Tumgik
#the oldest one is like adam cause hes our half sibling and also the one who had the least to worry about dad cause he tried so hard to be
bonzhur · 4 years
Text
"I have 4 brothers (one of them is younger and the two oldest are quite a lot older) so I was thinking maybe a Damian Wayne x reader (16+) where Damian and reader are secretly dating and Damian bumps in to the reader whilst they are both out with their siblings. Maybe a few of them know each other from school and they wanna hang out and Damian and the reader try and pretend they don’t know each other so their siblings don’t make a big deal about their relationship but maybe somehow they let it slip."
~♪~♪~♪~♪~♪~
Oh my gosh...
First off, I'm so sorry for not checking my asks, college and now this world wide issue. I'm so sorry!! *Bows* Please forgive me!!!
Second, I hope you can still enjoy this late reply, I'm really sorry ;-;
Guys, the keys for this story are these;
B1- Brother 1
B2- Brother 2
B3- Brother 3
Again, I am so sorry! P.S. details are lacking so I choose them for you... You'll see what mean later. Please enjoy this late reply, again, I'm so sorry!
~•~•~•~•~
I sighed as I sat on the mahogany bench, my sweat rolling down my skin as I tried to catch my breath.
"B1!"
The screech of my younger brother can probably be heard throughout the entire park, heck, maybe even Gotham. But I get how he's feeling, I'm ticked as well after all.
"What on earth gave you the great idea to drag me out of my bed to go jogging with you!" I turned my head to see B3 jabbing his finger at B1, who's just trying not to laugh. Yea, let's see that smug grin later when I beat ya for interrupting my sleep.
"What's wrong, lil bro?" B1 chuckled as he skipped a few feet away from him, holding his hands up in defense. "Not my fault you lack vitamin D and been hold up in your room with your video games, you and y/n both."
"Excuse you!" I immediately sat up and glare at my brother. "But my babies needed me, okay!"
A hand came suddenly and messed up my already bad bed hair. Not my fault B1 dragged me out of bed with no preparations, again whatever. I swatted the hand away, glaring at B2.
"Hey, I understand your struggle." He said with a look of understanding. "I bought you that switch with animal crossing remember."
I huffed and crossed my arms. Not my fault I got addicted to the game, not my fault it's one of the only games I can play with him.
A smile started forming on my face as I thought of him. Damian Wayne, son of billionaire Playboy Bruce Wayne, a student in Gotham High, and my absolutely hot boyfriend. Can't deny how toned and defined his body is~ And that ass is mine, so back off bishes! If only I can say that...
You see Damian may be my boyfriend, but we're in a secret relationship. Yea, sucks to be me alright. I do understand where he's coming from though. It's not about his image (he'd throw that away cuz he don't care) and definitely not his family, though he's adamant that I can't meet them yet (something about them never ending teasing and him not trusting they can keep a secret, also the fact that he wants to know how long it takes for them to figure it out). It's about me.
In Gotham High, I'm just a lucky smart kid, who got a scholarship. No one really pays attention to me, especially since there's more interesting people. So finding out a normal person like me is his girlfriend, let's just say it wouldn't end well. His fans would bully me relentlessly, people would assume I'm a gold digger or just a hoe. The rumours, the lies, the fights, the many ways this can go from great to worst. It's not the best situation to be, especially when Damian isn't always there to be by my side. Anything can happen and that anything scares both of us.
I groan as I quickly fixed up my hair into a high pony. It's bad enough that Damian doesn't go easy on me during training and now my big bro wants me to exercise in my rest day, not cool.
"let's just get this over with." I stood up, glaring at B1 as he innocently whistles. "I have a date with my bed and switch after this."
"So you're cheating on Pizza? With bed and switch? That's harsh." B2 cried as he clenched his hand over his chest, like the drama queen that he is.
"Maybe I should take Pizza out on a date later? Seeing as you're busy." B1 joked, fixing his black tank top like it was a suit.
"ha ha, very funny you two." Rolling my e/c eyes, I crossed my arms and walked towards them. "Now can we please just go?"
"fine, as soon as B3 stops complaining." B1 chuckled, causing me to sigh.
"I swear you three are making me loo-" All of a sudden, I felt someone bump into me and like dramatic girl, I nearly fell. But thankfully the culprit grabbed my wrist, saving me from the fall. I turn to the next victim on my list and was met with the mesmerizing green eyes of my surprised boyfriend. Shock dawned on my expression as I could only whisper. "Dami?"
"Habibti." Damian whispered back, I assume getting lost in my e/c eyes as well. Or maybe it was my sports outfit, who knows.
He pulled me up to stand and I was about to say something when I heard my brother called for me in the background. This snapped me back to reality and away from the Dreamland of Damian's eyes, pulling my hand back and stepping away from him. He did the same, now definitely looking at my outfit.
Now remember how B1 dragged me to the park for a jog. Well, it's extremely hot today and I'm not about to get out in the burning sun without a proper outfit. I.E. shorts, a tank top, running shoes, and my Batfam cap (a humor gift from B3. jokes on him, I love this hat). Now seeing how Damian is looking at my outfit, I can already tell what he's thinking, he's look at me with lust and want after all. Sweet Lord, if you're there. Please say me from this predicament I'm in. I want to walk please!
"Yo Dick, how ya been?" The voice of B1, surprised me as I turn to them. Eyes widening when I realized that Damian was with his brothers and sister. I think it dawned on Damian too, because now he moved more away from me. Sad but hey, secret relationship after all.
"Nothing much B1." Dick Grayson turned to me, eyes holding a flirtious glint when he saw me. "This your younger sister? Y/n?" He asked naturally, not like he ate me up with his eyes.
"Yea, she is." B1 said, like the confused idiot that he is. "Y/n, this is one of my old friends, Dick."
"Hi..." That's my poor attempt at interacting with people, brought to you by Social Anxiety and Depression!
"Name's Dick Grayson, this is my sister, Cass. My brothers, Jason, Tim, and Damian, who I think you met."
"Don't fool around, Grayson." Damian interrupted him. "I don't even know her."
"But you guys had a connection! Don't deny it!" Dick defended, while Cass giggled and Jason smirked at this, knowing a fight is near. Tim just went and laid on the bench, within seconds, he's asleep. Dude, the fu-
"Okay! Break it off." B2 said, pushing Dick away from Damian. "Me and my siblings have to go and finish our jog."
"oh, us too." Jason piped up. "Mind if we joined?"
"Sure, why not." B1 said instantly.
"wait, what?" Says my confused brain.
So during the jog, they explained how they knew each other, Jason to B2 and Dick to B1. Being from the same school and all that stuff, having a little fun reunion. Cass and B3 are watching Tim, who is barely awake but jogging too. I'm both amazing and confused at the same time. As for me and Damian, well..
We decided to jog the slowest, being at the back where none of them can see us or barely hear us. You can imagine how Damian teased me about my outfit and how after he's done with me, I can't stand for a week. Add some 'accidental' touching here and there, maybe a peck or two in secret. I'm actually surprised no one saw or questioned us.
Yea, that's how I felt until the end. Where Tim and B3 basically almost threw up because me and Damian are being too lovey dovey in the back.
"WHAT!"
Oh the chaos, how both B1 and Dick were celebrating about their siblings having a significant other, how B2 and Jason had a talk with each other about what to do if one of us broke the other's heart, and Cass being a sweet girl and congratulating us. She's the best.
At first, we tried to deny it, it's not like that, etc, etc. Then Tim pointed out that Damian called me Habibti, which we both, again, tried to deny it. Until Dick kabedons me and Damian attacked him. So now, they know that we're dating... Great.
Atleast now I can go to his house and be with him without fearing if his siblings see. Let me tell you, it was hella alot more fun than before.
~•~•~•~
First off, again I'm so sorry. Second, I literally typed this for an hour and a half. I need sleep.. Not my best work, please forgive me at that. It's been years or months since I last made a one shot and it's obvious in the fic, Atleast to me.
Thanks for reading this late reply post!
41 notes · View notes
Text
let me have a dance with her
Bumbleby Week Day 1 - Atlas Ball
They haven’t had much time to talk after getting to Atlas, though Yang wonders if they even need words at this point. They’ve both felt it, the shifting of their relationship, inevitable and immense like the shifting of continental plates. One minute they were still mending, dancing around each other, the tension palpable. The next, they’ve watched Adam fall to his death, blood staining his shirt, and Blake is crying on her knees, and Yang’s arms are around her, and everything’s changed.
Or: It’s the worst party ever, but Yang and Blake still find each other.
Yang usually loves parties, but this has got to be the worst she’s ever been to.
Everything about it feels stifling - the crowd of people dressed in their fanciest clothes, the chatter of conversation, incessant and grating, the air, heavy with perfume and incense and candles and the sour smell of sweat underneath it all.
She’s standing near a glass door that leads out to the garden, eyes scanning the crowd. She has no trouble finding Ruby and Jaune hovering not too far from Ironwood, who’s busy talking with a group of high-ranking Atlas military personnel. It takes her a little more time, but eventually she spots the rest of her friends, all engaged in conversation with various guests.
(Weiss is talking to Winter, hands crossed in front of her, and if Yang didn’t know her as well as she does, she wouldn’t notice the way her knuckles have turned white, the fragile tautness of her back, like a bowstring ready to snap. Yang’s heart aches for her, but she doesn’t move. She knows Weiss can handle whatever this is, and she also knows Weiss will call for help if she needs it.)
She sighs and takes a sip of her drink - some sort of creamy cocktail she hates - while she looks around for potential targets. It’s their goal after all, the whole point of going to this stupid, terrible party in Atlas: gathering information, making people talk, looking for any trace of Salem’s influence, any indication of where the war will hit next.
Yang hasn’t done much of that, so far. People here are just so fucking delicate, so poised and polished - they make her feel inadequate, awkward, too big and too loud and too much, a goliath in a dust shop. So she drinks, and flexes the fingers of her metal hand, and eyes the crowd, and reflects on the fact that this is the first party she’s ever hated so much.
She loves parties where people are happy, that’s the thing. There’s a way to loose yourself in a party, with the music and the lights and alcohol and bodies pressed close together and the sound of laughter. Yang grew up in a quiet house, after Summer died. A loving house, certainly, built by her father who, despite losing so much, still found the strength to give his children a home. But a quiet house nonetheless, so filled with absence and ghosts that even the babbling of her little sister couldn’t drown out the grief.
So Yang is drawn to the noise and the fun and the fleeting joy of parties. And this one has none of it.
She tries to smile at an older woman wearing an extravagant hat with silver feathers - the woman ignores her pointedly. Yang rolls her eyes, takes another sip. On the right side of the room, Blake is standing beside a marble column, talking with a man sporting the most ridiculous mustache Yang’s ever seen. He’s a little taller than her, and leans his head down to say something close to her ear. Yang catches Blake’s eyes, and winks. Blake rolls her eyes, clearly bored out of her mind. Yang hides a snort of laughter in her cocktail. The man smiles, Blake smiles too, and says something that makes him laugh. She’s good at this, Yang thinks, with pride. The daughter of a diplomat, through and through. She will be a great leader, someday, when the war is over and they have a future to think of.
A future. Yang can’t imagine a future without Blake, and now there’s something tightening inside her stomach, something pressing, urgent. She wishes she could just grab Blake’s hand and leave, and talk about their future, maybe. They haven’t had much time to talk after getting to Atlas, though Yang wonders if they even need words at this point. They’ve both felt it, the shifting of their relationship, inevitable and immense like the shifting of continental plates. One minute they were still mending, dancing around each other, the tension palpable. The next, they’ve watched Adam fall to his death, blood staining his shirt, and Blake is crying on her knees, and Yang’s arms are around her, and everything’s changed.
Blake brings her cup to her lips. The crystal lamps hanging low make her look ethereal, almost, in her black and purple dress, like a character out of a fairy tale, an enchantress, a queen. She’s wearing a bow, and Yang wants nothing more than to tug it out and free her ears, thread her fingers in the silklike softness of Blake’s dark hair.
Someone bumps into her, shaking her out of her reverie. “Yang, we’re supposed to be mingling”, Nora whispers way too loud. Inexplicably, she’s managed to get ahold of a full platter of dainty little fishcakes. There’s a waiter looking baffled and kind of scared on the other side of the room - Yang has no idea what went down, but she winces in sympathy nonetheless. “Stop staring at Blake and go talk to people!”
She stuffs an entire cake in her mouth - Yang can’t help but be impressed - and winks. “Or, you know, go talk to her, and ask her for a dance, lovergirl!”
Nora punches Yang’s shoulder, hard enough that if Yang were anyone else she’d be left with a bruise, and saunters over to where Ren is politely listening to a couple of old men wearing monocles and, absurdly, powdered wigs.
Yang turns her eyes back to Blake, but she’s disappeared in the ever-moving crowd. She sighs, takes one last look at her sad half-empty cup, and decides she’s had enough. She leaves the cup on a nearby table, and slips through the glass door, into the garden.
