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neonponders · 3 years

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WIP Wednesday

Thank you for tagging me @lazybakerart 💗💋

I’ve got two big writing projects on my plate this week lol but one thing I’m kind of indulging is a break-up/getting back together fic that I actually started in this post, but I’ll share what I have so far underneath the cut ~

(and excuse me while I overshare, because I’m still stupidly proud of this The Mummy_au post that I made if anyone wants a taste of that)

Tagging (if you want) ✨ @ghostofjellyfishforgotten , ✨ @smashmouth-hargrove , and ✨ @withoneheadlight

(also just a heads up for the wip below: it’s once again me exploring my own asexuality through Steve, but I don’t know how far I’m going to go into it. Still, that might be a content warning people may need if they’re sex-repulsed 🌹)

Ch. 1

Sex with Billy was fine. Good, even.

When they finally moved past every look and touch being a threat veiled in a tease, Steve enjoyed looking at Billy. He enjoyed looking at Billy and discovering those California eyes already on him. He liked Billy’s hands. The man had beautiful hands; strong, thick fingers but...somehow elegant.

He liked Billy’s body, even though he sometimes worried that the guy seemed determined to break it ten different ways. Cigarettes, alcohol, excessive working out, and sometimes all at the same time.

Sex didn’t always mean Steve got to cum. Usually he didn’t, actually. But he enjoyed Billy’s kisses on his neck, and the taste of his tongue, and - admittedly - he loved just having all of Billy’s attention enraptured on him. Steve didn’t mind taking his dick inside because once he got used to it, that felt surprisingly good. When he managed the pleasurable sparks and sensational tingles that mounted into something explosive, he understood why sex was great. But for the more frequent, calm nights, he’d come to think of it as a weird yet pleasant massage.

So he took it. Because it was easier on his hands and knees, for one, and because Billy had a control complex. And Steve could hide his lack of enthusiasm.

Not to say that Billy was selfish or careless. Far from it, Billy Hargrove was an incredibly doting lover. Big surprise, there. Considering how the guy

Well

Existed.

Steve couldn’t really blame Billy for never noticing that he could go a long time without sex. Because Steve liked resting his hand on Billy’s chest while they watched a show or movie. It didn’t matter how much bare skin he had access to. In fact, the more coverage, the better. A clothed body is better to cuddle with than skin that can get sticky or irritated.

Steve liked kissing. He’d always liked kissing. Kissing was the reason he’d assumed he was like everyone else: the desire to kiss, crushes and girlfriends, masturbating, even the giddiness of sex with someone new.

But something fizzled out very quickly in Steve’s brain. Once hands and intent started moving beneath clothing, Steve just...didn’t want it. Suddenly a lot of things popped into his brain that he’d rather be doing. But he persevered because he loved Nancy, and her blooming sexual prowess and bravery was sexy.

Fun.

Billy was a whole big bag of new with an edge of scary that turned out to be more endearing than Steve thought possible. So it was easy to go like that for a while.

Normal.

Eventually he had to admit to himself that he didn’t like taking showers at 1am because he didn’t enjoy being covered in his own, and Billy’s, sweat. He didn’t like feeling the drips on his skin or the tackiness of too many skin oils on his hands.

He hated admitting to himself that he felt relief whenever Billy went out of town for work. He missed Billy, of course, but a lot of things had begun to snowball together in Steve’s life: changing jobs, managing bank accounts and savings, and there were a lot of truths Steve was facing outside of his relationship.

He was tired. Damn tired. He spent many days off wondering if people in their twenties feel this tired all the time or if it was just him. It must just be him. Because Steve sees Robin just as much as he doesn’t. She’s got goals.

And Billy

Billy has big dreams. He’s ready to work damn hard and already is. That’s why he uses his hefty gas money funds, to travel around. Scout the areas. Steve even drove him to the airport once, so Billy could really gain some distance over the weekend. Expand his network.

As if the universe knew, some bigwig passing through Hawkins on their way to Chicago ran right into Billy. A bigwig looking for a handsome, charismatic, young guy to mentor. It really couldn’t be more perfect than divine intervention. They’re Billy’s inlet to the business. Modeling, acting, freaking UNICEF ambassadorial work if he wants to feel extra important. If he gets big enough to have his face mean something around the world.

