#the pressure to be perfect really does drive people mad huh?

[astaroth1357]

Demon Brothers (Minus Asmo) at Their Worst Pt. 2 (Satan, Beel, Belphie)

This is still a lot darker than I usually post so please take the warnings seriously. Soft content will probably return after this because being real? Pain hurts and writing pain kinda hurts too. I like my life fluffy because it helps me unwind, you know? For any of you who dwell in darkness, here is my humble offering. I hope you’ve enjoyed because that would make all the effort worth it in the end. Will I go this dark again at some point? Maybe. Suggestions will always be appreciated, but know that it’s not an area in my comfort zone.

Check out the Masterlist for more.

Warnings: THEIR SINS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO AN EXTREME (AND ALL THAT IMPLIES), Abusive/Controlling Relationships, Yandere-ish, Violence, Gore, Cannibalism, Angst, Regret, Suicidal Thoughts

This is all for the purposes of fantasy and in no way an endorsement for these behaviors in real life. Be nice (and smart) with your lives, my friends.

Intro: Maybe the MC should have known better. It should have sunk in a long time ago that they were in incredibly risky territory... They should have remembered that these men, though they call them friends, family, and perhaps even lovers, are still demons at their heart and core. Each of them are the embodiment of some of the worst behaviors man has to offer... MC, there are some people you just shouldn’t date, even if they love you, and now you suffer the consequences...

Satan

If there was any one flaw people could point to with Satan it was his temper. Truly something befitting his sin, it burned white hot and could ignite like a flash fire. 

It was the MC who came in and finally brought him a bit of peace. Sure, he could still get mad, but for once he felt like he relied less on his facade. He felt like he could actually be relaxed and not let his anger control him...

But Wrath is more than just anger. It’s irrational. It’s undiscerning. It’s… spite. So. Much. Spite.

That’s why even after the storm of rage within him quelled, Satan was far from the perfect lover. 

He just couldn’t seem to let things go... Anything that the MC did, every little thing he disapproved of, he kept on a running tally. He didn’t like himself for it but he almost couldn’t help it. Every misstep had to be admonished and every jab had to be repaid. Maybe not right then… But he always had his way in the end. 

For small things, it was annoying at best. Being the knowledgeable man he is it’s fairly easy for him to lord his superior intelligence over people, the MC included. If they just went along with him and the boat would stay righted...

For larger things, the cracks begin to surface. No one likes a know-it-all telling how to live, after all. But Satan never cared to hear their complaints. He knows what’s best and he would “kindly” remind them of this by bringing up every mistake they’d ever made before. Any insult they lobbed, he had three waiting to counter.

It was all just repayment. If they wanted to hurt him, then he should get to hurt them back shouldn’t he?

If someone had reminded him that relationships aren’t transactional then maybe he’d have seen the problem sooner… If someone had intervened and told him he was actually being far from fair, he might have rethought his position... But no one else saw those warning signs. It was just Satan being Satan. Wrath made flesh.

He was legitimately shocked when the MC finally cracked one day. They were in yet another argument (one where he was winning) but he just had to throw in one last dig. One final insult to the pile... One more mistake they had made...

It was genuinely just a reflexive move that sent the MC flying against his bookshelves after they lunged at him. He didn’t think, he just acted and tossed them back with full force. He’s a demon though, so it wasn’t exactly pretty.

Seeing their crumpled form on the ground sent his mind into a panic... What did he just do?? His brothers came rushing in and accused him of throwing them in anger, but for once he had a clear head! Or… so he thought...

While the MC’s body recovered, their bones mending and blood vessels repairing, he realized that he hadn’t been thinking clearly at all. It was nothing but spite that drove him to cause them so much mental pain… A spite from within him that he’d let hurt even the person he loved most…

Satan shut himself away from others for a while. He felt defeated... Even after thinking he had a better handle on his anger, that he had grown into something more than the sin that made him, he was only ever acting on his Wrath to start with…

His breakup with the MC was painful but in his eyes well-warranted. He just couldn’t stop himself from hurting them...

Beelzebub

Beel is always hungry and that’s practically a universal law by now. There’s always an empty pit in his stomach just looking to be briefly satisfied by food of any kind... 

It’s that brief satisfaction he chases like a junkie does his high. Sometimes he can’t even control his body’s need to devour, he’ll see food and just lunge for it. He’s a Glutton and it’s no secret.

Yet the MC made that pain he felt just a little more manageable. He couldn’t explain it, but they just made him less hungry... And for that, he wanted to protect them forever.

Unfortunately, it all happened in the one place they should have been the safest. Right there next to him in bed, their body pressed against his while his arms held them close. Nothing should have hurt them there, not a single demon would have dared to try…

...so why did it have to be him...?

He was having a terrible nightmare. He felt the ever-present pain in his stomach getting worse and worse. It was as if he could feel it in his very bones just this empty, gnawing, festering need to eat and consume whatever he could to make the pain just go away and-

He woke up to their screams.

Belphie had him pinned before he could process what had happened. All he could hear was a wail of pure agony from across the room and he could taste…

Meat. Metallic… Raw… He swallowed without thinking. But once he saw the source, it made him feel truly sick...

MC had left the bed and was crouched against the farthest wall, a blanket in their hand desperately trying to apply pressure to their shoulder. The blanket was soaked with blood…

A deep, lacerated bite wound lied underneath.

He had tried to eat them…

His other brothers were in the room in record time while Belphegor screamed at him. Questions of “What happened??” “What’s wrong with you?!?” “How could you!?” all leapt from their mouths.

He didn’t have an answer. He couldn’t believe it himself. He wanted to wash his mouth out with gasoline then never open it again… sew it shut for all he cared…

His brothers just might have murdered him that night if the MC hadn’t intervened, still wincing from the pain. Maybe they saw his tears and took pity…?

They tried to reassure him that they knew it was an accident. They said they knew he’d never hurt them on purpose, even as the blood soaked through their shirt… But for some reason that just made him feel worse. Why couldn’t he just control himself like everyone else could…??

Even after their wound was treated and started to heal over he began to keep his distance from them… He couldn’t stand to risk them getting hurt again and he couldn’t trust himself not to do it. If they tried to reach out, he’d pull back. If they approached, he’d back away…

Honestly? It’s better this way...

Belphegor

Belphie could say that the MC did far more for him than just getting him out of that attic. They changed him... or more accurately, they helped him heal. There were just some things about him that even they couldn’t change...

If someone wanted to know what made him so tired, they could point to his sin. But Sloth does more than just make him sleepy... he was a lazy bastard too.

It wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t expect everyone else around him to still give him 100% anyway, the MC especially. Truly, if there were ever four words to describe a relationship with Belphie they'd be: all take, no give.

It wasn’t that he was uncaring, it was just that he always seemed to want more than he was willing to give back... The MC’s time, attention, interest, and love all had to be for him at the drop of a hat but they could never expect him to do the same…

Of course, being lazy is one thing… but Belphie was manipulative, too.

He knew all manner of ways to get people to do things for him, even if they don’t want to. His favorite weapons against a reluctant MC were charm, flirtation, and guilt tripping… so much guilt tripping…

Say no to him and suddenly they must not love him enough. Or maybe they just don’t care, huh? He’d had a long day at RAD, his brothers were driving him crazy, and all he wanted was just this one little favor from them. Just one little thing. Was really too much to ask?

Never mind that his “little favor” would just be one of a thousand that came before it or that when they asked for small favors in return, half the time he was either asleep or couldn’t be bothered.

Never mind how used they felt as time wore on… unappreciated and exploited no matter how much they showered him with love...

Any time they brought it up, he'd just act disappointed with them. Like, somehow the problem wasn't that he was asking for too much but they just couldn't keep up. And he was so damn persuasive he actually had them believing it for a while... But only a while.

Now, Belphie did love them. He loved them a lot, actually, almost as deeply as he does for Beel or did for Lilith... And that's why it stung So. Bad. when they said they wanted to leave him.

Breakup? With him? Why?? He honestly thought they couldn't be happier! They showed that they loved for him time and time again so why did they suddenly want to leave? Without them he'd start feeling all alone again...

So he asked, well. No. Actually he shouted. 

He couldn't let them leave, not after he'd come to need them...! They did so much for him after all, couldn't they see they were his world? His heart? His everything??

He thought that he could still convince them not to go but they wouldn’t listen... He tried being charming, then he tried pleading... when those didn’t work he made a few threats then-

Beel's fist slamming into his cheek is what tore his hands from their neck after he went through a Complete. Meltdown. He had never seen his twin so mad at him before… 

Beel had him by the collar, shouting about how he had been running the MC ragged and how terribly he had been treating them… Belphie didn’t believe him at first but it slowly started to hit him. 

His slothful entitlement had made him so selfish… He not only asked the world of them then took them for granted, but it also blinded him to his fault in the whole thing... He wanted them to be his everything but he just wouldn’t accept his responsibility to be a good boyfriend to them in return…

Their shouting had apparently alerted the whole house and his brothers came in to investigate. The amount of anger that filled the room when they saw the MC curled on the floor, gasping for air, could have fueled a thousand Satans...

He didn’t want to keep away from them. He wanted to apologize and actually try this time but his brothers wouldn’t let him. He had hurt the MC twice now, so he just couldn’t be trusted… As far as they were concerned he could never be left alone with them again but the way MC avoided him too probably hurt the worst of all…

Maybe he should have never gotten that second chance after all...

Link to Part One: Lucifer, Mammon, and Leviathan

#obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me satan #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #im so sorry beel #i feel slanderous #obey me headcanons #obey me scenarios

[katzkinder]

Little Boy Blue

Mahiru is tired.

Kuro can see it, in the way his folding isn’t as neat, in the way the vegetables in their dinner aren’t as uniformly chopped, in the way his head bobs during school lessons, his laughter isn’t as loud, how he doesn’t check half so well before he crosses the street and needs the ever watchful hand of Sakuya to drag him back from the curb, a shout on the subclass’s lips, scolding and fussing about the car that had just whizzed past their little group.

Mahiru is tired, but he refuses to rest.

And it’s driving Kuro mad.

It’s as Mahiru is jerked and prodded, worried and fussed over by his trio of school friends, that Kuro makes a decision.

His Eve will get some sleep, whether he wants to or not.

Thankfully for him, he knows Mahiru wants it. The frustrating part is that his stupid, incredible, wonderful human doesn’t think he’s earned it. Not yet. Not when there was still more to do.

Which meant, joy of joys… He needed some help.

Good thing he had three ready made volunteers right there with him on the curb.

Now to convince them.

***

The easiest part, by far, was getting them to go along with his plan. Slipping into Mahiru’s bag to use the cellphone Tooru had bought him (every time he thought about it, he still couldn’t believe it. His own phone, his own clothes, his own games, his own… Everything, really), he sent a single text to three different numbers.

Mahiru’s exhausted. Help me get him to chill out?

The hard part…

“Hey, Mahiru! It’s been a while since we all last had a sleepover, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, it has…”

“Since we’re already going to be walking you home to make sure you don’t wander out into traffic…”

“It was an accident!”

“Party at Mahiru-sama’s place~!”

“Would you stop with that stupid… Fine! But Sakkun is paying for the food!”

… Wasn’t actually that hard? But, well. Leave it to the grungy joker to just… Steamroll his way into Mahiru’s place, invited or not. And become a steamed cabbage in the process.

The power of Mahiru-sama is frightening indeed…

***

The first order of business when the five of them arrive at Mahiru’s apartment is taken care of handily by, once again, Sakuya.

“Pizza time!” he crows, tapping the order into a website Kuro only vaguely recognizes the name of. It’s not a delivery app, but the website’s own page, and while he’s busy with that, Kuro hops out of Mahiru’s bag, ready to go fetch blankets and pillows from the linen closet in order to set them all up.

Except Mahiru’s two human friends beat him to it.

All the better, he thinks, as he hops up onto the couch to watch them spread things out right in front of the TV. The living room is small, the area they’ve chosen to occupy even more so, but it’s what he would have chosen for Mahiru, too, to cram them all together, to surround his Eve with the simple pressure and warmth of his loved ones crowded close.

Not for the first time, and certainly not the last, Kuro is so… Grateful for Mahiru’s friends. Before him, and even after him, they will love Mahiru like a brother, like a family, know him in ways he can’t, the same way Gear knows him in ways Mahiru never will.

And that’s fine. To be known is to be loved, and more than anyone, Mahiru deserves it.

“Mahiru, can you help Ryuu-chan? I’m gonna go make sure Sakuya doesn’t burn your kitchen down trying to make popcorn.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know, I’m always the one who makes the popcorn when Shamrock can’t!”

“And how much of it do you burn?”

“Less than you, so nyeh.”

… Maybe he should go watch them.

“Ah, Kuro, don’t get your fur on the counter!”

“Can’t deal…”

At the least, Mahiru seems to already be feeling better. It’s like magic. The best kind Kuro has ever seen.

***

Kuro spends the night as a cat, nestled in Mahiru’s lap or lying across his back, little paws kneading his Eve’s flesh and purring up a storm, extra sweet and extra soothing, while the other three pile around them. Mahiru is… Quiet. But not a bad quiet, no. A good quiet, letting the presence of the other people in their home wash over him, their bickering and their teasing, not a host but just a friend, just another kid, a kid with greasy fingers and a half drunk bottle of cola and two boxes of extra large pepperoni pizzas with cheesy bread set out before them.

“Where the heck do you find these pizza places I’ve never heard of?” Ryuusei asks after a particularly long cheese stretch has him craning his head back and holding his arms out, making the other three laugh, “This is great.”

“Vampire SNS,” Sakuya tells him proudly, and snickers once more at the tongue click it nets him.

Much to Kuro’s surprise, after building their little nest, the green haired vampire had graciously given up his preferred spot next to Mahiru without a word, instead settling himself shoulder to shoulder with the short one, Ryuusei, while he and Koyuki had pressed themselves up against Mahiru like they were trying to merge with him. It’s a tangle of arms and legs, like cats lying one on top of the other, physical closeness that speaks volumes of the emotional one they’ve cultivated with each other, and which they were slowly, Kuro felt, trying to ease him into.

It was a strange feeling. Being included.

But it wasn’t one he hated by any means.

Ryuusei flops his head against Mahiru’s arm, cheek squishing ridiculously as he squints at the screen. “Who picked this again?”

The crunching from Mahiru’s right stops, and a bowl of half eaten popcorn, buttery and with the perfect amount of salt, is nudged his Eve’s way. Wordlessly, Mahiru grabs up a big handful of it, stuffs it in his mouth with a knowing little smile, a sort of carelessness Kuro can never seem to invoke on his own.

The shuffling of fabric, and Koyuki leans onto Mahiru’s shoulder as well, the barest hint of a pout to his voice. “Does it matter? Even bad movies are fun when we’re together.”

“You’re cheesier than this pizza,” Sakuya teases, and Mahiru grins, laughs, finally says something, the exhaustion all but gone from his voice.

“That means Koyuki definitely picked it.”

“So you’re the one responsible!” Ryuusei shouts, and Koyuki flicks popcorn at him, bounces it right off his head.

“Shut up! You can change it, y’know.”

“Well, we’re already this far in,” Mahiru muses, and Sakuya quietly plucks the floor tainted popcorn up to place on a napkin, “Might as well finish it.”

Kuro is… So glad that Mahiru has friends who can do this for him. To do the things he can’t. This sense of total normalcy, of being just another teenager… It’s not really something he can help with. Not really. He knows he’s the type to overthink, to become discouraged when his efforts don’t get immediate results.

But now Mahiru is laughing again.

It’s everything he could have asked for.

***

Hours upon hours later, the only light in the room is from the flickering TV screen, and the only sounds are the soft breaths of four teenage boys, fast asleep right there on the floor.

Kuro finally rouses himself, gets up, stretches, and carefully picks his way down Mahiru’s back. Only then does he allow himself to transform back into a human, cracking his neck, his back, and sighing heavily at the relief it grants his stiff joints.

It’s time to get to work. All that effort would be meaningless if Mahiru woke to a mess, so clean up crew Kuro shall be.

First go the soda bottles. Back into the fridge, without a label or a care for who had drunk from what, because it’s not like those four cared anyway, but Mahiru hated to waste food. Honestly, Kuro was in agreement on that much, but especially when it came to his favorites. So, twisting each cap tightly back into place, he made sure to set them up in plain sight so that they’d be finished in the morning (and if not by their owners, by him), blocking the light of the fridge with his own body and the tails of his coat so as not to disturb the quartet of friends.

Next were the pizza boxes. Each one was completely empty, but that was no surprise, given that there were two shared between the five of them. Even the little banana peppers included had been devoured. If Kuro had to guess… Mahiru. For some godforsaken reason, his Eve adored things that set his mouth on fire, and no amount of “it’s not that spicy!” would change Kuro’s opinion that Mahiru, sweet faced, stubborn, wonderful Mahiru, just wanted to see what the fires of hell tasted like.

(And maybe he was a bit of a baby when it came to peppers, but clearly that wasn’t his fault)

Onto the counters the pizza boxes went.

Next came the bowl of popcorn, filled with nothing but unpopped kernels, then the plates, then the napkins, then the painstaking process of picking up every infernal piece of popped corn that had been jokingly thrown about between friends with zero thought for who would have to clean it up all up.

Considering how many Sakuya had tossed, he had a feeling the other vampire had known Kuro would take it upon himself to tidy up their garbage, and found himself cracking an annoyed, if fond, smile.

Little brat.

Mess more or less taken care of, Kuro had one last task to complete, and fetching the fluffiest quilt he could find from the closet that hadn’t already been used to pad out the hard tile in front of their TV, he carefully, carefully, spread it out over the pile of sleeping boys. Not a one stirred, not even Mahiru.

His smile turned ever so slightly bitter.

Well, that was fine. That was good, even, because it meant that, more than he’d thought, Mahiru had needed this night, this little slice of being normal, of simplicity.

Looking at each face in turn… He thought that maybe, all of them had.

Himself included.

Tucking himself into the crook of Mahiru’s neck was easy, a warm, furry weight that had his Eve curling up even more, ever so slightly, setting off a chain reaction as each teenager also shifted, one or two murmuring in their sleep, shuffling closer to each other like small birds seeking safety and comfort during a storm.

And that was fine, too. Kuro would watch over their dreams, every one.

Sleep tight, guys. Sweet dreams...

#kat's katerwauling #servamp #pawprints #servamp kuro #mahiru shirota #sakuya watanuki #servamp ryuusei #servamp koyuki #i wasn't gonna post anything today #but then i got possessed by this concept

[mochegato]

Hope on Board

Chapter 10 – Welcome to the Mad House

Note: In the last chapter, a few people were wondering about Dick knowing Marinette was there and I realized I cut out the pre-fight strategizing session that explained it.  Signal was the first to respond because it was a daytime event and he was already on patrol.  He called Red Hood in as backup because he knew Jason was free.  Dick just showed up without warning because he knew Marinette had an appointment there earlier and was no longer responding to texts or phone calls and Dick got scared and came to check.

Chapter 1     Chapter 9

“And you’re sure I’m dressed appropriately?”  Marinette asked again.  He’d lost count of what number that was by now.

“Marinette I promise you.  You’re dressed perfectly.  You look amazing and not to make you pout, but nobody is going to care what you’re wearing and it’s too late to change now anyway,” Dick assured her again, this time on the steps walking up to the Wayne Manor front doors.

Marinette looked scandalized.  “Of course they’re going to care!  What people wear affects how people think about them.  I mean, each person reacts differently to the same outfit, but it has an effect.  And, technically, I’m going to dinner with two of my bosses, which just adds extra pressure on top of meeting my boyfriend’s family.” She couldn’t stop herself from grinning as she said boyfriend despite the spiral she was going into, which was making her physically sick on top of mentally sick. “And Alfred!  What if he thinks I’m not dressed properly for what he planned? I don’t want to insult Alfred!”

Dick laughed hard enough to grab his stomach in pain.  Marinette pouted at him.  “Alfred will only care if you are intentionally trying to be offensive. That’s going to be true for almost all of them.”  She raised an eyebrow at him.  “But you’re dressed perfectly, I promise you.  It’s nice but not too nice.  The perfect meeting the family dress.  But they’re going to care more about the person than the dress and they are going to love the person.”  

He ran his hands up and down her arms at a soothing pace before pulling her against him and placing a chaste kiss on her lips.  She smiled warmly at him and nodded, her lips set in a determined line. “Let’s do this.  We got this.”

Dick chuckled and reached for the door.  Before he could reach the handle, the door opened up in front of him. “Master Dick and you must be Miss. Dupain-Cheng.  Please come in.”  Alfred gave them a warm smile.

“Thank you so much.  You must be M. Pennyworth.”

“Indeed I am.  Please call me Alfred.  Everyone else in the family does.”  He smiled kindly at her.  “It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Dupain-Cheng.”

“Thank you.  Please just Marinette, Alfred.  It is a pleasure to meet you.  Dick talks about you all the time.” She reached up to give him la bise.  She pulled away to offer him the box she had been carrying.  “I brought some macarons for you and the rest of the family.”

He took the box gratefully.  “That was very thoughtful of you.”

“The grey ones are Earl Grey flavored, if you wanted to get to it before the rest of the family.”  She handed over the box with a wink.

“Very thoughtful, indeed.” He nodded again with a secretive smile.

“The rest of the family in the living room?” Dick asked.

“They are, Master Dick.  Awaiting Miss Marinette quite anxiously, I believe.  I’m just finishing dinner.  It should just be a few minutes.”  

“Thank you, Alfred.” Dick and Marinette chimed at the same time. Alfred nodded again before disappearing toward the kitchen.  Dick smiled to her and guided her toward the living room.  “And now, into the mad house.”  He took a deep breath as he opened the door to the living room.  The room went silent for a few seconds before the noise level ramped up again with everyone welcoming them at the same time. “One at a time,” Bruce boomed loud enough to get everyone’s attention.

Dick nodded to him before going into introductions.  “You already know Tim,” he started indicating Tim, who was already at Marinette’s side.  Marinette nodded and gave Tim a hug.  “That is Damian,” he pointed to the surly looking teen sitting on his own in an armchair. He nodded curtly to her so she returned the gesture.  “And Jason.” He indicated a large man leaning against a console table.  They waved politely to each other.  “Duke,” he nodded toward the young man that just jumped up to shake her hand.  “Barbara,” he moved out of the way so Barbara could roll closer to Marinette to say Hi. “Cass,” Cass waved excitedly.  “And of course, you’ve met Bruce…”

“It’s good to see you again Mr. Wayne.”  She held out her hand to shake his.

“Bruce, please.  We’re not in the office.  Welcome Miss. Dupain-Cheng.”  He said warmly, reaching to give her a hug instead.

Marinette beamed at him.  “Marinette, please.  And thank you.  You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you, Marinette.”

“Yeah, yeah.  Beautiful home, blah, blah, blah.  Alfred’s the one that does all the work anyway.  Hi, I’m Stephanie.”  She pushed Bruce over as she made her way over to Marinette.  Marinette assumed it was a common occurrence based on the way Bruce just sighed and accepted it, sitting down quietly to observe the results.

“And this is Stephanie.” Dick repeated with a laugh.

“Hi, Stephanie.  It’s nice to meet you.”  Marinette grinned at her.

“How are you feeling?  Do you need to sit down?  Or drink some water?  Or have a snack before dinner?”  Stephanie fired off quickly.

“Let her breathe, Steph,” Barbara chided her.

Marinette smiled politely.  “I’m fine right now, thank you.” Dick shook his head behind her so she couldn’t see. Unfortunately, she followed everyone’s line of sight and caught him.  She gasped and slapped his arm.  “I am!”

