#//He'd momentarily blame them; but then feel Awful
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Forever love the idea of Kaeya feeling both Distress but also Anger in the face of realizing just much he likes or even loves somebody.
#hc; kaeya#☆ ┆ ( .ooc. );#//Esp the latter#//Never expressing such to them directly; unless they Really push it#//But him just Genuinely getting into one HELLUVA emotional turmoil#//Going through the five stages of grief within moments as he tries to rationalize it all; before giving up#//Because he knows himself better#//Once he's attached to someone; he KNOWS he'll never give up on them no matter what#//They could shatter his heart in two; leave him for another or smth Worse; and he'll STILL care for them#//He'd even bleed at their whim and Die for them if they so much as asked him to; if it's serious enough#//No matter how much he wants to guard his heart; it's inevitable#//He's MARKED by his loyalty#//It's his very CORE aspect#//He just gets so upset with himself for having fallen for them; knowing who he is; what some people think of him#//He'd momentarily blame them; but then feel Awful#//It's not THEIR fault they are amazing; that they are someone who could move his heart the way they do#//No; the fault is HIS and his alone for not guarding his heart enough#//What he Actually does abt the feelings depends on the person and their relationship
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SMAU | UNDERCOVER JYP-U
chapter thirteen -> feelings and secrets (written, 4K words)
directory | next chapter ->
"Okay, so that concludes the meeting?" Chan begins to wrap up, clasping his hands together. You take it as your queue to gently nudge Jeongin's side, forcing him awake after having dozed off halfway through your regular Friday afternoon student body meetings. It was safe to say Jeongin may not have been the best choice for the demanding role, yet here he was.
The sun was streaming through the large floor to ceiling windows of the meeting room, so you didn’t blame him for letting the warm sun send him to sleep. You were feeling hazy yourself, having to force yourself to stay awake through Chan’s words.
Jeongin smiles sleepily at you, leaning his head on your shoulder momentarily while the others conclude the discussion about the relevant topics, primarily the events of the charity week occurring at the beginning of the next month.
"You have until next week to choose the specifics for what you will actually do, but you've now chosen your teams for the events, right?" Chan asks, and you all nod your heads - bar Jeongin, of course, who just looks to you with a raised brow. You wave your hand, indicating you'd inform him of what he'd missed later.
The charity week was a week of events that ran once per semester. This year, your chosen charity was World Vision, and your collective aim was to raise a large sum of money to send off. It was known that most of the students that attended you university and their parents were well off, which meant it could hopefully be achieved.
There would be a multitude of events held throughout the week, and opportunities to donate constantly. It was your job as a member of the student body to advocate for the charity and push for as many donations as you possibly could.
Although it was difficult to balance the duties that came with being a student body representative with uni work and a social life, organising the dance course's activities for charity week was a great way to take your mind off of the shit show that was social media right now. Thankfully, Jisung's tweets were very well received, and he didn't get in too much trouble, but you dread to think of would could have happened to him if that weren't the case.
You were also dreading the inevitable next 'secret' that this awful account was going to expose next. It was as if you were constantly glued to your phone, refreshing Twitter like a fan girl on steroids with a constant lump in your throat. Nothing had been posted since last week, though, so you hoped it was going to be a one off.
"Excellent," Chan says, distracting you from your thoughts. Jeongin lifts his head from your shoulder to pack up his belongings, as if he'd used them in the first place. "I think we're taking a well needed break from alcoholic induced social events this week, so if I don't see you guys during the week I'll see you again, here, next Friday."
The way he switches so quickly from his head-screwed-on leader mode to his laid back, casual friendship mode never fails to crack you up. It's as if he has a split personality, and you commend him for being able to juggle everything as efficiently as he does. Once you finish packing your bag, Ryujin makes her way over to you. As the admin of the student body, she sits to the right of Chan in the school's meeting room, whilst Changbin - the vice president, sits to the left.
It was definitely an awkward hour, the two of them on edge with each other after their conversation over coffee the other day. Ryujin had come home and spilled everything to you and Hyunjin, sprawling on your bed beside you and delving deep into their conversation. Hyunjin had even taken a break from his art piece to listen intently to her, putting his input in and giving her advise when she asked for it.
Having Hyunjin over was a lot...nicer, than you'd expected it to be. He was quiet and pleasant and save for the hour he got bored and had a rush of energy, he kept to himself and worked hard at his painting. It was nice to have his company, the two of you not speaking and simply getting your work done in peace. His artwork came out beautifully, too, which left him heading home in a great mood.
That photo he'd posted was still on your mind, though you'd never admit that out loud.
"God that was a drag," she drawls, flopping to lean on the table in front of you as you stand up, the others heading out the door. "I love Chan, but these things could be over in fifteen minutes if he kept it simple."
"He'll have an aneurism if you tell him to shorten them," you snort, walking out the room with Ryujin's arm linked in yours. Lia and Yuna had told you earlier they were going shopping after the meeting, so you watch them walk in the opposite direction to you and Ryujin after saying goodbye. They'd invited you guys and Chae too, of course, but you knew if you indulged in their shopping spree you'd spend far too much, and the cost of being a Uni student did not come cheap.
So, you'd arranged a quiet night in with some of the guys. Jeongin had just bought a projector, so the plan was to hook up Jisung's fancy laptop to it and set it up in your dorm. You would have gone to the guys dorm, except Minho's recent cooking escapade had not ended well, and he'd informed you that his dorm had smelt like rotting eggs for half the week. Decidedly, your dorm was the agreed upon source of comfort for the night.
Chan had some more meetings with some uni higher ups about charity week, so he'd bailed, and Changbin and Ryujin's awkward situation had caused him to give it a pass too. Seungmin said he'd be making an appearance after his classes. Since half of his double major was English, he attended lectures at your sister school, the mainstream Uni across the road, which meant his schedule was pretty jam packed.
That left Minho, Jisung, Hyunjin, Felix and Jeongin turning up at your doorstep holding various different items an hour after you'd gotten back to the dorm.
"What's all this?" You hear Chae ask as the raucous tumbles into your dorm. You make your way out of your bedroom to greet them, Ryujin following behind you after the two of you had scrolled on tik tok for the hour in between your meeting and now. The boys were all in their comfy clothes; hoodies and joggers, much like you girls.
"Jeongin's got the projector," Minho informs you as he gives you a smile and hands you a box. You'd barely seen him this week, since he was starting to skip classes more regularly. You were surprised he hadn't been reprimanded for it yet, but Minho somehow got away with anything and everything. "That's a cake."
"I've got snacks!" Felix says cheerily, showing you bundles of crisps and bags of chocolate in his arms.
"Why have you brought a cake?" You ask, smiling at your blonde headed friend as he sports his usual grin, turning back to Minho. He shrugs.
"It was my, 'I'm sorry your deep dark secret got posted on the internet, here's a cake' cake, but Minho and Felix somehow forgot that I don't like chocolate icing, so now you guys can eat my pity cake," Jisung explains, already flopping onto the sofa with his laptop, though he's smiling as he says it. He's received mostly praise and positivity over the internet recently, so he wasn't in all that of a bad mood about the whole ordeal.
Felix smiles sheepishly, dumping the snacks onto the table. The other guys start making themselves comfortable too, Hyunjin flashing you a grin as he flops down beside Jisung. Minho has to step in and help Jeongin set up the projector when Jeongin announces he actually has no idea how to work it, and it takes them a further twenty minutes to set the whole thing up.
You're not complaining though, since after a collective agreement to watch the second Shrek movie (arguably the best one), you're nestled in between Chaeryoung and Minho on the sofa with Ryujin between your knees on the floor.
Surprisingly, you all sit relatively in silence, save for some commentary throughout the movie. You pinned it down to the fact that everything surrounding your group had been nothing less than dramatic recently, and you could all use a chill night together to relax. Seungmin shows up halfway through the movie, taking a seat on the floor.
You're just about to choose a second movie to watch when Yuna and Lia turn up, their arms littered with shopping backs. Yuna sighs exasperatedly, dumping the bags on the ground when she comes in, whilst Lia says a hello to everyone before going into her room.
"Do the stores you went into have anything left in them?" Minho scoffs, raising a brow at his blonde haired friend. She sticks her tongue out at him. "But seriously, how much did you buy?"
"A lot," she replies, gleaming. You shake your head at her with a smile, loving her dramatics. She was an actress through and through. "The stores were giving today - I bought, like, twenty things in one shop alone."
Ryujin whistles, grabbing Yuna's bags and sifting through them. You were sure she'd give you a proper haul tomorrow. "This is some good shit," she says, nodding. "I'm so jealous, I wish I had money to splurge."
"What about the bee movie?" Jeongin interrupts absentmindedly, leaning over Jisung to watch him scroll on Netflix for a movie. Seungmin shakes his head, standing up to join them.
"We watched that last week, remember?" He says, and Jeongin nods with an 'ah'. Seungmin leans his hands on the side of the sofa before looking up at Yuna. "How do you even afford all that?"
Yuna shrugs, snatching the top that Ryujin was eyeing up and shoving it back in her bag. "Daddy's money. He's gonna cut me off soon though, I just know it."
"Your dad lets you buy all this?" Seungmin says, eyebrows raised. "Damn."
"He likes spending his money on me," she counters, collecting all her bags before making her way towards her bedroom. "I may as well take advantage, right?"
Seungmin rolls his eyes with a small smile as Jeongin points to the laptop screen. Hyunjin makes a face at you, mimicking Yuna and her shopping bags, and you can't help but to laugh with him.
"What's so funny?" Ryujin says to you curiously, turning to look up at you. You simply wave your hand in response, sharing another look with Hyunjin as if you two are in on some silly secret. It was as if you couldn't help yourself gravitate towards him recently.
"What about titanic?" Hyunjin perks up, looking towards Jisung. There's a collective squeal from you girls, and Yuna and Lia both thumbs up the movie as they join you, Yuna already having changed into her pajamas. They both squish up on the floor.
"Not happening," Jisung groans, and you remember how he'd told you it was the only movie that had ever successfully made him cry.
"Oh come on," Felix protests with a whine, finishing off a bag of gummies. "It's a phenomenal movie!"
"I'm in agreement with Jisung, here," Seungmin says, giving up on the movie search and slumping back to the ground. "It's so long."
"Yeah, but it's worth it," Chae tries to justify, pleading after having to put up with Shrek for an hour.
Hyunjin looks as you, as if he wants you to back him up, so you sigh in defeat. "It's one of my favourites," you say, feeling everyone's eyes turn to you. "Plus I'm injured. Injured girl rules all."
Jisung and Seungmin groan together, knowing they've been defeated as Jisung searches the movie and starts playing it. Yuna even goes as far as to turn off the lights, leaving the glare of the movie screen the only illumination in the room.
Three hours later, almost everyone is in tears after having sat through the movie in almost dead silence. The only noise that was heard from you was during the sex scene, when you laughed as Jisung attempted to cover Jeongin's eyes.
"It's so sad," Felix sniffles, wiping at his eyes with his hoodie sleeves when the credits roll. Yuna turns the lights on again, and turns to reveal her red puffy eyes. Ryujin laughs at her, but she's none better, tears practically streaming down her face. The only dry eyes in the room are Seungmin and Minho. Even Jeongin, who's always trying to keep up with a tough exterior has tear marks on his hoodie.
"Hyunjin, I hate you," Jisung bawls, unable to hold back his tears. "Do you enjoy making grown men cry?"
"Hey, I'm crying too!" Hyunjin defends himself, and when you look over his eyes are brimmed with tears. He wipes them away sheepishly as he smiles at you. You think it's so cute he gets so emotional at movies like this - you remember when you'd all gone to the cinema to watch something Felix suggested and he was sobbing beside you the whole way through. "Plus, you're hardly a grown man."
Jisung only scoffs in return, attempting to get his sniffles under control. "How are you two not crying?"
Minho and Seungmin turn to eachother, and Minho shrugs. "I've watched it a million times, I know the plot. Plus, when have you ever seen me cry?"
"True," you say, giving him a nudge with your shoulder. He chuckles at your tear stained cheeks and offers you his hoodie sleeve, which you take and use to wipe your eyes. "Seungmin? Jack Dawson's death didn't hit hard for you?"
He shakes his head with a brown, his dark brown hair flopping over his forehead. "Not really. Like Minho said, I know the plot, and it's expected."
"You're insane," Yuna gasps, unable to comprehend the fact that the saddest movie of all time hadn't been able to make him shed a tear. "You must be made of steel."
He only shrugs in response, standing up and stretching out his limbs. "Should probably head back; that movie went on for ages and I've got shit to do tomorrow."
That spurs a collective agreement from the guys, the ones on the floor repeating Seungmin's action. Jeongin shakes his legs out after having them cramped up to his chest to make room for Lia beside him. "It's a Saturday, have a rest."
Seungmin ignores the comment, picking up his jacket and putting it on. You stand up too to say your goodbyes to them, when Minho tugs at your arm.
"Help me up," he whines, so you pull him up with a roll of your eyes. You miss the way he winces as you do so, turning to give Felix a hug, the boy waiting patiently with his arms open.
"Why don't we go for coffee tomorrow?" He says when you hug him. "Dance crew study session, like the good old days?"
"I'd be up for that," you reply with a nod, since you hadn't had anything planned for tomorrow anyway. "We do have to have our ideas ready for our practical on Wednesday, so would be good."
"We do?" Minho questions with his arm slung round you as his goodbye, which makes Hyunjin laugh as he leaves his departing conversation with Yuna.
"Maybe you should start attending lectures," he says slyly, looking toward you with a smile after Minho rolls his eyes and removes his arm from your shoulder. Hyunjin steps towards you, bringing you into his chest momentarily. You're slightly startled by the action, since Hyunjin is never really physically affectionate with you like Felix or Minho are, but you accept the hug. Everyone else was hugging goodbye, anyway.
"Maybe you should hop off my dick," Minho retorts, sticking out his tongue as Hyunjin pulls away and picks up his jacket.
"Gross," Jeongin gags.
You shake your head, laughing, in an attempt to ignore the butterflies forming in your stomach. "So, study date tomorrow?"
"Sure," Hyunjin confirms, looking over to Chaeryoung who turns away from saying goodbye to Seungmin to give a thumbs up.
"I could use it," Minho admits, and Felix claps his hands.
"Great! Aw, we're getting the old gang back together!" He smiles, and he's so happy that you don't tell him your 'gang' talks regularly on your dance group chat and is with each other almost every day.
The guys all head off then, leaving the five of you girls alone with a pile of sweets and crisp packets strewn everywhere and a half eaten cake on your table. You start cleaning up instantly, not wanting to have to deal with it later.
"So," Ryujin says, slyly coming up to you and nudging your shoulder before starting to pick up the mess. The other girls begin helping too. "Mr Hwang hugging you goodbye? Now that's an unforeseen action if I've ever seen one."
You give her a look, but your facade cracks when you can't help but to sigh with a smile. "Am I reading into that too much? Or was that a moment."
"That was most definitely a moment," Ryujin confirms, taking the trash bag Lia hands her with a smile and starting to dump the rubbish into it. "He didn't hug any of us goodbye."
You smile inwardly, unable to help yourself. You wait until Lia is back in the kitchen before you say, “Is it bad that I kind of like him?”
Ryujin laughs - a loud, bent over hysterical laugh as you watch her with raised eyebrows. She steadies herself with a hand against the arm of the sofa as Chaeryoung comes through at the noise.
“What on earth is all that about?” She questions, clearly fed up with cleaning as she flops onto the sofa and puts her fear up on the table.
“She’s finally admitted she’s got feelings for Hyunjin,” Ryujin says, grinning at Chae like a mad woman.
Chaeryoung’s eyes visibly light up, and she turns to you with a smile. “You’re kidding!”
“I never said I have feelings for him,” you point out, though it’s futile at this point since your two friends are squealing together. Shaking your head at them, you finish clearing the last of the trash up.
“We called it months ago,” Chaeryoung sighs, a glazed look in her eyes. She pulls her long dark hair behind her ears. “I like to think this is all because of me.”
“It kinda is,” Ryujin responds, moving the trash bag so you can dump the remanence into it. “You cracked the surface, and they did the rest.”
“Can we stop talking like we’re in a movie, please,” you groan, flopping down beside Chae and letting Ryujin dispose of the trash bag. “I can’t believe I actually probably like Hyunjin. Past me would piss herself.”
“That she would!” You hear Ryujin shout through from the kitchen, followed by audible confusion from Yuna and Lia.
“He definitely likes you back, anyway,” Chae sighs excitedly, clapping her hands. “It’s so obvious. When are you gonna tell him?”
“Woah woah,” you say, putting your hands up. Chae frowns at you. “We literally just reconciled our differences a couple weeks ago - let’s not move too fast here.”
“Well you need to tell him,” Ryujin says blatantly when she returns to the room, standing with her hand on her hip. “Or else we’re gonna have to watch him pine after you all semester.”
You roll your eyes at her. “He does not pine after me, Jesus,” you say, though you watch your friends share an obvious look. “I’m just gonna see how things go for now, and if I’m still feeling this way in a couple weeks then I’ll think about telling him.”
Ryujin and Chaeryoung groan simultaneously, Ryujin throwing up her hands exasperatedly. “We finally get a bit of drama that doesn’t make me want to cry and you’re not even gonna indulge us?”
“Charity week,” Chaeryoung says with a shrug, making you both turn to her. “It’s two weeks away - if you still think you like him, that’s your deadline for telling him.”
“I have a deadline now?” You stress, thinking about how you’d only started to realise your feelings towards Hyunjin yourself not half an hour ago. Chae nods decisively.
“It’s the perfect time. There’s always the big party at the outdoor auditorium at the end of the week with fireworks and stuff - how romantic would it be to declare you feelings then?” She gushes, clasping her hands in front of her chest. Ryujin turns to you with a crazed look, nodding.
“She’s so right. Plus, if my relationship scenario is a shit show, I want to live vicariously through you,” she smiles.
You tilt your head at her, thinking about what she’s told you about her conversation with Changbin the other day. “I thought you said you were on good terms now?”
“Yeah we are, but this whole ‘just being friends’ kind of sucks. If he wasn’t all over the place right now I’d be with him. I dunno, I just…feel like I need someone right now, but he just can’t be that person,” you nod, placing a hand on her knee to comfort her.
“I’m glad you’re mature enough to understand that,” you say honestly, Chae nodding her head. Ryujin had always been such an independent person - her self sufficience and bold personality having slightly intimidated you when you’d first met her. After the shit show that was last semester, you’d seen her demeanour crack, and you’d sworn to yourself to try and not let that happen again.
“It will be so much better for you in the long run to have some time apart. You still like each other, you still want to be together, just not right now,” Chaeryoung says with a sad smile, resting her head on Ryujin’s shoulder momentarily. “Right person, wrong time.”
“I guess,” Ryujin sighs. “Doesn’t suck any less though. You know what we should do next weekend? Clubbing.”
You instantly groan at the idea, knowing clubbing was not your scene these days. Your group used to go clubbing regularly, but you’d decided the late nights and hangovers were just not worth it anymore. You would, however, indulge your sad friend if she needed you too.
“Fine,” you say after a second, which makes Ryujin smile. Chaeryoung agrees too, and after finishing your talk with the other girls when they come through to join you, you all go your separate ways and head to sleep.
The next morning, you wake up at a surprisingly reasonable time, the sound of Yuna practicing lines making you stir. She’s up earlier than you, for once, which is rare for her, but you knew she had auditions for the end of year show coming up soon, so she’d been practicing lines non stop.
You’re just about to grab your phone to check your messages when you hear her scream. It startles you, causing you to practically jump out your skin and rush through to her room. Lia is right there with you, sharing a panicked look as you both burst through the door, staring at the back of Yuna’s head.
“What the hell?” Ryujin says groggily, walking through in nothing but her underwear from the sudden commotion. Chaeryoung follows shortly after, her hair a riot and having obviously just woken up. You all crowd round Yuna who’s on her phone, watching her slowly turn around you with the colour drained from her face.
Chills run down your spine when she days, “That Twitter page posted about me.”
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Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 5
Epilogue Part 1: All's Well That Ends Well
Season 5 Masterlist
Honestly, they were like kids.
With their sudden but sure decision made, Ray stumbled after his sweet girl, giddy and laughing like he was drunk as (y/n) led him away from the depressing service. He wanted to ask where they were going, what she had planned, and why everything seemed so deserted on this side of the mountain, but this was her surprise.
And he was trembling with too much trepidation to ask.
But there was no need to worry. (y/n) knew what she was doing, clutching his hand as she weaved through the undergrowth to a much quieter area, one with a damp, overgrown path that no sane hiker or mourner would ever take. The tree roots ran thick, and their knees brushed against some branches as they delved deeper into the wilderness, stumbling and almost tripping when they focused more on each other and not on the rocky path before them.
Still, they couldn't be blamed when they were so in love. And eventually, however, it all made sense when (y/n) pulled her doofus into a small clearing, hidden from the more apparent trails by towering trees, wild bushes, and long grass. It should've been like a jungle, but all Ray saw was beauty.
Blossoms stretched as far as the eye could see, tiny flowers clinging to the trees before falling like snow, coating everything in a pinkish blanket. It was a scene he'd only heard of when she whispered her dream ceremony in his ear in the dead of night, confessing that she wanted the darling buds of spring to fill every aspect of their wedding, so the blooms couldn't be more perfect.
It was precisely what she had dreamed of, the delicate pink offsetting the lush vegetation as he gasped at the stunning scene. He didn't blink as he took everything in. He didn't want to miss a single detail because he wanted to remember everything from the groove in the dirt lined with petals - the 'aisle' - to the ones hovering around the edges.
Their family were waiting, split into two groups for the bride and groom because it was bad luck for them to see each other. This would be informal, but (y/n) wanted some traditions to stay the same, telling Henry, Schwoz and Jasper to wait by a pretty overhanging tree and tree stump at the foot of the aisle.
They were the groomsmen, whilst across the clearing, behind some thick shrubbery, Charlotte and Piper waited for the woman because they were the bridesmaids - a crucial role. The girl needed to look divine before she walked down the blossom-strewn path, looking slightly mused after leaving for the funeral, so they had to part ways.
