#Also if anyone knows about this weird cheese box let me know cause I found it at the thrift store like two weeks ago
Text
The Dorm Leaders with a S/O who Burned themselves making Microwave Food
(This is definitely not something that just happened to me like 10 minutes ago but you should definitely like and subscribe and don’t forget to hit the Bell icon Cause seriously some parts of my hand Hurt like a B...Not that I burned myself or anything)
Riddle Rosehearts
• So Your feeling a Gosh dang HUNGER
• You’re too hungry to wait For Trey to bake anything So
• So Kennel Corn it is!
• In your HUNGER daze you threw the popcorn in carelessly and forget to Press the Popcorn Button and just pressed the 4 Button instead of the 3 Button like you meant to even though 3 PROBABLY would’ve Ruined Your Popcorn anyway
• You text Riddle to see if he’d wanna Share some Popcorn He said he would bring some Tarts he had just put in the oven So you waited...Thinking about Food...not noticing the disaster you were Setting into place
• Anyway you Open the Microwave Full of Hope like a Doe being born on a beautiful spring day then as soon as the black Popcorn started shooting out of your Microwave in Ramshackle you then had the same disappointment as a spring Doe who was just forced to watch Fox and the Hound Like Holy Heck that Movie gives me the Hecko Deppreso
• One Burning Kernel Hit your Cheek Just as you Wince Riddle Comes into your Kitchen With Wide eyes
• He Drags you out Picnic Basket with Tarts in Hand and Takes you to the Nurse’s Office and Asks for...whatever Burned people Need As He Patches you up you 2 Share a ~Moment~
“Riddle Honestly it’s not THAT big of a deal” You Chuckle Anxiously “Don’t be Ridiculous Y/N!” he keeps Patching you up “It Must Seriously Hurt..” He looks a little Sad and while looking sadly into your eyes he kisses your cheek where the Burn was you wince as He Quickly Spits an Apology you Chuckle “You can Kiss it better if you want~” he Looks away bright Red as you 2 Sit in the Nurse’s Office Sharing Tarts
Leona King Scholar
• “I can’t Hecking Cook!!!” you found yourself Exclaiming in the Savannaclaw Kitchen Ruffling your hair
• You see Poor F-Ing Ruggie Needs a Break that’s not a secret to anyone (# Please Stop Hyena Abuse # Please Edit A Garfield Comic Where Leona is Garfield and Ruggie is John) so you said you’d make Leona his Lunch
• why the Heck you said you’d do this you Adorable stupid Hecking Idiot you but hey you did dumb dumb
• So here you are looking in the Freezer and BINGO Big ole Meat Chunk!
• So you being A fanfic protagonist Put a giant mystery meat chunk in the microwave pressed some Buttons and said..”Eh Good enough” Guess your sex god heart throb Boyfriend Is rubbing off on you ok I see how it is Y/N OK I SEE HOW IT IS
• Anyway besides my needless aggression with my words You started to look for some utensils you found A Bento Box and a Spoon thank goodness but you figured you might Need some mittens Lunch was soon and The meat was long done but no mittens
• You take it out..and HOLY MOTHER GOD WHY DID YOU THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA YOUR PALMS MIGHT AS WELL BE ON FIRE
• Leona Nonchalantly Enters The scene cause Ruggie Told him you’d be making his Lunch and Lunch started like 15 Minutes ago
• He looks at the Scene before him and sighs and takes your hands like the sex god heartthrob he is and looks at your red palms almost Deadpanning
Your face a light red “Yeah...I know I massively Screwed up with your Lunch But I really wanted t-“ “I know And I appreciate it even though you are a massive screw up..But you keep trying I appreciate that about you” He starts to lick your Palms and your face Erupts into a Blush “What the Heck!?!” he looks up at you “It’s to cool your hands down but you ARE gonna go get me Food from the vending machine afterwards”
Azul Ashengrotto
• you slam your Hands Dramaticly on your Kitchen Table “I CANNOT ACCEPT ANYMORE FREEBIES FROM THE MONSTRO LOUNGE” You were sure Azul Would start making you pay if not Azul Jade for sure
• So time to start making Food for yourself!! You Quickly Head to a Convience store where a Certain Chaotic Neutral Eel Notices you Buying like 10 Frozen...PIECES OF FOOD
• You Dump like all off them on your Counter and Choose to make some Weird fish
• You Slap that Sorry Sucker in the Microwave and like the other Sorry Suckers in this Scenario you will Burn yourself and beautiful Bishounen Shenanigans will ensue but we’re not there yet
• You literally just bought a piece of not even normal looking fish Of course it didn’t come with a Time Recommendation So you while staring at it for like 10 minutes (Letting it thaw quite a bit but you didn’t notice) You threw it in for 7 And figured “eh 7’s a lucky number this’ll work” Didn’t you read Leona’s Scenario? What happened when THEY said Eh
• You Dumby You Dating a Merman Boughta Eat a fish Dumbo what do you have? Ears?
• Anyway Floyd and And Azul are Chatting well it’s more like Floyd is talking At Azul while he does paper work Yeah I totally Saw them Buying a bunch a Random Frozen Weird Massively Weird Right? Anyway So Apparently They Let you Mix ALL THE slushie is Flavors”
• Azul hearing this After finishing up some more Paperwork Decides to go Visit You and to his Shock he finds you Trying to hold a Basically at this point Charcoal Fish and when you drop It on your leg Leaving a SEXY weird fish shaped burn he’s Immediately on that
He puts a Hand to his Temple and sighs For a Moment before sweeping you off your feet before you could say a word..the you did say a word a few in fact “I’m Sorry Azul I know you can’t give me freebies forever but I’m a terrible cook” He Kisses your forehead and gives you a reassuring look “You’re my Beloved you can rely on me as much as you want I’ll get you some bandages when we’re back at the monstro lounge and Jade will make you something not made of Charcoal” and you bet he carried you all the way
Kalim Al Asim
• you both wanted to cook Something for Jamil...Okay this’ll go south fast.
• the road to Heck Is often Paved with Good intentions
• You Were tasked with picking out food and Kalim for Kitchen Prep
• Anyway Let’s get this poor Wreck Jamil’s gonna have to fix over with
• “I Picked out some Tofu! Smart people like tofu right?
• Kalim Tossed that And all sortsa Stuff Into the Microwave and Waved off all your concerns figuring it’ll be fine! come on Y/N you coward Your a fanfic Protag you don’t have to think Silly goose no thoughts head empty
• like 15 minutes later you 2 Hear Smoke while trying to make Pulpless Handsqueezed Orange Juice cause HECK PULP
• He Opened The Microwave and the only thing that Looked even Remotely salvageable was the tofu and because you 2 are the cutest most head empty Couple Apparently you didn’t Put a plate underneath so you braving all the danger reached into the Microwave...
“Ouch!” You teared up a little And were about to Put your finger in your mouth as you do Before Kalim put your finger in his Mouth You looked at him shell shocked after a couple seconds he started pressing light kisses on them “I’m so sorry! I should’ve thought this through more! I’ll nurse you back to health!” And For the rest of the day he essentially treated you like you were crippled he carried you he fed you everything don’t worry you slipped away for a little to clean up the mess in the kitchen before Jamil got back Kalim Babysitting is always an Experience to be Had for sure
Vil Schoenheit
• “Vil! I wanna Eat Carbs Heck you!!”
• if that’s not how Every story I do With Vil Starts I’ll be Gosh Danged
• “FINE EAT YOUR MAC AND CHEESE YOU’LL RUE THE DAY-“
• anyway after you stopped listening to him you looked him DEAD in the eyes and Shoved that frozen Mac and Cheese in the Microwave and slammed...Some Numbers In wow what a power move
• He Gasped and Power walked away
• You Laughing Manically Triumphantly
• But after awhile you felt kinda bad and decided to make some Carb free food for Vil as an Apology for Deliberatly and spitefully trying to make him Mad
• But that was the final nail in your microwaved coffin When you took out your Luckily not entirely burned Mac and Cheesies it was real hot like
• You were trying To get it to a plate Quickly And Spilled some on your Wrist Luckily Your Sexy mean Boyfriend was Here To save the day and wow he’s holding something”
“Sweet Potato?” He peeked through the Door and saw you Holding your Wrists in Pain he immediately walked in And Held them tenderly “I’m Sorry Sweet Potato things got heated I did get you a..Low Carb Meal at Olive Garden I Hope this Makes things up to you I know I can’t Control your life it’s just kinda my nature” You Smiled at him through the pain “It’s Fine Vil I got WAY too Mad I’m sorry I made you a salad” you both Enjoyed your food him feeding you yours then later he put some lotion on your Wrists
YES ITS BEST BOY-
Idia Shroud
• Omg it’s the best boy 🥺
• I mean I am not Partial to any character Do not worry I do not want to be in a Poly relationship with both Malleus and Idia
• So you wanted To Hang Out with your Boyfriend today he said sure but that he would be Busy doing raids with his Online friends you agreed and even said you’d bring snacks which you did
• Including Instant Ramen! My-I mean YOUR favorite
• you decided to show how reliable in the Kitchen you are to your boyfriend by making such a Delicacy for him while he doesn’t have the time to himself at the moment
• This is will work out Well
• You decide to do it in your kitchen and bring to him
• this will work out well
• You..ACTUALLY MAKE IT PERFECTLY
• You also Make it mostly towards his room before divine intervention Intervines and says That’s not the point of this fanfic idiot
• It probably mostly worked out for you cause you have the best taste tho so-
• Ortho Hears a Mighty Loud Catwerwhail (here’s hoping I spelled that right) and Comes to check whose outside the door
• “Big Sister/Brother?” He Quickly Runs some Water on your Shoulder and Bandages you Up And Leads you in Idia’s Room With the snacks in tow meanwhile he’s wondering if your Ok or not
“Idia Senpai!” You Sit next to him And he notices your Bandages “What Happened?” You look away a little Blushing a bit “I Spilled hot Instant Ramen on my shoulder Ortho parched me up though but! I brought the rest of the snacks though sor-“ Before you can apologize he Puts his Jacket on your shoulders “No I’m sorry for not noticing I would’ve...Tried to help” His sad expression turns into one of his Competitve smirks “I’ll Finish this Raid Boss so Quicker then you even Burned Yourself!” And He did cause he’s the best Gamer boy then you played Monoply With Him and Ortho cause he’s the best boy you have the best taste RAMEN TASTES SO GOOD-
Malleus Draconia
• My Second Love I mean nothing Let’s finish this I’ve been here since like 4 it’s 7 rn
• You invited Malleus to dinner And you wanted a Good Blanced Dinner!
• Chicken From Panda Express
• McDonald’s Chocolate Milk
• Some Patties from Burger King
• Oh Yeah Veggies!
• Wait! Everything’s Closed now!!! Y/N I KEPT TELLING YOU TO STOP BEING DUM-
• Oh you have some frozen Vegetables? Okay Touché
• You Toss them in the Microwave for 6 Minutes and get ready
• You dress as Nicely as Possible in 10 Minutes cause you plan Things Horribly apparently...not that I relete having been here for like at least 2 hours
• He’s Here~ him being Also the best boy is already setting the table with Magic cause he’s just nice like that and even Enchanted the food to be set on the table and the milk in the Glasses
• But you INSISTED to present The Vegetables
• “Child of Man I really don’t min-“ “No! I got this really!!”
• Let’s see how well that turned out for you
You got the Vegetables Outta the Microwave in such a Haste you didn’t even notice how hot it was and dumped it on the plate it wasn’t horribly burnt but was Horribly Hot Malleus was Amazed though “So Man’s Growing Vegetables in Bags now?..” he Reached to touch but you smacked his hand away so fast your hand touched the food and burned you “Ouch! I’m sorry Mal But it’s really hot” He immediately Understood and Summoned some Magical Water as he do and your burn was gone “I love you Child of man even though us Fae Can’t burn you tried to shield me anyway my sweet gentle Child of man”...Did you know that I ain’t know that?
I have a Masterlist it has all my X reader fics And my Oc Stuff I will be Adding this in like a day or 2 probably now if you’ll excuse me I never Wanna Look at another word again except also I’m literally probably gonna go read fanfic
#twisted wonderland#disney twst#twisted wonderland dorm#twst imagines#twst x reader#twst headcanons#twst dorm leaders#dorm leaders x reader#twisted wonderland x reader#twisted wonderland headcanon#twisted wonderland dorm leaders
202 notes
·
View notes
Text
Home Sweet Home: Moving Day
Summary- 3.1k Andy Barber x You. You and Andy almost have it all, married and with a jointed family consisting of Andy’s teenage son Jacob, as well as your two younger children John and Cassidy. Looking to add another member, your family is in need of a bigger house, a forever home. You find just the place, 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville Long Island.
Home Sweet Home
Written for @optimistic-dinosaur-nacho Spooky Scary Stories challenge. Divider by @firefly-graphics
Warnings- Not many that I can see. Mentions of murder and spooks.
A/N- I chose Amityville Horror for the challenge because its one of my favorite Spook Stories growing up. When reading you will find a lot of similarities to the 2005 Movie, some of the scenarios and dialogue are specifically from that film. Other parts of it are from the book itself. The family name was changed for my own personal reasons. Happy Haunting! 🎃
Chapter 1 / Masterlist
The day the family moves in, you couldn't have been more excited to be moving into your dream home. The home you and Andy would be raising the family in. The movers were quick under your and Andy’s directions of where to put boxes and furniture. Jacob managed to keep Cassidy and John occupied by exploring the yard and along the lakes edge until most of the chaos ended.
Andy and you called them in once the movers left. When all three came back in, you took them on a tour of the house, going through the downstairs and then going on upstairs to show each one the bedrooms you and Andy had chosen. Andy took the boys to their rooms, dropping John off in his to check out, and then Andy opened a nearby door to Jacob's room. Jacob walked in, looking around. “Yup, looks like a bedroom.” he commented, sounding just like Andy in that moment. Andy stepped in, remarking at him.
“Smartass... do you like it? Y/N thought this one would be better for you. It's a bit away from the kids, give you a bit more privacy you didn't have at the other house.”
Jacob gave a smile to his father while nodding. “It's great dad, seriously.” he assured him, and Andy nodded.
“Well I will leave you to unpack then.”
In Cassidy’s room, she was excited over the unique windows facing the front, and she ran to the first one looking out over the driveway and the rest of the neighborhood. “Wow, I can see everything.” She started waving at people passing by on the street.
“You really like it Sweetheart?” You asked, having picked this room just for her cause of the pink flowered wallpaper, and there was a small vanity already built into the wall. She nodded and giggled at the window.
“Yes mommy, I do.” She went back to looking at the window, and you pulled open a box to start taking care of clothes when she started speaking again. “Hi, hello… what's your name?” She tilted her head with a nod and another giggle. “I’m Cassidy, see you later!” You had been working on putting clothes in the dresser from boxers when you heard her odd words.
“Who are you talking to Baby?” You go over behind her and she looks up at you.
“They said a friend, but they had to go.” She shrugged like it was no big deal and went to go open more boxes to help you unpack. You peek outside curiously, but saw nothing out of the ordinary when Andy saying your name turned you around.
“Hmm, what?”
“I said the boys both approve of the rooms you chose for them, and are currently putting their rooms together. I'm gonna go build our bed and then come take care of Cassidy’s.”
Agreeing that was a good idea, the rest of the day was getting the basics together. By the time dinner rolled around, Andy had insisted on ordering a few pizzas and you agreed tiredly. Andy eased a hand over your shoulder and to the back of your neck, massaging gently while you let your head fall forward, breathing in deeply. “How about you take a shower? I will get dinner handled. By the time you come back down, it should be already.”
“You really don't mind Andy?” You ask, and he gives a shake of the head, kissing your forehead he eased you towards the stairs.
“Baby, I insist.” He winked at you, and you gave a nod while heading up the stairs. The allure of a hot shower and getting into your ultimate comfort clothes you already pulled out and were on the bed just sounded like the best thing you've ever heard.
Grabbing your towels and a washcloth from a box, you wandered into the master bathroom. This was the first time you’ve had a bathroom all for just the two of you, and you couldn't help but feel like this was truly living. Soon the hot water was going, and you were stepping into the shower, humming happily to yourself.
Downstairs Andy had made the call for a few pizzas after googling for a local restaurant. He went to check on John and Cassidy to find that they had found a board game and were making up their own version. Jacob, he could hear music playing up in his room. You were in the shower and he would be taking one soon as everyone was fed and the little ones put in bed. All in all a good day he thought. Going back to the kitchen, he searched out for plates, and took care of a few more dishes. It wasn't long till the doorbell rang. “Coming.” Andy called out while checking to be sure he had his wallet on him for a tip to whomever was delivering that night.
He opened the door to find a teenager warily standing on the bottom step, looking up at the house. Jumping a bit when he heard Andy open the door, he went up the stairs and held the boxes out. “Been a while since anyone has came out here.”
Andy took the pizzas and set them just inside the door on a small table and then dug out his wallet to pull out a tip. “Oh yea, is that so?” Not really giving the kid’s words much thought, but he ended up continuing regardless of Andy’s uninterested tone.
“Yea, last time anyone came out was before that night.” He took the tip, and pocketed it. “You know about the night, right?”
Andy shuffled a bit, wanting to close the door. “Yes, we were made aware before we moved in.”
The teenager just continued. “Yup, all five of them were in their beds. I knew Ronnie, he was a lot older than me, but he was cool. Can't believe he took a rifle and just shot them all. Guess you just never know what people are capable of.”
Now Andy was done, and snapped out. “No I guess not. Bye.” Stepping back, he let the door shut firmly and flipped the lock, gathering the pizzas to take to the kitchen. What the kid said unsettled him. But he shook it off before addressing John and Cassidy. “Are you hungry, Kids?”
A thud of feet sent Cassidy and John racing into the kitchen, and Andy simply sent a message from his phone to Jacob upstairs, knowing it would be faster than going up to knock on his door. Grabbing plates, Andy looked at the two littlest ones.
“Okay kids, I got… anchovy and extra anchovy. What do you want.” He grinned innocently at them, and they both made funny faces at him in disgust.
“Cheese?” John asked hopefully. Andy popped open the top, and showed off a cheese pizza. Peeling off a slice and plating it, Cassidy reached for the plate.
“Andy, can you add an extra slice for Jody? They say they want a piece.” Cassidy hummed and Andy indulged her, putting on a second slice.
“Who’s Jody Kiddo?” Andy questioned as he also handed over paper towels for napkins.
“My friend. But you can't see them. They don’t like grownups although I told them you were nice.” She said as if it was everyday and John rolled his eyes at her
“You're so weird Cass, Jody isn't real.” John snickered as he reached for a piece and bit off the end while Andy handed a plate over to him to use.
“Is to! Jody says boys like you are mean.” Cassidy cried out and then the siblings stuck their tongues out at each other and Andy was quick to jump in.
“Hey hey hey, John don't pick on your sister. Cass, Please just tell Jody not to make a mess.”
Jacob came in the room, following his nose to the scent of pizza. “Who’s Jody?”
Andy moved aside the cheese to the pizza with toppings underneath he knew Jacob would prefer. “Jody is Cass’s friend.” Cassidy took a bite of her pizza and gave Jacob a nod, and the teenager nodded in understanding. Picking out a slice of pepperoni. “Ya know, I had a friend like that.”
“You did?” John asked, suddenly on board with the imaginary friends cause Jacob seemed okay with it. Andy went to find a couple wine glasses while listening to Jacob recall the story of his imaginary friend Stan the Man. Andy had to smile at the memory of Jacob and Stan the Man, his son had insisted he was taller then the house but could shrink down to his size in order to play. Laurie had been a bit concerned about how often Jacob had talked about him, but Andy wasn’t. Pulling out a bottle of wine, he opened it up and checked the time, figuring you would be down pretty soon.
Upstairs you were finishing your shower, your head tilted back into the spray and fingers scrubbing out your conditioner when you happened to look towards the showers curtain and saw what looked like Andy standing there. “Andy? You trying to sneak in with me for a few minutes?” You rubbed the water from your face, expecting to hear an answer.
“Andy?” You looked again and the shape moved like they were about to get in, but there still isn't an answer.
“Are the kids okay? Andy?” you frowned and went to move the curtain, to open it and when you looked around it, there was nothing. No one was standing there, the door was still shut, and you could feel your heart race a bit. You suddenly didn't want to be there anymore when your chest tightened in discomfort, you knew you saw someone on the other side of the curtain, and was sure of it. A chill ran up your spine and you hurriedly rushed to turn the water off and get out. Drying off, you hurried off into the bedroom, completely missing the whisper of your name as well as a figure moving out of the fogged up mirror, leaving behind the word ‘Catch ‘em, Kill ‘em’ streaked through the condensation.
Dressing, you made your way downstairs to see everyone Andy and Jacob laughing about something while picking at toppings of their pizza slices to pop in their mouth, the kids sitting at the table, legs swinging as they peeled off bits of cheese. You approached to peek in the box, grabbing a piece of pepperoni, and Andy hugged you from behind, his beard tickling your neck as he hummed against your ear.
“Feel better Mrs.Barber?”
“I will feel better if there is a glass of wine with my name on it.” You chuckled and he was quick to hand you one. Sipping from it, you set it aside and turned in his arms, cupping his face in your hands. “Now I’m much better, thank you.” Tilting up you gave him an affectionate kiss, John and Cassidy making eww noises and Andy chuckled against your lips at them.
“Man, we're trying to eat. Take it to your room.” Jacob joked from the other side of the counter, and Andy gave a smug look at his son. “We probably will later.” Jacobs scowl had you covering your mouth in a laugh and you finally reached for a slice of pizza, nipping at the tip.
Dinner was eaten, and after Jacob goes to his room, and the kids are in bed all tucked in, you go to the bedroom with wine glass in hand, Andy is stretched out on the bed to relax for the first time that day. You set your wine glass aside on the dresser, and go to work on hanging Andy’s suits in the closet before going to lay down, unsettled a bit as you look towards the bathroom.
“Andy, you didn’t happen to come into the bathroom when I was in there, did you?”
He looked up from his phone with a curious furrow to his brow. “No, I was downstairs with the kids the whole time. Why?”
You shrug as you hang another suit up, coming out of the closet and picking up another. “I just thought I saw someone in the bathroom, and when I opened the curtain, nothing. I think I'm just over tired.” you admitted, and he opens his mouth to say something when your phone rings. You turn away to go back in the closet, and Andy stretches out to grab it off your side of the night stand. He doesn't bother to see who it is, but swipes his thumb across the answer button while keeping an eye on you.
“Barber residence?”
You are humming while fixing the suits so they don't wrinkle.
“Of course, here she is.” He lowered the phone and “Y/N, it's your mom.”
You brighten when you hear who it is, and flick off the light to the closet. You swear you hear a muffled growl behind you, and turn towards the sound with a frown when Andy gets your attention once more. “You have to tell her to stop gushing over me baby.” He winks teasing as he rolls up off the bed, and you scoff at him with a smack to his chest while taking the phone. Tumbling on the bed and getting comfy, you raise the phone to your ear. “Hey mom! Yes, we're all settled, kids are in bed, but you call tomorrow, you can skype with them. They would love to see you.”
Andy feels a chill up his neck and he rubs at his arms, lowering to settle his hand over the heating grate. It feels like a heavy draft coming through and he glances up at you, mouthing. “You feel chilly babe?”
You shake your head in a no while still listening to your mother. “Oh mom, you will love it. Plenty of room for you to come stay as well. Maybe at Christmas time? We have the most perfect family room for a good big family Christmas.”
Andy heads out of the room while you're on the phone, sure the heater in the basement isn't turned on even though he knew that he had someone come in before to turn all of it on to get ready for them. Quick to go down to the first floor, he went into the kitchen and flicked on the basement light.
The lights flickered several times like they were about to go out. Once it became steady, he went down the creaking stairs and rubbed his hand against his arms looking around the dimly lit basement. Basements always felt awkward. He knew there wouldn't be anything to be necessarily scared of, but they always seemed hidden away from sight, where secrets of the house might be kept. Even now when peering into the dark corners of the interior, he shivered in distrust of the shadows.
Andy it's just a basement. He would scold himself as he crossed the icy cement floor, and tried to ignore what he thought was his imagination.
A shadow shifted, darker than the shadows of normal for an old house. It stalked along behind the man. Andy went over to the heating system, a state of the art boiler system that was almost brand new, having been installed when the previous owners updated the house.
Now Andy wasn't any expert in heaters, so when he squatted down, he looked along the switches, that all appeared to be in the on position, which he flicked anyways. He also leaned down to see the pilot light was still on, which it flickered reassuringly when he peeked.
He leaned back up with a frown, and while he was sitting there on the cold basement floor, a bone chilling coldness stabbed him in the back, paralyzing his spine, and the hair on Andy's body bristled as he heard something shuffle behind him. His chest ached in a panic that made breathing almost impossible. A dread settled on him, sunk from his shoulders and down through his body.
This must be what a condemned man must feel like.
His eyes squeezed shut and he fought to turn around. He had to turn around, see what was coming for him. Andy felt it come closer, the air around him freezing cold that he felt it burn with each breath that he inhaled and released. Could feel something hover near the back of his neck, like it was just about to reach out and snatch his life. Rational thought had gone into hiding, now was just the sudden fear for his soul, and he whipped around suddenly when he broke from it to see nothing.
Absolutely nothing was behind him.
Cursing as he gasped in relief, the memory of impending death turning into fear and scolding himself for being afraid of nothing, he pulled himself up off the floor to a stand. Andy’s heart was still racing as if it was going to crash out of his chest cavity, but he ignored it while he slammed the panel shut, and looked to see one of the heating ducts. Pressing his hand against it, a sudden hum came and a rush of warm air breezed against his palm.
“Fucking finally” He growled, and started to make his way back upstairs, what Andy missed was the hissing from the duct work, barely audible. “Catch ‘em, Kill ‘em.” As he started up the stairs, he shivered again and a racking cough exploded from his chest out of nowhere.
The shadow seemed to crouch further in its hiding place with a flash of red orbs before swirling away into nothingness.
He continued coughing as he went up the stairs, weariness coming over him. When he went into the bedroom, You sat up with a teasing look on his face. “Get that heater running Andy?”
Settling on the end of the bed, he started to peel off his shirt, and you scooted over, rubbing at his back while kissing the back of his neck. “Mmhh, yes I did Y/N. Can we not tonight Love?” He looked over his shoulder and smiled weakly. “Not feeling my best tonight.”
You pulled back with understanding, and ran your hand down his back and nodded. “Of course Baby, long day.”
Andy eased back and opened his arms for you to settle in. Your head went on his shoulder, and soon he coughed hard, pulling away from you to lay on his side. Frowning in worry, you settle into your spot and fall asleep.
Once he fell asleep, Andy did nothing but dream awful dreams all night. Dreams filled with him staring at you at the end of a rifle, finger on the trigger to ease it back with a click. Images of Jacob, John and Cassidy running away from him to race into bedrooms and slam the door shut on him. Something cackling from the walls, constantly whispering “Catch ‘em, Kill ‘em” till Andy was trying to smother the sound under his palms. Waking with a jerk, he doubled over in the early morning light, coughing again and shivering in the cold.
#Home Sweet Home#andy barber x you#andy barber x reader#andy barber au#DinoScaryStories2020#amber writes#sweater writes#halloween#halloween 2020#writing challenge#amityville horror
174 notes
·
View notes
Text
Beyond the Bay Chapter 19, Traximus
Summary: The Turtles meet a dinosaur
Tags: @brightlotusmoon @selfindulgenz @ilo-artistry @unhealthyobsessions101
Content warnings: swears
Bubble, bubble, bubble went the water as it swelled and displaced. Weapons were drawn, and the katana in Leonardo’s hand felt as foreign as if someone had just given him a book in Chinese and instructed him to read it. The handle was smaller than his odachi, and the blade was shorter, and it was thinner, and its weight was lighter, almost nothing. Still, a weapon was a weapon, even if he naturally navigated toward the back of the crowded group to put a wall of muscle between him and whatever was emerging from the cesspool.
There came two curved horns as long as Leonardo’s arm and as thick as Leo’s at the base, curved forward and angled close together. The gap between then formed an almost triangle shape. First came the horns, and then came an apricot head that rivaled the size of a small car, revealing a third smaller horn on the tip of a muzzle just before heavy, meaty flesh parted to a hard, bony beak. The head shook from size to side, a loud whoosh resulting as the broad frill caught the air. Further still the triceraton revealed himself.
His shoulders were as wide as the frill on his head, and he had a torso that could be mistaken for a brick wall. He was clothed in a red and orange regalia that could have once been a beautiful suit but was now stained with waste and ruin, heavy from the submergence. His nostrils flared to blow away the water that still cascaded along his muscular form, his breaths coming in heavy and labored grunts. Donnie couldn’t help but take notice of many wires hanging loosely around the triceratons shoulders, several of them severed or otherwise damaged; what use could they have once served? The options were limitless!
The triceraton didn't charge, but the clan held their ground. Eyes of an impossibly bright emerald sought something among the group; what that something was was anyone’s guess, but it must have been important. Apparently it was Donnie that held what the alien sought, because when his eyes found the box turtle they stopped searching. His head bowed and the turtles once more braced themselves for a charge. The triceraton lifted his arms up to his horns, arching his fingers downward so they formed an inverted triangle; joined with the angling of his horns, a diamond shape was revealed.
“Awaiting… orders… general Mozar.” He sounded as if he had swallowed a cheese grater.
Raph’s confusion disturbed the unyielding stance. “Who?”
All eyes gleaned over at Donnie. The box turtle paled at all the attention suddenly on him, his throat drying and a visible drop of sweat dripping down his forehead.
“Dudes this is so weird…” Mikey breathed.
“Woah!” Despite the many shouts of discouragement and several attempts to stop Michelangelo, the box turtle made his way to the front of the group to oggle the still giant. “How can we understand you?! Is there some super cool alien translation device?!”
“Actually Michael, I think he’s just speaking english.” Donatello commented absently.
“Oh.” Michelangelo deflated, “That’s less fun.”
The giant seemed to tolerate Michelangelo’s presence surprisingly well; that is to say, he didn't immediately try to beat the young turtle into a puddle.
“Should we be concerned that he’s not, you know… pummeling us right now?” Raphael asked, his hands still fixed firmly on his tonfa.
“Don’t let your guard down.” Leo whispered to the group, “He still might.”
“I don’t think he will.” Leonardo said, and his eyes were locked on the dinosaur as if seeing something no one else could.
“Excuse me?” With a hand perched on his hip, Leo addressed Leonardo’s words with scrutiny.
“Donnie.” Leonardo said to the box turtle, “Raise your hand…”
Donnie, though confused, raised his hand. The triceraton lowered his strange salute and raised his hand; Donnie leaned curiously to the side, and the dinosaur leaned to the side. Donnie leaned to the other side, and the dinosaur followed, like a baby mimicking its mother.
“Ooookay, things just got a whole lot weirder.” Mikey whistled.
“Guys, you remember that one really red triceraton?” Donnie asked quickly without removing his eyes from the ten foot giant before him. “The one with the lopsided horns?”
“Yeah, the leader.” Leo said just as quick as Donnie, just as urgent.
Donnie didn't answer verbally, but made a point of motioning to the goggles perched on his head, the lopsided lenses glistening.
“Aaaaand sidebar!” Despite being the smallest of all eight gathered, Leonardo was able to wrap his arms around the other mutants and whisk them to the side while Traximus returned to his unsteady salute. “Okay bros; how we feeling ‘bout this?”
“That dino dude’s acting weird…” Mikey said, and made a point of enunciating the last word,
“Yeah, like Mikey weird.” Raph whistled.
“Hey.” Mikey narrowed his eyes.
“And his gears all busted up.” Donnie reported, “He doesn’t have his mask on anymore for one.”
“And why is he playing some twisted version of Simon Says with Donnie?” Raph’s words came with a sharp scoff.
“Maybe he’s friendly?” Michelangelo offered up.
“Unlikely.” Donatello disagreed.
“Well the robot was nice.” Michelangelo pointed out.
“That is a fair point.” Leonardo nodded and agreed.
“And what’s that meant to be, some kinda salute?” Raph lifted his head from the group to look back at the giant. “An’ why does he think Don’s this ‘Mozar’ or whatever?”
Donatello cleared his throat to call everyone’s attention. “I would like to offer a theory if I may?”
“Yeah, shoot.” Raphael said.
“You mentioned something about a mask.” Donatello said, holding one hand over his mouth and nose to resemble a mask, “Like, a cloth mask or an oxygen mask?”
“Uh, oxygen.” Donnie nodded his confirmation.