“You just threw up outside like seconds ago,” he pointed out.  “In a bag!  That we have since thrown away,” he added quickly before Alfred could hear from the kitchen and get upset they hadn’t mentioned it earlier.

“That was your driving,” she wrinkled her nose at him and turned back to the family. “And now that you’re not driving, I feel better.”  Dick laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Oh God, I know exactly what you mean,” Barbara laughed in agreement.

Stephanie nodded in approval.  “I like her.” She grabbed Marinette’s hand to pull her away from him and onto the couch. Cass nodded in agreement and moved to join them.  “Come on, let’s complain about Dick some more.  I have all kinds of stories to tell.  You’re a fashion designer right?”  Marinette nodded trying to keep up with her, both physically and mentally. “Oh girl, have I got pictures for you!”

“No! No!  Let me wow her with my amazing fashion sense.” Dick trailed after them.

Stephanie leaned closer to Marinette as though confiding in her, but kept her voice at the same level so Dick could hear as well.  “He says ‘amazing’.  I think he’s confusing the word with appalling.”  Marinette giggled.  She wouldn’t agree out loud, but she’d seen some of his shirts and Stephanie wasn’t wrong.

“She met him wearing that red and black monstrosity and she still went home with him,” Jason pointed out.  “You’re not going to scare her away.”

“Wow! You withstood that shirt huh?” Barbara sent them a teasing glance. “You must have been wearing your tight pants that night, Dick.”

“Oh yeah.  How drunk were you?  I’m going to say you were very drunk.  Only possible excuse.” Stephanie waved it off.

“Dick has a lot of assets to offset…” she immediately stopped to rephrase grimacing.

“Hey!”

“Dick is amazing,” she corrected.  “And yes he was.  And he is smart, sweet, hot, thoughtful, devilishly charming, brave…”

“Says the woman that took down a guy triple her size the first time I met her and took out two henchmen in the hospital last week,” Dick cut in proudly. Marinette ducked her head embarrassed to talk about her more violent experiences in front of his family and her boss.  She really did not want them thinking she was dangerous and unhinged.  Dick squeezed her and kissed her temple.

“Yeah, we heard about the hospital.  Two questions…” he moved so she could see him better.

“Jason, stop being a pain in the ass,” Tim chided him.  “She doesn’t want to talk about that.”

Jason examined her for a second.  Yes, she was closing off but it didn’t seem to be out of residual fear.  It was more embarrassment.  He could fix that.  “Can’t. It’s in my nature.” He turned back to Marinette with a conspiratorial wink, “Pain in the ass is my middle name.”

Tim groaned.  “Welcome to the family.  You aren’t really in it until Jason harasses you mercilessly.”

“I thought it was when someone tried to kill you,” Stephanie scoffed.

Cass smacked her upside the head.  Stephanie looked back at her betrayed.  “What?” She caught Barbara’s pointed look and turned back to Marinette.  “…In video games of course,” she corrected.

“Ooh,” Marinette’s eyes widened in excitement.  “You guys play?  What do you play?”

“Yes!” Duke exclaimed.  “How are you at UMS?”

“Award winning,” Marinette smirked.  “Literally.  You have a copy?”

“As I was saying,” Jason interrupted loudly.  “Two questions: one, how are you feeling after the hospital?  And two, why did you throw a perfectly good gun?”

“I’m doing okay now.  Spent a few days surrounded by either Dick or Tim in meetings or Adrien, my roommate, so I’m feeling a lot better,” she assured him.

“She still has a pretty nasty bruise,” Dick interjected.

“Seen her with her shirt off to know, huh?” Stephanie wiggled her eyebrows.  

Marinette squeaked and spoke louder than she needed to.  “As for the gun, we don’t really have guns in Paris so I don’t have a lot of experience shooting, but a gun has more than one potential use. During all the akuma attacks we learned to use everyday items creatively.  I used it for the less common usage,” she shrugged as casually as she could.  “A baton would have been better but you work with what you got.”

“Oh, I suppose Chat Noir has a baton,” Dick playfully grumbled.

Marinette grinned cheekily at him.  “He does in fact, kind of like Red Robin but it can break into two if he wanted it to like Nightwing and Signal.”

Damian scoffed.  “Being able to break in half decreases the tensile strength of the weapon, making it less effective.”

“True except for one thing… magic.” She wiggled her fingers for effect. Dick huffed out a laugh and Damian scowled.

“Oh, are we comparing baton size between Parisian heroes and Gotham heroes?” Jason asked suggestively.

“I mean you can… but Chat’s could also extend to the length he needs for any task, so...” She shrugged confidently.

“Oooh. I think the Gotham heroes would be a lot more popular if their weapons could do that, too.” Stephanie grinned.

“Anyway…” Jason interrupted.  “Do you know how to shoot a gun or what?”

“Oh, no.  I don’t,” Marinette answered, returning to Jason’s original topic.  “That’s why I threw it.  I’m confident enough in my throwing skills to know I’d hit him, but not in my shooting skills and I didn’t want to hit someone else.”

“I’ll teach you sometime,” Jason said resolutely.  He wasn’t about to let his de facto sister-in-law not know how to defend herself.

“Oh that’s right.  You were the one responsible for the horde of weapons in Dick’s apartment that made me freak out and run in the first place.” She gave him a pointed look.

“You ran because you were afraid.”  He pointed out.

“I ran because I have good survival instincts,” she corrected him.

“Clearly not.  You ran from Dick,” Damian interjected.  Dick gave him a warning look that Damian determinedly ignored.

“Aberration,” she waved him off good naturedly.  “You find a stockpile of weapons in Gotham, you run.”

“True. So you in?” Jason asked again.

Marinette stared at him strangely for a few seconds.  “Huh.  You know, you’re the second person this month to offer to teach me.  Red Hood made the same offer.”  She missed the glares Damian and Dick sent toward Jason, for different reasons, and the exasperated looks Tim and Bruce sent him.

“He probably just wants to make sure you know how.  I’m sure he would be okay with a different teacher,” Jason assured her.

Marinette beamed at him.  “It sounds like fun.  I’d love to learn.”  Dick let out a defeated sigh next to her.

“If you would like to make your way to the dining room, dinner is served.”  Alfred announced.

They slowly made their way to the dining room.  Dick and Marinette trailed behind the rest so Dick could give her a discrete hug and supportive smile.  Jason quickly fell into step beside Marinette.  “Damn, you really are the size of a pixie.” He stuck out his elbow to set it on her head.  

Marinette gave him a playful glare, dodging before his elbow could land.  “You know, you look about the same size as that guy at the bar… didn’t turn out too well for him.”

“Though she be but little, she is fierce,” Jason laughed.  “I’m a better fighter than that guy was.  After the baby, we can spar and I can show you and maybe teach you a few more moves in case you need to defend yourself.” He let the ‘when you get kidnapped for being with a Wayne’ part of his sentence go unsaid. “You seem like you’ll be scrappy.”

“I’m better than scrappy,” she smirked at him.

“I can’t wait to see it,” Jason grinned as he passed her to get to his seat.

“No, you’re not allowed to encourage each other.”  Dick pulled out Marinette’s chair for her and gave Jason a warning look. Damian rolled his eyes at Dick as Alfred started serving the meal.

“Miss Marinette, I made yours less spicy than the rest of the family’s but if your medicine now allows you to eat bolder flavors, I have another back in the kitchen.”

“No, thank you Alfred.  This will be perfect.  The medicine helps but doesn’t make everything go away.  More like a low simmer rather than a full boil.”

“Oh yeah.  Dick said you started your morning sickness extra early.  That sucks.  I hope it means it’ll end extra early for you too.” Stephanie commented sympathetically.

Marinette smiled gratefully.  “Thank you. Here’s hoping.”  She raised her water in Stephanie’s direction and took a drink.

“Maybe it’s twins,” Jason offered taking a bite of his dinner.

Marinette choked on her water.  Dick patted her back.  “What?”

“That’s a sign of twins isn’t it?  Early morning sickness?” He asked around the bite of roll in his mouth.

“This dinner suddenly got a lot less fun,” Dick mumbled to Marinette.

Marinette glanced surreptitiously toward the direction of her purse in the foyer before snapping her eyes back to Jason.  “That’s not funny.  You take that back.”

“Sorry, Pixie.” He shrugged nonchalantly, a taunting smile tugging on his lips.  “I don’t make the rules.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.  “Jason Aloysius Hubert…”

“Not one of those was anywhere near…”

“…Sebastian Tobias…” she continued ignoring his interruption.

“What the hell kind of names…” Jason started chuckling incredulously.

“…Winthorp…”

“Winthorp?” His nose wrinkled in disgust.

“… Pain in the ass Todd!  You take that back right now.”  Marinette finished.  She glared at him but her faltering puckered lips, straining not to smile gave her away.

Jason broke out into raucous laughter.  It took him a few minutes to calm down enough to speak again, but when he did, he wasn’t ready to end the fun.  “I’m just saying having a little Marinette and little Dick running around here together would be cute,” he finished innocently.

She scoffed playfully.  “If you want two babies running around here together, you better go find a woman to knock up right quick.”

Jason choked on his water.  Everyone else’s eyes bugged out.  “No! No!  No!  Little Dick? Cute.  Little Marinette? Adorable.  Little Jason? Terrifying,” Tim interjected.

“Hey, fuck you, Timbers,” Jason glowered at him.  

“Language, Jason,” Bruce chided him.

“Well at least that wouldn’t result in a baby,” Stephanie observed, calmly eating her dinner.

“Might result in a death though,” Duke added, seeming not at all upset at the idea.

“I was an adorable kid,” Jason groused.  

“It’s true,” Dick agreed.  “You should have seen little Jason running around the manor doing extra credit and bragging about his report card.”

“That’s because my grades were amazing.  But not ready to have one of my own honor roll students, so it’s on you, Marinette.”

Marinette leveled a look at Jason.  “You know what?  If it’s twins, you’re coming over for at least two hours a week…”

“Four,” Dick whispered.

“Per child, so four hours total per week, to watch them for us.  Since they’ll be so cute and all.  You can teach them with your honor roll brain.” Marinette poked her fork in Jason’s direction still giggling.

Damian scowled at the interaction between Marinette and Dick and Jason. “Threats are unnecessary.  It is unlikely you will bear twins unless there is a history of it in your family.  Is there a history of it in your family?” he asked disdainfully.

“No,” she admitted.

“Then your panic is childish and unwarranted.  It is a statistical improbability,” Damian finished.

“Damian!” Bruce chastised him.

“Back off Demon Spawn.  We were just having fun.” Jason growled.

Marinette snorted.  “It was a statistical improbability that I would have gotten pregnant in the first place. And yet, here we are.  Statistics has taken a giant leave of absence with this pregnancy already.”  She stuffed her forkful of potatoes into her mouth with a smirk.

“Life finds a way,” Tim nodded sagely.

The table broke down into giggles.  “Dork,” Stephanie snorted, shoving his face away.

“Is it common in France to give multiple middle names?” Bruce asked, trying to keep the group on lighter topics.

“How many names are you planning on giving the baby?” Duke asked.

“Uh, common for rich people anyway.  I think they get an extra name for every couple million they’re born into. Adrien has four middle names.  My friend Chloe has six.”  She rolled her eyes and turned toward Duke.  “And we haven’t talked about it but I was only planning on a first, middle, and last name.”  She looked over to Dick for confirmation.

Dick nodded, slightly relieved.  “Good. That’s good.  I agree.”

“You haven’t talked about names yet?  That’s going to be a fun conversation.  Can I bring popcorn and watch?” Stephanie chuckled.

“Six?” Duke asked.

Marinette nodded.  “Unbelievably pretentious parents.” She stopped and looked around.  “I mean…”

“Nobody here has more than two middle names, you’re good,” Barbara waved off her concern.

“Oh, thank God.  I didn’t want to upset anyone,” she let out a relieved breath.

“No, just entrap Dick and use us for our money,” Damian bit out.

“Damian!” Bruce chastised.

“Damian…” Dick growled lowly.  Damian steadfastly avoided Cass’s disapproving frown and Dick’s angry glare.

“Marinette, I apologize for my son’s bluntness.  I’ve tried to instill better manners in my children,” Bruce leveled a warning look at Damian.

Marinette blinked a few times and nodded.  “Honesty is a virtue,” she started out slowly.  “It’s good to be suspicious.  I was of anyone who seemed to warm up too quickly to my friends who had assets others might want to take advantage of.  A little bit of skepticism is healthy.  And at least you’re being honest about it.  Most of my friends wouldn’t be if the roles were reversed.” She chuckled slightly before turning toward Bruce.  “There’s a respect in that.  I know where he stands.  He isn’t pretending.  There’s no duplicity, no illusions, no pretending for the sake of politeness.  You don’t know me and this,” she motioned to her belly, “is a lot all of a sudden to take in, and not just for you.”

“There’s no way she could have intentionally trapped me.  I was the one who provided everything, as I’ve said before,” Dick pointed out, his voice sharp and defensive of anyone questioning Marinette.

“Unless it isn’t yours,” Damian hedged coldly.

“Demon Spawn, I swear to…” Jason threw down his fork and started to get up.

“Damian, you will treat our guest with respect or you will go to your room,” Bruce thundered.

“Wow, you are really unafraid.  I bet you’re a fearsome sight in any kind of competition.” Marinette sent him an impressed smile.  “That’s a valid question.  I guess the only way to be absolutely sure is with a blood test and if Dick would like one, I’ll agree to it… after the baby is born.  I’m not going to subject the baby to unnecessary dangers just to prove a point.”

“I don’t,” Dick assured her.  “I don’t need it.  I have no doubts.”  Marinette’s eyes shined with appreciation and leaned into Dick as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“But your family might,” she pointed out quietly.  “It’s a reasonable request.  Believe me when I say if something like this happened to Adrien, Chloe would openly be on a warpath and Alya would be doing all kinds of duplicitous, questionably legal investigations into the woman.”

“Good friends,” Cass commented quietly.

“Yeah, I think I’d like them,” Stephanie agreed.

“And they would demand a blood test, so I understand and take no offense,” Marinette assured them.

“We don’t need it,” Tim spoke up.

“Speak for yourself,” Damian grumbled.

“That’s it Damian, go to your room,” Bruce barked.  Damian huffed and pushed away from the table, leaving without a backwards glance.  

“Perhaps it is time to retire to the living room with dessert,” Alfred offered, giving Damian a disappointed look as he passed him out of the room.  As soon as everyone except Damian was settled in the living room, Alfred brought out the macarons, setting them on the table in the room.  “Provided by Miss Marinette.”

“Oh, these look delicious.  What are the flavors?” Bruce asked eying the cookies.

“The purple ones are lavender and honey.  Dark brown is chocolate hazelnut.  Light brown is salted caramel.  Yellow is lemon.  And pink is raspberry.”

“Holy shit, Pixie!” Jason exclaimed swallowing his bite.  “These are good.”

“Jason, language, please,” Bruce repeated in a tired voice.

Cass gave her a thumbs up and grabbed another flavor.

“If you don’t marry her, I will.” Stephanie agreed, shoving her second macaron into her mouth.

Marinette giggled.  “Good to know I have backup options.”

Dick narrowed his eyes playfully and wrapped his arms around her protectively. “That’s it we’re going home. You’re not allowed around my family anymore.”

Marinette laughed harder and cuddled into him, resting her head on his shoulder and humming contentedly as he squeezed her tighter against his side.

Chapter 11

Tags:

@dickinette-february @demonicbusiness @ichigorose @iloontjeboontje @ladybug-182 @toodaloo-kangaroo @dast218 @golden-promises @trippingovermyfeet @emimar7 @laurcad123

#maribat #Dickinette February #dickinette #platonic jasonette #platonic adrienette #Hope on Board #Knocked Up AU #prompt - illusion

[twilightofthe]

Chapter Fourteen liveblog of The Mandalorian Season 2!  Let’s go!!!

Gonna say right now this episode already has VERY large boots to fill, my only prior experience with Tython is when my DM took our party there in the Star Wars RPG I’m playing in atm and we had a blast doing stuff like negotiating peace between warring peoples, finding lost children, visiting and exploring the very temple Din and the baby will be going to, AND we got attacked by Imps and I got to steal and drive an AT-AT.  Idk how to make Tython better than that xD

Ok but here we go, opening scene

Ooooooh we getting the FENNEC SHAND flashback???  (Lol but seriously if she is showing up again I’m all too happy to see my girl Ming-Na but how the fuuuuuck are we going to tie aNOTHER character’s storyline into this season? xD)

Once more I would die for the nameless baby Yodito 

SEROUSLY LOOKIT HIM AND HIS WIDDLE BALL DIN HOW COULD YOU EVER GIVE THAT UP

Welp I guess acknowledging the kid’s name is good parent/child bonding activities

“Bitch that’s my ball you keep taking it”

BABY LISTENS TO DADDY

HE’S HELPING THE BABY TRAIIIIIIIN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

HEY NO I’M NOT MAD AT YOU AAAAA GOOD PARENT

“Nice lady” lol perfect way to describe Ahsoka

OMG THE SOFTNESS IN HIS VOICE MISTER PEDRO YOU ARE KILLING ME ;_;

“You’re very special, kid” KILL ME RIGHT FUCKING NOW HOW DARE YOU TOY WITH MY HEART--

DIN YOU DO NOT SOUND CONVINCING AT ALL

NOT EVEN TO YOURSELF

JUST ACCEPT YOUR FATHERHOOD GODDAMMIT

“The TRAGEDY???” Oh No

Welp I guess Gideon tracks the Crest and kidnaps Baby in this one waaaaaah

Ok so forest planet like my DM said, but he made it snowy instead of acrid.....

Temple didn’t quite look like the first battle outcropping from Fellowship of the Ring either...

Oh is this another “wave your hand to pull it out of the ground” thingies like the Lothal temple?

DIN DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE JUST ABANDON HIM THERE

Ah ok he’s just doing the seeing stone thing

Oh honey this must be a pain in the ass to deal with the Force when you’re not remotely Force sensitive

BABY AND BUTTERFLY I’D DIE FOR HIM

Oh whoop we have company, not the Imps already?

Ahhh nope just Boba

Wait was HE the one who found Fennec last season???

If Boba’s the one who ends up turning over the baby to the bad guys just know nothing y’all say will make me forgive him for it xD

Fennec I’d kinda expect it from tho lol

I still think the Slave 1 (still a Very Hmmm Name) is the one of the goofiest looking ships, like why is it shaped like that and why does it fly standing up? xD

OOP I guess Baby just needed some pressure?  Glowy stone!

Glowy stone wiiiiith magic forcefield oh dear

Guess this ep’s gonna have Din trying to fight off opponents while Baby’s openly vulnerable and meditating, a la Katara in ATLA season 1

And ultimately fail too oh no....

Lol first thing visible coming out of ship is dramatic-ass cape, this fucking galaxy xD

TEMUERAAAAAAAAAAAA ;_;  Loooook I’m not the biggest Boba fan but I fucking love Temuera Morrison and his perfect voice

Wait he wasn’t the one who planted the tracker on his ship was he?

Looool at least Din’s finally found out there’s deadass like two groups of people he ends up coming across in this story

Hmmm we lookin’ dressed kinda like a Jedi, huh there Fett boy?

Wait Boba why didn’t you just try and ask/fight Cobb for the armor???

Oh so they really aren’t gonna make Boba Mandalorian again?

Oop Boba down for child murder

FENNEC OK I’M STILL KINDA IN LOVE WITH HER

“There’s no need for bloodshed” ok maybe Boba’s had some character development???

PROTECTIVE PAPA GETTIN’ OUT THE WHISTLING BIRDS

God Ming-Na is so fuckin’ pretty

“left for dead” BITCH YOU GOT FUCKING EATEN SHUT UP

Ohhhh does Fennec have some of those special new artificial guts like they gave Breha Organa?  Ngl I’m thinking of using those in one of my fics.....

Ooooop and NOW there’s the Imps

And that looks like enough room for a LOT of Stormtroopers

Oh dear

OH lol I guess Boba and Fennec have it covered

Ok fine Bobs that’s kinda badass

Lol Stormtroopers can’t even aim a mortar 

And STILL can’t properly aim a rapid fire gun either

Dumbass should have moved

Boba don’t steal the armor you’ll just be doing exactly what all the other Mandos are trying to accuse you of

AND DIN DOESN’T EVEN CARE ABOUT ANY OF THIS HE’S JUST DESPERATELY TRYING TO RESCUE HIS BABY ;_; ;_; ;_;

NOOOO DON’T LEAVE HIM

And of COURSE if he had waited five more seconds

Oh I guess Boba’s changing into his armor

Yep there he is

Ooop is that the Boba Fett theme?

THAT STILL ONLY COUNTS AS ONE

Aaaaand of course they’ve got a Star Destroyer 

WAIT ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME

Y’ALL SERIOUSLY TOOK THE RAZOR CREST AWAY

BITCHASSES

Damn but if Gideon doesn’t have a perfectly menacing theme too

Ok Favreau we see them looking more like Iron Man than anything else

Goddammit Boba why’d you make him take off his jetpack

Star Destroyer/Imperial Cruiser same thing, one’s just bigger

Y’ALL SHOULDN’T HAVE MADE HIM TAKE OFF HIS JETPACK

THE FUCKING TOY BALL GODDAMMIT Y’ALL ARE GONNA MAKE ME FUCKING CRY

Ooop at least the beskar’s fine

Yeahhh Boba knows this is at least kinda his fault xD

HAHAHA YEP THE FETTS ARE MANDOS AGAIN

Ohhhh and Jango fought in the Mando Civil War huh????  INTERESTING

Ohhhh they are picking up Ahsoka again

Wait fuck me I forgot, has Ahsoka ever directly met Boba before?

Wait you’re fucking kidding me you’re bringing MAYFIELD back nooooo he was annoying and untrustworthy

I hope Ahsoka bullies him

Dammit Gideon I hope the baby bites you

HAHA FUCKING GET THEM BABY

ok ok ok yeah I know Baby using the Dark Side is bad

OK OK OK NEVER MIND NEVER MIND NEVER MIND THAT’S REALLY BAD THAT’S WHAT THIS BASTARD WANTS

BITCH YOU STOP THAT

GIDEON I FUCKING SWEAR

DON’T Y’ALL FUCKING TOUCH HIM

OR SHOOT HIM YOU FUCKING BITCHES I HATE THIS I HATE EVERYTHING

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

POOR BABYYYYYYY

DIRECTED BY SPY KIDS MAN????  SIR HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME HURT

Okay okay okay fine, yes, Boba was Very Cool(TM)

Damn this was a good episode

#liveblogging the mando show #sw the mando show #mando man of mystery #the mandalorian #the mandalorian spoilers #the mandalorian season 2 spoilers #star wars #star wars spoilers #sw #sw spoilers #boba fett

[setaripendragon]

Trapped in the Amber - 1x03

Book 1 :: 01 - 02 - 03 Not a lot to say about this one, except that, on watching this episode for the first time, I was severely disappointed that Sam and Dean went to all that trouble to make those Homeland Security badges, and didn’t even think to use them to, oh, I don’t know, stop a plane from taking off? (Also, ngl, so mad that the continuity didn’t remember that they’d had Dean dealing with poltergeists before when they got to the episode Home.) Also, Moonfiends are completely made up by me, based on this one little bit of folklore I found about young women who look at a blue moon getting pregnant from it and giving birth to monsters. SPN lore is surprisingly limited for a show with hundreds of episodes, so I’m going to be tossing in more of my own lore to fill in the gaps in this story. (This being mostly self-indulgent nonsense, there’s going to be a lot of lore, a lot of ethical debates, and at least some linguistics.) And this chapter is dedicated to everyone who’s liked the last two parts, I absolutely wouldn’t have had the courage to continue posting this without you. Especially @spideypoolalways, and @lyratalus​ and @millieccino for those lovely comments <3

Allentown, Pennsylvania – Saturday 3rd December 2005

Meira makes Dean tell her about the poltergeist on their way to Pennsylvania. It’s a good story, and it’s also a reminder that John Winchester is a real person, her grandfather by blood. She knew about him, of course, but he was long dead by the time she came into the world, and honestly, she’d never given him much thought. Now, she’s suddenly aware that if it was her in her dad’s place, she wouldn’t be half so composed.