Leaving each other's side would be difficult when they'd committed to taking the plunge, but she insisted. It would all be worth it in the end, and Ray would never begrudge her a few final touches.
"You okay, doofus?" (y/n) whispered as they paused momentarily, giggling at the man's awed expression and how he looked at her. No one ever looked at her like that--like she was genuinely someone staggering, but she was to Ray.
He didn't know how she'd managed to pull everything off and right under his nose. Yet he couldn't bring himself to feel blind or stupid since it was so lovely, beautifully encapsulating a memory he'd cherish for the rest of his life. And at the centre...his sweet girl, smiling at him as if he lit up her world. And he did.
"More than okay, sweet girl. This is..." he replied softly, not knowing how to put it into words, but she didn't mind. Some things couldn't be described, but she understood him without speaking, squeezing his hand as they admired the serene scene.
A stone's throw away, the boys noticed their appearance and his lovestruck smile, sniggering and joking about someone being under the thumb--an utter simp. No guesses for who they were talking about, but Ray didn't care, entirely focused on his love as she carefully dropped his hand and took a step back. He hated that, wanting proximity more than anything at such a tender time, but he'd thank her later.
"Before you go..." the hero mumbled, chasing after her and dipping his head because she couldn't leave with a kiss - that was madness. She was about to become his wife, and he was utterly enamoured with that thought, making him want to drown in her honey taste before they swore to it.
But (y/n) simply smiled and pushed her fingers between their lips, cutting her sweetness off at its source and making her doofus scowl. That was unfair; she couldn't deny a man the honey he needed to leave, but nothing would ruin their day, not an argument or premature exchange.
"It'll be better if we wait, Ray. Trust me..." she told him gently, cupping his freshly shaven cheek to rub his cheekbone with her thumb. His eyes fluttered at her tenderness, wanting to fall like this for the rest of his life and allow nothing to catch him. However, the electric touch vanished when she pulled away, giving him a knowing look that said she knew that he knew she was right.
"Okay..." the man grumbled, pouting like a baby, but he still agreed. Anything to make her happy was his new policy, swearing that she'd want for nothing in life once she was his, or he could be struck down where he stood. With no honey to drink, he settled for a kiss on her cheek instead, rubbing his nose against her soft skin for a second before giving her one last squeeze.
"Soon, you'll be my wife, sweet girl..."
"And I can't wait to have you as my husband, doofus... See you at the altar."
He knew that look - now, they were supposed to go their separate ways, an utterly disgusting thought. But it was what she wanted, watching forlornly when she blew him a kiss and skipped off to the thick bushes. The jeers and whistles from his friends when he pretended to catch it couldn't bring down his mood, not when he knew what he was up against.
In less than an hour, she'd be his wife, and whilst he'd prefer to get it over and done with now--bounding toward that idea like an excitable puppy--he refrained. Anything to make her happy.
Whilst the thought of drowning in her fiancé's kisses sounded nice, (y/n) couldn't help but skip over to the girls, a spring in her step because it dawned on her. This was her wedding. These would be her final moments before they did it--before she could finally she was married. It was a little overwhelming, and not just for her...
"(y/n/n)!" Charlotte and Piper squealed together, welcoming the woman into their arms as adrenaline rushed through them. It sent them crazy, making them scream, jump up and down, and wave their hands around like a bunch of teenage girls in a rom-com, but they needed the release.
Honestly, (y/n) wanted to howl at the sun and let everyone know that Ray Manchester would be hers after today, and she would be his. She could finally shove a ring in any snooty woman's face and say she bagged him first, knowing she'd done what her younger self deemed impossible. He'd felt so out of reach for so long, meaning she had to fan her cheeks now as she worked herself into a state.
No, the tears would come later during the ceremony, but they didn't have enough time to reset her makeup. Just a touch-up; that's all she'd allow because any longer and her doofus would get antsy. And she would too.
"Okay, okay! Calm! Calm! I'm only getting married!" (y/n) gasped, ending their tight squeeze and pulling away. They tittered for flustering her so, apologising and patting her arms, but it was okay. Weddings always brought out people's emotions, especially when they'd been waiting as long as they had.
"It's only...the happiest day of my life," she whispered, suddenly tucking her arms into her sides as the realisation dawned on her.
Piper and Charlotte didn't waste any time, snapping to it to grab some essential makeup items from the youngest's purse whilst Char began to smooth her hair with a small comb. No lumps, bumps, knots or tangles, just like Piper didn't want any shine, blemishes, smudges, or stains. So, they fixed anything the wind had ruined or her tears had washed away, fussing over their friend as she gulped.
It was weird getting married, and now that (y/n) thought about it, she wasn't sure if she liked it. Of course, she knew wedding jitters when they looked her in the face, but she couldn't help but wonder... Things worked so well with just her and Ray moving in parallel lanes, separate but connected, going in the same direction. Why did they have to change that?
The thought of her marriage becoming one of those soap opera disasters from hell, ending in smashed china, screaming, and broken hearts, made her want to throw up. It wasn't like she thought that would happen, but what if it did? What if marriage was as damning as old people all complained about? What if--
"So, (y/n), are you excited?" Charlotte's chirpy voice cut through her anxiety, bringing the woman back to sane reality, and she realised that they'd been nattering without her.
"W-what?
"Oooh, she's daydreaming! Was it about Ray? Were you kissing him like mwah-mwah-mwah?! Do you lurrrrrrrve him?" Piper laughed, sticking out her arms and curling them to show her biceps in a pathetic impression of Ray.
Her imitation of how the couple canoodled was awful, too, making out with her hand like a curious teenager as (y/n) squeaked and prayed she didn't feel how hot her skin was. The girl sounded desperate, although her thoughts were technically about Ray.
"No! I'm not a cartoon character!" The bride protested, narrowly eyeing Piper as she returned to powdering her face. At least someone was pleased with herself, smiling like a Cheshire Cat as Charlotte rolled her eyes and tucked a loose hair strand behind her ear. Perfection took time, and it didn't help how she kept jerking her head.
"We're just teasing, (y/n/n)!"
"Yeah, for real. Are you excited?" Piper giggled, carefully manoeuvring around the contours of the woman's nose, seeking out any shininess and blotting it out. She'd hate to see any on the wedding photos but also hated when girls had cakey makeup, so she stopped whilst she was ahead; instead, she moved on, touching up her eyebrows with a gentle gel to make them pop.
"Yeah...I mean, no...I mean...I don't know," (y/n) stammered, fiddling with the hem of her carefully chosen dress as they stared at her. That was one thing she didn't want as a bride - a roomful of people watching her every move. Even now, she was nervous, knowing they'd probably hate how she liked the simplicity of her outfit and how her old poofy dress was traded in once her mind was made up.
But under her friends' careful scrutiny, she still felt nervous--and there was nothing her tummy tingle could do about it. Understandably, they were shocked, having always thought she'd sell her left kidney to marry Ray, but apparently not. Something wasn't right, and as her bridesmaids, they'd get to the bottom of it.
"You...don't know?" Charlotte asked, fingers stilling in her hair as she tried to figure out if the woman felt too excited to concentrate or was genuinely uncomfortable. She refused to let this ship go down, not when she and Henry had steered it into smooth waters.
"No, I know, but I...feel sick," the woman replied slowly, rubbing her flip-flopping stomach as it lurched again. She was glad she only had a small breakfast...
"Ohhhh..." The girls said together, nodding and looking at each other before cooing over her cute innocence. Poor love; she wasn't overly confident most of the tie, and she couldn't stop shaking without Ray to guide her. But that was why they were there, to hold her hand and tell her to take deep breaths.
"That's just nerves. Totally normal."
"Yeah, totally. Every bride gets them," Charlotte and Piper told her, pausing their preparations to squeeze her shoulder and hand. The boys wouldn't mind a slight delay if they knew it was for something so important - ensuring the bride was sick down her front on the best day of her life.
"Ugh, I know, but...this is the last time I'll be (y/n) (y/l/n). What if I hate everything after?" (y/n) whispered, hugging her own body and sniffing, although she was silently grateful for their support. It helped a little, yet she couldn't help but panic slightly.
After today, she'd be someone else with a new name, a new home, and a new husband. It was just a lot to take in.
"Well, in that case, we'll just have to cancel the wedding. And Ray will be disappointed," Charlotte sighed, dramatically throwing her hands up like she'd given up on the whole thing. (y/n)'s mouth opened to protest, but then she sniffed, hating the idea of hurting her doofus more than diving into the unknown. Cancel the...? No...
"And heartbroken," Piper added, freaking the woman out even more. Ray trusted her with his heart - how could she be the one to break it?
She stared at her hands, wringing them together as she debated her options, but the girls knew she'd be okay once she saw her doofus looking all handsome at the altar. It was just a matter of getting her there without an unmitigated disaster.
"Very heartbroken. If you don't do this, you'll regret it forever, right? Just think, do you picture yourself growing old with him?" Charlotte asked, hands on her hips as (y/n) didn't even think about her answer.
"Yes," she replied instantly, picturing her and Ray still together in many years, wrinkled and grey but as in love as ever.
She could see it now; they'd be sitting on the porch of the pretty little house he bought her far away from the city and the heroic lives they once led. He'd hand her a warm drink, and they'd snuggle close to watch their grandchildren playing in the fields. The kind of golden love she saw in old movies.
"Do you picture a family with him?"
"Yes," she nodded furiously again, already having her heart set on a big, loud, fun-filled house since that was already her life. She was used to plenty of children, but she and Ray had their hearts set on a bundle of joy of their own--maybe two. And a dog. She really wanted a dog.
"So, do you want to spend the rest of your life as (y/n) Manchester or some sad loser who chickened out?" Charlotte asked sharply, giving her an all-knowing, dry stare like she was the parental figure. For once, (y/n) was the one who needed the advice, and the girl knew that the only thing she could tell her was that she had to marry Ray.
It's what she wanted deep down, underneath all those nerves and tucked next to the strength that made her growl.
"I'm not a loser!" The heroine argued indignantly, hands on her hands as her friends laughed. There was the fire that Ray often bragged about, making her pout grumpily and frown because she was fearless and tough, capable of taking on even the scariest of supervillains... Oh, right.
(y/n) hummed as she realised what they were trying to do, seeing that they made her brave without even realising it. It was terrifying knowing that things wouldn't be the same after today, but that made it so exciting - she didn't know what she'd get up to with Ray. And she wouldn't know if she ran away in fear...like a chicken.
"Then, don't chicken out, girl! Go get your guy!"
"You know, you're really bossy when you want to be, Charlotte..." (y/n) smiled as she fanned her eyes, lamenting running her mascara since they couldn't fix it with Piper's minimal supplies.
They giggled at that, glad to see her in better spirits now that her little wobble was over. Nerves were just part of the bridal experience, and the woman knew it was silly, something to reflect on and laugh at because she'd never leave her doofus at the altar. That would be an insult to everything her younger self always wanted.
"But she's right," Piper pointed out, returning to dust blush over her cheeks - the blushing bride. Not too much, but just enough to compliment her highlighter before she pulled out a lipstick. A little more fluffing and brushing and the girls' work was done, returning their friend to the pristine state she'd been in when she left the house--looking so damn pretty.
"True... Thanks, guys," (y/n) sniffed, reaching out to squeeze their hands as her anxieties turned to butterflies. The good kind. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head, giving Piper a small smile as the girl handed her a water bottle, hating to see her get dehydrated from all the crying she was doing.
As she took a few sips, Charlotte stepped aside to gather a bundle of flowers - a mini mountain of soft pinks and warm whites that she and Piper had personally plucked from the trees. They had to be pristine since they would braid them into the bride's hair, tying her outfit to the wedding's floral theme. She deposited the pile next to them and took the first bloom, removing any extra leaves or unsightly parts before pushing it through the first strands.
Piper held up a handful for her, allowing the girl to work faster as they chatted again, avoiding any awkward mentions of marital fears or woes. Her fingers worked quickly and deftly, moving like an expert as Piper began to help, placing smaller flowers next to bigger ones like an expert team. And they were; they'd never tell (y/n), but they'd secretly been practising the braiding for weeks, ending under a few messes, abominations, and finally, the perfect result.
The practice ensured the blossoms wouldn't fall out, looping hair around them and pinning everything while the woman waited patiently. She trusted them to do a good job, tapping her heel against the soft dirt as she imagined her doofus only a few metres away.
She knew he'd look handsome, but waiting made her antsy, squirming to get going now that she wasn't afraid. Before, she wanted to hide and stay as his fiancée, but now, it was a race to become his wife.
"Jeez, (y/n). Calm down. Trust me, Ray isn't going anywhere," Piper joked, leaving Charlotte to finalise the last and most delicate braid as she bobbed down to straighten her dress. Too many fingers would loosen the pretty design, and she wouldn't do the style again for love or money. And (y/n) would cry in defeat - they couldn't have that.
"I know. I just want to see him. We're nearly done, right?" She asked, whiny like a child on a long car ride.
"Yeah, yeah, gimme a second..." Charlotte muttered, fiddling with a final pin as the younger bridesmaid stepped back to admire the lucky woman marrying her soulmate.
She was brilliant for going with her heart and choosing that dress, even though it wasn't strictly traditional. If it suited her wants and needs, who cares what others thought when it was still stunning and detailed, from the soft neckline to the hand-stitched lace. It suited her perfectly, almost making Piper cry as she observed every element, aware that this was the first romance she'd encountered that would last a lifetime.
No one else had what Ray and (y/n) had, and the best part? She got to be a part of their story.
"You look beautiful, (y/n). Really, really beautiful," she whispered, just as Charlotte stepped away to admire their work and the woman's natural radiance. Hell, if they waited a few years, and if it wasn't so weird, they might just marry her themselves, not that they'd ever deny Ray his sweet girl.
No, they were made for each other, so Charlotte merely turned and grabbed the bouquet. It wasn't fancy, just another handful of blossoms and other wildflowers lashed together with a simple white ribbon, making the posy small but elegant - precisely what (y/n) wanted as she took a final look in Piper's compact mirror.
So, this was her wedding day - at long last - and it was nothing like what she'd imagined as a little girl. She dreamed of a big castle, flowing gown, grand tiara, and lavish ball to follow a picturesque ceremony like the fairytales she read where the prince swooped the princess off her feet. But now, the princess got herself a hero in a very different fairytale, even if it still felt as sweet.
And by her side, Piper and Charlotte, looking ever so lovely with their mini bouquets. She didn't care if they weren't in matching outfits or if her college friends would whine when they found out they weren't picked. Those girls meant everything to her, and she was grateful they would be with her on such a fateful day.
"My beautiful bridesmaids..." she whispered, pulling them into a light hug to not ruin her hair. Still, Piper and Charlotte understood their role perfectly. They wrapped their arms around her, knowing this would be the last time they saw her as a single woman, even though she'd always be their friend. No one could kill the girl code.
"You're soulmate is waiting for you..." Piper whispered, seeing the time on her dainty watch and realising they needed to get moving to stay on schedule. She hated rushing things, but (y/n) understood, fanning her leaking eyes again as she released them and stood straight. The time had come...
"Right, let's get me married."
Meanwhile, across the clearing, a similar scene with similar headaches unfolded.
There was a lot to do. Schwoz was busy gargling on some honey-lemon water, clearing his throat for the all-important ceremony he'd lead. No one wanted to ask where he'd gotten a marriage license or who gave him the authority to solemnise one, but he insisted it was legit. After an online course from MakeMeAPriest.com, he was the officiant at his cousin's sister's dog's owner's aunt's wedding, so no one complained.
After all, where would they get someone else at such short notice?
It was good enough; besides, Ray swore they had bigger problems. Jasper, the clumsiest kid on Earth, was the ring bearer. Give him strength. Or someone who actually knew what they were doing.
The kid kept tapping his pockets and panicking because he thought he'd dropped the precious gold bands, only to realise they were still perfectly snug in his jacket. They'd purchased the rings ages ago, believing the date and organisation would come straight after, only it never did...until now.
If he ruined the wedding, Ray would...
Probably do nothing. The hero was a mess. Sweat dampened his brow as Henry, his best man, brushed down his dark suit and smoothened his hair. He refused to let the guy go to his wedding looking like a tramp, but Ray tugged the shirt's neckline loose again every time he tried to straighten it.
"Stop messing with your collar, dude!" The kid groaned as he neatened the lapels for the hundredth time, fixing the stiff material so it brushed the man's neck like it was supposed to. Henry had a tie for him, but Ray refused to wear it, arguing that he wanted his top few buttons undone because (y/n) found it hot. Someone pass Henry a stiff drink...
"Stop moving! It's hard enough to do this without you wiggling your butt all over the place!"
"I can't help it!" Ray whined, wiggling his ass like he had ants in his pants. He'd been flapping like a chicken ever since (y/n) left his sight, worried about everything and nothing, from whether this was right, if it was too fast, or if it was better to postpone the wedding and wait, to whether she'd show up.
The thought terrified him. He could see it now, standing around all day in his penguin suit just to ask the kid what was taking so long. And then, Henry would give him a sad, sympathetic look as he told him (y/n) wasn't coming, leaving him truly alone. The shame, the embarrassment, the utter heartbreak...it made him pull at his collar again.
"Dude! What gives?" Henry asked indignantly, giving up when the neckline was pulled out of shape again. It made it look like Ray had had the honeymoon before the wedding with half his neck exposed - (y/n) wouldn't mind the sight.
"I said, I can't help it! L-look...what --what if she doesn't show? What if she changes her mind?" He murmured, giving his former sidekick an unsure look because this was Captain Man half a mile outside his comfort zone.
He could face bad guys and ghosts, but his wedding day scared the shit out of him, making the boys look at him like he was mad. Whilst this was his dream, he hated trapping his sweet girl or rushing her when she wasn't ready - he just wanted everything to be perfect.
"Relax, broseph," Schwoz advised him as he fiddled with his clerical collar, the Snow White band contrasting his priestly cassock. He wasn't a priest or anything, and Ray told him not to bother. Still, the genius insisted he get into the mood if he was doing the ceremony.
"Everything's fine."
The small man rolled his eyes, knowing the hero's fears were getting the best of him, something that never would've happened against The Toddler or Doctor Minyak. But this was the man's sweet girl, his one weakness, so it was understandable that he didn't want anything to go wrong. But Schwoz would drag them down the aisle if he had to, waiting too long to see those lovey-dovey idiots get hitched.
"Yeah, (y/n) would never ditch you, man. She loves you," Jasper nodded, a hand pressed to his jacket as he confirmed the ring's place again. The woman was the one who wanted the impromptu wedding, so why would she bail?
"Yeah, but..." Still, Ray wavered, chewing his bottom lip as he frantically studied the area to the last detail. Everything had to be just so, from the weather - thankfully, sunny - to his appearance, to the blossoms they had pinned to their button holes.
(y/n) was the prettiest girl in the world, so she deserved the best wedding, so what if it wasn't? What if she took one look at everything and bolted, leaving him the jilted idiot who rotted in his despair like some Dickensian novel?
But a laugh broke him out of his daydream, his eyes snapping open to see Henry throw his head back in delight--like he enjoyed the man's suffering. Well, that was just rude.
"Ray, you gotta relax!" The boy smiled, placing a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. The minute he saw (y/n), all those stupid worries would disappear because the girls were working their magic on her as they spoke. And the woman could turn up in a sack, and Ray would still be on his knees for her, so there was nothing to fear.
"What do you two always say? As long as we're together, we'll be just fine..." Henry repeated, even mimicking (y/n)'s higher-toned voice to try and get a smile.
"See? You gotta stop worrying!"
"I know, but... Ray sighed, rubbing his face with his open palm, wishing his stomach would settle down. He felt like throwing up, doubting if he could do this...
Of course, he wanted to marry his sweet girl in a heartbeat, loving the thought of spending eternity with her. It was just the husband part that scared him, wondering if he'd be good at it. If he'd look back, say he cared for her, gave her everything she wanted, and stuck by her side. He didn't want to become his father, who was neither a good husband nor a good dad.
"No buts!" Henry exclaimed, squeezing his shoulder and trying to be stern, but it melted away when he saw his genuine terror. The guy had fucked up a lot of stuff, but this was the last thing he desired to go wrong because he wanted to tell his children and grandchildren how it was the most magical day of his life, not how he said something wrong or fell flat on his face.
"Look..." the boy sighed, "do you love her?"
"Of course," Ray replied almost instantly, frowning slightly like he couldn't believe the question. He thought that bit was obvious, pouting at his former sidekick for doubting his love.
"Does she love you?"
"Well..." That was slightly trickier, leaving Ray stumped because he disliked speaking for his precious girl when she wasn't there. He hoped her answer would be yes, but he refrained, making Henry quirk his eyebrow and give him a flat look.
"Answer the question. Yes or no?" The boy asked sternly, not in the mood for messing about because they were on a deadline, and everyone already knew the answer, even Ray. As if he hadn't had her telling him her feelings every day for the last four years, sometimes in the most hideously physical ways. Henry had seen things...
"Yes!"
"So, what's the worrying for, you doofus?" Henry exclaimed, breaking out into a grin as the hero debated his argument. It was true; (y/n) loved him as much as he loved her, so surely, that would be enough to get them through the day. He looked into the kid's eyes, still seeming unsure as he mulled it over, praying that the boy knew better than he felt.
"Last time I checked, that constitutes a marriage, and people have gotten hitched with a lot less, dude. What you and (y/n) have is perfect. Just think of this as telling the world how you feel 'cause you've done the hard part. You've worked hard to get her. So enjoy it! Think of the lifetime of happiness..."
"Think of the honeymoon!" Jasper joked, laughing heartily with Schwoz as they wiggled their eyebrows suggestively. Ray glared at them, wanting to bite their heads off because that was his wife they were smuttily thinking about... Oh, wait.
Without a piece of paper to tell him otherwise, Ray thought of his sweet girl as his wife. He had done for a while now, and no one bothered to correct him anymore. She was who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, his choice without thinking about the girls queuing outside his door. She was all he ever wanted, and now that his brain had cleared, he saw that she was too sweet to ever walk out on him - everything fit perfectly.