Within one conversation, he’s got a business card, and an appointment in a Chicago skyscraper next week to take measurements and do a rudimentary photo shoot. The manager warns him that it’s the agency getting to know him, but like any job interview, it’s his chance to interview them right back. Billy likes that a lot—feeling like he has a stake in something instead of just being a corporate pawn. And maybe he eats right out of the manager’s hand, but it’s still a shot. And he’s taking it.

He immediately goes to Steve’s work, fired up from seeing a future for the first time like he finally got the right prescription glasses. The only caveat is that Billy has to move out of Hawkins, which isn’t even a flaw, really. It’s as close to perfect as life’s ever been for him.

Steve can only listen quietly as he sits at the table in the break room. Because Billy’s got big dreams that are already coming true. Every detail of his enflamed speech is given over pacing feet; he can’t even bother to sit at the table. Billy’s got so much energy he’s already mentally and emotionally out the door.

Steve…isn’t. His mental health has been on a downward slope since before they graduated, and it won’t allow him to reach anywhere. He doesn’t have any dreams to steer him in any direction anyways.

Billy’s rant begins to wind down about what he wants to do; his fire about his dreams and his motivation simmers down to an even boil. Steve’s impressed and already proud of the person Billy will become, but Steve can also hear Billy’s frustration with him and their relationship.

For not keeping up.

Steve’s…kind of never been able to keep up. In bed or in life.

And perhaps the saddest part is that Steve doesn’t even have it in him to fight for it. For them. He doesn’t feel worthy enough to hold Billy back. So he doesn’t.

Billy snaps a little, “Why aren’t you saying anything? I’ve been talking about this for the last two years! Steve?”

He’d gotten distracted by looking at his backpack hanging on the wall. Steve’s throat hurt. Two years? God, it’s really been two years already…

He pinched his fingertips over the table as he began, “Billy, I support you. I know you can get there—wherever it is you want to be. I’m not going to tell you to stop or slow down. You’re going somewhere. But I’m…”

He took a breath to finally say it. “Not. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t think I have the energy to figure it out any time soon. You should go.”

Steve can see the disappointment sinking through Billy’s features. And the anger that he’s so used to throwing up as a shield. Billy has so much energy coursing through him as it is, Steve can’t blame him for swinging right into the direction of livid.

The real surprise comes from how soft he speaks. No yelling. No hitting the table. No wrenching Steve up by his green uniform vest. They were long past those outbursts. Which…really just confirmed Steve’s decision. Billy had come a long way. He could go so much further.

“That’s what you have to say? Just like that…you’re really giving up on us?”

Steve knows he’s gaping like a stupid fish. But it isn’t just like that, is it? Billy’s been revving his engines to get the hell out of Hawkins ever since he got here in the first place. Steve tries to say as much, but Billy cuts him off.

“I thought you’d be excited for this. You should be hauling me out of here to pack my bags.”

Steve tries to offer a small smile, but his voice betrays him. “I thought I kind of am? I didn’t take you for the long distance type.”

It’s not the response Billy wants. That should make Steve feel better than it does; the blatant display that Billy wants more of Steve. His excitement, his attention, maybe his companionship…

Steve doesn’t know what he wants—or rather, he does. That’s the issue. Billy’s wants and Billy’s problems can all be resolved by leaving one critical piece behind.

Steve.

Some more things are said, but Steve doesn’t do well on the spot. Especially when the limelight is Billy. Steve fails the tests and he fails the interview. Billy storms out, leaving Steve at the table, pinching his fingertips white before he unconsciously glances at his backpack again.

The backpack full of apartment lease papers. The papers Steve’s already signed because even with his insecurities, the mornings he woke up to discover Billy spooning him after having returned in the middle of the night were his best days. Because Billy’s silly insistence on hand poured coffee was his favorite drink. Because Billy was funny and weird like an artist and loony like a nerd with his video games, and Steve knew—or at least hoped that—Billy loved him the day he started holding his hand while driving that stupid, loud, beloved Camaro—

Because Steve’s heart was a magnet. It stayed where it landed and tugged back even when pulled away.

All he’d needed was Billy’s autograph to be given the keys. Keys to the rest of their lives, if Billy wasn’t already so far away.