They don’t even stop to find a motel before heading to the airport where Jerry works. He greets Dean with no small amount of relief, and then shakes hands all around. “And this must be Sam, right?” He asks when he gets to Sam.

“That’s right.” Sam confirms. “And this is Meira.”

“Pleasure.” Jerry says, sincere but perfunctory, before leading them inside. He reminisces a little on the way to his office, and Meira listens in fascination, but once they get there, it’s right down to business. “Okay, listen to this.” He says. “It sounded like it was up your alley. Normally I wouldn’t have access to this. It’s the cockpit voice recorder for United Britannia flight 2485. It was one of ours.”

At first, it’s just a crackly recording of a may day signal, and then it fuzzes out to be replaced by a sound that makes Meira reach for her blade on pure instinct. Pain lances through her, and she flinches hard.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jerry asks.

Meira nods. “Took me by surprise, is all.” She says dismissively.

“Alright, well, it took off from here.” Jerry explains. “Crashed about 200 miles south. Now, they’re saying mechanical failure. Cabin depressurised somehow, nobody knows why. Over a hundred people on board, only seven got out alive.”

“Seven people survived?” Meira echoes in surprise.

Jerry’s eyebrows furrow. “That surprises you?” He asks carefully.

Meira shrugs with a grimace. “That sounded demonic to me. Sometimes spirits can affect radios and such, but it’s usually just static, psychic residue. That was way too loud to be residue. And demons aren’t known for leaving survivors.” It isn’t like she can tell them that she understands Hellspeech well enough. It isn’t like human languages, which she’s always been able to understand, but Crowley was one of the few creatures in existence that hadn’t thought she was an abomination. Or, he had, it’s just he didn’t have a problem with abominations, so he’d taught her how to understand his, heh, ‘native’ language.

Yeah, she definitely isn’t telling these two hunters, who aren’t yet her dad and uncle, that the King of Hell, or King of the Crossroads as he is now, taught her how to understand demons. Or that this one is fucking gloating on the radio of a plane it had just caused to crash.

Jerry pales. Sam and Dean both turn to stare at her, eyebrows raised. “Demonic?” Jerry asks, quiet and strained.

“I can’t be sure.” Meira lies. “But that would be my guess, yeah.”

“Well,” Sam says slowly, “we’re going to need passenger manifests, a list of survivors, and-”

“And any way we could take a look at the wreckage?” Dean interjects.

Jerry takes a breath to marshal himself, and Meira is actually impressed by how well he  “The other stuff is no problem, but the wreckage?” He shakes his head grimly. “The NTSB has it locked down in an evidence warehouse. No way I’ve got that kind of clearance.”

Dean nods slowly, and then shakes his head in dismissal. “No problem.”

Meira has to bite back a grin, and once they’ve gotten the lists of passengers and survivors from Jerry and they’re leaving, she nudges Dean with her elbow and asks, “No problem, huh?” Dean just grins back, smug and cocky, and, oh, yeah, this is going to be good.

A short drive and an endless wait later, which Meira fills with reading a paperback she picked up from a bookshop across the street, and Sam passes with pacing and frustration until Meira gives in and starts reading aloud in an over-dramatic fashion, Dean returns with brand new fake IDs for all of them. Sam, of course, immediately remembers his impatience, and huffs, “You’ve been in there forever!”

“You can’t rush perfection.” Dean retorts, flipping one of the cards over to Meira, who catches it between the pages of her book, then retrieves it eagerly.

“Homeland security?” Sam asks incredulously.

Meira whoops. “Oh, man. Yes.”

“See?” Dean says to Sam. “She knows an awesome idea when she hears one.”

“The doors this baby is going to open.” Meira agrees in delight. “The prank opportunities will be endless and glorious.”

Sam rounds on her, while Dean bursts out laughing. “Pranks?”

Meira blinks at him in feigned wide-eyed innocence. “Don’t tell me you’ve never wanted to scare the shit out of someone by threatening them with charges of treason or something.” She points out. She wishes Pabbi were here, or Jace. They’ve always been better at coming up with the truly hilarious pranks. Sam just shakes his head and gets back in the car. Meira and Dean share a grin, and then follow to discuss the case and plan their next move.

Which turns out to be interrogating the passenger in the psychiatric hospital. Meira keeps quiet and lets Dean and Sam do most of the talking, wishing she could see the state of the man’s soul. She doesn’t really need to, to know he’s disturbed by what he saw, but it would be nice to know how disturbed. Whether he’d prefer the illusion of normality, or if doubting his own perception is doing more harm than good. In her own, limited, twenty-five years of experience with human souls, she’s never seen anything so damaging as doubting their own perception, but in some cases, she has to admit that the lie does seem to help people hold it together through otherwise traumatic incidents.

“It’s okay.” Sam says, as Meira considers everything she can read from Max Jaffrey’s body language and comes to a decision. She’s pretty sure Sam and Dean are going to hate it, but they can suck it up and deal. “Just tell us what you thought you saw. Please.” Sam entreats, and it works.

Max sighs, and starts, haltingly, to talk. “There was… this- man.” He begins, stops, licks his lips nervously. “And… uh, he had these… eyes.” He gestures vaguely towards his own face.

“Black eyes?” Meira asks.

Max’s head jerks up and he stares at her with wide eyes, while Sam and Dean both turn to stare at her. “Y-yeah. How did you…?”

Meira takes a step forward from where she was loitering, and claims the last open seat, opposite Max. “You weren’t seeing things.” She tells him simply.

“Meira.” Dean growls.

“Man deserves to know he’s not crazy.” Meira replies without looking away from Max, who’s shaking his head.

“That can’t have been real.” He protests. “I saw him-”

“Saw him what?” Sam prompts gently, although the look Meira sees him direct at her out of the corner of her eye is hard.

Max’s next breath shakes. “He- he opened the emergency exit. But that’s- that’s impossible. I mean, I looked it up, there’s something like two tonnes of pressure on that door.” He insists, looking between the three of them, pleading for an explanation, any explanation, that makes sense.

“Do you really believe you were seeing things?” Meira asks him.

He stares at her, then swallows hard. It’s several long, long minutes before he finally answers. “No.” He says, so quiet Meira almost can’t hear him. “Some-something made the plane crash, right? And if it wasn’t- wasn’t what I saw, then… what was it?”

Meira smiles at him, gentle but proud. “It was exactly what you saw.”

“But how?” Max demands.

“The black eyes are a fairly good indicator that the man you saw was possessed by a demon.” Meira informs him, and Max’s eyes widen in belated fear. “Demons do possess far greater strength than your average human, so one could absolutely open the emergency exit while the plane was still in the air.”

“Oh.” Max says thickly. “Demons actually exist.”

“I’m afraid so.” Meira agrees wryly. When it seems Max is too busy processing that to have any immediate questions, she nods. “Do you have your phone with you?” She asks. Max shakes his head wordlessly. “Do you know your number off by heart?” She asks, not hopeful.

But, it turns out, there are some benefits to being stuck in 2005. People aren’t quite so used to their phones doing their thinking for them, and some of them do, still, memorise their own phone numbers. Max rattles his off without a problem, and Meira whips her own phone out to save it. Then she sends him a text. “There. Now, when you get out of here, if you have any questions, you can call me.” She explains.

Max nods. Then he shakes his head. “You’re not Homeland Security, are you?” He asks.

Meira grins at him. “Special branch.” She tells him, then raps her knuckles on the table, and stands. “Don’t worry, Mr Jaffrey, we’ll get the thing that did this.” She assures him, and a little of the fear in him melts away as he nods.

It isn’t until they’re out of the hospital that Sam rounds on her. Meira honestly wasn’t expecting it. “What the hell was that?” He demands. Meira stares at him incredulously. “Why did you tell him that? You scared him half to death!”

“Um, no.” Meira snaps, indignant at this false accusation. “I didn’t. The demon did.”

“And he was perfectly fine thinking he’d imagined the whole thing, so why did you-?!”

“Checking yourself into a psychiatric hospital is the exact opposite of fine!”

“He would have gotten over it! And then he could go home and carry on his normal life, but instead, you had to go and drop demons on him!”

“You have no guarantee that he would have gotten over it!”

“You have no guarantee how well he’ll handle demons, but that didn’t stop you!”

“Oh, so we should have just joined in on gaslighting him, then?”

“Whoa! Okay, time out!” Dad barks, physically inserting himself between Meira and Rob- No, it’s Sam, Sam who is not yet her uncle and Rob hasn’t been born yet. Meira blinks rapidly as she backs up a step, and then another. She didn’t realise how in each other’s face they were getting until Dad intervened. Dean. Until Dean intervened. She closes her eyes for a moment, trying not to feel too much like her family’s been ripped away from her all over again. “Okay, let’s all just chill.” Dean instructs firmly. “What’s done is done, Sam.”

“It shouldn’t have been.” Sam insists through gritted teeth. “People shouldn’t have to deal with all this unless they don’t have any other choice.”

“Hey, man, I agree with you, but there’s no helping it now.” Dean repeats. Sam scowls.

“He already had to deal with it. It nearly killed him.” Meira points out. “I’m not going to go around shouting it from the rooftops, okay. Not least of all because people would think I’m nuts, but… Do you know how hard it is, to have the whole world telling you that you’re the problem? That there’s something wrong with you, not something wrong out there? No one deserves that!”

Sam sighs heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose, and it’s a gesture that’s going to carry through the rest of his life, all the way until he’s in his sixties and a father and an uncle exasperated with his oh so headstrong niece. But instead of patiently and logically ripping all of Meira’s dreams of chaos and glory to shreds, he just shakes his head and heads for the Impala without another word. It leaves Meira feeling strangely like she’s the one who just lost that argument. Or maybe lost something more important by winning it.

“You know, Sam ran away.” Dean says suddenly.

Meira startles, and is half an instant away from saying something really stupid, like ‘yeah, I know, Dad, you’ve told me this story about a dozen times’, but manages to stop herself just in time. “Oh?” She asks instead, her voice wobbling slightly.

Dean glances at her and grimaces faintly in apology. “Yeah. He wanted to get away from hunting, from the supernatural, be normal or whatever.” He shrugs as if to say the notion baffles him. It baffles Meira, too, but then, she never has been and never will be ‘normal’, and she’s never really felt like her life was missing anything. “Then the thing that killed our mom killed his girlfriend.”

“Ouch. I’m sorry.” Meira says, trying desperately to remember that this is supposed to be news to her, not ancient family history.

“Yeah, well, it makes it pretty hard for him to argue that you should’ve let that guy live in ignorant bliss. He tried that, and it came back to bite him, it could come back to bite this guy, too. But I think he wishes the world worked that way. It ought to. People shouldn’t have to be afraid of the monsters in the dark.”

“People shouldn’t have to be afraid of robbers, either, but we still lock our doors at night.” Meira replies softly. “If people knew, if it was common knowledge what was out there, yeah, maybe they’d be afraid, but maybe they’d line their doors and windows in salt, and get anti-possession tattoos, and then go right on living their normal lives.”

Dean huffs a laugh. “Yeah, maybe.” He doesn’t sound like he believes it, though. Meira can’t exactly blame him. There’s a reason the supernatural has stayed more or less hidden for the last several hundred years, and it’s because most people don’t want to believe it’s true, so they refuse to see it. “Still think it was kind of shitty to just drop demons on him and then leave.”

Meira pulls a face, hunching down against a lecture she knows probably isn’t coming. “I gave him my number. And once we’re done with this, I’ll probably call him if he doesn’t call me and give him the full lecture on demons and theology as it applies to reality.” Somewhere Dean and Sam can’t hear her to question her in depth knowledge of the workings of Hell.

“You hunted demons before?” Dean asks in surprise, finally starting towards the Impala as well.

The answer is yes. On a normal day, demons wouldn’t really be difficult for her. She is anathema to them, after all. “No.” Meira lies.

“Then how do you know enough to give the full lecture?” Dean asks, giving her a look as he opens the driver’s door. Meira doesn’t answer until they’re both in the car with a sulking Sam, and once they’re in, Dean doesn’t give her the opportunity. “You said you don’t really hunt, but you’re a freaking encyclopedia. Moonfiends?” He prompts.

Meira sighs, and resigns herself to cobbling bits and pieces of the truth into a coherent whole, because infinite angelic memory isn’t something she’s going to bring up. “Okay, that one is because my best friend is a moonfiend, so I got a first person account.” She defends. “But my aunt and uncle keep- kept a supernatural library, and I read a lot as a kid.”

“Huh.” Dean muses as they pull out onto the road. “Okay, I’m just gonna ask. You best friend is a moonfiend?” He sounds incredulous.

Meira pulls a face at him through the rear view mirror. “Azura.” She confirms defiantly.

“What exactly is a moonfiend?” Sam asks, turning to look at her, putting aside his irritation in favour of academic curiosity. Meira beams fondly at him, because this is why Sam has always been her favourite uncle. “I know you said they’re kind of like mothmen, but mothmen are a really specific type of vengeful nature spirit.”

“Well, no, they’re more like furies. They’re not spirits, they’re corporeal, but they’re born from… desecrated ground. Furies are born from human sins against humans, mothmen are born from human sins against nature.” Meira explains, leaning forward as she gets into explaining. “A moonfiend is actually more like a werewolf in metaphysical characteristics, but like mothmen in physical characteristics.”

“So, they’re subject to the phases of the moon?” Sam checks.

Meira nods. “A moonfiend is born when a virgin, and that’s not just a sexual virgin, but a magical and metaphysical virgin, too, stares too long at an unfiltered blue moon.”

Dean actually takes a moment away from watching the road to turn and stare at her. Sam gapes for several minutes, until he finally manages to ask. “Blue moons happen every three years. Why aren’t they everywhere?”

“Well, half the time the pregnancy kills the mother before the baby is viable. Or the mother kills the baby after she’s given birth because, well, it’s pretty obviously not human. All that on top of just how hard it is to count as a metaphysical virgin these days.” Meira points out. “Or what counts as unfiltered. I mean, glasses, smog, clouds, astral disturbances.”

“Astral disturbances?” Sam questions.

“Okay!” Dean says loudly, interrupting Meira before she can even start to explain. “I’m glad you two have made up, you nerds, but can we figure out our next step here? I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never hunted demon before.” Meira has to sit back and let the weirdness of that statement wash over her. This is her Dad’s first ever demon hunt. Weird. “Are we even sure it is a demon?” He asks, glancing back at Meira and sounding like he wishes he could hope, but he doesn’t. “I mean, this doesn’t exactly seem like demon MO… does it?”

Meira grimaces. “It’s not tempting mortals to sin, sure, but… they like to spread pain and suffering, death and destruction. It’s like a hobby.” She chirps, all dark humour.

“And this one’s hobby is plane crashes?” Dean demands incredulously. “That seems a little… I don’t know, modern.” He mutters, and Meira snickers. “Jesus. Okay. Evolving with the times or not, it’s still gotta be possessing someone right?” Meira nods when Dean’s eyes flicker to her in the mirror. “Great, so it could be anyone right now. How the hell are we gonna find this thing?” He asks, and Meira’s heart leaps into her throat. It’s stupid, she knows that Dean’s never done this before, but he’s her dad and he sounds overwhelmed and that scares her.

“Dean?” Sam asks, obviously picking up on the same thing. “What…?”

Dean sighs. “I don’t know, man, this is kind of out of our league, don’t you think? Demon’s aren’t like the rest of the shit we hunt. Even wendigos, they still- there’s still rhyme and reason to what they do, you know? Demons, man…” He pauses and sighs, hands going white-knuckled on the wheel. “This is… this is big, Sam. I wish Dad was here.”

“Yeah.” Sam agrees quietly, staring intently out of the wind-shield. “Me too.”

Meira swallows and doesn’t say ‘me three’, even though she really wants to. She wants all of her dads. She wants her grace free so that she’s not quite so helpless without them. “Hey.” She says, and ploughs on even though her voice shakes a little. “We can do this. Okay, it might be an entire order of magnitude bigger than a vengeful spirit, but it’s the same basics, right? So, how do we find our monster once we’ve figured out what it is?”

“We figure out what it wants.” Sam says practically. “Because that’s how we’ll know where it’s going to be.” Then he shakes his head. “But if all it wants is to cause plane crashes… I mean, do you have any idea how many flights take off from even just one state every day? There’s no way we could find it.”

That is a good point. Meira grimaces. She’s still trying to figure out how the hell they can do anything about this when Dean slams a flat palm against the wheel, making both her and Sam jump. “Son of a bitch.” He swears sharply, in a tone of revelation. “The survivors.”

Meira blinks. “Dean?” Sam asks, in equal bewilderment.

“The message, on the voice recorder. The demon, it said-”

“‘No survivors.’” Sam echoes. “But there were, there were seven.”

“Yeah, and if this were a vengeful spirit…” Dean trails off pointedly.

“It’d want to finish the job.” Sam realises, nodding along. Then he dives on the bag at his feet to pull out the list of passengers and survivors.

“It was gloating.” Meira interjects, a touch amused. “Prematurely. It’s gotta be so pissed it failed to kill everyone on that flight. I mean, talk about embarrassing.” Dean snorts. “So, now we know what it wants. Now we’ve just gotta figure out where it’s going to be.”

“Do you think…” Sam begins, tapping a finger rapidly on the side of the sheet with the survivors on it. “I mean, if it was a spirit, I’d say for sure, but… Do you think it’ll want to stick to killing them in plane crashes? Because that would be a way to narrow down who it’s going after next.” He points out.

“Sounds like a lead to me.” Dean agrees, and Sam immediately pulls out his phone and starts scanning over the list, before dialling a number.

“I mean, demons basically are vengeful spirits, just ramped up to a thousand on a scale of one to ten.” Meira muses to Dean while Sam hangs up and tries another. “So, yeah, some patterns of behaviour probably do carry over, at least a little.”

“That is so not comforting.” Dean mutters.

“Hey, Jerry, it’s Sam.” Sam greets. “I was just trying to get in touch with the pilot. You said he was a friend, so I thought you might-” He trails off, and then snaps “Dean.” so urgently that Dean automatically takes his eyes off the road to look over at him on high alert. “The pilot’s going up in less than an hour.”

“Shit.” Dean swears, and floors the gas.

“Look, Jerry,” Sam is saying into the phone, “is there any way you can get in touch with him, convince him not to go up?” A pause. “Please try. We’re on our way.” He hangs up, jaw tight. “How soon can we get to the airfield in Nazareth?”

“Forty-five minutes.” Dean announces, then somehow makes the Impala go even faster. “Forty minutes.”

“Okay, so we need to figure out how to get rid of a demon in forty minutes.” Sam states.

“Exorcisms?” Dean suggests.

“Do you know any by heart?” Sam retorts.

“I do.” Meira offers. It’s not exactly hard when one’s fluent in the language of angels and can invoke the name of god in it. Pretty much anything becomes an exorcism then. ‘Go away’ could count as an exorcism, as long as you followed up with ‘in the name of the lord’ or something similar.  “Do we have any holy water?” She asks, not daring to hope.

“Uh, no.” Dean replies.

Meira winces, and amends her request. “Do we have water and a rosary?”

“Rosary is in the boot.” Dean tells her, while Sam retrieves a bottle of water from his bag. After about five minutes of bickering, Meira convinces him to pull over so that she can hop out and grab the rosary. Dean’s peeling out of the layby before she’s even got the door closed again, and then she screws the top off the bottled water, dumps the rosary inside, and sets about blessing it. She really, really hopes this works, and isn’t contingent on her grace being able to affect the world beyond her skin. She’s never officially been ordained or anything, but active grace or not, she’s still a fucking archangel.

“That should be holy water now.” Meira says once she’s done, handing the water back to Sam.

“Should?” Dean barks.

“I’ve never done this before, okay?” Meira shoots back, unable to keep a hint of defensive panic from her tone. “I have the qualifications for it, but I never thought I needed to check that it would work!” Dean pulls a face, but lets it go. Meira swallows down her fear. “You should- you should check on the others while we have the time.” She says to Sam, and he nods. He spends the drive going through the list of survivors and pretending to be a United Britannia Airlines survey. While he’s doing that, Meira calls Max, which turns into an impromptu explanation of how to identify demons.

By the time Meira’s off the phone, Sam’s gone through the rest of the survivors. “I still can’t get in touch with the flight attendant.” Sam states, hanging up the phone again.

“Given her job, I’d say that’s a bad sign.” Dean says dryly.

Sam snorts. “Yeah, no kidding. I’m going to call Jerry, see if he can tell me when she’s working next.” He explains, and then does just that. After a brief introduction, he gives Jerry the woman’s name, “Amanda Walker,” and waits a couple of minutes while Jerry does the research he can’t while he’s stuck on the highway. “Oh?” Sam says, an edge to his voice Meira really doesn’t like. “This evening? Look, Jerry-” A long pause. “No, I understand. Okay. Yeah, we’re on our way. Bye.”

“She’s working tonight?” Dean asks in dismay.

“Yeah. Flight leaves at eight. And there’s no way Jerry can ground the flight.” Sam adds in dismay.

Dean takes a bracing breath. “We’re just going to have to stop this son of a bitch before he can get that far.” He announces, and Meira tries to bolster her own confidence with his.

Nazareth, Pennsylvania – Saturday 3rd December 2005

By the time they get to the airfield, there are already two men walking across the tarmac to a small plane. “Shit.” Dean swears, and they all fling themselves out of the car.

“Mr Lambert!” Sam calls as they jog over. Security inevitably tries to stop them, but Dean flashes a badge at them, almost too fast for them to see more than that it looks sort of official, but it is enough to get them past. “Mr Lambert!” Sam calls again, and one of the two men nudges the other, and he turns.

“Yeah?” The second man says, so he must be Jerry’s friend, the pilot.

Meira looks at the other one, who’s watching them with a sort of sceptical hostility. She holds her hand out to him. “Agent Meira Geyad.” She greets, watching him closely, but there’s no reaction except a raised eyebrow as he takes her hand. Oh, hell. She starts to turn, but then a fist meets her face with enough force to send her sprawling.

“Shit!” Dean swears.

“Chuck!” The other man shouts in horror. “Wha-” He’s cut off by an awful crunching noise that makes Meira’s stomach turn over in guilt. It’s followed by a splash, and the hissing of corruption being melted away by a holy blessing. Holy water worked then, thank God, Meira thinks dizzily, finally healing enough to look up.

The demon grabs for Sam, getting him by the throat, and Dean yells his name in desperation. Meira starts to spit out the simplest exorcism she knows, but before she can get more than three words in, the demon has dropped Sam and kicked her in the ribs hard enough to wind her. Hard enough to break ribs, actually, but those heal quickly like her fractured cheekbone did. It takes a little longer to catch her breath, and by then, the demon has abandoned its meatsuit, streaming out of Chuck Lambert’s mouth and leaving him to collapse to the ground.

“Jesus.” Dean breathes. “Sam?”

“Fine.” Sam rasps.

