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onyourhyuck · 2 years

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Sweater Weather. | J.JH (M) Part 3 <3

prologue- “I want you.” + “I want to look at your face as we do it.”

tw- friend’s older brother!jaehyun x fem!y/n. sungchan is jaehyun’s younger brother. y/n has the fattest crush on jae and he finds it rly cute. Fluff and SMUT in this part <3. Soft smut. Soft dom jaehyun. Praising. Jae wants to take care of y/n. After care mention. Mirror is in use <3

notes- Heavily inspired by Sweater Weather By Neighbourhood. <3

tag list- @kae-t-eee <3 @j69no <3 @back2jisung <3 @pretiurs @seodami <3 @humongouscowboyskeletonranch <3 @hwaluvx <3 @caramelhyunn <3 @seokjinnjuice <3 @ytzvivi <3

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It’s been a few weeks since the romantic confession between you and jaehyun. Your relationship with him was just the beginning.

Though the small sneaking about together behind Sungchan so he wouldn’t question why you two are suddenly really close, it somehow made you feel like you were in a romantic movie.

The days you guys weren’t able to meet one another (and you weren’t at the dorm but at your parents home), he would surprise you by gently throwing stones at the edge of your window, surely to wake you up. Then you come down from the front door and star gazing all night with him in a field behind your house.

You’d surprise him with made up lunchboxes when he would drop you secretly to uni on days you were running late, before leaving, you kiss him on the cheek leaving him flustered.

But now it’s been five days you haven’t seen him physically. Every uni student currently is going through it, their sleep schedule said goodbye and so did their will to continue. You know what this means. It was exam season. The most fearful thing that a university student could possibly hear.

The peers of pressure to pass the marking slot, the competition between their colleagues was high up on the list. Hell it felt like.— while teachers and professors somehow expect you to keep up with homework piles that are strangling your room in half as well as revising for the exams you have in just about few hours AND turn up to class too. It wasn’t easy. Far from it.

Nobody warned you how university was going to be stressful. Despite it having many good things to boost about, it can’t really compete to the stress you will get.

You blow on your lips following by a harsh sigh. You’ve been pulling at your hair for a while now as you wrote down on the very important fact to the success of hopefully passing. In the library that you’re residing in, there weren’t many people. Just a few plus the librarian.

Then a beeping vibration set you from the focusing zone you have brought yourself in. The phone screen flicking on with a green notification. You didn’t think much of it, so you pick it up without much emotions. Apathetically slandering the fact you’re so close to just slamming a book on someone’s head.

Yes you do have your frustrated moments. The tired droopy eyes watch the screen as you unlock it, your lips fall apart, your eyes immediately forcing in an eye-smile.

“My love <3”: hey baby i know it’s exam week but how do you feel about coming over? sungchan won’t be home because he will be doing a study sesh with his friends.

“My Girl <3”: hey bb imma come over then. i really need to see you </33 this close to having a mental crisis in this shit holeeee ;_;

“My Love <3”: this is a first i ever saw you swear and it was over exams, must be really hard for you :( don’t worry i’ll get your favourite ice cream and put on pitch perfect <3 mwah

“My girl <3”: you’re a life saviour babe. i’ll see you soon mwah

a hand slams down on the table causing you to nearly drop your phone, you’ve been lovestruck staring at the screen repeating yours and Jaehyun’s conversations that you completely ignored that the boy standing next to you now was speaking.

“yah what are you reading so intensely, it really didn’t look like exam revision.” Sungchan would say as he sat down on your table. you thickly laugh as you put the phone away. “of course it was revision. what else would i be looking at.”

you play it off cooly and calmly, turning back on the multiple books you brought to help. sungchan unzips the bag, pushing down the science books.

“i thought you were texting your boyfriend or something because you had this very goofy smile that only happens when you love someone.”

he was still completely unaware that you was dating his brother and honestly, it might shock him quite a bit. you would rather give it some privacy between you and jae before finally coming out to announce it

your eyes widen a tiny bit before awkwardly stuttering. your hands shake in front of the boy as you go to deny it. but another thing interrupts you and sungchan. The boy smiles.

“sungchan hey,” a much younger looking boy spoke as he turns to face you. Sungchan grins. “shotaro!”

“oh yeah so y/n, this is my friend shotaro. shotaro this is y/n, the one who tutored me.” the young boy beams and you turn around bowing your head politely to shotaro. the Japanese bot sits down next to sungchan with a bright smile.

Shotaro kindly speaks as he watches you. “nice to meet you y/n.”

“you too shotaro. are you perhaps going studying?” you raise your eyebrows at the two boys who hum agreement in unison. looks like he’s actually going on study dates with shotaro, how cute. sungchan opens the book.

“i’m meeting shotaro with two other boys, Chenle and jisung, in our year. we’ll be at the boys dorms most of the night.”

you would wow proudly, watching sungchan finally doing study sessions on his own without it your help. there ran something so in your blood that would make you feel like you’re watching a friend who was getting independent finally. it really made you happy, more happy than about your own achievements. Shotaro gently sways leaning to y/n.

“do you want to join us y/n? the more the merrier.” shotaro said and you’d raise your head with a soft smile. “I appreciate the offer but i think i’ll just go home or something. i’ll be fine for tomorrows exam.”

sungchan boosts braggingly as he whispers to shotaro, but the whispering was clearly loud enough for you to hear in the dead silent library. “taro don’t worry about her, she’s the prodigy. there’s no way she will fail any of her exams .”

shotaro gently gasps watching y/n. he heard about the female prodigy but never did he think it would be you, or the fact that he’d meet her.

“y/n you’re the infamous student who has 100 on their classes?” the boy whispers loudly. you blink lightly confused.

why was it a big deal? you rub your neck nervously. “uhm yeah but it’s not a big deal.”

“don’t be so modest y/n! my brother is a prodigy as well and he complimented you so much. clearly it is a big deal, a thing to be proud of. so take claim to it.” sungchan bluntly tells as he shakes off your humble demure. Shotaro looks at Sungchan.

he frowns looking the tall boy up and down from where he sat next to. “if your brother is the prodigy, what happened to you?”

Shotaro blurts out and Sungchan’s jaw drops to the floor, ears growing lightly pink. he pouts soon as he scoffs. “yah what’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean…you don’t have the best grades. If your bro is so smart what’s up with you?”

“i’m not a biologist so i dunno! i guess he took all the brain genes with him.” sungchan murmurs silently sulking at shotaro’s blunt questions. y/n would smile watching the two boys lightly bicker and speak amongst themselves now.

you soon bid goodbye to sungchan and shotaro when it got much darker, by the time you left the library and the university campus it was 8.00 at night. you would be knackered to say the least, you’re feeling by the time you finish this week’s exam your brain will be fried inside and out like it was a bare boneless chicken laying in the desert.

making your way to Jaehyun’s house wasn’t that far in fact, you took the bus there and then got off. the walk from the bus stop would’ve been about fifteen minutes. you were anticipating to see your boyfriend after so long, seconds away from him felt like years and days without him would equal to decades passing like the blooming spring. it felt cold and empty without his warm bubbly presence that keeps you awake on your feet like caffeine would do. You didn’t slow walk on your way to his house, you ran. You ran through the late night just so you’d see him sooner; your mind was creating scenarios of his face, of his voice, the way he’d welcome you.

god how much you missed him couldn’t be put into words. when you are stressed he was your de-stress reliever if anything. it’s just a shame that he’s graduated from uni and you still have a few to go. The way you long to be standing in front of his door, hand clenching in a ball out ready to knock two times then awaiting the door to swing open.

and when the time came, you did exactly that, knocking on the door as your feet stomp on the ground with a rush of adrenaline excitement. the way this felt like a happy ball of heaven to you. the black door pulls open revealing a tall man wearing a white oversize hoodie and those grey-black checkered pants that he favours over anything. if he could, he would wear these every single day, anywhere.

The sight of your lover standing wide open with arms out only for you to walk in, to run in, to jump and never let go off in; the corner of his eyes sparkling down at you the moment those dull iris orbits met you once again, ears smiling wide as his eyes wrinkle with happiness.

Your face mimics the same euphoric expression he deadpanned at you with freedom. You lung yourself at him tight curling up, just like a baby kangroo would of done to it’s mother. jumping in the pocket. Arms linking by the end of his neck, your body weight crushed him just the way he wanted, he missed you. Everything reminds him of you when you are gone, busy with life as anyone would be; but the way everything reminded him of you tortured him deeply with penetration in his heart.

It just made this whole moment more worth it though. He gently sweeps arms around you the moment you jump on him. He kicks the door closing it shut with his back. He’d focus on locking his hands on you and only you.

jaehyun brings you into his bedroom with a deep longing kiss on your lips. he brought you underneath where he sweeps his thumbs on the sides of your chubby apple cheeks, he then disconnects from your lips, attacking your entire face with his wet lips.

pecking your forehead, eyes that you close in motion, your beautiful nose. Jaehyun’s lips kiss your reddish cheeks that felt cold, he easily warms them up with the multiple kisses he dents on your body.

You squeak tapping his arms as you start to squirm. Eventually those lips slowly crawl down to your neck where he was just carried away. he was savouring the moment with you. Your breath going ragged.

“jae i’m not going anywhere!” you openly exclaim with a soft loving sigh leaving. he gives a one final deep smooch on your hands that you tap him previously. he felt the way you were cold still. “you weren’t gone for long but why does it feel like it was an eternity.”

he would say gazing into your eyes lovingly. You sit up taking off your jacket, he rolls off helping you with your bag too. The man didn’t even give you time to take off the outdoor clothes and shoes, but that doesn’t bother him, he didn’t care enough at the time. Jaehyun lovingly watches you do such simple chores, but why was he so struck by everything you do? Love really makes you feel brainwashed.

but in the best way possible.

You turn around where you realise he’s been staring at you the entire time. You lightly tease speaking, reaching to squish those loving bread dimples. “you keep watching me like i am some meal dish.”

he chuckles humming a bit with his husky deep voice that just makes you stop and listen no matter what. “i’m just watching my girl look so pretty from afar, can’t her boyfriend do that?”

he curls as he pulls you immediately to lay down with him on the warm bedsheets that smelled exactly like him, welcoming . You grin as your legs and thighs wrap around his own lower body, he made sure that his hands rest on your waist, carefully caressing up and down your hips and curvy waistline.

“her boyfriend can do whatever he wants.” you reply back leisurely, as he felt your fingertips push his long free luscious locks back. Twirling them round your thumb or lightly flipping it around. simply admiring how he was such a beautiful masterpiece.

She paints him a ray of sunshine on a night starry sky. That’s the only way it could define her and him together. He was the observer, the watcher, the viewer, the mere bystander. As she was the performance, the art, the extraordinary history.

You suddenly raise your eyebrows realising something. “we both agreed to a movie and ice cream, but the first thing we did was cuddle and lay in bed together.”

“i know right? But i think those can wait.” jaehyun tells as he sits up, leaning leisurely to your lips once again. he pecks it softly.

“i’d rather talk to you over a movie and ice cream anyday.”

your heart throbs scraping against your chest heavily, hearing such loving words that no one else expressed to you but only him. You reach upwards to kiss him on the lips with enough passion to get him riled up, he responded by pulling on your waist and crawling on top of you. The way your hands slip round the hem of the hoodie to pull, running your fingertips down his abs and abdomen.

You murmur soft sighs once those abused lips left and began to roam on your soft collarbones exposed by your loose blouse, he sucks on it very light enough to cause visible red marks. you pull off the hoodie which he obliged, letting you strip it off from his skin, letting you take your own control. He enjoys the way you openly do small detailed actions to catch him slipping, like the way your fingertips pull on his hair to deepen whatever he was doing. The way your thighs tackle his hips pulling your bodies even closer.

Your moans were a reward to him, especially those soft ones that slowly get louder. You become needier, you act on the neediness too, but you didn’t have to beg him. He will give you whatever you want, whatever you request, he is at your demise.

“I want you.” Those words leaving your gaping mouth as he slowly strips the blouse by the ribbon, taking it off your exposing body that he so dearly fell in love with all over again, the way you’re slightly smaller than him but you look as if you were carved out of the most fragile, beautiful lingering glass that was an antique to the world. Jaehyun softly hums above your bra, with his hands playing with to soon unclip it right off. He kisses above your cleavage.

“Then have me.” Jaehyun fully said as he sits up on the edge away from you now. You crawl slowly to him as you make yourself at home on his hard crotch, sitting right on it where your boyfriend could feel the soaking patches on your panties. He lightly groans as you softly dry hump on a specific spot.

It got him going feral, quite literally, as he tightly grips on the bedsheets. He lungs his head down, as you constantly do the same circling motions back and forth. You whimper when he tightly pressed you down on his hard crotch through the boxers fabrics

“please just, fuck me already.” you beg. jaehyun soothes your desperate cries by softly caressing your face.

“Patience is virtue baby.” he whispers, starting to hover your entire weight on the bed centre as he positions you underneath him. but a specific lining directly to the wide mirror in his room grazing over your lined bodies.

Then the most shocking words left his unbearable lips running on your body like it was a tug and war. He wishes to see everything, because this was both your first times together, though he was experienced and you weren’t; he wasn’t trying to scare you off with something dramatic. He wants to do you slow, enjoy this moment with him as much as you can. He doesn’t want to hurt you, he doesn’t wish to do anything extravagant.

When it comes to you, the simpler decision is always the best decision.

“I want to look at your face as we do it.” He states as your face was turning to the mirror on the side, you thickly gulp your abdomen squeeze. He hovers over your panties which he slips off, the way you had a puddle patch on the white underwear amazes him. The effect he has on you, will always have a clutch on him that he doesn’t know how or why.

You whimper as the new sensation of galloping mouth went straight without warning to topple you up like you were a meal to him. He acts on the pure lust running in his veins, but also the love that he wishes to push you to the most ecstatic high you will ever experience. The way your thighs squeeze together he was underneath, you watching him eat you out in vulgar raw manner, but the way there was a sense of love from him made you wetter than before.

You were a soaking mess. Jaehyun loved that, he didn’t care if you made a mess, he plans to make you his beautiful disaster.

“Ooh…fuck- im..” y/n warns with the body twitching unable to finish the last sentence as her orgasm approaches unexpectedly, he felt your insides ferrule round his long tongue exploring inside you, the taste of your high was soon approaching. The lush of wetness exploding on him tongue as left him kitten licking you clean, there was no way he would miss a single drop of you.

He lifts himself up pulling on your ankles, in which you look up seeing stars. The post orgasm has left you wanting for more, as you were left feeling high in another dimension. He sent you into another world.

He trails softly, kissing the inner thick thighs. “Mm, you taste divine, god. i want to feel you pulsing like that on my cock, so so badly.” you moan at the imagination, tugging on his boxers length.

“What’s stopping you?” you whisper as you ask him, he takes a moment to find the correct words. jaehyun leans in resting his forehead on top of yours, closing eyes. “i want you to enjoy your first time. At least, with me.”

you melt by the respectful yet considerate words, your hands wrap round his jaw, nodding softly. “I want this, as much as you want this.”

“so please, use me however you want.”

Use you. Those words ran through his head like a mantra chanting, then there it was, you were soon to realise that you fully triggered something inside your boyfriend in that moment. The way you have your permission, submitted to him with such bewitching words that left him thinking wonders and wonders of scenario is to use you.

He was absolutely ballistic over you. Jaehyun softly pins you down where he finally slings off the boxers, you face down to be met with a spring free huge length, in all honesty, you sorta lost the confidence when you met eyes with his raging hard boner.

You let out stutters of questions over questions. “I mean..I- will it even fit…babe..?” you whisper and jaehyun gives you the outmost soft look. he must’ve realised that you feel intimidating, but all he does to calm your sudden anxiety was with a gentle forehead kiss.

“It will baby, i’ll be really careful and slow with you.” you heard him tell as her aligned it with your entrance. At first you weren’t sure what to expect, but sooner than later you found out the answer to your exact thoughts. A piercing warm sensation stretched you out repeatedly but, carefully, you felt the amount of self control jaehyun had over him to not just ram in you because of how welcoming you were to his hard length.

You were clenching him like crazy, unable to push out the addictive pain feeling that made you want more. As your hands clenching on the bedsheets beneath your body weights; he hears you whisper desperately.

“Please move.” you direct him very slowly as he gives a soft nod, that is when the soft singular thrusts made you shrink in complete pleasure taking over your body.

Oh how loving you felt under your boyfriend who’s unforgiving thrusts were pushing in and in your walls constantly like it was a running a game of tag. The way you were crying with pleasure, tears piling in your ears, as your boyfriend gently wipes and shoos your hushing voice carefully, spilling words of affirmation at you.

He kept ramming about how you are doing amazing, that you’re like a drug keeping him tied to you, words of praising that you’re beautiful, and that you deserve everything in this world can give .

It was so hard to respond back but he couldn’t blame you, your body was doing all the telling. Clenching with every words he spoke with a big pulsing rush of electricity sent to him.

The way the reflection of you arching your body at the quicker pace of thrusts and pounds he gave in, he was watching your perfect body underneath him at his dispose of to use. Jaehyun, fell in love with you through a mirror all over again. As if it was love at first sight once again.

He can’t get enough of you truly. The way your night ends with I love you’s, kisses, you stay in each other’s accepting embraces and replay the memory back.

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@onyourhyuck please refer from translating copyrighting and plagiarising my work, thank youU <3 reblog this fic and follow me for more to stay updated! It helps a girl out.

I’m writing this as I’m sick, I hope I didn’t make any mistakes LMAO. 😭

#nct fanfiction #nct smut #nct x reader #nct u scenarios #nct hard hours #jaehyun hard thoughts #jung jaehyun #nct jaehyun #jaehyun hard hours #jaehyun fluff #jaehyun fanfic #nct drabbles #nct imagines #jaehyun smut #nct 127 smut #nct fic #nct recs

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gumnut-logic · 3 years

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Callisto (Voyage - Bit 3)

Prologue Incident - Bit 1 | Bit 2 Fallout - Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3 Voyage - Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3

This has settled down to a once a week post at the moment. I am still writing, but I’ve been writing the Prologue because I realised that I hadn’t written enough backstory to support the main story. So expect 4000-odd words of Jeff landing on Mars in the near future.

In the meantime, here is a little terrible twos being good bros.

As always, many, many thanks to @tsarinatorment @scribbles97 and @janetm74 for all their patient help. I’ve been a pain lately, so they have suffered greatly for my fic :D

I hope you enjoy this last bit of Part Two.

-o-o-o-

Gordon sat back and watched his father and Virgil leave the cockpit. John followed a moment later.

Gordon wasn’t hungry, not by a long shot. His stomach was still protesting the jump and he was quite happy staying where he was.

He wasn’t surprised that Scott, after reassuring himself that Alan was okay monitoring the course correction, disappeared after John. Gordon did not want to be in the room when that encounter happened. Not that he didn’t have his own beef with the astronaut over this. He couldn’t believe John would support their father going into space. John, of all people knew the health ramifications.

Speaking of which…

He unbuckled and pushed off his chair in the direction of his father’s chair. Formerly, his chair. He was of two minds regarding that fact, but considering he didn’t think Dad should even be in space, where he sat was of the least importance.

He hooked his foot around the base of the seat and pulled himself in beside his little brother.

Gordon’s eyes danced over the flight controls. “How’s it going?”

Alan glanced at him. “Computer is performing perfectly. We’ll stop to drop the buoy in about twenty-five minutes.” A raised eyebrow. “How’s the tummy?” And yes, there was a small smirk accompanying that.

“It’s fine.” As if to penalise him for lying to his little brother, his gut twisted.

Gordon let out a groan.

The smirk turned to a worried frown. “You sure you’re okay.”

He grunted at his brother. “I’ll live.” And he remembered that there were four more jumps there and likely five more on the way back. “Maybe.”

“Get Virg to drug you up. You’ll enjoy it more.”

‘Enjoy’ was rarely in the same sentence as ‘space’ in Gordon’s book. “Might do that.” Puking in zero-g was just messy and not to mention gross. “How come you aren’t feeling it?”

Alan shrugged. “Been playing with g-forces since I was a kid? This isn’t much different.”

Gordon grunted at him again.

They sat there together for a moment or two. There was something about hanging with his little brother that was different from hanging with his older brothers. More relaxed maybe, or just…different.

“Not often my ‘bird carries yours. This has to be only the second time.”

Gordon blinked. “Yeah? I think so. Not too many oceans in space.”

“Tell that to the Jupiter system.”

Space oceans were a thing. After the mad dash that was their trip to Europa, Gordon had made a point of reading up on all the extra-terrestrial oceans he could find.

Earth, of course, was the only body in the solar system with surface liquid water. There were buckets of ice on many of the other planets and moons, but none of that interested the aquanaut. He preferred his water well above zero degrees celsius.

Europa had been fascinating and he was still basking in the accolades from the scientific paper that he, Alan and his heroes, the Pendergasts, had jointly written. Readings from Four’s scanners had recorded everything and Earth’s scientific compliment were still going nuts years later. Tracy Industries had helped fund a proper scientific expedition to the moon.

Hmm, come to think of it, they should probably drop in and say hi on the way back. Would be interesting to catch up with Gwen and her team in person instead of over holovid.

Would be hilarious to knock on their door as a surprise. Hi, we were just in the area…

He grinned.

“What are you up to?” Alan was eyeing him suspiciously.

Gordon snorted. “Just thinking we should drop in on the Europa Extra-terrestrial Marine Expedition on the way back. I owe Gwen a jump-scare.”

His brother tilted his head, obviously calculating the possibility. “Could do. You should speak to Scott.”

That dragged him back to reality. “I guess it depends on Dad.”

Blue eyes darted in his direction. “Dad will be okay. You know that, don’t you?”

Gordon found he didn’t have the energy to get angry. “How can you know that?”

“I don’t.” Alan went quiet a moment. “But then how do you think I manage each time you go out on a mission?”

The aquanaut stared at him. “What?”

“Well, your health has never been and never will be one hundred percent, yet you still dart down to the bottom of the ocean, jump off high places and do things just like the rest of us. Do you think I don’t think of losing you all the time?”

Gordon froze a moment digesting that his little brother still worried about that… “That’s different.”

“Is it?”

“Dad…okay, I get your point. But I’m also worried about Scott.”

“What?” Alan stared at him.

“Can’t you see what this is doing to him?”

“Er, what?”

No, Alan hadn’t seen. “I have never seen Scott so terrified.”

“I repeat – what?”

“When Dad told us he was going. Scott just…” He swallowed. “Dad is hurting Scott and I, for one, am not going to stand for it. Virg isn’t either.”

Alan was staring at him. “You said Dad was cold and didn’t care. Abrupt, yes, that’s Dad, but I can’t believe he doesn’t care.” The astronaut shook his head.

“If he cared, he wouldn’t have come.”

“Gords-“

“Alan, trust me on this.”

His little brother stared at him again. “I trust you, Gordon, you know that. It’s a given. But I also trust Dad. He knows what he’s doing.”

Gordon pressed his lips together. “He doesn’t know everything and I really wish you guys would stop worshipping him as a god.”

“He’s not a god! He’s just…Dad.”

“Yeah, and that’s the problem.”

There was silence after that. Gordon not willing to berate Alan any further. It wasn’t Alan’s fault. He didn’t have the history with Dad Gordon did. He hadn’t had to fight to swim. Hadn’t seen Virgil struggle with his choices.

Hadn’t seen Scott give his everything to his father only to have it…ignored.

But no, that was history. Long ago. Before the Oort Cloud. Gordon had his issues regarding his father. He loved him, but he was a difficult man under all that passion. Being the son of a hero wasn’t everything it could be.

Scott worshipped the ground his father walked on. Gordon, not so much.

To see his father hurt Scott like that…Gordon’s blood just boiled.

“Is Scott okay?” Alan’s voice was smaller than usual.

“That’s just it, Allie. I don’t think so. You know how he gets. Like before the Oort Cloud. I, for one, don’t want him going there again.” ‘There’ being more a mental place than a physical.

Alan’s head dropped. “No.”

A voice rumbled behind them and both jumped. Michael was talking into comms, to Scott, something about the aft sensor array.

Crap. It was a sign of his distraction that he had forgotten the Mechanic was there. He glanced over, but the tattooed man showed no sign of even knowing they existed.

Gordon sighed.

A hand landed on his knee. “It’s going to be okay.” Blue eyes sought his. “It will be, Gords.”

He let out a breath, suddenly wishing he had Alan’s faith.

If anything happened to Dad…

“It. Is. Going. To. Be. Okay.” The hand on his leg squeezed tight.

But Gordon didn’t answer.

-o-o-o-

The drop of the communication buoy saw all of them back in the cockpit. John was the mastermind behind this little exercise and Virgil was, as usual, very proud of his space brother.

The design was ingenious, of course. John had taken a portion of the T-drive technology and applied it to communications. The same Tunnels created by the engine could be used to push what would otherwise be a simple comms signal through to the next buoy at a vastly accelerated rate. His brother had been working with Brains to realise this technology. Back in Earth orbit, a satellite connected the new network to the planetary network. On the way out, they would connect the Jupiter system. On the way back, they would connect Mars. Time delay communications would be a thing of the past.

Possibly as a tension reliever, John’s first signal went straight to Lady Penelope.

Gordon’s demeanour shifted immediately. His excited babbling did much to lighten the atmosphere in the cabin. The uninformed wouldn’t have been blamed for thinking he hadn’t spoken to her for years. Virgil knew for a fact the two of them had had a conversation shortly before they left.

The concept of ‘young love’ made him feel old.

And indicated just how tired he really was.

But sleep was something he couldn’t see happening very soon. Sure, he could try to take a nap en route. Hell, he had to. But his head was full of worry that likely wouldn’t let him rest.

Scott let Gordon babble for a full minute before cutting him off with the mission. Perhaps the commander saw how much the atmosphere needed to be lifted from the black depths they had fallen into.