Ch. 2

Robin gripped Steve’s arm, hard. A gargled sound escaped him as he grimaced and tried to pry her hand off. Her other hand pointed at one of the catalogues on the store’s many counters. When he invited her with him to pick out glasses, he hadn’t expected to walk out of the freaking optometrist’s office with bruises…

Nor had he thought he’d see a familiar face in the catalogue. Plenty of models were looking editorial chic, advertising that anyone could look as good in whatever glasses they chose.

Except Billy really did look good. The picture was just a vague image outside, the camera focused on Billy’s three-quarter profile gazing off past the photographer.

“I didn’t expect him to actually be working this fast,” Robin admitted. “It’s been…what? Seven months, give or take? I thought casting calls for models were competitive.”

“Not if you look like Billy,” Steve huffed with a quiet mixture of humor, sadness, and just a sprinkle of spite. A sprinkle of jealousy, if he was being honest with himself. The self-help book tucked under the covers of his bed talked about honesty. So he admitted honestly, “He looks that good and knows how to stand out in a room…good for him.”

He could see in his periphery Robin looking up and scrutinizing him. “Really?”

Steve shrugged with a nod. “Yeah. What’s the other option? Him struggling for work?”

Robin sighed and plucked a display set of glasses at random to try on and occupy herself. “That’s big of you, but everyone wants something cathartic. It’s annoyingly impressive that he landed the front cover of a magazine in less than a year.”

Steve opened the catalogue to give them both a reprieve. “You wanna get food after this? Take your mind off the audition?”

For all the good being a band geek did, Robin had experienced her own humbling experiences over the last few months. Like failed auditions to be in city orchestras. She and Steve were feeling very stuck in Kansas while Billy gallivanted around Oz.

• • • • • • •

The plot gets messy because years will actually go by, and Steve and Robin get married so that they can share insurance benefits (and be safe in their bi/lesbian open relationship, buy a house together, etc. It’s the life/happiness security Steve wants but obviously there aren’t any romantic feelings).

Of course this is when Billy happens to reenter Steve’s life. He’s got some hot-shot model he’s been seeing, and apparently Steve is married so there’s the added dash and twist of ~ cheating ~

I’ve been in some kind of mood, all right.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading lol.

#harringrove #wip wednesday #this is a long one i'm sorry lol #also do check out the mummy au linked above for a much happier wip lol #neonponders #lazybakerart #the art of steve in a blindfold can also be considered a wip?#i'll reblog it for everyone haha #ficlet #break-up/getting back together

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impala1967dwinchester · 3 years

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Sorry to bother you, but can I please request a Jensen x wife!reader where she's pregnant (maybe twins) and while she's in labor things gets complicated and she starts bleeding and loses consciousness and Jensen is there with her and he's panicking and she nearly dies but it's all okay in the end??

Jensen Ackles: Mrs. Ackles?

You didn’t bother me, I actually had a really fun time writing this. Thank you for the request.

Word Count: 2.4k

@akshi8278 @deanswaywardgirl

“I’d love to say we could go do that cute little picnic thing you wanted to do Jay, but I think my water just broke!” Y/n said, as she walked down the stairs. Well, I’m not upset, I figured that if we wanted to something, that our baby girls would want to come into the world.

“Okay, stay there... actually sit down, and I’ll grab the go bag.” I said skipping stairs as I ran upstairs. I ran into the girl's nursey grabbing there little black bag, clothes and anything that they’d need on the way back home.

Thinking ahead I had placed Y/n bag near the front door. When I came down stairs' Y/n was taking deep breathes, and had one hand on her stomach while the other rested on her lower back. I’d like to think that I was doing pretty well with the whole situation.

Throwing the bags into the back of the car, I walked back up to the house, seeing Y/n trying to slip on her slippers. “Do you want some help, babe?” I asked getting on my knee and carefully slipping them on her feet. When she stood up, she winced. I raised an eyebrow, but let it go when she said “It’s fine. But can we get to the hospital now!”

I wrapped my hand around her waist, and we walked out of the car. I opened her door, and she slid into the seat, leaning the seat back. I buckled her in before walking around the car and into the driver seat. “I promise to be careful while I drive.”