“Meira?” Dean checks, dropping to his knees beside her. “You alright?” Meira groans, and takes the hand he offers her, letting him haul her up into a sitting position. “I’m guessing that wasn’t how an exorcism is supposed to go.”

“No, it realised what I was trying to do and left before I could send it back to hell.” Meira huffs, rubbing at her side just to check that her ribs are back where they’re supposed to be.

“Why’d it flinch at your name?” Dean asks curiously.

“Ge-Iad is one of the names of God.” Meira explains.

“Never heard that one before.” Dean says, eyebrows rising. “I thought you used Christ to test for demons.”

“The more often the name is used without faith, the less power it holds over the demonic.” Meira replies. “You can amp it up by using a language like Latin, which is both dead and stuffed full of religious ritual by now, but, you have any idea how many people say ‘Jesus Christ’ as an invective, without a thought as to why they swear that way?”

“And Ge-Iad, that’s, what? Never used?” Dean asks.

“Never without the proper reverence.” Meira corrects, and then tips her head. “Until today.” She adds with a pointed look, which earns her the best devil-may-care grin in her dad’s arsenal.

“Guys.” Sam calls, solemn. “Chuck’s dead.”

“Oh, that petty son of a bitch.” Meira grouses, flopping back down onto the tarmac.

“Uh-uh. Come on, up.” Dean instructs, getting to his feet and holding out his hand again. “We’ve still gotta stop this son of a bitch before he brings another plane down.” Meira whines, but takes his hand and lets him pull her to her feet.

“And we’ve got company.” Sam adds, as the airfield security descend on them.

Sam and Dean both look like deer in the headlights of a semi, so Meira takes charge. She orders security to inform the police of the incident, flashes her fake ID about, and then leaves with Sam and Dean on ‘important business’ before the police actually arrive. “Back to Allentown?” Dean checks, and Sam nods, already on the phone.

“I still can’t get in touch with the flight attendant.” Sam tells them several minutes later.

“We can’t let her get on that plane.” Dean insists.

Meira thinks about the fake IDs they’ve been using and has a really, really bad idea. She’s pretty sure Pabbi would approve. “I have an idea?” She offers. Sam turns to look at her, and she grimaces as she holds up her fake ID. “But… we’re going to need to look the part.”

Sam blinks once, and then his eyes widen. “Oh, no.” He says quickly. “No, there’s no way we can pull that off!”

“Why not?” Meira challenges.

“What?” Dean asks, glancing in the rear view mirror. “What’s the plan?”

“What’s TSA going to do if Homeland Security shows up and tells them there’s a terrorist on that plane?” Meira asks rhetorically.

Dean stares out the windshield for a long moment. “Okay. Monkey suits it is.” He says in a tone of resignation.

“And then what?!” Sam demands, a little hysterically, in Meira’s opinion. “We ground the plane, that’s great, and then we’re in the middle of an airport, surrounded by TSA, and we’re going to have to produce a terrorist for them!”

Meira shrugs. “Not necessarily. We just say we got a tip, or a suspicion that there might be, and when there isn’t, well, can’t be too careful in the pursuit of terrorists, right?” She points out. “We won’t even be lying if we tell them we have a suspicion that someone on board is planning to sabotage the flight. It’s true.”

“And how are we going to do an exorcism in the middle of all of this?” Sam demands.

“I’m not sure.” Meira huffs. “If it was just a case of getting the exorcism out, that would be one thing, but we have to make sure the demon sticks around for me to use it. Easiest way would be a devil’s trap, but it’d probably be a bad idea to go around scrawling pagan voodoo on the walls in front of TSA, huh?” She muses.

Dean snorts. “Okay, here’s the plan.” He says briskly. “Once we’ve got the plane grounded and all the passengers and staff isolated for interviewing or whatever, we’re going to insist on talking to everyone separately, and then whatever room they offer us, you two are going to keep everyone busy while I put a devil’s trap… on the ceiling, probably. Somewhere that’s not glaringly obvious, anyway.” He pauses, glancing back to make sure both Sam and Meira are on board. Meira nods enthusiastically, and Sam sighs in surrender. “Okay, so, what’s a devil’s trap look like?”

“Pentacle.” Meira answers easily. “You can make them more complicated, if you need to hold a stronger demon or a specific demon or you need to limit specific things within it, but… basic devil’s trap is just a pentagram in a circle.”

“Right, easy enough.” Dean agrees.

They stop to get suits at the first place they see. Dean looks hilariously uncomfortable, and Meira really wishes there was something she could say to help, but given that it’s a feeling that persists all the way through his life, she figures there’s not much anyone could say to make him feel better. “Should’ve got one with a waistcoat.” She says instead.

“Why the hell would I want extra layers of this bullshit?” Dean demands.

“Waistcoats are sexy as hell.” Meira informs him, smoothing down the front of her own.

Dean pauses and looks back at the shop with pained consideration. “Nope, no time.” Sam informs him. Dean makes a face at him, but doesn’t protest.

Allentown, Pennsylvania – Saturday 3rd December 2005

The plan goes off without a hitch. Meira knows that the most important part of pulling a prank like this is confidence, so she turns hers up to the max, channelling her pabbi and every archangel instinct she has, and TSA goes along with it. In fact, Meira is honestly a little shocked by how quickly everyone responds, until she remembers that, of course, it’s been four, not forty, years since the whole 9/11 thing. The flight gets grounded, TSA agents scurry about searching people and, helpfully, dragging them to and from the room they let the three of them conduct ‘interviews’ from. Meira is honestly having a ridiculous amount of fun, playing the scary Homeland Security agent looking for terrorists.

“You’re having fun.” Sam accuses under his breath, once they’re done with the passengers and about to get started on the staff.

Meira flashes him a wild, reckless grin. “I told you the prank opportunities were going to be glorious.” She murmurs back. Sam gives her an incredulous look, but doesn’t say more because the door is opening. Meira gives it a minute before she turns around, because if this is their demon, she doesn’t want to spook him before he’s sitting right on top of Dean’s devil’s trap, which he drew in magic marker on the bottom of the chair.

“I don’t see why this is-” The co-pilot cuts himself off when Meira and Sam turn around, his eyes flashing black as the demon loses control of itself for a brief moment in its shock. Or rage. Either one. “You again.” It hisses.

“Us again.” Dean says leaning back against the door.

The demon tries to lunge upwards, but the chair, conveniently bolted to the floor, doesn’t move, and the demon can’t leave it. It looks down, then back up again in outrage. “Who are you?” It demands, looking directly at Meira.

She smiles. “Zirdo zizop ol Ge-Iad, od lis ip darb ziri.” She informs it, and watches it recoil in horror with no little satisfaction.

“That’s not Latin.” Sam comments, looking at her in surprise.

“Nope.” Meira agrees cheerfully enough.

“You, though, you I know.” The demon adds, looking at Sam. He and Dean both go very still, staring intently. “I know what happened to your girlfriend, and if you let her do this, you’ll never find out why.” It taunts, a nasty smirk curling the host’s lips.

Sam stiffens. “Wait.” He says, and the demon grins.

“Sam.” Dean warns.

“What do you know about Jessica?” Sam demands.

“Let me go and I’ll tell you everything.” The demon promises.

Sam splashes holy water in its face, and it recoils with a yell, steaming. “Tell me, or I’ll-”

“Or you’ll what?” The demon spits, mocking. “What do you think you can do to me that’s worse than that?” It jerks its chin at Meira, who arches one eyebrow. “Let me go, or no deal.”

“Sam, we’re not letting this thing go.” Dean states. “It’s probably lying anyway.”

Sam’s free hand clenches into a fist. After a minute in which he doesn’t move, Meira gently pushes past him to stand in front of the demon. “Bols ma a’aiom, pa’aox il adohi ol Onsamir.” She instructs, and the demon hisses and thrashes, actually cracking the floor where the chair is bolted to it. Meira reaches out and puts a hand on the demon’s shoulder. It stills, tensing, staring at her with wide black eyes. “Niizo i etharzi, ammal, od yinay ma doal.” She says gently. “Oyi gohe Zire.”

Holy light suffuses the vessel, and the essence of the demon pours out of his mouth in the form black smoke even as it’s forced from this plane of existence, vanishing in midair.

Sam turns away and punches the wall. Dean watches him carefully, but when Sam just stands there, breathing hard, he goes to check the slumped co-pilot’s pulse. “He’s alive.” He reports. “So, do we need to carry on this farce, or can we just…?” He jerks his thumb at the door.

Meira takes a moment to hate the demon, because Sam’s mood is going to suck all the fun out of this. “I think we should finish. Let’s not give them a reason to get suspicious straight away, yeah?” She prompts, and Dean reluctantly nods, then shakes the co-pilot awake. He comes awake with a jolt, and immediately panics at the memory of the demon. “Calm down, you’re fine now.” Meira assures him.

“And if you want to stay fine, you’re going to act normal and not talk about this, or the nice TSA agents are going to arrest you for being a terrorist.” Dean adds, which doesn’t exactly help the guy’s fear, but it does redirect it nicely.

It’s a little tedious, going through the same rote questions with the rest of the staff, but there’s few enough left that Meira doesn’t mind. It’s worth it for the opportunity to bitch, in a restrained and professional manner, to the TSA agents about wild goose chases and bad information, and how she’s going to complain to her superiors about their lax fact-checking. The agents are so busy reminding her that ‘better safe than sorry’ and that it’s important work that they don’t even stop to wonder about a whole plane being delayed for what turned out to be nothing. Then the three of them are back in the Impala and driving away clean.

“We should have questioned the demon properly.” Sam says abruptly.

“Dude, Sam, seriously. It probably didn’t know jack shit.” Dean insists. “These things like to play with your mind, you can’t let it.”

“And even if it did know something, torturing information out of demons is hard, Sam. Not to mention ethically dubious given that the host suffers everything you do to the demon, too.” Meira points out, and Sam flinches, but his hard glare doesn’t waver. “Do you really think you can torture someone worse than Hell can, Sam? Someone innocent, just to find out what the demon riding their soul knows?”

Sam whips around to glare at her. “Yes.” He bites out, and then looks away, nausea twisting his expression. “No.” He capitulates. “I don’t-”

“Look, Sam. We will find this thing, alright? We will. And we don’t need to drag innocent people into it to do it. We’re better than that. Better than them.” Dean insists.

Meira smiles, bracing her elbows on the back of the front seats and lacing her fingers together to rest her chin on. “Damn straight.”

Marion, Indiana – Sunday 25th December 2005

It’s stupid, but it never occurred to Meira that Sam and Dean might not do Christmas. When she’d asked, a few days ago, Dean had just shrugged and said sure, they could do a present exchange this year, like that was optional. It’s only just sunk in, lying in the dark in a lonely motel room, that there just isn’t going to be Christmas this year.

No tree, no lights, no elaborate Santa traps, no cake for not-bro Jesus so entirely stuffed with candles that you could kill a wendigo with it, no trip to Scandinavia to have snowball fights in ancient pine forests, no stories of hunting pagan gods through the festivities. She’s alone, bound beneath her skin, with no possible way of finding out who did this to her, never mind what they did, or how to get home. She could pray to Pabbi, but he couldn’t answer, not without revealing himself to the Host, and she won’t do that to him, won’t force him to make that choice.

Midnight comes and goes, and the only way Meira knows is because she’s watching the shitty digital clock on the bedside table. She can’t feel the turn of the earth through the cosmos, can’t feel the ripples of time as billions and billions of humans make choices and change things. All she has is what’s trapped under her skin, and it’s nothing. Nothing compared to what she used to have. A family, and an entire universe to share with them.

Unable to bear it any longer, she rolls out of bed, gets dressed, and heads out. Once there, she goes to the vending machine and buys one of everything that looks like it has a cavity-inducing sugar-content, and carries it all over to the Impala. Then she hops up onto the hood, lies back, and starts in on her stash while watching the stars. “Hey, Granddad.” She says, out loud while opening up a pack of skittles, because who gives a fuck. “Looks like you’re the only family I’ve got for Christmas this year. Well, you and not-bro. How’s the garden, Josh? Sorry about no cake this year. It’d feel like… cheating, somehow, if I tried to get Sam and Dean to do it with me. Like I’m stealing something from their future, you know? Even if I bet Dean would get a kick out of it.”

She takes a deep breath, suddenly finding it hard not to cry. “You know, I always got why you fucked off, Granddad. Why you won’t interfere. I don’t think anyone else in my family really does. Except maybe Jace. He might’ve figured it out, but I bet he’s still stuck on the free will thing. That you won’t interfere because we’ve gotta do it ourselves, we’ve gotta make choices, and we can’t do that if the Father of all Father’s is looming over our shoulder. And that’s part of it, yeah, but it’s more than that, too, isn’t it?”

She has to sit up, because otherwise she’s going to choke on her own tears. Skittles spill across the hood of the Impala, and she doesn’t give a shit. “You won’t interfere because you love us. All of us, even the worst of us.” She says to the sky. “Even the actual devil. Even pond scum and slime mould and every last demon. Even me, even though I’m a blasphemy, an abomination, the devil reborn.” She pauses to gasp a few wet breaths. “I always knew, you know? You weren’t there, because you’re everywhere. But I don’t- Sorry, Granddad, but I don’t feel very loved, right now. I know you don’t like to- to interfere, but… but I could really use a miracle right about now, and I don’t know who else to turn to.”

She waits, but of course nothing happens. The stars don’t move, the world doesn’t shift. There isn’t even a change in the wind. Meira smiles bitterly, blinking tears onto her cheeks, and pulls her knees up to wrap an arm around them and bury her face in them. She gasps for air and lets it out in silent screams, with nothing left to pray for. Somewhere in the motel, a door opens and footsteps crunch across gravel.

“Meira?”

Meira’s head jerks up. Dean is standing there, looking sleep-rumpled and a little bleary, squinting at her in concern. Then his gaze drops to the mess of sweets scattered around her, and he snorts. He shoves them more towards the middle of the hood so that he can hop up to sit beside her, and snags a pack of M&Ms out of the pile for himself. “Can’t sleep?” He asks, and there’s a veneer of carelessness to it, like it’s an idle question and he didn’t just find her bawling her eyes out in the middle of the night, but he’s asking, and he’s there.

Thanks, Granddad. Meira thinks, as she tips over sideways to drop her head onto her dad’s shoulder. “I miss them.” She says quietly. “Never done Christmas without them before. Didn’t realise… how hard it’d hit me ‘til I got here, and suddenly it’s like I’m the last person on earth, it’s so lonely.”

There’s a long silence, but Meira doesn’t mind. She just watches the stars, and retrieves a skittle, and then starts in on the haribo. After a while, Dean shifts, but only enough to get his arm free so that he can put it around her shoulders. Meira shudders with another sob, and is so desperately glad when he doesn’t take that as a sign that he shouldn’t have done it.

“I felt the same, after Sam went to Stanford. Me and Dad were hunting separate, and Sam was gone. I knew I could just drive to Palo Alto, and he’d be there, but… That felt further than the moon, when he’d chosen to be there, instead of here.”

Meira nods a little against his shoulder, to let him know she’s listening, and she understands. “Pabbi used to dress up as Santa.” She says, sniffling and trying to put a little cheer into her voice. Pabbi didn’t so much as dress up as Santa as conjure one out of the ether for them, actually, but close enough. “And he’d have this huge sack of presents, right? But he’d only leave one. The rest, he’d say, we had to get for ourselves.”

Dean bursts out laughing. “He made you steal from Santa?” He asks, delighted.

“No, he made us hunt Santa.” Meira corrects, laughing a little herself. “Traps and tricks. A present would magically fall out of the sack every time we scored a ‘killing blow’.” Dean gasps out a startled curse, laughing too hard for anything else.

Once he’s calmed down a bit, he wipes at his eyes, still chuckling, and steals a few of her haribo. “Man, we never did anything that fun.” Dean bemoans, but not too seriously. “Most of the time Dad wasn’t even there for Christmas, tell you the truth, since monsters don’t stop just ‘cause it’s Christmas. One year Sammy gave me this, though.” He adds, lifting a hand to snag the cord around his neck and lift an amulet out from under his t-shirt. “Best Christmas present ever. Though, if you tell him that, I’ll put itching powder in your underwear.”

Meira catches it in the palm of her hand to draw it closer. It’s dark, but as she peers at it, she recognises it, despite never having seen the actual thing before in her life. Recognises it from her dad’s and qaada’s stories, and from some deeper well of knowledge that’s from the part of her that should have been nothing more than the Angel of Thursday, the remix, and instead ended up a little bit archangel.

And maybe it’s just lingering body-heat, but it feels warm in Meira’s palm. She grins, and lets it fall. “It’s pretty awesome.” She agrees. “And my lips are sealed, I swear.”

Love you too, Granddad.

#Supernatural #time travel #next generation #original character #Supernatural retelling #Dean Winchester #Sam Winchester #SPN 1x04 #Phantom Traveler #Meira Winchester #Trapped in the Amber #I'm so sad I didn't get to include Amanda in this #Enochian is THE WORST #seriously #on a scale of 0 to Tolkien #Dee is about -4 with how well constructed his conlang is #there's NO consistent grammar #there isn't even consistent spelling #'no i's in the angelic alphabet' Dee says #and promptly spells ever other word with an i #STILL I DID MY BEST #So have some translations #'I am a vessel of the lord and you will obey me' #'be not amongst us and return to your kingdom of hell' #'go in peace demon and do no harm' #'thus sayeth the lord' #Is Meira praying to Chuck when she prays to her granddad? #¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #Idk I like Prophet!Chuck and God!Chuck about the same tbh #I'm leaning towards Prophet!Chuck for this

[holylulusworld]

Heartbreak Motel

Summary: Reader is Dean’s bed buddy. What happens when she has enough of being only his valve to release some pressure?

Pairing: Dean x Reader, Sam

Warnings: language, smut, unprotected sex, oral (female receiving), heartbreak, unrequited love?, sad reader, fun, test drive?, fluff, adorkable Dean

“Does that feel good Baby? Yes, it does feel good.” Dean groans into your neck.

Hips rolling against your ass he pumps harder into you. Rough hands holding your hips he gets even faster.

Toes curling you moan for the hunter behind you.

You didn’t even manage to get undressed before he was on you. His jeans are rubbing against your naked ass while he fucks you with quick and sharp thrusts.

Gripping the sheets tight you scream his name. Clamping hard down onto his cock you push him over the edge too. Biting your shoulder, he spills his cum into you.

Seconds later he’s gone. Already fixing his clothing he turns to leave your room…as always.

“Night, thanks for the ride…uh…you should sleep we drive back early. I’m heading back to Sam’s and my room.” With that, he leaves your room and you feel like a cheap whore…again.

Slowly getting up from the bed you wipe away some tears. You’re only a stress reliever…Why did you agree to something like that?

—-

The shower is pleasant, you can wash him off your body. You need to stop doing this. This isn’t good.

—-

“Did you listen to me?” Sam asks when you stare out of the window of the Impala.

“Yeah. You managed to build up a database with all the monsters we killed. It’s like a digital hunter’s diary. I listened to you.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, Sam. Don’t worry I just made a decision last night.” You whisper and Dean flinches. Do you want to tell Sam about your arrangement?

“Oh, and what kind of decision?”

“I have to stop doing unhealthy things.”

“Like eating too many sweets?”

“Sweets…alcohol…the wrong men which are giving a shit on me. Which make me feel like a whore when they leave me after they had their fun. I will stop doing this…I need to stop doing it.”

“Did you meet someone?” Sam asks.

“Hmm…”

“He didn’t treat you right?”

“No. He only uses me to get off and then he leaves. I can’t do this anymore. I want more but that guy can’t give me what I need.”

“I’m sorry, Y/N.”

“Me too. I didn’t expect to marry and live the apple-pie life but is it too much to ask for that he gives me a kiss or holds me for a moment instead of leaving me right after the sex? I’m not a whore but he makes me feel like I’m one…he only forgets to leave the money on the table.” You say and Dean swallows hard.

“That’s…shit. What an asshole.” Sam says softly.

“My own fault. I knew he doesn’t even like me, but I ignored my brain and let my heart speak. I fooled myself, Sam. Always hoping he would at least like me one day. I was wrong. I’m nothing to him…nothing…” Now tears well up your eyes and you turn around to hide so Dean can’t see you crying.

“I wake you when we are back at the bunker,��� Sam whispers. He knows you mean Dean. He caught him sneaking out of your motel room more than once but never said a word.

—-

Light snoring let Sam know you are asleep. Glaring at his brother he clears his throat.

“I know.” Is all Sam says.

“I can explain it,” Dean tries.

“You are hurting her. She isn’t a random chick to bang. What did you think? Why are you doing this to her? Y/N loves you for years and you just…couldn’t you keep your hands off her?” Sam whispers angrily.

“I thought she wants to have fun too. I mean no need to go to a bar or hook up with someone you don’t know. She feels good…I feel comfortable with her.”

“And yet you managed to make her feel like a whore. Great job. Obviously, you didn’t make her feel good. You only hurt her.”

“I didn’t know how she feels about me. I thought it’s only sex.”

“Really Dean? You know that she isn’t that kind of girl. She was only with two other guys before you!”

“Huh? How do you know?”

“We are talking…like friends.”

“About sex partner?”

“We were a bit drunk and we talked about people we loved and lost. She told me about her high school boyfriend and a guy at college…wait…no, that was the same guy…oh…then it was only one.”

“Only one?”

“She wanted to marry that guy but then he died in a car accident and she started hunting again.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“As you never talk to her. That’s the reason she thinks you don’t like her. How often did you talk to her since she moved into the bunker three years ago?”

“I don’t know.”

“Exactly. Leave her alone. She already had enough heartbreak in her life.”

Watching your sleeping form in the rear-view mirror Dean hates the thought that someone else could touch you. You are only his. He can barely think straight close to you. He has to have you. Torn panties and skirts are proof enough.

—-

“Let me carry your bags,” Deans says, and you wonder.

“I can do this on my own. No need to help me. I’m not injured.” You mutter taking your bag out of his hands.

“I said let me carry your bags!” He says louder and Sam glares at him.

“Why?”

“As I said so.” Your bags in his hands he storms toward the bunker.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“I got no clue, Y/N,” Sam says shrugging his shoulders.

“Whatever. I’m going to make myself a sandwich and read the book I bought.

“Hey, uh…I’m sorry my brother is an idiot.”

“You know?”

“Dean wasn’t exactly discreet when he sneaked out of your room.”

“I see. Sorry. Won’t happen anymore.”

—-

A sandwich in your hands you silently walk toward your room. Waving Sam goodnight, you want to pass Dean’s room. Ignoring the open door, you keep on walking until strong arms dragging you into his room.

“Did you think you can just end what we have?” Dean grunts into your ear.

“We have nothing, so I end it.”

“You are mine! Did you plan on letting some douche bag touching you?”

“Already did that…last night. He fucked me without looking at me and after he was finished, he left as always. Now let go of me.”

“No, you will stay in my room. We will talk this out.”

“What do you want to talk about? That I feel like a whore every time I fall in bed with you? Well not in bed we barely made it into a bed…”

“I didn’t know that. Why didn’t you tell me so?”

“I’m only…you never talk to me. Why should you be interested in how I feel? You don’t even like me, you only like my wet pussy.”

“I love it when you talk dirty Baby.”

“See, everything is a joke to you. I’m tired of this shit. Look for someone else to get off.”

“But I want you! You are mine. No one can touch you!”

“I’m hungry and tired, let go of me.”

“Nope, you will stay in my room until we talked this out.”

“Please just let me go. Let’s just say we had fun, no strings attached. Now the fun is over. Let’s be honest you don’t need me. All the chicks you had while we…I’m not needed.”