All that mattered was that they loved each other, and Ray knew that nothing would stop him from treating his wife right, not even his own fears. So, he straightened his back, held his head high, and tweaked his collar, turning to the boys.
"Thanks, guys..." he said softly, knowing he wouldn't have his sweet girl without their encouragement.
In a rare show of affection, they gathered for a bro hug, lightly clapping each other on the back and shaking hands since boys can't show that they like each other. They pulled away quickly, coughing awkwardly and praying no one saw as they fluffed the slightly smushed flowers pinned to their jackets--when Charlotte walked onto the scene.
"Hey, Char, looking good!" Henry shouted, beaming with his friends as the girl was met with cheers and whistles, clutching her small bouquet. She fought a smile, trying to be serious since this was no time for fooling around - she'd only come to get a certain someone who'd forgotten his second job.
"Shut up, you guys! Jasper! Get your butt over here!" She hissed, beckoning the clueless boy over as he frowned and opened his mouth to question her order. But then, it struck him, realisation dawning on his face that he was late for a very important date. And there was no time to say hello, so...goodbye.
"Oh, right! 'Scuse me, guys..." he said awkwardly, swiftly dashing over to the girl's side as she berated him and whacked his arm for not sneaking off like they'd planned. Honestly, it was like he was trying to give (y/n) a heart attack.
"What's going on?" Ray asked Henry, looking slightly confused and worried again, although he tried not to let it show.
The kid assured him everything was fine, mumbling some bullshit about that's how weddings worked, which wasn't very convincing. Still, it seemed to satisfy Ray, who was told to stand still and not slouch when he shoved his hands in his pockets and squirmed. He'd see his sweet girl very shortly, and Henry would surely kill him if he had to fix his stupid suit again.
Around the corner, Piper gave (y/n) a final once over as Charlotte tugged a very sheepish Jasper over. She refused to run with him, not wanting the boy to be sweaty and tardy, but the woman didn't matter, simply grateful that he was there for her on her big day.
"Oh, there you are, Jasper! How's Ray?" She asked kindly, standing there looking innocent like she wasn't in her finery, blowing the kid away at how pretty she was. Ray was one lucky guy to marry her, making the girls laugh as he stood and stared, his mouth propped open like he was trying to catch flies.
"Jasper, you okay?"
"Uh...yeah, he's good...I just... You look great, (y/n/n)!" He exclaimed, shaking his head and gathering his words as the woman's cheeks warmed, shyly looking at her shoes since she wasn't used to his compliments. Maybe her getup wasn't so bad if Jasper liked it--and he was usually so dense with these things.
"Thanks, Curly. I have to say, you look pretty handsome yourself!" She smiled, patting down his sweater and shirt combo as if it wasn't semi-casual.
Then, she grew serious, reaching out to hold his hand as the girls tidied around her because they'd done so much for her and Ray. She didn't care if none of them wore matching suits and dresses, even if Piper wore her usual swag or if the boys had sneakers. All that mattered was that they were there to share in her day, yet no one had a bigger privilege than Jasper as he looped his arm through hers.
"You ready?" He asked, patting the hand nestled in the crook of his arm as (y/n) took a deep breath. She clutched her bouquet and glanced at the girls behind her, seeing that they were ready to go, she just had to say the word, and they'd go first, forming the path she'd take to matrimony.
This was it. The big moment. All that was left to do was step out, and she'd be on her way.
"Yeah... Oh, and Jasper? Thanks for giving me away," she added, squeezing the boy's arm as he beamed proudly and stretched to his full height.
She didn't need to thank him; it was his honour, so the boy nodded gently, signalling for Charlotte and Piper to set off down the aisle. They stepped out, giving (y/n) one last chance to gulp as the eldest went first, with Piper practically skipping behind her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the bridal party," Charlotte announced, and that was Henry's cue to hit the music on his phone. They watched hundreds of wedding videos to learn the proper event order. If they were gonna do this, they'd do it right, and her booming voice allowed the boys to get themselves sorted as she led the processional.
Ray and Henry stiffened like the devil was breathing down their necks, and the hero swore he was having a heart attack. He could only see Charlotte and the brat walking towards him, surrounded by falling petals and sunbeams. Still, he wasn't interested in how pretty they looked. All he wanted was to see his sweet girl, not-so-subtly craning his neck, to look around them since he was so impatient.
And then, there she was. (y/n) held Jasper's arm as they floated down the flower-covered aisle, her eyes looking at no one but her lover. Her smile was radiant, warming his bones and chasing his fears away better than a thousand suns could, and it was only then that he realised he was speechless. Genuinely stunned. She was escorted by Jasper, of all people. But he couldn't even grimace at the boy's presence, too enraptured and utterly entranced to care.
She looked like an angel, and Ray knew she'd been sent to him by some higher being as they neared, stepping to the soft classical music at an agonisingly slow speed. But finally, she was within grasp, arriving at the altar with an overjoyed grin as she untangled her arm from Jasper's and passed her bouquet to Charlotte for safekeeping.
"Take care of her, Ray. You're the luckiest man in the world," the boy said as he carefully passed the woman's hands to her lover's, who eagerly welcomed her into his space with trembling hands and an awestruck expression. (y/n) grinned and shuffled close, squeezing the man's fingers to say hello as he forgot how to breathe.
"I know, Jasper. I will... Thanks, son," Ray said solemnly, meaning the words from the bottom of his heart as he quickly shook hands with the boy. That kid deserved all the respect in the world for accepting her offer and providing such service. The hero was grateful, not a single sarcastic comment on his tongue.
It felt surreal to look into each other's hands as they stood there, waiting for Schwoz to start with Henry and Jasper flanking Ray and Charlotte and Piper by (y/n) 's elbow. This would be the final commitment in their relationship - the last thing they'd need to do to ensure they were forever intertwined. Whilst it felt a little scary, their hands couldn't shake if they held onto each other.
They rubbed each other's knuckles and whispered hi quietly and shyly, giggling like tipsy teenagers as Schwoz dithered about forgetting his book and glasses. But the couple didn't care, forgetting about anyone and anything as they stared at the other, wondering how they'd pulled such a stunner.
"You look gorgeous, sweet girl. Absolutely beautiful..." Ray whispered, making her cheeks warm as she leaned in close, shivering when his lips brushed over her ear. They could save that for the honeymoon...
"And you've never looked more handsome, doofus," (y/n) replied, briefly letting go of his hand to drag her hand down his chest, admiring how his black jacket made the pink Sakura even brighter - his eyes too. One day she'd tell him they were her favourite shade of blue, sparkling and clear like crystalline water, but that would have to be later.
Schwoz interrupted their little moment by clearing his throat, rising above everyone for the first time ever as he hitched up his cassock and stood on a tree stump between the lovers, overlooking the intimate group and stunning scene. He held a dark, cloth-bound book in his hands, which folded over the cover very priestly as a calm and benevolent expression passed over his face - befitting such a sober ceremony.
"Friends...and Jasper. Welcome," he began, unable to stop his little joke, making his friends laugh and the boy roll his eyes. He'd let that one slide, knowing it was all in good fun and too important a day to cause an argument.
"We're gathered here today to witness the union of this doofus and this sweet girl. They met so long ago, in a cafe where (y/n) had just bludgeoned a man almost half to death. Ray being Ray, he was late to the party," the genius said, retelling the well-known story so that it didn't seem old or boring, even making Ray laugh, despite how sheepish he felt at leaving his girl alone.
"They soon became friends, although we all know it was all lies! They claimed to be best friends for thirteen agonisingly long years, making us all place bets on who would crack first. Still, eventually, they finally came together in love...and I won one hundred dollars on Ray!"
No one knew that Schwoz could be so sappy yet charming, almost making (y/n) cry in the first ten seconds, and she longed to snuggle into Ray's chest and stay there. But she refrained, rubbing her thumb over his surprisingly soft hands as he smiled and squeezed hers. Of course, they were on the same page, like always.
"That's what brings us here today. To celebrate that love and their promise to cherish it forever. And I do mean forever—soulmates, am I right?" He pretended to whisper to the kids, throwing his thumb at the couple to make them laugh and shake their heads. They couldn't have asked for a whackier officiant. Still, the genius made it perfect and personal, more special than any dull, starchy pastor.
"Ray. (y/n). The vows you're about to make will lay the foundations of your marriage, and believe me, it won't be easy--Ask my Aunt Gerhilda," he said, quickly switching from serious to lighthearted so the ceremony didn't seem as daunting. Yet the couple knew they had to listen as well as laugh.
"You have to work as a team, bear each other's burdens, stick together when things get tough, and no matter what...love each other as this next chapter begins."
They nodded, still holding each other for dear life, as they knew their relationship wouldn't always be easy. They had fights and disasters, from confusion to near break-ups, but they always made it out okay. Without even needing a clergyman to tell them, they silently promised to stick to those expectations, saying nothing but looking into each other's eyes and understanding everything. Their hearts beat as one, ready to build a home, family, and life together.
"Now, the vows... Ray, (y/n) told me you had discussed saying your own words. Are you still happy with that?" The genius asked, quietly tapping his book since he had some pre-written promises that the hero could say and no one would mind. Everything was sudden, and unlike (y/n), he'd not had a chance to think of anything. Or so everyone thought.
"No...no. I know exactly what I want to say," the hero replied boldly, not wanting some icky, impersonal vows made by somebody else. Had no one else planned their words all their life, waiting for the best moment of their lives?
His sweet girl deserved the best and his own feelings, so he took a minute to clear his head, knowing that he didn't need to be eloquent or Swellview's very own Shakespeare. This was his soulmate, and she'd listen to anything he had, so after a couple of minutes, he breathed deeply and opened his mouth.
"(y/n) (y/l/n)..." he started, looking down at his girl with the softest eyes with bated breath. She didn't need much, just wanting him to mean every word. And Ray honestly did.
"I can't tell you how long I've spent trying to think of what to say to you and believe me, darlin', I've spent the last thirteen years trying to find the words," the man laughed, never having been speechless until he met her, but she made him into a fool. A blabbering, stupid fool with no game because she made him nervous - the first girl ever to do so.
"I never thought this day would come. You know the man I was when we first met. I was so stupid, and blind, and heartless—I didn't care about the people I screwed over...but then, you came along," he murmured, reaching up to cup her cheek as her eyes watered, touched by his buttery voice and even softer touch.
"For the first time in my life, I didn't want to break your heart. When I saw you outside that coffee shop...I couldn't describe you, but now I can. Enchanting," he whispered, loving how her lips parted in a small gasp.
No one had ever been so whimsically romantic with her. It was the type of thing she'd see in her beloved rom-coms or a period film, but that was the vibe Ray was going for. She deserved the cheesiness and utter devotion because she oozed it as the world's sweetest, loyalist, most unassuming girl he'd ever met. And it was true - he had been under her spell since the minute they met, and he didn't ever want to wake up, not if magic caused this much happiness.
"You enchant me, sweet girl. From the moment we met 'til death do us part. And even then, I want you forever."
(y/n) sniffed, finally letting the dam break as tears streamed down her face, only to be brushed away by his tender touch. Ray hated seeing his pretty girl cry, but luckily, they were good tears. Utterly in love tears as he kept whispering sweet everythings to her.
"You waited for so long. You stood by me through disasters and my mistakes and every girl I tried to use to let you go," Ray croaked, knowing he'd made many mistakes. Still, he did something right the day he let his old self go and accepted her love to become a better man.
"But I can't... I want you to be my wife, sweet girl, so I won't call these vows. For me, these are privileges..." he said firmly, tilting her chin so his gaze bore into hers as he said loudly and clearly...
"It will be my privilege to call you mine. It will be my privilege to wake up and see you smile every day. It will be my privilege to support and care for you. It will be my privilege to honour and cherish you. I don't have to—I get to. It will be my privilege to live my life with you," he promised, also near tears as he sealed his words by kissing her hands at the end. He meant every word, knowing that he gained her trust and devotion by some miracle or someone's mercy and was still searching to find out what he'd done to deserve it.
"I don't know why, but someone, somewhere, looked down on me one day and said, Ray Manchester, that idiot... He needs a guardian angel. And they sent (y/n) (y/l/n)."
There wasn't a dry tear in the clearing as Ray finished, pecking (y/n) on the cheek as she bawled, needing a tissue from Charlotte. He always said he wasn't good with feelings and mushy shit, but he knew exactly what to say when he put his mind to it and was honest. The heroine didn't know what she'd done to deserve such love, now feeling like her vows wouldn't be as touching, despite having longer to prepare them.
She dabbed at her eyes, careful not to smudge her pretty makeup as Ray smiled and kissed her forehead, longing to taste her lips, although Schwoz would snap at him. He didn't mean to be so poetic. Still, he was kinda proud of himself, satisfied when he watched the girls pass out the tissues to a sniffing Jasper and 'itchy-eyed' Henry.
"(y/n)..." Schwoz coughed, clearing the emotion in his throat after the beautiful speech, "If you'd like to make your vows."
Now, it was her turn, and (y/n) swore she'd never match up to Ray, not after he reduced everyone to tears. But he believes in her, squeezing her hands and encouraging her words because everything was already his dream--his privilege. She couldn't say something wrong even if she tried.
"Okay... Here goes," she gulped, ignoring her nerves and trying to remember the key notes and points she'd scribbled down whilst he was in the shower.
"Ray...my doofus," she began, already feeling a massive lump grow in her throat as the emotion welled inside her. She felt like such a crybaby, but Ray made her feel so emotional, egging her on to keep speaking even as her eyes watered again.
"We've had our ups and downs, and it hasn't been easy," she smiled and stroked his hands before glancing at the children around them, "Today has been a long time coming, and I know the kids we helped raise have been banging their heads, waiting for us to finally commit to forever."
That earned her a few giggles, the kids nodding knowingly at each other because it had sometimes felt like that--and they agreed that they found their second home in the Man Cave. Things stood still like the wedding would never arrive, yet there they were, minutes from making it official.
"We're not the same people we were when we first met, and for so many years, I thought we wouldn't work. But we do," she admitted, releasing all the negativity she used to carry, swearing that her doofus would be better off with someone prettier or braver.
"I've never felt safer, or stronger, or more loved with anyone else than I have with you. You make me feel brave, like I fit somewhere in the world, and now I know my place is by your side," (y/n) whispered shyly, squirming since she'd always had that insecure streak like she was always a little too quiet or kooky to truly be accepted anywhere, but things were different with Ray.
He didn't want her to change, so she wanted the same for him, pledging all the things his former lovers disliked and trying to remould like he wasn't already perfect.
"So, I promise to love you no matter what. I promise never to change you because I love how you help me out of my boring shell. I promise to make you watch all those rom-coms you hate because I just want to be with you. I promise to do any and all math work in front of you because I know you love it. I promise to love every single shirt you wear because... you're so perfect, Raymond."
Her hand reached up to cup his cheek, falling into his loving stare, breathless and lightheaded. His cheeks were wet from happy tears, thinking he couldn't be that good, but she was so sincere, and who was he to question his sweet girl?
"I never thought this was how my life would be when I shouted at you outside that cafe on South Street. But I'm so glad it is. You've given me a home, a family, and enough love to last a lifetime," she beamed, edging closer since she needed his warmth and proximity but also because her nerves were forgotten, replaced with pure excitement for all the plans they'd made--and any surprises along the way.
"Here's to forever, doofus. And whatever comes after that," she finished, kissing his cheek, loving as Ray sniffed and rubbed his eyes to the loudness of Piper blowing her nose.
God, those two would be her death--like one hundred Christmas-themed rom-coms put together, but that's what they were like. It was a classic Sweet Girl and her Doofus, making them shuffle closer until their navels and toes touched, noses brushing together nearly. And, of course, they played footsie for a moment, tapping each other's toes, despite being at the alter. That's just what they were like.
Once everyone had calmed themselves, it was time for the rings, causing Jasper's palms to grow sweaty because he only had two jobs, but this was the most important one. He patted his pockets again, sighing in relief as he felt two little circles poking into his palm--thank God.
"That was...beautiful," Schwoz said to the couple poignantly before turning the nervous boy, "Jasper, the rings, if you please."
He carefully pulled out the delicate warm bands, mindful not to drop them on the busy and dirty mountain floor; instead, he slid them into Schwoz's palm, breathing a sigh of relief that the responsibility was no longer in his hands. He'd lived to see another day, knowing Ray would've killed him if they were lost, so pretty and precious as Schwoz held them out for the couple to see.
Once they were on, they'd never take them off, already jumping for joy at the gorgeous thought of flaunting their pretty rings to everyone. They'd belong to each other, and everyone would know.
"Ray, please take (y/n) 's ring and place it on her finger," the genius said softly. Ray did as he was told, carefully plucking the dainty ring from his palm with shaking fingers and hovering it near her outstretched hand.
He desperately didn't want to screw up, terrified of putting it in the wrong place, but (y/n) wouldn't let him panic. She wiggled her ring finger and winked at him, making her doofus laugh as he breathed a sigh of relief and slid the ring down past each knuckle - a perfect fit over her engagement ring.
"Repeat after Schwozie..." the small man said, smiling gently as the couple giddily stared at how Ray held the ring on her hand, ensuring it wouldn't come off, not that she ever wanted it to.
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow. With all that I am, I will love and honour you," Ray murmured, echoing what Schwoz whispered in his ear as he gazed at his sweet girl and stroked the ring. He'd never seen a more perfect sight.
"(y/n), please take Ray's ring and place it on his finger," Schwoz told the woman, a massive grin on her face as she took their thicker band and copied his movements, sliding it down. She's in love with him and the ring, thinking the married look suits him, making him look hotter, and Ray couldn't agree more. It felt right, the metal quickly warming on his skin until he barely noticed it was there, like a second skin. A perfect fit.
"Repeat after Schwozie..."
"I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow. With all that I am, I will love and honour you," she repeated, wriggling her toes excitedly because it was nearly over. Everyone waited with bated breath as Jasper stepped back, no longer needed now his ring-bearing duties were over. The vows had been made, and every symbol in the book bound them to each other, leaving Schwoz with one final task before the long, miserable wait was over.
"Finally, I must ask..." he added, drawing a few silent but bored sighs since everyone just wanted to celebrate - none more than Ray and (y/n), who were dying to satisfy their aching needs to feel each other's lips again.
"Ray Manchester, do you take (y/n) (y/l/n) to be your lawful wedded wife?"
"I do..." Ray nodded, thinking nothing had ever been more evident as he grinned down at his sweet girl, practically buzzing with anticipation. He could feel it coming...
"(y/n) (y/l/n), do you take Ray Manchester to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do!" (y/n) replied, spitting out the words with too much excitement to be deemed sane. But she'd thrown grace and style out the window, drifting closer to her doofus and losing focus on everyone because, surely, that was it. It was official, but not until Schwoz said, yet he couldn't keep them in suspense any longer.
He snapped his book closed, showing it wasn't anything sacred. It was just an old cookbook he'd borrowed from the Swellview Library and never returned, not that anyone noticed. Huge grins grew on their faces as he threw his head back, declaring to the sky the words that Ray and (y/n) had waited a lifetime to hear.
"Then, by the power invested in Schwoz...from work...I now pronounce you man and wooman! You may kiss the bride!"
They didn't need to be told twice. (y/n) jumped into her doofus' arms at lightning speed, smashing her lips against his like she needed it to live. Her husband--the word alone could make her squeal--instantly swept her off her feet, spinning around as they shared the sweetest kiss of their lives. Their lips moved in perfect synch to the sound of rapturous applause coming from their friends, not that they could hear.
It was official; Ray had finally done what he never thought possible. He made (y/n) his wife, making all her dreams come true, as they didn't stop, lost in the kiss even as their lungs burned and the kids...well, they didn't have it in them to make yucky noises. They were so damn happy and proud, feeling a shift in the universe now that their souls had become one.
They split eventually, the battle for air winning over their need to consume each other. Ray and (y/n) gently pulled away to smile at each other, resting their foreheads together as they stayed in the embrace - married and complete. Thy'd never shake the immense joy they felt at that word - married - the hero cupping his sweet girl's face to peck her lips a few more times.
"You're my wife... Oh, sweet girl... you're my wife," Ray breathed, thinking it was so much better than girlfriend or fiancée could ever be. She giggled at him, delighted when he called her that because it was so goddamn dreamy. Just like him.
"And you're my husband, doofus," she added, pinching his chin as he smiled, looking ten years younger like she'd unburdened him. He cupped her face, staring down at her like she was the most precious thing in the world as he whispered..."
"I love you...so much."
"I love you, doof. More than anything," (y/n) replied, pulling him down for another shorter but no less sweet kiss. Ray hummed, eagerly drinking down her taste like a parched man, grunting in disappointment when his precious wife pulled away too quickly for his liking.
She told him to save it for later before turning to their friends with a radiant smile. Charlotte and Piper threw blossom petals in the air, cheering and clapping with Jasper as Henry rubbed his face. He couldn't be prouder, applauding the happy couple louder than anyone, even as he tried to mask his tears.
"Hey, Hen... Your liquid pride is showing," the heroine teased him, grinning but certainly touched as the boy brushed the droplets away. Nothing could ruin her mood as Ray nuzzled her cheek and temple, not wanting to leave his bride alone for a minute - there'd never been a man more in love.
"Who cares, man? I'm happy for you. Congrats," the boy sniffed, accepting his emotions since it was a wedding - and at least he wasn't the most embarrassing crier there as he shook hands with his former boss and kissed his friend's cheeks. Schwoz was a mess, mascara streaking down his face from his pantomime getup as he wailed and dabbed his panda eyes with a handkerchief like a movie star.
"I always cry at weddings!" He exclaimed, fanning his wet cheeks as Ray pulled his sweet girl into another kiss - he couldn't get enough.
"To the happy couple!" Piper exclaimed, not having anything to toast, but seeing them canoodling made it feel like it was the right moment, especially when they smiled into their kiss. Strangely, it didn't feel embarrassing to have everyone's eyes on them, but that was probably because they never cared, always laying it on heavy no matter who was watching.
"May they always remain lovey-dovey lovebirds!" Charlotte added, making everyone laugh as the couple prolonged their kiss like it was another vow, never wanting to break it. They'd always be so disgusting that the kids couldn't help but pull faces and mock them.
