while asking patrons and bartenders alike if they had seen her. No one had. The bartender waved her in the direction of the manager's office. It was locked and dark. The schedule posted outside the door said he was off today. Finally, Lena gives in and calls Alex, cringing as it rings to voicemail. She calls again immediately.

“What Luthor?” Alex asks irritably, clearly being interrupted and sounding a bit breathless.

“K-Kara..” Lena’s eyes dart around the bar again,

“What about Kara?” Alex bites through a gasp.

“She… she…”

“Lena, what is it?” Worry starts to tint Alex’s voice.

“She’s missing”

“What do you mean?”

“She went into the bar for my jacket and never came back. No one has seen her. She’s just gone. She won’t answer her phone either.”

“Are you sure she isn’t doing her night job?”

“And just left me standing on a sidewalk, alone, drunk, in front of the bar?”

“Shit, your right. Okay. Stay right there. Sam is on her way to get you in a Lift and take you back to the hotel. Don’t go anywhere alone. I’ll head into work and see if we can pull security feeds.”

“Okay. Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m worried.”

“Me too. But let’s try to keep level heads, okay?”

“Okay.”

April 29th, 2018

Kara’s head throbbed; man, she drank way too much last night. Then she remembers she didn’t drink at all. Her eyes snapped open and immediately shut under the harsh fluorescent lighting. The fuzzy images of being drugged in the manager's office pull at the edge of Kara’s brain but she can’t make out the face of whoever it was. Kara moves to sit up and rub her eyes, something heavy clanks as she lifts her arms.

“What the…”

Manacles clasp around both wrists with a heavy chain, another chain leads to between her legs and the manacles around her ankles. Already the skin of her wrists was tinged red with irritation. It takes effort for Kara to focus her eyes through the pounding of her head. She’s in a small, bare room with only one light above her. The stench makes her think it used to be a janitor's closet of some kind. A harsh mixture of chemicals and mildew. Kara groans and rubs her temples. The door bangs open, making her wince and shrink away from the noise.

“Marvelous, you’re awake. I was worried that my dear Corben here had used too much.” Kara looks up at the voice sending chills through her. She knows that voice. She’s heard it before. From Lena’s hotel room.

“Veronica,” Kara growls out.

“Wonderful, you do remember me.” Veronica’s smirk sits like poison in Kara’s stomach. Instead of responding, Kara just glares at the woman lording over her. The figure behind her steps into the light as well. A man Kara had beat in the ring a couple of times, John Corben. He was the best of the underground fighters until Kara showed up.

“I’ve heard that you were the strong silent type. Always just showing up to a fight, collecting the money, and leaving without a word, isn’t that right? Andromeda?” Kara stiffens at the use of her alias.

“Yes, that's right. I know who you are. That’s why your here after all.” Roulette continues, unprompted.

“You see, no one ever leaves my games. There is only one way out of my service and no one ever takes it. So you see, my dear Andromeda, this is not something you can walk away from. You will fight for me. Then, if you live through your trials, your skill sets will be sold to those willing to pay for them.”

Kara somehow finds it in herself to laugh. This was a stereotypical villain rant that made Kara think of a bad movie or comic books. Veronica looks at her with disdain.

“What do you find so humorous?”

“Just this whole ‘You will work for me, or else’ spiel. Very good Veronica. Very Good.”

“Oh but my dear Kara, you will work for me or else. You see, I know your whole life now.” Kara stiffens at that, thinking of her other, other alias.

“I know where your gym is and where all your employees live. I know where your sister’s apartment is. And yes, I know where Lena Luthor is staying currently. Also, I know where the girl is, what’s her name? Ah, right. Ruby. She’s currently at a sleepaway camp in England. So yes, you will fight. You will win. You will win or die trying. Then, if you live, I will begin selling your services to the highest payers. Unless you want something to happen to those closest to you.” With every word, fear lances through her heart. The only hope was that Veronica seemed not to know about Power Girl.

“Veronica, please. Don’t do this.” Kara begs.

“Ah, ah, ah.” Veronica wiggles a finger at Kara.

“Its Roulette to you. Now, Corben, get Andromeda ready for her first fight. Try and escape and I think I’ll start with that lovely front desk girl at your gym. The pretty little blonde one.” Veronica leaves with a flourish.

Kara digs her nails into her palms and swallows past the lump in her throat. This was unbelievable. She was happy. Everything was going perfectly. Then she was so focused on making sure Lena was safe that she forgot to check her own surroundings. Kara groaned inwardly as she thought of the ‘I told you so’ that she would get from both Lena and Alex. Her thoughts are interrupted by Corben throwing a bundle of clothing at her face. He then bends down to unlock her manacles.

“Change. Don’t try anything. We have cameras and men everywhere. I’ll be right outside.”

Kara sighs and looks at the clothing in her lap. Basically identical to what she used to wear in fights. Blue boxers shorts, a sleeveless blue hoodie, and a dark blue face mask. Black tape was also in the bundle for her wrists. Kara sighs again and begins to dress, at least Veronica seems to want to keep Kara’s identity secret.

Lena hugs Sam tight as she picks her up. They head back to the hotel and Sam forces Lena to sit on the couch while she whispers encouraging words and they wait for Alex. It’s hard. Lena feels dread seep into her chest. The past year of her life running in circles through her mind, over and over again. Something is nagging at her but she can’t figure out what. The only possibility is that some criminal or someone had figured out that Kara was Powergirl. Lena’s mouth tasted dry and like bile as she fought the urge to be sick. Panic raced through her veins as Sam sounded like a droning in her ears. It could have been hours or even days before Alex knocked on the door. Sam got up to let her in and hugged her tightly. Then Alex sat in front of Lena on the coffee table. Lena’s watery gaze met Alex’s distraught one.

“It’s not good. The footage was corrupted. We think whoever targeted Kara paid off someone in the bar to get in and out unseen. One of our tech guys found the van used for the abduction and was able to trace it back through traffic cameras to a street corner about two miles away. This is all we could get.” Alex produces a folded paper with a picture printed on it. Lena squints at the sheet, trying to make out the grainy facial features.

“Fuck.” Lena whispers.

“What is it?” Alex asks.

“I think… I think that’s John Corben.” Lena manages, flashing back to drunken nights in Veronica’s private back offices of her clubs as the man stood silently by. No doubt hearing the sounds Lena made while in those offices. She wasn’t embarrassed then but she was now.

“And who is that?”

“He’s Veronica Sinclair's personal bodyguard.” Alex visibly winces when she says Veronica’s name.

“I take it Kara told you everything then?”

“Yup. But why would she want Kara? Does she know about Powergirl?”

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think Powergirl did anything to interfere with Veronica’s business…” Lena trails off, remembering what one of her businesses’ was.

“Lena?” Alex waves her hand in front of Lena’s face as she zones out. Lena shakes her head and looks at her.

“Alex, do you know what Kara’s alias was in those fight clubs?” Lena asks slowly, putting the pieces together even before she knows the answer. Alex looks shocked that Lena even knew that.

“I...uh… yeah, she went by Andromeda.”

“Dammit, Kara!” Lena stands to pace and run fingers through her hair.

“What is it?” Alex follows Lena as she paces.

“Andromeda was Veronica’s biggest moneymaker. When she disappeared, Ronnie was pissed. Like didn’t even want to have hate sex, pissed. She swore to hunt down whoever it was and force them to work for her again. She rattled on and on about more and more illegal jobs and how she would target her family to make sure she couldn’t refuse. It was scary. And now, now she has Kara and obviously knows who she is. And now Kara is God knows where being forced to do illegal things just so Veronica won’t hurt me, or you, or your mother. And-”

“Lena! Breath!” Alex stops Lena’s frantic pacing by grabbing her shoulders. Lena jerks to a stop by the strong hands on her upper arms. Alex’s eyes are fierce.

“So you are saying. Veronica Sinclair is behind the underground fights?”

“And gambling clubs, and around forty percent of the drug trade. She goes by Roulette.”

“Dammit, Kara!” Alex groans and begins pacing herself.

“Okay. Well, that’s more than we had. Let me make some calls and reach out and figure out where the next fight is.”

“Don’t bother. I know where it is.”

“What? How?”

“Veronica still wants to win me back in her own twisted way. She sends me invitations to her private viewing box still. It’s so one-percenters can watch the fights and pick from her muscle for higher, and indulge in other activities.”

“Wait, like actual invitations?”

“Yeah, wait hold on.”

Alex sat on the couch next to Sam who had been letting Alex and Lena work through things. When Alex leans forward on her elbows and lets her head hang between her shoulders, Sam starts rubbing circles between her shoulder blades. Lena disappears into the bathroom and rummages around.

“You’ll find her. I know you will.” Sam whispers, Alex relaxes under her touch.

“Here!” comes a triumphant cry from the bathroom. Lena reappears with a crumpled paper as she shakes of a tissue and a floss string. It looked like it used to be nice. Gold trim and black calligraphy.

“It’s just an address, downtown in the warehouse district.”

“Perfect. I’ll get a team ready.”

“We can’t just charge in. Not until Kara is safe. Veronica may want to have revenge but if I know her, she will settle for simply killing her.”

“Lena, I am a Federal Agent. My priority is Kara’s safety. But this could be big. Roulette has been a mystery in the FBI for a long time. The DEO has even been consulting on it. This needs to be called in. Undercover team first, well, address first.” Alex holds out a hand. Lena starts to hand it over but hesitates.

“One condition. I come with you. Undercover.” Lena clutches the address to her chest, out of reach.

“What? No! It’s too dangerous.”

“Either I go with you or I go alone.” Lena raises an eyebrow in defiance. A solid five seconds pass before Alex relents.

“Fine. Give me the damn address. I’ll text you when and where to meet me.” Alex stands and takes the proffered paper. She heads to the door, stopping when Sam grabs her hand. Sam presses a hard kiss to her lips. Alex kisses her back with surprising passion.

“Be safe,” Sam whispers.

“I’ll be back.” Alex reassures her, “I’m not done with you yet, I don’t think I’ll ever be.”

Then Alex is gone. Leaving Sam staring after and wondering just what she means.

“Wow, that was… intense.” Lena chimes in behind her.

“Yeah…” Sam says faintly, then she shakes herself out of the trance.

“I need you to be safe too. I don’t like you doing this.”

“What? No kiss to go with that?” Lena teases, avoiding the seriousness of it. Sam just glares.

“Come on, let’s get you ready. What does one wear to a secret underground fight club that one’s ex runs?”

“Oh, God. I don’t even know.”

Lena decided to keep it simple. A long black dress with a slit up to the mid thigh and elegant black Louboutin’s and a silver wrap. When Lena reached out to Veronica about RSVP-ing with a plus one, an hour later the bellhop arrived with a simple white box. The box held two masquerade masks.

Though I wish to see your lovely face, no one else should.

Sam was dressed in jeans and a sweater, she had convinced Alex to let her sit in the surveillance van. Which Lena teased her about having the Agent wrapped around her finger.

“I can’t just sit here and wait for my best friend who may or may not live. At least there I’ll be closer and apart of it.” Sam defends.

“Sure. You're just worried about me. Not a very butch lesbian who is showing her soft side in concern for her sister. That way you can pretend it's not doing things to you.” Lena drawls out. Sam flushes in embarrassment.

“I know it’s not good. I mean Kara is in danger. But the whole, take charge and savior aroura she has going…” Sam trails off and bites her lip. Lena throws a pillow at her to snap her out of it. Lena cackles at her friends startled expression before there is a knock.

“Ass…” Sam mumbles standing to let Alex back in.

Alex is wearing a dark blue dress that takes Sam’s breath away. It hugs her hips in a war that tactical pants do not. The deep neckline interrupted briefly to have a small window just below her breasts and it makes Sam want to just stick her fingers in and tear it open. Sam swallows.

“Hey, sorry. It took too long to convince the director to move on this. It is technically an FBI case so there will be a lot of paperwork later. But we are ready now. Are you two ready?” Alex is too busy talking to notice Sam’s staring.

“Yes, here. Veronica sent these. I’m guessing the rich and powerful don’t like being known.” Lena holds out one mask to Alex. Ignoring her friend's obvious short circuit.

“Okay good. Sam, you can sit in the van, but please do what they tell you. Sam? Sam?” Alex finally notices her staring, mouth slightly agape.

Sam swallows hard. “Yeah, uh. Van. Got it.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just...uhh… dress.” Sam manages.

Lena grabs her clutch and mask before brushing past the two still standing in the doorway staring at each other. “Useless lesbian.” Lena mumbles.

“Bisexual!” Sam cries indignantly.

“Still useless.” Lena retorts as Alex follows them into the hotel hallway. Sam is about to retort again when she feels Alex’s fingers brush hers and instead twins their fingers together. It’s a small thing but it makes Sam’s pulse race.

Kara doges and side steps as the punch rushes towards her face. As far as she can tell it’s the third fight in as many hours. Her limbs feel heavy and sluggish. Still, she manages two quick jabs to the man’s ribs and feels at least two crack. He wheezes and collapses to his knees. Cheering and grumbling erupt as money changes hands. Kara leans over and puts her hands on her knees before the large man in charge of her comes to show her back to the small closet like cell she is being kept in. There had been a hard bench that was long enough to lay on and a camping toilet added after the first fight. Kara lay on the bench with a groan. A bruise was forming on her forearm from a particularly hard block. All her muscles were screaming at how hard she was pushing them.

“Next fight is in an hour. Here’s water. The VIP’s will be here soon so you better fight like your life depends on it. Because it does.” The man says in a gruff voice, tossing two bottles of water towards her, falling short to skitter on the floor. Kara groans as she bends to retrieve them, a bruise on her ribs protesting at the movement. Kara chugs half the first and uses the rest to rinse the sweat off her arms and face. Then she begins to sip the second and stare at the wall while she counts the seconds to her next fight.

The bouncer takes note of the masks and waves Alex and Lena towards the nicer door. Another man opens it for the two of them. It leads to a dark staircase that they climb and shouting grows louder.

“All teams, check in,” Alex commands into the earpiece. Lena hears the odd echo of her voice directly in her ear also.

“Alpha Team Set. Main entrance clear.

“Beta Team Ready. Roof is clear.”

“Gamma has South Ally clear.”

“Delta has North Ally clear.”

“Copy. Stand by. Remember, we want to capture as many as we can but Veronica Sinclair is the priority. Wait for my signal.” A chorus of “Copy that.” follows and Alex follows Lena into a dimly lit but well-decorated room.

The furniture is lavish with leather couches and regal chairs. Attractive men and women flit from group to group serving a melody of drinks from the bar on one side. Music floats from somewhere, doing nothing to obscure the shouting reverberating through the floor to ceiling windows. Lena’s eyes trail through the room before she drifts over to them. Below is a much rougher crowd of people standing around a makeshift cage as two men circle each other and exchange blows. She feels Alex join her.

“I can’t believe this is where Kara would go. She would have rather been here than with me.” Alex whispers.

“No. This is where she came to release all her anger. This is where she came to be the darkest part of herself. She couldn’t so that with you. But she doesn't need that anymore. She needs you now.” Lena whispers back.

“You’re right. Don’t jump people are watching so I’m going to put my arm around you.” Lena nods and points below, pretending to talk about one of the fighters. She leans into Alex as she slips an arm around Lena’s waist.

