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highwaytothedangerzone502 · 1 year

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Ghost Story - Chapter 30

Pairing: Rooster x Female OC

Word Count: 1981

Warnings: Mention of death, a lot of grief

Summary: No one will miss a ghost. It'd been a running joke for as long as anyone could remember, something Ghost herself started, and she always said it with a smile on her face or with mirth in her voice. The untouchable stealth pilot in every sense of the word, no one could've predicted the depth of her turmoil over recent events, nor the extremes she would go to in order to protect the man she loved, not even those closest to her. Now, all that was left of the young aviator for Maverick, Hangman, and Rooster were the memories of the past, which would slowly fade with time. She'd come into their lives and made an unforgettable impression, and then, like a ghost, she was gone... Then again, ghosts can't die a second time.

Notes: The chapters/large parts in italics are flashbacks.

Chapter Songs: Penny's Interlude I Wish I Had A Hundred Years

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Maverick

Hangman was released first thing the following morning. He suited up for training before Ghost could even ask if he was feeling okay. They spent most of the day in the air, practicing their usual routines with the course runs and dogfighting before ending it at two so they could go home and freshen up before going out on the water to spread Charlie's ashes.

The four met at the designated dock, and Rooster led them to a sleek bowrider with the name 'Juliette' embossed in a shimmering, dark blue cursive on the side. Maverick recognized it immediately. "Isn't this Ice's boat?"

"Yeah, I learned how to drive it a while ago," Rooster replied, hopping onto the craft and offering his hand to Ghost to help her in. "Bryn gave me a refresher during our brief dating stint."

"Oh, shit," Ghost groaned, running a hand through her hair. "I haven't told her about Mom..."

"Bryn knows. I told her about it today. She'll be waiting for us at the dock when we return," Rooster said, gently rubbing her back. Ghost made no further comment, only clutched her mom's ashes closer to her chest. Maverick and Hangman hopped into the boat, and while the latter joined Rooster at the steering wheel, Maverick joined Ghost in the front and took a seat next to her. Neither said a word. They simply stared out over the calm waters accompanied by a cool breeze. In the distance, a large squadron of fighters could be seen soaring above the base.

For over an hour, Rooster drove the boat into the horizon, only stopping when no other craft could be seen for miles nearby. He and Hangman made their way up to the front to join the other two pilots. They stood together with Ghost in the middle, flanked by Hangman and Maverick, and Rooster closely at her six.

"Would you like to say a few words?" Hangman inquired gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. When Ghost failed to respond, he asked, "Would you like me to say something?"

Ghost nodded shakily. Hangman cleared his throat and began, "We're gathered here today to honor the extraordinary life of Charlotte 'Charlie' Winchester, a woman who never wavered in what she believed in and always chased after her dreams. Charlie accomplished many things in her lifetime, more than most could ever hope for, but by far, the achievement she was most proud of was being a mother to Annalise 'Ghost' Winchester and Mia 'Ghoul' Winchester, and her spirit lives on in Ghost, visible in her daughter's tenacity, calm, and strength through the most difficult of times. The world won't be the same without you, Charlie, but we will all do our best to make you proud."

The words seemed to spill forth from Rooster's mouth before he could stop them. "Thank you, Charlie, for taking me in on the holidays when I thought I had nowhere or no family to go to. Thank you for supporting and pushing me, and for always reaching out to check on me. I'll miss those random calls I'd get from you just to say hi and make sure I was doing okay. Thank you for being a second mom to me."

Maverick gulped, feeling he had to say something but having no idea where to start. His words came out jumbled but genuine. "Our time together was fleeting, but you changed my life. You taught me to go for what I wanted and never stop. You were there for me in my darkest hours after Goose died, and for that, I can never repay you. I'll take over watching Ghost. I promise to treat and protect her as if she were my own daughter, so rest easy, Charlie. I've got it from here."

Ghost stepped forward and knelt down on the cushioned bench. She unscrewed the lid of the urn and carefully tipped the jar over. As the ashes of Charlotte Winchester blew over the Pacific, Ghost whispered, "Inis vitae sed non amoris."

She stepped back, clutching the now-empty urn. Ghost took a shuddering breath and bowed her head. The four pilots then saluted the deceased loved one. Out of the corner of his eye, Maverick noticed Rooster turn around to look at something before gently placing his hands on Ghost's shoulders and saying, "Look up."

Maverick, Ghost, and Hangman did as Rooster said, just in time to see seven F-18s fly above them, the second on the right from the middle pulling up into the sky while their comrades continued on.

"The Daggers found out about Charlie and thought it wasn't the best to overwhelm you by suddenly showing up on the dock, but they still wanted to be there for you for this," Hangman said, staring off after the jets.

"So they got permission from Cyclone to perform a modified missing man formation," Rooster finished. For a few seconds, Ghost made no movement, no sound, only stared at the F-18s disappearing into the distance. Then, in the blink of an eye, the composed facade evaporated. Ghost crumpled in on herself, dropping her head as the tears and quiet sobs spilled out. Her legs gave out from underneath her, and she would've collapsed to the floor had all three men not rushed to grab her. Maverick reacted the quickest, wrapping his arms firmly around Ghost to support her and keep her upright. Hangman and Rooster each placed a hand on her back to let her know they were there for her. For a few minutes, they stood there and let Ghost release her pent-up grief, having pushed it down the last few days to focus on training for the mission. When she finally gathered some of her composure, she turned to Rooster and Hangman, giving each of them a tight hug and saying, "Thank you for all of this."

"No matter what, we're always here for you," Rooster promised, kissing her cheek. He glanced at the rapidly setting sun. "It's probably a good idea for us to head back before it gets too dark. Why don't you and Mav stay here? Hangman and I will get us back."

The two young pilots maneuvered back to the steering wheel while Maverick and Ghost sat down on the cushioned benches, the latter all but collapsing onto them. Maverick reached over and grabbed her hand. "Was that too much? The flyover and-"

"No, no, it was- it was amazing. That's not-" Ghost wiped the tears from her face- "I think between the words spoken for her, pouring her ashes out, the flyover, it just cemented that she's really gone. My last family member is gone, and while I know I have all these people here to support me and be there for me, I-"

"Feel alone?" Maverick finished understandingly.

"Yeah..."

"That will pass. It helps that you at least recognize you have people here for you. It's harder to put yourself back together when you don't realize that."

"Did you?" Ghost asked quietly. "When Goose died?"

"Yeah, but I think like you, I felt like I couldn't go to any of them, either because I didn't feel close enough to them or I didn't want to burden them more than I felt I already had, even though they would've wanted me to have gone to them. When you have no blood family, your friends become family, and sometimes, those bonds are even stronger. Those friends will be your rock when things get tough and times get dark."

Ghost bowed her head, fiddling with the hem of her black dress. "I don't want to burden them... especially you and Bryn. I swear, every time I see you, I have some new crisis on my hands, and you're the closest thing I've had to a dad since my own passed away. I don't want you thinking that my life is constantly one big mess and that every time I come to you, I have a problem I need help with."

"Isn't that what dads are for? Blood or adopted?" Maverick squeezed her hand. "I'm honored you trust me with your problems, whatever they may be, and that you come to me for advice, although some people may question your judgment on that."

Albeit small, Ghost laughed, warming Maverick's heart. It'd been a while since he'd heard that. "Yeah, well, I question theirs. You haven't led me astray yet, so if you don't mind, I'll continue coming to you when I need it."

"My door is always open. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What did you say when you spread Charlie's ashes?" Maverick queried, gripping the side of the boat when Rooster hit a wave. Bradley shouted a sheepish, "Sorry!"

Ghost curled her legs underneath her. "It was Latin for 'the end of life but not of love.' Mom said it at Ghoul and Dad's funerals. I-I thought it was fitting for hers."

Maverick smiled softly. "The end of life but not of love. I like that."

"I'm hoping that's the last time I have to say it for a while."

"You expecting to say it again soon?"

"With the mission coming up? Yeah, I do..."

"Have you decided who you're taking yet?"

"Not a clue. I was hoping the dogfighting would make it crystal clear for me, but I swear it's only made the decision even more difficult. I don't know what to do, Mav."

"Decide a different day," he told her. "Today, let yourself grieve your mom and face that problem another time."

"I think that's good advice." Ghost gave him a small smile, then glanced out over the ocean and the setting sun. The two fell silent for the rest of the trip, mulling over the events of today and the events of the future. Maverick found himself repeatedly glancing over at Ghost to check on her. No more tears rolled down her cheeks, but a deep sadness resided in her blue eyes, one he understood all too well could only pass with time.

When Rooster pulled up to the dock, Bryn was waiting for them. She drew Ghost into a hug the moment her friend stepped afoot onto solid ground. Maverick, Hangman, and Rooster let the women have their moment, securing the boat to ensure it didn't float away. By the time they were done, Bryn and Ghost had pulled apart, both misty-eyed.

"I'll take it from here, boys," Bryn said, wrapping an arm around Ghost's shoulders. "Thanks for taking care of her and the boat today."

"Any time. Thanks for letting us use the boat," Rooster responded, his gaze resting on Ghost. "Call us if you need anything, okay?"

"Thank you again. For everything," Ghost said sincerely, shuffling over and hugging the boys one more time. "I really do appreciate it."

"We're always here for you. We'll see you tomorrow at training," Maverick told her.

The groups began to part ways, but Ghost suddenly exclaimed, "Wait, Mav! I have something for you."

Maverick waited while Ghost dug in her purse. Finally, she pulled out an envelope and handed it to him. "What's this?"

"A letter that mom wrote to you. It was in the box of her belongings that Wolfman sent me. I meant to give it to you yesterday, but-"

"I caused problems," Hangman joked, garnering a chuckle from the group.

"Thanks, Ghost," Maverick said, holding the letter with slightly shaking hands. The group bid each other goodnight once more and parted ways. Maverick tucked the letter safely in his pocket before heading home. He wasn't ready to read it right now. It'd been an emotional day, a somber reminder of how precious and fleeting life could be, and reading the words of a woman he once loved would be too difficult. All Maverick wanted to do was go home and hold Penny tightly for the rest of the night.

****

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wjforever · 1 year

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Shatter me again. Chapter 82

At least an hour passes, and all this time I spent with a gun in my hand. It's weird, even funny. I remember being horrified at the sight of the gun the first time Warner fired in that dinning room. But now it seems almost familiar. Natural. And it doesn't scare me anymore. What scares me more is that I'm not afraid to use it, even though I haven't had to shoot yet.

I don't know what to do. I hear Kenji's constant screams, which the rain outside the window is not able to drown out. And I can't just wander around these rooms. This is James' hideout, I have no right to intrude into his life like that. I don't know if there is a clock here, I don't know if I should get some food or water for Kenji. I don't know if there is anything I can do to help. This helplessness is killing me. Because I would like to be useful. But I'm not.

Adam comes out of the bathroom several times. I get to my feet every time, but he just offers me a small smile and passes by. The first time, he takes the towel and knife. Then he goes to get clothes, apparently for Kenji.

Of course, I try to ask what I can do, but he just shakes his head.

When they finally leave the bathroom, Kenji looks very pale. I jump off the couch and go over to help bring him to where Adam is leading him.

"It's okay, Juliette, I got him. I'll do it myself."

I just nod. There's no point arguing, I really can only interfere. I'm not wearing gloves and my touch can only make things worse.

"Will you give me a soft bed?"

I see Kenji trying to smile, but it's hard for him. He seems to be falling asleep or losing consciousness.

"No chance. There's only one bed here, and it's my brother's. I'll put you on the couch."

I turn, looking around. I see blood on the floor. Maybe I could wash it off, but they save water, and I don't know if I can use it. If they have any rags for cleaning. And I think maybe Kenji could use a blanket, but I don't know where Adam took all the bedding while I was washing. And even if I find it, could I offer it to Kenji or not.

So I'm just watching.

Adam puts Kenji down, not hurrying to cover him. And I see the wounded closing his eyes.

"He's sleeping?" I ask with uncertainty.

"Yes. He lost a lot of blood. It's amazing how he got to us at all. And he has a lot of injuries. I had to give him a strong painkiller. I think he'll sleep for a while.

"Mgm…"

Adam straightens up, runs his hand through his hair, over his face.

"I owe you an apology."

"What? Why?"

"Well… because of me, everything is not going as smoothly as it could."

I approach him decisively and turn him around.

"Without you, I would still be at the base. Did Kenji say something to you?"

"I don't know. He spoke so chaotically. And most of the time he was just screaming… You know, we were both in Warner's personal guard at the base, and we kind of became friends. Of all the guys, he was the least asshole."

"Marvelous. I can't even imagine what the others were like."

Adam smiles a little. "Yeah, you're right. As I understand it, when we escaped, Warner went crazy, obviously." I see Adam looking Kenji lying on the couch from head to foot.

"He tortured him, didn't he?"

"I think so. He said something like that. Kenji also said he hadn't told anything. And I believe him, because he simply didn't know anything. Warner was trying to figure out where we could go, if I had a place to hide. If I talked about my plans to escape."

"He looks really bad." I glance at Kenji one more time.

"Yes, that's true. He's badly beaten. I don't know if his ribs are broken. I've bandaged him, but it won't help much. And I had to pull the bullet out of his leg. The bone wasn't touched, at least something good…"

I squeeze Adam's hand and look at him with sympathy and admiration. We stand close to each other and speak in an undertone so as not to wake Kenji.

"But how did he manage to escape?"

"I don't know. But it seems that he was shot just at the moment of escape. Perhaps he managed to take advantage of the chaos around. I really don't know."

"Adam…"

"Mm?"

"But he must also have that serum. The tracker."

Adam nods at me and I can see in his eyes that he thinks the same thing. "I have no idea how he got to us. Perhaps it dysfunctional now, otherwise Warner would be here by now."

This thought makes my blood turn cold like the waters of the Antarctic.

"Even if there is no tracker, we can't trust him one hundred percent, right?"

I'm asking this to assess the situation. To sort out what I should and what I shouldn't be afraid of.

"I'm not sure. I wouldn't trust anyone from the headquarters. And we need to get out of here as quickly as possible, get rid of Kenji along the way. We definitely can't go any further together. I should go and get James, but it's too much of a risk. I may be noticed and this is definitely not part of our plans."

"How did he even manage to find you? I thought no one knew about this place."

"Indeed! And that's what confuses me the most. But I never had a chance to ask. He's definitely out of his mind from the pain."

I see Adam lower his head, shake his head. Of course, he's upset and disappointed.

"Adam, I know you're very worried. We invaded James' house. And yours. And now it's all getting so unreliable."

"I'm very afraid for him. I don't know how he'll take it all. His life has only recently acquired at least some semblance of normality. And now I'm putting him through all these challenges again."

My heart shrinks. I feel a deep sense of guilt, but I know what Adam would say to me. That he himself wanted to run away, that this was his chance and the only way to return to his brother. And he will be right. So I just raise my hand and touch his cheek with the palm. He leans into my hand and presses it to his face, closes his eyes, relaxes a bit."

"Son of a motherless goat. Guys, get a room!"

I shudder and literally jump away from Adam. It seems to me that I've blushed to the roots of my hair. Adam doesn't look embarrassed, but very angry.