"Hey, guys..." Jasper suddenly spoke, looking all innocent with his floppy hair and his cute sweater. Still, something in his eye made (y/n) suspect that he had an ulterior motive--especially when he plainly nudged Piper and winked at Henry. He wasn't exactly James Bond.
"I know this isn't a traditional wedding but doesn't the best man normally give a speech?"
"Uh, yeah, traditionally--but don't worry, Henry. You don't have to make one," (y/n) nodded before quickly giving the tall teen a reassuring smile. Public speeches were nerve-wracking and scary, and she was sure that doing one in front of his entire found family would make the boy's palm sweaty. But Henry just shrugged and looked calm, clearing his throat as he pulled a scrap of paper from his blazer pocket.
The kids hadn't told anyone except for Schwoz, but they'd colluded, too, having egged the boy on as he scribbled down a quick speech just for them, just this once.
"Nah, nah, nah--it's cool--it's cool. If this kid can handle danger, he can handle a speech. No problem," he boasted, rolling his shoulders as his friends smiled, Ray and (y/n) huddling close and focusing on the boy. Their left hands were intertwined, rings brushing against each other because they couldn't get over the feeling of wearing them - it was the life calling they never knew they needed.
"Ray...(y/n)..." Henry began, clearing his scratchy throat again as he tried to set the proper tone, glancing at his notes like he didn't have the words memorised. He wasn't good at this sort of thing, but he thrived under pressure, hoping to impress the couple, who didn't expect anything mind-blowing. Charlotte and Piper had helped him, making everything flowery and poetic since he hated all that mushy stuff--but he meant it.
"I won't lie. You're two of the dumbest people I've ever met—"It was an excellent way to start, making Charlotte roll her eyes as Ray growled. His wife wasn't dumb, but Henry raised his hand as a sign to wait. He just needed to let him speak...
"From the second I stepped into the Man Cave, I knew you guys were made for each other," Henry grinned, recalling how even his thirteen-year-old idiot self saw the chemistry between them--more than they ever did.
"The annoying thing, though, was that you didn't see it yourselves. I can't tell you how many days and nights me, and Charlotte spent smacking our heads at how oblivious you were. We're just friends, was all you ever used to say."
That earned a few laughs and a vigorous and emphatic nod from Charlotte, who could say there were times when she wanted to tear her hair out. Knowing they were in love and too afraid to say anything, but being sworn to secrecy themselves, was almost intolerable until the truth came out.
"And then, even when Jasper came, you refused to admit it. Ray, you follow her around like a lovesick puppy. (Y/n), you think he's a God amongst men," he said, making the couple blush and giggle, looking at each other, knowing it was true.
"You've made me proud three times in all the time I've known. When you finally put us out of our misery and became boyfriend and girlfriend. When Ray stopped being a chicken and proposed.... And today," Henry said proudly, having not glanced at his notes since he began the speech. He knew everything he wanted to say--what they needed to hear.
"Seeing you both here makes me prouder than anything, and I can honestly say its suits you."
"You've always been an old married couple, and I can promise we'll always be sick when we see you kiss," he grinned, jokingly screwing his face up when Ray pecked (y/n) 's forehead. They were used to that, unoffended and secretly adoring how the kids fake-vomited at their affection. It was cute, and they loved winding them up.
"The Man Cave may be gone, but that doesn't mean it ends here for you. You're lucky. You get to make new memories wherever you go—only you'll be husband and wife this time. That's why we—and by that, I mean all of us—want to give you this."
The kid paused, turning to look at Piper, who'd sneakily stepped away while everyone had been distracted by his touching words and charisma. She grabbed the most precious gift; a handmade scrapbook that had (y/n) gasping and Ray smiling when they saw it. It wasn't perfect, with runny glue smudged in places, messy glitter, and wonky letters spelling 'Ray + (y/n), a love story', but it was made with love. And had thankfully been stored at Charlotte's house, so it wasn't blown up.
"This is our wedding gift to you. It's not much, but we thought you'd like to look at your old memories while making all these new ones. To remember how far you've come," Henry explained, watching and feeling slightly nervous as (y/n) took the book and flipped through the thick pages.
He didn't want her or Ray to hate it, but judging by the enormous grin on her face as she saw the first page - an image of the lovers looking very young in the first Man Cave - he didn't need to worry. It was beautiful, each page bound to the spine with metallic twine and decorated with stickers, glitter and little things to make them smile.
As they flicked through the scrapbook, they realised it was also a photo album, hiding dozens of photos of them together, from anniversary snaps to in-the-moment candids where no one was paying attention. They never understood how lovestruck they were when staring at each other until the camera showed it perfectly in a picture from when Ray gave (y/n) her Hawaiian sunset. There was also their first Christmas kiss, every Kissaversary after that, (y/n)'s birthday, the time they were substitute teachers, their engagement, and that time they took photos for the Swellview calendar.
There were so many, some of them, some of the kids, and all with little notes scribbled next to them in various handwriting styles - jokes, comments, or silly drawings. The couple fawned over the book, laughing and pointing as they remembered every event like yesterday, flicking until nothing was left to see.
Huh, that was strange. Suddenly, the book stopped without photos, glitter, or paint, leaving many empty sheets with nothing but a sticky note on the blank canvas. It had a message written in Charlotte's neat cursive, saying that the last pages were for them - it was time to make more memories, whatever they would be.
"Thank you. It's perfect," (y/n) whispered, hugging the book to her chest so it would stay safe, knowing it would become one of her most treasured possessions. She didn't care if it smudged glitter on her dress; her tears returned, making her sniff, and Ray wrapped an arm around her, kissing her temple as he patted Henry on the shoulder.
"Thanks, kid," he told him as Henry grinned, grateful that he'd chosen such a kind and thoughtful boy as his sidekick and his best man to stand by him on the most important day of his life--as his brother.
The kid stepped back, wiping the stray sparkle from his fingers as he assumed the wedding was over. What else was there to do? He and his friends had a helicopter ride to catch since his sidekick career was over, but as he looked at Ray, who swore he seemed...nervous. Suspicious. Like he had something to confess.
"Thank you for this, sweet girl. You really surprised me," the hero said as he held his wife's hand, feeling his heart in his mouth since he did have something to share. Although he didn't think it would've fitted so well with her plans.
"I think it's the only rash thing I've ever done, but Mrs Manchester sounds good, right?" (y/n) asked happily, the new name sounding clumsily and foreign on her tongue, but she liked it. (y/n) Manchester... She could hear that for the rest of her life and be satisfied--and luckily, she would, thanks to the gorgeous man holding her hips.
"It sounds perfect, but actually..." Ray started looking overjoyed as he heard his name next to hers, swearing he was the luckiest man on Earth. But he looked a little scared, too, releasing her body to take both hands in his like he had something meaningful to say, making (y/n) nervous. She wondered why he needed her full attention, playing it up like it was something big, but she didn't worry too much. How could she when her husband looked so soft?
The man reached into his inner breast pocket as his face stretched into a grin he couldn't shake. It made him look like a genius, even though he was just fortunate - in every aspect of his life.
"I have a surprise of my own, darlin'," he revealed, pulling two plane tickets from his jacket that had her eyebrows furrowing until she saw the clear print written on the front. Swellview Airport to Hawaii, two passengers, making her eyes snap to his, filled with tears and wonder because it couldn't be genuine... It felt like a dream, thoughtful and fateful like he'd known what she'd been planning.
"Doofus, what..."
"I didn't know you'd planned this, sweet girl. I booked the tickets days ago, wanting to take you to your paradise after everything we went through. My girl deserves to see a Hawaiian sunset before anything can stop her, but now... This just feels--"
"Perfect," (y/n) answered for him, staring at the tickets as her brain processed what he meant. Flying to Hawaii had been her dream since she was little, hoping she'd get to walk the beach with someone special. But there'd never been anyone good enough, the time, the money, or the occasion. Until now--now, she had everything, including the man of her dreams, to accompany her there.
"Oh, doofus--thank you, thank you, thank you!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around Ray's neck as he laughed. What had originally been planned as a luxury, once-in-a-lifetime holiday was now their honeymoon. And he was really fucking glad he'd booked the fancy villa in a three-week trip to the island paradise.
"Our flight leaves in a few hours. Just enough time to pack our bags, but... We'll have to say our goodbyes here," the hero said reluctantly, looking at the kids with soft, sad eyes. The abrupt plans meant their final few moments would be rushed and brief. He assumed she'd want to spend every second she could with them, blowing off the vacation for her babies.
But then, (y/n) surprised him, sniffing as the moment's meaning dawned on her, yet she smiled and nodded nevertheless. Like everything, letting go was scary, but she could accept it.
"That's okay. I'm ready..." (y/n) said quietly, knowing she wouldn't pass up a chance to experience bliss with her doofus nor deny the teens the opportunity to experience the world for themselves. So, she turned to them with her pretty smile and cheery disposition, making them sad because it was time to say goodbye to their favourite person as Ray and Schwoz stayed back. This was their moment - they had a special bond with their (y/n/n).
"So... After all this time, everything's finally over," Henry sighed, giving the woman a melancholy yet nostalgic smile. He couldn't believe it; his childhood had disappeared in a flash, and now he was grown, terrified but eager to see what life was all about. He just wished he didn't have to leave those he loved behind.
"Yeah, but we're coming back, right?" Jasper asked, frowning at the thought of this being the end, finito, game over, never to see each other again. If that was the case, he didn't want to leave... Silly, dear boy.
"Yeah, totally," Charlotte reassured him, knowing they'd never survive if they didn't have a home to return to. Maybe not often since the lovebirds would be having their own kids soon, growing their family and being too busy to look after them, but there were always the holidays. And there was nowhere better to be than with their found family on special occasions, especially when Mrs Manchester cooked.
"(y/n/n), I want oatmeal raisin cookies for every Thanksgiving."
"Ooh! And those brownies with the little chocolate chunks in them!" Piper exclaimed, having fallen in love with the woman's baking after a few months in the Man Cave. Her skills were out of this world, and no one could ever replace them--or the sweet girl. She was pretty special...and snuggly...and safe.
"And pie!"
"Lots of pie!" Henry and Jasper exclaimed, making (y/n) laugh, throwing her head back in the prettiest way to leave Ray whipped for her.
She made them one pie once, and they never shut up about it - the crisp pastry, the sweet, delicious filling... They ate the lot themselves, arguing it went to a better place when the boss scolded them for eating what should've been his as head taste tester. But it was fine--(y/n) would make all the pie her boys wanted and more.
"I'll make everything, and there'll always be a place for you. Always. Any time you want. You come, and I'll feed you," the heroine giggled, giving them those soft eyes that held so much motherly love even as she let herself cry. She couldn't stop even if she tried. She was too emotional, especially when Piper jumped into her arms and hugged her waist tightly.
She buried her face into her chest, hating anyone who saw her cry, so she hid her cheeks as best she could. But (y/n) couldn't go on her honeymoon without knowing how she felt, just like Piper couldn't go to college without telling her of her unending gratitude--for everything.
"I'm gonna miss you, (y/n/n). So much..."
"I'll miss you too, Piper... And if anyone at Florida State messes with you, they'll have me to deal with," the woman warned jokingly as she squished them together. Although part of her was very serious about beating up anyone who caused her trouble, thinking they'd receive a little visit from Miss Danger if they teased her meanly.
"You're always so good at that," the girl commented, her voice muffled and monotone since it was whispered into the delicate lace of her friend's dress. But (y/n) heard her, not that she understood any of it--all she did was swear to rip any bullies apart for hurting one of her babies.
"At what?"
"Making me feel like I have a friend," Piper murmured, sounding small and shy as she shrank into herself - so very different from the confident girl her clothes and attitude suggested.
It almost broke (y/n) 's heart, knowing that under her tough exterior, Piper had it rough being the sassy, popular in the best clique in school. She loved the fame, but she never made any real friends, just bitches who stabbed her in the back just to look better or gain a boy's attention. Having no friends was awful, and the heroine hated that one of her closest friends felt like that...until she came along.
"Oh, Piper..."
"No, it's true. You never hated me for being mean, annoying, or rude. You've always been there for me... Thank you for that," the girl said honestly, looking into the woman's teary eyes before she pulled her into another tight hug.
Their friendship had been brief, but it meant the world to Piper, knowing that someone, somewhere, finally accepted her without expecting something in return. (y/n) would never, and that's why she poured every ounce of feeling she could into the hug before they let go, pulling away with moist eyes. The girl had to fan herself to ensure she didn't cry, not wanting to look like a panda before college, making (y/n) smile. Florida State wouldn't know what hit them when Piper Hart landed, going on to make something of her life and be more than the brat everyone wrote her off as.
Next was Charlotte, who stepped up and quickly went in for an angled hug, slotting against the woman, who didn't care if it was a little clinical or stiff. She knew that Charlotte's affection lay elsewhere. However, they still laughed like old friends, light and airy since they never needed to be authoritarians or pretenders. They were very similar people, so they got on so well.
"I'll call you when we get there, (y/n). And don't worry, I'll keep those idiots out of trouble," the teen reassured her, aware that it would be in the middle of the night when everyone landed in their respective destinations, but being the worrier she was, (y/n) liked to know everyone was safe. And with Charlotte on their side, Henry and Jasper had nothing to worry about.
"You're gonna have your hands full, but I know you'll be okay. You're the smartest kid I've ever met, Char. You're really gonna be someone someday," the bride whispered, meaning it with all of her heart as she saw headlines bearing Charlotte Page's name for all the good she would do.
"Everything I know, I learned from you. Thank you for that," she replied, not even to be modest--it was true.
Whilst she excelled at school, Charlotte learned more from (y/n) than any book, making her the perfect teacher and friend a person could wish for. And when she stepped up to collect all the awards the woman swore she would win, the first name on her lips would be (y/n) Manchester, thanking her for turning a tedious after-school job into the time of her life.
It was unusually sentimental for her, so they hugged again before anyone could see her tears--which would be highly embarrassing. But (y/n) cries for her, giving the same tight squeeze she did with Piper before letting go. It was always short and sweet with Charlotte; no need to overcomplicate things when she said everything perfectly.
So, the woman moved on to the next kid, who could barely contain himself as he bounced and waited for his goodbye.
"Come on, Curly. I know you want to," she giggled, holding out her arms for the boy to jump into - it was kinda flattering to see him so excited for one of her hugs, making the moment even more special.
Jasper loved her hugs, wrapping his long arms around her like a bear and pulling her into his chest since he was so tall. He never used to be, and secretly, he'd always had a particular soft spot in (y/n) 's heart. It wasn't favouritism, but she knew how rough he had it home, so whenever she saw him, she gave him an extra sprinkling of love, which hadn't gone unnoticed.
"I've always liked it when you call me that," he confessed, smiling at her cute nickname. It made him feel unique and loved, given that none of his friends ever got one.
"I miss the curls. They're distinctly you," (y/n) smiled, reaching up to pay his straight, fluffy locks. Sure, he'd artificially curled his hair with rollers every night to maintain his old bouffant. Still, no matter how many people teased him, she liked it, thinking that even though he had that awkward phase, it didn't make him unloveable.
"You don't think I'm weird?" He asked self-consciously, remembering his outbursts, slip-ups, bodily sweatiness, and poor decisions; the worst being his insufferable obsessions with buckets. But (y/n) thought differently, wanting her Curly to stay who he was, saying the words no one had ever told him.
"Don't let anyone change you, Jasper. I think you're wonderful, just the way you are."
"(y/n)..." Jasper sniffed, needing to swallow the lump in his throat before he continued because she made him cry. It touched his heart more than ever before because all he'd ever been told was to fit in, stop acting weird, and be normal if he wanted people to like him.
Then, he found the Man Cave, and even though Ray grumbled every time he messed up, it felt like home. And God knows he'd never had one of those before, not a proper home filled with love and people who wanted him there. That made (y/n) the kindest, sweetest, most generous woman he had ever met - for taking him in and giving him a place to stay when he had nowhere else to go.
"Thanks for being the mom I never had."
It was (y/n) 's turn to hide, pressing her face into his chest as she bawled and wrapped her arms around the boy so tightly that it felt like suffocation. She didn't mean to; it was involuntary since he needed a little extra comfort, and she was more than happy to give it, knowing she'd miss how he never failed to make her laugh when he was in Dystopia. Still, a few regular phone calls would placate her.
Finally, it was Henry's turn, who just stood there, looking relaxed and casual, as he waited for her to release Jasper.
When they were done, he opened his arms, allowing her to silently shuffle close until they were wrapped in a tender embrace. They uniquely relied on each other, bound by her mentorship and their bond as sidekicks. They fought and almost died together more times than they cared to remember, meaning their hug wasn't rough or tight - it was warm and safe, saying, it's okay, we're alive, for the last time.
"I don't know what to say, (y/n/n)," Henry admits, having waited until he was last because the others knew what they wanted to say. But he didn't. How do you thank someone who changed your life as much as she did with him? How do you repay that much kindness?
"You don't have to say anything, Henry. I know," (y/n) soothed him, enjoying the hug without hearing about his gratitude. She didn't think she did much, turning up for work daily to help where she could. If the kid felt half of her adoration for him, it would be good enough for her - an honour to know that she'd had a role in a little boy's life and made it better, even if it was just for a few years.
"You do?"
"Yeah. I feel it, too," she smiled. Grand gestures were lovely, but so was this, making the most of the moment before they had to go, and she already knew about those complicated feelings. They made her heart hurt at the thought of saying goodbye to a friend, but they also gave her the strength to let go--and inspired Henry to dig deep.
He had to say something, finding the words on the tip of his tongue when he thought hard. It was brief and stupid in his mind, but he said it anyway, knowing (y/n) would never laugh at him.
"That first day in the Man Cave, I didn't just find a stupid after-school job. I found my second sister. I love you, (y/n). Thank you for being there...for being you."
"I love you, too..." she whispered, snuggling into the lanky boy's arms as she let the words sink in. He wasn't hers, and nothing stopped him from going off and forgetting all about her and his Man Cave life, but something told her he wouldn't. Because, at the same time, he was hers--her Henry, the kid who made her a mentor, friend, superhero, wife, and mom all at once. She'd never forget him.
"I love all of you," she added, turning to Piper, Charlotte, and Jasper as they smiled back, uncaring about their tears since it was the common theme that day.
"We love you, (y/n/n)," they all muttered, teetering on the edge of rushing toward her because the helicopter was calling them.
Time was running out, and they had deadlines to meet, all of which were much more important than hugging some plain, unremarkable woman who outwardly wasn't anything special. Just your average, run-of-the-mill lady, who no one ever blinked twice at. If only the world knew how sweet she was...
"Last hug..." But (y/n) invited them anyway, gathering them in a group hug with a warm grin and an even warmer embrace. She couldn't bear to watch them go without squeezing them one final time, hating the thought of not leaving them enough love to keep them going. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Schwoz wandering to the Man-Copter and realised that she'd have to let go soon, so they made the most of it.
"My babies... I'm so proud of all of you," she whispered, pulling away to dry her tears. If she didn't let go now, she never would, so she reluctantly ushered the girls toward the helicopter and patted the boys' shoulders. God, she would miss them.
"Now, go on, off you go...before I change my mind!" It was a small joke, making the kids laugh sadly as they faced what would take them to their new adventures. They were scared for different reasons, some knowing their destination would be dangerous, others knowing they'd be alone. But that was okay because when they looked back, (y/n) waved them off as Ray hugged her from behind.
It didn't seem as scary with someone to fall back on - a friend to talk to in lonely moments or a hero to call when things got lairy.
"Make sure you see them right into their apartments, Schwoz. They smell fear in those places," (y/n) told the genius as she watched the kids clamber into the helicopter and nervously rubbed her hands together, now having a second ring to fiddle with. Schwoz wasn't sure if she was talking about Dystopia or a college campus. Still, he had to nod and agree, sensing a grilling coming his way if he didn't ensure they were safe.
Luckily, she had her doofus behind her, his warm front against her back as he kissed her cheek and hummed. They would be okay.
"Okay! And don't worry. I'll keep everything safe here while you doing the smoochy-smoochy in Haweee—-"
"Hawaii, Schwoz. It's pronounced Hawaii," Ray said through gritted teeth, wondering why he hired a man so bad at pronunciations. He irritated him, but the hero didn't squash him, secretly wanting someone to check on the kids when they couldn't. He couldn't imagine life without them, but he had his sweet girl--and plenty of ideas on what they could do with so much quiet time.
"Just go!" Schwoz told them, waving his hand over his shoulder as he trotted to the Man-Copter.
Inside, Jasper and Piper were complaining about having to sit near each other, possibly swapping cooties and other germs as the genius shut the door and prepared to take off. It would be a long flight, but he had a minute's respite as the kids settled down to wave to the couple outside. The blades whirred to life, creating violent, whipping winds around Ray and (y/n) as they stood fast and shouted their final goodbyes.
Well, not goodbyes, more like see-you-laters.
The aircraft lifted off, making (y/n) bite her lip to stop herself from crying again. There they went, flying higher and higher until they were soaring over the city as a mere speck on the skyline. Her babies were off to see the world, and the most they'd get was a postcard, perhaps the occasional visit.
Finally, they were alone, husband and wife, watching the chopper until they couldn't follow the black dot. Then, a strange feeling came over them. When was the last time they were alone? Three weeks was a long time in their hectic lives, sending a tingle down (y/n)'s spine as she debated married life. It wasn't so bad so far, not when Ray dipped his head to kiss up her neck like he'd been dying to do.
"So, Mr Manchester... About this honeymoon," she said coyly, feeling like they'd need to get there sooner rather than later, given how much his hands wandered with no one looking. But she was just as bad, holding his head in place as she craned her neck to give him more room, smiling when she saw her golden wedding ring poking through the chocolate locks.
Ray smirked against her skin, nipping wherever he liked because she was his wife, his sweet girl, and she was entirely his for the next three weeks. He'd seen enough of that dress to know he wanted it on the floor, preferably in their hotel room, where no one would disturb them.
"Well, Mrs Manchester, you'll just have to wait and see..."