“I wasn’t with someone else since we…no one. I didn’t fuck someone else. I only was with you the whole last year.”

“Sure.”

“Where should I find the energy to have sex with someone else when I needed all my strength to satisfy you? All the noises you make. You feel perfect around me.”

“I…let go off me.”

“You will lie in my bed and eat your sandwich and we talk about us.”

“There’s no us.”

Turning you around Dean stares angrily down at you. Licking his lips, he motions toward his bed with his head.

Rolling your eyes dramatically you sit on his bed. Back resting against his headboard, you start eating your sandwich.

“That looks delicious…hmm…give me a taste.”

“You are a grown man. Go to the kitchen and make yourself a sandwich.”

“Bad girl. Won’t share with me. What can I do? I could just lock you into my room.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I mean why not?”

“That’s kidnapping!”

“You came to my room on free terms!”

“No, you dragged me in you pervert!”

A cocky grin on his face he chuckles. Sitting down onto his bed next to you he watches you.

“What?”

“You are cute when you get mad. Hmm…so sexy.” Dean rumbles.

“What do you want?”

“You.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I want you. I feel good with you. The sex is beyond good and I don’t want anyone else to touch you. Since we do what we do I didn’t have any interest in other girls. I only want you.”

Not wanting to say something you take a bite of your sandwich. Slowly chewing it you look at Dean with wide eyes.

“What? Say something, dammit.”

“Uh…what shall I say, Dean?”

“That you don’t want someone else. I know I’m not the cuddly type, but I could try to…uh…well kiss and hug you. You know.” Cupping the back of his neck with his hand he rubs it nervously.

“Are you asking me if I want to be yours?”

“Kinda …what do you say?” Dean asks nervously. Why is he nervous?

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. I mean we already had sex and you know all my bad habits. I’m a good catch.”

At the last sentence, you almost choke at the last piece of your sandwich.

“What? It’s true. I’m strong, handsome…good in bed. Funny. I can cook and I can repair your car. I’d like to look under your hood.” Wiggling his eyebrows, he makes you giggle.

“Well, you’re not that bad in bed.” You retort.

“Huh? Not that bad? Wait…we need to change your opinion! Right now!”

“No!”

“Oh yeah…right now. I bet you’re wet for me. Shall I talk dirty to you? Hmmm… I know you like it if I do.”

“No,” you lie.

“I know what you like my dirty girl. I know how you like it! Rough but not too fast. You love the buildup. When I slowly push you toward the edge. Pushing, pulling…rubbing until you are a wanton mess underneath me.”

“To be fair I wasn’t really underneath you! You were behind me or I was on top of you!”

“Wait. We never did it missionary?”

“No. We barely made it into a bed, Winchester.”

“Well we are on my bed now…we could try it.”

Still staring at Dean in disbelief you yelp when he grabs your wrists to pin you to the bed with his large frame.

“Hey!”

“Hmm…look at you. I bet I can taste the sandwich on your tongue. Let’s try it. Shall we?”

Not able to answer due to the demanding tongue entering your mouth you moan against his lips.

“Yeah, I think I will keep you. The sandwich tastes great…well, your lips aren’t that bad either. But I want to taste you even more.

A devilish grin on his lips he holds your wrists with one hand to rip your flannel open with the other. Not caring about the buttons flying into all directions he growls at the sight of your naked breasts.

“Another reason to keep you. Look at your perfect tits.”

“Hey, I didn’t say you can keep me.”

“Shh…I made my decision. You are mine, period.”

Tongue flicking around your hardening nubs he chuckles when you start squirming. Ignoring the pout on your lips he alternatively sucks at your nipples.

“Fuck…”

“Later, let me check you out some more.”

“Nothing you haven’t see before!” You mutter.

“Ah, ah. It’s a quality check. I need to know you are all I want in a girlfriend. Now let see…ah…yeah.”

Rough hands cupping your breasts he kneads your twin mounds. Still pouting you try to hold back another moan, but Dean has other plans. Rolling your hard nipples with his thumbs he finally hears a tiny whimper.

“Yeah, I think I like your tits. Your skin is soft. Now let me check your pussy.” Dean says nonchalantly.

“Are you buying a car here or what?”

“Told ya I want to look under your hood.”

“You really are a sick pervert!”

“I’m only trying to find out if you are the perfect girlfriend. So far everything looks good. Now let me check the main part.”

“No!”

“Oh yeah, shhh…”

Before you can protest your panties are torn. A low rumble escapes his lips before he spreads your legs open. You want to slap his face, but you know what he’s up to…

“Look at that perfect wet cunt! Such a sight…hmm…looks good. I think you almost got the job.”

“Job?”

“As my girlfriend. Of course, I need to have a test drive first.”

“You really are sick,” you mutter.

“No, no! I’m only thoroughly, Y/N. I need to know for sure you are the perfect model.”

“I’m not a car, you dumbass.”

“Uh…I beg to differ.”

“What…oh god…” You can’t form a coherent sentence as Dean is busy lapping at your pussy. Long tongue licking a strip from your slit to your clit he hums against your pussy.

“Yeah, you taste great down here too, and you are wet as hell for me. I think you are at 92 percent now. Let me check again.”

Head disappearing between your legs again he toys with your clit. Sucking at the little nub he enjoys the noises you make. Tongue swirling around your swollen bud he sees your flushed face. Biting your lower lip, you fist his hair when he makes you come.

“Yeah. Perfect. I knew it! I think one last test and I’m sure.”

“Another test?” You whine.

“Uh, yeah. I need to know how good you can take me.”

Not waiting for respond he starts stripping his clothes off. A few strokes and he’s fully hard.

Almost pouncing on you he wraps your legs around his waist. One swift motion and he chuckles into your neck when you mutter.

“I think we need to work on your language. Such a dirty mouth.”

“Asshole!”

“Is that dirty talk? I mean I’m already hard so…fuck I think you are at 95 percent now!”

“You’re such a dick.”

“No, but I have a dick and it feels good inside of you…yeah, I will definitely keep ya.”

Is all Dean says, before his upper body launches forward to cage yours underneath him. Dean’s hands find yours, his fingers intervene with your own as he presses down with enough strength to hold you still.

Rocking into you he grins at you. Squeezing his fingers you still pout when he bottoms out.

Not holding back any longer he starts pumping hard into you. Dragging his cock over your walls he finds the secret spot inside of you. Squirming and moaning underneath the much stronger hunter you can only take his hard thrusts.

A cocky grin on his face he pounds into you like there’s no tomorrow. Already fluttering around his dick, you buck your hips against Dean.

Another hard thrust and your toes curl…one more and you are a goner.

Screaming his name as he loves it you let him pistoning his hard cock into you to find his own release.

Using you to get off he bites your neck softly when he fills you to the brim.

“Fuck, that’s 120 percent. I think I found my perfect girlfriend. Sign, sealed … delivered. You are mine.”

“I didn’t agree so far!”

“Hey, you came trice. You are definitely mine, Sweetheart.”

“Uh…are you mine too?”

“Do you want a test drive too?” He chuckles in your neck.

“I don’t know if I survive another test drive.”

“Don’t be shy. What do you want to test?”

“You could repair my car.”

Staring down at you he gives you a charming smile. Tongue wetting his lips he hums.

“I will repair your car and then we can test the backseat.”

“Pervert!”

“Maybe, but I’m your pervert.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“Sam knows,” you whisper.

“Yeah, he wanted to kick my ass by the way. How about a shower?”

“Shower or another test drive?” You ask.

“You are definitely the perfect girlfriend. I like how you think…”

Forever Tags

@donnaintx, @screechingartisancashbailiff, @fallen-wolf22 , @curly-haired-disaster-deactivat, @sister-winchesters99, @mogaruke, @the-is13, @helloitsmeamie203, @strayrosesbloom, @thewinchesterco, @hobby27, @kittycatlover18, @gh0stgurl, @marvelfansworld , @sandlee44, @hawaiianohana15, @unlikelysamwinchesteronahunt, @katpatrova17, @notyourtypicalrose , @heyitscam99, @onethingthatkeepsmealive, @natura1phenomenon, @flamencodiva, @echoesofpassion, @cocklesbelli, @anushay1998, @voltage-my2dlove, @wayward-gabriel, @fandom-princess-forevermore, @thenamelesschibi, @lauravic, @fandomsrourlives

Dean/Jensen Forever Tags       

@spnfamily-thewinchesters, @love-my-not-natural-babies, @supernatural-bellawinchester, @butifulsoul125, @lyinginthegingerlocks, @mirandaaustin93, @hawaiianohana15, @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester, @20gayneen, @x2closebut2farx, @janicho88, @thefaithfulwriter, @dreaminemz, @negans-lucille-tblr, @sadwaywardkid, @akshi8278, @hhiggs

#spn #spn fanfic #spn smut #dean x reader #dean winchester #dean winchester one shots #dean winchester fanfic #angst #smut #fun #sam winchester

[minecraftdiarieswho]

A Study in Love & Fame || Chapter One || Celebrity AU

Title: Aperture

Character/s: Lucinda, Vylad, Aaron, Melissa

Summary: Aperture - an opening, hole, or gap - a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera. The story Begins, Lucinda and Vylad have a common conversation.

A/N: And so it begins!

-

-

-

Vylad always thought Lucinda made the hallway before her office ridiculously long on purpose. It game people time to stew on what they’d done wrong as they did a walk of shame, or think about their proposal to her before they made it. It was both merciful and cunning, just like her. But Vylad wasn't performing the walk of shame, nor the nervous walk of small fish to the shark tank. No, he was waking to Lucinda's office so he could pick his friend up for after work drinks.

Lucinda and Vylad had been friends for a while now. Ever since Vylad had started working here, in fact. They had a relationship that just clicked, like a big scarf and the perfect jacket in cold weather. Lucinda called it the optimal example for gay/lesbian solidarity, and, while Vylad was inclined to agree, he thought his description was much better. Vylad was barely in the photography business when they met, although he still remembered that first meeting well.

-

Divine was the Fifth magazine company he went in for an interview with. The others before had all said the same thing;

“Your photos are good, but they're just not what just not what we're looking for.”

When he walked into Lucinda’s Office for the first time, it was an out of body experience, her desk was huge and made out of purple glass, and the window behind her overlooked the whole city. Her chair was black and plush, but perhaps the strangest thing was an antique bookcase in the corner, with two huge old ugly red armchairs in front of it. It didn't fit in with anything else in the room, and yet, felt so in place. As soon as Lucinda looked up, she spoke in a voice so dramatic it was obviously put on.

“Take a seat” She gestured to the armchairs.

Vylad sat down and Lucinda stood and joined him. She took his portfolio from him and looked through it, then eyed him over.

“These are nice,” She said, closing the binder. “Dynamic shots, good colour balance, you've got quite the eye. You know with your talent you could probably skip the runt stages and open up a gallery. Why do you want to work at Divine”?

Vylad took his folder back from her. “Well, If I’m honest Ms. Belvoir-”

Lucinda held her hand out to stop him. “Lucinda.”

“Lucinda?” he asked, confused.

“Yes. Lucinda. Ms. Belvoir is so… Gross? I don't know, Lucinda is just, Better. Okay?” she said, Nodding.

“Well okay, Lucinda,” Vylad Said, “If I’m Honest, I want to stay in the business. Photography interests me sure, but fame does as well, and I'm sure my mother would cry if I distanced myself from it completely, no matter how evident I've made it that I want no part in the family side of fame.”

Lucinda gave him a puzzled look. “Family side of fame? Hell does that mean?”

“The Ro’Meave Thing isn't a coincidence, My father really is the dickwad himself.” Said Vylad, almost wincing.

“Oh… OH! Wait… did you just call Garte Ro’Meave a Dickwad? My God,” She burst into giggles, losing her elegance that, up until now had been her most intimidating feature, completely.

Vylad couldn't help but catch her smile, it was infectious. And just like that, they were friends.

“You’re hired. It's obvious you've got the guts and the style. Welcome to Divine” Lucinda Reached out to shake his hand.

He took it.

-

He reached the end of the long hall and knocked on the office door.

“Come in~” Came Lucinda’s Cheerful voice.

Vylad opened the door and plopped down on one of the armchairs. “Hey Luci, how’s your day been?” he said, hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Lucinda smiled as she sat opposite him. “Oh you know, this and that, people to see places to go and all.” She beamed at him. “How about you, my bestest photographer?”

Vylad gave her a glare. “Well, I don't know Ms. Belvoir, but it was somebody's idea to send me all the way out to my father's company to take photos of the famed Ro’Meave brothers, and that meant I’d have to spend four hours in a car, and then an extra three waiting them out. So I’d say it went Great.”

“Well,” Said Lucinda, annoyingly happy grin still on her face, “Didya get the shots?”

Vylad rolled his eyes. “Yes. and a pigeon pooped on me.”

“Splendid! You really are my best.” She stood up. “So, we still on? Or did you walk all the way to my office to be sour?”

Vylad stood as well. “Mhm, Don’t you forget it. And yes. trust me, Luci, nobody would bother walking all the way up her just to sass you. It Just isn't worth the effort.”

“Good, that means it achieves its purpose. Let's go!”

Soon enough they arrived at the bar. It was the same dingy old thing they often visited after work, it wasn't falling apart by any means, but Vylad knew that Lucinda had access to every ritzy nightclub there was, so why she chose to frequent ‘The Moon's Curse’ was beyond him, but the bar felt homely. Old posters hang from the walls, yellow light streaming from odd places in the roof. The bar itself was cramped, and filled with more liquor than you could imagine, an obvious show of a years-old collection.

Lucinda strolled up to the bar with Vylad like she owned the place. An honestly, it was deserved, given how often they came here.

The Man behind the bar smiled as he saw them come in. “Well well, if it isn't my favourite customers. What’ll it be today guys?”

“Just the usual Aaron. A Caldron and a Blood Oath.” Said Lucinda, before pausing for a moment, “And tell Melissa back there that I said hi.” She added, Winking towards the kitchens out back.

Aaron rolled his eyes. “You guys aren't even dating anymore! Why can't I be spared from your relentless flirting.”

“Just because we broke it off doesn't mean we hate each other. Besides, we share a common goal in driving you mad.” Lucinda Shrugged.

Aaron chuckled, Shook his head and then got back to making their drinks. It was almost routine at this point, how they would come in, tease him, drink, talk, play darts and then leave. But that isn't to say Vylad found it boring. Quite the opposite actually, it was nice to have a regular thing with his friends.

Yeah. Vylad liked his friends, few as they were. He was always terrible at making friends, his father taught him that he should be better than everybody else, and while that rhetoric was easy enough to shake, the pressure to get perfect grades and do well in his extracurriculars put him in isolation. Vylad was learning piano as soon as he had a basic motor function, and many other instruments followed. So the only real friends he had were his band friends, and nobody else. Come high school, he’d immersed himself in the arts completely, with the exception of acting. Photography, Visual Arts, Music, and Band were where he thrived. And coincidentally, they were all subjects where you hardly talked to people. So maybe that had something to do with it, that, and the constant and stubborn refusal to make powerful connections because of his father.

Huh. Maybe Garte was the reason he never made friends. He was always being told to make powerful allies by his stepfather, and Vylad was the stubborn little kid who refused. He always refused. When his father offered to put him in a movie, Vylads answer was a firm no. He didn't want to take handouts from him, especially when they were made so he could keep up his image of loving Vylad despite his “Circumstance”. Honestly, if not being in a stupid movie was what it took for Garte to be outed as an egotistical lunatic who cared for nothing but his finance, then Vylad was more than happy to leave his families fame behind.

“Ey Vylad!” Came the familiar voice of Melissa.

“What is it, Mel?” He answered, snapping out of it.

“I heard the love of your life is in a new movie~. Luci Sending you to the Red Carpet?” She asked teasingly.

“Love of my life? I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

Aaron chimed in. “Bullshit you don’t, just yesterday you were fawning over Laurance Zvahl and how excited you were for this movie”

Lucinda snorted at Aarons comment. “He’s Right, And yeah. You’re going, I mean you get the best photos of him, better than anyone else at divine in fact. But I need you back that day as well, we've got Katelyn to shoot at Four and I want you there because we need your lighting skills”

“Really?! Thanks, Lucinda!” He Clasped her hands in his excitedly. “Oh yeah, and I'll be back by Four, don't worry about it.”

“Mhm, And he maintains the idea that he isn't absolutely smitten” Said Aaron.

Melissa giggled, and then her face fell a bit. “Hey, how is Katelyn anyway?”

Lucinda sighed and traced the rim of her glass. “She's doing fine. Heads above water and all that, there's no way she's plummeting into obscurity or anything… but paparazzi won't leave her be, and with Garte controlling all the stories except ours…”

“She's either a devil or she’s non-existent.” Vylad finished.

Aaron Winced “Rough”

Lucinda nodded. “Yeah.”

“But you guys are doing you’re best to keep her, that so sweet,” Melissa said, smiling at Vylad and Lucinda.

Lucinda shook her head and smiled. “Sweet has nothing to do with it, garte may have paid off everybody to fuck her over, but the public still likes her, especially those who hate Zane. We’re turning a profit from having her give us exclusives, and helping her out as a friend is just a huge bonus.”

“Ever the entrepreneur Luci” Vylad Laughed and Finished his drink. “But she's right, it really is Garte’s Loss.”

“Well alright, but give her my love ok?” Melissa walked over to the bar and took their glasses.

Lucinda Put a few notes on the table “Will do, thanks for the night, you guys.”

As they left the bar, Vylad thought about the jests at his expense.

Laurance.

As much as Vylad might deny it, he really was enamoured with him. Should it surprise anybody? After all, he was a celebrity. It was normal to like celebrities. Normal to crush on celebrities. Normal to want to date them and- oh god what was he thinking?! He was obsessed! Maybe that's why all of his friends tease him about it, and why Lucinda kept giving him assignments where Laurance was present. He did take the best photos of him, that was no secret. Something about him was just so… Inspiring. But it didn’t matter how huge his crush on the famous Mr. Zvahl was. Vylad was a realist at heart, and he knew that there was no possible future in which he actually met, let alone loved, Laurance Zvahl.

Yeah.

Impossible.

#iTS DONE JESUS #that took a while #am i happy with it???? idk. #next chapter i promise ill explain katelyn. maybe. #Minecraft Diaries #Aphmau #Mystreet #Vylance #Vylad Ro'meave #Garte Ro'meave #Lucinda #Aaron Lycan #Melissa Lycan #Celebrity AU #My Writing #mist writes

[genogenocrazycatman]

Stillwater - Chapter 8

Stillwater [Archive of Our Own, FanFiction.Net, Mibba]

Characters: Original Female Character, Monkey D. Luffy, Rorona Zoro, Vinsmoke Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Tony Tony Chopper, Nefeltari Vivi

***

"We build as only children know to build

We made a way where there's a will

No slowing down or standing still

Innocent and reckless

"How did we get so old and never notice

How did we gain the world and lose the moment

Rise and fall, the tide surrounds us

And drowns us all"

-Hands Like Houses

***

“Unbelievable,” I muttered, now alone in the jungle.

Not surprisingly, we had come across a dinosaur, another t-rex from the looks of it. I had delivered on my promise. I had engaged it and beaten it. I hadn’t killed it. It wasn’t like it had done anything to me. It was just looking for something to eat. Regardless, it wasn’t a threat anymore.

That didn’t really matter though, because the cowardly duo had bolted the second they saw it. I had been keeping track of them by their screams, but those faded as the distance between them and myself grew. I had no clue where either of them were by this point.

“Nami! Usopp!” I called, receiving nothing in reply. ‘Idiots.’

Our goal was to track down Luffy and the others. Nami and Usopp were capable, scared, but capable, and I was sure that they would be able to track down our captain. That meant if I found Luffy, I’d probably find them as well. I had a general idea of, where he was.

I returned to my earlier thoughts. If I focused, I could probably pinpoint his location. I still wasn’t sure if that was the route I wanted to go. His presence shouldn’t have even been a blimp on my radar to begin with.  Zoro and that damn cursed blade of his shouldn’t have either. Was my control slipping? If so, then my ability to focus was probably shot. The other option was that Zoro and Luffy were a lot more special than I thought. If that was the case and they were really that strong, then it was likely that trying to focus on them was going to knock me on my ass.

I let out an irritated groan. It was frustrating.

I took a second to lean against a tree and think. Finding Luffy would be easier, if I wasn’t doing it by myself. With that, I made my decision. I closed my eyes, and concentrated on the aura that Sandai Kitetsu gave off. Feeling what little of it had slipped through what I thought were my impenetrable mental defenses was nothing compared to now. It was thirst like I had never felt before. Immediately, my mouth and throat went bone dry. It was distracting, consuming my thoughts. It was enough to drive a weaker soul mad. I blinked my eyes trying to focus, trying to stem the feeling once more. Not entirely. I still needed to find it. I clamped down on that channel, just enough that it was manageable and followed the feeling, trudging through the jungle.

I was not meant for the damn jungle, at least not one so dense, and I had to be especially careful, because of my leg. The last thing we needed was for me to strand myself. It took me a lot longer than I would have liked to get to Zoro, but I managed.

He wasn’t alone. Nami and Vivi were there too. All three of them were standing on what looked like a massive birthday cake. It had multiple tiers. The top was a spinning bowl-like structure with candles all around the edge.

Broggy was laid out on the ground, nearby. A weird white substance was coming from the cake thing, floating through the air in the clearing and accumulating on Nami, Zoro, Vivi and Broggy.

I reached from behind the tree that I was leaning against and touched it, rubbing it between my fingers.

“Wax?” Then it clicked. “Damn it,” I swore.

Luffy was there as well, firing off attacks, but not hitting anything other than a red mark on the ground.

“What were you aiming at?” Zoro yelled pissed off.

“I just can’t let you break it,” the little girl said. “Mr. 3-“

“Baroque Works,” I grumbled.

Of course they had followed us. It wasn’t surprising. Ms. All-Sunday, Nico Robin , whatever the hell she was going by knew we were coming this way. It was the only way we could go with the log.

“-Wouldn’t be happy about that at all.”

“What’d you do?” Luffy asked.

“During a bullfight, a bull can’t control his urge to attack the red cape. Likewise, you can’t attack anything other than the circle. That’s what I did.”

‘So she uses colors to control people.’

“AHHHHHHHHH! OKAY THAT DOES IT! I’M MAD NOW! GUM GUM BAZOOKA!” Luffy stretched his arms back and shot them forward, but instead of hitting the cake thing, he hit the circle again and with very little force.

This was not how I wanted this day to go. I could take her. She was just a little girl. I had the physical advantage. I was pretty sure that I was immune to her paint power too. I thought I had gotten away from the crew’s questioning, but this was going to start it all over again.

I stepped into the clearing.

“You’ve got some real talent there with that paint brush,” I commended the girl.  “Captain here’s screwed with you around. I guess that means I have to get rid of you.”

“Mira!” Nami yelled in relief.

I broke the trap. “I’ll take the girl? You get them free?” I asked.

Luffy snickered and shot me a grin. “You got it, Mimi.”

I nodded at him, and turned my attention back to the girl. “I never much understood art,” I admitted. “I’ve always performed audio to visuals.” I stalked towards the girl.

Luffy geared up for an attack.

“We’ll mix the laughter yellow on your back with a little sadness blue to make the last colors trap, tranquil green,” she said, swinging her brush and sending the color flying towards Luffy.

I stepped in front of the blue paint.

“Mira, don’t,” Zoro barked at me.

The seal it me, which was better than Luffy. I looked down at the color on my shirt and started laughing.

“Oh no!” Vivi cried.

“Damn it! Now Mira’s down.”