As I drove, I made sure that I didn’t hit bumps, or drive to fast. Making it to the hospital via short cut. Months ago, I had traced the best, and fastest way to get to the hospital, but that regardless. I made to the hospital, I drove up to the emergency side letting a nurse take her in a wheelchair.

I drove off finding a parking spot, unfortunately it was on the fifth floor of the parking deck. I ran to the closet elevator, clicking the ‘ground floor’. No elevator music played, just the silence. Then suddenly a loud ding altering me that I was now on the ground floor.

When the elevator doors opened, I looked around the area of the hospital looking for the emergency entrance. In the corner of my eye, I saw the huge red blocked letters, so I ran across the crosswalk, and up the sidewalk until I made it to the doors of the emergency entrance.

There was Y/n in a wheelchair a nurse holding the handles to push her, “Hey, I’m Y/n husband.” I said to front desk nurse. “Okay, well Mr. Ackles I just need to sign a few papers. Here and then we can get your wife in a bed.” The nurse said handing me clipboard. She had so nicely highlighted the section that I had to sign, a few signatures and a few questions that we asking if Y/n was taking any prescription drugs, or when was the last time Y/n had eaten.

I handed the nurse back the clipboard. She looked over at the other nurse and saying “Take her up to delivery floor, Room 11.” The nurse started walking and I had to catch up with them. I hadn’t brought any of the bags with me, thinking that wouldn’t be necessary.

We got into another elevator and the nurse pressed the floor 4. “So, what are you having?” She asked. Y/n was taking deep breathes, and I realized that she probably wasn’t going to answer the question. “We are having twins.” I said rolling on the back of my heels. “This must be your first?” She said Y/n shook her head “Thi.. This is our first yes.” She spoke

“Well, my name is Taylor. I can’t wait to see your bundles of joy. I work in the delivery room.” Taylor said as the elevator ding that we had hit the 4th floor. “So let me ask you something Mrs. Ackles.’ Y/n shook her head ‘When was your last contractions?” Y/n put her hand stomach.

“Last contraction was about 2 minutes ago. I’m thinking about 3 minutes apart, Taylor.” Y/n said. This part I hadn’t kept up, even when we went to classes. Apparently, I was supposed to pay attention, but I didn’t. Taylor pushed Y/n out into the hall, and up to another reception desk. “This is Y/n Ackles, and her husband, she’s having twins, and she says her contraction are about 3 minutes apart.” Taylor said.

I gently rubbed Y/n’s shoulder and she placed her hand over mine. I crouched down and whispered into Y/n’s ear “Everything is gonna be fine. I can see you fidgeting” The lady at the desk came around with a medical alert bracelet. It had Y/n’s age, her weight, her name, and her room. “Take her to the room 11, Taylor.” The front desk nurse said.

We again started to walk; Taylor started talking again. “There’s a gown for you to change into. Mr. Ackles you can help her, right?” “Yes of course” I said. “Oh, and there’s a gown for you as well Mr. Ackles for when Mrs. Ackles go into labor.” Taylor said as she walked into our room.

I walked around the wheelchair and in front of Y/n, she gripped onto my hand and forearm. “Here Mr. Ackles.” Taylor handed me Y/n gown. “I’m going to go outside let you, and Mrs. Ackles have some privacy.” Taylor said sliding the divider sheet, and then the glass door.

I walked with Y/n to the bathroom, she rests her hands against the marble counter. I slipped her shoes off, reached up to unzip her pants sliding them her hips thighs and finally off her legs. “I can’t believe that we are actually doing this today.” Y/n said. I stood up looking at her for a moment. She was just as beautiful as the day I first met her.

Y/n took a deep breathe, and placed her hand on her stomach. “Shit, this hurts Jay.” She said “Just breathe. I promise I’ll be fast about this.” I said rubbing small circles into her stomach. Trying to take any pain she was going through. “This is like having a period on steroids Jay.” Y/n said giggling a little.

“I have to take your shirt off, dear.” I said, Y/n placed her hands on my shoulder. I made sure to be careful of her baby bump. I lifted the shirt that was mine, up her frame, take her one hand out of the arm, and then doing that with the other.

I unclipped her bra, and slipped her underwear off. Y/n put her hands back onto the counter behind her. I slipped the gown on to her arms and then softly turned her around, and tied the back loosely. We walked out of the bathroom and back into the room, I set her into one of the chairs. “I’ll be right back okay.” I said bending down to kiss Y/n on the temple.