“This is one-way glass. We can see them, they can’t see us.” Alex points out. Lena nods, grabbing two drinks from a passing waitress and offers one to Alex.

“No. I have to keep a clear head.”

“Just sip it. It will look weird otherwise. I’ll drink half and we can switch.”

Alex just nods and refocuses below as the match ends. She’s looking for any signs of her sister. Her and Lena continue to whisper observations in order to look as couple-y as possible to the other members of the upper floor. Everyone wore masks and people flirted with whoever nearby. On one table were little white lines of premium cocaine. In another corner was a man dispensing pills like drinks. Veronica was for sure using these events to get rich people hooked on her products. Who better than to get addicted than the rich who could buy it on a consistent basis.

“Well look who finally accepted an invitation. I never thought you would.” A silky voice disrupts the couple. It sends chills up Lena’s spine but she plasters on a smile and turns to her ex.

“Ronnie, dear. How are you?” Lena tightens her arm around Alex’s waist and Veronica’s eyes narrow at that.

“Oh good, just being successful in my business endeavors and wondering why you finally decided to join me, with a plus one.”

“That’s wonderful. Well, this lovely woman is an extra from one of my new music videos. She wanted to see how the other half lived, so I’m giving her the full experience. Plus with the whole kidnapping and helping put my brother and jail with my mother next, I think I could use some more muscle around. Just in case.”

“Well then, it’s lovely to meet you…” Veronica indicates to Alex.

“Jessica.” Ales holds out a hand which Veronica ignores.

“Let me know if you see something you like Lena. I’d be happy to help with anything.” Veronica walks away, swaying her hips to indicate to Lena that she was an option also. Lena sighed and turned away. The ring below was getting rowdy again as the audience prepared for the next fight. Lena catches a flash of blonde under a blue hood. The face is obscured by distance and a mask but Lena would recognize Kara anywhere. Blue eyes flick up to glare at the windows on the second floor, Lena inhales sharply at the split skin on Kara’s cheek and the red stains on the tape on her hands. She’s been fighting a lot, Lena can tell by the slump of her shoulders.

“There she is. We should move.”

“How do you suppose my agents get through that crowd of people, most of which are likely armed? Then get up here to arrest Veronica?”

“Point Taken. What do you purpose?”

“Well, she thinks you’re here to hire muscle. So we watch enough fights to see a selection, then see if you can get a close up look at some of them. Hopefully, we can get them both separated then.”

“Okay.” Lena switches hers and Alex’s glasses, “now go get a refill.”

Alex saunters over to the bar with the empty glass and flirts a little with the pretty bartender while Lena watches as the other fighter is brought out, a bald overly muscled man who grunts and spits. Lena slips into the mask that Kara had so long accused her of using for her singer persona. Alex slips easily back around her, playing the part of the awestruck D-Lister who was getting her dream come true. Lena managed not to flinch as the bell rang and the man let out a war cry and charged. Kara easily sidestepped him and kicked the small of the back, sending him slamming into the chain link fence that separates them from the rowdy audience. He bounces off and right back into Kara’s fist in his eye.

The crowd seems to flinch together at it and then man sprawls on the ground. He tries to stand while blindly swinging and receives a knee to the jaw. His head snaps up before he hits the ground again, unconscious. A little blood dribbles out and Lena fears for a moment that Kara killed him. But then he groans and moves just a little. Two more burly men scramble into the ring to lift the fighter up and take him away. Then another man escorts Kara out by the elbow. And she goes without a glance back.

“Wow,” Alex says softly.

“Wow,” Lena repeats.

“I always forget how badass she is. I just always see that scared little girl that my parents adopted.” Alex waits for a response but all she hears is a loud swallow. She looks at Lena who is clearly flushed and breathing shallowly.

“Lena, god I can’t believe I’m saying this, but are you turned on? Right Now? Seriously?” Alex hisses.

“No!” Lena squeaks out, “okay, yes. Sorry, but she did that so casually. It just-”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” Alex says sternly. Lena just laughs.

“Enjoying the show?” Veronica’s poisonous voice drifts from behind them.

“Very much. Who was that last one? She was impressive. Anything better?”

Veronica raises an eyebrow. She holds a hand out and a drink magically appears by way of a handsome waiter. She reclines in a high back chair and raises an eyebrow, looking Lena up and down. Lena looks away to push a hair off of Alex’s forehead, trying to feign uninterest. She must succeed because Veronica takes a drink.

“Yes, she is impressive. She goes by Andromeda. Undefeated so far but I still have a few fighters up my sleeve.”

“Oh? Anyone I might want to hire?”

“Possibly. I’ll let you decide later.” Veronica throws another wink before standing fluidly and sauntering away again, a queen in her queendom.

That was way too easy. Kara knew it was too easy because the fights had been getting progressively harder. Kara paced her small room trying to figure out why it was so easy. She didn’t break a sweat. The only thing was she had this feeling pricking at the back of her neck, like she was being watched. Which was crazy since she was, all the time. Even now she knew Corben was just right outside the door. Soon he opens the door again and prods Kara back into the ring. She stands alone this time and the crowd quiets.

The air is thick as Kara’s eyes dart about, confused. Her heart drums as adrenaline pour into her veins. The quiet is so loud that Kara could probably hear a pin drop. And then she does. Or the soft shink of metal on metal and her head jerks up. A shadow moves just above the light, then yells follow the shadow down. Kara gasps and flings herself out of the way. Kara tucks and rolls to spring right back to her feet. Twin thuds hit the ground as two men land. One pulls a dagger from the thin mat where he had plunged it in an attempt to catch her off guard.

“Shit.” Kara curses as she takes in the lean muscled men, both brandishing knives, both with murder in their eyes.

They circle in opposite directions, attempting to flank Kara. Kara keeps one on her left and one on her right. She can’t let one get behind her. Does Roulette actually want her dead now? Is she insane? Maybe she’s made enough money in the last twenty-four hours? Or has it been days? Kara has no idea anymore. But maybe Veronica has made enough money that Kara isn’t worth it anymore. A flash of metal and kara has to bat a knife out of the way and step out of the way to put both men in front of her again. She’s so tired that she had zoned out and nearly paid the price. The man stumbles into his partner who catches him to keep him from falling.

Then they both charge and Kara sinks into that space in her head. The one where nothing else matters. Where she can practically see every move before the opponent thought of it. The space where time means nothing, everything moves too slow and too fast. She flips the first man over her back, the second she knocks the knife away and jabs his gut. Then she grabs the scruff of his neck and throws him on top of his companion. They scramble to their feet again, one losing his knife in the flailing limbs. The other lashes out and Kara isn’t prepared for it. The blade grazes her forearm, sharp and burning. Bright red splatters on the ground and over the men’s dirty clothing. Kara stumbles back and grabs the wound on reflex.

Laughter and jeering echo around her as the men get to their feet. Kara takes a deep breath and re-focuses and sinks back into the empty space. Block, punch, spin, kick. Each move only using as much energy as necessary. Parry, punch, sidestep. There is the opening. Grab, twist, squeeze. The knife falls into Kara’s other hand, on instinct she takes it and plunges it right back into the man’s stomach. She ducks under a swing of the other man and steps behind him grabbing the back of his head and slamming it into a fence post, knocking him out. The man she stabbed is gasping on the ground, hands pressed over hole pouring blood out. Kara just waits to be escorted out the ring as the ‘nurse,’ a very loose term for the ex-marine with battlefield medical knowledge, rushes to stop the bleeding. Kara has seen the wound before. He should live. Corben tosses her a half used tube of antibacterial cream and tape. Kara applies it as she walks, tearing the tape with her teeth after tightly binding her bleeding arm. She’s so distracted that she doesn't even notice that Corben shoves her in a different room. A room with all of Roulette’s top fighters. Kara turns back to see Corben smirk.

“Wait here. No fighting. Speak to the patrons and be shot.” And he slams the door shut.

Kara walks over to and unoccupied bench in the spartan room and sinks into it. Making sure her hood and mask are still in place before shutting her eyes, ignoring the other men and women in the room.

“What is happening?” Alex whispers, seeing her sister standing alone.

“Shit. Look. Above her.” Lena points. Alex sees the two fighters perched above the ring in the rafters. Kara’s head jerks up just before they fall on her. They watch the fight unfold, Lena gasping and clutching Alex’s arms as she notices the small sharp blades. Lena can barely breathe for the next ten minutes as Kara fights. She almost cries when she sees the blood sprout across Kara’s forearm. She barely contains another gasp as Kara stabs the man. And bites her lip to stop a cheer when the last man is knocked unconscious.

Lena flags down a waitress to ask for Veronica to get her a closer look at the product. The woman seems unfazed by the remark and nods. Lena finishes her third drink to still her shaking hands.

“She’s fine. She’s fine. She has faced worse.” Alex mutters, half to Lena, half to herself.

It just takes a few more minutes for a buff looking bodyguard to appears to escort them deeper into the building. Lena grabs Alex’s hand and swings it a little between them to try and keep up the flirtatious pretense. Veronica waits for them outside a door with an armed bodyguard. A large assault rifle in his hands. That could pose a problem.

“Lena, I’m glad to have piqued your interest. Robert, Be a dear and line them up.” The large man nods and enters the room. Shouting is heard before he holds the door back open for the women.

Lined against the wall are the fighters that Lena and Alex had already seen today, many fierce and scared, most underdressed to show off as much muscle as possible. Only one stands as a splash of color in the dull room, head down as she leans against the wall they are lined up against. Her knee juts out from her foot prooped on the wall, arms crossed, the injured one bandaged. When the door shuts, Kara stands and looks up. Dead blue eyes meet Lena’s then Kara stiffens and tears spring to her eyes. They crinkle at the corners as the only indication of the smile behind the mask. Lena’s eyes dart away to appear interested in the tall muscled woman near the middle of the line. Alex hangs back, trying to inch near the man guarding the door.

“These are my best that are here right now. I have a few that are temporarily hired out for jobs.” Veronica stands back, trying to act casual but her eyes dart between Lena and Kara. No doubt worried about recognition. It would look odd if the undefeated champion wasn’t here.

“However, be aware that their record reflects the price of hire,” Veronica adds as Lena circles the very large woman.

“Of course. I’d expect nothing less. Do you have rates and records written anywhere? I would like to know what I’m working with.”

“Yes, of course. Robert, please give Miss. Luthor the List.” Veronica asks her guard as Lena circles closer to Kara.

It happens almost too quickly to follow. As Robert relinquishes one of his hands on the gun to rummage in a pocket. Alex grabs the muzzle and yanks it sharply down while throwing her shoulder into the man, throwing Robert off balance and tearing it from his grip.

“Move In!” Alex shouts. Putting her back to the only exit of the room and training the rifle on its occupants. Robert reigns his feet and makes to lunge at Alex when a blue streak slams into him and into the wall. One quick punch knocks him out and Alex doesn't flinch her gaze away from Veronica as Kara stands. Shouts and running can be heard in the corridor A couple shots of gunfire but it doesn't seem to be a full firefight. Alex is getting a constant stream of updates in her ear as each room is cleared and as many people handcuffed as possible. Veronica tries to protest but Alex flashes her FBI Badge and hands Kara the handgun strapped to her thigh to keep the muscled men and woman at bay who look like they have murder in thier eyes. Lena had moved to stand next to her armed compatriots as they wait for the team to retrieve them.

“I can’t believe you, of all people, are working the Feds.” Veronica sneers from across the room.

“My dear Ronnie, You took something of mine. I had to get it back. Despite how much I hate my family, I am still a Luthor and that simply could not stand. Also a chance to get you behind bars so you can stop showing up in my life. You, are a poisonous snake Veronica Sinclare, always striking when I’m at my lowest.” Lena holds herself proud and above it all. Veronica is about to retort when a quick knock on the door and it is opened.

Agents pour in, in full tactical gear and begin handcuffing each person inside. Alex waving them off Kara and pulling her and Lena from the room. Alex quickly leads the way through the hallways and back onto the street. Assault vehicles and flashing lights of police cars and ambulances add chaos to the night and a tall, dark-skinned man calls Alex over.

“Director. Any casualties?” Alex asks when she reaches him. Kara and Lena still on her heels.

“None. A few injuries. Only one gunshot wound. Many of ground floor escaped but I understand we have Roulette.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very good Agent Danvers. Miss Danvers, please see one of our medics for your injuries before signing the release papers. You too Miss Luthor. Agent, I expect you in at eight sharp to fill out all the paperwork for all this as well.”

“Yes, sir.” Alex barely manages to suppress an eye roll as he turns away.

“I’m sorry, they know Kara is Andromeda?” Lena asks.

“We know everything. All right medic, now.” Alex steers Kara towards the truck holding the DEO medic. Kara tries to protest, but at this point, she is too tired to.

Once safely inside the truck, away from prying eyes, Kara pulls down her hood and mask. The medic does a quick look over Lena then begins a much more careful one on Kara. He unwraps her arm and cleans the cut, deciding it doesn't need stitches. The medic turns Kara’s face side to side as he cleans the cuts there as well. But Kara doesn't notice. Her eyes are fixed on Lena. They burn into Lena and The air is tense. Even tenser when the medic asks Kara to take off her shirt to check the bruising on her ribs. Finally the medic has them both sign a release form and instructs them to wait until Agent Danvers returns to escort them home before he leaves and closes the door behind them.

“Hi.” Kara rasps out.

“Hi.”

“You came for me.” Kara states.

“I did.”

“Because Veronica took something that belonged to you?” Kara raises an eyebrow.

Lena clears her throat. “Yes, well… I had to… I mean…” Lena searches for an excuse.

“Fuck it.” Lena lunges forward across the center of the truck to kiss Kara’s cracked lips. Kara winces and Lena tries to pull away with an apology already on it’s way out when Kara pulls the back of her head closer. They stay like that until Lena needs air. She pulls away and sees the deep desire in Kara’s eyes.

“I can’t just stay friends with you anymore.” Lena whispers.

“Me neither. Can we start over?”

“Yes, please.”

#supergirl #supercorp #kara danvers #lena luthor #Singer #Vigilante #au #fanfiction #wtfuture

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hockeylvr59 · 5 years

Text

Promises Part 3 || Auston Matthews

Requested: [ ] yes [x] no

Authors Note: Here’s the much anticipated third part. My original idea was literally only the second half of this but a certain even this week inspired the first part, and it actually worked to create a decent length chapter without having to do too much time jumping like I had anticipated with the original idea and pieces moving forward so yeah. Enjoy. P.S. The gif is because I feel like there is an insane amount of hugging in this part.

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 2463

Stepping out of your final morning class, you absentmindedly reached for your phone, a habit that you were even more religious about since Owen had appeared. Notifications were blowing it up and as you caught Auston’s name on the news reports your heart stopped for a minute panicked that they had found out about Owen.

Auston had very quickly made the decision to keep his son out of the press for as long as he could, a decision that you fully supported. After all, the situation would likely bring negative media to the team and though he was committed to being a dad, there was still a lot of things that Auston was working on getting settled. In your mind, it would be better to wait until summer or at least until he was prepared to handle any backlash from fans that may occur. With the number of texts you were receiving on a daily basis from Auston, needing to make sure that he was doing this or that correctly, and the fact that he had broken down on you crying at least more than once since that first day, now definitely didn’t seem like the right time.