Outside the air is cold and sharp, refreshingly clear. It smells crisp, of fresh snow and something minty. Yang takes a breath, feels her lungs ache a little, pleasantly so, and rolls her shoulders. She’s in a paved alleyway, surrounded by marble sculptures and trees covered in a thin layer of ice. The music still comes through the opened window, and without the rest of the party, Yang can finally appreciate the lilting melody. The band is playing a classical piece, an atlesian waltz, both beautiful and melancholic. She closes her eyes, savoring the moment.
A sudden noise makes her jolt. A little further up the alley, in the semi-darkness, there’s something…someone? Yang takes a step forward, muscles tensing instinctively. “Is someone there?”
She hears shuffling, light footsteps, and then she blinks, taken aback. It’s a group of children, hiding in the garden, hesitantly walking toward her. Five of them, all dressed in warm and practical clothes, though not fancy enough to look like they belong in the party. Two of them are Faunus, siblings probably, with nearly identical dog ears amid dark curls of hair. The oldest looking one, who must be around ten, maybe twelve, pushes the other kids behind him, protectively. He’s glaring at Yang with outright suspicion. Yang relaxes her whole body, drops her shoulders, opens her hands, makes herself look as harmless as possible.
“Hello,” she says, with a smile. “I’m Yang.”
“Hi!” a little girl replies, cheerfully, before the older boy shushes her. “You from the party?” he asks, still frowning.
Yang nods. “Wasn’t much fun, so I decided to come out here. Lucky I did, cause clearly I found the real party!”
She winks at the kids, and they relax, all at once. She knows she’s won them over, so she crouches down to their level, and they come closer, curiously eyeing her metal arm, her wild hair, the shiny material of her ball dress. Yang pokes at the little girl, who giggles, delighted by the attention.
“What are you guys doing out here?” she asks. One little boy with dog ears and curly hair points at the door she just came through, rubs his neck. “Mama said we can’t go in, but we wanna listen to the pretty music. Are we in trouble?”
She shakes her head. “No, you’re not in trouble. It is very beautiful music.”
The older boy extends a hand. “I’m Max. Our parents are all working tonight, in the kitchen and stuff, so we’re waiting for them to go home. But we snuck outside to hear the music.”
Yang shakes his hand, gravely. “That was a smart move. I did the same thing.”
Max grins, looking down at their joined hands. “Do you know how to dance the atlesian waltz?” Yang nods, amused by his excitement, now that he’s no longer scared of her. “Would you, huh, teach me?” he asks, a little shy.
She laughs. “Sure thing.” She stands up, pulling him towards her. The other kids scatter in a half-circle, wide-eyed and fascinated. “Okay, so first you need to face me and put your other hand on my shoulder.”
It’s a little awkward - Yang is so much taller than him - but they manage a semi-correct position. Yang taps his feet with her own to widen his stance, then places her hand on his waist. “Okay, now listen to the rhythm of the music - one two three, one two three. We’re gonna follow the rhythm. Look at my feet.”
She leads him through the steps, and they start dancing clumsily. He’s clinging hard at her dress, a little unsure, and the line of his shoulders is too stiff - he almost trips a few times. Yang stays gentle, guiding him back to the rhythm again and again every time he falters. It reminds her, weirdly, of teaching Ruby how to swim - the patient repetition.
Max is not a bad dancer, and when he’s mastered the steps, Yang tries something a little more challenging. The other kids clap and cheer as Yang twists and turns the two of them around, her golden dress flowing in the cold air. She’s so focused on the dance - and on not stepping on poor Max’s feet - that she doesn’t notice when the other kids stop cheering, until there’s a hand on Max’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Blake says, to Max, with a kind smile. “Would you let me have a dance with her?”.
The boy glances at Yang, steps back, and suddenly his little hand on Yang’s shoulder is replaced by Blake’s, suddenly Blake is standing in front of her, face to face, her hair glowing under the moonlight, eyes brighter than any star above.
Yang feels warm all over. She rests a hand on Blake’s waist, almost shyly, and grabs her other hand. Blake’s skin is soft under her fingers, and familiar. They lock eyes, and start moving with the music, twirling on the icy paved alleyway, feet perfectly in synch. The children are standing on the side, watching them with awe and delight - the little girl’s mouth opens comically wide. Yang smiles, soft.
“What are you doing out here?” she asks Blake, low as a whisper, before spinning her around and back in her arms.
“I was looking for you,” Blake says, simply. She smiles too. The music slows, and she presses herself against Yang, until their bodies melt into one, cheek to cheek, heart to heart. “I couldn’t handle the party anymore, I just wanted to be with you,” she murmurs into Yang’s ear.
Yang trails her hand until it rests on the curve of Blake’s lower back, metal arm circling around her waist. “Me too.”
“Are you okay?” The words are soft, but sincere, and there’s genuine concern in Blake’s eyes. Maybe she’s wondering what drove Yang outside the ballroom. Yang’s chest fills with affection and gratitude.
She brings her other hand up to cup the back of Blake’s neck, and now the dance looks more like a swaying hug. “I’m great. Except…”
“Yes?” Blake breathes out. Her own arms are tight around Yang, fingers digging a little into the bare skin of her shoulder blades.
“Except I really want to kiss you right now,” Yang murmurs. She feels Blake shivering under her hands, feels the way her breath stutters out of her lungs, and she’s not nervous, not at all. It feels right, and the moment is perfect - the two of them in an iced garden under the moonlight, having just escaped the rigidity of atlesian etiquette.
Blake leans away a little, so she can look up and into Yang’s eyes. Yang reads wonder on her face, but also something else, something unwavering, the tranquil strength of absolute certainty. So she lets Blake tugs her head a little lower, until their noses are touching, until Blake’s lips meet hers.
It’s the gentlest kiss, the brush of butterflies wings against one another, yet it’s powerful enough to shake mountains inside Yang’s heart. Her cheeks burn, every inch of her skin is tingling, down to her fingertips. Blake kisses her again, a little rougher this time, capturing her lower lip between her teeth for the briefest instant. Yang feels on the verge of falling. Maybe she already did.
But she hears a small gasp, from behind her, then a giggle, and a couple shushing sounds.
Right. “We have an audience,” Yang murmurs against Blake’s mouth.
Blake chuckles and lets go of her, taking a step back. “Maybe we should go back to this later, in private.” Her expression shifts to something hesitant, and she blushes, pretty pink. “I mean. If you want to?”
“Yeah,” Yang says, catching Blake’s hand in her own, squeezing once. “I’d like that.”
The little girl comes up to Blake, and tugs at the side of her dress. “Excuse me,” she says, very solemn and obviously imitating Blake from a few minutes ago. “Can I have the next dance?”
Blake smiles, before schooling her expression into seriousness. “It would be my honor.”
She hoists the child on her hip, and starts spinning, and Yang watches her, her heart beating steadily in her chest, sure, like she’s never been before, of what she feels and what she wants.
Blake and Yang spend the rest of the evening laughing and dancing with children and looking at each other, thinking of their first kiss under the stars, and of many more to come, and when it’s time to leave, Yang sighs, happily.
See, now that’s the kind of parties she loves.
343 notes · View notes
xmxisxforxmaybe · 4 years
Text
Decryption_Error: “Fourth of July, Part II”
Summary: Despite Elliot’s reservations about meeting Y/N’s family, the long weekend goes well . . . except for an incident that causes Y/N to unknowingly meet Mr. Robot for the first time.
Story Summary,  “The Server Room, Part I”,  “The Server Room, Part II”  “The Long Weekend, Part I”,  “The Long Weekend, Part II”,  “The Aftermath”,  “Undecided”,  **“Decided”,  “Spooked”,  **“Fourth of July, Part I”
Word Count: 9800
Tags: @sherlollydramoine @rami-malek-trash @teamwolf2411 @limabein @txmel @alottanothing @ouatlovr @backoftheroomandnotbelonging @moon-stars-soul @free-rami @ramimedley
If you want added or I’ve missed your request, let me know : )
A/N: I am actively pretending the Elliot of MR Season 4 is an illusion : ) Let me live in my fantasy of soft Elliot, thanks! 
Warning: Sexual content, non-descriptive mentions of blood, somewhat descriptive scene of an anxiety/panic attack
Tumblr media
* Wednesday Evening *
“Open the bag behind my seat.”
Elliot shifted in his seat and reached into the back. He pulled the black shopping bag up to his lap and rustled around.
I glanced over at him, smirking.
“How do you like them?”
Elliot sighed, and despite his anxiousness about meeting my family, I knew he was happy—and happy was something that was starting to look damn good on him.
Elliot put his new swim trunks back in the bag and returned it to its spot behind my seat. He reached over and gave my thigh a quick squeeze before he leaned back, resting his head against his seat.
I had never imagined that such a simple gesture of affection could set my heart racing, but that was how it went with Elliot. There were never going to be any grandiose displays of romance; with him, it would always be about the little things—remembering my favorite food or movie, knowing how I took my tea in the morning, going on a holiday despite a sometimes crippling social anxiety.
And as if on cue, Elliot’s voice sounded, just a hair louder than the radio.
“Can you tell me what to expect again?”
Even though this was the third time I was about to explain what to expect, I still smiled. I knew this was an important part of Elliot’s attempt to alleviate his apprehension.
“ETA is currently clocked at 7:28 pm. Kathleen and Josh, my oldest sister and her husband, along with their three children—do you want their names again?”
“Jack, Jared, and Molly—10, 8, and 3.”
“I’m pretty sure those are the right ages. I told you—I’m a shit aunt,” I said through a laugh.
“Erin and Ryan will get there last.”
“Yes. Erin’s going to be late for her own wedding—mark my words. I wish my parents would worry about her more than me.”
“But they don’t worry because she’s a lawyer which is a job they understand. Unlike tech,” Elliot finished.
“See? You’ve got it all figured out. Just remember not to say any of those insights of yours out loud.”
“I’ll try.”
“And Charlie—Char’s coming tomorrow. He’s the owner of the sweatpants I put you in over Memorial Day.”
“He’s your favorite.”
I glanced at Elliot, my face twisted into an expression of surprised amusement.
“I never said that.”
“You don’t have to. It’s in the way you talk about him—how protective you are. I feel that way about Darlene.”
“But she’s your only sibling, right?”
“Yes.”
“So it’s totally okay that she’s your favorite,” I said with a slight chuckle. “Anyway, Charlie and I are closer in age, so that’s one reason why I think we’ve always gotten along the best. The other is that Erin and Kathleen are a lot like my mom. My brother and I are much more like my dad.”
“Mom. Valerie, goes by Val, but I’ll stick to calling her Mrs. Y/L/N.”
“And Dad?”
“Charles Y/L/N. Owner of CNC Precision Machining, host company of the company I work for, and ranked number 348 on the Forbes 400 list.”
“Please don’t open with that,” I said, cringing. “I guarantee he doesn’t even know he’s on that damn list.”
“How can he not?”
“He’s got people to worry about and organize those things, not to mention he plans to dump half of what the company made this year into three new factories right here in the US, so that will cut his personal ‘net worth’ almost in half. My father has never forgotten that Grand-daddy could barely afford to feed his own family. His priority is and always will be job creation. I promise you, Elliot. He’s a good person.”
“I don’t know how you can be so flippant about the fact that you really don’t ever need to work. You could do anything you wanted with your life—anything.”
“Colin? Is that you? Did you takeover Elliot’s body?”
I could feel Elliot roll his eyes, and I smirked.
“It’s—”
“It’s my father’s money. Sure, I could live off of our family’s wealth, but then what would my purpose be? How could I ever, ever hope to keep all these guys quiet in here?” I asked, tapping the side of my head. You, of all people, should understand that.”
“I do. And don’t think I’ve forgotten we’ve talked about this before,” Elliot said as his way of apologizing. “I’m just nervous.”
“When are you not nervous?”
“An excellent question for which there is no answer,” Elliot said, and I could hear the smile as he formed his words.
We pulled into the drive of my parents’ waterfront house, and I snuck a glance at Elliot. He was looking out the window, craning to take in the property. I loved this house and always felt at peace along the bay. It was disappointing I hadn’t been out here, really out here, for such a long time.
I pulled in slightly behind my sister’s vehicle onto the cobblestoned driveway in the back of the house that made a loop, and when I shut the car off, I lamely said, “Well, we’re here!”
Elliot whipped his head over, almost as if he’d forgotten I was in the car. He looked pale, and his eyes were wide and skittish. He swallowed twice, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob.
“Should I have dressed up?” Elliot said, his voice fading in and out.
I laughed softly.
“Did I dress up?”
“You always look good. Nice,” Elliot mumbled as he glanced at the house again.
“Especially when I’m naked. In bed. With you,” I said with a teasing grin.
“Fuck, Y/N!” Elliot shot out. “You can’t talk like that here.”
He gestured so vigorously toward the house that his hand smacked off the window, causing me to giggle.
“I’m just trying to get you to relax.”
“Thinking about us, about you, like that is not fucking helping.”
“Sorry. It’s getting hot in here without the air conditioning, though. Are you ready?”
Elliot just looked at me.
“You are ready. Remember, they wanted to meet you. I’m not springing some strange hobo I picked up off the side of the road on them.”
“Fuck. Yeah. Okay. Let’s go,” Elliot said opening the car door.
I smiled at his resolve, but my grin fell as my nephews came barreling around the wrap-around porch to see whether it was me or Erin who had arrived.
