the-life-we-fear

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma wished that Briggs had come with her to break the news to Mike. Ever since she backstabbed him in Quantico, she never wanted to be the bearer of bad news to him ever again.

Her teeth caught her bottom lip and she quietly shook her head. 'Not quite...you may want to sit down for what I'm about to tell you.' She took a seat on the edge of his bed, tapping the spot next to her. Though she very much doubted that he would even take a seat. He'd be pacing the whole time.

'The evidence on the iPad is unusable. The techs at the bureau couldn't get to the failsafe in time and it...nothing was salvageable.' Her shoulders ached from the bruises still peppering her skin. But also from the weight of breaking this information to him.

'We don't have enough evidence to bring him down...Unless you, me, and one of Briggs' friends go in and play house one last time. One last time where the FBI will actually be able to swoop in and arrest him, Nigel, and every other bastard letting them get away with what they are doing there.'

Emma had to step out of the house in order to compose herself before speaking to Mike. He had worked so hard to get that iPad, and all of his hard work and probably many sleepless nights were ruined now that they couldn’t use it against Carmine.

But after grabbing a brunch taco with Briggs, she was ready to spring the news to Mike. She took a deep breath and walked up the stairs, taking her sweet time in doing so before stopping just outside his door.

‘Hey…’ She was surprised at how much of Donnie’s things were already packed away. She forgot how quickly he was with packing. 'You have a minute to chat…’ She swallowed. 'It’s about Carmine.’

[the-life-we-fear]

The Departed (2006) dir. Martin Scorsese

#Mike &Emma inspo

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma had to step out of the house in order to compose herself before speaking to Mike. He had worked so hard to get that iPad, and all of his hard work and probably many sleepless nights were ruined now that they couldn't use it against Carmine.

But after grabbing a brunch taco with Briggs, she was ready to spring the news to Mike. She took a deep breath and walked up the stairs, taking her sweet time in doing so before stopping just outside his door.

'Hey...' She was surprised at how much of Donnie's things were already packed away. She forgot how quickly he was with packing. 'You have a minute to chat...' She swallowed. 'It's about Carmine.'

Emma stepped slowly in time behind him, taking the file from him. She quickly opened it. Briggs was right, his file was impressive. Brought in over a thousand cases just in his first year of working with the FBI.

She glanced up at him with a smirk. ‘I’m offended that you think I would suggest you play our father.’ She scoffed and went back to looking over the file.

She was quiet the whole time she flipped through it. This whole thing was extremely risky and if all went wrong, would end up with some sort of blood on either of the side’s hands.

But then she could feel the anger of everything Carmine put her through. What he put both of them through. And she knew that she would do anything to see them put away for good, no matter what.

She closed the file and held it back out to him. 'I can’t wait to see Carmine’s shocked face when little ol’ me brings him down.’ She gave him a nod. 'I’m in.’

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma stepped slowly in time behind him, taking the file from him. She quickly opened it. Briggs was right, his file was impressive. Brought in over a thousand cases just in his first year of working with the FBI.

She glanced up at him with a smirk. 'I'm offended that you think I would suggest you play our father.' She scoffed and went back to looking over the file.

She was quiet the whole time she flipped through it. This whole thing was extremely risky and if all went wrong, would end up with some sort of blood on either of the side's hands.

But then she could feel the anger of everything Carmine put her through. What he put both of them through. And she knew that she would do anything to see them put away for good, no matter what.

She closed the file and held it back out to him. 'I can't wait to see Carmine's shocked face when little ol' me brings him down.' She gave him a nod. 'I'm in.'

It took a moment for Emma to fully grasp what Briggs was suggesting. And it was extremely risk and terrifying to be even considering going back to Carmine without dressed in FBI gear.

It sent a wave of terror through her and she had to dig her nails into her palm just to make sure she stayed aware that this was reality. And that reality meant that Mike needed to be involved. She had no doubt that Briggs would be the one playing their father, especially

‘Have you told Mike about this plan yet?’ She shifted her weight on her feet, tilting her head. ‘He should be there too with us.’ Emma had so many questions, but she didn’t want to throw them all at him at once. 'How do we achieve bringing him in like this?’

[the-life-we-fear]

It took a moment for Emma to fully grasp what Briggs was suggesting. And it was extremely risk and terrifying to be even considering going back to Carmine without dressed in FBI gear.

