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caffeinewitchcraft · 2 days

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The Hero and Hope (Part 2/4)

(part 1) (part 3)

The next time you go hunting, the Bahrs go with you.

“It’s really fine,” you protest. It’s early enough in the morning that the air carries a bite. With any luck, they’ll think the redness in your cheeks comes from the chill rather than embarrassment. “I’m not even going far in. It’s Hera’s birthday coming up and she likes squirrel…”

“You’re going to catch a squirrel without a blade?” Mr. Bahr – Ivan – asks. He tightens the strap on Mrs. Bahr’s back, making sure the quiver of arrows is snug along her spine. He pats her shoulder when he finishes and beams at you. “Are you very fast?”

Yes, you are. You’ve noticed that you’re even faster lately as your 15th birthday marches closer and closer. You purse your lips. “I set traps.”

“Don’t mind him, Isla,” Mrs. Bahr -Marie - says. She fondly shoves Ivan off the porch of the orphanage so she can get down. “He’s always joking.”

“What sort of traps?” Ivan asks. He runs a critical eye over your coat and pack. “Will that be warm enough?”

You’re not sure if your coat is warm enough for the weather or not. Another rising power: you’re nearly impervious to the cold. You shrug. “I’ll be fine. And just simple snares and stuff.”

“We can’t wait to see,” Ivan declares. He gestures towards the road. “Lead the way.”

You bite your lip. It’s clear that they knew you were going hunting today by their garb. Both are in sturdy, worn leather with swords on their hips and bows along their backs. They probably heard from Director Sarah and came specifically to make sure you kept your promise not to hunt alone. But… “The other kids will be sorry they missed you.”

“We’ll see them when we return victorious with birthday squirrels,” Ivan says.

“What a sentence,” Marie says dryly.

You aren’t going to convince them to let you go alone. You silently lead the way towards the orchard. Or, rather, as silently as you can. Ivan talks the whole time, asking questions about the apple trees and pointing to ducks flying overhead. You answer the questions you know the answer to and hum whenever you don’t. You wish you knew more about the vegetation, but the most you can tell Ivan is whether or not something is poisonous.

“Those ones,” you say, nodding to the low, circular leaves Mr. Bahr is pointing to, “are tricky. The real ones taste kind of sweet. The other kind that looks like that makes your stomach cramp for three days straight.”

“How can you tell the difference?” Ivan asks.

You shrug. “You can’t. I just tell the younger kids to bring it to me before eating it. Usually, I trade it for something actually edible.”

Marie, trailing behind you both, makes a noise of interest. “Usually?”

You feel your ears go hot. “Sometimes I’ll try it for them just to see if they can eat it. I’ve had enough of the bad one that it doesn’t affect me so much.”

“You try it?” Marie’s voice is sharp. “Isla, there has to be a better way.”

“Not really,” you say. You scratch the back of your head and quicken your step. You’re almost to the tree line of the woods. “The kids like sweet things. If I didn’t give in occasionally, they’d try it themselves. At least this way they check in with me first.”

“I still don’t think—”

“Sounds like Marie and I’ll be bringing some sweets along with us next time,” Ivan interrupts cheerfully. He points past the last apple tree about a dozen feet ahead. “Looks like the path ends there?”

“There’s an animal track about ten feet into the woods,” you say. You’re uncomfortable with Marie’s reaction. You know it’s not smart to eat poisonous plants, but what else were you supposed to do? Your worst fear is that the kids will one day get hungry enough to eat them without caring about the pain. Your shoulders round. “We’ll need to be quiet once we’re there.”

“I’m the best at being quiet,” Ivan says. He elbows Marie. “Right, Marie?”

“Right,” Marie says. Her voice is still a little strained, but you can tell she’s trying to hide it. “That’s why I married you.”

“That’s a lie,” Ivan says. He stage-whispers to you, “She married me for my amazingly dashing good looks.”

Marie huffs a laugh but doesn’t say anything else. You’ve entered the forest.

You were worried on the way that you’d need to tell Ivan that he needs to be quiet in the forest. You needn’t have been concerned. Both adults are silent and walk with quiet steps, their dark eyes alert on their surroundings. They move through the undergrowth gracefully, their years of experience showing in every step. You try to copy Marie’s soft footfalls as best you can and are pleased when your steps get a little quieter.

The Bahrs watch as you pick places for your traps. Ivan silently points to one of your knots, eyebrow raised. Guessing what he’s asking, you undo the knot and then redo it slowly. He nods in satisfaction and then gestures for you to give him the rope. Curiously, you do. Ivan completes the same knot, fingers steady through each step. When he’s done, he presents it to you proudly as if to say, See? I did it!

It makes you do something you very rarely do in the woods. You smile.

After setting the traps you take the Bahrs to your favorite resting spot. The clearing lies just by the edge of the shallow part of the river. About a mile downstream the banks widen and the North River joins this one, making it a dangerous place of rapids. Here, however, the water moves slowly and is shallow enough to be warmed by the sun.

Finally, you speak. “Shouldn’t be too long. Maybe an hour or two and then we can go check on them.”

“Is this where you found the horned rabbit?” Marie asks. You sit on a large, flat rock by the river, but she stays standing. Her eyes carefully scan the perimeter of the clearing.

“Not quite. That was near the hills.” You point. “Fifteen minutes that way.”

“That’s close,” Ivan says. He frowns, concerned. “Was that the first demon you’ve seen here?”

“No.” When the Bahrs turn to you in alarm, you shrug. “Not all the time, but demons come here. They’re usually not interested in me though.”

“But the horned rabbit was?” Marie asks.

Interested is an understatement. You’re not an idiot. You know that demons are dangerous. That’s why you usually avoid them when you spot them. Normally they’re content to let you pass by, but not the horned rabbit. It followed you nearly all the way back to the orchard before you realized you needed to do something before it attacked you. “Yeah.”

“What other types of demons do you see here?” Ivan asks. His voice is light, but he’s looking at you with a very serious expression. “Maybe howling bats?”

“I hear them sometimes,” you say, “but I don’t stick around after dark.” Ivan and Marie exchange dark looks. You fidget on the rock. “What?”

“This is protected land, Isla,” Marie says. She purses her lips. “No demons should be south of those hills.”

“What other types have you seen?” Ivan asks again. He comes to squat by you so he can look you in the eyes. “And when?”

“Just horned rabbits.”

“Are you sure?” Marie asks. She runs a hand over her hair, slicking back the fly aways. “Horned rabbits aren’t usually sighted alone.”

You hesitate. It’s true that the horned rabbits are the only demons you’ve seen, but… “There have been some signs lately, but I don’t know if they’re demons.”

Ivan’s eyes sharpen. “What?”

“Wolves,” you say. Both Bahrs stiffen, hands going to their swords. You speak quickly. “But I’ve never seen them! They might be regular wolves. I found the tracks at the base of the hill, and some bones, but they were a week old probably.”

“We’ll need to ask the Lord to investigate,” Marie tells Ivan. She looks deeply unhappy. “The patrol doesn’t cover this far south.”

“An oversight,” Ivan says grimly. He reaches out absently and ruffles your hair. It startles you, but it feels nice. Ivan makes an effort to smile at you. “Good eyes, Isla. Is there anything else you’ve noticed changing in the forest lately? Even something not demon related?”

Something funny is happening in your chest. Good eyes, Isla. You wrack your brain for anything else. “I haven’t seen any other tracks or anything and there’s only been four or five horned rabbits this season.”

Marie makes a small noise in her throat. When you turn to look at her, she hides whatever expression she’d been making. “That’s a lot. Did you need to use your sharp stick on all of them?”

Ivan startles. “Sharp stick?”

You rub the back of you neck. “Just two.” You look up at the sky. You only had a sharp stick that day, but there are times when you’ve come out here with a knife. Knife days are for when you’re looking for bigger game. “I’ve been pretty lucky hunting lately, now that I think about it. There’s been more deer and regular rabbits south of the river.”

“What do you mean ‘lately?’”

“The past month.”

Ivan and Marie exchange another long look. Before you can ask them what’s wrong, Ivan turns to you with another smile.

“Say,” he says, “what do you think about trying to bag something bigger than a squirrel today? You ever fire a bow before?”

Your eyes widen. “No.”

“You can use mine,” Marie says, pulling it from her shoulder. She holds it out to you. “We’re nearly the same height. The draw may be a bit heavy for you—or not.”

Embarrassed by the shock in her voice, you release the string. “I’m, uh, stronger than I look.”

“Good,” Ivan says. “That’ll make it easier to actually catch something today.”

The next few hours are the most fun you’ve ever had in the woods. Marie and Ivan go over every part of the bow with you, explaining the weight of it, the flexibility, the length. Marie and Ivan carry several different types of arrows with different tips, all good for different types of shooting. They let you practice on a tree across the river and each time you’re closer to hitting the center of it, they compliment how fast you’re learning, how accurate your eye, how steady and consistent your draw.

By the time they let you hunt with it, you feel like you’re walking on clouds.

The feeling lasts even after you return to the orphanage, a deer slung over Marie’s shoulders and your hands full of squirrel. There’s a pleasant ache in your back and arms from practicing with the bow. You can’t stop smiling. Everything Ivan says is out of the blue and Marie’s tired responses make it all funny.

At one point you’re walking behind them, watching their shoulders brush when the path gets a little too narrow. They’re smiling at each other and talking softly and for a wild, wonderful, awful moment, you imagine that you can keep this. You aren’t sure what this is. Their attention and their companionship, their gentle guidance and the way they speak to you like you’re an adult?

After Hera’s birthday dinner, the Bahrs stay extra late to help clean up and to spend time with the younger kids. You are still feeling a sort of bone deep happiness you’ve never felt before. Everyone is full and sleepy-eyed from the amount of food you were able to put on the table. The kids gather around their slates in the common area, learning a new type of drawing game from Ivan and Marie.

Hera comes up to where you’re leaning on the doorway. Quietly, she slips her hand into yours. You squeeze it.

“Thanks for the squirrel,” she says quietly.

You lean down and press a kiss to the top of her head. “Happy Birthday.”

She hums and watches the fun in the living room for a long moment. She’s eleven now, three years older than you were that Winter. She’s the second oldest in the orphanage and, for the first time, you wonder if she feels the same sort of responsibility as you.

“I’m happy for you, you know,” Hera says.

You make a low questioning noise in your throat.

“The Bahrs will be good to you,” Hera says. She looks up at you evenly, a small smile tucked into the corner of her mouth. “You deserve that, Isla.”

Every muscle in your chest locks, chasing away the pleasant languidness you’d been feeling. “That’s not—they’re not—”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Hera says. She stands on tiptoe so she can throw her arms around your shoulders, hugging you like she did when she was five. She whispers in your ear, “But I would be happy if they did.”

She lets go of you before you can tell her she’s being ridiculous, skipping into the room to join the drawing game.

You feel out of sorts for the rest of the night.

-----------------------.

(part 1) (part 3)

Thanks for reading! The full story is already posted on my Patreon (X)! If you'd like to support me, please consider checking out my page!

This month will be seeing two main things update on Patreon first: Dandelion (x) and my Cinderella story (masterpost coming soon!) updates for both coming later this week!

#my writing #the hero and hope #second person #multi part fic #short story #kind of #the total piece is 20k words

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darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 3 days

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Crushed 19

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, manipulation, cheating, sleazy behaviour, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Your next door neighbours hook up, bringing to surface deep-seated feelings.

Characters: Colin Shea, Jonathan Pine

Note: it's hump day, let's get humped.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!)

Love you like my dog loves belly rubs (that’s a lot). Take care. 💖

Jonathan doesn’t drive you back to your building. Instead, you walk with him through the halls to his condo. You stop outside the door as he slips the bags up to his wrist and unlocks the door. He holds it open and waves you inside.

You enter, rubbing your arm nervously. It’s been a long day. A long few days. You’re exhausted. You catch a yawn in your hand as you hug yourself with one arm and peer around.

“I’ll have to go into the office tomorrow. Can’t be avoided much longer,” he explains as he puts the bags on the side table, “you will stay here. To be safe.”

“Oh, uh, right,” you sway back and forth as you press your palm to the side of your neck, “um, I don’t mind--”

“I mind,” he interjects, “I can’t trust that animal not to act as what he is. Darling, you must think, yes? Learn from your mistakes. We both know he’s dangerous. I wouldn’t put you in such danger and I would hope you wouldn’t walk right into it.”

“I know, I wasn’t... I just... I wouldn’t want to impose,” your eyes drift away meekly, “that’s all.”

“Impose? Have I not made my feelings clear?” He approaches you, brushing his knuckles up your arm, “I cannot get enough of you, fawn.”

You smile but it’s hard. You feel weak. The day is only half done and you could keel over. He brings his hand up to cradle your cheek, “what is it?”

“Just tired,” you shrug.

“Mmm, how about... I’ll run you a nice hot bath. You can relax. We’ve done rather much today... you have been through even more,” he gives a doleful look, “you let me worry for everything. All will turn out, I’m certain.”

“I guess,” you purse your lips. It’s easy enough for him to say. He still has a job, you’re not so sure you do.

“Darling,” he brings a bent finger under your chin, tiling your head, “I will take care of you.”

Your lips part but you quickly close them. You don’t want to argue right now. You don’t want to point out that everything is still fresh and new. Or that he might not feel the same in a month or two. Or a year. Especially if you’re unemployed.

One day he’ll see how worthless you are.

“So let’s get that bath going,” he bends to kiss your forehead, “I’ve some bath salts which may help ease the tension. I’ll light a few candles...” he rambles as he turns and strides down the hallway. You follow after him reluctantly, as much as the bath sounds nice, you already feel like a burden.

You stand in the doorway as you watch him remove his jacket and roll up his sleeves. He fusses over the tub as of you’re not there. The water spills out into the deep porcelain basin and he stands. He turns and gestures to a towel on a silver bar.

“That is clean,” he says before he opens the tall cupboard near the sink, “bath salt... rose.”

He reads the canister before he uncaps it. He turns to add a sprinkle to the water, the floral aroma rising with the steam. He sets it aside and beckons you into the bathroom. You cross the tile as you play with the hem of your shirt.

He brushes past you and you turn to watch him go. You face the tub again and pull up your shirt. You let your pants slip down your legs and as you straighten, you hear him return. He places a three-wick candle on the ledge above the tub and lights it.

He looks at you, his eyes roving up and down, and he smirks, “I’m almost tempted to join you, darling, but alas, I do have a few things to tend to.”

“That’s... okay,” you murmur, hugging yourself as you stand in panty and bra.

He scoffs, “why are you playing shy, eh?” He nears and tickles along your collar bone, sending a shiver through you.

“I’m not, I’m... cold,” you lie and turn your attention to the tub.

“Mm, if you need any help warming up,” his fingers flutter up your neck before he retracts his touch, “should you need me, you need only call my name, fawn.”

“Alright,” you eke out.

You wait until he’s past you but don’t check to see if he’s gone. You strip down the rest of your clothes and near the tub. You lift your legs over the edge and sink into the water. You sigh as the warmth seeps into you.

You close your eyes as the water continues to lap down by your feet. You try to let the tension out. You’re thinking too much.

💔

You button up the shirt Jonathan left for you. You still feel uneasy as you slip into bed but you’re too tired to care. You might be invading his space but he doesn’t seem to mind much. Besides, the hot water has finished you off. You just want to sleep forever.

Your eyes roll back and you hide from the world. It doesn’t quite fade away, still vaguely present on the other side of your eyelids. That hazy itchiness settles in your head but the fog just won’t thicken to darkness. You’re awake, barely, kept conscious by the nerves rattling in your chest.

In your stupour, you remain vaguely aware of your unusual surroundings. Despite the threat that lingers on the other side of the walls, you can’t help but miss your apartment. It’s the first space that was truly your own. All that’s ruined.