“Aunt Y/N!” Jared yelled as he hit his older brother, Jack, with the pool noodle he was swinging. “Will you swim with us? Please!”
“Am I going to get hit with that noodle?”
“Probably not,” Jared said, a grin plastered over his face, water droplets from his sopping hair still trailing down his tanned face.
“Hello,” Jack said, turning to look at Elliot, straightening up to his fullest height and extending his hand.
Elliot looked at him for a moment before he reached out and shook Jack’s extended, damp hand.
“Hello.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Jack finished before turning to me. “Can I help you take anything into the house?”
I smiled. Jack was every bit his mother’s son: well-mannered, mature, and wise beyond his years, but his eyes still held a child’s innocence, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for not spending more time with him and his siblings.
“What a kind gesture, Jack, but do you really want to watch Mimi go apoplectic on the first day of the holiday when you go trampling, soaking wet through the front door?”
“What’s apopple-tic?” Jared asked, wrapping his pool noodle around his waist and swinging side to side.
I looked at Jack and raised my eyebrow.
“Crazy mad,” he said in answer to his brother. “Like how mom got when you put her iPad in the dishwasher.”
Jared shot his brother a murderous look and pulled back to hit him with the noodle.
“Go swim, boys. I promise we’ll come out as soon we’re settled.”
“Dad said we could play with our fireworks tonight!” Jared said before he turned and ran back up the porch stairs and around to the pool.
Jack grinned, shrugged his shoulders, and took off after his brother.
“Two down,” I said as I pulled my bag out of the car.
“They’re kids. Do they even count?”
“I think they do,” I said with a slight shrug of my shoulders.
Elliot gave me one of those half-smiles as he lifted my bag out of my hand and reached for his. I let him carry our bags, and I walked back around to the back seat to grab my purse, my work tote, and the shopping bag that contained Elliot’s swim trunks. I didn’t want to do any work over the weekend, but if there was an emergency, hopefully this time it could be solved remotely. Elliot had also brought his backpack, which made me feel a little better.
Elliot followed me up the porch stairs and through the front door. I led him up the center staircase and to the left, all the way to the end of the hall. I opened up the door to my room and set my work bag and shopping bag on one of the striped chairs near the wall. I tossed my purse onto the bed and directed Elliot to set our big bags in the walk-in closet.
When Elliot emerged, he looked around the room and walked over to the French doors that led out onto a small balcony that overlooked the bay. It looked like he was on a military mission to memorize his surroundings in the event of an emergency, so I left him alone as he acclimated.
My room was light and breezy, done in hues of blues with accents of white and coral. Elliot looked comically out of place, clad head to toe in black, standing between the sheer white and blue curtains.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” I finally said when Elliot sought out my eyes, his looking a startlingly, lovely shade of blue in the light of my room.
I couldn’t tell what was going through his mind, his face expressionless as he looked at me. I moved forward, waiting to see if he’d turn into my body or step away.
He stood still for a moment, before he turned to me, tentatively wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I sank into him, breathing him in.
“Thank you for doing this,” I whispered against his neck.
“Don’t thank me yet. I still have a few days to make you regret bringing me.”
“Stop,” I said pulling back to look at him. “Nothing is going to make me regret bringing you here.”
“Why do you have so much faith in me?”
Because I’m in love with you, I thought without hesitation, which was followed by a sheer bolt of panic that I immediately swallowed down.
Fuck.
“I just do,” I said, smiling and angling my face up for a kiss.
Elliot bent his head, kissing me sweetly in the still-bright light of the fading day, and I felt yet another jolt of shock at how incredibly right this felt, how easy.
After unpacking a few things and plugging my phone in to charge, we went downstairs and headed out to the pool. I took Elliot’s hand in mine as we walked across the porch and down the sidewalk and stairs to the stone encased pool that was being energetically occupied by my nephews, my niece, my dad, and my sister.
Elliot tightened his grip, and I gave him a reassuring squeeze back.
“Kathleen! Your sister’s here!” my mom yelled, waving at me and then at the pool.
“Hi, mom,” I said, releasing Elliot’s hand so I could give her a hug.
“This is Elliot,” I said as soon as I let go.
“Elliot,” my mom said, extending her hand. “Such a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Don’t be dramatic, mom.”
“Nonsense. We’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to put such a handsome face to Y/N’s words.”
“Uh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Y/L/N.”
“Oh, please. Call me Val.”
Elliot gave her a sheepish smile and ran his hand through his hair, his eyes taking in the swimming pool, the bar, and the pool house.
“Hey! You said you’d swim with us!” Jared shouted as he leapt up from the water and ran over to me.
“I said no such thing because you did not promise I wouldn’t get hit with a pool noodle.”
Jared scowled a bit at me, and I grabbed him up, bridal style and tossed him back in the pool. He came up grinning, and I had to jump back as he aimed a splash at me.
“You asked for it,” my sister said as she swam to the edge, gracefully pulling herself up to sit. “Toss me my towel.”
I rolled my eyes and retrieved the towel she had pointed at. Kathleen, the prettiest and the bossiest.
“Hey, Y/N—how was the drive in?” came the pleasant voice of my brother-in-law, Josh.
“Not bad. Sat in the tunnel forever, but no surprise there,” I said, returning to Elliot who was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking like he had hoped everyone had forgotten he existed.
“Josh this is Elliot. Elliot, Josh, Kathleen’s husband.”
They shook hands, and I watched Elliot carefully, unsure if he was sort of comfortable with all the handshaking or if he was just internalizing the discomfort really well. I figured it was probably the latter.
Josh asked Elliot a few questions, and Elliot gave very direct answers.
“Save some of the interrogation for after dinner,” I said, returning to Elliot’s side.
“Small talk is—”
“Horrific and you know that,” I cut Josh off with an eyeroll. “You remember what it was like coming here for the first time to meet everyone.”
Josh tilted his head back and sighed, his eyes reflecting the light of the sun as it had begun lowering over the bay.
“The first time I met the family was at Christmas. It was a house full of, shit, 50 relatives? 60? I seriously considered just leaving and never coming back.”
“Leave me? Unlikely?” Kath said as she hugged Josh from behind, soaking his polo shirt as he reached up to grasp her hand and grin.
“The boss would never have allowed you to get away,” I said, rolling my eyes and smiling.
“Do you hear the way she talks to me, Elliot? It’s not too late for you to escape.”
I rolled my eyes again, only to be scolded by my mother.
“Honestly, Y/N. If I counted the number of times you rolled your eyes—”
“Come on,” I said, taking Elliot’s hand in mine and leading him toward the bar. “Let’s go play Cocktail a la Tom Cruise.”
Josh followed and Kathleen sat down to talk to our mom and to watch the kids in the pool. Elliot listened to Josh and I chat as I mixed up a few drinks and had the boys try them before settling on making a pitcher of something that tasted mostly like a Mai Tai.
By the time my pitcher of drinks was made, Dad had gotten out of the pool and toweled off before walking over to us. He introduced himself to Elliot and welcomed him to our home.
“We’re happy to meet you, Elliot.”
“Thank you, sir,” Elliot said, his eyes flicking to mine before returning to the ground in front of my dad.
Dad glanced at me and gave me a small smile. I told him how hard this was going to be for Elliot because he struggled with meeting people and with getting to know people in general—I explained that he was sort of the stereotype of the introverted tech guy. Not to mention, Dad knew all about the incident in the server room.
Josh picked up the pitcher and walked back to Kathleen and Mom, leaving my dad and I alone with Elliot. Dad sat down on the stool next to Elliot as I wiped my hands on a towel. I grabbed a beer from the fridge before I came out from behind the bar to give Dad a big hug.
“If you can keep her from working too much, Elliot, I’d greatly appreciate that,” Dad said, smiling at me and reaching for his beer.
Elliot looked up and glanced between the two of us, something about our interaction relaxing him. It wasn’t like with Kathleen or even with my mom—I loved my family, and they loved me, but there was something special about the way my dad and I understood each other.
“I’ll try after she settles into her new job. I don’t think even the threat of a nuclear holocaust could stop her until she feels like she owns that position.”
Dad laughed, and I looked at Elliot, my face twisted into a shocked smile.
“Hey now—I would stop if I knew the world was ending!”
“Would you, though, sweetheart?”
I narrowed my eyes at my dad, and he squished me to his side.
“You understand her,” Dad said to Elliot. “That’s the second of the many hurdles you have to jump before she’ll let you care about her.”
“Da-ad!”
“I’m not telling him anything he doesn’t already now,” Dad said as he took a long swig of his beer, eyeing Elliot to confirm what he already knew.
“What’s the first hurdle?” Elliot asked.
“You have to be interesting enough to catch her attention.”
“Oh my god, Dad,” I said as I returned to fetch my drink from behind the bar. “Can we not dive right into the depths of my psyche?”
“It’s better than small talk,” Dad retorted as Elliot gave a surprised laugh.
Dad smiled at Elliot and angled his beer toward him.
“To the death of small talk,” Dad said, and Elliot smiled as he clinked his glass with Dad’s bottle of beer.
Despite the fact that I was slightly embarrassed, I couldn’t stop the spread of my satisfied grin. That was what my dad did—he made people comfortable, even people like Elliot who couldn’t or wouldn’t show their true selves to a stranger.
“Charles, kids! Dinner’s ready,” Mom yelled as she motioned to the caterers who were setting up the picnic tables on the front lawn.
The three of us made our way to the front lawn, Elliot’s hand finding mine as soon as I was close to him.
Dinner was quite lovely despite the July heat, my mom having had a breezy tent set up around the picnic tables and tiki torches spread out to provide the double benefit of soft light and warding off insects.
The focus was mostly off of Elliot as we all chatted, catching up and quickly falling into easy conversation about family members, neighbors, and career events, including my promotion.
Erin and Ryan arrived just as the caterers cleared away the plates, Erin grabbing at some of the leftovers and giggling her way across the lawn.
All attention was diverted to her; she was one of those people that the eye and the ear were drawn to—charismatic and full of energy.
After meeting Elliot, Erin sat down next to me and leaned in to whisper, “As soon as the olds go to bed, we’re going starry swimming—will your cutie be interested?”
Starry swimming was code for getting high in the pool.
“Yes—he’ll be quite interested.”
Erin gave me a grin and shot a wink at Elliot, who raised his eyebrows in concern.
Leaning in close to his ear, I quietly said, “I’ll explain later.”
It was after midnight by the time I rummaged through my wardrobe, wondering which bikini might interest Elliot the most. I settled on a little yellow one that was fringed with ruffles, slipping on a pair of matching flipflops before walking out of the closet.  
Elliot’s eyes were lit up by the screen of his phone until they flicked to me, then settled on me as his mouth dropped open a bit.
“Good choice?”
“Yeah,” he said softly.
“Who’s texting you?”
“Angela. She wanted me to go see her dad with her for the holiday. She thinks I’m lying.”
“Let’s send her a pic,” I said, grinning and plopping down next to Elliot.
“Uhhh—”
“She doesn’t know about me?”
“Not exactly.”
I looked at Elliot and shrugged my shoulders.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I just haven’t really had the chance to tell anyone—”
“In case we break up?”
Elliot frowned and looked away, his hands coming to rest on top of his head after he tossed his phone on the bed.
He sighed, “Are you mad I’m still waiting for the hammer to fall?”
“No—I’m mad because you haven’t put your swim trunks on yet,” I said as I poked the end of his nose. “Get changed.”
Elliot groaned and reluctantly slid out of bed, heading into the closet to change. When he emerged, he was in a black t-shirt and his new swim trunks, black, but dotted with white stars. His skinny legs looked comical and even paler than his arms and face.
“We need to get you some sun, hackerman.”
Elliot rolled his eyes, and I warned him that my mother had a sixth sense for eye-rolling—she was probably getting out of bed right at that moment to come and yell at him.
Elliot looked genuinely alarmed for a moment before he narrowed his eyes and told me to shut up.
I giggled and he huffed in an attempt to disguise his own, inadvertent laugh.
Erin and Ryan were already floating around in the pool by the time we got outside.
Despite their closeness, Erin was every bit Kathleen’s opposite. The starkest contrast was Erin’s inclination to disregard rules, even though she was a lawyer. My dad always said that was what actually made her so damn good at her job.
“Heeeey!” Erin yelled, swimming to the edge of the pool and hoisting herself out. “Come on, Ry—I’m ready to really start this party.”
Ryan chose to use the stairs at the shallow end of the pool, and he walked over to us as Erin tossed him a towel. Ryan wrapped the towel around his waist and headed to the bar.
“Let’s see the goods, Elliot. Strip!”
“Please ignore her,” I said, kicking at Erin. “She’s a complete slut.”
Erin corrected me as she wiggled her engagement ring in my direction.
“Excuse me. A former slut.”
I laughed and extended my hands to help pull her up. She pressed her wet body into mine before giggling and running over to the bar.
“The answer is yes—she’s the energetic one.”
Elliot just looked at me, then to Erin and Ryan.
As he followed me to the bar, Elliot quietly said, “You’re all so . . . affectionate.”
I stopped and turned around, looking at Elliot’s face.
“Well, Charlie’s not. He’s more reserved, kinda like you.”
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. You like each other.”