"You're in my fucking apartment. Know your place, you bag of shit."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise, amazed at the harshness with which Adam speaks to Kenji. He doesn't usually behave like this. Surprisingly, this person causes quite intense negative emotions in both of us. Kenji is also impressed by Adam's reaction, he whistles and tries to get up. It's given to him with enormous difficulty. He winces in pain, but keeps moving anyway.

"Hey, wait. That is, I didn't imagine all this because of your vigorous medications? You really can touch her? Like, really really?"

"It's time for you to go."

"You're not kicking me out, are you?"

"That's exactly what I'm doing. I thought you'd pass out for a few hours, but obviously you're a tougher nut to crack than you might seem. And since you're fine, get out of here. You may have already left a chemical trace leading directly to my house. And I don't even know if you did it on purpose. So, buddy, there is no common path for us. We're leaving, and so are you."

"Oh, whoa, wait, keep your shorts on." Kenji sits on the couch and looks at Adam. "Maybe, of course, I violated your plans… But I know how to fix it. I know where we could all hide, you know. A safe place. You won't find safer. The coolest in the sector."

"What are you talking about? What the place?"

"I know a guy… I'll show you how to get there. You help me, and I will help you. Everyone is happy. Okay?"

"Do you take us for fools? How did you even find me. Do you think I can trust you after this?"

"Oh, come on, man, really. I have nothing to hide. I'm telling you the truth! I swear. I had ran away, and then I was running, running running. My leg hurt like hell, the blood was gushing. And I jumped over some fence, then I found a huge field with some kind of shed. And since I had no strength, I just blacked out, either from the pain, or from the fatigue, or from the cold. And next thing I knew, some dude was carrying me across the field. I don't know, I was almost delirious. Maybe I said your name. Because he said to shut up about Adam, cause Adam lives here. And then he just drops me off at your door." Kenji chuckles. "It looks like I was dreaming about you, since I said your name."

I'm standing and looking from one to the other. It's obvious that Kenji is lying, but at the same time, for some reason, I believe that this has nothing to do with Warner. Because if that would be Warner's plan, well… I'd be with Warner by now. He wouldn't let me stay with Adam that long. Especially after he found out that Adam could touch me. That he himself can touch me. He wouldn't hesitate.

"What did that man look like?" asks Adam.

"Who the hell knows? Definitely a huge guy. The other one couldn't lug my ass around. I know nothing about him. Well, somehow I didn't dare to question the guy who drags the unfortunate wounded around the neighborhood. Moreover, I was delirious, remember?"

"He thinks we'll believe him." Adam tells me.

"Hey, you don't have to believe me, it's up to you." Kenji shrugs. "But we were kind of friends. And Warner isn't here. But I am. And I'm with a bullet in my leg, unarmed."

"This could be part of your plan!"

"What plan? Keep you with me long enough for you to die from my charm?"

I see Adam hesitating, but I'm in no hurry to interfere in their conversation. Adam knows this guy better than I do.

"Look, I don't know. It all seems too suspicious."

"Oh, of course you know everything. I'm not trying to spoil things for you. I even took a goddamn beating for you…"

"Not that you know anything."

"Well, shit, man, what do you want me to tell you? I told them you were a great guy. I tried my best for you."

"You do understand that all this is not just about me?"

"Mmm, well, I understand." Kenji drags the words and examines me from head to toe. That look makes me shiver.

"It's about my brother, you blockhead. I've worked so hard to find a safe place for him, and you ruined years of planning."

I tug on Adam's fingers gently, wanting to calm him down a little.

"Adam, we weren't going to stay here anyway."

"Are you protecting him?" Adam suddenly asks me, and he sounds rather harsh, with resentment. I don't blame him, the situation is really difficult.

"The chick is just thinking logically." Kenji squints one eye and points at me with his index finger.

"I'm just saying that we need to get James anyway and get out of here before it's too late."

I see understanding and gratitude in Adam's eyes. He nods at me.

"Yeah, you're right. He's too young to deal with this…"

"Hey, we're all too young to have to deal with this shit." Kenji breathes heavily as he turns around to get his legs off the couch. "No one should have to see what we’ve seen. No one should have to wake up in the morning and find dead bodies in their living room, but shit happens. We all deal with it somehow, and we find a way to survive. You're not the only one with problems."

"If it wasn't for you, I'd have fewer problems." Adam sinks into the sofa next to Kenji and puts his head in his hands.

My eyes shift from Adam to Kenji and he stares back at me.

"You know, even though you're a psycho chick, you're pretty sexy."

Click.

Adam reacts faster than lightning and a gun is pressing to Kenji's temple. Kenji raises his hands, but there is an amusement expression on his bruised face. "Hey you, either you will be respectful, or the bullet from this gun will rest in your skull."

"Okay, okay. Don't be so jealous. You're also very sexy, much sexier than this lady. Besides, she's a complete stranger to me, but you…"

"Where is this place you were talking about?" I intervene, interrupting their useless conversation. I never let the gun out of my hand. I move closer to them, gazing at Kenji intently. "Or did you lie to us about it?"

Kenji lights up considerably. "Not at all. It's very real. And, moreover, you will be welcome there."

"What do you mean?" Adam asks, raising his head and narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Well…" Kenji hesitates, and I start to getting antsy. "This is a place where people like us gather together. Everyone who is against The Reestablishment and all this crap, you know."

"You mean the rebels?" squints Adam.

"Well, yeah, sort of… listen, I shouldn't tell too much…"

"Are you fucking serious? Do you want us to trust you? Then tell everything you know."

"Yes. But this is not the main group, but a separate one, more secret. Warner doesn't know about them yet, that's for sure."

Adam and I exchange glances and then Adam looks back at Kenji.

"And why would they be so happy to see us?"

"They like all good people. Besides, there's this guy there, he's kind of in charge there, and we're friends. He'll be grateful to you for saving my ass."

I see Adam thinking about all this and Kenji notices it too.

"And the chick will be welcome even with her abilities. It's even cooler. After all, she can do such things that…"

Now I'm the one who flaring up, because I feel like I'm being played again.

"You think I'm some kind of freak that you can laugh at with your friends? A curiosity that you can marvel at together?"

"Well, why a freak right away? Just… interesting, and maybe even useful…"

"Does this seem interesting and useful to you too?" I ask, pointing the gun at Kenji's face.

"Oh yes, it's very interesting, just wicked cool. Maybe you'll put it down, I've already seen enough of it lately."

I look at the gun in my hand and realize that I seem to be really addicted to it. Aim, threaten. I don't understand myself when I became like this. Does the fear of death make you become like this? Or has it always been in me? Or it comes from outside, from the people who surround you, and you just act like them. Because it seems that Warner managed to get it out of me, despite all my protests.

I don't want to admit it, but now I'm using all the skills I've acquired while at the headquarters. The experience of torturing soldiers, control of emotions, threats to kill Warner. It's like I've finished my studies, and now I'm putting theoretical knowledge into practice. He still taught me to act sharply, to overcome myself, my fear and insecurity, to protect myself. Now I allow myself to react to the danger much more decisively. I don't run, I don't hide in the corner. I pull out my gun and aim at the face of someone who I perceive as a threat.

But it's also about Kenji. I'm amazed that despite his serious injuries, he continues to be a jerk. And it gives me strength in a strange way, because his absurdity makes me feel older and smarter than he is. And suddenly I don't feel sorry for him, I'm not afraid for him, and I'm not even angry. I'm being strict at him, like a teacher scolding a disobedient student. Isn't that what Warner told me? He claimed that I begin to dominate when I perceive a person as weaker and more helpless than myself. But in other cases, I immediately shrink into myself and lose all interest. Was he right about me? Does he really understand me better than I understand myself?

These thoughts make me soften a little, although I still try to keep up the façade.

"I'll do. Just because I don't want to get my hands dirty on you." I say and lower the gun with an indifferent and slightly arrogant expression on my face.

Kenji swallows a little nervously, and then tries to smile.

"You're sure you're not crazy, right?"

"No." I shake my head, feeling that my role as a serious and confident lady is almost beginning to amuse me. I'm holding back though. "I'm not sure."

Kenji grins at me, looks me up and down again and bites his lower lip. "Well damn. But you make crazy sound so good."

"You have trouble getting the point or what?" Adam's voice is like steel, his body stiff with anger, his eyes narrowed, unflinching. There is no hint of humor or gentleness in his expression. Unlike me, he's still one hundred percent serious. "I don't need another reason."

"Huh, well, listen, out of fairness . You've had a lot more opportunities to showcase yourself to the lady. Give others a chance too. Even if she's crazy…"

"She's not interested in you."

"Oh, really? Well, I wouldn't blame her. We just met, and I look like hell. But when all this…" Kenji circles his face with his finger and grins. "will be back to normal, I'm sure she might change her mind…"

Adam elbows Kenji in the face and doesn't apologize.

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prettyblueskylark · 3 years

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Remember me

Welcome to the first chapter of this experiment, you are my beta reader, Reader. I know where the story will go, but i'm not sure how many chapter wil be (8?910?).

Hope you like it, comment or dm me anytime.

Chapter 1

-Hey, babe. - Y / N's cheerful voice greeted Steve from the other end of the phone. - We're on our way home. We should be in New York in a couple of hours.

Steve smiled at his girlfriend's voice. He noticed that to answer he had placed his cup of coffee on some documents, leaving an almost perfect circle on the report of the last mission of Falcon and Black Widow. He gave a curse through gritted teeth. -Hey, doll. It's nice to know you're coming back. Did you and Bucky find anything?

Y / N sighed - Nothing particularly interesting. Madame Hydra is still out of our league, but we still found some interesting documents for Stark to read. The only interesting thing, after all. The base was abandoned, recently, but still abandoned. Still, from the information they had gleaned from the Watch Dogs, that base should have been a focal point. It seems they are building a weapon; I can't tell if it's a bomb or a rifle ...

-Or a rifle that throws bombs- Bucky added, approaching the phone to talk to his friend and yelling in Y / N's ear.

All three laughed at the idea of a bomb-throwing rifle.

-Can I confirm the table for tonight, then? - Steve asked.

-You can confirm the table and the ice cream for after dinner and the romantic walk and I'm ovulating; therefore, you can also book sex to make a baby- Y / N bit her lip, while his tone became more and more languid and seductive.

-And I don't want to know when you're going to conceive my nephew, I just want to know when I'm going to be an uncle. Perverts. - Bucky's voice was again loud enough for Steve to hear as well.

- See you soon, Captain. I love you.

-I love you too.

With a quick click, they ended the conversation.

-So, kids, huh? - Bucky looked at his friend.

-So, kids. Do you have any proposals for names? I already know what the middle name will be, if it's a boy- Y / N ruffled his hair -I swear I'll take every proposal into consideration.

Bucky quickly fixed his hair - I can't believe that punk is going to be a father. If he's male, call him Daniel. I met a Daniel during the war. A good boy. He was in love with a nurse, Liz. He was a milky Brit; she was a beautiful Southern. She was wasted on him, but she made her laugh. Danny had such a strong accent that I understood half of what he was saying, but he was a good guy. Call him Daniel the little monster.

Y / N smiled at the story. Bucky and Steve rarely talked about the war. Of the misadventures they had been through, this was the one that had affected him the most, so she believed.

- If he is female?

- Juliet.- he said confidently.

-Your first love? - Y N was curious to know the story behind the name.

-I have never met a Juliette. My first love was Susie Sherman. Dark hair, heart-shaped lips, and two small breasts with pink nipples. She gave me a...- Bucky looked at Y/N -Never mind.

Y/N patted him on the shoulder -Poor Susie, maybe she really cared about you!

Y/N would continue to berate Bucky for his talk about Susie, but the quinjet was rocked by a missile. Two aircraft appeared on the radar.

-What the hell !? - Bucky tried to regain control of the quinjet. A second missile hit them in the wing, severing it cleanly. They were in free fall.

-It won't be an easy landing. Maybe you'll have to postpone dinner, baby.

Y/N sent the emergency signal to the Avengers Tower, to signal their position and to be recovered as quickly as possible.

A third missile hit them, this time opening the hatch.

"Shit!" Flashes came out of Y / N's hands, whatever came in from there, she would have killed it with her electric power.

She had not finished formulating the thought that Madame Hydra appeared before them in all the green and evil splendor of her.

-Hi sweetheart.- Madame Hydra smiled.

Y/N did not respond to her greeting and her electric shocks went out of her hands to hit her.

- Not so fast, honey.

The last thing Y/N saw was the gun held by Madame Hydra, then the emptiness and silence.

#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #steve rogers x oc #steve rogers x you #steve rogers x y/n #steve rogers fic #steve rogers angst #chris evans #chris evans x reader #cevans #captain america #steve rogers fluff #steve x reader #bucky barnes #madame hydra #steven grant rogers

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emkay512 · 3 years

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Once Upon A Time

Chapter 3

Summary: This starts at the beginning of TRR book 2 with the Fydelia ball but with a different series of events. This AU is based off the show Once Upon a Time with Riley and Liam mirroring Snow and Charming. Characters belong to Pixelberry.

A/N: I felt like I needed to still post this, even though I’m terrified with living up to my own hype. Let me know what you guys think.

A/N 2: thank you for pre-reading @queenrileyrose and @sfb123 both of you have given me such encouragement and I really appreciate it!

Warnings: This will contain NSFW adult language and content. By reading, you acknowledge you are 18 and over.

I’m keeping the same tags from my earlier post, please let me know if you want to be removed, absolutely no hard feelings! If you’d like to be tagged, I would be happy to add you!

Tags: @burnsoslow @ao719 @kat-tia801 @callmeellabella @charlotteg234 @neotericthemis @bbrandy2002 @kingliam2019 @iaminlovewithtrr @amandablink @iluaaa @jared2612 @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @tessa-liam @secretaryunpaid @ladyangel70 @gkittylove99 @texaskitten30 @shanzay44 @ofpixelsandscribbles

“Wait.... what!?” Drake’s face had gone white with shock. “But, we all saw! We all saw her fall in love with you. She loves you for sure Li, what the hell is going on!?” Despite his best efforts, Drake had come to accept Riley as an important person in his life, she was a truly trustworthy friend and she was a chance to see his best friend marry for love. Surely she’d never give up on hope and love, she was the epitome of both.

Liam wasn’t sure how much time had passed since he watched the latch on his bedroom door shut with Riley’s departure. He had dropped to his knees unable to stand with the weight of his broken heart still staring at the door trying to unsee what just happened. He was so sure of her love for him, he had never seen such happiness and sincerity exist in his life than when she told him she loved him in the hedge maze at his coronation ball. All this time he’d been apart from her was spent planning for a solution, clinging to the memory of her smile the last time he saw her before getting engaged.

Getting engaged. Then he started to think about the effect this had on her. He hated himself, she was vulnerable and abandoned, of course she’d fall out of love. Liam’s head was still foggy, but he remembered pouring two glasses of whiskey and calling Drake to meet him and briefly telling him what happened and now getting his reaction.

“You.. you don’t understand.” Liam was still just only choking out words. It was bad enough to live in this reality, but to have to utter the words and make someone else understand what was happening was like living his nightmare over again. “She said she did love me, or that maybe she did, or that she couldn’t love me anymore... God, it feels like it all happened so fast! I can barely get my head straight!” His tone was clearly crossing into frustration, he lifted both hands to his head and balled his fists into his hair while groaning out his hurt and anger. “This is my fucking fault.. in so many ways, Drake. She said I let too much time pass, that it convinced her that I should forget about her, and that she didn’t love me. I should have protected her from those goddamn photos and fucking Tariq. I never should have gotten engaged to Madeleine, and I shouldn’t have kept her away.” Liam was huffing his words.