“See I told you, you should’ve posed, but you wouldn’t listen,” Zoro chirped at the girls. “Now, it’s too late you’re gonna die like that.”

“No need to worry about poses yet,” I said, looking up.

“Your eyes!” Nami cried out.

I ignored it. We could discus my eyes and everything else later. I protected mine, and if that meant that I had to reveal some of my secrets or punch a kid in the face, I was more than willing to do so. I charged the girl, cocking my fist back and thrusting it towards her face.

She let out a wail, falling out of the way. She quickly scrambled up ducked under my next swing, taking a brush and running it across Luffy’s back. The color on it blended with the one on her brush as she hurriedly made a seal.

Luffy hit the ground.

“Tranquil green,” she sputtered.

“Sneaky brat.”

“This is nice grass,” Luffy said, settling into it on his stomach.

I looked over at Vivi and the others. They were completely covered. Clearly, they had to be my priority. I went after it, but was knocked on my ass by Usopp and Vivi’s duck, who came flying out of the jungle with two people that I had never seen before on their asses. I assumed they were more Baroque Works agents.

“Shit.”

I had to get them out. I couldn’t hit it without worrying about hitting them. Zoro would probably survive the hit, but not the others. I didn’t have and fresh water on me, and now I was too far away from the river to use water. Even if I did, I wasn’t precise enough to cut the wax and not them. If anything, I’d tear through their flesh with the water pressure, or wouldn’t use enough and only harden the wax.

“Special attack exploding star!”

The two agents were still on Usopp’s tail. The one fired off a gun. The shot hit Usopp and exploded on contact. Usopp’s shot nailed Luffy.

“What an idiot. He attacked his own friend.”

“Usopp!” I called.

“Did- Did Luffy snap out of it?” he asked.

Luffy, free of the trap stood up. “Yeah. I’m good now.”

“You guys are the idiots,” I fired back at the Baroque Works morons.

Luffy rose up too. “I’m tired of your stupid paints. You’re through. I’m not going to let you hurt anymore of my friends. Now I’m really mad!” he growled out.

The guy that had fired at Usopp started laughing. “Oh. You’re mad are you? Look at your friends. Being mad won’t do them any good.”

“Oh yes it will! They’re still alive!”

I nodded in agreement. I could feel Zoro. How long they were going to remain that way was still up in the air. We had to move quickly.

“Are they now? Look again. All they need is some of Ms. Goldenweek’s paint and they’ll be perfect wax statues. Face it. You’re too late to save them.  They’re gone and you know it.”

Something started knocking down trees. It was big, its steps shaking the ground, the sound of them rumbling throughout the island.

“Mr. Five is right about that. You’re friends are finished, because you were too late to help them and now it’s your turn to die,” a high pitched male voice said.

Finally, the trees on the edge of the clearing fell, revealing a guy in a massive suit made of wax.  “I’m guess he’s the wax one,” I said, eyes on the flame on his head.

“Uh huh.”

“It’s time for candle champion,” Mr. Three declared.

“What the heck is that?” Luffy voiced my thoughts.

Five answered us. “That thing. That’s what he used one time to take someone down with a forty-two million berry bounty.”

“That’s Mr. 3’s greatest work of art,” his partner added.

“Time to use your talents, Ms. Goldenweek. I need a very special paint job for my armor. And don’t forget to be artistic.”

“After that can I take a break?” the brat asked.

“Why yes. You can go get some tea. I prefer that you’d stay out of this. When I’m in this armor I’m nearly impervious to harm. This suit is nearly as hard as iron. It may be made of wax, but it fits like a glove, and it’s impossible for anyone to pierce, and you don’t stand a chance against it. This artwork is flawless!”

“Wow that’s so cool!”

I rolled my eyes. “Now is not the time to be impressed.”

Usopp echoed my sentiments. “Fight!”

Luffy went after the candle guy, while I headed towards the three wax figures. I needed to stop that thing. They needed air.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” the chick with the umbrella asked. “Five-hundred kilogram drop. She swung her leg around and hit me in the face, her heavy calf pinning me to the ground, crushing my throat.

I struggled to breathe. If it wasn’t for the ground giving beneath me, no doubt my skull wouldn’ve been crushed. That startled me. I was nearly killed by a human. It had been a long time since man had presented an actual threat to me. Then again, I hadn’t expected anything like this in Paradise. Admittedly, I hadn’t taken any of these threats too seriously, a mistake on my part. While they may have paled in comparison to the threat that was always lingering over my head, they were still worth acknowledging.

Heavy or not, the limb was still made of flesh. I opened my mouth and sank my teeth into her leg.

She cried out in pain, leg lifting, giving me a chance to break free.

“Fire! We need to use fire! It’s just wax it’ll melt,” Usopp explained.

His observation was confirmed by the brat.

Before I would land a hit on her, she floated away, lightening herself so that she could be lifted by her umbrella.

Five fired at Usopp, who looked to use an exploding star to melt the wax off of the others.  “When we say that you don’t stand a chance, it’s best to believe us.”

“Exactly. Thousand kilogram drop!” I barely rolled out of the way. The impact of her landing, created a huge crater. She floated up out of it over to Usopp and Carue.

The duck took off, something in its mouth. He was fired upon by Five.

Blondie sat on Usopp. She was increasing her weight, crushing Usopp.

“I’ve had enough of you,” I grumbled, swinging my leg around and cracking her in the back of her head, causing her to fall forwards off of Usopp.

My leg, having held up surprisingly well throughout everything finally gave out on me, causing me to fall. My good leg was still draped over her back.

“You okay?” I asked, Usopp.

“Yeah,” he said.

Luffy came running towards the wax thing, dragging Three by his hair.

“That tiny little flame isn’t gonna work quickly enough,” Usopp said to Luffy. “The rope that Carue has, light that on fire.”

“A rope, how is that supposed to help us?”

“Just trust me on this. I covered the whole thing in oil.”

“Alright everyone, it’s time to wake up.”

“Usopp, you’re a genius, but this is gonna suck.”

Usopp grunted in agreement.

Luffy lit the rope and the entire thing burst into flames.

Three panicked and ran, cursing Luffy, taking the little brat with him.

“Damn it! How dare you mock Baroque Works agents!” Five yelled.

Blondie had snuck away when everything went up in flames. She came crashing down on my chest, knocking the wind out of me, while kicking Usopp.

“That’s it! Playtime’s really over now! I’m gonna crush your stupid little necks!” She flew up into the air. “Ten thousand kilogram guillotine!” She went into a split, one leg positioned over Usopp’s neck, the other over mine.

I couldn’t get out of there, still gasping for breath, trying to re-inflate my lungs. Even if I could’ve crawled out of the way, I wasn’t going to be able to get Usopp out of there. I wasn’t just gonna leave him to die.

Vivi and Nami jumped out of the flames, each of them wielding their respective weapons. The pair knocked Blondie off of her flight path, away from Usopp and myself, and knocked her out.

“That was really hot,” Nami said, “Couldn’t you have thought of another plan?”

“You’re being a little picky here, don’t you think? Aren’t you at least a little bit grateful?” Usopp  asked, standing up.

“You have a point there. Thanks.”

“It’s amazing. I can’t believe, we’re actually alive,” Vivi said.

“Hmmm,” I hummed.

“Got out of the wax, did ya? Well, I’ve had enough. We simply cannot afford for you to screw up our mission anymore.”

“Hey, Mr. Five! Special attack, exploding star!”

Usopp fired another shot off at Five, who simply swallowed it.

“You fool. Haven’t you figured out that you’re pathetic explosives don’t affect me at all. They’re nothing to an exploding man.”

I finally sat up, having regained my breath.

Five started to sweat, face turning red. I chucked at his misfortune.

“I’m sorry. I told a little lie. That wasn’t an exploding star. That was my special tabasco star.”

Usopp laughed as Five suffered. “I had to learn how effective that was the hard way.”

“Damn you, stupid pirate! I refuse to let you make a mockery of me!”

Usopp squeaked in fear, realizing that provoking him wasn’t the brightest idea. He tried to run, but Five caught up and grabbed a hold of him quickly.

Vivi and Nami took a defensive stance, ready to protect Usopp.

I attempted to stand and failed. “I can’t walk right now, so can you just hurry up and take care of this, so we can head back to the ship?” I asked.

The flames, swirled, as the air feeding them was manipulated by the swift movements of three blades.

“Flaming, oni giri!”

Zoro emerged from the flames, commanding the fire enveloping his body as if it was his own, looking truly like a demon, rising from the depths of hell. His movements sliced Five of course, but setting him on fire as well.

“You know these flaming swords aren’t too bad,” he said.

“How in the hell do you carry that thing?” I asked, glaring at Sandai Kitetsu. Remembering how it felt, the flames that licked at my skin were nothing compared to that sword.

“Curse starting to scare you?” he teased.

“That curse should kill you,” I told him. “I used it to find you. I thought it was going to kill me.”

Broggy, free of the wax got up.

“Hey there. Glad to see you made it out alive,” Zoro said.

“Yeah.”

Broggy looked over at his fallen comrade sadly.

“Master?”

Usopp seemed to snap Broggy out of this thoughts. “Now, it seems that there are only two foes left.”

“Luffy can handle them,” I said.

The others all made noises of agreement.

“Zoro, we need to stitch you up,” I said, noting the gashes in his legs. I didn’t get how he was even standing.

“I think you’re stitches need redone as well,” Vivi said.

“Probably,” I looked down at the red spot on my thigh. “We need to find an island with a store. I need clothes.”

“I can lend you some until we get to a store,” Nami offered.

“Don’t do it,” Zoro said. “She’ll charge you out the ass.”

Vivi walked over to me and helped me up, supporting me, so that I could stand up.

Luffy returned, confirming that Baroque Works was gone for now, and that at the moment, we were safe.

With the threat gone, Broggy could finally take in the result of his duel. It didn’t matter that they had spent a century fighting. They were friends, brothers in arms at one point. They had sailed the seas together. Broggy had won, but he had also lost. He was alone now, at least until he returned to Elbaf.

The giant sat down, the weight of his victory crashing down on him, and began to cry. His wails were loud, painfully so. Tears poured down around us like rain. It was heartbreaking to watch.

That heaviness vanished, when Dorry sat up, shocking all of us.

“Dorry! You’re alive!” Broggy exclaimed.

“I must’ve lost consciousness,” he said. He was still heavily wounded, and his breathing was labored.

“How are you still alive?”

“The weapons, the saved me,” Dorry answered.

I nodded in understanding. It made sense. Even with the proper tools to take care of them. It was impossible for the average weapon could survive a hundred years of dueling. The weapons were dull, better suited for bludgeoning than blades at this point.

“It’s a miracle really,” Usopp said.

Broggy pulled Dorry into a tight embrace.

“Broggy, will you let go? I’m a little sore here.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so glad you’re still alive, Dorry. It’s amazing.”

“Oh come on. This isn’t a miracle. The fact that those weapons are even in tact after a century of fighting is the miraculous part. They should be scrap by now. I’m surprised they lasted this long.”

“What a day this was! Thank you, god of Elbaf for this wonderful day!”

“Oh is that true Broggy? You think that fighting me while I was injured, cutting me down and knocking me out was all wonderful?”

“Don’t be an idiot, Dorry. That’s not what I’m saying and you know it.” He hit Dorry in the shoulder.

“Would you keep your hands off my wounds?” Dorry asked, chuckling and hitting Broggy in the chest.

The pair threw light blows back and forth, steadily increasing in power.

“You try doing that again and see how far you get!”

“Yeah I can take you down in a heartbeat!”

The two giants were in each other’s faces ready to go once more.

“You two are ready to fight already?!” Nami called out.

I shook my head at their antics. “YO!” I called up at them. “How about we all take care of ourselves and then you can brawl? Usopp’s got burns. Luffy’s got burns. I got burns. I need stitches. I don’t know what Zoro did, but he needs them too. Sanji’s still missing.”

“She’s right,” Vivi agreed.

We headed back to camp, after sending Usopp and Luffy to grab supplies. Once they did, I went to work patching everyone up. Broggy took care of Dorry. I stitched up Zoro’s legs, berating him the entire time for his stupid idea.

I then fixed up my leg, happy to see that it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Nami and Vivi helped everyone apply salve to their burns. Usopp ad Luffy continued to questioned Broggy and Dorry about everything their lives as pirates, their bounties, while munching on snacks that they had found. They ended up wrestling on the ground, while Zoro and Nami pondered what to do about the pose.

“All of you helped to save us from those other guys. If we can, we’d really like to return the favor,” Broggy said.

“Well maybe you guys can do something about our log pose, so that we won’t be stuck here.”

“Negative,” I said from my spot in the grass.

“I’m afraid the log pose is the one thing we can’t help you with.”

“Waaaa ha ha! Nami my sweet! Vivi my love! Mira my dear! And all the rest of you.”

I looked up at Sanji, happy to see that he was okay.

“Hey Sanji,” Luffy greeted.

“You’re all alive. I’m so happy.”

I snorted, watching as he bumbled towards Vivi and Nami. He quickly sobered up from his love drunk buzz, when he saw Dorry and Broggy.

“What the hell is going on? And is one of you Mr. Three?”

“Luffy kicked Three’s ass,” I explained. “They’re Dorry and Broggy.”

“How do you know about Mr. Three anyway?” Nami asked.

Sanji’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, when they landed on Nami, who was still in her bra. “Whoa! Nami, you look absolutely amazing in that outfit.”

Nami balled up a fist. “Say that again,” she threatened.

“Now Nami, if you stand around dressed like that all day, you’ll catch cold. Here. Take my coat.” Sanji handed her his jacket.

“Oh. Thank you.”

“And they say chivalry is dead,” I chirped.

Sanji sat down on one of the logs we were using as a bench. “So I just finished talking to that Mr. Zero guy over a transponder snail.”

“Mr. Zero?!”

“Yeah. That guy. I was talking to him in this weird hide out place I found in the jungle. He thought I was some guy called Mr. Three and I thought it would be a good idea to let him believe it, and since I had him on the line I went ahead and told him that we were all dead.”

“So he thinks he doesn’t have to send people after us anymore,” Vivi realized.

I smirked. “Clever boy.”

“So you mean we’re finally free of people chasing us now that we can’t go anywhere anyway? Oh that is just perfect.”

“Better than being sitting ducks with an endless number of agents coming after us,” I offered.

“We can’t go? Why? Or is there still something that we need to take care of here? That’s a real shame after I managed to get a hold of this thing.”

He pulled an eternal pose out of his pocket.

“Cheeky boy.” My grin widened.

Everyone else’s jaws fell slack in shock.

“An eternal pose to Alabasta! Alright!” Luffy cheered, the others joining in.

“Thank you Sanji! I was getting really worried!” Vivi pulled Sanji into a hug.

“Now now it was all my pleasure. I’m just glad I could make you happy.”

I chuckled at his dopey grin, letting him have his moment. He earned it.

“Here.” Zoro extended a hand to help me up.

“You nearly cut your feet off, take it easy,” I said, getting up on my own.

“Whatever. Suit yourself.”

He and Sanji started in on each other about their hunting contest once more.

“Boys.”

“Giant old guys, it’s been a lot of fun, but we have to go,” Luffy said to Dorry and Broggy.

“Of course. Right. We can tell you need to get going.”

“It’s too bad that you have to leave so soon. I hope you get to your homeland in time,” Dorry said to Vivi.

“Me too. Thank you.”

“It was nice meeting you,” I said, waving as I walked off with Luffy and Nami.

“Is your leg alright?” Nami asked.

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

“Mira, my dear,” Sanji sang, picking me up.  “I’ll make sure you get back to the Merry without aggravating your injury.”

“Sanji, I can- You know what. Never mind. Sanji, walk me through a soufflé what’s the process?”

We made it back to the Merry with no incidents. Every one cleaned themselves up, showering, changing the works. When I came back out on deck, Sanji and Zoro were arguing over who had caught the bigger beast, Nami yelling at them for their arguing.

The anchor was lifted, the sail unfurled. I grinned as everyone bickered and squabbled as we made it down the river out to sea. We reached the mouth of the river. Dorry and Broggy stood on either side of it, the pair looking out at the ocean.

“Hey, look at that. It’s the giants. They must’ve come to say goodbye.”

“A great danger still lies ahead of you,” Broggy warned us.

“It is an obstacle that has always been here, trying to prevent people from reaching the next island. Every one of you fought like true warriors, trying to protect the pride of our duel,” Dorry added.

“And because you were willing to do that, no matter what enemy you may face-“

“We will never let them destroy your pride friends.”

“You must have faith in what we say. Go straight. No matter what happens keep going straight. Understand?”

“Yeah. Got it,” Luffy answered.

“What was that about?”  Zoro asked.

“Yeah, I don’t understand.”

“No matter what happens keep going straight,” Luffy reiterated.

“Is that an order, Captain?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“You heard him,” I said to the others.

We sailed out to sea.

“This is goodbye.”

“Until we meet again one day.”

“Absolutely.”

“Look over there!” Nami pointed out, where something massive was surfacing.

“Hello, Island Eater,” Dorry greeted the creature.

“You will open the path! In the name of Elbaf you will open it!”

“Island Eater?” I questioned.

I looked behind us. The two giants raised their weapons.

The creature finally broke through the water, and to say that we were all shocked was an understatement.

“That is a gold fish,” I said, not believing what I was saying, despite the proof in front of my very eyes.

“Usopp, what are you doing? Go inside and work the rudder or else we’re going to be eaten.”

“Yeah, but we have to go straight ahead. Isn’t that right, Luffy?”

Luffy hummed in affirmation.

“Don’t be a moron, Luffy. This isn’t going to be anything like what happened with Laboon,” Nami yelled.

“Yeah, I know. Now calm down. Here.  I’ll even let you have the last rice cracker.”

“I don’t want the last rice cracker! If we don’t turn around right now, that thing is going to eat us!”

“Nami, just give it up,” Zoro said.

Nami gave up, eating the rice cracker and crying.

“Luffy, you really sure we can trust those little pals of yours?” Sanji questioned.

“Little,” I scoffed.

“Yep.”

“Are we really going straight into that beast’s belly?”

“Uh huh. It’s too late to turned now,” Nami cried.

We headed forward, the light disappearing as we entered the gold fish’s cavernous mouth. I leaned against the railing, trying to figure out what Broggy and Dorry’s move was going to be. I ignored the others.

The darkness was disrupted by a blue and red light. It ripped through the gold fish, allowing us to sail out the other side.

Nami and Vivi both collapsed on the deck, relief taking over.

“I thought we were going to die,” Vivi said.

“Me too,” Nami whined.

“Better get used to it,” I chimed, heading inside.

***

Notes:

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Master List | Mobile Version

#teroin writes #stillwater #one piece #fanfiction

[pixie-mage]

Yuri!!! On Ice - Atlantis!AU

Okay but hear me out!

After discovering @lumorie‘s Hercules AU (Trust me, check it out, it’s so wonderful!), I started running other Disney films through my head and the moment I came to Atlantis I got hooked. I have most of the cast of characters set out…

Milo Thatch - Yuuri Katsuki Princess Kida - Victor Nikiforov King Kashekim - Yakov Feltsman Audrey Ramirez - Yuri Plisetsky Vincent Santorini - Otabek Altin Doctor Sweets - Christophe Giacometti Mole - Kenjirou Minami (Trust me, I have an idea here) Wilhelmina Packard - Mari Katsuki Cookie - Phichit Chulanont (Again, I have an idea! Trust me!) Preston B. Whitmore - Celestino Cialdini Helga Sinclair - Mila Babicheva Commander Rourke - JJ Leroy (This one’s a stretch…still uncertain, but it’ll have to do)

Yuuri: “So…uh…Mr. Niki…Na…Nakila…Nivika…” Victor: “Nikiforov.” Yuuri: “N-Nikilogram.” Victor: chuckles softly Victor: “Victor. You can call me Victor.” Yuuri: “Victor. Yeah. Okay, that’s…heh…easier.”

Reasonings and character descriptions under the cut!

Milo - Yuuri A slightly awkward, glasses-wearing, friendly boy with a big heart. He just wants to make his family proud, wants to make his (Grandfather? Father? Whoever the prior explorer would be…) proud too. He wants to finish what his (Grand)Dad started and find Atlantis, prove its existence, and learn as much as he can along the way. He’s easily flustered under pressure, so he has a little trouble with leading the team when he first starts out.

Princess Kida - Victor (Obviously) Victor has the look and fit for the character. The long, light-toned hair, bright blue eyes. Curious and friendly with just a touch of attitude to round it out. He wants to know more about the outside world and is willing to defy his father (to a point) to do so. I love the image of him taking Yuuri’s glasses, trying them on as he asks question after question about what the surface is like, his eyes and smile lighting up with an innocent curiosity that Yuuri has never seen before. I love the idea of him being just as interested in Yuuri and his life as Yuuri is in Atlantis.

The King, Kida’s Father - Yakov Old Man Father Figure who’s not too friendly to the newcomers - yeah. Yakov. Obviously. And yelling at Victor to obey his commands? Totally fits the bill!

Audrey - Yurio The team mechanic. He’s young but good at what he does, and nobody can tell him otherwise or he’ll knock their teeth in. (Not that anyone would; he really IS great at his job.) He’s got an attitude problem, and at first he seriously can’t stand Yuuri. He’s tough on the outside…but once you actually get past his brash exterior he can be a pretty decent guy. He gets along pretty well with the team’s explosives expert…

Vincent ‘Vinny’ - Otabek Dude. Bro. Okay. Just look at Vinny. Then look at Otabek. They have a similar look and I freaking love it. Anyway, Otabek is the explosives expert, and with his quiet, stoic demeanor somehow that makes him seem a little dangerous. He’s constantly fiddling with bombs and explosives. He’s friendly enough, but he doesn’t opt to talk too often. Not unless he’s sitting with Yuri.

Sweets - Christophe Okay just. Sweets is the friendliest character of the lot, and somehow - you know that scene where Milo is first getting acquainted with Mole and Sweets shows up and starts getting friendly right off the bat? Swap that out with Yuuri and Christophe, and Chris immediately starts getting a bit handsy, commenting on what good shape Yuuri is in, etc…somehow this made me laugh so I HAD to cast Chris in this role!

Mole - Minami Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking. Minami is in NO way as weird or creepy as Mole. But hear me out. In that same scene I mentioned above where Milo first meets Mole? Yuuri goes and tries to get comfortable on the bunk, and instead of Minami freaking out and getting mad (”YOU HAVE DISTRUBED THE DIRT!”) he starts freaking out and getting excited. He knew Yuuri’s relative who was the original Atlantis expert, and apparently getting to meet Yuuri is a big honor and he’s WAY too excited to be working with him. And - somehow - he’s followed Yuuri’s studies and papers on different mythological and historical mysteries and is just - enamoured. That’s the only way I can really put it! Yes, still their excavations expert, but he’s different than Mole…in so, so many ways.

Packard - Mari This was just too perfect. Packard. Lady who tends to speak in a slightly bored tone, always vaguely annoyed, always smoking, hair pulled back just for the sake of keeping it out of the way but not too worried about her looks. A little sass. Sarcastic comments. “…we’re all gonna die.” Mari seemed like the perfect candidate for this. While Milo knew nobody from the movie’s crew, in this instance perhaps Mari worked with their relative who was in charge of the crew before…and Yuuri didn’t ever quite make the connection that his sister would be part of the excursion until he saw her on the ship. Interesting reunion, huh?