Opening one of the first links on your screen, you quickly skimmed the article and were relieved when the reports had nothing to do with Owen, but rather that Auston had signed a five-year extension contract with Toronto. Immediately you sent him a text of congratulations, honestly overjoyed that it was one less weight on his shoulders because you knew that he’d been thinking about it more now than ever.

By the time you got out of your afternoon class a few hours later, there was a response inviting you to join them for a family dinner. Sadly you had a networking event to attend and so you responded that you would have to do something to celebrate another day but that he should bask in the achievement with his parents and Owen.

The event that evening was nice, well put together, and you had had a few really good conversations with people already established in the field. All the same, as you stepped into your building you were ready to get the heels off of your feet and just crawl into bed. As soon as the elevator doors closed, the heels moved from your feet to dangling from your fingers while you dug for the keys to your apartment in your purse.

WIth eyes focused downward as you approached your door, you jumped when you heard a familiar masculine voice from the wall to your left.

“Oh my god!” You exclaimed, shoes dropping to the floor as you clutched a hand against your chest. “Holy shit Auston. You scared me.” You complained, now actually paying attention to the world around you. Auston was leaning against the wall with a bottle of wine in his hand and a cardboard box tucked under his arm. “What are you doing here?” You added questioningly. “You’re supposed to be celebrating with your family.”

“We did. Now I want to celebrate with you.” He responded. “Can I come in? I brought dessert. Your favorite.” Nodding as you crouched down to pick up your dropped heels, you quickly twisted your keys in the lock of your door, motioning for Auston to head in before following.

By the time you had closed your door and flipped the lock, Auston had moved to your kitchen, finding glasses from your cabinets so that he could open and pour the wine. With heels being tossed into the corner, you slipped out of your jacket leaving you in just the simple navy dress you’d decided you looked decent enough in earlier that day.

Approaching the island in your kitchen you lifted the lid of the cardboard box, peeking at the dessert until Auston smacked your hand away.

“No peeking.” He insisted though it was clear that he wasn’t all that serious about it.

“Yeah, yeah. I think I’ve earned it.” You murmured grabbing a few plates as well as silverware to serve the chocolate cheesecake that looked absolutely fantastic. It was your favorite and it made you smile for a moment at the fact he’d remembered. The moment you turned Auston traded you the plates and forks for a glass of wine and you nodded in appreciation before taking a sip.

“Wow...that’s good wine.” You commented, more used to the $5 Arbour Mist than whatever this had cost him. When the only response you got was a self-satisfied smirk you rolled your eyes before leaning back against the counter. Taking another sip before just swirling the wine around the glass you watched as the muscles of his back and arms flexed while he cut and served up slices of cheesecake, before picking both plates up as well as his own glass of wine and motioning with a nod toward your couch.

Sinking into the soft fabric, you tucked one leg under yourself, getting comfortable before taking the plate Auston was handing you. “I’m really proud of you, you know. This hasn’t been an easy month but today proves that you can do anything you put your mind to. Like be a dad and sign a 5yr/11 million dollar contract to play hockey.”

The smile that appeared on Auston’s face was one of contentment and you couldn’t help but wonder how many glasses of wine he’d had before arriving at your apartment. Leaning forward to put the wine glass on your coffee table, you picked up the fork to take a bite of the cheesecake and immediately flushed when you basically moaned taking the first bite.

“Double wow...I don’t know where you found this but I might have to keep you around if you provide wine like that and cheesecake like this.” You teased, finally making Auston chuckle though it initially came out a bit strained. He hadn’t really said much since he arrived and it caused you to watch him for a moment concerned.

“Is everything okay?” You finally asked, setting your plate down for a moment to scoot across the couch a bit closer to him. Nodding, Auston set his own plate and glass aside before reaching to tug you to his side, his arms wrapping around you in a hug.

“Everything is fine.” He assured you, his fingertips trailing up and down your back. “Well, I mean everything that isn’t fine I’ll figure out. Today’s supposed to be a good day and I really just wanted to come here to say thank you. I honestly...I don’t know if today would have happened if you hadn’t been there to help me keep it all together.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Aus...I care about you. That’s what friends do.”

“Please y/n...I do need to thank you so please just let me. Thank you for being a much better friend than I ever could have asked for. You don’t even know how much everything you’ve done means to me. You have been my sounding board and my voice of reason through all of this and I appreciate it.”

If he kept it up he was going to make you cry, and if you started to cry you were really going to end up down the rabbit hole of emotions tonight. Twisting slightly to get a better hug, you pressed your nose into his neck for a moment before pulling away.

“I’ll always be here for you Aus.” You assured him before sliding back on the couch a bit to regain the glass of wine and cheesecake that were both still waiting to be finished. “And thanks for this. I really needed it after that event. I’m completely exhausted.”

Auston stayed for another hour, talking about what one thing he was going to spoil himself with from his new contract, what he wanted to do for his parents as a way to say thank you for putting up with him and taking care of Owen this past month. You suggested that he get his sisters a spa day just as a reminder that he loves and is grateful for them too, even if they hadn’t been able to actually come up to Toronto to meet Owen yet.

When he finally left you cursed yourself quietly because it was things like this, moments when he acknowledged you that deepened the feelings for him that you were trying to avoid because he didn’t see you the same way you saw him.

____

The fact that you would do anything for Auston because even more apparent two days later when you arrived at his apartment to find him pacing, Ema trying to calm him in Spanish while she cradled Owen in her arms. She spotted you first and after murmuring something else to Auston, disappeared with Owen into the nursery.

Before you could even ask what was wrong, Auston had you wrapped in another hug, and as he held you close you could feel the tears from his eyes dripping onto your head.

“I don’t know what to do. I can’t find a nanny.” He whispered and peeking around his body you could see that his coffee table was covered with folders and papers strewn everywhere.

“What’s the problem? You said that there were a few you liked.” You inquired, rubbing a palm over Auston’s back before pulling away to pull him toward the stack of papers. Sighing, Auston followed while rubbing at his face to wipe the tears away. It was clear that the pressure was getting to him to find someone so that his mom could return to the states. He knew that it wasn’t fair to his dad or his sisters to keep his mom here any more than necessary and this wasn’t the first time that he’d voiced his concerns to you.

“There are, but none of them have 24/7 availability to be a live-in nanny. The few that had that open just, I don’t know, it didn’t feel right and I’m not sure I can trust them.” Resting one hand on Auston’s knee as he sat beside you, you thumbed through files, immediately becoming overwhelmed so you could only imagine where he was at mentally. You’d told him from the moment he’d started interviewing that he should only pick someone who he felt he could trust implicitly. Not only was it his son’s life that he was putting into their hands, but it was his home, and to an extent his money.

“Alright, so which ones do you like and what hours do they have open?” You asked, ideally looking to be able to find the right folders in this mess. Auston reached forward to hand you a pair of folders and then ran his fingers through his hair.

“Those are the two that I would hire if they had the right hours but they both can only do daytime, seven am to five pm with very little exception. They can do weekends but again, only during the day. I just...I don’t know what to do. My job is a primarily night time job and road trips mean nights away and why is this so hard?”

Sitting silently for a moment you debated whether you were actually about to let the thought in your head leave your mouth. “Is there one that can do a rare evening if need be?” Taking the files from you to flip through them for a moment, Auston nodded.

“They both could as an exception, not a rule.” He said. “But again I don’t see how that helps me.”

“Which one do you like more?” You asked and when Auston handed you a file you took a few minutes to read through it before handing it back. “Hire her.”

“Y/N. I already told you that I can’t. I need someone that can be here overnight with Owen, you’re smart enough that I shouldn’t have to tell you that.” Letting out a deep breath you rolled your eyes at him, placing a hand on his knee again before standing and moving to grab a bottle of water from his fridge.

“I can’t believe I’m about to do this.” You mumbled to yourself but really you knew that there wasn’t another choice at least not right now. When you looked up from the fridge Auston had followed you and was just staring at you confused.

“Hire her. She can work from 7-5. I am always done with class long before then anyway and she can occasionally stay late if I have an event I have to attend. Hire her to work days and I’ll cover nights where needed Auston. It doesn’t make that much of a difference to me whether I sleep here in your guest bedroom or back at my own apartment.”

Sipping at the water you waited for him to respond and you had downed about half the bottle before he opened his mouth to speak.

“Are...are you sure?” He implored, and while you appreciated him checking because your mind was screaming about just how bad of an idea this was, he needed you and Owen needed you.

“Yes, I’m sure Auston. I mean unless you don’t trust me.”

“Of course I trust you. Pretty sure I trust you more than I trust myself when it comes to Owen most days.”

“Then it’s settled, call and hire her before someone else does.” Tossing the now empty bottle you moved to leave the kitchen to go see Ema and Owen, but once again Auston pulled you into his body.

“You’re the best. I owe you one.” He said, his breath tickling your ear and forcing you to fight back a shiver.

“You owe me more than one, but who’s counting.” You teased, patting him on the chest as you turned to venture down the hallway of his apartment. “I better hear you start dialing.” You called over your shoulder. This was going to be an interesting situation but the moment you saw Owen and was handed the six-week-old infant from his grandma, all those anxieties ceased and you felt at peace.

��The nanny situation is taken care of.” You murmured to Ema who wrapped you into a half hug around the baby in your arms.

“I heard.” She replied. “Thank you. My son doesn’t realize just how lucky he is that you’re in his life.”

“I know.” You whispered softly.

“Someday he will, someday he’ll see.” She assured you. You weren’t going to get your hopes up on that but the wistful side of you hoped that she was right. Either way, you had promises to keep and you couldn’t let Auston or Owen down now.

#auston matthews #auston matthews imagine #toronto maple leafs #toronto maple leafs imagine #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #hockey imagine #hockey imagines #tleafs #006

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frangipanidownunder · 5 years

Text

Skin Trade: Chapter 4

A/N This is a casefile written for an anon who requested a fic about how Mulder and Scully would deal with being paired with other people for an undercover case.

Tagging @today-in-fic and @xfficchallenges for the Fic is Medicine prompt 1.

Rating: mature, some violence, medical gore.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Riversend Industrial Estate, St Marks: Thursday 5 April 8.30pm

She takes a long, noisy breath in and blows it out sharply through her nose. “They’re here? What? Why didn’t you at least let them stay in the clinic?” She thinks of the gurneys, the kitchenette, the warmth.

“Quist was there.”

His tone rankles. His impatient footsteps echo off the dirty walls. She’s painfully aware of hers scuttling after him.

Deep into the building, behind scratched and splintered doors, are two young women. They are huddled together under a sleeping bag. Dash taps his foot on the concrete floor, startling Scully and the girls. He’s holding a flashlight and arcs it directly into their faces. She kneels in front of them, pushes his arm down, lowering the beam.

He snorts, his tone loaded with derision. Peering closer, she realises they aren’t alarmed by the light in their eyes. They aren’t alarmed, because their eyes are covered with bandaged patches.

They scramble up on the sound of her gasp and the taller of the two turns around and the other lifts the back of her top up. Her ribs protrude but that’s not the thing that causes the breath to leave Scully’s body. She pulls away the bandage, soaked with yellowy-pink fluid, to see two strips of pink flesh against the dark skin of the rest of the girl’s body. Raw, crusting over at the edges. She presses the adhesive tape back down and the girl sucks in her breath. The other one has the same wounds. She’s younger, cries with the pain.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. We’ll get you something.” She turns to Dash and pushes him out of their hearing. Fury stings her veins.

“I can’t believe you left them here.”

“If I’d let them stay in the clinic, Quist would have collected them.”

“They need urgent medical attention.”

“I saw to them, Agent Scully.”

“They’re in danger of infection.”

He glares over her head, then down at her. “I am well aware of the potential side effects of this kind of wound.”

She lets out a slow breath. Looks away from his searing gaze. “How did they get to the clinic?”

“They told me they walked, followed the sounds of the river. But Quist must have driven them. I shut the door in his face when he tried to follow them in. He told me he’d left something in the clinic. I told him to come back later then I saw him pacing in the parking lot.”

“He didn’t finish the job. He wants more time with them.” She looks back at the terrified girls. They can’t be more than 16 years old.

“They’re in good shape considering their injuries. They’re the evidence we’ve been waiting for. I’m taking them.”

She bristles at his tone, the crude way he’s reduced them to objects. “What are their names?”

There’s a second before he answers. Enough time for his expression to register shock, indignance at her question. “Does it matter? We have to act now. Quist will be working out how to get to them.”

“Agent Dash, these are frightened young women who’ve been through a terrible ordeal. They have names. Our priority is to ensure they are given the best care and while we’re doing that, why don’t we treat them with dignity?”

He grabs her arm. She looks at his fingers, wrapped around her forearm. His nails are too long, the wedding band a reminder of her situation. She takes a deep breath in, willing herself not to think about Mulder and the way he touches her.

“You’re here to assist me. You’re here entirely in a medical capacity, to do as I ask, Agent Scully.” In the distance, there’s a blast of fake machine gun fire from the arcade and he stops talking, grits his teeth, flares his nostrils. He looks ready to bust open. His voice slinks low. “These girls…this case is mine.” He stares into her eyes, hard, before letting go and walking to the car.

She breathes. It takes all her experience to get the girls to trust her enough to move. She can hear Mulder in all her lines. “I understand this is hard for you, but you’re going to be safe,” she says. “We’re on your side. We need you to come with us. We can help you and you can help this happening to others.”

The girls, Sofia and Camila, are thirteen and fifteen years old. Probably chosen to order based on skin tone. There’s a neverending supply of wealthy people looking for matches as grafts for their gratuitous surgical enhancements. And a neverending supply of unwitting or poverty-stricken donors. The Skin Trade is both efficient and inclusive.

Dash leaves her to the questioning, to administer the care and understanding he hadn’t during his medical examination of the girls. They are reticent, fearful. How she wishes Mulder were here to listen, to quirk his head to one side, to find a story in his repertoire that would make these young women feel like they are not alone in the world.

She tries her best, she finds the softest place inside her, the place she lands when she thinks about Emily, and she talks to these girls. She listens to the horrific details of how a mysterious woman called Medea lured them with the promise of teaching them how to make their own candles and soap. How they thought Quist was there to help too. They knew him from the centre, so they felt comfortable.

“He told us our skin is beautiful and our bones too.” Camila, the older one, speaks with a wavering voice. “He said our eyes are like the earth. He told us our skin is like velvet and silk. He said he loved the colours of the candles we made because they are the colours of heaven.”

She listens as they told of drinking from a pewter cup, feeling dizzy and falling asleep. When they work he had stolen their skin and taken out their eyes, cutting off their sight, their ability to identify him. He left them with concave voids puckered like wax seals. And there’s no doubt he wants more.

“Has Quist ever mentioned where he lives?” Scully asks.

They huddle together tighter. Camila lifts her head to the sound of her voice. “His voice changed.”

“What do you mean?” she asks.

Camila sniffs back tears. “Everything sounds sharper now.”