You hear a dulcet tone, a low hum that’s soothing a much as it is stirring. You roll onto your side and grumble, peeling open your eyes as your ears prick. Jonathan’s voice precedes him into the room. You blink at him from the bed, curled up under the blankets as your warmth keeps you in place.

“Yes, I will have her there, never you worry,” he says breezily, “mm, yes, I’ve the time. I’ll add it to my calendar. Shouldn’t be any issue.” As you watch him, he meets your gaze and his brows flick up as he grins, “thanks, Eugenia, can’t wait. Yes, you have a wonderful night.”

He pulls the phone away from his ear and you recognise the case and the cracked protector. It’s yours. What the heck? You sit up and reach instinctively for him.

“Hey, that’s my phone,” you accuse.

“Yes, it was ringing and I thought you asleep. It was only your mother,” he drops the phone on the bed next to you. “I could hardly answer between messages from that pest you call a neighbour.”

“What?” You grasp the cell and slide it closer.

“She only wanted to confirm the time for the engagement party next weekend. You can wear one of your new dresses,” he explains as he goes to the wall mirror and checks his reflection, smoothing his hair before he unbuttons his collar. He works a path down the row and the fabric slackens around his shoulders. “I’ve made certain to make record of each message that creature sends. We may just need to consult authorities.”

“Colin? I—I blocked him.”

“Please do not say his name. It’s absolutely hideous, isn’t it?” He faces you as he shrugs off his shirt. “It seems he has found an alternative, that chit he keeps around.”

“Ally?” You wonder.

“Mmm, is that her name,” he drones as he dumps his shirt into the hamper. “Well, we needn’t worry about them much longer.”

He continues to undress as you pull yourself up against the pillows. Things just keep happening and you can’t keep up. You look up as he wears nothing but his short cotton boxers and nears the bed. You peek down at your phone and put it on the night table to right of the bed.

“I do think you should call your landlord and give notice sooner than later,” he climbs onto the foot of the bed.

“Notice?” You echo in confusion, “why--”

“You cannot go back, darling, it’s not safe,” he tugs at the blanket, pulling it away from your body, “I cannot in good conscience let you return.”

“But I—we can just let things mellow out, right? Colin will get over it--”

“I told you,” he grabs your ankle, “do not utter his name at me.”

He pulls you so you fall flat on your back. You throw your arms out and gasp as your head bounces onto the mattress. He separates your legs and perches between them. You lift yourself on your elbows, breathless, and stare at him.

“I can’t stay forever--”

“Did I ever say that?” He challenges, his blue eyes blazing up at you.

“No, but--”

“I understand things have escalated quickly, fawn, but we will figure it all out. I will be certain to clarify everything at the office, let them know it was simply not your doing,” his eyes cling to your face and narrow before slowly descending.

He glides his hands up your legs, crawling closer on his knees. He slides his touch beneath the loose shirt and tickles your naked skin. He sends a chill through you that speckles hotly. He feels your body, running his hands up and your torso as you quiver.

He slips his hands above the fabric as he kneels between your thighs. He unbuttons the shirt to your belly button, unveiling your chest and bending to dote on it. He cups one side as his mouth explores the other; nipping and nuzzle. You let out a pathetic noise as you cradle the back of his head.

You arch your back as his warmth draws you in and chases away your doubts. His long fingers soothe you and his intensity overpowers you. As much as this man has you uncertain, you cannot resist him. It feels nice to be wanted even if it isn’t who you wanted.

💔

Once more, you fall asleep in the afterglow of Jonathan’s attentions. How easily he can obfuscate your fears and doubts. How his touch can so easily distract you from the things that might keep you awake.

The weight of his arm settles over you, holding you to him, his hard long body coiled around yours. He keeps a leg curled between yours as his hot breath seeps into your scalp. You’re content, you’re safe.

Your sleep is only disturbed as he untangles himself carefully from you. You don’t rouse entirely, clinging to the pillow and dregs of fatigue. He tucks the blanket under your figure and the bed shifts with the absences of his weight. His scent lingers behind him.

You sink back down and fall flat on your back, spreading out across the mattress. The late night lull settles over you, lulling you down as the distant drone of Jonathan’s lilted voice further coaxes you. You moan through your slumber and roll onto his side, longing for him to return.

You blink and the blue digits of the clock have changed. Twenty minutes and he’s still not back. You shiver and flutter your eyelashes, rubbing your cheeks as you force yourself awake. You sit up dizzily, you can still hear him.

You shimmy to the edge of the bed and stand. You hug yourself as a shiver washes over your naked flesh. The button-up is lost somewhere in the bedding. You put your feet down softly as you pad across the room, following his timbre as it come between sharper tones.

You creep out into the hall, a bluish glow drawing you in. You follow the cool hardwood to the front room and hide in the dim as you squint. Jonathan has his phone in hand, the screen alight as his profile is limned in its shine. He watches it intently as you recognise the voice chirping from the speaker.

“That’s so lovely, dear, hope we can see you soon,” his mother chimes.

You waver on your feet. Oh, you shouldn’t listen.

“Will she be coming?” His father’s gristly accent comes through.

You pause before you can back up. Jonathan clicks his tongue, “yes, I think so.”

“Jon,” his mother titters, “oh, that’s so exciting! That’s... big.”

“Eh, yes, don’t think you ever let us meet one of the birds,” he father chides.

“Father, she’s not... don’t call her that,” Jonathan rebukes.

“I’m teasing, yeah?” The elder Pine chortles, “you’re gonna have to warn her about us. If that place has made you so soft, I shouldn’t want to scare the girl.”

“Father,” Jonathan utters once more, “she’s... not... She’s perfect.”

His mom squeals and giggles. You gulp and press yourself against the wall. What is he talking about? He’s talking about taking you somewhere. To his home? That’s a far way. Something he should probably ask you first. His mother is entirely correct; that’s big. His compliments cannot counteract the shock of his one-sided decision.

You sidle along the hallway, careful not to place your feet too heavily. As you near the bedroom, your elbow hits the frame and the thump casts silence through the apartment. Shoot.

You peer toward the front room and see Jonathan’s shadow closing in. He must have heard your misstep. You quickly flit into the room and ease into the bed. You pull the blankets over you and turn your back to the door. Your heart is racing.

You sense him in the doorway, watching you. Silent.

“Everything okay, son?” His father asks.

“Yes, it’s... fine,” Jonathan answers, “I’ll let you go. Wouldn’t want to wake her.”

“Oh yes, get some sleep,” his mother insists, “love ya.”

“Night, son.”

Jonathan crosses the room and you hear his phone meet the table on his side of the bed. The mattress dips as he climbs in and pulls the blanket over himself, nestling in close to you. He sighs and hums as he hugs you to him once more.

You lay, frozen and silent, praying he can’t feel your pulse.

“Did I wake you?” He whispers and kisses your crown.

You force a groan from your throat and feign grogginess, “hmm, oh, no...” You wiggle into the mattress and yawn, putting your hand over his.

“Back to sleep, darling,” he purrs as he nuzzles you.

#colin shea #jonathan pine #dark colin shea #dark!colin shea #dark jonathan pine #dark!jonathan pine #jonathan pine x reader #colin shea x reaader #what's your number?#the night manager #fic #dark fic #dark!fic #series #multifandom

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pagerspages · 2 days

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Being Trans is Scary

Being transgender is scary. It took me a while to comfortably use the term “Transgender” when thinking and/or talking about myself but I am. A Transgender person is someone who does not identify as the sex/gender they were assigned at birth. I was assigned male at birth and now I identify as nonbinary. I am transgender.

A friend of mine called me an egg the other day. Granted I did say something rather egg like. I showed this to my other friend who assured me that I was very much cracked and there was only a bit of shell left.

I played with makeup today for the first time. I’ve worn makeup before, but this is the first time I actually went out and bought makeup and put it on myself. I wore makeup when I was in plays in middle school and I have a former friend of mine that did my makeup once. I don’t know if I’ll ever be one to wear a full face of makeup daily. Eye makeup is fun though. I will definitely do eyeliner and mascara again, maybe eyeshadow too.

Now to the scary part I guess. I live in an area where trans people are not respected. They are ridiculed and treated as less than human, for this reason I probably wont be coming out to anyone other than a few close friends. I think like four people know right now. I was doing my makeup today with a friend of mine in her backyard when her mom came out. Her mom is one of those people who would probably not treat me very nicely. I had just about finished my lipstick when we heard the door open. I hurried and grabbed a makeup wipe and got the lipstick off and the majority of the eyeshadow. Thankfully she either just didn’t notice or didn’t say anything.

I’m not sure why I got so scared. I mean the absolutely worst thing that could have happened is not being able to go back to their house but that wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world. I’m an adult and the only reason that we live with our parents is because rent is out of control. I know people have it worse but like I got a very small glimpse of what could have been today. I’m willing to bet that why I have suppressed these feelings for so long is because of the area I was raised in.

Remember it’s okay to mourn the people you could have been if your situation were better.

#trans #transgender #nonbinary #enby #queer #lgbtq #self growth #lgbt pride

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hugmekenobi · 3 days

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S3: The Bad Batch (5)

Chapter Five: The Return

Gif by @theworstbatch

Series Summary: Ever since Eriadu, Clone Force 99 had been a fractured squad. Months have passed but you're finally back with the Batch but Omega is still out there and you won't stop until you find her again.

Chapter Summary: Will a mission to an Imperial facility be the thing that allows you, Hunter and Crosshair to reconcile?

Masterlist for S1 and S2

<Previous Chapter

Genre: Friends (idiots) to Lovers (we're in the lovers stage now)

Chapter Warnings: Canon-typical violence, again we have my interpretation of headspaces, limited use of y/n, fluff, reference to past character death, angsty conversations, PDA (kissing and some brief spicy thoughts), brief innuendo, mentions/ references to scars and torture, reader, Hunter and Crosshair are all a lil mean to each other, me making up how the Force works, I give some of Crosshair and Hunter's past fights some more lore, fun family teasing dynamics

Word Count: 8K

Author's notes: Had a lot of fun incorporating reader into this one! Hope you like it too! And the work for Ch6 will begin today too!

Omega released a content sigh as she opened her eyes upon feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. As she took in the familiar walls and gave Lula an affectionate squeeze, part of her still couldn’t believe she was really here again.

“Looks who’s awake!” Wrecker called out jovially.

“How’d you sleep?” Hunter enquired as she came down.

“Better than ever.” She replied.

“Delivery from Shep and Lyana.” Wrecker chucked her a piece of fruit.

“Another one?” Omega remarked lightly as she caught it. It had been a few days since they’d returned to Pabu and Shep and Lyana had been incredibly accommodating in the provision of clothes and food since she’d been back.

“They’re happy you’re back.” You said cheerily as you handed Wrecker and Hunter their mugs of caf and sipped from your own. Since being back, you’d all slipped out of your armour and for you this had also meant allowing the warm Pabu sun soak into your skin so there’d been occasions where you’d removed your top layer and gloves. You’d stopped hiding the scars from your torture, but it had meant you needed to fill Omega in on certain events.

“And so are we.” Hunter added with a smile as he slipped an arm around your waist.

“Where’s Crosshair?” Omega asked as she looked around the ship.

“He wasn’t on the ship when we woke up.” Wrecker replied.

“He’s… still adjusting.” Hunter added.

“I’ll check on him.” Omega said breezily before she departed the ship.

The three of you shared a mildly concerned look as she left.

Crosshair watched his shot go wide yet again.

“Greetings, Omega!” AZ shouted with a cheery wave to the girl standing in the distance.

Crosshair glanced her direction but quickly went to focus on shooting the fruit out of AZ’s hand again but released a low groan as he saw that his hand continued to quiver, making his grip and aim unsteady.

Omega made her way down to the beach cove and gave Batcher a few dotting pats before she came to crouch beside Crosshair. She noted the bowl of fruits on the rock he was positioned behind. “Shep and Lyana found you then?”

“Their ability to do so is uncanny.” Crosshair responded dryly.

“I know what you’re doing, Crosshair, but you can’t keep hiding. You need to talk to them.” She advised, the ‘them’ referring to you and Hunter.

“I’m not hiding. I’m training.” Crosshair deflected as he readied his rifle and got the fruit in his sights, but his shot missed. He stared at his hand in anger and aggravation. What good was a sniper who couldn’t make a simple, unopposed shot?

“You know, I’m sure AZ could look at your hand for you.” Omega suggested.

Crosshair exhaled a sharp sigh. “I’m fine.”

Sensing his wall was well and truly up on the matter, she changed tact, “So what skills does this require, besides good sight?”

“Being a sniper is more than just looking scope. It’s about patience. Reading the environment.” He half-turned his head. “And knowing when you’ve got eyes on you.”

Omega looked up past his shoulder to see the three of you watching them from the top of the cliff edge.

“They don’t trust me.” Crosshair stated matter-of-factly.

“Give it time. But you will have to talk to them.” Omega reminded him with a soft pat on his back.

Crosshair only gave a non-committal hum before he went back to his rifle.

“Not sure it was a good idea to give Crosshair back his rifle.” Hunter commented.

“Omega trusts him. That’s good enough for me.” Wrecker replied. “And well, he hasn’t tried to kill you yet.” He added, looking to you.

“Oh, yes, that’s a great comfort, Wrecker. Thank you so much.” You replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Wrecker raised his hands in appeasement. “All I’m saying is that it might be an idea to talk things out again.”

“Cause that went so well last time.” You muttered.

The sound of a ship approaching interrupted further discussion.

Hunter glanced up to see Echo’s shuttle and he whistled down to the other two but as he got up to leave, he noticed the stare you were giving him. It was pointed but there was something else behind it that he couldn’t quite label, “What?”

“ ‘What?’ he asks like I can just give a simple reply as to how whistling is attractive.” You mumbled, avoiding his gaze as you rather hurriedly stepped past him.

Hunter smiled at your back and fondly shook his head in your direction before he caught up to you and Wrecker.

“It’s Echo!” Omega cheered as she saw the ship fly overhead.

“Perfect.” Crosshair grumbled.

“I have tabulated your shooting accuracy. Your target success rate was at 53%. Well below your average.” AZ helpfully informed him.

Hearing that only made his mood worse. Crosshair did not respond to the droid, instead he just trailed behind Omega as they made their way to the top of the island.

You grinned as you saw Echo and Omega share a brief hug.

“What? No hug for me?” Crosshair quipped as he approached.

Echo scoffed, “That depends how good your intel is.”

Crosshair grunted in return. At least that felt somewhat normal.

The sun was setting as the six of you took your seats around Shep’s table, the golden glow adding some much-needed softness and warmth to the atmosphere. He’d been kind enough to let you all use his residence as a place to gather and think- there had been numerous offers of setting up places of your own since you’d all returned but until this business with Tantiss had reached an official conclusion, it felt too much like tempting fate to accept.

“They were using clones for testing, taking samples. Most were held in the detention wing, but I never saw what was in the vault.” Omega told the rest of you. “Even Emerie wasn’t allowed access.”

“Emerie?” Echo repeated.

“She works for Hemlock. She’s a clone, like us. Like me.”

Echo reflected on that for a moment before he addressed Crosshair, “And what about you? Anything else to add?”

“I was a prisoner. Not much to tell.”

You and Hunter both narrowed your eyes at him. He was holding something back.

“We’ve been searching for this base for a long time. Accurate intel’s hard to come by. We need to know all we can before making any moves.” Echo said.

“We have Nala Se’s datapad, but it isn’t working anymore.” Omega slid the device over to Echo. “If we can get it online, we should be able to pull more intel on Tantiss.”

“It could have schematics, entry points.” Hunter theorised. “Maybe even the coordinates of the base itself.”

“Imperial encryption will be a problem, especially without Tech.” Echo said, his tone solemn.

The mood shifted and your eyes couldn’t help but drift over to the empty seat at the end of the table. Regardless of everything else, it was obvious the loss was felt by all of you.