I walked out moving the divider back and open the glass door back. I walked out, “Taylor” I said as she came over. “I got her into that gown, I put her in one of those chairs.” I said rubbing the back of my neck. “Let’s get her in the bed.” Taylor said. Walking into our room. Y/n still sitting in the chair. “Hey sweetie, me and’ “Jensen” I said ‘Me and Jensen are going to move you to the bed.”

Y/n smiled and shook her head. I went to one side of Y/n and Taylor to the other side. Y/n stood up bracing her weight onto both of us. Once we had her on the bed Taylor did somethings to make sure she was comfortable. “Okay so Doctor Becerra will in soon to check how dilated you are.” She said before walking out of our room.

A few hours later Y/n went into labor, Taylor had put me into the gown, and went to Y/n other side to hold her hand. Everything was going fine, Y/n had given birth to our first daughter, the nurses taking her to clean her off and wrap her up in her pink little blanket, but as Y/n went to push for the second time. I could sense that something was wrong.

The doctor was giving Taylor a look of concern. “Is everything okay?” I asked getting more and more worried by the second. “Taylor what is going on?” I asked again. She gave me a look before looking back at the doctor. “Jensen, Mr. Ackles I need you to go outside for just a second.” She spoke.

“No. I’m not leaving my wife” I said worrying falling into my cracking voice.

“Mr. Ackles, Please just for a minute.” Taylor said coming over to me, guiding me out. When we pasted Y/n all I could see was blood, my breathing quickened and I walked a little faster out of the room. As I walked out of the room, I heard the doctor say “Mrs. Ackles? Mrs. Ackles?”

I went to sit down but I couldn’t I instead paced through the halls. As I got closer to the room I heard “She gone unconscious, but she’s breathing. There a lot of blood. Looks like she had a clot.” I sat down, thinking of all the worst things that could happen.

I could lose my wife and a daughter; I could only have a daughter have to raise her. I’d have to be all I had and all our daughter had, Or I could lose just my wife and have two amazing daughter that grow up to look like her. I could lose everyone and be alone. I’d be a lot of thing, but strong wouldn’t be one of those things.

I saw another 3 nurses rush in. Taylor coming out, and sitting down next to me. “Mr. Ackles?” “hmm” I said my hand running through my hair as I started to stress even more. “She has a clot, that’s what making her bleed excessively. She’s still breathing, which is amazing. Do you want to go see your first daughter?” She asked me

I fought with the idea in my mind. I didn’t want to leave my wife; I didn’t want to leave Y/n all alone. Swarmed with people she didn’t know, but I also knew that if she was awake right now, she’d be shooing me in the direction to where our first daughter lay. “Yes, that’d be nice.” I said walking next to Taylor.

It was a quiet walk, no more than 20 steps from where Y/ns room was. Taylor pointed to which baby was Y/n and I’s. The name tag said Ackles family. I smiled as I saw my daughter little finger wiggle. Taylor patted my shoulder. “If you don’t mind me saying’ I shook my head ‘You and your wife have made a very beautiful baby girl. And Jensen if I may she’ll make it.”

Taylor walked off, and let me there to take a long look at our daughter. I was starting to think we hadn’t even picked out names. That was actually my plan for today, go out on a picnic and eat some unhealthy food, and sit there go over names.

But the more I thought about it. I was thinking that once Y/n gave birth to our second daughter we could maybe name her hope. Hope that everything will be okay. Maybe we could name our first daughter Nova, and maybe in honor of Taylor our nurse we could have her middle name being Taylor.

I stood there and again smiled. I looked up and saw the nurse picking up my daughter. Her eye open her eye colored like her mothers. She was so cute and adorable, it looked like she had a small smile on her face. I couldn’t wait to hold her, and her sister. But most of all I couldn’t wait to hold their mother.

Taylor come back a few minutes later. “Jensen, sir. She’s awake and holding your younger daughter. If you’d like to come back to the room.” She said with a huge smile. We walked a little pep in my step. When I walked there was Y/n holding out second daughter. Next to her was our first daughter.