Scully puts in a call to Dash. He’s curt, snaps a loud goodbye. She jerks the phone away from her ear. There’s a social worker at her side, waiting to take the girls. She apologises to the woman, despite herself.

“My…husb…Dr Linton has been working long hours. This case…”

The woman blinks and nods, understanding. Scully watches the girls follow a social worker down the hallway. A new life awaits them, fuller perhaps in many ways, but they are already diminished. Less.

Room 24 St Marks Plaza Motel: Friday 6 April 2000 7.45am

In her dream, muted pastels whip around, shaped like eyes with weeping pink centres. Candle wax drips where lashes should be. She hears Mulder’s voice calling out her name. She can’t see him, but she knows he’s there, always out of reach, stretching invisible fingers through the pastel eyes, whirling, swirling, screeching but she’s blind. She wakes to the alarm, sitting up in a start, sweating, his name on her lips. She takes out her phone. Dials his number. Forbidden feels like the only way. She listens to him breathing. It’s enough for now.

Dash raps at her door, startling her. She slips the phone into her robe pocket. Mulder at her hip is as close as she’s going to get. She stands back to let Dash in. His eyes wander downwards. She pulls the robe tighter. He’s good-looking in an intimidating way. All sharp angels and hardness. There’s an uncomfortable shiver down her spine, a pulse of vulnerability that she hasn’t felt in the years as Mulder’s partner. The way Mulder treats her as an equal, yet still sees her femininity, is one of the many reasons she’s fallen in love with him. Fuck, she misses him.

“Who are you calling?” Dash’s voice pecks at her.

Back turned, she fingers the keypad, remembering the soft sound of Mulder in her ear.

Dash, despite his lean frame, fills the room. “The girls weren’t at the foster home this morning. The foster carer reports hearing a car in the early hours of the morning. The girls took their bags with them.”

“You make it sound like they went willingly.”

Dash stares at her. “I am reporting the facts of the case, Agent Scully.”

“Your tone implied it,” she says.

He holds up his hands. “Look, Agent Scully, however you deal with your partner is your business, but on my watch, on this case, we communicate with our words. We don’t imply, we don’t infer, we don’t leave out whole sections of logic and leap to unnatural conclusions. You were employed on this taskforce to support me. Your medical expertise was required. Now, your FBI expertise is required. If you are not in the right frame of mind to employ those skills, you will not be welcome at the scene. Is that clear?”

She opens the bedroom door and doesn’t turn back.

“At times, your attitude has bordered on the aggressive, Agent Scully. And as I suspect that was your partner you were calling, I will have no option but to put that down in my report.”

The slam of her door rattles the window and she can hear the judgement of Dash’s words in each grating noise. At her hip, the phone is a reminder of both her proximity and her distance to Mulder. She scoops it out and hears his tinny voice. She hadn’t ended the call and neither had he.

“Did you hear that, Mulder?”

“The part where he updated you on the case or the part where he said he was going to report you?”

Her clothes hang in straight lines in the closet and she tucks the phone under her chin as she pulls out a black pant suit and soft pink turtleneck. “Where would they go? You’ve met them.”

“Are you implying that I’ve passed on information about the young people who attend the youth centre, Agent Scully?”

His humour has buoyed her and annoyed her in equal measure in the past but it’s a solid part of him and she’s grateful for it as she gets dressed. “There’s a witch, a woman known as Medea.”

“They mentioned her. Medea was a woman who, according to legend, murdered her lover’s children,” Scully says.

“Or a helper maiden who was misunderstood. Shit,” he says in her ear and she feels a bolt of relief. The car engine outside is rumbling. Any second Dash will blast the horn. Mulder speaks and she knows she’ll see him soon. “I think I know who Medea is.”

To be continued

#txf fanfic #my fanfiction #xfficchallenges #msr undercover casefile

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incorrigible-rapscallion · 5 years

Text

A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO MEN AND MANSLAUGHTER -- Script (pgs. 24-30)

[pgs 1-2; 3-7; 7-14; 14-23]

INT. HARRIET'S ENTRYWAY - LATE NIGHT

David, Achilles, and Harriet crowd together in the entryway, Harriet shucks off her opera coat with restless energy.

AUNT HARRIET That was certainly an evening. I haven't seen anyone so explosive and irate about a topic in quite some time. I admire that man's passion, but his tactics were more on par with schoolyard guerrilla warfare.

DAVID I think I'm going to turn in for the night, if you don't mind.

AUNT HARRIET Of course, bambino. Let me know if there is anything else you need.

David nods then shuffles up the stairs with Achilles. Harriet huffs and shakes her head with a small smile.

INT. GUEST BEDROOM - SAME TIME

The guest bedroom is styled like a Victorian farmhouse.

David collapses on the bed, fully clothed. Achilles whines, but David is already out cold.

MONTAGE: DREAMSCAPE #1

Images of David's interactions from the day's events replay on fast-forward in David's sleep. Each encounter is coupled with the observations that he jotted down in his notebook.

Thomas is the star of this dreamscape, as the meeting at the butchery begins at the same rapid pace as the other interactions, but slows down once it settles on the eye contact he made at the town hall.

A sequence of implausible scenarios involving Thomas in the act of killing someone are added to David's memory:

-Thomas stabbing Mr. Lancaster like a grotesque greeting at the butchery -Thomas slitting Lily's throat instead as he walks past her -Thomas immediately rushing David into a strangle-hold, both at the butchery and as they crossed paths at the town hall

All of the killings are concluded by a flirtatious wink.

END OF MONTAGE

INT. GUEST BEDROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

David wakes sharply in an uncomfortable position, still dressed in his clothes from yesterday.

Light streams in David's eyes from the bedroom window. Harriet is in the room, opening the curtains.

AUNT HARRIET I was about to get the smelling salts if you didn't wake up. Normally, I wouldn't mind a reasonable bout of lethargy, but you have dinner with a fine and distinguished gentleman in the next thirty minutes.

David tosses and turns until Achilles comes to his bedside. David grunts in response and Harriet leaves the room.

INT. HARRIET'S ENTRYWAY - LATE AFTERNOON

David stands impassively as Harriet gives him a "once over."

AUNT HARRIET You and I both know that this is the change you came here for.

DAVID I didn't want to talk about that last night and I definitely don't want to talk about that now.

AUNT HARRIET Then talk about it with your date.

INT. RESTAURANT ENTRANCE - EARLY EVENING

David and Achilles stand in front of a RESTAURANT HOST. The place is whimsically styled after an Italian chateau.

HOST You're here for the reservation under "Harriet Truelove," yes? We were expecting you. The other member of your party is already seated.

David peruses the RESTAURANT PATRONS until he sees Thomas.

Once again, the ambient noises and other people fade away as David's breathing escalates. Achilles then calms him down.

Thomas locks eyes with David and smiles in recognition.

HOST If you'll follow me, sir?

DAVID I'd rather seat myself, if you don't mind.

INT. RESTAURANT - TABLE FOR TWO - EVENING

Thomas stands as David and Achilles approach the cozy table setting.

Achilles sniffs at Thomas' outreached hand and allows to be petted. Immediately, Achilles becomes docile and rolls over on the restaurant floor for a belly rub.

David watches, horrified, and stops breathing. This prompts Achilles to leap back up in order to lick at David's hand.

Once satisfied, Achilles lays down at David's feet. David gapes at this behavior and sits down at the table.

Thomas hovers with a cheerful expression before sitting too.

THOMAS I must admit, I had hoped you would be the mysterious stranger that Ms. Truelove was so adamant about my meeting. I was honest when you came in my shop--I am a dyed-in-the-wool fan of your work.

DAVID I suppose you feel that my characters are nuanced and my killers all have realistic motivations.

THOMAS Yes, but I feel that that is only skimming the surface when appreciating your writing techniques.

DAVID I'm flattered that you've spent so much time analyzing...me.

THOMAS Interesting, because you don't sound as though you're flattered.

DAVID I have a difficult time socializing and making small talk.

THOMAS I'm well aware of your background with your advocacy projects for children and students with special needs. I know that you yourself experienced a discriminatory education growing up.

DAVID "Discriminatory" is one way of putting it. Some would say "illegal" by today's standards.

A WAITER comes to the table to deliver a wine sampler tray and a shared appetizer plate.

Thomas gestures for David to eat first, but David declines.

DAVID I'm fine with water for now.

THOMAS Fair enough. But the tenderloin will pair nicely with the red, if you change your mind.

DAVID I take it the tenderloin comes from your own butchery?

THOMAS You caught me. I was hoping to impress you by picking a restaurant that exclusively uses my choice cuts. I also hope you don't mind that I ordered ahead for us.

DAVID I doubt that I have any choice in the matter anyway.

THOMAS Please understand, that wasn't my intention. I simply wanted to demonstrate that I am just as proficient in my own area of expertise as you are.

David takes some food from the appetizer, but doesn't eat it. Thomas picks at his own selection, eating delicately.

They remain in silence until the Waiter comes back to remove their dishes and set down their entree plates.

THOMAS I apologize if I said something to upset you in any way. I feel a little out of my element tonight.

DAVID You mean that you are able to charm everyone that you take out on a date?

THOMAS I confess that I actually don't date very often. I simply meant that dinners and lively discussions are usually my forte. It's why I wanted to be a butcher in the first place--I wanted to understand the fine details that make up a memorable meal.

DAVID That's a...tasteful answer.

THOMAS And you said you couldn't make small talk!

DAVID I really can't. The opportunity presented itself, so....

They lapse into silence again. David still keeps a stoic expression, but Thomas grins anytime they lock eyes.

Both dinner and dessert pass by. The Waiter delivers the check to Thomas for him to look over.

THOMAS It looks all good to go. My compliments to the chef.

The Waiter nods and leaves with check, without payment.

David pauses with his credit card and wallet out.

DAVID I assumed I would be paying for my half...?

THOMAS Of course not. This meal was on the house. All of mine are, considering...

DAVID I can at least leave the tip. It was excellent service.

THOMAS It always is.

David trades out his card for cash, places it on the table, then stands ungracefully with Achilles. Thomas follows suit.

THOMAS Even though this was a less-than-ideal date, I want you to know that I truly enjoyed your company. Perhaps I could convince you to take another chance?

DAVID Perhaps. In the meantime, I have some business to take care of. But I'll be sure to let know.

THOMAS That's all I could hope for. I'll be waiting.

David nods stiffly and exits with Achilles at his heels.

DAVID (mumbling) Please don't.

EXT./INT. DAVID'S CAR - NIGHT - TRAVELING

David drives throughout the town of Pleasant Grove at night. Achilles sits in the passenger seat.

David white-knuckles the steering wheel and gear shift as neon store signs and street lamps pass over his troubled face.

MONTAGE: DREAMSCAPE #2

David, once again, replays images of day's events--this time featuring his blind date dinner.

Key images that David focuses on are:

-Thomas seated at their table, waiting for David to arrive -Achilles rolling on the floor with oddly docile behavior -Thomas with a cheerful expression -Thomas with a concerned expression -Thomas with a vacant expression -Thomas cutting into the meal's tenderloin with a steak knife

This segues into another sequence of implausible scenarios involving Thomas killing someone during their dinner:

-Thomas breaking Achilles' neck while the dog waits for a belly rub -Thomas grabbing the Waiter's pen and stabbing it in their neck -Thomas lunging across the table to, once again, strangle David

Like before, all of the killings are concluded with a flirtatious wink.

END OF MONTAGE

David has stopped breathing and Achilles licks at his hand on the gear shift. David then pets Achilles' head, almost aggressively, as he calms down.

David notices that the lights are on inside the PLEASANT GROVE POLICE STATION as he approaches it at an intersection.

David abruptly pulls into the parking lot.

DAVID (to Achilles) Let's do the fandango, buddy.

He exits the car with Achilles and single-mindedness.

#a serial killer's guide to men and manslaughter #netflix call me #hannigram #hannibal s4 #nbc hannibal #hannibal #script #screenplay #screenwriting #original work

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speedybooksandcreativeheaven · 5 years

Text

Only Sinners are Repentance Series

Chapter 10

Story Summary: The gangs in New York have not been getting along as the control of the city is falling apart. Here we follow the story of Viper and Vemon as these girl’s experience heartbreak, drama, and death.

Chapter Summary: After, Jacks failed to break in Sam now confronts Kayla about their feelings for one another. While Mika looks into the years when Kayla joined, and she learns more about their secretive past.

Vemon – Kayla

Viper – Mika

Word Count: 1504

Sam POV

I was standing outside the door when I heard Kayla give orders to Joe to bring Jack outside. They open the doors as I turn the corner to not be seen. I hear yelling and screaming as I see Joe dragging Jack behind him.

My heart couldn’t stop beating in my chest. I can’t believe that she likes me back! All those years! My whole face glowed when I heard her voice but then I remembered our lives. We could never be together as I am assigned to bring them into the station.

I walk back towards the door as I see Kayla slump into the chair as she tells the men to relax. I see her body shake as her expression dulled. Jack must have said something to have her worried. I see Mika walk towards her as she tries to get some information about what Jack told her.

“What happened during those years? Did he really kill our members just because he didn’t get what he wanted?” she asked.

I see Kayla stand up as she slams her balled up hands on the table. The sudden movement caused Mika to back away from her as her brown eyes went dark and glared with anger.

“It’s none of your business, Viper! Get out of here!”

I see Mika quickly put her gun away as she bolts for the door. We lock eyes as I see her green eyes showing fear as she runs down the white hallway.

I decide to make my presence known, so I push open the doors and walk inside the office. As soon as I open the doors I receive a glare from Kayla, but she sees me, and her gaze softened as she covers her head in her hands.

“I’ll always be here for you. You don’t have to be scared anymore.” I spoke in the quiet room as Kayla removes her hands as I see her sad brown eyes.

“Sam,” her lower lip trembled, “How much did you hear?”

“Enough to know that you have feelings for me,” I state as her face blushes.

“Oh…” she winced, “Are you ashamed of me now that you know who I truly am?”

I walk closer towards her as one hand is on the black desk chair as our noses are touching.

“I would never be ashamed of you, doofus. I was worried, scared and a tad bit overreactive to when I first found out. I wanted to keep you safe, take you away from all this!”

I pull my face back as my hand still grips the chair. She smiles as she stands up and wraps her arms around my neck as she presses her head into my shoulder. I pull her against me as I whisper sweet nothings into her ear.

She lifts her head up as my arms are on her hip, trapping her as fear crossed her face.

“I don’t want you to get hurt because of me! There are still things I have seen, done that you wouldn’t forgive me. My sister doesn’t even know! Only me, Vic and Jack know and Vicino is dead.”

“I don’t care! I know that I still love you! Doofus, you forget that I am a police officer. I have seen and done many things that I am not proud of. Our relationship is the most important thing to me.” I confess as her face closed up in my embrace.

I pick her up as my one arm goes under her knees as she squeals and grabs onto my shoulder laughing until I reach the couch. I plop her down as I sit and pull her between my open legs. Her back leans against my chest as I wrap my hands around her, interlacing them. I can hear her heartbeat as she has calmed down and her breathing is normal. After a couple of minutes of comfortable silence, she turned her head towards me to look into my mossy green eyes.

“If nothing lasts forever, will you be my nothing?”