This was difficult for Drake. He’d never seen his best friend so defeated like this. Liam always knew how to maintain his stoicism keeping an air of calm and rationalism. But that was not the man before him now, Liam was completely disheveled with eyes bright red from all his earlier sobbing, he looked completely broken. Drake understood the pain, he knew all too well how easy it was to fall for a girl like Riley, but like he said, their entire gang watched them fall head over heels for each other, and that was what he wanted for both of them.

Drake knew he needed to reel Liam back in, and once he could get the full picture, he’d know how to return Liam to his sharp tactical self. “Ok, ok, ok. I know your feelings are all mixed up, and judging by your overall behavior it looks like you hit the whiskey long before I got here, and I’m sorry, but I need you to get a grip and tell me everything.”

Liam nodded and sucked a breath in recalling everything. How she walked in his room, how he thought he was protecting her, how she said he didn’t want to know who was responsible, how she noticed the missing lock on the door, and how she walked out. Drake felt like he hadn’t blinked once after hearing everything and he could see it seemed these obvious clues hadn’t dawned on Liam. “Li, it sounds like she gave you like a dozen red flags. You didn’t press on any of those strange things she said and did?”

Liam wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion. “I.. all my instinctual strategies were out the window. I couldn’t focus on anything at fucking all except the sound of being dumped. There’s no tactical training on having your heart smashed since this bloody institution snuffs out the idea of love from day one. I feel like my mother was the only exception, and look what happened to her.”

Drake sighed and pinched the top of his nose with closed eyes. He himself was having a hard time comprehending things, he couldn’t imagine Liam’s anguish. “Look. First of all. This is not your fucking fault. There is clearly something large at play here, and you and Brooks seem to be the center. I think... I think Brooks knows something. She’s a smart girl and I think she was leaving you clues.” Liam could feel the gears moving in his mind as Drake went on. “It’s odd that she just walked in through the door.. how would she have just walked through the halls undetected? Weren’t you expecting her on the balcony? Which, by the way... wild expectation, bro. Shouldn’t Romeo be beckoning Juliette on the balcony, not the other way around?” Liam side eyed him hard, yes they’re best friends, but really? Was now the time to bust his balls? Drake couldn’t help himself and continued, “When you told her you wanted to find out who was responsible for the tabloid photos, why did she try to convince you to stop? It would be one thing if she just wanted to end things, but why mention that you wouldn’t want to know who it was? To me, these suggest that she either knows or has an idea who the culprit is. Then, the smoking gun. Another lock-less door and her freely walking out again.”

Liam shot up, determined and clear headed. “You’re right. I won’t play victim to this scheme and I sure as hell won’t let her be one either. Ok. We need to get a hold of Maxwell, either she’ll talk to him, or we can have him check on her without any suspicion.”

“Then I’ll call him so it can’t be immediately traced to you.” Drake pulled out his phone and clicked Maxwell’s name putting the line on speaker.

“Yo, Drakester! What’s up? Hate to break it to you, but the party’s over, you missed it.”

Already annoyed, Drake responded, “Cut the crap, Beaumont. We got a problem, Riley is gone, have you seen her? You need to check her room, but for the love of god, do it quietly.”

“What the hell are you talking about, I just left her, she was on her way to see Liam. Drake, please don’t tell me you’re cock blocking the king.”

Drake and Liam had no time for Maxwell’s carefree antics, they were both on strategy mode. Hearing this, Liam spoke first, “Ok so we know she was always on her way to see me with the intention of actually being with me. Something happened between her leaving Maxwell and her walking into my room.”

Maxwell was completely shocked to hear Liam’s voice on the line and started to panic that what Drake had said might be true, “Liam!? So she’s really gone? Last I saw her was getting her outside, as she was on her way to your balcony..”

She does love me. Was Liam’s immediate thought when Maxwell said she was on her way to his balcony.

As Maxwell recounted his interactions, Drake and Liam ignored any of his inquiries and focused on each other, working out the information they were getting.

“So she had to have been intercepted..” Liam realized. “Someone TOOK her!”

“Guys...” Maxwell was still being ignored on the line

“...And convinced her to say those things to you. Blackmail. It’s the only explanation.” Drake was finishing out the same conclusion Liam was getting to.

“Guys!!” Maxwell screamed and got their attention. “I made it to her room, we’re too late, it’s been ransacked. She’s on the run. What. Happened?”

Drake filled him in with strict instruction to keep this a secret, they would have to investigate quietly to prevent getting caught. He disconnected the call and looked at Liam, “Ok, she’s MIA, which only supports the theory of blackmail. If she was making a voluntary move back home, she would have said goodbye. We just need to find out where she went.”

Liam squared his shoulders and steeled his expression, now knowing he was on a rescue mission, “I’ll find her, I will always find her.”

#choices trr #king liam #liam x riley #choices #trr #the royal romance

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autumnleaves1991-blog · 4 years

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Day 11: Walk the Dog - William ‘Ironhead’ Miller

Day 11: Walk the Dog- William ‘Ironhead’ Miller

This story was requested by @oldstuffnewstuff. Thank you so much for the request! I love writing for requests! Thank you for all the rebloggs, comments, and likes. :)

Also gonna tag @myathleteeggspizza for our love of William Miller.

November Writing Challenge Masterlist

Day 10: Used Tea Bags - Javier Pena

William ‘Ironhead’ Miller liked numbers. His whole life since leaving the military was run down to the exact second the way he wanted it too. He would wake up at 0600 daily, stretch for eight minutes, down his first cup of coffee, and go for an eight mile run through the park. Then he would return home, take a five minute shower, get dressed, drink a smoothie, fill his tumblr with coffee, and leave for the base at 0730 sharp.

Every single day was the same. But, that’s what someone with as many demons as he had needed. The structure and security of the same routine. Not one minute unaccounted for. Until the day he met her.

It was a chilly November morning when he first noticed her. She had on a black leggings, a maroon crewneck sweatshirt, black ankle boots, and hair in a messy bun atop her head. She was sitting at one of the unoccupied benches near the Veterans statue, reading aloud a book to a golden retriever lying quietly with her head in her owner's lap.

He faltered for a moment, and one minute became two, became three and when he looked down at his watch he cursed to himself. He was behind schedule. When he looked back up they were gone. He turned each direction frantically looking for the girl and the dog but they were nowhere to be seen. He wondered for a moment if he had only imagined it before the beeping of his watch drew his attention and he picked up the pace to make up for the lost time. Lost time, what a novel concept for a person who counted everything in his life.

The next morning when he entered the park he couldn’t help but look for them as he ran around the path. Keeping his eyes open for the golden retriever and her alluring owner. Will couldn’t help the pang of disappointment at missing them again. The routine remained the same day in and out for another week before Will began to give up hope about seeing them again. On Saturday after his run he came home and left at exactly 0730 again but this time he was meeting his old army buddies for breakfast at a diner across town.

The diner looked old fashioned amongst the new and shiny chrome buildings that had begun to pop up around town but it wasn’t the outside that mattered. Will walked in and the bells tinkled on the door to notify the wait staff, and he nodded at the familiar faces before finding his friends. He slid into the worn, cracked leather of the booth next to his brother, shaking the other two men's hands across the table.

The waitress came over and brought him a steaming mug of coffee, two packets of sugar, and one creamer before going back over to her other customers. Frankie pointed to the cup before back at Will, “you come here way too often if they know exactly how you take your coffee.”

“Every Saturday,” Will tells him smiling as he prepares his coffee, taking a sip of the liquid gold, “Gladys knows just the way I like my coffee, and my breakfast. Why ruin a good thing by going somewhere else?”

Frankie laughs at him, “Some people actually like to go out and try new things. Are you still doing the same routine every day and doing that counting thing?”

Will only nods before he’s interrupted by Gladys who takes their orders, not even bothering to ask Will before she goes off to put their order into the kitchen. “Thank you Glady!” Will shouts at her and she raises a hand in acknowledgment.

“So how the hell have you guys been?” Santiago asks over the rim of his mug.

Benny fills them in on his training, and his new girlfriend he met at a fight a few months ago. Frankie tells them all about the house he just bought and is slowly renovating and shows them some new pictures of his daughter Juliette, who just turned three the past month. Frankie made the single father life look flawless. Santiago was in town for the next two months on break from down in Columbia where he’d been helping the local military take down a drug lord. All of them had something new to share, something exciting, except Will.

“So what about you Will?” Santi gestures to him as they all dig into their breakfast.

Will cuts himself another piece of pancake off for himself before running it through the syrup, “The same shit as usual, run, work, eat, sleep. On Saturdays I come here for breakfast and on Tuesday and Thursday I help Benny with training and Friday night is usually fight night. Besides that nothing is new.”

“Youshouldgetadog” the words jumble together out of Benny’s mouth as he tries to talk through the French toast pouring from his mouth.

“Damn it brother chew your food and then talk,” Will laughs.

Benny swallows before trying again, “I said, you should get a dog.”

“A dog? Why the hell would I get a dog?” he asks.

“Just hear me out brother, you love routines right? You run every morning and it seems to me that your a little lonely, a dog could go running with you, and keep you company.”

Will contemplates the idea for a moment and his thoughts can't help but go back to the beautiful woman from the park with the golden retriever. “Yeah, maybe… do we even have any pet shops around here?”

“Fuck pet shops,” Frankie tells him, “you need to go to the humane society and get a rescue dog, they are the best. Juli and I will even go with you, she would love to see all the dogs. How about 1300 today?”

Will thinks for a moment before agreeing, “ok...but just to look. I don’t know if I am ready for a dog yet.”

“Ok I’ll meet you there with Juli and we can go look at the dogs, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you go and fall in love with one and take it home today.”

Will scoffs, “Sure.”

When Will pulls his black 2014 Ford truck into the parking lot he feels slightly overwhelmed by all the animals running about. There is a large fenced in yard with exactly fifteen dogs of various shapes and sizes. When Frankie pulled into the spot next to him, he began to feel more at ease with a familiar face and when Juli came running full speed at him he couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face.

“Uncle WIll!!” Juli screamed tackling him into a hug.

He swung her up into his arms and she squealed, “hello sunshine! How’s my favorite girl doing? Are you keeping your daddy busy?”

“Of course! Daddy told me we're gonna help you find a puppy today? Can we get one too daddy?” She leans back in Wills arms and pouts at her father who crosses his arms.

“I get the impression you and her had this discussion before you came today?” Will asks laughing at the exasperated expression on Frankie's face.

“More than once,” Frankie nods to him before taking the toddler back, “Sweetie we talked about this, we are not getting a dog today, just Uncle Will.”

Her face morphs into a pout and both men can feel the beginning of a tantrum coming so they deflect, “Let’s go sunshine! Don’t you want to see all the dogs?” Will leads the way into the shelter and when the bell dings as he crosses the threshold he stops. Frankie runs into his back before pushing the rest of the way inside.

Sitting at a worn desk is the woman from the park. She’s wearing overalls with a white shirt covered in pink and yellow flowers. Her hair is pulled into a bun on top of her head but three long strands have slipped out and are dangling in front of her face. She’s wearing dark rimmed glasses, and has her nose buried in a book. On the ground under the desk, sticks out a wet black nose of a golden retriever snoring.

Will coughs lightly to draw her attention and she snaps her head up and seems slightly startled. “Oh hello! I-” she puts her bookmark in her book and the dog rises to its feet, noticing the new arrivals, “Welcome to the Dog House, uhm how can - how can I help you today? She stumbles over her words, and a blush rises up her neck.

“Hhh-uhm hi,” Will’s arm rises up and he scratches the back of his head, “Dog...I’m looking for a dog.” He can’t keep his eyes off her. The girl he had spent the last couple weeks thinking about, was right in front of him.

She giggles, “Well then you’ve come to the right place, I’m Andy, you can follow me.”

Will follows her like a lost puppy...no pun intended. Frankie just watches the two of them, smiling to himself. It’s obvious that Will likes this girl the way he’s acting if only he could see her looking at him the same way. Frankie keeps his thoughts to himself and follows behind the two.

“What kind of dog are you looking for? Something big? Small? Athletic? Lazy? We have all kinds here.” she asks, gesturing around to the cages as she leads them to a small enclosed area outside.

“I like to run, in Aveley Park over on 140th street, and I would like a dog to run with. I’m Will by the way,” he offers her his hand. When they touch they both feel a surge of electricity and they don’t let go, continuing to shake hands until Frankie not so subtly clears his throat.

She blushes deep red, and quickly drops his hand smiling shyly at him, “That’s where I like to go with Benny! We go almost every morning for a walk and then I usually read. My sisters have been in town the last couple weeks so we’ve been going in the evenings lately but they’re gone now so maybe I will see you some morning.”

“Oh uhmm, whose Benny?” Will asks, he didn’t notice a boyfriend last time he saw her.

“Oh my dog!” she gestures to the dog that has been slowly following between them.

From behind, Frankie lets out a snort. Will glares at him before meeting your confused expression. “Benny is my brother's name…I guess he and the dog have some things in common. My brother is kind of like a lovable golden retriever.”

She laughs out loud, and it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever heard and he’s desperate to hear her laugh again. “Well maybe your Benny and my Benny should meet someday.”

“I would like that,” Will tells her, smiling.

The two just stand there smiling at each other like two lovesick fools when Frankie puts down Juli who's been squirming in his arms. She toddles over to the dog and begins gently petting his head, his eyes close and his tail wags and everyone laughs watching the adorable toddler and the dog.

“Ok,” she slaps her hands together, “athletic dogs, good for running…”

“Maybe one a little older?” Will hesitantly asks, “I don’t run as fast as I used to.”

“You know I think I have the perfect dog for you,” she walks over to the kennel and comes back with a gorgeous chocolate lab. Will drops to his knee and gestures for the dog to come and sniff him and he does so without a second thought.

“What’s his name?” Will asks looking up at her.

“Tom.”

Will freezes and in his peripheral he sees Frankie frozen too, both of their eyes are on the dog. “What’s his name?” Will whispers.

“His name is Tom, they found him wandering around six months ago, they think someone left him. He’s house trained, and very well behaved. We-what’s wrong? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost…” She looks between Will and Frankie.

Frankie sniffs, “our old army buddy, he passed away a few years ago...his name was Tom.”

“Oh...oh I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”

“I’ll take him,” Will tells her quickly, “how do I adopt him?”

“Oh that’s wonderful! Come inside with me and we will get the paperwork all filled out, you can pay the $25 fee and he’s yours,” she places a leash around Tom and hands him to Will. When their hands brush he burns from her touch and she pulls her hand back. It’s not one sided. Juli and Frankie follow behind. Juli is more excited then everyone when Uncle Will tells her the dog is coming home with him. Just thirty minutes later and Will is the proud owner of a new dog. Frankie takes Juli outside to strap her into the car seat and head home.

“I hope I’m not too forward, but maybe one morning we could go running together...I go for a walk there every morning like I said but for the right partner I could be persuaded to start running in the mornings.”

“Actually...I would like to walk the dog with you tomorrow morning if you're free... it’s hard to get to know someone when running...then maybe I could take you out for breakfast?” Will feels as nervous as the first time he gave a speech.