“Where’d you go?” Y/n said. I walked over to her and kissed her temple ‘I love you’ I said against her forehead. “I love you too Jay.” She spoke. A huge relief of breath left my system. I smiled looking at my family. “We have to name out kids you know.” Y/n said.

“Yes, yes we do. I was thinking’ I said as I walked over to our first daughter to pick her up. ‘That would name her Nova Taylor.” I spoke. “Taylor as in the nurse!?” Y/n said with a smile on her face. “Yes, we can name her that Jay.” She spoke.

There was a moment of silence. “I was thinking Jay... Maybe we would name her.’ swaddling our second daughter in her arms. ‘Hope. But if you don’t like that it’s okay.” Y/n said. “No, baby that’s... it’s prefect.” I said rubbing her shoulder.

“I know that you were scared. I know why you weren’t in here. I’m sorry that I scared you that much. But I want you to know that I’m here with all three of you. And I'm not going anywhere.” Y/n said a few tears falling down her already tired face. I put down Nova, and wiped away a few stray tears. “It’s okay baby, I know you aren’t going anywhere; Now get some sleep.” I said taking Hope out of her arms.

The minute I took Hope out of her arms, Y/n had drifted into sleep. “You gave me and mommy quite a scare. I have a feeling you’re going to be a trouble maker.” As I finished my talk with Hope, she opened her eye, they looked like mine, a jaded emerald colored.

Another thought ran through my mind as I set down Hope. Nova was going to be a daddy’s girl, and my precious Hope was going to be Mommy's girl. I was happier for that though; I was so overly filled with joy that I had my entire family in one room.

Completed: 02/28/2021

#Jensen Ackles #jensen fanfic #jensengirl #jensen x reader #Jensen x wife!reader #jensen x y/n #jensen x you #jensen x female!reader #supernatural #supernatural fanfiction #Supernatural fanfic #supernatural fic #supernatural x reader

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theviolinistfromhell · 5 years

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The Devil’s in the Details

“You wish…to terminate your contract with us?” Tired steel blue eyes glanced up from the piece of paper in his hands. They locked with the emerald green of the young woman in front of him, regarding her for a moment as though she were a specimen. These matters were tedious and boring. He expected her to scurry around fearful enough considering her constant anxiety, but a legality was an interesting move. He didn’t quite think she’d had the gall to do so. Leaning back in his seat, Walter Mundy regarded his client for a moment as well as the older short-haired woman seated next to her and the young man that was their lawyer.

His position was slightly bent as he sat, gaze skimming over the document once more. As old as he was, his hearing was still sharp and he listened to the tap of the young woman’s fingers against her lap while she signed to the redhead seated opposite of her. “Mr. Mundy,” Maxwell Borenstein cleared his throat and nodded to the young woman. “My client is prepared to go to court and we are willing to litigate this problem for as long as possible, long enough to give your music company a bad name, as well as decrease the sales of your currently scheduled performances.”

The old man’s lip twitched in a mixture of annoyance and amusement. Hands folding together, Walter Mundy tilted his head to the side at the young woman gazing back at him with a serious expression. His gaze lingered on her furrowed brow and the corner of her mouth twitching in annoyance. It gave him great pleasure at her discomfort. “Miss Wild…” He uttered, his voice was scratchy, almost like sandpaper. “We’ve been over this, darling-“ The Maestro stopped short when he saw the older woman scoot her chair closer.

She had the same expression as his agitator. Despite the flecks of white appearing in her hair, the “guardian” was stoic and not amused at his treatment. Her tone was quick to have a sharp bite to it. “I’d keep your sly dog tongue from waggin’ at this moment, sir. My niece certainly doesn’t approve.”

His hands folded on the desk and the corner of his lips twitched slightly in amusement. “While this is all good and fun, Miss Wild and Mrs.Tisdale, I have a rather busy schedule to attend to as Miss Wild is aware of from her time in our orchestra. Or…has it slipped your mind, darling?” There it was again, that slimy remark.

Her mind was elsewhere in that moment, despite all of her focus on the man in front of her. Her hands clenched at her sides. She did not see Walter Mundy in the present. She saw his visage in her imagination now as it reeled back to a childhood memory. A monster begging for its life as a bigger one savaged the lesser’s spinal column between its gaping jowls and dripping, unhinged, maw. Razor sharp teeth gleamed blood and entrails in the moonlight, but the gaze never left her. The phrase uttered by her employer brought her back to the present though and she found her gumption again. Her knees shook in her seat and despite every fiber of her being telling her to run, the building pressure in her gut, she maintained her ground on the issue.