“Plugging it into an Imperial terminal will bypass the encryption.” Crosshair stated after a moment of heavy silence.

“Where do we get one of those?” Wrecker asked.

“I know a facility. Remote, understaffed. It shouldn’t be a problem to infiltrate.”

Hunter debated the risks in his head, “Crosshair, Echo and I will go to this remote facility. You three will stay here.” He looked to you, Wrecker and Omega.

You frowned at him.

“We’re finally together and you want to split us up?” Omega argued.

“Yeah, I’m with the kid on this one.” You piped up.

“We just got you both back. I’m not going to risk either of you getting captured again.” Hunter replied firmly.

Your gaze softened, “Hunter, not that I don’t appreciate the concern, but there’s no way I’m letting you go to an Imperial facility with just two other people. No matter how understaffed it might be.”

“With me, you mean.” Crosshair muttered, the double meaning behind your words was not so subtle. “One of these days you’re going to have to trust me.”

“Give me a reason to.” You snapped back. Hunter’s gentle squeeze of your knee stopped you from saying anything more.

The others all shared in fretful looks of concern.

Omega spoke up to get her argument in before one started again between you, Hunter, and Crosshair. “And I left all those clones behind. I need to do this, Hunter.” Omega implored.

Hunter glanced between Wrecker and Echo who both nodded. He then faced you, and he could tell by the resolve in your eyes that he wasn’t going to win this one. He gave a resigned but agreeable nod of his head.

The tension between the two clones could be cut with a knife as they passed each other on the ramp.

“Don’t hold it against him. He’s only worried about you.” Crosshair explained to Omega as Hunter moved out of earshot. He picked up the next case of supplies.

“I know.” Omega said begrudgingly. “You think I should stay behind too?”

“You’re capable, but you are still a kid.”

Omega only scoffed, “I’m older than you are, little brother.” She taunted.

“Never going to quite get used to that.” You said to yourself, sliding your gloves on and long-sleeved top over your head before grabbing your limited pieces of armour from the pile of supplies. You reapplied it as you passed the two of them. But the smile and quiet laugh Crosshair allowed himself at Omega’s words wasn’t lost on you either. You boarded Echo’s ship but saw Hunter standing in the doorway watching as Wrecker walked towards the two of them. Is that-

Hunter offered a rigid nod by way of reply.

“I don’t know if this’ll still fit, but, uh, here.”

Crosshair turned to the sound of Wrecker’s voice and opened the case he held out for him, but he wasn’t expecting to see what he did. And whether he’d want to admit it or not, the meaning behind the fact that they’d kept it after all this time touched a part of him. “My old armour.”

“Yeah, it never felt right to get rid of it.” Wrecker admitted before he boarded the ship.

With all of you properly kitted up, the ship came out of hyperspace and entered the ice planet’s atmosphere.

“On approach. Reading minimal life signs, if any.” Echo announced.

The ship landed and the group of you got ready to disembark.

Echo gave the scanners one last preliminary glance, “No heat signatures inside of the depots, and nothing on comms. There’s no one here.”

As you followed the helmeted example of the others and pulled your hood and mask up, and made your way out, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you’d been here before. Something about it felt eerily familiar but you couldn’t fathom why. You dismissed Hunter’s questioning glance and continued further down the steps. Clearing your mind, you studied Tech’s datapad with Hunter.

“Hey, it does fit.” Wrecker said with a laugh as he half-turned and saw Crosshair come outside in the old black and red 99 armour.

You, Echo, and Hunter all looked too, and the sight automatically transported you back in time, but it was now clouded by a lingering darkness.

Crosshair grunted as he fiddled with it and his eyes caught the ice vulture screeching in the now clear and serene sky. This place certainly looked different in the sunlight and without the violent snowstorms, and he only wished the outcome from this mission would be more successful than last time. Your voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“You said this outpost was remote, not abandoned entirely.” You didn’t bother to hide the element of accusation in your tone.

“Well, I didn’t get daily intel briefings in my cell.”

You rolled your eyes at the unsurprising uncooperative response and watched as Hunter moved past you and closer to his brother.

“I get the feeling there’s more to this place than you’re saying.” Hunter said, the distrust in his voice seeping through.

Batcher’s barking disrupted any potential reply and you all turned to see what had got her riled up.

Hunter pulled out his macrobinoculars, “The sensors are giving off a high-frequency tone. She must be reacting to it.”

“What are the sensors for?” You asked Crosshair.

“Perimeter detection against local raiders.” Crosshair responded, already fearing but knowing where this path of questions might lead.

“You didn’t think to warn us about these raiders before?” You countered heatedly.

“No, they were all dealt with.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Take a guess.” Crosshair snarked.

You only shook your head and scoffed.

The answer didn’t please Hunter either and he found himself standing opposite Crosshair once again only this time he felt himself feeling more confrontational than he’d been before, “Just following orders?”

“If you’re scared, why don’t you wait on the ship. I’m sure someone could offer you some… comfort.” He added with a barbed nod in your direction.

You glowered at him and found yourself uncaring if one of their typical fights ensued. You’d seen them both in hand-to-hand many times and you knew who would come out on top in that scenario.

Hunter took half a step forward after the comment, but Echo pushed them both back.

“Hey, kill each other later. We’re here for a reason. Let’s crack into the datapad and get out of here.”

Omega watched the rest of you head to the base, but Crosshair was yet to follow, “I said talk to them, not argue with them.” She chastised.

Crosshair only sighed and muttered, “They started it.”

Omega released an exasperated breath of her own at the lack of from all three of you and made her way to the base too.

As the group of you approached the doors, you saw that the doors were blocked by multiple layers of snow.

You couldn’t help but smile behind your mask as you saw the way Batcher excitedly joined Wrecker and Hunter in the digging process.

With Batcher’s assistance, enough snow was dissipated, and you were able to make your way to the doors.

Wrecker pulled them apart and you all entered the facility.

Omega made her way over to the sound of beeping and took up position by one of the consoles and turned the power and lights on, “The power to this outpost has been nearly depleted by the sensor beacons.”

“Then we need to divert all power to this depot.” Echo directed.

“On it.”

“No one else thinks that’s a risky idea?” You tugged your mask down. “We don’t know if there was more that they were meant to keep out.”

“Nothing showed up on the scans, we should be fine.” Echo replied casually before he signalled to Omega that she should keep going.

Echo took up position by another console and took off his helmet like the rest of his brothers.

“So why’d the Empire abandon this place?” Wrecker wondered aloud.

“I guess it served its purpose.” Crosshair said.

“Hmm. Sounds familiar.” Echo said flatly.

You and Hunter watched as Crosshair moved away from the rest of you towards a darkened section of the room.

Crosshair shone his torch around the space and saw the collection of discarded clone helmets and he remembered what it had been like when he’d first arrived here. He remembered the respect Mayday had shown him. A respect and understanding that he hadn’t experienced for a long time, and he knew he couldn’t leave them like this.

Hunter observed his actions. He knew his brother and he wouldn’t behave like that for no reason. Whatever had happened to him clearly held more significant than he was letting on.

You too studied Crosshair carefully as he respectfully but solemnly placed the helmets on the crates. Whatever you were sensing about his place was lingering around him. A quick tap on your shoulder brought your attention back to Hunter who jutted his head back towards the rest of the group.

“That should do it.” Omega said as the sensors officially powered down and the power diverted so now the entirety of the outpost was lit.

You all crowded around Echo’s position as he plugged the datapad into the system, “Ah it’s working.” He began to digest the copious amounts of information on the screen. “Look at this manifest. There are even more clone prisoners on Tantiss than we thought.”

You all simultaneously turned towards Crosshair who had emerged from the other room.

Crosshair didn’t say anything, instead he noticed Batcher’s agitated growls and the way she was looking outside.

“Where are you going?” Hunter queried as he saw Crosshair heading towards the exit.

“To check the perimeter.”

You and Omega both went to follow them out, but Echo stopped you both.

“Uh, let them work it out. We have to finish this data transfer.”

“But-” You began to object.

“You three rile each other up too much. This won’t be solved by you all looking for ways to score points.” Echo reminded you sensibly.

You may not like it, but you knew deep down that he was right. You watched the two of them fade into the distance before you turned back to help with the datapad.

“Are you going to be my shadow everywhere?” Crosshair asked, removing the toothpick from his mouth, and turning around to face Hunter.

“I know you. There’s more you’re not telling us, and I’m done waiting. Start talking, Crosshair. What did you do to finally get on the Empire’s bad side? Betray them, like you did with us?” The last words were said with particular feeling behind them.

Crosshair glanced down at his hand as the tremors started once more. He curled his hand into a fist and shook it out.

“Any schematics on there?” Omega asked Echo.

“None that I’m seeing. Just medical records. I think this is all we’re gonna get. At least it’s something.”

You registered a faint rumbling that reverberated around the outpost, and you noticed Batcher anxiously pacing and sniffing the floor. “Batcher?”

Omega turned upon hearing you and she recognised the unusually tense behaviour being exhibited by her dog. “Something’s wrong.”

When he’d been met with stony silence, Hunter had closed the distance between him and his brother, “You thought we’d take you back and not ask questions? I don’t think so. Tell me what changed.” The lack of reaction from his brother was infuriating and it got the better of him. He shoved Crosshair’s chest. “What happened, Crosshair?”

Crosshair avoided Hunter’s intense stare as he went through all the possible outcomes of this interaction, but it all came back to one key detail- he wasn’t able to avoid this any longer, “I killed an Imperial officer.”

Hunter was taken aback. It had been a growing suspicion in his mind, but hearing it be true was an entirely different matter.

“So, yes, I did betray them after they betrayed me.” Hunter may have gotten him to say it, but he wasn’t the only one who knew how to push the correct buttons. “Oh, don’t pretend like this is all about me. I tried to warn you, Hunter.” Crosshair turned his back to him. “I risked everything to send you that message. You ignored it.” He turned again so he could see his words finding their mark. “You let Omega be taken to Tantiss. She went through what she did because you failed.” His emotions started to take control as he shoved Hunter back, “You’re angry because she escaped with my help, not yours. And as for (Y/N)-”

“Don’t-” Hunter snarled.

But Crosshair was in full flow now and although part of him knew he’d regret saying them, he couldn’t help himself as the words spilled from his mouth in a way that he knew would cut his brother deeply, “She thought she hid them in time, but I’ve seen the marks around her wrists from binders that were secured too tightly. I’ve seen the scars on her back. Whatever hell she went through is on you too.”

Hunter clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth hurt. White hot rage coursed his veins and all he could see was red but before he could act, Batcher’s distant barking got his attention. It was then he felt the ice beneath them shaking. “Move.” He yanked Crosshair forward just as- what could only be described as a giant ice wyrm- erupted through the snowy ground.

The resulting impact of the ice cracking had seen to it that the ship collapsed further into the snow, but they couldn’t worry about that now, the two of them scrambled to their feet and sprinted back to the base.

You all watched anxiously as the other two made their way back with the creature hot on their heels.

When they got close enough, you all retreated further inside, and they managed to dive through doors just before Wrecker shut them.

There was a deep bellow and growl from the creature as it crashed against the doors.

“I guess we know what the perimeter sensors are meant to keep out.” Omega said agitatedly.

Echo felt your standard ‘I told you so’ stare being trained on him. “Not the time.” He groused.

“ ‘We should be fine’ I believe is what you said.” You remarked, raising your eyebrows at him whilst Hunter and Crosshair got to their feet. “I can’t get the ship-” There was another harsh growl and the entire base shook, bringing all of you to your knees.

“Great, what now?” Wrecker grumbled as he turned his torch on.

“I can’t get the ship out of the snow with that thing out there.” You finished your previous sentence as you stood up. “We have to restore power to the sensor beacons.”

Echo jogged over to where Omega had originally rerouted the power. “There’s a fuse box for the reserve energy grid in the back of this compound.”

“One of us needs to get over there and reset the grid manually.” Crosshair said.

“I’ll do it.” Wrecker volunteered immediately.

“And I can get the defense system reactivated once the power’s back.” Omega said.

“We’ll have to draw the creature beyond the sensors before they reboot, or we’ll be trapped inside the perimeter with that thing.” Hunter reminded everyone.

“I’ll do it.” Crosshair said to him.

“Not alone. We’ll do it together.” Hunter replied firmly.

“You sure about that?” Crosshair challenged.

Echo saw you getting ready to also volunteer to go so he placed a hand on your wrist to subtly tell you to stop, “We’ll spot you both from the tower.”

You shot Echo a questioning look but nodded all the same. Brotherly bonding? You guessed, although you wished it was under different and safer circumstances but then again, this felt pretty fitting for them.

Echo gave you a small nod.

Hunter gave you his macrobinoculars before addressing all of you, “Then let’s get to it before it tears the place apart.” Hunter ordered.

Helmets and coverings were back on as Wrecker opened the door and you all waited for Hunter’s signal.

Satisfied that the cost was clear, Hunter made the first move and all of you went to your decided positions.

“Three o’clock!” Crosshair shouted as he saw the wyrm angling towards Hunter who was a few metres ahead of him. He drew his rifle and opened fire, but they weren’t making contact, the ice was too good a cover.

Hunter turned his head to see the animal explode from the ground. He was able to dive out the way of its jaws but as he landed, he felt the ice crack beneath his feet, and he plummeted downwards.

You put down the binoculars and inhaled deeply before releasing a slow, calming breath. You tapped your comm. “Did you just fall through the ice?” You asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’m fine.” Came his reply.

He may have been fine, but you could hear the slight strain in his voice. A series of annoyed grumbles left your mouth- how many times was this man going to fall through/from things?

“Why? Why is there always a huge monster?” Wrecker’s voice said through the comms as he made his journey across the show. “Echo, (Y/N), do either of you see it?”

“An excellent question.” You muttered to yourself as you and Echo continued to scan the area for the creature. “We don’t have a visual.” You said into your comm in answer to Wrecker’s second question.

“Can you get outside the perimeter from down there?” Crosshair called down to Hunter through the hole in the ice.

Hunter scanned the tunnel ahead with his torch. “I’ll follow the tunnel north. Find out.”

“We’ll track you from up here.” Crosshair said. The ‘we’ now referring to him and Batcher who had joined the fray after seeing Hunter fall.

You and Echo continued to search for the creature from your posts.

“Target spotted. It’s right on your tail.” Echo said into the comm to Crosshair. “About a hundred meters and closing.”

“Got it.” Crosshair acknowledged. He came to a stop and drew his sniper. He fired at the oncoming shape in the snow, but the result was the same as before and his trembling hand wasn’t helping matters. He shook it out yet again and repositioned his stance just as the wyrm resurfaced. His shots kept hitting the creature’s shell until one of them finally hit the inside of the mouth, causing it to retreat back underground.

“I think I just made it angrier.” Crosshair mused into the comms.

“Fantastic.” Hunter replied dryly as he continued to run through the tunnel.

After finally digging through all the snow that had been blocking the entrance, Wrecker finally made it inside, “Okay, I’ve found the fuse box. What’s next kid?”

“Good. Now prime the breaker.” Omega instructed.

“You’re about 400 meters from the perimeter.” Crosshair said into his comms for Hunter’s benefit.

You kept your sights trained on Crosshair and the area around him, “No sign of that thing.” You said into your comm, but you weren’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

As they passed the perimeter, Crosshair followed Batcher’s lead this time as she sniffed the ground before letting out an excited bark as she began to dig.

“We’ve found a weak point in the ice. We’ll try to break through.” Crosshair said to Hunter, giving Batcher a praising pat.

“You’ll try?” Both you and Hunter said together.

“Glad you two heard me properly.” Crosshair retorted.

“Crosshair, I swear if-”

“I’ve got him.” Crosshair reassured you with more sincerity than he’d anticipated as he and Batcher began to dig through the ice.