#ray manchester#ray manchester x reader#captain man x reader#reader insert#dangerverse#danger force#x reader#henry danger#fanfiction#chapa de silva#captain man#marriage#ray manchester smut#ray manchester fanfiction#henry danger smut#miss danger#danger force season 3#kid danger#captain man smut#cross posted on ao3ml#animal crossing#cross posted on wattpad#cross posted on ao3#fluff#female#found family#wedding#final#long time coming#cute
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Hello, hello! Not even joking, you seem like one the most sweet writers in BoB fandom and I feel comfortable enough to request something. The thing is that idk if you take this type of requests. I would like some hcs of George, Lieb, Malarkey and Shifty reacting to their s/o being a really good sniper, with a high kill count. If you take my request I wanna thank you so much in advance, if you don't, thank you anyway for writing for this fandom <3
Keep with the good work and take care! :)
A/N: Honestly this request warmed my heart so much that it momentarily pulled me out of the BoB writer's block. I don't usually do headcanons (mainly bc I'm not good at it) BUT I'm about to try. Also since idk what pronouns you go by, I'll stick to they/them (for the first time in forever damn). ALSO I LOVE YOUR PLAYLISTS, YOUR MUSIC TASTE IS FIRE. Enjoy love♥️
GEORGE LUZ
George had seen you shooting.
He knew you were one hell of a shot.
But you were so sneaky about it, that he couldn't help but be downright shocked to his core when you two land in Normandy.
He's all dazed and on edge because of the jump and the radio, and you go shooting everyone and their dog down, even before getting rid of the canopy.
And he's just like 👁️👄👁️
Luz was crushing before but now he thinks he may be in love.
He doesn't even have to use his gun, Jesus Christ let him shoot at least one (1) German soldier.
He thinks you're a literal angel— his angel, to be precise.
He tells everyone he's blessed because no bullet can get him while you're around.
This little shit is reckless, though, he's truly lucky that you find yourself around him at all times.
Maybe he is blessed.
Brags about you in such a ridiculous way that he might even get you in trouble.
"They can shoot that thing there with their eyes closed." Luz assures his friends, lazily pointing at some can he can't even see before turning to you. "Betcha 20 bucks."
He'd 100% lose money by doing this, because he does that a lot while y'all are drunk.
Will point at you every time some officer asks who's the best shot in the company.
Exaggerating your abilities as a hobby.
He pretty much thinks you're immortal, and honestly, no one can really blame him.
JOE LIEBGOTT
Lieb is kinda jealous, not gonna lie.
He's very much competitive —the way he flirts with you initially is by challenging you in everything— so you being literally one of the best shots in the company bothers him.
That jealousy gradually shifts to pride once you start to date.
He keeps a scarily accurate count of your kills.
You find about this in Bastogne, where you, McLung, Hoobler and Shifty talk about who's the best shot.
Lieb jumps into the conversation claiming that you're the best shot.
"Yeah, 'cause you're being objective, right Lieb?" Alley, who had overheard the conversation, teased from an adjacent foxhole.
"I'm being objective as fuck!" He yelled back at his friend, sitting down by your side before tossing his arm over your shoulders. "You know what's her kill count?" He asked to the men bickering with you.
They obviously denied with their heads.
You're about to say something like "probably around x", because you'd love to say you keep a good count of it, but you stopped after the Island, so now you worked with an approximate number.
Joe doesn't even let you open your mouth before cockily stating the exact fucking number of your kills.
You know it has to be right, because the number makes sense but goddamn???
That settles the conversation of who's the best sniper.
"You keep a better count than I do." You're meant to tease, but you just sound surprised.
"Well that's because I love rubbing that number in everyone's face. Gotta let 'em know I landed the best shot in the 506th."
He winks at you and he's out.
Smug motherf—
DON MALARKEY
Don is in awe the first time he sees you shoot at a target because what even is that accuracy????
This man thinks you're a God.
Like, he worships you and your abilities.
Looks up to you, 100%.
He cannot believe you said yes to go on a date with him once he plucked up the courage to ask you out.
You? With him?? Sounds fake but okay.
Loves to see you practice, Don is just mesmerized by how graceful and cool and easy you make it look.
Will protect you at all costs for 'for the sake of the company'.
Which is not a lie because Second platoon would have been massacred a couple of times already, had it not been for your ridiculously excellent aim.
But also it's because he loves you very much and knows snipers are an immediate target.
Much like Luz, Malark brags about you in a very much biased, inaccurate way.
He believes it, though (bless him).
"I bet they could take out four Krauts with one shot." He animatedly assures some B company fellow soldiers at a pub in England.
'Protection mode' intensifies after he loses Muck and Penkala, to the point that Speirs threatens to demote him if he "doesn't let their excellent sniper work their wonders".
Bear with him, he's very much aware of your talent, he's just worn out and on edge, and he cannot lose you.
SHIFTY POWERS
First time our observant little baby notices your aim, it's probably back in bootcamp. He and McLung were sneakily helping out the men with target practice so they could pass.
Shifty, being the sweetheart he is, installs himself besides you to shoot at your target.
When he's about to do it, though, he just freezes for a hot second because you're DESTROYING the target.
Bullseye everytime.
That draws a silly little smile on Shifty's face, who, mind you, may or may not have developed a crush on you on your first week at Toccoa.
Shifty telling his dad about you and your aim as soon as he can because he's impressed, in love, and swooning.
Dream team in the battlefield.
No one messes with you.
You two are like the sweetest people you can find, but also the deadliest.
Kill them with kindness, except it's literal.
A bit of competition never hurt anyone, so you two like to check who's got the higher kill count after a battle.
It's not the kind of competition that Liebgott would have with you, it's more of a "whoever had the higher kill rate is getting the most compliments".
Gifting each other pistols you find.
Shifty thinks you're wayyyy better than him.
You think otherwise.
Truth be told, you two are pretty much even in this area, you're just too humble to accept it.
#band of brothers fanfic#band of brothers fandom#band of brothers headcanons#don malarkey headcanons#george luz headcanons#joe liebgott headcanons#shifty powers headcanons#band of brothers request
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Golden Hour Part 12
My fluffy domestic ♥️GarouxReader♥️ (from Garou’s point of view). In this part he takes you to the sea :) You can also read it on AO3 here :)
"Uncle," Tareo says as he sits on the living room floor the next evening. Kid's been looking dazed and confused ever since he came inside. He's got the mouse on the string but he's not really paying attention and the cat grabs it and goes full throttle, strangling and biting and ripping into it, having the time of her life.
You know, maybe we are more alike than I thought. This really is my cat.
"What?" I say from my usual place on the couch as I watch the sun begin to go down. It still disappears early enough but not as early as when we first made each other's acquaintance, me and her. I'd let the memories of the last months get the better of me if I was alone, thinking of her and all those times…
The tree outside is starting to block the light, the new leaves appearing every day.
"Uncle," he says again, as if completely forgetting he'd just said that.
"What?" I repeat. I'm getting used to this kid. My patience ain't wearin' so thin anymore. I could do this all day.
He's a good kid. I ain’t got nothing against him.
"I went to her house," he says, almost whispering, in awe, as if still not believing this good fortune actually happened to him.
"Oh yeah?" I can't help but grin. I'm happy for him. At least one of us is gettin' somewhere.
I frown for a moment, remembering my own fucking lost opportunity. So close. So fucking close.
I’ve been replaying that moment in my goddamn head since yesterday. Over and fucking over. Part of me is sure it would've all gone how I wanted it to. That it would be the start of something…good. But then another part of me doubts. What if she'd turned around and gave me a good fucking slap? I can't discount that either. I was ready to take some very big liberties and I wouldn't fuckin' blame her. But nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?
Anyway, back to the kid.
"How was it?" I say.
"Her house is nice," he says. "We played board games."
"Board games, eh?" I say, now there's a thought. I start thinking board games but then all my dirty little mind goes to is strip poker and then that image of her see-through shirt yesterday…and fucking heaven help me. No. Snap the fuck out. Back to this kid.
"Did you let her win?" I ask.
"No," he shakes his head seriously. "She's really good."
Yeah. That's the way. You don't let people win if you respect them. I'd fucking hate that.
I'm about to ask somethin' else, I don't remember what, when he just keeps going with growing exciting momentum now.
"And then her brother came and played too and it was really fun! He's so cool! He's the captain of the baseball team! And then we went to the park and he got us some candy and…"
And I ain't listening anymore. I'm fucking scowling, deep and mad. This fucking asshole again. Him and his fucking hair, and his fucking face, and-
"Uncle, someone's here!" Tareo says as the front door opens.
"Oh!" She breaks into an even bigger smile as she sees Tareo. "Hello!" She says as I quickly get up. "I just wanted to bring this back," she says, turning to me now, still with that bright smile, holding out my PE uniform, all washed and dry and folded neatly and smellin' so good. She shouldn'tve bothered. Ain't like I'll be ever using it again. I told her not to bother but she wouldn’t listen and just took it home with her anyway.
“Hey Delilah,” she says, getting down on the floor with Tareo, petting the cat while she purrs and meows. “You’re looking so good now!”
“She’s getting bigger!” Tareo says, his exciting story momentarily forgotten. Good. Because I don’t want to hear another fuckin’ thing about that baseball son of a bitch.
“Yes, she is,” she agrees, nodding. “She’s getting big and strong, because Garou takes such good care of her,” she says and looks up at me.
I feel…fuck. Why does she have to say things like that? It ain’t like I fuss over the cat or anything. I just feed it twice a day and…fuck. I’m just gonna go put this back in my room.
I head upstairs without replying. What is there to say? But the way she looks at me, like she knows she’s right, like she can see right through me…
Well, I have been trying to be good lately. Or a bit less fuckin’ bad I guess. I haven’t gone out skulking around at night nearly as much these last few weeks. I’m trying my best, I fuckin’ swear. Only when I really, really fuckin’ need it. And after last night, I feel like I’m really, really, really going to fucking need it tonight. This frustration is turning into a fucking monster that I can barely control anymore.
“Maybe I should learn karate,” Tareo looks up at me with this newfound determination when I come back into the living room.
I remember looking back at them, on the floor there, playing with the cat. And it hit me. Since when did my house become the fucking meetin’ place? Shit felt surreal. A few months back I would’ve been sittin’ here alone in the dark and the cold, happy with my own company, and now, the lights were on and they were here and I found it didn’t bother me. This fucking strange turn of events. Just crept up on me. And I found, to my infinite surprise, I wasn’t too fuckin’ bothered by it.
I don’t know what I was thinkin’ at the time. I was just trying to think of a place I might show her that she’d actually like. And that was hard because it seemed like our interests weren’t at all aligned. But then I remembered that little town and the house and it made me think of the museum and well… There it was. She told me later she was surprised at the time. In a good way. But also it made things harder because she was trying to not get too close. And then I went and did something personal like that, thought of her specifically. Said no one had done that for her for a while. If only she’d known the hours I’d spent with her on my mind. Life is ironic like that.
“Oh, what for?” Ahe asks, looking up from Delilah to him.
“Um…” he suddenly falters, his cheeks gettin’ red. “I…uh…there’s…”
I got you, boy. I got you.
“To be awesome, like me,” I say, grinning. “Ain’t no one going to mess with him then.”
“Well, it would be better if he could solve problems without resorting to that,” she says, raising an eyebrow at me but I ignore it.
“I like your initiative, kid,” I say. I won’t be the one to teach you but good on you.
“Really?” He looks up at me hopefully. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”
But I ain’t really listening anymore. He can do whatever he wants. What’s it to me?
Hmm…Initiative. Initiative…
This has got me thinking. Maybe that’s been the problem. Why none of this is goin’ nowhere. I haven’t particularly done nothing so why would she even suspect that I’ve been in this sorry longing state for so long?
Fuck me, she’s taken me places and always seems to be the one initiating.
Of course. Fuck. Why ain’t I thought of that? I ain’t ever asked her to do something or go anywhere. I remember that time, in the beginning where she said I’d made it clear I didn’t want to see her. Fuck. I ain’t exactly made a huge improvement since then.
And now I’m just deep in thought. I gotta think of something, somewhere…
Think. Think…
I’m thinkin’ so hard I don’t even really hear the rest of their conversation.
“We saw Uncle’s teacher before,” Tareo informs her proudly. “He said Uncle was the best student.”
“Is that right?” She says, mischievous smile directed at me but I’m too lost in concentration. I ain’t exactly an encyclopedia of romantic ideas here.
“I can imagine that,” she says as Delilah climbs onto her lap again. “He’s very strong and very smart.”
“But he said he wouldn’t teach me,” Tareo suddenly looks downcast.
“Just give him some time,” she says, smiling kindly at him and then turns to me. “You know, I’m getting really curious now. I want to see you doing some karate, wearing that white uniform you wear.”
“It ain’t karate,” I say, a bit too distracted, not really taking in their words. But fuck. It ain’t karate.
“Sorry, sorry,” she laughs. “Whatever it is, it sounds like you were very good at it. Very talented. I would have loved to have seen you with your teacher, seen your dojo. It sounds really exciting.”
“It ain’t nothing,” I say, hoping they’ll drop this thing already. “Nothin’ to see. Just an old building and an even older fuckin’ man.”
She can see I ain’t keen on talking about it and moves on carefully. I feel bad. I don’t mean to be fucking rude. But I’m still thinking when-
Fuck. Yeah. That might just work.
She hands the last wet plate to me after dinner, Tareo long gone and I dry it for her.
“Oi,” I say, putting it down on the bench, all casual like, “what are you doin’ this weekend?”
“Going on a hot date,” she says, wringing out the sponge and washing her hands. She says it so naturally and so seriously.
Suddenly everything is fucking deathly silent. I can hear the drip of the tap on the hard metal sink. Time feels…heavy. I’m vaguely aware of how dark it is outside.
I find I forget what I was going to fuckin’ say. I wasn’t expecting that. I-
She looks at me for a moment but it’s like I ain’t seeing anything in front of me.
“Oh my god,” she finally laughs. “What’s wrong with you? Look at your face!”
I snap out of it. I feel something extremely fuckin’ unpleasant in my chest.
“Is that so bad? Are you that surprised that someone might want to take me out? I’m not that old,” she laughs.
But I just keep starin’ back, as if turned to fuckin’ stone.
“I’m not going on a date,” she finally says, the laughter dying down. “Seriously, I was just joking,” she says. “You don’t need to look so horrified.”
I force my brain to start working again, to regain its usual composure. She thinks I’m surprised that someone wants her. And that ain’t it at all. I’m fucking seething, thinking I’ve missed my chance here. Fuckin’ kicking myself. What the fuck?
I feel this sudden relief when she says that last thing. The anger cooling.
“I ain’t horrified,” I say, just as nonchalant as her. I really gotta get my fuckin’ act together because this time she’s joking but next time, who fuckin’ knows.
Where’s that fuckin’ initiative?
“You want to go to the sea?” I ask, just like that. Ain’t making a big deal out of it. I mean, the sea is pretty fucking close here but that’s not what I mean and she gets it. I’m talking about the wild sea. Not the thing here with the shipping containers and the neon lights.
“Yeah!” She says, genuinely enthusiastic. “Like a little trip?”
“Yeah,” I say, thinking of the hour-long, or just a bit longer, journey.
“That sounds fun,” she says. “When do you want to go?”
It’s early Saturday morning. There ain’t that many people around at the train station. We gotta take the train down south about forty five minutes and then a bus. Well, if it was just me, I’d walk that last part. But I gotta be considerate of my lovely company here. It’s in the middle of nowhere and ain’t the easiest road to get there.
“You picked a good day,” she says, looking up at the sun breaking through the sky, shielding her eyes with her hand and then grins at me.
“Yeah, well, I’m a genius,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets.
I’d gone out again that week. In the night. I tried to ignore it, to avoid it. I fucking tried but by Thursday, the memory had gotten the best of me. The memory of my dashed dreams.
I was careful though. No hits to the face. Nothin’ she’d be able to see, and I kept my mouth nice and shut about it.
I needed that. I needed to feel like I was in control of somethin’. Like I could still achieve somethin’. And then Tareo’s babbling story about that fucking baseball loser, well that was just fuel for the fire. It ain’t his fault. He doesn’t know but fuck. It all came together and when I got to my usual hunting grounds, there was just this one little group…and I just kept to myself, honest, but then they had to go and say some things my pride really didn’t agree with and well…You know how it is.
“Yes,” she laughs warmly, “yes, you are,” she says, taking a step closer to me as we wait for the train.
She doesn’t ask why. Why I had this idea, or why I was takin’ her somewhere. I get the feeling she sensed it would be better for me that she didn’t and she seemed happy to just be there by my side.
“It’s nice to get out of the city sometimes,” she says, tilting her head back a bit, letting the sunlight wash over her beautiful face, closing her eyes for a second and I take that opportunity to just stare. I don’t care who’s watching. It only lasts a moment. As usual, only the moment.
I think about her words. I guess that’s true. We used to go there in the summer. Every holiday. But to be honest, I hadn’t been to that place in years. Not since middle school. Or was it before that? I don’t remember. Some of those fucked up years just blend together. A fucking series of unfortunate events, gone by in a blur.
“What are you thinking about?” She says, catching me in the throes of unwelcome nostalgia. The way she says it, she knows somethin’s up but she’s too tactful to push any further.
“Nothin’,” I say, turning away to look down the tracks, just in time to see the train coming, feeling my fingers dig into my palms in my pockets for a moment longer before relaxing them.
“I think that’s us,” she says as the train approaches.
We sit by the window, facing each other across this flimsy little table.
Suddenly, she whips out a deck of cards from her jacket pocket.
No fucking way! Strip poker? Here? Well…I didn’t think she’d be that frisky but what the hell. If exhibitionism is her kink I’m all for it. I ain’t got nothin’ to hide.
“What? I mean…we’re going to be here for a little while. I thought it would be fun!” She says, shuffling the cards. “Want to play Idiot?”
What now?
“Eh…?” I narrow my eyes. Where the fuck is this coming from? “What did I do?” I say, unable to keep an even tone.
She snickers before the laughter takes over.
“It’s the name of the game,” she says, dealing the cards quickly, expertly. “Idiot.”
“I don’t fuckin’ believe you,” I say, folding my arms over my chest. “You’re just toying with me there. If you want to call me an idiot, just fuckin’ do it,” I growl, not convinced.
“No, I swear,” she says as she finishes. “It’s a Russian game. My grandpa taught it to me. We used to play all the time. He learned it from a friend when he was young. And then his friend moved away and he had no one to play it with, so he’d teach it to everyone he met. He loved that game. It’s not that hard. I’ll show you Idiot,” she laughs so pretty and kicks me under the table and I can’t stay mad.
And yeah, turns out she was telling the truth. It is a real fucking game.
Fucking Russians eh.
“You’re good!” She says as she beats me, just, for the second time as the scenery outside flashes by. Mostly green and blue. We’re out of the city limits and there ain’t nothing but trees and fields here. Occasionally, cows.
“Again,” I say, getting all tense. I gotta admit. I ain’t a good loser. I just ain’t. I ain’t gonna be happy until I get at least one round.
“Anything you want, Wolf Cub,” she winks and deals again.
I don’t think I have to explain the effect of her sayin’ something like that has on me anymore. You get the gist.
I pick up the cards and rearrange them in order. This is a good fucking hand.
“I ain’t going easy on you,” I say, remembering what I told Tareo. Don’t let people fucking win just to be nice. Also, I respect her too much to do that.
“I never expected you to,” she says and bites her lip seductively, jokingly, but inside I’m fucking aching. Don’t do me like that, my love. I’m already this fuckin’ close to-
“Fuck!” I say as I look at the first card she puts down. Anything but that.
“Go ahead, give me your best move, big boy,” she says, leaning back, holding her cards close to her face like a coy fan, watching me intently.
Looks like she takes this as seriously as I do. I like that.
“I don’t know,” I say, half pulling the card out of my hand, grinning at her over the rest of them, “do you think you can handle that?”
“You talk big,” she says, leaning in closer. “Show me what you’ve got,” she challenges.
If only. If only you really meant that. I would show you. I would show you anything and give you everything. Everythin’ I’ve got. It’s yours.
We step off the train onto a deserted platform, the only two visitors at this hour.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been here,” she says, looking around the trees, the grass, the barely paved road down there. “Lead the way.”
We walk down the road a bit to the bus stop.
“There’s no schedule,” she says curiously as she does a tour around the fading, rickety bus shelter.
“Nah,” I say, taking a seat, ready for it to fuckin’ collapse at any moment. “It just comes when it comes around here.”
“I can smell it,” she says as she takes a seat next to me, and now I’m ready to catch the both of us at any moment if it collapses.
“What? The bus?” I tease.
“Yes, Mr. Smartass. The bus,” she nudges me and rolls her eyes before returning to her usual gorgeous smile. “The sea. It smells different here. I know we’re close. Can’t see it yet but it’s close.”
These days I let her take whatever photos she wants of me. But I get to take them of her right back. Photo for photo. She said if we were going to be a thing I had to get a phone too because it was just easier and I wasn’t that keen on the idea because who the fuck do I have to call? But then turns out it has some uses. For example, I especially enjoy receiving her half-naked pictures at what might be considered inappropriate times. She knows I can’t resist having a look. Teases, torments me. But it always makes my day. And then I always have to respond in kind which ain’t always easy but I do love a challenge. The wonders of technology, eh?
Eventually, not too long later, it does arrive. It’s just us and a couple of old people.
“Come on,” she says, grabbing the edge of my sleeve and dragging me right to the back “That’s where the cool kids sit.”
“Oh yeah?” I say.
“Yeah,” she says, looking out the window, enjoying the countryside view. “I had to take the bus to school and it was always the cool kids down the back. And I always wanted to sit there, just once.”
“What? Are you telling me you weren’t cool?” I say, unable to keep the grin off my face. “I don’t believe that. You look like you’d fit right in here.”
She blinks at me for a moment.
“Me? Do you really think I had any hope of being cool? Me? Are you serious?” She laughs. “I was just happy to keep my head down and mouth shut.”
She says it like it’s a silly, fond memory now but I can tell it’s something she’s shut off. That she’s put distance between those years and now. A distance best kept up by humour and pretense.
“But I bet you were the coolest of them all,” she keeps teasing before turning back to the window.