I beam down at her smiling face, “I will be your nothing until the end of time.”

I removed my hands from her waist as I pull her up, so she is sitting on my lap. I softly grabbed her chin as I gazed down at her thin pink lips. I pulled her face towards mine as I finally kissed her. Her brown eyes snapped open and then roughly closed as I moved my hands down and rest them on her lower back while her hands rested on my shoulders. I kissed her with all of the pent-up passion that I had for her over the last 6 months.

Slowly, I slowed down the kiss as we needed to breathe. We pull away as our link of mixed saliva broke. She touched her lips as she gave me a smile.

“I love you, Sam.” It was said so quietly that I almost had to ask her to repeat those three little words.

“I love you more, you doofus.”

Mika POV

I never seen Kayla so cross with me before. I shudder before I bolted out of the room but not before I see Sam and he notices my scared face. I slowly started to walk as I have been running for a while. I put my right hand on the white wall as I stop to catch my breath. What I didn’t know is that it opened a secret door that leads into a small concert room with a bunch of filing cabinets placed together and a touch screen computer mounted on the wall with a small clear desk and chair underneath. I looked both ways to make sure no one was coming, and I stepped into the room as the door shut behind me.

I walk up to the computer and sat down at the desk. Before I could access a scanner popped up and asked for my identification. I placed my hand and watched the screen as it analyzed my scanned hand and read out my file. I was in.

“Mika Anderson, identification accepted.” T.H.U.R.S.D.A.Y spoke in the quiet room.

“Search the database for when Kayla Anderson started to work with Vicino and Jack.”

It took a couple of minutes as I saw company files and online newspaper clippings popping up on the screen.

“Kayla Anderson, 24 years old, female. Started in 2011. Worked closely with Jack and Vicino.”

“Can you pull up Jack “Griff” Griffin file. T.H.U.R.S.D.A.Y”

A British voice read his file, “Jack “Griff” Griffin. The Kings Jack gang leader. Was the next in command for Don under Vicino “Vic” Anderson. Killed over 30 workers and one female cop, he presently runs the largest drug trade in lower New York. He put out a death treat on Venom after the accident..”

I thanked him as I dug a bit deeper. I wished I never found this in a million years.

It was an old photo back when Kayla was given the next in command for Don. I saw her shaking Vicino’s hand while I saw a pissed off Jack in the distance. A video started to play, it was at our old location and I see Jack walking away as he pressed a button and blew up our old headquarters with Kayla and Vicino still in the building. I pull up the rules the see that if the next in command was killed the original worker who was picked by Vicino, would-be future Don of the Royal Serpents.

The police told the news that night after the damage they were still looking for a body as they declared her dead on the scene. It wasn’t until 2 years later when I joined that Jack started his drug trade and he wanted to finish what he started.

For those two years it showed that Kayla disappeared with the help of Vic with fake passports and money, while Vicino worked in the shadows to recruit new members and get the company back on its feet.

It wasn’t until 2014 that Kayla made her face known as she was caught on a security camera shopping in another country. I see a police file in 2014 written by Willian Hotch, chief of the New York Police station. ‘Wanted criminal working with the Royal serpents has risen from the dead today as she has been on the run for two years.’

I stood up and backed away from the screen not believing that this was true. All of the dates matched the time frame, my father worked with us, and Kayla was on the run after Jack wanted to kill her to gain his spot back! He still wants to kill her and take command of our gang!

I started to breath heavy as I punched the wall which signaled the door to open as I ran along the hallways looking for Kayla’s office while the other members looking at me as if they saw a ghost.

#mobau #seduce me #sam incubus

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lovingsiriusoswald · 5 years

Text

Damned

Part 1 | 2 | 3

Fallen Angel!Sirius AU

Heavily inspired by: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Disclaimer: The first few parts will be based from the Prologue from the game, credits to Cybird for that! If the "series" gets too long, go to the "Damned - Sirius" tag for easy navigating!

************

I adore her. So much that I had traded my own wings and my status in the heavens just to be with her. This angered the gods and had me punished. It was forbidden among angels to fall in love with a mortal. We were damned. Whenever we fell for each other, fate would take her away from me and she would forget that I ever existed -- but I don't.

Every 24 years -- exactly that long, not even an extra day or less -- we would be able to meet again. It was a different encounter every time and it excited me, but the thought of her being taken away again the moment I tell her that I love her hurts me just as much.

Through thousands of lifetimes, I still hope that she would finally get to stay, that the gods had already forgiven me, or at least be moved by our love, but it just never happens. I've slowly started to lose hope, but I never regretted loving her. She was worth all of my wings and titles, my immortal life, and the heavens. Hope sparks again the moment I lay my eyes on hers, she would always look much lovelier. She always takes my breath away and I would often see myself just staring at her as she moves.

I love her. I adore her. I yearn for her. I'm forever damned to her.

Today was the 24th year since she was last gruelly taken away from me.

I walked side by side Ray, the King of Spades, through the garden. He was talking about Blanc, who happen to pass by just now, and how he was always in a rush.

I wasn't listening, I was too worried. What if she never came again? It's almost midnight and I haven't seen her anywhere in Cradle. Had the gods finally decided to forget about me? Remove my status? Am I a mortal now?

"Sirius." Ray calls for my attention.

"What?"

"You were zoning out again," he looks at me worriedly. "You've not been yourself the whole day, what's bothering you old man?"

"I assumed you wanted some alone time, I'd rather not meddle with your thoughts. I have to go patrol the area as well." I chuckled and let him shrug his shoulders and continue to walk away from me. I decided to stay in my spot and watched the full moon glow beautifully, she would love this sight.

A shriek came from above and I immediately look up. A lady was falling down from the sky, too quick and too fast. Her screams grew louder and I start to realize what was happening.

She's here, she's finally here!

In Cradle, in a parallel universe. Must that mean she's found a way to get here from Earth? The Land of Reason?

She falls somewhere in the rose garden, in Ray's direction, and a thought had immediately snapped into my mind.

What if I stay a little distant from her, just so she could stay a little longer?

I watch from afar as I see her in the arms of Ray, saved from breaking all of her bones. I saw the look on his eyes on her and I immediately doubted my plan.

"Good, you're alive." Rays says and she stares at him, still lost of what had happened and my heart felt like it was starting to hurt. "What kind of girl falls from the sky? Where did you come from?"

"My name is MC, I'm still not sure how but I came from St. James' Park in London."

St. James' Park? That was when I last met her a couple of lifetimes back, she was a 17th century Victorian noblewoman, the daughter of a noble family from the House of Stuart. When Queen Anne of England had reigned, she had ordered several guards to accompany their families to ensure their safety -- and I happened to be one of hers.

"London? St James'? Never heard of either."

I've been there, several times, with you, MC, I wish you could remember.

I could no longer stand them being so close to each other, my first plan visibly being thrown out of the way. "Ray, what are you doing? Don't tell me you're having a secret rendezvous at a time like this." I smirk as I walk up to them, my eyes focused on MC as she stares back in confusion.

I could get lost in those eyes. She's gotten more beautiful in the past 24 years. I could tell her I love her right then and there and tell her all the stories of the previous lifetimes we've spent together.

But I shouldn't. I can't let her be taken away so soon.

"As if, Sirius." Ray replies and I eye the way he holds her. MC takes the hint and rushes to get off of his arms.

"Uh, thanks for catching me. I'm fine so you can let me down now, if you don't mind." Hearing her voice again, after so many years, had left me breathless. Her voice was silvery and soothing to hear, she was effortlessly good at calming my nerves.

"You just fell out of the sky and you're worried about that? What a weirdo." Ray grins at her.

"It takes one to know one." She was witty as ever. I tried my best to stifle a laugh as Ray lowers her down gently, making sure she's balanced before letting her go.

"Guess you two aren't here for a date then?" I tried to play cool, acting as if I don't know who she is when I've known her so well in all of her lifetimes. She looks at me cautiously, but the same sense of familiarity sparkled in her eyes.

"I haven't introduced myself yet, I'm Ray and this is Sirius." He says as he motions towards me.

"Have you lost your way?" I ask, almost too immediately because I was excited to talk to her again after so many years. She stares back for a moment, before answering. Has she remembered?

"Hmm, I suppose you could put it that way." She says cautiously, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scans my face. I felt like I was in a trance, frozen like a statue as we stare at each other, like Medusa had found a prey. I am more than willing to surrender myself to her spells.

"She just fell from the sky." Ray says with a grin as if it was the most common thing to ever happen.

"She what?" I respond involuntarily, in shock that I'd been pulled out of her trance, instead of being shocked at what he said.

"I'm still not sure how or why, but what he said is true." She finally looks away and I felt my whole body finally relax. I didn't realize that I had held my breath all that time we were having a stare off.

"Then tell me, are you on the Red or the Black side?" I ask despite knowing that she has no idea what I meant, as my role as the Queen of Spades.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you mean. What color am I supposed to be?" She asks dumbfoundedly. She looked so innocent, I could just pick her up and spin her around and yell to the world of how adorable the love of my life is.

"Hmm. This girl really is a weirdo, just like you said." I tease and smile softly at her. Her face contorts to a frown, her lips pouted, eyebrows pinched together, and her cheeks flushed. She opens her mouth to say something but she immediately gets distracted by something past our shoulders.

"It was nice meeting you two, but there's something I forgot to do and I really need to go. Thanks for saving me!" She gives a quick curtsy before dashing off. I finally see the pocket watch she was holding, it was Blanc's! I watch her run until she disappears at the far end of the garden. And she's gone..

"And the weirdo's gone." Ray chuckles to himself.

"You said she fell from the sky, right?" I ask to myself, without realizing that I'd said it out loud. I wonder how she found her way here. Surely it should've been because of the White Rabbit.

"Yeah, I was just walking by and I heard screaming from above me." I wasn't listening to him. I was thinking of the ways where her clumsy little feet would've made her fall to a parallel universe. She mentioned about St. James Park, was there a magic door that had been there all along?

"Ray, do you think it's possible that she's--"

"Hm?" He says as I trailed off, finally realizing that I'd been thinking out loud.

Shit, think fast Sirius. What excuse can you make?

He leans forward to me and I try to think of any possible thing to say.

Okay, she came from the Land of Reason, that's where the first Alice had come from, people love Alice here in Cradle --

"Do you think she's the legendary Alice?"

FUCK

#ikemen revolution #ikerev #ikerevo #ikemen revolution fanfiction #ikerev fanfiction #ikerevo fanfiction #sirius oswald #ikemen revolution sirius #fanfiction #damned - sirius #fanfic #ikemen revolution fanfic #ikerev fanfic #ikerevo fanfic #fallen angel

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kaqeyamas · 5 years

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I’M NOT A FOOL;

[ CAMILA MENDES, FEMALE, SHE/HER] — If you’re strolling Derry today, you might see [ SAWYER DEMPSEY ] along the way! The [ TWENTY FOUR ] year old can usually be found at [ THE HOMELESS SHELTER ], when they aren’t busy with [ DOING DRUGS or MAKING MONEY FROM STRANGE MEN ]. I hear they seem to be [ INTELLIGENT and PLAYFUL ], but they are also rumored to be [ SECRETIVE and PARANOID ]. — [ OOC: SUMMERLEA, 24, EST, SHE/HER ]

(trigger warning: prostitution, drug abuse, rape)

I JUST LOVE THAT YOU’RE DEAD INSIDE.

— sawyer grew up in a small town in pennsylvania, under the name of vivien whitewater, where she spent most of her time with her older twins sisters, wren and sien, and their older brother. the four were raised in a wealthy household, but it wasn’t until they were older that they understood what their father did for a living.

— their mother filed for divorce when sawyer was about twelve years old, and that’s when things began to get really bad. their dad moved sawyer out of derry, leaving wren and sien with their mother, while sawyer and her oldest sister remained with their father, who became somebody she didn’t quite know any more, angrier and drinking more often. her sister, grace, began to change as well. she seemed to be sad, and fragile, and no matter how hard vivien tried, she wouldn’t tell her what was wrong.

— on her thirteenth birthday, vivien’s father told her she was going to start contributing to their family, something she was eager about. she didn’t quite know what it was she was doing, when her father would send her to school with a small package, trading it to the same children at the bus stops after classes for large wads of cash. it took a while to realize she was selling drugs.

— when she figured it out, she knew better than to argue. she’d seen what had happened to grace, who had been smacked across the face at the dinner table upon that conversation once before, and decided she didn’t want to meet the same anger from her father. instead, she befriended the kids that bought from her, and as time passed, started smoking pot and snorting lines of coke in her free time.

— she didn’t see anything wrong with her life, or the things she was doing, until she was seventeen. grace had moved out of the house, and without his eldest daughter there to bring in the big bucks, vivien had to fill her spot. she had believed that she’d just be selling a new product to some of “daddy’s friends” when he dropped her off at one of the houses down the street, until the stranger began to undress. she went home that night in pain, hiding her tears from her father as she hurried to her bathroom, trying to scrub away every trace of the man on her skin.

— her drug use only grew worse after that, and each time seemed worse than the last. but she feared her father more than the men she spent the evenings with, and her dad always left her a decent chunk of money as a thank you for her hard work.

— the day she graduated from high school, everything changed. she was dressed in her cap and gown, when a familiar voice pulled her into one of the deserted classrooms of the school. grace stood there, well aware of what vivien was going through, and handing her a packed bag filled with clothes, food, and enough money to take her where ever she chose to go, advising her to come up with a new name, get a fake id, and find a town far, far away. vivien didn’t even walk the stage to get her diploma that day. instead, she shed her cap and gown and hurried towards the airport, certain to pay in cash. she bought a ticket for the next flight, and spent the entire ride to rhode island thinking of a new name. by the time she landed, she was sawyer dempsey.

— the first few days were as scary as she anticipated, eighteen and on her own for the first time in her entire life. she was free, finally. she slept in the homeless shelter most days, finding odd jobs in town to make some extra money, having spent most of her’s on the plane ticket to get there.

— over time, she found herself in an old bar in town, throwing back shots to forget the life she’d left behind, when an older man began to buy her drinks. he was nice enough, and she didn’t think twice about saving money, until he propositioned her for a quick ride in his truck, offering her seventy-five bucks for her time. on her last dollar, she accepted, hating herself for it. realizing she could make a decent amount of cash if she did this a few times a night, two or three days a week, she was soon able to buy herself a van, which she called her home and drove towards maine, where she knew she could find wren and sien.

— she was twenty three by the time she found herself in derry, maine settling into the same kind of life she’d created in rhode island, except this time, she was going to do better. she kept a nice wardrobe of clean, expensive clothes in her van, and made certain to take care of her appearance, living her life during the day as anyone else in town did, only to make her money in the evenings and curl up in her van come time for bed.

— now twenty four, she has her routine almost down to a science, making enough money to keep up her charade as well as feed her addictions. despite her bad choices and off-the-rails lifestyle, sawyer is a curious soul. she’d sad, at the root of things, but she carried herself with a smile, and makes friends easily, though she trusts very few. she’s searching for the kindness she knew with her sister, and has a tendency to show her own in the only ways she knows; sex.