“Right.” Donatello nodded, and pointed over at the dinosaur. “I see no oxygen tank. If he had one to begin with, it’s gone now, and yet he’s still up and walking.”
“I… don’t remember any oxygen tank.” Leo shook his head.
“That’s because it probably wasn’t an oxygen mask. Not if all five of your dinosaurs were wearing ‘em in a place where there was quite clearly oxygen. That, my dear friends, is a pattern, not a coincidence. If they all had it, chances are it’s some sort of filter, like they’re meant to be breathing something that’s not our air. And if someone from our planet breathes in something that isn’t oxygen…”
“It kills them?” Leo wasn’t following.
“Yes, and no. How about you?” Donatello pointed at Donnie.
“It can cause… delirium, confusion… hallucinations…” Donnie was following perfectly.
“Who’s to say the effects aren’t the same for someone like him?”
“You’re saying he’s deprived of some type of breathing apparatus?” Donnie’s eyes lit up like the skies on the Fourth of July, “It makes sense!”
“And it would explain the confusion.” Leonardo said.
Leo, wanting desperately to get on to a more important subject, urged, “Do you think he’s dangerous?”
“Yes.” Donatello answered confidently, “But he also thinks dear Donald here is his beloved General Mozar, and we should keep it that way.”
“General…” The dinosaur called,. “Awaiting orders…”
“Uh. At ease?” Donnie offered.
The dinosaur stared at him for the longest time, trying to decipher why his bold and brash commander had spoken so strangely before lowering his arms to his side. Donnie cleared his throat and stepped forward away from the group, trying to make himself as big as possible which wasn’t much of a task for the tree-like turtle.
“Remind me of your name and rank again, soldier.” Donnie’s voice slowly gained more confidence and tone, and the dinosaur seemed to be excited by it.
“Major Traximus of the Ygthian fleet, serving our great and powerful Prime Leader.”
“That’s right.” It felt almost fun being in a position of power, and it quickly went to Donnie’s head. “My command for you, Major Traximus, is to help me escort these… diplomats back to their home.”
“Yes Commander Mozar…” Traximus bowed the immensity of his head. “As you command…”
Though one could expect a beast of such immense proportion to lumber at an awkward gait, it was quite the opposite as Traximus walked with such speed and determination. The turtles parted to allow him plenty of space to pass by them. He was a man— or alien— on a mission that would stop for nothing. Glances were exchanged, followed by ‘what else are we gonna do?’ shrugs and curious excitement as the turtles were quick to keep up with the charging titan.
“How’d he get through anyway?” Raph asked; he was the one now holding Splinter, cradling the rat to his chest and still working absently to dry his fur.
“He was the one chasing us back in our world.” Leo said, “Maybe he got through the rift, ended up in the sewers. Lord knows the time rift had ask of us scattered to the winds.”
“Awesome…” Mikey breathed, followed up with, “I told you he was out here!”
“Yeah…” Both Leo and Raph faltered their steps, “You did…”
They made good time getting back to the lair where Yoshi and April were sat together at the living room coffee table assembling a puzzle; it was one activity that Yoshi didn't need help with, since the pieces were so big and obvious, and the old rat took great pride in each success. April, like her turtle brothers, had grown and matured greatly. She had forgone her usual buns in favor of tight braids clinging to her scalp and cascading to just above her shoulders, and she wore a modest yellow jumpsuit and rubber rain boots, perfect for traversing the wet ick of the sewer. One thing was familiar about her, however, and it was that same green coat she had been wearing since her younger adolescent. April looked up when she heard their approach, the smile turning to her mouth hanging open and her eyes bulging.
“Holy Jurassic Park…”
Leonardo took Splinter from Raph’s arm and immediately whisked him away, leaving Raph with his empty arms still out in a cradle, pouting and desperately pawing at the air that had once been his dad. Donnie parted from the group and tried follow Leonardo to the infirmary, but the red eared slider stopped him.
“I got him; you and the guys take care of our little… guest over there.” And Leonardo motioned to Traximus, who was still and awaiting orders.
“Oh. Right.” Donnie watched Leonardo leave like a distressed puppy watching his owner go to work without him. Seeking some guidance, Donnie turned to his brother. “Leo?”
“Maybe we… get him something to eat?” Leo offered.
“What do dinosaurs eat anyway?” Raph huffed; now without anything to hold, he shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Nothing that still exists.” Donnie muttered bitterly, and his eyes passed over the orange dinosaur trying to make better sense of the alien presence.
“Well, he is an alien dinosaur.” Michelangelo pointed, “Maybe he eats something different.”
“If it’s alien, it still won’t be on our planet, Michael.” Donatello added.
“Oh.” Michelangelo’s expression deflated.
“But we can still try.” Leo said, arms motioning widely as he called attention to himself, “We need to make his comfortable before we can get anything out of him.”
“Are we sure he even knows anything?” Donatello asked, and he was looking absently at his nails, “Doesn’t look like there’s much happening upstairs.”
It was true that Traximus’ eyes did look remarkably empty, but Donnie wasn’t convinced he was completely gone. The dinosaur could talk, and could obey orders, even if he couldn’t recognize them as not being from his own species. And they had been there for two days now! He didn't know a damn thing about alien triceratops digestion, or how long they could go without food, but he did know a thing or two about empathy. Did this triceraton need food? Maybe. Water? Maybe. Donnie would make sure the creature didn't go without either.
“Major Traximus?”
The triceraton snorted and shook his head as he brought his focus to attention at the call of his commander.
“Would you care to… indulge in… sustenance?” Donnie tried to choose his words carefully, but it was difficult, if not impossible, with knowing next to nothing about who he was meant to be portraying.
Traximus tilted his head to one side, and then the other. “Commander Mozar…?”
“Yes, that’s me.” Donnie gulped, raising his head a little higher and keeping his expression still and serious. With eyes as beady and small as Traximus’, he wasn’t sure the alien could even see him. “You must be hungry soldiers. Follow me to the… dining room and select something to eat.”
Without another word, Donnie turned on his heels and guided the way to the kitchen. Traximus, confusion evident on all of his features, trailed behind with the gaggle of curious turtles following him. They got to the kitchen and he surpassed Donnie, intent on obeying the command and maybe just plain starving as he pulled the fridge door open— more like ripped it off its hinges— and began to dig around inside. The turtles watched in curious awe.
Now that they weren’t in immediate danger of being trampled and crushed by this titan of a creature, it was like they couldn’t stop watching him. Something not human, not yokai, not mutant— something new! You didn't have to be Donnie to see the beauty in this new creature, nor to feel a desperate urge to know more and more about them! Raphael was practically exploding with excitement. He had always wanted to be so close to a dinosaur but now it was happening? He could hardly breathe! The kitchen was barely big enough for them all, but they managed to crowd around in such a way that they all could get a good view of what was happening.
Traximus picked up the gallon of milk first, shaking it a bit and then promptly discarding it. In fact, he discarded all the liquid, tossing drinks behind him and letting them shatter and spill over the floor. Not even Michelangelo cared about the mess made of his precious ingredients— not when it was this beautifully intricate creature doing it! Once all the liquid contents were out of his way, Traximus began a long pattern of selecting food, taking a bite, deciding he didn't like it, and tossing it carelessly. This process continued on until the fridge was almost barren and Michelangelo was finally regretting not intervening sooner. One of the final things left in the fridge, chili peppers, were the next thing Traximus grabbed.
“Wait— maybe you shouldn’t—” Raphael tried a little too late, as Traximus was already shoving a handful into his mouth, stems and seeds and all.
Everyone cringed, even Raph— who had taken on a hot pepper challenge many times again Leo and always somehow lost (he lost because Leo had switched out all of his own peppers for sweet peppers, but Leo would never admit that). They waited for the burn, for the scream, for the desperate scramble to find coolness. Instead, Traximus chomped happily and his mouth began to drool in response to the burning stimuli, his lips curling up as his tongue poked out to lap up all the drool that tried to escape. He dumped the rest of the basket into his mouth and dove back into the fridge in pursuit of more burning delights.
“We have a winner.” Raph said with a satisfied smirk.
Michelangelo’s eyes were firmly fixed on the mess at their feet. “And we have no dinner…”
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
Love Is All Around
Summary: Bucky surprises you on your favorite holiday Valentine’s Day.
Notes: Also posted on a03. This was difficult for me to write because I really, really don’t like Valentine’s Day, but this idea wouldn’t leave my head until I wrote it down so here it is.
Warnings: Badly written smut, oral (f receiving), sex, unprotected sex, USE PROTECTION, fluff
It was the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas. Valentine’s Day. The holiday that celebrated love in every way. It was the perfect holiday for an incurable romantic such as yourself.
Every store front was decked out in shades of reds and pinks and whites. Dark red hearts with white lace trim taped to store front windows, streamers and balloons, giant teddy bears, hallmark cards, romance was alive and well and it wasn’t just the stores.
Everywhere you went you could see happy couples holding hands, sharing kisses in the middle of sidewalks, in stores. It was beautiful and sweet and heartwarming.
The bakery you worked at was decked out the most. Every cookie was decorated in shades of red or pink and heart shaped. Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting with little hearts stuck to the top. Heart shaped cakes meant to be shared between lovers piped with pink and red roses, cursive piping with romantic sayings scrolled across the top of each frosting covered cake. Donuts with pink and red and white sprinkles lined the cases.
It was beautiful and wonderful and exciting, but utterly exhausting. Valentine’s Day may have been your favorite holiday, but working at the bakery meant one of the busiest times of the year. It seemed as if everyone in New York was coming in to request special made cakes and cookies and pastries for their loved ones. It meant that at the end of the day your feet were sore, your lower back aching, your eyes heavy with the need for sleep. It also meant that you could barely enjoy the holiday that you loved so much. By the time you were done at work it was all you could do to get home, grab something to eat and fall asleep before starting over the next day.
While you loved your job, loved being able to take ingredients from scratch and make them into something beautiful and edible that had people craving more sometimes you wished you could sit back and enjoy the holidays.
It didn’t help that between the holidays keeping you busy at work and your boyfriend an Avenger trying to schedule time to see him was becoming more and more difficult. Sure, sometimes when work was slow he’d stop in to see you which you always loved. And when the two of you had a day off more often than not you could be found with each other. But between the rush at the bakery and the bad guys not having anyone to love them down on Valentine’s Day the two of you weren’t able to spend your favorite day together.
When he had told you he was going to be away on a mission you had been disappointed. It wasn’t his fault. You knew what his job had been and what the risks were when you had started to see him, but you had still been bummed out, you had been looking forward to a nice romantic night in with him. No matter how hard you had tried to hide your disappointment he had seen right through you and had promised to make it up to you, a promise you were looking forward to.
Saying your goodbyes to your coworkers you pushed open the bakery door, listening to the bell jingle overhead as you headed out into the brisk February air of New York. The streets were crowded, couples holding hands, people looking disgruntled at the couples, people shoving and yelling and laughing and taxis and horns honking. After moving to New York the loudness of the city had been jarring, but now you couldn’t imagine being without it. In a strange way all the noise was a comfort to you, it meant you were home.
Tugging your scarf tighter around your neck you glanced up at the darkened sky watching the snowflakes fall. It was pretty and romantic and it made your heart ache knowing that you were about to go home to an empty apartment and spend your favorite holiday by yourself. At least you could comfort yourself with the box of red velvet cupcakes you had brought with you from work and you could comfort yourself with every cheesy romantic movie you could find on the hallmark channel without people making fun of you.
Not making it more than a couple of steps before you heard your phone ringing loudly in your purse you smiled when you saw it was Wanda texting you. The message was brief saying only come over for a girls night? You replied yes. It may not have been the romantic night you envisioned, but it was better than being by yourself.
Something was off as you entered the compound. It was quiet, which wasn’t that unusual when members were away on a mission, but it was still... weird.
The hairs on the back of your neck stood up and you wondered if you should turn around and leave. What if it was a trap of some sort? Turning around you were about to leave when something caught your eye. Debating if you should go and investigate or leave incase this really was a trap your curiosity got the better of you as you took a tentative step forwards. Grabbing your phone out of your purse just in case your steps were cautious as you moved towards the large kitchen and the piece of paper that was sitting on the middle of the table.
Your heart picked up speed thumping wildly beneath your chest, your hands were sweating and you were sure your phone and box of cupcakes were about to slip from your hand and drop to the floor. This was how you were going to die, by being the idiot who instead of running when something seemed off going towards it instead.
There was still time to turn back, but your feet seemed to move on their own and as you reached the table your heart only raced faster, your eyes widening in confusion as you looked up expecting to see Tony telling you this was some elaborate prank. Your eyes reread the note that told you Wanda had run out to get popcorn and to go to Bucky’s room. Again, the sense of something being off washed over you, but again your curiosity got the better of you.
Your phone rang, the noise invading the quiet of the compound had you jumping, a yelp of surprise falling from your lips as the box of cupcakes crashed to the floor. Wincing at the ruined food you swore you were going to pass out the way your heart was thumping beneath your chest. Looking down at your phone you relaxed slightly for the first time since entering the compound when you saw it was another text from Wanda. Your eyebrows furrowed as you reread the message two, three times, your confusion only mounting as you tried to understand the meaning behind your friends words. Follow the note, Y/N.
This was getting weird. Could she see you?
“Wanda?” You called, feeling dumb when silence greeted you. “If this is some kind of sick joke Tony set you up to it’s not funny!”
Still nothing but silence. The fear was giving away to anger as you shoved your phone into your purse. Reaching down you grabbed the box of cupcakes not bothering to see the damage you had caused when they had dropped. Your heart was still pounding, warmth of embarrassment and frustration and anger climbing up your neck and cheeks as you stalked towards Bucky’s room. This was ridiculous. You were going to kill Tony. Slowly and painfully you thought.
“This isn’t funny anym-,” you started, your words getting cut off, lodged in the back of your throat. Your eyes widened, your lips parting into an o of shock and surprise when you threw Bucky’s bedroom door open not to find Tony or Wanda or any bad guys, but Bucky standing there.
“Hey, doll,” He said, his lips curling up into a smirk, before laughter tumbled from his lips as you dropped your purse and the box of cupcakes and ran to him, your arms wrapping around his neck. Thanks to his super soldier abilities he caught you easily, his arms wrapping around your waist as he held you tightly to him.
“What are... you’re not supposed to be... Wanda texted me... I don’t understand!” You sputtered, the sight of your boyfriend catching you so off guard you weren’t able to complete a full sentence. Burying your head in his neck you closed your eyes, inhaling the woodsy and leather scent that always seemed to cling to him. The surprise of seeing him, of being in his arms like this was almost too much for you to handle and you could feel tears pooling in your eyes. “Are you really here? This isn’t some joke is it?”
Bucky could hear the quiver in your voice, could feel the salty tears falling from your eyes as they hit his neck. “‘M really here, doll, it’s not a joke,” he murmured, his voice low, his hand coming up to rest on the back of your head.
Pulling back you searched his eyes, part of you still not believing this was real, that he was really standing in front of you like this. Pressing your lips to his you sighed, he tasted like mint. “I don’t understand,” you whispered against his lips.
“You didn’t really think I’d let you celebrate your favorite holiday by yourself did you?” Dropping his hand from the back of your head he brought it up to your face, the pad of his thumb brushing away the few tears that had managed to fall from your eyes.
“But... you had a mission? You said you weren’t going to be back in time? And then Wanda texted? And... where is everyone, Bucky?” You didn’t mean to bombard him with questions, not when you wanted to kiss him, not when you wanted to tell and show him how happy you were he was here, but you were so confused.
“The mission got done earlier than we expected. I uh... had Natasha and Wanda help me out. Wanted to surprise you,” he said, his words laced with a hint of shyness. “They’re out, it’s just us tonight, doll.”
You opened your mouth, closed it, opened it again as you struggled to comprehend what he was saying. “How long have you been back?” You asked, your eyes narrowing in suspicion. Making a mental note to thank Nat and Wanda for this surprise you pressed your lips against his again. The idea of it only being the two of you tonight sent a thrill through your body.
Bucky avoided your gaze not sure how to tell you the truth and when he felt your lips against his he sighed, kissing you back eagerly, it had been too long since he had done this.
“Bucky... how long have you been back for?” You whispered against his lips, your fingers trailing up and down his neck as you pulled back from the kiss.
“Couple days.”
Dropping your hands from around his neck you stepped out of his embrace as you glared at him. No matter how excited you were to see him, no matter how wonderful this surprise had been you weren’t going to let him off the hook. Not after he had been back for a couple days without saying anything to you.
“Excuse me?”
Bucky flinched at the icy tone of your voice. “Doll, let me explain,” he murmured, his voice velvety soft and when he saw your eyes soften he knew he had you. Taking a step towards to you he reached for your hands, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips when you didn’t pull back. “Wanted to surprise you. I know you’ve been stressed with work and I wanted to do somethin’ special for you tonight. ‘M sorry I didn’t tell you I came back early.”
You wanted to be mad at him, but you couldn’t, not when he had taken the time to go to such extreme lengths to make tonight special for you, not when he had enlisted the help of Wanda and Natasha. “Depending on what you have planned I might forgive you,” you teased, a twinkle in your eye.
“Oh, you’ll forgive me,” he said, his voice lowering causing you to shiver in anticipation.
“You sound awfully sure, Bucky.”
He didn’t say anything, his smirk only growing before he pressed his lips to yours. The kiss started out slow and sweet, but it didn’t take long for him to deepen it. A moan spilled from you and just as you were about to reach out for him he was breaking the kiss.
“Take your coat off and wait here. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Dazed from the kiss it took a minute for his words to break through your fog filled mind and once they did you were left staring at his retreating back, a frown on your face as you wondered not for the first time since arriving what it was he was up to.
Following his instructions you unwound your scarf, unzipped your coat and kicked off your shoes. Folding your coat and scarf you placed them on the back of his couch. Crouching down you picked up your purse setting it by your coat before reaching for the box of cupcakes. Opening it up you frowned. Dropping them had resulted in them tipping onto the sides, large swaths of frosting sticking to the roof of the box. While they didn’t look as nice as when you had packed them they were still edible. Sort of.
“What’s in the box?” Bucky asked, his voice jarring you out of your worries over the dessert.
“Cupcakes.” You didn’t miss the way his eyes lit up or the way his tongue licked his lower lip and you couldn’t help giggling. “Red velvet, but I may have dropped the box. Once or twice.”
“They still look good. You made these?”
Nodding your head you held the box out to him watching as he dragged his finger through the cream cheese frosting that littered the top of the box. You wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to lie, you knew they looked like shit now, but when he brought his finger up to his mouth, his tongue darting out to slowly lick the frosting off any coherent thought left your mind.
“Delicious,” he whispered, his eyes roaming over you. Taking the box from you he placed it on the coffee table in front of his couch before grabbing your hand, interweaving your fingers he led you to the bathroom.
The lights in the bathroom were dimmed making the room appear cozy and romantic. The bathtub was filled to the brim with warm water and bubbles and the thought of Bucky dumping bubbles in there had you smiling. Inhaling you could smell the floral scents of roses and lavenders and a hint of vanilla.
“This is...,” you started, your words failing as your eyes drifted from the inviting bath to Bucky’s soft eyes.
“Use your words, doll,” he teased, his fingers grasping the hem of your shirt as he tugged it off of you, tossing it on the floor.
“This is amazing. I can’t believe you did this for me,” you breathed out, fighting the urge to cover yourself. You hadn’t expected him to be home so early so you had opted for something comfortable instead of sexy which left you in an older pink bra with straps that were always falling down and matching underwear. Bucky didn’t seem to care though because as he tugged your pants down you could hear him whispering about how beautiful you looked.
“Course I did this for you. Why wouldn’t I?” He asked, sounding almost offended at your words as his fingers unclasped your bra, sliding the loose straps down your arms before tossing it to the growing pile of clothes.
Shrugging your shoulders you bite your lower lip. “I don’t know. I guess because nobody has ever done something like this for me before. The most I’ve ever gotten for Valentine’s Day was candy... sometimes flowers. Never a surprise like this.” You gestured towards Bucky and the full bath as your fingers tug at the hem of his shirt. He gets the hint, pulling it from his body as you work on pulling his pants down his legs.
Standing in the bathroom, both of you in your underwear, the lights dimmed, you can’t help staring at him. The way his chest rises and falls with each steady breath he takes, the way his blue grey eyes seem to darken with lust as his gaze flickers between your own eyes and your lips. Standing there watching him you can feel your heart swell with love for him. Part of you is still upset that he’s been back for days without telling you, but standing here you can understand why he did it and you love him for it. So much.
Telling him without words you step forward closing the small gap of space, your arms wrap around his neck, your lips move over his in a kiss that starts off sweet before you deepen it.
Bucky rested his hands on your hips, a quiet groan tumbling from him when he feels your lips brushing over his. Almost a month without your touch, without your kisses had left him wanting to rip the last of your clothing off. When he saw you walk into his room earlier, saw the way your eyes lit up when you saw him, watched the way you ran to him excitement radiating off your frame he wanted to take you right there. Wants to take you right now. It would be so easy, but the way you seemed so surprised that someone would want to make this day, your favorite holiday so special has him melting in his love for you.
He’s never felt this way before. Never felt his heart swell when he sees someone, never had his thoughts consumed with one person and only one person. Never knew he could love someone. For so long after hydra he didn’t think he deserved to be loved, didn’t think he was capable of loving someone. Not after all the pain he had inflicted and caused over the years. Not until he met you did he even begin to realize what love meant.
Before you he never gave a second thought to Valentine’s Day. Sure, he knew about it, who didn’t? It was a day meant for lovers, something he was convinced he’d never get to experience. But now that he has you? Now all he wants to do is celebrate this day with you, celebrate it in a way that will make you never forget how much he loves you. You’ve managed to turn him into someone who didn’t care about this day to someone who wishes it was every day. You’ve turned him into a sap and he’s okay with that.
Sliding his hands from your waist down to the back of your thighs he picks you up easily, smiling into the kiss when he feels your gasp of surprise. Bucky lets out a soft groan when your legs wrap around his waist. Unintentionally grinding into you he groans again, the friction, the skin on skin contact almost too much for him, especially when your teeth are nipping at his bottom lip. He has to keep reminding himself to take this slow, but you’re making it incredibly difficult when all he can hear are your breathy little moans against his lips.
Carrying you into his room he places you gently down in the center of his bed. Your hair is spread out across his pillow, your breathing shallow as your chest rises and falls with each shaky breath. You look so beautiful, so fuckin’ beautiful he thinks as he hovers over you, one hand on your hip, the other resting on the pillow by your head. His lips are on yours, moving across your jaw, your cheek, down your neck. The needy little whines that spill from your swollen lips as he works over your neck has him groaning and grinding his hips in search of some kind of friction.
“Bucky, what about the bath?” You sighed, your head tilting to the side to grant him more access. Tangling your hands in his hair your fingers curl around his dark locks, tugging when he begins to suck on your neck. He parts your legs with his thigh as you grind against him, your back arching at the friction.
Grazing his teeth against your neck lightly he pulls back smirking when he sees the dark bruise he left on you. Trailing his lips lower he presses open mouth kisses down your chest before wrapping his lips around a hardened nipple. Digging his fingers into your hip he moans against your nipple enjoying the way your hands alternate between tugging and threading through his hair. “Later,” he mumbled, his warm, wet mouth moving to your other nipple to give it the same treatment.
Raking your fingers through his hair you let out quiet moan, your hips grinding against his thigh again, rougher this time and you can’t help the small smile that curls up your parted lips when you feel him groaning, the vibrations sending a thrill straight to your core. “I missed you, Bucky. So, so much,” you whined, neediness dripping from your voice, but you don’t care, all you care about is the act of his lips worshiping your body.
“Missed you too, Y/N,” Bucky murmured, pulling his lips away from your nipple as he kisses his way down your stomach. Hooking his thumbs into the waistband of your underwear he slowly tugs them down your legs, his darkened lust blown eyes locking on yours as he does so. Tossing your underwear to the floor he dips his head down pressing open mouth kisses along the inside of your right thigh.
He takes his time allowing his lips to get reacquainted with your body. Ignoring your groans of frustration he smirks up at you watching the way your chest rises and falls as his lips move up higher to where you need him the most. His breath is hot as it fans over your soaking core and though he wants nothing more than to dive right in and taste you he simply presses a chaste kiss against your mound as he moves to the inside of your left thigh peppering your warm skin with more open mouthed kisses.
“Bucky... please,” you begged. Your breathing is heavy and uneven and you don’t know how much longer you can last with his teasing kisses along the insides of your thighs, you need more, you need him to touch you, you need his lips on you. It’s torture and just as you’re about to beg him to do something, to do anything his tongue is diving into your wet folds. You don’t mean to, but your hips thrust up and you want to apologize, but the only sound that comes out of your mouth is an obscenely loud moan and you’re so thankful that the two of you are alone.
The sound of your moans, your breathy gasps, the way his name tumbles from your mouth spurs him on and any pretense of taking this slow, of taking his time with you is forgotten. Setting a punishing pace he slides his tongue in and out of your wet folds, an occasional moan slipping from his mouth as he works over you. The continuous rising motion of your hips as you grind against his face as him smirking. You’re so needy for him, his needy girl. Moving his lips to your clit he alternates between kissing and sucking as he slips a finger into you. Groaning at the way your walls clench around him he easily slips another finger in. You’re so wet and warm and as he grinds his hips against the bed searching for his own form of friction all he can think about is being inside of you.
A month without Bucky made you forget just how talented he was both with his fingers and his mouth. Your eyes are clenched shut, your fingers curled tightly around his locks and for a moment you’re worried about hurting him, but then you feel his long fingers curling against you as his mouth wraps around your clit and any worries you had vanish. “Oh god Bucky don’t stop,” you cried out.
He can’t help chuckling against you at the sound of your needy cries. Slipping a third finger into you he sucks on your clit, groaning when he feels your hands tugging on his hair again. He swears you’re going to pull his hair out by the roots, but, fuck he doesn’t even care right now. You taste so good, so fuckin’ good and he almost regrets not telling you he came home early. His metal hand slides up your stomach, up your chest to cup your breast. Massaging you roughly he tugs on your hardened nipple, smirking when he hears the whines that he pulls from you.
The contrast of his cold metal hand against the warmth of your breast and the way his lips are wrapped around your clit and the way his fingers are curling inside of you hitting that one spot is too much for you. Everything is too much right now and as you clench around his fingers you let out a strangled moan, your back arching off the bed.
“Bucky... Bucky I’m coming,” you moaned, your legs shaking, your heart pounding, a string of incoherent mumbles and whines and moans spilling from your lips as your orgasm wracks your body, your release drenching his fingers and his mouth.
Removing his lips from your clit he keeps his fingers inside of you as he kisses his way back up your body. His fingers curl against you, your walls clenching around him again and he knows it won’t take much to get you to reach your peak again. His hand massages your breast as he slips his fingers out of you slowly, his thumb rubbing circles over your clit as his lips meet yours in a deep kiss.
You can taste yourself on him, but you don’t care as you push your tongue into his mouth deepening the kiss. You’re so sensitive and though part of you wants to push his hand away from your clit you can’t, not when his thumb is moving a little faster and it feels so good, so much better than using your own fingers.
“Bucky,” you moaned against his lips, your breath heavy and shallow. Nipping at his lower lip with your teeth you tilt your head back, whining softly.
His lips are everywhere, pressing kisses against your forehead, your cheeks, your nose, your throat, your neck, your ear.
“You gonna come again, doll?” He whispered, his voice raspy, his thumb moving faster. “Come on, be my good girl and come for me. Show me how much you missed me.”
Nodding your head yes his words are all it takes for you to reach your second release of the night. Through the foggy haze of your release you can vaguely hear him murmuring good girl and those two words have you whining again. Guiding his lips back to yours you kiss him deeply.
“You okay?” He asked, his voice soft when he finally pulls back from the kiss.
“More than okay,” you breathed, your fingers hooking in the waistband of his boxers as you tug them down his legs. Chuckling he gets the hint as he pulls them off the rest of the way tossing them to the floor. Even though he’s brought you over the edge twice now you’re needy tonight and all you can think about is having him inside of you.
“Am I forgiven yet, doll?” He asked, his voice teasing as he repositions himself between your legs.
“Maybe.” Hitching your leg around his hip you sigh when you feel his tip pressing against your entrance.
He doesn’t say anything, his words getting stuck in the back of his throat as he pushes into you slowly. All he can think about is how wet and tight and warm you are. Giving you a minute to adjust he watches your face, watches the way your lips part, the way your head tilts back against his pillow, the way you’re fighting to keep your eyes open and on his as he pushes into you before bottoming out.
The loving look reflected in his eyes as he stares down at you along with his slow pace has you melting underneath him. It’s everything you thought sex on Valentine’s Day should be; romantic and loving. You want nothing more than to keep your gaze locked on his, to keep staring into his eyes for the rest of the night, but as he bottoms out your eyes flutter shut, the pleasure mixed with slight pain too much for you. The stretch is only slightly uncomfortable as you adjust to him, but after a minute you’re more than ready.
“Oh,” you sighed.
Licking his bottom lip he continues watching you, mesmerized both by the way you look so beautiful, but also by the quiet sounds of pleasure that you let out. Brushing his lips over yours he reaches for your hands, gently pinning them above your head as he interlaces your fingers together.
“I love you, Y/N,” he murmured, his lips pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth before working them across your jaw and down your neck. His pace is slow, his thrusts even and deep and on any other night the pace would be torture for him, for you too, but you seem more than content to keep things slow and loving and sweet.
“I love you too, Bucky, so much,” you moaned, your head tilting to the side as you gently squeeze his hands.
Though you miss being able to run your fingers through his hair, miss being able to tug on his hair when he presses against that one spot, you like this, it’s sexy and intimate and perfect. Hitching your other leg around his hip you moan at the new angle as he’s able to push deeper into you. Arching your back you press your hands up against his whining as he sucks gently on your neck.
“Don’t stop.”
Ever so slowly he picks up the pace of his hips, he can feel your walls clenching around him, can feel your breasts pressing against his chest every time you arch your back, can hear your breathing pick up and it takes all his self control not to slam his hips into yours. He presses a final kiss to your neck before moving his lips back over yours. Untangling his metal hand from yours he slowly slips it between your bodies, his thumb rubbing small circles over your clit.
With one hand free you reach up to cup his cheek, the skin beneath your hand is warm and flushed and as your eyes flutter open you offer him a small smile. You know that neither of you are going to last long, not after so long apart and as you stare into his eyes you commit this moment to memory. The way that he’s staring down at you as if you’re the most important thing in his life. The way his lips are parted, the way that his breathing is uneven, the groans that occasionally tumble from those perfect plump lips. The way his thrusts are deep and slow and oh so perfect for a holiday that celebrates love. The way that a light coat of sweat clings to his forehead. The way that your heart feels like it’s going to burst out of your chest from love for him.
“I love you,” you whispered again, your smile growing when you feel his lips brushing over yours. You don’t think you’ll ever tire of saying those words to him, of hearing him say them back to you. Arching your back as he pushes deep into you you whine against his lips. “I’m so close.”
"I love you too.”
His kisses are sweet. The way he’s rubbing your clit in slow, easy circles, the way his hips have picked up the pace, the way his teeth are nipping at your lower lip before swiping his tongue to ease the slight stinging, the way the bed is gently creaking underneath your rocking bodies and the way the headboard rhythmically bangs against the wall has you coming undone beneath him.
Digging your nails into the back of his neck you break the kiss gasping. His name falls from your lips in a series of breathless chants as your body quivers and shakes beneath his. The pleasure coursing through you is so intense you don’t think you’ll ever climb down from the high.
“Fuck,” Bucky called out pressing his forehead against yours.
His thrusts are sloppy, but between the sound of you chanting his name and the feeling of your walls tightening around him he doesn’t stand a chance. A couple more thrusts and he’s spilling inside of you with a low moan. Giving your hand a gentle squeeze he unlaces your fingers. Removing his thumb from your clit he kisses you softly, once, twice, three times which has you giggling. Worried about hurting you he slowly pulls out of you, taking note of the way you whine at the loss of him.
Unwrapping your legs from around his hips you sigh at the loss of him, it takes you a minute to gather your senses, your mind still foggy. “I think I forgive you now,” you teased, a twinkle in your eyes.
“I figured when you kept chanting my name,” he shot back, his voice playful as he gets up from the bed. Leaning down he presses a soft kiss to your forehead. “Stay here, ‘M gonna go run you that bath.”
“You’re amazing, you know that?” Letting out a happy sigh you watch as he disappears into the bathroom. Faintly you can hear him moving around, can hear the soft sound of water running and the promise of a hot bath where you can soak your tired muscles has melting into the comfort of his bed allowing your eyes to drift shut for a moment.