I don’t fucking care. Who’s cool, who’s popular. All that fuckin’ shit. Just one more way to trample on others and make their lives fuckin’ miserable. I’d checked out of the social hierarchy long ago. It was never going to be on my fucking side anyway.
I glance at her again. Cool or not I don’t fucking care. I wonder how it would’ve been if we’d been in school at the same time. Would she have paid me any attention? Would she have joined in with the others who looked at me afraid or whispered as I walked by? I’d like to think not. I’ve experienced too much of her kindness to believe that. Or would she have just ignored me? Possibly. And the way she talks…sounds like there were people giving her a fuckin’ hard time too. Makes me wish I could’ve been there and taught them a little lesson, taught them to shut the fuck up and mind their own fuckin’ business. Or maybe she wouldn’tve appreciated that?
“The sheep are really cute,” she says, getting her phone out and snapping pictures of the lazy animals as we pass by. “Hey,” she suddenly turns to me, phone still in hand.
And before I can say ‘What?’ she’s already taken the picture. Fuck.
“Oi, delete that,” I say, none too pleased.
“Why?” She says. “You look good! See!” She turns the phone to me for a moment. I fuckin’ hate seeing pictures of myself. At least off-the-cuff ones like this.
“Delete it,” I say, turning away, a new self-consciousness growing in my mind.
“Fine,” she says, but it’s a bit too quiet and a bit too…disappointed. I watch her click her screen. “See? Gone,” she says, as if not minding one bit and yet…
I feel sort of bad and at the same time on edge. Did she really want to keep a photo of me? What for? Why? There’s this wild, rising hope in my chest. Why the fuck did I go and do that? I feel like I am indeed a fucking Idiot.
“Here,” I say as the bus rolls to a slow stop and it’s our turn to get off.
We stand in the middle of the deserted road. A black and white cat runs across, completely ignoring us.
“It’s so quiet,” she says as a warm breeze passes us and disappears into the newly green trees. “You can hear the birds.”
There’s just one main road and some smaller ones leading off every so often. The old houses are spaced out and most of them seem empty. Every once in a while they’re punctuated by a brand new one, sleek, all the glass glowing, reflecting the spring sun. The city encroaching even here.
“It’s busy in summer,” I say, remembering.
“So it’s like a little holiday village?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I say. I think the only people who live here all year round are pretty fuckin’ old. Or rich enough to not work judging by the new builds.
She closes her eyes.
“There it is,” she says, suddenly so relaxed, peaceful. “You can hear the waves.”
She’s right. You can. It’s just walking distance from here.
“So, where are we going?” she says, slowly opening her eyes again, turning to me.
“There,” I point up the road, up the hill covered in dense trees. You can’t see anything from here yet but that’s why I thought of this place. And to be honest, it feels excruciatingly pathetic now and I start to fucking regret all my decisions. I think back to the museum, the history, the fucking grandeur. What the fuck was I thinking. But we’re here now.
She looks like she wants to ask something but then changes her mind.
“Ok,” she says instead. “That’s going to be a trek. I want to get some water first,” she says as she spies the only store in this cobbled-together town.
We walk into the store. Its walls are made of wood and you gotta push open the door. To give you an idea of what we’re dealing with.
It’s the type of store that sells everything and nothing.
The old woman minds the ancient counter and seems so fucking happy to see us. We may be the first customers today, or since yesterday or even before that.
“Do you want anything?” She asks as she picks up a bottle of water.
“Nah,” I say.
“Oh, look!” She says. “They make bento!” She turns to the old lady. “We’ll be back for lunch too!” She says as she pays for the water and the woman is practically beaming.
“I could retire in a place like this,” she says as we walk past the last house and into the trees, the road turning into a narrow gravel path.
“I couldn’t,” I say.
“Why not?” she asks.
“What the fuck is there to do here every day?” I say. I’m bein’ honest. Yeah, this place is great for a couple of days but then what? What the fuck you gonna do? Count sheep?
“I don’t know? Go swimming? Garden? Just sit outside and enjoy the sun?” She suggests as we meander up the path in the cool, green shadows.
“My point exactly,” I say, not too impressed. Though who knows. Maybe when I’m as old as that old bastard in his dojo all I’ll want to do is sit around the garden all day. Who the fuck knows? Though I highly doubt it.
The elevation rises bit by bit as we keep walking. The path veers closer and closer to the edge of the cliff, the trees on our right thinning out until you can see the ocean.
She stops and I almost hit into her.
“It’s beautiful,” she says, staring at the horizon through the thin tree trunks, a light blue on top of a dark one, stretching out as if for infinity.
She’s got much more of an appreciation for nature than I do.
“This was a really good idea,” she says as we start walking again. “I haven’t done something like this in years.”
We stop again a few minutes later.
“Sorry,” she says, we’re getting quite high now, getting more of that view, of that endless horizon, the small leaves rustling above. “I’m not anywhere near as fit as you,” she jokes. “Give me a minute.”
“Want me to carry you?” I say, trying to make light of it but hoping she’ll say yes.
“What?” Her exasperation is palpable. “I’m not that terrible! Ugh…the humiliation. I can do it myself. What’s up there anyway?”
“A house,” I say. So fucking lame.
“Ok,” she says, as if that explains everything and we keep walking. It’s not far at all now.
“Wow!” She says as we turn the corner, the trees clear and the house appears. “Wow! Seriously! Imagine living here!” She says, looking out at the now unobstructed view. We’re high above the sea, the waves look so small and completely harmless from here as they roll in from miles in.
And then I think, wait, fuck. I only been here in summer before, and it was fuckin’ years ago. Will it even be open today? Shit.
She walks around to the front. There’s this old weathered information board explaining how this is a site of historical significance or whatever.
She stands there and reads through it and then turns to me, giving me this knowing smile.
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s fuckin’ open-” I start, feeling mighty awkward when the front door opens and this older man with glasses appears.
“Did you want to look inside?” He asks, smiling politely but also excited like the old woman in the store. Seems they ain’t had any visitors for a while.
“Absolutely!” She says, excitement growing and grabbing my arm, pulling me up the porch steps.
This is a big fucking house. Old, very old, but big. The artist guy who lived here must’ve been rich.
The man lets us in and takes us into the first room, all these paintings on the wall, mostly of the sea. He starts talkin’ explaining about who used to live here and their life story. I ain’t really interested to be honest but she seems mesmerised.
When he’s done he says we can wander around and have a look ourselves and to ask him anything.
“This is a little museum, a little art gallery,” she says looking up at me with big bright eyes as he leaves us to it.
“Yeah,” I say, feeling something warm and deep in my chest with the way she looks at me. Suddenly so innocently excited, happy to be here. Her delight…It makes me fall in love even more. And it’s fuckin’ painful.
She walks around the room, studying each painting carefully. The light fills the room, illuminating the seascapes. She looks at the art. I look at her.
We make our way around the house and she seems as interested in the house itself as she is in the painting.
“Can you imagine living in a house like this? A century ago?” She asks, her voice almost this hushed whisper. “I find these kinds of places really…not magical. What’s the word? I don’t know…but there’s something special about it. Something romantic. I start to wonder about all the people who lived here over the years. It’s like…filled with stories. Does that make sense?” She asks, her face full of this wonder. “It probably doesn’t,” she adds laughing.
I never thought about it like that. To me, buildings have purpose. Four walls and a roof. It ain’t an interest of mine who lived here before and who’ll live here after. She asks if I can imagine living in a house like this and I start to imagine it. What if it was just us? Away from the city, away from everyone. Just us here. Us and the ocean. Imagine fucking with that ocean view. Now that’s romance, eh?
“What are you thinking about?” She asks when I don’t respond.
“About living here,” I say, trying to tease but getting a bit too lost in the thought.
“Thought you said you’d hate living somewhere like this,” she teases back.
“Eh, I can think of a few advantages,” I say vaguely.
“I like how they’ve really done their best to preserve everything as it was,” she says as we walk into another room, all the original furniture still there. “It really gives you a sense of the time.”
I don’t know how long we wander around and I don’t really mind. She seems to be rapt with the place and I’m glad. Feel like I did something fuckin’ right for once.
“This was great,” she says as we walk outside again, brushing her fingertips against the violet flowers growing wildly by the porch. “Thank you for bringing me…”
I can tell there’s something else she wants to say but still won’t say it, or ask it.
“It ain’t the museum or the Renaissance or whatever,” I mutter, caught off guard by her gratitude.
“It doesn’t matter,” she says, soothing my doubts. “I loved it,” she smiles and then, with all the cheekiness in the world: “Better than any hot date.”
Well, suddenly my pride is fucking restored. With just a few simple words.
“Here, take a photo of me in front of the ocean,” she says happily, handing her phone to me and taking a few steps back. If I hadn’t been a fuckin’ clown she might’ve asked to take that photo with me. And I’ll never know now.
“So much easier going down hill,” she sighs happily, satisfied, as we make our way back down, the birds a bit louder now, sometimes fleeting in front of us, surprised by our presence.
“But where’s the fun in that?” I say.
“Look,” she says, “I know it’s nothing for you. I mean look at you! But I’m really going to feel this in my thighs tomorrow, and not in a good way, ok?”
I’d like to offer to look after and comfort her thighs tomorrow but it seems a little inappropriate.
“Hey, I said I could carry you,” I remind her. For a moment, or it might be my imagination, her cheeks turn that pretty rosy colour.
“And I said I didn’t want to be humiliated like that,” she reminds me. “I gotta work out more.”
The old woman back at the store gives us way too much food, way more than what we paid for and seems more than happy to do it.
“No, no! It’s fine! Please!” She says, trying to make her stop but the grandma won’t hear of it and just keeps going. Hey, I ain’t complaining. I’m starving.
Eventually we get away with way more food than intended and that’s fine by me.
“Let’s go to the beach,” she says, holding half of it in a plastic bag. “I assume there’s a beach somewhere here, right?”
“Yeah,” I say, pointing to one of the side roads. “Down that way.”
We sit on the sand, watching the water come in. High tide is just going out and each wave hits just a bit further back than the one before.
“This is so good,” she says, dipping her chopsticks into one of the open containers and then into the one I’m holding. There’s just too much here to divide like this is yours and this is mine. We just go at everything.
I agree but I got my mouth full so I ain’t saying anything. Just wolfing down as much of it as I can.
“And she probably made it all herself this morning,” she says, reaching over me for something else.
There are few things in life more satisfyin’ than a good meal. I can certainly tell you what they are but the point stands, there ain’t many.
She takes a sip of her water and holds the bottle out to me.
“It’s fine,” she says, sensing my hesitation. “It’s not poison, I promise.”
I take it. But it’s obviously not that bothering me. I feel every time we meet, we get closer. Ever fucking closer and yet never get there. This closeness, it just grows, despite everything. We get more and more comfortable around each other. We’ve seen each other almost naked, slept in the same bed, touched each other for one reason or other. She’s told me so many things about herself. Always closer but never meeting. And I don’t know how to close that distance and it’s fucking pulling me apart.
I still don’t know if I can experience happiness the same way she does. But I don’t give it too much thought anymore. I enjoy her company. Being around her does somethin’ good to me. Everything ain’t so dark and urgent and tense. I can just focus on the better things she gives me. On making her happy. She says I look happier these days. I don’t know how to take that. Maybe I’m just too used to my mind fucking with me and can’t see it myself and she knows better. Who knows. But life feels different. The world doesn’t seem like such a fucked up place most of the time. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m fucking happy and ecstatic as my baseline, but I’m happy with her. When we’re having dinner, or just lying around on the couch, when she takes me to some new place she wants to go to or when we’re in bed and I hear her moan, call out my name, tangled in the sheets. That’s the happiest. And we’ve come back to this beach since, and made each other very fucking happy here too. That’s all I got to say about that.
We sit in comfortable silence, just the sound of the sea and the occasional seagull overhead. The breeze is somewhat less warm by the water but it ain’t too bad. The weather is on our side, the sun doing its best for this time of year.
Suddenly, she stands up and starts to take off her shoes, rolling her jeans up as far as she can above her ankles. I watch her.
“You goin’ swimming?” I say.
“Yeah man,” she says with a wicked grin right back at me. “We came all this way!” And she runs the short distance to the water, wading in, making this cute noise of surprise when the cold hits her.
“Fuck!” She jumps, turning to me, laughing her little heart out. “It’s freezing! Come! Get in here!”
“You ain’t making it sound too appealing,” I call back, grinning, just happy to watch her be happy. I don’t know if I can ever experience that myself but I enjoy watching her.
“What?” She looks at me very seriously, a challenge. “Are you chicken, Wolf Cub? Don’t tell me you’re afraid to get your feet wet.”
What?! Fuck no! I know she’s using that goddamn reverse psychology on me but fuck. That won’t stand.
I get up and do the same as her, striding into the water. And yeah, it’s fuckin’ cold.
“You’re so easy to get worked up,” she laughs, slapping me on the shoulder. “I love it.”
I guess she’s right. I ain’t exactly zen. Occasionally, I wonder how I would’ve been if this and that hadn’t happened but then I think, that’s a fuckin’ waste of time because I can’t change the past. I am what I am now.
“I bet this place is even nicer in summer,” she says, looking straight ahead, letting the cold water wash over her feet.
“Well, it definitely ain’t as cold,” I say.
There’s a pause, she takes her hands out of her jacket pockets, just lets them be by her sides, standing so close to me.
“How do you know this place?” She asks, the pause finally over. And I feel like that’s what she was wantin’ to know all along, but at the same time kind of knowing the answer and not feeling like she could ask me that, take me down that memory lane.
I think for a moment.
The waves keep coming in and then I feel the back of her hand, her fingers skim across mine. I don’t know if it’s on purpose or just the instability created by this unpredictable water but it’s there, her hand and mine.
“I used to come here when I was a kid,” I say, the brief feel of her skin in my mind.
She nods softly. Doesn’t press for more.
She knows me so we-
“You know,” she says, “it’s funny but,” she thinks of her words for a moment, still looking straight ahead, “I feel like I don’t really know you.”
I feel this unpleasant thing run through me, a fucking cold electric shock.
“I mean, of course I know you. I know you’re smart and kind, that you’ve got some things you need to work out,” she has this affectionate smile even though she’s not looking at me yet, “but I feel like I don’t really know much about you at all,” she says, finally turning to me. She doesn’t say it with resentment or accusation. Just this quiet curiosity.
I stand there, thinking and not thinking. Speechless for once. Processing this.
Is this it? Is this why I can never get any closer? I rage over it but in the end is it just my own fucking obliviousness? My refusal to have anything to do with the fucking world?
I don’t know what to say for once.
And then this rogue wave, bigger than the others comes at us and she yells and jumps out of the way, grabbing onto me, laughing, already moved on from her own words and my arms reflexively go around her waist.
We’re close. We’re so fucking close, standing in the cold salt water, pressing her inadvertently against my chest, knowing this moment will end very soon as she finds her balance again and pulls away.
And I think about all those times she asked me questions, tactfully, inconspicuously and I dodged and joked my way out of them. And here’s the result.
‘I don’t know you.’
Maybe it would be better if she never did?
And yet…
I keep a look out the window as the train takes us back. It’s not that late. The sun is still holding its own. She checks her phone, replying to a work email and I find myself getting restless. This wasn’t part of the plan, but with those ocean words ringing in my mind, I have to get over myself.
The announcement of the next stop comes over the speaker.
“Hey,” I say to her as she slips her phone back in her pocket. “We’ll get off here.”
She looks confused.
“What? Why? This isn’t our stop? We’re like two more stops away.”
Yeah, fuck that’s true. I don’t know how to explain.
“Just…come,” I say as the train stops and I start getting up.
She looks at me still confused but follows me out.
We’re in another part of town. A part very familiar to me.
“What’s up?” She says, sensing my agitation as I take us out of the station and proceed down the street.
“Nothin’,” I say. “It won’t take long.”
“Ok…?” She says and hurries to keep up with me. I don’t even notice how fast I’m walking. Part of me is telling me to turn right back around and go home but I’m fucking determined. I’ve listened to that part of my mind for years and now look the fucking mess it’s got me into. I gotta try a new approach.
We pass the houses and turn into a park. The sun begins to turn slightly orange.
“I think I’ve been to this park once before,” she says, looking around. “A long time ago.”
I say nothing. We’re almost there.
I take us off the main path, down a narrower one. It ain’t long now.
We stop.
“There,” I say, looking up at this place I thought I’d never see again.
“This is…” she trails off, quickly catching on, turning to me then back to the dojo, the white walls ablaze in the golden hour light.
She doesn’t ask but I say it anyway.
“You said you wanted to see it.”
This place. This fucking place. I remember. I remember all the fucking hours I spent here. Even when I wasn’t supposed to be there the old man let me stay. Let me watch all the other lessons that he thought were way too advanced for me. I remember prowling around here on the weekends when being at home was a fucking hell hole. I remember coming straight here after school, avoiding everyone and everything. Running sometimes. I scowl at the memory. I remember the old man, strict and yapping on about discipline. And I followed it all. Every rule. Every lesson. Putting my fucking all into it. And he never once, never fucking once noticed…
This fucking place…I fucking hate it. My home away from home. The place that kept me alive until I could stand on my own two fucking feet. And he never fucking noticed-
“Uncle!” I’m violently jerked out of my thoughts as the main door opens and Tareo appears on the steps in a white gi a size too big for him.
I’m as fucking stunned as can be.
First it’s him and then three or four other little brats run out right past him.
What the in the fuck…?
“Oh, it’s Tareo!” She says, waving to him as he waves back.
“Uncle! Are you coming back to train?” He says, jogging up to us.
“I-” I start, fists clenching despite myself when the old man appears, smiling like a saint down at us.
“I’m going to learn First of Flowing Water Crushed Rock like you!” Tareo babbles on, way too high on excitement.
The hell is this? I find myself glowering at the old bastard.
“This young man gave me an idea,” his mustache practically bristles with fucking delight as he nods at Tareo. “It’s good to have some new blood around here,” he says.
“We’re letting fu-...letting kids into the dojo now, eh?” I smirk.
I can feel her staring at me and I realise what the fuck I just said.
I’m not part of this anymore. Fuck. This has nothing to do with me.
This was a fucking mistake.
“Garou, I think Tareo is really happy to see you here,” she says gently, her hand softly on my arm, bringing me back.
I look from him to her.
“And so am I,” she says, the most tender smile.
This is it. I’ve done something right. Things are going well for once.
All these things flash through my mind. Her asleep on me, hugging me, the colour in her cheeks, wanting to take my photo…
This is fucking it.
Or so I thought.
Or so. I fucking. Thought.
#He just wants to be close to you#garou#garou one punch man#garou fanfiction#one punch man fanfiction#garou x reader#garouxreader#garou x y/n#x reader#one punch man#opm
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The Same bed - Chapter 4
Pairing: Dean x Reader
Summary: Friends are there to help each other out, but can they help falling for each other when all the long days they spend together turn into late nights they have and their reliance on each other.
Word count: 2544
Warnings: Fluff, angst, description of blood and injuries, nightmares, slow burn.
A/N: Chapter 4! Off we go. Read it enjoy and I’ll see you on the other side. There’s also a tag list, so be sure to tell me if you want in, as well as a masterlist so be sure to check it out. As are the latests, Unbeta’d all mistakes are mine.
Series masterlist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dean didn't sleep that night, too busy cursing himself for hurting Y/N and simultaneously afraid he may have a nightmare. He had gotten up several times with the intention of going to her room and seeking forgiveness if she'd give it to him, though he wouldn't blame her if she refused. Instead, he'd pace around his room or make it as far as her door before heading to the bathroom to wash his face rather than knocking.
The next night Dean had been too exhausted to stay awake, now accustomed to getting around 8 hours he passed out some time just after 2 in the morning while everyone else slept soundly. Dean managed to get just over an hour of shut-eye before waking up to one of his worst nightmares. He jolted up with a scream though quickly cut himself off as to not wake anyone. Nevertheless, he was half a scream too late as Y/N sat up in her own bed wanting to go check on him but refused due to her own stubbornness.
Dean mumbled a 'son of bitch' before getting up and making his way to the kitchen to get started on some coffee. Dean was given about 2 hours to contemplate his idiocy towards Y/N before his brother found his way to the kitchen.
"Dean?"
"Huh? Hey, morning."
"Man, you look like trash."
"Oh, thanks you're not so bad yourself in the shorts." Sam looked to his running shorts before rolling his eyes.
"You always did give me a hard time for wanting to stay in shape."
"Hunting keeps you in shape, not some little jaunt you do every morning. Hey, speaking of, have you found any new cases seems like forever since we've killed a deserving asshat."
"I've been talking to Jody and Donna, they've got a lead on a vamp nest, said they're heading out in two days and we're more than welcome to tag along."
"So, tomorrow. What time."
"They wanted to hit it just after sundown. So, we would leave tomorrow morning if you're interested."
"Oh, I'm interested, give me some' to kill."
"Dean are you sure you're okay. You usually become self-destructive when you've got something going on, something you need to talk about."
"I'm fine, Sammy."
"I'd mention that Y/N isn't sleeping in your room anymore, but I think that'd just make you mad considering that's probably what's bothering you."
"So much for not mentioning it." Dean swallowed what was left in his coffee cup before washing it and setting it in the dry rack. He made his way back to his room hoping his brother would take the hint and leave for his run, which he did. Once he heard the bunker door shut Dean went back to the kitchen to have another cup of coffee. As he sat down the sound of footsteps padding down the hall alerting him that Y/N had awoken. Dean straightened his posture as she entered the kitchen making her way to the cabinet to fish out a mug without making eye contact.
"Morning Y/N."
"Oh my god! It speaks." She filled her mug before walking out having not looked him in the eyes once. Dean rested his chin in his palm kicking himself for having hurt her. After a deep sigh, he dragged his palm over his face closing his eyes momentarily allowing them some rest from the lights of the bunker. Dean strolled his way to Y/N's room and knocked on her door. He heard her sniffle some before the door swung open, Y/N standing in front of him, eyebrows raised clearly on her last nerve.