Cookie - Phichit Yeah, yeah, another odd character pairing. But I had nobody to fill the role of Cookie and I DESPERATELY wanted Phichit to be a part of this! While, canonically, Cookie’s cooking is awful because he legitimately makes the worst thing imaginable, people tend to veer away from Phichit’s meal choices for…slightly different reasons. He has a habit of experimenting and mixing weird concoctions that, to him, in theory, sound AMAZING but most people are too weirded out to even think of tasting. He also has a habit of making the regular meals too spicy for many to handle besides himself…so maybe his cooking is just as much of a risk as Cookie’s. xD At least what he makes still looks like food!

Mr. Whitmore - Ciao Ciao As the person who was a guiding hand in Yuuri’s life in YOI, he felt like a good fit to step in as the man who made Milo’s dreams come true and who had just as much heart in the Atlantis mission as Milo did. Ciao Ciao has the right level of charisma and heart and positivity to step into the role of millionaire explorer…and him being the one to help Yuuri rekindle the fire of adventure and discovery that once in his heart? It makes me really happy to think about.

Helga - Mila Her personality, while a little more cheerful than Helga’s, was the best choice in the cast to put here. (Briefly, my bestie and I considered Chris for this part - thinking of that scene where Milo is like “How did you get into my apartment?” and Helga responds with a rather sexy “I came down the chimney. Ho, ho, ho~”) She has the strength and attitude for Helga, and while I don’t think she could play “bad guy” that well, Helga is on the fence enough that I think it works.

Rourke - JJ I know, I know, shame on me for making him the bad guy. xD But honestly, who else would be selfish enough to play Rourke?? In this story though, JJ is pushed by a different drive than Rourke. Rourke wants to be rich. JJ just wants to be famous. He thinks stealing the Heart Of Atlantis and personally revealing it to the world can do that. He wants to surpass the fame that he gained by being the son of two world-renowned explorers, wants to be seen as the best, and he’ll stop at almost nothing to get that. Except I get the feeling I want him to have a change of heart later on. He almost dies, and perhaps he honestly didn’t believe that taking the Heart would affect the Atlanteans too badly. Maybe he’s so near-sighted that all he can see is his own success…who knows. I’m still working on his story, but this seems to fit well enough…

#Yuri on Ice #YOI #Victor Nikiforov #Yuuri Katsuki #Victuuri #Atlantis!AU #Atlantis AU #Prince Victor #I JUST LOVE THIS OKAY #Disney AU #Disney On Ice #Lmao xD #Yuri On Ice AU #YOI AU #Atlantis

[withoutbringingmedreams]

Eyewitness Fic Pt. 14

Pt. 1 | Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4 | Pt. 5 | Pt. 6 | Pt. 7| Pt. 8 | Pt. 9 | Pt. 10 | Pt. 11 | Pt. 12 | Pt. 13 or AO3 

*mature content warning

Lukas runs his fingers down Phillip’s spine, ending in the dip right before his perfect ass. That arch really drives him wild. He presses in for another kiss and sucks gently on Phillip’s lower lip. His teeth graze the skin there as he draws away, but he’s careful not to leave a mark. There’s still that whole sheriff’s kid thing to keep in mind.

“God, you’re hot,” he mumbles into Phillip’s mouth. Phillip chuckles, air rushing out his nostrils and tickling Lukas’ skin.

“You’re so into me,” Phillip says, grinning brightly, confidently. This is how Phillip should always be.

“Yeah? You think so?”

He pins Phillip down, pressing harder into every little wiggle and squirm. Phillip’s not really trying to get up, anyway, but his movement has something else up and hard within seconds.

Lukas stretches back, straddling Phillip’s hips. It’s an amazing view, complete with Phillip’s kiss-reddened lips and tousled hair and faintly-muscled chest. He drags his hand across Phillip’s ribs and down to his flat stomach, studying the difference between his pale white fingers and Phillip’s smooth olive skin.

Phillip bucks impatiently and starts to undo his jeans, but Lukas bats his hands away. Undressing Phillip makes his blood boil—in a good way—so he unbuttons and unzips Phillip’s pants in one tug, then roughly yanks the things off of him.

“You wanna?” Phillip says, pupils blown wide, breathless, already reaching for his wallet so he can get his condom and those little packets of lube.

“Mm. In a minute.” Lukas scoots down further, giving himself space to slip his hand into the waistband of Phillip’s boxers. He clamps down on Phillip’s dick with a firm grip, and the gasp Phillip lets out in response is absolutely perfect.

“Kinda wanna try something,” he says while Phillip is still melting into the mattress, letting out little mumbles of pleasure.

Phillip’s always had him pegged. He is so into Phillip. He’s that guy. He’s gay and he definitely likes dick.

Enough that he’s ready to give blowing one a shot.

Phillip’s probably way more experienced at this, but he has to start somewhere. It’s too bad he never got a blowjob himself…maybe he could’ve used some of that information.

Step one is easy at least. He lowers Phillip’s boxers, leans over, and draws Phillip’s length into his mouth.

Phillip lets out a loud, shaky sigh. So far, so good.

Now what? Fuck he needs to watch more porn. He ends up deciding on a slow up and down motion—not too deep, though, because he’s not sure about his gag reflex—with gentle pressure from his tongue and lips.

Phillip arches up on the bed and groans. Shit, he’s hot like this. Completely lost in the moment, eyes rolling back, mouth hanging open, chest heaving. It’s enough to get Lukas going without even having to reach back to help himself along.

“Shit, shit, Lukas,” Phillip gasps, and then pushes Lukas away. Just in time to let the spurt of his release arch up and land squarely on his stomach.

Lukas sits up and catches his breath. Does this mean he’s…good at blowjobs? Great, even? It’s only been a minute or so.

“Shit, I’m sorry.” Phillip bites his lip. “I should’ve lasted longer than that.”

“Are you kidding? That was like, the hottest thing ever.” He laughs and drops down to kiss Phillip, forgetting he’ll wind up with a sticky chest.

Maybe they can shower together later.

“Well, can I return the favor?” Phillip asks, already beginning to kiss his way down Lukas’ neck. He licks at a spot in the hollow of Lukas’ collarbone.

This day just keeps getting better and better.

Phillip’s kiss trail is all the way to his quivering stomach by the time the car rolls up outside.

Fucking hell.

“I thought you said your dad wasn’t going to be back for hours!” Phillip groans, already rolling off the bed to retrieve his clothes.

“He’s not supposed to be.” Lukas springs into action, too—nothing gets rid of a hard-on faster than the thought of his father walking in on him. He throws on a t-shirt and straightens the sheets of his bed. “Just…go sit at my desk and pretend we’re studying or something.”

Phillip rolls his eyes. “Is he gonna be mad I’m here?”

Lukas scratches his head and moves to peer out the window. It’s his dad, all right, but at least he’s taking his time unloading the truck before coming inside.  “Nah. I mean, I dunno. We haven’t really talked much since I overheard him that night. Not about anything real, anyway.”

“Why not?” Phillip dutifully takes a book out of his backpack and opens it in his lap. “I mean, that’s kind of a big thing to just…ignore.”

“You’ve met my dad. Sort of.” Lukas sighs. “He doesn’t talk about things. He just keeps it all in until one day he explodes.”

So many explosions, over the years. So many moments where he’s had to huddle with his eyes squeezed shut while his usually-silent father erupts into drunken yelling and throwing things and the occasional backhanded slap.

“Huh. Well at least we know where you get it from.”

“What?” He turns sharply to stare at Phillip. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Seriously?” Phillip snorts and turns the page of his book. “Really doesn’t remind you of someone—keeping stuff in until it makes you explode and do stupid things?”

Stupid things? Like drinking too much and hitting your son…or popping pills and punching out Jake Gardner?

His stomach turns and he clamps his mouth shut, breathing slowly through his nose to beat back the sudden queasiness.

Fuck Phillip and his ability to always know him.

“Lukas?” His dad clambers into the kitchen downstairs. “Lukas, you up there?”

He should really go down to meet him. Cut his dad off before he gets a chance to come upstairs and be all awkward around Phillip. But he’s still working on breathing, and on not thinking about Jake’s bloody face when he pummeled him.

“Lukas?” His father has reached the hallway. “Came home early to see if you wanted to—” He stops short at the door. “Oh…I didn’t realize you…”

“Hi, Mr. Waldenbeck,” Phillip says, but he’s nervously clutching his book and he doesn’t make eye contact for long.

His father gives them a curt nod and heads off again.

“Well, that went smoothly,” Phillip mumbles under his breath.

“Yeah…” Lukas rubs his necks uneasily. “I better go see what he actually wanted.”

He catches up to his father in the kitchen, where he’s thankfully not going for the liquor cabinet.

“I thought you weren’t going to be home until later.”

“Yeah,” his father says, but doesn’t turn to look at him. “I thought I might come early to see how your first day back at school went…see if you wanted to…watch the game tonight or something.”

“Oh.” Watch the game is code for father-son bonding time. Sometimes his father even tries to delve deep during commercial breaks and make some sort of connection—it used to be about his classes at school, or the girls he liked, or his latest motocross stunts.

Now? Who freaking knows what they have to say to each other.

“Well, Phillip’s still here, so I’m just gonna…” He tries for a quick escape, backing up toward the stairs.

His father stops him from leaving with a firm hand on his shoulder. “Son, I—“

Lukas stares at a spot on his father’s chest. Whatever comes next probably won’t be good.

“I realize I haven’t…apologized. For what you heard the other day. I wasn’t thinking about what I was saying, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Lukas slowly raises his eyes to his father’s face. It looks truly pained, with his gray-blond brows knit together and his forehead creased with deep, sun burnt wrinkles.

He swallows hard and licks his dry lips before speaking. The smart thing would be to take this olive branch, get the hell away, and rush back to Phillip.

But he’s never been that smart. “Yeah, you did mean it.”

His father drops his arm and steps back. “No, no, son, I—”

“It’s okay, Dad. I get it. Being like this means I have to…I have to face more things than some other people. I get why you wouldn’t want that for me. But it’s just the way I am.”

God, has he ever said this much real shit to his father in one breath? He has to pause a moment to regroup.

“And…there’s a lot of things I need to change about me…but liking Phillip isn’t one of them.”

This honesty stuff is terrifying, but it’s also the strongest he’s felt in ages. He’s not slinking away and leaving things to fester until they explode. He’s telling it just like it is, getting it all out in the open. It may mean years more awkwardness with his father, but it has to be better than tension so thick the air isn’t breathable. Besides, he only has a few years left where he has to live under this roof.

His father nods slowly. “I know, son. I…understand.”

For a moment, all Lukas can do is blink and stare. His father…actually understands? He’s not prepared for a response to that one.

“Go on up to Phillip.” His father turns away and opens the fridge. Maybe he’s not ready to say more, either. Thank God.

Lukas heads to the stairwell, nervous energy keeping the heels of his feet from touching the ground. He’s almost prancing—and damn that’s gay.

His father calls out to him when he reaches the first step. “And uh, is he staying for dinner?”

“Nah.” He won’t do that to his father…yet. “We can, um, watch the game if you still want.”

Son duties fulfilled, he races up to his room, where a worried Phillip is standing in the doorway.

His hair is still all messed up from earlier, and he makes it worse by sticking his fingers into it as he sighs. “You were gone for a while, I thought maybe—“

Lukas hugs Phillip and whirls him around to walk him toward the bed. “Nope. Everything’s fine. Everything’s great. Amazingly great.”

“Yeah?” Phillip laughs as he falls back onto the mattress. “So great we’re gonna hook up with the door open and your dad downstairs?”

“Don’t freaking tempt me,” Lukas says. For now, he can just admire Phillip lying there, sex-tossed hair on his pillow, perfect lips grinning up at him. For now, for once, he can just be completely happy.

His phone dings in his pocket, and he pulls it out to read the incoming text, from Rose.

I just wanted to let you know Keith Horner saw you guys together on the roof today, and, well…the rumors have started.

#philkas #phillip x lukas #eyewitness fanfiction #eyewitness #for my two readers <3 #when all is said and done #and this is almost done

[carbonjen]

So for a prompt cause I'm feeling some angst. What if Dick was the one that died and came back? Similar scenario in Dick not being avenged and I'm sure he'd be angry but not Jason angry cause Dick isn't like that but he's still mad. And Jason (who looked up to Dick and loves him and they had a bit of interaction before his death) does whatever it takes to convince Dick to come back to the family?

I really think this is a super fun idea. It puts all the characters in such interesting positions and it’s fun to explore how different Dick’s motivations would be from Jason’s, especially with how he would want to handle things.��

Back from the Dead

Jason still remembers the day Dick Grayson died because it was the day part of Batman died too. Jason had watched through the camera in Bruce’s cowl as Bruce went off to Blüdhaven and dismantled the gang that had worked with the Joker to kill Dick Grayson. The Joker had been sent to Arkham with almost every bone in his body broken. He’d watched as over the next week, Batman took down every big crime syndicate in the city and drove the fear into them so hard that no major crimes happened in Blüdhaven for three months. Bruce never killed anyone though, something that surprised Jason to no end. 

Bruce was extra hard on Jason and Gotham in the next few months, often training Jason so hard he wouldn’t even be able to go out on patrol. Jason would go to school the next day sore from a rough night of training only to go back to the manor and do it all over again.

The problem was, Bruce didn’t get better. He had been a father figure for Jason until Dick passed, after that, the relationship between them had grown painful and oppressive. Jason escaped to the titans but as soon as he turned 18, he went off on his own, creating a name for himself as the Arkham Knight. 

Jason had tried settling in Blüdhaven, but Bruce had kicked him out of there so fast, Jason had seen stars. Soon there was a new Robin, Jason had made a name for himself in Crime Alley as the silent protector and life was finally starting to feel like it was going uphill. 

If Dick Grayson had ruined it before, Jason should have known he would ruin it again when he returned in a red Nightwing suit. 

Bruce had thought it was a ghost at first, but after Jason had seen him, he met up with Tim, the new Robin. 

“He’s back,” Jason said, sitting across from Tim in the corner of a small coffee shop. “Bruce wasn’t seeing things, but he can’t handle this on his own. You and I are going to look into this ourselves and we’re going to try talking some sense into Dick. Bruce can’t know until we’re sure about what’s going on. Best case scenario, we get him to come home. Realistically, I’d like to chase him out of town and we won’t tell Bruce. Worst case scenario, Bruce finds out we were hiding this from him and he never forgives us.”

Tim thought for a long moment. “I’m in,” he said with a firm nod. 

“Wait, really?” Jason asked. “I thought you’d be against this.”

“This could be the one thing that truly drives Bruce crazy,” Tim said. “If it’s really Dick and if B finds out about it, he won’t rest until he has Dick back and we don’t know what Dick has planned. If Bruce did this on his own, he’d be reckless and make mistakes. I’m in.”

They’d strategized for the next few hours. After seeing Dick, Bruce had been scouring Blüdhaven. 

“If he’s smart,” Tim said. “He’ll avoid Blüdhaven, knowing Bruce will search there. He’s probably set up in the one area of Gotham that Batman leaves alone.”

Jason smirked as the puzzle pieces came together. “Crime Alley.”

That night, Jason went out with a plan and his heart nearly stopped when he saw the flash of red in the skies. He’d been right. It left him breathless for a moment. Dick was still alive and Jason would be the first one in the family to talk to him. It was an immense amount of pressure, but Jason knew he could handle it. 

Jason landed behind Dick on a rooftop. 

“I was wondering who would find me first,” Dick said. His voice was a little deeper, but it was so achingly familiar that Jason forgot what he would say for a moment. 

“Well, Batman is kind of being kept in the dark on this one, so it was going to be me or Robin.”

Dick shook his head. “I can’t believe he still has one. I have to admit, I’m impressed neither of you ended up like me.”

“He was manic,” Jason said. “Pretty much every criminal in Gotham and Blüdhaven know that if you touch a bat, you don’t come back from it.”

“Unless you’re the Joker,” Dick replied. “I don’t know what kind of messed up person it takes to keep letting the Joker go out like that. You and I both know Batman has the technology to stop the Joker for good without killing him, but I don’t know why he’s still out there.”

“Robin and I have a theory,” Jason said. “It’s messed up. But we think Batman needs the Joker the same way he needs a Robin.”

Jason didn’t know what happened, but in the blink of an eye he was on his back, Dick on top of him with an escrima stick at his throat. 

“Don’t you dare say that,” Dick hissed out at him. “Don’t you dare say he needs that piece of shit the same we he needed me or you. I know what the Joker means to Batman, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think he should still be allowed to play his fucked up little games.”

Jason held his hands up in surrender. “Fine, okay, I get it. I agree with you. Why do you think I’ve been forced into Crime Alley, huh? I tried to leave, but Batman got so freaked when I tried that I was forced to come here. Your death doesn’t mean nothing. It means he fights harder to make sure one of us won’t die because of it.”

“I was going to ask you to come home,” Jason said. “But now I see that’s not going to work. But I will ask you to stop playing with the Batman otherwise he’s going to drive himself crazy and end up in Arkham right next to the Joker. Either get out of town or confront him and let him know why you’re upset. Playing these games with him stops him from taking care of real crimes in Gotham.”

Dick pulled the escrima stick back and Jason took in a breath. “How are you alive?” 

“Long story.”

“I’ve got all night,” Jason replied. “And my apartment is nearby.”

“Fine,” Dick said as he straightened, not bothering to help Jason up. He took off in the direction of Jason’s apartment and Jason followed behind him, not at all surprised that Dick knew where he lived. 

When they got back, Jason took his helmet and the bulkier pieces of his armor off, Dick staring at him the entire time with caution, like Jason might call Batman at any moment. 

Dick looked the same, a little older, but he still had the pretty face that Jason remembered lusting after as a kid. His hair was a bit longer, but it still had the characteristic little wave that Jason had always admired. Jason wondered if is eyes were still the same shade of blue, but Dick kept his mask on and his muscles coiled, ready to escape at any moment. 

Jason sat on the couch and looked at Dick, waiting for him to talk. 

“When I died,” Dick started, sinking down next to Jason. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but apparently, there was some weird universal anomaly where someone punched a small ripple into the universe and I was brought back to life. I don’t remember much from when I was revived, but I remember digging my way out of the grave. Talia al’Ghul found me and dipped me in the Lazarus pit to heal all the damage that had been done to my body. 

“When I woke up, I was at the League of Assassins headquarters and I was told that as payment for reviving me, they wanted me to join them. It was the only way I could get out, so i completed their training and then left. It took a few years for them to let me go, and when they did, I came back here to confront Bruce.

“The issue,” Dick sighed and looked down, taking off his mask and tossing it aside. Instead of the clear sapphire blue Jason was used to, Dick’s eyes were a bright turquoise, a perfect mix of the blue and bright green of the pit. “Is that the pit can kind of take over sometimes when you’re upset. Sometimes I’d be out and the pit would take over and I’d...I’d come to and there would be blood on my hands and I...I killed people, Jason. I went against the one thing I was never meant to do. I killed people.”

Jason reached a tentative hand out. Dick had always been a sucker for affection before he died, but now, Jason had no idea how he’d react. Jason placed a gentle hand on Dick’s shoulder and Dick melted into him, body pressing to Jason’s. Jason wrapped his arms around Dick and he rubbed Dick’s back as Dick cried. 

“I don’t want him to kill the Joker,” Dick told him. “I just want him to make it so the Joker can’t hurt anyone again.”

Jason nodded. “I think,” he said carefully. “Bruce won’t want to be the one to do that, but I think Tim and I are on the same page with you on that one and we can help you do whatever you think needs to be done to stop the Joker from hurting people without killing him.”

Dick looked up at him, eyes red, making the green stand out. “You’d do that for me?”

“Dick, I don’t know if you ever figured it out, but I would do anything for you.”

“Are you saying you had a crush on me?” Dick asked, small smirk on his face. “Little Wing, that is so cute.”

“Yeah, well look at you,” Jason said, cheeks reddening. “It’s kind of hard not to have a crush on you when you’re so damn pretty.” Jason looked anywhere but at Dick, well, he tried, it was hard when Dick was practically on top of him. 

“Jason,” Dick whispered. “You do realize you’ve grown up to be quite the looker yourself.”

Jason laughed. “I see you still use super weird terms, like ‘quite the looker’.”

Dick shut him up by pressing their mouths together and Jason was still for a moment as he processed the fact that his previously dead, incredibly hot, predecessor was kissing him. 

Dick pulled away a few minutes later, leaving Jason panting lightly and looking at Dick with wide eyes. 

“So do you think telling Bruce can wait a few days?” Dick asked. “I think I want to catch up on things a little bit before I talk to the family again.”

“Uh, yeah,” Jason said with a nod, knowing exactly what Dick was implying as Dick’s hand ventured downwards. “Yeah, I’ll tell Tim and he’ll make sure we’re safe.”

“Good,” Dick said. “Because there’s a lot of things I missed.”

#jaydick #my writing #my fic #prompt fills #Back from the Dead verse #Anon #anonymous

[whotullis-blog]

oceans.

Oceans.

 A short film written by Justin Tullis

                INT. APARTMENT KITCHEN – NIGHT

The spread of the apartment is romantic. There are candles lit, Frank Ocean is playing in the background. Nostalgia, Ultra, not Blond surprisingly. The energy in the room does not match that though.

XAVIER

I don’t know what I said, tell me what I said that got you so mad.

Alma is in the kitchen putting a few dishes away, tidying up, in an aggressive way. She looks at him right after this comment and throws the rag she was using on the counter.

ALMA

Are you serious right now?

XAVIER

Yes! I’m dead serious, I don’t know why you’re fuming like this right now.

ALMA

What kind of answer is (Mockingly) “Uhhhhhhhh I don’t know”. And that pause on top of everything? I can’t believe y-

XAVIER

Pause? What pause?

ALMA

You know what, how about this, I will ask you the question again and just answer me this time okay?

XAVIER

Okay.

ALMA

How would you feel about getting married?

There is a very brief pause.

XAVIER

Oh that question-

ALMA

That, that right there you just did it!

XAVIER

Okay that isn’t even fair right there, you didn’t even let me answer to begin with. Besides I was taken back by the phrasing of the question. Do you mean like getting married tomorrow or like far down the road?

The two individuals are the same age at this point. They are both the ripe age of about 23.

ALMA

See that shouldn’t matter either way you should know the answer by now.

XAVIER

No, see- No, it doesn’t work like that because whatever answer I give you in this context there is pressure. Especially with you, I know you, there is no winning.

ALMA

You are not doing this Xavier, I am not letting you just change the subject like that. Why don’t you want to marry me?

XAVIER

I never said that.

ALMA

Then you do?

XAVIER

I never said that either.

ALMA

I think you need to leave.

She starts making her way to the door and unlocks the multiple convoluted apparatuses required to open it. She keeps messing up due to frustration. Xavier walks over to her and holds her.

XAVIER

Baby stop, c’mon now you know I love you-

Alma pushes him away and proceeds to sit down on the couch. Frank Ocean is still playing in the background. Normally by this time the two would already be doing the mo betta.

ALMA

But not enough to marry me? Is that it? You love me when it’s convenient but not enough to commit huh?

XAVIER

Don’t put words in my mouth like that.

ALMA

I’m not. I love you Xavier but sometimes you’re so vague it feels like I don’t even know who I am talking to.

XAVIER

Fine. Okay. You’re right. I am cryptic. I don’t know how I feel about getting married in general. The idea seems flawed, but even that aside I don’t know about the longevity of our situation sometimes.

Xavier graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University on a full ride academic scholarship, captain of his debate team in high school, once participated in the math Olympics. Xavier once found a 20 dollar bill outside of a Safeway, searched for the owner of the money and when he failed to find it, he ended up giving it to customer service. Never was really the type to make trouble. He was the dependable designated driver in college. The guy who actually waited until 21 to start drinking.

ALMA

What exactly is “our” situation Xavier?