You’re not sure how long he’s gone for, but when you hear his footsteps you crack an eye open, a small smile on your lips as you watch him make his way towards you.
“C’mere, doll.” Hooking his hands underneath your knees he picks you up bridal style carrying you into the bathroom as you giggle, wrapping your arms around his shoulders.
“You know you could have just said the bath was ready,” you teased.
“And miss the chance to pick you up and hear you laugh?”
Setting you down gently next to the tub you unwrap your arms from his neck watching as he steps into the bath. Extending his hand you accept following his lead as you also step in. The water is hot, the bubbles overflowing and sloshing over the side of the tub landing on the tiled flooring as he lowers himself down into the water. Once again you follow his lead lowering yourself down you sit in between his legs, your back pressed flush against his chest.
The conversation is kept light, the kisses kept sweet and the laughter almost a constant as the two of you bask in each other’s company and the relaxing bath. His movements are slow and loving as he takes extra care to wash you. It isn’t until you start to shiver when the water begins to cool off that he suggests you get out and go back to bed. Helping you out of the tub he wraps you in a soft, fluffy towel drying you off before slipping one of his tee shirts over you. Drying himself off he slips into a pair of boxers.
Though it’s only a short walk back to his room the two of you can’t keep your hands off each other. His hands are on your hips, yours are on his shoulders as he walks you backwards to his room. I love yous are murmured in between sweet kisses and quiet giggles. When your knees hit the edge of his bed he tightens his grip on your hips, his lips pulling back from yours, the loss causing you to sigh.
“Get comfortable, I’ll be back in a minute,” he murmured, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips.
Dropping your hands from his shoulders you do as he asked. Settling yourself back into his bed you pull the sheets around you, smiling as you watch him walking back towards you with the box of ruined cupcakes.
“Have I told you how much I love your cupcakes?”
“Have I told you how amazing you are?”
“Once or twice tonight,” he teased. Climbing into bed next to you he places the box of cupcakes on his lap. Picking one up he hands it to you before grabbing one for himself.
“Then have I told you how perfect tonight was? Seriously, Bucky tonight was everything I wanted and more,” you said softly.
“Ya know, doll, the nights not over yet. We still have a couple hours left to celebrate.”
“What’d you have in mind?”
Plucking the cupcake from your hand he tosses it back into the box ignoring your laughter as he places the box on his nightstand. His lips are yours in an instant as he pulls your body on top of his.
It was definitely a perfect Valentine’s Day and you couldn’t wait to see what he had planned for next years celebration.
#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes x you#bucky barnes smut#bucky barnes imagine#bucky barnes fanfiction#my writing
188 notes
·
View notes
Text
A Recorded Life (35/50) - Miraculous Ladybug
Words: 1424
Chapter Summary: Time for a live stream! After a little Mario Kart game, Adrien heads back to the mansion for a quick visit and Alya gives Marinette a pep talk. Adrien hears something that sounds strange, and rushes back to the bakery. But what did he hear?
Author's Note: Sorry for the late post! It's my birthday weekend and I was busy celebrating with family all weekend- but it's here now! I think the end of this chapter is one of my favorite's, it was a lot of fun! So much to come in the next few chapters >:)
Prev / Next / Masterlist
Mario Kart Rematch
---
Saturday
Marinette and Adrien were exhausted from two Akumas two days in a row. Usually, there's a break in between, but Hawkmoth is not holding back any longer. They were going to take the chance to relax on Saturday morning.
By playing their favorite past time, Mario Kart. And decided to live stream it for the fans.
Marinette got all the equipment set up, and everything was ready to go before Adrien could even blink. She counted down, and went live on YouTube. "Hi!" She started. "I'm Marinette, and of course, you all know Adrien. Today, we're doing something a little different, as you can tell: we're playing video games!" Marinette started.
"I've posted only a few videos of video games, and I think it was only Mecha Strike III, which we love," She said. "But recently, Adrien and I have been obsessed with Mario Kart. Plus, we get a little too intense to stream Mecha Strike. I'm not sure I want to risk that live," She chuckled.
"So, Mario Kart it is!" Adrien said. "I was awful, but I'm working on it to get better. The other day I beat Mari at Rainbow Road," He said, proud.
Marinette rolled her eyes. "You cheated by inviting me to that gala."
"I think that's your fault you got distracted," Adrien shrugged. "What are we starting with?"
Marinette scrolled through the choices. "Maybe we should start with a circuit. To get warmed up."
"I'm fired up!" Adrien said. "Let's do the track where you can do all the jump boosts. That one's fun," Adrien suggested, and Marinette agreed. Playing video games on a live stream was different for them, but they had a great time, and the fans love hearing their banter. As they continued getting into harder courses, the tone was becoming less conversational, and there was a lot more yelling at each other.
And Marinette beat his ass at Rainbow Road.
---
Marinette was sketching outfits with a camera overhead so she could get the shots for a video. Since it was going to be a voice-over, she was on the phone with Alya while she worked.
"You guys still haven't talked?" Alya asked.
"Not yet. I tried to last night, but the Akuma cut us off," Marinette sighed. "He went back to the mansion to grab some things, but I don't know if it's the right time to talk."
Alya groaned. "It is one-hundred percent the right time to talk. If you don't talk about it, it's going to get awkward between you guys."
Marinette sighed and set down her pencil to let her hands rest. "I'm afraid it was a spur of the moment thing, and he doesn't actually like me."
"Girl," Alya started. "He sleeps at your house every night."
"You and I have sleepovers and don't have to talk about it," Marinette reminded her. "Besides, it's also because his father and Nathalie are crazy about Chat Noir, and we sleep a lot better in each other's company," She explained.
"And you don't think that means anything?" Alya nearly yelled. "Marinette, you have to talk to him as soon as possible. I'm serious. You guys kissed on a rooftop. Someone is bound to find it soon, and we don't want a repeat of when Dark Cupid caused you guys to kiss, and they sprung it out of nowhere, and you guys didn't know how to react," Alya reasoned. "Just...please talk about it. You know I just want to look out for you."
Marinette nodded, even though Alya couldn't see her. "Yeah, I get what you're saying. I'll talk to him when he gets back to the bakery. I'm going to finish up this video now, and I'll let you know how it goes."
"Good, okay. I'll talk to you later."
---
Adrien hoped to get into the mansion, get his stuff, and get out as fast as he could. He just needed a few things, and he really didn't want to run into his father. He got home and didn't hear anyone, which was a good sign, but once he was in his room, he heard voices. He already had all his stuff in a bag, but did not get out quick enough.
Adrien stood with his ear pressed against the door to hear what they were saying. It was muffled, and he could only make out certain things. But he was shocked.
"I know, Gabriel, but you must remain calm. Adrien has been spending the nights with Marinette, so at least they're together," Nathalie said.
"That is not the issue, Nathalie. He's out from right under me, what am I meant to do now?" Gabriel replied.
Nathalie thought for a moment. "You could tell him that Marinette is welcome to stay here. There's far more room for the two of them."
Gabriel didn't change his face. "No, that would cause suspicion. He invited Miss Dupain-Chang to the gala here. That's a good start."
Adrien and Plagg stared at each other as they were trying to comprehend what they thought they were hearing. He had to plan his getaway. He knew they wouldn't be pleased with him eavesdropping.
"Maybe he left something in his room that could be...of use," Nathalie suggested, and Adrien had to stop himself from hyperventilating. He had to act quickly, so he ran to the corner of his room and hid behind the couch. Pulling out his phone, he texted the one person that could distract Nathalie and his father.
Almost immediately, he heard heavy footsteps run up the hall. Followed by a quick grunt, both Nathalie and Gabriel walked off behind the footsteps.
Adrien sighed in relief. He'd have to get Gorilla a gift to thank him, but now, he needed to get out of the mansion and back to the Dupain-Cheng's.
Adrien ran out the side door and was thankful Gorilla left the gate open just long enough for him to get out. He couldn't risk turning into Chat Noir; people would have seen him.
As fast as he could, he ran to the Dupain-Cheng bakery. He said a quick hello to Tom and Sabine before running up the stairs, making them a little confused, but they laughed it off. Adrien ran into their home and up the stairs to Marinette's room. But before barging in, he made sure to knock and waited for her to allow him, because he's a gentleman.
"Marinette!" Adrien said, out of breath. He threw his bag on the floor as Plagg was laughing at him.
"What happened to you?" Marinette giggled along with Plagg.
Adrien took some deep breaths. "I heard my father and Nathalie talking. They were talking about you and me and our Miraculous. It was weird. It sounded like they were...making a plan? I don't know. I'm so confused," Adrien said and collapsed onto Marinette's chaise.
Marinette pursed her lips. "That is weird. Hmm, I wonder if there's anything we could do to find out more."
Plagg took a bite of his cheese he found in Marinette's room. "Ha, imagine how lucky it would be if you guys caught something during one of Marinette's videos!"
Adrien and Marinette looked at each other, thinking. "No, I've edited our videos so much I would have noticed something," Marinette said.
"All except one," Tikki interjected, causing all three of them to look at her, waiting for her to continue. "What about the day you and Adrien worked on your project? When you followed Adrien around the mansion, and Mr. Agreste kicked you out? You only cut it before you left his room, and didn't look at any of the second part of the video," Tikki reminded him.
Marinette gasped. "Oh my gosh, you're right!"
"Do you still have that? I thought you deleted it," Adrien said, trying not to get his hopes up.
Marinette nodded, rushing over to the box that held her diary. "Yes. I saved it to look over some time because it was funny. It's on a flash drive all by itself, locked in my diary box," Marinette said, opening the box.
Marinette opened up her laptop, and they started watching the video, extremely focused. They skipped to when they were out of Adrien's room and going around the house. They were right outside of Gabriel's office near the end, when something unusual flashed in the corner of the screen.
"Pause it," Adrien said. "Go back, put it in slow motion. What is that?" He pointed at the white thing in the corner. "Is that...a butterfly?"
---
@lady-of-the-roses-and-lilies @bookishserendipity03 @avatheexceed @gkz10 @coccinellegirl @kat-thatoneweirdo @strawberryblondish @snow-swordswoman @lilgaga98 @evufries
#Miraculous#mlb#ml#miraculous ladybug#ladybug#chat noir#marinette dupain-cheng#adrien agreste#alya cesaire#nino lahiffe#miraculous fanfic#fanfiction#lilly writes#adrien x marinette#adrien agreste x marinette dupain-cheng#marichat#adrienette#ladynoir#ladrien#A Recorded Life
21 notes
·
View notes
Text
Soon To Be
(Previous) (Next)
Chapter 4: The Kids Aren’t Alright
Pairings: Analogical and Royality
Word Count: 1951 (chapter), 9295 (full)
Summary: Everyone had their vices nowadays. Information and ideas are conveyed too fast and quickly for anyone to stay sane without a little outside help. There are healthier coping mechanisms than others, some more effective than not, and Virgil has tried pretty much them all, and he has more shit to deal with than most. So whilst many found solace in sex, Smirnoff, and santa marta, Virgil was still smoking in 2019.
Triggers: Talk of self doubt, smoking, crying
Authors Note: I am suffering right now so I am going to make my characters suffer as well.
(Read on AO3)
“When you sat down on your lunch break with me, you ate a quarter of your sandwich and then put it back down because you ‘were not hungry’, despite not eating all day. According to Healthline, smoking can suppress your appetite can be suppressed while smoking by decreasing your sense of taste which can make eating less enjoyable. Once you stop smoking, you are more likely to be able to taste food fully again.
(soon to be) Dr. Logan Arias, Addiction Psychologist”
*****
“I want you to live a long healthy life Virgil, however smoking exponentially increases your chance of lung cancer, according to the CDC, the Mayo Clinic, and every other health source in the world. Nevertheless, second hand smoke can be just as dangerous for others around you whether that be a roommate, or friend, or…. partner (?), and I am sure you would not want to hurt them.
(soon to be) Dr. Logan Arias, Addiction Psychologist”
*****
“You came into work today even though you looked as if you had the Black Plague. Thankfully I came in just to see you (and Roman, I suppose), and did not order any food. This can be helped by quitting smoking, because your immune system lowers your ability to fight off infections because of smoking; these illnesses mainly consist of represtory tracts, though they are often times more susceptible to the common cold as well. I hate to see you unwell, I hope you are feeling better when I see you tomorrow.
(soon to be) Dr. Logan Arias, Addiction Psychologist”
Virgil was having a weird day. He was only a couple hours into his shift and he already wanted to throw himself out of a window.
Firstly, his interaction with Patton as he was leaving was… Odd, to say the least. Normally his older roommate would love nothing more than to get him to stay and talk about anything and everything he wanted, almost causing Virgil to be late on some days.
However today, it seemed like he could not get him out the door fast enough.
“No, yea, I made you an egg and cheese sandwich for you to eat on your walk to work, I even added mustard, ‘cause I know you like it,” Patton hastily talked to Virgil as he was throwing said man’s lunch into a bag, very haphazardly.
“Can’t I just eat it here…?” Virgil asked at Patton laughed in a way that made Virgil cringe.
“No way, silly goose! If you do that you could be late again, what would you do without a job?” Patton beamed and Virgil half-chuckled weakly.
“Are you okay, Pat? You seem a bit… Off?”
Patton sighed and for a split second it looked as though he was going to say something, but changed his mind by shaking his head and smiling, “Nothing is wrong, just in a good mood today,”
Virgil frowned, but dropped the subject, “Okay… Oh, can I borrow your phone charger today, mine broke,” Patton nodded, shifting a bit where he stood, “Oh great, I will go grab it-”
“NO!” Patton yelled, making Virgil jump. “I mean, uh,” Patton cleared his throat, “No, I will go get it, my room is a mess,”
The shorter man practically threw the charger at Virgil and pushed him out the door. It was only halfway down the stairs that he realised he had forgotten his sandwich.
Virgil decided to forgo breakfast today.
Next, Roman had called in sick, which was odd seeing as he had just gotten sick not 3 weeks ago and rarely ever called into work. Virgil had to deal with his dramatics on the phone, something about “there is no cure” and “this may be the last you ever hear from me”, with the phone call inevitably ending with a short “see you tomorrow, V”.
Now, Virgil was walking on eggshells because he had to work with the owner of the company, Nelly. Nelly is a very rich manipulative boss who is very good at customer service but is terrifying. She also owns 5 different businesses, not including Marx, so she is rarely ever there, making the situation all the more anxiety inducing.
She also chain smokes like no other, so Virgil had been waiting almost 5 hours before being able to go outside to break, so he was a bit testy at this point.
He began thinking about Patton and how weird he was today, like he was hiding something from Virgil. He took any other drag of his cigarette and reasoned that his birthday was coming up relatively soon, so maybe he was planning something. Then again, his anxiety is telling him Patton is finally sick of his bullshit and just wants him away. But Patton loves everyone? What could be going on him? Why-
“Why are we always meeting like this?”
The cool as ice tone brought Virgil out of his daydream as the patio door opened and the imposing figure from his dreams walked through the door. Logan has since then forwent the bandage and just let the wound on his face air, but has clearly not learned his lesson on carrying four too many objects under one arm. Logan set down his stuff and Virgil blew the smoke quickly out of his mouth.
“We have met like 5 times, Logan,”
He quirked up an eyebrow, “And you are always smoking. Does that not constitute always if it is only a few?” Virgil shrugged as Logan opened a patio umbrella on the gorgeous April day, “A synonym for always is consistently, y’know,” Virgil chose not to respond again as he took another draw of his mostly lit cigarette. Normally he would want to engage in conversation, but his temper and plight towards his working situation today was nothing that nicotine or attractive men could sedate.
Logan pulled out his papers and laptop, turning it up to full brightness, and began writing notes from a box of text Virgil couldn’t make out.
“I thought you were only here at night,” Virgil asked, seemingly uninterested.
The med student merely shrugged, never turning to face Virgil (whose was facing his back), “I was incentivized to come here today, for some reason,”
Virgil huffed, “Does it have anything to do with the little notes you have been leaving me?”
Virgil could only see the back of Logan’s head at this point, but he could tell he was grinning; his posture got a tad more loosened, his back muscles relaxed, he stopped typing, most likely to laugh in spite of himself. He move his right arm to his face, and the legs of his black frames adjusted more onto his ears.
“I was wondering if you had gotten those,” Logan took a deep breath of air in through his nose and tsked multiple times before returning to typing, “And it is evident you have not compartmentalized my fact yet,”
Virgil was tempted to throw his quartet lit cigarette at the back of Logan’s black locks, but opted for furiously crushing it under his foot instead, “Don’t give me that crap, Doctor Arias-”
“Soon-to-be, Doctor Ari-,” Logan corrected.
“Whatever,” Virgil threw his hands in the air frustrated and put them in his hoodie pockets, “You saw me smoking when you came out here, you didn’t not smell it in the air,” Virgil scoffed and put one foot against the wall, “The only thing I smell out here is your bullshit,”
Logan stopped typing and sighed, turning around to face Virgil for the first time in their conversation, “I apologise. From our previous interactions, your vernacular was quite sardonic and witty, so I thought you would appreciate a friendly repartee while also learning about the dangers of smoking. I was only trying to help.”
Virgil twisted his shoe that was suffocating the cigarette making the tobacco and paper spill all over the patio and under his shoe. He pulled on the loose threads of his jacket, setting his jaw and not wanting to look at Logan,the med student had barely talked to him today but was currently tap dancing on everyone single one of his nerves.
“Thanks for trying to help, but no thanks, Logan,” Virgil hissed at Logan, still not meeting his gaze, “I am not a fucking charity case, okay? I don’t need help from you or from any of your preppy doctor friends,”
“Soon-to-be doctor,” Logan muttered, and Virgil glared at him. Logan was looking down at his shoes.
“There are 35 million other Americans who smoke that are not me, so find someone else to be your little charity case or pet project-”
“Wait no. Virgil, please, you’re not just-” Logan started, but Virgil steamrolled over him.
“Okay? Because I don’t need anyone to fucking save me. I have been smoking for twice as long as you have been in your doctor program,” Virgil pulled his hand out of his pocket and held up a two in Logan’s direction, “I think I know a little more than you. I am not an experiment or an autopsy you can just pick the brain of. I don’t want your help,”
And with that, Virgil swung open the patio door, and closed it with enough force to shatter the glass it was made out of.
--
Virgil was still angry. He was angry with customers for being physically incapable of reading, angry with Nelly for scolding him about turn times during a rush when for half of that she was in the back on her phone, angry with Roman for calling in sick and forcing him to work with one of the teenagers for the last 3 hours of his shift, angry with Logan for trying to get him to quite smoking and being so damn nice and good and attractive, and angry with himself for being just an unfiltered moron. Virgil has never been good at controlling his temper.
Virgil was wiping down tables and just had a few odd jobs to do before he could go home and finally get started on his project. Virgil loved graphic design, he really did, and muses for his final come in odd places.
He saw that he just needed to take all the garbage cans out and then he could go home. Virgil went around to the three big cans in the store and only one was over halfway full. He changed that then went to change the smaller cans (near the creamer cart and outside). The creamer cart can was good and so was the outside trash can, he could tell that without even having to go outside.
However, Virgil looked down and saw the remnants of his fit of anger. The tobacco looked like sawdust spreading out over the patio like a graveyard of broken hearts. He groaned, knowing a metaphor like that means he has to go clean it up a bit.
Grabbing the broom and dustpan, Virgil opened the doors and took in the still April air; the weather is always the best right at sundown. The thought reminded him of the time he spent with Logan just at sunset a few nights ago. The coffee on his breath, the soft look of his lips…
Virgil shook those thoughts out of his head and swept the patio; it was quite nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of customers before he leaves. Just as he swept up the last scrap of paper, he sees something that looks oh too familiar to Virgil.
He creeps over to the table, an animal stalking his prey, and stares at the napkin on the table with a pen on top of it. Virgil looks around him quickly, well aware no one is watching, then snatches up the napkin (a bit too eager, he may add).
“Virgil, you are not experiment to me. I try to help because I care. I apologise for overstepping, though. If you do wish to communicate further, hand my pen back to me when I visit next. If not, just keep it (or throw it away). I do enjoy your company. You have become incredibly important to me in the short time we have known one another.
You did seem quite upset today, though. Research into smoking and stress has shown that instead of helping people to relax, smoking actually increases anxiety and tension. Nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation so people smoke in the belief that it reduces stress and anxiety. This feeling of relaxation is temporary and soon gives way to withdrawal symptoms and increased cravings. Smoking reduces nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which are similar to the symptoms of anxiety, but it does not reduce anxiety or deal with the underlying causes. Let me know if I can help you in any way. I care a lot about you, V.
(soon to be) Dr. Logan Arias, Addiction Psychologist
Virgil reads the notes 5 times. Then once more for good measure. He pockets the note with the others in his wallet. He cannot stop blushing if he tried.
*****
“You’re good to go Virgil- Oi, why is your face so red? You gettin’ sick too?”
Virgil tripped out the door, holding his wallet in his hand, “Uh probably! Bye Nelly! See ya later!”
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
Crazy Couple -MasqueradexJoker
So, this is another one of my older stories. It’s actually coming up on being three years old.
A short description of Masquerade, my OC: She’s average height, maybe about 5′8. Her natural hair is black, but she dyes it dark purple, and it’s cut to be kind of an asymmetrical bob with wavy bangs covering her left eye. Her eyes are icy blue.
To be fair, I’ve changed her characteristics up many times since writing this story. Typically, I now make her a vampire (original, i know, but i like vampires), and she also is a little more badass/tough/sassy. From what I’ve reread of this story, she’s human and I’m not sure what I did besides make her a lot like a weird version of myself from three years ago.
Anyway, I’ll let you guys read for yourselves if you’d like. :)
Oh, and I don’t know when, but it’ll get real NSFW at some point just fyi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was raining in Gotham as it always was as a figure dressed all in black climbed up the side of a building. The figure, wearing a black masquerade mask that covered the top half of her face, stopped at a window and pulled a switchblade from her pocket. She slid the blade between the window and the window sill, wriggled it from side to side gently until the lock on the window was pushed over. Pushing up the window, she climbed through quietly and walked around the small apartment.
On her way through the small space, she picked up items here and there and placed them inside the black duffel bag that hung at her hip, and was clipped onto her belt with large clasps. She glanced around the main room before walking silently down the hallway and opening the first door to the right; inside was what she could see was a spare bedroom, so she grabbed only a couple of small decorations before moving on. The room at the end of the hall was the main bedroom, and she could see through the crack of the doorway that it was occupied with only one middle-aged man sleeping loudly on the bed.
She entered the room and snuck around to the dresser that was across from the bed, quietly grabbing a small assortment of jewelry that was in a small chest on top. She moved over to the opposite side of the room, watching the man carefully as she walked, and grabbed the watch and billfold from the nightstand before turning to walk back out the door. After taking three steps, the floorboards below her feet squeaked loudly and she froze in place. The man’s snoring stopping and he shifted onto his back, the covers falling down enough that the figure could see he was in only a pair of pajama pants and had failed to shave his chest… ever.
She exhaled slowly and continued walking, only to freeze again when she stepped on yet another squeaky floorboard. This time, however, the man grunted and turned his head to look toward the sound. The figure lunged at him, covering his mouth before he could make any sounds to try to alert anyone to his situation; he thrashed under her, but she somehow held him down. His squirms stopped abruptly when she produced her switchblade from her sleeve and held the blade against his neck.
“Now, now, doll. Don’t make a sound,” she warned in a threatening murmur. “We wouldn’t want to wake the neighbors, now would we?” He closed his eyes in fear and shook his head “No” as best he could with her knife still pressed into his flesh.
“Good. Now, I don’t trust you not to go yelling if I were to let you free, unfortunately. So, I’m not gonna letchya go free,” she taunted with an eerie grin and slowly sliced open his neck, giggling as his blood spurted from the wound and covered her hands. She waited until the life was just leaving his eyes before she carved her mark into him; carefully, she carved a spider web around his left eye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Commissioner Gordon sighed wearily at the files stacked on his desk and especially at the one he had open in front of him; Arkham patient 4479 a.k.a. “The Joker”. He had received the call late the night before that the clown terrorist had escaped from the asylum, leaving two dead security officers and a barely-alive nurse in his wake. Gordon had immediately come into the station and had been attempting to piece together enough information to have some idea as to where Joker would go, but so far, even after four hours of work, he hadn’t had any ideas.
He was about to push the folder aside and begin going through the other files when a young officer opened his office door. “Commissioner, we had a robbery gone wrong. Otisburg, it’s a lawyer, sir.”
Gordon nodded and quickly grabbed his coat, following the officer out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He arrived on scene to see a bodybag being wheeled into an ambulance and a small team of officers already searching around the building to find any clues. Gordon found the officer who arrived first standing with the person who had called it into the station.
“Officer Dougherty,” Gordon started, walking up to the burly officer.
“Commissioner Gordon, sir,” Dougherty nodded, “I wasn’t expecting you to be so early.”
Gordon nodded back. “I came as quickly as possible. Tell me what we’ve got so far.”
“Yes, sir. The vic is Patrick McMurphy, he’s a very well know lawyer around here for both his cases and his political standpoints. There are signs of missing valuables. We have reason to believe McMurphy awoke and caught the burglar, so they killed him. And brutally, might I add.”
“How so?” Gordon asked, writing the information down in a notebook.
Dougherty sighed and rubbed the back of his neck wearily. “His throat was slit and there was a spider web carved into his face.”
Gordon paused and looked up at the officer with a serious concern. “A spider web?”
“Uh, yeah, sir.”
Gordon spun on his heel and stopped the ambulance from leaving. He jumped into the back and unzipped the body bag enough to show McMuphy’s face; around the right eye was a spider web, and Gordon swore aloud at the sight. He climbed out and returned to the officers and witness who had remained where they were, watching him. “It’s Masquerade again. I shouldn’t be surprised, she’s been causing a lot of trouble lately. Any leads on her?”
“No, sir. Not yet, at least,” Dougherty informed him.
Gordon shook his head and walked away, heading to the elevator to see the crime scene. The small apartment was filled with investigative officers and a couple of detectives. Gordon greeted them with a short grunt before continuing on into the bedroom; the bed was covered in blood at the top and the forensic investigator was snapping pictures of the entire scene.
“She’s getting more proficient with her cuts,” the forensics man said, peering at the bloodied bed through round glasses. “Her first few were more frantic and seemed to be out of panic. This one… It seems as though she had planned this one somehow.”
“Really? What reason would she have for killing a defense lawyer?” Gordon wondered aloud.
The forensics man shrugged. “No clue, Commish.”
“Thanks anyway, Ed,” Gordon said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mask laid down starfish style on her bed in her apartment, with her legs tangled in the galaxy printed sheets. She adjusted the mask on her face a she closed her eyes and listened to the news on the TV she had mounted on the wall across from the bed; they were doing a story on the escape of the Joker the night before and warning citizens to be careful and call in any information they had. Mask chuckled to herself. ‘They really think anyone who knows anything about the Joker will be alive enough to call in? They’re so ignorant,’ she thought, ridiculing the newscasters and police.
They finished the report on the Joker and went on to the murder of Patrick McMurphy and Mask opened her eyes as she sat up, automatically interested in what they would say.
“Just last night, famed lawyer and political activist Patrick McMurphy was killed in his home. Police have informed us that the main suspect is the up-and-coming burglar and murderer Masquerade. Masquerade has proven herself to be very dangerous, having now killed twelve innocent people here in Gotham. Police are searching for her as we speak, but currently have no leads as to where or who she is. Please, be careful and lock you doors and windows at night; do not leave any entrances open after dark…”
Mask giggled at the warning. ‘They think a lock is gonna stop me? Wow, some people have no faith at all,’ she thought, grinning. She laid back on her bed and stared at the ceiling, forming a plan for her night. ‘I should do something big that’ll cause more fear. Maybe a gun or a few. Hmm, bombs are a definite; gotta step up my game.’
She flipped herself off the bed and walked into her kitchen, suddenly feeling hungry, and made a grilled cheese sandwich. “Bombs and guns, where to find ‘em… Ah! I know!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was little light at the warehouses by the docks, and Mask felt lucky to have adapted so well to working in the dark. She swung herself up onto the roof of one of the buildings and slid down through a small hatch in the roof; she landed on a large stack of boxes silently and jumped down to the ground as gently as she could. Sliding her crowbar out of her bag, she began opening the boxes, slinging the straps of machine guns across her chest and stuffing ammunition in her bag along with a few smaller boxes of hand grenades.
It was just as she was opening her third box that the door to the warehouse was opened and a pair of footsteps could be heard. She started climbing up the boxes quietly, but froze when a gun was cocked below her.
“Well, well, what have we here?” A nasally voice taunted. Mask turned to look and gasped when she saw the purple- and green-clad figure of the Joker standing below her next to a clown-masked goon who was aiming the gun at her. She let herself fall to the ground in front of them, landing perfectly on her feet, and put her hands in the air to either side of her head.
“I-I didn’t know this was your warehouse, uh, Mr. Joker,” Mask said, hoping to diffuse the situation (though she was doubtful of that happening).
The clown pushed the barrel of his goon’s gun down and stepped closer to her. “Didn’t you? See, I’m thinking you’re from some, uh, rival. And I’m not about to let some kid steal from me!” He shouted grabbing her upper arm harshly.
Mask struggled against his grip. “Don’t call me ‘kid’. And I swear, I’m not some rival! I’m just a thief!”
He stopped and stared at her. “You were in the news, weren’t you?”
“Y-yeah. I was.”
“Masquerade?”
Mask nodded slowly, staring bravely into his dark brown eyes. He tilted his head before continuing to drag her along with him out of the warehouse and into the parking lot where a rusty grey van was sitting. Mask was shoved into the passenger side, the goon climbed into the back and Joker sat himself behind the wheel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Continue in part 2
Thank you for reading, Please remember that this was written three years ago when I was about 16. I’ve improved, I promise.
#joker fanfiction#joker x oc#original character#the dark knight imagine#the dark knight#tdk#tdk imagine#joker imagine#fanfiction
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
Embark - Chapter 3
Chapter Title: Picture Perfect
Word Count: 2,234
Pairing(s): Prinxiety, Side Logicality
Featured: Virgil Petty, Roman Prince, Patton Petty
Chapter Warning(s): Minor Cursing, Fighting, past death implied, self-depricating thoughts.
Synopsis: Virgil goes looking for his phone and finds himself learning more about Roman.
_______
Most people lose their phone under couch cushions, or leave it in plain sight. Most people don't lose their phone in a worn-down abandoned city, far away from any sense of civilisation.
Then again, this whole situation wasn't normal. It was hard for Virgil to figure out what was the most jaring thing about it. Whether it be the fact that he was in a whole other world entirely, the worry eating at him about what's going on outside, or wondering just how he would get out of here- it all made his stomach twist up in knots that grew more and more with each step he took.
However, one thing that really caught him off guard: his princely guide.
Even walking next to him as they passed each building helped add on to his list of questions. Roman was just.. odd. It seemed like he would swing from one emotion to the next, really dramatic and full of himself. He acted like he was actually a king, but there was such fakeness to it- it left Virgil with an unsatisfying amount of unanswered questions in the back of his mind.
Virgil stared as the king opened a double-doored entryway to a rotting wooden building. It matched the other buildings, but seemed shorter and wider in comparison. It also seemed like the place was put to more use in general, not as much of a hollow abandoned building as the others. Not too pretty, either.
"Why would my phone be in here?" Virgil's low voice broke the silence as Roman shoved against the door to get it to open all the way. "I didn't go into any of the buildings, let alone this one.."
The dramatic man let out an excited huff as he shrugged, turning to look at Virgil with those bright green eyes. "My kingdom tends to shift items around. Though things usually find their way here."
"Why? What's so important about this building? It's just rotting away like the others." Virgil's defensive nature was heightened by his anxiety. Others couldn't really know that, though. He sometimes came off as rude.
Roman frowned a bit at that. "I believe this is the greatest building amongst the rest! After all.." he pushed the doors open again with a small huff, his smile plastering his face again with an excited twinkle in his eye. "The theater is always a place to cherish, wouldn't you agree?"
"A theater? I mean.. I guess, I don't really get.." Virgil's words fell short as he stepped inside, his eyes widening a little. "Woah..."
The theater was a lot larger than Virgil had thought. It was a long stride to the grand stage, lines and lines of wooden chairs packing the place. There were upper-level seats that added to the theater experience. But one thing that really took Virgil's breath away was the carving in the interior.