Virgil hated it when his family argued. It didn’t happen often...okay, maybe they did quarrel every now and again - it came with the territory of working together. But nothing deep like this. Nothing that cut into the core of their very foundation. The surety that held them together.

Virgil sighed.

“Ready for jump.” Scott’s voice was all command and it forced Virgil to focus.

Pre-jump checklist as his brother called out to each of them.

“Airframe?”

“Craft secure. We are go.”

Blue eyes flickered to Michael. “Propulsion.”

“T-drive ready.”

“Helm.”

Alan’s back was tensed, his hand on the lever that would propel them further away from Earth. “Ready.”

The familiar countdown, such a part of their lives. Scott’s voice carried security...and Virgil’s faith.

Alan’s arm moved.

And the Excel jumped.

-o-o-o-

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds fanfiction #thunderbirds #Gordon Tracy #Alan Tracy #Virgil Tracy #callisto

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fortheloveoffanfic · 4 years

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Put Me In a Movie

Keanu Reeves x Reader (A/n-I just keep making things worse and worse for them. Are people even still reading this?)

Summary Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Warnings- Angst, just buckets of angst

Chapter 15- Insult to Injury

If she was there, then he'd fix things. If not, it was over.

That was the agreement that Keanu had made with himself. He wasn't even sure if the disrepair he'd caused could be fixed, but he knew he had to try. Ever since Y/n had left him in a cold, dim alley way, drenched in coke and rum, Keanu had been a mess. It hurt, way more that he had expected to. His chest felt tight and thick emotion made it burn, his vision went blurry and Keanu, from the minute Y/n had slammed the door on the shambles of their relationship, or whatever it was, felt the walls crumbling as they closed in. Even then, he was still confused on what he’d felt for her; lust, infatuation? Whatever it was, it had driven Keanu to bargain with himself; he’d give her the rest of the night to cool off, and first thing the next morning, he’d find his way to Y/n’s room, and if she was still there, then he’d accept it as fate and plead with her to let him make things right, but if she was gone, then he’d give up, for good.

So, there he was, at seven in the morning, not knowing what he’d say to make Y/n change her mind, but knowing that there was very little off limits. For a second, before he lifted his shaking fist, Keanu wondered how she was taking it, if she was still as upset as she was the previous night or if her rage had settled. Had she slept or laid wide awake in the mess of sheets like he had? Did she even resign to her bed, the one they’d grown used to sharing, like a real couple. They’d done so much like a real couple. She’d loved him, as if they were a real couple, and what had Keanu given her in return? Agony.

Did he even love her?

As fast as he’d asked himself the question, Keanu buried it, stuffing somewhere deep and far, so he wouldn’t have to think about it. If it hurt that bad enough without loving her, what would it feel like if he did? “Fuck,” he eventually sighed, realizing that he was thinking over, under and around the issue, and still hadn’t done what he’d taken the trek down the hall for. Just knock.

He was about to, raising it fist to give the creme oak a heavy tap, only stopping when a voice interrupted him as it came from the elevator, “Mr. Reeves?” It was Ester, the middle aged housekeeper he’d bribed to let him to Y/n’s room a few months ago. That morning felt so far gone, like the memories belonged to someone else; just as scared though impressively braver. The man he’d been then was almost in complete control of how he felt. But the man in front of Y/n’s door? He was jaded, a little broken, and very confused.

“Ester,” Keanu tried to summon up a smile, knowing his hollowed eyes and slightly disheveled form would sell him out whether he liked it or not, “How are you?”

“Good,” she nodded, wheeling her cart up the carpeted hall, cleaning products neatly mounted to the top and various items sticking out the bottom shelf, “Are you looking for Miss Y/l/n?”

“Uh, yeah,” he huffed nervously, rocking back and forth of the balls of his feet, anxiously stuffing his hands into his jeans pockets, “Do you know if she’d in?”

A worried expression pitched at the woman’s features, tugging at her wrinkles and dimming her eyes, “She checked out this morning, I saw her with her bags at the front desk. She looked very upset,” the matronly woman frowned deeper, debating on whether or not she should say more, “Did something happen between you two? Little lovers spat? Because usually she’d be up to chatting if we met around the hotel, but this morning she was just in a hurry, and I’m pretty sure the poor dear was crying.”

Did everyone know?

“I…..” Keanu stumbled on his words, shuffling his feet and avoiding Ester’s gaze, which wasn’t hard considering she was very small, “It’s complicated, I don’t think you could even call us lovers anymore,” he chuckled dryly, trying desperately to ignore the sting that accompanied the admission, “That’s probably why she left,” that was definitely why she left, “She doesn’t want to see me.”

“Can I give you some advice?” Ester spoke up, moving around the cart, placing a warm hand on his arm, “I see the way you look at her, the way she looks at you, and that kind of love, it’s rare. And I know I don’t know what happened, but I do know that you love her, so don’t some little thing get in the way of what you two have.”

“It’s not that simple,” Keanu objected, already ready to give up, even if everything in him wanted him to try harder. He wanted it so badly, that he hadn’t even realized that what Ester had said, about him loving Y/n. “I said some things, done things, I don’t think it's as little as you’re thinking it is.”

At that, Ester smiled knowingly, shaking her head, before turning to return to the helm of her cleaning cart, “In the scheme of things, where real love is involved, isn’t everything small? And I know this isn’t one of your movies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a happy ending.”

Taking her words to heart, Keanu barely nodded and thanked Ester, casting his head down as he walked back to his room, now even deeper in thought. It hadn’t occurred to him before. The fact that he might love Y/n. Well, it had, but he’d dismissed it. What was love anyway? Hearts and flowers? Dinner together after work or extravagant presents for every occasion? Maybe it was marriage and kids, the nine yards with the white picket fence and everything. Keanu used to want that, but after a while, as he’d grown older, he’d convinced himself that his time had passed. That a wife and a baby or two wasn’t in the cards for him.

Perhaps, he thought, finally reaching his room, pushing the door closed behind him before slumping into the nearest chair, the one in the foyer near his packed bags, perhaps, love was the little things. That made more sense when he looked at what he and Y/n had shared. It could have been in the way he liked having his head on her chest, or how much he enjoyed the way she’d scoot on top of him in the wee hours of the morning. The way her laugh was like a melody, played just for him and the way holding Y/n’s hand made him feel safe and appreciated. Maybe it was how they’d learnt each other’s coffee orders by heart and how he’d always offer her the first spoon of his ice cream and how she always ordered his favorite dessert when they were splitting one after dinner. Love was in the little things. The things Keanu had spent so long searching for before deciding to give up one day. He’d always wanted someone who he could be himself around, someone who wouldn’t ever get bored of him and who made him feel like he belonged.

Someone like Y/n.

And was when it hit him. As much as he denied it, he loved her.

The evening sun cast a cloudy, yellow glow, filtering through the glass wall facing the city, on Y/n’s large living room. Late noon into early evening was always one of Y/n’s favorite times to spend there, she adored the way the light would bounce of some surfaces, casting long shadows on others, as the slight, though ever present Los Angeles warmth contrasted the coolness of her A/c perfectly. It was usually around that time when she’d resign to the sofa with a book or to watch television, sometimes falling asleep until it was past dark. But that day, seventy two hours after landing at LAX and having her dad drive her home, Y/n just could not focus. Not on the pages bound in a hard cover splayed on her lap, not on her favorite soap playing on T.V and she couldn’t even fall asleep.

Everything just hurt so much.

From the minute she walked into the apartment, the first thing that Y/n could remember was the short time she’d spent there with Keanu. And then, with those memories, came a slew of others. He’d done so much, and though Y/n usually preferred to reserve herself, having seen what a mess her parents made, not wanting to fall in love until she was absolutely ready, she had. It had happened slowly and suddenly, paces changing like seasons, Keanu’s moods keeping her on her toes and her own insecurities getting in the way of letting her fully enjoy their time together.

Sitting on the sofa that evening, Y/n’s gaze fell from the television, falling tears creating little darkened spots and making the ink run on the pages of her most recent read. After a hitched breath, soft, shuddering sobs wracked her body and there was no amount of deep breaths that could remedy the physical ache that had started in her chest and spread through her body as she reluctantly remembered everything they’d shared in just a few months;

Slow dancing with her in a barely empty bar.

Sitting with her on the beach

Holding her hand.

Pretending he wanted to protect her

Looking at her like she was all that mattered.

It was his fault really. He’d made her love him, and then he’d taken that away.

How could he? In the end, Keanu had barely batted a lash, even after Y/n had spun out and tossed a drink at him, insulted him. He’d just taken it, made her feel like she was the fool for expecting more. And just like that, right there and then, she sat thinking back on how it had gone down, for probably the millionth time since it happened

“You’re not my girlfriend.”

“.....this isn’t working for me.”

Maybe it wasn’t his fault, maybe it was hers for trusting him in the first place, after he’d given her so many reasons not to. Maybe- a knocking on the front door broke Y/n’s thoughts. For a split second, she considered ignoring it, hoping whoever it was would give up quickly and just leave, but soon after, they were knocking again. “Coming!” With a heavy sigh, Y/n tossed her book to the other side of the sofa, trudging barefoot to the door, as she rubbed the tears away. Pulling one side of the door open, Y/n gasped at the person before her, ready to slam the door in his face.

Though, Keanu was faster, and just as she moved to push the door closed, he firmly held it back, “Y/n,” he pleaded, sounding softer than he ever had. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair a mess, really, he looked as bad as she felt, “Please, I just want to talk.”

“I don’t want to talk to you,” Y/n actively avoided his gaze, shoving the door, though, Keanu was stronger, able to keep her from shutting him out completely.

“Then just listen, please,” even if he could see her trying to not meet his eyes, her anger still looming just beneath the exterior, Keanu also knew that he could get through to her, he just had to work for it, “I have a lot that I want to say to you. Can I please come in?”

“No,” every time she denied him, the lump in her throat grew and her eyes stung more and Y/n knew that all it would take was one look at his face to have her breaking down, “You need to leave.”

“I’m not,” desperate, Keanu longed to just squeeze himself through the space between the door and its frame, anything that would make her listen, just so she’d change her mind, “You close this door, then I’m staying right here. I’m not leaving, I’ll sit out here if I have to, but I’m not leaving.”

Exasperated, Y/n reluctantly relented and though a minute part of her was curious, it was against her better judgement when she finally let him in, not letting them get past the kitchen. Leaning against the counter and folding her arms across her chest, “I don’t know what you could possibly say that will change anything. Cause as far as I’m concerned, you said everything that you wanted back in Chicago,” there was venom in her tone and Y/n sniffled, anger and sorrow mixing like gasoline and an open flame.

“What I said that night,” Keanu blew an audible breath, knowing he deserved every shot she fired, “It was stupid and selfish. I shouldn’t have said any of it. But-”

“But you did,” chucking dryly, her eyes shone, tears ready to spill over on already reddened, stained cheeks, “You said it without even having to think about it. You essentially said that I was nothing more than a fling to you. There were so many signs that you didn't care the way I did, feel for me what I feel for you," a tired, pained huff broke past her bare lips and tears tangled in her thick, long lashes, "But I trusted you anyway, I kept on hoping you could change, that I could change you, but I'm done now," at the very last word, her voice dropped breaking the way her heart had.

Temporarily forgetting their current state of affairs, or possibly hoping some salvaged affection would would do some good for them, Keanu stepped forward, going to reach out, “Baby-”

“Don’t,” Y/n choked out a warning, stepping out of his reach, “Don’t fucking call me baby! Like you fucking care!” Running anxious hands through her loose tresses, Y/n hoped they’d somehow pull back the tears that were already falling, “Don’t you see what you've done to me?” Her face was blotchy and red, and for once, for the first time in a goddamned long time, Y/n wasn’t thinking of how great the good was, instead, all she could think of how absolutely terrible the bad was. How much Keanu hurt her after she’d let her heart bleed for him, after he’d called her ‘baby’ nearly a hundred times and made her believe that he could feel something more than lust for her. All she could think of, as they stood in her apartment, the evening bringing a solemn haze to the atmosphere, was how selfishly cruel he’d been in his so called romantic dealings, “You fucked me up you selfish, insensitive son of a bitch!” Her throat burned and Y/n didn’t care if the entire building heard her, “You made me love you, you acted like you cared. But you could never care, you don’t even care about yourself,” she spat bitterly, sniffling, “Cause if you did, you’d know that I was the best thing that’s happened to you in a really long time.”

She was right, and Keanu knew it, and for a second, his lips quivered, with the intention of playing it off the way he usually did. But something stopped him, reminding Keanu that he wrecked more than enough havoc to ruin Y/n for a century and that the purpose of his visit was to fix things, for real that time. To admit and repair. To tell Y/n that she was right and hope that she’d take him back, one last time. “You’re right,” he offered softly, sobering the mood, slumping his shoulders, “But that’s why I’m here, cause I understand now, Y/n it was never about-”

“No,” she objected, “You can’t just-”

“It was never about seeing where things went,” Keanu continued, hoping to combat her words with his own, “You were always the one. I always knew-”

Y/n tried to close her mind off to everything he was saying, everything she’d spent so long yearning to hear, “You can’t do this, not now-”

“It’s always been you, from the minute I met you, I knew,” tears gathered in his eyes as that day at the table read came back to him. How taken aback he’d been by her beauty, how intent he was to meet her in the parking lot to give her his number, praying to every god he believed in that she’d take a chance and call him. He’d fought it, for so long, for nights that he’d spent with her dancing through his dreams and days after their first coffee meeting, spent recalling her innocent touches. He’d never been touched like that, and the more Keanu got to know her, got to love her, he knew that Y/n was everything that he’d ever wanted and so much more. She was it for him. “Y/n, you’ve always been everything and I was just too afraid-”

“Just stop!” She pleaded, knowing that having him break her heart again might be the end of her. That was the thing about Keanu; he was capable of giving so much, but he was also exceptional at taking things away, of hurting her by turning the dagger he’d buried in her chest. “Please-”

“Please,” he ached to reach out, “Just give me one more chance-”

“Please, just leave,” she sobbed, “If you love me, then leave,” her hoarse voice was barely louder than a whisper, though Keanu heard every heartbreaking, gut wrenching syllable of it, “Because I can’t do this anymore.” For a minute, they just stood there, gazes glassy and equally tormented, though, when neither of them budged, Y/n yelled, a sob nearly stifling her plea, “Just get out!”

And in that very moment, Keanu swore that his heart literally broke, the ache in his chest breath stealing. Finally, he felt something minutely reminiscent of what he’d brought her over the past six months or so. He’d been killing her, but really, all he’d done was draw the makings of his own demise, because truthfully, Keanu knew that returning to a life void of Y/n wasn’t one he could thrive in. “Please don’t do this,” he begged, forbidding any dignity he’d reserved, “Please, Y/n I’m begging you to just-”

“Get out!” She screamed, starling them both, pointing at the door, “You’ve already made a fool of me Keanu, don’t stand here and do the same to yourself.”

Nodding, he ran his fingers through his untamed mane, acid on his tongue as he offered compliance, “Okay.” dragging his lower lip through his teeth, and stuffing one hand into his pocket, turning and heading for Y/n’s front door. Every step felt like a piece of his tired soul being chiseled away, and when he turned the knob, he could swear that the coldness of the metal was trying to freeze his lungs, “I hope you know,” he swallowed thickly, “That I’ll still love you. There’s not going to be anyone else, ever, not after you Y/n. And if you can ever find it in yourself to forgive me, if you ever decide you can still be with me after everything I’ve done, there wouldn’t be any question of how I feel about you. I’ll always be waiting.”

Keanu didn’t wait for a response, he wasn’t anticipating one anyways, and with his words, he left, easing the door closed behind himself. The minute was gone, Y/n fell to her knees, the hardwood cool beneath them. It felt like she was completely and utterly shattered, bits and pieces of her fragile being scattered across the floor, though most of it gone with him. Above everything else, seeing Keanu hurt like that had pained her the most and quicker than ever, the anger left, replaced by the severity of what she’d just done; pushed Keanu out of her life with a finality that Y/n wasn’t sure she could stand. The love she had for him was everything, and though it had ruined her, she’d take those ruins over a barren, listless life without the man she’d always longed to call her own. Her love for Keanu was everything, and without it, she had nothing.

******

Tagging- @harrisongslimited @paanchu786 @thesadvampire @fanficsrusz @fickensteinn @ladyreapermc @babygirltaina @septimaseverina @snatchedbylele @omg-imagine @21stcenturyyfoxx @magnificentclodpiebanana @allie1804-fan @keandrews @greenmanalishi @rdjloverxxx @danceoftwowolves

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mystiphying · 4 years

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Pulled To You

↳ CHAPTER TWO

PAIRING: Randall Carpio x June Sutton (OC) SUMMARY: In her first year at Belgrave University, June somehow goes from having a little crush on her RA to hiding in supply closets and sneaking around with him. And later finds herself a little in over her head, once a mysterious book leads her down a path she can't un-walk. CHAPTER THEMES: N/A CHAPTER WORD COUNT: 1.2k

⇢ MASTERLIST

Sifting through random notes and notebooks, flicking through the endless pages of her heavy textbooks, June was sat on the small carpet of the small floor space in their room. Luckily June had the room to herself for a little, seeing as Georgie was flying home for the weekend. June wondered who had that kind of money for such a spur of the moment trip home, but then remembered which university she was attending. So with her roommate gone, June could make as much mess with her miles of notes and piles of books as she pleased, with papers organised in an odd system only she knew how to navigate. And also play her music louder than she usually could. Distracted by all the things around her and fixated on organising her notes, June had kind of lost track of time and before she knew it, it was dark outside. And before she had a moment to think about her grumbling stomach, there was a loud knock on the door. June jumped to her feet and rushed to open the door. When she opened her door to see him there was a wide smile on her face, one he usually returned. But with her pissed off next door neighbours arms-crossed and angry behind him, Randall had expression on his face she could only describe as unimpressed. June’s smile turned into a confused flat line. “Hey, what’s up?” She asked cautiously. Randall sighed and stepped past her and into the room, careful to not step on the mess on the floor, and closed her laptop, shutting off the music. “Noise complaint.” He said coldly. June looked at the smug faces on the girls outside the door. “It’s Friday.” June said, becoming growingly irritated. “Yes, that’s also what I said, but they’re within their rights to complain.” He explained. “So, what? Is this just a warning?” “No.” One of the girls from outside chimed. Randall shook his head. “It’s just a warning. Make a habit of it and I’ll have to write you up.” He said while making his way back to the door. “Just keep it down.” June nodded. “Okay.” She said, and once he was out the door she pushed it shut before he could say anything else. He turned to the two girls and they thanked him, June still being able to hear them now her room was silent. She rolled her eyes and pulled out headphones, instead playing her music through those. Something irritated her about the exchange, especially since her music wasn’t even that loud. Especially not for six o’clock at night on a Friday. June wasn’t unreasonable and had sat through plenty of their noise, which made her all the more annoyed. Suddenly feeling grumpy and agitated, June flopped onto her bed, interrupted by a hardcover book digging into her back. She sat up and pulled the book out from underneath her, ready to drop it on the stack of books on the floor, but feeling the patterned leather cover of the book as opposed to the glossy covers of her textbooks, her stomach dropped. “What the fuck?” she asked to no one in particular. This was that book, the one she’d found outside before. How was it here? Who did it belong to? All questions with no one to ask them to. But it was still oddly entrancing, still pulling her to flip the pages, to hold it. And unconsciously, she did. One page after another, all contents unintelligible and foreign. If she looked hard enough it felt like what seemed to be words, would continuously shift. Like the book didn’t want to be read. Before she could totally freak herself out with the weird teleporting book, her phone buzzed on her bedside table.

Randall: Hey

June: hi

Randall: Sorry about that, just being an RA Randall: One that isn’t sleeping with a resident… You’re not pissed right?

June: i’m not pissed, just being a resident... that isn’t sleeping with her RA June: tell me honestly, was my music THAT loud?

Randall: Could have been quieter…

June: damn, okay

Randall: I’d like to see them live next to my neighbors tho Randall: Super loud and always yelling at kids in COD

June: oof, not ideal at all June: hey btw did u leave this weird book in my room?

Randall: Sorry, wasn’t me Randall: Hey can you open your door n maybe not slam it in my face this time??

June: depends on who’s there? you or the RA who isn’t sleeping with his resident?

Before he could type out a response she opened the door and pulled him inside. She closed the door behind her and pulled him close to her. She gave him a short kiss before pulling back and ducking away to tidy some of the papers and books scattered everywhere. “So, what’s this visit for?” she asked, speedily clearing the floor and having everything in a neat pile to toss on her desk. The heavy books thumped on the desk beside her laptop. “Wanted to know if you were hungry.” He said, lifting the bag of takeaway she didn’t notice he’d been holding. She smiled. “Wow. Kind of inappropriate though, considering you're my RA.” June joked.

June and Randall sat on her floor, eating takeaway nachos from the Blade & Chalice, chatting in low voices, making sure not to cause another ‘disturbance’. He would say something amusing and she would laugh softly, and he would smile watching her. She had caught it a few times, feeling a little shy when she'd catch his eye. Although their relationship with largely physical and they didn't get many chances to be intimate in other ways, this felt really comfortable and pleasant. She really enjoyed his company, sitting together and talking and Randall loved all forms of intimacy, the physical kind especially, but there was something he loved about getting to know someone, finding the little quirks that make them all the more interesting. “Do you like studying medicine?” June asked, genuinely curious. Randall took a second to think about it. “Yeah. It’s interesting, kind of fun in a way.” He said, “Learning how the body works together and in sync, it’s fascinating.” June nodded her head. “That does sound interesting. My mom’s a nurse, she wanted me to also study nursing but…” “You’d be good at it.” He said quietly. “Hmm?” She noticed his own words had caught him off guard, but had a gut feeling about it. Randall hadn’t been looking at her but did once silence fell. “I don’t know. I just get this feeling that you’d be good at it.” His phone rings his mildly obnoxious ringtone, and he picks it up. Muffled voices she can’t make out and his short replies. She assumed it was something private, and chose not to pry. He hung up and looked to June. “Sorry to leave like this, but I gotta go.” He stood and she followed, to politely walk him the very short distance to the door. “Don’t sweat it, I.. I’ll see you soon?” She asked, regretting it a little, afraid she had sounded… clingy? But that fear subsided when he gave her a smile, one in which she returned. “I hope so.”

PROLOGUE ⇢ CHAPTER 1 ⇢ CHAPTER 2 ⇢ CHAPTER 3

A/N: Hi! I finally got around to posting this on Tumblr while it was already on my AO3! I’m currently writing the fourth chap but it’s kinda meh so far...

#the order #randall carpio #the order fanfiction #the order imagine #randall carpio imagine #randall carpio fanfiction #the knights of saint christopher #the order netflix #tv show fanfiction

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nikokova · 6 years

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Changes: Chapter 1

So I think I’m going to try to keep an update schedule where I post Tuesday or Wednesday, but I’m a mess so who really knows.

Prologue

Summary: Logan Summers: One friend, a 4.0, and a huge secret. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Virgil Mathews: barely surviving high school, let alone possibly being moved away from his one and only friend just so he gets to experience what its like to “Have a family”. Patton Pennington: can’t remember having a friend in real life, hopes that his parents taking in a foster kid can change things for him. Roman Royal: Arguably the most popular boy in school, but when he hears that the high schools are merging next year, will he be able to mend his checkered past?

Pairings: slow-burn pining analogical, slow-burn royality

Warnings: Anxiety, mentions to past bullying, food mention, foster system mention, bad writing

Word count: 2126

Tags for Changed: @zaisling @heir-of-the-founders (Send an ask or comment if you’d like to be added)

***

16-year-old Logan Summers really only enjoyed 3 things in life. Books, a schedule, and his best friend Virgil Matthews. Lucky for him, all three were a part of his daily life. He would wake up, go to his college classes, then his high school classes, and walk with Virgil to the library once school was over. He did this every day, other than the weekends which he spent all day cleaning, studying, or at the library.

“Earth to Logan.” A deep voice snapped Logan from his thoughts. His head jerked up and away from the book he wasn’t actually reading. There was a pale this face looking at him, observing him. It's dark russet eyebrows furrowed, contrasting against the pale skin. “What’re you thinking about?”

“I have a test next week, I'm trying to find out what amount of studying would give me the best grade. Then I also need to find out how to adjust my schedule to accommodate.” Logan responded with a shrug, his voice higher but not as soft as the others.

“Oh, lit.” His friend leaned back in his chair and looked around at the school libraries bookcases surrounding them. In doing so he almost missed the way Logan's brows furrowed in confusion, “Don't tell me you don't know what that means.”

“I-I do not-”

“It's been around for months. It means like cool or whatever, but like its just ironic to say it now since it's so old.”

“Virgil, you are aware that keeping up with slang is incredibly difficult for me.” Logan mumbled, a blush slightly on his cheeks. Virgil raised an eyebrow,

“But memorizing 40 words for an English class in one night is easy?” Virgil asked,

“Yes, it is.” He sighed. Before he could add anything else the sound of a bell cut their conversation short. Logan sat up straight and started to move the things from the table to his bookbag.

“I don’t want to go to 4th hour… Mr. Jones is gonna yell at us all hour.” Virgil groaned sinking down in his chair. Logan rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to remark on Virgil’s statement but is interrupted by an announcement.

“Will all teachers please excuse their students to the auditorium at this time.” The voice from the speaker said

“It appears you will not have to deal with Mr. Jones’ annoying voice today.” Logan slings his bag over his shoulder and glances at his now even paler seeming friend.

“Yeah, I just have to deal with the crowded auditorium, full of other people all cramped together, what if we have to sit in the front? Or they want volunteers and they choose me and everyone looks at me and-” Logan places a hand on his friends head to stop them.

“You don’t even know what we’re going to. I’ll make sure we sit in the back, and I’ll volunteer for you if needed.” He reassures, Virgil nods his head and takes a couple deep breaths. “We should head down before it starts to get too crowded. Are you okay now?”

“Umm, sorta.”