“Yes,” she doesn’t hesitate, “yes, I would like that very much.” She slips a piece of paper from her back pocket with her phone number on it, “I was kind of hoping you would ask. I wrote it as soon as you decided on the dog.”

He laughs before taking the paper from her fingers, sliding the number into his pocket. He gently grasps her hand and presses a light kiss to her knuckles. “I can’t wait till tomorrow morning,” he tells her before walking backwards out the door.

Frankie has already left with Juli and he loads Tom into the front seat of the truck, before getting into the driver's seat and buckling his seat belt. He pulls out onto the road and sits at the stop sign, Tom crawls across the seat and places his head in Will’s lap. He puts his head gently, before pulling out to go home, thinking about tomorrow with one beautiful girl, and two dogs.

Day 12: It evaded me-

#November writing challenge #Triple Frontier #william ironhead miller #Will Miller #Will Miller x OC #charlie hunnam #Pedro Pascal #Frankie Morales

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miracleonice87 · 3 years

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Say You Won’t Let Go

a Sidney Crosby wedding series

Part Four

a/n: it’s finally here -- the last installment! sorry for the long wait, though I don’t think a ton of you have been waiting on this just based on notes, as compared to my Tyler, Mat and Matty T pieces 😜but that’s okay -- I had a ton of fun writing this one and that’s truly all that matters to me. thanks to those who’ve read and enjoyed! ❤️read part one here, part two here, and part three here.

summary: Sidney and Juliette are married at last.

warnings: mention of deceased father. otherwise, so damn fluffy it’s practically cotton candy.

_____

After a full morning of primping and prissing, I was finally tucked away in a small bridal suite deep within the recesses of Heinz Chapel, my pulse racing knowing that I was only yards and a few closed doors away from the man who would soon become my husband.

“You ready to get dressed, Jules?” Lauren asked, rubbing my shoulder soothingly as I nodded.

“Now’s a good a time as any, huh?” I quipped. She grinned, moving to unzip the garment bag containing my gown, hanging on a curtain rod.

“It’s even more perfect than I remember,” I said softly.

“Well, that’s good, because it would be a little tricky to do anything about it now,” Stephanie chuckled, sipping her champagne. I reached for my own glass, rolling my eyes playfully. Lauren and Nathalie worked to pull the dress off the hanger carefully, and Nathalie held the back of the dress open, smiling at me.

“Come on, love,” she coaxed. I turned to Trina, already misty-eyed, sitting in front of a makeup mirror, and motioned for her to join me.

“Will you help me?” I asked. Trina’s eyes flooded even more as she whispered, “Of course.”

She squeezed my hand and came to stand in front of me, Nathalie standing behind, both women grasping the dress as I untied my robe and passed it off to Alexa. I was self-conscious for a brief moment of the white lingerie and garter I was clad in, intended specifically for Trina’s son’s eyes, but the moment was too meaningful for me to focus for too long on that, and Trina was concentrating on lifting the dress onto my shoulders anyway. She smiled at me as she tucked the delicate gown around me, holding it against me as Nathalie fastened it in the back.

After a few moments, Nathalie said in nearly a singsong, “Okay, take a look.” She and Trina dropped their hands, the two of them and my bridesmaids gasping, my relatives already swiping at tears.

I picked up the skirt at my knees and headed for the mirror, stopping in my tracks when my eyes met my reflection.

“This feels like a dream,” I breathed, turning in the mirror to see all angles. Nathalie stood at my side, holding the headband and veil.

“Well, it’s about to get even dreamier,” she said as I bent a bit at the knee to allow her to adorn my hair with the finishing touches.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Just a minute,” Nathalie called. “It’s probably your uncle.” I nodded, Nathalie stepping back from me to examine her work. Lauren approached and the two of them decided that the look was complete, and I nodded in the mirror as I took one more look at myself. I kissed her and Trina’s cheeks before shuffling over to the door.

“Okay, who is it?” I asked through the heavy oak wood.

“It’s me, princesse,” Mario’s voice replied. I smiled, pulling the door open and hiding behind it until he entered the room and pushed it closed behind him, then looked to me.

“Wow,” he began, his voice cracking. “Oh, Juliette… you look stunning.” He took hold of my hands and leaned down to kiss my cheek, being careful not to smudge my makeup.

“Do you like it?” I asked softly, feeling like a little child playing dress up.

“Like it?” Mario shook his head. “It’s breathtaking. You look so beautiful. Just wait until your groom gets a look at you,” he added, smirking in his charming way. I beamed under his praise. “You look so handsome in your suit, like always,” I told him, smoothing the grey fabric around his boutonnière. He smiled, but his eyes signaled that he had come here for a different reason than for us to compliment each others’ attire.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” he told me after a noticeable pause, still holding one of my hands. “Would that be okay?” I nodded slowly, a bit anxious.

Mario and Nathalie exchanged a look, one I had seen many times, and I sighed. She suggested that the others in the room get dressed, too, in an enclosed part of the suite. Mario motioned for me to take a seat on the old-fashioned fainting couch, sitting down next to me as the other women left us alone.

“This is about my mom, isn’t it?” I asked point blank.

Mario’s eyes widened a bit and I could hear the surprise in his voice when he asked, “How did you know?”

I shrugged. “I saw the look you gave Auntie Nat,” I said. “It’s not the first time.”

Mario nodded, looking down a bit sullenly. “I guess I should’ve known that,” he sighed. “But listen, your mother just got here, a few minutes ago. She called me - she’s in the parking lot.”

My palms grew clammy and my mouth went dry at his words. He squeezed my knee reassuringly as he continued.

“She asked me if she could come up and see you,” Mario added. “I told her all I could do was ask, that the decision is fully yours. She asked me to tell you that she’d like to give you something ahead of the ceremony. Something she’d like you to have with you today.”

I drew a deep breath through my nose, focusing on the stained glass window across from me. As I toyed with the decision in my mind, sunshine suddenly flooded the room, casting colored light across me and my uncle, the beam seeming to come out of nowhere.

I closed my eyes and basked in the warmth — this wasn’t the first time light had shone on me suddenly. In fact, it had first happened the day we buried my dad, as the sun burst out from behind a cloud the moment I dropped a rose onto his casket. I still got the same comfort, the same reassurance, each time it happened as I did when I was a girl.

“Okay,” I whispered, eyes fluttering open. “You can send her up.” I felt a peace even as I uttered the words.

Mario studied me closely. “Are you sure, princesse?” he asked cautiously. I nodded, looking him in the eye. “I’m sure,” I promised. “That’s what my dad would want.”

Mario smiled sadly and leaned forward to kiss my forehead. “You have a beautiful heart, my Juliette,” he told me proudly. “I’ll go get her.” I nodded, and he left the suite with one last careful glance back at me.

Lauren opened the door from the other side of the suite, and the expression she wore told me she had heard the conversation.

“You okay, Jules?” she asked gently, coming to wrap me in a hug as I stood. I nodded.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” I told her. “Honestly, it wasn’t completely unexpected. I’ve wondered if something like this might happen.” She offered a small smile.

“We’re gonna let the two of you have your moment, but if you need me, just say so. Promise?” Lauren requested. I squeezed her hand. “Promise,” I replied. “God, you look amazing! I can’t wait to see all of you together,” I told her abruptly, taking in how beautiful she looked in the dusty blue bridesmaid dress we had picked out together months ago. She scrunched her nose and gave me a bright grin.

“Thanks, sis,” she said. “I’m glad you think so. Okay, I’ll see you in a few, yeah?” I nodded, thanking her softly as she disappeared again behind the door.

A few minutes later, a knock came again at the door. I steeled myself, taking a deep breath, and opened the door to see my mother, dressed in a modest sage green dress, clutching her small purse so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.

“Hi, Mom,” I greeted quietly, motioning for her to enter the room. She did so hesitantly, but once I closed the door behind her, I opened my arms for a hug anyway. She began to cry as she embraced me, and I was surprised by how overwhelmingly calm I felt, not feeling teary myself.

“You look beautiful,” she whispered, gazing up and down the length of my gown. “Thank you,” I said softly.

After inviting her to have a seat, she got right down to business — standard fare for her.

“Now, I know we don’t have long, but I wanted to give you something,” she started. “I’ve held onto this since we lost your dad, and… and I know he would want you to have it. Not just for today, but to keep. I don’t know, maybe you already have something old and something blue, but… but if not, this could maybe be both for you today,” she said, voice quivering.

I’d been frozen since the mention of my dad, and remained so as my mother produced a small velvet box. She handed it to me, nodding toward me to open it myself.

Slowly, I lifted the lid and immediately recognized the memento inside.

“Daddy’s ring…” I began, finally dissolving into tears, reaching for a tissue on the end table beside me to salvage my makeup.

“You remember,” my mother pointed out. I looked at her and nodded. “Of course I remember. Sapphire — his birthstone,” I said.

She let out a hum in approval as I slid it onto my middle finger. “Yes. Your grandparents gave it to him on his eighteenth birthday,” she recalled. I knew that, too, but I decided not to say so, appreciative of her gesture.

“Thank you, Mom,” I breathed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She squeezed me tightly and kissed my cheek, the most affection she had displayed toward me for many years. I sniffled, dabbing at my eyes again as I pulled away from her.

“You’re welcome, Juliette,” she said. “I know we don’t have the kind of relationship that many mothers and daughters do, and I’m sorry about that, truly. But I want you to know that I love you deeply, and that your father is undoubtedly smiling on you, today and every day.”

I managed a small smile, choosing not to delve any further into the subjects she had broached. Instead, I settled for telling her, “I know he is. And I love you, too.”

That much was true, as difficult as she was.

She sighed, squeezing my wrist. “Well, I should be going,” she said, standing. I felt a stabbing in my soul at her rushed exit, but I didn’t allow myself to dwell upon it.

“Okay,” I said tightly. “Well, thank you — thanks for coming up here, and for the ring. It means a lot.” She leaned in to kiss my cheek once more.

“You’re welcome, Juliette,” she said. “Congratulations. I wish you and Sidney a lifetime of happiness. He seems like a wonderful man.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from spewing the first words that came to mind — if you took the time and made the effort to get to know your own son-in-law, you would know how wonderful he is.

Instead, I gave a single nod.

“Thanks again, Mom,” I said in farewell, walking her toward the door. With one last squeeze of my hand, she headed down the hallway.

I turned around to see Nathalie, Lauren, and Trina slowly emerge from the doorway across from me. I put my hands in front of me, placating them.

“I’m okay,” I promised firmly. The three of them nodded, each coming toward me with a hug and words of praise and encouragement. As the other girls joined us in the room, all now dressed, I extended my hand to show them the ring.

“I don’t know if you heard her, but… it was my dad’s. She’s held onto it all this time. It’s a little big, but… I still want to wear it,” I said, each of them taking turns to catch a glimpse of the piece.

Taylor let go of my hand and held one pointer finger in the air.

“I have an idea,” she spoke, heading for the plastic tote filled with our peony and eucalyptus bouquets. Soon she retrieved a spool of white silk ribbon from the box and a pair of scissors from one of Lauren’s emergency wedding day kits. She held out her hand and I placed the ring in her palm. Carefully, she wrapped the ribbon over itself again and again around the back of the ring, using my finger to size it appropriately.

“I used to do this with my old prom jewelry,” Taylor told me, smirking. “Vero, can you hand me one of those tiny safety pins?”

Veronique dug in the kit and came up with the object she was hunting, Taylor fastening the pin to the silk and returning the ring to me. I pushed the ring past my knuckle, and it fit much more snugly.

“Thanks, Tay,” I said to my soon-to-be sister-in-law. “It’s perfect,” I added. I kissed her cheek as she smiled approvingly.

Nathalie approached, taking my hand in hers. She kissed the ring and whispered, “He’s always with you. You know that.” I nodded and we embraced, then heard a knock on the door.

“It’s time, my loves,“ Mario called from the other side. I could hear the smile in his voice when he added, “Sidney’s waiting.”

At his statement, my eyes widened, and reality quickly flooded my consciousness.

“Oh, my god!” I exclaimed. “I’m getting married!” The women around me laughed as Alexa let her father into the room.

“There’s still time to run,” Taylor added playfully. Mario nodded emphatically in agreement. “I’ll even drive the getaway car,” he promised.

I chuckled and shook my head. “Not in a million years,” I told them confidently.

With one last round of hugs and kisses, we all headed down the staircase to the narthex in the back of the church where the groomsmen stood waiting. The first person I locked eyes with from across the marble floor with was Nate, whose mouth dropped open upon seeing me.

“Wow,” he breathed. Mario chuckled from behind me. “Took the words right out of my mouth,” Mario quipped. Nate took long strides toward me and grabbed my hands, distancing himself to take in the full view before hugging me tightly.

“Look at you!” he exclaimed. “You look so incredible, Jules. Sidney is about to lose his mind.” Nate kissed my cheek and I squeezed his arm.

“I hope so,” I added. He rolled his eyes, amused by my questioning of his statement, and assured, “I know so.”

As I bit my lip and smiled appreciatively at Nate, our wedding planner entered the narthex silently from a side door, a grin across her features.

“We’re all set, Juliette,” she told me giddily. “Your groom is waiting for you.”

Our wedding party let out quiet cheers and muted claps as they paired off as rehearsed the night before. Meanwhile, I turned to Mario, who offered me his strong arm to grasp onto.

“Here we go, princesse,” he said gently. “This is your moment.” I nodded, feeling mostly calm despite the uptick in my pulse. As we walked to the side of the narthex, the doors swung open and I heard the processional musicians begin to play. With that, Jacqueline and Geno headed down the aisle, followed by the rest of our wedding party, two by two.

My hands began to shake as I watched Lauren and Nate step up to make their entrance, the last bridesmaid and groomsman pair. As if she could sense my nerves from yards away, Lauren looked my way and gave me a wink.

“This is it, babe,” she whispered quickly. “You got this.” I cast a thankful nod her way just as she and Nate entered the sanctuary, the wedding planner instructing our ushers to close the doors behind our flower girls and ring bearers once they entered the chapel.

Realizing the shift in the music and what the next moments signaled, I froze as Mario stepped forward, stopping short when he realized my feet were cemented to the ground. He ran his fingers gently over the edge of the veil covering my face and gave me a warm smile.

“Take a breath,” he whispered soothingly. I did as he instructed, and he sidled up to me again. Not for the first time this weekend, I was thankful that he could read me so well, just as my father had. “Are you okay?” Mario patted my hand as I slipped it around his upper arm. Before I could answer, I heard the priest ask our guests to rise from their seats, and the wedding planner signaled the ushers to swing the doors open once more.

When I caught the first glimpse of Sidney, his eyes widened and immediately filled with tears as I stepped over the threshold, both of us sniffling as we gazed longingly at each other, overwhelmed by this long-awaited moment.

Mario breathed a quiet laugh as he watched Sidney swipe at fallen tears. “Yeah, you’re okay. That’s it. Just look at Sidney,” he encouraged. “I’ve got you.”

I could have sworn that I floated the remaining distance down the aisle before Mario stopped us, standing between Sidney and me and giving us both tender looks as the priest began the ceremony with a prayer, during which Sidney and I stole blushing glances at each other like children.

When the prayer concluded, the priest turned to Mario and asked, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

My hand automatically squeezed his bicep and he looked at me with adoration before answering the priest. “Her family and I do.”