“Generally,” I said chuckling.
“Hey, Erin,” I called. “Remember that time we got in a fight over the last bag of chips?”
“Yeah—you sat on them and the bag exploded. Then you made ME clean it up!”
Erin and I laughed as Ryan and Elliot smiled, listening to us tease each other.
“You smoke?” Ryan asked Elliot as he finished rolling the joint.
“On occasion,” Elliot said, causing me to laugh again.
“My man,” Ryan said as he lit the join and offered it to Elliot first.
Erin, not be outdone, reached into the pouch on the bar and pulled out another joint, lighting it and taking a long drag before passing it to me.
“Selfish asshole,” I said as I exhaled in her face.
“Love you, sis!”
The haze of a high settled over us like the haze of the July night. Soon, we found ourselves in the pool, splashing and giggling and swimming and talking, Elliot’s lips loosened far more than usual.
Erin flirted with him unmercifully, as was her custom, and Elliot looked terrified at first, his eyes darting to me as he struggled to put distance between himself and her.
Ryan and I were both sitting in the shallow end, grinning in amusement, knowing she was only having fun. Erin would flirt with a tomato if she thought it might flirt back.  
Once Elliot realized it was all in fun, Erin even managed to make him laugh out loud with one of the loudest sounds I had ever heard Elliot make. His laugh was carefree, and it melted my heart, drawing me to him like a siren’s song.
Erin splashed me in the face before she swam away.
“Having fun?” I said, grinning, my words feeling heavy and slow.
Elliot grew quiet and I could see his eyes burning to let his voice say yes.
“You don’t have to say it out loud,” I said smiling and sliding my hands to his hips, floating closer to him.
Elliot didn’t say that he was happy, but he reached out for my legs and wrapped them around his waist before leaning in to kiss me.
Our kiss was slow, steady, and deep, and it could’ve been the high, but I felt like the entire world melted away when Elliot’s mouth was on mine.
And before I knew it, we really were all alone in the pool. So, I returned to Elliot’s lips, kissing him and grinding against him under the stars, so high and so content.
* Thursday * 
Elliot awoke with a jolt due to me staring intently at him, a grin plastered across my face. I was already dressed in a dark blue swimsuit underneath my white shorts and white lightweight, long-sleeve top.
“Do you get seasick?” I asked while dangling a bottle of water in front of his face.
Elliot blinked away the sleep as his mind struggled to figure out what I was talking about, and as his dry mouth from all the weed we smoked last night struggled to speak.
He took the bottle of water, took a long drink, and said, “I—I don’t think so?”
“Great! We’re going sailing with Charlie. I’ve already laid out an outfit,” I said gesturing to a pile of clothes that were laying across the bench at the foot of the bed.
Elliot lifted his head to look at the clothes, then sank back onto the bed.
“What else did you buy me?”
“Just a couple of non-black shirts so you don’t get heatstroke.”
“Stop buying me stuff.”
“You don’t really mind,” I said planting loud kisses across his jaw until he laughed and pushed me away.
“This weekend is going to fuck up my worldview for the rest of my life. Sailing,” Elliot huffed. “I’m a fucking hypocrite.”
“Hey—lots of people sail. They have Groupon deals all the time.”
“What the hell is a Groupon?”
“Something you will never, ever use,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ll see you downstairs in 15.”
I grabbed my tote from the bench and went downstairs to pack some light snacks. Charlie was already packing a cooler, and I knew he’d remember the booze and forget the food.
We chatted, mostly about the good weed he missed last night.
Elliot walked into the kitchen and I had to stop my mouth from dropping open. He was in the light grey shorts and the white t-shirt I laid out for him. He also opted for the black slip-on converses I tucked in his bag. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten Elliot this far from his jeans, tennis shoes, and hoodie.
He ran his hand nervously through his hair, pulling at the already straight strands.
“Charlie, this is Elliot. Elliot, my brother, Charlie.”
“Hey.”
“Hey. So, what do you say we get the hell outta here? I love Kat’s kids, but the thought of them on a sailboat—no fuckin’ way.”
“Mom and Dad know we’re taking the boat, right?”
“Leave a note? Be back before dinner.”
“Smart—we’ll avoid the pre-dinner, nothing is ready even though it is, drama.”
We each grabbed a bag or a cooler and walked out the back door toward our dock, the sun having risen only a few feet above the water. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day, only a few clouds surrounding the sun, casting a soft, golden light over the water.
I looked over at Elliot and smiled, his skin glowing golden with the warmth of the sun, a slight smile on his face as he took in the sunrise, the water, and the sailboat.
I leaned closer to him and whispered, “You’re happy—and it’s okay.”
“I think it’s just nerves. I’m so far out of my element I can’t do anything other than smile like an idiot.”
I laughed and Charlie looked back.
“Elliot’s never been sailing. He’s a little nervous.”
“You’re in good hands,” Charlie said, stepping back to allow us to get on the boat first. “I started taking Y/N sailing as soon as she was out of diapers—which took a lot longer than you’d think.”
“I swear to god, Charlie,” I said, shaking my head, and seeing Elliot smirk out of the corner of my eye.
“Do not let him think he’s funny—he’ll roast me all day if he thinks he has a proper audience.”
Elliot shrugged. “There’s nothing he could tell me that would make me think you aren’t perfect.”
“Dude. No. She can’t have hooked you that deep yet?”
“Pretty deep,” Elliot said, his eyes glancing at me.
Charlie made a noise of disgust, but I didn’t miss the soft smile. If I was happy, my brother was happy, and vice-versa. It was as simple as that for us. Charlie and I never had to worry about comparing ourselves to one another, never had to worry about that slight undercurrent of jealousy that stemmed from thinking that we were not enough like our sisters.
Sailing was a lot of work, so Charlie and I taught Elliot, who was eager to learn. We stopped for lunch at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, and Elliot stuck to my side, clearly preferring the open air of the bay over the aristocratic charm of the club.
When we set sail again, Elliot didn’t need reminding about what to do and jumped into handling the rigging like he had been doing it for years.
I could tell Elliot liked Charlie, probably because he told such embarrassing stories about me, but more likely because Charlie was just like my dad—he made people feel at ease.
When we weren’t adjusting the sails or sharing stories, the three of us just sat in companionable silence, taking in the feel of the boat on the water, the warmth of the sun, the smell of the salt in the air, and the quiet solitude of the bay.
We got back just in time for dinner, which was a repeat of the previous night with the exception that we had Erin to entertain us. The early evening passed, full of laughter and stories, and I leaned back and smiled as Elliot took in all of our dynamics, occasionally leaning across the table to ask Charlie some more questions about sailing.
“Alright, family!” my mother announced. “Time for fireworks!”
We made our way toward the beach with our blankets, and once we got settled, Elliot looked over at me smiled—at least until he ended up with a lap full of toddler.
Molly and her brothers were playing, waving sparklers around and unleashing blacksnake fireworks, and she took off running only to trip over the edge of our blanket and fall right into Elliot’s lap.
“Gah!” came Elliot’s shocked response as he looked down at Molly, his expression one of pure horror until Molly twisted around to see what, or rather who, she landed on. She looked at Elliot and started giggling.
“Silly!” she exclaimed, patting him on the arm.
“You fell on me,” Elliot replied in his normal intonation just as the first firework shot up in the distance, startling me and Elliot, but not Molly.
When Molly felt Elliot start at the noise, she asked, “Do you need to sit on me?”
Elliot chuckled and looked at her with his grey eyes, a smile crinkling the skin in the corners.
“I’m okay, and thanks for asking. The first one always scares me a little.”
Molly smiled and shifted, turning around in Elliot’s lap to face the water and to lean back onto his chest, her hair snaggling just a bit in the slight stubble on his chin.
He looked over at me and I smiled, shrugged, and scooted closer to lean against his side.
Molly “ooo-ed” and “ahh-ed” as we watched the fireworks and Elliot kept sneaking glances at her as if he couldn’t believe she were still there. I suppose there was a quietness in Elliot that just appealed to Molly, and to the boys. He didn’t treat them like they were anything other than miniature people. Kids liked to know they were human, too. Liked to feel normal, something Elliot always seemed to recognize when it was a need in someone else.
I rested my head on Elliot’s shoulder, and I would be lying if I said the thought of a normal, disgustingly domestic future with a child of our own didn’t cross my mind. And when Elliot turned his head to breath in my hair before placing a kiss to the top of my head, I would be lying if said I didn’t believe he was thinking about it, too.
* Friday * 
“Fuck,” I muttered, my mind barely awake as I scrolled through my phone.
Elliot was laid out next to me, soundly sleeping. I hated to wake him, but I had no choice.
I put my phone on the nightstand and rolled to face him, taking in the peaceful look on his face. The circles under his eyes were gone and his skin had started to take on a more golden hue. The sun had done him wonders, and I had to remind myself that I didn’t have time to get lost in the beauty of him at the moment.
I was away from work, so of course the world was on fire.
I moved in closer to Elliot and placed a soft kiss on his forehead, reaching up to run my fingers through his thick, messy hair.
Elliot stirred so I whispered, “Hey, El. Good morning.”
I could see Elliot’s eyes moving under his lids as he fought to wake up. His tongue darted out to wet his lips and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He shifted, stretching a little before finally opening his eyes.
The immediate smile on his face as he registered me warmed my heart.
“Morning,” he rasped, sleep still clinging to his voice.
“I lied. It’s not a ‘good’ morning,” I said frowning.
Elliot’s eyes turned more alert, so I continued.
“Our IDS went off last night—well, early this morning. The reactive program set up before your time worked so the Source IP was blocked. They tried like hell to get in, and I want to know if this was an isolated incident or if they were after other companies, too.”
“You want me to track them.”
“Can you do it remotely? Dad has a VPN.”
“Yes,” Elliot paused, then asked, “They gave him a VPN here? In a house that’s not always occupied?”
“It’s a recent development. This is sort of a secret, but Dad is planning to retire next year. He and mom plan to move to this house permanently, so they’ve been spending more time here.”
Elliot sighed.
“Smart move—the hackers, I mean.”
“I know. Is that what you would do if you were a black hat?”
Elliot looked over at me and raised his brow, “I would’ve succeeded.”
I huffed out a laugh and pressed a kiss to his lips. Elliot quickly wrapped his arms around me and pulled my body on top of his. What began as an innocent kiss turned into a mess of breathy pants and sighs as our bodies ground together in the early morning light.
Elliot rolled us over and reached between our bodies, sliding a finger into my underwear to stroke my opening. I reached to grasp his hard length through his underwear before pushing the fronts down to pull out his cock.
I looked at him and he returned my gaze, his grey eyes darkened to a deep blue.
I spread my legs and pulled him toward me as he pushed my panties to the side. I pressed his tip against my wetness, and I longed for my ache of want to be filled by him.
Elliot narrowed his eyes with concern, but I shook my head and shifted my hips up to invite him to enter me.
Elliot pushed inside of me with ease, his eyes closing and his mouth popping open at the sensation of being inside me without a condom for the first time. He pulled me closer to his body, our t-shirts pressing into one another as we fucked in a heated frenzy of morning sex.
His face was pressed into my hair, into my neck, and he came quickly, buried unapologetically inside my body.
I slowly exhaled in a sad sigh that we didn’t have longer to just stay like this.
“We’ve got work to do,” I said, leaning up to place a soft bite on his shoulder.
“But—”
“I don’t need to get off every time, El. Sometimes, it’s more about intimacy. And that was delightfully intimate. I’m going to get shivers all day thinking about you—not that that’s much different than any other day now,” I said with a smile as I wriggled out from under his warm body.
“Get dressed,” I said with a wink as I ducked into the bathroom.
By lunchtime, Elliot had tracked the hackers and every company they attacked. They were novices and left way too many trails; my dad made frequent appearances in his study, sometimes asking if we needed anything, sometimes asking general questions, and sometimes just watching us work.
“I feel so inept,” he said, watching as our fingers flew over the keys, Elliot barely registering his presence.
“It’s like a hidden world, Dad,” I said distantly, trying not to lose the current signature of one of the IPS addresses.
By early afternoon, Elliot and I had everything we needed for me to hand over the file to the police.
My dad was impressed and peppered Elliot with questions until the boys came in to beg Pap to swim with them.
Elliot and I joined Charlie, Erin, Ryan, and Mom in the kitchen, settling at the kitchen table with Charlie, who began peppering us with questions very similar to my father’s.
It was Elliot’s turn to be the expert on something, and I listened with such contentment as he talked, unbelieving of just how well the weekend had gone, despite the early morning hack.
I should have known—it’s always the quite moments of pure contentment that are broken, shattered into a thousand pieces so you feel like you had only ever imagined experiencing genuine happiness.
Two very wet boys, one of them screeching, came skidding to a halt in the kitchen attempting to tattle to Mimi about some wrong that had been committed, except that Jared was so worked up that he just kept on skidding until his nose collided with the edge of the kitchen island, the crack that sounded through the room sending a wave of nausea through me.
Jared bounced off the island and fell onto the floor, blood pouring from his nose. I heard Elliot’s reaction before I saw or registered his look of panic. The chair he had been sitting in had flung back as he jumped up and he was pale and trembling as he stared at the mess that was Jared on the floor. Charlie jumped into action, running outside to get Kathleen, and Erin, Ry, and Mom all scrambled to get supplies to stop the bleeding and to tend to Jared.  