“Would holding my hand make you feel more comfortable?” Logan suggested, Virgil's face reddened but he nodded. Logan slowly took Virgil's left hand into his right and helped his taller friend up.

Logan had been the tallest of the two for a majority of their friendship. Though in the summer before 9th grade Virgil had a major growth spurt that rocketed him to 6’½”, leaving his best friend below at 5’5. Logan didn't appreciate this development. Though, neither did Virgil. Most of their childhood Virgil had spent hiding behind Logan when the anxiety became too much to handle. Because of his height, he wasn't able to do that anymore.

So, after some experimentation, Logan came to the conclusion that Virgil's anxiety seemed to reduce when they shared physical contact. He assumes it's because they have been friends for so long, and physical contact is a stress reliever for some.

Once they were ready, they made their way to the front of the library, keeping their entwined hands hidden between them. After Logan shared a wave with the librarian, they left.

The hall smelled of body odor and various smelling perfumes as they blended into the mass. The students were all heading to the right side of the hallway, which leads to the stairs near the auditorium. Logan lead their way through the crowd, nevermind the fact that he couldn't really see over the other students like Virgil could. All that really mattered was Virgil's tight grip on Logan's hand, like he was afraid of getting lost if he didn't hold on.

The tiled floor was an off-white color, Logan wondered if this was because of their age or if they were produced like that. He knew the white and bright lights of the building is part of what made Virgil so uncomfortable, and they often attributed to his migraines. Also the fact that the stairs were so steep everyone always felt like they were going to trip and fall. The group seemed to thin into small lines as they reached the different doors to the auditorium.

“Would you prefer to sit in the back?” Logan asked quietly, Virgil only squeezes his hand in response. Logan nods and chooses the shortest line to stand in.

Once everyone was sitting down, the principal climbed up the stairs up to the stage. Logan noticed that the green of his tie was lighter than the green on the rest of his suit. Principal Hepburn ran his hands through his short hair before walking up to the microphone. It took a couple minutes for the room to quiet, when it did he cleared his throat.

“I'm afraid I have some bad news,” he began, a murmur of concern swept across the crowd. “due to some, well I really shouldn't be saying this. But, due to some not superb financial planning, the school district doesn't have the funds to keep this building open next year.” The concerned murmurs quickly turned into concerned conversations.

Logan felt the grip on his hand tightened and he looked over at the taller boy. Virgil was now bouncing his leg and biting his nails on his other hand.

“Virgil, everything's going to be ok I'm sure they already have a plan.” Logan reassured, gently rubbing his thumb across Virgil's knuckles. The principal stood on the stage and waited for the room to quiet, he continued when it did.

“This summer they will be renovating our sister high school, Sanders Sides, and you should all be moved there next fall. Transportation will be provided for the whole district.” Hepburn finished.

“See, we’ll still go to school together, and that school is only a little further from the library than this one.” Logan whispered, giving Virgil's hand a comforting squeeze before they got up to exit the auditorium.

***

Patton's hands dug into the pockets of his jeans as he walked out of the school. He had been in a good mood all day, until the assembly ruined it. He had done his best to convince his parents to send him to Sanders Sides High so he wouldn't be in the same school as him. He walked down the sidewalk outside of the brick building to the parking lot furthest from the school, where he had asked his dad to pick him up.

The silver car was easy to spot in the near-empty parking lot. Especially because of the stuffed animals kept on the front and back dashes. He could hear the early 2000’s music from a couple feet away as he slipped his backpack off of his shoulders, leaving it hanging on one arm as he opened the door.

“Hey, kiddo!” His dad smiled, chocolate eyes identical to Patton's own seemed to sparkle. His dad was always in a chipper mood, his mom said that Patton had gotten that from him. Along with his curly hair.

“Hey dad, is mom home?” he asked flopping into the seat and setting his backpack on his lap.

“Yep.”

“What about Pa?”

“He won't be home till later. Had to stay back and tutor a student.” His dad explained, Patton nodded and looked out of the window as they pulled out of the parking lot.

“So, umm… Can we have a movie night tonight?” Patton asked quietly, his eyes locked on his fidgeting hands.

“Alright, what happened today kiddo?” His dad gave him a sympathetic glance. Patton hesitated before answering,

“You know the boy, the one I finally told you guys about last year?” His dad nodded but Patton noticed the color drain from his already pale face. “Well, I guess next year all the students from that school are moving to this one. So..”

“Do you want us to switch your schools?” his dad interrupted, looking at him with concerned eyes as they waited at a stop light.

“What!? No! I-I like my school, I'll be ok!” Patton reassured, trying to give his dad a bright smile.

“Pat, you know it's not a problem for us. We just want you to be safe and happy.” His dad sighed, the traffic moving forward once more.

“Really, it’s okay. I like my school, I’ve made friends,” that was a lie, “and he probably won’t even recognize me.”

“Alright, but we are going to discuss it with Pa and Mom later okay?” Patton just nodded and went back to looking out of the window. In truth, he hadn’t really made any friends. Sure, he had lots of acquaintances, but none of them were close enough to be called a friend.

Still, Patton found lots of reasons to be happy. He had an amazing and loving family, cats and dogs existed, he did pretty well at school, and he had some online friends. One was named Talyn, they were cool and liked dying their hair. The other was Valerie, she liked singing. lastly, there was Terrance. Talyn had added him to the group chat only a week ago, so Patton didn’t know much about him yet.

>>>

Dinner was quiet as Patton pushed his food around with no intention of eating it. He had hoped that his mood would have gotten better as time passed, but it hadn’t. His eyes wandered up to his parents, how they each sat on a different side of the table, smiles on each of their faces. They all loved each other. Sure, it was strange at first, when he was first introduced to his Pa, Ryan. He was only in 3rd grade then, but he and Ryan grew close very fast. His mom and Ryan had met when his mom decided to go back to college, he was in almost all her classes. Now his dad and his mom had been together since they were in middle school and got married a couple years before they brought Patton into the world.

“Patton, honey are you ok?” His mom's voice broke him out of his trance.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.” He lied pulling a smile on his face. He noticed how his moms face faltered and her slight glance towards his male parents.

“Well, we have something we need to discuss with you. But, if today isn’t a good day we can always just talk about it tomorrow.” She suggested, she ran a hand through her red hair that was a little blonder than Patton’s.

“No, today’s a good day. I guess I’m just a little tired is all.” He shrugged,

“Alright, well you know how we’ve been trying to get matched with a kid to foster for a while, right?” Pa asked. Patton turned his head to the tallest in the room.

“Yeah, did we get matched?!” He asked excitedly, the clouds in his head seemed to lift.

“Yes, all we know for now is that its a boy around your age.” His dad said, but Patton couldn’t stop smiling. What would having a brother be like? They could become best friends, and maybe he could get him to try his food…

“We don’t want to say a definite yes to anything if you aren’t completely comfortable with the idea.” His mom pushed her plate away to fold her hands together in its place.

“We don’t want you to say yes because you feel like you should. Your happiness is our priority, alright bud?” Pa smiled, Patton just nodded and sat back. In all honesty, Patton often felt lonely even with all of his parents. Maybe it was because he had no friends, and maybe this foster sibling could be a new start for him. This time Patton would face his fears and try to make a friend.

“I… I would like to have a sibling.”

***

A/N: Ooooh, weak ending. I’m sorry. I promise that Roman is going to be in the next chapter. Maybe we’ll get an explaination on why he acted the way he did as a child, maybe not.

#analogical #royality #sanders sides fic #sanders sides fanfiction #virgil sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #tw: bullying #tw: food #nesa writes

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feelsgood-anon · 6 years

Text

Eros - Bar AU [Season 2] Chapter 6

DISCLAIMER: THIS PIECE IS A MYSTIC MESSENGER AU. IT IS HEAVILY INSPIRED BY THE AMERICAN SITCOM CHEERS, A SHOW CENTERED AROUND A BOSTON BAR CALLED CHEERS AND IT’S REGULARS. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP AS MUCH OF CANON PERSONALITIES WITH ALL THE MYSTIC MESSENGER CHARACTERS JUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS AN AU AND A FEW THINGS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN IN GAME OR YOUR HEADCANONS. THIS HAS BEEN FUN TO PLAN AND I HOPE YOU FIND A BIT OF JOY READING IT!

PG13+ FOR SWEARIN’ AND BOOZIN’.

[Season 1]

[Season 2] | Prologue | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5p1 | Ch. 5p2 | Ch. 6 | Ch.7

“Sugar, this is your sixth glass, are you sure you don't want to talk about things?” Zen asked, worry riddled across his expression. It wasn’t much the amount that the other man was drinking but the rate of consumption. It had scarce been an hour and Sugar was well into finishing an entire bottle of wine by himself.

Sugar waved his hand in dismissal, “There is nothing to talk about. Simply put, Clicks is once again covering for his sorry excuse for a girlfriend. Now if you will please pour me another drink we can continue on with the night.”

Zen sighed as he did what he was asked, begrudgingly handing his friend the wine. He knew better than to badger him but it pained him to see Sugar in such an agitated mood. He couldn’t blame the other for being in this state: the second day of being in the hospital, Clicks refused to speak of the incident as he told Jumin he would and shortly after was moved from the ICU which allowed Goldie to see him freely. Sugar got no answers from Clicks and let the woman dictate the incident all over again with little resistance.

“Is he at least doing better? I know he was in a lot of pain initially. Wasn’t he being sent home soon?” Zen dared to ask, hoping that talking about Click’s condition would be a better way to approach things.” Sugar sighed, a glossy haze in his eyes, “Mmm, yes. His pain is gone and he was discharged last night. I’m glad as he was getting very anxious being in the hospital for more than a week.” His gaze focused on the glass, running his fingers along the rim, “If he weren’t so damn stubborn, none of this would have happened.”

Jingle~

“Clicks!”

They both looked towards the door, Sugar frowning deeply, “Clicks, what the hell are you doing here? You should be at home resting.” Clicks smiled and said hello to those that greeted him, slowly making his way farther into the bar with his walking aid, “I wanted to speak with you, but you weren’t answering your phone. I figured you’d be down here.”

Zen made his way around the bartop to quickly make his way to Clicks’ side, “Hey! Welcome back! Let me help you to your seat.”

“Thank you, Zen. It may take some getting used to walking around here. At least I sit in the same spot every night, yes?” He chuckled as he allowed Zen to lead him, “But I’m sure I will have no trouble knowing the layout of this place. You’d think I could make it just fine, seeing as I’m here rather often.”

Sugar clenched his jaw when Clicks sat next to him, “It is far too early for you to be up and about, and you certainly shouldn’t be drinking. I am calling a driver immediately to-”

“Clicks!” Sunny cried out from behind them, running to give him a big hug, “I’m so glad you are okay! Everyone was so worried!”

He laughed softly, placing his arms on top of hers that had wrapped around him, “That’s very kind of you to have concerns for me, but rest easy knowing that I am doing much better. Everything should be normal in no time.”

“Except for the fact that you can’t see.” Sugar hissed, “I wouldn’t exactly call that normal.”

Clicks sighed as he hesitantly reached to put his hand on Sugar’s shoulder, “Please, let’s have a conversation. The pool tables look empty, come talk to me.”

Even though Sugar scoffed at the request, he stood up and grabbed Clicks’ arm to drag him to the back. Sunny frowned as they left, walking around the back of the bar top, “I’m glad he’s out of the hospital, but it’s still sad that all of that happened to him.” She wrapped her arms around her torso, “I’m still worried since Sugar has been acting the way he has.”

“Things are a bit on edge, aren’t they?” Zen said as he walked over to her, “I believe that Sugar will get things under control, he’s good for that at least.” He reached his hand over to rustle the top of her head, “Have some faith!”

Cannon had crept around them, standing very close to Sunny, “Yeah, you don’t have to worry about them. They are both being stupid right now so let them fight it out. If it’s not one thing, it’s the other.” He tried to put a hand on her arm in a form of comfort but she brushed him off, “They aren’t being stupid, it was an unfortunate event! Clicks could have ended up worse!” She stepped away from him to get closer to Zen, “That’s really insensitive of you to say, Cannon!” “He didn’t mean it like that, Sunny. It’s really nice that you are worried about them. I’m sure they appreciate you thinking about them.” Zen outstretched his arm to allow her to lean into him if she wished, “Clicks is strong and will get through this!”

Sunny sighed and put her arm around Zen’s waist to hug his now open side, “I know, thanks Zen. I just can’t help it, I want to help so badly!”

Cannon frowned as she took Zen’s comfort over his, “I’m so sorry that I don’t baby people. That’s your job. If they grew a pair, they wouldn’t be in this situation!” He snatched his ticket book from the counter, “I’ll let you two be sappy together, don’t let me get in the way!”

Before Zen could get on Cannon’s case, he was distracted by hearing the elevated volume of Sugar’s voice. He pulled away from Sunny and made his way towards the back quickly. Sugar had been leaned against a pool table, hands gripping tightly along the edge. “You’re really going to continue telling me the same story she tells? The only thing I want is the truth!” “It was an accident, what do you want me to say? I know you want to blame her so badly but It was my fault. I shouldn’t have-”

“You are not that careless!” Sugar interupted, slamming a hand on the felt of the table, “Why are you defending her? I’m tired of this, I really am. I’ve spent these years watching you get dragged down by her and I’ve let it happen because I respect you as a friend. But now? I won’t allow it anymore. I demand you tell me the truth and then I expect you to press charges!”

“Respect me?” Clicks hissed in an aggressive whisper, “The only things I ever heard from you were complaints and unsavory comments about my girlfriend. All I ever did was try to keep the peace but that wasn’t enough for you! It hurts, Sugar. I’ve never gotten support from you when it came to my relationship and I needed it!”

“You want me to support you in having a shitty girlfriend? Fine. I give you my blessing. I hope the many years of a miserable life treat you well. Consider this my farewell because I refuse to associate with someone who has no regard for their own safety.” Zen cleared his throat loudly and stood between them, “Okay, enough. Are you even listening to yourself right now, Sugar? You’re threatening to break off your friendship with him before you can really talk about things! The two of you need to just take a breath and talk things out in a calm manner.”

Clicks shook his head and turned to leave, “It’s alright. If this is how he really feels then I will go. I don’t need him, especially now. If you’ll excuse me, I’m heading home. There is nothing left to say.” As tough as he tried to sound, his voice had a slight waiver in it, “Could you help me to the door, Zen?”

“Wait Clicks, I didn’t mean it...” Sugar said, almost pleading.

“Save it, Sugar. I heard you loud and clear. Consider us completely done.” Clicks said softly, “Goodbye, old friend.”

Sugar staggered back until he collided with the wall, the palm of his left hand rubbed along the bottom half of his face. This wasn’t the first time that Clicks had angrily walked away from him, but this was different - it felt definite. The guilt crept through his body knowing that not only was Clicks going through great emotional turmoil but physical disabilities as well.

The minutes before Zen returned felt like hours as Sugar’s head was weighed with all of his ideas on how to fix everything. He had lost his composure, let his emotions drive him to say things he didn’t really mean. Who was he, Zen? The very thought made him scowl but the moment the bartender’s arm slammed him back into the wall, he was quickly knocked back into reality.

“There are a lot of things I just brush off about you, Sugar. You’re arrogant, bossy, and condescending...but this? I won’t just let it slide. What the hell were you thinking to say those things to Clicks? He has enough on his plate and you ripped into him pretty badly.” Zen growled as he had Sugar pinned, “He not only puts up with shit from Goldie, but from you as well.” “I know, I was wrong.” Sugar said flatly, staring past the other man, “I need to go home. I have to figure things out.” “Yeah, figure it out and fix it! He was almost in tears when I got him into the cab. I refuse to have my friends fighting like that, especially you two.” Zen let go of him, straightening out his shirt, “I don’t care if you own this place, I don’t want to see you in here right now.” He took a few deep breaths and exhaled slowly, “I know you are worried about him, but this wasn’t the way to handle things. If you need anything, you can give me a call.”

Sugar nodded slowly as he gathered himself, “I know I’m not in any position to ask for a favor, but please keep in touch with him until I can smooth things over. If he needs anything, help him. He most likely won’t reach out to me at this point.”

Zen shrugged, “That’s not even a favor for you to ask. I would have done it regardless. Go on now, get out of here.” They both walked out from the back and Sunny tried to stop Sugar to speak to him but he ignored her to head out the door. She frowned, turning to Zen, “Is everything okay?”

He sighed, “Not really, but I hope they will be. Damn, it’s things like this that make me want to have a drink.”

“Excuse me?!” She exclaimed as she stomped towards him, “I don’t think so, mister! I’m watching you like a hawk!”

“It was a joke, Sunny. Relax!” He laughed and put his arm around her shoulders, “I just hate seeing things like this unfold the way they did.”

She huffed as she put her arm around his waist, “Not a funny joke…” Looking towards the door, she frowned, “I hope things turn around too. It’s not the same when they aren’t in here enjoying themselves.”

From across the bartop, Cannon was fuming as he saw them being so friendly. He had no idea what they were talking about but the sight of them with their arms around each other irritated him greatly, “I’m going home. It’s slow, and you don’t need me.”

Zen’s head snapped to look at him, “What? You’re supposed to be here until closing time! Are you feeling sick?”

“Yeah, sick of seeing you two.” He grumbled as he removed his apron, “I should check on Red since he’s under the weather. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Before Zen could further lecture him, he walked out of the bar.

Sunny tilted her head, “What’s his deal?”

Zen let go of her and made his way towards the beer kegs to refill a few drinks, “If I knew, I would be able to control him a bit more.” After he distributed the glasses, he lifted himself up to sit on the counter, “Looks like it’s just you and me tonight, Sunny. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course I don’t mind! Don’t think I’m going to forget your little joke. I’m still keeping an eye on you!” She wagged a finger at him, but leaned forward onto the counter with him, “We’ll be fine, at least.”

taggerino: @zenscrotch @illneverrecover @suzunesays @serensama @kookiedoe @forever-ender

#mystic messenger #Eros Bar AU #mystic messenger fic #mm #mystic messenger au #Zen #Hyun Ryu #Jumin Han #V #Jihyun Kim #Unknown #Saeran Choi #Rika

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terreisa · 6 years

Text

The Savior and The Scoundrel: Crash Into Me

Emma has had a few titles attributed to her in her life: princess, captain, pirate but none sat so heavily on her shoulders as Savior. When fate forces her to step into the role prophesied before her birth the only saving she wants to do is to bring back the man she loves. Fulfilling the Prophecy along the way is an additional reward. Sequel to A Crown and A Captain.

Prologue, Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 9, Ch 10

ff.net, AO3

“She’s a marvel, isn’t she lass?”

Emma flicked her gaze to Killian for only a moment before it was drawn back to everything around her. It was easier to let herself be awed by the speed at which the scenery whizzed by or the unnatural glow of the helm in front of them than to try and converse with the man beside her.

The car sounded like an animal, even from the inside, as it roared down the roadway. In all the questions they’d asked Regina about the vessels none of them had thought to ask what it was like to travel in one. Emma didn’t exactly understand what made it move but she could still sense that Killian handled it as well as he captained a ship. It also seemed he hadn’t allowed the loss of his hand to hinder him in any way. She didn’t dare observe him long enough to find out.

“Restored her myself,” Killian continued, a proud lilt to his voice. “Hard to find the parts for a ‘74 Firebird in the middle of nowhere Maine but the Jolly’s well worth it. That’s what I named her, Jolly, from-”

“It’s a pirate ship,” Emma blurted out, amused despite herself.

The Jolly Roger was a famed ship in their realm but had been sunk by the Dark One over two hundred years before. She looked over at Killian to see if there was any spark of recognition at all and found him beaming at her.

“Fan of Captain Hook are you?” He asked gleefully with an arch of his brow. His hook tapped the helm sharply, “I hope you weren’t fooled by the waxed mustache and permed buffoon of the Disney ilk, lass. The man Barrie described is a far more dashing rapscallion if I do say so myself.”

Emma hummed noncommittally as she once more looked out at the passing scenery. She didn’t know what a disney or a perm was and suspected that Barrie was some kind of writer but she didn’t want to expose her ignorance by commenting about it. The last thing she wanted was Killian thinking she was a simpleton.

“Now,” he said easily, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen between them, “Should I ask you about your seeming vendetta against Mayor Viridans or where you’ve been this past week? How about that injured shoulder or how you found yourself in the company of the town pariah? Or we could start easier and you can tell me where you’re from.”

“I’m from nowhere special,” she said with a huff, trying to quell the panic his questions had stirred.

“Well, that could mean one of two things: either you’re from a small somewhere that even I couldn’t find on a map or it’s exactly as you say, nowhere,” he said thoughtfully, hook tapping a disjointed rhythm on the helm. “Caught up in the system were you? Would explain the ability to disappear and reappear as you do, your hesitance around me, might also explain some of your ire towards Viridans.”

“And you’ve figured me out so easily?” Emma grumbled, risking looking at him again.

“You’re something of an open book, lass,” he said with a careless shrug.

“Am I?” She asked, uneasily.

“Quite-” he flashed her a halfhearted grin. “You’ve got that look in your eye of someone that’s been left alone, orphaned. Abandoned. I know it well.”

“What about your brother?” Emma asked before she could stop herself.

Killian stiffened, his knuckles going white with the fierceness of his grip on the helm. She hadn’t intended to bring up the brother he had mentioned to Robin but she was intensely curious how that part of his life had been changed. It also served as a way to pull the focus away from herself for the time being.

“And here I thought I’d managed to avoid this conversation altogether,” he said with a forced laugh. The tapping of his hook became almost erratic, “It’s not an especially winsome tale, lass. I’d hate to scare you off.”

“You won’t,” Emma said quietly, aching to touch him and soothe away the pain she could both see and hear.

“My brother was a stubborn ass who got himself killed because he crossed the wrong people,” Killian growled. “We weren’t close and at each other’s throats more often than not but he was blood. I promised myself I’d bring his killers to justice one way or another.”

“Is that why you were upset with Archer?” Emma asked, remembering the animosity Killian had shown towards Robin.

“I have every right to be upset when the sheriff’s office is firmly in the pocket of the one who ordered my brother to be killed,” he spat out angrily, almost loud enough to drown out the roar of the car.

“What was his name?” She asked softly, taken aback by his rage but not afraid of it.

“Thomas, but everyone called him Tommy.”

Emma dug her nails into her thigh but kept any other physical reaction from showing. It was awful enough that Zelena had stripped everything from him but that she had further twisted his already painful memories of Thompson’s death was too much. She struggled to keep her breathing even, not wanting Killian to sense her distress and think that he was the cause.

“You may not have been close but I can tell that you loved him very much,” she murmured once she was certain her voice would remain steady.

“And it’s brought me nothing but misery,” Killian said gruffly. He brought them to a rough stop and pointed out past her shoulder, “Granny’s Diner as requested.”

Looking out to where he pointed Emma saw a somewhat tall stone building with tables out front hedged in by a small green fence. Through the large windows could see a few people sitting inside. As she watched two people walked out and she caught a glimpse of even more people sitting at a bar top. It looked similar to a tavern but much cleaner and without the rabble that was usually found in them. She turned back to Killian and was somewhat shocked to see that he wasn’t watching her as he had been every other moment he had been free to.

“Are you- are you not joining me?”

He barely spared her a glance, “I never said that I would.”

“Oh. Right.”

Emma could feel the heat of a blush at her assumption and the realization that she had stumbled upon a deep wound of his. It only grew hotter as she realized she had no idea how to escape from the car. She hesitantly reached toward one of the few metal attachments on the door when Killian’s arm reached across her and pulled at the one slightly above it. The door clicked open and she could feel the cool morning air seeping in.

“Thank you,” she said embarrassed, pushing the door open further.

“These older models are a bit tricky,” Killian said with an odd tone.

She looked back and saw that he was watching her again. He quickly turned forward, the corner of his mouth twitching towards a frown.

“I-” stopping short Emma shook her head and stepped out onto the walkway. She bent down to look back into the car, “I guess I’ll be seeing you around, Jones.”

“Quite,” he said succinctly, his gaze focused ahead of him.

With a sigh she shut the door, stepping back quickly when he sent the car shooting forward almost immediately. She watched him disappear around a corner with a squeal and silently berated herself for sticking her foot in her mouth, no matter how inadvertent it had been. Her only hope was that he would seek her out again, if only to get the answers the questions that she had so far avoided answering.

The sound of tinkling bell had her turning back to the building where a couple was laughing together as they left. Emma looked curiously at the impossibly bright, glowing signs proclaiming all manner of things but the one posted above the door clearly showed that despite Killian’s irritation at her he had brought her to the right place. Gathering up her courage she walked under the words ‘Granny’s Diner’ and stepped up to let herself into the establishment.

She stopped just inside the door to take in her new surroundings when she realized several things at once: the smells of several different foods wafting together was nearly overwhelming, it was far too warm without a hearth or stove in sight, and nearly every person she saw was someone she recognized. Two of the dwarves, Grumpy and Sleepy, were sitting at opposite ends of the bar, Little John was scowling over a bowl of porridge at a tiny two person table, her mother’s loyal knight Lancelot was sitting alone at a large table in the corner reading a book, and King Thomas and Princess Ella’s daughter Princess Charlotte was weaving between them all serving food and taking orders. Then, pushing out of a swinging door leading to the back, Emma saw Red and had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out or simply launching herself into her arms.

Red was wearing the same clothing as Charlotte was, severely shortened red pants and a crisp white buttoned shirt, but with a dark burgundy knitted sweater worn open over it. Her lips were painted a red, not dissimilar to the pants she had on, her long brown hair was pulled back into a severe, twisted coil at the back of her head and there were red rimmed spectacles perched on her nose. Altogether it made her appear as though she was trying to look youthful but maturity had snuck upon her anyway.

“Are you staying or are you going girly? I ain’t paying the bill to heat up half of Main Street,” Red barked at her.

“Sorry,” Emma said meekly as she stepped fully into the room, aware that all eyes had turned to her.