“Alright. Breaker’s primed. What next, kid?” Wrecker asked as the screen finally lit up.

“Cycle the navigator. That should be to the right of the main breaker.” Omega replied.

Wrecker did as she said.

“Things are getting close in here. Am I gonna have a way out or not?” Hunter asked as the sounds of growls and ice cracking echoed around him.

“If you end up where we hope you do.” Crosshair responded.

“Boom! Power’s online.” Wrecker interjected.

“Hunter, should I activate the beacon?” Omega asked, her hand hovering over the button.

“Wait! We have to make sure the wyrm is past the perimeter.”

Crosshair shot into the ice to weaken it and create a bigger opening.

The sound of falling ice and light shining into the tunnel grabbed Hunter’s eye and he made his way under the opening that Crosshair had caused.

“Get up here!” Crosshair urged.

“Not yet. Where’s the wyrm? I can’t find it.”

The sound of him refusing to get to safety sent a wave of anxiety through your body but you focused up and helped Echo look around but neither of you could see anything.

“It’s past the perimeter!” Hunter said into his comm as a deep bellow sounded in the tunnel and he saw the wyrm emerge ahead of him.

Crosshair pressed his own, “Omega, activate the sensors!”

“Bringing them online now.”

Once Crosshair saw the sensor activate, he reached the end of his rifle down into the tunnel for Hunter to grab onto to pull him out of there. He helped him to his feet just as the wyrm shattered through the ice and the three of them began the run back to the inside of the perimeter.

They dived across the boundary and were relieved to find that the wyrm refused to go any further. It let out an aggrieved howl before moving away from them.

You put the binoculars down with a deep sigh of relief as you saw them sitting within the safety of the perimeter.

Hunter joined Crosshair in taking off his helmet so as to allow more oxygen to enter his lungs after that rather strenuous task. He then glanced over to see a restrained but warm look on Crosshair’s face as he stroked Batcher.

It was then that something seemed to tentatively slide into place. This mission, weirdly enough, had helped to fill in the gaps. It had brought a sense of normality back and when it had truly come down to it, Crosshair had helped get him to safety.

Crosshair felt Hunter looking at him. He angled his head to meet his stare and as his brother offered a small but sincere nod of gratitude, he gave one back in return.

You tugged your hood and mask down and shielded your eyes from the sun as you saw the two oncoming figures and their animal companion.

Echo and Omega came to join you and the three of you watched as their return journey was interrupted by Wrecker running up to them and embracing them both in a needed- but rather one-sided- group hug.

You chuckled as you observed the scene ahead of you and, despite your own worries about Crosshair, it felt good to see that there was room for reconciliation- at least with his own brothers anyway. You weren’t sure how you fit into the equation yet.

“See? They always work it out. And I don’t even see in blood this time. That’s progress.” Echo stated light-heartedly.

“I think the worst I saw between them was after the stampede of Reeks. We wound up having to fix more injures than what we started with.” You reminisced with a smile. The stressful part memory of the incident was pushed to the back of your mind as you remembered that by then, you and Hunter were both experiencing the same feelings for each other. Of course, you hadn’t exactly known that at the time, that information had come out much later.

“Do you know what that was about?” Echo asked you.

You fully looked at him now. “No? I’d left to get more medical supplies. I’d assumed Crosshair just called him an idiot for coming down there after I fell in.”

“I mean, that phrase was certainly used but not in the way you thought.”

You didn’t like the teasing insinuation in his tone. “Then why?” You asked carefully.

“It definitely had nothing to do with the fact that he was the first one down there to get you out and took a horn to the rib for his troubles…”

A tossed your head back and humiliated groan left you, “No…”

“Crosshair saw a lot from you two, he always knew just what to say to get the reaction from Hunter that merely proved what we all already knew.” Echo chortled, “Well, almost everybody.”

“Are you kidding me?” Embarrassment graced your face.

“I mean it was so obvious by that point…”

“Yes, Echo.” You mumbled as you exhaled a short, sharp breath.

“The fact that a wounded Hunter still chose to have it out with Crosshair rather than admit it was something else that caused him to come to your aid without an ounce of strategic thinking…”

“Thank you, Echo.” You said through gritted teeth as you saw the delighted grin on Omega’s face as she heard all of this.

“Didn’t you put it together that after that moment you two started ending up in a lot more tiny spaces with conveniently ‘broken’ doors?”

“Alright, you’ve made your point.” You interjected hastily before he could carry on. The obliviousness and- quite frankly- idiocy that you two had conducted yourselves in for the longest time was an element of your relationship you’d rather forget.

Echo merely shot you a knowing smirk, “You never said I was wrong.”

“I’m moving away from you now.” You gave his shoulder a playful shove.

Omega watched you jog away from them but the emotions she was experiencing were far more conflicting. “Do you think the intel we recovered will help you and Rex?”

“We still don’t know the coordinates of Tantiss. But between the datapad and all you and Crosshair have told me, we’re closing to finding and freeing those clones.” Echo replied.

“I wished I could’ve done more to help them.” Omega reflected with regret.

“You did all you could, kid.” Echo laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “And you did exactly what you’re supposed to do. You got out of there.”

You managed to give Crosshair a genuine smile of thanks as he and Wrecker passed you by.

Hunter regarded you curiously, “You didn’t need to meet me, I was-”

You placed a hand on his chest and brought yourself closer to him. You didn’t know if your headspace was because things had gotten unnecessarily nerve-wracking or because you’d just been reminded of how much time the two of you had wasted but, in all honesty, you didn’t really care, “I’m going to be unprofessional right now.”

He was too busy getting carried away with the feeling of your body pressing against him to properly register your words, “What-” The rest of his question evaporated as he instantly found himself on his back in the snow with you straddling him and it was a position he didn’t mind being in one bit. His hands instinctively came to rest on your hips.

Stop falling through things. That’s four times now. You scolded affectionately as you traced your lips along his jaw and nudged the side of his nose with yours.

“Is that an order?” He rasped into your ear, teeth grazing the sensitive spot behind it.

“A very firm one.” You murmured before planting a brief but sensual kiss to his lips. You got to your feet, pulling him up with you at the same time. You feigned a look of seriousness and propriety, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Sergeant, I have a ship to recover.”

Hunter found himself not quite wanting to be revert back yet. He kept a hold of your hand and as you went to leave him, he tugged you back to him and kissed you passionately. His hands caressed your back and tangled themselves in the fabric of your top and he used your surprised gasp to deepen the kiss.

You parted from him when your lungs rather inconveniently insisted that they have some air. You stroked a hand through his hair as you saw the emotions behind his eyes. There was more behind that action than just a response what you’d just done. You couldn’t be sure as to what that could be but the only time, he hadn’t been around you was when he’d followed Crosshair outside the first time. “What did he say?” You asked, your voice quiet and soothing.

“Nothing.” Hunter replied quickly. They’d been words designed to strike a nerve and they’d been said and used in anger, he shouldn’t have let them resonate.

“Hunter-”

His relationship was on the mend with Crosshair, and he knew that process still had to start with you both. And… and he wanted that for you two. There’s be no sense in bringing it up and causing further strife when he’d already had your reassurance on the issue. “It’s nothing. Not really.”

You searched his eyes for any lingering hesitation or reluctance, “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” He confirmed. Hunter angled his head towards Echo’s ship “Go rescue the ship so we can get outta here.” He said with a fond grin.

“Sir, yes, sir.” You saluted him humorously before you stepped away and made for the ship.

Crosshair had watched the two of you from afar. What he had witnessed wasn’t wholly different to how things had been before Kaller but there was something more to it now. What he had seen between you both was pure and unfiltered. There was no hiding, there was no denial or deflection anymore. There was no question or doubt to be had in the intensity and genuine nature of the feelings- in the love- the two of you shared and if he had any shot of fitting back in, he needed to make things right with both of you.

He took a deep breath for courage and headed in your direction.

You gently lowered the ship onto more stable ground and released a few tired breaths.

“Not bad. Guess there’s some benefits to having you around.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Crosshair come to stand next to you, but you didn’t look at him yet, instead you nudged the toes of your boots through the snow. “Uh huh.” You answered distantly. “Surprised you’re wanting to stand so close to me.”

The way your posture tensed as he approached had not gone unnoticed, “I think we should talk.”

“Oh, do you?” You replied hotly.

Crosshair exhaled an irritated sigh, “Seriously? This is me trying here, can’t you meet me halfway?”

You breathed heavily and fully turned to face him. You crossed your arms as you signalled that he was to go first.

Crosshair cleared his throat before he started to speak, “Seeing that poster… seeing what you truly were and knowing that they all- that he- knew that day on Kamino… I was brought back to that time and all I could think about was how could he fall in love with a Jedi but not the Empire.”

“The two aren’t the same, Crosshair.” You replied sombrely.

“Believe me, I know that now.” Crosshair remarked wryly.

You uncrossed your arms and spoke to him candidly and kept your voice steady, “We can’t get past this if all you see when you look at me is that wanted image of me. If all you see when you look at me is the things that I’ve done. If all you feel when you look at me is hatred because you think my people committed treason.” You stopped as you felt the emotions rise in your throat as they threatened to overcome you. You swallowed roughly before going again, your voice still steady but it had dropped in volume, “If you think I should’ve died along with the rest of them that day… then- then the friend that I had is truly gone.”

Crosshair’s eyes flitted to the ground, then to your lightsaber before he looked back to you, “I really thought the Empire was the way forward… for all of us. I can’t- I can’t speak for how I would’ve acted back then. I wish I could, but I can’t.” He swallowed harshly, “But I can tell you how I will be now.”

“And?” You asked quietly.

“I- I might need some time to adjust but- but as far as I’m concerned, you’re still the same person we met on Devaron that got our asses out of a tricky spot and who fit in with us like you’d been a part of things since the beginning. I won’t turn on you.”

You narrowed your eyes slightly as you studied him but there was no deceit behind his words. No deception or trickery in his face. He meant what he was saying, and it filled you with hope. “Really?”

“Really.” He confirmed before half a smile tugged at him mouth, “Plus, even if I wanted to, I don’t fancy my chances with the rest of them if I tried something.” He joked.

You visibly relaxed. Being at odds with him was never something you wanted to be and if he was open to starting afresh then you could be too. “If it helps, since I chose to leave the Order, technically speaking, I’m probably not even counted as a Jedi anymore.”

Crosshair hummed out a short laugh, “It’s something, I guess.”

“Believe it or not, a wanted ad was not how I planned for you to find out so, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in the time after Devaron.”

He dipped his head in acceptance. “Probably did yourself a favour.” He mumbled sheepishly.

“Probably.” You agreed with a soft laugh.

There was a beat of mildly uncomfortable silence between you before Crosshair spoke in an attempt to ease some of the lingering awkwardness, “So, you and my brother…”

“Don’t start.” You said with an exasperated grin as you held out your hand to him.

Crosshair faltered for a second, but he willed his hand to stay steady as he mirrored your actions.

As you clasped it, you were hit and overpowered by the familiar sensation you had been questioning since arriving and it all connected to the clone in front of you. You withdrew your hand swiftly as the realisation hit you, “It was here.” You said with a shaky breath.

Crosshair was caught off guard by the intensity of your reaction and the words that followed. There’d been no way for you to hear his conversation with Hunter and he hadn’t said anything to anyone else. “I don’t know what you mean.” He denied uneasily.

But you knew now, he couldn’t lie to you about it, “What happened to you to get you to Tantiss. It was on this planet.” You said, titling your head at him, concern, and compassion in your gaze.

The certainty in your voice told him that there’s be no point in lying to you. Crosshair gulped. “How’d you know?”

“I felt it. Months ago, I felt it. I didn’t know that it was you, or what exactly was going on, but I sensed something.” You paused for a second, “I felt the cold and the isolation. And- and the pain. A lot of pain.” You said gravely as you fully comprehended how things had gone for him.

Crosshair avoided your stare. “Well, I made a lot of choices that led me to that.” He said with plenty of self-deprecation.

You laid a delicate hand on his shoulder, “Crosshair, you should never have to experience that type of pain. What you had to go through…” You trailed off with a knowing sigh before continuing, “I’m sorry, really I am.”

Crosshair looked at you with a different type of intensity, “You didn’t either.”

Your breath caught in your throat. You had not been as careful as you’d thought you’d been and it was your turn for denial to spill from your lips, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You may not be a Jedi, but you’re not the only one who can pick up or notice things people think they’re hiding. Sharpshooter, remember?”

You fidgeted with your gloves and found yourself unable to look at him. “They tortu- I did some things- made some choices that I-” You scrambled trying to find the words to explain what he’d seen.

Crosshair shook his head at you to get you to stop, “I’m not in a position to judge, I was wrong to do so when we left that moon.”

You saw the sincerity in his face and nodded gratefully.

You two shared in the quiet of a new mutual understanding before you puffed out a short breath to reset and you activated your comm, “The ship is good to go.”

“And, uh, everyone is still in one piece?” Came Wrecker’s tentative reply.

Crosshair shared in your eye roll. Evidently the others had been even more sceptical about this moment than he’d been.

“Yes, Wrecker. Civilised conversation is a possibility sometimes.” You kidded in return, “Now, can we please leave this planet?”

Crosshair waited for Hunter to emerge from the base as the rest of you boarded the ship. As he saw him getting ready to walk past, he called his name, “Hunter?”

Hunter paused and glanced back at him expectantly.

“I… thought I knew what I was getting into with the Empire. I thought I was being a good soldier.” Crosshair admitted, keeping his back to him in case the look on his face was the one that he feared he would see.

Hunter took a second to find the right words, “Nobody really understood what was happening back then.”

Crosshair lifted his head in surprise at the accepting tone in Hunter’s voice. Maybe there truly was a way forward. He turned around, “I’ve done things. I’ve made mistakes.”

“I have regrets too, Crosshair. All we can do is keep trying to be better.” He found his eyes being drawn to yours as you waited by the doorway, but he brought them back to his brother. “And who knows? There might be hope for us yet.”

Crosshair stole one last glance up at the ice vulture screeching in the sky. Hope? Not a sentiment he had been overly familiar with these past few months, but he needed it. He started to walk towards the ramp.

Hunter paused to stand by you as you leaned against the entry way. The supportive and loving way you were looking at him made his heartbeat that little bit faster but there was also a mischievous gleam in your eyes that sent warmth thrumming through his veins. “Stop that.”

“Am I not allowed to look at you, sir?” You queried, a teasing lilt to your voice. A delighted smirk graced your face as you saw the way his throat bobbed as he attempted to remain composed.

He caged you against the wall, “You can’t play that game right now.” He warned, his voice a low rasp.

Your own breathing hitched as his body pushed against yours. “What game?” You managed to murmur.

“Oh, well, if this behaviour is going to continue to be a running theme, you can just leave me here.” Crosshair said with light-hearted mocking. “I don’t know what’s worse, dealing with you two now or dealing with how you to were before all this became... official.”

“You get used to it!” Omega called from the belly of the ship.

“We hardly ever interrupt them now!” Wrecker added.

“Cut it out!” Hunter barked as he stepped away from you and gathered himself.

You also took a moment to straighten up and shake off the lingering anticipation in your veins.

“Yeah, plus he’s a lot more relaxed since they finally worked up the courage to actually make it real!” Echo’s voice entered the conversation.

“I’ll bet.” Crosshair remarked with a smirk.

“Get your ass on the ship.” You retorted with a good-humoured shove to his back.

Crosshair chuckled quietly to himself as he half-stumbled into the ship.

“Back to professionals?” Hunter advised as he shook his head in response to the antics of his family.

“Probably a good idea.” You agreed with a pleasant grin before the two of you fully entered the ship just as the ramp came up and it took off.

It may have been at your expense, but that small teasing moment had symbolised that the mending of the relationships you all had once was indeed possible. Finally, things were starting to feel more like the used to be.