It sent a wave of terror through her and she had to dig her nails into her palm just to make sure she stayed aware that this was reality. And that reality meant that Mike needed to be involved. She had no doubt that Briggs would be the one playing their father, especially

'Have you told Mike about this plan yet?' She shifted her weight on her feet, tilting her head. 'He should be there too with us.' Emma had so many questions, but she didn't want to throw them all at him at once. 'How do we achieve bringing him in like this?'

Emma’s heart sank. Mike had drove himself crazy to get that iPad out with them. ‘How the hell did it break? It was fine when we got it out of there.’ She let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the balcony. Maybe that was why he wouldn’t let her jump the gun on bringing them in. Because they now need more evidence on them.

Folding her arms across her chest she looked up at him. She could feel now he was holding back.

‘But?’ She said as she raised her brows. ‘There has to be another way to bring them down.’

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma’s heart sank. Mike had drove himself crazy to get that iPad out with them. ‘How the hell did it break? It was fine when we got it out of there.’ She let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the balcony. Maybe that was why he wouldn’t let her jump the gun on bringing them in. Because they now need more evidence on them.

Folding her arms across her chest she looked up at him. She could feel now he was holding back.

‘But?’ She said as she raised her brows. ‘There has to be another way to bring them down.’

Emma pressed her tongue against her teeth as she slowly turned to look at him. And with no words she dropped her hands and moved her clothes away from the skin on her hip.

‘He called me to his office. At first it started off as him yelling at me. Then he began throwing things at me and then…’ her lip trembled. ‘Then he put his hands on me. And then he wanted me to never forget.’

In between two large bruises sat a brand of Carmine’s signia burned onto her skin. ‘He wanted to make sure that wherever I go, I was reminded by the man who bested the snotty little rich girl daddy would do anything for.’ She swallowed back the tears. ‘And I just…let him. Continued playing the part of an innocent rich girl unaware of how to protect herself. Because I was loosing hope.’

[the-life-we-fear]

Piper dragged her teeth over her top lip, making it turn into a bright shade of red. She let her eyes drift up at the ceiling, where instead of actually thinking of something that she wasn't confident in sharing with him, she was reading the Latin on the wall. It's not that she was planning on lying to Aedan, she just had been quite the open book since they met. Even if she wanted to keep somethings from him, she always found herself telling him everything.

Well maybe not everything.

She sucked her teeth playfully and glanced back at him. 'It's more of a fear rather than a no-go.' She shook her hair out of her face. 'I never had a fear of being alone or screwing a relationship up more before I met...' You. 'All of you. Neris, Dedrek, Glade.' She chuckled. 'I never had an issue with people coming and going from my life. But the thought of you all moving on without me, is something I never want to think about.'

'You all have made an impact on me. And I'll fight tooth and nail to keep you all in my life.' She could feel her cheeks grow red. 'Look at me, I'm being dramatic.'

Piper shook her head, taking her hands out of the water for a split second to roll her sleeves up using her hip before continuing her washing.

‘It’s fine.’ But then her head bounced from side to side. ‘I mean it’s not fine that you think you have to apologize for him. He’s old enough to do that himself.’ She leaned toward him slightly, ‘though something tells me he’s not one for apologizing.’

But the moment the words left her lips, she immediately regretted saying them. She swallowed and leaned her hip on the lip of the sink. ‘I mean, I wasn’t with you while the two of you were together, so I shouldn’t speak on any of it but…’ She was rambling. ‘I know how it is when someone wants a reaction. You’d see that in my mother when you meet her.’She paused. If he ever meet her. Why would Aedan ever meet her mother other than by chance?

‘Dune won’t be getting any more reactions from me. You don’t have to apologize for him anymore.’ Or at least she would try and try very hard not to let him get under her skin.

Dedrek’s works were pieces of work Piper often struggled to get through. Not because any of them were bad, they just put her through multiple waves of emotions that usually ended up with her crying and picking up a more light-hearted, shorter novel.

‘I get it, some people only can relive their pasts when it’s on a page.’ She returned the tight smile, and then it morphed into a more cheeky one. ‘Anything else I should know not to press people on?’ She leaned against him again. ‘Or anything You would like me to press you on? Something you make sure to do this weekend?’ She teased.

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma pressed her tongue against her teeth as she slowly turned to look at him. And with no words she dropped her hands and moved her clothes away from the skin on her hip.

‘He called me to his office. At first it started off as him yelling at me. Then he began throwing things at me and then…’ her lip trembled. ‘Then he put his hands on me. And then he wanted me to never forget.’