“Sit wherever you like,” Charlotte said with a wave of her hand. She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “Just not near Leroy, he’s a big crank when he hasn’t had his third cup of coffee yet.”

“I heard that, sister,” Grumpy growled, not looking up from his plate of rashers.

“See?” Charlotte giggled. “Go on, I’ll bring you a menu.”

Emma walked in a daze to a table near the back. She eyed the fixed bench seats with apprehension before sitting on the side facing the door, not wanting to be caught by surprise by another familiar face. Charlotte approached with an overly large shiny pamphlet in her hands just as she was trying to figure out what the stiff cushion at her back was made of with her elbow.

“We serve the whole menu all day if you’re not feeling in a breakfast-y food kind of mood. We are out of the chicken fried steak until later so sorry ‘bout that,” Charlotte said as she placed the pamphlet in front of her. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Uh-” Emma looked down at the pamphlet quickly and saw only amazingly realistic drawings of bizarre looking food drawn across it. She balked and asked for something that nearly every tavern had for their morning patrons, “Tea?”

“Sure,” Charlotte said with a nod, “Iced or hot?”

“Er, hot?” she asked confused even further by the other option.

“Cool. I’ll be back with that in a jiff. Oh, my name’s Becca if you need anything!”

“Thank you,” Emma mumbled.

She surreptitiously glanced around the room and was relieved that no one was paying her any mind. There were a few other people that she didn’t recognize, her gaze sliding over them as though they weren’t there at all. As much as she tried not to she found herself watching Red as she moved to and fro behind the bar. Gone was the lupine grace Emma had always envied and instead she was limping slightly, as though she was favoring one leg over the other. Also missing was her ever present smile, replaced instead by a grim frown.

“Here ya’ go,” Charlotte said, blocking her view as she placed a mug of hot water, a small, open box of paper sachets and a saucer with two slices of lemon and a container of what looked to be honey in front of her. “Ready to order?”

Emma quickly looked down at the menu. She was perplexed by the various offerings: things called burgers, lasagna, omelettes and the pictures were of no help. Thinking back to what she’d seen Little John eating she was about to order a porridge for herself when someone slid onto the bench across from her. Looking up she couldn’t help but scowl at the fact that Killian had once again caught her unawares, this time with a grin on his face.

“Two grilled cheese, fries for me and onion rings for her. Didn’t order a drink for me lass?” Killian asked with a mock pout. He winked at her before turning to Charlotte, his grin back in place, “A coffee for me, darling, and I want it from the pot crotchety ol’ Lucas makes for herself, not the swill she serves the rest of us.”

“Um, okay,” Charlotte mumbled looking wide-eyed and pale.

“Hook, stop terrorizing my waitress,” Red growled out from behind the bar, glaring at him.

“Apologies, Lady Lucas,” Killian drawled.

He casually draped his arms across the back of his bench, clearly sensing there was no bite behind Red’s bark. Charlotte skittered away without another word. Emma was left seething and Killian’s cavalier grin just angered her more.

“I can order for myself,” she hissed, leaning towards him so her voice wouldn’t carry.

“Undoubtedly,” he remarked with a shrug. “But I wager you were going to order something other than onion rings and I already told you they’re the best in the state.”

“You scared off the wai-waitress,” Emma said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word but letting her annoyance push her through any embarrassment.

“The girl could use a dose of fear now and then. From what I understand she has a bit of a rebellious streak,” Killian whispered conspiratorially, dropping his arms to the table and leaning towards her. “I’d bet you had quite the rebellious streak yourself, lass.”

“You left,” she said instead of responding to his taunt.

“I-” Killian stopped short, his grin slipping off his face. He sat back and blew out a breath, “Poor form that when you’re such a babe in the woods.”

“Excuse me!” Emma snapped indignantly

“Don’t misunderstand me lass and just listen to what I have to say for the moment.”

Emma gave him a terse nod and sat back as well, keeping a wary eye on him. He seemed almost surprised she agreed so quickly as his eyes widened and he scratched at the back of his neck with his hook. With the movement she realized that he wasn’t wearing his coat and wondered if perhaps she should take off hers as well. Then she noticed that his right cuff was undone and his shirtsleeve was pushed back enough to show the dark markings of a tattoo, one that definitely hadn’t been there when he’d been taken from their realm. She was staring at it curiously when he cleared his throat.

“How about a proposal, lass?”

She tried not to blush at his turn of phrase, steadying herself before answering with narrowed eyes.

“What?”

“An answer for an answer,” he said easily, his hook fiddling with the opposite sleeve. He paused as Charlotte brought his coffee and then left them again, his eyes never leaving her, “You know I have questions for you and I’m sure you have some of your own. I propose that we ask our respective questions but for every answer not given the other is afforded the same courtesy. Sound fair?”

It sounded more than fair to her. She was being given the opportunity to not only find out about his cursed life but to finally find out where his allegiances lied. With her decision so quickly she set about making her tea to not seem so eager. What she didn’t count on was trying to figure out exactly how to make her tea with the sachets instead of the loose leaf or bricks of tea she was used to.

“Need help?” Killian asked, laughter in his voice.

“I’ve got it,” she muttered as she picked one of the sachets up and cautiously peeled the paper open to reveal another smaller fine net sachet inside that held her tea. She pulled the tea filled sachet out and dropped it in her still steaming mug, “I agree but on one condition.”

“And what’s that lass?”

She looked up at him and made sure to catch his gaze with her own, “If I think you’re lying we’re done. Even if you think it’s for my own good. Understand?”

“Completely. The same goes for you as well.”

At that moment Charlotte returned with their meals. She quickly set down the two plates of what looked like toasted, buttery breads with browned rings of some sort on hers and golden sticks on Killians. Emma poked dubiously at the rings.

“It’s food, you eat it,” Killian said in the same odd tone he’d used when he’d let her out of his car.

“Obviously,” she said with a roll of her eyes, picking up the bread instead. She was surprised to see melted cheese between the slices, “Do you want to ask first or should I?”

Killian contemplated her as she took her first bite. She had to stop herself from taking a second, larger one as the flavors rolled over her tongue. As it was she was already wondering if she could convince Grace to make it for supper later that night.

“Where are you from?”

Emma coughed, the question taking her off-guard as she was swallowing. With watering eyes she took a small sip of her tea and tried in vain to come up with a reasonable answer.

“Somewhere far from here,” she finally answered honestly if not completely truthful.

“Not quite a lie but I’ll let it slide, lass,” he tsked.

“How long have you lived here?” She shot back.

“Nigh on 15 years. Every time I planned my escape something kept me here like an anchor around my neck. How did you get here?”

“A ship,” she said with a grin, happy to give him a truthful answer. She took another bite of her bread and cheese and spoke around her mouthful, “And yes that’s where I’ve been staying.”

“Not fair, lass, now you’re a question up on me,” Killian said with an exaggerated frown, grabbing four of the sticks on his plate and eating them all at once.

“Should I go easy on you, then?”

Killian raised his brow before giving her a salacious grin, “I think you’ll find I prefer a challenge. Go on lass, ask what you’d really like to know.”

Emma didn’t want to risk upsetting or offending him by asking the wrong thing but her mind kept circling around to the same two questions. It was a matter between her heart or her head but she wanted to know about his wife and needed to know about his dealings with Zelena. She absentmindedly ate two of the rings on her plate as she contemplated what to ask before realizing it was a cooked onion that she was eating.

“This is the best? It’s onions!” She half whispered, not wanting Red to think she was criticizing the food.

“It’s an onion ring,” Killian said with an amused chuckle. Then his smile faded, “I have a question, lass, but I won’t go out of turn. Ask me yours.”

She dropped her eyes to her plate but quickly looked back up at him. She needed to see his eyes when she asked her question.

“Who ordered your brother to be killed?”

Killian flinched but his gaze didn’t waver, “The same woman I stopped you from attacking the last time we met. Mayor Viridans.”

“How are you planning on getting your revenge?” She asked cooly, even though she wanted nothing more than to jump up and crow that she had been right all along.

“By any means necessary,” he growled. Then, somehow, he focused even more intently on her, “My turn, where are you from and why are you after Viridans?”

Emma winced harder than Killian had and found she couldn’t keep eye contact with him as she answered only one of his questions, “She took someone from me and she has to pay.”

“Then it appears we’re bound together in this endeavor, lass,” Killian said solemnly. She looked up and found he was leaning towards her again, “If you’ll have me of course.”

“I-” she stopped short, swallowing thickly.

It was her chance to be near him, to help find himself again and she couldn’t believe she was hesitating. Then she saw the hopeful, warm look in his eyes and she remembered the other questions she’d had. The ones regarding his wife and their life together under the curse. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to let him down, even if it meant putting shackles on her heart.

“I don’t want attention drawn to me or what we’re doing,” Emma said fiercely in a low voice. “That woman has taken nearly everything from me and won’t be satisfied until she takes it all. Understand?”

“Perfectly,” Killian said with a nod, his eyes darting quickly around the room and then back to her. He opened his mouth, then closed it before seeming to argue with himself for a moment and then asked, “Why won’t you tell me where you’re from?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I did-” she gave him what she knew was a heartbroken smile and focused on eating more of her food.

He eventually followed suit and they ate in silence. Emma worried that she’d lost whatever ground she’d made with him as she sipped her tea sullenly. With no magic whatsoever in the town she knew any mention of portals, curses, and different realms would have him thinking she was mad and could not be trusted. She’d rather have him suspicious of her motives than not believing her at all.

“One day, lass, I’ll get you to trust me,” Killian said suddenly.

“You think I don’t trust you? I promise you that I trust you,” Emma said vehemently. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “There are things I can’t tell you now but I will, in time. I just need you to trust me.”

She startled as she felt the warmth of his hand wrap around hers. Opening her eyes she found him looking at her with a seriousness she had yet to see from him in his cursed life.

“I can’t explain it and I know we barely know each other but I do trust you. I think I have from the moment you threw yourself at me down at the docks-” he squeezed her hand and she found it suddenly hard to breathe. “You can have your secrets for now. I can be patient.”

“Thank you,” she breathed out unsteadily. Casting about for anything to ease the tightness in her throat she once again noticed the ink stained onto Killian’s arm. She flipped over his hand and tapped at his wrist, “What’s this?”

“A fairly recent acquisition,” he said with a gentle grin, as though sensing her need to change the subject. He pushed his sleeve up with his hook to reveal what looked like stars arranged into a constellation she didn’t recognize along his entire forearm, “Got it on a drunken whim not long after I lost my hand. Had no rhyme or reason for picking this constellation but I quite like it all the same.”

“What constellation is it?” She asked, barely able to keep herself from tracing the pattern the stars made.

“Cygnus-”

“The swan,” she said brokenly.

Emma felt her lower lip begin to tremble as tears gathered in her eyes. She hastily pulled her hand out of Killian’s grasp and clenched her hands in her lap, focusing on them as she tried to get ahold of herself. Even with his memories of her lost to the curse it was clear that some part of him still sought out a piece of her. It took everything in her to not spill their story to him right then and there.

“What have you done to upset the girl Hook?”

Emma looked up and found Red standing at their table, glaring at Killian. He was scowling right back but when he looked at her it was with concern in his eyes.

“He didn’t do anything,” Emma assured her. Her eyes flit over Red as she tried to take in any changes their year apart had brought, “I, uh, was just reminded of something. It had nothing to do with him.”

“I’d keep my distance from him if I were you,” Red warned, still glaring at Killian. “I can tell you’re new in town and probably haven’t heard that Hook here is the last person you should associate with.”

“Then I guess you haven’t heard that I’m here to help him find his brother’s murderer,” she snapped back, angry despite herself. Red had been the one pushing her towards Killian in the first place and to hear her speaking so vehemently against him was too much to bear, “So unless you have something to tell me about that I think you should keep your opinions to yourself.”

Red trained her glare on her, nostrils flaring. Emma glared right back. She had spent her entire life at the receiving end of that glare for one reason or another and no longer quailed beneath it. With a huff Red stalked away from their table leaving Emma smirking in her wake.

“I’m impressed!” Killian chuckled. Looking at him she saw him smiling widely at her in awe, “There are few in this town who would stand up to Ruby Lucas and even fewer who would do it while sitting in her diner eating her food. I’d wager you’re a bit of a rebel.”

“Pirate actually,” she mumbled under her breath all while grinning slightly at his praise.

“And seeing as how you’ve defended my honor the least I can do is offer to pay for your meal. Of course it might also go towards making up for ordering for you in the first place.”

Killian’s brows lifted in amusement as he downed the rest of his coffee. He produced a small, folding leather pouch from somewhere on his person and pulled out several green pieces of parchment, tossing them on the table. Emma was left wondering how anyone could pay for things with something that looked as though it could easily be forged with some paint and ink when she realized Killian had gotten up from their table and was pulling his coat back on. She stood as well, glancing around the room only to notice everyone turning quickly back to their meals or companions, acting as though they hadn’t been staring. Only Charlotte and Red continued to watch them from their places behind the bar.

“Don’t go minding them now, lass,” Killian whispered from behind her. “Between your run in with the altruistic Archer and putting the gossipy Lucas in her place the whole town will have a measure on you. Best keep up with appearances.”

Emma felt her stomach turn to lead. She had broken nearly every promise she’d made when she’d proposed returning to shore. There was almost no doubt that Zelena would not only hear about the commotion her and Regina had created at the docks but also the way she had back talked to Red when it seemed no one else had the gall to do so. Her only hope was that she and Regina would be back on the Jewel before Zelena started sweeping through the town looking for her.

She let Killian lead her out the door and out on to the walkway, ignoring the feeling of being watched. Trying not to give into paranoia she casually began walking in a direction she hoped lead away from the docks. There weren’t many people out but she eyed them warily nonetheless, not knowing who would talk to whom about her movements through the town. It was only a slight comfort to have Killian walking at her side.

“Why did she call you Hook?” Emma asked after a few moments.

“Ah, still going with the questions are we?” Killian said with a resigned smile. He brought his hook up, opening the pinchers twice before lowering it again, “A bit obvious that one.”

“No,” Emma chided, fixing him with a serious eye, “Why did she call you Hook?”

“I’m afraid that’s the answer you get for now, lass,” he answered, though not unkindly. “Consider it an equal for not telling me where you’re from.”

“Fair enough,” she said with a shrug.

“But that will have some answers for you.”

He nodded at something across the roadway. Emma looked and saw a clocktower looming over the street. She instantly knew it was the one Regina had said hadn’t moved until they’d arrived. What she didn’t understand was why Killian thought it would give her answers.

“I don’t remember asking what time it was,” she quipped, crossing her arms looking pointedly at him and then back at the clock.

“It’s what’s underneath, lass,” Killian said with a roll of his eyes.

He strode across the roadway without waiting for her. Emma caught up with him as he pulled open a door that was directly beneath the clock tower. Stepping inside she found herself in a vestibule of sorts with a large metal door on one side, a waist high counter on the other and an open doorway directly ahead of her. She could just make out what looked like shelves full of books when Killian let the door close behind him with a bang.

“Booth! I’ve got something for you!”

From the depths of the other room a very familiar voice called back, “Dammit Hook you were supposed to be here two hours ago. I can’t keep covering for you when-”

Pinocchio stepped into the room with several books under his arm looking cross when he stopped short at the sight of them. His eyes widened and then narrowed as he took her in before crossing behind the counter and slamming the books down. Emma for her part was beyond pleased to have found him so easily but schooled her features into a look of mild curiosity.

“I told you I’m done being set up by you,” Pinocchio grumbled.

“Ah, no,” Killian said quickly. His ears turned red as he scratched at the back of his neck, “Eva here is looking for some answers.”

“Really?” Pinocchio said in disbelief. He looked back at her with newfound appreciation, “Nice to meet you Eva. I’m August, town librarian and amateur town historian, what can I help you with?”

“Uh, I guess anything you can tell me about the town to start?” she asked, looking helplessly at Killian, unprepared to talk to Pinocchio at such a moment’s notice.

“Particularly anything to do with how our overlord came into power,” Killian continued. He leaned over the counter and started poking at a thin black box, “Perhaps you’ve a book or two about private detectives, true ones not your ridiculous pulp novels. Let’s see, any county, state and federal laws concerning wrongful deaths, missing persons, and go ahead and throw in kidnapping for fun. Also a copy of Peter Pan if you will.”

“Peter...” Pinocchio closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I thought I said I was done trying to help you with your goddamn crusade to pin Tommy’s death on Viridans, Hook. You have no proof.”

“I have plenty of proof,” Killian growled. He looked back at Emma for a moment and then took a deep breath as he faced Pinocchio again, “Eva’s here to help me finally prove it to everyone else. The books, if you please.”

Pinocchio stared between the two of them, as though trying to read the truth in their eyes. Finally he shrugged and motioned for them to follow him back the way he had entered the room. Killian motioned for her to go before him with an encouraging nod.

As she entered the room that housed the library Emma had a thousand and one questions flying through her mind. Unlike Red or Charlotte Pinocchio seemed to be a friend of sorts to Killian even though he too called him Hook. He also moved with a quickness and ease she hadn’t seen from him since they were much younger. It left her wondering at the encompassing power of the curse that it could completely mask his own personal curse and the pain it had constantly caused him.

The library was small, no more than twenty or so short rows of books. A couple of large tables ran down the middle of the room separating one set of bookshelves from the other. With a quick look down one of the rows Emma was shocked to see a surprising number of half filled or completely empty shelves. She turned to make a comment about it to Killian but saw him running his fingers fondly across the spines of books on a small cart to his right. It was a dizzying reminder of all the times she had found him idling away his hours reading in Sherwood Forest or trying to track him down in the immense ice library in Arendelle’s castle.

“Have a seat,” Pinocchio said, rapping one of the tables with his knuckles.

He darted off down a row leaving her with a chuckling Killian.

“How do you know him?” Emma asked as she sat. It was one of the few questions that was relatively harmless to pose.

“Went to school together,” he said, shaking his head. He gave her reassuring smile, “We didn’t really move in the same circles but Storybrooke High is small and it’s impossible not to know everyone in your class. Don’t worry, you can trust him.”

“I know,” she said simply, reveling in the pleased look he gave in return.

“You know you can Google half this shit right?” Pinocchio grumbled as he strode out from a different row than he’d disappeared down with a few books already under his arm.

“Perhaps, but we prefer the hard stuff,” Killian said with a waggle of his eyebrows at her.

Both her and Pinocchio rolled their eyes at him. A pang struck Emma as she remembered similar exchanges between the three of them back in their land. Her melancholy was tempered however by the clear camaraderie Killian and Pinocchio had with each other. If nothing else she was glad they’d had each other’s backs in some way under the curse.

Pinocchio set down the books he was holding and dashed away again, effectively preventing her emotions from getting the better of her. She sat and pulled the pile of books towards her. They appeared to be the books about the laws of the land and she wrinkled her nose at the dry sounding titles. Killian snorted above her, clearly reading over her shoulder and being amused at her reaction to them.

“Not the most titillating of reads but I find it’s easier to get away with breaking the law when you know exactly which ones you’re breaking,” he boasted. She looked up at him with narrowed eyes and he gave a shrug, “Come now lass, you know perfectly well you weren’t throwing your lot in with a saint.”

Emma wasn’t sure what a saint was but understood the general meaning behind the word. She hummed something that wasn’t a complete acknowledgement that he was right and turned back to the books. Killian chuckled and pulled out the chair next to her when a voice called out from the vestibule.

“Booth, come out of those dusty shelves! I need a word!”

She was about to ask Killian who it was when things started moving faster than she could keep up with. Pinocchio came running out of the stacks, haphazardly dropping all the books in his hand but one on the table before walking quickly but calmly towards the vestibule flapping his free hand at them from behind his back. Killian had grabbed her arm in a vice-like grip when Pinocchio had run by and he was frantically tugging at her to get her attention. When she looked at him she saw his jaw ticking in agitation and a fire in his eyes.

“I don’t have time to explain but I can’t be seen anywhere near here,” he said quickly and in a low voice that wouldn’t carry, “I trust August with my life, he’ll look after you. You’ll be okay.”

Before she could utter a sound he snuck away leaving her behind, stunned and confused. With a huff of annoyance she stood from the table and as quietly as she could she crossed back to the open doorway, keeping care to stay out of sight.

“-just couldn’t find money in the budget for a new computer. Maybe you should focus on getting more donations next year instead.”

Emma recognized the voice as the one belonging to the man Walsh that had been at Regina’s cottage. She pressed herself closer to the wall and listened all the more carefully.

“How magnanimous of you Sheriff to come down here to tell me this instead of having the budget committee give me a call or even send an email. Which they did, after their meeting, yesterday. Unless of course you’re here to do more than deliver a message I’ve already received. Come to check on things? Burn some books perhaps?”

To anybody that didn’t know him Pinocchio sounded as though he were merely annoyed, his tone mocking but Emma knew better. They had been friends for all of her life and she could hear the scalding fury beneath his words. She marvelled at how quickly Walsh had been able to strike a nerve in only the few minutes he had been talking to Pinocchio.

“As long as you aren’t checking out any of the books on the school district’s banned list to the students again you should be fine,” Walsh intoned blandly. “I just came here to let you know about the budget.”

She heard what sounded like a double tap of a hand on wood and hard-heeled footsteps walking away from her position. Then they stopped.

“By the way, you haven’t happened to come across any visitors have you?”

“Visitors?” Pinocchio said so flatly it was barely a question.

“Yes, anyone saying they’re from out of town or-” Emma could hear the footsteps begin again, walking slowly toward her, “-someone you’ve never seen before. Strangers if you will.”

“Why would they come here? The Visitor’s Center is at City Hall.”

Pinocchio’s voice sounded too calm, almost rehearsed. She cursed under her breath at the chances that even with different life in his head he still couldn’t lie.

“A library is a place to gather information, is it not?”

Walsh’s voice was close, too close. Emma held her breath and hoped he wouldn’t take another step.

“Maybe ten years ago,” Pinocchio said drolly, but much less wooden. “Everyone has a phone to look up all that crap now. The only people who come here are the old folks from Sunset Storybrooke and they’re not coming back until next week.”

“And you want a new computer?” Walsh’s voice became just the slightest bit quieter and Emma hoped he had turned back towards the door leading out. “Now I can see why the budget committee keeps denying you the funds. If you see anyone you’ll let me know?”

“Oh, of course,” Pinocchio said snarkily.

The footsteps started up again, leading away from her hiding spot, “By the way the school board voted in favor of expanding the banned book list. You’ll find that one right at the top.”

The sound of the front door opening and closing had her noisily releasing the breath she’d been holding. Her head swam as black spots danced before her eyes. When her vision cleared Pinocchio was standing in front of her frowning slightly.

“Am I going to end up in jail because of you?”

“Not if I can help it,” she promised, looking him in the eye to show how serious she was.

“Well then-” he sighed, rocking back on his heels, “I guess that’s as good as it’ll get. Here, I guess it won’t matter if this isn’t on the shelves for a while.”

He handed her a book before brushing past her back into the library. She watched him go, aching to talk to him as she had all her life about everything that had happened and everything that was happening. Instead she sighed sadly and looked at the book in her hands.

It appeared to be a book meant for children, the illustration on the cover was colorful and it didn’t have an overabundance of pages. The title was written with fake gold leaf on an equally fake leather cover. Turning it over in her hands she was at a loss as to why Killian wanted her to read a book titled Peter and Wendy. Returning to the table the books Pinocchio had retrieved for her she resolved to ask him as much. Whenever their paths happened to cross again that was.

If you’d like to be tagged so you don’t miss future chapters let me know.

Tagging: @teamhook, @galadriel26

#cs ff #cs ff au #cs au ff #captain swan #ouat ff au #savior and scoundrel

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sixtyfourk · 6 years

Note

For the au short fic meme, can I request #25? :o Because library goodness. X3 *squee* (I wonder what sort of books Envy would be interested in, too.)

Hey, this is late and terrible, but I finally got the time to finish writing this! Thank you for humouring me and sending me a prompt! I sort of veered away from library/book reading idea because I got horribly stuck with that route, and went for a more general storytelling idea instead. Also, it’s still pretty Kimvy-ish but I also wound up focusing a lot on Envy’s family (so there’s not as much Kimblee in it… I hope that the parts that he’s in are still satisfactory though!)

Memory’s Mystic Band

“And then what happened?”

Envy’s voice, quiet as it was, broke the spell of silence. Kimblee closed the book, setting it beside him. He got up from his chair, stretching, and stood before the fire. “You’ll have to come back tomorrow night to find out,” he said, smiling down towards the couch.

The nerve. “There isn’t going to be a tomorrow night,” said Envy, smugly enunciating into the couch cushion. “You have a job to do, Crimson Lotus. I hope that–”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Kimblee said lightly. He paced across the narrow apartment, around the coffee table and behind the couch. “I assure you that I won’t be able to rest until the job is done.”

“Then what do you call this, huh?” Envy gestured vaguely towards the book resting on the chairside table. “‘Storytime?’”

“You wanted to be entertained.” Kimblee leaned over the back of the couch, smiling fondly. “Or, at least, I thought you did. Perhaps I was mistaken. You might as well leave right now, so that I can get to work–”

“Wait, wait, hold the phone!” Envy flipped onto their back, looking up. “I never said that I didn’t want to be entertained. Not much work that you can do at night, anyway.”

“My point exactly.” Kimblee sat back down, crossing his legs. “Well then. In what way do you want to be entertained?”

Envy scowled up from the pillow. “You know how. Keep reading, Crimson.” “Ah, but I thought that you didn’t like this sort of thing,” said Kimblee, picking up the dog-eared book. “I thought that human works of art were worthless.”

“That was seven years ago,” said Envy carelessly. “A lot has changed.”

They weren’t going to say exactly what had; it was hard them to put a finger on the reason, actually. But Kimblee knew better than to push Envy further– at least, that’s what they hoped.

Kimblee only chuckled. “So mysterious,” he said. “But it is funny that you would find fairy tales so enjoyable.”