Elliot looked crazed in that moment, his mind gone, so far away, just like that fateful night in the server room.
Everyone was so preoccupied with Jared’s bleeding nose that no one noticed Elliot’s reaction. I went to reach for him, to pull him into the other room, but he jumped away from me, his eyes frantic as he searched for an escape.
He took off in the direction of the stairs and I followed, feeling even sicker to my stomach.
I followed Elliot to my room, and he went straight into the closet, settling back against the wall, his breathing irregular, his eyes vacant.
“Elliot,” I said in a tone that was very similar to that night in the server room.
I approached him slowly, knowing better than to reach for him this time. I settled onto the floor, my every movement deliberate.
“Whatever’s happening in your head right now, just know that it’s not real anymore. I’m real. I’m right here,” I said, tapping the floor next to him, still not daring to touch him. “I’m right here, El.”
“Leave me the fuck alone,” Elliot said in a tone I had never heard before, his eyes snapping into focus and staring into me, icy and furious.
“This is all your fault. You wormed in, wriggled deep inside, and you’ve got no idea the kinda shit you’re gonna find when you’ve burrowed in deep enough. I can’t protect him if you keep forcing him to open up. To be vulnerable,” Elliot spat.
“Him who, Elliot? Your father?”
“Fuck you,” Elliot said, still looking at me like he wished I were dead.
“He’s . . . gone, remember? Your dad’s gone.”
Elliot said nothing, but pulled his legs tight up to his body. His shaking hands wrapped around his knees.
My eyes were filled with tears as I moved to sit next to Elliot against the wall of my closet. I swiped at the tears I couldn’t hold back, their wet heat so offensive to my fingers as I rubbed them away and onto my shorts.
We sat in silence for a long time, and I was afraid to look at Elliot again. Afraid to see that twisted expression on his face that said it hated me.
My ass had long ago grown numb, but I didn’t dare move. I didn’t want Elliot to think he was alone when he came back from whatever was going on in his head.
I was busy pulling at the frays on my shorts and continuing to fight off tears when Elliot’s soft voice broke the silence.
“Y/N?” Elliot asked, his expression tightening in a wave of confusion.
I finally looked at him again, and it was if he’d undergone a change. The iciness was gone, and it was once again the Elliot I had always known looking at me.
“What happened? I don’t—I can’t remember anything after . . . after—” Elliot looked so lost, so worried.
“Shh,” I said. “Don’t try to remember. It’s not important.”
“Yes, it is! I have to remember. I need to remember!” he yelled, causing me to flinch.
“Jared had an accident—slammed into the kitchen island,” I said immediately, watching Elliot’s face as he stared at me, wide-eyed and desperate. “He has a broken nose. There was blood everywhere, and you just . . . lost it. It was like that night in the server room. You’ve been here with me, Elliot. Right here. But your mind . . . wasn’t.”
“Why can’t I remember?” Elliot asked, his voice tinged with agony.
“Your mind isn’t ready for you to remember. Whatever happened to you—your mind just isn’t ready to let you remember. Repression is a powerful coping mechanism.”
Elliot looked at me for a long time. His eyes searching mine before they focused on my hands in my lap, the wet spots from my tears an evident mark on the denim of my shorts.
Elliot’s eyes filled with tears and his lips trembled as he fought not to cry.
“I hate this,” he breathed. “I hate that I can’t ever be normal.
“Come here,” I said, pulling his head to my chest. He wrapped his arms around me, and I could feel the wetness of his tears on my chest as he began to cry. I had a million questions, but I wasn’t sure Elliot could even answer them or that I should even ask them.
And talking it out wasn’t what he needed right now. What he needed now more than anything was someone to make him feel safe and loved.
“Shh,” I whispered into his hair as I held him, my face buried in the sweet scent of my own shampoo that he had used, the thick, soft strands of his hair tickling my nose and cheeks.
“You’re safe with me, Elliot. What’s in the past can’t hurt you anymore. I won’t let it. Know why?”
He shook his head against my chest.
“Because I love you.”
A breathy sob escaped from between Elliot’s lips and he clutched onto me even tighter than the night I saved him from the server room.
“I love you,” I whispered next to his ear before pressing a kiss to his temple. “I love you, and I’ll do anything I can to keep you safe, to make you happy.”
We stayed like that for a long time, so long I thought Elliot had fallen asleep, and my eyes had begun to drift shut.
I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door, and Elliot jumped up, clearly not asleep.
“It’s probably just someone coming to check on us. Just stay here,” I said pulling the door closed enough so no one could see in.
I opened the door and stepped out into the hall to talk to Charlie who confirmed that Jared had indeed broken his nose. Charlie thought it was somewhat comical now that the hubbub was over, but I just sighed and shook my head.
“Remember that time I broke my nose over Thanksgiving? I still don’t think Mom’s forgiven me,” he said with a small laugh.
“No—she still won’t allow you to play football. And now she’ll never let Jared and Jack swim again,” I said.
“Is Elliot okay? I saw him bolt out of the kitchen.”
“He doesn’t do blood,” I said, the lie to protect Elliot falling easily from my lips.
“That was a lot of fucking blood,” Charlie confirmed. “Always a time to be had at the Y/L/N summer house!”
I shook my head and smiled softly, then told Charlie goodnight, thanking him for checking on us, too.
“Hey,” I said gently as I pushed open the closet door. “Charlie said Jared’s fine. They set his nose and he’s going to have two spectacularly black eyes for a while, but he’s doing just fine. Let’s get you the hell off this floor and into bed. You cannot tell me that your ass is not full of pins and needles.”
We undressed, quietly and quickly, sliding into the bed after Elliot opened the balcony door to let in the night’s breeze and the noise of the water on the bay. In the distance, there were fireworks popping off as people’s celebrations continued.
When we settled into bed, Elliot faced away from me, but backed into my body, touching me just enough so that he knew I was there. I wanted to wrap my arms around him again, but I refrained. He clearly needed some space, but not so much to know I wasn’t there. I had a feeling I would end up with a body covered in Elliot in the morning once his mind was at ease and his subconscious was free to do as it pleased.
Elliot clearly experienced some kind of panic attack triggered by Jared’s injury. As for the way he spoke to me, it was some sort of defense mechanism.
I shivered and hoped I never had to see that part of Elliot again.
* Saturday morning *
I was right.
I awoke to a mouthful of black hair as Elliot was tucked into me, his arm wrapped snuggly over me and his head resting on my chest, just over my heartbeat.
My waking thoughts returned to last night, and I wondered whether I should ask Elliot about what happened. I wanted to know more about his past, but I really wanted to know how to help him now.
I snuggled into the top of his hair, and breathed him in.
My next waking thought was that I had told Elliot I loved him—fuck.
He damn near had a meltdown after I asked him to be my boyfriend, so I couldn’t imagine what was going to happen when he processed what I said to him. I wondered if I should start with that—maybe he wouldn’t even remember?
My phone lit up and I reached over to check my texts. Kathleen said they were leaving soon and wanted to say goodbye.
I slipped out from under Elliot’s grasp and threw on some shorts, trying not to wake him as I wrestled my hair into a bun.
“Where are you going?” he asked sleepily.
“Kat’s leaving soon and I want to tell her and the kids goodbye.”
“Did I—did they see?”
“No. Char’s the only one who noticed you left the room rather quickly, and I told him blood wasn’t your thing.”
“Oh.”
“Do you wanna tell the kids goodbye?”
Elliot nodded and shuffled out of bed, reaching for the same shorts he had on last night. We both used the bathroom and then headed downstairs, the smell of a spectacular breakfast assaulting our noses.
Erin came pounding down the stairs after us and quickly read the room before inhaling dramatically and saying, “Ahhh! Nothing like the smell of bacon in the morning, right Jare?”
Everyone laughed as Jared glared at her and then even more when he couldn’t stop his own laugh.
We all ate breakfast together, and I could tell Elliot was tense, the easiness of the previous days gone, replaced by the anxiety that just refused to let go of him for any real length of time.
I had struggled with my own bouts of anxiousness and depression, but nothing had ever been as serious as Elliot’s. My heart ached for him, and I resolved not to let the incident in the closet go . . . like I had with the incident in the server room.
If I was ever going to help him, or get him help, I needed to get him to talk to me.
We helped Kathleen and Josh load up the car and stood in the driveway to say goodbye. Molly walked over to Elliot and clutched onto his legs, so he picked her up and hugged her, much to her delight.
Jared gave us all a reluctant hug, and I planted a kiss to the top of his head before whispering that Uncle Char broke his nose over Thanksgiving and while he was in the ER with Mimi and Pap, the turkey burned.
Jared’s face split into an expression of glee, despite his swollen eyes and nose. He looked at Charlie and said, “Well at least I didn’t ruin the Thanksgiving turkey!”
“Thanks, sis,” Charlie said.
We waved goodbye, and I asked Elliot if he wanted to take a walk on the beach. He nodded yes, so we walked across the stone path and through the front yard until our feet hit sand.
We were quiet for a long time, enjoying the cool lapping of the water at low tide as we walked.
I tested Elliot’s desire to be touched and reached for his hand.
“It’s okay if you want to pull away,” I said as his fingers curled around mine.
“I don’t.”
“Okay.”
I wanted to ask him—I was burning to ask him something about last night, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It may have been that Elliot seemed to be relaxing again, or that I feared pulling him back to that dark place, but more likely, it was my own defense mechanisms wrapping their protective arms around me while I dealt with the weight of my unacknowledged I love you.
We walked in companionable silence, both of us lost in our thoughts until Elliot started talking about yesterday’s hack. We fell into an easy, safe conversation, and I found myself okay with that. I knew I couldn’t ignore the much more difficult conversation we needed to have forever, but what was the harm in letting Elliot have some time to process? Patience. That was what he needed right now.
When it started raining that afternoon, we decided to head back into the city a little early to beat the surge of Sunday traffic.  
We said goodbye to my family, and Elliot thanked them all for making him feel so welcome. I smiled as I watched him interact with my mom and my dad more easily than I could’ve ever dreamed.
Charlie and Elliot gave each other head nods, but the look of soft affection that passed between them made me smile.
And that soft moment was quickly replaced by yet another quiet moment of horror when Erin launched herself into Elliot’s arms, dramatically declaring that she’d die if she didn’t see him again before the end of summer.
Elliot patted her and stilled, waiting for her to release him, but when she leaned up and whispered something in his ear, he laughed, that same booming laugh from the night in the pool.
I found myself smiling like an idiot, again. Despite Jared’s broken nose and Elliot’s subsequent panic attack, the weekend was a true success.
Our drive back was quiet, music playing faintly on the radio as the rain splattered on the windshield of my SUV.
I stopped outside of Elliot’s building, the wipers a steady beat in the background as he pulled his backpack up to the front seat.
“I’m sure you’re ready for some alone time.”
“I like being with you,” Elliot offered.
I smiled, sadness still tugging at my heart, not just because of finally beginning to understand the depth of Elliot’s pain, but because it was clear he wasn’t ready to love me. Like me, just not love me. And I needed to figure out a way to be okay with that.
“Do you need help with any—”
“Thank you for—”
We looked at each other and laughed, one of those awkward laughs that happens when there’s just so much to unpack but you’re too tired and you just don’t want to yet.
“It’s just one bag. I can manage,” Elliot said.
“You’re welcome for the weekend,” I returned.
“I wasn’t going to thank you for the weekend. I wanted to,” Elliot paused and collected his thoughts, his eyes looking at my hand as it rested on the gear shift. “I wanted to thank you for what you said. It meant a lot. And it means a lot that you understood what I needed to hear and you were willing to say it to me, no matter if you didn’t mean it.”
“What?” I asked stupidly.
“I know you didn’t mean it. You were just being good to me. You’re always good to me.”
“Elliot,” I said firmly. “I would never tell someone I loved them if I didn’t mean it. Come on. You have to expect better from people—not people. From me. Expect better from me.”
Elliot looked at me, his mouth open in what looked like shock before he pulled in his bottom lip and bit it, his eyes blinking slowly.
“You meant it?”
“I still mean it.”
Elliot looked like he was about to short-circuit.
“Hey—hey,” I said, forcing him to meet my gaze as I lifted his chin. “We aren’t teenagers. I don’t need you to say it back just because I said it. And I’m not going to take it back because you didn’t say it back. I feel the way I feel and I’m so happy about it, El. And I hope you feel the same way someday. But that’s your decision, not mine. I’m not going to push you. I won’t say it again if you don’t want me—”
“I do,” Elliot said, his eyes burning into mine with their intensity, effectively cutting me off from my explanation. “I want you to say it when you feel it. If you mean it, I want you to say it. I’m just not ready—but you have no idea, fuck I don’t even have an idea really, how it makes me feel to know that you think—”
“Not think—”
“That you know how you feel and you feel that way about me.”
“Maybe if I say I love you enough, you’ll start believing it.”
Elliot closed his eyes as if he were memorizing the sound of my voice, memorizing the way the loaded word hung in the air.
“Can it be enough, for now, that you want to give it? Can I have time to figure out how to . . . process that?”