All along the seats, the edge of the stage and along the base were intricate little designs and patterns that elegantly wove into eachother, connecting everything together perfectly. All the carvings seemed to curve it's way up the wall until it reached the ceiling, showing of a grand picture engraved into the wood. An angel, a grand wizard, and a king each posed in conflicting ways, the patterns surrounding them all perfectly.
It took Virgil's breath away. For a place that's in a city like this, it stunned him with how beautiful was. The image made him feel.. well, he didn't know. He just knew it was an intense feeling...
"You seem to like it!"
Virgil jumped as he yanked his eyes away from the woodwork, looking at the whimsical man stand on his stage in full glory. He beamed at Virgil with an eyebrow quirked up, a sassy look in his eye.
"And? It's great woodwork. How could I not admire it?" The emo boy walked towards the stage with his arms crossed. Roman may be annoying, but there was something fun about picking fights with him. A little fun. It's not like he liked this or anything.
His stupid grin seemed to widen as he rested a hand on his hips, looking up at the ceiling. "I'm flattered! Thats probably the first compliment you've given me thus far!"
Virgil stopped as he said this, blinking in surprise. "You.. you carved all of this?"
Roman nodded as he ran a hand through his locks and eyed his work with pride. "Yep! It certainly took a while, but it was worth it."
Virgil couldn't seem to find a word to say. For how dumb Roman seems to be.. this is a shitload of work. How anyone could pull this off on their own seemed outrageous. He actually has.. respect for him?
"I see that I've left you speechless! My, my! Dark and stormy night is impressed by me, I must have exceeded your expectations!"
Nevermind.
Virgil groaned as he made it to the end of the stage, looking up at him with a look of annoyance. "Whatever you say, prick. Help me up."
Roman paused before he smirked, holding out a hand to grip Virgil's. Roman's hands were firm and dry, a warmth to them that he seemed to radiate constantly. It made Virgil feel... secure.
He pushed those feelings aside as he stepped onto the stage, looking into the green eyes. Roman looked back with a look of intent, maybe surprise.. something underneath Virgil couldn't read. He glanced down as he fiddled with his sleeve.
"Why.. the theater?" Roman raised his eyebrows in surprise as Virgil half mumbled the question. "I mean, there's a ton of bigger buildings around here, so.."
The king nodded a little at the question, glancing at the ceiling as he spoke. "Well, I suppose it's due to the fact that I've always been very into theater. I'm not an actor, but I was definitely considered a drama geek in high school."
Virgil raised an eyebrow. "High school?"
He chuckled warmly. "Yes, of course. I didn't drop out or anything. I was in many performances! Musicals were especially close to my heart."
Something about watching Roman ramble about his past left a warm feeling in his gut. He looked so different from when he met him at the throne. Calm, natural.. real. It was like he was talking to a completely different person. Someone he didn't mind talking to.
This also raised more questions, though. Roman went to high school. He was in plays and musicals. He was in the real world, not here. So.. why was he here? How could he want to be here when this ambitious guy could be out there, doing so as much as his heart desires?
Before Virgil could even scratch the surface of that dilemma, a loud buzz startled them both out of their train of thoughts. He glanced back and stepped away from his taller counterpart, spotting his phone just around the corner. Picking it up, he saw that he had received multiple messages.
Roman chuckled softly as he looked back at Virgil with a warm gaze. "Found your phone, I see?"
Virgil couldn't help but smile at little at that. "No shit, captain obvious."
"What! I couldn't see what you were holding. Don't be so mean!" Roman wad grinning like an idiot as he whined. The argument was all in good fun, and they both knew it.
"Yeah, yeah." Virgil opened his phone as he stepped closer to the king, opening up his camera app with a slightly devious grin.
"Say cheese, Prince Charming."
Roman grinned as he winked. "Awe, you think I'm charming~"
Virgil snapped the picture and turned off his phone. "You didn't pose or anything. I thought you were a king."
"Hey! I didn't think- You didn't give me enough time!" Roman huffed as Virgil scooted off the stage.
"I warned you. Now you're doomed with that picture forever, princey!"
"Noooooooo!"
They walked together away from the wooden theater, leaving light footprints in the pounded dirt path. Their teasing could be heard all around, echoing off the empty structures. For once in forever, there was an actual conversation taking place in the world of forgotten oak. It was something to cherish, and to miss when it inevitably fell away.
Before long they were right back where Virgil had started. This time, he wasn't a mess of panic. He was actually smiling, if only a little, his brown eyes much softer. It was so weird that this crazy man was the cause of that.
"All you have to do is walk forward. You should just.. fall back into the real world." Roman explained, giving Virgil a smile with a soft sigh between his teeth.
"And.. you aren't coming?"
"Ah, no.. my kingdom needs me! Besides, I've taken enough of your time already." He paused as he looked at Virgil with those green eyes that he was warming up to. "However.. your visit was greatly appreciated. We've only met once, but this was the most fun I've had in a long time!"
Virgil stared at him as he chuckled almost sadly. Though he didn't have the answers to most of his questions, Virgil did offer him a smile. "I'll come visit again."
Roman's eyes seemed to light up as he stared into Virgil's own, a hopeful look on his face. "You will?"
Virgil couldn't help but chuckle. "Sure, princey. Don't look so hopeful. I'll be back to diss you soon enough."
Still, Roman's smile only grew as he took Virgil's hand. "Well then," he let go of his hands with that lingering warmth, a small peice of reddish bark remaining. "Let that help you get back to me, ok?"
Virgil paused before he smirked and closed his fingers around it. "See you soon, princey."
Roman's smile faded along with his voice as he stepped through the portal. "And you, dark and stormy night."
"Hey, Virge? Can I come in?"
Virgil Petty was 14 years old, his hair grown out over his eyes and his new makeup plastered over his face. His room was dark with the lights off and boxes piled against the walls. He had yet to unpack his dark clothing and decor alike.
Said 14-year-old sighed as he paused his music, slipping his headphones to his shoulders. "Yeah."
Patton stepped into his room, his bright appearance clashing with everything Virgil stood for. But that wasn't new. He was holding a small box that had 'photos' written across in his older brother's messy handwriting.
"Hey kiddo! Just wanted to come in and check on you!"
" 'm fine, Pat. What else do you want?"
Patton chuckled a little as he plopped the box onto his bed, ending the possibility of making this quick. "That's good! I wanted to see if you wanted any of these?"
Virgil raised an eyebrow as he shifted closer, looking into the box. Different pictures of family members, but mostly pictures of their dad.. or their mom.
"No... Hell no, I don't want these Pat. Why would I want these?"
"Well, I dunno, I just-"
"You know how I feel about Jerry-"
"He's your dad, Virgil-"
"He's not my dad!"
"Look, I just wanted to see if you wanted one because you already have two pictures of her and you-"
"So, what?! You think that throwing up pictures of mom and dad will just fix everything?"
"That's not what I meant-"
"I don't care- just shut up and make your scrapbooks! Or leave! or hit me! Be just like him if you think he's such a great dad!"
"Virgil, I-"
"You can't just fix me!"
The 14 year old was shaking as he spat at his brother, tears threatening his eyes. An overwhelming sense of anxiety and anger and pure emotion caused him to surge before he felt a pang of guilt, seeing the look on his brother's face. He turned away, burying his face in his pillow. It's better than facing his brother after that, in his mind.
How could he say that to him? Of all people.. the only one that cared about him was the one he lashed out at. How could you do that, he's your brother! Of course you did, Virgil, you ruin every all the time-
"I don't need to fix you, Virgil."
Virgil felt a soft hand on his back, rubbing up and down in a soothing, familiar way. It helped him breathe.. He didn't realize his breathing was unsteady.
"That doesn't mean you're perfect. I know you know that. I'm not perfect, either. If I was perfect, I could have done so much more. I could have made dad stay, or given you a better life." Patton sighed softly as he sat closer. Virgil didn't mind it.. This was Patton. He was warm and comforting. He was his family.
"I don't know what I'm doing, Virgil. I never have. I know I'm always acting like I've got everything under control, but I.. I'm really just trying to hold it together. Hold us together."
Virgil looked up at Patton with a surprised look. Patton frowned gently, looking at the box of pictures. "It's not bad to want to change. It's not a bad thing to want to break away from what you think is bad. Dad.. He wasn't ever a good dad. And mom.." He sighed as he looked to Virgil with a small smile. "She loved you without ever seeing your face. She was so, so excited to have you."
"Really, Virgil, the point is.. I don't need to fix you. You don't need to be fixed. What I need to do is move on and keep trying.. and what you need to do.. is trust yourself."
Virgil was silent as he sat up, letting his brother continue to rub his back and looking into his eyes with his undivided attention. "That's that hardest thing you can ever do. I know. It's scary.. life is scary as Hell. And you won't do it right away. You will be left with questions unanswered when you need them most. You'll feel alone. But one thing you have is you." Pattons small, emotional, real smile left him feeling warm. "And I believe in you, if nothing else."
It took less than a second for Virgil to be hugging his brother tightly, the 20-year-old's hand tangled in his hair and wrapped around him. The house was quiet accept for the sound of their breathing, and soft sound of crying coming from the usually harsh and dark teen. This was his brother. Virgil didn't know how he deserved such an angel in his life.
"Pat..?" Virgil eventually mumbled as he glanced up at his brother, a sniffle escaping him.
"What is it, kiddo?"
"I'm sorry."
Patton's tired face still help a happiness to it as he stroked Virgils hair, just the way he liked it.
"Never apologize." Patton whispered as he kissed his forehead.
"You will always be my first priority."
_______
Tag List:
@gaydreamland @virgils-old-sweater @6tick6tock6 @hellomusicalnerdhere @rose-will-one-day-be-okay (sorry if I'm tagging the wrong person there, perhaps you changed your name?) @thatpinkpony59 @applecannibal
#embark#chapter 3#picture perfect#sanders sides#sanders sides au#sanders side fic#my fic#my writing#thomas sanders#ts roman#roman sanders#ts virgil#virgil sanders#patton sanders#ts patton
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
Shoveling Feelings || Dani/Flora
Who: Dani & Flora
When: August 8th-9th, 2018
Where: Convenience Store/Flora’s Home
Summary: Flora and Dani run into each other at a convenience store, grabbing snacks for a late night snack fest. They decided to enjoy a night of Food, Music, and accidental feels.
Warnings: A lot of triggering things mentioned in this para; Mentions of Domestic Abuse, abuse, religion, drugs, alcohol, depression, food.
Flora was mentally exhausted after those questions, she thought it would be better to get them out- she was wrong. She felt so much worse and she didn’t know how to shake the feelings she was currently in the middle of. Closing the Tumblr tab, she walked over to the freezer and opened it, “Great,” she was out of ice cream,” Sighing she walked to her snack cabinet and found it was also bare. “Double damn,” She debated on just sleeping but decided against it, her brain wouldn’t shut off even if she wanted it to. “Okay, store it is.” It took her about fifteen minutes to find her keys, they were hidden under the mail. Locking up, she got into the car and drove off to the closest 24hr mart.
Dani was seriously turning into a full blown insomniac. While normally sleeping on a couch was preferred, the damage it was doing to her body when she managed to sleep made it almost worth the nightmares that came with sleeping in a bed. However, this particular night was restless, no matter where she tried to sleep. If she’d been in New York she would have found a bar. However, in Lima, this was probably not in her favor, mostly because she wasn’t even sure where one was, nor how she’d get back. Grabbing her pocket knife from where it was buried in her suitcase, she slipped on her boots and a hoodie. Even with the heat it made her feel more comfortable about the fact she was about to walk to a store in the middle of the night for no other reason than to get away from her own head.
Arriving at the nearest 24hr mart she stuffed the knife deep in her pocket and flipped the hood down on her hoodie, running a hand through her hair. She wasn’t sure what her plans were but she needed something that would take the edge off, whether it was sweets or alcohol or cheese, it didn’t entirely matter anyone. Singing quietly to herself, the only real way she was staying sane, running lines of the song she’d been writing on repeat trying to get them to flow the right way, she made her way down an aisle, eyes scanning the shelves blankly.
Flora pulled into the parking lot of the mart, getting as close to the door as she could. Not many people were here this late but the usual, a few night shift guys and the assorted customers that also worked nights from the superstore across the street. The guy behind the counter smiled when Flora walked in, giving her a wave. “Hi, Pete,” She made her way to her usual isle, grabbing her favorite cookies, snacks, and plopped them in the little arm basket. “Hello, double chocolate fudge-” She needed an extra rich experience and that meant chocolate on chocolate. She made her way around the store, seeing if she needed anything else. She was half paying attention when she bumped right into a person, “I’m sorry, I was- Dani?”
Dani had managed to grab very little of anything, instead using it as an opportunity to think than actually consider getting anything. She had grabbed some cookies, or more like three different kinds, and a box of Swiss Rolls. So, chocolate was the name of the game, apparently, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. She had headed into the cracker aisle cause she seriously wanted Goldfish and maybe she’d pick up saltines to go with peanut butter. At some point she’d managed to zone out that even she didn’t see the woman that bumped into her. Instinctively, her hand reached into her pocket, blinking a few times when she heard her own name. Looking at the woman she tilted her head. “Flora?”
Flora couldn’t believe it, Dani was here and in Lima- what were the odds? She let a smile break on her face and tilted her head with Dani before straightening her neck out. She put her basket down and looked to her right, grabbing a box of Cheese-itz and smiled. “And the very last box of pepperjack, lucky me.” She dropped it into the basket. “So this is where you were dragged off too.” It was good to see Dani in person, so far they had only interacted over the internet. “Another sleepless night by the look of your haul?”
Dani shook her head, laughing a bit at Flora’s response to the box of Cheese-Itz. “See, I like the white cheddar ones.” She commented, actually grabbing a box, she might as well. When looking to eat your feelings it was best to have a variety. “Yeah, something like that. When your best friend is scared you won’t stay safe if left alone, you get brought places.” Dani tried to joke, but it was half hearted and almost sad. “Yeah, something like that. You too?”
Flora nodded, “White cheddar are my second favorite,” Flora knew about having friends that worried, she was glad Dani had someone to care about her. “I have a few friends like that, they practically drag me out of the house. And yes, my brain is on full steam ahead. Two cats just rootin’ around in my head and causing chaos.” She took a breath and decided anymore time spent in this aisle she might buy more. “Didn’t see many cars out there, did you walk here?”
Dani laughed at Flora’s comparison. “I feel that. The hamster that runs my brain has taken off and hired a cat that only runs if someone isn’t paying attention to it. Which is horrible when you want to get things done. Like sleep.” She sighed a bit. “Yeah. We flew in from New York so I’m kinda without car access. The walk does me good, usually, so it’s not like I mind, but it ain’t the best thing to be doin in an unfamiliar town.” Dani knew it was dangerous. She knew it was probably on the list of stupidest things she’d ever done and she’d gotten on a roof while drunk, holding fireworks. Part of her blamed the depression, her lack of care for her own state of being. The rest of her didn’t care.
Flora nodded at Dani’s own comparison and chuckled, “Well it is certainly not safe for you to be walking around here at night. I live close by, why don’t you come over and we can have a feast? You can even crash there if you’d like, if not I can give you a ride back to your friends place?” She did not like the idea of Dani walking back the dimly lit streets, or sometimes not lit streets of Lima. Bars would be letting out soon and that is when all the crazies would be on the road. “I got a guest room and everything, get yourself a comfy bed for the night?” She shrugged.
Dani smiled a bit a Flora. “That’s what the knife in my pocket is for and I certainly know how to use it, but I’d rather not and walkin back with my hands full…” She sighed a bit, not sure what her answer actually was. It’d been a long time since she’d actually slept in a bed, properly. Even months before she left Mississippi for good she’d slept on the couch in her own home, not wanting to be plagued by the memory of Angela on her and next to her. Shaking her head a bit, she realized she’d almost ended up in a darker place than she already was. “That would be nice, get away for a bit, have some company that gets where my brain gets off too. Maybe run this song runnin my head with you.” She nodded a bit.
Flora could see that Dani’s brain was running, she let her process and was glad when Dani didn’t need to be pulled back out. “Great, come on,” She grabbed her basket and led them both up to the counter. “Give me two number seven’s tonight, Pete, I’m feeling lucky.” The kid laughed and grabbed the scratch tickets and place them on the counter. While Pete rang up everything she scratched.
It was good she wouldn’t be alone tonight, she would only get lost in her own thoughts. It was way too late to call Iris or Nancy and Judy was still in New York with Quinn. “I won ten,” She grinned and nodded, “I think Dani is my good luck charm, first time I won since moving here.”
Dani smiled a bit and followed Flora to the front, laughing a bit as the woman made the comment about Dani being a good luck charm. It was weird, the idea of going home with this woman she barely knew but also knowing far more about her than one would think. “It’s that southern woman thing, we’re more powerful together.” She said with a wink as she set her small collection of things on the counter. Once she paid, she turned to Flora. “We ready?”
Flora chuckled and grabbed her bags, “I like the sound of that,” She headed for the door and nodded, “Let’s get out of here, have a good night Pete.” She held the door open for Dani before walking over to the backseat and opening it, putting the junk food on the floor. Getting into the driver seat she buckled up, “Safety first,” She wouldn’t be moving the car until all buckles were in place. She started the car to get the air going before opening a bottle of water she bought. Once Dani was buckled, she took off towards her house.
Pulling into the driveway, she smiled over at Dani. “Home sweet home,” It wasn’t a bad little house, it wasn’t fancy or anything like her home in Louisiana but it was just right for her. “I actually cleaned up a bit, so-” She unlocked the door and flicked on the light.
Dani nodded a bit, following Flora out after bidding the young man a good night. She got in the car and smiled a bit. It’d been so long since she’d heard someone tell er to buckle up. It was such a mother thing, wasn’t it? That level of care. She buckled up, leaning her head against the window, watching the world pass by.
When they arrived, Dani couldn’t help but smile. Looking up at the house she nodded a bit. It reminded her of the house she’d rented in Mississippi. Simple and homey. She liked it. “I certainly feel special, then.” She laughed a little, fully sincere in her statement. Dani knew what it was like to not want to clean up. To not do anything. “Not that I’d mind a messy home, of course.”
Flora brought her things into the kitchen, making sure the ice cream got inside the freezer. “Well you would have loved it yesterday, especially before I picked up the cake wrappers all over the place.” She normally ate right out of the tub and she wondered if Dani did the same? She put the rest of her snacks out on the coffee table and went back into the kitchen to grab her ice cream. “Little shovel or big shovel?” She smirked and tapped the draw where the spoons were in.
Dani smiled, laughing a bit. “Can’t beat the time I’d been stress cooking and my kitchen and dining room looked like my flour canister exploded multiple times and I was finding flour everywhere for weeks. Almost worse than the time I made glitter packages to drop off for people I was angry at.” Both events had actually taken place in the same month and Dani was honestly surprised she wasn’t still finding glitter, though exploded flour was a lot more common. She followed Flora into the kitchen and grinned. “Why in the hell would anyone use a small one? Are we eating feelings or are we pretending to be ladies? Cause you can’t eat feelings in small doses. It don’t work.”
Flora couldn’t believe it, “How on earth did you manage to get flour everywhere? I mean that happened once to me but it was the dogs fault. Bruce got excited, knocked into me and the bowl of flour, egg, and butter went all over. Spooked him and he was running off like his butt was on fire.” She chuckled and grabbed two big spoons from the draw. She handed one off to Dani and took the container of ice cream to the couch. “Some days I use little spoons with big spoon sized bites- depends on if the dishes were done.” Flora opened the container and used the spoon to scrape the lid.
Dani laughed a bit but then sighed. “The reason I was stress cookin showed up, drunk off her ass. Twice.” That’s when it had been bad. A long weekend, which wasn’t unusual for Angela to get trashed during, but Dani had been avoiding her. Phone turned off, music up, doing everything she could to ignore the world and the situation she’d gotten herself into. Cooking was easiest and there was reason to be doing so much, but maybe not as much reason as Dani had wanted. Angela had shown up that Friday evening, angry at Dani for one thing for another, like she always was by that point. That’s when the dining room met its match with the flour. Sunday would see the kitchen. Shaking her head, Dani accepted the spoon and followed Flora to the couch. She really hoped she could get out of her head, because it honestly was too dark a place to be at times. “Only acceptable reason to be eatin ones feelings with a small spoon.” Dani said as she pulled her feet up under her on the couch with her ice cream.
Flora wondered what exactly happened but she figure Dani didn’t want to relive it. No one wants to relive those dark times, she could relate. She turned to face Dani and dug into her ice cream, “Mmm, just what I needed.” She ate a few more bites, wondering what kind of conversations they should have? She didn’t want to be pushy, she didn’t want to force conversation. They were both in the same situation, yet two different people. Flora had been stuck in her situation for twenty-five years, she met Russell before she was even eighteen. They dated secretly but being good christians, nothing ever came out of it. They just took walks, got ice cream, shared stories- so many lies he told. “What kind did you get?” She snapped herself out it and smiled over at Dani.
Dani took a bite of her ice cream as she sat there, not really sure what was going to come of this night. The older woman knew her pain. They shared similar yet very different stories. The fact they were two southern women who’d ended up in abusive relationships was odd as it were. Them having found each other online and ended up in the same place? It just seemed like fate. Much like Abel moving into her old apartment. Or Drew somehow finding her tumblr and mentioning writing a song about their parents, if you wanted to call them such, while she actually was writing a song about their parents. “Tonight Dough. I needed the extra cookie dough over my usual Half-Baked. Yourself?”
Flora enjoyed cookie dough on every other given night but tonight she needed to drown her sorrows in a chocolate haze. “Chocolate ice cream, with chocolate swirls and brownie pieces. This is the heavy duty decadence I needed. The storm up here,” She pointed to her head and then pointed to her stomach. “And the storm brewing in here, I’m counting the years til menopause.” She took another bite of her ice cream, which would eventually turn into soup if she didn’t continue to devour it. Which she liked about half way, that way she could just drink it. “You know, I never ate a lot of sweets like this. Besides the home baked kind of sweets but I had those in moderation.” Her face fell slightly, “A proper lady always watches her figure.” and with annoyance she took another bite.
Dani nodded a bit as Flora spoke, emphasizing the motion by also shaking her spoon a bit. “Excellent choice. If chocolate, WD-40, or duct tape can’t fix it, hope and pray booze, music, or a home cooked meal can. After that… you probably need professional help of some kind.” She said with a half laugh and a shrug. At Flora’s statement, Dani rolled her eyes. “A lady doesn’t talk back Danielle, how are you ever going to find a husband with an attitude like that,” she mimicked her mother’s voice the best she could remember it, disgusted look on her face as she took another bite of ice cream. “Guess I was never meant to be a proper lady, now was I?” She laughed a bit.
Flora was told since she was a child just how a lady should be. It was easy for her to follow because it was all she ever knew, she never knew any other way. “Even as a child I was expected to act like a lady, it never bothered me- because I knew that was expected. My dad wanted me and my sister to be ladies but he wasn’t cruel about it. He let me and my sister run around the farm as kids, get our hands dirty if we wanted too. However, church was proper time and we had to be our best.” Flora loved her dad but he was just as old school as his dad, it seemed to continue. However, he loved his kids and didn’t raise his hand- not unless he had too. He never hit Flora or Rosie but he was rough with her brothers when they weren’t acting as men should. “I remember some of the parents from the church, they were hard on their kids. The slightest noise made or a single sign of boredom, they would get taken to the back and paddled. Those kids grew up to be assholes-” She clapped her hand over her mouth and sighed, “well seems you also bring out the cussin’ in me too- not just the luck.” She chuckled.
Dani nodded a bit as Flora spoke, that she understood, she’d just never been good at following rules. “I was expected to, but I rarely did. I was good at breakin rules, not followin them. Mother was the one you had to look out for, most of the time. Father was a strong hand when needed, but mother had a tongue on her. Said things a certain way, y’know? Guess it’s where Drew and I got it from.” Dani could remember the verbal lashings she’d gotten as a child. They were far more numerous than the physical ones, though those happened too. She’d been surprised when her parents put her into roller derby. It was a violent sport and far from wholesome sport. Drew was a football star, your all American guy, really. Then you had Dani. Perhaps by that point they’d simply give up trying to control her, she’d never actually know. A smirk crossed her face at Flora cussing. “I mean, you ain’t wrong, though. It wasn’t as common, but there were definitely those around. Just goes to show that it ain’t the best method of punishment.” She shrugged. “What kinda church you grow up in?”
Flora couldn’t imagine the emotional abuse that Dani suffered. What was worse, it came from the two people who were supposed to protect her. Parents should protect not destroy, “Must have been hard for you, having your parents talk to you that way?” She leaned against the couch, her spoon swirling the now chocolate soup in her container. “A Baptist church that was run out of a pastor's house, he might have been a fake for all my family knew. When the congregation grew, we moved with them out to Shreveport from New Orleans. They had rules, strict rules, every family needed to follow. My family eventually switches churches and I never asked why.”
Dani shrugged. “I mean, I gave it just as much as I got it. I’m still convinced Drew and I had all’a Houston convinced we actually hated each other. But, in a way I didn’t realize how bad it all was until Angela. When I’d let her say stuff to me and everyone looked at me like I shoulda been runnin for the hills.” It was true. While her and her brother had used it as a coping strategy, keep people from realizing how close they were, given their parents favor, as an adult, especially with Angela, she’d resorted back. To firing off at the mouth whenever it was done to her but never leaving. Never quite standing up for herself. It was a game. How far below the belt could you land a blow. Except with Angela the support in private never came, like it had with her older brother. No, in private was the physical. The punches, the sex, alcohol and drugs. “Y’know, I always wondered if there existed other churches people actually went to that weren’t Baptist in the south. Like, I’m sure they exist, I’ve seen ‘em, but almost every southerner I know was raised Baptist.” Dani shook her head a bit, chuckling.
Flora’s spoon was long forgotten at this point, she was just sipping out of the carton now. “Doesn’t mean it was right, you shouldn’t have to fight back like that. No against anyone,” She tapped Dani’s knee, much like she would do with her own kids. “This Angela certainly sounds like bad news to me, I’m glad you got away from her.” Just what she heard from Dani, she never wanted to meet this Angela person- she sounded worse than Russell. “Russell always acted so nice in front of others, putting up this fake persona. Everyone thought he was the perfect husband, loving, but quite the opposite. He always had a drink in his hand, no matter the time of day- unless we were at church. Soon as we got home, he would expect a drink and I would have no choice but to serve him.” She sighed and took another long drink from her chocolate soup ice cream. Flora smiled when Dani joked about everyone in the south being baptist, “It certainly seemed like the more popular option.”
Dani had somehow managed to eat a good 90% of the carton before it became too melted and had also taken to sipping it out of the container. “Nah, I know. I look back sometimes and wonder what my relationship with my older brother woulda been like if we hadn’t been so… I guess the word is antagonistic towards each other in public, but… it never feels right.” She shrugged a bit, her bottom lip getting caught between her teeth at the tap to her knee. It was odd. For the last seven years she’d been alone, no real parents to speak off, and even as a child she’d never had their favor. The way Flora was acting, it ached in the same way interacting with Abel’s parents did. Like she’d been missing something. “She certainly was. After Santana goin back to Brittany, I was lookin for somethin, I don’t know what, but I thought I’d found it in her. Thought I’d found the woman I’d marry, spend the rest of my life with. Glad I never got that far.” She sighed a bit, listening to Flora speak. “That’s the ‘good Christian man’ in him,” she said, using air quotes. “A stained glass masquerade, but the worst kind.” Dani finished off the carton and stuck the lid back on it. She settled a little further back on the couch, moving so her knees were up to her chest, arms resting on her knees. “I feel like it was the whole thing about separation, y’know? Like, I could remember I went to this church camp and it was on a college campus and there was a line down the middle of the road you couldn’t cross past a certain hour. There was no dancing. I mean… it was, I don’t even have words for it. ‘Cept that was also where I realized I was gay.”
Flora could relate about church and separation, because it was that way through most religions. “I know exactly what you mean, our church was that way. Everything was separate and if anyone was caught violating the rules they were disciplined. The pastor was very strict about it and the more I think about it, the more I remember of how much of a creep he was. I’m really glad that my parents switched churches,” She wondered what would have happened if her parents didn’t switch churches? What would he life be like now, would she have found Russell? Probably not, she would probably married to one of the church boys from the congregation. “Good thing my family found a much better church, which was much more reasonable.” Flora drink more of the soup ice cream and finished it off. Putting the container aside and reaching for her water. She would offer the girl wine but something told her to keep the wine corked. She looked over at Dani and smiled, seeing all the girls tattoos. “Tell me about them, I’ve always been curious.”
Dani nodded a bit as Flora spoke. Church was weird. Religion was weird. It was all weird and man-made, but spirituality, faith, that wasn’t. Faith is what mattered. She took off her hoodie, having gotten a little too warm. She looked down at their arms when Flora pointed out her tattoos. “The cross on my hand was my the first one I got. I later got the lion head. Both are kind of tied into my faith. I’ve got ‘let go’ and ‘let God’ on my feet. The faith and the birds is again, more of supportive, well, faith based tattoo.” She held up her arms to show Flora her inner arms. “I got stay strong the year I stopped self harming. The rose covers a tattoo I’d gotten on a bad night.” She thought for a moment, trying to think if she had any others. “I’ve got a green feather or leaf or something behind one of my ears, it was my first tattoo.” Dani shrugged a bit. “I have my next one planned, but I don’t really know when I’ll get it. Probably after I finish the song I’m working on.”
Flora liked the tattoos that Dani had on her body, they looked interesting and they had meaning. She never thought about tattoos when she was younger, she decided they weren’t for her. That god would not approve but as she got older, she found herself becoming more and more curious. “I’ve been thinking about getting one,” She wanted to give it a try, even if it was just one. “Been looking at tattoos online but I keep chickening out.” She opened the gallery in her phone and showed her a few options she was deciding on. “This one is my favorite. What do you think?”
Dani smiled a bit. She loved when people talked tattoos with her. It always made her happy. Her eyes lit up when Flora said she was looking into getting one. Looking at the image she nodded a bit. “I like it. It suits you.” She nodded a bit, pulling up her own phone and opened the notes app and opening a file. Holding offering the phone to Flora she smiled sheepishly. “It’s the lyrics for the song I’m currently working on. It’s mostly finished, but I can’t figure out if it flows right or not.”
Flora nodded, “Guess I should look into getting that. Now where to get it, that’s the question? I don’t know if i’d want to put it on display for everyone to see. Or, keep it just for me?” She accepted the phone from Dani and took a look at the lyrics she had, “A story never told…” She trailed off and read what lyrics that Dani had, bit and pieces of a story this girl wanted to get out but couldn’t yet. All the pain and the truth, I wear like a...Battle wound?” Flora wasn’t sure if that would go but it was something. She took Dani’s hand and placed the phone in it, “You certainly have something there, something deep, profound, you’ll get those lyrics out. When you do we’ll go get those tattoos together.” She nodded.
Dani tapped her chin a bit. “I mean, if it’s a reminder to yourself if might be easier getting it on your inner arms, like my stay strong. But ultimately it’s up to you.” She shrugged a bit. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she watched Flora read the lyrics. Only Abel had even gotten close to seeing those lyrics. They combined so much of her life. It was predominantly about her parents but it also had tied in pieces about Angela, things that had multiple meanings. She slowly started singing it to herself, she’d need a piano to actually get the proper timing down but sitting there actually vocalizing it she found herself nodding. It didn’t sound bad and as the phone was placed back in her hand, she smiled. “Thanks, and I just need a piano and I think I’ll have it. I’ll be in Lima til the 17th, maybe we’ll get lucky and we can get em before I leave.”
Flora had gone through a lot of choices, trying to decide where. She figured it was going to hurt either way but she came to the conclusion- nothing would hurt as bad as Russell’s fists. “I was thinking on my ribcage but people say its not the best place for your first time.” She smiled when Dani said she was looking for a piano, “Well, I don’t have a piano but-” Getting up she walked to her hall closet and pulled out a keyboard. “I’ve been trying to pick up a hobby here and there and I always wanted to play piano. So, I went to the music store and asked them about keyboard’s and they gave me this. I was talking to a guy online a little while ago and he mentioned it was never too late to learn.”
Dani laughed a bit, nodding. “Yeah no. Over bones, on the neck, and on the top of the feet or hands are more likely to hurt. It’s all about pain tolerance, really. I’m not a good judge of tattoo pain, cause I like pain, but anything that’s more fat or muscle than skin and bone is always a good place. I think faith is the one that hurt most, because it’s so close to the elbow.” Dani tilted her head as Flora spoke, watching as she pulled a keyboard out of the closet, a smile spreading across her face. “It’s a good instrument to learn and a keyboard is certainly close enough. Do you have a stand or at least a counter at a decent height?” Admittedly, Dani hadn’t touched her own keyboard in ages, so much of her music lending itself more to one of her guitars, it’d be nice to play again.