Fairy tales… was that what they were?

Lust hadn’t said what kinds of stories they were. But she had always known so many…

Those were some of the memories that Envy liked best: when Lust would come home from one of her liaisons, and somehow, she and Envy and Greed and, for those last couple of years, Gluttony too, would all pile together and listen to her stories. Things that she’d read in human libraries… she’d always loved to read…

“Read, now,” Envy snapped, flipping back onto their stomach. “I don’t see why I have to tell you twice.”

“No need to be so harsh.” Kimblee raised an eyebrow, but picked up the book nonetheless, leafing through the pages. “There had better be no interruptions, in any case.”

It had always been sort of funny, hearing about mermaids and fairies and things in these stories. After all, they were mythical creatures, full of mystery and magic, and Envy was something like that. They’d always listened to Lust’s lilting voice with what they imagined was a sort of distance, imagining what it would be like to be a simple-minded human, hearing these stories that were far beyond mortal understanding. They’d listened with a sense of superiority– after all, there was no siren more beautiful than Lust. There was no dreadful end for naughty children that was more terrifying than Pride’s shadowy arms choking the life-breath out of you. There was no old hag that was more horrifying than–

***

“Would you just stop, Greed.” It wasn’t even a question at this point, just a quiet statement of defeat.

Greed shrugged casually, leaning back against the wall. “Don’t try to paint me as the bad guy, kid. I’m just trying to help you. There’s lots of ways for you to be a little more–”

“I am well aware that there’s things that you don’t like about me.” Envy drew out the words with a sigh, arms hugging their own body as tightly as possible. “But you don’t always have to point them–”

“Guys.” Greed and Envy looked up from where they sat on the concrete floor. It was Lust, her skirt swishing gracefully around her legs as she walked towards them. “Do you have to make so much noise?” She sat between them, forcing an end to their quarrel. “I managed to make it to the library again today,” she said conversationally, withdrawing a small tome from within her jacket. “If you two will quiet down, I’ll consider reading this to you.”

They knew how to read, the both of them, but there was really nothing like hearing Lust’s quiet, smooth voice reading those pages. Envy looked questioningly towards Greed– they had no desire to continue the fight anyway. Greed’s eyes were unreadable for one moment, and then he shrugged. “Well, why not? But it had better be a new one.”

It was quiet for one moment, as Lust opened the book. “All in the golden afternoon,” she began softly, turning the delicate pages, “Full leisurely we glide…”

As she continued, Envy slowly leaned, bit by bit, against Lust, head against her shoulder. They… wouldn’t do that with anybody else (no one else would accept something like that) but they liked the feeling of her regular breaths, her shoulders rising and falling slowly.

“For both our oars, with little skill, by little arms are plied.”

Greed was quiet too; Envy peered discreetly over Lust to see what he was doing. Their brother rested against the wall, eyes distant. He looked remarkably handsome that way, Envy thought, without his mouth twisted in a sneer and his eyes full of taunting arrogance.

“While little hands make vain pretense our wanderings to guide.”

This was nice.

It was nice to have peace, and quiet, and a warm feeling, ever so rarely.

***

But Lust was gone now; she’d never read to them again; she was a cold pile of ash on the floor of Lab 3. Greed lived, but he was different in all of the wrong ways, and any memories of the few good times that they had had together were lost in the void, gone forever.

But the warm feeling hadn’t quite vanished, and the voice continued, but it wasn’t the same. It was somewhat unsure, hesitant,

“Alice! A childish story take, and with a gentle hand, lay it where Childhood’s dreams are twined in Memory’s mystic band.”

They… were somehow beside him now, head against his shoulder (sharp and angular, nothing like her soft shoulder), and his words pressed forward, lacking in feeling or emotion, other than an audible insistence on getting the words just right.

How had they…

Disgusting, it was disgusting, and Envy wanted to leap up and run away, but they couldn’t, because the poem wasn’t over yet.

Kimblee could sense their stiffness, it seemed, and pressed on, more mechanically than before. “Like pilgrim’s wither’d wreath of flowers pluck’d in a far-off land.” And then he was silent.

Envy jerked up off of the couch, landing unsteadily on their feet. “I’ve had enough entertainment,” they said, staring towards him.

“Alright,” said Kimblee, face blank. He closed the book. “But I don’t see what I did wrong. I was only reading. You were the one who decided to come and sit beside me.” He shrugged. “It’s, of course, all well and good, to dislike physical contact– I’m not all that fond of it myself– but to seek it out and then get upset at me…”

He just had sounded so much like her, just for a little while…

“I’m not upset,” said Envy, refusing to look him in the eye. “Stop saying that I’m upset, because I’m not.”

“Alright,” said Kimblee. They were both quiet for a long moment. Finally, Kimblee coughed, breaking the silence. “I… didn’t get all that much read, actually; that was only the prologue. So if you would like, I can start the first chapter.” He smiled. “And you can sit wherever you’d like to.”

They wanted to leave– it wasn’t acceptable, really it wasn’t acceptable to have shown such weakness. But home was so cold and lonely right now. It was only Gluttony, who Envy tried to watch out for in the same way that Lust had but they just couldn’t measure up to her, and it was only Greed, who Envy had already failed to make a good new impression on, and it was only Pride, who never had a positive word to say and was absent more often than not. And Father, who… Envy wasn’t sure about.

At least with Kimblee they were admired, appreciated. Not like at home.

Envy shrugged casually, purposefully sitting down on the couch across from Kimblee. “Well, why not. I have nothing else to do. But just a little more.”

Kimblee nodded, cracking the book open once again, flipping a few pages in to begin the first chapter.

Kimblee’s voice, reading the pages of Alice, was more enjoyable to listen to now than it had been before; it wasn’t so similar to Lust’s now, and carried a different tone of its own. The nonsensical human “art” that he read almost sounded profound.

Envy stared up at the ceiling, and decided that, if Kimblee wanted to, they’d let him read all night. There was no sense in rushing off before the story was told, after all.

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happy-meo · 7 years

Text

Save Me. (Yoongi x Reader) PROLOGUE.

"It swallowed me, this lunatic. Please save me tonight. Within this childish madness, you will save me tonight." - ["Save Me" - BTS]

Summary: It was an unprecedented love that bloomed within the halls of your high school, until secret words were overheard, and shattered the budding romance. It changed your life forever, leading you down a path you had never thought you would be on-- training to become a secret agent. You chose it to escape Yoongi and the results of how things ended between you two, but as fate would have it, that very same choice ended up leading you right back to him. Will you be able to save your clients and solve mysteries together despite your history? Will you be able to save each other? Will you able to save yourself...from yourself?

Yoongi x Reader (ft. Jin & all the other BTS members)

Secret Agent AU

Mystery, Action, Angst, & Fluff (contains some violence, mentions of murder, death, and bullying)

PARTS: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 (Finale) | Bonus: The Letter

A/N: Hi everyone ~ Sorry it’s been a little while since I’ve updated! But I’m happy to present to you my new story ^_^ & CONGRATS TO BTS FOR WINNING TOP SOCIAL ARTIST AT THE BBMAS WOOOO! Let me know if the “Keep Reading” link doesn’t work!

It was a cliché high school love story, without the happily-ever-after.

You were one of the quietest and most diligent students in your high school, a shadow to most students, but preferred and known by all the teachers. On the other hand, Min Yoongi was extremely popular and beloved. You two were different ends of the spectrum; your orbits were never meant to interact. Gravity shouldn't have pulled you in stronger than it did.

And it wasn't love at first sight. Definitely not.

In fact, you were hardly concerned about the people around you, merely pleased with a good book under your nose. Until one day...

"Good morning Y/N!"

You glanced up from your dictionary to give one of the only people that you considered a friend, a warm smile.

"Good morning Jin." You greeted.

He had a bright aura, not too overwhelmingly positive, but friendly and comforting. Ever since the first day of your freshman year, you noticed he consistently made an effort to remember everyone's names and wish everyone a good morning. He was known and loved for his friendly personality, despite not being the most attractive or physically skilled. Jin was average by all means. He wore round glasses and an unfailingly bright smile, and never missing a haircut, a new hairstyle, or any changes from his fellow students. He was easy to get along with, and easy to like.

Even though you didn't really respond as enthusiastically as he did in conversation, the boy still continued talking to you, about everything and anything. It seemed he had a knack for reading people because every day, he gave you jokes and puns as a challenge. It really broke the ice, because you loved thought provoking questions so you found yourself really looking forward to them. You never got any right, which irritated you at first, but down the line, you ended up enjoying the way Jin would rush to the punch line then crack up at his own joke, slapping his knee or his leg in hysterics. You tried to shake your head in disapproval, but you couldn't help the smile or the giggle that surfaced, because his laugh was contagious and often times, his shamelessness at telling such lame jokes was so incredulous that all you could do was laugh along. And soon, it became a normal part of your day. So much so that almost every year after, you two chose to sit next to each other.

And nothing was any different, even now in your third year of high school. You were still close friends, still in the same class, still seated beside each other. You did open up a little more to a few other classmates, thanks to Jin's infectious personality, but you still preferred your books, your quiet life away from attention and dramatics.

"I need you to do me a big favor." Jin grabbed your hands, his face and tone serious.

You glanced up at him worriedly. "What?"

"Hear me out first okay?"

"Jin, you're scaring me. Just tell me." You raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, so they're choosing the Class Officers today, and I really, REALLY want to be Class President for our Junior class." Jin whispered, looking around cautiously just in case someone was listening in.

"Do you want me to nominate you?" You blinked.

"No..." Jin stared at you intently. "I want you to run for VP."

"What??" You bellowed, causing everyone to turn their attention to you two. Immediately, you pried your hands from Jin's so as to not be part of any dating rumors. You knew how vicious gossip could be.

"Shh!" Jin hissed and opened a book to make it look like he was checking answers or reading something with you.

"Why do you want me to be your VP?"

Jin shrugged. "You're like the only person I find reliable and trustworthy enough to keep me levelheaded. I tend to get carried away at times and fool around a little too much, and you always reel me back."

You exhaled, "Jin, no one even knows who I am. I won't stand a chance even if I run."

"Oh please." Jin waved his hand. "Y/N, people know who you are and they know how studious, intelligent, and responsible you are. We'd make an awesome pair! Pleassseee!"

You stared at your friend, in contemplation. Your teachers had recommended you to join a club or activity to become well-rounded for college applications, and sports weren't too appealing to you. Maybe being part of the Class Council wouldn't be so bad, especially if you had a say in things, and Jin was leading it.

Jin grinned widely, already seeing your hesitation dwindle away with each new thought. "You're totally going to do it, and I love you so much."

You rolled your eyes. "Alright. I'll do it...only cause I need a club to join anyway. I need more than academic achievements on my college applications, and time's running out."

Jin embraced you tightly. "You're the best, Y/N! You won't regret it, I promise you!"

You chuckled and let him hug you.

And unsurprisingly, with Jin's support for your instatement as VP beside him, no one else dared to oppose you. So just like that, you made it on the Class Council, locked in to lead a class of students you hardly had spoken to, but always observed.

With one request, one choice, one step forward, you were thrown into the world of people. Standing in front of the entire class without a book to hide behind or a problem to quickly solve on the board, you meekly and nervously positioned yourself beside Jin. You weren't used to standing before a crowd, so bare, so vulnerable.

As Jin spoke, you took the time to look around and get accustomed to where you would be standing throughout the rest of the year. For the first time you truly looked up to scan the faces of your classmates. You had only really heard their voices, disregarding them out of shyness, out of fear. And in your innocent observation, your eyes coincidentally connected with one particularly quiet, mysterious, and handsome boy in your class.

Min Yoongi.

He always sat in the back corner of the classroom. You had never seen it yourself, but he would always get in trouble for staring out the window or for sleeping during class. Every word he spoke was either witty or blunt, and he was very nonchalant and relaxed, almost to the point where he looked like he didn't care about anything. However, he still maintained fantastic grades, and was one of the star players of the school basketball team. You two had been in the same class along with Jin for the past 3 years, so you knew him by name and from the very brief times you had spoken to him. But it was the first time you had truly taken the time to look at him closely.

Yoongi had always been alluring to you, not because of how he looked, though he was handsome no doubt, but because of how he acted. He never cut corners with his words, and he did whatever he wanted. It wasn't out of rebellion or out of an attempt to create a chic image, but it was just who he was. He stayed true to whatever he felt was right to do at the time. He was well-known, but wasn't boisterous. He had a confident air about him, without the inflated ego. And you would always find yourself the only one giggling or snorting at a witty comeback he would mumble in the middle of class. Not many people understood his wit, but you surely did. For someone who seemed to only have a max of two emotions - sleeping or sleepy, it was intriguing that he had a sense of humor.

You had had insignificant encounters with him before. Gazes locking as you passed through the hallways, fingers grazing as you passed papers back to him, lazy good mornings when he was half asleep walking into the classroom. You hated to admit it, but you had developed a very tiny crush on this popular boy. And you intended to keep it a secret. He was merely someone who intrigued you and caused your heart to flutter temporarily with any mere sign of his attention--nothing less, nothing more.

He hadn't been on your radar at all freshman year. You dismissed him as someone you would probably never get along with, given how students flocked towards him, and the occasional bullshit responses you heard him tell students and teachers. It made you laugh, no doubt, but it was also embarrassing to hear someone be so shameless. He was talented at sports, and didn't have a bad brain, but that was all you really cared to know about him at the time.

But then he captured you out of the blue during sophomore year.

You had stayed up until sunrise to cram for a big exam, and you had vowed to yourself to pull an all-nighter and not sleep. However, you betrayed your promise and opted on taking a quick nap to rest your mind and body. But napping caused you to wake up later than usual, so you had rushed to get ready and ran carelessly out of the house to make it to school before the bell rang. In your haste, you had forgotten your jacket. In your hurry, you didn't feel the frosty weather nipping at you as you ran. But you surely regretted your forgetfulness after school.

Dreading walking home in the freezing cold, you stared at the doors leading to the outside, trying to figure out alternate solutions. As you were contemplating grabbing your gym clothes and layering up regardless of how peculiar you would look, you felt something warm fall on top of your head and wrap around your shoulders. Surprised, you glanced beside you to find Min Yoongi, at the time, the young ace of the basketball team. To say you were stunned speechless would be an understatement. Your mind went blank at being in his presence and at the realization that he had just placed his sweater on you. Before you could say anything though, he inhaled and sprinted out of the school, into the cold, in a light jog. Gratefully, you pulled it over your body, finding the fleece incredibly soft and warm; large enough to shield more than half of your body from the frosty weather.

You had waited until after school the next day to return it to him, washed thoroughly and folded neatly into a nice gift bag.

"Um here." You mumbled. "It's washed and dried already. I never got to thank you for lending it to me."

He smiled a little, grabbing the bag from you. "No problem, Y/N."

And the way your heart raced at the mention of your name signaled you that this boy had already gotten to you.

"Y-you know my name?" You stammered uncoolly.

Yoongi glanced at you, slightly amused. "Well yes, we've been in the same class the past 2 years."

You blushed. "Right..."

"Ayo Yoongi!" One of his teammates bellowed.

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming." he grumbled then turned back to you. "Thanks again, Y/N. Get home alright."

You smiled and nodded. "Have a good practice."

And since then, you'd occasionally steal glances down the hallway or around the classroom. You attended some of his games and watched the way he lit up and burst with energy on the court, unlike his usually relaxed, seemingly lethargic self in the classroom. A year later, and here you are gawking at him from in front of the classroom this time.

Your eyes darted away from his stare to the decorated bulletin board in the back of the classroom, praying you hadn't been caught. You tuned into Jin's first speech as Class President, where he discussed future trips and class activities he had in mind. Everyone murmured enthusiastically at the mentions of doing something fun. You smiled proudly. Jin really had good ideas for the year, and it exhilarated you, the idea that you would be part of something big for once. But in the pit of your stomach, you also had butterflies fluttering around with the thought that being a class rep would mean getting more opportunities to talk and work with people in the class. It was exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time.

It wasn't until a few weeks later that you finally had your second full-blown encounter with Yoongi ever. You were on your way to your teacher's office with the entire class's homework notebooks in your arms. Wanting to go home as soon as possible, you had lifted all of them at once instead of breaking them up into smaller, manageable piles. They weren't heavy but the height of the stack blocked off your vision, meaning you relied on your hearing and everyone's sense to make it through the hallways unscathed. But you didn't account for the possibility of someone turning the corner at the same time you were crossing it, without notice. You were knocked slightly backwards, wobbling to keep the stack steady, and yourself upright.

"Whoa." You heard a deep voice, and immediately recognized it. The hairs on your skin stood on edge at the coincidence. Out of all the people in the entire school you could bump into, it had to be Yoongi.

You ducked your head into the stack and attempted to walk around where you saw his feet, embarrassed. But suddenly, half the notebooks were pulled away from you, clearing your line of sight. Your breath got caught in your throat at his close proximity.

He grinned, staring straight at you without no hints of nervousness. Of course, why would he be nervous; it was just little, old you after all. "I thought it was you, Miss VP."

You bowed, "Sorry."

He turned to his friends beside him. "You guys go ahead. I'll help her out or else our homework may not get to the office in one piece."

The guys chuckled and waved, before obliging.

You huffed at the underhanded attack. "I was doing fine until you bumped into me."

He glanced at you, amused. "Um I think a 'thank you' would suffice."

You blushed and averted your eyes as you two started walking side by side in silence. It was awkward. There was a torrential storm brewing inside you, swirling with possibilities of topics and things to say and the embarrassing ending results. You didn't know what to say or what to do. And you hesitated so long that you two had made it to the teacher's office without saying a word to him. Sullenly, you entered and handed the homework to your homeroom teacher.

"Oh, what a rare pairing we have here." She smiled at you and Yoongi, causing you to blush profusely at the mention of being a "pair" with the popular guy beside you.

"She was a danger to the students." Yoongi snorted. "She nearly killed me, Teacher!"

You gasped, not wanting to look bad in front of your favorite teacher. "I did not! You bumped into me!"

She giggled. "It's nice to see you two interact is all I meant. It'll be a good friendship to develop."

You raised an eyebrow at your teacher. "It would?"

"Why? You don't want to be friends with me?" Yoongi chuckled.

You blushed and waved your hands apologetically, "No, I didn't mean it--"

"Relax. I got you." he patted your head warmly.

"I just think you two would learn a lot from each other is all." Your teacher smiled and pinched Yoongi's cheek. "Like how to be a good student and use your brain instead of that smart ass mouth."

Yoongi whined and you giggled.

"And for you to come out of your shell and be yourself a little more, Y/N." she glanced at you. "This boy right here doesn't care much."

You blinked, and spoke before you realized what you were saying. "But I think he acts this way because he does care a lot."

Silence.

You gasped and covered your mouth frantically. "Well, I have to go! See you tomorrow!"

You hurriedly bowed and sprinted out of the office; your face was entirely red with shame and embarrassment. He must've thought you were insane and having delusions about who he was. How could you have spouted your assumption like that?

"Aigoo, aigoo." You stood in front of your locker, smacking your lips, angry at them for acting on their own. Hearing oncoming footsteps, you switched into your outside shoes and attempted to book it outside, but you were stopped by someone's fingers wrapping around your wrist. You tensed and gulped.

"I believe I never got my thank you, Y/N." his taunting voice and the feeling of his hand around your skin had your heart fluttering.

"Um thank you." You mumbled, still facing the door, not daring to look at him.

He chuckled at your apparent embarrassment so he walked in front of you, your eyes instinctively casting down to avoid staring at how handsome he was.

"I've come for an explanation." he stated, still not letting go of your arm, so all you could do was stare at way his fingers were making contact with your skin.

"On what?" You muttered.

"Your opinion of me."

You looked around awkwardly. "I don't have an opinion of you."

He chuckled. "Want me to go call our teacher over to repeat what you said?"

"No." You grumbled. "I said it by mistake, don't worry about it."

You tried to step around him, but his grip tightened around your arm. "And what if I said you were right?"

You froze. "What?"

"What if I said that you were right that I act like this because I do care a lot?" he repeated. "But I want to know how you found me out."

You glanced over at him, hoping to see that he was joking, but he was in fact, very serious and curious.

"Um..." you looked behind you at the incoming flock of students coming out of their clubs.

"Come with me." he grinned.

"What?"

"Come with me." he gestured. "Get those school shoes back on. I won't let go of you until I get what I came for."

His words had your cheeks warm.

"Well, you holding on to me will make putting my shoes on quiet a venture."

He shrugged. "You'll never know until you try."

"People will be looking at us weird."

"I don't care." he whispered. "Now, let's go."

You blushed.

Obviously, you had already internally agreed to go since he first asked, but you didn't want to be too eager for fear of being found out. He brought you to the school rooftop, which you knew for sure was against the rules, but he chastised you for being too uptight for a kid.

"Look." he brought you closer to the wire fence that prevented anyone from falling off the roof, and pointed at the horizon.

You breathed as you saw the picturesque sky donned like a canvas splattered with orange, pink, and purple hues. The sunset was absolutely breathtaking.

"Aren't you glad you broke the rules a little?" he teased.

You glared at him. "Only if we don't get caught."

He laughed as he grabbed the fence, "Can't argue with you there."

You two stood in silence, taking in the vast expanse of the sky and the untainted beauty of nature.

"So?" Yoongi urged.

"Hm?" You hummed.

Yoongi turned and leaned against the fence, his hands stuffed into his pockets suavely. Your heart was racing immensely. You were in a romantic spot on a rooftop with your crush. It was overwhelming, and fantasies flooded into your mind, disabling you from any coherent thought or word in his presence.

"What gave it away?" he mumbled as he glanced straightly at you.

You blinked. "Gave what away?"

"My true personality." he grinned.

Your eyes flitted towards him then back to the ground shyly. "Well...I just think you act like you don't care or don't expect anything, because you actually care too much about not being disappointed. It's scarier hoping people will like you for you, than hoping people will like you as someone else."

"So you don't think I've been acting like myself?" he stepped in front of you, causing your back to hit the fence.

You were flustered at his proximity, you willed your eyes not to dart towards his lips, but they did anyway.

"I-I-I think you've been acting like a version of yourself is all. Just an opinion...of someone who doesn't know you..." you grabbed onto the fence behind you to hold onto your sanity.

Yoongi laughed and stepped back, crossing his arms. "That's the funny thing, Y/N."

You exhaled, feeling relieved. "What's funny?"

"It seems like you actually know me better than most people." he hummed.

You glanced at him surprised. You had thought you were assuming too much, deluding yourself into thinking that he had more depth to him than he let on, all to feed your crush. But to think that you were correct, that he had an underlying meaning to his actions, that despite being so popular and talented, he still had insecurities and secrets; it was stunning.

He must've seen your surprise because he chuckled.

"But I know about you too, Y/N." he smirked.

You furrowed your brows. "What do you mean?"

"You don't open up to anyone, because you don't want to be hurt and disappointed either. That's why you hide behind your books and your studying."

"Well, I'm not sure if that's really a secret." You chuckled.

He laughed. "Most people think you're cold or shy you know. I think you're actually the one who doesn't care too much about appearances."

You smiled.

"Well Y/N," he stretched. "I'd say this makes us friends, don't you think?"

"Hm?"

"We know each other's secrets." he grinned. "If we're not friends, then we're enemies, and I don't think I'd want an enemy knowing my secret. So I might have to kill you unless you solidify our friendship."

You giggled. "Are you threatening me to be your friend?"

"Merely coaxing you with a possibility of violence." he cheekily stated as he outstretched his hand. "What do you think? I mean you've also become my accomplice in this crime of trespassing."

You grinned and slotted your hand into his, with your heart beating wildly. "I don't think having a partner in crime is so bad."

And after that day, Yoongi would take time to talk to you in the mornings, surprising everyone in class, including Jin.

"What was that?" Jin questioned after he finally had witnessed it. "THE Min Yoongi just talked to you...with a SMILE on his face."

You blushed and your lips turned up shyly.

"What happened?"

"He helped me out with carrying the homework stack the other day, and we just became friends." You shrugged. "I'm not really sure how it happened either."

Jin glanced at Yoongi then frowned. "Just be careful, Y/N. He's popular and you know it gets tricky being around popular people."

You laughed, "You're popular too though, Jin."

"You know what I mean. I'm friendly popular, but not in the popular clique popular. A lot of vicious girls are vying for his attention, Y/N. If you get too close, you'll get mixed up into that mess."

You smiled and patted Jin's hand. "I know. Don't worry. We're just friends is all. I'm sure it's refreshing to have a girl that's not fawning over him."

Jin chuckled and ruffled your hair. "That's true. Cause you're in love with meeee ~"

You rolled your eyes then turned back to your notes. You were sure friends was all you would ever be with Yoongi, and as thrilling as that was, the more you thought about it, the more it saddened you. With each conversation, with each thing you learned about the man, you wanted to be something more. But you didn't want your feelings to get in the way of your budding friendship, so you suppressed and buried them as much as you could.

"Mind if I sit here?"

You nearly choked on your food when Yoongi appeared beside you in the courtyard. You usually ate outside instead of the canteen, preferring the quiet sound of nature to the loud voices of people. You nodded as you coughed, and he chuckled.

"Didn't know I had that effect on you?" He sat down and unwrapped his sandwich.

You rolled your eyes as you swallowed down water to compose yourself.

"What brings you here, Yoongi?" You questioned, trying to sound calm and collected.

"Just a change of pace." he shrugged as he chewed. "It does get tiring being popular."

"Oh? I never noticed." You jeered.

"You're a cheeky little thing aren't you?" he waved his sandwich at you.

"Must've rubbed off from your hand." You shrugged.

He chuckled and glanced up at the clear blue sky. "I'm more than my basketball."

"Yes, you're a person." You teased.

He glared at you. "I'm being serious, Y/N."

"Sorry." You coughed and turned to him to give you your undivided attention. "So you're more than your basketball?"

"Okay, why does it sound lame coming from your mouth?" he huffed.