“Time as in we don’t see each other time, or time as in we just keep doing our thing and don’t talk about this for a while?”
Elliot smiled and replied, “The second thing you said. This weekend established an unrealistic expectation—every morning I woke up and it was next to you. Waking up tomorrow is going to be awful.”
“We could always move in together?” I said, wondering if Elliot would read the teasing that was dancing behind my eyes.
“Fuck, Y/N. Are you trying to kill me?” he said with a huff of a laugh.
“Goodnight, Elliot. I’ll miss you.”
“Text me before you fall asleep,” he said as he leaned over the console, his voice low.
Elliot kissed me goodnight, his lips soft and warm as they moved against mine, his teeth pulling on my lower lip before he drew away.
By the time I opened my eyes, he was closing the passenger door. I opened the liftgate and he grabbed his bag, shutting the door firmly.
I watched him jog up the short steps to his building and duck inside, an ache that would someday become all too familiar took hold of my heart as I watched him disappear. 
80 notes · View notes
jacksonroseroth · 5 years
Text
The Untitled One Chapter 2
Warnings: Angst, Sibling angst
Words: 3.413
Tumblr media
Moodboard made by me, none of the pictures are mine
~
Previous Chapter
The next morning, Asger arrived bright and early to retrieve the two Ragnarssons and Harald, bringing them to the clearing where they waited for Asta and her brothers. Calder and Einer had risen early to get in a quick training, while Hagan took his time with his breakfast, chatting with a few of the ladies under their employ. Asta sat in the chair next to her father as he lay in his bed, while a slave braided the sides of her head, placing a few extra braids to rest over her curls.
“Two of Ragnar Lothbrok’s sons are here, Father.” She said, softly. Her father gave a small groan as he turned his head to her.
“Ragnar?” He rasped. “He is here?”
“No, Father,” Asta said, reaching out to take his hand. “No, his sons. Ivar and Hvitserk. They are here.”
“Sons...How did you...See them?” Dyri asked. Asta released his hand as he sent himself into a coughing fit.
“The one, Ivar, he is King of Kattegat now. He is the youngest.” Asta said. “Hvitserk was quiet, but he may be more vocal today.”
Dyri wheezed as he came out of his fit, giving a few last coughs.
“I’ve heard Hvitserk has Ragnar’s humor.” Dyri chuckled. Asta smiled as she played with the small kitten in her lap. “And I’m told Ivar has his father’s eyes...Is it true?”
Asta looked up at her father, thankful his eyes were closed and he couldn’t see her lips twisted in a smirk.
“It is. Blue eyes like ice.” Asta said. Dyri chuckled and coughed, coughing up blood this time. Asta winced and turned away with a sigh. “They’ve come to seek an alliance with us, them, and King Harald of Vestfold. I’ve spoken with your sons and they seem to agree with me.”
“You will decide, Asta.” Dyri wheezed, beckoning a slave for more water. “I have left you in charge, you will decide if this alliance is a wise choice.”
“Of course, Father. But you are still Earl, I am not. I must know your opinion on it.” Asta said. Dyri wheezed and nodded, closing his eyes as he drifted off to sleep. Asta gave a small sigh before letting the kitten jump from her lap and run off to find its mother.
~
It was another hour before Asta joined her brothers and they galloped off, riding through the woods to where Ivar, Hvitserk, and Harald waited for them.
“We have been waiting here for two hours,” Harald grumbled. “How long does she intend to make us wait?”
“She certainly knows what she’s doing,” Hvitserk remarked, happily munching away on the food the slaves had laid out.
“How do you mean?” Ivar asked, biting into an apple. Hvitserk smirked and sucked a bit of juice off his thumb before speaking.
“She has brought us to a place she knows. Her men surround us and our men are at least 3 miles from us. She has taken control of this discussion and this alliance.” He said, with a chuckle. “We should not underestimate her. Mark my words.”
“Consider them marked,” Harald said, crossing his arms as he reached up a hand to stroke his beard, watching the treeline for them.
“Why do you have such a hatred for this land, Harald?” Ivar asked, amused, tilting his head slightly. Harald scoffed and turned to him.
“Her father once led an attack on Vestfold. He heard about my ambitions to be king and moved against me. He almost cost my brother's life. “ Harald said.
“The brother you killed?” Ivar asked. Harald gave him a look as Hvitserk coughed and sputtered from snorting his ale at Ivar’s comment. Harald smirked and raised an eyebrow while Ivar looked quite pleased with himself, snickering at his brother.
“Did you not also kill your brother, Ivar?” Harald asked. Usually, this was a touchy subject for Ivar, his killing Sigurd, but this time, he casually brushed off the tone Harald’s comment had and merely shrugged.
“You were close with Halfdan. You cared about him and you fought side by side...Sigurd’s death was an accident. I did not mean to kill him.” Ivar said. Harald gave a soft scoff as hoofbeats caused him to turn. Asta rode toward them, her brothers and a 4th man behind her. Seeing them all together like this, they took notice of each of them.
Einer was the youngest and the smallest build; His shoulder length dark hair tied half up, as his blue eyes were made smaller, squinting in the sun. Calder had a rather arrogant presence about him, small smirk resting on his lips as his green eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for anything out of the ordinary. His dark hair was kept short and Ivar noticed he kept his bow around him, noting the same from the day prior. Hagan and Asta were nearly identical, twins, Ivar assumed. They both had the same emerald green eyes and dark hair, like their brothers. Asta’s hair was half braided and half in curls where Hagan’s shaggy hair hung loose, just past his ears and slicked back. Both wore the same neutral expression and had the same regal air about them.
Once they reached the clearing, all 5 of them swung down from their horses as the slaves took the reins, leading the horses to where the others were. The clearing was surrounded by Asta’s men, while Ivar, Hvitserk, and Harald sat under a wooden trellis, a roaring fire off to the side. Hvitserk was quick to wipe his hands and stand as they approached, Ivar hurrying as he shuffled to his feet and take up beside Hvitserk.
“Asta,” Ivar said, bowing his head. Asta gave him a sweet smile, one she extended to Hvitserk and Harald as well, before gesturing to the table, where they all shuffled around, taking their seats. Calder held out Asta’s chair for her as Hagan took his place on her right-hand side. A slave held out Ivar’s chair as he came to sit at her left, Hvitserk next to him, before Harald.
“I apologize for the wait. I may be ruling in my father’s stead, but he is still Earl and things such as this need his approval as well.” Asta said as Calder took his seat. Her gaze swept to the 4th man they brought with them, giving him a brief nod. As he retrieved a box, Asta spoke to Harald, “My father remembers you well, King Harald. He deeply regrets his actions against you and wishes to apologize.”
Harald raised his eyebrows in surprise, glancing at Ivar, who turned the corners of his mouth down and gave a shrug.
“He’s told us of the attack he led on Vestfold when you first became King. At the time, his older brother was Earl and commanded the attack. Our Uncle Tyr raided the hall and stole something my father believes to be of value.” Asta said. “Our cousin, Gunnar.”
The 4th man, Gunnar, approached the table, a long wooden box in hand, and set it on the table in front of Harald before he opened it. Once the lid opened and Harald saw what was inside, he stood abruptly.
“I believe this was once your father’s sword? From the inscription in the steel, Tyr guessed as much.” Asta said. “I do not know why he would take such a thing, but my father thought it best it was finally returned.”
Harald ran his fingers over the steel and sighed, closing his eyes. He shut the box and looked at the siblings. “Thank you. Your father is a good man. I accept his apology and absolve him from his actions.” He said. Asta smiled and let a soft chuckle pass as Calder smirked and spoke up.
“Thank you, King Harald. But this is not his apology. He is adamant that he faces you once more and apologize.” Calder said.
“I thought he was ill?” Hvitserk asked.
“Not so ill he cannot right this wrong. He has refused all visitors, but for you, King Harald, and for the sake of our new alliance, he invites you all to join us for dinner tonight.” Asta said. Harald bowed his head and sat, as Ivar accepted the invitation.
“Of course. We would love to join you. I have heard much about your father. I look forward to seeing if it’s true.” Ivar said. Hagan chuckled, even though Asta gave him a look, he continued, “Our father may not be joining us. His illness has him bedridden. We are not sure when he will recover, if he does.
Asta gritted her teeth and gave her twin a sharp kick, hard enough to make him yelp. Ivar snickered and looked to Asta, who gave him a polite smile.
“You mentioned our new alliance,” Hvitserk said. Asta looked at him and nodded. “So, you have chosen to accept our offer?”
“We shall discuss terms and as long as they are beneficial to our people, yes. We shall accept.” Asta said. Ivar smirked and sat back, smug and proud, as he cast a look down to Harald, while Hvitserk launched into negotiations with Hagan and Calder.
~
Once all discussions were over, they all headed back to town.
“You have quite the presence, Asta,” Ivar said, as his chariot rumbled along, rolling up beside her as she was well ahead of the rest. Asta smiled, lightly, then glanced down at him.
“Thank you. I’ve been told I’m quite standoffish when receiving guests.” She said. She looked at him and said, “Though, it was all the men who have said this.”
Ivar chuckled and said, “They have never seen a strong woman in power before.”
“Clearly, you have, my King?” Asta questioned, ducking a low branch as her horse walked along. Ivar smirked and nodded.
“Yes. My Mother. The former Queen of Kattegat.” Ivar said, rather proud. “You remind me of her. You would make a great queen.”
“I do not want to be queen,” Asta said, with a chuckle. “I have enough pressure to live up to my father and grandfather. I do not need to have the weight of great queens resting on my shoulders as well.”
“One would think becoming Queen would exceed your father’s expectations,” Ivar said. Asta let her laugh grow beyond a chuckle this time. Ivar looked up at her, part of him insulted as she laughed at his expense, half mesmerized at the sound. Asta’s laugh faded to a soft giggle as she looked down at him.
“My King, my father never had expectations for me.” She said. “I am the oldest, but I am not a man. He refused to let me do anything other than learn how to become a lady. I had to show him where I belonged. Above Calder, above Hagan, in my rightful place. Just because I am a woman didn't mean I was any less than them, Hagan especially.”
“I know the feeling,” Ivar grumbled facing forward. Asta smiled.
“So you see, Ivar,” Asta started with a sigh. “There are no expectations for me. Neither as a ruler nor as a woman. My people have learned that I will be whatever I choose to be. I have proven myself more than just a woman, and that I can rule as Earl.”
Asta took a deep breath and sighed.
“And yet…” She cast another look down at Ivar as he looked up at her. “I still will probably never receive the title. You are known as Ivar the Boneless, but I will soon be known as Astoria the Untitled.”
Ivar gave a soft chuckle and said, “Will you not one day become Earl? Is that not a title?”
“Hmm...Perhaps. My father can easily change his mind on his deathbed. Think that Calder or Hagan is better suited as Earl. And I shall return to being untitled, as I have most of my life.” Asta said, rather casually.
“You have a very...Casual outlook on your station, Lady.” Ivar said, sitting back with a sigh. Asta smirked and shrugged.
“It’s the best outlook to have on life, don't you think?”  Asta asked, glancing down at him. “No expectations, just pleasant surprises. No pressure to live up to the title you were given. Even if my father decides to make Hagan or Calder Earl, I can still live my life as I choose; No titles to my name, no husband to please…”
“No children to care for?” Ivar offered. He looked up at her, seeing her glance down with a soft smile on her face before she glanced out at him from under her lashes, then lifted her head to look forward. A small smirk crept across Ivar’s face as he asked, “Do you want children?”
“I do.” She said. “At the right time. With the right man.”
She looked at Ivar and gave a soft giggle before she said, “I may have a carefree outlook on life, but I do believe in love. Even if that means I die, unmarried and childless, I will only marry for love.”
Ivar chuckled. “And if you are named Earl-” Asta’s laughter cut him off and Ivar shot her a look, again laughing at his expense. Her laughter soon died and she looked at him.
“My King, we can discuss all possible futures I may have. I can discuss it until the gods walk the earth with us.” She said. Asta watched the young king for a few moments, letting it sink in before she gave a shrug and said, “My fate is decided, no matter what I do, no matter how I plan. I live my life for my people, not myself.”
Ivar took on quite the chastised look as he turned away from her as they neared the edge of the woods. Asta bit her lip as her face fell to hold a look of serenity as she watched Ivar’s face for a moment. She turned away as they approached the gates. Hagan caught up to them, calling out for the guards to open the gates, glancing at his sister.
Asta rode through the gate, breaking from them, and swung down from her horse. The three men rode in with the family, though they stayed seated.
“We shall return this evening, my Lady,” Harald said, bowing his head.
“We look forward to it, King Harald. Hopefully, my father will be able to join us.” She said, handing the reins to the slave by her.
“Asta,” Ivar said as she passed his chariot. He dangled a hand over the side, holding it out to her, slightly. A slow smile passed her lips as she went to him, allowing him to take her hand and raise it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand.
“We shall see you tonight, my King,” Asta said, bowing her head. Ivar smirked and chuckled as he flicked the reins in his other hand, letting her hand slide out of his as his chariot rolled away, turning to go through the gates with Hvitserk and Harald. In a show of solidarity, with a sprinkling of intimidation, Hagan looked to his younger brothers before taking his place at Asta’s side, Calder on her other and Einer flanking him.