Tears stung my eyelids as Mario turned to me, and I whispered my gratitude for his perfect response as he lifted my veil gently. Mario leaned in to kiss my cheek and whispered, “I love you, princesse.”

I squeezed his hands tightly and whispered, “I love you. Thank you.” With a wink, Mario turned to Sidney and placed my hands into his, wrapping an arm around Sidney’s shoulders as Sidney let go of one of my hands to return the embrace. While I couldn’t hear their exchange, I knew all I needed to know as I watched them nod at each other with damp, red eyes before Mario retreated to his seat in the front row.

As the priest instructed Sidney and I to face each other and join hands, we locked eyes for the first time at close range. Sidney’s face lit up as he whispered, “Hi, love.” I scrunched my nose at him and whispered, “Hi, handsome,” just as his thumb swept over the large sapphire ring on my middle finger.

“Where did this come from?” he asked quietly as he examined it for a beat.

“It was my dad’s,” I whispered back. Sidney picked his face up to look into mine carefully, understanding the gravity of the moment and the accessory itself.

“Perfect,” he whispered, squeezing the ring tightly before loosening his grip on my hands and taking a deep breath as the priest spoke up once more, giving a brief introduction before beginning the vow portion of the ceremony, as Sidney and I stared, smiling, at each other, in disbelief that this day, this time, had finally come.

The priest began. “Sidney, do you take this woman, whose hands you hold, choosing her alone to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to live in the state of true matrimony? Do you vow to love her, comfort her, through good times and bad, in sickness and in health, honor her at all times, and be faithful to her, until death do you part?”

Sidney nodded once and solemnly answered, “I do.”

The priest then posed the same to me, to which I responded, “I do,” with a broad smile at Sidney.

“Now, Sidney and Juliette will exchange the vows they have written to one another,” the priest announced.

Nate handed Sidney a small piece of paper and I felt my heartbeat quicken. I inhaled slowly through my nose and tried to relax, my entire body coursing with anticipation of what Sidney would say.

“My sweet Juliette...” Sidney began, voice unsteady. He opened his mouth to say more, but then pressed his lips together in a tight line as I watched tears well in his hazel eyes. My heart swelled.

I pulled a hand free from his hold and reached up just briefly to swipe my thumb across the apple of his cheek, catching one fallen tear. Sidney gave me an appreciative look, seeming to draw strength from the gesture, before turning my wrist to press a kiss to my palm and squeeze my hand in his, eliciting soft “aww”s from the crowd.

“Okay, geez, let’s try this again, eh?” he suggested lightly, our joined hands settling between us again. I heard the distinct chuckles of his parents and Mario and Nathalie from the front of the crowd, along with those of his groomsmen and my bridesmaids, before everyone fell quiet again. I nodded, encouraging him. Sidney drew a deep breath and continued.

“My sweet, beautiful Juliette,” he added, raising his eyebrows and looking me in the eye as he enunciated the added adjective. “I count it a privilege to spend all of my days with you. If I were to wake tomorrow and have lost all of my earthly possessions, recognitions, and livelihood, I would give thanks, as long as I still had you to call mine.”

It was my turn to cry now. As my groom spoke, Nate stepped forward from his place behind Sidney and produced a handkerchief from his inner jacket pocket, reaching to press it into my palm, sweetly squeezing my forearm for a beat before taking his position again.

Sidney cast a grateful glance Nate’s way as he paused his vows for a moment, and I dabbed my eyes and commented, “Merci. What a best man,” making Sid and our bridal party laugh softly.

Sidney cleared his throat and went on. “You have had to shield yourself from much pain and darkness throughout your life, more than you deserve, more than anyone deserves. You have always been careful to put up walls to protect your heart. Juliette... from this day forward, I will be your shield. I promise to protect you. I promise to do everything in my power to make my heart and my arms your home, and to make our physical home a place of shelter, solace, and unending love. From this day forward, you will not walk alone.”

As he spoke, I continued to dab furiously at the corners of my eyes with the hankie to avoid smearing my makeup all over my face. Sidney licked his lips and smoothed his thumb over the back of my hand as he finished his vow.

“Juliette, you are the person who brings me my greatest joys, and you are the person I want at my side in the midst of my deepest sorrows, which life is sure to throw our way as we embark on this journey as one. For all the days of my life, I will hold you as my greatest treasure, and when our prayers for a family of our own are someday soon realized, I will hold our children in the same regard. Thank you for entrusting me with your future and with our legacy. Thank you for choosing me to be your partner and the person with whom you raise a family. Thank you for giving your heart to me. I promise to keep it safe, always. This is my vow to you, Juliette.”

The remaining air had been forced from my lungs during Sidney’s final remarks as my shoulders shuddered a few times, sobs escaping me. We swapped duties as he ghosted his thumb underneath both my eyes. Taking a mental picture of the tender moment, I whispered, ��Thank you. For everything.”

He nodded. “Don’t worry — your makeup is perfect. You’re breathtaking,” Sidney whispered back. I smiled at my sweet groom.

As the priest announced that it was my turn to deliver my vows, I inhaled deeply and retrieved my notes from Lauren, as Sidney steadied his feet firmly beneath him in subtle preparation.

“Sidney, mon cœur,” (my heart/sweetheart), I began. “You are a gift, of which I am so undeserving, but eternally grateful. You walked into my life when I was a young woman struggling to find her way. When I found you... I knew. I suddenly knew the way. I knew the path that I was destined to walk for the rest of my days. Nothing in my life had ever been easy, until you.”

I looked up to see Sidney’s face pinched in emotion as he attempted to hold back tears. I squeezed my fingers around his.

“You are so easy to love. You make each day better for me, simply because I can rest assured that you will be there when I wake up in the morning and when I lie my head on the pillow again at night. I know that you will be there to hold me, to strengthen me, to comfort me, to watch over me, to laugh with me, to care for me, and, sometimes, to cry with me. Mon amour (my love), you are the most remarkable person I have ever met. You have the entire world at your fingertips, and you have reached heights that many will never see. And yet, you take pride that I call you mine. You take pride in calling me yours. You look at me as though I hung the moon and stars. In my world, that’s what you did for me,” I told him, my voice starting to shake.

“You hung my moon, my stars. You have served as my sunshine, my lighthouse, my compass, and my refuge. Today, you take on the role of becoming my husband, and one day, you will take on the role of becoming a father to our children. Our children will know what true, unconditional, compassionate love looks like, because of the way that you love me, and because of the way that I know you will love them.”

After a long exhale left his lips, I saw Sidney reach his hand to nudge his nose as he sniffled gently, eyes damp and pooled with affection. I drew circles on his thumb with my own to soothe him.

“My sweetest love, thank you for choosing me to be yours, both now and forevermore. Je t'aimerai toute une vie,” (I will love you for a lifetime) I told him, my voice watery. “This is my vow to you, Sidney.”

With tears streaking his face, Sidney shook his head.

“Thank you, my love,” he whispered, lifting my hands to his lips to kiss my knuckles. After wiping the back of his hand across his face, Sidney joked to the priest, “Can I kiss her yet or what?” His impatience caused the crowd who heard his question to erupt in laughter, breaking up the weight of the moment. The priest laughed, too, and said, “We’re almost there.”

The priest then blessed the rings which Nate and Lauren presented to him and returned them to Sidney and me to exchange, instructing us to repeat after him to deliver what would be our last lines of the ceremony.

As I slid the ring onto Sidney’s finger, I said, “Sidney, with this ring, I thee wed, and with it pledge myself to thee.”

Sidney smirked giddily at the new addition and switched hands to place my wedding band on my finger, repeating the same promise.

At last, the priest pronounced us husband and wife.

“Sidney, you may now kiss your bride,” he said.

Sidney whispered, “Finally,” and grasped my hips tightly as he kissed me so deeply that I found myself leaning backwards in his hold, our guests cheering mightily.

In that passionate yet tender moment, the realization washed over me once more, standing enwrapped in Sidney’s hold, that he would make good on his promise never to let me go.

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ghost-at-the-masquerade · 3 years

Text

Friends in Low Places

Part 2: Tourist Trap

Rating: PG

Count: 2666

Summary: A few days after the events of Tremors, the trio stops for a bite and tour of a roadside attraction. Or: Juliette makes an excellent choice, and Zeke makes a bad one.

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“Afraid she’s never gonna be the same after a shock to her suspension like that.” Zeke sighed, patting the side of the truck as he came around. Juliette and Roscoe sat on the tailgate, boxes and bags of their belongings pressed against their backs.

“Is it real bad?” Juliette said through a mouthful of cheese-steak, brows creased.

“Well, it’s not good, but we’ll get by.” He shrugged and leaned past her to grab his own sandwich.

Juliette swung her feet, marveling at the sweeping height of the pines around them. The smell of ceders heavy in the air. They were parked in a gravel lot with nothing but half-rotted blocks of wood to mark the spaces. Back around the bend, toward where they came in, was the little food stand where they had grabbed their lunch; a weather-stained building with just two windows to order from and three friendly, stocky folk tending it. In the other direction was their next destination.

A building made of logs almost black in color, with a steep roof and its name up in gaudy, blood-orange lettering; Twinkle Cove’s House of Terrors. ‘Terrors’ had a dripping effect that had clearly been added later. It might have been a home once, but the windows and doors had since been replaced with dark frosted glass. The inside of the door was plastered with fliers for other local businesses.

Once they were done eating, Zeke led the group to join just one other small party in the lobby, ditching their trash in the can outside. A gust from the AC swept over them at the threshold, making way for the faint smell of dust and taxidermy. Lights over each display cast heavy shadows to hide the seams on the tackier fakes. Floor vents rattled in the corners.

Zeke removed his sunglasses and let them hang from his shirt collar, grinning all the while. Usually he tried not to make comments about Juliette’s stops, not wanting to influence her choices, but he loved this hokey shit and could make no secret of it.

The counter to their left was manned by a spindly fellow who reminded Zeke of a harvestman; those tiny, long-legged spiders. Dressed in a clean black suit and cloak, gloves and bowtie a rich sanguine, topped off with too-big silver cufflinks and a swirl in his hair. He acknowledged them with a nod and a flash of pearly-whites.

The three of them split across the room. Juliette went for the counter, its glass case holding an array of trinkets. Gems inset in gargoyle claws, decently realistic rats, wands and supposedly cursed objects.

Zeke himself made a round of the room, looking over the displays that you got for free. A passable piece of taxidermy claiming to be a were-badger, crafted, as far as he could tell, from a honey badger and a red fox. A tuft of brown hair that almost looked burnt, kept behind glass; the plaque described it as a trophy from an encounter with the local woodland witch. Several unsettling mannequins he couldn’t get a good look at, since they were occupying the small family also in the lobby.

Roscoe went to peep down the hallway to the right, which was cornered off with a single strip of velvet rope. When they went to lay a hand on it, the man at the counter tutted and called out in what was surely his stage voice, “Folks if you would just gather here, I’d be glad to sign you up for our grand tour!”

Juliette side-stepped over in front of the register to be first in line, a cheeky smile on her face. The man returned her a smile that crinkled his eyes. Zeke joined her shortly, and it took no time at all the register both parties.

Thus the lot of them gathered in front of the rope divide, the man in charge standing before them with his shoulders braced and hands twisted together. It was hard to tell if the posture was part of the bit, or genuine nerves.

“Hello, hello, I’m your host and owner of all these terrible delights, Terry!” He stumbled over his script with an appreciative laugh when a couple of them cheered. Moving the rope aside, he gathered himself and continued, “Stay close behind me and don’t touch anything you aren’t willing to… get attached to.”

With that and a menacing laugh the tour began. Through the first narrow hallway, with concerningly real cobwebs in its crooks and crannies, past an alcove leading to a bathroom and an office, they took a left-hand turn into a room even darker than the lobby.

As their host briefly explained; “Certain items can be damaged over time in bright lights. No flash photography, of course.”

There were the staples of places like this; traces of Bigfoot and hair of the moth-man, hooves of unicorns even. More interesting was a purple checked hood, dropped by the flatwoods monster - the holes in front lightly singed from the intense light of the creature’s eyes. Surprisingly life-like stone statues of woodland critters, victims of a basilisk. The basilisk itself, even, or a depiction of it.

“Even the corpse is dangerous!” Terry proclaimed, a finger held sternly in the air, “Not suitable for display.”

To his credit, Terry seemed genuinely enthused about each and every piece. But his clear favorite, in the final room, was most impressive of all.

This room was smaller than the others they had passed through, holding only one display. Hidden behind a heavy satin curtain, deep red and lightly dusty. Terry crossed the room with a twirl of his cape, his hands almost seemed to tremble as he reached for the thick braided cord that would pull back the curtain.

“Parents, please hold on to your children.” The party of strangers obliged for the hell of it. Juliette made a point of scooting away from both Zeke and Roscoe.

Terry yanked the cord and revealed a dark, hairy, humanoid figure. Vaguely canine in the face, with great black horns that scraped the ceiling. Hands that weren’t quite hands, but not quite paws either, with jagged, broken claws. Roscoe leaned closer, mouth open slightly. The thing’s fur was as black and fluid as ink, eyes shimmering unnaturally bright for the dimness of the room. Surely, it had to be a sort of projection, but search as the eye might, they could not find the subtle tells.

“The grand prize that no doubt drew you to this place, the lesser demon slain by our very own local monster hunter, Paul Anderson!” Terry shook like an excitable dog.

The younger of the two children there reached out. When their fingertips brushed its bent knee, a single second shattered into a thousand. The beast’s head snapped down, teeth barred in a growl. It staggered forward, knocking over the rope divide. The children shrieked and all seven of the guests scrambled backwards.

Zeke’s hand snapped to his side automatically, instinctively going for his revolver. Thankfully, it was still in the car, so the situation would escalate no further. Terry was absolutely howling with laughter.

He crowed after the little family, who were already back in the previous room, “All in good fun, all in good fun, that’s the one that keeps them coming back!”

Roscoe clutched their heart, despite being blank-faced as ever, aside the raised eyebrows. Juliette tugged at her braid.

Zeke spat out the scare and laughed. “Aw, okay, you got us. That’s pretty damn good. What’s that, animatronic-?”

Terry didn’t even let him finish, moving out of the room, “I’m afraid that’s all there is to see for now! But we always have more attractions coming, if you’d come see us again in the fall…!” His spiel continuing as they returned to the lobby.

With a little distance, everyone was in good spirits about it, though the younger child was a bit huffy in denying that they’d been scared. The family argued briefly over whether to buy anything before ultimately leaving empty-handed. Juliette gently bullied Roscoe into buying her one of the cursed spoons from the display case. Roscoe cast a meaningful glance back at Zeke before taking her outside.

Business concluded, the register rung - an old fashioned thing - and Terry came around the register again. He cast a wary, sideways look at Zeke as he went to set the rope barrier back in place. “Something I can help you with?”

Zeke sidled up next to him with a few casual, swinging steps, put on a sloppy, side-ways kind of smile and a bit of concern on his brow. He clicked his tongue and looked around the lobby as he spoke, “Awfully bold of you to be flauntin’ it like that these days. Pretty neat setup you got going on, though. How’s the monster-hunter involved?”

When he actually turned to look at him, Terry was frozen stiff, breathing in quick, shallow breaths. Zeke held up his hands, any humor dropping from his expression.