"It was already lame coming out of yours." You snorted. "But carry on, what happened?"

Was it supposed to be this easy? Although your entire body was filled with butterflies, your responses came out naturally and comfortably. Even though afterwards you felt embarrassed about things you said and did, during the conversation, everything seemed to flow well. Yoongi made it easy to converse, made it easy to joke around, made it easy to be yourself.

"Nothing happened." he hummed. "I just think having you to talk to made me realize a lot of the things I had been putting up with."

You tilted your head, waiting for him to explain.

"Like these lunches where everybody just talks about their work outs and gossip, shallow things." he bit into his sandwich. "I was sitting there and I was like 'well this is a waste of my time'."

You smiled, "Well, what do you want to talk about?"

Yoongi turned to you so that you two were now sitting facing each other on the bench. "Mm maybe like what you want to pursue in the future? Other interests and hobbies? Funny childhood memories? Something more than what happened recently."

"Well then, Mr. Min." You grinned. "What do you want to pursue in the future?"

Yoongi chuckled, "You'll never be able to guess."

You weren't sure how it happened, but soon, you and Yoongi became a daily part of each other's lives in secret. There was an unspoken agreement between you two to maintain a low key friendship, knowing how the unfair yet prevalent social system of the school worked. Occasional public conversations between higher class social circles and lower class were deemed appropriate and friendly, but anything more than that, was frowned upon. You two eventually exchanged numbers and e-mails, and began communicating that way.

He even walked you home at times, especially when your Class Rep duties had you stay later than usual. You would meet up sneakily outside of the school and go home together, since you two coincidentally lived in the same direction. Sometimes, he would come over to study after practice. Other times, he would just appear to tell you about some exciting new comic or electronic device that is being released that he wanted to save up for. During school, he'd sometimes ask you to meet him at the rooftop to ask you a thought-provoking question weighing on his mind or just to tell you about something ridiculous or funny someone had said that he needed to say in person.

Your developing friendship went undetected for most people, with the exception of one.

"Alright. What is happening between you and Yoongi?" Jin confronted you after school one day.

Your eyes widened as you looked around, praying no one was around to hear his statement.

It was one of those late nights where you two were at the school until the darkness covered the skies, doing your class rep duties. The school festival was coming up and you and the other class reps were brainstorming what each class was going to contribute.

"Nothing, Jin." You whispered. "I told you we were just friends."

"Bullshit." Jin growled as he wiped his glasses and put them back on.

You gasped, having never heard your long time friend curse.

"I see you two eat in the courtyard, and I see him wait for you if you're staying late. I see him make faces at you while we're taking roll call in the morning." Jin accused, pushing you back against the lockers roughly. "What is happening?"

"Really Jin." You exhaled, a little nervous about this new, aggressive side of your dear friend. "I promise you we're just friends. Why can't you accept that?"

"Because I can't accept that anyone would want to be 'just friends' when they finally get to know you!" Jin bellowed.

You stared at him surprised. Why was he getting so worked up over you and Yoongi?

"Is everything alright here?"

Your heart fluttered at Yoongi's voice, but you could feel Jin's intense gaze still on you.

"Y/N?" Yoongi glanced between you and Jin. You realized your questionable position.

"Uh yeah." You slipped away from Jin. "We were just having a little argument over nothing."

Yoongi nodded. "Ready?"

"I'll walk her home." Jin turned from his spot to face you two.

Yoongi stared straightly at him. "It's perfectly fine. I know you live in the opposite direction as us. She's on the way to my house. No need to trouble yourself."

Jin clenched his fists, knowing Yoongi was right. "I'll call you later then, Y/N."

You nodded, not liking the dangerous look on Jin's face. You wondered what was happening with him.

"What were you arguing about? If I may ask?" Yoongi asked after a few minutes of walking in silence.

"Oh he just asked me what was going on between us, and wouldn't believe we were just friends." You chuckled.

There was an awkward silence. Had you just friend-zoned yourself? Shit.

"What's going on with you and Jin?" he questioned.

"Me and Jin? Oh we've been friends since freshman year. Granted, he does most of the talking, but he's entertaining to listen to. Plus he's super friendly, so it's easy to get along with him." You shrugged.

"Have you ever liked him...liked him?" Yoongi mumbled.

"Jin? Oh, no." You chuckled. "It's not like that between us at all."

"Never? I mean all 3 years you sat next to each other. Now, you're even his VP. That's a lot of time to spend with a guy."

"Oh please." You rolled your eyes. "Like you aren't always being fawned over by half the female population of the entire school."

"But I don't spend a majority of my time with them."

"But you have to admit you like the attention and find some of them attractive."

"Well do you think Jin is attractive?" he fired back.

"Well, I'd say he's charming, yes."

"And what about me?"

You stopped walking. "What?"

"Do you find me attractive?" he questioned.

You gulped. You couldn't say no and offend him, but if you said yes, would it make things awkward?

"I mean, I guess." You settled for a vague response, but before you could start walking again, he grabbed your backpack, pulling you back to face him.

"What do you mean, 'you guess'?"

"Well, I mean uhh..." You stumbled over your words. "It's not that you're not attractive..."

"So I am attractive." he grinned.

"Gah!" You flailed your hands, embarrassed. "I'm not answering this question, pass!"

"Then answer this." He steadied you with his hands firmly on your shoulders. You glanced up to find him being unusually serious. "What would you say if I said I was attracted to you?"

Your throat closed up immediately, and you could hear your heart hammering loudly against your chest.

"Wh-what? Stop joking around, Yoongi." You laughed nervously, sweating intensely.

"I'm not joking, Y/N." he stared into your eyes.

"You find me attractive?" You repeated in a low whisper, not believing the words yourself.

"Have you never had someone say that about you?"

You shook your head. "No."

"That's a shame." Yoongi whispered. "But good for me."

Your eyes traveled up to see him looking at you intently. "Well... thank you for finding me attractive."

You tried to escape, but his grip on your shoulders kept you in place.

"I had been contemplating this for a while now, but seeing you with Jin today, it really just...it didn't make me feel good at all." he stated.

"What? Why?"

"Be my girlfriend, Y/N." he straightforwardly requested. "I don't want to meet you just in secret anymore. I don't want guys like Jin or whoever in our class is noticing how good looking you are now that you're standing in front of the class as our VP, to take you from me."

You grabbed his arms and slid out from underneath his grasp, not trusting your hearing. He stared at you curiously as you tried to piece his words together.

"Wait, what?"

He chuckled and cupped your cheek. "Did I surprise you?"

"Um yeah, wow. Please don't do that." You hurriedly shied away from his touch. "I think my heart is going to explode."

"In a good way?" Yoongi laughed as you jogged a little in place to compose yourself. He hummed and crossed his arms as he waited for your reply. "Will I get my answer sometime in the next few minutes? I'm awkwardly standing here, unsure if you like me back or not."

"Oh wow. Hold on. It's just... a lot to take in." You distanced yourself from him. "So let me get this straight. You, Min Yoongi, handsome, popular, basketball star, is attracted to me?"

"Yeah." he nodded.

"And you, Min Yoongi, popu--"

"Y/N, stop giving me stupid titles." he growled.

"Okay, so you want ME to be YOUR girlfriend?" You repeated. "Like..."

He ran his hand through his hair sheepishly. "Yes, Y/N. I want you to be my girlfriend. It's not a damn command, but if you have any inkling of feelings for me, I want you to give me a chance."

You stared at him in awe. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be roundabout like this. I just...I just had a lot of daydreams and stuff about this happening so I want to make sure it's real before I answer and make a fool of myself. This is real, right?" You pulled at your cheeks to make sure.

Yoongi grinned widely, your statement subtly confirming that you reciprocated his feelings.

"Should I help you check?" He bit his lip and stepped closer to you.

"Hm? How?" You looked up questioningly.

"Like this." he whispered as he titled your chin up and pressed his lips against yours lightly.

You stared at each other for a few seconds, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"I think I'm going to need you to repeat that a couple more times." You smiled as it dawned on you that this was, in fact, reality.

Yoongi chuckled, and obliged, capturing your lips once again.

You were dizzy with happiness, elated and floating on cloud nine. After a year of crushing on him, a few months, falling deeper for him, you were now Min Yoongi's girlfriend.

And it was everything and nothing like you had expected.

In an effort to be honest and maintain your open, strong friendship with Jin, you called him and told him what had happened on your way home, bubbling with excitement. But for some reason, he didn't sound too happy about your news.

"I'm tired Y/N. Thanks for clarifying."

"No, I'm sorry I kept my feelings about him a secret. But I really didn't think it was possible for him to like me back...much less ask me out." You gushed.

"Well...I never had a doubt you could make someone fall for you." Jin stated.

"Thanks Jin."

Without another word, he hung up on you.

Jin didn't come to school the next day, and so you had to lead roll call, and talk about the school festival in his stead. You were so nervous that you thought you were going to barf, but you just asked yourself what would Jin say and do, and acted on that. It didn't turn out so bad. The class was receptive to your ideas, and even asked you questions, throwing out their own suggestions. You felt like it was a successful meeting, and Yoongi gave you a thumbs up in the back to confirm it. Smiling to yourself giddily, you returned to your seat.

Your homeroom teacher arrived and Yoongi immediately raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Yoongi?"

"Do you mind if I sit next to Y/N today? I forgot my contacts and glasses today, and I really can't see the board."

You glanced over at him surprised. He grinned at you then returned his attention back to the teacher.

"Uh sure. I don't see why not since Mr. Jin is absent today." she shrugged. "I, for one, am surprised you actually want to pay attention today."

The class snickered as Yoongi shrugged nonchalantly, transferring to the table next to you.

"Laugh all you want kids, but even if he doesn't pay attention, he still gets higher grades than half of you." Your teacher pointed out, earning a groan from everyone.

"Mornin'." Yoongi grinned as he sat down.

"Morning." You smiled.

You couldn't concentrate the entire class because all you wanted to do was stare at him, so beautifully close to you. He was nodding off as usual, so you would nudge him every so often. He'd grumble shove your elbow in return. You shook your head, amused, and gave up. Some habits can't be broken right away after all.

"When did you realize you liked me?" You asked Yoongi during lunch. He had prepared a picnic blanket for you two to sit on in the courtyard.

"It's a secret." he hummed as he settled himself on your lap with a yawn.

"What? Why?" You huffed.

He smiled. "One day I'll tell you."

You pouted. "Then I'll keep mine a secret too."

"You started noticing me when I gave you my jacket." he smugly grinned, his eyes closed.

"No." You tried to smother down your surprise.

"Your tone just confirmed my guess was right." he cackled.

"I said it wasn't!" You urged.

"I'm calling your bluff." he poked your cheek, one of his eyes looking up at you. "Yah."

"What?" You glanced down.

"Come closer."

"Why?"

"I have to tell you something."

"Well just tell me. No one's here."

"It's embarrassing to say too loud."

You were intrigued that something would be embarrassing for this shameless man to say. You dipped your head closer to his face to listen, but instead of saying anything, he kissed you. You straightened up immediately and glanced around. Blushing profusely you smacked him shyly, but he was already resting with a triumphant grin on his face.

"Doesn't matter when or how we ended up liking each other." he hummed. "The fact is we like each other, and we're together now."

You smiled and carded your hands through his soft, dark locks. "You're absolutely right."

For the first few days of your new relationship, you two continued to be secretive with your closeness. You and Yoongi talked more openly and walked to class more often, but you kept any sign of your new couple status hidden. Until one day, Yoongi took a leap and intertwined your fingers in the middle of the hallway. You were panicking inside, but he kept talking, as bold and as confident as ever.

"Hey." he smiled, seeing your evident nervousness. "Relax, no one's going to jump you."

"Not yet, anyway." You whispered.

"Do you not want to be with me?"

"Of course I do." You squeezed his hand. "I just-- I don't know how people are going to react to...me."

Yoongi smiled. "I'm sure they'll see what I see when they get to know you better. Trust me."

You returned his smile, hoping that he was right.

But he wasn't.

When he wasn't around, people would confront you, call you names, subtly throw things, and pull your hair, antagonizing you. But you just let it pass, knowing that at the end of the day, you would be the one going home holding Yoongi's hand. To make things worse though, Jin began distancing himself from you. He wasn't as chatty with you as before; he wasn't as bubbly. He was still the same Jin, but not to you. You didn't have anyone to turn to.

You thought the harassment would die down after a month or two, but it didn't; it only intensified as time passed, as people realized that you and Yoongi were serious. You began getting threats, and sometimes your outside shoes would go missing. But you were still happy regardless. Whenever Yoongi was around, no one bothered you two.

But weekends were your favorite, because you could just be a regular young couple going on a regular date. Not Min Yoongi, star basketball player, and some random unattractive nobody. It was freeing, and you cherished the sense of normalcy where you could focus on just your boyfriend and spend quality time with him. He introduced you to his childhood best friend, Hoseok, who went to a different high school, and you introduced him to your family. Most weekends you two spent lazily, but sometimes, you two planned a big date to eat a new restaurant, go to the mall, to an indoor water park, or an amusement park.

It was everything and nothing like you had imagined.

When nationals approached for his basketball season, Yoongi wasn't around much anymore, but he called and texted you as often as he could. He couldn't walk you home or see you on weekends, so it saddened you a bit, but you understood that it was an important and busy time for him. He could potentially be scouted by colleges already, and he was vying for the position of captain of his team, which you always reassured him, he was a shoo-in for. But with his absence in your life, the degree of bullying picked up. And you pushed through it and hid it from him, because you knew it would hurt him to know his "friends" were like that, because you knew he cared about his image far more than he let on. You loved him, and this was the price of being with someone so admired.

And you thought he felt the same, up until you walked into the classroom early one morning just to meet up with him after a long time.

"So I know it's been a few months, but like...what's up with dating Y/N? Are you serious about her?" Jin's voice echoed in the classroom.

You stepped back, unseen, and listened in.

"Yeah, man. Like come on, you have so many hott girls lined up and throwing themselves at you." his teammates nudged him. "But Y/N? What? Is she good in bed or something?"

"Hey." Jin scolded. "Let's not go there."

"Oh Jin, you're so old fashioned." the boys chuckled. "So what is it Yoongi? You can't be serious about her, right? She's just temporary? I mean, next year we'll be seniors and you KNOW there's a bunch of hotties coming up from middle school. And if you're basketball captain-- WOW- you'll have your pickings."

Yoongi laughed and nodded, "Yeah, you know. She's just super nice and friendly you know? I'd catch her staring at me from afar. Whenever I needed something, she'd give it to me right away. I didn't have the heart to turn her down when she asked me out. And you know, I didn't really have any interest in anyone so I figured why not? I mean, let's give everyone hope right?"

The guys cackled and hi-fived each other with the exception of Jin who stood up and began walking away.

"Poor girl. She thinks you're dating her for real, but it was out of sympathy. I bet she waits for you thinking you have basketball practice, but you're actually out with us and the older brothers hitting up clubs to meet college basketball coaches." they snorted.

Your heart dropped and your eyes welled up at hearing everything. Had it all been a lie? Some of his story didn't add up, but why had he never told you about when he started liking you? Was it because your feelings for him were obvious and so he asked you out just to give you what you wanted and then dump you? Had he just toyed with you this whole time? And had he really lied to you about practices when he was going out? You would've understood so why did he keep that from you?

"Are you serious, Yoongi?" Jin spoke out. "This is what it was this whole time?"

Everyone stared at Yoongi intently. He glanced around in silence. Your heart was hammering intensely, praying he was just kidding, that he didn't mean anything he had just said.

"Yeah, of course that was it the whole time. Why would it have been anything else? You can't seriously think I'd be steady with someone like her?"

"You son of a--" Jin hissed.

"Well then." You stepped out, fists curled up in a ball.

"Y/N." Yoongi scrambled out of his chair, stunned.

"Thank you for your precious time, Min Yoongi." You took off his varsity jacket he had given you to adorn. "But I won't be needing your sympathy anymore. Let's break up."

You threw his jacket on the ground and sprinted away from the classroom.

And that was that.

You waited for him to call, maybe to apologize or explain himself, but it never came. You two were back to being strangers, cold and unforgiving. You passed each other without batting an eye, and returned to your own orbits before ever becoming friends. You were beyond hurt. His words replaying inside your mind, night after night. How much had you endured for him? How foolish had you been? How many more things had he said about you while you weren't around?

Rumors spread like wildfire that you had dumped Min Yoongi harshly. Extremely outrageous versions of the truth were created, all to make Yoongi look like the victim and you, the criminal. Some reported that you had punched and slapped him for no reason. Others claimed you had cheated on him and he had caught you with another man. You were flabbergasted, but sadly, no one was on your side. Everybody believed the rumors, and made sure you knew that they did.

You were pushed down the stairs countless times, shoved into garbage cans. There were times when your desk disappeared from the classrooms. Times when you were the sole target during gym class. People vandalized your locker, locked you in bathrooms, dunked your head in the toilet, and even went so far as breaking into your house to take some of your things. You came home with cuts and bruises, and an extremely heavy heart. You regretted your stupid crush so much. You wished you had said no. You wished you had never decided to become his friend. You wished you had just brought your own damn jacket your sophomore year so you would have never noticed him. You felt so helpless and so appalled. This was exactly what you had wanted to prevent. This was exactly your worst fear, why you preferred books to people. People were cruel. Some people had no heart, had no qualms about hurting others.

Instead of eating at the courtyard now, you hid behind the dumpsters during the break, hiding from the people hunting you down. And you weren't their lone target. Another boy from your class-- you couldn't remember his name at all-- but you knew he was one of the quiet ones who used to hang out with the popular boys, often ate behind the adjacent dumpster in hiding as well. You'd glance at each other, but never spoke a word. Even though you both were on the same boat, he would leave you if you got caught first and in turn, you did the same to him. Every day solely focused on survival, and your heart had hardened and turned cold through your experiences. Now even those who were just as unfortunate betrayed each other.

Finally, your homeroom teacher stepped in and called you and your family into her office since your grades had been severely suffering as a consequence. You confessed everything that had been happening as of late, and she ended up privately teaching you in your house for the rest of your Junior year. Since students were still harassing you even in front of your house, your parents decided it was time to move. Your teacher helped your family choose a good school for you to transfer to in your new area, and helped get the paperwork together.

"I'm truly sorry, Y/N." she hugged you tightly. "I had no idea that any of that happened. My heart hurts."

You wept and shook your head. "No, thank you. You helped me more than you know just by letting me stay home. I hated that feeling, not knowing whether I was going to get caught by those students, when I was going to be shoved or attacked. If I would make it home alive."

"I know. I'm so sorry. I'm really, truly sorry Y/N. And I hope you find good friends and happiness in your new school. Please." Your teacher wiped your tears. "E-mail me and update me as well. I'll always be on your side."

"Thank you." You smiled sadly.

And off you went, to escape the dark days of your life, to escape the thought of the boy who you loved that played you, and the resulting pain that he and your classmates had caused.

Your new school was amazing. You actually made a fantastic group of friends, and joined a few interesting clubs with them, particularly robotics and fight simulation club.

"Morning Mr. Bang!" You greeted your favorite teacher warmly.

"Morning Y/N!" He smiled. "Tae and Jimin already started a training simulation in the back room if you want to join in for some morning exercise."

"Always." You giggled then glanced over at him piecing a few new robot parts together. "New project?"

"Yea. Trying to make a small laser that could be installed into a pin." he hummed.

"Interesting." You blinked. "Good luck."

"Thanks." Your teacher stated emotionlessly, already back to intensely focusing on his daunting task.

"Morning boys!" You hollered as you put on your simulation suit and helmet.

"Y/N!" The two greeted excitedly. "Good! We need you!"

"Yeah, cause Jimin still isn't good." Tae whined.

"Hey! I'm improving!"

You snorted as you pressed a button on your helmet and joined them on the simulation pad. "Well, now that the gang is all together, let's get this mission completed."

You really, absolutely enjoyed your time in this club, going so far as to take up martial arts lessons and frequenting the shooting range as hobbies. Through Mr. Bang's guidance as well, you found that you had a knack for robotics and inventing new things. You enjoyed the way your intellect now had a real life application, past textbooks, papers, and quizzes. You liked the challenge of coming up with battle plans, assigning roles, figuring out how different devices go together, etc. But as far as your future plans went, you had no idea what you wanted to do with your life. Luckily, you, Jimin, and Tae were all on the same boat so you didn't feel too left behind. However, the end of your Senior year was approaching, meaning you three needed to decide on a school and a legitimate, achievable career plan.

You sat in Mr. Bang's office, since coincidentally, he was your homeroom teacher and in turn, your guidance counselor.

"Y/N. What're your plans in terms of college and career path?" He questioned as he pulled out your information sheet. "You had written 'to be decided' earlier this year."

You bit your lip.

"Are you still undecided?"

You looked down. "Yes..."

Mr. Bang smiled. "Great."

You glanced up, surprised at his response. "Great?"

"Y/N. Have you ever thought 'Wow, I wish something like this fight simulation and robotics club could become a career'?"

You blinked, "Yeah, actually."

He grinned. "Well, it can be."

"Really?" Your heart fluttered excitedly.

"Have you ever heard of Big Hit Agency?"

"Um no..."

"Good, 'cause it's a secret agency." he laughed.

"A secret?"

"Y/N." Mr. Bang leaned in closer. "Would you like to be trained to become a secret agent?"

Your grin widened and your eyes lit up brightly. It dawned on you immediately. This was it. This was exactly what you had been searching for, what you wanted to do with your life. You wanted to gain the power to protect others, and make the world a far better place than the one you had experienced, without needing to be tied to one place for too long.

You were going to become a secret agent.

So you packed your bags, and went to Big Hit Agency's training sect in your city, disguised as a small college. It was 4 years of intensive training, and once you "graduated", you would be assigned a career in the agency, based on your performance and rankings cumulatively from all 4 years. And it was run similarly to a college. You stayed in dormitories, had to go to class, and participated in fun competitions and events, except they were far cooler than regular colleges. Your classes consisted of hand-to-hand combat training, weapons training, fighting simulations, robotics & invention seminars, piloting aircraft lessons, and Survival 101. The competitions were a wide array of combative tournaments in various specializations such as archery, shooting, robot fighting, etc. Every day was a dream. And coincidentally, Tae and Jimin also were invited by Mr. Bang to join the agency, which made the experience all the more enjoyable for all of you.

And you hadn't thought of Yoongi, your first love, the boyfriend that had humiliated you and broke your heart all on the same day, for years. No, you didn't become an undercover agent just so you could become someone new, someone different, someone better. You didn't graduate at the top of your training class to prove to him that, unlike what he had said back in high school, you were worth it, you were enough, you had something to offer.

And yet, when you finally convinced yourself that you had escaped his hold on you; that you were going to step into the new world of being a secret agent, filled with adventures, thrills, and challenges, there he appeared, tauntingly flashing his gummy smile as you entered the room with the rest of your training class. How you had spotted him amongst the crowd of graduates from various training sects, you had no idea. But you felt yourself sink back in line, praying you were hallucinating and praying you two would never have to cross paths, because there were sheer thousands of training agents and only limited spots in the most coveted division of the agency-- the SA -- the Special Agent Division. The SA was specifically reserved for the most promising agents of the highest caliber, because this division was in charge of taking on the most advanced, and highly secretive and sensitive cases and investigations. These agents were always on the field, putting their skills to the test in life-or-death situations. But why was Min Yoongi here out of all places?

"Y/N."

Your name being called out by an official at the podium pulled you out of your thoughts. Your class separated to make a path for you to walk to the stage. You had missed the entire shpeal leading up to your name being called, but you could only assume you were getting recognition for being the top training agent in your class. You kept your eyes peeled forward, fighting back the urge to check Yoongi's reaction to your presence, not wanting him to know that you were already aware of his. Smiling brightly, you stood beside the official with your head held high and your shoulders back confidently.

"I am proud to announce that Y/N of Class #1 has unanimously been chosen to be part of the Special Agents Division, for her outstanding performance in all training modules. Please give her a round of applause!"

You grinned happily and your eyes briefly flitted to where Yoongi was. He was wearing a stunned expression. Your eyes locked with his, but you averted hurriedly, heart beating wildly.

"And unprecedentedly, the SA has chosen her partner among the other accepted training agents, for they both had achieved perfect scores on all simulations and training modules. We look forward to cultivating their amazing potential. Without further ado, her partner is none other than, Class #9's resident genius, Min Yoongi!"

Your eyes widened in pure shock, and your ears seemed to drown out the thunderous applause that erupted from the announcement. Yoongi, with his irritatingly disarming grin, made his way towards you, eyes never leaving yours until he positioned himself next to you.

As was custom when receiving your life long agent partner, you both turned to face each other and bowed deeply. Then you extended your hand boldly, and his slotted into yours gently, as it once had many years ago. He smiled warmly and squeezed your hand.

"Long time no see, Y/N."

PART 1

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gumnut-logic · 4 years

Text

We’ll Be Home For Christmas 2.2

Title: We’ll be home for Christmas

Day Two – Aboard This Tiny Ship – Part 2 Prologue | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.1

Author: Gumnut

14 - 18 Dec 2019

Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go 2015/ Thunderbirds TOS

Rating: Teen

Summary: The boys can’t fly home for Christmas, so they have to find another way.

Word count: 2576

Spoilers & warnings: language and so, so much fluff. Science!Gordon. Minor various ships, mostly background.

Timeline: Christmas Season 3, I have also kinda ignored the main storyline of Season 3. The boys needed a break, so I gave them one. Post season 3B, before Season 3C cos we haven’t seen it yet.

Author’s note: For @scattergraph. This is my 2019 TAG Secret Santa fic :D I hope you enjoy it.

This section is a touch shorter than the last one, but the next section will be much bigger.

Many thanks to @vegetacide and @scribbles97 for cheering me on and their wonderful support through this craziness. And to @onereyofstarlight for geeking out with me over the setting.

Disclaimer: Mine? You’ve got to be kidding. Money? Don’t have any, don’t bother.