Next Chapter (to be posted)>

Tagging: @noeasyisnoisy, @andreaaxy, @dominoeffectsworld, @arctrooper69, @nightmonkeysstuff, @notgonnaedit

#the bad batch #the bad batch season 3 #the bad batch s3 #hunter x reader #hunter x femalejedi!reader #hunter x fem!reader #hunter x female!reader #sergeant hunter #sergeant hunter x reader #hunter tbb #hunter the bad batch #the bad batch hunter x you #hunter x y/n #tbb hunter x reader #the bad batch fanfiction #star wars #friends to lovers #angst #fluff

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bloatedandalone04 · 1 day

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In The Way I Need You | Part 11

Series Masterlist

➪in which clay makes it up to you after you found that now destroyed picture of him and sam, and you confess to what happened after he left jess’.

PSA: strongly suggested to read the warnings before proceeding.

WC; 3k | Do not repost this anywhere, reblogs are fine ♡ | THANK YOU FOR 4.7K FOLLOWERS

Today was one of the rare days that Clay got to work with his mom, and of course she was able to tell that something was wrong as soon as he entered the room.

When he tried to wave it off, she pressured him into going home early and resting - assuming it was something to do with his heart, which was a lot better than her finding out the real reason why he wasn’t his usual self. There was no way he could tell her that he was miserable because he fucked things up with you again.

He knew you would be there when he got home, and he was almost nervous to face you after this morning. He had the full intention to apologize to you and explain further, but you completely shut him out, and he understood why.

If you needed space, he’d give you it, but it wouldn’t make him feel any less like an asshole for having Sam’s picture in his drawer, even if he forgot about it entirely before you found it.

Clay was scared that you’d stop babysitting Joey, and they’d be alone again. You had filled in most of the hole Sam left, which was surprising in itself since you hadn’t been in his life for too long.

Since he was coming home a bit early today, he was hoping he would be able to talk to you for a bit longer. His mom wouldn’t be back until later tonight, and Clay was planning on explaining things to you when Joey goes to bed. If you even decided to stay that long and let him.

He got home at around six thirty, and he was up the stairs within seconds when he heard yours and Joey’s mixed laughs coming from the kitchen. The sound was one he wanted to hear all the time, and that just further proved how badly he needed to fix things between you and him. Because Joey loved you. And Clay…well, he really liked you and didn’t want things to end because of Sam.

Clay entered the kitchen and met your eye almost immediately, and he was forced to watch your smile fade as you set Joey down. He runs over to Clay with a big grin and a laugh as he picks him up, greeting him in the way Clay loved. “Hi, daddy,”

“Hi, buddy,” he said back, kissing the top of his son’s head before looking back at you. “Y/n.”

You seemed to have been frozen before and when he said your name, you quickly straightened up and put down the spoon you were holding. “You’re back early,” you observe and hesitantly make your way over to him and Joey. “I thought you’d be gone another few hours. I was going to clean.”

Clay shook his head and set Joey down. “Don’t worry about it,” he waved you off as Joey grabbed his hand. He looked tired, and Clay knew he needed to go to sleep. So with pleading eyes he said, “I’m going to go get him ready for bed. But I want to talk to you about…everything. Will you stay? Please?”

You bite down on your bottom lip and reach out to run your knuckles along Joey’s cheek. “Yeah,” you answer quietly, meeting Clay’s eyes again. “I’ll stay.”

A sigh of relief left his mouth and he was quickly taking Joey upstairs and getting him ready for bed. Once he was tucked under his covers and holding his teddy bear, Clay leaned down and kissed the top of Joey’s head. “I love you, Joe,” he whispered, then turned and made his way back to you.

You were sitting on the couch, your leg bouncing a bit as you picked at your nails, and Clay passed by the living room and continued on to the kitchen, where he grabbed a diet coke from the fridge before heading back to you. “Here,” he murmured and held it out to you.

The smile you gave him as you took it had his heart skipping a beat, and he quickly sat next to you. “You know, I got mad at my coworker today,” you say quietly as you run the tip of your index finger along the cold can. “Like, really mad.”

Clay’s lips turned upwards at your choice of a conversation starter and he leaned back on the couch. “You got mad?” He asked with a teasing tone that made your smile grow a bit. “Why?”

You bite down on your lip and lean back as well, looking over at him with a blush coating your face. “Because he’s an ass,” you answer simply, making Clay let out a surprised laugh. “He was. It was right after you left. His name is Miles, and he started saying all this stuff after you were gone and not there to defend yourself, and even if you were there, I know you still wouldn’t defend yourself because you are far too sweet to stand up to someone you don’t know, but I’m not.”

He held back a laugh at that since he knew you were probably right. Clay couldn’t even stand up to his mom or Sam when she was still around, and he knew there was a small chance that he’d actually stick up for himself to a total stranger.

You, on the other hand…he’d stand up for you, just like how you supposedly did for him.

“So when you left, I was reading through your texts that I stupidly didn’t answer and then he just had to say something. He said that you were probably some rich guy who’s stuck up and only came to Jess’ to pity poor people like him and I,” you rambled and Clay couldn’t stop himself from reaching over and grabbing your hand. Thankfully you allowed him to and laced your fingers with his. “I went off on him. I was practically yelling at him and telling him to shut up in front of all the customers and on my first day of working there. You and I weren’t even on good terms and I was still acting like we were and I probably totally embarrassed myself in front of everyone there, including my new boss.”

You were beginning to sound a bit breathless, so you stopped and waited for a few beats, and Clay didn’t say a word.

“But I didn’t care, because he was being an ass and I needed to say something to him about it because,” you stopped yourself short and Clay thought for a split second that you were going to say those three words that had been swirling around in his head for a few days now. It was too early, right? You didn’t feel that way, right? “I like you so much. You’re so sweet and kind and caring and the best dad to Joey. I couldn’t stand hearing him say all these horrible things about you when he doesn’t even know you.”

Clay smiled and felt his body heat up at the way you defended him from the coworker he’d seen eyeing you up the entire time he was visiting you at Jess’. “I don’t know what to say,” he laughed, rubbing his thumb along the back of your hand. “No one has ever publicly defended me like that before.”

“Yeah, well,” you laughed, too, but he could tell that you were starting to feel a bit embarrassed. “Maybe it was stupid of me to risk doing that on my first day, but…I just didn’t care.”

Clay’s brows furrowed in concern. “You didn’t get fired, did you?”

“No, no, I just…I told Jess that the hot guy that came in before Miles and I’s argument was my…boyfriend, and how we weren’t doing great at the moment, and she understood for the most part,” you answer with a forced smile. “It just can’t happen again.”

Clay nodded and then when he was sure you were done, he knew it was his turn. “That picture you found, the one in my drawer? Well, it’s in about a hundred pieces right now,”

Your eyes widened and you sat up, setting your drink aside. “You ripped it up? Clay, that was your wedding photo. That day was supposed to be a good memory to hold onto,”

He just shook his head and squeezed your hand. “It’s over,” he whispered. “What Sam and I had…it’s not even a good memory anymore. That picture? It doesn’t mean anything at all to me anymore, and that’s why it’s in pieces in the garbage.”

You press your lips together in a way that told him you were holding back a smile, and he fought one off himself as he continued,

“Sam is just the person who helped give me Joey. That’s all she is to me,” he promised and watched as you nodded. “She doesn’t mean anything, and she hasn’t for a long time. You on the other hand…you’re…”

He stopped talking as he didn’t know where he was going with that. You meant so much to him and to Joey, he honestly didn’t know where he would be right now without you. But it was still so soon, and he promised he wouldn’t rush things with you. It worked so well for him last time.

“I’m what?” You pressed, leaning closer to him and reaching up to lightly grip his shoulder.

“You’re everything she’s not,” he replied, sitting up straight. “I mean, Joey is practically obsessed with you already. You’re all he talks about when you’re not here, and he’s attached to you when you are here. He’s like his dad in that way.”

The smile you give him at that could only be described as fucking beautiful, and then you were carefully crawling on top of him and straddling his lap.

Clay reached up to smooth out your hair. “You’re who I want to be with. And I’m sorry you saw that picture. I thought I had gotten rid of it a while ago,” he murmured, leaning in and kissing behind your ear. “I don’t ever go in that drawer, so I promise, I really had no idea-”

You cut him off with a kiss to his mouth that was pretty effective in getting him to forget about what he was about to say. “Clay,” you mumble when you pull away, kissing the corner of his mouth quickly afterwards. “Stop making yourself feel bad with excuses. I already forgave you.”

Clay smiled, then you were kissing him again. “I missed you yesterday,” he confessed against your lips. “I really wanted to take you out on our second date.”

You whined and pulled away. “Don’t remind me,” you whispered, dropping your head onto his shoulder, your fingers tangling in his hair afterwards. “I feel guilty about that. You were so cute before I found that stupid fucking picture.”

“I’m not now?” He teased and you pulled back to give him a pointed look. “Sorry.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “I’m sorry, Clay,” you mumbled, running the tips of your fingers along his jaw. “Maybe I overreacted. But I hated seeing you with her, even if it was through a photo.”

“You didn’t overreact,” he murmured, leaning up to kiss the side of your neck. “That photo shouldn’t have been in there. I promise, you won’t find any more around. She’s out of our lives.”

“Okay,” you trail off, gently massaging the back of his neck. “I missed you, too. Can we spend a day together soon? Or did I blow the one chance we had?”

Clay laughed, already knowing when the next time you and he would be alone together could be, but he decided to keep it from you for just a bit longer. “We’ll have another chance,” he promised and watched as you nodded then looked down at his lips. Without another word being spoken, you leaned in and kissed him softly, your lips barely brushing against his as if you were testing it out. It reminded him of the first kiss you shared, and the memory had him grabbing hold of your hips and pressing you tight against his chest.

The feeling of your fingers tangling in his hair felt concerningly good, and Clay realized that it had been a while since he felt this comfortable with a woman. Sam did a number on him and he had only let himself indulge in a few meaningless conversations with women before he decided he just wasn’t ready to move on yet.

That was before, now he was pretty much all in with you.

You adjusted yourself so you were straddling his lap, your hips pressed to his in a way that had him holding back a groan of want. He would let you decide how far this goes, even if it left him with a killer boner afterwards. “Is this okay?” You asked sweetly, pulling away just enough to be able to look him in the eye.

“Yeah,” came his strained reply as he leaned his head back on the top of the couch. “It’s okay. More than okay.”

You press your lips together, sliding your hands back down to his shoulders. “It’s not too much?” You asked quieter this time, and he adored the way you were so concerned about doing something that could potentially trigger his heart rate to spike.

Clay shook his head, bending his legs more so his thighs were a bit firmer. Your lips part in a silent gasp, and it took a lot out of him to not kiss you again as he said, “It’s not too much, baby,”

He knew that nickname did things to you. He caught the way you reacted to it the first time he called you it, and he made a mental note that you clearly liked it. “Oh, God,” you groaned, leaning in and dropping your head to his shoulder. “Clay.”

Ever since the first time he had heard the sweet sounds you make when you get like this, Clay had been determined to coax them out of you more often. It was impossible to not get riled up when your soft moans filled the quiet living room, and it was hard not to notice the fact that he usually spends most of his time in here with you.

The memory of his first kiss with you flashed through his mind, and he groaned at where that kiss led to. You on top of him, your hands tangled in his hair and your hips dragging against his in a way that should not feel so good. But it was you, and Clay was beginning to think that everything with you felt good.

Your lips brushing against his in a barely-there kiss got him out of his head and he held onto your waist a bit tighter, leaning up to kiss you properly. You returned it, pulling on his hair as you shifted your body back and forth on his lap. “Do we..” You trailed off, massaging the spot on his head where you had tugged on his hair. “We have time?” You hesitantly asked, slowing down the drag of your hips.

“I got sent home early,” he laughed breathlessly, watching as a smile formed on your lips. “My mother wouldn’t put up with my pouting.”

You laugh, shifting so you were higher up on his lap and pressing your chest to his. “This pout,” you murmur, wrapping one arm around his shoulders while the hand of your other came up to caress the side of his face. “It does something to me.” Your index finger traces the outline of his lips as you begin rubbing yourself against him again.

“At least it works on you,” he teased and you bit down on your lip, leaning in to press a deep kiss to his mouth.

“So,” you dragged the word out.

“So,” he echoed, guiding the slow roll of your body. “We have more than enough time.”

You smile at him, picking up the pace again. “Feels so good, Clay,” you whimper, wrapping your arm tighter around him and dropping your head to his shoulder. “Just like how it felt upstairs in the hall.”

Clay groaned, bucking his hips upwards and making a surprised moan leave your mouth. “You sounded so pretty,” he reminisced, bunching up your shirt. “Tasted so good.”

“Oh, my God,” you moaned loudly, moving a bit erratically now. “It’s too much.”

“Are you gonna come?” He asked under his breath, unable to speak any louder than that in fear he’d give away just how much of an effect you have on him.

You nod quickly, bunching his shirt in your hands. “Are you?”

Clay leaned back against the top of the couch again, gazing up at you with a lazy smile. “Do you want me to?”

“Yes,” you answer instantly. “With me? Please?”

Clay grunted, in a bit of disbelief at how sweet you sounded when asking for something so dirty. He was sure he’d give you anything you wanted if you asked him like how you just did. “Come, baby,” he requested in a raspy voice, and you squeezed your eyes shut as your body shook on top of his.

He came with you, making a real mess in his boxers that he honestly didn’t care about. It’d been a long time since he was intimate with someone, but you made him feel better than he had ever felt. He was sure it was because it was with you, the girl he’s been so into since the minute he met you.

Your body stilled on top of his, your fingers trailing through his hair as you came down from your high. “How?” You asked breathlessly, pulling away from his shoulder to be able to look him in the eye. “How do you make it feel so good every time?”

Clay laughed, smoothing out your messy hair and ruffled shirt before pressing a kiss to your swollen lips. “Maybe I’ll let you find that out next time,”

With that promise, you grinned at him and pulled him down so he is laying on top of you and your arms are wound tightly around him.

Next up...some time alone..

Thank you for reading this extremely late chapter !

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crepezinhos · 4 hours

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Second Shift

(Scaramouche goes to your home when you’re not there and finds out your second way to afford money to your apartment)

POV: You and Scaramouche are complete losers in society. Common workers with no future ahead, not much or zero contact with your family, working at MacDonalds’ night shifts every day and smoking cigarettes together as colleagues. One day, your family decided to call you over for dinner to celebrate your little sister’s graduation and Scaramouche uses that opportunity to take a trip in your apartment.

https://x.com/00_homura/status/1759072527995855070?s=46&t=jJnOyXGwU2fk9l40BbDuyA

⚠️ WARNINGS:

— This is in Modern AU

— Scaramouche is a Perverted Yandere

— Mentions of porn and sex work topics

It was 8:45PM. You were taking off your uniform, apron, hat and microphone when you hear someone coming in the room and you take a look behind.

“Y/N? Leaving early today?” The familiar voice of Scaramouche echoed in the room while he took off a packet of cigarettes from his pocket.

“Yes, don’t get too jealous, this is probably the only time I’ll be allowed to leave early this year.” You joked, winking at him.

“Jealous? Ha…” He chuckled at your joke, amused with your wink at him. “But mind telling me why you’re leaving so soon?” He asked while leaning at the door and lighting up a cigarette. He knew it was prohibited to smoke in that place but he still did it for some reason.

“My family invited me to a dinner to celebrate my little sister’s graduation.”

“Your family? I thought you hated them.” He asked, blowing off some smoke.

“Never said I did, they’re the ones that hate me, but I like my little sister.” You answered, grabbing your backpack and locking your locker shut afterwards.

“Interesting… and when are you coming back?”

“That’s a weird question, already missing me?” I replied.

“Kinda. Who’s gonna smoke with me in the parking lot tonight?” He replied ironically, making me chuckle.