Flora nodded, “That is what I heard, so I’m not sure I’m ready but I think it’s where I want it. I’m not a fan of pain but I’ve been pretty numb-” Flora pulled out a stand from the closet and smiled, “The guys saw I was a sucker and got me to buy one of these. It’s adjustable,” She set the stand up and plugged in the keyboard, “here you go, take it away maestro.” She headed back to the couch and dug into her Cheese-itz, giving Dani her creative space that she might need. “Need anything else?”
Dani nodded a bit as Flora spoke, she knew that feeling, being numb. It was what had driven her to self harm as a teen, it was why she was so close to that edge again. Being numb was dangerous. Tattoos, admittedly, helped with that. “It’s useful, for sure.” She laughed a bit, adjusting the stand just a bit as she set her phone face up on the edge of it. “Uh, honestly, not that I know of. Feedback is always appreciated, though.”
Humming for a moment she started to test keys, trying to find a starting point, once she found it, she started singing, occasionally starting over when her voice and the keys she played didn’t match up the way she wanted. Her hands eventually started to move on autopilot, her entire body getting into it as she hit what felt like the fifteenth start over. While it didn’t sound entirely right, it was getting there. It was so close and she kept going, ignoring the tears that had started to form in her eyes as she played, the way her voice tried to catch in her throat. As the song finished the sob caught in her throat and she could feel the way her body had started to shake.
Flora laid back and closed her eyes as she listened to Dani play, the music was rough to start but soon Dani found her way. Slowly, Flora sat up and looked over to see Dani working through the song. Her voice was rough and sad, both in a good and bad way. Emotion is what made a song great, it’s something that Flora was learning. She wanted to go over there and wrap her arms around Dani, telling her that everything would be okay. Yet, Flora knew that she might not want that comfort.
When she was done, Flora made her way over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, it’s all okay,” She couldn’t help but take her into that hug, she just hoped this is what Dani needed. She hoped hugging her wouldn’t push her away, “If you want me to let go, you just tell me and I will. Okay?” She rubbed her back and held on and would until Dani told her to stop.
Dani barely moved at first, trying to keep her breathing steady, to keep from giving in to the tears. Tears she should have cried years ago, pain she shouldn’t have held onto. And then Flora was talking and she found herself pulled into a hug and for the first time in a while, she let it happen. She let herself be hugged and comforted by someone who wasn’t Abel. And she cried. It was all she could do in that moment, her body shaking arms eventually moving to hug Flora back, if only to make sure she stayed on her feet. Her hands curled into fabric, the way those of a child might. For the first time in over seven years she truly felt like she wasn’t as unwanted as her parents had made her feel. That someone gave a shit about her and it made her cry harder, unable to catch her breath long enough to stop.
Flora knew all she could do was be there for her, holding on tight and not letting her go. “Here we go,” She moved them over to the couch, a mama bear strength she normally reserved. She settled them in and just held her close, rubbing her back as she cried. “You let it out, suga, let it out.” She held on as if she was holding on to one of her own kids. Giving all the comfort and care she could in one simple squeeze. This girl had been thoroughly broken and that started with the two people who should have raised her up. Left a girl to defend for herself all because of who she was, it pissed her off. No child should be tossed away because of who they love, “Try and catch your breath, follow my breaths.” She breathed slow, allowing Dani to feel her chest rise and fall.
Dani found herself curling as far as she could into Flora’s hold, as if trying to make herself as small as possible. As if it wouldn’t all ache so much if she was smaller. As if the years of pain wouldn’t feel like they were tearing her apart if she was condensed herself against it. Listening to Flora’s words, she did her best to try and match the breathing. At first it just left her breathing sporadic but eventually things calmed and she seemed to go almost limp against Flora. God she was so tired and she felt like a young girl again, back before the relationship she had with her mother exploded, when she could go to her mother for anything. Her breath tried to catch in her throat again and she breathed through it, eventually pulling back from Flora, ever so slightly, wiping at her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Thank you.” Her voice sounded as small as she felt, insecure and scared. Everything she’d done her best not to feel.
Flora held on as Dani found her breathing, it took several minutes for her to catch her breath. She felt Dani go limp against her as she continue to hold on, “You’re welcome,” She smiled and reached out to cup her cheek, rubbing the last stray tear away. She didn’t know if this would help Dani in the long run but it helped her now and that is what mattered. It mattered because she let it out, she let her emotions spill out instead of holding them in to explode. She reached onto the table and handed her some water, “Small sips,” She had a break down a few years back, she remembered being curled up in her mother’s arms and just shaking- Dani didn’t have the option to do that and Flora felt deeply for this girl. “The song is amazing, Dani, I felt every word.” She reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze.
Dani smiled sheepishly, running a hand through her hair. She accepted the water and did as instructed, feeling the weight of emotional exhaustion settle in on top of the regular exhaustion she’d been feeling lately. It made her so tired that it took her a few moments to wrap her brain around what Flora had said. She nodded a bit. “Thank you. It’s not all about them, but them and Angela and how that all connects for me. I guess.” Her words were starting to slur from the exhaustion, only made worse by just how thick her accent came out. She yawned, having to shake herself a bit. “I haven’t been this tired in… I don’t even know.”
Flora reached out and cupped her chin, “Maybe you can try and get some shut-eye? I got that comfy bed I was talking about earlier, a guest bed that has not been used yet. You can be the first one to christen it and try to sleep?” It had been an emotional night for the both of them, they talked, got to know each other more, and Flora helped Dani with her music. She hoped with the weight lifted off her would be enough to get her into bed. “Come on, I’ll tuck you in and everything.” She smiled.
Dani nodded ever so slightly as Flora spoke. She was so tired and she had a feeling she’d sleep deeply enough to not be bothered by the nightmares that typically plagued her. Flora’s words had a small but sad smile smile crossing her face. “I’d like that very much.” She sounded like a little girl again, the one who hadn’t yet learned what her tongue could do, who didn’t know what it was like to be hurt by those who were supposed to love her. That hadn’t been afraid of the monsters in her own head.
Flora nodded her head and helped Dani up to her feet, “Come on suge, let’s tuck you in.” She smiled and brought her into the bedroom, sitting her down on the end of the bed. She folded down the blankets and tossed the throw pillows onto the chair. “I got the ac here, a fan- little remotes here turn them on.” She placed them on the side table and helped Dani under the covers. It was nice to have this again, to be able to take care of someone- even if it was just temporary. Dani needed her in this moment and Flora went on autopilot, “Here we are,” She tucked her in and left to get a quick glass of water and placed it beside her. “Need anything else?”
Dani let herself be led to the bedroom, hoodie in one hand, knowing she’d likely forget it in the morning if she didn’t, and also cause it acted as a security blanket at times. She emptied her pockets, wallet, pocket knife, and phone, all stacked one on top of each other on the side table. She folded the hoodie and set it at the foot of the bed, just so she knew where it was, in case she needed it. Dani had nodded slightly as Flora spoke and curled herself up under the covers. It was strange, being in a bed again, particularly being alone in a bed again. She’d tried, on more than one occasion, to share Abel’s bed with him. It hadn’t gone well and neither really slept. In truth, she hadn’t slept in a bed, and actually been comfortable, since before she left Mississippi. It had been that long. “No ma’am, I think I’m good. Thank you.”
Flora smirked, “No need for the ma’am’s but it’s mighty appreciated.” She didn’t mind being called ma’am, it was a sign of respect but it wasn’t necessary. “If you need anything, I’m right next door.” She knew what it was like to be alone, she wasn’t sure how this night would go- would either of them sleep? At this point, Dani would have a better chance at sleeping. Flora would be sitting up for a while, she was sure. One last tuck she leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Good night.” She smiled and headed out, leaving the door open a crack.
Dani simply nodded, a smile on her face. “Okay.” She wasn’t sure she’d sleep, but she’d try and hope the nightmares didn’t catch up with her, because she really wanted them both to sleep. To not wake Flora like that. Her eyes fluttered shut at the kiss to her forehead, a small almost dopey smile crossing her face. “G’night, mama,” the last word nothing more than a breath as the door closed.
#parawhatif#p: shoveling feelings#blessyourheartdharps#t: dani#p: dani#t: para#tw: food#tw: depression#tw: domestic abuse#tw: abuse#tw: religion#tw: drugs#tw: alcohol#//do believe I got all the triggers if not let me know#//not beta'd so beware XD
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
It’s here, the giant Bronycon post!
As per usual I don’t usually make this many words ever so shit might be wonky. and also it was written over the course of a few days so things might not line up in the right order. Also, fair warning I get kinda weird and sentimental at the end there. Also I have no idea if tumblr will break the formatting real bad so heres hoping it doesn’t
Thursday
We left early without much incident. Only a group of 4 this time. Me, Andy, his brother Justin, and Andy's girlfriend Sam who was coming in via plane.
It was a really easy journey. Even stopped at the one Speedway with the good hotdogs. I decided to tie a ribbon in my hair too, I always say I should do something more with it than just tie it back. So I figured I'd try it. We got to Baltimore in what felt like no time at all. We checked in and went to our rooms and waited for Sam. I fiddled with my little electric name badge thingy I bought last year. Got it to say my name and Bronycon 2018 with some hearts and sparkles. Once Sam got settled in, we all met back up to go to pre-reg. She and I were afraid we'd weird each other out but we ended up getting along great. We all went to pre-reg and picked up our badges. Then, after dropping our stuff off at the hotel we ventured back out into the inner harbor for food and hanging out. We opted not to go to Dick's this time, opting instead to go to Tir na Nog. Got my usual pub food. The Vodka cranberry (yes even though I planned on drinking later) and the plain cheese burger. I like to eat the same thing at all the places, because I think it's neat to see the same food through the different lenses of different restaurants. Tir na Nog in Baltimore is different than O'Toole's in Albany is different from Jack Astor's in Toronto. After that we went to the big Barnes and Noble and looked at books and stuff. Then we all went to that ice cream shop thats right next door. They sell tea apparently so I got a small one. Missed the regular size straws so I had a huge straw (Like a goddamn footlong) in a tiny cup (like 3 inches). We went to the bars in Fells point after that. We only got slightly lost, but we found it. We didn't register for the actual bar trot, cause you don't really have to to enjoy drinks. We went to the Dog's Watch Tavern first cause they usually have a good shot, which in this instance was a Pinkie Pie shot. Don't know what was in it but I had several. We went to the Admiral after that. It was the best as it usually is. I think I drank like, 4 of the Trixie, there was a Sunset Shimmer drink (But it was secretly the Applejack. I liked it anyway). And I had most of a Rainbow Dash drink. I must say, I absolutely adore the atmosphere at this bar. The bartender is great and clearly loves what he does. A couple people recognized me cause I sit in the same spot more or less every time, and the goggles that I wear. That was pretty neat. Got pretty drunk, decided to go back after that to prep for the next day. We got a little bit lost on the way back too, but it brought us by the CVS so I bought a couple boxes of PopTarts. We got back to the hotel and went to bed.
Friday
Tried to get up for opening but missed most of it. Caught the tail end of it though. Sleep deprivation got me, plus the buttload of alcohol didn't really help. Hung out in the harmony plaza til the apple family panel. There was a photoshoot that happened but there wasn't a ton of people there. Saw apple family VA panel. It was pretty funny. Went to the vendor hall and walked it to get the layout, I didn't want to just chaotically walk around and not know where anything was so I strictly just walked each isle in a pattern. Actually helped me remember where booths were. I spoke to an artist about getting a comission for a friend who couldn't make it. His slots were full for the day so I figured I'd come back Saturday. I bought an original piece from him, which was actually pretty cool. I then went to the comic booth. I am trying to get at very least the A and B covers for every comic, Plus I wanted first prints of the first issue mane 6 covers. I got the first prints of the two #1 issues I needed. Then I got invited to Jonny Rockets, and due to needing to finish something in the vendor hall it took me a little bit. My friends are cool and waited for me even though I went on one hell of a journey to get there. So I got out of the vendor hall which exited by the Hilton sky bridge. Figure, shit I'll just take the sky bridge on the opposite side so I go for it. Get out there, pass the other hotel (hyatt?) and what used to be a wide open plaza. (Now it's a parking lot). Realize the goddamn thing ends there and there is no way down (unless I went back through the convention center and all the way back around), and more of the bridge is missing. Figure I don't want to walk all the way back so I go through the hotel. No idea if I was supposed to go through that door cause it looks like there were unused decorations everywhere. Nobody stopped me so I made it out to the street. Realize I still have to walk to the corner to cross, but say fuck it and randomly cross in the middle to the street island thing. Then I almost died to a puddle walking on the sidewalk behind some food trucks. Caught myself though. Finally I get there and we hang out and get a burger. On our way back I managed to drop a Pokemon on the Bronycon gym. We went back to the vendor hall. Hung out and looked at stuff. Me an Sam went shopping for pillows. We each bought one, only the case though. Had no space to store the full whole thing. We went to the whoves line pannel after that. It was really funny, especially the bit where they acted like the friendship map was a computer that got a ton of viruses and went to a "bad dragon" website. I am surprised I've never gone to it before. We went to Jimmy Johns for dinner and then dropped our stuff off at the hotel and headed to the palooza. The performances were great, although they somehow got super off schedule. I bought a Shake-Ups CD. I stayed until the end. I enjoy the palooza immensely, but those 2AM nights are rough. My legs end up being noodles and its a guarantee I won't get to bed until atleast 330. Which is about when I went to bed.
Saturday
Had a bit of a slow start but I wanted to speak to the artist about that comission for my friend who couldn't make it. Even though I was slow, I still got there early enough. The thing he wanted would have been too complex, so I came up with something I think he'll like. Then I went to the comic booth and figured out what I needed to complete the A and B covers for the main comic series. It was cool cause they just let me into the booth to look. I believe I've done it, I just have to add everything to my app to make sure. I ran out of space in my comic storage, so I only did the main series. Next year I will buy for the side series. (There is a lot less). As of typing this out, I found the shop's location. Only a 3 hour drive. Might make a trip of it so I don't have to worry about it at next year's con. Dunno. Met back up with Andy and Sam in vendor hall. We looked around before leaving to get food and make a hotel drop. We got lunch at the JJ before heading to the script reading panel with Tabitha. Usually they're pretty strict about recording at these. Usually one of the staff says something about my camera, but nobody said anything. Or mentioned not recording it at all. I wonder if anyone uploaded it. It was about the mane 6 and a convention called "boomycon" which was about an alt. universe Derpy as a comic character who rides a meteor or something. The comic characters crossed over into the regular universe and shenanigans ensued. It was pretty funny. After that we went back to vendor hall to check on something, and I bought another of those dang pillows, and these weird flow rings, plus some other small stuff, including some super fucking adorable chibi-ball plushie things of Fluttershy and Tempest (Pretty sure I posted pictures). We made a hotel drop and got food. We tried to get into the DIY pony plush making but ultimately the wait list was too long. At this point we went to the sky terrace thing. Apparently there was a wedding, which is really fucking cool! Then we just found some chairs to just kind of chill in. Justin had a mini-pizza that came in a mini-pizza box. We're just sitting there talking and some guy came up and leaned over. We all thougt maybe he had left something. Then we notice he's signing the empty pizza box? He then just says you're welcome and leaves. It took a second then we realized... It was MA Larson. Fucking hillarious. I went back to the hotel again, meeting up with a friend on the way back. Met back up with everyone else at the palooza after that. Brought the rings I bought and was playing with them, while doing my awkward-ass flail dancing. A couple people thought they were cool which was neat. I really enjoyed all the performances. A cover of 500 miles happened, Eurobeat was fantastic. Great show. I caught a T-Shirt that was thrown. (Which never happens ever and even though it's a small size it still fits.) Again I stayed until 2 AM, got to bed about 330.
Sunday
Sundays are usually always the chill day where not much happens. Woke up around the usual time and headed over to the vendor hall. I wandered and bought some last minute things (Pillow #3...). I met back with everyone else around noon. We spent most of day in vendor hall just hanging out. One thing I did, was get a comission of my pony OC. I've been wanting to for years, just to say I had so I finally did it. I'm looking forward to it. Also saw a little digital badges that you could store pictures in. After that we went to the fountains to hang out before lining up for closing ceremonies. They opened with a nifty performance by Step2Harmony. Some of the guests said their farewells before the con chairs started talking about the numbers, a little more than 5000 people. (I don't remmeber the exact number, might have been closer to 5600?). After that was a skit involving the mascots. Blank Canvas got accepted into an art school and Hoof Beatz was going on tour, and the date they were leaving was the end of August next year. They run off stage and Mane Event just stood there like "What about us... : (" Scene end. Sure enough, the con chairs came back out and annouced that next year is going to be a 4 day event instead of a 3 day event. They also anounced that next year is going to be the last Bronycon and that they are ending the event in 2019. You could feel the moment where everybody's hearts broke. There were a lot of people crying. I was pretty choked up too, and I'm honestly not sure how I kept myself together. We walked back to the hotel. While we were waiting for the elevators, you could tell the mood was pretty sombre. Dropped off my bag and went back down to the lobby to wait for Andy and Sam.
We all headed down to the inner harbor to go to Bubba Gumps. We had a hour and a half wait, that we spent hanging out in the harbor and the pavillion. One of them seemed to be closed this year. They seem to get smaller and smaller each year. Bubba Gumps as always was fantastic. I got the usual Shrimper's Heaven. Even got to eat the shrimp that Sam didn't eat. Bonus shrimp! Spent 60$ on my check and regret nothing. We went back to the hotel with the intent of playing some Shipfic in the one banquet room the hotel usually has open, which we did! Another group played the pony movie which was neat. We also saw an Insomnia Cookies down in Fells Point so we decided to order some. It took a little more than an hour. But I got the call and they showed up to the hotel and handed me a very warm box. The cookies were fantastic. Every bit worth the wait. I think I have one somewhere relatively close to my home but I'm nowhere near the delivery radius. Probably a good thing because I would go broke buying cookies. They're pretty awesome. Some guy had also had a baby skunk! No idea how he pulled that off or how the hotel was cool with it but it was really cute. Once the movie ended most of the people left. After that we went back to our rooms. Me and Sam got a group picture of all the pillows we bought. I packed most of my stuff after that and went to bed.
Monday.
Woke up, got the car all packed and cleared the rooms pretty quick. We had thought to do some other stuff, but we really didn't have time. Instead we went to Tir na nog and just hung out until we had to leave. Any day you can be mildly drunk before noon and have it not be a problem is a good day. We dropped Sam off at the airport after saying our goodbyes. We hit the road after that and started our journey home. Which was honestly fairly uneventful. No one's windsheild broke. No one's catalytic converter got stolen. We made a couple of stops but nothing really interesting. Got home way earlier than I'm used to. Like 5:30-6PM. And then I realized, Bed, Bath and Beyond was still open. So I drove out there to get the actual pillows for the pillow cases. Found the exact ones the guy at the booth I bought them from. They were on sale, so they were only 20$. Then I had the fun time of fitting 3 hugeass pillows in my really tiny car. Got back home and finished unpacking.
Conclude:
I had a really good time this year. It was very a relaxing trip and I enjoyed spending time with everybody. It never quite feels long enough. I didn't make any real attempt at cosplaying this year. Just didn't really feel into it. I did wear my Sylveon ears that were given to me by a friend though. And I had my goggles, which are just kind of a thing now I guess. I tied a blue ribbon in my hair too. I never do anything with it and I guess I decided now was the time. I think I'm going to do that more often from now on. Next, I am beyond incredibly sad that next year is the last one. Bronycon has been one of the big things I look forward to doing each year. It's easily been one of the best cons I've ever been to. The atmosphere was great, the staff was great. The con ending will also mark the end of a 12 year tradition for me of going down to Baltimore for a con. The only year I wasn't able to go to was 2010 because there was just no way I was going to be able to swing it. Aside from that, I went to Otakon from 2006 until 2012. I had honestly kinda burned out on that though and wasn't sure if I was gonna go back, but it would be shortly after returning from the 2012 Otakon, Bronycon announced that they were gonna move to the Baltimore Convention Center in 2013. Some other friends were interested in going, and since I knew the area so well, we decided to go for it. I went every year after that. Hell, it's how I ended up meeting Andy (which is a pretty funny story all on it's own), it's also how I ended up recconecting with another friend of mine from way back in the day as well as others. There were good times and adventures to be had outside the Con as well. Bubba Gumps, the bar trot in Fells Point(that goddamn Trixie drink, looked like something I'd never have been able to drink, but it is easily my favorite alcoholic drink that has ever existed. I really hope I can get the recipe next year), the bigass barnes and noble, the aquarium, the pavillion. It seems like every year it gets better and I've never felt bored of it or burned out. I am going to miss this immensely, I suppose I'll have to find another con to go to, or atleast other adventures to have but one thing is for sure, I'm never going to forget any of this. All the good times that we've had, or this big thing I've been a part of or this place that has brought me so much joy over the years.
(Once next year ends and I walk out of that convention center for the last time, I am going to be a complete goddamn mess. It's going to be a terrible day for rain...)
Also, though I don't know if you'll ever read it, as I don't think we've spoken in several years now, to the person who convinced me to go to that first Otakon back in '06, Thank you. For introducing me to this place, and setting off a real wacky series of adventures. I don't know if any of this would have happened if you hadn't convinced me to come down here all those years ago. Once again, thank you, and I hope you're doing well.
tl;dr Good fuckin' con, but Pete fuckin' sad.
#bronycon#bronycon2018#bronypalooza#i accidentally tagged half of my instragram stuff as bronycon2108#bronycon2108#my little pony#mlpfim#convention#the title is totally not a reference to a buddyfight card#baltimore#baltimore convention center#baltimore inner harbor
1 note
·
View note
Text
Title: I’ll Be Home for Gyftmas
Rating: G
Happy Gyftmas, @fleeting-phantasm! Your prompt was:
Let's see... classic Papyrus and Undyne's friendship brings me all sorts of joy. I'll love just about anything featuring them being the coolest of buds. Preferably pacifist happy times. I'm also a huge fan of the gentlemen monsters like Grillby and dapper!Gaster--could be friends, could be shipped, could be only one character or the other.
I tried to combine these ideas, so this story is about Papyrus and Undyne working together to figure out what Papyrus should get for his dad Gaster for Gyftmas. They run into him and Grillby out on a date. I hope this is something like what you were looking for!
Also, thank you to @undertalesecretsanta for putting all this together!
--
Multicolored lights glittered on the town's enormous Gyftmas tree. Some traditions held on, even with monsters scattered all over the surface. If there was monster from Snowdin around, when the weather turned cold, a tree would appear overnight in the center of town.
Papyrus tiptoed towards the tree. His boots crushed loudly in the snow, but he couldn't see anyone around, so the noise didn't matter. He drew a few boxes out of his inventory and set them in exactly the correct and most aesthetically pleasing spots beneath the boughs.
That done, he searched for boxes with his own name on it. "NYEH-HEH," he whispered, whenever he spotted one.
He registered a distant rumble, almost like an earthquake. Undyne must be getting close! Papyrus hurried back to the house to make sure it was still neat. Sans was home and it had been five minutes since Papyrus had left, so he could not be entirely sure.
The rumble turned into the familiar sound of an engine. He hadn't made it to the house yet when he heard his name shouted, with rapidly increasing volume.
"UNDYNE!" He spun around in the driveway.
The car screeched off the road and was headed straight towards him. Papyrus jumped over it. Breaks squealed behind him and he could smell burning rubber. Undyne kicked her car door open and rolled out onto the gravel driveway.
"I AM NOT 100% CERTAIN THAT WAS SAFE!" Papyrus said.
"I know! Cool, right?" She hopped to her feet. The car rolled to a stop. "You know what ELSE is cool?"
"HMMM...OH! IT MUST BE ME! PAPYRUS!" He took out a pair of sunglasses and put them on. Perfect!
"Yeah," she agreed. "But, also -" Undyne grinned, wide. "SNOW WRESTLING!"
"THAT ISN'T - AUGH!" Undyne plowed into him at full speed. His face met snow. "I LOVE YOU TOO, UNDYNE," he said, his voice muffled.
"Gross!" She laughed. "I missed you too, though. I guess."
"REALLY? OF COURSE YOU MISSED THE GREAT PAPYRUS! EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A WIFE AND A NEW JOB TO KEEP YOU BUSY, OF COURSE YOU FOUND YOURSELF TRAGICALLY BEREFT WITHOUT MY CONSTANT PRESENCE." Tears started to well up in his eye sockets. He hadn't been worried. Of course not! No one could ever forget about him.
"Yup. Alphys hates noogies." Undyne scoffed.
"I REALLY HATE THEM TOO."
"Let's get inside before I freeze my scales off!" She yanked him back to his feet. "And then you can tell me all about...whatever your problem is!"
"OH, WELL. THAT WASN'T...SOMETHING YOU NEEDED TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO HELP WITH. THOUGH OF COURSE I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT!"
She whacked him on his back. "Of course I did! Come on!" She picked him back up off the ground and they went inside.
Sans was sitting at the kitchen table, eating cereal out of the box. "hey."
"Look who's up early!" Undyne said. "And it's only seven PM!"
"SANS, I DUSTED THE KITCHEN TEN MINUTES AGO, AND NOW THERE ARE CEREAL CRUMBS ON THE TABLE?"
"whoops. jeez. a guy can tell when he isn't wanted." Sans wiped away an imaginary tear. "guess i'll just go." He stayed where he was and dug further into the box. "why'd she come over? it seems kinda...fishy, heh, so close to the holidays."
"Papyrus is in trouble!"
"IT IS NOT QUITE...THAT DRAMATIC."
Sans stopped chewing. "man, what's up? you can tell us." He offered the box of cereal.
"NO THANK YOU. AND. I...ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS WITH YOU, SANS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO GET OUR FATHER FOR GYFTMAS!"
"i gave you a million suggestions, though."
"YOU GAVE ME ONE AND IT WAS A JOKE! THIS IS HIS FIRST HOLIDAY BACK FROM THE COLD EMPTY VOID, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS SPECIAL! IN THE WAY THAT ONLY THE GREAT PAPYRUS CAN!" Remembering to ask for help when he needed it was how he always managed to stay on top.
"right."
"What's your weird dad like to do?" Undyne asked.
"SPEND TIME WITH ME, PAPYRUS! AND ALSO SANS. RIGHT NOW HE IS OUT WITH HIS...DOT DOT DOT...FRIEND. SO HE ALSO ENJOYS THE COMPANY OF HIS ELLIPSIS FRIEND."
"also hangs out with his, uh, non italicized pals," Sans said. "does more of that than talking about stuff he wants to buy. eh, just get him like...a number one dad hat. he'll be over the moon."
"BUT WHAT IF HE AND GRILLBY GET MARRIED AND I SUDDENLY HAVE TWO FATHERS? I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE A RIFT BETWEEN THEM SO EARLY IN THEIR MARRIAGE! I WILL LOVE THEM BOTH EQUALLY!"
"it's a pickle, i guess."
"A REAL CONUNDRUM! A PUZZLE BEFITTING EVEN THE GREAT - " Papyrus broke off as he watched Sans draw a jar of pickles from his hoodie. He sighed. "UNDYNE, YOU HAVE ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY FINISHED GYFTMAS SHOPPING, SO I AM DESPERATELY TURNING TO YOU AND AWAY FROM MY BROTHER IN MY HOUR OF NEED!"
"I don't blame you!" Undyne said, laughing. "Let's get the hell out of here." She accepted a pickle and skewered it on her fangs while Papyrus rushed off to grab his shopping bag, purse, and an enormous folder filled with holiday coupons. "SHOTGUN!" she yelled when he got back. "I'm sick of driving!"
"you guys better hurry up," Sans said. "gyftmas is barely a month away. never expected you to be such a lazybones, bro."
Papyrus slammed the door on the way out. A minute later he peeked back in and said he probably wouldn't be back in time for dinner and that Sans should remember to eat something healthy.
--
In a small, secluded booth in the back of an aging human bar, the air was hot and still. The only sound was Grillby's gentle crackling. The noise of him had seemed so loud when Gaster first escaped the void, but now it was just background noise, like the rumble of cars driving by outside or the quiet conversations in the other parts of the bar.
Grillby reached across the table and touched the cool white bone of Gaster's hand. Gaster smiled, uneven, and leaned in closer.
"........." Grillby asked him if he needed to get home soon.
Gaster shook his head. He took back his hand so he could sign. "[But maybe I should.]"
He could tell Grillby was disappointed from the way his flames seemed to die down slightly, even though he had to be at work himself in a few hours.
"[Who cares if I should?]" he decided.
The early evening was clear, so they decided to take a walk down the main street. The local human winter holiday was near the same time as Gyftmas and the stores were decorated. They weren't the only people out window shopping. Gaster ignored the humans staring at him and Grillby when they went into a men's clothing store.
He'd spent so long away from anything bright or colorful, he found himself charmed by a display of - honestly - quite ugly Christmas ties. Grillby looked from him to the ties and just shook his head.
"[They Suit You.]"
"......no."
There was one with an entire inside scene on it. A beautifully decorated Gyftmas tree stood next to a roaring hearth. Two dogs slept in front of the fire. All on one tie. Gaster pointed to that one.
".........no."
"[It's You.]"
"...don't insult me."
Gaster cackled. He would hate to see Grillby actually wear it, but thinking about how he'd react if he opened a box on Gyftmas Day and found the tie on it was putting him in a good mood.
Grillby was looking at him like he knew exactly what he was thinking, and didn't approve.
A loud gasp behind them startled them. Grillby's flames leapt up towards the ceiling and Gaster felt himself sink into a coat rack in an automatic impulse to hide.
"WHAT AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE!" Gaster couldn't see him, but he recognized Papyrus' voice.
Embarrassed, Gaster emerged from his hiding place. They'd lucked out this time and Grillby hadn't set off the sprinkler system.
"Kind of ironic actually!" Undyne was grinning.
"NO I WOULD NOT SAY IT IS IRONIC AT ALL," Papyrus said, giving her a sharp look.
"OH! Right, yeah. Just, a standard, every day coincidence."
"ABSOLUTELY MUNDANE!"
"I'm about to fall asleep thinking about how boring a surprise this was, to run into these guys, here, right now!"
Grillby nodded at Papyrus, then at Undyne, and then sunk back. Gaster wasn't sure how to convince him that Papyrus didn't have any problem with them dating, and that Sans was just pretending to disapprove to con Grillby out of free burgers.
"I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED YOU WERE HERE WHEN I CAME IN THE BUILDING AND IT SMELLED SUSPICIOUSLY OF GREASE!" Papyrus sounded cheerful, but no wonder Grillby didn't believe him.
"We should get the hell out of here and get something to eat," Undyne said. "You're right. That smell is making me hungry!" She aimed her toothy smile at Grillby. "I want to fill a bathtub with the greasy cheese you use on your fries and just SWIM in it!"
Papyrus shuddered. "SUDDENLY MY APPETITE HAS DISAPPEARED ENTIRELY."
"[Still, as your Father, I am telling you to get something to eat.]" Gaster said. "[You are almost SKIN AND BONES.]"
Papyrus sighed. "THIS IS THE LIFE I HAVE TO LIVE NOW, UNDYNE."
She patted him on the arm.
"I CAN BARELY STOMACH IT!" He waved over the open spot between his shirt and his ripped holiday daisy dukes. "NYEH HEH HEH!"
Gaster cackled along with him.
"Quit messing around! I need to rip into something before I pass out! And we have work to do," Undyne said. "C'mon!" She grabbed Papyrus by the arm and started to pull him away.
Grillby waved goodbye. Gaster looked at him and shrugged.
"...gyftmas shopping?" Grillby guessed.
"[Oh. That makes sense.]"
Grillby spotted a display of holiday vests with muted colors and designs compared to the ties. He hurried over, visibly excited.
Gaster was too caught up in the excitement of browsing menswear to notice the odd rattling noise that followed the two of them as they walked throughout the store.
--
Undyne pulled Papyrus out of hearing range and then yanked him down onto the floor behind a shoulder-high slacks display. She knelt next to him. "This is PERFECT."
"THERE ARE NUMEROUS RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET THAT HAVE HEALTHY AND CALCIUM-RICH MEAL CHOICES," Papyrus said, worried. He didn't know why they were on the floor, but he assumed Undyne had a reason. She always did, even if her reasons were not, well, always good reasons. Or, to be more diplomatic, they were not always the quality of reason that Papyrus would expect from someone who used to be head of the royal guard. That didn't mean he wasn't going to go along with whatever she was planning, however.