— she loves all things spooky, and is girly as can be. she’s a good friend to have around if you like to explore or get dirty, easily found in the arcade or mall just as often as exploring the woods and adventuring the barrens. she’d never admit it, but she’s desperately searching for something to fill the void her sister left behind, whether it be in a friend or somebody to take care of her.

* since the writing of this biography, sawyer has settled down a little in life. she has found herself a decent boyfriend who she feels very safe and comfortable with, and has opened up to him about her past. the two live together, and she has stopped selling her body for money, as well as kicked her reliance on drugs.

YOU’RE JUST LIFELESS TOO.

available for all plots!

#derryintro #this is SO MUCH #im so sorry

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longliveninokuni · 5 years

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The Love Potion

Part of the EOA Ship Appreciation Week over on Discord.

The link on ff.net if you prefer: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13204284/1/The-Love-Potion

When Dona Paloma wants a man, she'll do anything to get him. When she gets a love potion, will she use it? What'll happen? And how can our favorite wizard fare with her request?

A/N: This is part of the Ship Appreciation Week over on the EoA discord server. Wanna join so you can't miss next year? The link's on someone's Tumblr page; I'm sure you guys can find it. ;) So what we have here is an admission: I, LongLiveNiNoKuni, ship canon Esteban and 18+ Naomi. Don't like it? Don't read it. And since this is an appreciation WEEK, you can expect another story tomorrow, and the day after that, until the 15th. Today's theme is "love potion", and I had a very dark idea before this one. Stay tuned for the author's note at the end for more. As for now, ENJOY!

Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit, fan-based, fanfiction. Elena of Avalor is owned by the Walt Disney Corporation and Craig Gerber. Please support the official release.

Doña Paloma was pissed. Looking at those two lovebirds standing over there talking. Arguing. Giving each other clever insults and banter that that stupid man saved for that sleazy wench. Doña Paloma frowned at Estéban, teasingly insulting his girlfriend Naomi, who laughs and gives him a cleverer insult.

Yes, Doña was jealous that Estéban was ignoring her and giving her subpar insults so that he could give his best ones to Naomi. Ugh. Disgusting!

As she looks between the two, Doña has to wonder how these two even got together. The age difference between them is very noticeable. Why Naomi? Why choose to be with her? No one else questioned or complained about the relationship because everyone was just happy and relieved that Estéban found love and happiness after all the terrible things he was forced to do with Shuriki. He's finally happy.

But why did it have to be Naomi?!

Doña took a deep breath. No matter, she can fix this. She's been thinking about it for a while, a solution to her problem, the best way she can have Estéban and his better insults and banter with her. She starts heading toward a carriage to the castle.

And when she gets there, she immediately heads towards the library, where a certain wizard and his workshop lie. Why is she heading there? Well, for one reason, and one reason only.

"I need a love potion." Doña Paloma stated bluntly, a hand on her hip.

Mateo turned to her with a brow raised. "What? A love potion?" Seeing her nod, Mateo turned to her fully. "Why do you need one?"

Doña Paloma smirked. "A man caught my eye, and I want him."

Mateo squirmed a bit. "Well, I don't think that's a good idea. Forcing a relationship never ends well."

Doña Paloma growled. "Look, I want that man to look at me and insult me the same way he does with his girlfriend."

Mateo crossed his arms. "Girlfriend? Insults? Are you talking about Estéban?"

Doña just waved him off. "Of course, I'm not, it's someone else!"

Mateo raised a brow.

Doña groans. "Fine, it is him. What does it matter?"

Mateo uncrossed his arms. "It matters because you and I both know what Shuriki put him through, and you're gonna do the same thing? You'll be no better than Shuriki."

Doña rubbed her arm. "I'm not gonna force him to do anything; I'm just gonna help him realize his feelings for me."

"With a love potion?" Mateo said with a pointed look.

Doña waves him off again. "Does it matter how it starts? All I want is to have Estéban for myself."

Mateo blinked again in disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Doña huffs. "Why won't you give me the potion?"

Mateo pinched the bridge of his nose before taking a deep breath, walking over to a shelf, pulled out a book, and placed it on the table between them. Then he opened to a page that shows a potion. "Love potion:" he reads from the book. "A potion that will make the person who ingests it immediately fall in love with the first person they see. The person will do anything their 'beloved' tells them without question and resistance. The effects will last depending on how much the person drinks. One drop is 6 hours, half the potion is 12 hours, and the whole potion is 24 hours. After the effects wear off, the person who drank the potion will not remember anything they did while under the potion's effect." Mateo then squints at a little hand-written note on the side. "Beware: do not ever make. The person who asks for this will have total control over the person they want to give it to. While the person who ingests it will not remember anything, it can have disastrous effects depending on what the controller requested them to do. I repeat: DO NOT MAKE!" After Mateo read the page, he looked to Doña Paloma. "Now do you see why you shouldn't use it?"

Doña Paloma only thought about it for three seconds before saying. "Just because I shouldn't use it, doesn't mean I couldn't use it."

Mateo only started at her blankly before closing the book. "I'm not gonna make it."

Doña groans/growls. "Fine! I'll find someone else to give me one!" She then turned and stomped out of the workshop.

"It's kind of impossible to get one! Only I know how to make it!" Mateo called out to her retreating form.

Doña Paloma was pissed as she made her way to her emporium. How dare that wizard not make her a love potion! So, it could have disastrous effects on the person who drinks it, so what?! Although, now that she's thinking about it, it'll only last for a day at most. And he wouldn't remember anything when it wears off. She stops walking and groans. Even if I did get the potion, it would be ultimately useless! She thought. It's more like a date rape potion from that description.

Doña then sighed. What was she thinking? Why did she care? She never had feelings for Estéban before, only when he started courting Naomi. Was she jealous?

Doña sighed again. "This is stupid." She decided to forget about the potion, forget about Estéban, and starts focusing on the massive sale she'll be having for the upcoming ball that Elena was throwing. Yeah, focus on getting the money from the people, then get super drunk from-

She stops walking as she sees Estéban and Naomi. Kissing.

All the jealousy and rage she pushed aside came back tenfold. She needs a way to have Estéban to herself!

When she enters her emporium, she finds the place empty of customers. Except, for one person.

A cloaked person was standing in front of one of Doña Paloma's item racks when they turned to face her. Their face is shrouded in shadows, but then they spoke. "Excuse me; I'd like to talk to the proprietor." He said.

Doña was a little suspicious of the man and spoke with caution. "And why do you want to talk to them?"

The figure spoke again. "I'd like to offer them something that'll make their desires a reality."

Doña's still suspicious. "And what would that be?"

The figure pulled out a vial of pink liquid. "A love potion. And not just any love potion."

Doña rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "What's so special about your love potion?"

"The effects are permanent."

The next moment, Doña is at this man's face. "Doña Paloma, I'm the one in charge here and the person you're looking for. So, about this love potion, you said it's, permanent?"

"Yes. Well, until the person under the effects kisses their true love. But I'm sure you'll be able to make sure that doesn't happen." He chuckles darkly.

Doña smirked. "How much?"

The man gives it to her. "Oh, I think the experience will be payment enough."

"What does that mean?"

The man doesn't respond. He instead walks past her and out of the emporium.

Doña looked at the doors that the man left from then back at the potion in her hand. Then she smirks. Perfect. Now I'll have Estéban to myself, and he'll give his best insults to me only! Then Doña thinks of how to make Estéban drink the potion.

It was the night of the ball, and Doña had a plan. She poured the love potion into a cup and filled it with punch. Once she finds Estéban, she'll give this drink to him, he'll fall in love with her, break up with Naomi, and then he'll give her all his best insults, and she would do the same. It's perfect!

Doña walks around, trying to find Estéban. When she does, he's with Naomi. Again. And this time they're laughing. Why? Well, doesn't matter, could be another bicker battle. Soon Doña won't have to worry anymore, walking closer to the couple, holding the cup close and ready to give it to Estéban so that he will love her and not Nao-

As Naomi raises her left hand to her lips to try not to laugh too loud, Doña spotted something sparkling on her ring finger. A ring. An engagement ring.

Doña stopped walking, standing frozen in place. Then she sneered at the couple. He proposed?! PROPOSED?! Has Estéban lost his mind?! Is that why Elena wanted to throw this ball, to announce their engagement? All these thoughts and more flooded Doña Paloma's mind as she let her anger fester.

Estéban can't marry Naomi. He just CAN'T! She's of commoner blood, non-noble birth. She has no proper stand other than being a former grand council member and being Elena's best friend. She's never even had any etiquette or manners for high society before that quinceañera, and even then, she lost most of them and never acted like that again. She'll embarrass Estéban and the royal family whenever royal dignitaries would visit the kingdom, probably losing a lot of chances for alliances and trade routes. She'll ruin the kingdom! How could Estéban not think of the consequences of marrying her?! If Doña was chosen, she'd make sure none of that happened.

Estéban shouldn't marry Naomi. He can't! And Doña Paloma was going to make sure of that. Once he drinks the potion! Then he'll be in love with her, she'll have him all to herself! They'll have better insult battles, and she'll make sure to secure trade routes and alliances with other kingdoms by making sure they don't argue with visiting royalty around. She will make sure everything is perfect, and she'll do that by controlling Estéban, ONCE HE DRINKS THIS-

Doña stopped. She just stops. If she gives this potion to Estéban, he'll be in love with her. But that love wouldn't be real. It'll be forced. Everything that she says they will do will be forced! She'll be no better than Shuriki. Maybe a little better though, Shuriki never used a love potion to make Estéban do things for her. He'd just do it. Out of fear. Anything.

Doña sighed. What was she thinking? Estéban's already had enough people forcing him to do things he didn't want to do, and enough unhappiness and misery for a lifetime. Doña looks at the two laughing; then they rest their foreheads against each other. Happy and full of love. Doña hasn't seen him this happy since he was reunited with his family four years ago. And she was going to take that all away. Doña may be jealous and petty.

But she isn't heartless.

Doña walked over to a random plant and dumped the drink into its soil. She then leans against a table and groans. "Uuuugh, how could I be so stupid?"

"I've been asking myself that since you came into my workshop." Doña turned to see Mateo walking over to her and stopping next to her.

Doña huffed. "What? Came here to gloat?"

Mateo smirked as he shrugged. "Not really, just here to stop you in case you did anything harmful." Then he leans on his hand. "So, what made you change your mind?" He asks.

Doña looked over to the couple, laughing again. She sighs. "The bastard already suffered for 41 years from Shuriki. If we were together through a potion, it wouldn't be any different other than that a potion was used." Then she smirked. "Plus, if we were together, we'd probably kill each other within a week." Then she smiles genuinely at the two. "Those two, they know when to back off, when to restrain themselves. I always knew, but I guess my jealousy blinded me."

Mateo smiles. "So, what'll you do now?"

Doña smirks. "Why, help Naomi with their insult war by giving her some ammunition that only I know about her fiancé."

Mateo's eyes went wide. "They're engaged?!"

"Oh hush, I'm sure the announcement will be made before the end of the night." Doña waved him off. Then she left him there, but not before yelling out. "By the way, change the name of the 'love' potion! We both know it isn't." And now she left him, standing with his mouth agape at the news.

Doña walked up to the happy couple, grabbing Naomi's shoulders. "Oh, there's the happy couple I've been looking for! How are the two of you doing?"

Estéban looks at Doña, giving her a wary look. "Doña…"

Doña Paloma waves him off. "Oh Estéban, you can't keep hogging Naomi all to yourself, so why don't you go off to Elena? Tell her to make the announcement before another person spots the ring on Naomi's finger." She smirks at the horrified look on Estéban's face and Naomi's blushing face. "Oh relax, I just want to congratulate the young girl, give her advice on how to deal with you." She smirks at his angry face.

Estéban sighs before grabbing Naomi's ring hand and kisses it. Then he excuses himself from the young women to find his cousin.

Once he leaves, Doña turns to Naomi with a smirk. "Want some knowledge about your future husband for your 'friendly' arguments?"

Naomi's eyes widened before she smiled mischievously. "What d'ya got?"

Later that night, Elena called out to everyone to stop and listen to an announcement: Chancellor Estéban Flores and Harbormaster/Royal Advisor Naomi Turner are engaged! Everyone cheered for the two, excited that there will be a royal wedding in the near future, and it's the most tortured resident who's having one no less!

And in the back, Doña Paloma was leaning against a wall, watching everyone congratulate the two. Doña sighs, realizing how devastating everything would have been if she'd used the potion. She's also thinking who was the person who gave it to her? And what if the potion had done something differently than what the man said? What if he was lying? These questions and more shall remain unanswered for Doña doesn't really care. The man could've been trying to teach her a lesson. Whatever the reason, she was glad that he did give the potion to her. She never would've been able to give that highly classified information to Naomi. Doña smirked as she sees Estéban blushing with embarrassment, apparently, Naomi decided to use some of that information early. Doña Paloma chuckled evilly, glad that her mini revenge plot has succeeded. And she did tell Naomi to come to her again if she ever needed more. Yes, everything was going fine.

As the view pans out of the ballroom, a lone figure is standing on the rail above the indoor fountain. Lowering his hood and revealing his blue hair, the figure is shown to be Marzel. Turns out, he was there when Doña made the request to Mateo for the love potion, hiding behind one of the couches and eavesdropping. When the conversation ended, he offered to Mateo to make sure she realizes what she's doing is wrong. So, Mateo gave him a vial of regular love potion and a cloak, and Marzel made his way to Doña Paloma's emporium. How he got there before her is a complete mystery.

Marzel smiles at the work he did. Now all that's left to do is to get rid of this cloak and join the rest in celebration!

A/N: Sooo, this story could've been extremely dark. It involves Shuriki using the love potion on Esteban for a day so he couldn't resist her "requests" that she gives him throughout the day. Then it ends after a night of...bed things, and the potion wears off. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE OF THE LOVE POTION IN THIS VERSION IS THAT ESTEBAN WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED EVERYTHING! And the night would fully end with Esteban crying at the things Shuriki made him do, and Shuriki accepting Esteban's crying as the only music she will ever here. Why do I torture the characters I love? But hey, I didn't write it, so it didn't happen! This is supposed to be a week of love guys, even I can acknowledge it. The man's been through enough, let him be happy this week! And with that said, thank you for reading and try not to get yourself killed. ;)

#eoa ship appreciation week #elena of avalor #esteomi #chancellor esteban #naomi turner #dona paloma #mateo de alva #dona was pretty jealous here #no one attack me for my almost story idea #this was almost a sad story #forgive me

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aithne · 5 years

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(Illume) June 19th - July 1st, 1583: Strange Bedfellows

From Lady Yukiko's Journal

6/19/1583

On our way to Akita and then Sapporo. I appear to have been given charge of a ship cat with a broken leg; Reiko splinted it and then carried it around with her for a couple of days, but every time she set it down, it came running--well, limping--to me.

It's a very pretty cat, white with patches of striped red. It's only got half a tail, but almost all of the ship cats have tails like that, so I assume it's normal.

6/21/1583

There really hasn't been much going on for the last couple of days, other than drilling with Haku and Panda.

Was awoken early this solstice morning by Thomas' voice, rousing Funitsu out of bed. Evidently, there was some sort of disturbance on deck that...had called Funitsu's name? Odd. I dressed swiftly and then came up on deck; the rest of my retinue had also heard the summons and were also up.