“Alright, babe.” I said, ironizing the “babe” as much as I could. Scaramouche’s eyebrows lifted up when he heard the nickname and smoked the cigarette again. “I’ll only come back tomorrow, I’ll sleep at their house. Try not thinking too much about it.” I joked at the end again.

“Hum… I see. Is it ok for me to wish you good luck?”

“Yes, of course.” I replied, walking to his direction.

“Well then, good luck and see you tomorrow, darling.” He joked as he watched and waved at you leaving the facility.

And you made sure to wave back to him before letting the back exit door go of your grip.

The door made a loud noise when it finally locked itself shit. Y/N was gone from this stupid MacDonalds and now her home too.

It was easy to convince boss to let me go early too tonight. He knew my status and background better anyone else here for being my employer, so he accepted my request like a dog when I said my mother was inviting me home as well. He didn’t even suspect how similar my request was to Y/N’s request, or he did, but still obeyed. I guess this is one of the good sides of being the son of a millionaire bitch like my mother. She would never invite me home again, she disowned me when I told her I didn’t want to go to college or inherit her money and business. Well… doesn’t matter. It’s 8:50 and I can leave at 9. I should take my clothes off.

I repeated the same actions as Y/N, I took off my apron, hat and microphone and shoved them all the way down to my locker with no care at all. I had chosen today’s clothes very wisely for tonight’s mission. A full black sweater and black jeans to make my presence less noticeable when walking to her apartment.

And here I go.

Finally.

Y/N’s apartment door.

Haha…

It’s my first ever getting this close to her home. I’m not even touching the handle and it already feels amazing. To know her door’s lock password even if she never told me… has she never thought that this password is a little predictable? I brought my hand close to the lock and begun typing.

All caps, last name… first name… birth year…

Ding ding!

Correct, as expected. It was pretty hard to find it out by myself but at least I didn’t need to waste time trying to guess it now and face the possibility of a neighbor spotting me. I had to buy a very precise camera using some of the money my mother gave me before pretending to the public I don’t exist, then stalk her home, then go to a safe corner where I can take many pictures and videos of her tapping it until I could finally mix the best recordings all together and get a precise password. It took me many nights but the pride and power I got from it was worth it.

Finally, I opened the door to my paradise. The fresh, warm air of the interior immediately hit my freezing face from the snowy winter, making me grin in pleasure of the contrast and pride of achieving this all by myself. I stepped in the wood planks slowly, feeling every bit of it as I closed the door. A perfume scent instantly hit my nose as I did so. Does Y/N perfume her house? Ha… how adorable. What else would I expect for a perfection like her? It would be a sin for me to smoke here. Looking around, I noticed how organized the place was. Her sofa has all its pillows in place, not a single furniture has dust on them, her cooking equipments were all strategically placed and clean. Wow. I would never be able to keep up this level of organization at my apartment. How does she even own such a nice place like this with MacDonalds’ poor salary? Did her parents help her out in this? Does she have a second work? Well, I hope I find the answer for this as I explore the place.

I walked to the only corridor of the house, meeting two open doors at the end of it. Walking closer to them made me realize it was her bathroom and her bedroom. I believe I could find some useful information in her bathroom but her bedroom was way more important and attractive to my eyes. I walked in it and begun admiring it. It was fully decorated with LEDs in the roof, plants and cute, pinkish toned things. Her bed had some animal plushies around it and two, white, fluffy pillows, her table had a very nice notebook and her bookshelf was perfectly organized. This whole place seemed like a royal castle compared to my apartment and I can’t wait to call this my home too.

I walked down to her bed and sat down in it. One day I’ll have full permission to sit here, I know it. Smoking a gold old ciggie after having sex with her… I would make everything perfect between us if she ever let me have my chance. She always detects my attempts on hitting on her and shuts me down before I can say a word. In one of these attempts, she said to me that the problem isn’t me but then she refused to tell me what was preventing her from dating me. It annoys me to my core, and I do really do hope to find out what’s keeping us apart tonight. What the fuck could it possibly be? Her parents probably don’t care about it, was she lying? Am I the problem? I would make everything perfect. I would cook her favorites meals, I would stop smoking, I would cuddle her to sleep, I would make her feel like a goddess, I would make her see stars in this bed, I would make her scream my name and only my name while I fuck her how she likes it.

My grip in the sheets tightened. Just the thought of making out with her turns me on. Oh, Y/N… how did you make me fall in love with you this bad?

I got up. I wish I could simply sleep in this bed with her for the rest of my life but I have a very hard mission to accomplish.

I looked around again. Her wardrobe called my attention. Knowing that I was beginning to feel a little freaky, I decided to step closer to it and fuel that feeling even if it would distract me from my original purpose here. What kind of underwear do you use, my darling? I slid the door of the wardrobe, meeting many hung dresses at the top of the closet and many drawers in the lower parts. I know that ladies usually keep their underwear in the smallest drawers so that’s what I looked for. I opened the two top drawers, who coincidentally were the smallest ones in width.

Lord have mercy.

There are lingeries every fucking where. I grabbed two different pieces of underwear from both drawers, lingeries. I put them back and grabbed two other pieces, lingeries. What the fuck? Why does she own so many lingeries? Is this normal between women? I can’t deny that I like to know that she owns many of these. I really like it. Fuck… the things that I’d do to her if I saw her wearing this sexy, red bra in my hands. I brought it closer to my nose, smelling the purest scent of Y/N. It smells so good, so pure. I know this is messed up but I can’t help it. Y/N is too perfect… I need her in my life. I feel my dick slightly pulse. It’s getting hard, isn’t it? I can feel it grow, my hormones taking over my brain, filling it with perverted imagery of her as I rub those panties in my nose and mouth.

I touched my crotch with my free hand, trying to pretend it was her. I groaned loudly. I really want her to touch me like this one day. But… I have to stop. I slowly took off the underwear of my face, staring at it sadly as my desire pained me from stopping pleasuring myself. Unfortunately I can’t let this underwear get wet with my own hot breath and tongue. She could find me out if it doesn’t dry in time.

I smashed the underwear down the drawer, banging it back to its place afterwards. I put my hands on top of the drawers to relax and control my feeling. I can’t let my fucking dick control me better than my own brain. But, oh… Y/N… you’re so naughty… owning more lingeries than common panties… you only manage to make me desire you more. Haha…

I breathed in and out once more nd opened my eyes again. After staring the emptiness of the wardrobe for some seconds, my eyes seemed to spot something. Something darker than the wood pattern of the wardrobe, hidden under her longest dresses, shoved in the depths of it. I stretched a hand and pulled it out of its pot in curiosity. It was a set for a camera. I bent my knees to see if I found more things under those long dresses and there were many cameras, supports and sets for them.

This is weird. Why does she own so many professional cameras and why are they all shoved in here? Does she like photography? Most of the posters in this room doesn’t seem to be pictures taken by her…

I’ll ignore it for now. My brain finally took over again, making me concentrate in my mission. The main key for this mission was laying on her table, her laptop. I sat down at her chair and opened her laptop.

Oh, how silly.

“Password: Mr. Pancakes”

Mr. Pancakes? This name is new to my ears.But why would she ever carry a laptop with a note of the password attatched by the touchpad? Does she even take it outside? That’s the only way this would ever make any sense.

Anyways, I have what I want, why am I worrying about it?

I typed the password, meeting a picture of an orange cat in the background screen with not many apps around it. Is this Mr. Pancakes? Well, doesn’t matter. I opened her Google Chrome. She had an account as expected and many favorited social media just under the search bar. Thank God I brought my notebook to write important things down. I’ll be able to stalk her social media whenever I want and even log in them if find out the password.

Alright, let me note all the social media she utilizes first…

Instagram… Facebook… Twitter… YouTube… TikTok… Strip Club…

Wait, Strip Club? I recognize this name. It’s a porn livestream site, I used to watch them when I was a horny teenager. She watches porn lives? Huh… interesting. Naughty, naughty girl…

I clicked in the Strip Club icon in curiosity of that new information and met the initial screen of the site offering me many livestreams of sluts touching themselves with dildos or sucking on dicks or in orgies. But I was way more interested to see if she owned an account or not. Taking a look at the left top corner of the screen I could see a profile icon with a picture of her wearing a face mask and a notification icon with +99 on it.

+99? Wait… no fucking way.

I clicked on her profile picture and patiently waited for the site to load.

Y/N Chan ❤️

@ y/n_lover_chan

Followers: 10.7k

Kudos: 506k

“Live every day at 11 PM! ❤️🔥

Current meta of Kudos: 600k 💗

Love you all, sweeties! — Y/N Chan ;)”

What the fuck? 10.7 followers? 506k Kudos? Live everyday? No way. There’s no fucking way. She’s a porn star..? No, no, this name is too dirty for someone so perfect like her. A sex worker is a better name to describe this, it has more dignity than those sluts with no life purpose in the front page.

I anxiously scrolled down to look at her posts, still trying to believe she’s not a sex worker, showing me all the posts she had uploaded aside of the lives.

Y/N Chan ❤️

“Hello sweeties, Y/N Chan here! Unfortunately, I’ll not be able to make a live today (and most likely tomorrow too), so I’ll make sure to reward everybody by reducing my prices in 25% in my next live tomorrow (and making it longer than usual! 🔥)

Sorry for the late announcement but be prepared and bring your kudos tomorrow! ;) ❤️

Love you all! ^^

— Y/N Chan ❤️

6:38 12/10/24

See comments below ⬇️

Oh. My. God.

Y/N is a fucking sex worker. Holy shit. I can’t believe my eyes. It all makes sense now. The cameras and the lingeries are all equipment and material for this and the problem that’s preventing her from dating me is this. I can feel my dick pushing my pants up in desperation to see more even if I didn’t even see any actual porn. There were 3 options I could click in the profile: posts, the ones I was looking right now, photos and videos. Since I was seeing “my” own profile, I could see them all, right? I have to see them. Is this actually real? I need to know it.

See Photos (10)

Click.

The site is loading.

…

Holy shit.

I looked around the room and the room’s window to make sure I was 100% safe here. She’s only coming home tomorrow, right? Would it be possible for me to… oh my god, I can’t even finish my words..! I can actually see all the photos! All these nude selfies and pictures of her pussy, ass and her breasts… all priced by a fair price. I can’t choose one. Not at all. I wanna see them all.

I clicked in the first photo of the section.

Archons.

Yeah, I’ll need to do it.

I unzipped my pants as fast as I could. My eyes didn’t dare to blink or look away from the perfection in my screen. A nude mirror selfie of her wearing cat ears and tail, showing her fluffy ass more than anything else and a very suggestive description.

“Who’s gonna breed this 😽 in heat? 🔥”

Hell yeah. I will, Y/N, I will. The day you allow me to fuck you will be the best day of your fucking life. I’m gonna make you feel so good, I’m gonna breed you and your ass so well..! I just need you to allow me…

I thought to myself as I jacked off my throbbing cock for only a single picture. But she looks so fucking beautiful and sexy in this..! Luckily, there were arrows by the sides of the screens that allowed me to pass through the photos with not much effort or wasted time.

Click.

Holy shit. These breasts… oh my god… this is fucking heaven. They look so cute… so fluffy~..! I wanna squeeze them, I wanna lick them and bite them until they fucking milk. Ugh… what the fuck am I doing..? Jacking off in the chair of the woman I’m doing this for while thinking in disgusting things…

Fuck it. She isn’t here.

And I need to see the videos.

I passed through all the other remaining photos for a quick moment just to make sure I saw them before clicking in the “X” on the corner of the screen and slowing down my jacking off to edge myself as I went the video section of her profile.

Fuck yeah, fuck yeah, fuck yeah…

They are all videos of her pleasuring herself.

I need to see one~… at least one~… just one~…

I clicked in the first video in the line. It was a video of her, naked, hopping up and down a dildo.

Yes, yes, yes!

I accelerated my masturbation back to the initial pace I was doing it.

This is so fucking good~… Oh, Y/N~!

I could barely hear her slight moans and tired gasps for air as she hopped the dildo in a normal pace, making it extra teasing for me. Oh, Y/N… I’m gonna fuck you so hard when I get the chance to… I’ll make you scream so much louder than you do in these videos~… I’m gonna fuck your brains out of your head~! I hope you think of me when you fuck yourself like this~…

Fuck yeah~… I can see all of her. She looks so beautiful in her purest form~… her pussy is pink and swollen from lust~… this is a dream come true to my eyes~..! I want you riding my cock like that one day too, my love~…

Since I was beginning to reach the peak of my pleasure, my orgasm, I reached the mouse again and skipped some minutes of the video, close to the end of it. Now she had turned backwards and was riding the dildo faster. The volume of her moans also grew, making the volume of my moans grow too.

Fuck~… I’m gonna cum~…

Shit… she doesn’t have any tissues around so I’ll have to… ngh~!

My cock finally begun to blow cum from the overwhelming pleasure I gave myself. I had to put both my hands around it to prevent cum from falling in the ground or her table and force me to waste time cleaning it up. I also thrusted my hips upwards pretending I was cumming inside her.

Fuck…

I arched my head backwards to properly breathe and relax in her chair after exhausting myself. After some seconds I realized that the video was still playing. I leaned my head back to its place. Y/N still looks like a goddess.

That fucked out face… She was still doing the best she could to reach her orgasm and make the video worth to pay for. I don’t understand, any sane man would recognize her hard work in the production of these pictures and videos compared to most cheap sluts here who just put a vibrator in their pussies and sat down morbidly as they waited for losers to pay them money to move it. Her makeup looked wonderful, the costumes had a very nice quality and her body is so fucking sexy. As I paid attention to every single inch of her body reacting to the sex, I realized her moans had become high pitched. Even if I wasn’t feeling any sexual pleasure anymore, it was still wonderful to watch such a private video of her. And suddenly, she turned around and her whole body begun to squirm as she hissed, showing to camera the scene of her orgasm. Incredibly, she didn’t stop hopping. She slowed down most of her speed of course, teasing the viewers with herself hopping a sticky and now half-white dildo. Delicious… she must do this a lot to not collapse after an orgasm all done by herself and her effort. It makes me kinda jealous but I know one day I’ll be the cock she’ll be collapsing for.

She took off the dildo inside her and kneeled down with it in her hands. She started to lick her own cum and stickiness away from it before the video finally begun to transition to a black screen.

Wow.

Bravo.

I clicked the X on top of the screen again and went to her posts again. I don’t think I have enough time to keep watching more of her videos as long as I really wanted to, but I’ll be fair actually pay for them if they make me interested. I filtered the posts to check the most popular ones first.

Y/N Chan ❤️

“Shout out for @ ilovey/nslives ’s clip from my last live! It was very fun and I’m very thankful for the tokens! See you tomorrow, sweeties! 0w^”

(Clip of the live)

5/17/23

See comments below ⬇️

Y/N’s Number 1 Lapdog (Pinned by creator)

@ ilovey/nslives

You looked too sexy and breed-able (as always) for me to not clip it, Y/N Chan 🤤. That moment was absolutely worth my 15 dollars and you are absolutely worth all my wallet.

5/17/23

(Liked by creator) 50 ❤️ 4 💬

Tch. As long as I wanted to pay attention to the clip of Y/N undressing her chest very sensually, this pinned comment made my blood fucking boil. Who the fuck does this porn worm think he is and why the fuck is Y/N always giving him a response or a pin in his comments? Barely does he know that she’ll soon be engaged to me and quit this life in this site due to the amount of money she’ll inherit from my family’s fortunes after I convince my mother to do so. I don’t want creeps following her around like she belongs to them. She belongs to me. Her nudity, her sexiness, her beauty, these costumes and these lingeries will soon become mine and only mine.

If I ever find out who this guy is… I’ll make sure he doesn’t even remember the name “Y/N”.