“Whoa, whoa, hey, I’m not-” the rest of his words were forced out in a gasp as Zeke threw himself aside. He turned back to find a comically large axe splitting the floor where he had just been standing. His gaze shot up to Terry’s face, wide-eyed, unreadable.

“I didn’t mean it like that!” He held out a hand even as he crawled backwards toward the hall. Terry shook his head rapidly, fists clenched in his cape.

“That’s what they all say!” Shadows shot up to swallow the light from outside, crept up the walls like thousands of spiders to dim the overhead lights. Terry jerked his arm out dramatically, “That’s what all of them said!”

The weight of those words came into focus quickly; the three grotesque mannequins, their horrified faces looking as though they’d been covered in clay, came to flank Terry. Their bases scratched the floorboards, following as he moved into the hall after Zeke.

Zeke did all he could do; scramble to his feet and try to put distance between them. The options for where he could get it were severely limited; continue on down the hall, into the bathroom, or the office. Zeke didn’t fancy being cornered that quickly. He backed away, still holding up a single pacifying hand. The walls cracked and splintered on either side of him, oozing viscous void from their wounds. Lightbulbs screamed, formless things flitted through the edges of his vision.

“Listen, I’m not here to start anything,” Steady words that simply bounced off his pursuer as they made it into the main display room, “It’s not like that, I’m not with those bastards.”

“I won’t be lied to. I won’t be taken that easy.” Terry spat. The jackalope in the case to his left sprung to life, flailing and trying to bite through the glass, dead eyes flashing. Zeke’s eyes flitted around the room for his next move.

The room dimmed further and suddenly silver flashed in Terry’s hand. A simple, smooth blade. Something clicked together in Zeke’s head, but there wasn’t even time for it to form as a whole thought before Terry threw.

Zeke’s arm shot up in defense, but to no avail. A glass display teetered as he staggered back against the wall. Pain coursed through his ribs - far less than it seemed like there should be. Ragged breaths drew through his teeth as he saw but couldn’t feel the blood pooling up under his fingers. Something that sounded like stomping was lost at the edge of his perception, overtaken by static.

Everything in the room distorted and flickered, twisted and turned sickeningly, lights searing bright before settling back into normalcy. And then it was gone; the knife was gone, both flesh and fabric mended. He palpated the spot just to be sure.

His gaze shot back up to where Terry stood shaking, eyes glistening. The mannequins were gone. And over Terry’s shoulder, he could see Roscoe, an indecipherable mess of guilt and pain and concern on their face, their hands laid on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry - I don’t like to do it so quickly.”

“He stabbed me!” Zeke objected to the apology, hand still on the spot where the knife had been.

They couldn’t really disagree, so they just grimaced and tilted their head.

Zeke pushed himself upright. “Can we please just talk now?!”

“Are you going to take me in, then?” Terry’s voice was small. Frightened. He swallowed and said more insistently, “All I can do is scare people, I’m no good to you. Just parlor tricks.”

Zeke did his best to steady his voice, “No, I tried to tell you, it’s not like that.”

But with his only defense disabled, the fear split him anyway. “Then what?! What do you want?!”

Something like guilt made Zeke’s temper flare, “I just - wanted you to know you got fucking caught! That somebody who knows something about conduits is going to see through you if you keep this up!” Zeke turned on his heel, away from the palpable tension in the room.

Terry did nothing to cut it; he stayed stock still, looking at the ground until he finally slipped to his knees. Roscoe backed away a step.

Zeke put a hand over his mouth and sighed through his nose, trying to ignore the tiny adrenaline tremors still coursing through his arms. He turned back with a suspicious squint.

“If it’s all just tricks of light then how did it hurt?”

Terry looked over to the jackalope display, conspicuously fingering the hole where his cuff-link had been, “I mean, objects can be disguised…”

Zeke’s face felt hot. Had he really reacted so dramatically to something so small? Fear had a power all its own.

“The hunter - you asked about the hunter, Anderson,” Terry twisted his hands together, “He- he caught me. And said… said I could use him as part of the story…”

The subtext settled neatly beneath the silence, like dust beneath a sheet.

“You wanted to talk, that’s where I am. He hasn’t imposed much and it’s been good for business. So what do I do?”

Many questions compounded into one. None that Zeke had the answers to.

“What do I do?” He repeated, shoulders drawn in.

Zeke opened his mouth, but all that came out at first was another sigh. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I can’t-” He walked past them into the hall on autopilot. He needed out of this suffocating place.

Roscoe picked up for him, knelt down next to Terry and produced from their vest a light purple business card. “The best we can offer is somewhere to run, if it comes to that.”

Terry took the card like it might come alive and snap at him.

Zeke heard the two continue to talk, softer now, but didn’t tune in to what else was said. Then Roscoe’s hand was on his back, leading him outside.

The light of day was blinding after the all-consuming dark Terry imposed, every bit of metal or particularly bright rock boring into him. Zeke breathed deep the smell of ceder and hot stone as he put his sunglasses back on.

“Coulda gone better.”

Roscoe laughed and put their hands on their knees. “It was not one of your better showings… I’m glad you’re in one piece.”

“Two pieces, but yeah.”

They laughed again as they straightened up, letting their arms hang loose. “But are you okay?”

“Okay as I’m gonna be. Feel kinda stupid.”

“Normal, then.”

Zeke punched their arm, smirking anyway, “Asshole…”

Across the lot, Juliette was hanging out the window, arms crossed on the edge.

Zeke looked to Roscoe, but from the corner of his eye, he could see movement in the lobby. Inside, Terry quickly looked away, the card still in both hands, face drawn. Zeke sighed. “Put it in the Rolodex… I think we’ll be back.”

#Infamous #Infamous 2 #Zeke Dunbar #that's a dumb trans joke toward the end. because I'm trans and dumb

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wrcns · 3 years

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↪ introduction to wren d’ansembourg.

BASICS

full name: wren marcel d’ansembourg. nickname(s): vtáčik ( ‘little bird’ in slovak, used exclusively by his fiancé tomas ). age: twenty-five. date of birth: 3 june 1995. zodiac sign: gemini. place of birth: luxembourg city, luxembourg. ethnicity: white. nationality: luxembourger. gender: cis male. sexual orientation: homosexual. romantic orientation: homoromantic. religion: roman catholic, though wren isn’t the most diligent catholic ( re: he hasn’t done anything religious of his own volition in years ). occupation: when he isn’t running amok around his home in luxembourg trying and failing to do his royal duties, he’s an artist -- a painter, more specifically. language(s) spoken: luxembourgish, french, german, english ( all fluently ). slovak ( not fluently, at this point the best he can do is string together his favorite swear words to make tomas laugh ). accent: his accent is extremely reminiscent of a german accent, though he’s been told it’s softer than the average german accent -- when he’s speaking english, that is. he’s been told his accents in french and german are negligible and difficult to notice -- especially at the pace he usually speaks ( i.e. - wren has never said anything slowly in his twenty-five years of living and doesn’t plan to START ).

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

face claim: maxence danet-fauvel. hair color: brown. eye color: blue. height: 180.34 cm ( 5′11″ ). weight: 83 kg ( 183 lbs ). build: lanky, athletic. tattoos: he has a tattoo of a wren on his left forearm ( here ) ; to date he doesn’t have any other tattoos but he’s constantly doodling things he’d be perfectly willing to get tattooed on himself - tomas has, so far, urged him to think about it a bit more. piercings: he has three piercings in his right ear -- he wears a ring in the lowest one and studs in the upper pair. distinguishing characteristics: his height, the fact that he always looks like he needs about six months more sleep at any given moment, the way he talks with his hands, the way he dresses.

PERSONALITY

label: the odd duck. positive traits: capable, clever, compassionate, considerate, creative, curious, daring, dedicated, earnest, empathetic, generous, independent, loyal, observant, passionate, protective, reliable, selfless, warm. negative traits: competitive, irreverent, sarcastic, self-conscious. aloof, anxious, crude, haughty, hedonistic, impulsive, timid, weird. goals/desires: wren’s admittedly very excited to get married when the time comes, to continue living his life as happily as possible even within the protection program. fears: genuinely doing anything to disappoint or hurt his family, losing his siblings or tomas. hobbies: painting, driving his siblings absolutely nuts, dreaming up new pranks to pull on his friends and family, doodling ( on clothes, skin, actual paper - wren’s not picky ), chatting with reporters about nonsense things, going on twitter rants about the dumbest things, spending time with his family ( occasionally ), cuddling with tomas, exploring whatever city he happens to be living in as thoroughly as possible, playing soccer, learning how to make films ( god forbid anyone let this man hang onto a camera for a significant length of time ), looking at memes until his eyes hurt. quirks: most of his sense of humor is based on memes, he almost always has paint smudges on his hands no matter what he’s doing, he’ll switch between languages when he’s talking without thinking-- especially if he’s speaking english and forgets phrases he’ll try and figure out what they are in the other languages he knows and go from there, he can come off pretty aloof but he’s a genuinely social person -- he just tends to be too-tired on any given day to be really over-zealous. likes: visiting museums when he has the attention span, painting, planning pranks, learning new skills, playing music ( his guitar skills aren’t all that bad and he genuinely enjoys practicing ), mystery novels, memes -- especially if they’re brand new to him, pestering luca, spending time with tomas, planning dates when he’s in the mood, watching documentaries on super obscure subjects, collecting mismatched socks, hanging out with regular people, collecting art supplies, energy drinks, coffee, good beer, good food, flustering tomas. dislikes: having to be involved in political matters of any kind, most hard liquor, not being taken seriously when he wants to be, people who take themselves too seriously, france, having to be serious for any length of time usually, anyone who fucks with his family.

FAMILY

father: emile albert james d’ansembourg. mother: adélaide marie d’ansembourg. sibling(s): luca phillipe gabriel d’ansembourg, wendy juliette d’ansembourg, lara jeanne d’ansembourg. pet(s): he doesn’t have any pets at the moment. financial status: too rich for his own good.

RELEVANT INFORMATION

PERSONALITY —

Wren is, first and foremost, a genuinely odd person -- or so he’s been told for the length of his life at present; it’s a title he accepts with the utmost pride and he’s the first person to admit that he’d rather be known as odd than known for anything else. He can be loud and abrasive-- opinionated in ways that would likely get him into more trouble were he not royalty but could likely get him into sticky situations he isn’t even vaguely prepared for as time goes by. He isn’t always nice in any traditional sense -- he has no problem telling people what he thinks of them, will rip them to metaphorical shreds with a broad smile on his face and be that much happier for it. He obsesses over miscellaneous things to an inane degree -- he’ll worry about how mismatched he can get his socks to be for over an hour on any given afternoon and turn around to obsess over any given style of art he’s currently fascinated with depending on the day. Wren is also one of the most loyal people in the world -- at least where his family and loved ones are concerned; essentially, when someone takes the time to get to know him and Wren understands that they love and appreciate him in a way that he needs ( whether he’ll admit it or not ) then he would do anything in the world for them the moment they need him and he tries -- on occasion and not always successfully -- to make that clear to those he thinks need to understand it.

RELEVANT BACKGROUND —

Wren has never been what anyone would label ‘a typical prince’ -- he’d likely be the first person to question what a typical prince was supposed to be and why would it be so terrible if he wasn’t fitting a mold that, in his mind, had been outdated for hundreds of years? A prince in title and status but perhaps not at heart — the inner workings of palace life never interested Wren unless he needed to be aware of them to pull off some halfcocked prank or another on a whim. To those who knew him in the palace he was a troublemaker on his best days and that suited him far better than being the dutiful youngest son that he was convinced no one believed he could be even if he’d had the desire to begin with.

In his mind, there was no sense in forcing himself to be a shell of the person he hoped to be and if that meant that he was seen as bizarre or odd or too “other” to be taken seriously, well, that was something Wren - by his teenage years - had come to accept rather happily. He was much more at home tucked away in his room with his face inches away from his laptop screen going down some internet rabbit hole or another -- his obsessions were long lasting, his hyperfixations even more so and it was never quite a surprise to anyone when he would emerge from his room looking as though he hadn’t slept in days but perfectly ready to talk anyone’s ear off about whatever subject had caught his attention for the time being.

As he got older he tried to strike a balance between embracing all of his hobbies and relationships outside of being a prince and making at least half an effort, even if it was a poor one, at being a “proper prince”. It wasn’t something he was gifted at -- politics of most sorts tended to give him a headache on his good days and he could waste breath on arguments for hours simply to have advisors admit that he was right in the long run -- something Wren would enjoy deeply simply for the satisfaction of it all. He wasn’t the sort of prince anyone would look to to guide a country and he was thankful, consistently, that it wasn’t his responsibility in the long run to do so. It was almost an accident -- too good to be true, in his mind -- when he met someone at a political function and bonded with them and when he met his current boyfriend it was exactly the way he felt.

He wasn’t always the sort of man anyone would look twice at or pay attention to for more than a wild story or acerbic quip but things were different from the moment they met and Wren found himself struck by the feeling of being seen in a way he felt so rarely that it was, in essence, a connection he couldn’t ignore. He half-expected their relationship to fizzle out as they got to know one another more deeply -- perpetually concerned that he would ultimately be too weird for anyone to take seriously where a long term relationship was concerned but as time went on and the world seemed to fracture around them one of the few things Wren had to cling to was his relationship with the man he loved. Politics became a subject Wren abhorred that much more as alliances formed and their countries were not overtly friendly or directly allied and Wren’s stress over their relationship ending because of him shifted to a deep concern that their relationship might end whether they wanted that or not. It terrified Wren in a way he’d never felt prior and in a fit of something just short of desperation he proposed in the hopes that nothing in the world would ultimately drive them apart.

HEADCANONS —

— Wren has been out-- to both his family and close friends-- as gay since he was fourteen years old. It’s never been something he stresses about or something he feels the need to hide in any concrete way but he’s certainly not the sort of person to go yelling about his various ex-boyfriends or flings to the world at large. Where extremely personal matters are concerned Wren can be intensely private, though that need for privacy can, on occasion, be cast aside in his mind in favor of pulling off a particularly glorious prank or giving the media some piece of insane half-truth to froth at the mouth over which he’s found nothing short of delightful to play with in his adulthood.

— In the grand scheme of interests he has, art is paramount. It’s one of the only things Wren has ever been interested enough in to study properly and arguing his case to be allowed to attend art school in earnest is something he’s extremely proud of having accomplished. Painting, sketching, sculpting, photography -- art of almost any sort is enough to catch and hold Wren’s attention but painting is usually his go-to form of practicing where his own art is concerned, as the materials are usually far easier to come by when he’s traveling or in this case when he’s going to be essentially in protective custody for the foreseeable future.

— Wren and his boyfriend -- now fiancé -- have been dating for going on three years and Wren is as in love with him now as he feels like he always has been. He feels he can be most earnestly himself around his partner and takes advantage of that at every turn -- occasionally in the form of staging elaborate but ultimately harmless and loving pranks on him simply to give himself something to do and relieve any tension either of them happen to be carrying. Their relationship is an easy one and even with the political tension in the world that brought their engagement to bear -- it’s still perhaps the most settled and at ease with his choices Wren has ever felt in his life.

#hshqintro #( introduction )#The Boy™

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i-am-a-bad-influence-writes · 3 years

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Hayloft - Part 1

Series Masterlist - Bucky Masterlist - Full Masterlist

Summary: A young girl finds a soldier hiding in the hayloft on her father’s farm. Intrigued, she visits him more and more until her father finds out and puts him to work. As they grow closer, something else grows too.