In between two large bruises sat a brand of Carmine’s signia burned onto her skin. ‘He wanted to make sure that wherever I go, I was reminded by the man who bested the snotty little rich girl daddy would do anything for.’ She swallowed back the tears. ‘And I just…let him. Continued playing the part of an innocent rich girl unaware of how to protect herself. Because I was loosing hope.’

Emma’s playful demeanor fell completely the moment she walked out onto that balcony. She was silent and she could feel the question coming even before Briggs started to speak. God did she wish she hadn’t come back early.

She swallowed deeply, folding her arms across her chest as she continued to look for Mike. But he was no where in sight.

She shrugged. ‘He uh, put us in cages, fed us shitty foods, and made us dance till our legs were numb.’ She didn’t dare look at him. She knew that he could tell that there was more.

She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth so hard that it started to spasm. ‘Roughed us up…when he felt we weren’t cooperating. Nothing you or anyone else in the house don’t know about.’ But she continued not to look at him.

[the-life-we-fear]

Amara smiled wildly as she watched him sip his wine. Though she felt as though he shouldn’t consume anything else that would affect the way he would end up feeling or thinking in the morning. She drew in a slow, steady breath as she rested her elbow on the edge of the tub, still sitting quite close to him.

‘Don’t worry about making me think that. I could tell from the moment I met you that you weren’t going to press for sex. Even after learning about my job selection.’ She chuckled and tilted her head to the side a bit more. Her eyes drifting away from him.

‘And I did feel more than not being offended.’ She could feel the color spark across her face. ‘It felt good being kissed by someone I also wanted to kiss.’

Amara did not expect him to kiss her at all, and she wasn’t sure how he was so passionate about it even being doped up on the amount of opium in his system at the moment.

He kissed her like they had been courting for months before this moment, and all he was dreaming of was kissing her. The act made her heart flutter, and she had just turned her head into the kiss just as he pulled away.

‘I don’t deserve a kiss?’ She asked with a smirk as she stayed leaned forward. ‘I’d have to disagree with you. I’d actually take a kiss like that any day more than the coin I get.’ She sighed.

‘So much passion for someone you’ve only known for a bit more than twenty-four hours. You can do it again, if you’d like. I won’t feel offended if you do.’

[the-life-we-fear]

REDEEMING LOVE 2022, dir. D.J. Caruso

#NSFW #Piper & Aedan inspo

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma’s playful demeanor fell completely the moment she walked out onto that balcony. She was silent and she could feel the question coming even before Briggs started to speak. God did she wish she hadn’t come back early.

She swallowed deeply, folding her arms across her chest as she continued to look for Mike. But he was no where in sight.

She shrugged. ‘He uh, put us in cages, fed us shitty foods, and made us dance till our legs were numb.’ She didn’t dare look at him. She knew that he could tell that there was more.

She pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth so hard that it started to spasm. ‘Roughed us up…when he felt we weren’t cooperating. Nothing you or anyone else in the house don’t know about.’ But she continued not to look at him.

‘Mike!’ Emma groaned but didn’t get up out of her seat. She only gave Charlie an apologetic smile before she moved to stand.

‘He just doesn’t like to be told stay put,’ Emma shook her head, ‘He’d still run even if he broke his foot smashing that guitar on it.’ She moved over to Briggs.

‘Did this one behave last night? I won’t hear any horror stories about what he put Mike through last night?’ She glanced up at him, placing her hands on both of his arms. ‘What’s the agenda for today hmm? An adventure? A day full of filing papers…’ she shrugged. ‘Maybe you and I can train a bit? Hand to hand?’

[the-life-we-fear]

Piper shook her head, taking her hands out of the water for a split second to roll her sleeves up using her hip before continuing her washing.

‘It’s fine.’ But then her head bounced from side to side. ‘I mean it’s not fine that you think you have to apologize for him. He’s old enough to do that himself.’ She leaned toward him slightly, ‘though something tells me he’s not one for apologizing.’

But the moment the words left her lips, she immediately regretted saying them. She swallowed and leaned her hip on the lip of the sink. ‘I mean, I wasn’t with you while the two of you were together, so I shouldn’t speak on any of it but…’ She was rambling. ‘I know how it is when someone wants a reaction. You’d see that in my mother when you meet her.’She paused. If he ever meet her. Why would Aedan ever meet her mother other than by chance?