"I just wanted to let you know we've got a case tomorrow, with Jody and Donna, we've got to leave early-ish so, you know, you might want to pack today so you're not rushing. Anyway, just keeping you in the loop." Y/N looked at her best friend whose eyes were tired, red, and glossy, staring at the ground in front of him. She missed him, but she didn't know why he was angry at her.
"Thanks." She turned away from him intent on closing her door to block the view of the broken man she so deeply cared about and wanted to help, and he spoke.
"Y/N."
"Yeah?" Dean swallowed trying to think of what he wanted to say to her but came up with nothing. There wasn't anything specific he wanted to tell her in that moment he just wanted to be with her. In the same room sitting next to her, looking at her. He wanted to spend time with his best friend whom he had been missing lately but if there was one person more stubborn than Y/N it was Dean.
"Nothing...nothing." With a sad smile and a sigh, Dean walked to his own room with the aim of avoiding her, once again, all day.
Dean listens as Y/N played her music in her room and smiled when the Grease love song came though it wasn't given a chance to finish before Y/N skipped it. He could hear his brother and Y/N talking in the library during the day occasionally finding something funny as they giggled in unison. He missed having her, missed being the one laughing with her, or even just talking with her.
Nearing the end of the day, Dean made his way out of his room for the first time that to grab a snack before trying his hand at some forty winks, wanting to be rested up before their hunt tomorrow. The energy of the room sizzled to nothing as he entered the kitchen. Sammy and Y/N were sitting next to each other looking at pictures of haircuts on the internet.
"Seriously Sam, I've been cutting my own hair my whole life. Just let me add a little shape to it. A little trim here and there I can make you look like the handsome devil you really are."
"I'm not letting you cut my hair. I don't trust you not to just cut it all off. Besides, I don't—" Both their eyes looked up to Dean as he stood in the doorway observing their interaction. Once he noticed their gaze he moved to the counter, pulling a bowl from the cupboard and reaching for the box of cereal.
"Sam and I made pasta if you're hungry for real food." Dean looked over the noodles as his tummy growled, licking his lips.
"Dean, just have some, we're not gonna finish it. It'll just end up going to waste." He hesitantly looked over his shoulder forcing a smile to Y/N who had the smallest one of her on her face. She watched him as he traded his bowl for a plate. Dean plated himself some of the homemade food before Y/N gestured at the spot in front of herself and Sam along with the parmesan on the table. Dean took a seat not wanting to be impolite more so than he'd already been.
"Anyway, I'm trying to convince Sam to let me trim his hair."
"You're not touching my hair with a ten-foot pole."
"Oh, come on Sam it grows back. You'll see, it'll look really good and you won't even want to grow it back. Won't be in your eyes anymore, won't distract you during hunts, monsters won't be able to grab at it. You know I make a good case."
"Sure. But you're still not cutting my hair." Meanwhile, Dean was silently moaning at the flavours on his plate. Y/N watched as the eldest closed his eyes savouring the taste, before he spoke, displaying his voice to them for the first time since the early morning.
"This is kind of amazing. I don't think I've ever had spaghetti this amazing. What jar did you guys use?" Referring to the sauce that had his taste buds dancing on his tongue.
"Actually, Y/N made the sauce."
"My mum used to make these gigantic pots of spaghetti sauce and freeze it so we could have it whenever we want. I was missing it, so I made some from memory. It's not hers but I think it turned out alright. I know I missed something, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was." Dean looked up, his mouth full, to the women speaking, no longer focusing on him rather in her head desperately searching for the missing ingredient, as he swallowed.
"You made the sauce? From scratch?"
"Uh-huh. Yeah, I mean it's not really that hard just time consuming, you have to let it simmer for a little bit, but I think it's worth it. Once in a while at least."
"You mind if I have more?"
"Go right ahead. Sam and I both already had seconds." Dean finished what was left and helped himself to more before moving back to his spot at the table.
"Sam promised to make me the 'Winchester Surprise' one day? Said you used to make it for him." Sam looked to his brother who reminisced, thinking back to the worst meals he had prepared for his baby brother.
"It was terrible. Sam that's — to repay her for this. Seriously Y/N you won't want to eat anything we make for the rest of your life. It was god awful."
"As much as I believe you because I do, by the description, Sam gave me, oh boy, I'll still be the judge of that." Dean chuckled at her retort missing her effortless comebacks and modesty when it came to the things she was good at, though he found it frustrating when she didn't accept the compliment he'd give her. He wanted her to brag about how many Djinns she could kill in a week, or in this case how good the sauce was instead of saying it wasn't perfect, so he'd done it for her, telling his brother when she would do something 'awesome', as he'd put it, that made him feel proud to call himself her friend. The guilt he felt was sudden and overwhelming. Even after he'd gone days without speaking to her, after pushing her away so abruptly, she was still offering him dinner, the conversation, the casual smile, the eye contact. How he longed for her eye contact. She had always been able to communicate with him with her eyes. He craved her gaze, how her orbs would sparkle when she was happy or grow dark when hooded with anger. But the thing he loved the most about her eyes was the fact that when they looked into his, it was like nothing else mattered. He could see he had her attention, and he wouldn't want to look away.
"I'm—ehem— I'm heading to bed, didn't sleep well last night, gonna try to rest up before our hunt tomorrow." Dean looked to Y/N who had a saddened look on her face, clearly angry and confused as to why Dean wouldn't let her help him. When he noticed the look on her face, he realized his words and quickly made up an excuse for why he couldn't sleep hoping to ease Y/Ns mind indirectly.
"Maybe it was a full moon, could never sleep well during a full moon."
"Full moon was last week Dean." Y/N answered him with an unreadable expression along with it. He didn't respond in an effort to save what dignity he had left. He forced a smile in Y/Ns direction as he passed by, once he'd finished cleaning his dishes.
"You mind telling me what's going on between the two of you Y/N?"
"Honestly Sam I haven't got the slightest."
"I know you two were sharing a bed... was that like—"
"If you're suggesting that we were a thing then no. He slept better when there was someone in the room with him, so I was that someone. Then out of the blue, he got distant and said he didn't need me anymore so." She shrugged not sure how to further explain their recent exchanges. "I know he's not through with the nightmares though because I heard his screams last night. I didn't check on him 'cause I was angry at him saying they were done, and he didn't need me anymore, but it was petty. I wanted him to stew in his nightmare, remember how bad they were before I told him I'd stay. I just don't understand him, I didn't do anything to warrant his actions. I haven't bothered asking why he's mad at me and even if I did, he'd just ignore me some more so what's the point. He's being a child. He's acting like I killed his brother when really all I'm trying to do is cut his hair." Her joke succeeded in lightening the mood as Sam chuckled moving to the sink to clean off his plate.
"You're a good influence on him, you know?"
"Why's that."
"Well for starters, he washed his plate."
"Oh yeah, I yelled at him this one time for leaving a mess, which I'm pretty sure was actually mine from the night before, but he hasn't left dirty dishes since so I guess it all worked out." Sam outright laughed at that before excusing himself to prepare for bedtime.
By the time 8 o'clock rolled around the bunker was silent, everyone in their respective bedrooms reading or watching a little telly before getting some rest. Due to the lack of sleep the nights prior and the upcoming hunt, Dean closed his eyes tight willing the nightmares away as he gripped his sheets. It didn't take him long to doze off though and it didn't last long before he was startled awake by Y/Ns voice.
"Dean! Wake up!" She looked terrified, holding Dean down by his shoulders. "You idiot. Get up."
"Y/N? Why? What's—" She dragged him out of bed to the bathroom.
"Look at your hand Dean." She could hear the anger in her voice frustrated with him for refusing her help. The help they both knew would work. Dean looked down at the palm she hadn't grasped as she marched him down the hall like a child in trouble. It was bleeding, trailing down his fingers, shards of dark glass still imbedded in the tender skin of his palm.
"How did—" It came out as a whisper, laced with sleep as he did his best to orientate himself. Y/N turned on the light in the bathroom before forcibly sitting him on the lid of the toilet.
"You must have grabbed the beer bottle on your nightstand in your sleep." Y/N had pulled out the first aid kit they had stored under the sink along with a pair of tweezers, kneeling in front of the older Winchester.
"Y/N you don't have to—"
"I swear Dean if you tell me you don't need my help one more time I swear," she looked up from his palm to glare at him, "I’m going to tie you down until you get past... what ever this is." She didn't break eye contact with him until he nodded, shamefully looking down at the injury he only now started to feel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 5 ~~ Out now!
Tag List: @akshi8278 @bargedog @just-someone-difficult @mila-dans @valhallavxlkyrie
Series Tags: @autobotgirl15-blog @classyunknownlover @laycblack @lovememisha @music-is-all-i-need @redbarn1995 @wellfuckmyexistence
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Fight for You
"Why do people do this to themselves?" I shouted to Shawn and Peter over the roar of the crowd as Raul's fist made contact with his apponents cheek- a sickening crack ringing out around the cramped room."It's barbaric!"
"It's actually quite ordered," Peter counted, eyes not leaving the action. "There's more that they can't do than they can."
"I still think it's stupid," I grumbled, before jumping and slapping my hands over my eyes as Raul copped a nasty hit to his chest.
The only reason I'd come to see the fight was to support Raul I'd been friends with the Triplets since we were about 5, having immediately hit it off with them on the first day of preschool. We'd been inseperable since, but I'd always had a soft spot for Raul,we just seemed to get each other- and he was always so protective of me.
In middle school he'd punched Jacob Connor's out (the resident bully) when he'd somehow found out I'd started my period and spread it around the school like wildfire. Raul had been given a 5 day suspension for it, but he'd always maintained that 'it was worth it, the little weasel got what he deserved.'
As we grew we only got closer,we were each other's confidant, the one person who we trusted with all our secrets, or biggest dreams and our deepest fears. That didn't stop us going through the awkward phase where you realise that maybe you like the other person, but are too much of a scaredy-cat to do anything about it.
Everyone could see it, my friends at school, Peter and Shawn, even my parents told me I should do something about it.
"Don't fret, Kara, your boy will be fine," Shawn laughed teasingly looking down at me bring me back to the present. The boys towered over me at 6'2 they were well over a head taller than me.
"How can you say that?He's your brother," I was appalled. They had absolutely no concern for the fact that their brother, their triplet no less was being pummelled like a car at a junk yard.
"Because," Shawn continued. "It might not look like it, but Raul has the upper hand, he's more agile on his feet, can move faster than the baffoon he's facing,"
I couldn't help but laugh at the description. Compared to Raul,the guy he was versing really did look like a monkey.
Despite the fact that ever fibre of my being wanted nothing more than to go up there and rescue him, I couldn't help but watch in awe as Raul served punch after stratigic punch to his apponents, before finally the referee called time and he was declared the winner.
"You know he does it for you," Peter spoke.
"Does what?" I asked confused.
"Fights, he fights for you, to impress you."
"Don't be stupid," I rolled my eyes, but I was stunned, was he really doing it for me? Why did he feel he needed to impress me?
"I'm going to the toilet," I called to Peter as people started slowly filing out the doors, satisfied with the gratuitous violence they'd witnessed, now no-doubt board.I needed some air,space to think.
As I made my way slowly towards the doors, being all but pushed,forced by the sheer numbers of people baring down on me I started to regret not asking one of the boys to accompany me.
This side of town wasn't exactly known as a safe haven and I wasn't even sure where I needed to go.
And Raul's words of warning 'never go anywhere this side of town without one of us,' rang through my head, as I made my way out into the alley behind the delapidated building and into the night air which was full of the smell of stale cigarette smoke.
"Hey there pretty," a group of guys yelled as I walked past, before wolf whistling. I shuddered and picked up my pace, reaching for my bag that was across my body to try and call one of the boys. I no longer felt safe, in fact I was starting to panic, my hands shaking as I dug blindly through my small purse trying to find my cell. In my haste and in attention, I failed to noticed a massive dip in the run down concrete and before I had a chance to correct it,my foot was falling in, my ankle twisting as I fell heavily to the ground. My hands stung as they made harsh contact with the gravel covered floor.
I sat there for a minute dazed, wanting nothing more than to curl up in a ball and cry. Why did this have to happen now? Why not when I was with the guys? I wondered, a few tears leaking from my eyes I scrubbed them away angrily trying to get up, but to no avail. It was useless. I knew I needed help, but I wasn't sure how to get it, there was no way I was going to ask the men down the street for help.
"Kara? Is that you," I looked up with a sigh of relief immediately recognising the voice and he tall figure. It was Raul, making his way out from behind the building,bag slung over his shoulder,still covered in a sheen of sweat, his muscle top sticking to his chest highlighting his toned physique.
"What happend, why aren't you with Shawn and Peter?" he asked jogging down the street and dumping his bag in the ground before bending down in front of me.
"I got lost," I sighed. I tried to move my ankle which was now throbbing,wincing as a sharp, white-hot pain shot through my foot.
"I'll kill those dimwits," he growled as he looked at me.
"Don't blame them, it was me. I went to find a toilet and I didn't ask one of them to come with me," I explained,my voice shaky from pain and fear.
"How could you be so stupid!" he yelled surprising me. He looked livid."How many times have I told you," he hissed shaking his head, reaching for my foot, but I yanked it away despite the instant ache of protest it gave off. If he was going to be a sick, I didn't want his help,I felt bad enough already.
"Why are you being such a fucking asshole?You know what, don't worry, I'll find my own way home," I spat,tears running down my cheeks unchecked as I glared at him. I struggled to get up, using the wall behind me as support, but eventually made it. As soon as I put weight on my foot though I collapsed. The firey ache that started instantly was now worse than ever.
"I'm sorry," he puffed out. "I'm just worried I'd hate for you to get hurt,I love you," he whispered the last part, by I heard it. It took everything in my power to stay calm,it wasn't like I didn't know it, but I'd never expected him to admit it.
"I am hurt," I replied cooly, pointing to my foot.
"More hurt," he amended his eyes going dark,the grim look on his face didn't make it hard to guess what he was thinking and I shuddered.
"I'm going to take the shoe off," he told me, working quicky but carefully to release my foot from the confines of the heel I'd been wearing.
I couldn't help the hiss that left my lips as it finally feel free.
"Sorry," he apologised softly, much calmer than before. "It's already swelling," he commented as he took the foot in his hand and carefully manipulated it.
"I don't think you've torn anything, but I'll wrap it to make sure," he nodded to himself, unzipping the bag he'd discarded beside me and pulling what looked like strapping tape out.
"How do you know so much?" I asked as he took my foot in his hands again, very carefully wrapping the fabric around it, before pulling it tight. I could feel it throbbing,but I said nothing, not wanting to complain. It did feel better than it had before, but I knew by the time I made it home it'd need to be iced.
"Honey you learn this stuff when you fight, you have to fiend for yourself," he responded,"There all done," he added as he admired his work.
"Give me your hand," he spoke.
"What?"
"Your hands, they're bleeding."
"Ohh," I held my hands out for him to take. He tipped some water onto them which stung like hell, and wrapped them, before placing a kiss on each of my knuckles, causing me to blush. It was lucky it was dark and dimly lit because I knew that itlf he'd noticed he would have teased the daylights out of me.
"Thank you," I took his hand that he was holding out and let him pull me up, leaning into him instinctively.
"No worries, wouldn't want an invalid walking around town now, it'd ruin the street cred," he winked, causing me to laugh. This was the side of Raul that I was used to, the cheeky, unapologetically flirty, protective Raul.
"Nah really, of course I'd look after you, you're my favourite girl," he kissed my forehead as we made our way to find the others at which point Raul promptly chewed out their ears about the dangers of leaving me alone and their completely mind-blowing stupidity which had them both looking extremely guilty.
It was quickly forgotten though as we went on to celebrate his victory, Raul never leaving my side,checking every so often that I was okay, even going so far as to find pain killers for me which helped a heap.
"Thank you," I told him again as we piled into a taxi- Peter already having gone home and Shawn still partying. Normally Raul was the party animal, but he'd insisted he go home with me to make sure I got there in one piece.
It wasn't like I was going to say no, I appreciated the sweet gesture.
"Don't sweat it. You're my girl," he answered, kissing me again, but this time on the lips momentarily stunning me.
"And you're my boy," I giggled,beaming.
"So how about we make this official?" he suggested, that cheeky grin that I loved so much present again.
"I thought you'd never ask," I responded, reaching up to kiss him again.
#shawn mendes#shawn mendes imagine#shawn#shawn mendes fanfic#shawn mendes imagines#shawn peter raul mendes#shawn mendes blurb#doctor!shawn#mendes triplets#werewolf!shawn
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Fight For You
"Why do people do this to themselves?" I shouted to Shawn and Peter over the roar of the crowd as Raul's fist made contact with his apponents cheek- a sickening crack ringing out around the cramped room."It's barbaric!"
"It's actually quite ordered," Peter counted,eyes not leaving the action. "There's more that they can't do than they can,"
"I still think it's stupid," I grumbled, before jumping and slapping my hands over my eyes as Raul copped a nasty hit to his chest.
The only reason I'd come to see the fight was to support Raul I'd been friends with the Triplets since we were about 5,having immediately hit it off with them on the first day of preschool.We'd been inseperable since, but I'd always had a soft spot for Raul,we just seemed to get each other- and he was always so protective of me.
In middle school he'd punched Jacob Connor's out (the resident bully) when he'd somehow found out I'd started my period and spread it around the school like wildfire. Raul had been given a 5 day suspension for it, but he'd always maintained that 'it was worth it, the little weasel got what he deserved.'
As we grew we only got closer,we were each other's confidant, the one person who we trusted with all our secrets, or biggest dreams and our deepest fears. That didn't stop us going through the awkward phase where you realise that maybe you like the other person, but are too much of a scaredy-cat to do anything about it.
Everyone could see it, my friends at school, Peter and Shawn, even my parents told me I should do something about it.
"Don't fret, Kara, your boy will be fine," Shawn laughed teasingly looking down at me bring me back to the present. The boys towered over me at 6'2 they were well over a head taller than me.
"How can you say that?He's your brother," I was appalled. They had absolutely no concern for the fact that their brother, their triplet no less was being pummelled like a car at a junk yard.
"Because," Shawn continued. "It might not look like it, but Raul has the upper hand, he's more agile on his feet, can move faster than the baffoon he's facing,"
I couldn't help but laugh at the description. Compared to Raul,the guy he was versing really did look like a monkey.
Despite the fact that ever fibre of my being wanted nothing more than to go up there and rescue him, I couldn't help but watch in awe as Raul served punch after stratigic punch to his apponents, before finally the referee called time and he was declared the winner.
"You know he does it for you," Peter spoke.
"Does what?" I asked confused.
"Fights, he fights for you, to impress you."
"Don't be stupid," I rolled my eyes, but I was stunned, was he really doing it for me? Why did he feel he needed to impress me?
"I'm going to the toilet," I called to Peter as people started slowly filing out the doors, satisfied with the gratuitous violence they'd witnessed, now no-doubt board.I needed some air,space to think.
As I made my way slowly towards the doors, being all but pushed,forced by the sheer numbers of people baring down on me I started to regret not asking one of the boys to accompany me.
This side of town wasn't exactly known as a safe haven and I wasn't even sure where I needed to go.
And Raul's words of warning 'never go anywhere this side of town without one of us,' rang through my head, as I made my way out into the alley behind the delapidated building and into the night air which was full of the smell of stale cigarette smoke.
"Hey there pretty," a group of guys yelled as I walked past, before wolf whistling. I shuddered and picked up my pace, reaching for my bag that was across my body to try and call one of the boys. I no longer felt safe, in fact I was starting to panic, my hands shaking as I dug blindly through my small purse trying to find my cell. In my haste and in attention, I failed to noticed a massive dip in the run down concrete and before I had a chance to correct it,my foot was falling in, my ankle twisting as I fell heavily to the ground. My hands stung as they made harsh contact with the gravel covered floor.
I sat there for a minute dazed, wanting nothing more than to curl up in a ball and cry. Why did this have to happen now? Why not when I was with the guys? I wondered, a few tears leaking from my eyes I scrubbed them away angrily trying to get up, but to no avail. It was useless. I knew I needed help, but I wasn't sure how to get it, there was no way I was going to ask the men down the street for help.
"Kara? Is that you," I looked up with a sigh of relief immediately recognising the voice and he tall figure. It was Raul, making his way out from behind the building,bag slung over his shoulder,still covered in a sheen of sweat, his muscle top sticking to his chest highlighting his toned physique.
"What happend, why aren't you with Shawn and Peter?" he asked jogging down the street and dumping his bag in the ground before bending down in front of me.
"I got lost," I sighed. I tried to move my ankle which was now throbbing,wincing as a sharp, white-hot pain shot through my foot.
"I'll kill those dimwits," he growled as he looked at me.
"Don't blame them, it was me. I went to find a toilet and I didn't ask one of them to come with me," I explained,my voice shaky from pain and fear.
"How could you be so stupid!" he yelled surprising me. He looked livid."How many times have I told you," he hissed shaking his head, reaching for my foot, but I yanked it away despite the instant ache of protest it gave off. If he was going to be a sick, I didn't want his help,I felt bad enough already.
"Why are you being such a fucking asshole?You know what, don't worry, I'll find my own way home," I spat,tears running down my cheeks unchecked as I glared at him. I struggled to get up, using the wall behind me as support, but eventually made it. As soon as I put weight on my foot though I collapsed. The firey ache that started instantly was now worse than ever.
"I'm sorry," he puffed out. "I'm just worried I'd hate for you to get hurt,I love you," he whispered the last part, by I heard it. It took everything in my power to stay calm,it wasn't like I didn't know it, but I'd never expected him to admit it.
"I am hurt," I replied cooly, pointing to my foot.
"More hurt," he amended his eyes going dark,the grim look on his face didn't make it hard to guess what he was thinking and I shuddered.
"I'm going to take the shoe off," he told me, working quicky but carefully to release my foot from the confines of the heel I'd been wearing.
I couldn't help the hiss that left my lips as it finally feel free.
"Sorry," he apologised softly, much calmer than before. "It's already swelling," he commented as he took the foot in his hand and carefully manipulated it.
"I don't think you've torn anything, but I'll wrap it to make sure," he nodded to himself, unzipping the bag he'd discarded beside me and pulling what looked like strapping tape out.