Pairing: James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes x OC Jenny Richelle “Ricky” Hill

Warning: Strong language, inaccurate war description

Author’s note: Based on the song Hayloft by Mother Mother and the lovestory of my grandparents. I am Dutch and the war was a bit different here, so I will be basing this on the stories I’ve heard about my grandparents.

Word count: 2624

‘Alpine, what are you playing at,‘ the woman laughs as she sees the cat trying to bury itself with him, ‘come on, I got some scraps left for you.‘ The cat doesn’t list to her. The girl sighs and climbs onto the hayloft, letting herself fall onto the hay just inches from where he’s laying. He feels his heart beating faster and faster.

‘What are you doing,‘ she laughs while he tries to hold his breath and stay motionless. Nerves rush through his body as he realizes there is nowhere else to go. That, or he has to throw this girl off the hayloft. There are a thousand scenarios running in his head, but it’s either the end of him or the end of the girl. He’s going to have to go on the run again. How will he keep her quiet? Can he even keep her quiet? There’s a whole family in the house. Alarm bells go off everywhere in his mind, but he’s frozen in shock. ‘What do you have there?‘ He feels the cat has gotten his shirt in its mouth and it pulling on it. Next he hears is a gasp and a poking at his back. The poking is so gentle. Almost like she’s teasing him. ‘Are you dead or hiding?‘ Her gentle, unbothered voice surprises him. He gets up carefully, wiping the hay off his face. She chuckles at the sight of him and brushes a few strands of hay off his shoulder. ‘Hiding, I’m sorry,‘ he manages to mutter while continuing to study the face of the girl for any signs of fear or anger. But she looks just fine, not even slightly scared of having a strange man in the hayloft. ‘You chose the wrong town to hide,‘ the girl tells him while the cat snuggles up on his lap again, ‘they just hung your picture in the post office today. James Barnes right?‘ He nods. ‘I’m Jenny Hill, nice to meet you James.‘ ‘Are you going to turn me in Jenny,‘ he asks, despair written everywhere where the fear is less visible. He looks like he’s trembling. Jenny looks him up and down. He looks much more rugged than his picture. James has stubble and much longer hair than he has in the clean picture in the post office. She could barely tell it was him if her gaze hadn’t lingered on his picture a little longer than it should have. ‘No,‘ she tells him, ‘but you can’t stay here for nothing. People will get suspicious. I’ll ask my father if we can take in another.‘ She walks back over to the ladder. ‘Another?‘ She looks back at him with a smile and he takes a second to take her in. Bright blue eyes, light-brown waves brushing her shoulders, heart-shaped lips, a button nose, and straight eyebrows. She looks mellow, gentle, but there’s this glimmer in her eyes. There’s something mischievous about her. ‘Yeah, you don’t think you’re the only runner right?‘ The girl leaves him on the hayloft with Alpine while he tries to gather his thoughts. This just might be the best case scenario, if she isn’t just playing it up. ‘Oi, stowaway!‘ A low, male voice startles James. He peeks over the edge of the hayloft and sees an older man standing at the bottom. ‘What’s your deal? Why are you running?‘ ‘I’m my mother’s only son, she asked me to stay out of the army,‘ James explains. ‘Family man,‘ the man grumbles and nods, ‘fine, come down. We got some food left.‘ He climbs down the ladder and gets a pat on the shoulder, as well as a strong handshake from the man. He’s welcomed with open arms by a man he doesn’t know in the most uncertain time. He could be a spy, he could be a soldier, he could rat on them, but they just open up to him. ‘I’m Oliver Hill, you met my daughter Jenny,‘ he gestures at the girl standing in the doorway of the farmhouse while the other children walk in, ‘youngest son is called Nathan, that’s Wesley, and this is Penny. My wife’s name is Juliette, but you will address her as misses Hill.‘ ‘Of course sir,‘ James nods, ‘I’m James Barnes.‘ ‘Let me get you to the shed so you can mee the others,‘ Oliver grumbles, ‘Jenny, set the table for the lads.‘ ‘Yes father,‘ Jenny winks at James with this most enchanting smile on her lips. If there would be something like love at first sight, James had just experienced it but he can’t forget that his feelings might be corrupted because she helped him. These are uncertain times. Feelings can be strange. Oliver opens the shed. Inside James sees two bunk beds that seem to have been hand made, a table in the corner of the room with three chairs, and a crate with books in it. It’s not much, but it’s enough. ‘Boys, this is James Barnes. He’ll be helping us out,‘ Oliver calls into the shed. One of the two guys inside jumps of the top bunk and shakes James’ hand with a big smile. ‘Johnny Meadow, nice to meet you,‘ he says, ‘this is Timothy Leads. He doesn’t talk much.‘ ‘That’s alright,‘ James nods, ‘nice to meet you two.‘ ‘You’ve found the right spot James,‘ Johnny grins, ‘there aren’t many with such a good heart as mister Hill.‘ ‘Flattery will get you nowhere boy,‘ mister hill grumbles, ‘you better watch it or I’ll get the boys to wake you for a week.‘ ‘I was just joking sir,‘ Johnny chuckles, ‘but I don’t think our new lad will be ok if you do. He looks a little jumpy. You ok James?‘ ‘Yeah, yeah, just been through it the past days,‘ James tries to brush it off like it’s nothing, but both boys can tell something’s up with him. There’s something up with all of them. Running away from everything makes everyone jumpy. ‘Oi, stable boys,‘ Jenny calls with a cheeky grin on her face, ‘dinner’s ready.‘ The two almost dash past James and Oliver. Oliver puts his hand on James’ shoulder. ‘Listen boy, you can’t stay here for nothing,‘ he tells him, ‘these boys work for me in exchange for food and shelter. That’s what I expect from you as well. I don’t need you to talk or tell us your whole life story. All I ask is that you keep your head down and hide when I tell you to, alright?‘ ‘Yes sir.‘ ‘James,‘ he looks up at the sound of his voice and sees Jenny waving at him, ‘you better get in here before the others eat it all.‘ Oliver chuckles. ‘You better get in there boy. Oh, if you have anyone you need to contact, Jenny works at the post office. She can sneak some letters past,‘ Oliver grumbles at the boy and walks with him into the house.

James almost jumps out of his skin at the sound of knocking on the door of the shed. He can barely keep himself from falling out the bed. The door opens, letting in the sunlight and the other boys groan. ‘Good morning gents,‘ Jenny says cheerfully and puts half a loaf of bread, half a stick of butter, six slices of cheese, and a bottle of milk on the table along with a knife to slice the bread and a butter-knife to spread the butter. ‘Morning miss Hill, did you sleep well,‘ Timothy asks her while he rubs her eyes. ‘Slept wonderfully, you guys do okay?‘ ‘We did alright,‘ Johnny smiles at her, ‘what’cha got there?‘ ‘Some clothes for James,‘ she hums and puts them down by his feet, ‘drop your dirty clothes in the hamper by the back door. Mother will give them a wash.‘ ‘Thank you so, so much,‘ James lulls, ‘you have been way too kind.‘ ‘Nonsense,‘ Jenny huffs, ‘we should all be a little kinder to each other, especially now. Oh, and I traded some books with my coworker, Michelle. So I got some new things for you to read. No terrible romance novels this time. I’ll drop them off in the afternoon.‘ ‘Thank you so much Jenny,‘ Timothy mumbles, still trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. ‘Now get up you lazy bastards,‘ she laughs, ‘my father will have you if you’re not ready by six.‘ She pats down the wrinkles in her blouse and makes sure her skirt is on straight while she’s almost making her leave. ‘Gosh, when’d you get so stuck-up,‘ Johnny chuckles and sits up on his bed, ‘you were much nicer in high school.‘ She winks at him as she buttons her waistcoat and leaves, closing the door behind her. James yawns and stretches. ‘You went to school with her,‘ he asks Johnny, ‘how old are you now?‘ ‘21,‘ he sighs, ‘Timothy just turned 18. How about you?‘ He pulls his shirt over his head while he talks. ‘23.‘ James reaches for the shirt Jenny brought him. ‘Did she do this for both of you?‘ Timothy and Johnny share a look. Timothy nods. ’Yeah, they have some clothes for guys around our age,’ he mutters. Johnny rubs his head for a second as he sees James face contort into a question mark. He sighs, knowing he’ll have to explain. ‘Look, we didn’t tell you this but this family already lost people. They know the hurt and they don’t want others to suffer it, so they help wherever they can even if it puts them all in danger,‘ Johnny explains, ‘so no more questions. Just work and keep your head down.’

Jenny walks into work and looks at the cork board. There are two pictures gone. A gasp leaves her mouth. Michelle just comes walking from the back with two cups of coffee. ‘Ah Jenny, good morning doll,‘ she smiles and hands her a cup. ‘Morning Michelle,‘ she forces a smile, ‘say, weren’t there two others on the board?‘ ‘Oh yes, they took off two this morning.‘ ‘What does that mean?‘ ‘From what they told me, it could mean one of three things,‘ Michelle sums up, ‘they could either be found, spotted, or dead.‘ Jenny’s eyes fall on the pictures of Johnny, James, and Timothy. They’re still there. At least that means they haven’t been spotted. Yet. ‘What a shame,‘ she hums and walks behind her desk, ‘all these young men laid to rest.‘ ‘It’s a shame. Builds character though,‘ Michelle shrugs like she doesn’t care at all. But just because she got out of it well, doesn’t mean others want to lose their lovers, their brothers, their sons. ‘Michelle, you can’t say that,‘ Jenny snaps at her, ‘they’re sending those poor boys to die.‘ ‘Not all of them are the same as Casper,‘ she argues, ‘some are trained.‘ ‘Casper was trained.‘ Jenny looks close to rage as Michelle realizes what she just implied. No, it’s not a good look to insult someone’s dead brother. Not a good look indeed. ‘Okay, enough of this, I have your route dotted out in the back. Get to work.‘ Oh if looks could kill.

James, Johnny, and Timothy sit under a tree by the farmhouse in the cool grass, picking at it, sharing a cigarette, and chatting away. The watch Jenny arrive back with a frown on her face. They see how she throws her bike to the side with teary eyes and stomps inside. ‘What’s up with her,‘ James asks the other two. ‘Probably her coworker. From what I’ve heard the bitch can be quite insensitive,‘ Johnny laughs. James can’t really find it in himself to laugh along. Seems to him Jenny has a tough time as well. A few minutes pass and the door opens again. Jenny walks over to them, picking the cigarette from James’ fingers and taking a deep drag while plopping down in the grass with them. She keeps the thing in her mouth and smokes it faster than a dragon. ‘Something tells me you’ve done that before,‘ James laughs as he picks the near finished cigarette from het lips, takes the last drag, and puts it out on an ashtray that mister Hill gave them along with the cigarettes. ‘Fuck you,‘ she mumbles, pulling her knees up to her chest. ‘Oh come on doll, don’t be like that,‘ Johnny chuckles, giving her a new cigarette. She sticks it between her lips and Timothy lights it for her with the zippo she gave him at one point. ‘Call me doll one more time and I will cut your tongue clean out your mouth,‘ she mumbles, chin pressed against her knees as she wraps her arms around them. Occassionally letting one arm loose to take a drag from het cigarette. ‘Bad day,‘ Timothy asks with a nervous smile. ‘Michelle is such a bi-‘ ‘Language,‘ Johnny tells her with a smirk. ‘Suck my dick,‘ she tells him, ‘Michelle was saying the war builds character and implied that Casper died because he wasn’t trained. He was a goddamn sniper for fucks sake!‘ ‘I’m sorry, who’s Casper,‘ James asks, gaining a furious glare from Jenny, ‘if you don’t mind me asking.‘ ‘I do mind,‘ she hums, ‘but he’s my brother. He had just turned twenty when they took him away. Only took a few months before we got the letter.‘ ‘I’m sorry to hear,‘ he lets his head hang a little, trying to see if she’s angry at him from his hunched position. She takes a drag and pushes a small smile on her face. ‘It’s fine. You didn’t know.‘ She passes the cigarette to Timothy, who quickly passes it to Johnny with a disgusted look on his face. ‘Good, well, I left the books in the house. You can take them with you after dinner.‘ ‘You’re not joining us for dinner,‘ Johnny asks. ‘I am, but wouldn’t it be blasphomy to let a poor weak maiden carry all those heavy books herself when there’s three strong men in the house,‘ she puts on theatrics while she says it. James can’t help but smile at her performance. Talking to them clearly cheered her up a bit. ‘No, but I’m going to have to scrub my mouth so dad doesn’t find out I smoked. I’ll see you guys in a minute.‘ She jogs off into the house. James watches her go with stars in his eyes. ‘She always like this?‘ ‘Much, much worse,‘ Johnny laughs, seeing the amazed look on the man’s face, ‘my man, you have it bad.‘ ‘What?‘ Johnny continues to laugh and gets up from his place, patting James on the shoulder before walking back to the shed with the cigarette and the ashtray. ‘Did I do something?‘ James looks at Timothy, but he just shrugs.