Why do I feel bad for Y/N now? I just masturbated to her porn content like a dog in heat. Is it because this kind of work sacrifices too much of her reputation and body? Is it because I just realized I can’t bare the fact that a bunch of creeps and worms have seen her naked body before than I and probably masturbate to it thinking they’ll ever the chance to touch it? I really hope she doesn’t do this kind of work personally as well.

I closed the Strip Club tab and opened her Instagram to get her username and other info if I could. Clicking in her profile icon, that was a picture of an orange cat, I found out that she didn’t post anything, it was a private account.

@ y/spancakes…

Pancakes… the same pancakes from the computer’s password? Doesn’t matter, I need to check her DMs.

Direct Messages… her mother… her father… oh?

3 messages from a person named “New User” and no profile picture? I rushed to click in the person’s chat with Y/N.

— u r Y/N Chan aren’t you 9:30

— blocking me won’t stop 9:30

— i’m offering 500 dollars please 9:30

user_29746169 has sent a friend request.

Of course. He had sent these messages meanwhile I was masturbating right here. I could just block him again like Y/N would probably do and archive this conversation so Y/N would never find out that she was being bothered again but she can’t know I was here. I believe this an attempt to get her to have sex with him in real life and it doesn’t seem like it’s the first time, so I’ll have to interfere. I sacked my phone out of my pocket and took pictures of his messages and his user name so I can track him down using the tracker in my computer when I get home. This fucking sex pest.

I’ve finally got all her social media accounts, contacts and passwords noted down. She seems to use most of them just to keep contact with her family and enjoy silly cat videos. The only 2 social medias she used for work was Strip Club and Twitter to promote and sell her content.

Oh, Y/N… I can’t believe I’ve discovered your biggest secret so easily… I’ll make sure to keep it very safe with me~.

I finally got up from her chair. Since I didn’t take any of my clothes off, I could just walk out of this paradise of a home but I really don’t want to leave. Y/N seems to take so much care for this place that I even feel a little jealous… I can’t to have chores to do here so she can spend more time with me.

My fingers trailed through the white walls of her apartment very slowly as I walked off the place. I wish I could stay here for the night and sleep at her fragrant bed. But it’s already 10 PM and it will take me an extra hour to get home and even more time to prepare myself to sleep with that sex pest stalking my girl.

At least I got what I wanted and way more.

I opened the front door and took a look at my sides, looking for any nosy neighbors that could possibly report me to her.

Zero. I’m free to go home. I took a look behind again, painful of the feeling of knowing I don’t belong here yet. But I hope I can call this my home too soon. I’ll make you the happiest girlfriend alive, Y/N. But for that… I’ll have to deal with her secret’s problems.

I guess…

I’ll see you tomorrow, Y/N Chan~.

#genshin impact #genshin smut #smut #scara x reader #scaramouche #genshin scara #yandere #perversity

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joannaliceevans-fanficblog · 1 day

Text

Evermore: Part. 2: Chapter. Four

Here is the long-awaited chapter four! I just wanted to thank each and every one of you who has reblogged and commented! I appreciate all of you!

Also, I took a stab at writing something different. I tried my best!

The Next Morning

Your alarm clock buzzed as it woke you up at 6 am. Yawning, you got up and went to get ready for the day. You packed your swimwear, sunblock, and towels for the beach. Then you went to get your phone and sent a quick text to your friend, Sarah, at the flower shop that you would be picking up your weekly flowers. Once getting everything, you went to Chloe’s bedroom to wake her up. As you walked down the hallway, Andy walked out of his bedroom. You stopped to catch your breath.

Normally, when Andy does this, it isn’t unusual. But today, at this particular moment, you feel flustered looking at your best friend. His hair is messy, and he is only wearing pajama pants. He has a few tattoos, but the washboard abs, toned chest, and light chest hair drive you insane this particular morning. You shake your mind about that thought, and Andy looks at you.

“I-“

“I just remembered that you needed the cooler from the garage. I forgot to get it last night.” Andy said.

You smiled, “Oh, yeah, well, I’m going to get Chloe up.” You rushed past him, ensuring he didn’t see your flustered cheeks. The moment you opened the door, your daughter sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

“Mommy, I don’t want to go to school.” She said, pouting.

You laughed and shook a seat on her little bed, “Oh, sweetie, it’s Saturday. Remember, there’s no school.”

Chloe looked at her mom, and her eyes widened, “Taturday? We see Papa?”

You laughed and helped her out of her Hello Kitty bed.

“Mommy? Is Uncle DeeDee coming?” Chloe asked, with hope in her voice.

You smiled as you lifted her onto the counter and got her toothbrush, “Yes, baby, Uncle DeeDee is coming.” You said.

After a quick breakfast and packing the cooler with drinks and snacks, the Subaru was ready to go. You buckled Chloe into her car seat and entered the passenger’s side. Once you got in, Andy started the car, and they were off. Before getting to the freeway, Andy stopped at the flower shop and picked up the bouquet.

During the drive, Chloe fell asleep, and you and Andy sat comfortably listening to music. Then, Alan Jackson’s Remember When came on, and you started singing. The softness of your voice and the wind blowing softly against you did something to him. Andy knew why Ari had fallen for you.

But something felt different. Something that’s been growing and fast. Andy didn’t know how to describe this feeling. Was it love or lust? Was it an uncontrollable thirst that he couldn’t have? At the same time, he knew that whatever this feeling was, it was not right. This is his best friend and Ari’s wife. He quickly pushed the thought away and noticed you were looking at him.

“Is there something wrong, Barber? Is there a booger on me?” you asked, causing Andy to burst into a fit of giggles.

Another few moments later, Chloe woke up, and Andy pulled into the Massachusetts National Cemetery. After flashing his Military ID, Andy drove the familiar route. After going through a few roadways, Andy parked the car and killed the engine. You and Andy got out, and you went to get Chloe out of her car seat. Once Andy had the flowers, the three of you went to the middle row and stopped in the middle. You then bent down and handed the bouquet to Chloe.

“Hey, Bug, did you want to give these to Papa and tell him about the fun things about your week?” You asked your daughter.

Chloe smiled and nodded. You pinched her button nose and then sat up. You took her hand and faced his headstone.

“I’ll be right behind you, okay?” You said, taking a step back.

He walked through the grass as he headed towards his destination. It was a bright, sunny spring afternoon, and it couldn’t be any better. Finding his way, he smiled as he found what he was looking for a little girl bending down and placing flowers on the grass. He sighed, and he appeared next to the little girl. Ari smiled and took his place next to her.

“Hi, Papa!”

Ari smiled.

“Hi Chloe Bug!”

“Papa, I went to the park because we look for flowers!”

“Flowers? What for?” Ari knew his baby girl couldn't hear him, but seeing her smile brought him joy.

“We get the flowers for pictures, and it's very pwetty! But don't tell Mommy, it's for her! Mommy likes Liwies!”

Ari laughed at his daughter's pronunciation.

“Don't worry, Bug, Papa won't say a word.”

“And Mommy took me for ice cream! It hads lots of spinkles!”

“Yeah, Mommy tells me that you like sprinkles.”

Then Chloe went quiet. Ari got concerned because this is the same trait that his wife had when she got upset.

“Chloe Bug, what's wrong?”

“Papa, I don't like when mommy cries. At night, I sometimes hear her cries. Ands I hear Uncle DeeDee goes to her rooms.”

A tear came down from Ari’s eyes.

“I know baby bear. I miss your mommy too-”

“Papa, I don't like Mr. Jake. He's not Uncle DeeDee! He's not good. I like Uncle DeeDee and Papa. Uncle DeeDee takes care of me.”

Ari wished he could hold his daughter. She talked about how her mommy sometimes gets sad, and Andy is there for her.

“I know, sweetheart, Mr. Jake isn't a good man. But your uncle DeeDee is a good person. I'll make sure of that.”

“Okay, Papa, I go now. I see you next week! I love you, Papa!” Chloe says as she gets up.

Ari smiles, “Love you, baby bug!”

Andy

Andy took a seat on the grass and sat for a moment. He stared at his friend's headstone and sighed. With every weekend, there's always so much to talk about. Even if it's memories, that's been discussed many times.

“Hey, Captain Ari Levinson.”

Ari laughed and rubbed his face in his hands.

“Well, hello there, Lieutenant General. Or should I say General Andy Steven Barber?”

“It's been a wild week, buddy. I don't know where to begin.”

Ari knew Andy wouldn't feel it, so he placed his hand on his shoulder and gently patted it, “I know, buddy. But I'm all ears; you can tell me everything.”

“Ari, I turned away a lot of cases. I took on a case that means a lot to me.”

“Okay, what is it about?”

“I don't normally take on Army cases, but this one was an exception. And no one was willing to take it.”

“I don't like where-” Ari started.

“I'm not sure what I will find, but I'll get to the bottom of this. Anyways, enough of the sap. Chloe…she's one smart, spunky gal you got there, Ari.”

Ari laughed, knowing that was true.

“That's my girl!”

“And I kept your promise, Ari. I will protect her.”

“I know you will. You love her, don't you? Just that jerk is in the way.”

“But she's involved with a man I don't trust. Chloe is timid around him and isn't comfortable, and Y/N notices it. But I don't think she sees it.

“Chloe mentioned him. Jake is his name? But if I were you, I'd trust my daughter. He's a bad man.”

“I want to see Y/N happy. And hopefully, Chloe can have a father.”

Ari looked at his friend and padded him on his shoulder.

“Andy, my man? I hope you understand what you're saying.”

“I won't keep you longer, Ari. I'll see you next week! Love you, buddy!”

Ari smiled. “Don't you worry?”

Y/N

When Andy came back, you bent down and pinched Chloe’s little button nose, making Chloe giggle.

“I’m going to talk to your Papa for a bit, okay? Stay with Uncle DeeDee, alright?” you asked and Chloe nodded her head. You then stood up, and Andy took Chloe’s hand. You then made your way to Ari’s headstone.

You took a seat.

Ari felt that familiar feeling when his wife sat beside him. Knowing she couldn't touch him, Ari leaned his head onto your shoulder. Something that he used to do when he was tired.

“Hi, Mr. Levinson.”

Ari smiled. He loves it when she calls him that.

“Hi, Mrs. Levinson.”

“A lot has happened, babe. I'll start off with Chloe. Your daughter is something else! She's starting to learn things fast, but she hates math.”

“She tells me that she likes animals. And the zoo is her favorite place!”

It was quiet again, and Ari had a feeling something would come.

“Ari, I have good moments when I can smile and think of you and how much you mean to me. Then I have my hard moments, how my heart still feels empty. I know you need me to move on. But I find my days lately of just needing you. I know it's not possible-”

“My queen, I know it's hard, but I need you to be happy. Your daughter, Andy, and Holly are all there for you and help you.”

“Ari, it took me a long time to start dating again-”

“Yea? With that jerk? Honey, I know you can't hear me, but I need you to listen to Chloe and Andy.”

Andy held Chloe’s little hand as they walked along the cemetery. The weather was perfect, and the wind chimes could be heard. Chloe talked, and Andy listened, making him laugh in between.

“Uncle DeeDee?” Chloe asked in a sad tone. Andy paused and looked down at her.

“What's up, Bug?” Andy asked.

Chloe looked at her Uncle with sad eyes, “Uncle DeeDee, I'm sad. I'm sad because I miss Papa. I don't have a papa.” Chloe said, on the verge of crying. Andy looked at her and squatted down to her level.

“Awe, baby bug? I know its-”

“Uncle DeeDee! Mommy, I like mommy happy! She misses my papa and I want a Papa! No, Mr. Jake!” Chloe said as she started to cry.

Andy looked at his goddaughter and wiped her tears.

“Bug, I know. I miss your Papa very much too! But you want to know something? I made a very big promise to your Papa. I promised him that I would always be there for you and your mama and to always protect you and mama. Okay?” Andy said, pinching her button nose.

“You prowmis?”

“Yes, baby bug. I promised your Papa when you were born.”

“Uncle DeeDee, I don't like Mr. Jake. He's no Papa. He gave me pwesent, but I don't like it. I took it because Mommy told me not to be a meany,” Chloe said.

“I know you don't like Mr. Jake. I don't either. But your mommy likes him, and we need her to be happy-”

“NO! MOMMY, no, mommy is not. Mr. Jake is mean. I see him walking by Papa’s picture, and he says bad words!” Chloe cried. Andy looked into her eyes, and he knew that something was up.

“Why do you say that? I know you don't like Mr. Jake.”

“Mr. Jake saids mean things to Papa!” Chloe said, and Andy picked her up. She placed her little arms around his neck, and he rubbed his hand around her back.

“Okay, baby bug, I'm here now. I promise not to let Mr. Jake make you unhappy, okay?” Andy said.

Chloe lifted her little head, and he wiped away more of her tears, “Prowmis Uncle DeeDee?” Chloe asked, sticking out her little pinky.

Andy laughed and placed his pinky with hers. “Yes, I, Uncle DeeDee, promise.”

#andy barber #andy barber x reader #andy barber fanfiction #andy barber x female reader #andy barber x you #ari levinson x reader #andy barber fic #joanns evermore #ari levinson angst

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cetaitlaverite · 1 day

Text

Why All This Music?

Masters of the Air - Rosie Rosenthal x OC

masterlist is linked here <333

18. Nothing to Write Home About

Freddie had decided to finish work early today. Now that she was leading the Corona operations at Thorpe Abbotts she could afford herself such luxuries. It had only been during the sleepover last night, when Millie and Jem had reminded her that for all intents and purposes she was now her own boss, that Freddie discovered all of the negatives which came with ranking so highly could also be balanced by positives. So, yes, she had a lot of stressful responsibilities, a big workload, and few moments of peace. But she also had her own office and no one to tell her she had to stay in it all hours of the day to toil over her work.

This afternoon, Freddie had a date with her music. She’d been neglecting it lately.

The officers’ club was empty this time of day. Most everyone on base would still be working - it wasn’t even dinner yet. So Freddie waltzed right in like she owned the place, Meatball trotting dutifully behind her, the book of piano sheet music Rosie had given her for Christmas in hand. She sat down at the piano while Meatball found a nearby chair to curl up under.

The blinds were up, letting daylight pour in, and the club looked different this time of day. At night the warm lighting always made it feel so much smaller than it was. It looked big now. Almost lonely.

Carefully, reverently, Freddie lifted the cover off of the keys and ran gentle fingers over them, barely making a sound.

She had already looked over the various pieces of music in the book Rosie had gifted her. Whether he knew it or otherwise, he had good taste. She knew he wasn’t particularly well versed in classical music - jazz, on the other hand, he may as well have been the world-leading expert on - but maybe he’d asked the clerk in the shop for help. Though Freddie liked to think he’d picked the book himself. The music was beautiful and romantic and she liked to think of it as a love letter of sorts. A love letter in a language she understood better, even, than English or German.

The first song she played was Meine Freuden by Misha Fomin, Franz Liszt, and Frédéric Chopin, and the challenge of playing a new classical piece for the first time was exciting. Her fingers wanted to stumble and her wrists wanted to flick, but the music poured forth from beneath her hands anyway, as endearing and unfamiliar as new love.

She had played through two different songs three times over each before she was interrupted.

“You’re supposed to be at dinner,” Rosie said from the doorway. He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed and a fond smile on his face.

Meatball trotted over to him for attention, which Rosie gave him, while Freddie turned on the piano bench to look at him. “Oops?”

Rosie rolled his eyes but he was laughing quietly.

“Time ran away from me,” Freddie told him, moving to sit sideways on the bench with one leg propped up on it. “The music in that book you got me is beautiful.”

“It’s beautiful when you play it,” Rosie replied.

Freddie laughed.

“Come and eat something,” Rosie bid her next. “You can come back and play after.”

Freddie’s eyes sought the clock on the wall and she frowned. “Dinner only started five minutes ago. Let me wait until it calms down a bit in there and then I’ll come.”

Rosie tipped his head back and groaned playfully. “One more song,” he told her, petting Meatball once more before walking further into the room.