-o-o-o-

Scott was ready to chew an arm off just to entertain himself by the time Gordon announced they were approaching L’Esperance Rock just after lunch. He’d seen it enough from the air to know it meant they were around halfway home. The thought did give him some relief and he stood at the bow of the boat watching the islet come into view.

A grunt behind him had him turning to find Virgil making his way forward, coffee in one hand, abdomen in the other. He darted in to help his brother up the steps.

“I’m okay.”

“I know you are. Just being useful.”

That earned him a stare and an arched eyebrow. “You’re bored shitless, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question.

“I’m okay.”

Virgil snorted. “I had a bet with John you’d last until tonight at least. You’ve shafted me fifty bucks, big brother.”

Scott grunted. “Well, that explains why he was so happy to steal my phone.”

“He stole your phone?” Brown eyes frowned up at him.

“Oh, yes. On Grandma’s orders apparently.”

“That’s cheating.”

“Heh, that’s between the two of you. I’m only the subject of the bet, not the umpire.”

“Null and void. He’s not getting a cent.”

Scott grinned as he held his brother’s elbow, surprised he hadn’t been shook off.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Virgil’s voice was wistful as they approached the railing. “Sometimes I think we get too busy or just take it all for granted. We do live in a stunning corner of the planet.”

“Dad always thought so. I wouldn’t have called him much of an environmentalist, but he knew what was important.”

“Hmm, I think you underestimate him. You were off the Island when Alan brought two rats home as pets.”

“He did what?!”

Another arched eyebrow. “Yes, he did, early on. Snuck them in. Dad went ballistic when he found out. The words he used had Grandma blushing. Let’s just say that Beau and Belle were deported rather abruptly and Alan now has an unofficial degree in environmental management.”

“Hmph, serves him right.”

Virgil smiled at him. “Sounds like you might be a bit of an environmentalist yourself.”

A tolerant glare at his brother. “I do what is necessary.”

Scott was surprised when Virgil’s response to that statement was a sigh. His brother’s expression was almost sad.

“What?”

“You need to relax.”

“I am relaxing.”

“No, you’re not. You’re wired tighter than Two’s primary generator. You need to find a way to wind down. We’re on vacation.”

“We’re on mandatory lockdown.”

“Grandma is right. We need a break. Preferably before we break something we can’t repair.”

“It’s not just about us!”

“Yes, it is! You need to let go! Focus on you for a change.”

“Dad-“

“Is not here! You have the right to a life, Scott. You have the right to look after yourself, to have a little fun, for god’s sake. When was the last time you read a fiction book? Flew a kite? Sat in front of the projector and binge watched an old television show?”

“There are more important things-“

“Importance is relative. It was you who blew my head off a matter of days ago about priorities, was it not? Our business forces us to prioritise according to lives at risk, I get it. I know it. I live it beside you. But you are my big brother, you are the leader of this team, your health affects our effectiveness. To put it harshly, some may die today, so many more can be saved in the future.” Virgil visibly swallowed. “I know International Rescue is important, but please, take the time, Scott. If you have to, do it for IR, do it for us or me or whatever gets you going, but most of all please do it for yourself.” Quietly. “I can’t lose you.”

What the hell? “You’re not going to lose me.”

“If you don’t look after yourself, we will!” He didn’t think it was physically possible for his brother to frown harder.

“If you don’t look after yourself, you’re going to blow your stitches.”

“This isn’t about me, it’s about you!”

“So, what are you thinking? Yell at me until I crack? I’m not finding this relaxing at all, Virg.”

“Well, it seems I need volume for you to actually hear me, because you certainly don’t listen otherwise.”

He couldn’t think of an immediate retort to that and to be honest he was worried Virgil was going hurt himself if he wasn’t careful, he appeared so uncharacteristically angry. “You’re that worried?”

“Of course, I’m fucking worried!”

Whoops, wrong thing to say.

“Virgil! Calm down. You’re the one who needs to relax.” He reached out and placed his hands on his brother’s shoulders. “Take a breath.”

To his surprise, Virgil was actually trembling a little. He was that passionate about this? He hadn’t been doing that badly, had he?

His brother did as requested and took a deep breath. “You are so hard to look after sometimes.” It was breathy and full of exhaled tension.

“You don’t have to look after me, Virg.”

“Somebody has to.” He looked up and brown eyes caught his. “Because you don’t.”

Ah, shit. A sigh and Scott gently drew his brother into a hug. “Okay, I’m sorry, I’ll try to do better.”

His brother didn’t answer, but he did lean in a little, one big hand reaching around Scott’s back and returning the embrace. “Please try.”

“Okay.”

Virgil pulled away slowly, not looking up at his brother, but focussing on the coffee he held in his other hand. He brought it to his lips and turned away slightly.

Scott stared at the back of his brother’s head and frowned.

The boat slowed as they approached the Rock. As jagged as its distant cousin, the Rock was like a miniature version of their home, the very top of a huge undersea volcano.

“Are we stopping here?”

Virgil’s question echoed his own thoughts. He thumbed his comms. “Gordon, are we stopping here?”

“Only for a moment. Just grabbing a sensor snapshot for Mel.”

Melissa Fisher, their closest neighbour. Blonde and sharp, she would remind him of Penny if it wasn’t for her obsession with all things Kermadec. That and the twigs in her hair. Even Dad had been a little wary of stepping on anything living when visiting Raoul Island. And visit they had. They needed to keep up relations and the woman was a mine of information when it came to ecological stabilisation and rehabilitation. Tracy Island had its issues when his father bought it and ever aware of the ecological importance of the area, once Brains had built the necessary infrastructure, his father had attempted to re-stabilise the ecosystem.

Melissa had been very helpful.

Gordon had taken to her immediately, jabbering in biology terms. For a bit there, Scott had wondered if the two of them might get involved with a different kind of biology, she was a little older than Gordon, only a year younger than Scott, but that might just float his brother’s boat. But apparently, they were too distracted by what they were discussing to notice each other.

Scott hadn’t seen her in years.

The boat came to a complete stop not far from the Rock and a moment later, Gordon appeared on the starboard side and threw out his sensor buoy.

Virgil was staring at him.

Scott blinked. “What is it?”

His brother didn’t answer immediately, those dark eyes assessing him a moment longer before sipping his coffee. But then a decision flickered across his expression and his hand reached out and gently took Scott’s arm. “Come with me.”

His brother turned slowly and led him off the bow. He negotiated the stairs and walked Scott back into the living area where Gordon was once again staring at holographic fish.

“Sit down and wait a moment.” His brother disappeared off into the depths of the living quarters.”

“Yes!”

Gordon’s jubilant yell made Scott jump. What?

His little brother was staring at a huge fish. A huge and weird looking fish. “What is that?”

“That, my wonderful big brother, is a sunfish or Mola mola, to be more specific.”

“And that is?”

Gordon glanced at him and frowned. “Heaviest bony fish on the planet. Came close to extinction twenty years ago. Saved by the World Council and its endangered species bill in 2039.” He turned back to the holographic display. “Though this one appears to have had some challenges.” Gordon’s fingers traced some gouges on the fish’s flank. “Old, but nasty.”

“Shark?”

His brother snorted. “No. That’s net scar. It’s been caught in a fishing net at some point. I can’t see any trace of the net, so this has to be one of the lucky ones.” The giant fish drifted lazily across the table as Gordon grabbed his tablet and stabbed his finger into it several times. “It must be well travelled. We are quite a distance from the fishing zones here.”

“I thought I told you to sit down.” Virgil edged carefully back into the room carrying his keyboard.

“And I thought you weren’t supposed to be lifting anything.” Scott hurried over and took the instrument from his brother’s hands.

“It’s not heavy.”

“So I have to look after myself, yet you don’t?”

Virgil’s shoulders dropped. “Okay, okay. Give me a second.” His brother grabbed a couple of cushions and shoved them together on a lounge chair to support his back and lowered himself into it. “Put it here.” He gestured across the arms of the chair and his lap.

Wary, Scott put the keyboard, that, yes, actually was quite heavy, down where his brother told him too. “Be careful.”

Virgil frowned up him with an expression that plainly said, ‘What am I? Stupid?’

“Well, you did carry the keyboard out here, did you not?”

His brother muttered something Scott couldn’t quite hear and wasn’t sure he wanted to.

“Now, you sit down and close your eyes.” A pause. “No, actually, lie down on the couch and close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Just do as I ask.”

Scott rolled his eyes, but lay down. “You didn’t used to be this bossy.”

“You didn’t used to be this stubborn. Call it evolution in trying times.”

“Smart ass.”

“Shut up and close your eyes.”

Scott muttered under his breath, wriggled where he lay and did as his brother told him. Anything to stop the man from freaking out.

His brother began to play, the keys soft and blending with the water lapping against the hull. With his eyes closed, his mind focussed on the sounds around him. Gordon’s fingers on his tablet, heard just under the music. The distant calls of seabirds. Actually, it wasn’t much of a step from the sounds of home. Virgil playing his piano. Gordon sitting on the lounge playing with his tablet. The balcony doors open to the breeze, the distant sound of the waves on Tracy Island rock, the distant call of the bird colony on Mateo. John would be in his room reading. Alan would be playing a video game in the kitchen while Grandma attempted to make dinner. Brains, as always, would be in his lab.

Virgil playing the piano.

Waves against the rocks.

Birds calling...

Home.

-o-o-o-

Virgil kept playing ever so softly. Gordon had stopped working and was staring at the two of them, frowning.

Scott started snoring.

Gordon’s eyes widened and he mouthed words at Virgil. ‘How do you do that?’

Virgil just smiled and kept on playing, drifting into a long, gentle piece his mother had taught him long ago.

At some point he closed his eyes, too, and let himself go with the music, let his fingers do what the music asked.

He woke to find both Scott and John sitting opposite him.

“That was dirty pool, Virg.”

He blinked. Someone had taken the keyboard away and shoved a few extra pillows into the chair to support him. “You knew what I was doing. I’m just your excuse. How long did you last?”

It was John who spoke up. “About twenty minutes. It was enough. Gordon had to get the boat moving. He woke up the moment the engine started.”

“You, on the other hand, have been out for over two hours.” Scott was smug. “You missed the active volcano.”

Virgil turned to John. “Anything worth looking at?”

His younger brother shrugged. “Looked like an island to me. Bigger than the Rock. No activity at the moment.”

Virgil turned back to Scott. “Sounds like I didn’t miss anything. Where are we now?”

“Anchored at Macauley Island.” Gordon strode across the room. “Hey, Virg. Good to see you awake. You might like to see this.” His fish brother’s grin was highly suspicious.

It took both Scott and John to get him out of the chair. He should not sleep sitting up with abdominal incisions. Ow.

For a moment there he thought Scott was going to send him to bed or demand he take painkillers, but he didn’t. His brother didn’t say anything, and even if he did, a familiar roar distracted Virgil enough that he wouldn’t have noticed if his brother said anything anyway.

He pushed himself forward, leaving his helping hands behind and stepped out onto the deck.

His beautiful ‘bird was roaring in from the north. She moved so fast, he blinked and she was coming to a halt some distance away, VTOL firing her into a hover.

He just stared as she dropped her module.

He blinked as Gordon and Alan suddenly started the engine of an inflatable dingy and tore off towards the module sporting its proud number four.

“Thunderbird Two to Virgil.” Kayo’s voice startled him out of his stare. “So how did I do? Score out of ten.”

The door to the module lowered and Gordon leapt out of the little boat and jumped on board.

“Oh, ten, I guess.”

“Ten?!” Gordon’s outrage yelped across comms as the aquanaut turned in the distance and put both hands on his hips. “I knew he liked you more than me. I haven’t managed anything higher than an eight and I’ve been trying for years!”

Kayo didn’t answer as his ‘bird turned and took off for home, but Virgil grinned. “Keeps you on your toes, bro.”

“You suck.”

Their sister snorted across comms as Alan turned the dingy around and headed back. Gordon glared a glare that made it across the ocean despite the distance and stormed off into the module.

Virgil’s grin just got wider. “Why did he call for Four?”

“Something about helping Melissa. A sensor malfunction in the Macauley caldera.” A glance at Scott found him grinning, too. “You know he’s not going to let that go, don’t you?”

“Yep.”

“We’re stuck on a boat, captained by him, in the middle of the ocean and you want to set Gordon off?”

Virgil shrugged. “He’ll enjoy it.”

“We won’t.”

“We’ll live.”

“If I wake up with pink hair, you’re dead.”

“I love you, too.” Virgil was still grinning.

“You do know that you still have your comms on, don’t you?” His aquanaut brother’s voice was admittedly amused.

“Yes, Gordon, I do. Got some good ideas?”

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.” And with that, Four’s rear thrusters fired and she shot out of the module and into the ocean.

“You got your uniform on?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Fly safe.”

“FAB.”

-o-o-o-

End Day Two, Part Two

Day Two, Part Three

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #Virgil Tracy #Scott Tracy #John Tracy #Gordon Tracy #Alan Tracy

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thefinalcinderella · 7 years

Text

DIVE!! Book 3 Prologue

Book 3 begins! And I just want to say, poor Youichi. You think Tomoki losing his social life from diving was bad? Well, Youichi doesn’t even have one in the first place!

Full list of translations here

Previously on DIVE!!: What do you mean the series isn’t over, since the representatives were chosen?

It seemed as though even snow was fluttering down in midsummer.

For the chosen Youichi, the tentative decision for the Olympic representatives was too sudden, an unforeseen major event.

“Congratulations. Although this is still kept as a secret, the Olympic representative selection committee have chosen you and Teramoto Kenichirou as Sydney representatives today.”

August 31st. He would never forget the excitement of that moment when his father, Keisuke, told him that the night before next semester’s opening ceremony on the next day.

The tentative decision for the Olympic representatives?

Me?

To the Olympics?

“Really…?”

He had thought that someday it would be great if this day would come. No, he always intended to grasp it with his own hands. But honestly, he didn’t expect the opportunity to come so soon.

His pulse rapidly sped up. His heart pounded excessively. His feet wobbled, as though the axis of his body was knocked out of order, and something hot welled up around his stomach. This condition might be what people called a “storm of joy” or something like that, and Youichi thought about it for a long time, but as he was calm by nature, he quickly returned to reality.

“But, why?”

From where the first squall blew through Youichi’s head, there was a question that everyone should have if they were involved with competitive diving.

“Aren’t the Sydney representatives decided from the qualifying trials in April or May? Also, it is just Teramoto-san and I…who is the last person?”

“The representatives are only you and Teramoto. It is true that Japan had a limit of three people, but for some reason this time that was cut down to two people.”

Despite the fact that his own son made the representative position his own, Keisuke had a heavy expression across the table. As he was the head coach of the MDC, was he weighing the good fortune of his chosen son, and the bad luck of his students?

Youichi also had mixed feelings. The fact that Teramoto and Youichi were chosen also meant that at this point, the chances for Tomoki and Shibuki to go to Sydney had disappeared.

“Do Tomo and the others know this?” When Youichi asked that, the crease between Keisuke’s eyebrows deepened.

“When I called Coach Asaki a while ago, Okitsu also happened to be there. She told him the gist of it, and she will also talk to Tomo and Reiji about it tomorrow. She is a young woman who was raised in a country where some kind of cancer notice is natural. I was going to hide it until an official announcement, but…”

“You were going to keep quiet until it gets leaked out?”

“No, you can understand even from such a prompt decision that there are complicated, hidden circumstances to this representative selection. I think it is better to encourage those children in vain until an official opinion comes from the JASF.”

“Hidden circumstances?”

“But, since this happened it can’t be avoided. Tomorrow I will gather everyone, and explain as much as I can. If you have something you want to ask me, do it then.”

He couldn’t give only his son special treatment. That was the principle of the consistent Keisuke, and Youichi’s wish as well.

“Understood. Well, tomorrow then.”

With Youichi’s agreement, the talk would be held over to the next day, and when Keisuke headed for the bathroom with a tired expression, he was replaced with Youchi’s mother, Yoriko, who was washing the dinner dishes.

“Congratulations for being an Olympic representative, Athlete Fujitani. Who do you want to share the joy you’re feeling today with?”

“My mother in heaven.”

“I’m still alive, you know.”

“Then why did you keep quiet, even though you knew?” Youichi glared at Yoriko, since she didn’t breathe a word of this big news while they were eating dinner together until a while ago.

“That’s because your father said he wanted to tell you himself. Plus, I felt a little strange.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because there’s no way that all three of us, parents and child, would go to the Olympics…It doesn’t it feel a lot like that we are a sinful family.” (1)

It appeared that his mother, also a former Olympic diver, had a different type of complicated feeling from his father. The pupils of her slightly wet eyes were blurred in a strange way. For Youichi, whose real feelings weren’t coming out yet, the two of them seemed like they were rolling an illusionary snowman.

The decision for the Olympic representatives—

He went back to his room and sat on the edge of his bed, carefully turning this unbelievable fact over and over in his head.

Even as he turned it over and over again, he still couldn’t believe it.

Sometimes, he saw athletes who were active on big stages commenting that “it suddenly felt real after reading the next day’s newspaper,” and until now he always thought that they had a couple of screws loose. But now, for the first time Youichi could empathize with them. It was the same as looking at a large nearby tower and being unable to fit its whole length into your eyes; the view of the person who obtained their excessively large luck had their field of vision blocked by it. When one checked the papers for facts seen through the eyes of others (“Athlete So-and-So, Immoveable Gold!” “Coach Also Cries Tears of Gratitude for Selfless Silver!” “Magnificent Bronze Dedicated to Second Mother!” etc.), for the first time they might be able to understand the volume of what they earned.

However, the newspapers wouldn’t report that at only the stage of a tentative decision, so Youichi didn’t have any means to confirm his own good luck.

Once the Olympic representatives have been decided, he wouldn’t be thinking about the phone ringing off the hook, or the endless stream of congratulatory gifts pushed at him. But still, what was this stillness? Youichi, who spent all his days with diving ever since he was little, had no friends with who he can share this good news. The only people he was close with were his fellow diving teammates, but they were also his rivals.

Tomoki. Shibuki. Reiji.

When he thought about them, Youichi’s chest felt stuffed up. How would they, who had their chance to go to Sydney passed up so quickly like this, react to this rapid development? What would be the thoughts of Shibuki, who returned from Tsugaru to fight again…?

That’s no use, Youichi panickily scolded his secret thoughts.

Everyone would lose someday. He could understand the feelings of losers if he became one. Until then, he must push forward with the thoughts of a winner.

His parting gift to the losers was only his retreating back as he continued to sprint full speed ahead without any hesitation.

In order to not waver, in order to not stay still, Youichi wrapped himself in his black sportswear, and went jogging after dinner.

In his neighbourhood, there were a number of jogging courses that he could choose for himself, depending on the weather, his physical condition, the time that he had, and other factors. Youichi felt like whichever he chose, he could run it with his eyes closed. He had gone running many times, for many years.

Today, the road was slightly wet due to a rain shower, and because dusk had already fallen too much, he decided on a middle-distance course that ran alongside the main road, avoiding the small road with bad footholds and the date spot.

Jogging alone was lonely, and he was embarrassed about it at first, but now it seemed more embarrassing to jog with someone else.

Because he was alone, he could hear his own breathing.

He could be sensitive to muscle strain and pain.

Beneath the sky sprinkled with stars, while kicking at the ground at a constant pace and concentrating on the sounds of his sweaty body, Youichi finally had his strong emotions about being chosen as an Olympic representative well up in his chest. Because I spent my time like this everyday, I got my hands on the representative position.

When he started diving in the summer of second grade, he didn’t want to lose to anyone in any way, and he always boldly faced off against divers with bigger bodies than him. If the kid next to him did entry practice five times, then he’d do it more than six times. If there was a kid who held a handstand for ten seconds, then he’d hold it for twenty. Then the years passed, his teammates quitted diving one after another, and before he knew it he was standing at the top of the MDC.

And after that he fought with himself. If he decided to do a hundred push-ups today, then in order to win against the him who had made that decision, he’d do a-hundred-and-ten. If he decided to jog for an hour today, he ran a minute or two longer. He used his force of will to hold down his body that shrieked that it couldn’t continue on any longer, and imposed on himself the endeavour to always surpass his limits.

His field of vision was distorted by the sweat pouring from his forehead.

While running swiftly through the neighborhood submerged in deep purple darkness, Youichi felt like he could now pump both his hands in the air and shout, “I did it!”

Right then, never in his wildest dreams would he had thought that the day would come that he would fight that illusionary snowman.

Translation Notes

1. I would just like to say this sentence confused the hell out of me. “ずいぶんと業の深い親子って感じじゃない” maybe I’ll be enlightened on this later?

Next time on DIVE!!: Youichi begins his career as a commercial talento.

#dive!!#dive novel translation

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dornishsphinx · 7 years

Text

twenty-two meetings that never happened (3/22)

3. THE PRIESTESS

“Yukiko!”

Her mother’s voice, low and firm, could cut through the paper walls and daydreams alike. Yukiko put down her storybook, shuffled over to the sliding door, and pulled it open before her mother even managed to reach it.

“Yes, mother?” she asked.

Mother carried with her an even more harried air than usual, which was truly saying something. It was tourist season, after all, and with great business came great stress.

“Ah, there you are are, dear,” she said, buzzing with pent-up energy, like she needed to get rid of it all while out of the eyesight of guests, “I’ll need you to shadow a guest tonight and make sure she has everything she needs - I’d do it myself, but there’s just so much else to do that I can’t delegate.”

“Of course, mother,” said Yukiko, automatically. “Which guest?”

“Her name is Sonomura. She’s come incognito, but we’ve heard through the grapevine she works for some holistic therapy chain. Lot of nonsense, if you ask me,” she sniffed, “but just imagine what a boost it could bring to the inn if we manage to cut a deal with them!”

Yukiko’s first thought was that the inn didn’t particularly need more guests, considering how run off their feet all the staff were and how many guests were currently crammed in - sometimes it felt like her room would be rented out just to have enough space for everybody. Still, she knew better than to say such things. Not every season had such numbers. And she’d heard the whispers from staff about once-sturdy old family shops in the town going out of business; the two maids she’d come across gossiping about it had censored themselves the moment they realised the heir to the inn was standing nearby, but she could fit the pieces together. The inn wasn’t exactly as safe an investment as it had been in the past.

“Is there anything in particular I should direct her attention to?”

Yukiko felt warm inside when she saw the spark of approval in the depths of her mother’s crow-feet eyes. She’s learning, they seemed to say.

“I’ve heard she’s here to investigate the healing qualities of the onsen - of course, it’ll speak for itself, but there’s no reason we can’t open her ears a little wider.”

Yukiko nodded. Her mother smiled back, before hurrying off down the hall towards the kitchens.

She considered her book. The cover was done in a bright, cartoonish style, depicting a great, flaming dragon coiled around a tower and a princess peeking out of its top window. She didn’t know when the guest was arriving, so if she left it, it might be the entire night before she got to continue on with it. Would it look childish if she were to bring it? She’d really wanted to finish it and force Kanji to read it too so she’d have someone to talk to about it.

But still. She didn’t want to screw up. This was the first time mother had given her such a responsibility, one befitting the heir to the business. She couldn’t let her down.

With a light sigh, she shoved the book back on her desk - spine bent and pages flat down to keep her place - before leaving her room, casting a final, furtive glance over to it as she slid closed her door. She could come back to it; the guest was the priority.

She made her way to the check-in and settled down to wait, spending the time by carefully making sure her kimono didn’t crease in any obvious places and smiling placidly at any guests - or genuinely at staff - who came through. Luckily, though, it didn’t take too long for a likely suspect to show up: a slim, pretty woman with a pixie cut and kind brown eyes who was rather small for an adult - though, of course, she still towered over Yukiko. She was rather elfin in appearance, Yukiko found herself musing, as she bowed towards her.

“Welcome to the Amagi Inn,” she recited, “May I ask your name?”

The woman looked a little taken aback at the sight of her - understandable, since she wasn’t even a middle-schooler yet - but answered nonetheless.

“Maki Sonomura,” she said, confirming Yukiko’s suspicions, “I should have reservations from the 12th to the 14th?”

“Of course! Just let me check the books, and I’ll give you the tour.”

She got out the book, a heavy, ancient thing that her father insisted gave the the place a unique character, and started flipping through it.

“That’s very kind of you…?”

“Oh, let me introduce myself,” she said, “I’m Yukiko Amagi.”

“Ah, that explains it,” said Sonomura, with a nod. “Your family are the ones who run the inn, correct?”

Well, that was a good a place as any to start listing off the charms of the Amagi Inn. She put on a friendly smile, the sort that put guests at ease, and nodded back.

“Yes, that’s right. We’re one of the oldest family-run businesses in Inaba, actually, so it’s very important to us that the family is still hands-on with the day-to-day workings of the inn.”

She found the right page: Maki Sonomura; reservations from Tuesday to Thursday; room 201. It was the room with the nicest furnishings, she noted. Clever. She looked back up, beaming.

“If you’ll follow me, Sonomura-sama.”

Sonomura’s bags were quickly stowed away. There was still some time before dinner, so Yukiko took the opportunity to guide her around the inn, making a point to direct her attention towards particularly impressive artworks that had been here since her great-grandfather’s day. Antiquity, father had told her, added prestige to any place. She seemed to like it - at least, Yukiko really, really hoped she did. Admittedly, she could have been projecting her hopes onto her. Then, it was time for dinner. It passed smoothly enough. Mother had forbidden her from helping with the food, so she just hovered, hopefully unobtrusively, trying to keep an eye on her charge.

Afterwards, Sonomura went back to her room.

Yukiko fidgeted in the hall. She wasn’t really sure what to do now. A little voice told her to go back to her book in her room - it had been a good bit as well, the princess just poised to find out that the dragon, supposed scourge of the land, was really her brother (they’d given that particular twist away in the prologue to drum up anticipation for the big reveal.)