Dark chocolate waves shook from her head, pulled back into a half-bun, her shifting facial expressions said it all whilst Mara Wild signed her hands at him vehemently. "I’m not your “darling”, Mr. Mundy. I am also not bound to you because you deem to “will” it on paper that has the mad basis that is the same as a contract with the Church of Scientology.”

Sighing, he ran his hand over his face, and inhaled sharply. Ah, to be compared to another egregious mortal cult was both in itself an insult and a compliment . “Miss Wild, we have been over this many times. When you first signed your contract with us, the print was very clear. You would carry it out until you planned to retire.” He watched as the young man at her side with his curly blonde hair and crisp business attire fished around for some paperwork and then chimed in.

Maxwell Borenstein may have looked like any ordinary lawyer, but he had a few tricks up his sleeves. “And while that may be true that she signed the contract within your employment, it is, in fact, illegal to sign life contracts. Might I also add you did so illegally considering she was a minor at the time.” The click of a briefcase opened and Walter Mundy was served a manila folder, glaring at the brown-eyed attorney with his mouth tightened into a thin line. No sooner had the plain little folder come into view, Walter Mundy felt the energy coursing from it. Ah. He was that kind of lawyer. “Please, Mr. Mundy. We can make this legal issue very ugly…my firm and I are known for dealing with…difficult people like yourselves. By difficult I mean-”

“Despicable? Deplorable? Devious?” He was looking for a different word but Maxwell wasn’t going to buy into it or at least adhere to another type of quarrel Walter Mundy wanted to initiate. At this, the Maestro regarded the lawyer with a pleasant smile and he turned it on the girl instead. “Well, Miss Wild. We don’t want things to be messy now do we and it seems I underestimated you.”

“We don’t take lightly to threats in this family, Mr. Mundy. It’s best ya remember that now.” The terseness of the older woman’s tone cut through Walter Mundy’s attempts to “appease” the situation. Ah, yes the aunt. Carol Tisdale had always been a thorn in his side from the day they scoped out Mara’s talents and he couldn’t shake her, nor could he get rid of her either. She might have been donned in hospital scrubs during this meeting and looked seemingly harmless, but no one associated with him was ever anything but a threat.

Hands folded in her lap, Mara blinked at Walter Mundy, and regarded him with indifference. Her gaze never leaving his face for her glare was as livid as her posture in the chair. She watched as he took out his fancy pen from his breast pocket and signed the papers, thrusting them back to the lawyer.

“Pleasure resolving this issue Mr. Mundy,” Maxwell responded curtly, but judging by his tone, the attorney knew this wasn’t going to be so easy. Rising from the chair, he gestured to the girl to usher her towards the door with the older woman. “We keep this quiet now sir and perhaps this can be settled in a civil trial instead of a criminal proceeding.”

"Of course, I certainly hope there are no hard feelings Miss Wild.” Walter Mundy addressed her with a mock bow and extended his hand for her to shake, but she didn’t return the gesture. Oh no. She had given him enough of her time he imagined, but she would still have more to give it would be in time. He was patient. He could wait.

Standing from the chair, she cautiously picked up the violin case that had been seated next to her on the floor. Mara hesitated though as if suspecting this would not be their last encounter. Her fingers clenched around the handle of the instrument case and as it lifted she saw his eyes flit to it for a brief moment. “…No hard feelings at all. Especially not with all of your father’s talents.” She could hear him utter as she slowly turned to exit the door. This wouldn’t be the last encounter with them and even if the contract had been severed, Mara knew better than that. This was far from over.

–

Despite the severance of the contract, she vowed not to let the intimidation tactics of her former employer interrupt her daily life. No matter if it was several days after the fact or several weeks, one thing certainly would never change and that was her anxiety being in public places that were crowded.