‘Dune won’t be getting any more reactions from me. You don’t have to apologize for him anymore.’ Or at least she would try and try very hard not to let him get under her skin.

Dedrek’s works were pieces of work Piper often struggled to get through. Not because any of them were bad, they just put her through multiple waves of emotions that usually ended up with her crying and picking up a more light-hearted, shorter novel.

‘I get it, some people only can relive their pasts when it’s on a page.’ She returned the tight smile, and then it morphed into a more cheeky one. ‘Anything else I should know not to press people on?’ She leaned against him again. ‘Or anything You would like me to press you on? Something you make sure to do this weekend?’ She teased.

Piper had come across many men like Dune before. However, they didn’t always show their true colors the first time she met them. And none of them were Dune. She tried not to show how uncomfortable he was making her by not glancing or paying him any mind when he spoke. But she could see the grin he wore knowing how much it was working.

Piper was the next one to sit back. She hadn’t eaten much, for her nerves ceased her to do so. Which was quite odd for her, since she was usually never nervous about meeting new people. Maybe it was all the stories she heard.

She bit down on the inside of her cheek when she saw Aedan standing, almost swearing to herself not wanting to be stuck sitting across from Dune without him here. He kept glaring daggers at her whenever he wasn’t chewing wildly on the meat he had on his plate.

Surprised there was any meat for the rest of them with how he was eating it.

She had to blink twice when the words left Aedan’s mouth, and she stopped herself from sighing with relief.

‘Yes.’ She said softly as she placed her glass on the table along with her napkin as she stood. 'I will gladly help.’ She glanced around the table, grabbing the empty potato bowl as well as a scrapped clean greens bowl.

She flashed Neris a smile before moving off into the kitchen. That was when she let out her breath depositing the dishes into the sink for her to start washing them.

[the-life-we-fear]

‘Mike!’ Emma groaned but didn’t get up out of her seat. She only gave Charlie an apologetic smile before she moved to stand.

‘He just doesn’t like to be told stay put,’ Emma shook her head, ‘He’d still run even if he broke his foot smashing that guitar on it.’ She moved over to Briggs.

‘Did this one behave last night? I won’t hear any horror stories about what he put Mike through last night?’ She glanced up at him, placing her hands on both of his arms. ‘What’s the agenda for today hmm? An adventure? A day full of filing papers…’ she shrugged. ‘Maybe you and I can train a bit? Hand to hand?’

Emma slowly glanced toward Johnny. ‘Like blood disrupts your ability to put food into your body. And it’s a guitar in someone’s leg, it’s not that gross.’ Though she slowly turned back to look at all the splinters Charlie tugged from him laying on a napkin, all covered in blood. ‘Okay…it’s a bit gross. But also nothing at the same time.’

She pushed her glass away and leaned on the table. ‘It’s a good thing she caught you before you escaped out that door this morning.’ She put on a playful face, pouting her lips as she looked at Charlie.

‘Tell me, will he ever walk again!’

[the-life-we-fear]

Amara did not expect him to kiss her at all, and she wasn’t sure how he was so passionate about it even being doped up on the amount of opium in his system at the moment.

He kissed her like they had been courting for months before this moment, and all he was dreaming of was kissing her. The act made her heart flutter, and she had just turned her head into the kiss just as he pulled away.

‘I don’t deserve a kiss?’ She asked with a smirk as she stayed leaned forward. ‘I’d have to disagree with you. I’d actually take a kiss like that any day more than the coin I get.’ She sighed.

‘So much passion for someone you’ve only known for a bit more than twenty-four hours. You can do it again, if you’d like. I won’t feel offended if you do.’

Amara drew in a deep breath, the aroma of the strawberries hitting her even hard. She could feel her own body giving into the sweetness as she drifted farther down. Eve had definitly slipped something magical into that soap.

Her eyes opened to half slits a she looked over at him. ‘Really? That’s the only reason why you think we could ever be sharing a bath?’ She let out a low chuckle as she forced herself to sit up, and lean forward slightly. ‘I can assure you, Epithymia has nothing to do with any of this.’

She pressed her lips together, as he eyes fell to his. Even defiantly put gave them something to feel extra good. ‘But you do feel good, right?’

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma slowly glanced toward Johnny. ‘Like blood disrupts your ability to put food into your body. And it’s a guitar in someone’s leg, it’s not that gross.’ Though she slowly turned back to look at all the splinters Charlie tugged from him laying on a napkin, all covered in blood. ‘Okay…it’s a bit gross. But also nothing at the same time.’