"How do you know so much?" I asked as he took my foot in his hands again, very carefully wrapping the fabric around it, before pulling it tight. I could feel it throbbing,but I said nothing, not wanting to complain. It did feel better than it had before, but I knew by the time I made it home it'd need to be iced.
"Honey you learn this stuff when you fight, you have to fiend for yourself," he responded,"There all done," he added as he admired his work.
"Give me your hand," he spoke.
"What?"
"Your hands, they're bleeding."
"Ohh," I held my hands out for him to take. He tipped some water onto them which stung like hell, and wrapped them, before placing a kiss on each of my knuckles, causing me to blush. It was lucky it was dark and dimly lit because I knew that itlf he'd noticed he would have teased the daylights out of me.
"Thank you," I took his hand that he was holding out and let him pull me up, leaning into him instinctively.
"No worries, wouldn't want an invalid walking around town now, it'd ruin the street cred," he winked, causing me to laugh. This was the side of Raul that I was used to, the cheeky, unapologetically flirty, protective Raul.
"Nah really, of course I'd look after you, you're my favourite girl," he kissed my forehead as we made our way to find the others at which point Raul promptly chewed out their ears about the dangers of leaving me alone and their completely mind-blowing stupidity which had them both looking extremely guilty.
It was quickly forgotten though as we went on to celebrate his victory, Raul never leaving my side,checking every so often that I was okay, even going so far as to find pain killers for me which helped a heap.
"Thank you," I told him again as we piled into a taxi- Peter already having gone home and Shawn still partying. Normally Raul was the party animal, but he'd insisted he go home with me to make sure I got there in one piece.
It wasn't like I was going to say no, I appreciated the sweet gesture.
"Don't sweat it. You're my girl," he answered, kissing me again, but this time on the lips momentarily stunning me.
"And you're my boy," I giggled,beaming.
"So how about we make this official?" he suggested, that cheeky grin that I loved so much present again.
"I thought you'd never ask," I responded, reaching up to kiss in again.
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Plague Time Baby
Michael can't really remember the last time he felt so sick. Granted, he probably hadn't made it better spending most of the night slinging through the city- (okay, admittedly he felt close to passing out the entire time. But that was easily blamed on the fever he had, and not his own stupidity. Apparently 103 was too hot. Who knew?)
"Well, you look shitty." Matthew sounds vaguely disapproving, probably because Maestro still hasn't gotten off the floor from where he'd crumbled through the window. "Someone kick your ass again?" It's a tease, he knows, but he feels awful enough that he feels tears burning in his eyes before he can stop them. The spider momentarily curses how expressive the mask is, because he can see when Kraken pauses and cringes slightly. "Ah, I didn't mean to make ya upset-"
He doesn't get to finish before Michael twists onto his stomach, shuddering through a rasping cough and gasping at the pain that flares between his ribs. His throat burns, chest heaving for breath while he shoved his mask up over his face to get cooler air. It takes a long moment before he stops wheezing, pressing his forehead against the ground until he stops shaking. He's hot, but his fingers are frozen and he knows he's shivering.
Kraken is gentle when he hefts the hero up into his arms. He's dropped carefully onto the covers- "I'm sorry, I didn't wanna wake you up," and he knows he's blubbering incomprehensibly through his tears- and he can hear the arms clicking and churring anxiously. "I'll be right back, okay?" Matthew rests a hand on his face before stepping away. "Fuck, you're hot," he grumbles, and Maestro offered a wobbling "I know." Kraken scoffed quietly, but the hero could feel his worried stare until he left the room.
The blankets are cold. That's probably because he left the window open, really, but when he struggles out of his coat and yanks his suit down to his hips, it feels wonderful. He can distantly hear Matthew shuffling through the house, and traffic outside. (His heartbeat is loud in his ears though, still breathless from his fit.) An arm, cold and distinctly metal, loops under his shoulders, and he opens his blurry eyes to see that Kraken is leaning against the bed again, holding a small bottle and a cup. "For, uh, fever?" He sounds a little uncertain, holding out a small cap and setting the cup on the nightstand. The medicine tastes foul, and leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. "If you're still awake when your temperature comes down, I'll make some tea, okay?"
If he didn't feel like he was dying, he might have been a bit more vocal about his appreciation. His concern was endearing, even as he gave another painful cough. He's so tired though, already closing his eyes and relaxing into the pillows. Tea would be lovely in the morning.
((I feel like shit and today has been the first day I've been on like 4 different meds so my fever finally chilled a bit. I can't believe I used to take breathing for granted I've taken like 7 doses of nyquil and just,,, cant fall asleep,,,
Kraken belongs to @angerydj ))
#Maestro#Kraken#i almost passed out walkinh down the hallway#and threw up my first dose of meds#so today has been fun
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Alternatives. (Edgar x Reader *AU I guess*)
Genre: Fluff.
Summary: If plan A doesn't work, there are still 25 letters left.
(Second person point of view)
"I can't believe we're that unlucky!" You groan, watching the heavy rain run down the streets. "First, you had to work late, so we couldn't go out, and now it's raining!"
"I'm sorry." Edgar wraps an arm around you, soothingly rubbing your arm in an attempt to comfort you. "I know it was supposed to be just the two of us celebrating our anniversary, but I was given heaps of work at the last moment."
"It's not your fault." You sigh. It really wasn't; you just couldn't help but feel a little disappointed either way.
A long moment of silence pursued as Edgar stared down at you with guilt. You wanted to assure him that you weren't blaming him for anything, but you didn't have time to do so; he suddenly spoke up. "How about we have our date inside for today? Then tomorrow I can make it up to you."
Your eyes brightened with excitement. "That would be wonderful!" You embrace him tightly, earning a bashful chuckle.
"So, movie night?" He smiles after you let go.
You nod but pause, slumping your shoulders, after a disappointing realization. "We don't have any snacks. Not even popcorn."
"We don't nee-"
"A trip to the supermarket it is, then!" You nod, cutting off his statement and walking off towards your shared closet to pick out an outfit for your late night trip to the supermarket.
"Are we really going to the supermarket at 12 am? In the rain??" Edgar almost pouts. He was probably tired after a long day at work, but he really couldn't say no to that innocent look of excitement on your face.
"My god, it's still pouring!" You shuffle closer to Edgar under the umbrella he was holding for both of you.
"You know it hasn't been longer than 10 minutes since we stopped looking out the window, right? Were you expecting the rain to have stopped?" He laughs in amusement, making you blush lightly.
"Hey, I'm just saying!" You defend, while knowing full well he had a point.
"Sure." He ruffles your hair then begins leading the way to the supermarket, careful not to rush ahead of you and give you a free, unwanted shower in the middle of the street.
As Edgar struggles to close the old umbrella, you marvel at the view in front of you. It's been ages since you've gone to a supermarket at such a late time, so the lack of people and the immense quietness were captivating in a way.
"Look! It says buy two for the price of one!" You tug at Edgar's sleeve, distracting him from reading the contents of some ambiguous canned product.
"Those are just two plastic jugs?" He raises an eyebrow.
"But it's a good offer!" You argue, lifting the colourful containers to his face, as if causing him to cross his eyes by how close the objects are to his face will somehow convince him it's a good deal.
"But we don't need them!" He laughs lightly, pushing them away from his face. "Come on, we haven't even bought the snacks yet; let's go." He places the alien canned food on the shelf and places what you called a wasted good deal on their shelf as well, then proceeds to push the cart towards a different aisle, dragging you along with him to ensure you don't pick up some other good deals.
"Okay, we'll buy popcorn and maybe some other snack, but that's it, okay? No going crazy and buying an entire shipment of some Thai candy you thought looked interesting, okay?" Edgar only notices your disappearance after receiving no response, "(Y/N)? (Y/N), where did you go? Were you even liste- come on." His palm immediately flies to his forehead when he sees you approaching him with a plushie.
"It's so cute!" You hug the small rainbow unicorn closer to you. "It's not even expensive; can I please have it?" You ask, pulling off your best puppy eyes.
Edgar struggles for a few moments before sighing, "Fine."
Letting out an excited mixture of a squeal and a thank you, you run up to your fiancé, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. He embarrassedly touches his cheek, a little startled by the gesture, but it made him momentarily forget about having to pay for the unnecessary toy.
"Now can we go buy the stuff we came here to buy in the first place?" Edgar grabs the cart and pushes it forward while walking, carefully checking the categories written on top of each aisle.
"Here!" You rush in between rows and rows of various types of chips.
"Weren't we buying popcorn?"
You pull two large sized bags of chips and add them to the cart. "If we're having a movie night, we need to do it right!" You lift a fist and display an exaggerated determined expression, receiving a laugh from Edgar as he shakes his head in disbelief.
"I'll leave it up to you then." He seemed to have given up on restricting your choices, and now he's just amused by how many items you can buy apart from what you actually needed to buy.
A few (scratch that; they were certainly more than a few) useless items later, you'd finally gotten the stuff you needed and payed for them.
"Still raining?" Edgar's eyes widen slightly. After all this time, you still can't get used to how adorable that expression is; it was your second favourite expression of his. It looked so innocent and pure, always making your urge to kiss him triple. Alas, you had to keep the desire to yourself for now.
"Yeah, it's strange how it hasn't stopped until now." You muse. You grab the umbrella, since both of Edgar's hands were busy with grocery bags, and attempt to open it.
"Okay, what's wrong with this thing?" Your eyebrows furrow, as you battle with the button on the handle. No matter how hard you push and press, the button wouldn't budge.
Edgar places the grocery bags on the floor. "Let me see?" He takes the umbrella from you and tries to open it himself.
Praying you won't have to swim your way back home, you watch as he fumbles with the ancient umbrella that you honestly don't even remember buying; it seemed to have always just been there.
With a few violent jerks, Edgar opens the umbrella. Or more accurately, Edgar breaks it. The troubled, guilty expression that takes over his features leads you to smile in awe, and as if under some mind control effect, you find yourself automatically pecking his cheek. Your gesture relaxes him, and he smiles at you.
"I guess we'll have to hurry home if we don't want to get too soaked then." Edgar jokes, picking up the grocery bags again after disposing of the now useless umbrella.
"First one home gets to shower first?" Giggling, you take your position, ready to semi-sprint back home. You weren't very fond of the idea of breaking your back bone or something, so you knew you weren't gonna use your full power to run.
"Already too slow!" Edgar sprints past you, sending you into panic mode for a few seconds before you begin running to catch up to the cheater.
"Hey, that's not fair!" You yell, realizing you had no chance of catching up let alone beating him.
Not even looking behind him, Edgar yells back. "You're only saying so because you're losing."
It was true. You'd done that to him so many times that it was only fair for him to take his revenge. But with the rain soaking you and the mud splashing beneath you, you really dreaded not being able to shower first.
"I win." Edgar beams proudly, patting your head once you reach the front door.
Since you were panting, the only response you could give was a glare, which he seemed to find adorable, for he simply chuckled at you and kissed your forehead.
Seeming to be in deep thought, he stares at you for a few moments then places the bags on your porch, away from the rain. He proceeds to take the rest of the plastic bags from your hand and places them next to the ones he'd placed on the porch. Without saying a word, he takes your hand in his and pulls you towards the middle of the empty street.
You let out a little laugh, "Edgar, we're already soaked; what are you-"
Your statement was cut off when he stopped walking, faced you, and gently placed his hands on your cheeks. Eyes shut, he closes the distance between your faces, and you find yourself following his lead. He presses his lips, which were relatively cold, onto yours, but the temperature difference didn't matter, since the gesture was enough to warm your entire body. Your hands grasp at his jacket, yearning for the familiar feeling of your bodies pushed together as one.
The rain wasn't making things easier, and you were sure both of you were to end up with a cold or even a fever, but both of you were already drenched anyway, so you had nothing to lose.
Your eyes flutter open when you both pull away, and you were greeted with the expression you so loved to see. Your favourite expression of his. It was one where his lips were pink and swollen after your shared kiss, one where his cheeks were a deep shade of red, one where he seemed to be blushing but still smug and proud of himself. This was your favourite expression; it was so beautiful to look at. It would've made you kiss him one more time if it weren't for the rain.
"I saw it in a movie, and..well, I wanted to try it, but I always felt bad and didn't want to have you get sick; however, since we're already wet, we might as well try it." He smiles, his gaze shyly escaping yours.
"I loved it." You squeeze his hand in assurance. "But we should get back inside now." Laughing, you both walk back into your house, trying your best not to make it look like a sea monster just broke in and sort of flapped its limps everywhere.
As your deal stated, Edgar got to take a shower first. While waiting, you placed your items in their correct places and prepared a movie.
"Finally!" You cheered when Edgar came out of the bathroom. Steam clearly filled up the space inside, and it lured you inside immediately; you were desperate for the hot water to make up for the cold shower you were forced to have because your umbrella decided to die on you.
The hot shower relaxed the muscles you hadn't realized were so tense. It was a magical feeling; no matter how many times you try it, it never ceases to impress you.
After eventually convincing yourself it was enough, you get out of the shower and dress yourself in some comfy pyjamas.
"Time for the movie!" You announce, walking out of the bathroom, but Edgar was already passed out on the bed, his mouth slightly open- something he only did when he was extremely tired.
Smiling to yourself, you grab the duvet and pull it on top of him and tucking him in. "Good night."
You turn off the large screen in your bedroom and eagerly make your way to your side of the bed. Careful not to disturb his sleep, you slowly slide beneath the cover and shuffle closer to the peacefully sleeping Edgar, basking in the warmth of his body.
Perhaps you didn't get to have your originally planned date, but being by his side would always make you happy. Therefore, anything can count as a good date if you're doing it together. Maybe even sleeping.
#shall we date#shall we date blood in roses#blood in roses edgar#edgar blood in roses#blood in roses mina#mina blood in roses#mina x edgar#edgar x mina#edgar x reader#reader x edgar#edgar fluff#blood in roses fluff
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Prologue
Title: Prologue
Word count: 1,586
Characters: John Watson and Matilda May
Warnings: Hints of abuse, unedited.
Notes: So here’s the prologue of my Sherlock story. It’s shorter compared to the next chapter I’m currently working on. If there are any triggers please tell me so I can add them to the tags. I haven’t edited it yet so take all typos and grammar mistakes with a grain of salt.
———
The waiting room was nothing like she'd imagined it being. It was small and crowded. Crowded with sick adults and sick children. It appeared each and every seat was filled by someone. Not everyone was sick but they were clearly afflicted with some sort of ailment or issue, very few appeared to only be in for a casual check up. Every now and then a nurse would come call out a name and off the patient in question went. They'd disappear behind the plain painted blue doors.
At least the waiting room had some form of entertainment for the young children. A small flat screen hanging from the wall about the children's area. She'd seen it on her way in, mutedly broadcasting Peppa Pig, that hadn't interested her in the slightest. Instead she focused her attention on the floor, head down trying to bring as little attention to herself as she possibly could.
She didn't dare touch the toys. Not only were they colourfully decorated breeding grounds for germs, they weren't hers. And she'd been rigorously taught, never touch what doesn't belong to you.
So she sat. Sat amongst the grownups in the room. Her neighbour seated to her right a complete stranger seated to her left.
A sharp acidic smell burned her nostrils. An unmistakable mixture of both cheap booze and classless cigarettes. She had a hunch the foul smelling stranger beside her engaged in the distasteful hobbies as her father.
She wanted to look, to just sneak a peek at the person beside her, but again that was something she knew better than to do. So she kept her eyes, those deep, earthy brown orbs, trained on her old trainers. They were so worn, her big toe was pushing its way through her right toe cap.
All she could do was sit and listen to the gentle repetitive tune of the wait rum music. It's soft rhythmic hum provided some comfort. It was enough to relax the poor girl's tense muscles. She didn't want to be there. She couldn't be there. But there she was and she felt utterly sick.
It was her well to do neighbour who'd made the appointment. The young woman claimed she wanted to ease some of the weight off the girl's busy father's shoulders. The child had had questions but thought it better not to ask them. She should have been more bold. Then perhaps she wouldn't be there.
Her neighbour, Cartia Hennigan, was a lovely young woman approaching her early thirties. She often meant well but had a tendency to overstep her bounds. Nonetheless, the little girl couldn't help but feel pity for the woman. Cartia, all her kindness and charity was nothing more than a façade, covering her great loneliness.
The little girl twiddles her thumbs, replaying the unfortunate event that landed her little butt in the stiff plastic chair. I have to be less of myself, she swore, this never would have happened if I had.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Her forehead throbbed, as if her brain was protesting. Her rational analysis was fighting against her self blame. She massaged her temple with her left index and middle fingers, pressing her right arm tightly against her stomach. It didn't help.
She sat straight, mimicking the posture of a proud queen, eyes still shut, she placed her palms on her knees gripping the fabric of her pant leg. In times of great distress she often found it best to disappear. Unfortunately, unlike the deep sea pelagic octopod she couldn't actually become invisible. She could retreat to the quiet sanctity of her own mind.
Some people retreat to what they call a "happy place". Her? Well... At least she had some place all her own, where the world would slowly fade away.
"Matilda Hennigan.”
Her little head flew up, eyes snapping to the kindly nurse standing in the door separating the waiting room from the rest of the clinic.
Her eyes darted to Cartia who was already standing, walking toward the blue, aluminum trim door. Her eyes widened, pupils anxiously constricting, she quickly pushed herself out of her seat then hurriedly followed after her neighbor.
When she finally reached the door she cast one more nervous glance up at her neighbor. "Shall we?" the nurse smiles warmly and holds the door open wider for the two to enter.
JWJWJW
Matilda sat on at the practice table hands folded like so, neatly rested on her lap. She had to admit this wasn't going as terrible as she'd originally envisioned it going. From what her father had told her, the doctors clinic was an utterly awful place reserved for terrible, no good people. And Matilda was certain she wasn't a terrible person. Or at least she tried not to be.
Her dad mustn't have done his research or had to have been thinking of another clinic. This one was adequate.
The nurse was nice enough. Mary? Yes, that was her name.
She was kind, she made the tedious tests Matilda was forced to endure more bearable. She'd commented on how cute Matilda purple pink polka dotted leggings were. And even promised the little girl a lollipop before she left.
Mary did however seem suspicious when Cartia explained the reason for her bringing Matilda to the clinic in the first place. Matilda wasn't sure why, maybe the explanation sounded weird. It was rather silly. She shouldn't have been playing so close to the stairs.
Matilda tried not to vocalise her disappointment when Mary left to retrieve the doctor, but failed accidentally letting slip a small puppy like whimper. It was unintentional and it bothered her.
Now she sat in the room, not quite alone, with her neighbour. Matilda hated the dressing gown. It left her exposed, back half vulnerable and visible.
At the very least if she moved in front of the mirror she could count how many freckles dotted her skin back there. Maybe like her forehead, nose, and cheeks they formed shapes in a connect the dots kind of way.
Matilda pushes herself up and jumps to the floor. Pain sliced upward like a swift blade through her left ankle. This unbalanced her making her landing less than perfect she ignored the feeling knowing the pain would subside momentarily. Then under the critically watchful eyes of Cartia, she pressed forward across the room toward the only thing that interested her. At least now that Mary was gone.
It was like most things in the public clinic, cheap, only standing about two Tildas tall. Matilda, standing a little less than an arms length away from the mirror, extended an arm gently resting her hand on the smooth reflective glass. It felt cool, good against her skin.
She stared at her reflection, eyes narrowing. She angled her body to one side. She didn't get why both Cartia and Mary seemed worried. She thought she looked fine.
Two rich brown eyes sparkled back at her - the colour of the earth after long torrential rains. Freckles dotted her face, like a chaotic mess of chipped marble. Matilda loved her freckles. A tumble of stringy blonde hair, with dark brown roots, messily pulled back into a low lopsided pony-tail hung between her shoulder blades. Yeah she looked fine.
Hold on. Matilda rolled her tongue across her cheek. There was a jagged cut that'd scabbed over on the right side of her temple, giving her a Harry Potter esque mark.
Matilda frowned, noticing the somewhat sickening shade of blackish blue on her skin, creeping out from beneath the neck lining of her dressing gown. Matilda pulled her collar down revealing a dark purple bruise spreading from the lower half of her neck to her shoulder.
Matilda could feel a lump form in her throat. Still... nothing to worry about. Bruises fade. She shouldn't have played so close to the stairs.
JWJWJW
Matilda heard the door open and shut, it's swift creaking noise made her arms go rigid.
The Doctor entered in a cable crew neck sweater and dark almost black jeans, his pepper salted hair was closely cropped. He had a face like some guy that'd seen much pain, and suffered much loss.
"Hello." Greeting the two, he had the posture of a soldier but after shaking hands with Cartia he visibly relaxed. "What's your name?" His voice came out like he'd just pulled a double shift the day prior, only functioning because he was running on six cups of tea.
Whilst he exchanged casual pleasantries Cartia, Matilda mindfully walked around him back to her seat at the practice table.
She knew how to keep a poker face, even in uncomfortable situations. As she went she observed the doctor carefully, eyes critically analysing every last detail of the pale man. Matilda bit her inner cheek. She'd found it was always best to keep her final findings to herself. Kept her out of trouble.
Dr. Watson gave a brief look at his clipboard before turning to Matilda. Already still, she felt a tight knot form in her chest, under his gaze. He knelt in front of Matilda, allowing her to see the stethoscope draped round his neck. Her first thought, strangulation hazard.
She leaned back sitting further in your seat. "Hey there, you must be Matilda." Her breathing stopped momentarily as the man extended his hand out for her to shake. "What a lovely name." He gave her a smile that just seemed so genuinely sweet. "I'm your doctor, Doctor Watson."
——————
I actually really enjoyed writing this story and it might be the one I chose to continue. I’ve seen stories where Sherlock has a child but none with John and so I’m writing this. Her name is Matilda in honour of my favourite reading character as a child. I hope she lives up to her namesake. She doesn’t have a last name as far as anyone thus far is aware hence her name being Matilda May. Her first name and second middle name. I do enjoy this story but am considering another for front runner of the year.
#bbc sherlock#sherlock fandom#sherlock fanfic#john watson#john watson x oc!child#platonic fic#platonic#mild angst#matilda may series#MM Series
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