"Shhh, shut up, we aren't eating yet," Undyne said. "And we have to quit talking about it before I really do get hungry!"
"THIS MUST BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE SO RUDE."
"Sorry! But, it is! I hatched a plan while we were talking to your old man - like, a really DEVIOUS and CALCULATING one! I can't wait to tell Alphys about it - she's always getting into those kinds of characters and slapping posters of their faces on our bedroom wall."
"I SEE!" Papyrus sat up. "I KNEW I COULD COUNT ON YOU, UNDYNE!"
"I wasn't going to let my friend down!" She rubbed her knuckles on the top of his skull. "See, we're going to follow them - and stay really really quiet - and watch what stuff your dad looks interested in! It's perfect, and it's guaranteed that whatever you get him will be a surprise AND he'll want it!"
"THAT PLAN IS AMAZING!" Papyrus said, clasping his gyftmas-tree shaped gloves together. "IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE PLAN I WAS CONSIDERING! AND THEN YOU SAID YOU WERE HUNGRY, SO I THOUGHT WE WERE NOT GOING TO DO IT! BUT THEN IT JUST TURNED OUT THAT YOU WERE BEING EXTRA DEVIOUS AND TRICKING EVEN ME INTO THINKING IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE PLAN!"
"Uh, right!" Undyne grinned. "Step one is convincing them we left!"
"CHECK!"
"Step two is, uh...tracking them down in the store without letting them know we're there!"
"HM...THAT WILL BE OF CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY. LIKE UNTWISTING NOODLES WITHOUT BREAKING A SINGLE STRAND, WE MUST TAKE GREAT CARE AT EVERY STEP. EVEN ONE OVERLY-LOUD WORD WILL BETRAY US! AND OUR MISSION!"
"Yeah! But we can definitely do it!"
"OF COURSE! FOR I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS! AND YOU ARE...THE NEARLY AS GREAT FRIEND OF PAPYRUS!"
She leaned down. "Ok." Undyne spoke in a low whisper. "Let's quit messing around, and get this over with so we can go out and get some burgers."
"OR SOME - " Papyrus broke off and started again, in a whisper. "OR SOMETHING HEALTHY AND NOT DISGUSTING." His whisper was the same volume as his regular way of speaking, but he hissed while he spoke.
"Uh...why don't we practice hand signals! And not say anything once we've started." Undyne snuck out from behind the slacks display and waved for Papyrus to follow.
Oh! A hand signal! Papyrus hurried after her, still partially crouched. A hamster monster wearing a store badge hovered by the display, uneasily watching them.
"SHH," Papyrus said. "YOU DID NOT SEE OR HEAR US."
The monster nodded, slowly. He started folding pants.
--
Grillby could tell they were being followed. How could anyone miss it? He turned and gave his incompetent tail a long look, but they seemed to decide that he was looking over their heads.
Gaster was too intent on deciding between three different hats, and didn't seem to notice.
"......Gaster."
"[SHHHH. NOT NOW.]"
Fine. Grillby was more annoyed at Gaster shushing him than he was at being followed. He decided to keep it to himself.
"[I think this one suits you,]" Gaster said. He took a white panama hat off the display and set it on Grillby's burning head.
"...I don't like hats." The irritation faded away, now that he knew Gaster was looking at something for him. He removed it and set it back. He wasn't going to burn it, but the people working there were uneasy about him trying things on. He didn't want to make their day more difficult than it had to be during the holiday season.
"[A shame.]"
Grillby glanced at Papyrus, who was peering out from inside a circular rack of coats. "...do you like any of them for yourself?"
Gaster shook his head, and then seemed to reconsider. He tried on a few more.
Grillby waited until Gaster was staring at himself in the mirror, and then he turned towards Papyrus and pointed at the hat on Gaster's head. He gave a single stoic nod.
He thought that pointing out a gift would get Papyrus to leave him and Gaster alone. He gave up on that idea after half an hour. He caught a glimpse of some paper in Papyrus' hand.
"[Are you bored?]" Gaster signed. "[Usually you enjoy this.]"
"......I feel like we're being watched."
Gaster gave him as serious a look as his odd features could manage. He touched Grillby on the arm. "[Do not let the humans get to you.]"
Grillby sighed. "......I won't."
"[But let's continue this when there is no crowd.]"
He nodded.
"[I wonder where my son went to eat?]" Gaster took out his phone and started to call.
For a second, Grillby heard a ringtone, and then the sound was gone. Grillby looked up and thought he saw something small flying through the air towards the back of the store.
"[No answer.]"
"...if they went, they'd be done by now."
"[True. But he always answers in two rings.]" Gaster shook his head. "[Except when his battery dies.]"
"...it's normal to worry, but...I'm sure he is fine."
Gaster gave him a crooked smile and nodded.
A rack of clothes tipped over and Papyrus burst out of the mess. "MY APOLOGIES FOR MISSING YOUR CALL, FATHER! I THINK UNDYNE...DROPPED MY PHONE SOMEPLACE IN THIS STORE! ...DID YOU SEE IT?"
"[How did you -]"
"I......HEARD YOU TALKING AS I WALKED BY! THIS STORY SURE IS BELIEVABLE...IS WHAT YOU ARE THINKING RIGHT NOW!"
"I believe it!" Undyne said, popping out of the clothes on the floor. "Hey, why don't you call his phone again, so we can see if we can track the ring tone!"
"BRILLIANT IDEA, UNDYNE!"
Gaster shrugged. "[Let us all get something to eat after we find it.]"
"Great! I could still eat like a thousand burgers," Undyne said.
Grillby covered his face with his hands. "...yes. Let's just...leave."
"[Grillby is shy around these humans,]" Gaster explained.
"I WAS NOT AWARE THAT GRILLBY WAS SHY! IT MUST BE DIFFICULT TO FULFILL SUCH A SOCIAL ROLE, AS A BARTENDER! GRILLBY, I HAVE NEWFOUND RESPECT FOR YOU AND I AM HAPPY YOU ARE TRYING SO HARD TO OVERCOME YOUR LIMITATIONS."
"...thank you." Grillby was not used to being called "shy." "...sometimes people are difficult." That was true, at least.
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"[Grillby thanked you.]"
"IT WAS THE VERY LEAST I COULD DO, BUT I AM AWARE THAT IT WAS STILL A LOT. SINCE EVERYTHING I DO IS TINGED WITH GREATNESS."
They all went and got burgers over Papyrus' loud objections. Papyrus ordered a salad and a milkshake and complained about the overpowering grease smell.
After Undyne polished off her weight in hamburgers and cheese fries, she tossed some money on the table. "I still have a billion errands to run! Thanks for the food, though."
Papyrus looked confused. "I THOUGHT WE WERE--"
Undyne elbowed his head.
"--AH, YES! I REMEMBER NOW. THANK YOU FOR...KNOCKING MY MEMORY LOOSE FOR ME, UNDYNE." He narrowed his eye sockets. "AND WE SHOULD...STOP INTERRUPTING YOUR DATE! THERE ARE MANY STEPS FROM FRIEND TO BOYFRIEND TO BECOMING THE STEP FATHER OF THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO DELAY IT EVEN FOR A MINUTE."
"Oh my god, Papyrus, let's just go!"
"THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M SUGGESTING!"
Grillby watched them run out of the building. Through the large pane glass window, he saw them hurry right back into the store they'd just left. He looked back at Gaster, and noticed he was obliviously fussing with his phone.
"......I'm tired," Grillby said. He still had a full night of work ahead of him.
"[Let me take you back home.]"
Grillby nodded. He liked when they walked together, and he could make sure Gaster didn't get too cold. He kept his arm over Gaster's shoulders.
--
Gaster was singing.
It was more like humming, with a strange high staticy buzz that almost seemed to form words when Undyne concentrated. He signed along with his humming.
"[OH. THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL.]"
Grillby was next to him in a neat green sweater. Someone (Sans) had stuck several bows to his back, and he hadn't noticed. There was also one stuck to the side of his glasses that he had noticed, but he had left it where it was.
"[BUT THE FIRE IS SO DELIGHTFUL.]"
Grillby tinged blue under his glasses. He playfully pushed Gaster away.
Papyrus kicked open the kitchen door and burst in, carrying an enormous fruit cake on a silver platter. "AND SINCE THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO," He sang.
Sans, dozing on the couch next to Undyne, mumbled along with the last line. "let it snow."
"LET IT SNOW!"
"[LET IT SNOW.]
That was freaking adorable. Undyne wanted to punch the couch cushions into fluff. Gaster leaned towards Grillby and blinked at him like he was trying to bat his non-existent eyelashes. Grillby turned even more blue and gave him a very quick smooch.
"Alphys!" Undyne turned away from boring Sans towards the love of her life, on her other side.
Alphys was in the middle of chugging a mug full of alcoholic cider. She coughed and said, "Uh...Undyne! Y-yes?"
"This place is so FULL of the holiday spirit, it feels like it's going to EXPLODE with it any minute now! We have to open presents before it's too late!"
Alphys laughed. "It's a real emergency!"
"I need you to see what I got you!" Undyne sighed. Toriel was still in the kitchen with Frisk.
"W-well...how about we give each other...a tiny present beforehand? To, uh, release some of the pressure? I can go first."
"WHAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING SOUNDS VERY ILLEGAL," Papyrus commented, but he didn't appear to be particularly bothered.
"Lay it on me!" Undyne said. She held out her hand, assuming Alphys had whatever small gift it was in her inventory.
"Uh...ok. I'll...just..." She turned red and took Undyne's hand. Alphys' glasses fogged up in embarrassment as she gave Undyne's fingers a quick smooch.
"HEY!" Undyne grinned. "No fair giving me the best present first! And I got you the same thing, too, which TOTALLY ruins the surprise!"
They kept each other distracted until it was time to open their other, easier to wrap presents.
This was Gaster's first Gyftmas since his return, so Undyne wasn't surprised when present opening got slogged down during his turn. She settled in.
"your turn, bro," Sans said, after Gaster had opened his poorly wrapped gag gift.
"I WILL RETURN SHORTLY!" Papyrus fled the room and Undyne jumped up to help.
He had ten different boxes, and nothing was breakable, but she didn't want him flinging them around the house after she'd helped him pick them out. They ran back and dumped the whole load of them onto Gaster's lap. His lap wasn't large enough to hold them, so a couple rolled over to Grillby.
"man, don't sell yourself short," Sans said. "carrying all those was a tall order."
"YES I SUPPOSE I DID RETURN TALL-Y," Papyrus allowed.
"[What is all this?]" Gaster asked. He opened the first box he put his hands on and took out a soft black turtleneck. Papyrus had written "NUMBER ONE GASTER" in glittering fabric paint on it, instead of the preferable but risky "NUMBER ONE DAD." "[Oh. That is very sweet. Thank you.]"
The next box had the dapper looking hat they had watched him seriously consider. Papyrus had written "COOL DAD" on this one. One by one, Gaster removed each of the items of clothing from their wrapping, and held them up to show off the slogans Papyrus had painted on. Undyne couldn't tell from Gaster's face how he felt about them.
He finally noticed the card, lost in all the boxes, taped to some now loose wrapping paper. Gaster opened it up and seemed to read over it a few times before setting it down. Black globular tears started to pour out of his eye sockets and Grillby shuffled away and held out a handkerchief to him at a safe distance. "[THANK YOU, SON.]" He sniffed and blew into the handkerchief.
They passed the card around, but Undyne didn't have to read it. She'd sat by while Papyrus paced around trying to figure out the correct wording, and she'd giving him her reassurances that he was saying the right thing.
FATHER,
I CANNOT IMAGINE A BETTER PRESENT FOR MYSELF THAN HAVING YOU WITH US FOR GYFTMAS THIS YEAR. I HOPE ALL THESE GIFTS ARE ENOUGH TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE.
PAPYRUS
Toriel opened her presents next, to give Gaster a little time to settle down, and Grillby shifted back over to sit right next to him. He said something, quiet, and Gaster rested his head on Grillby's shoulder.
Undyne watched Grillby quietly set a box in Gaster's hand, and Gaster took out his own gift and handed it to Grillby. Undyne looked away and gave them a moment of privacy to exchange their gifts.
-
The adults had all had a little too much cider by the time the last gift was opened and properly cooed over. Undyne crumpled up the wrapping paper into one huge ball and left to slam dunk it into the outside garbage.
Papyrus thought she was taking a little too long. He found her in the kitchen with a mouth stuffed full of Toriel's famous snail puffs that she too-rapidly swallowed when Papyrus opened the door.
"Hey!" she said, voice raspy, tears leaking out the corner of her eye.
"GYFTMAS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL HOLIDAY FOR EVERYONE," Papyrus said.
"Y-yeah!" Undyne said, coughing. "Man, I don't know what it is with booze, but I want to eat half the food in this house, and right now!"
Papyrus didn't like to hear that anyone was hungry around him, so he let her have some of the chips from one of the bags Sans always seemed to open but was always too lazy to finish. This way, she wouldn't be eating food that was meant for later. No one wanted to see Toriel in a bad mood.
"UNDYNE. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR COMING BY SO QUICKLY TO HELP ME WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST," Papyrus said. "I THINK IT MUST HAVE BEEN FATE, BECAUSE I DOUBT ANY OTHER TIME WE WOULD HAVE RUN INTO THEM."
"I mean, they go into that exact store all the time. That's why you thought you'd find something he liked there."
"YES! THE TIDES OF FATE WERE IN OUR FAVOR, AND IT WAS WITH YOUR AID THAT I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THIS THE BEST GYFTMAS EVER. IN QUITE LIKELY THE ENTIRE WORLD. FOR ANYONE."
"Yeah, it was really great. Man, Papyrus, you've been a really good friend, you know?" She crumpled up the chip bag and tossed it. It landed in the trash can without hitting the sides. "And now I'm getting emotional! What the hell! It's gotta be the booze! What did she put in this stuff?"
"YOU ARE FEELING EMOTIONAL BECAUSE YOU RIGHTFULLY LOVE ME VERY MUCH," Papyrus said. "IT'S OKAY! LET IT ALL OUT!" He gave her a hug.
She sniffed, just once, and then hugged him back so hard he felt something crack. "Of course I love you, you gangly nerd!"
"OH NO! NOW THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY EYE SOCKETS!"
"Like you said! Let it all out!"
Papyrus cried on her shoulder and loudly blew his nose hole on the wad of paper towels she handed to him. "I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD HAVE SO MANY GOOD FRIENDS. WELL. I MEAN, I IMAGINED, OF COURSE, BUT...IT IS BETTER THAN I IMAGINED! AND YOU ARE THE BEST FRIEND OF THEM ALL. THE GREATEST AMONGST THOSE WHO ARE GREAT ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED A LIFELONG COMPANION OF SOMEONE SUCH AS ME."
"Wow, Papyrus." She laughed. "You sap! Let's get back to the party before we start to get weird about it."
"YOU'RE THE FETTUCCINE TO MY ALFREDO," Papyrus said.
"Yeah, that's it. I'll spaghetti your bolognese if we don't get back to the party."
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. BUT IT SOUNDS NICE!"
"Well, it sure isn't!"
There was a half-tipsy cheer when the two of them returned to the crowded living room.
#fleeting-phantasm#undertalesecretsanta#grillster#undyne#papyrus#gaster#grillby#my fic#fanfic#gyftmas
63 notes
·
View notes
Text
Lemon Drops and Chocolate Chips
CHAPTER 3
ao3 - chapter 1 // chapter 2 // chapter 3
Tumblr - chapter 1 // chapter 2
Huge thanks to @diokomen and @strix for beta-ing this chapter for me. They helped so much with advice, suggestions, and punctuation. I feel this is the most polished of everything I’ve ever written and I am so thankful for them! And as always @a92vm, who is always so supportive. This story is for you after all! ;)
Saturday night was usually the day that Betty treated herself. To quote one of her favorite shows, “treat yo self.” It was something she didn’t have a problem doing. She didn’t have a lot of extra money for frivolous things, but it was usually something like a bottle of her favorite cherry wine and a bubble bath. Or maybe take out from a restaurant she really fancied, because she didn’t really have anyone to go out with. Occasionally, she would do some online shopping.
She was going to cook a meal for Jughead on Sunday, so today she was spending her night grocery shopping. Betty actually really loved going to the store, it must have went along with her love of cooking. Otherwise, she preferred online shopping for everything else.
Last week after she and Jughead exchanged phone numbers, they texted briefly the following days. Short, snippets of conversations. Jughead worked a varied schedule depending on the type of thing he was photographing. Whereas Betty was typically home after 5pm every day. They hadn’t really talked about much of importance; just about their days, weird things that happened to them, or Jughead’s woes of unpacking. Jughead was always asking Betty what she was cooking.
Most of the time she didn’t have such an eloquent response for him. She ate homemade, but most things were fairly simple. She did cook or bake for her blog at least once a day and he was always interested in that. One time, when she had told him she just bit into a crunchy peanut butter sandwich his response was a series of emoji’s that she had raised an eyebrow at. A shocked face, hands over mouth, a peanut and a slice of bread, a tongue, and raised hands.
Another text followed after, in which she almost choked on said peanut butter sandwich.
J: stop talking dirty to me
She couldn’t help the laughter that escaped her. If she had learned anything about Jughead so far it was that he loved food (literally any food) and also innuendos. She rolled her eyes, and sent him the corresponding emoji. He sent a winking face back at her.
He was cute, to be honest. He texted the exact same way as he spoke in person – smooth and confident. She wondered if he knew what he really sounded like, if it was a conscious effort or not.
So she had followed that up with a promise to make him something worth talking dirty over and it had kind of escalated from there. They were both free on Sunday from their obligations, so Betty was going to cook. Easy. Simple.
So why had Betty deliberated over what to make for three days? She was at the store now, list loaded up on her phone as she cruised the aisles. Her cart had already been loaded up with some fresh veggies. She was going to force them down Jughead’s throat, having been appalled at his lack of fruits and veggies intake. He claimed he “couldn’t make them taste good” to which she had scoffed.
She was going to do oven roasted veggies, pan seared steak, and a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette. Dessert was trickier. So far he had tasted several baked goods from her over the past two weeks. Starting with the cookies she had brought him, then the brownies. Over this past week she had dropped off some homemade sugar dusted donuts, raspberry macaroons, and half of a pecan bourbon pie. He had called her a goddess and moaned (causing her cheeks to heat every damn time) as he tried each item, intent on telling her just how much he loved it before she could leave.
Betty was browsing the baking aisle after selecting the package of steaks she wanted. Looking at her phone, she scrolled through the dessert tag on her blog to try and find something from someone else that sounded good. She was leaning on her cart, thumb scrolling the screen when she found it. A recipe on chai carrot pie, a play on pumpkin pie and carrot cake. She thought it sounded really good and would go well with the meal. Maybe some white chocolate matcha bark too. She’d save the lemon verbena buttermilk sherbet recipe for next time.
Next time? She was really getting ahead of herself.
Glancing at the ingredient list, Betty grabbed the things she needed that she didn’t have on hand. Sliced almonds, evaporated milk, white chocolate, dried cherries, and a pre-made pie crust (she wasn’t about to hand make that); and then doubled back to grab carrots, and pick up cream cheese and fresh milk.
She froze in front of the yogurt when she noticed a man in a dark denim jacket, his back to her. The embroidered snake on the back looking at her with piercing red eyes. He was looking at the cheeses, grocery basket in hand. Harmless, despite the prickly feeling at the base of her neck. She took a deep breath and focused on her task.
Not only was Betty shopping for tomorrow’s dinner, her fridge had some empty spaces. Being the type of person who loved snacking, she was filling her cart up with various snacks. She turned to the yogurt, the man still in the corner of her vision. She gazed over the shelves with discontent, the amount of Greek yogurt vastly outweighed everything else.
She didn’t really care for Greek yogurt, it just felt dry in her mouth (why did everyone like it so much?) She was searching for a plain vanilla. She liked to mix it with almonds and granola, the perfect mix of crunchy and creamy.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” a deep voice to her left brought her attention up from the yogurt cups she was now juggling. It belonged to the man in the denim jacket. He had long brown hair, pierced nose, and startling green eyes. She side stepped closer to her cart, dropping the yogurts in and glancing over to where he was picking up a box of kids frozen yogurt tubes. Then, he was gone.
Betty breathed out a sigh in relief. He didn’t seem to recognize her, for which she was grateful. She supposed her hair being up in a messy bun and the paint-splattered hoodie she was wearing over yoga pants wasn’t really making her an attractive target. Not that she wanted to be a target. God, she needed to go home. The snake from that man’s Southside Serpents jacket was haunting her the whole way as she walked with her grocery bags down the block back to the apartment building.
She stopped briefly to check her mail and shove it into one of the bags clutched in her hand. She had set her groceries down by her door and had the key in the lock when Jughead’s door opened behind her.
“Betty.”
He looked dressed up, white colored shirt under a tight fitting black sweater. Black slacks and dress shoes, no beanie. His sleeves were rolled halfway up his arms and she tried desperately not to stare at them. Betty tilted her head at him, a hand tugging at the thigh of her yoga pants as she judged the vast difference in their appearances right now.
“Jughead.”
He gave her a little grin, he was pulling a hand through his hair and then stepping out into the hallway. “You look cozy,” he looked her over briefly, eyes lingering on her legs.
“Yeah, compared to you? I look like a bum,” she snorted, gesturing to his outfit. He looked pleased, faking dusting off his spotless shoulder.
“Well, trust me. I would rather go the bum route, but I think Veronica would straight up murder me,” he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning up against his door. “She’s dragging me to some fancy dinner on the Upper East side of town — the only good thing about this is the food. I hate socializing with her parents, but Archie and her dad need a bit of a buffer. So that’s me.”
Betty began questioning her dinner choices for tomorrow. How was her food going to compare to the fancy meal he was having tonight? She tried to brush off the feelings of inadequacy, as she hadn’t even made the meal yet.
“Sounds… fun,” she scrunched her nose up. The idea of a super fancy dinner party with a best friend’s girlfriend’s parent’s? Yeah, fun.
Jughead chuckled at her, eyes dipping down to her grocery bags. “You need some help?”
“Oh. I mean, not really. It’s just a few things for dinner tomorrow,” she shrugged a shoulder, toeing one of the bags with the end of her converse.
“Speaking of, what time do you want me?”
Her heart was fluttering. Why did everything he say have to sound so… sexual? Was it just her brain being completely weird?
“You should come over about six,” her voice was steady despite her sweaty palms about the situation.
“Should I bring anything?” he questioned, a hand rubbing over his jaw. She had to look away from his hands.
“No. Well, unless you really want to. A bottle of wine or beer? Or is that silly? I don’t even know if you drink.”
“I do. Drink. I’ll bring something that goes good with…” He trailed off, raising his eyebrows, looking down at her grocery bags at the same time.
“Steak,” that was all he was getting from her.
He gave a little nod to her, turning around and locking his door, keys going into the pocket of his pants. “I’ll see you at six.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she said with a small wave as he started to head down the short hall. He raised a hand back to her, and she watched him turn to head out the door. Her eyes wandered down to his backside, where she made a note that his pants were exceptionally tailored. Among other things.
Betty had put the groceries away and found a frozen meal in her freezer to heat up for dinner. Once she finished her spaghetti dinner, she decided to relax with a bubble bath and set up Netflix on her laptop to take in with her. She filled the bath with a mix of stress relieving salts and eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils. She loved letting the bathroom and water get hot and steamy, the oils working to relax her as they filled the air.
She watched two episodes of the newest season of Stranger Things while she browsed her own blog. After almost two hours spent in the tub, her fingers and toes were turning pruny. Betty let the now chilly water drain, making sure to clean the tub of the slippery oils after she got out. Once she was in her shorts and tank top she slipped on a dark blue silk robe. She switched Netflix over to the TV in her bedroom and lay propped up against her headboard as she turned the next episode on. She glanced at her phone on her bedside table, checking the time. She was about to snuggle underneath the covers when she a thought made her bolt up in the bed and reach for her phone.
Betty had been replying to follower comments and questions on her blog while in the bath. She had just answered a question on allergies and substitutions to make to certain items. It seemed everyone had a food allergy nowadays. Most people would say something about it to someone who was cooking dinner right? She chewed her lip, deciding to send a quick text to Jughead or else her anxiety would consume her through the night.
B: you don’t have any food allergies do you?
She glanced at the clock, realizing it was almost midnight and she wondered how late he liked to stay up, if she was bothering him. She supposed he might even still be at that fancy dinner party sipping cocktails or something.
J: if I had any food allergies I would be a sad, sad person
Betty breathed a sigh of relief, weight leaving her shoulders. Another text came in, a picture attachment. She clicked on the little symbol, it was a picture of the wine aisle at the grocery store. It had some text scribbled across it, like he wrote it with his finger in the camera app: Help me?
She clicked on the picture, zooming in to see what he was standing in front of. She tapped her lip with a finger and started to think. Maybe she could also work this into her blog. She was definitely going to post about the carrot pie and white chocolate matcha bark she was making, but she supposed she would do the whole dinner including wine pairings. She texted him a couple of choices, including malbec, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir. When he texted back that there were a thousand brands and that he was never going to pick the right one, he sent another picture. He had moved on to the beer aisle.
J: I hope you don’t mind?
She shook her head, despite the fact he couldn’t see it. She liked wine, but her favorite was a cherry wine that was pretty expensive for him to be buying for their meal. She could always blog about beer and wine choices.
B: do they have any Raison D’Etre?
Another picture, a selfie of him holding up the six-pack of the beer she had asked for. He was licking the side of the cardboard carton. She laughed, sending him a couple laughing emojis.
J: this is my favorite fucking beer
Well, that explains it a little. Betty didn’t respond, not quite sure what to say. She also loved Raison, and it went great with steak. Maybe she should just say that? She sighed, leaning back against her headboard. A couple minutes went by and she was still unsure of herself.
Her phone dinged and she looked at it, Jughead’s text asking if she fell asleep on him. She responded with a ‘nope, not yet’ even though it was followed with a yawn, her hand covering her mouth. He sent her a sleepy emoji which started an emoji war between them. They traded texts back and forth, Jughead complaining about his uber driver’s taste in music.
When he arrived home he told her so, and she assumed that was the end of their conversation. She was about to tell him that she was going to bed when another text popped up.
J: I can’t wait to see you tomorrow
Her heart must have skipped a beat. She was also sure that her blood was pumping too fast, too loud in her ears.
B: you just saw me earlier, Jug
J: that was for like 2 minutes
J: I’m looking forward to spending the whole evening with you
Okay, why was he so sweet? She didn’t want to think about the last time she felt this excited to spend time with someone. Someone she was interested in. Jughead seemed different, genuine. She was also really looking forward to tomorrow, so she told him just that.
He sent her a sweet goodnight text, and she sent the same back. She drifted off to sleep after their conversation, still on top of her covers. The warmth of her feelings like a glass of milk making her sleepy.
When Betty woke the next day, she realized she had slept in far longer than she usually did. It was already almost noon, but she felt really well rested. She went about her apartment, doing some chores. Once she was finished doing some dusting and sweeping the hardwoods she decided to get started on the matcha chocolate bark. It was really easy to make – melted white chocolate, matcha powder, sliced almonds, and dried cherries. Once it was poured on the tray, she would let it cool a little before adding the flake salt on top. She padded to her closet while munching on a granola bar.
She browsed the clothes hanging up, fingers brushing the edges of a dark plum sleeve. Dark colors were still somewhat new to her, but she loved the color of this cashmere cardigan. She pulled it off the hanger and laid it out across her bed. Deciding she would wear a cream colored tank underneath, tucked into a pair of medium wash skinny jeans. Slipping the clothes on, she cuffed the bottom of the pants and looked down at her bare toes.
There was a perfect shade of purple to match this cardigan in her nail polish collection, so she dug it out. After her toes were painted with careful precision, she looked at herself in the mirror. Betty ran a hand through her hair, catching on some tangles. She fastened a button at the center of her chest to keep the cardigan closed and then turned around in the mirror to look at her backside. Not bad.
Running a curling wand through her hair briefly, she created some soft waves. Jughead had seen her without makeup several times, so she just decided to apply some mascara and leave it at that.
A thought struck her as she was appraising herself in the mirror. Was this a date?
Betty’s stomach clenched uncomfortably. What if he thought it was? What if he thought it wasn’t? She wasn’t sure which one she wanted to think about more. Just that the implications of this might be more than she had originally intended. She still hadn’t known Jughead for very long, at all. Yes, she was attracted to him, but she didn’t known anything about his character yet. And she had judged wrongly based on first impressions before.
Taking a deep breath, she loosened her shoulders. She needed to go with the flow, not be so uptight. And definitely not awkward.
She went back out to the kitchen, throwing a dark green apron on and started on the chai carrot pie. Peeling the carrots was the hardest part, but once they were boiled and mashed the kitchen was smelling really good – the cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg made it smell like Thanksgiving. After sticking the pie in the oven she started prepping the veggies for their meal. She fixed up brussel sprouts, red skin potatoes, squash, and broccolini. She coated them in a mixture of oil, rosemary, thyme and balsamic vinegar. Seasoning the steaks with just some cracked black pepper and salt, she got out her cast iron skillet. The salad was easy, she had bought a bag of mixed greens.
With the pie cooling on a trivet, she stuck the vegetables in the oven. Then pulled the matcha bark out of the freezer and used the end of a butter knife to crack it. Displaying it on a decorative platter, she started taking pictures of all the items. She made notes in her little book of things she wanted to say in her post. She was still scribbling things down when she heard the knock on her door.
Straightening up, Betty turned her eyes to the clock on the stove. It was 5:30, so Jughead was a little early, not that she minded. Her palms turned sweaty and she rubbed them on the front of her pants. She pulled her apron off and slipped her feet into a pair of grey house slippers and went to answer the door.
Jughead was looking incredibly attractive (she had yet to see otherwise, actually) in dark blue jeans and forest green cable knit sweater that was pushed up to his elbows. He was wearing black combat boots and his signature beanie, a charming smile on his face. He looked her up and down, eyes appraising her just as she had done to him.
He had a hand behind his back. He held a bag of flour tucked under his elbow and a six-pack dangling from his fingers. He stretched it out toward her and she took it from him, hand curling around the cardboard handle. “This is going to go so well, thank you, Jughead.”
He then shifted the flour from his elbow to his hand, hefting it up and giving her a grin. “I don’t really know how to cook, but flour is a cooking item right? I thought I’d try to help,”
She gave a little laugh. “Yes, you cook with flour. But I don’t need any for our meal, nor did you have to buy a new bag just for me.”
“Shit, maybe I read that article wrong… I could have sworn it said something about… Oh, right,” he pulled his other arm from his back, a bouquet of colorful lilies wrapped with a delicate silk ribbon. “Sorry, the word was flowers, silly me,” he smirked, holding them out towards her.
Her heart was practically bursting. She felt this intense sunshine ray of happiness blinding her thoughts, and she wanted to throw her arms around his neck. Instead, she smiled, free hand touching the base of her throat gently.
“Well, you certainly know how to impress,” she collected the bouquet from him and motioned him inside so she could shut the door.
She stuck the six-pack in the fridge and searched under her sink for her jadeite vase. Jughead had set the flour down on the counter and looked over the food already out on the counter. She pulled the ribbon off the bouquet and tied it around the vase after sticking the flowers in.
“Damn, Betty. This looks incredible,” he leaned against the counter, close to her side. If she moved just a little she could press herself into his side. She realized she felt herself tipping that way and quickly turned, taking the bag of flour and sticking it a cabinet a little ways away.
“Thanks, I thought steak sounded really good. I’ve got vegetables you are actually going to like,” he threw her a look that threatened to make her giggle. “roasting in the oven, salad, and this really amazing pie. Plus some white chocolate matcha bark,” she held out the platter to Jughead and he picked a piece up.
Jughead bit into it and closed his eyes. He threw his head back, shoulders dropping. “Everything you make is so good,” he took another bite and Betty followed him, nibbling on her own piece as she set the platter down.
“Thanks, it’s really not very hard if you just follow directions though,” she shrugged, pulling a couple plates out of the cabinet above her and knives and forks from the drawer. She clicked the heat on under the skillet on the stove.
“Yeah, tell that to my sister. At least I know better than to even try,” he was still standing close to her side when he placed one hand on her lower back and reached around her, chest pressing against her back lightly as he grabbed another piece of the candy she had pushed to the side.
“So, is your sister older or younger? I have an older sister myself, Polly,” she offered, her palms getting sweaty again, even as he moved back away from her to lean his back against the counter to watch her work at the stove.