On deck, I saw a man lying on the boards, breathing very slowly. Tadaki had gone through his pockets and found a few items of the librarian trade, so to speak--poisoned throwing stars, to be exact. He was dressed in black that had definitely seen better days.

Funitsu said, "There were two of them, the other is dead. They were rowing towards us in that little boat down there. This one's almost dead, but there's no mark on him. I've healed him a bit, but it only served to rouse him a little."

Reiko kneeled by the man, touching his shoulder and then his heart. "He's been drained, his life energy's been pulled from him. It doesn't quite feel like a kitsune feeding, though. He's got a couple of magical things on him--the amulet around his neck and his little fingernail, oddly enough."

I heard Panda mutter, "What the hell..."

The man lying on deck roused and opened his eyes. He looked at Funitsu and said, "My task is done." He then closed his eyes and his chest stilled.

Reiko said, "He's dead." Mistress of the obvious, she is.

Funitsu unfastened the amulet from around the dead man's neck, and an illusion began playing; I recognized the person speaking as Funitsu's brother, Soshi Kaigen. The message, for message it was, was very informative. He made reference to dire trouble happening within the Scorpion Clan, and the same trouble seemed to be occurring in all the clans except Unicorn. Funitsu's father is incapacitated, making his brother head of the family (and head of the clan? Soshi has come up in the world since last I looked). He said that the librarian is our contact with the Black Hand--Panda started at that--and that Funitsu's stepmother had been sent to Yukiko's family in Hokkaido, which Funitsu's brother now thought might have been a mistake.

While we were listening to the message, I saw the librarian remove the magical fingernail from the dead man's hand with the point of a dagger. (Will we never stop mutilating the dead? Ugh.) Tomika attempted to make the corpse of the dead man speak, trying to find out what killed him, but after casting the spell, she looked up, a frustrated look on her face. "There isn't anything to work with. There has to be just a little residual life left in the body to have it speak, and there isn't anything at all."

We retrieved the other body, which Panda had thrown into the ocean. (Rather, Gryphon swam down after it.) The corpse described a killing mist that had drained their life from them--and said that they believed that it had been sent after one of us.

The sun was beginning to rise by this time, and to the south we could see a mist moving faster than the wind was towards us. Reiko, Panda, and Tadaki put their heads together and figured out what it was--a Breathdrinker, one of the number of creatures in the world that live on the life energy of others. The only thing that could really hurt it was fire, or enchanted swords.

We did have a fireball potion, which Reiko used to make the mist back off. We decided to not let it get away. Tadaki and Gryphon flew above the mist, and Tadaki dove through it, pulling out some things that were evidently held within the creature--some potions and a dark-bound book.

Hiroshi and Tadaki created makeshift exploding devices with lamp oil and the black powder that we carry. Funitsu decided that we were not about to let it get away and recover and come back to kill us once it was healed, considering that we'd already spent our last fireball.

Gryphon, Haku, and Tadaki harried the Breathdrinker back to shore with our little makeshift devices, and then Funitsu carved a door in reality with his wakizashi and stepped over to the shore with a torch. Haku followed, and Reiko hesitated but in the end decided to go, muttering something about a surprise.

The rest of the battle took place out of sight of the ship, but from the sound of explosions, I assumed it was going well. Panda stood next to me at the rail, watching the forest intently.

Finally, my retinue returned to the ship. Funitsu was somewhat scorched; evidently, one of those explosions had been Haku dropping a small cask of oil and gunpowder right next to him when the Breathdrinker attacked him. He was not much the worse for wear after Reiko got through with him, though he may need to cut his hair a bit--it's singed on one side.

Since we were all up, we figured we might as well stay up. Panda was looking at the librarian suspiciously, since he had taken the fingernail and hadn't said anything about what it did. I attempted to distract her and allay her worry somewhat; she does do what she can to keep from herself the knowledge of what he is, but I fear the message and the nail were a little *too* obvious. I drew Panda gently away, and over her shoulder I saw Funitsu and the librarian exchange a significant look. I reassured the samurai that I had every confidence that he would tell me all he knew when he found it out, but her demeanor remained stormy for the rest of the day.

From the Breathdrinker, we got a few useful items, including a war fan, a ninja-to, a sai, and five potions that Tomika has volunteered to identify for us. I find myself liking the Crane despite myself. I still don't trust her, but she's generally making herself useful, and I have to admit that I find her sparring with Funitsu to be entertaining.

The Breathdrinker was quite enough excitement for one day. I'm occupying myself, as I have been for the past few days, by learning the art of sailing a ship from Thomas and a few of the other sailors.

6/22/1583

Clear sailing today. Only excitement was Panda insisting that the librarian tell me whatever he knows--it turns out that he hadn't figured out what the nail does yet.

We covered tacking today during sailing lessons. It's suprisingly complicated, with three masts to worry about.

I finally named the cat whose leg Reiko splinted, and who I've been keeping with me ever since. Her name is Miu, though Haku was seriously lobbying for "Gimpy" on account of her leg.

She sleeps by my head, and purrs. And she's soft.

However, she also stares at me when I'm bathing. Most unnerving.

6/23/1583

The kitsune is being annoying. I think she's bored. She's wandering up and down the length of the ship, talking loudly with one or more of her spirits about something.

Still covering tacking. Much, much more complicated than it looks, but there's a logic that underlies all of it that I'm beginning to grasp.

6/24/1583

The librarian's making himself quite scarce today. I wonder what he's up to?

He hs yet to bring to me whatever he knows. He refuses to let me corner him. I finally sent Funitsu to talk to him, and all Funitsu brought back to me was that the librarian hadn't figured out what the fingernail did yet, other than possibly allow contact with Funitsu's brother.

I am beginning to grow suspicious. Panda might be influencing me, but I have not come so far in the world by ignoring my own instincts and that of my samurai. Something is wrong, and until the librarian comes clean with what he knows, i doubt I will sleep soundly.

I don't mind intrigue. I just want to know about it.

Akita tomorrow, thankfully. I spend too much time quiet and I start worrying--about Akechi, the child, our mission, everything.

6/25/1583

It's been a very long time since I've seen a town as badly in need of a good typhoon to level everything as Akita is. It was nothing but bar fights and whores as far as the eye could see. Reiko asked one of the prostitutes where she could find the general of the armies, and was promptly pointed towards a tavern called the Green Dragon, down the street a ways.

The tavern was quite rowdy, but Haku and Panda's forbidding presences allowed us to pass through the crowd unmolested. Tadaki motioned for us to stay back a bit, and went up to a man sitting alone at a table in the back, with several empty sake bottles in front of him.

Tadaki perched on a chair next to him, and said, "Nibori, where that's ten gold you owe me?"

The man looked up with bleary eyes, and asked, "Tadaki? What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were dead."

He shrugged. "Looking for you. And my ten gold. Are you going to pay up, or what?"

Nibori was a solidly built man with that thin-bladed nose so common to Sparrows, who looked to be perhaps ten years older than Tadaki. He might have been a bit younger than that, but either way it looked like the last few years had used him hard. He shrugged and reached into his pocket, handing over money to Tadaki without more than a grumble of protest. Tadaki motioned the rest of us over, and the general rubbed his eyes. "Friends, eh?"

Tadaki cocked his head and said, "Traveling companions. So, you're a general now?"

"Much good as it does me. At least I managed to send the army off in two different directions. The wine drowns out the voices, the town falls farther into disarray." He snagged a passing serving girl. "More sake. Enough for them. And some more for me."

I saw Haku pouring a carefully measured dose of the true source into a cup, which he then offered to the general. "Here, try some of this."

Nibori took it and downed the contents of the cup in one gulp, and then coughed and looked at Haku suspiciously. "Monk? Was that...water?"

Haku shrugged. "Sorry. More sake?"

He shook his head. "No, I...I'll be right back." I could see what looked like sweat and smelled quite a bit like pure alcohol begin to roll down the sides of his face. He stumbled from the table. We waited, and about ten minutes later he returned. "All right, what the hell was in that stuff?"

Nobody spoke. Finally, Panda dropped into the sudden silence, "Freedom, of a sort."

"Who the hell are you people, anyway? And why are you here?"

Panda stood. "This is a discussion better suited for a more private location." Nibori nodded and led us to his rooms, above yet another tavern.

We settled ourselves around his receiving room, and Nibori asked, "All right, could someone please explain what's going on?"

Reiko said, "We're in the employ of Akechi, who's currently a prisoner of Hideyoshi. It was suggested that if we managed to free you, you might be amenable to helping us. We were told that you were not a willing conscript in the army. We need a spy, basically, and thought you might make a decent one."

"And who told you that, pray tell?"

"Hirohito. He was our source, and he's been compromised."

Nibori muttered, "I did always wonder about him."

Reiko smiled at Nibori. She wasn't exactly flirting, but there was something... "You have a piece of crystal embedded in the back of your neck. It holds a piece of the spirit which currently controls Hideyoshi--and it was trying to control you. What we gave you broke that control."

"I know. It's only implanted in those who are rebellious. Rebellious, he says, when he orders atrocities and expects us to carry them out. I was able to resist his commands; that was what all the sake was for. So, if I'm your spy, you'll use what I know to hurt Hideyoshi?"

"To kill him, we hope. Some day soon."

"Then, yes, I agree. My life hasn't been my own for years, and it's his and that damn wu jen's fault."

Tadaki asked about Emi, the wu jen that my brother-in-law had said was my father's advisor. Nibori told us that she was doing something to my father and to all other around her, and noted that she was guarded by a Jade Warrior, a summoned guardian. Tadaki asked, in a low voice, "Do they know you're a Sparrow?"

"They don't have the slightest clue. Hey, did you ever find that sister of mine you had a crush on? If you could find me, maybe you could find her, too."

Tadaki shook his head and said that he hadn't seen her.

Panda broke in. "Nibori, if we are done here, might I have a word? In private?"

What was my much-loved but sometimes very odd samurai up to now? I only hoped it wasn't what I thought...

...except that after about fifteen minutes, Panda and Nibori emerged, Panda looking satisfied with herself and the Sparrow looking as if someone had hit him over the head with something heavy. The samurai asked Funitsu, "Shujenja, may we use your services? I and Nibori have agreed to be married."

I reminded myself to shut my mouth, which was hanging open. I was startled, and I had some indication of Panda's worries about her bloodline's continuance. I imagine the rest of my retinue was quite a bit more surprised than I. Funitsu searched for words, and settled on, "Er. Congratulations. Yes, of course."

"Can we perform the ceremony here? I see no reason for delay."

And so Nibori and Panda were married, and we went back to the ship, Panda promising to return to Nibori's rooms that night. On the way back, Reiko fell in walking next to Panda. "You do realize that's not how it's customarily done, right? I imagine you've scared the man out of a year's growth."

She shrugged. "It might not be customary, but i see no reason for complicating something that should be a reasonably straightforward alliance. I need my bloodline to continue, and he seemed to be amenable."

Tadaki broke in. "Besides, that's really much how it works among our people. You build a nice nest, and when you're chosen by a female, she comes along and tears it apart for you. You didn't disarrange his nest, so he's probably rather smitten."

Panda's voice was distant. "I don't need him to be smitten. I just needed him to agree." I could see Reiko shaking her head, muttering to herself.

The librarian, overhearing our conversation, actually blushed. Fancy that, the librarian blushing. Almost as surprising as Panda blushing would be.

We stay here tonight and let the samurai keep her appointment with the general. Tomorrow morning, We'll restock, and then we're off to Hokkaido.

Off for home.

I confess to some nervousness about what I may find there.

6/26/1583

The only comment Panda had about her tryst last night was, "Most educational." I didn't pry, and she didn't volunteer any details.

I rather hope that she doesn't fall pregnant just yet. After all, it would be good for her to discover just how much fun relations between husband and wife can be.

We weighed anchor about noon, and headed north. There's not much wind, which will slow us, so I'm not sure when we'll reach Sapporo.

Yet more sailing lessons today.

6/27/1583

Reiko woke screaming from what was apparently a nightmare early this morning. When Haku and I came into her cabin, Gryphon was butting her with his head, trying to wake her up.

All she would say, after she was finally coherent, was a...name? "Demonbane." Whoever--or whatever--that is. She either wouldn't, or couldn't, explain any more.

Weather holds fair but the winds remain scarce. Perhaps five more days to Sapporo.

Miu has taken to sitting next to my table as I write, occasionally batting at the end of the pen or the brush, whichever I happen to be using at the time. Irritating, but also adorable.

Haku is still calling the cat Gimpy. Of course, that may not be as bad as the fact that Reiko has taken to calling Gryphon "Kittycat".

6/28/1583

So very bored. Bearing up well, if I do say so myself, even if the child is expressing impatience with fists and feet.

I expect this boy to be quite the fighter straight out of the womb, at this rate. He seems to be taking lessons from Haku.

Ah, I miss Akechi badly tonight. The closer we get to the place I grew up, the more I feel that what we will find there is not going to be pleasant.

6/29/1583

Still bored.

The wind is picking up. Perhaps two more days to Sapporo, now.

The librarian is still unforthcoming, the shaman is still acting strangely, Panda is still calm as a forest on a windless day. Statu quo, one and all.

6/30/1583

Rereading the work of Sei Shonagon today. I fear I am but a dabbler in letters, compared to her genius.

We grow near, and I grow more afraid.

"Why so silent?" said Her Majesty. "Say something. It is sad when you do not speak." "I am gazing into the autumn moon," I replied. "Ah yes," she remarked. "That is just what you should have said."

7/1/1583

Hokkaido, today. How my heart aches tonight.

Compared to Akita, and compared to my memories of it, Sapporo was sterile and nearly deserted. The few people who were out sand about seemed to be beggars, each of them looking quite mad. Reiko nudged Funitsu and said, "Scorpion, can you see what I see? Tomika?"

He nodded. "Those tendrils...are they feeding on the beggars somehow?"

I whispered my own spell to see magic, and what they were talking about was revealed to me. There were tendrils of magic reaching out from my father's palace, twisting in the streets, diving through the beggars. They seemed to almost be policing the streets. I grew very still, and very afraid.

We walked together to my father's palace, the house I grew up in. But it was so quiet, so strange, so different. We had sent the librarian in the back way, but the rest of us were going to brazen it out--for, after all, it was my house and I belonged there. The guards at the door let us in without argument, looking for all the world as if they were asleep on their feet, and on the second floor I asked directions of some more alert-looking guards, asking them where my father was. I could see that the magic tendrils avoided them, and there was a glow on the sides of their necks, a sigil inscribed there. They told me that my father was in the library.

As we walked down the corridor, Reiko caught my eye--for a moment, with my magical sight, i could see odd designs covering her body. But there was no time for a good look, as we reached the library doors and I burst in.

My father! But how changed, how strange, the vital man I remember from scarcely a year ago now withered and old, as if something were eating him from the inside. He raised his head and looked at me as I dropped to my knees beside his chair. All he said was, "Daughter..."

I put my hand on his, looking into his eyes. Then I stood, my world narrowed down to one thing only. "Emi."