“I do not trust them,” Hagan said, once they were out of earshot. Asta chuckled and turned to walk back to the hall, her brothers trailing her.
“Why so suddenly untrusting, Hagan?” She asked.
“I don’t like the way Ivar looks at you.” He said, staying close by her side. Asta giggled.
“You sound like Calder.” She said, casting a glance back at him. “And how does he look at me, brother?”
“He wants to make you his queen, Asta.”
“I do not wish to be queen. I’ve told him this.”
“He wants to marry you.”
All at once, the twins began to speak over each other in an argument, hearing what the other had said, but not letting them finish. Calder gave Einer a look and sighed, as they walked along with them, until finally, Asta snapped, and turned on him.
“And what if he wants to marry me, Hagan?!” She cried. “Does that mean he gets to? Just like that? He wants me, so I must give myself to him?”
“No, Asta,” Hagan said with a sigh. “Of course not.”
“Then there you are.” Asta huffed, tugging at her cloak as a cold breeze blew past. As she turned to continue toward the hall, Hagan continued.
“But you cannot present yourself like this, sister.” He said. Asta stopped, dead in her tracks, making Calder and Einer exchange looks before taking two big steps back from him. Hagan saw the movement and glanced back at them, sighing.
“And how, my sweet brother,” Asta started, her voice thick with accusation as she turned back to him. “Is it that I present myself?”
“You know my meaning, Asta,” Hagan said. “You show favor to Ivar over Harald. You can tell him you do not wish to marry or be queen all you wish. But your actions speak louder than your words. You must show no favor for one king over the other.”
Asta’s lips pressed together as she let a soft chuckle pass between them, stepping closer. “Hagan, I appreciate your concern, but I know what I’m doing. Ivar is in need of a little stroking to make him more compliant to any objections we may have. Harald was humbled today, from Father’s gesture and he will work with us. Both are vastly different kings; Ivar is young, new and wild. Harald has been king for quite a few years and he knows how things work. Pretty words, affectionate gestures and favor will not sway him. Not like it will sway Ivar.”
Hagan shifted, knowing there was more she had to say.
“So, please, my brother, think about those things next time before you accuse me...Of showing favor or otherwise.” With a swish of her cloak, Asta turned and strode down to the hall to see everything was set up for that night.
From behind, Calder stepped up and patted his brother’s shoulder.
“And that’s why I let her do what she wants,” Calder said, moving past him to follow his sister.
“You were the who didn't want her to trust them, Calder,” Hagan said, reaching out to grab his brother’s shoulder, stopping him. Calder chuckled and turned to Hagan.
“I let her do what she wants, in regards to men and her personal life. I know she still rides alone. It infuriates me, but one day she’ll learn not to go off by herself. As far as Ivar?” Calder glanced away in a ponder then looked at Hagan and said, “We all know she is no virgin. There is no modesty to protect. Let her have her fun with the young king. With Harald as well, should she choose so. I see no harm in it.”
As Calder turned away, Hagan said, “Of course you don’t! You don’t think of those things! Ever! You only see what is in front of you, never ahead! If she toys with Ivar, he will soon grow tired of her games and unleash his anger on her.”
“And you will let that happen to your own, sweet, twin sister?” Calder asked turning back to him, giving him a look as he smirked. Hagan took a step to him, going toe to toe with his little brother.
“Hagan,” Einer said.
“If he’s taken her to bed, how exactly do you think I will prevent it? It is not as if I can follow them and wait and watch to see if she sleeps with him.” Hagan said. “Do not forget, she is my twin. We share a bond, not you. Do not pretend you have a greater concern for her.”
Before Calder could respond, Hagan shoved his shoulder with his as he passed him, going to the hall and inside as the first few drops of rain began. Calder glanced up at the sky and sighed.
“Come on, Einer. We must make sure Father is warm enough before the rains.” Calder said, turning to go back to the hall. Einer nodded and followed as the sound of thunder made him skip a few steps as he jumped, startled by it. Calder laughed and chased after his little brother as they both ran toward the hall.
~
Next Chapter
Hope you guys liked it! If you want to be tagged in future fics/chapters, let me know! I’ll add you to the list!
@tephi101 @shieldmaiden25 @titty-teetee @captstefanbrandt @ivarslittlebadgirl @hail-kattegat @badwolf-in-the-impala @tgrrose @irishhiggins @artanakin  @readsalot73 @thisisparadisemylove @capitanostella @noaor @somethingdawn @lol-haha-joke  @meganjudee @tinypuppysoul  @lovelydreamer-2000 @littlepanda-love @moondustmemories @imconfused28 @ivaraddict  @kinzykittty @filthy-lil-thing @unicornbaby741 @thedevil-of-monterrey @chinduda @nomzcandi @ever-darkening @darling-nymph  @franzi201070
19 notes · View notes
sphq · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
“I’m tired of pretending that I am okay.”
AUDREY CHRISTINE GANNER is a SIXTEEN/SEVENTEEN-year-old VAMPIRIC WITCH (with the unique ability of Cytokinesis [x]) and is attending SPELLBOUND ACADEMY as a JUNIOR. SHE currently identifies as PANSEXUAL and is CURRENTLY SINGLE (She recently broke up with her boyfriend of two years, Wyatt Reed. The two began dating August 25th, 2008 and broke up June 2nd, 2011). Her FACE CLAIM is HEATHER MORRIS.
AUDREY is AMBITIOUS, SINCERE, and THOUGHTFUL, but can be FIERCE, REBELLIOUS, and SECRETIVE.
X LAST TIME ON SPELLBOUND…?
Last time we saw Audrey, she was happily taken by her longtime best friend, Brayden. She was dealing with dating him and potentially still having feelings for her ex-boyfriend of two years, Wyatt. I mean… We all remember the near kiss at the annual masquerade ball, right? Will Audrey jump into a relationship with Brayden again? Will she work through her problems with Wyatt or find someone completely new?
X HI, MY NAME IS
Audrey Christine Ganner was born on February 13th, 1994 in Falls Church, Virginia to Benjamin and Dahlia. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and is currently five feet eight inches. She has two younger siblings named Ashlee and Melanie. Ashlee is her half-sibling and is the same age as her. Her father Benjamin is an Elder and a Vampire while her mother Dahlia is a Witch which makes her a Vampiric Witch. Both sisters have the chance in becoming either a White-lighter or a Vampire, but only if it is activated. She grew up with her mom, dad, and sisters. She didn’t know who Ashley was until they went to go save all the kidnapped people and kill The Source.
If there was one important thing to know about Audrey Ganner, it would have to be that she loves to dance and seeing as she’s on both the Dance and Cheer Teams, she gets to have her talents on display for the world to see. She’s very friendly once you get to know her, and once you’ve gained her trust, you have it for life until you do something to ruin that. She doesn’t trust people easily, she thinks it’ll come back to bite her in the ass.
Smart, talented, friendly — those are just a few words used to describe Audrey Ganner. What about insecure? And let’s not forget about her evident trust issues. Growing up, Audrey’s life wasn’t all that happy. From her mother’s apparent dislike towards her in everything not involving some type of magical ability to the way, she never seemed able to do something right in her mother’s eyes. So from an early age, she was forced to study and practice until she was able to properly control her abilities. During this process, she often wondered if she would ever be good enough. As time went on, Audrey began to resent her mother and sometimes she found herself resenting her magic. In some ways, she didn’t want to be a witch anymore, especially if it was all she had to focus on.
This school year, she’s one of the Heads of the school year along with Wyatt Reed, her slightly unfaithful ex. Wyatt and Audrey dated throughout their Freshmen and Sophomore Year, breaking up the summer before they became Juniors. Now, heading back into school, Audrey has made a pact to keep her distance from Wyatt, her ex who she very much still had feelings for. Like almost every other supernatural being, Audrey has an evil side. Audrey is also a very flirtatious person and she doesn’t even realize that she’s doing it. Apart from that, Audrey suspects that Evil has entered the school and with some people not believing her, she had to try to find out who is what why say they are.
Audrey has been attending Spellbound Academy since she first set foot on the campus’ grounds at the beginning of her freshmen year. When the news that certain people’s personalities are changing start to circulate, Audrey knew that there was more going on than people let on. With her being the head girl, she takes it upon herself to uncover the mystery. With Headmaster Burke and others not believing her, she has to try to find out who is actually who they say they are.
X THESE ARE MY FRIENDS & THESE ARE OUR STORIES
✘ BROOKE ADAMS: Audrey Ganner & Brooke Adams have been best friends since middle school. Audrey was the first person that Brooke met when she first moved to Los Angeles. Nothing could change the bond between them unless Audrey finds out exactly why Brooke had told her about Wyatt and Alison. Let’s just say, it had nothing to do with being a good friend. ✘ AARON ANDERSON: Aaron Anderson & Audrey Ganner first met during elementary school. The two are not that close, but they both know that if they ever needed something, the other would be they for them. ✘ ASHLEE BOURNE:  Audrey Ganner & Ashlee Bourne first met around the age of 13 due to dangers lurking around in the Underworld. As soon as Ashlee walked through the door, she was welcomed by everyone except her “older” sister. Ashlee doesn’t know the reason why, but she didn’t hesitate to return her sister’s feelings. ✘ MELANIE GANNER: Melanie Ganner & Audrey Ganner are super close, they tell each other everything or so they thought. Melanie often acts as a mediator for her and Ashlee. ✘ VALERIE HALE: Valerie Hale & Audrey Ganner first met each other at the age of one. The two are two peas in a pod. Other than Brayden, she’s her longest running friendship. The two lost contact for a while due to Rose around the time the two were 13. She’s one of the only people that Audrey trusts. ✘ SAMANTHA KEELER: When Samantha Keeler & Audrey Ganner first met, it was pretty bad. Samantha had attacked her for no reason and the two almost fought. The two managed to become friends afterwards and are super close now. Samantha used to have a crush on her when the two were roommates. ✘ BLAKE LAWSON: Blake Lawson & Audrey Ganner first met last year. Blake found Audrey crying alone in the hallway and wordlessly comforted her. After that, the two grew super close. The two usually don’t keep anything from the other. ✘ ALISON MITCHEL: Alison Mitchel & Audrey Ganner first met during their elementary school days. As soon as the two met, they clicked. Audrey considers Alison her platonic soulmate and Alison considers Audrey as hers as well. Alison doesn’t know that Audrey knows that she slept with Wyatt. ✘ ANYA MOORE: Anya Moore & Audrey Moore became friends as soon as Audrey grew closer to Natasha. The two consider each other as sisters. ✘ NATASHA MOORE: Natasha Moore & Audrey Ganner are super close. The two met during elementary school and Natasha immediately became an impromptu member of their group. ✘ SIMON NOVA: Simon Nova & Audrey Ganner first met during the school year. For a majority of the year, Simon had been pining after Audrey, but soon began to chase after others. During the Summer, Simon and Audrey became friends and he asked her out on a date. Since she was no longer dating anyone, she agreed, but nothing ever really came of it. ✘ WYATT REED: When Audrey Ganner & Wyatt Reed first met, the two didn’t get along. They became rivals because of their abilities, but after a while their hate turned into a crush. The two finally started dating in August of 2008 and unfortunately broke up in June of 2011. She’s his first love that broke his heart and still has lingering feelings for. He broke her heart as well. ✘ TYLER SMITH:  Audrey Ganner & Tyler Smith first met during elementary school. The two are sort of close. ✘ ROSEANNA STEVENSON: When Roseanna Stevenson & Audrey Ganner first met, the two didn’t get along at all. Not only that, but Roseanna “stole” Valerie from her. Rose ended up kissing Wyatt causing Audrey to hate her even more, but the two ended up getting over their differences. ✘ BRAYDEN WESTERLY: Brayden Westerly & Audrey Ganner grew up together since their parents are old friends. He’s Audrey’s oldest friend and she’s his. She trusts him with her life and usually talks with about everything and anything. He trusts her just as much.
0 notes
Text
The Night We Escaped [Rydi Buchanan] (RNM)
That night they rained fire from our sky. This went on for three days. The roof caved in two places. Our furnace no longer works so we have huddled in the kitchen by the woodfire stove. The electrical lines are down so we are without power to light our rooms, to cool our refrigerated goods, to heat our water, or to power our television. 
Tumblr media
Our mother and stepfather gathered us in the basement. We gathered by the light of a single lantern. This was not the first time we have come together for a family meeting, but none of us could have anticipated what our stepfather would say that night. 
Our stepfather is Artus Superbia. He is a pure-blood Kr’v. He married our mother for love. This we know. He is the son of Rex Superbia, the former ruler of Wraith, the city in which we live, and a mermaid named Babette Marquee. Artus is kind to our mother, and good to our family. He has another wife. Her name is Thalassa Banks, and she is also a pure-blood Kr’v. She works at the city treasury and often travels. We do not see her much. 
Our mother is Terra Buchanan. She is a fae, but she once married a merman from the city-state of Drakon, a man by the name of Seidos, our father. He died when the youngest of us was just a wee babe. 
We are four. 