“Younger. Jellybean, or JB. She’s in school for fashion design at FIT.”
Betty pondered what school he was talking about before it popped into her thoughts. Fashion Institute of Technology. That was a really good program.
“Jellybean?” Betty questioned, getting the steaks ready for the pan. She sliced a pat of butter from the stick in front of her, dropping it in the skillet with an immediate sizzle. She thought the name ‘Jughead’ was odd, but she had found it endearing.
“Yeah, our real names are way worse though, trust me,” he didn’t seem to want to elaborate and she just nodded, curious though. The thought that he might share something like that with her one day made her inexplicably happy.
“Can I ask how old you are?” They hadn’t really talked about age, but she had figured they had to be pretty close.
“Just turned 26 last month,” he had crossed his arms over his chest, and she couldn’t help but feel like it was a defensive move. Just like he didn’t say the actual date of his birth. She hmm’d at him, using a pair of tongs to place the steaks in the sizzling pan.
“I’m 25. I didn’t think you were much older than me,” she moved back to peek at the veggies in the oven. Jughead was staring at the steaks in the pan, lips parted. Betty rolled her eyes at him and boldly brought a finger up to push up on his chin to close his mouth. His eyes shot to her and she almost shivered at the dark look reflected in the blue.
“No drooling,” her voice was not as strong as she had intended and she turned back to the steaks, trying to ignore his intense gaze. Clearing her throat, she pulled the towel from the bar of the stove and set it on the counter. “So, how was the party last night?”
Jughead didn’t answer her right away. He dropped his arms away from his chest with a sigh, hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck. He seemed like he wanted to run his hand through his hair, but settled for tugging on the edge of his crown beanie.
“Better than usual. Archie is getting more comfortable with Veronica’s parents, so maybe I won’t even have to go soon,” he gave a shrug, even though he sounded a little far away. Betty supposed he actually did like going, despite his saying otherwise.
“Well that’s good then, but I’m sure they would still enjoy your company. I know I am,” her cheeks were burning and she turned back to the sizzling pan, poking the middle of the steak with the edge of the tongs. “How do you like your steak?” she had squeaked out, trying to change the subject.
His grin at her was infectious and she couldn’t help the goofy smile she was sporting. “I like them medium,” he looked down at the pan, and she nodded.
“Do you want to know a trick to checking how they’re done?” she offered, not sure what else to say at the moment. She turned the steaks over in the pan, the sizzle in the pan releasing a wonderful aroma that sat in her lungs and made her belly want to rumble.
“Sure, even though I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be cooking steak anytime soon.”
“You press your thumb to the tip of your middle finger,” she demonstrated with her left hand and motioned him to do the same. “and press on the ball of your palm with your other hand, that’s what the steak should feel like if you want it medium. Index finger is medium rare, ring finger is medium well, and pinky is well done,” she had moved her hands to Jughead’s, her fingers guiding his as she went through the motions of her words, pressing her fingers softly against his palm and letting him feel as well.
Betty looked up to him but he was watching her, not his hands. His fingers capturing her hand and holding it within his own as he pressed his thumb to her palm. She hoped he couldn’t feel how quick her heart was beating. She turned back to the steaks quickly, pulling her hand from him and picking the tongs back up to press against the steaks.
“See? They’re about medium rare right now, one more flip should do it. About 2 more minutes,” she was just filling the air with words now, speech a little rushed. She pulled the veggies out of the oven and placed them in a serving bowl. “Set the table?”
He took the veggies from her and picked up the silverware and the salad bowl in his other hand. “Of course, my lady,” he gave a little bow to her and moved to her small kitchen table which she had previously cleared of stacks of bills and various books.
Betty finished up the steaks and plated them, snapping a quick couple of pictures with her phone. When she was finished, she realized Jughead had been watching her. She blinked and parted her lips to ask ‘what?’ but he was already speaking.
His tone was low and gruff. “I don’t know what’s hotter: those steaks or the way your tongue pokes out when you’re working.”
“Um, I am flattered, but did just compare me to a piece of meat, Jughead,” she was smiling at him though, his words making her more confident.
“Well, I told you that food is the way to my heart Betty,” he tsk’d playfully at her, taking the two plates from her and setting them on the table. She grabbed two beers out of the fridge and cracked them open.
They settled down for dinner, Betty giving Jughead a stern look when he only put one scoop of the veggies on his plate. He added another and she smiled. They ate and sipped their beers, Jughead’s compliments overflowing.
“So where did you go to university?” she decided to ask, curious. This was about getting to know each other, after all.
“I went to Columbia, did the photography BA with a focus on fine art and fashion,” he took a drink of his beer, and she couldn’t help but watch the way his adam’s apple bobbed with his swallow. “I kind of want to go back and get my MFA, but I’m still not sure if it’ll really help or just be a money sink.”
“Oh, I get that. I’m still paying on my student loans, I couldn’t afford to go back even if I wanted to,” she paused, fingers running down the side of her bottle, collecting the condensation forming. “I did English lit, with a minor in creative writing at NYU,” she elaborated, his curious eyes watching her fingers.
“Nice. Well, not about the loans, that sucks,” he paused and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand again. Nervous habit? “I had a scholarship, so I got lucky.” No kidding. She couldn’t help feel jealous for a split second before realizing that he surely deserved it and must have worked really hard in high school.
“That’s great, Jug. I am, however, jealous that you don’t owe a third of your life to the government. But beggars can’t be choosers,” Betty finished up the rest of her beer. She swirled the dregs around in the bottle and motioned with it to the fridge. “Want another?”
“Please,” Jughead pulled a long drink from his bottle before standing and collecting hers before she could get up. He went to her fridge and pulled it open, staring inside. He grabbed the bottles, but was still looking inside. “Damn, Betty. Your fridge is like heaven. I’m pretty sure all that’s in mine is beer, cheese, water, and lunchmeat.”
She shook her head at him, her fridge wasn’t that stocked, but compared to his it sounded like it. “Typical bachelor,” she responded, taking a bottle from his outstretched hands, her fingers grazing lightly over his. She looked up at him, smiling coyly before taking a drink.
“Ah, yes. Bachelor life. So fun,” he rolled his eyes, settling down in his chair again.
They were finishing up their food by now and Betty gifted Jughead with the third of her steak she hadn’t been able to finish. Whether it was from the constant fluttering in her stomach or her claim that she was saving room for dessert, she wasn’t sure.
“So, what’s for dessert?” the way he said the words made her mouth go dry. His tone husky and sweet, eyes gazing at her like he wanted her for dessert.
tbc
#bughead#bughead fanfiction#bughead fandom#bughead fic#bughead fam#betty cooper#jughead jones#betty x jughead#jughead x betty#riverdale fanfiction#fanfiction#writing#what i'm writing#wip
93 notes
·
View notes
Text
the noisy neighbors [m]
❛❛i live in a house full of stupid men and their dirty underwear except there is an angel in their midst and he cleans up after himself and does everyone’s laundry and we share the same neighbor who likes to have wild sex every night and the hot boy hates confrontation but i guess not when his dick is in my vagina❜❜ AU
COUNT → 7.143
GENRE → smut
PAIRING → jinyoung | reader
WARNINGS → dom and sub tones | oral sex | explicit language | penetration | graphic dirty talk | spanking
note → this is for my friend @loljinyoungie because it’s her birthday today!!!! birthday smut!!!! so if ur reading this. please feel free to send her a birthday message :-D i hope u like this smut though!!!!! i told you i would finish it!!!!!!!!! a little later than i planned but oH WELL HAVE AT ALL YOUR KINKS I HOPE I DID THEM JUSTICE. AND IF I SPELLED HIS NAME “JIMYOUNG” ANYWHERE IM GONNA BE SO MAD IDK WHY THAT IS EVEN A THING THAT HAPPENS
You really hated the fact that you were such a light sleeper.
One of your favorite sounds in the world was nothing. That's not to say you didn't have a favorite sound, but that your favorite sound was literally nothing. Nothing was the sound of a cool breeze blowing against your house's exterior. Or maybe it was even the sound of rain dripping from your roof outside your window—sounds like those.
Nothing was white noise, but it also sounded cooler to say nothing rather than that.
However, the sound of bodies thudding into the wall next to you? That was definitely not white noise.
Your walls were thin. And it just so happened that the wall your bed was propped against was the same wall that your viagra housemate liked to frequent with his dick rammed in something—usually some girl's poor vagina. And it was never her who was loud, always him. He moaned and cursed and grunted very violently that sometimes you worried for her safety—or all of their safety if it was more than one girl. Still, this happened every single night.
It was like he had to have his dick in something every day that you kind of worried about him, too.
And it was never at the same time either. Sometimes, he liked to start the day off with his dick sucked. You know, that's reasonable because once you were asleep, you were fucking asleep and not even his low grunts could wake your slumber. It was like you were a vampire or something, except you did enjoy garlic bread from time to time.
Why don't you just move your bed?
A good question.
Though, why the fuck should you have to take the time out of your day to move around your prehistoric mattress and bedframe just so that you could fucking go to sleep? You were stubborn—you could admit that. He should have the good human fucking decency to not fucking wake up the entire house with his weird sex noises.
Or maybe you hadn't gotten laid for a long time and this was something that made you bitter.
Maybe you were bitter. He was getting laid every fucking night and there you were watching Veggie Tales while eating a salad because... cannibalism. That could be it but you also weren't the only person in your house who hated him. In fact, your other housemate on the opposite side of his room was actually just as peeved as you.
Jinyoung was his name.
Except Jinyoung didn't like to complain.
When you met him—and everyone else living in the house—he was the one who kept to himself. He made polite conversation and listened when you complained that hail was an abomination to weather, but he never really volunteered any complaints of his own. Maybe he didn't like you and thought you were a freak for hating hail when you could be spending your time doing something productive, but then he asked to use your toaster oven the day after because his broke. And that's what got you talking—not every day, though. Jinyoung wasn't home often—he worked in some office downtown. In fact, Jinyoung was hardly ever home at a reasonable time either.
But he always came back just when the guy sandwiched between your rooms started getting jiggy with it.
That was a reference that he was fucking someone without having to say that.
Sitting straight up in bed, your feet eased into your slippers beside your bedside table, storming out your bedroom door and into the main upstairs hallway so you could make him shut up already. This wasn't the first time you'd done this and it sure as fuck wouldn't be the last; he just never got the message. You would say, "Kindly shut up, you insignificant pest," and he would say, "Sure thing, Cantaloupe. Sorry about all the noise. I'll be quiet."
Cantaloupe wasn't even your fucking name—or a name at all—so you had no idea where he got that from.
It was like his fucking ears were made out of cantaloupes.
You squinted as you closed your door and listened with a twitching eyebrow as you could hear his headboard slamming against the wall. You'd just been innocently laying in your bed for the past few hours reading when suddenly there were sex noises and you wanted to fling yourself out your open bedroom window.
Just as you went to knock violently on his door, you heard the front door opening and footsteps up the stairs.
"Oh," Jinyoung said as soon as he saw you, loosening his suit's tie. "Hey."
Your cheeks heated as you glanced down at what you were wearing—a skimpy white tank top and a pair of pajama bottoms with illustrations of morbidly obese cats decorating the fabric. You crossed your arms over your chest in an 'x' formation as you turned around, smiling at him awkwardly. He gave your body a once over, then snorted.
"What keeps you up at this late hour, Cantaloupe?"
You rolled your eyes. Park Jinyoung thought he was funny.
"Ha-ha," you replied, monotonously. "You're hilarious."
Remembering why you were in the hallway being teased by Jinyoung, you looked back at the door and listened for a moment for any more noises coming from within his room. When there was a crash inside, there was suddenly an incomprehensible shout about how his dead grandma bought him that vase and then something else.
If it was incomprehensible, how did you know that?
You were able to make out a few words—that's how.
"Ah. He's making his noises again tonight, huh?"
"Yes, so if you'll excuse me—"
You went to knock on his door when Jinyoung suddenly reached out, grasping your wrist so it hung mid-air. You glanced over your shoulder at him then, furrowing your eyebrows just as he slowly let go.
Jinyoung had this thing where he hated confrontation, you remembered.
"Jinyoung," you huffed out. "If I don't say something, he'll just—"
"I know but surely he's almost done by now."
"Well, I need to say something."
Jinyoung sighed. "He hasn't listened to anything you've said to him before. What makes now any different?"
"So you want me to just walk to my room like a sissy when I could easily just knock on his door?"
"I just think there are better ways you can go about this. It'll just cause a disruption."
Your eyes bulged at that, jaw dropping. "And his weird sex noises won't?!"
Jinyoung paused, glancing at the door and you both listened again.
"See," he said. "He's done now. It's fine. Just go to sleep."
You tongued your cheek. "You have to live with him too, you know?"
"I know," he replied, solemnly. "Now... go to sleep, Cantaloupe."
And then you two parted ways to your separate rooms.
It was a week after that. Since it was summer, you basically just lounged around the house doing nothing but eating your weight in potato chips. You did have a part-time job but just not during the weekends, which coincidentally was when Jinyoung actually came home for an entire hour for his lunch break.
You didn't know why he didn't just eat out in the city but you weren't about to question it.
He always cleaned up after himself, picking up other people's messes. You hated that part of him because people should clean up their own messes. That's why the planet was doomed—because no one wants to clean up after themselves or leave it how they found it. Although he kept to himself, he was the glue that held you all together.
Walking into the kitchen, you saw him with his sleeves rolled up and holding a sponge, doing the dishes. Opening the wooden cabinets, you pulled out a box of mac and cheese, then looked for your pot to start boiling the water.
"Hey, Jinyoung," you began. "Have you seen my pot? I usually put it up here."
Your eyes fell onto the pot sitting at the oven at the same time—the dirty pot.
"You're fucking kidding me," you grumbled, stomping over to it.
Someone had decided to use your pot and then not clean up after themselves. And who the fuck heats up spaghettios in a fucking pan anyway? Why not just put it in a bowl and into the microwave? That's easier.
"The same person who left their dirty dishes in the sink," Jinyoung said after a moment.
For the first time, you looked closer at whose dishes Jinyoung was scrubbing at.
"Jinyoung, don't you have to eat still? Aren't you on your lunch break?"
"Yes, but I can't make anything with a dirty sink," he answered.
You sighed. "I can't stand him. Here... I'll help you."
Gently, you nudged his hip with yours, jostling him out of the way. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head, then grabbed one of the towels hanging on a nearby hook to wipe his hands as he observed you cleaning the dishes.
"God... I just can't believe him. He really doesn't care about anyone but himself."
"I'm sure he just... forgot..." Jinyoung mumbled, placing his hands on the edge of the sink.
"No. He did it on purpose, same with using my pan..." you grumbled.
Jinyoung then moved to grab your pot, turning the faucet on as you scrubbed at a large plate caked in pasta sauce, and went to soak it. As he went to work, you observed his side profile. He sure was handsome and you remembered how you wanted to ask him if he was single the moment you met.
A handsome guy like him had to have a girlfriend or something.
"What?" he asked, pausing mid-scrub when he caught you.
"Nothing," you quickly replied, turning back to the sink.
"No," he said, putting the pot in the isnk. "What is it?"
You shook your head. "It's nothing... You're just..."
Staring off into space, you looked back at him with a smile.
"You're just really handsome is all. I hope you know that."
Looking away from you, he blushed. "Thanks."
Stumbling, he reached forward and accidentally switched the faucet onto the setting where it sprayed water in tiny streams instead and then disconnected it from the sink. It landed upside down and caused water to completely soak both your shirts. You let out a shriek as you stepped back, the plate falling into the sink then.
"I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed and you looked at him in surprise, then down at your shirt.
You could see through it entirely, showing off your bra and your piercing nipples.
And then he handed you the towel beside the sink to cover yourself.
"They're just boobies, Jinyoung," you teased but he didn't turn around.
Snorting, you tossed the towel onto the counter and left the kitchen. Glancing back at him one more time as you gripped onto the staircase railing, you observed him scrubbing furiously at your pot with tinted cheeks.
A few days after that incident, you came storming out of your room to your neighbor having sex once again.
The annoying, not hot one. It wasn't Jinyoung having sex.
"Jinyoung?" you called, knocking on his door.
Your neighbor was playing music to cover up whatever he was doing, but you could still fucking hear him. How could he be so oblivious to how loud he was? Did he just fuck girls who really knew how to use their mouths?
Maybe you should ask for their phone numbers.
"Come in," he yelled over the music.
Stomping in, you slammed the door behind you. Although you'd been in his room a few times, it was always rearranged a different way each time. You did notice that Jinyoung was an extreme perfectionist.
"You hear that, right?" you asked, crossing your arms.
"Yeah. And I'm trying to study, too..." Jinyoung grumbled.
"I can't believe him. What if I was trying to sleep?"
You paced around his room, letting out an occasional growl as the song ended and there was an awkward pause. Jinyoung's head came up just as there was a loud crashing sound and moan from the other side of the wall.
Jinyoung snorted. "You? Sleeping before two in the morning?"
"Okay. Fine... Maybe I wasn't but still—"
"You can stay here, if you want."
"Really? I won't bother you?"
"No. I'm done anyway."
Jinyoung leant back into his desk chair, closing his book with a gentle slam before standing up to put it away on his large bookshelf. After a moment, he walked over to his bed and settled against it, still in his work clothes. The TV had still been playing even when you walked in, so you guessed he'd been trying to mask the music and sex.
You followed him to his bed, sitting beside him gingerly.
"So—" you started to say when a sex scene came on.
The two actors on the screen immediately began undressing and you hesitantly looked over at Jinyoung, who was trying to decide whether to act natural or look away—because what do you even do in that situation? A sex scene makes things awkward no matter what. You could pretend all you wanted that it wasn't awkward—but it was.
"S-So... What were you studying for?"
"My accounting exam," he replied.
"Really? You have to study for that?"
There were now both sex noises from the TV and the room next door. From the corner of your eye, you saw Jinyoung fidgeting, scratching at his chin nervously as he avoided looking straight at the television screen.
You grabbed the remote then, turning the volume to drown out the noises from your neighbor.
As you could still hear him, however, you stomped towards the door to tell him to shut up.
Jinyoung followed after you, grabbing a hold of your elbow out of nowhere, but that just caused you to trip on one of his shoes—and where did that even come from because his room was spotless—and the two of you came crashing down on his hardwood floor with Jinyoung under you. He stared at you with wide eyes then.
The front of your pants was pressed especially hard against him and you felt something.
"Jinyoung..." you breathed out.
He blinked, then asked, "Yes?"
"I have this crazy idea."
Jinyoung didn't have much time to think before your lips came crashing down on his.
His lips were so soft, like kissing a cloud from how moist they were, but he was still beneath your crushing mouth. His arms laid unmoving at his sides, not even moving to touch you with the tip of his finger. And after you unconsciously began to swirl your hips and grind into him powerfully, he groaned into your mouth.
"Touch me," you said, pulling away briefly to give him time to speak.
Instead of saying anything, he just stared at you in muted surprise.
"Touch me, Jinyoung," you said again, grabbing at his limp hands.
You brought them to touch your covered breasts but he didn't move an inch, didn't even glance down at your breasts on full display—just kept looking at you and occasionally down at your lips as you exhaled shakily.
When his palm gave a slight, hesitant squeeze, you knew you had him.
You threw yourself back into him, kissing him as hard as you could to elicit any sort of reaction out of him, and he finally responded. Starting with returning it, he eventually licked at your lips and his hands drifted away from your breasts to grab your hips, then finally wrapping around your waist to crush you more into his hard, defined chest.
The voices from the actors on screen as they had a passionate get-together with their genitals faded into the background, as well as the sounds coming from the opposite side of the wall. Right then, it was just you and Jinyoung as you kissed and touched each other so intimately you felt your hairs sticking up. He was always out of your reach—so far away—either physically or emotionally. You thought he was unavailable, three years older than you and in grad school already while you were still taking gen ed classes. That's what you thought, but as he licked the seam of your lips and thrusted his tongue inside your mouth, he felt touchable for the first time—reachable.
His hands trailed back to your waist before flipping the two of you over until you flat on your back. Even with the sex scene on the television screen long over as new actors took up their own screentime, you didn't tell him to stop—not even when you heard nothing from the adjacent bedroom, too. It was that familiar white noise.
But you didn't like to sound of nothing as Jinyoung stared down at you, hesitantly.
You wanted to hear something. You wanted to hear anything—and from him.
You weaved your fingers into his black hair, pulling him down until your lips connected once again, which coaxed him to relax and touch you again. His hips moved against yours as you ground into each other—sensually. When his hardening length brushed against one specific spot, you moaned out loudly, and he pulled away from you.
"Don't stop," you told him desperately, fingers still clinging on to his hair.
When he didn't budge, you sat up slowly, furrowing your eyebrows. He moved away from you to give you room, as if you were about to tell him you changed your mind, but then you pushed him with the tips of your fingers so he was on his back. He didn't make a move to sit up and you took that as a sign to work on undoing his belt's buckle.
He didn't even try to stop you as you pulled at his work pants, just watched you with half-lidded eyes.
"Is this okay?" you asked, glancing down at his cock through his briefs.
"Yeah..." he answered, swallowing thickly.
Getting his consent, you watched him carefully but reached into his underwear for his cock, surprised at the size as you blinked in a daze. Just as he was looking like he was about to change his mind, you leant over him and your mouth sank down on him. Immediately, he felt how warm your mouth was and you didn't take your eyes off him—not even for one second. Your tongue swirled around him, licking at every inch of him you could. He didn't entirely fit in your mouth, so whatever didn't fit you just stroked with your balled up fist. His head fell back against the floor with a thud as he groaned out loudly. His eyes snapped open at that, looking at his bedroom wall.
"W-Wait—" he started to say, but you didn't stop.
Instead, your grip on him tightened as you went even faster, pulling him farther into your mouth until you felt the tip hit the back of your throat, pausing for a moment and wincing at the unpleasant feeling as you swallowed around him. His hands didn't know where to go, from laying at his sides to pulling at his tailored suit.
You didn't really know why he wore his work clothes for so long, even after he came home.
"Fuck..." he grunted, one of his hands cupping the back of your head.
You'd never heard him curse before and you could feel yourself getting wet just at the sound of it, and then began to bob on his dick even faster, your eyes watering slightly. Jinyoung started to unconsciously thrust into your mouth then, his hips raising off the floor each time, and you welcomed it, trying to take all of him.
"Shit!" he cried out as you swallowed around him again.
Pulling him completely out of your mouth, you used your tongue to lick at the slit, running a wet strip from the base of his cock all the way to the underside of his tip, leaving a stream of saliva behind. He observed you with half-lidded eyes before his head fell back again, not being able to take the sight of you looking at him like that.
"Shit... You're so good at this... Fuck... I'm going to cum."
You pulled your mouth away and just sat on your heels, watching him come undone just from you stroking him in a blurred movement of your fist. However, before he even came, he frantically told you to stop.
"Jinyoung..." you started to say, slowing your pace slightly.
"No, I mean it... I don't want..." he trailed off. "I don't want him to hear me."
"He wants us to hear him, though. And plus, you sound so hot anyway..."
"Fuck..." he said at your words. "I'm— Fu—ck. I'm—"
"Cum in my mouth."
You descended your mouth back on him as you continued to stroke him frantically. He didn't seem to hear you—or at least didn't respond—but spurts of his cum came firing into your mouth until he was laying there like a worm.
His head thudded against the floor after, smiling slightly to himself, but then remembered you.
"No, it's okay," you said, knowing what he was thinking. "I think he's done now, so thanks."
"Wait— What about you—"
"You just owe me one."
And then you left.
"Hey."
You looked to the open doorway of your bedroom to see it was Jinyoung. Still in his work clothes, you laughed to yourself. He wore that suit so often that you thought it was just another layer of his skin.
Good thing he looked hot in a suit.
"Hey," you replied, putting down your book beside you on the bed.
You sat up as he looked around your bedroom, admiring some of the paintings you had hanging on the wall and your calendar beside the door that had a different cat for each month, the dates decorated with cat ears.
"Can I join you?" he asked after a moment, closing the door behind him.
"Sure," you said, sitting up. "What's up?"
"Well..." By the color of crimson his ears turned, you knew it had to be about what happened the other day on his bedroom floor—the whole his dick in your mouth thing. "I just— I felt bad about— You know... So, I— Uh..."
"You want to pay me back?"
"Yeah. Is that okay?"
You bit your lip and nodded.
Kicking his shoes off by your door, he walked over to your bed. It creaked beneath his weight as he sat down and then he turned to you, just staring at you for a moment before he went to loosen his tie around his neck.
"Did you just get back from work?" you asked, watching him undress.
Jinyoung nodded. "Yeah. Five minutes ago."
"So... were you thinking about this all day?"
"It might've crossed my mind once or twice."
Your head fell back as you laughed. "That's hot."
His knees pressed them into the mattress when he started to move towards you, his tie long forgotten in a heap on your rug. Watching him carefully, you lowered yourself onto your back until he was hovering over you.
"Is our favorite neighbor here?" he asked lowly, his lips inches from yours.
"I don't think so. It's quiet, so that's how I know he's gone."
"Good. That means you can be as loud as you want."
"Ooh, spicy..." you said, waggling your eyebrows.
"Take off your pants," he instructed.
"Why can't you do it for me?"
"I'm about to do a lot for you."
Raising an eyebrow, you did as he said and pulled at your denim shorts. He couldn't wait, though, and helped you tug them the rest of the way down your legs as you raised your hips, flinging them somewhere behind him.
Next was your underwear but surprisingly, when you went to remove them, he stopped you.
"Not yet."
His mouth came crashing down on yours, smothering your lips with his own. At first, the kiss was fast and messy, your tongues colliding together in a frenzy, but then he was pulling away from you to leave a trail of kisses from the corner of your lips, to your jaw, to your neck, before finally landing on your chest from your low-cut shirt.
Your hands came to crush his mouth to your chest when he just looked at the soft fabric of your shirt, leaving wet spots where he bit and nipped over your covered nipples. You cried out then, arching your back into his mouth.
He raised an eyebrow and took you rubbing your legs together as a sign for him to take it farther.
Crawling down your body, he stopped until his head was between your legs, kissing at your inner thighs and biting and sucking at the skin there until you were marked in blotches of purple and red. One of his fingers played with the band of your underwear, snapping it against your skin teasingly, and you exhaled shakily.
"I didn't know you were such a tease..." you said, smiling with your eyes closed.
"It's no fun when you get your way, though."
And then he fingered at your underwear again, lifting it up and pushing it to the side so he could cup you. Just from the pads of his fingers touching you there, he could feel how wet you were—and all because of him.
"You're making this too easy."
His middle finger slowly eased into your entrance, stroking at your walls gently as he pumped in and out of you. His thumb then came to press down on your clit and you moaned out, a scalding sensation shooting straight into your lower stomach. He took that as another good sign and then inserted his forefinger into you, his fingers thrusting in and out of you at a faster pace with each drawn out moan and each wiggle of your hips. Eventually, he had to use the hand pulling your underwear back to still your hips and the soaked fabric came to rest on the back of his hand.
Unconsciously, you moved away from him and so he pulled his fingers out of you. You opened your eyes then, looking up at him as he sucked each finger into his mouth, licking off your wetness. Feeling faint, you sighed to yourself, wiggling your hips again and clenching your walls around nothing in anticipation. It was nice to be fingered and it was even better to cum, but you wanted to cum on his dick—you wanted to cum on it now.
"Jinyoung," you breathed out. "I want you."
"You can't have me," he answered. "Not yet."
"Well, why the fuck not?!" you yelled, sitting up on your elbows.
He couldn't answer because then the two of you heard loud, thunderous footsteps up the stairs and the bedroom door next to yours slamming shut. You listened and signed internally as you heard a female voice giggling and then a gruff male one, the bed creaking as you assumed they were both lying in his bed now.
"Great..." you mumbled to yourself, bending over your bed to look for your pants.
"No," Jinyoung said. "It's okay. I want to keep going. Is that okay?"
You looked back at him and nodded, surprised.
This wasn't like him at all. Jinyoung had never once brought a girl over—never. You knew he had sex but he never had sex here, and that was because he was so self-conscious. So, it was very surprising he wanted to keep going.
He pulled your underwear completely off that time, following your pants and landing somewhere behind him.
Jinyoung didn't waste any time and immediately ducked his head and flicked at your clit with his tongue, causing you to cry out. The giggling stopped in the other room and you placed a hand over your mouth, looking at him.
Time stood still as you two waited for them to resume and they did—after a painfully long sixty seconds.
"Be quiet," he whispered and then went back to pressing kisses to your clit.
He inserted his finger again, using his thumbs to separate your folds and you clenched your hand into a fist against your mouth, breathing heavily. Instead of how he was taking his time before, he was rushing things.
"Jinyoung," you said. "It's okay. I'll be quiet. Just slow down."
He nodded, pulling his fingers out of you.
Then replaced them with his mouth.
"Fuck..." you said, softly.
"Feel good?" he whispered back.
You nodded, head falling back and hand slamming against your mouth as he thrusted his tongue inside of you. His nose brushed against your clit and you breathed out of your nose slowly, trying to contain yourself. Then one of his hands pulled away and his thumb came against your clit again, circling it wildly when he lowered his head to bring his nose away. Your juices coated his chin as he started to wildly lick and kiss at your inner walls, then brought his mouth away to watch you, inserting his fingers again. His knuckles brushed against you as he went deeper and deeper before he felt around for that special spot—then found it easily, smiling to himself at your reaction.
Red hot in the face, sweat lining your brow, gasping for air—you were a mess for him.
You could barely contain yourself then and you reached behind you for your pillow, smothering your face.
"Jinyoung!" you screamed through the pillow but he kept going. "Oh, god... Oh, god. I'm going to— I'm—"
The two of you hadn't even noticed the talking stopped again before you moaned into the pillow loudly, hips rising as you came roughly around his fingers. He helped you ride out your orgasm, slowing his pace but not stopping.
Your hips came down to rest on the mattress again and you sighed—you were laying there like a worm now.
"How was that?" he asked, pleased with himself.
"Good god... So good... Wow. You're so good with—"
He chuckled. "Thanks. I owed you one, though."
You smiled up at him, then pushed yourself up to sit beside him, nudging your shoulder with his as you smiled to yourself. If this was him paying you back for sucking his dick, you wondered how he fucked with that dick.
"But that doesn't mean I don't owe you one."
"No, no, no. You don't owe me anything."
"Maybe not. But I still want you to fuck me."
Jinyoung looked at the wall behind you then, shaking his head. Pouting, you nodded, understanding that maybe all this was just him returning the favor, not meaning he was interested in you like that at all.
"We can't..." he whispered.
"It's okay, but why not?"
"We can't right now. Later."
"Okay, but I hope you really mean later."
He nodded. "Later. Really, really later."
And then he walked out of your room.
After Jinyoung left, your neighbor took that as a sign to fuck his girlfriend.
How nice for the both of them. For her to have a penis in her, not that you could relate.
It'd been at least seven hours now and you didn't even know if Jinyoung was still in the house. He walked on light feet, so you never heard him walking around, so he could've easily left to go somewhere. Maybe he left to fuck someone else since you were pretty sure he got a massive boner. And yet, he didn't want to fuck you.
Later, he said.
When was that? Maybe you should've discussed that properly so you would know when that even was.
Angry and sex-deprived, you stomped out of your room after hearing the annoying sound of your neighbor snoring after a long, torturous hour and a half, and into the kitchen. A glass of cold water would calm down your temper, so you reached into the cabinet to grab one of your glasses, reaching into the freezer for some ice cubes. You struggled to even get the cubes out of the tray, however, and contemplated slamming it on the countertop.
A touch on your shoulder, though, startled you and you accidentally slammed the tray on the countertop anyway.
"It's okay!" they said, the warm voice familiar. "It's me. It's Jinyoung."
Closing your eyes in relief, you placed a hand over your beating heart and then turned around to look at him.
"And where have you been?" you asked, teasingly, with an eyebrow raised.
Though, you also really wanted to know the answer to that, too.
"My room. Why did it take you seven hours to leave?"
"What? Were you waiting for me or something?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I didn't want to... in your room."
Your mouth fell open as you felt like a fucking idiot.
It was kind of obvious, now that you thought about it.
"Sorry... I didn't— Well, I'm here now, so do your worst."
One corner of his lips tilted up at that, and then he looked around the kitchen. When his eyes fell on the dining room table, he grinned and tugged your hand to follow him. You set your glass down on the counter, already feeling that familiar excitement bubble inside of you at the thought of what he was going to do to you.
If his fingers made you feel that good, you couldn't even imagine what his dick would feel like.
"Lay on the table."