Freddie’s smile lit up her face. “Really?!”

Rosie came to sit beside her on the bench and Meatball resumed his position beneath one of the chairs at a nearby table.

“Okay,” Freddie said, flicking back to the first piece of music she’d been playing, “I’ve been practising this one. It’s not perfect, so -”

Rosie was laughing to himself.

“What?”

“Everything you play is perfect,” he told her, grinning. “Just play it.”

Her cheeks were engulfed in flames. She couldn’t meet his eyes anymore. “Okay.”

Rosie sat so quietly and so still beside her, terrified to interrupt her playing, that she almost forgot he was there. His eyes were locked on her fingers, following them across the keys, and every now and again their legs would brush against one another when Freddie used the pedal. It made the skin of her legs feel warm beneath her tights.

Freddie’s fingers slowed as the end of the song neared. She didn’t want it to end. After this, they’d go to the mess hall and be surrounded by noise and Freddie would sit with the girls unless her Corona wireless ops demanded she sit with them and she would be so far away from him. She didn’t want to be far away from him. She wanted to be close. Closer, even, than this.

But the song came to its end eventually. Freddie pressed down on the final key and the pedal longer than she needed to in a futile attempt to drag it out past its expiration.

“Beautiful,” Rosie murmured.

Freddie looked up at him to find a pink hue in his cheeks, his lips just slightly agape as he stared at her, now motionless, fingers. Slowly, he tore his gaze away from her hands resting on the piano keys and met her eyes. And slowly, a smile spread across his face.

Freddie smiled back at him. “Hi,” she whispered.

He grinned. “Hi, Fred.”

Her smile widened a touch. “I like the way you look at me,” she informed him quietly, because in that moment he looked so adoring she almost couldn’t bear it. His blue eyes were gentle and unspeakably fond. His smile was reverential.

“Sometimes I find it hard to believe that you exist,” he whispered back, an explanation of sorts.

It was so easy to get lost in him. In his eyes, in his smell, in his touch. In just the feeling of having him close. Sometimes she felt that he made the world a better place just by existing in it. He certainly made her world a better place just by showing his face there every now and again. How had she managed to go about her life without him?

“I exist,” Freddie assured him with a teasing grin.

Rosie’s eyes were on her smile. On her lips. “You sure?”

“Quite sure, yes.”

“I think I might’ve made you up,” he confessed.

Freddie’s eyes dipped to his mouth as he spoke. To his lips. “Only one way to make sure,” she said.

His lips quirked up at the edges. “By pinching me?” he asked.

She shook her head just slightly, an almost imperceptible jerk of her head. Tilting her face up, as far as her neck would let her, she closed the distance between them until she could feel his breath fanning over her lips.

He tilted his face down for her, to make it easier. Smiled as he waited for her to cross the line for them.

Freddie drew in a deep breath and let her eyes flutter closed. She pressed her lips gently against his and encouraged him into a kiss.

It was slow, soft, just a little bit unsure. She’d never been the one to make the final push.

But Rosie was sure enough for the both of them. His hands found her waist and tugged her closer, and then even closer, until she found it would just be easier to sit on his lap.

Their lips remained attached as she moved to straddle him on the piano bench. His hands held onto the piano to make sure she didn’t knock against it. Then, secure and with better leverage, Freddie leaned further into him, twined her hands into his hair, and let herself revel in the feeling of finally, finally, having his lips against hers.

His lips moved slowly, his tongue even slower, and it made Freddie want to squirm. He smiled as if he could tell.

And she was worried she wasn’t very good at it anymore. At kissing. She was out of practice. He was clearly very good at it - better, even, than she’d imagined. He’d clearly been underselling himself when he’d told her he’d kissed ‘a few’ girls back in America. But then again, he was twenty-six and gorgeous and smart and kind and brave. If he hadn’t been around the block a few times she would have been more surprised.

But when they finally pulled apart for air all of Freddie’s worries of inadequacy disappeared. There was something in his eyes as he looked at her which was even stronger now than it had been before.

He kissed her again. Lifted a hand to cup her cheek and tilt her face just a little bit closer to his.

She let out a whimper which she was immediately humiliated by, but Rosie only pulled her impossibly closer.

Until -

“Rosie, I gotta talk to you about - you’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!”

Freddie was giggling even before she’d properly pulled back from Rosie. “Sorry, Jack.”

“Not more fucking sorry than I am,” Jack replied, lifting a hand to rub at his eyes. “Jesus Christ. This is a public place!”

“No one’s here right now!” Rosie argued. “How did you know I was here?”

“Pappy told me you were going to find Fred. I heard the piano when I was walking by earlier. Figured you probably heard it too when you walked by.” He huffed, seemingly annoyed to have had his attention diverted. “Anyway, if you two could maintain a sense of public fucking decency for five seconds, I was just trying to tell you, Rosie, that I gotta talk to you about the next mission.”

Freddie made no moves to get off of Rosie’s lap and he made no moves to make her.

Jack threw his hands up and sighed. “Fine. We’ll talk later.”

Rosie was grinning. “I’ll come find you after dinner.”

“Yeah,” Jack said, frowning as he looked at Meatball. “You do that.”

He turned and left directly.

Freddie tucked her face into Rosie’s neck and laughed. “If he had been five minutes earlier I would have killed him.”

“If he’d been five minutes earlier I would’ve helped you,” Rosie replied.

Freddie laughed again.

She let herself linger for a minute, with her face pressed to his neck, before deciding she wanted to see his face. Sitting up straight, or as straight as she could in his lap, she was greeted with a wide smile which didn’t seem to have slipped during the time he’d been out of her sight.

Too cute. How was he that cute? It should’ve been illegal. Unable to help it, Freddie leaned in and tucked her nose up beside his, shutting her eyes and then rubbing their noses together.

Rosie laughed softly.

Freddie pulled back just a bit and moved to kiss him again when her stomach rumbled, almost obnoxiously loud in the quiet of the officers’ club.

Rosie gave her a look. “Dinner,” he told her, faux sternly. “Now.”

“One more kiss first?”

“One more kiss and we’ll be here all night,” Rosie replied, but he kissed her quickly on the lips anyway.

Freddie huffed out a laugh. “Dinner and then another kiss?” she asked.

He laughed again, standing up with her still in his arms when it became clear she wasn’t moving. “If you eat all of it then yeah.”

Freddie frowned. “You’re mean.”

He rolled his eyes. Just when he opened his mouth to retort, however, he banged his shin on the leg of the piano while trying to manoeuvre them both out from behind the bench. His eyes fell shut, his bottom lip got caught between his teeth, and a low hiss of air emerged from his mouth.

Freddie knew it must have hurt really badly. She also knew it was probably her fault for refusing to stand up herself. As such, she held in her laugh with all of her might, thanking god that his eyes were closed.

When he opened them she tried to smooth over her features. She was sure she was red in the face from holding her breath.

“Ow,” Rosie said.

Freddie’s laugh all but exploded out of her.

“Shut up,” Rosie complained as he set her down on her feet.

Meatball started barking as he approached because her laughter was so loud and so uncontrollable.

“Sorry,” Freddie choked out. “It’s not that funny. I just -”

“Fred,” Rosie complained again.

“I’m sorry. I know it probably hurts so much.”

“It does.”

For some reason, that only made it funnier.

She delayed them a further five minutes while trying to get herself under control. Rosie threatened to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to the mess hall if she didn’t stop but eventually she managed to. But she caught him rubbing his shin as he let her past him out of the door and sputtered a laugh all over again, and was forced to enter the mess hall in fits of giggles.

Freddie was still talking about it in the officers’ club that night. And no one else found it even half as funny as she did, but she kept telling people about it anyway because Rosie went red and frowny when she did and she thought that was even funnier.

“Rosie, I have no idea why you put up with her,” Millie said at one point, when she’d already had to endure the story five times.

When Rosie chuckled quietly and shrugged, lifting his glass for a sip of beer, Freddie wrapped both of her arms around his free arm and hugged it to her chest. “I make it worth your while, don’t I, Rosie?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

He glanced down at her and kissed her hairline. She knew he loved when she hugged his arm, not because he ever told her but because he always got all sweet and affectionate when she did. He could never deny her anything when she asked like this, and neither could he hold a grudge.

Jem was sitting at their table, Meatball beneath her chair, and chewing on her nails. They were freshly painted a bright red so they must have tasted awful but she gnawed at them anyway like a child trying a lollipop for the first time.

“Feel like doing a shot, Jem?” Freddie asked, trying to settle her, to remind her that all of this was meant to be fun. Paddy had agreed to the dancing with wild enthusiasm and now everyone was waiting for Jem to decide she was ready. She could still back out if she wanted to but Freddie knew she wouldn’t. Freddie also knew she wanted to dance, really, she was just frightened. The same way Freddie had been frightened to dance with Rosie even when she’d wanted to, though the stakes were wildly different.

Jem nodded almost absentmindedly. “Yeah, alright,” she replied quietly.

Freddie knocked back the rest of her lemonade and stood, smoothing down her skirt. “Come, then, sweetness. Bar’s clearing out at the moment.”

Freddie and Jem waited for Atley’s attention quietly, Jem chewing on the inside of her cheek.

Freddie smiled and wrapped both of her arms around Jem’s waist, squeezing her lightly. “Feeling alright, Jemmy?”

“Nervous,” Jem replied, glancing down at her.

“Normal to be nervous,” Freddie assured her. “Do you feel excited too, though? Even just a little bit?”

Jem finally cracked a smile, her eyes seeking Paddy clearly of their own accord because once they found her they flicked right back to Freddie. “Yes,” she admitted.

“Good,” Freddie decided. “You take your time on deciding when. We’re in no hurry.”

Atley served them their two shots of whiskey with a nod and a smile before moving onto the next patrons. Freddie and Jem linked arms as they tossed them back. “Liquid courage,” Jem declared, clearing her throat of the burn.

Freddie grinned. “Feeling brave, are we?”

“I’ve spent my whole life being frightened,” Jem said. Her eyes, once again, sought out Paddy in the crowd and found her without even having to try. They softened when they caught her and stayed there, bright and fond. “Don’t feel up to it anymore.”

“That’s my Jem,” Freddie said proudly. “Shall I go and get Mils? I think the next song might be about to start.”

“Go put on a show, Fred,” Jem told her, laughing as she smoothed down her skirt and jacket sleeves.

Freddie grinned at her. “No one’s eyes will be on you, Jem, we’ll make sure of it.”

Returning to the table with a spring in her step, Freddie forewent heading over to her seat and instead rested her hands on the back of Millie’s and lent down over her shoulder. “Fancy a dance?” she asked, smiling wildly.

Millie turned to look at her, a similar grin on her face. “I thought you’d never ask.”

The eyes of the men at the table were confused as Freddie offered her hand and Millie took it, leading her to the dance floor. Pappy and Bailey both looked to Rosie, who shrugged, as clueless as anyone.

Freddie and Millie took their places front and centre on the dance floor just as a new song started up, upbeat and joyful. Freddie was taller so she took on the man’s role while Millie played the woman, and off they went, laughing loudly as they galloped and twirled and generally made fools of themselves across the floor.

Freddie noted Amy and Cecelia dancing not too far away from them, pressed close in case that’s how Jem and Paddy wanted to dance. They were grinning at each other as they went about their performance, joking with each other and tripping over each other’s feet, neither of them used to dancing with a partner the same height as they were.

A few of the Operation Corona wireless operator girls joined in the fun, dancing with each other the same as they would with a man. And before long Jem and Paddy were tucked in the middle of a sea of all-female couples, and if they were dancing slightly slower than everyone else, slightly closer, smiling at each other slightly fonder, who would ever have noticed? They were just one couple amongst many. Nothing to write home about.

The girls danced together for three songs total. Jem and Paddy left after that, Jem tapping Freddie and Millie on the shoulder as they headed for the door, smiling so wide her cheeks must have been hurting. It made Freddie’s heart ache with tenderness. She’d never seen Jem look so utterly joyful.

Millie winked at Freddie and Freddie laughed as the couple disappeared out the door. The two of them would be back later, probably, but they would get their privacy now while everyone else was still at the club.

“Good on them,” Millie said to Freddie as they headed back to the table, arm in arm. “They’re getting more than I am, that’s for sure.”

“And me,” Freddie said with a giggle.

Millie nudged her with a roll of her eyes. “Won’t be long, Fred, and you know it.” When Freddie glanced at her she was inclining her head in the direction they were going and Freddie followed the gesture.

There was Rosie, eyes on her. And there was no mistaking it. Bedroom eyes.

Freddie looked back at Millie with a roll of her eyes. “Don’t say anything.”

“I’m not.”

“Your face is saying everything.”

“My face always looks like this.”

Freddie scoffed but dropped it as they arrived back at the table.

There was a fresh lemonade waiting for Freddie and a fresh beer waiting for Millie.

“You know, I think I like you, Rosie,” Millie said as she sat down and sipped at it.

Freddie leaned over and kissed his cheek in thanks for her drink. “He’s taken, Mils.”

Millie scoffed. “So am I.”

“Then mind your business.”

“You have fun?” Rosie asked, moving some of Freddie’s hair off of her shoulder and smoothing it down her back as she sipped her drink.

“Mh-hm,” Freddie hummed. “So much.”

“I’m a better partner than you, Rosie,” Millie taunted.

“You hear that, twinkle toes?” Milburn, Rosie’s bombardier, said, smirking across the table at him. “She thinks she’s a better dancer than you.”

Freddie sat up straighter. “Twinkle toes?” she echoed, starting to grin.

Rosie’s head fell back as he groaned. “Damn it, Milburn.”

“What?” Freddie asked, looking between the two of them with increasing intrigue. “Is there something I don’t know about?”

“I said no twinkle toes jokes in front of Fred,” Rosie said, tipping his head back down and shooting half-hearted daggers at Milburn.

For his part, Milburn only carried on smirking into his beer.

“Rosie’s an excellent dancer, Fred,” Pappy said from Rosie’s other side. “I’m surprised he ain’t shown you yet.”

Freddie’s eyebrows furrowed. “We dance together all the time.”

“But have you ever seen him dance solo?” Bailey cut in.

Millie was giggling from beside Freddie.

“Show me,” Freddie demanded, turning back to Rosie.

He groaned again. “No.”

“Rosie,” Freddie said, frowning.

“Fred,” he replied, sipping from his beer.

“I want to see.”

“No.”

“Rosie,” Freddie complained once more, dragging out the final syllable. She tried to wrap her arms around his bicep but he pulled it away, smirking down at her.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

She pouted.

“Put on some Artie Shaw and he’ll show you,” Milburn commented, grinning as he watched their exchange. He was clearly thrilled with himself to have put Rosie’s foot in it for him.

Freddie turned to Milburn with her eyes all lit up. “I can make that happen,” she said.

“Once you see it you can never unsee it, Fred,” Pappy warned.

“Oh?” she asked, humouring him. “Will it make me change my mind?” Nothing could make her change her mind, she was just thoroughly enjoying watching Rosie squirm.

“Probably,” Bailey joked.

Rosie was dying a slow, painful death beside her.

“Another time,” Freddie said, finally putting him out of his misery. “For now, let’s dance together.”

Instantly, Rosie pushed his chair back and stood, then offered Freddie his hand to help her stand too. As he led her to the dance floor she snorted out a giggle and he cut his eyes at her. “What now?”

“Just thinking about when you banged your shin earlier -”

Rosie groaned. “Fred.”

She kept on giggling until he kissed her when they were dancing, right there in the middle of the dance floor. And then she was too enchanted to think of anything else.

#watm #my writing #mota #masters of the air #masters of the air x oc #masters of the air fanfic #masters of the air fanfiction #hbo war #hbo war x oc #rosie rosenthal #robert rosie rosenthal #rosie rosenthal x oc #rosie rosenthal fanfic #rosie rosenthal fanfiction

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