XAVIER

Look, I know you well, and I know you well enough to know that you don’t really think about the future that much. Baby when was the last time you worked on your 5 year plan?

ALMA

We’re only 23 Xavier.

XAVIER

What about finishing school, you keep saying you’re going to go back but you still haven’t.

ALMA

Stop that.

XAVIER

You wanted me to be honest!

ALMA

Okay Mr. Overthinker over here wants to be honest.

XAVIER

Overthink-

ALMA

Yes overthinker. Xavier, you think too much. Sometimes I feel like I don’t even have you in the same room with me because you’re too busy in a room 10 years down the road. All you do is worry about things that haven’t even happened yet.

Alma grew up raised by a single mother. She always lived in the moment. She lost her dad to a drug overdose when she was 3. It often seemed that because of this, she finds comfort in vices in a similar fashion. Those vices normally were the things that inhibited her from success. She was going to graduate high school with an athletic scholarship in track, but lost it when she overslept due to a hangover through the SATs. However it was qualities like her aloof nature and adventurous spirit that balanced him out. It’s the quality he hated and loved about her the most.

XAVIER

I just like to calculate my choices.

ALMA

You don’t enjoy any of them though. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have kids with you, and it worries me that after all this time you still don’t know. For me, “I don’t know” is not good enough. If you’re not in it for the long haul, why are we together right now? We’re just wasting time aren’t we?

There is a silence. Can’t think of the right answer. Thoughts race in XAVIER’s head as he tries to come up with something. Nothing comes.

ALMA

I think you should go.

Alma opens the door. Xavier makes his way to the door solemnly even somewhat angrily because he couldn’t come up with an answer.

XAVIER

I’ll call you okay?

ALMA

Goodbye X.

She slams the door.

XAVIER

Happy four year anniversary I guess!

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Xavier is outside and it starts to drizzle. He tries to hail a cab but doesn’t succeed until after a few tries because although he is lightskin it doesn’t really change the fact hailing a cab is one of the most difficult things ever if you’re a black man. He eventually gives up and calls an uber. The uber arrives and he gives him the address to his apartment about 20 minutes away. He constantly checks his phone, wondering if it is the end of the relationship or not.

 CUT TO:

EXT. MUSIC FESTIVAL – DAY

Xavier is with a really tight friend of his, Tiberius, waiting on Kari Faux to get off stage so they can see the headliner. It’s a hot day. People are everywhere, and there are vendors selling overpriced food and drinks. It’s summer. At this point Xavier is 19.

XAVIER

Dude I’m still going to be tweeting when I’m 60 and it’s going to be tight.

TIBERIUS

Nobody wants to still be getting your soundcloud links on their feed at 60 years old.

XAVIER

That’s the beauty of it, it’ll age like fine wine so when I promo that it’ll be like “damn, grandpa got bars”.

TIBERIUS

Do you start the day inflating your ego or do you end it that way?

XAVIER

Depends on the day honestly.

TIBERIUS

You’re unbelievable.

XAVIER

Thanks man I really appreciate that.

TIBERIUS

That wasn’t a compliment dude.

XAVIER

It’s okay bruh I know where your heart resides.

Both of them stop their banter only to notice that Kari Faux has proceeded to start another song in her set.

XAVIER

When is homegirl getting off the stage? I feel like the dude from the shelter heckling Eminem.

TIBERIUS

The guy that says, “He’s choking,” or the guy that says, “Where the fuck y’all find this nigga at?”

Before he can answers he sees someone. Xavier is enamored by this girl from a distance. Long hair. Green eyes. Skinny waist. Perfect body. She’s with some friends, they all look the same, but she stands out. He has this overwhelming feeling like he’s seen her and knows her but he has never actually seen her before. He feels like he knows her.

XAVIER

Hold up man let me do something really quick.

TIBERIUS

Yo, please tell me you’re not about to go spit game right now.

XAVIER

I am, but all that means is that you get to holla at her friends too.

TIBERIUS

Bet.

The two of them head over to the group of girls.

XAVIER

Hi, I’m Xavier and this is my boy Tiberius-

BASIC WHITE HOE #4

Boy? Like he’s your boyfriend?

XAVIER

As tempting as that is sometimes because I love me some Tiberius, I’m actually not with him, I’m more interested in your friend. What’s your name?

GIRL

My name is Alma. I think I actually recognize you.

XAVIER

Do you?

ALMA

Yeah… Did you play Thirdspace a couple months ago?

XAVIER

I did actually.

ALMA

*in a flirtatious tone* You didn’t suck.

XAVIER

[FIGHTS THE URGE TO SAY “I WISH YOU WOULD”] Thank you. I didn’t see you there though, I would have remembered seeing you.

ALMA

I left like right after your set.

This whole time Tiberius is spitting game at her friends. They aren’t very amused, they’re faded off of some vodka they snuck into the festival with water bottles. It emanates from their pores. Sweating vodka.

BASIC WHITE HOE #2

Can we go? I want to get up in the front so that G-Eazy notices me when he goes on.

XAVIER

I’ll let you guys go, I just wanted to say hi.

ALMA

*waves* Well “hi”.

XAVIER

Listen, I really would love to keep in touch with you. Can I get your number?

ALMA

Yeah for sure. I’d really like that. Its-

 CUT TO:

EXT. STREET CORNER- NIGHT

The Uber finally pulls up to pick up Xavier. He’s driving a red Chrysler. Don’t know what year. Xavier gets in. They drive for some time in silence then the driver says something.

UBER DRIVER

Rough night?

XAVIER

What?

UBER DRIVER

Seems like you have a lot on your mind. Most of the time when people call me up to drive them around this time they’re with a bunch of other people and drunk, or high. Or both.

XAVIER

I would venture to say that I am too sober for this evening’s events.

UBER DRIVER

I’m not taking you to a bar though.

XAVIER

Nah, you’re not.

UBER DRIVER

Well whatever it is you’re doing, be safe man.

XAVIER

I have a question for you.

UBER DRIVER

Go ahead brother.

XAVIER

Are you married?

UBER DRIVER

Yes sir. Been married for about 18 years now.

XAVIER

Are you happy?

UBER DRIVER

Some days are better than others but overall, yeah. I would say so.

XAVIER

How did you know you were with “the one”?

UBER DRIVER

Ah she probably hit you with the “are we getting married or not speech” huh?

XAVIER

Yeah.

UBER DRIVER

Time is one of the most precious things we have. If you steal a watch from a man you can replace it, you could buy another one. If you tell a lie, in a sense you’re stealing their passage to truth but you can still make that right by telling the truth. If you steal someone’s time though… that is something you never can get back.

XAVIER

So I should just settle even if I don’t know?

UBER DRIVER

I never said that now. Some people know very early on in life and some people spend their whole life trying to find it.

XAVIER

How do you know when you’ve found it then?

UBER DRIVER

My wife inspires me. I was going nowhere with my life when I first met her. She helps me become the version of myself I always wanted to be. We fight. Everyone fights. But getting in the same bed as her is still better than anywhere else.

XAVIER

I get all that. It all makes sense. It just seems like my girl and I are in two alternate universes.

UBER DRIVER

Love is not a calculation kid.

L o v e is not a c a l c u l a t i o n.

There is an ongoing silence covering the ride. A certain solemnity to the Seattle-like night. They pull up to an apartment complex. Xavier says thanks to the dude that drove him there and he makes his way to apartment number 297. He knocks on the door. A girl answers.

XAVIER

Hi.

SELENA

Hi.

XAVIER

I was in the neighborhood.

SELENA

You know what’s funny is that dudes that say that are never in the neighborhood.

XAVIER

Maybe you got me on that one.

SELENA

I’m done teasing you, come inside.

They go inside and she’s watching Martin in some sweats and a T-shirt. The ambience is relaxed. Xavier sits down on the couch.

SELENA

Do you want a drink?

XAVIER

Nah, I’m alright I’ll take some water though.

SELENA

Why are you such a square? You’re not even driving tonight.

XAVIER

How you know that?

SELENA

I know what your car looks like stupid and you didn’t park it here.

XAVIER

You know what? You right. I guess I don’t like to drink like that. Never called my attention. Besides I can’t stay here, isn’t your dude here?

SELENA

Woooooooow you and I haven’t talked in a while. He moved out.

XAVIER

Damn. I’m really sorry I didn’t even-

SELENA

Don’t even worry about it, I’m not stressing about it. I’m here chilling with a glass of wine and watching Martin so I’m good.

XAVIER

Handling it quite well.

SELENA

X I know you so why are you pulling up at my apartment at this time.

XAVIER

I don’t know. I guess it is because you know me.

SELENA

What happened with Alma?

XAVIER

You ever feel like you’re so far away from someone even when you’re sitting right next to them?

SELENA

Classic Xavier.

XAVIER

What?

SELENA

You always do just that. That right there. Some things are not as complex as you make them out to be you know. You did the same thing when we went out, you would do it all the time.

XAVIER

Not that much.

SELENA

No kid, actually all the time.

XAVIER

I wasn’t that bad when you and I went out was I?

SELENA

No, you weren’t. Xavier you are the smartest dumb guy I know. I was so into you. Do you remember what you said to me when you broke it off with me?

XAVIER

It was a long time ago.

SELENA

You said that I could find someone better, that I could do better. Said all of this stuff about how you can’t give me what I need even though I was content with you. You just got in your own head.

XAVIER

Well you did end up okay. We were like 17 at the time I didn’t know what to do.

SELENA

You’re missing the point X. Here we are years later and you come to my door late night overthinking some situation.

XAVIER

Maybe I didn’t change as much as I thought I would.

SELENA

I guess I didn’t really either, because here I am answering the door knowing damn well how you make me feel.

XAVIER

What?

She moves closer to Xavier on the couch, closing in the distance between their faces. Martin is still playing in the background. Selena really does look nice. Enticing. Memories flood Xavier’s mind of the adolescent years. Times of simplicity and that one time they went to that wack Will Smith movie After Earth. Something interrupts the moment right before they kiss.

[WHY YOU GOTTA FIGHT WITH ME AT CHEESECAKE YOU KNOW I LOVE TO GO THERE]

The ringer on Xavier’s phone goes off and it’s a text from “babe”: Can we please talk? Let me know when you get this.

 XAVIER

I’m sorry. I can’t do this with you.

SELENA

Just go Xavier.

XAVIER

I’m sor-

SELENA

Please go.

Xavier walks out and he walks down the stairs and he can hear some footsteps walking up the stairs. He hears knocking on that same door he just walked out of. It’s Selena’s ex dude.

 CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

 ALMA

I really don’t like fighting with you Xavier.

XAVIER

I’m not fond of it myself either.

ALMA

We’ve been together for a long time. I know you. I love you. I don’t feel like I truly have you though, and I feel I don’t know where that piece of you is.

XAVIER

I love you a lot. I know that I do. I don’t know how to truly love you though. I don’t know when it is completely necessary to give myself to you or to give myself to other things. I feel constant pressure. My whole life I’ve felt the pressure to do things. School, career, relationships. I just didn’t want that same pressure to be brought here.

ALMA

You think I do? All I want is to be able to show you love the way that we’re supposed to. You don’t let me love you in all the ways I like.

XAVIER

We don’t actually see eye to eye on everything. I simply question the longevity of our situation.

[PHONE VIBRATES IN XAVIER’S POCKET]

XAVIER

Hold on, let me check that really quick.

It’s Melody. The first love that Xavier ever had. She still loves him. He loves her deeply as well. The love he has for her at times conflicts with other aspects of his life. His other relationships. Melody was around for a lot. Very difficult times that Xavier had with his family, she was there. In the moments of celebration, she was there even if it was from a distance. When he’s depressed she’s someone he runs to.

 TEXT FROM MELODY THAT READS: I miss you. I’m thinking about you. I know you’re thinking about me too.

 ALMA

I already know who it is.

XAVIER

Do you?

ALMA

I do. I know she’s been texting you.

XAVIER

Is this women’s intuition or is it you looking through my phone? Or is it like insider information from some gossip?

ALMA

Xavier it doesn’t matter how I know. This is why I’ve been asking you if you really want to be with me forever. It just seems like your heart is somewhere else.

XAVIER

*clinches jaw*

ALMA

Do you love me?

XAVIER

Yes.

ALMA

Do you love her?

XAVIER

Yes.

ALMA

Xavier I don’t want to share you.

XAVIER

Maybe it’s time we made a decision.

ALMA

Xavier, no more platitudes, what do you want?

 CUT TO:

EXT. PARK – SUNSET

[flashback]

MELODY

Why do you like the sunset so much?

XAVIER

When I was a kid, like 6th grade I think, my parents threw me this party for my birthday. It was the last day of school and my birthday happened to fall on that exact half day. So everyone went from school back to my house and all of us played halo and talked about how hype we were to leave the 6th grade. Eventually we went to the neighborhood pool and I mean it was dudes and chicks. My pops grabbed a football we had from the garage and we all played this pickup game of football. I caught the game winning pass. I did this dumb celebration where I got on my knees and looked up at the sky with my arms out like I saw it on tv. I just remember how pink and blue and orange the sky was. Like a giant cup of trix yogurt. Brought me happiness. That is what a sunset is. Happiness. Just like you. You, are… happiness.

MELODY

I am your happiness?

XAVIER

I think so.

There is a long silence. Melody readjusts her body to look at Xavier. She doesn’t look very happy.

XAVIER

What’s wrong?

MELODY

I don’t think I feel the same way.

XAVIER

What do you mean?

MELODY

I just feel pressure now. To love you the same way you love me. To desire you the way you desire me.

XAVIER

I didn’t know that was such a bad thing, I didn’t mean to put you in that position.

MELODY

Xavier, I do care about you, but what if I never get the same feelings for you that you have for me? I don’t want you to waste your time. Besides, I know you. I know you’re going to leave anyway. So I’d rather leave first.

XAVIER

I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time. I just feel like when we’re together that things are okay.

MELODY

I’m sorry Xavier, I just don’t feel the same way. I don’t know if I ever will.

XAVIER

So what does this mean now?

MELODY

I won’t ever belong to you X. I don’t think I can do this anymore-

CUT TO:

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

ALMA

Xavier.

Xavier is staring off. He is spacing out.

ALMA

Xavier please say something.

There is still silence

ALMA

Xavier!

XAVIER

I’m sorry.

ALMA

Please tell me you have more to say than that.

XAVIER

Alma, I love you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. This is just something that gnaws at me I don’t know.

Alma holds Xavier’s face gently in her hands.

ALMA

Baby I can tell, but I want all of you. Not just the parts that are convenient to give.

XAVIER

I know. You deserve that much. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin tonight alright? I love you.

ALMA

I love you, too. It wasn’t all you, I know I backed you in a corner tonight and that wasn’t totally fair of me.

They kiss one time.

ALMA

I think you should go see her.

XAVIER

What?

ALMA

I think you need closure.

XAVIER

You’re serious?

ALMA

Yeah. I mean, don’t go right now, but you need to end this chapter in your life.

XAVIER

You’re right.

ALMA

And I trust you, so I trust that you’ll come back to me.

XAVIER

Of course. Then we can have that conversation that got everything like Mayweather/Pacquiao in here.

ALMA

Dope. Now can we actually celebrate now?

XAVIER

*waka flocka voice* OHLEHDOOIT

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT – DAY

 Xavier is at Tiberious’s place. The homie Pab is also there. He has a nice little bachelor’s pad to himself. The guitar from guitar hero is laying out in the open, there are a couple dishes in the sink, he isn’t the cleanest person but he isn’t filthy either. His space simply says, “there’s a male living here”.

 TIBERIOUS

She told you to go see her?

XAVIER

On god.

PAB

*rolling a joint with intense precision* Dude you can’t possibly think that’s a good idea.

XAIVER

I do need closure on this.

PAB

What is there to close? You wanted to be with her, she wasn’t what you thought she was, and then she left you on your ass.

TIBERIOUS

True.

XAVIER

She was more afraid that I was going to leave- I came over here for support and you out here trying to scare me out of this.

TIBERIOUS

We aren’t scaring you out of anything, these is just the facts my son.

XAVIER

All I know is that I can’t move on without fixing this first. I almost lost Alma over this.

PAB

Okay well why don’t you just *claps hands together* with Alma and move on without talking to Melody.

TIBERIOUS

This is also an option.

XAVIER

I need to know. Not think, know.

TIBERIOUS

What do you think is going to happen? Because you KNOW that she is going to try to get physical with you.

XAVIER

But I’m not even gonna-

TIBERIOUS & PAB

*mockingly* I’m not even gonna touch her.

XAVIER

I hate you guys.

PAB

How many times did you used to say that before and then you end up touching said person you said you weren’t going to touch?

TIBERIOUS

True.

XAVIER

Okay I can do without the ad libs dude. You know that was before Alma, and besides I really am past this. I just need to confront this. I’m going to go in there all business, regardless of what she’s trying to do and I’m just going to have this last conversation with her.

TIBERIOUS

And when she tries something? Not if, when.

XAVIER

She knows I am with Alma.

PAB

Bitch. That’s never stopped any of the women trying you before.

TIBERIOUS

You in some shit dude, it don’t look good.

XAVIER

So you saying I shouldn’t go?

PAB

No you should, because this is going to be a good meme.

Pab finally finishes rolling and extends an invitation to the two of them.

XAVIER

Whatever dude, let’s just advance past this and watch 8 Mile or something.

TIBERIOUS

Bet.

A montage of them smoking and being weird passes. They tell weird jokes and laugh at dumb things. The movie 8 mile plays in the background. They eat a whole bunch of goldfish crackers. They roast each other. It is just good energy. Good vibes. The calm before the storm.

XAVIER

Love is death dude.

PAB

Huh.

TIBERIOUS

It can be cool sometimes though.

XAVIER

How do you know if you’re making the right choice?

PAB

What are you so afraid of man? Why don’t you just allow yourself to feel? Just like be here for once.

XAVIER

Everyone says to be here but I don’t think I should be. I don’t think I am worth loving. Maybe I should bail.

TIBERIOUS

On what? On Melody?

XAVIER

On both. I can’t do this. Not with anyone. I’m not made for anyone.

TIBERIOUS

No. No. That isn’t where this thought is going to go, you’re doing that thing you always do when you’re high and you’re overthinking. You gotta stop my dude.

XAVIER

I don’t know what to do.

PAB

Okay, you already said that you were going to see Melody to talk to her, maybe that closure is a good idea after all. Alma was right. Dude, you know you’re loved right?

XAVIER

I do.

PAB

So you know that regardless of what happens with you and whoever, we are going to love you and support you. You aren’t going to be alone.

XAVIER

Okay. You’re right. I’m just going to go talk to her.

TIBERIOUS

Maybe sober up a bit my dude.

XAVIER

If I’m being honest, if I’m high it is a guarantee that she won’t touch me. Remember that one time that girl got me so high I was cooking with a wet noodle?

PAB

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, that was a good time, that was a good meme.

TIBERIOUS

I am also high right now, so I can’t debate this logic at the moment, but it do sound decent right now.

PAB

Wait should one of us go with you?

XAVIER

No. I have to do this alone.

TIBERIOUS

Godspeed my son, text the code if you need us.

Xavier texts Melody to tell her that he is on his way. He takes a deep breath, daps up the homies, and makes his way to his car. He gets a text from Alma asking if he is okay while he sits in his car overthinking.

[TEXT CONVERSATION]

ALMA: Babe are you good?

XAVIER: Yeah, I just left T’s place I’m heading over to talk to Melody. *TEETH CLINCHED EMOJI*

ALMA: Are you going to be alright?

XAVIER: You know ya mans stay dipped in butter ma.

ALMA: Hold on, are you high right now?

XAVIER: Do you ever get nervous?

ALMA: Stop quoting drake, are you good?

XAVIER: Yeah, I’m coming down, I was just overthinking. I’m glad you hit me up though. I love you.

ALMA: Please be safe and be smart. I love you too, come over after okay?

XAVIER: Yuh. *EGGPLANT EMOJI*

ALMA: I hate you.

He starts the car and proceeds to Melody’s house. He doesn’t know what to expect. The night is calm. Relaxing. He looks at the lights passing by like good memories through his mind. Not a lot of traffic out. Not a lot happening. Just him, his thoughts, and the drive. He eventually arrives, turns off his car and takes a moment to gather himself. He approaches the door but he hesitates once before he knocks on it. MELODY opens the door. She looks beautiful, like a temptation, a test you don’t think you can pass.

MELODY

I had a feeling you would come. Come in, have a seat.

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT – NIGHT

XAVIER enters the living room of the apartment, he makes sure to sit on one end of the room, leaving MELODY on the other.

XAVIER

I did come, but not for the reason you think.

MELODY

That’s cute that you thought you could stay away from me.

XAVIER

You texted me.

MELODY

(smug)

And yet you still came.

                             XAVIER

Why did you reach out to me?

MELODY

I wanted to see you, spend some time with you.

XAVIER

You know I’m with Alma.

MELODY

I do, and yet again, here we are.

XAVIER

This was a bad idea, I should go.

MELODY

There goes Xavier, running away like he always does. What’s wrong, you don’t love me anymore?

MELODY makes her way toward XAVIER.

XAVIER

Me loving you was never our problem, the problem was wanting to be with someone that would never love me back. On top of that, you’re the one that left me.

MELODY

Because I knew you would come back.

XAVIER

This isn’t me “coming back”, this is me telling you that I’m moving on.

MELODY

Xavier, you’re a monster. One day your girl will see it. Your friends will see it. Everyone will eventually find out, and you’ll be right back here, because no one knows you the way I know you.

XAVIER

That’s not true.

MELODY

At night I know you think of me. When we’re apart I know you wish I was there. I’ve always accepted you for who you are.

XAVIER

That doesn’t mean you’ve ever loved me. You left me hung out to dry that day.

MELODY

I just left first, because I knew that you would eventually do the same to me. You’re just mad because you’re not used to being the one who is left in the dirt.

XAVIER

You don’t know that.

MELODY

I know what you are, X.

XAVIER

I’ll tell you what I am. I am done. You have pieces of me I can’t give anywhere else. That much is true. And I don’t regret any of the time that you and I spent together, but I will never have all of you. What’s even crazier is that I have someone who wants all of me, and they’re waiting on me. So I’m going to go. Goodbye, Melody.

MELODY

I know what you are, Xavier. You can’t run from it forever.

At this point, XAVIER makes his way to his car and leaves.

 6 MONTHS LATER

CUT TO:

INT. RESTAURANT – AFTERNOON

XAVIER

No, I don’t hate hydroflasks, I just can’t stand how loud they are when people drop them, and people drop them A LOT. The other thing is that cats that have those things always have to brag about it, like being vegan, or working out. Like we get it dude, you’re a god amongst peasants or whatever that’s about.

(a pause)

What was the question again?

ALMA

You are such a dork, dude.

XAVIER

(smiling)

But that’s why you love me though, right?

ALMA

(sarcastically)

Unfortunately yes, I do.

They both laugh and share a very brief moment of silence. Just looking at each other. Happy.

XAVIER

You want some more to drink?

ALMA

Yeah babe that’d be nice. Can you get me a straw too?

XAVIER

I got you, cuz.

ALMA

Please don’t do that thing where you take off the tip of the straw wrapper and shoot it at me, I hate that.

XAVIER

(while walking towards the drinks)

Am I that predictable?

XAVIER refills the drink and gets the straw. He makes his way back to the table and right before he sits back down he feels a vibration in his pocket.

[TEXT MESSAGE FROM MELODY THAT READS: If you’re done running, meet me where the sun sets.]

ALMA

Who’s that?

XAVIER looks up from his phone and faces ALMA.

CUT TO:

BLACK