You hopped up on the table just as he asked, then laid down, already reaching for your pants, but he slapped your hand away. Cradling your hands to your chest, you snorted at the impatient look on his face.
"I didn't say to take off your clothes," he teased, tugging at the band.
"Okay but... What's so different about here? They'll still probably hear us."
"You're probably right. It's a good thing I don't care. Do you?"
Then why didn't you just come back? you asked no one in particular.
Oh, well.
"Hell no. Fuck me, Jinyoung."
"I will. Just be patient."
You growled out, frustrated.
"Come on. You don't need to finger me when you just did that seven hours ago—"
"I know but I want to," he said, then pulled at the band of your pants again.
From over the top of his head, you carefully watched the staircase, listening for any sounds that weren't muffled snores from your neighbor's bedroom. If he came downstairs, he'd have a good view of your pussy.
"He's not going to come down here. Relax."
Just as his finger entered you, you said, "Wait. Can I try something first?"
He nodded, pulling away from you and you sat up, hopping off the table. Kneeling before him, you unbuttoned his pants quickly—and struggled for a moment—and pulled him out of his underwear, licking your lips nervously.
"I want you to fuck my mouth," you told him.
"What?" he asked, surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"All right."
You gripped him at the base and slowly wrapped your lips around him, then relaxed your mouth as you closed your eyes. Biting into his lip, Jinyoung anxiously gripped the back of your head to get a good hold on you and weaved his fingers into your hair. You seemed to like that, though, when you moaned around his length.
And when you nodded, he took that as the signal and thrusted into your mouth.
Your eyes watered as he fucked your mouth, wincing but loving every second. When his fingers tugged at your hair, nearly pulling the strands right out of their roots, you moaned around him again and he groaned at that.
You swallowed around him, eliciting him to go faster, fuck your throat harder—and he did. His hips moved back and forth wildly as he frantically rammed his cock into you. With each thrust, you had to keep yourself still and relax your throat, feeling it becoming sore but it was worth it. Your hands felt his thighs, nails digging into the soft fabric of his work pants that he never took off for some reason—when suddenly he pulled out of you.
"If you keep doing that, I'm going to cum," he explained, gasping for air. "Your turn."
You nodded and laid back down on the table. It was as if him nearly reaching his orgasm made him even more impatient and he tugged at your underwear so roughly that the material stretched, but you didn't yell at him.
In fact, you found the whole thing incredibly hot.
He fell to his knees and immediately started an intense pace with his fingers inside of you, easing in and out at a frantic speed while he tried to stretch you out as much as possible. Your toes curled at the sensation and he watched you carefully, smiling as your eyes closed and mouth dropped open. If possible, his fingers thrusted into you even faster, so fast that you could almost imagine they were his dick—except you hoped his dick was bigger.
"Please," you begged, grabbing onto his arm. "Fuck me."
His pace slowed down but he didn't pull out of you, until he pressed down on your clit and your back arched.
"Please! Fuck—please," you cried out.
He nodded quickly, stepping away from you to step out of his pants and completely remove his briefs.
Your eyes fell to him naked from the waist down and you almost drooled, but then he was pulling at your hips so you stood on your feet, then spun you around until your cheek came crashing down on the wooden table.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ye—s."
You were jostled forward as soon as he took that first step—his cock pressing into you so deeply that you couldn't help but groan, your nails clawing into the table. His warm hands held your hips and you knew you wanted nothing more than for him to slap your ass. That's what would get you off. Nothing was hotter than him manhandling you.
"Jinyoung," you gasped out as he kept up a fast pace. "Spank me."
"Spank you? You're into that?"
You nodded into the table.
Hesitating slightly, he did as you asked and brought his hand to slap your ass softly and you moaned softly. He blinked, stopping his thrusts inside of you to do it again—but harder. You clenched your fists as his hand came down on you even harder, feeling the sting that time. Your walls clenched around him then and he groaned.
"You really like this?" he asked.
"Yeah. Just like that."
He paused, then looked around the room for a moment.
You were pulled up abruptly then, your eyes snapping open, as he pulled you over to the living room couch before sitting down, tugging at your hand so you were sitting in his lap but not crushing his dick coated in your wetness.
"Ride me," he told you.
You didn't need to be told twice and slowly gripped him from under you, easing him into you slowly. Both of you moaned out at that and his hand slapped your ass again, slapping you harder each time you pulled yourself up.
"Keep going," he said, massaging your skin.
You nodded and bounced up and down on him even faster, seeking that familiar sting and the feeling of him penetrating you. His head fell against the back of the couch then, moaning loudly as you continued to ride him. Blindly, his free hand reached for you and then the pad of his thumb pressed into your clit, causing you to cry out and ride him even faster—harder—swirling your hips and clenching around him as you chased after your orgasm.
He pulled away from your clit and brought both of his hands to your ass, pulling and grabbing at the flesh there and kneading his knuckles into it. One hand came down on your ass again as the slap sounded around the living room and you clenched around him again, your vision blurring as all you could feel was that spark ignite in you.
On the edge, his hands trailed past your ass until they were gripping the small of your back and flipped you over onto your stomach. Raising your ass in the air, he thrusted into you again and pressed down on the back of your head, your cheek pressing into the couch cushion as he rammed into you.
"J-Jinyoung! Fuck, fuck, fuck!" you cried out, fists clenching.
He reached around you then and squeezed your breasts. With each thrust, they swung forward and he squeezed even harder. You rested your head against the back of your arms, trying to hold on but knowing you were so close to cumming. His dick stroked every inch of you and you knew you were going to be sore after.
"I'm gonna—"
"Cum."
He felt you clench around him one more time as you came, arching your back and then falling limply onto the couch. Jinyoung powered through it, however, and managed to thrust a few more times before he came himself, feeling you cringe from the oversensitivity.
His head fell back against the opposite arm of the couch then, chuckling, while you laid on the other side.
"So, that happened," he said after a long moment of silence.
"Yeah. Can it happen again?" you asked with a smirk.
And then you laughed all the way back upstairs.
Jinyoung was eating breakfast the next morning and you decided to clean up after your dirty neighbor so that when Jinyoung came home for his lunch break, he could spend that time eating rather than cleaning up after him.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, though.
Your neighbor came stumbling down the stairs in his pajamas, greeting you two as he came into the kitchen.
"Hey, guys," he said, then seemed to hesitate. "Were you guys— last night— Can you keep it down next time?"
Jinyoung's cheeks heated at that, almost burying his head in his bowl of cereal shamefully while you just snorted.
He'd acted all confident last night but it sounded just like him to be embarrassed immediately after.
"Sure," you lied. "Sorry about all the noise."
"Thanks," he said and then grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl.
You looked back at Jinyoung and laughed as he refused to make eye contact with you, his cheeks almost the same color as the last apple in the bowl. Embarrassment wasn't something you felt often, so you were more proud.
You and Jinyoung had become the noisy neighbors now.
#jinyoung smut#got7 smut#got7 scenarios#got7 imagines#jinyoung scenarios#jinyoung imagines#jinyoung x reader#got7 x reader#jinyoung x you#got7 x you
3K notes
·
View notes
Text
Spring Cleaning
Guys why doesn’t anyone ever talk about the domesticity of the Cave??? Like by S2 there are a bunch of people who probably sleep over lot and have their own rooms just in case, and Mal, M’gann, Gar, and Conner live there, so there’s probably an endless cycle of chores that need to be completed and ahhhhhh here are some hcs i came up w/ for living in the cave
~~~
-M’gann for sure does most of the cooking and baking and has everyone’s favorite meals memorized. She’s the only one who can get all orders exactly right and the kitchen is mostly thought of as M’gann’s, so if anyone fucks something up then they’re pretty much dead
-that doesn’t mean the rest of the team doesn’t cook, though. Gar is second best bc hey, M’gann is his sister and he picks up a lot of skills from her. Wally is pretty decent bc he wanted to learn how to cook his favorite foods (aka EVERYTHING).
-everyone else can only accomplish the Basic Stuff, like pancakes or mac n’ cheese in a box and a ham sandwich. Laga’an and Cassie are the absolute worst bc Cassie gets overexcited and when she enters the kitchen it’s usually a chorus of BANG WHOOOOSH WHOMP “OHMYZEUS SOMEONE GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!”, and Laga’an, despite being a Smug Little Bitch, doesn’t know how to work ovens and pans and is way too proud to ask for help
-Spring Cleaning sounds like a total Pain in the Ass bc of all the bedrooms, the hallways, the Grotto, the library (who even uses that???), the kitchen, showers (eeewww), pretty much EVERYWHERE including secret passageways and the vents since the team insists on crawling through them for “training”
-but it’s like the perfect team bonding time bc usually when they clean out the whole mountain they find really weird shit and get to know more about each other
-like the time Jaime found bones (no worries it’s just fried chicken) between the sofa cushions and he just looked at Gar who told him, “If I can’t have a pet then I’m going to BE a pet, okay? i had a dog phase and I’m working through birds next”
-Jaime has a sneaking suspicion that the next spring cleaning he’ll find sunflower seeds and feathers
-usually dick, babs, wally or artemis is the DJ for this kind of stuff and they like using their brooms and mops as guitars and mics. their music tastes are all sort of the same and it’s always some weird alternative pop rock thing (Jaime is the only freshman member who knows like half their songs and tries to sneak in some latino pop every now and then)
-somehow cassie gets soapy water EVERYWHERE (she blames it on bart’s and gar’s mock swordfight w/ the dusters) and the three of them have to clean it up, with bart knocking himself out at least five times slipping on the floor while trying to speed his way through the process
-tim is the most dedicated to the cause and actually gets more shit done than everyone put together, but when nobody is looking he pulls quiet, subtle pranks that just screws everyone’s process up but they NEVER figure out it’s Tim
-Mal and Karen are the ones who don’t really get anything done bc they’re too busy being lovey-dovey w/ each other, nobody really minds bc that just means Mal and Karen owe them for being let off the hook
-Kaldur is the second most helpful other than Tim thanks to his hydrokinesis. He can get water into all the hard-to-reach-places and actually makes sure that everybody gets work done (he also dumps water on people he catches slacking off but everyone lets him get away w/ it bc they love him)
-the chore everyone hates the most is laundry bc instead of each person doing their own load individually, everyone’s clothes end up being washed together to save energy and whatnot and it’s SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS
-when it’s the boys’ turn to fold + wash everything they always feel hella awkard bc of all the bras and underwear they see but they’re mostly mature about it (except for the time they found Robin underwear and Tim, being the pubescent 14 y/o he is, would not stop blushing and to this day has no idea who it belongs to)
-the girls aren’t any better tbh, they made fun of Dick for buying a set of superhero logo boxers (Flash, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, etc.) and their favorite game to play on laundry day is “Whose Clothes are these bc they’re the worst things I’ve ever seen” (it usually ends up being laga’an)
-Jaime has it the worst, most of his hoodies go missing after Laundry Day and he has to run around the Cave and figure out who stole them. majority of the time the culprits are Gar, Bart, and Cassie, but once he caught Billy wearing them and after that he just kind of...... let himself be defeated by the forces of the universe or whatever is keeping his hoodies from him
-all the guys are pretty mature about period stains I’m happy to say, but the first time Laga’an did Laundry Day with them he freaked out because “OH GREAT SQUID SUCKERS WHAT HAPPENED WHO GOT HURT” (i mean i’m assuming atlantean physiology/biology/whateveriology is different from normal humans considering that blood floats in water so if anybody bled in the sea....that would be hella terrifying and sharks would be able to smell you sooooo)
-and the boys would have to explain to Laga’an what a period is, scarab gives jaime way too many details and Gar is also epically confused bc “wait what professor carr never taught me this???”, so basically gar and laga’an just end up getting the birds and the bees talk (jaime has to tell scarab to shut up every ten seconds)
-cleaning the shower drains is probably the next worst job bc of all the gunk and dirt that washes away when the heroes shower, like Clayface’s sludge or some evil villain’s goop or something like that and the only people who can really stand it are Kaldur, Gar, and M’gann
-actually when anything gets clogged it’s always up to those three to clean it out bc they have the best powers for it, Gar doesn’t really mind gross stuff when he’s in animal form
-speaking of animals, Wolf likes to try and help clean up when everyone else does. He drags around trash bags and buries old junk but just screws everything else up most of the time, always knocking things over and he probably sheds a hella lot and gets mud everywhere
-tbh Wolf is the main reason everyone keeps the Cave so clean. If it had just been them they would’ve been all, “Oh, it’s okay, we don’t have to be that neat, just toss your jacket there and your book here and put your cup on the counter w/ the others.”
-but everyone loves wolf and they’re all concerned about how he might accidentally inhale a Coke bottle or something so they do their best to not be lazy asses and pick up after themselves
-which makes it all the more ironic when wolf brings in leaves and twigs and grass from playing outside
-anyways the Team just turns cleaning into one giant big mess and I love it a hella lot so if you can think of anything else to add feel free to send in your thoughts and hcs!
#youngjustice#youngjusticeseason2#yj#yjseason2#yj season 3#young justice season 3#nightwing#dick grayson#barbara gordon#batgirl#wondergirl#cassie sandsmark#tim drake#robin#dc#dc comics#m'gann m'orzz#miss martian#conner kent#superboy#beast boy#garfield logan#aqualad#laga'an#kaldur'ahm#kaldur#blue beetle#jaime reyes#scarab#khaji da
61 notes
·
View notes
Text
Take Me Away || JARLEY
TAGGING: Marley Rose & Jake Puckerman
LOCATION: Lima’s Walmart
DATE: Monday afternoon
NOTES: Marley runs into Jake who is stocking up for his little trip and she lets her curiosity get the best of her.
Jake stood in the food section of Walmart as he stocked his already full cart. He had to get the usual, some Kraft mac and cheese, boxes of noodles and jars of sauce, jars of peanut butter and jelly along with some camping gear and a duffle bag. He, of course, had to make sure all the food he got would last pretty long. So he grunted as he lifted up a pack of water bottles and added that to his mess that was his cart. Of course he got some looks, the weird foster kid of Lima throwing random stuff into his cart. He figured people wondered how he could even buy all this stuff. Jake had his ways of making money. But this weekend would be the weekend. He had a car that was sitting in Joe's garage and by Friday, Lima would be a distant memory.
Marley didn't like to go into town often, only when she absolutely had to. And by that she meant when her mom's dude of the month was over and she didn't feel like dealing with it at all. Which if she was being honest, was happening far too often. Maybe she'd run into one of her friends and they would give her something to do for a few hours until the coast was clear at home- at least she could only hope that would be the case. Marley dragged her large combat boots along the clean tile of the superstore as she lamely perused the aisles for nothing in particular. It wasn't until she found a somewhat familiar face in Jake Puckerman that she let out a smirk. "Well, well, well. What do we have here Puckerman?" She questioned before gazing into his cart and picking up a few items before tossing them back in the cart. "Planning to feed a small army?"
Jake knew he had a lot more things to buy, of course he would need socks- the warm kind and maybe a few pairs of sweat pants. But who knew if they even sold those now with summer coming. He had just put a case of soda into the bottom of his cart when he heard a familiar voice, Marley Rose. Jake smirked and licked his lips before turning around to face her. "Hell no, you think I provide charity here?" He asked her with a chuckle. "I am stocking up for a long road trip if you must know, the kinda road trip were you pack your shit up and never look back."
Marley could only chuckle at his quick response. "Oh really?" She asked as she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Marley would be lying if she had said that she herself hadn't thought of running away before. She had done so plenty of times, especially when her mom was in one of those moods after she broke up with one of her boyfriends. But Marley had never had the guts to actually leave; she'd wander around for a few hours or so but would never actually leave. "And how exactly do you plan to get away with that Puckerman?"
Jake "Well..." he began to push his cart toward the chips. "Lucky for me, Lima is full of idiots and rich idiots looking to score some premium pot from a Lima Heights kid. They just don't know that I cut it with Oregano." Jake grabbed a few bags of chips and tossed them in. "And the idiots hired me to take their SATs. I know how to run a business, Rosie." As he grabbed a jar of dip, he took a glance at her. "Now I just need to figure out how I'm gonna make money on the road. Shouldn't be that hard."
Marley "Oh, a drug dealer from Lima Heights. Color me surprised." Marley stated sarcastically with a roll of her eyes as she walked alongside his cart, not letting him get off that easily. "Why the hell would anyone hire you to take their SATs? It's not like you're that smart." She commented as she grabbed one of the small bags of chips, opened it, and tossed a couple in her mouth before scoffing. "Give me a break Puckerman. You're not going to make it any further than past the city line before you get busted. I'd be willing to put money on it."
Jake scoffed at her. "Listen miss badass, my GPA is outstanding. It would be even more so if I actually cared to go to school, the brains have to come from my mom's side- cause you've seen my dumbass of a half brother." However, when he heard the magic word come from her mouth, she had his full attention. "Really, you'd be ready to make that sort of wager? How much money you wanna put down?"
Marley rolled her eyes at him. "Your half brother may be a dumbass but boy does he have a mouth on him and he most definitely knows his way around a bedroom, that much I can tell you. And if you ask me, that's all I need to know." She couldn't help but chuckle at his excitement over a bet. "What would it matter anyways Puckerman? I'm sure you seem to think that you wouldn't be here to collect anyways."
Jake gagged at the mention of his brother and anger began to boil inside of him. Bad enough his own brother made it a game of beating the shit out of him in school. Puck and his stupid mom and their stupid dad where the reason why he was in this situation. "Do me a favor Rose, and don't mention my asshole brother, alright? I wont be here, I'll be sending you a postcard from Alaska so you have proof that I made it."
Marley raised her eyebrows at how defensive Jake got all of a sudden. "Wow Puckerman. There's no need to get your panties in a twist. Calm yourself." She said with a chuckle. At least she knew now what buttons to push if she really wanted to piss him off. "And how exactly do you plan to send me a postcard? And what makes you think that I want a postcard from you Puckerman. It's not like we're anything remotely close to being friends."
Jake shook off her statement about his brother the best he could as he pretended to look the selection of cheese puffs. "Go to Alaska, get a postcard and send it to you." He said with a simple shrug. "That will prove that I made it there and then you will owe me- eh let's say 200 bucks." He decided with a nod of his head. "Eh, but then how will I get my 200? Guess you'll have to come with me so I can get my money."
Marley chuckled as she shook her head. "Are you propositioning me Puckerman? Cause I'm pretty sure that's all kinds of illegal. And like I said, we're not anything remotely close to being anything near friends. So tell me, why the hell would I go to Alaska with you? I was taught not to get into cars with strangers. So I will pass on your little adventure that likely won't happen. You're not gonna make it far, bet or not."
Jake "It's only illegal if you get caught." He explain with a raised brow. "And lemme explain, you made a wager, I took said wager and well- you seem to have a shitty life. I mean maybe a bit less shitter than mine, but still shitty. Admit it, this town sees people like you and me as losers and all and all hates us." Jake proved his point as Mrs. Hudson walked past them with a disgusted look on her face. "And I'm not saying that you should go, I'm just putting the offer on the table."
Marley "And I'm turning down that offer. I don't know you. And over my dead body and am I going to get in your truck and take off to who knows where when you're not gonna make it out of Lima. I'm not going to deal with the wrath of my mom when she finds out I tried to run away. So thanks but no thanks." Marley said sarcastically before tossing the half empty bag of chips back into his cart. "You have fun with that little adventure of yours Puckerman." She said before turning on her heels and wandering away from him.
Jake "Kinda sad ya know." Jake shrugged. "That the biggest self proclaimed badass of our school- also known as you- is scared." He chuckled. "Pretty whimpy of you if you ask me." Yeah, he was trying to egg her on, but something about annoying her seemed to brighten his own day. "I will have a blast, and Ill make sure to send you that postcard from Alaska."
Marley could only roll her eyes at his response. It wasn't that she was scared, it's just that she didn't really care. In the grand scheme of things, her life wasn't really that awful. Sure there was plenty that she wanted to change, but it wasn't enough to make her runaway. She had a hard time believing that his life was that awful, but then again she didn't know anything about him anyways. Opting not to say anything, Marley flipped him off over her shoulder with a chuckle.
Jake smirked to himself when she flipped him off and continued to do his shopping. He had most of the things he would need as he brought his stuff over to the self check out. The price wasn't too bad considering all the crap he had bought. But he figured that all this stuff should last him until he left the states, now he just had to make sure that his car would make it and his passport was updated all without alarming his foster parents. It shouldn't be that hard.
Marley absentmindedly wandered around the store for a little while, not looking for anything in particular. She just needed to kill a little bit more time before going home and not doing any homework. Unfortunately there was nothing more for her to wander around and see so she just walked out to her beat up car. Leaning up against the hood, Marley lit a cigarette and watched as the people exited the store. Maybe she would come up with something to do since she really didn't want to go home yet.
Jake Of course his truck would be parked near Marley's car. Jake gave a sigh as he pushed his cart over toward the back and began to load his stuff up silently before throwing the tarp over it to cover it all up. He didn't want to raise any sort of alarms from his foster parents, he was still a paycheck toward them after all. Well himself and the three other kids they had stashed in the small trailer. His eyes flashed up toward Marley again and he cracked another smile. "Best you don't smoke near that lemon, one wrong move and that thing will go kaboom."
Marley rolled her eyes and chuckled when she saw Jake pushing his cart full of belongings to his car. She continuously puffed on her cigarette as he loaded his things. Obviously Marley was going to make no efforts to help him. "What's with the stalking all of a sudden Puckerman? I would have expected a little more from you." Marley could only laugh at him as she wandered over and kicked the tire of his car. "Oh, you mean compared to this piece of garbage? You're insane if you think this is getting you past Lima Heights."
Jake "Oh this thing? I'm not taking this thing." Jake said as he pointed his thumb at the truck. "This old girl isn't going to Alaska, I have a better truck at a garage. I'm trading her in for a semi new one- It's from 1999, so we are practically the same age." Jake explained. "It's part of my transformation, ya know- out with the Lima Garbage and in with the new garbage."
Marley "And how the hell can you afford that?" She questioned as she threw her cigarette on the ground on and stomped on it. "How the hell can you afford this? And don't tell me that your little drug business on the side is enough to afford all this. Because we all know that there are plenty of better people in this town that you can get much better drugs from then you Puckerman. No offense." She said. "So when are you hitting the road?" Marley asked sarcastically using air quotes for emphasis.
Jake scoffed at her with a eye roll of his own. "This hunk of junk belongs to my foster parents, I take it out when they are- done for the night." He explained with annoyance while trying to figure out why he was explaining himself to this girl. "And honestly, you don't need to worry about how I am getting the other truck." Jake picked at the chipping paint on the truck. "And I'm leaving at the end of the week, getting out of this shit hole as soon as possible."
Marley let out a soft hum. Done for the night? She had to admit that she was the slightest bit curious about what exactly that meant but she wasn't going to push it. "Right, okay Puckerman." Marley said, leaving it at that. Biting her lip, she leaned against the truck before picking at a piece of thread in her leggings. "So here's a question for you. If you want to get out of here as soon as possible, why are you waiting until the end of the week? Why not just leave now?"
Jake gave a shrug. Friday would be the best day to leave because both his foster parents leave on a Friday and come back on a Sunday. "I need to get my shit sorted out, that's why." He explained, knowing he didn't owe her an answer. Jake looked past Marley for a moment at the cars in the parking lot and glanced back at her. "Why do you care?"
Marley "Right. Because you just have so much going on in that busy little life of yours Puckerman." She said sarcastically as she kicked at the ground. "Oh trust me, I don't care at all. I certainly hope that's not the vibe I've been giving you. I don't care about anyone, especially not someone like you. Don't mistake my questioning for giving two craps about you. I just think if everything is as bad as you claim, you'd want to leave sooner rather than later." She explained with a shrug.
Jake "And I don't owe you any sort of answers." He grounded out with narrowed eyes. "Just like I don't know what kinda shit you put up with, you don't know what kinda shit I put up with. I am leaving when it is better for me and that's what my truck will be ready, cause like I said, I can't leave with this piece of shit." Jake answered, still wondering why he was speaking to her.
Marley raised her eyebrows at his defensiveness. "Calm yourself Puckerman. I never said that you owed me any answers or anything really. No need to get all worked up." Clearly she had pushed some sort of buttons with him and she really didn't know why. Jake was obviously a little more temperamental than she realized. "Well good luck with all that crap. Hopefully your little adventure will be everything that you wanted to be and all that jazz."
Jake "I am not getting worked up." He said with a deep breath once he pulled himself together. He was so close to boiling over from all the pent up stress that he was already starting to come undone; it's why he needed to head out as quick as he could. Yeah he felt bad for the other foster kids that where left once he left, but he already had a plan to get them out. Jake opened up the door to his truck. "Yeah, have a nice life Rose."
Marley "Yeah, alright Puckerman. Whatever you say." She said with a sarcastic nod. He was definitely getting worked up but she wasn't pushing it any further. Especially not after his last little lash out. " Yeah, whatever." Marley said with a roll of her eyes as she turned on her heels and headed in the opposite direction. Her life might have completely sucked but it wasn't worth running away from. At least not yet.
Jake sighed as he climbed in and started the engine. While he waited for the old hunk of junk to be able to be driven, he took out his phone to let his friend know he was coming to the garage to check out the truck and store his things until Friday. He knew that the guy wouldn't go off and tell his foster parents. He hated them as much as Jake did. Once the engine roared to life, Jake tossed his phone onto the passengers seat and drove out of the parking lot.
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
JACK WYATT
part of advanced PLACEMENT: an ars PARADOXICA high school au about a gang of queer teen nerds, by @estherroberts , @podcastmecaptain , and @lizzieraindrops
all three of the aformentioned dorks are responsible for the hijinks found in this post. today’s, @podcastmecaptain especially. (that’s me!)
click here for the au masterpost | track #ars placement for updates!
ALSO:
things aren’t always showing up in the tags, so your most reliable bet is the aforementioned masterpost.
this is the first of many individualized advanced PLACEMENT works, for stories of each character involved. we each wrote the story that we each post, with input from our other members! without further ado, here’s my first piece:
JACK WYATT
jack is ornery and whip smart and tired and witty and and loudmouthed and defiant
he chomps at any bit you give him
including the laws of science
and the laws of manners
and the laws of gender
and just a bit the law in general.
he’s not willing to change who he is for other people.
“it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, and even more to stand up to your friends.”
and even more to stand up to society as a whole.
but he is willing to love his friends.
we know jack and esther have been friends since. forever.
if there was a prize for most platonic i love yous per hour they'd have won the grand championships
they have also, however, won plenty of REAL science grand championships together
science isn't his entire life but it's MOST of it
he's always been a bit of a tinkerer
before he transitioned esther used to call him tinker bell
his mom’s car engine is the most well kept in Point of Exile
and possibly colorado
possibly america?
he's got a ham radio setup in his attic and a telescope, both are constantly being taken apart and put back together. there's a billion tech and science magazines and shoeboxes full of random parts scattered around the boxes of old clothes or broken furniture. moth eaten cushions line the floor. he stole a satellite from an abandoned cabin on the outskirts of town and it’s his pet project. he really loves his attic workshop, it’s his happy place.
one of his older sisters referred to it exactly once as The Batcave and he got so excited that she never did it again
the first time he knew he was serious about penny he led her up there and talked about all of it, all he's done with it
jack and esther both definitely have known the other likes girls for a very long time
jack thinks he's bi but he likes girls an awful lot. he's a girl leaning bi. who doesn't love girls. afuckingmen.
they're both adhd, but jack actually figured that one out first. esther took much longer, with different symptoms
he's constantly in standing motion, moving in place, focusing either too much or too little and never in between
creative in his machinery in a way others can't be
his mom popped him into a session with a school quack and he finally had a name for the humming hub of energy that snapped and crackled and popped in his head all day, that didn't make him wrong, just meant he worked differently.
a different set of springs and gears for the same human machine. same function, different ways of getting there, maybe even better results. he could get that.
but for his gender, things were slow going.
he has three older sisters. he’s always been firmly in the spot of “the baby girl.” he’s surrounded by femininity and doesn't have a problem with it. but it’s never felt. right. applied to him.
they call him a tomboy and that doesn't fit either
he knows what doesn't fit and what's not healthy. its not comfortable and its not right. that skin is dead before it touched him. it doesn't belong to him.
he worries he might have internalized misogyny like his friend anthony did, he's thoroughly wedged in feminist theory but maybe its just a side affect of society? apparently none of his sisters feel like this
feminist theory has a lot of gender theory too if done right
it doesn't take long for him to find it
and well
he turned it over in his mind
examining it, a piece he knew fit but not where
its a lot of speculation, but not long from discovery to connection
click
there it is
lots more under the read more!
jack was stumbling over the words
not sure how to say it but trying
and esther was figuring it out after the third half try and just kinda waiting for him to take his time
throwing in a lot more casual "dude"s and "bro"s and “my man”s
and then she's like huh. maybe he needs some encouragement
and says that they should try on tuxes for fun, because it's dance season and everyone is trying on formal wear anyway, just to try it
it turns out not to be really her thing, she’ll always be a skirt girl but she LIKES it, and then she sees jack's feet swinging off the bench in the next changing room and humming loudly
and she takes a deep breath, cringes first for potentially getting thrown out of yet another establishment, (that happens more than it should)
and just yells "HEY ISNT THIS THE FUCKING BOMB DOT COM DOT ORG DOT UK BROTHA"
and its so obnoxiously loud he just falls over cackling
and they're so happy
and she throws him the ones with shoulder pads and a low crotch cause SHE KNOWS WHAT SHES DOING
and they make a day of it and go get mac and cheese and play cards and cause a scene cause he makes a good play and she knocks their cups over and he's that much more smiley when they're politely asked to vacate the premises
and he doesn’t realize it that day, but eventually it comes to him that she’s being extra to make him smile
and its easier from there, little things like pointing out that their cute barista penny might be bi instead of just saying gay, pointing out how superior and sharp short hair would look on jack, leaving a king card with a "have a good day" note in his locker instead of a queen
even if in their ongoing locker game of dilemma, they both know that they both know that it's a bad move
it’s really casual one night, he turns around on the couch opens his mouth and she just nods. and then it all comes out from there, pun intended
he was always going to be jack, he had that straightened out for a long time
esther hears this and grins, and his dead name is never brought up again
esther pulls up the computer and takes him virtual binder shopping and they go into the packer section and just start cackling at some of the inferior options and then she gasps in delight, licks the back of the jack of hearts card, and sticks it on his forehead
“jack, you know, you’re really ruining my whole man hating lesbian thing, like, it’s gonna make me look bad if my best friend is a guy”
“it’s gonna make me look bad if my best friend is a huge nerd”
esther cuts his hair
the living room looks like a cat and an opossum had a death match in it
its so so so bad.
then anita comes home.
“this is a MESS esther what have you done let me fix this"
“esther amelia roberts you better start vacuuming NOW while i do your best friend’s hair"
its very well done.
jack doesn't come out to his family, they just heavily suspect he's a butch lesbian
“tomboy” isn't boy, but he guesses its as good as he’ll get from them
he doesn't know their stance, but he doesn't think it's… great?
so he changes into the binder in the back of esther’s or helen’s car or in the bathroom of the bus
he has a hippie aunt out in the country who drops by sometimes for weird occasional visits
she takes him for his testosterone appointments and ice cream afterward
(cake batter. every time.)
esther keeps his needles at her house
esther's mom was told he's trans after cutting his hair
and she's a little :/ about keeping things from his family but she understands that some things are more important and jack is like a son to her
she tells him this
and pats him
he helped esther practice her hebrew for so long he's picked a little up
sometimes they translate little notes into hebrew, then into binary, then into various cyphers, and pass it to each other in class so no one can read it but them
because if jack ever does anything
its never half assed
a couple years ago he got his ass kicked by an angry peer
something about a project being cut
sally saved him before he could get killed and called 911
he had a head injury and now has chronic pain
but takes modern medicine for it
underage alcohol is still way too tempting for him anyway. he's not an addict in this but. he's a little loose. he hasn't told anyone but penny. this is the one thing esther doesn't know
penny always writes his name wrong on his cafe order, getting ridiculously creative
she encourages a caffeine addiction as an alternative
it’s for sure not the best solution, but they're working it out together
penny counts pennies a lot because of the mortgage problem
so jack comes in and fixes all the machines in her cafe for christmas
they help each other
and learn to help themselves
jack’s a builder
he builds for esther, he builds for penny, he builds for himself.
he built himself.
and he's very happy with what he’s made.
14 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
gearguts-archive
I draw... Sometimes
tworivers11
Untitled
sunnydayout
hi
ohforevertwentysomething-blog
Untitled
conejitaespacial
Las Pinturitas de Anita