She pushed her glass away and leaned on the table. ‘It’s a good thing she caught you before you escaped out that door this morning.’ She put on a playful face, pouting her lips as she looked at Charlie.

‘Tell me, will he ever walk again!’

Emma’s brows pinched together as she grabbed a glass and moved toward the fridge. ‘Better than what the hell happened to you.’ She chuckled, maneuvering past the Orange Juice labeled with Jake’s initials. ‘You run into a thorn bush or something? Or did you completely lodge the acoustic guitar into your leg last night.’

She moved to sit next to Mike, her shoulder brushing across his back, taking one sip of the cranberry juice until her mouth turned down. Someone had spiked it with vodka. ‘I leave you alone for a couple hours in this house and Charlie is already playing Doctor with you.’ She leaned around the side to see his face, but was careful not to jostle him enough. ‘See how fast people get close here. Doesn’t it feel like you’ve been here for a while already?’

[the-life-we-fear]

Amara drew in a deep breath, the aroma of the strawberries hitting her even hard. She could feel her own body giving into the sweetness as she drifted farther down. Eve had definitly slipped something magical into that soap.

Her eyes opened to half slits a she looked over at him. ‘Really? That’s the only reason why you think we could ever be sharing a bath?’ She let out a low chuckle as she forced herself to sit up, and lean forward slightly. ‘I can assure you, Epithymia has nothing to do with any of this.’

She pressed her lips together, as he eyes fell to his. Even defiantly put gave them something to feel extra good. ‘But you do feel good, right?’

Her eyes watched him the full way as he slowly sank underneath the water. She was grateful that he was able to lower himself, she was too tired to jump and try to catch him if his body failed to work properly. But she could see the medicine the doctor had given him was working properly.

Amara lifted one of her hands out of the water, running her fingers over the lip of the tub. She kept her eyes on his face, even though she wanted them to dip down and catch a glimpse of him under the water.

‘Almost never.’ She said softly, reaching over to the table to grab the bar of soap. She dipped it under the water and slowly began to lather it over her chest and down her arms. 'Why do you ask? You want to make it a reoccurring thing between us?’ She said slyly as she bent her knee so only the top of it poked out of the water.

[the-life-we-fear]

Emma’s brows pinched together as she grabbed a glass and moved toward the fridge. ‘Better than what the hell happened to you.’ She chuckled, maneuvering past the Orange Juice labeled with Jake’s initials. ‘You run into a thorn bush or something? Or did you completely lodge the acoustic guitar into your leg last night.’

She moved to sit next to Mike, her shoulder brushing across his back, taking one sip of the cranberry juice until her mouth turned down. Someone had spiked it with vodka. ‘I leave you alone for a couple hours in this house and Charlie is already playing Doctor with you.’ She leaned around the side to see his face, but was careful not to jostle him enough. ‘See how fast people get close here. Doesn’t it feel like you’ve been here for a while already?’

Emma was actually relieved no one offered to walk her back to the house. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she was escorted everywhere by Nigel for the past week. She was grateful for no watching eyes and didn’t have to worry about any secret cameras spying on her while she changed into her sleepwear. A tee-shirt and shorts that actually fit her. Everything felt so…nice again. Normal. How it should be.

Until she found herself tossing and turning as she tried to get comfortable. It wasn’t that her bed was uncomfortable, she just found that something was missing. She even sat up, holding her knees to her chest, watching the door hoping that at some point in the night, someone would break her from her thoughts. That Mike would help her sleep in some way. But he didn’t, and the house stayed quiet until four in the morning.

The noise actually jolted her from the sleep she did get. For a moment as she opened her eyes, all she could see was that room, where they waited for Nigel to just show up and take them away. She only realized that she was in her own bed when she felt tears on her cheeks.

She quickly wiped them with the back of her hands and laid back down once she heard the sound of Mike stumbling into the guitar. She stifled a chuckle, staring up at the ceiling. She had missed seeing Mike drunk off his mind. She wondered what type of mischief they got into without her.

But instead of jumping up and going to his room to check that he hadn’t busted his head open. She stayed in bed until the sun came up and then she was dressed in running clothes.

She knew it was a risk to be running alone. But she wouldn’t head that far, only keep down the length of the water and back. When she returned, she took a long shower and decided to cook breakfast for anyone who could eat it after having a hangover.