People stared. If there was anything she hated more than anything in the world, it was when onlookers couldn’t mind their own business. It was the most uncomfortable feeling in the world. The sensation of someone else’s eyes washing over you, sizing you up, almost like a predator observed its prey. The pharmacy was one of the least expected places she had expected it to happen. She didn’t think the customers would watch as she disputed her frustration to the pharmaceutical rep, who was the only one that could understand her. The manager, standing beside his employee merely gaped at the situation and tried to interrupt as the girl’s hands moved rapidly, signing her words and using DJ to voice for her; between the two only once could speak.

"Your manager, I feel, is incapable of running this store. I’ve been here many times in the past few months, and every time Ms. Tisdale submits a prescription for the hospital there seems to be an issue.” The rep voiced for her, though it was strained because he couldn’t hear his own tone. Small fists clenched the strap to her instrument case that had been fashioned to wrapped around her shoulder so she could have her hands free at all times. The anger in her nonverbal gestures mounted, before DJ finally resolved the issue and made sure to correct what his manager had done wrong. It wasn’t his fault his supervisor was an idiot.

The young man behind the counter, held out a small white bag to her. His expression sympathized with her frustration and he nudged his head in the direction of the older man standing behind him. “I’m so sorry for this, really. This shouldn’t happen to you at all…” His own hands lifted up and he returned the gestures to her so the man behind him couldn’t hear. “I’m putting in a call to corporate next week because I’m convinced he’s discriminating against the customers who a deaf. He seems to think you can’t hear him when he talks to me.”

Reaching for the bag, green eyes settled on DJ adjusting his glasses. Her mouth set into a thin line and the girl exhaled a rasped noise of annoyance before she signed to him again, expressing her thanks and turning to face the small audience standing behind her. Their stares only proving to further agitate her.

“WHAT? What are you staring at?” She pointed to her eyes and then back at them, before gesturing to the counter behind her. It seemed the expression was understood, and all eyes darted away from her.

Rolling her eyes, she moved around the line of people in an effort to get out of there as fast as possible. Her heart began to pound in her chest, and her black ballet flats clicked rapidly against the tile floor. Without hesitating, Mara shoved the front door open and pushed her way out into the open air. She had to get away, had to get out of there. The pressure in her stomach was mounting and her thoughts were going a hundred miles a minute. Her pace quickened and turned into slightly manic five block power walk which finally gave her enough room to breathe once the pharmacy was far out of sight.

She clutched at the skirts of her cute blue sundress in an attempt to calm herself. The bag of temporary prescription balled into her fist, and against her other hand she clutched tightly to the leather strap around her shoulder. The pulse of the instrument case at her back further made effort to settle her nerves and its energy soothed her for the time being.

Dark chocolate curls fell in her face as she leaned up against the wall of Mike’s Corner Store. Her breathing eventually settled and the tightness in her chest disappeared. Inhaling deeply, Mara lifted her head up to gaze across the street and remind herself of her surroundings. A second pulse of the case only reminded her, but briefly, that she wasn’t entirely alone. That was when she heard its call.

Spardaaaa… It whispered and she tensed slightly, turning to look around at the sound of this name.

What? Who? Her fingers reached for the case at her back and she pulled it to her side. Emerald eyes glanced down at the clasps. “…What is it?” She asked it again. “…Who are you talking about?” She hadn’t heard the instrument ever utter anything like that before. Perhaps a brief warning but never a name.

Breathe. She told herself, taking the time to remain in place before finally allowing herself to collect her nerves. That was when she smelled it. The violin urged again that same name when she turned to find the direction of the scent. Spardaaaaa

The smell blood hung in the air, thick, and coppery. It was a stench you couldn’t forget and it was an easy scent to recognize, she hadn’t been paying the slightest attention, completely, to her surroundings but she felt the pull of the instrument. Find Sparda…

This jarred her back to reality especially at the urging of her instrument. Hell, Mara even jumped a little and slowly began to take in her surroundings again on the back street.

With her emotions heightened, she nearly let her anxiety get the better of her again until the trail of blood caught her attention. The furrow in her brow disappeared and concern marred her features.

Her knees shook a bit at first but gradually she began at an even pace and quickened when she heard it again. Find…Sparda… It urged again, this time desperate and

She didn’t know what possessed her to do this in the first place. The instrument her father left for her never steered her wrong before. Eventually her steps brought her to a messy alley where trash and cans littered the back street.

@vergilsparda

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