Filial duty won out, though, and she elected to hover around for just a little while longer. Her decision paid off - not fifteen minutes later, she spied Sonomura coming down the corridor. Yukiko greeted her politely with a shallow bow, pretending she’d just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“Ah, Amagi-san?” Sonomura called after her. Yukiko was a little startled at the honorific - most guests, on the rare occasion they even interacted with her, went for cutesier modes of address thanks to her age - but then, she all but glowed. It felt good, being taken seriously. Well, she was the representative of the Amagi Inn, as far as Sonomura was concerned; it wasn’t like she had actually interacted with mother or father, busy as they both were.

“May I help you, Sonomura-sama?” she asked, applying as much polish to her manners as she could.

“Are the baths available? I was hoping to get to try them out.”

Here it was: the reason for everything up to now. Yukiko kept her face to a neutral state as best she could, though she felt her already-broad smile curl up a little further.

“Of course! The women’s hour isn’t quite over yet. I can show you to them, if you’d like.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you.”

As she shepherded Sonomura towards the changing rooms, her mind raced. Should she just leave her to her own devices, so she could enjoy the onsen at her own leisure? Yet, mother had said to talk up the best qualities of the baths, so should she go in too? After all, waiting around the changing rooms for her to come out would be a bit weird, and could put her off the inn more if she figured out Yukiko had been set to trail her - especially if she started talking up the baths at the same time.

No, she decided. It would be better to go in at the same time.

“Um, excuse me,” she said, “I was planning on using the baths tonight too - I wouldn’t be intruding if I came in with you, would I?”

“Of course not,” said Sonomura. Her eyebrows were raised. Right. Thinking it over a little more, it was a little weird to ask permission to use your own baths when you owned them. Hopefully, she’d just brush it off as consideration for the comfort of the guests.

They changed and entered the onsen. Steam curled up from the water like a dragon’s breath. She reprimanded herself - the book would be there later. She had to focus on the now.

They sat in silence for a long while, letting the hot spring work its wonders. She took a breath, sucking in the warm, steamy air, and cast a glance over at Sonomura, whose eyes were closed like a monk in meditation.

“Sonomura-sama, may I ask what precisely you do?” she asked, mimicking her mother’s cadence. It seemed an appropriately grown-up question to ask.

“I work for a psychotherapy clinic,” said Sonomura, not moving a muscle save for her mouth. “Hiiragi Psychotherapy. It’s in Sumaru City.”

“Goodness, that’s rather far away,” Yukiko guessed, desperately trying to remember if she’d seen it on a map before, or maybe on the news. “What brings you to Inaba?”

Sonomura’s eyes flicked open, slowly as a princess waking from a hundred-year slumber - Yukiko worried for a moment that she’d misstepped somewhere, but she answered casually enough: “We’d heard good things about the waters here: they help with physical afflictions, right?”

“We?”

“Ah, my boss. She told me about it, actually, and suggested I come out here.”

This was sounding less and less like the covert operation mother had suggested. Had she mixed up Sonomura with somebody else, or assumed deeper intentions behind a simple trip? She had been under a lot of pressure lately, so it wasn’t out of the question.

“They are quite soothing,” she said - even if it wasn’t why she was here after all, there’d be no harm in talking up the place. “People who come here say their maladies fade away like magic.”

Sonomura smiled at that. “Like magic? Well, I’m glad I came, then.”

Yukiko couldn’t help studying Sonomura then. She was petite in stature, but it had nature intended for her to be that way? Her face was a little gaunter than average too - nothing serious, but noticeable if you were looking hard enough. Curiosity burnt bright within her; she couldn’t help herself when the question came tumbling out:

“You mentioned physical afflictions - is that why you’re here?”

“Yes, actually,” said Sonomura.

Yukiko blinked. She’d been expecting a more evasive answer than that - it was just what adults did around any sensitive areas, as far as she could tell.

“I’m sorry you’re having, um…”

“Oh, it’s nothing as bad as it sounds. It’s just that - well, I wasn’t the healthiest of kids, and all that time in bed’s come back to bite me as an adult. Just some aches and pains; nothing dangerous.” As if she picked up on Yukiko’s sudden feeling of awkwardness, Sonomura turned her head and smiled kindly at her. “It’s okay, really. My boss is just a bit of a worrywart.”

“Your boss ordered you here?”

“Yeah. Technically, I’m supposed to be here to examine the waters, see if it would be a good place to suggest to particularly badly-afflicted clients-”

Yukiko perked up. So mother had been right after all!

“-But she is a health-care professional and it would look bad for business if I wasn’t in top form. I guess she’s trying to kill two birds with one stone.”

“She sounds very considerate.”

“She really is - and far nicer to us lackeys than we deserve. She’s even been saying she might leave the shop to me when she retires. Hopefully it’s not for a good, long while. I hardly have as much experience as her.” She stopped, considering Yukiko with a long stare, before continuing: “So, you’ll take over the inn when you’re older?”

“When I’m much older, yes,” she responded.

“And you’re getting the training for it even now, when you’re still so young. Must be strange, working for your family.”

“Well, I-” Yukiko fumbled for an answer. “I don’t really know anything else.”

“That is the problem with only being able to live one life,” she said, a look of pensiveness coming onto her face, “There’s so much you can’t experience.”

“I take it you never worked for your parents’ business?” asked Yukiko. It was an inane question, spouted in a strange desire to steer the conversation away from its current trajectory. Why, she wasn’t sure. Sonomura only smiled, though now it was a version closer to flint than sunshine.

“Not in the traditional sense. Besides, I prefer where I am now.”

Naturally. She chose it, after all.

Yukiko was surprised at herself for thinking such a thing. She quickly pushed it aside. There were other things to consider, such as the fact they’d been in for quite some time now.

“Ah, Sonomura-sama, forgive me, but I think the women’s hour is almost over.”

Sonomura looked surprised. “Oh, really? I must have lost track of time.”

They left the onsen, drying off and changing back into their yukata. Sonomura bade her goodnight, walking down the corridor to her room. Yukiko watched her go, a strange feeling still lodged in her throat, before returning to her room.

She looked over at the book. There was still time before bed. She plucked it from her desk, cover first. She hesitated. The princess, now that she looked at her again, seemed less nervous than she’d supposed. More- well, she couldn’t really put a word to it. Bored, maybe? Or-

She threw the book down. Maybe she should just turn in early.

#persona #maki sonomura #yukiko amagi #p1 #p4 #22 meetings

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edo-salandria · 7 years

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FanFic: SENSORY OVERLOAD

SUMMARY: Natsu and Lucy have been targeted. A mysterious tattoo appears on both of them that changes their relationship in ways they could never have imagined.

RATED: M

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Also can be read on: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12234990/1/Sensory-Overload (Up to Chapter 16)

Prologue ; Chapter 1 ; Chapter 2 ; Chapter 3 ; Chapter 4 ; Chapter 5 ; Chapter 6 ; Chapter 7 ; Chapter 8 ; Chapter 9 ; Chapter 10 ; Chapter 11 ; Chapter 12 ; Chapter 13 ; Chapter 14 ; Chapter 15 ; Chapter 16

CHAPTER 11

The sun beamed into the room shining light on all the things that never get picked up off the floor. Mostly discarded mementos and clothing, the occasional plate or drink cup. Natsu was sleeping comfortably in his hammock his dreams were a mix of sparring, Igneel and Lucy. Toward the waking hours it was more Lucy than anything else. He dreamed of her sitting and writing at her desk with Happy in her lap playfully laughing as he tried to distract her. He was so happy and there was such a warmth in the dream that it took him a little longer than usual to realize someone was knocking on his door.

"Coming" he yelled as he rolled out of his hammock and brushed his fingers through his hair. He instinctually inhaled as he got closer to the door to see who was on the other side. Deep down he was really hoping it was Lucy, he needed to talk to her. He also wanted to see what her reaction would be to last nights incident, would he get a Lucy style beatdown or would she see him and blush with a knowing eye? To his dismay he didn't smell the Celestial Mage outside his door. Instead his nose was filled with a familiar delightful smell of delicate puffed pastry stuffed with a sweet tabasco cream filling. Only one person brings him these and that meant she was back. He opened the door wide with a smile "Mornin' Lisanna!" "Good Morning Natsu, I'm sorry I woke you but I wanted to come by and tell you about my latest job and I figured you would be hungry so I brought you these for breakfast!" Lisanna pushed the box of pastries toward him with a gleeful smile. Natsu stepped aside and let her in. She surveyed the room with a wrinkle to her nose and asked "Lucy hasn't been by huh?"

"Nah, things are a little crazy right now - so hey how was your job?" Natsu was settling down on his couch with the tasty delicious fire puffs, motioning for her to come sit with him "Thanks for the pastry by the way!"

Lisanna flopped onto the couch facing him "Fresh baked this morning! What do you mean crazy? What did you burn down now?" She was excited to share her job, but Natsu's crazy stories were always far more entertaining.

"Hey! Why does something always have to burn down?" he said with falsely offended tone. She responded with a look that said 'oh come on'. He continued "Well, long story short, Lucy and I are currently under a Sensory Link spell." He held up his wrist to show her "This basically means we can feel each other's senses and feelings."

Lisanna's spread a familiar devious smile that she only shared with her older sister "So, each other's feelings huh? Like, what kind of feelings?"

Responding to her as he ate his delicious breakfast "Nothing… I don't know…. It's weird and confusing." He shrugged it off and got up from the couch to put the box on the counter.

"Natsu, this doesn't sound like nothing. Can we be frank here? We are friends after all and unlike everyone else in this guild, I don't tease you about your relationship with Lucy."

"That's just it Liss, it's not a 'relationship' we are partners and best friends, we are not intimately involved."

"That's where you're wrong silly. A relationship does not mean just a romantic one. Your partnership and friendship is a relationship and it is an intimate one, just not physically. You guys share an intimacy that is not rivaled by any other team… except Bisca and Alzack. You two just can't see it."

"So we're like a married couple without the sex?"

Lisanna blushed immensely at the question. "Sort of, I'm just saying that the two of you are so close that it's a wonder to everyone how you two have not turned it to a romantic relationship."

Natsu leaned his head down on the counter and let out a long sigh. He wanted advice and honestly, Lisanna was the only one he would go to outside of Lucy. They had been friends for so long and she was the only other person that didn't make him feel misunderstood. "About that, I need your advice Liss."

She stared intently at the Dragon Slayer who is obviously struggling with what is going on. "I am not sure I can help you, but I can certainly listen. Sometimes just saying it outloud to someone can help."

He straightened up and gave her his wide toothy grin "You're right!" he came back over to the couch and sat down "So, I haven't said this to anyone - I do love Lucy, and not just as friend or family. I have for a while now." A sadness flickered through his eyes.

"And you haven't told her?"

"No I haven't." He looked down fiddling with his fingernails.

"Why?"

"Honestly? I've always suspected she was holding something back from me and everything we are is based in trust and openness. I just couldn't be honest with my feelings for her knowing that she was holding something held back. Then this sensory link crap happened and I think I figured it out, which just worries me more. I think she loves me the same way I love her but she is hiding it. I don't know why, and I just don't know what to do about it."

"Maybe this link is a good thing." she shifted while thinking of reasons "Are you aware of everyone's perspective of you."

"Ya… a wild and unstable pyromaniac who is immature and is a really really 'late bloomer'." he smirked a very self deprecating grin.

"Did it ever occur to you that she is holding back for that reason?" she shifted slightly "I mean, you don't exactly scream 'responsible adult looking for love'." she let out a small giggle.

"I don't care what other people think, and we've spent enough time together, she should know better than that. I… I don't know…" at this point all his nails were a lot shorter from picking at them.

Lisanna stood up abruptly, "There is only one way to find out Natsu, take the bull by the horns and talk to her, no more guessing games." She picked his overcoat and tossed it in his directions "Let's go!"

"But I thought you wanted to tell me about your job, here we've been just talking about my problems." he shrugged on the coat and zipped it up.

She started to open the door "It can wait" and reached out for his hand "Come on silly!" He grasped her hand lightly and they walked out of the door together. "It's time to get this problem solved so you can finally tell her the truth."

They were only a few steps from the house when he felt a sudden pang of sadness it jolted him so that he released Lisanna's hand and clutched at his chest. He thought he caught a faint scent of Lucy.

Lucy was in line at small cafe waiting to get a delicious hot chocolate, she was teaming with nerves at the prospect of confronting Natsu. It was comprised of excitement, fear and embarrassment. She found herself up rather early that morning, it was a perfect time to sort through her thoughts and emotions. She finally decided with an almost firm resolve to tell him the truth, link be damned. The events of the night before gave her the push she needed, as much as the physical aspect was pleasant, it was the emotions she felt behind it that convinced her. 'Maybe I was totally wrong, all these feelings cannot be from me alone. I'll never know unless I ask him.'

She walked briskly along winding streets with her steaming hot chocolate. She was trying to block out what she would say because, in all honestly she knew how much she over thought things. She would take a page out of her partner's book and just go on instinct. She did feel a little bad for telling Happy he couldn't come along. She really didn't want any commentary from the peanut gallery though while trying to suss out feelings.

She finally was coming up the path to Natsu and Happy's little cottage she saw many footsteps tracked in the snow, some fresh some not, she smelled a faint scent of puff pastry and thought that was a weird smell considering it was early still and Natsu probably wasn't up yet. The closer she got the pastry smell was mixed with the scent of lavender it was a feminine scent there was a small knot buried deep in her stomach. 'Maybe he had a delivery scheduled?' was what she told herself to placate her overactive imagination. The cottage was now in view and she started to walk more slowly, her nerves were on fire, so many questions floating in her mind. 'What do I say to him? What if he doesn't feel the same? Am I doing the right thing? What is this woman's scent?' she watched the door open and her first reaction was to duck into the bushes nearby. She couldn't really see but she knew instantly she didn't want to because what little she did see made that knot feel a lot larger. She saw Lisanna holding Natsu's hand she squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Her hearing could pick up the conversation faintly "It's time to get this problem solved so you can finally tell her the truth." In that moment she felt her stomach drop and a wave of immense sorrow flooded her. 'Fuckin' idiot' quickly and silently she scurried away so she wouldn't be seen.

Walking tall now back to another path nearby in the woods she tormented herself with scene over and over again and joining it was the previous actions the night before. 'Dammit, that's what I get for getting my hopes up and not keeping my shit in check. He wasn't thinking of me at all last night, he was with her.' she snickered to herself 'and here I was worried that he would be projecting false affection toward me. I'm the friggin' idiot for misinterpreting his feelings for her as ones for me. When it comes to the heart I'm the stunted one, not him.' she came upon a small clearing with a large solid rock and decided to take a rest leaning against it. She needed to collect herself but before she could do that she just completely unravelled. She cried silently with nothing but the soft sounds of the winter forest around her. She would have thought it absolutely beautiful if she wasn't so consumed in tears and sniffles.

Finally after a good ten minutes of steady tears she did the only thing she knew to bring her back from her pity party and into reality. She started wiping away her tears and placed placed her mouth over her joint of her index finger and bit down as hard as she could. In that moment her mind snapped like a rubber band back to the hear and now. She steeled her mind against the emotions of what she encountered, she put up a wall to hide it all. Sadly, this wall took the shine in her eyes with it. They were no longer a warm chocolate brown, now they were just a cold and hollow shade of brown. It wouldn't last forever, just until she was used to this new mental wall she built. 'I'm glad Natsu found someone and honestly Lisanna is a good fit for him. I need to be happy for them. What I want is not possible and I shouldn't have allowed myself that sliver of hope.' Realizing she was still biting down on her finger dropped her hand to her side and clearing her throat she spoke to the silent forest "Time to go to the guild and get this link shit over with." She looked down at her finger which actually had blood trailing down it and made a mental note 'I need to clean and wrap this'.

As Lisanna and Natsu travelled the path from his doorstep, he picked up on Lucy's scent, even stronger this time. It also felt like she was in great emotional turmoil the stronger her scent got. He was baffled. He didn't see and signs of her, the snow had been so worn with tracks that there was no way for him to tell any apart. 'Maybe I am losing my mind.' However there was no denying that right now she was hurt for some reason. 'Maybe what I did was a mistake, maybe she woke up and instantly regretted it, maybe she's really pissed that I did that to her.' They took the path toward the guild and the air was back to that crisp winter smell. 'Ya, I was totally smelling things.' As they entered the guild he felt a concentrated amount of pain on his index finger. It was not quickly fleeting either. He kept flexing his hand to try and fix it but it didn't work. He became instantly engaged in conversations and he didn't notice the pain subside.

#fairy tail fanfiction #fairy tail #fanfiction #fanfic #natsu x lucy #Nalu #nalu fanfiction #natsu dragneel #Natsu #lucy heartfilia #Lucy #Fairy Tail Sensory Overload

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edo-salandria · 7 years

Text

FanFic: SENSORY OVERLOAD

SUMMARY: Natsu and Lucy have been targeted. A mysterious tattoo appears on both of them that changes their relationship in ways they could never have imagined. RATED: M AUTHOR’S NOTE: Also can be read on: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12234990/1/Sensory-Overload (Up to Chapter 16)

CHAPTER 7

Walking into the guild felt like every other time they ever walked in. Everyone was boisterous and busy. No one really paid any mind to the three as they entered. Natsu made the quick assessments that his favorite target hasn't come back yet and Lucy scanned nervously for Levy and Freed. Once Lucy spotted them under a pile of books at one of the dozens of tables, she grabbed Natsu's hand walked in that direction. When Lucy made the physical connection she had a potent shiver of warmth and humming throughout her body. It was like their magic was perfectly synced and to her it felt absolutely splendid. Even though she didn't want to she released his hand quickly once they were moving in the direction of the two engrossed guildmates. 'Damnit, I hope he didn't notice that' was all she could think.

"Hey guys so what have you come up with?" Lucy decided to stay standing so she could figure out how to steal a moment with Levy alone. Natsu went ahead and gingerly sat at the table still feeling slightly off and completely pre-occupied with all the weirdness he was feeling.

Levy stretched out and let out a deep sigh. "Well Lu, I am not really sure we found anything helpful. It's almost like this kind of magic doesn't exist anymore."

"You know what Lev, why don't we go get some snacks at the bar you guys look beat and I know that I could SO use a snack." Lucy then grabbed Levy's hand and dragged her toward the bar before she could protest.

At the bar the first thing Lucy grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. The bluenette looked baffled but was only met with a motion telling her to be quiet and read. Lucy scribbled down briefly what she discovered. 'I don't want Natsu to know. He can hear us. We have shared senses and feelings.' Lucy glanced up at Levy and gave her a nod to continue 'we can feel each other's magic, pain, ticklishness and sometimes emotions.'. Levy then pointed to the first thing she wrote "I kinda get why, but you have to Lu."

Lucy let out a sigh as she balled up paper and tossed it in the trash "I know Levy, but the torture I would endure. Also there is just a lot more going on here and here" Lucy pointed to her head briefly and then laid her hand over her heart.

Levy eyes softened sympathetically "I know Lu, I know".

Shifting their attention to Mira they placed their order for food and then started to discuss the books that could help.

Happy and Natsu had almost completed their construction of a makeshift bookfort for Happy when they were interrupted by a sneer. They glanced up to notice that Freed was glaring at the two and muttered to himself "So childish as always". Natsu pretended not to hear it and continued his construction. Happy watched Natsu to gauge his reaction 'Oh boy, it's gonna be one of those afternoons.' A tray of food was settled onto the table in front of everyone "Ladies, is this all for me?" Natsu inquired with his bright wide smile. "Where the fishies at?" was the first thing that came out of Happy's mouth.

"This is for everyone to SHARE, just because it is food does not mean it is automatically yours." Lucy her attention to Happy "What, the Mackerel wasn't enough for you cat!" Happy put his head down "Not nice Lucy, I'm gonna tell Carla" and with that Happy flew off to find his lady love.

Lucy sat herself next to Natsu and leaned into him lightly as she got comfortable and whispered "Nice fort" and she winked at him. "Can you hand me that one on top" she half stretched her arm and waved her hand open.

"Yes Princess - here you go - I'm ready for punishment now." Natsu had his famous devious grin. Before Lucy could even react she was interrupted

"If the both of you could please refrain from your inappropriateness, I am trying to concentrate." Freed glared at the two of them with disdain.

At that moment Lucy felt a roll of anger that was not hers, looking over at Natsu she expected to see his face reflect what she felt but she was surprised to see him with a smile. "Sorry Freed, hey why don't you hand me that book next to you there." Freed looked at Natsu for a moment debating whether he was sincere or not and then finally handing over the book.

Taking the book from Freed still smiling he opened the book and thumbed for the table of contents "Hey Luce, you said your sense of smell and hearing increased so would that be a sensory thing?"

"Ya, like heightened senses." Lucy looked over to Levy which was staring her down almost willing her to tell Natsu the truth.

Just then Lucy heard the practically inaudible comment Freed made to himself "Not like he would know what he was looking for." again Lucy felt a ripple of anger.

The four guildmates spent a considerable amount of time looking through the books for any information. As time passed Lucy started picking up different smells from around the guild. The smells were distracting and coupled with all the pieces of conversation she was hearing she was become less focused on reading and more so on trying to figure out what was going on around her. Lucy decided she need to stretch her legs so she walked over to the bar to get a drink for herself.

Cana was also at the bar and Lucy noticed she smelled of booze but she also smelled of something else that she couldn't place, something a bit more metallic. She thought hard for a moment and then she remembered the rant Cana went on the other night about how unfair it was for women and being blessed with monthly stupidity. 'That is what that smell is? Ughhhh Gross!' Turning around with her drink she almost walked directly into Evergreen and Elfman and it didn't take more than second for Lucy to register that they both smelled of each other and of other more intimate things 'no friggin' way ew' she smiled sheepishly at them and excused herself. Passing Wakaba all she could smell was the smoke and it was ten times more offensive to her nose than it usually was. Droy tried to squeeze past her unsuccessfully and she got a nostril full of fried chicken and barbecue ribs.

By the time Lucy got back to her table she had just about had enough with smelling everything. Shifting her weight to get comfortable as she sat, she leaned toward Natsu and for her nose it was more than welcoming. She inhaled more deeply and even though he smelled like he hadn't showered in days, which was likely, there was another smell that prevailed. It was a strange mix of the forest and crisp fall evenings with a hint vanilla. It sent her head swimming in thoughts from delightful to sinful. She was quickly snapped out of it when she heard someone in conversation.

"Sheesh you think Natsu would have hit that by now, what gives with that kid"

"Who knows, he's pretty dense does he even realize she's a woman."

"With a rack like that? How could he not! I would love to grab me a little bit a Lucy"

"You think she would even let him tap it?"

"Highly doubt it, she doesn't strike me as the type to offer up pity fucks."

Before Lucy could even finish processing what she heard or where it came from she felt the familiar heat throughout her body but this time it was laced with something more than anger. At that moment she looked at Natsu who was calmly getting up. He look down at Lucy not making eye contact "Hey, I am getting bored think I will go do some training. Let Happy know if he is looking for me." and before she could say anything else he walked out the door.

It all came crashing at her, this man is no idiot. 'He understands more than anyone knows, except maybe for other Dragonslayers. They have no idea that he smells everything and knows what it all means. He knows who is hooking up - what they ate last - hell, he even knows which women to steer clear of on a monthly basis. He hears what people say when they think no one can hear them. He hears everything people say about him. He hears their comments about me, about our relationship. He hears the good and the bad from everyone. He lets us all think he is a giant man-child with no understanding of how relationships work. I don't get it.'

Lucy got Levy's attention. "Lev, you were so right. I should have said something to him. If I can feel his magic when it stirs then what will happen if he uses it to his full ability?" Levy's thought and then a look of horror crossed her face "It would burn like hell Lu."

Lucy was startled when she heard Gray enter the room and boisterously call out "Oi where is that flamebrain idiot!" She quickly got his attention and waved him over. He walked over rather looking rather annoyed with Juvia hovering behind him like a lost puppy. "What's all this about?" Gray looked over the table full of books.

"We are trying to figure out what this is." Lucy lifted her wrist to show her tattoo.

It was Juvia who moved swiftly toward Lucy and grabbed her hand gently inspecting the marks. "Meredy, this is Meredy's Magility Sense." She looked up at everyone and then to Gray "This is the same magic that was used on Tenrou Island when we fought"

"Well what does it do and how do I get rid of it?" Lucy nearly demanded, her anxiety was increasing ten fold which made her even more nervous that Natsu was feeling the same way.

"You can feel each other's pain, emotions, and pleasures. Also, if one of the wearers receives a fatal blow it will be shared by both." Juvia clasped her hands together and looked down trying to avoid eye contact. She knew this was news that was not welcomed. "The only one Juvia knows of is Meredy and she removed the link herself."

"Great, just fuckin' great!" Lucy's use of wording certainly earned her some concerned looks. "I have to go find Natsu, right now. You all need to figure out if this can be unlinked without Meredy and if not, we need her here STAT!" The furious blonde searched the room looking for Happy when she saw him "Happy let's go, I need to find Natsu NOW."

As Lucy ran out the guild she sniffed the air trying to find a trace of Natsu's smell. When she caught it she began walking in a hurried pace.

"Lucy is everything ok?" Happy asked as he tried to keep up with her.

"It will be, but right now we have to find Natsu - I need to let him know that he can't use his magic"

Happy looked puzzled "But why?" Lucy sighed "Because it is gonna hurt like hell." They just cleared the eastern edge of the city when she felt highly agitated and then it started welling up inside her. She looked up at Happy with panic in her eyes "Happy go ahead as fast as you can and find Natsu and tell him to stop using his magic…. Please"

"Aye Sir!" and just as he was turning to go a scream of pain ripped through Lucy. "Lucy? Are you OK?" the cat turned and hovered around her head really concerned about what was happening. Lucy fell to her knees from the pain and started panting heavily. "GO NOW!"

#fairy tail fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #fairy tail #natsu x lucy #Nalu #nalu fanfiction #natsu dragneel #Natsu #lucy heartfilia #Lucy #Fairy Tail Sensory Overload

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