The oldest is Nero, a young man of seventeen, though on Kr’v the ages are different. He is not yet an adult. Nero is a beautiful violinist, and an avid reader. He is good in school, and helps the rest of us with our homework.
I am the oldest daughter, and I am sixteen. I enjoy sewing and making my own clothing, and I make all the costumes for our siblings on Hohn Bewtna (or the Night of Witches).
I also enjoy cooking meals for the family, and I often zone out during my classes, thinking about the different ingredients for various dishes I want to make.
Minced red peppers for the sausages and flatbread.
Chopped white onions for the pork burgers.
A dollop of nabnaka (a soured cream) for the kromp kolaci (potato cakes) and served with jabyka (apple pudding).
These are from mother’s religious tradition. She is a Devoutarian. They are of the Orthodox faith. Our stepfather has also secretly converted. Most Kr’v worship the goddess, Veni.
Mother said she would send me to culinary school someday. My teacher raps my desk with her ruler and tells me I need to focus. When will I ever use the square root of twenty five or how bats can locate prey in the dark? I would rather cook to my heart’s content in the kitchen?
Our younger sister is Concetta, but we call her Connie. She is nine years old. She is always sketching on any scrap piece of paper she can find. A used envelope. The empty white box of a slice of cheese pie. Up the sides of her school notebook paper. Artus purchased an actual sketchbook for her recently, and she was thrilled. Now she spends every afternoon drawing the pictures she sees in the universe. Or at least that is what she calls it. She told me once that all of life speaks to her and asks to be captured on the page. 
Our youngest brother is Thaumas, but we call him Thaum. I think the Simlish equivalent would be Thom, but I like Thaum. It is unique. He is a blue-eyed, blonde-haired tot with cherub cheeks. He is only two and a half, but he is the apple of our mother’s eye. Mother and Thaum are often rolling a ball across the ground together when we arrive home from school, or checking out tadpoles in Lake Sanguine. Oh the innocence of his sweet face and the effervescence of his baby laughter. 
After tonight, this would all change. 
Tumblr media
Nero came to get me an hour after I fell asleep. I was so tired after completing the dinner dishes, I hadn’t even bothered to crawl beneath the covers. Nero was adamant that I awaken quickly. He told me to pack a few things, and to meet him in the basement with the rest of the family. I couldn’t understand his hastiness. I didn’t see the fear in his eyes. 
I quickly dressed, and put some clothes into a bag. Moving in the middle of the night was not something I was unaccustomed to. We had moved once before like this two years ago when the Drakronon came to Drakon, and burned up our land. Mother lost everything, and our father perished. We left with barely the clothes on our backs, and when I looked back, I could see our entire home engulfed in flames. 
Mother had written to a man in Wraith, answering a newspaper advertisement. He promised a good home, and said he was not opposed to children. He wanted a house full of laughter and love, and he hoped to have at least five younglings. He also wanted a woman to care for his estate, and to provide him companionship when his other wife was away. This man was Artus. 
From the moment he met us at the ferry, his eyes were alight. One could tell he truly loved our mother at first sight. He gave our mother a kiss on the cheek, and he told us to come get in his car. 
Artus had presents for all of us. For Nero, he brought a chestnut violin, since Mother had written him and said her eldest played in the school orchestra and wanted an instrument of his own. For me, he had beautiful wooden mixing bowls and spoons to encourage my cooking. For Connie, he brought a set of wooden coloring pencils. And for Thaum, he had a collection of wooden blocks. For our mother, he had a intricately carved wooden ring with lovely gemstones. We thanked him, completely in awe of our new stepfather’s generosity.It wasn’t until later that we learned Artus was a talented wood carver, and he had made everything for us.  
Mother and Artus were married at the City Hall. The ceremony was short, but reverent. After the wedding, mother was given a party by Artus’ sister, Venus, and his half-sister, Jezebel, and his sisters-in-law. It is a custom of these Kr’v. Since we lost everything in our fire, the women brought us clothes and books and toys. We were insanely spoiled by the generosity of this family. 
Tumblr media
At the family meeting, we were told we needed to leave the city-state. The Xenosi had not let up their rampage against Wraith. Since Artus was part of the city council he was privy to details many were not. The citizens of Wraith had gone mad during the bombings and fighting in the streets. They believed the kidnappings of non-Kr’v were the root of the cause of the war. They were dragging supernaturals from their homes, beating them, killing them, or offering them as sacrifices to the Xenosi. 
“Abduct the witches!” 
“Take the mermaids!” 
“Slay the fairies!” 
They chanted hateful things in the streets. The council had agreed to sacrifice a few hundred supernaturals to appease the Xenosi that now plundered our land. Artus had argued vehemently against the edict, and the only voice who shared his opposition was Percevval, his half-brother. Artus said he “purgers” would come in the morning. We needed to be gone by then. 
You see, my brothers and sister, and I are all mermaids. My mother is a fairy. As a spouse of a high-ranking city official and pure-blooded Kr’v, she would be spared, but my siblings and I would not be so lucky. Artus could not bear anything happening to us, so he offered to send us away. 
Tumblr media
Our mother held each of us, and through silent tears, she whispered her love in our ears. Our stepfather embraced each of us, reminding us all that he considered us his own. He was devastated to see us go, but it was the only way he could protect us, to save us from the reapers that would come in only a few hours. He gave us as much money as he could spare without his first wife, Thalassa noticing the absence. He arranged for a friend of a friend of a friend to take us down the river out of town on a trash barge. From there, we could escape, though he did not want to know where we would be. It would be safer this way. 
“Someday, I will find you, and I will come for you,” he promised Connie. 
Tumblr media
We said our goodbyes, and we walked to the edge of town to make our escape. We stood on the rock face on the edge of the Blood River waiting for the friend of Artus’ to come on the trash barge. We would leave town at four in the morning, and we would have no idea where we were going. My name is Eurydice ‘Rydi’ Buchanan and this is my best attempt at a faithful record of our journey through the world of Kr’v. 
~ Rydi Buchanan, Journal Entry #1 
0 notes
sb-rpg · 7 years
Photo
Tumblr media
“I’m tired of pretending that I am okay.”
AUDREY CHRISTINE GANNER is a SIXTEEN/SEVENTEEN-year-old VAMPIRIC WITCH (with the unique ability of Cytokinesis [x]) and is attending SPELLBOUND ACADEMY as a JUNIOR. SHE currently identifies as PANSEXUAL and is CURRENTLY SINGLE (She recently broke up with her boyfriend of two years, Wyatt Reed. The two began dating August 25th, 2008 and broke up June 2nd, 2011). Her FACE CLAIM is HEATHER MORRIS.
AUDREY is AMBITIOUS, SINCERE, and THOUGHTFUL, but can be FIERCE, REBELLIOUS, and SECRETIVE.
X LAST TIME ON SPELLBOUND…?
Last time we saw Audrey, she was happily taken by her longtime best friend, Brayden. She was dealing with dating him and potentially still having feelings for her ex-boyfriend of two years, Wyatt. I mean… We all remember the near kiss at the annual masquerade ball, right? Will Audrey jump into a relationship with Brayden again? Will she work through her problems with Wyatt or find someone completely new?
X HI, MY NAME IS
Audrey Christine Ganner was born on February 13th, 1994 in Falls Church, Virginia to Benjamin and Dahlia. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and is currently five feet eight inches. She has two younger siblings named Ashlee and Melanie. Ashlee is her half-sibling and is the same age as her. Her father Benjamin is an Elder and a Vampire while her mother Dahlia is a Witch which makes her a Vampiric Witch. Both sisters have the chance in becoming either a White-lighter or a Vampire, but only if it is activated. She grew up with her mom, dad, and sisters. She didn’t know who Ashley was until they went to go save all the kidnapped people and kill The Source.
If there was one important thing to know about Audrey Ganner, it would have to be that she loves to dance and seeing as she’s on both the Dance and Cheer Teams, she gets to have her talents on display for the world to see. She’s very friendly once you get to know her, and once you’ve gained her trust, you have it for life until you do something to ruin that. She doesn’t trust people easily, she thinks it’ll come back to bite her in the ass.
Smart, talented, friendly — those are just a few words used to describe Audrey Ganner. What about insecure? And let’s not forget about her evident trust issues. Growing up, Audrey’s life wasn’t all that happy. From her mother’s apparent dislike towards her in everything not involving some type of magical ability to the way, she never seemed able to do something right in her mother’s eyes. So from an early age, she was forced to study and practice until she was able to properly control her abilities. During this process, she often wondered if she would ever be good enough. As time went on, Audrey began to resent her mother and sometimes she found herself resenting her magic. In some ways, she didn’t want to be a witch anymore, especially if it was all she had to focus on.
This school year, she’s one of the Heads of the school year along with Wyatt Reed, her slightly unfaithful ex. Wyatt and Audrey dated throughout their Freshmen and Sophomore Year, breaking up the summer before they became Juniors. Now, heading back into school, Audrey has made a pact to keep her distance from Wyatt, her ex who she very much still had feelings for. Like almost every other supernatural being, Audrey has an evil side. Audrey is also a very flirtatious person and she doesn’t even realize that she’s doing it. Apart from that, Audrey suspects that Evil has entered the school and with some people not believing her, she had to try to find out who is what why say they are.
Audrey has been attending Spellbound Academy since she first set foot on the campus’ grounds at the beginning of her freshmen year. When the news that certain people’s personalities are changing start to circulate, Audrey knew that there was more going on than people let on. With her being the head girl, she takes it upon herself to uncover the mystery. With Headmaster Burke and others not believing her, she has to try to find out who is actually who they say they are.
X THESE ARE MY FRIENDS & THESE ARE OUR STORIES
✘ BROOKE ADAMS: Audrey Ganner & Brooke Adams have been best friends since middle school. Audrey was the first person that Brooke met when she first moved to Los Angeles. Nothing could change the bond between them unless Audrey finds out exactly why Brooke had told her about Wyatt and Alison. Let’s just say, it had nothing to do with being a good friend. ✘ AARON ANDERSON: Aaron Anderson & Audrey Ganner first met during elementary school. The two are not that close, but they both know that if they ever needed something, the other would be they for them. ✘ ASHLEE BOURNE:  Audrey Ganner & Ashlee Bourne first met around the age of 13 due to dangers lurking around in the Underworld. As soon as Ashlee walked through the door, she was welcomed by everyone except her “older” sister. Ashlee doesn’t know the reason why, but she didn’t hesitate to return her sister’s feelings. ✘ MELANIE GANNER: Melanie Ganner & Audrey Ganner are super close, they tell each other everything or so they thought. Melanie often acts as a mediator for her and Ashlee. ✘ VALERIE HALE: Valerie Hale & Audrey Ganner first met each other at the age of one. The two are two peas in a pod. Other than Brayden, she’s her longest running friendship. The two lost contact for a while due to Rose around the time the two were 13. She’s one of the only people that Audrey trusts. ✘ SAMANTHA KEELER: When Samantha Keeler & Audrey Ganner first met, it was pretty bad. Samantha had attacked her for no reason and the two almost fought. The two managed to become friends afterwards and are super close now. Samantha used to have a crush on her when the two were roommates. ✘ BLAKE LAWSON: Blake Lawson & Audrey Ganner first met last year. Blake found Audrey crying alone in the hallway and wordlessly comforted her. After that, the two grew super close. The two usually don’t keep anything from the other. ✘ ALISON MITCHEL: Alison Mitchel & Audrey Ganner first met during their elementary school days. As soon as the two met, they clicked. Audrey considers Alison her platonic soulmate and Alison considers Audrey as hers as well. Alison doesn’t know that Audrey knows that she slept with Wyatt. ✘ ANYA MOORE: Anya Moore & Audrey Moore became friends as soon as Audrey grew closer to Natasha. The two consider each other as sisters. ✘ NATASHA MOORE: Natasha Moore & Audrey Ganner are super close. The two met during elementary school and Natasha immediately became an impromptu member of their group. ✘ SIMON NOVA: Simon Nova & Audrey Ganner first met during the school year. For a majority of the year, Simon had been pining after Audrey, but soon began to chase after others. During the Summer, Simon and Audrey became friends and he asked her out on a date. Since she was no longer dating anyone, she agreed, but nothing ever really came of it. ✘ WYATT REED: When Audrey Ganner & Wyatt Reed first met, the two didn’t get along. They became rivals because of their abilities, but after a while their hate turned into a crush. The two finally started dating in August of 2008 and unfortunately broke up in June of 2011. She’s his first love that broke his heart and still has lingering feelings for. He broke her heart as well. ✘ TYLER SMITH:  Audrey Ganner & Tyler Smith first met during elementary school. The two are sort of close. ✘ ROSEANNA STEVENSON: When Roseanna Stevenson & Audrey Ganner first met, the two didn’t get along at all. Not only that, but Roseanna “stole” Valerie from her. Rose ended up kissing Wyatt causing Audrey to hate her even more, but the two ended up getting over their differences. ✘ BRAYDEN WESTERLY: Brayden Westerly & Audrey Ganner grew up together since their parents are old friends. He’s Audrey’s oldest friend and she’s his. She trusts him with her life and usually talks with about everything and anything. He trusts her just as much.
AUDREY GANNER IS OPEN/CLOSED.
0 notes