I flew out of the library and back to the guards, demanding in my best Lady voice to see Emi. They pointed up the stairs and then got the hell out of my way as I nearly ran them down in my haste. Ahead of us, I could hear two women talking. Almost at the same time, Tadaki said, "That's Emi" and Funitsu said, "It's Karasuko, my stepmother."

There were another pair of guards at the door, these with no intentions of letting us through. The samurai and Gryphon took care of them without a fuss. We burst in and there was a small woman with light brown hair holding a knife to the throat of a slightly taller woman who looked in equal parts afraid and angry. The Jade Warrior we'd been told about was attacking the librarian, who had come in through the window.

A heartbeat later, Reiko shimmered into view from her invisibility as she attempted to pull the knife away from Karasuko's throat. There was no time to wonder at this sudden display of bravery on the shaman's part, as the Jade Warrior immediately turned and slashed at the kitsune, who howled as the katana connected twice, opening great wounds in her back. The Warrior also slashed at her with his wakizashi, edged with jade, and seemed to miss. But I could hear Reiko screaming a name I'd never heard before. "JIN!"

Emi pulled out a crystal and stepped on it, releasing lightning into the room. I ducked, but the shaman had no chance--and when my eyes were no longer dazzled, I saw her lying on the floor, bleeding onto the wood.

But there was no time for anything but battle, at that point. Gryphon disposed of the Jade Warrior and Panda and Tadaki did the same for Emi. Funitsu healed Reiko enough that she came back to consciousness, and pointed at the wakizashi that the jade Warrior had left behind. "That thing has part of Arenro's spirit in it. And it's got Jin now, too." It turned out that Jin as one of Reiko's spirits, and she was beside herself with worry and making even less sense than usual.

We broke the sword, releasing both the spirits. A moment of silence, and then Reiko sobbed, "He's gone, Jin's gone, he didn't come back to me. He's lost forever."

Panda, her usual comforting self, said, "I would think you'd be happy to be rid of them. don't they make your life miserable?"

The shaman stared at her, those odd eyes of hers grief-stricken. "I love them. All of them. Even Lin, I loved. And they love me--that's why they stay with me. They are my family. Jin was with me for centuries, and now...he's just gone."

Panda just shook her head.

With Emi's death, my father suddenly looked much better, and has been gaining in strength all through the afternoon. We have decided that we will spend the night in Sapporo, on the ship, and decide on the morrow where we are off to next. I believe we may travel to visit the Soshi family, to see what their so dire need may be.

Oddly enough, I caught Reiko staring at my father a few minutes ago. Her eyes were puzzled, but I could see a fear behind the confusion. Why would the kitsune fear my father?

I have made the acquaintance of Karasuko, and have found her to be a most beguiling woman. Funitsu seems to get along well with her, and on the strength of his love for her I find myself predisposed to like her.

Had we arrived a week later...I do not know what we might have found. I am beginning to gain an appreciation for the scope of the forces arrayed against us. If my retinue knew...but they do not. Not yet. And they have no idea how important each of them is.

How do we find those orbs? They are perhaps the most precious things in the world right now, and two of them are in, one assumes, unfriendly hands. Though Hideyoshi must not have the correct one, else my husband would be dead already.

If we are not victorious...

But we will be.

We must be.

Everything depends on it.

I hear voices raised in the next room. I and Haku are going to go investigate.

Quotes:

"Graham is...huffing gingersnaps." (Laura)

"I like how when you suck on them, they go hard." (Graham)

"Sometimes, weenie is the better part of valor." (Laura)

"Gryphon, are you smart?" "I'm VERY smart! Why are you all laughing?" (Reiko and Gryphon)

"How rare it is that any of us marry for love." (Funitsu)

#so queued #gaming recaps: illume #D&D recap

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01/15/2019 DAB Transcript

Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalms 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18

Today is the 15th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and, of course, every day is a joy and a pleasure to be here with you and in your presence and in the presence of our brothers and sisters all over the world. And we lovingly call this activity the global campfire. And I don't really know where that started, honestly, it just kind of stuck a few years ago, I guess I was just sitting here right in front of the mic just picturing us all coming in out of the cold, you know, because we begin the year, at least here in the northern hemisphere in the wintertime. So, we’re just coming out of the cold. And, you know, it can be like dark and cold out there and to be able to come in and warm yourself with friends and know that you not alone, know that this journey isn't a solitary endeavor, that we're in this together. I just…I guess…it just kind of caught on from there. So, just through another log on the global campfire, and off we go. And man, here we are halfway. This is like the halfway point of the first month of the year and it happens just like that because it was just Christmas, right? Like it just was Christmas but this is…time just kind of moves and before we know it we’ll be in another season and the year will move by and we’ll realize just how much God's word is speaking into our lives and just how profoundly it is affecting the way we make our decisions and that happens day by day, step-by-step around this global campfire. So, let’s dive in. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week. Today, Genesis chapter 31 verse 17 through 32 verse 12, and reminding you we’re following the story of Jacob and his wives and their children, and they want to leave and head back to Jacob's homeland. And, so, there's some drama brewing. Genesis chapter 31.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis we’re following the story of Jacob who…well…we don't have to review every little detail of the story because we just read it in the last couple of days, but he's on his way back to his homeland and we need to remember that he had to flee from his homeland, right, because he's the one that stole his brothers birthright and then he and his mother kind of colluded to get this family blessing. So, when Esau, the older brother, finds out what has happened Jacob has to run for his life and Esau decides, like, after I'm done mourning my father I’m going to kill my brother, right? So, like, they have to separate each other, separate from each other. And, so, it's been a couple of decades now. So, that's, you know, some time for this to all cool off, but Jacob doesn't know, I mean the last thing he knew was that his brother wanted to kill him, but he doesn't really have a great scenario where he's at with his father-in-law Laban because Laban, I mean, Jacob and Laban, they both have been like tricking each other and we can't forget that Jacob's a bit of a trickster himself. I mean he did get the birthright from Esau, he did get the family blessing under trickery and he did have to run away for it. So, Laban’s given him a taste of his own medicine but there's no future there and God is calling him to go back to his Father. So, what we saw in today's reading was this man and his wives and his family and their whole entourage leaving secretly to try to do just that. And in a very, very short time we have Jacob and his family in the middle of a pretty nasty situation that could turn really volatile really fast and destroy them all because behind him he's got his father-in-law Laban and their family and surely, they're going to figure out that he's gone. So, they're going to come in pursuit, but out in front of him he's got his brother Esau also wanting to do him harm. So, he's kind of like in between two bad situations. And you may find yourself in a similar position in life. And we see Jacob responding in a very, very human way, in a way that we would understand. I mean Laban does arrive and there is a pretty big confrontation and then Jacob is able to kind of unload some of the things that he's been carrying around. And in the end, a monument is set up, a covenant is entered into, and they have agreed that they will not pass that boundary line with the intent of hurting each other. So, Jacob's able to navigate and find favor in that situation that was behind him, the one haunting image from his past as it were, but he’s still got his future out in front of him, which is a big circle from the very distant past, his brother. And, so, he sends word just the sort of test the temperature and the next thing he knows his brothers riding toward him with 400 mercenaries and that's kind of where were left today. So like, let's get it really clear that in biblical times these people didn’t just float around, you know, a foot off the ground with halos and, you know, like they actually had to face some pretty difficult things, and as we do. So, we can look into these stories and say, okay, yeah, I mean proverbially I got the same thing going on, I’ve got something going on behind me, I’ve got something going on before me, I feel like I’ve been caught in the middle, I’ve got to navigate this. Probably not to the extreme of Jacob. And we get to watch Jacob navigate and learn from it.

Then we get into the book of Matthew and Jesus is saying some pretty provocative stuff. Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth. I came not to bring peace but a sword. I've come to set man against his father, daughter against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, your enemies will be right in your household. Okay. So, what happened to the loving baby Jesus in the manger and peace on earth and goodwill towards men? Like, Christmas hasn’t hardly worn off. What is this? What we have to begin to realize about Jesus message and Jesus way is that He is fundamentally reminding human beings what they were created to be and He is living a life as a full human being, certainly, the son of God as we believe, fully divine but also fully human as the Scriptures teach us. And, so, we’re looking at Jesus and we’re seeing a person like people are supposed to be, like what they were created to be without the black weight of sin involved. And light comes into the darkness, certainly the darkness flees, right, but the shadows are cast and it's like a cosmic battle because mankind had been spending its time trying to organize itself in such a way that it could be its own God, which is what we saw as we started this story back in the book of Genesis chapter 3 with the fall of man and betrayed. Like, eating that fruit gave mankind the knowledge of good and evil, but what mankind lost in the trade was an intimate fellowship with God. And, so, mankind became very evil but tried to use the knowledge of good and evil to become its own God. Well when God shows up in the middle of that story then we’re talking about the clash of kingdoms and people are notoriously famous for not wanting to give up their freedom of choice and will. And yet that is exactly what…that is exactly what Jesus message is. And maybe kind of taking this journey this year, first time through the Bible just kind of wanting understand what it is actually saying so you can determine whether you’re going to follow this path or not, this is fundamentally the Jesus way, is that there is a better way of being a human being, one that is restored to the way that human beings were supposed to live. And we get to watch that in the person of Jesus, but we also notice that those with power and influence only feel exposed by Jesus. Like, they can't cozy up to Jesus and get him to collude with them because He won't, because He's pure, because He's true and He can't be bought. We’re watching a person live in this world true and everywhere He goes it disrupts what is false even to the point of dividing family. So, the Scriptures tell us there’s a narrow path that leads to life and only a few find it and those who do disrupt things. And all you have to do is just think about it, think about, well okay, what if I were absolutely truth? Like, what if there were no falseness in me? When we start thinking about that we realize that all of the ways that we relate to each other has a falseness to it. We are presenting an image so that we can all find a way to get along, but we have an inner monologue of things that are really going on that we wouldn't let out. Some of that’s because we wouldn’t let out the embarrassing dark thoughts that we have, but what if we didn't have any darkness either, right? So, what if we weren’t hiding anything because there wasn't anything to hide and everything that we did, everything about us was true, everyone knew exactly who we really are and that was good, that was true and good. Well then, we would be Christ like, right, then we would be like Christ. Then we think, well, that kind of person could really lead people into the truth, that kind of person…that kind of a leader would really, really pull us forward, but that's not how it worked out for Jesus, right? Those in power and authority killed Him. The darkness does not want the light because you can't hide in the light. And, so, understand that as we take this journey and truly give ourselves over to allowing a relationship with God, an intertwining of spirits, a transformation from within us, so that we are experiencing actual life, not a fabricated version full of stuff that we have to maintain, but actual life, then that is not going to just disrupt us, that is going to disrupt everything around us

Prayer:

Father, we pray for wisdom as we continue to take these steps forward. Its intriguing to understand that the life that we want, the truth that we want, the way that we want to walk into life with You, our hearts cry for this, but as the layers begin to get peeled back we begin to understand, following this way on the narrow path that leads to life will be costly and will cost us everything that we think we are because everything that we have been is changing and everything that we are in You. So, we invite Your Holy Spirit to come. We’re here at the beginning of the year and Your testing our motivations, You're revealing our hearts to ourselves, You are allowing us to see things as they really are and we are swept into this, we have pulled forward. So, Holy Spirit show us how to navigate. With Your wisdom we pray. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.

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And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi, this is Sherry Running to God. I just listened to the January 9th reading and I believe it just has stirred my heart, my soul. I think I’m starting to question if I really know God. Brian said, there’s a difference between knowing someone and actually knowing them. And I wonder now if I really know God in a relationship. So, now because I’ve listened more to and taken more time to sit and listen to the Daily Audio Bible, questions are starting to arise. Please pray for me that my faith grows strong and that I don’t have to question anymore because I am in a relationship with God and I do know him. Thanks.

Hey family, this is Linda from New Hampshire. Stuff is really hittin’ the fan air right now as I call in. My son and daughter-in-law are really, really, really fighting. I live with them. My daughter-in-law has had lot to drink. There was a previous betrayal on my son’s part and she’s just having a really bad time right now. And, I mean, I’m actually concerned for the safety of my grandson’s Owen and Oliver. And I just need to know that there’s somebody out there praying, and I know God doesn’t look at time, isn’t restricted by time. I’ve got to go to work tomorrow and is 11:24 and the fighting’s been going on for about 25 minutes. I don’t even know what to say right now. It’s beyond sad, it’s beyond tragic, and I don’t know what to do. She’s really, really, really hurt just from her family origin issues and the betrayal and oh my God, please just, please keep them in your prayer. I know you all do. I keep thinking I’m gonna call in and fill you guys all in on where I’m at in life and I keep wanting to say it’s better and stuff like this happens. I love you all. Thank you.

Hey, good morning Daily Audio Bible family, this is Debbie in Des Moines, heading to work for my last few days before I start my new journey. But I actually called for a couple of things. Number one, as I call you’re gonna find that I’m not eloquent, I’m not one of those people who speak well, I stumble over my words, I sound like a dork, you know. But you know what, God loves me anyway and so does the family. So, I want to encourage those who don’t call because…because you’re like me [laughing]. Call in any way, we love you. Call in, call in, call in. But the second thing is I wanted to let you…ask for prayer for my grandson. Those who know me know that I’ve been raising him since he was an infant. He is now nine years old. He is court ordered. He has to go do overnights at his dad’s every other weekend and his dad’s household is not just atheist, their anti-God. I mean, they are anti-God. It’s not like they ignore God or anything, they’re verbally anti-God and my grandson is God hearted, prays for people and he has been having nightmares because his dad plays really bad movies, like scary movies and it gives him nightmares and there’s nothing I can do really about it, but I ask for your prayers for my grandson Trent. I love him so much and I want his little mind to be at peace and I just thank God that he is a little warrior and we pray for things together, but I covet your prayers for his peace of mind. I love you family. Bye.

Hi, yeah, it’s Michael calling from London, UK. Today is Friday, the 11th of January 2019. Yeah, I’ve been listening to the Daily Audio Bible for about a couple years now. Yeah, and I’m really enjoying listening to it, like, I think it’s an amazing blessing that Brian and Jill have brought for us. The fact that you’ve been doing it 14 years, you know, that’s even more incredible. Yes, I‘d like to say hi to everyone at Daily Audio Bible and all the listeners that I believe I’m now a part of. Yeah, and, yeah so basically a little bit about me, I’m an actor but I’m also a qualified occupational therapist. I work with those with, you know, mental health issues but I am also part of…part of an amazing church, Hillsong London. So, yeah, hopefully I can maybe pray for you guys and it’d be great if you could pray for me, you know, anxiety issues, yeah and anything around, yeah, trying to juggle kind of acting and OT because I’ve got pressure from my agent as well as hopefully, you know, trying to be the best that I can be in that as well. Apologies about any background noise. I am driving at the moment, driving to work. Yeah, so, hopefully I hear from you guys soon and, yeah, I’ll try to make this a bit more of a regular occurrence, you know, we’re I’m just kind of praying when…as when I need because, you know, there’s some really great guys and girls on here. You know, I love the encouraging words that different people say over each other. It’s amazing you can have this online community of people that probably haven’t necessarily met each other person but at least online, you know, you can, as Brian says drop off a load on the things that we’re all going through. Okay, all right. Thank you for now. And I’ll speak to you later. Bye.

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