After dinner, Jenny sits down in the same spot behind the farmhouse with a book. While the other boys are playing cards, James decided to look for that same spot with a book of his own. He shoots her a recognizing smile and sits down with her in silence. They read for a minute before the need to say anything becomes too much to James. ‘You alright doll?‘ ‘I thought I made it clear I don’t want to be called doll,‘ she remarks, keeping her eyes on her book. ‘I’m sorry, how may I call you miss,‘ he asks properly. ‘Just call me Jenny.‘ ‘What are you reading Jenny?‘ ‘What’s it to you James?‘ ‘Just curious, that’s all.‘ He watches as a smile starts tugging on the corners of her lips. She tries to suppress it, but the sparkle in her eyes is clear as day. ‘Of sons and lovers,‘ she hums, showing him the front, ‘do you know it?‘ ‘Heard of it, haven’t had the chance to read it,‘ he answers, ‘will you read it to me?‘

#bucky #bucky fanfic #bucky fic #bucky fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #james barnes #james barnes fic #james barnes fanfic #james barnes fanfiction

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tarry-a-lot · 4 years

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French Musical Recommendations/review (Part 2)

I should have mentioned in part 1 but I don't speak French (well a bit but not enough to understand the lyrics unless I’m reading it or something) so if the lyrics aren’t that good my bad I honestly wouldn’t know,

Also this is in no particular order, I don't think all the shows mentioned in part 1 are better than the ones mentioned here, there will be a part 3 at some point

1789 Les amantes de la Bastille: I think this may be my second or third (ties with Mozart) favourite French musical based solely on soundtrack, it’s about the siege of the Bastille and the days leading up to it with a focus on two lovers Ronan a revolutionary and Olympe Marie Antoinette’s children’s governess (the actress who played Olympe was also Guinevere in roi Arthur musical), my favourite songs are “Sur ma peau” and “La rue nous apparent” it is available in full on YouTube, IMPORTANT: This show has two endings, I don’t want to spoil so perhaps skip what I’m about to write though I will try to be vague: the scene before the song “fixe” at the end, the two characters switch place mattering on which version your watching, one version was done towards the start of the run and late 2013 they seemed to have made the change, the full version uploaded and the dvd have the original ending (I personally prefer the original but the other is not bad as well). also in 2012 when the show was staring with the showcase costumes are really different and you’ll find Ronan is played by Matthieu Carnot who plays Lazare in the full production later on instead because he had vocal issues resulting in getting replaced and given a more minor role (I think he’s great in his new role though, “Maniaque” is a bop)

Non-music: I have yet to see it in full but from clips the lighting is great and really adds to the songs and emotions, the story is pretty straightforward but nice, and the choreography is good from what I’ve seen, also for a “historical” show the costumes aren’t that bad, I would assume not accurate but a good balance of inaccurate and historical looking enough

Japanese Toho ver. (1789 バスティーユの恋人たち) 2016 clips are available on YouTube, the costumes in this version is fun, it’s non-replica but they really went off on Olympe’s costume, I will be honest a little bit sad about Ronan’s yellow jacket being replaced with a dark blue, also one of the Ronan actors (Olympe, Ronan and Marie-Antoinette are double casted) looks too old, especially compared to other Ronan actor who really has the young energetic vibe about him (though if memory serves me correctly his sur ma peau was strangely annoying to listen to)

Takarazuka ver. 2015, clips are available on YouTube if Japanese title along with “宝塚“ is added in search

Notre-Dame de Paris: a musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, it is different from the Disney musical, this is another popular French show, if you like Romeo et Juliette you’ll probably like this, it can found in full on YouTube along with different translations/adaptions, I won’t go to in depth on different version on here like I did for R+J but if your interested the Wikipedia page is quite detailed and can tell you about all the casts and cast recording available, I have yet to watch it in full but so far I think Belle and Le temps des cathédrales are my favourite songs (quite basic I know), it’s one of those shows you can’t go wrong with, from the parts I’ve watched and listened I think it could become one of my favourite shows

Non music: From the bits I’ve seen the wall backdrop is really cool, It has nooks and platforms that appear and disappear and it’s just really cool looking, WARNING, this is a bit of the spoiler so maybe don't read what I’m about to write but if you’ve read the book its not that much of a spoiler but there is a hanging scene at the end so if that imagery is something your sensitive to please be wary, it’s at the end (on the YouTube video of the full original show its from 2:03:42-2:03:54)

Don Juan: I love this show (I strangely found parts funny and a bit cheesy which is why I liked it), It’s pretty much about a man Don Juan who is a know heartbreaker who is only into sex drinking and having fun but no love, he then falls in love with a woman, shocker, and conflicts arise from there, honestly I don’t see a lot of content for this show but I think it’s fun, the dancing is primarily flamenco (music is heavily inspired by the dance as well) and it’s impressive, the singing is great, the full show is available on YouTube, my favourite songs are probably “Les fleurs du mal” and “Jalousie,” It opened in Montreal originally then went to Paris, the full show is available on YouTube (I think the Paris version) and there is also a full 3 and half hour behind the scenes video of the Paris production online, from what I can tell up till the symphony version of 2019 Don Juan and his love Maria has been consistently played by Jean-François Breau and Marie-Ève Janvier (obviously there were understudies and such) the actors are also married/were dating during the show which adds to it when you see them perform together

Non-Music: a character described with black hair in the song chorus is blonde/brunette and I thought that was hilarious, some strange choreography with Don Juan especially in Jalousie, he walks up and down stage and it’s awkward, aside from weird parts in general the costumes are ok (gets better in later productions), the set is plain but with some fun props, I think the dancing is probably one of the highlights along with the live band present on stage for certain songs (photo from Quebec 2013 production)

Don Juan (Théâtre St-Denis) 2004 Montreal, also had Canada tour after its Montreal premier in Feb.

France Tour 2005 Palais des Congrès à Paris performance recording and behind the scenes is available on YouTube

Korean Tour 2006, the French cast touring, non-costume concert versions and actual performance clips are available on Youtube

Korean Cast, 2009 (March~) (뮤지컬 돈 주앙) separate from the tour which was the French cast touring this is an all Korean cast, act 1 and 2 can be found on YouTube (video called “돈쥬앙 1막“ and “돈쥬앙 2막“) though it seems to cut around so It’s like a pieced together version of the acts, other clips are also available, it is a replica production

2012 revival Montreal, from what I read it only had 10 performances? and with it released a cd with new recordings, “nous on veut de l'amour“ and “L'amour Est Plus Fort“

Grand Théâtre de Québec 2013 (August 9-18), you could call this a continuation to the revival in Montreal

Takarazuka ver. 2016 (June+July) (ドン・ジュアン) the page is still up on the takarazuka website for this production, there’s a ad with clips from the show available on niconico (should come up if you search the title in jp and add takarazuka in jp) also this version Don Juan is strangely more touchy with his friend, not mad guess it adds a new tension to the plot, non replica production though it is quite similar to the French one, they don’t stray too far

Don Juan Symphonique 2019 (Feb 12-16): At the Montreal Symphony House they had a concert version with the original cast (or at least the original Don Juan and Maria), along with the OSM (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal)

Japanese ver. 2019 (August/September + December) it’s non-replica, there’s a trailer for it online but it only features Don Juan, I found blog posts about it but currently while I write this it’s late so perhaps I’ll update with more info later, maybe not

Moscow Concert 2020 (March 17-22) (Дон Жуан or Don Juan) This is still in French with a French cast but this time the leads are no longer the original, Laurent Ban is now Don Juan, supposedly according to a Russian video it was meant to go on tour after Moscow (State Kremlin Palace) but I’m assuming the issue with the virus changed plans, I’m surprised they were going to go on world tour I honestly think it’s not true, the interview with cast can be found on YouTube with bits of songs, however the Russian concert advertisement is only a recording from the 2005 French, from what I can tell it is a replica, I believe it was cancelled before the premier due to Covid-19

The research for this show took me all day, maybe if I was fluent in French it would have been faster, if I’m wrong in parts feel free to comment and correct me and I’ll edit it

Les Trois Mousquetaires: Not to be mistaken with the Broadway/Westend show of the same name and base material from 1928 with the revival in the 80′s or the other three musketeer musical at the North Shore theatre in 2007 (the one with Aaron Tveit and Kevyn Morrow), or the other musical by George Stiles and Paul Leigh, this is an entirely separate 2016-2017 musical that follows the general plot of the literature it’s based on though simplified, it’s ok, not great but not the worst, I probably would rank it lower than roi Arthur, I will admit I haven’t listened to the full show, it’s quite catchy, my favourite song so far is probably “Je t’aime c’est tout,” there is a showcase concert in full, music videos and official soundtracks available on YouTube but I would advise checking out the live versions, the ensemble backing parts are really great and they get cut out in the recording versions which really cheapens the songs for me, In general ok show, really not the best but has its highlights (like the four lads relationship is fun to watch, dancing is great, singing is good),

Non-Music: Athos the oldest of the 3 musketeers is actually the youngest actor though he is a few year older than the D’Artagnan actor, It’s minor I guess but I didn’t realise who Athos was until looking up the cast list and was shocked, Also Athos really doesn’t sing because Brahim Zaibat who plays him is a dancer, despite this his dancing skills really add to the fight sequences making them very impressive and fun to watch, it’s more concerty in style and a bit interactive with the audience, from what I can tell the sets seem plain and the costumes are really awful (in my opinion) like Athos’ shirt is so revealing to the point he might as well not wear a shirt, also Constance’s outfit is just a no for me

#1789 les amants de la bastille #notre dame de paris #les trois mousquetaires #the three musketeers #Don juan #musical theatre #French musicals #takarazuka #musicals #theatre #rambling

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ronninoir · 4 years

Text

Can I Steal You for a Second? CH19

Summary: Adrien is forced to participate in a new dating show, but becomes more excited when Ladybug says she’ll participate as her civilian self.

AKA: AU where Adrien doesn’t know Marinette, the superheroes are 22 and Gabriel is mean and ruthless but not Hawkmoth.

Read on AO3

Start from the beginning Chp 1 on AO3

Chapter 19

To say Lila was intolerable when she came back late that night was an understatement. She gushed about how amazing Adrien was and how gentlemanly he was and she even admitted that they got a “little carried away” in their make-out session and “accidentally” made it to second base. Marinette didn’t believe a word of it.

The next morning was a little awkward. Marinette had woken up to see Juliette and Hanna off and then went to eat breakfast. As she was eating, Lila came down the stairs into the kitchen.

“What are you doing here?” she sneered as she grabbed a piece of bread and began to nibble on it. Lila was clearly not expecting cameras this morning because her face was completely clean of make-up, and her brown hair hung limply around her head in an unflattering way.

“I’m not going on the date,” Marinette said, trying to keep any malice out of her voice.

“Why not? Decided to give up trying to fight me for Adrien?”

Marinette rolled her eyes and responded calmly, “No, I plan to fight for him tomorrow on my one-on-one.”

Lila dropped the bread she was holding.

She violently turned towards where Marinette was sitting and braced her hands on the counter in a way that she probably thought was menacing. “Your what?”

Marinette bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling. She had purposefully not told Lila that she had the one-on-one today and it seemed as though no one else thought to mention it as well. Either that, or Lila never asked. The sheer dumbfounded look on Lila’s face made it totally worth it.

“My one-on-one. I think it has something to do with water, based on the date card. Didn’t yours only involve a round of golf?”

Lila was positively fuming. Although she gushed about the nighttime portion of her date, she reluctantly said that she and Adrien had spent the whole day playing golf, which didn’t lead to a lot of touching or kissing and therefore didn’t make a good enough story to gush about.

“Well whatever it is, I’m sure it’s just a pity date. He’ll probably send you home afterwards and the producers will have to come and pick up your bags.” Lila flicked her un-styled hair behind her, as if it made her look more glamorous. “After you’re gone, there will be no one to stop me from winning.”

The phrasing Lila used was infuriating. “Whatever you say,” was all Marinette could mumble before she ran upstairs to hang out in her room.

She didn’t run into Lila again for the rest of the day, even when she ventured downstairs to play video games by herself. The house felt completely empty and it made her skin crawl. Once everyone came home, Lucie in possession of the group date rose, Marinette allowed about half of the girls to drag Marinette to her room to help her pick out outfits for the next day. Once the perfect dress, swimsuit (one of the producers had let slip to Marinette that she would need to pack one) and daytime outfit was picked, everyone except Hanna and Juliette rushed off to bed, chatting excitedly.

“Are you nervous?” Juliette asked as she gathered up Marinette’s shoes. The two girls were helping her pack their bags, a tradition they had started the night before Hanna’s one-on-one all those weeks ago. It helped make the possibility of going home seem smaller with them there to help her pack.

“Not really. I’m honestly just so excited to have him all to myself.” Both girls nodded in agreement, a look of understanding on their faces that felt like a punch to the stomach. Sometimes it was so easy to forget that they were all dating the same guy. And other times, it was hard to ignore that they were all fighting for the same prize.

Marinette barely slept that night, fretting over all of the possible things that could go wrong or how she was going to trip and embarrass herself in front of Adrien and the cameras. Morning came quicker than she expected and before she knew it, she was being poked awake by Tikki and was numbly dressing into the outfit that had been picked out for her by the girls the night before.

After dragging her suitcase downstairs and leaving it in the main hall, she gave Hanna and Juliette a quick hug before rushing out of the door, an apple for breakfast in hand.

----------------------------------------------------

Marinette was 15 minutes into the drive before she finally got up the nerve to say something.

“Where are we going?” Marinette asked the driver tentatively. She was fully prepared for him not to answer, but she was also aware of the fact that there was no way she was still in Paris.

“You’ve got a special treat today,” the driver answered with a smile. “The producers swung to get you and Adrien out of town for the day.” He gave Marinette a genuine smile, which she returned quickly, before sitting back in her seat. The black SUV with tinted windows was more comfortable than the vans they transported a group of girls in, but it was too quiet for Marinette’s preference. At least she was able to talk with Tikki quietly without any of the girls giving her odd looks.

“Tikki, if I’m leaving Paris...”

“You can’t be there in case an akuma attacks.” Tikki finished, knowing what Marinette was worrying about.

“What should I do?”

“Well it’s not good for both you and Adrien to be out of town. I’m not going to ask you to not go on the date, that would be too suspicious. Plagg may not think to do this, but the safest thing would be for me to go to Master Fu’s in case anything happened. If there’s an akuma, we can’t have Ladybug too far away. Too many people could get hurt.”

Marinette nodded, knowing Tikki was right, but the idea of letting Tikki leave her side still hurt. “Do you need the earrings?”

Marinette made to take them off, but Tikki stopped her. “Don’t worry. I can work without them.” Tikki took a risk and flew up to touch Marinette on the cheek. “Have fun, and I want to know everything that happens when you get back, okay?”

Marinette nodded, not risking speaking in case she started to cry. She hadn’t been this far apart from Tikki in almost 7 years, and the thought of her leaving was almost too much. She cupped Tikki to her cheek and watched her as she phased through the window and out of the car.

For the first time in 7 years, Marinette was utterly and completely alone.

----------------------------------------------------

Marinette jerked awake when the car came to a stop. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but the last 20 minutes of the drive was quiet and the slow hum of the car lulled her to the sleep she couldn’t find last night.

When she looked out the window, she noticed that she was no longer in Paris. She passed a sign that said, “Jablines” but wasn’t sure where that was. There weren’t many buildings around and the road wasn’t as crowded as it normally was in Paris. Marinette had a feeling this was considered a small town and, from what she could see from the window, thought the place had some charm to it.

She still didn’t understand the purpose of this trip until the car stopped in front of what could only be described as a beach. Marinette climbed out of the car and felt her jaw drop. It was perfect. It was sunny, the sand looked inviting, and the water was the perfect shade of blue, not too clear but not as mucky as the Seine.

Marinette waited for instructions, but none came. As she squinted a little closer, she noticed that there was only one person on the beach, and she had a feeling that it was going to be a certain someone with messy blond hair and heart-stopping green eyes.

Marinette realized she was running only once her feet hit the sand and she had trouble keeping her balance. She had never truly been on a beach before, neither of her parents preferring it nor wanting to leave the bakery to go to one, and Marinette was overwhelmed by the feeling of sand between her toes and the call of the water coming constantly closer to the edge.

Once her eyes locked on the figure ahead, she forgot about the beauty of the beach. This was why she was here, this is what made dealing with Lila and putting up with all of the drama worth it. Adrien lit up when he made eye contact with her and she felt the smile she was wearing grow bigger. She ran towards him and launched herself into his arms, knowing without a doubt that he would catch her. As soon as they touched, they were kissing and Marinette was content at letting this moment last forever.

“Hi” Adrien said once they broke apart, his smile shining brighter than the sun. “I’m so excited to see you today.”

Marinette felt at home in Adrien’s arms. The way he casually held her right now just content looking at her made her melt and she was worried she would turn into a puddle and flow right into the ocean. When she was standing with her Chaton, even though he didn’t know it was her, it made her realize that she would never be alone, even if Tikki wasn’t there.

“I’m so happy to see you Adrien.” She said, her smile growing just a little bigger. He picked her up slightly, and she wrapped her legs around his hips to steady herself as his lips found hers once again. Barely a minute into their date and they already were having trouble staying focused. They were allowed to kiss for about a minute more before a producer cleared his throat and gave Adrien a pointed look.

“Anyway,” he started, a slight blush covering his cheeks. Marinette could feel hers burn as well and knew that they both must look ridiculous. “you’re probably wondering why I brought you all the way out here.” Marinette nodded, not wanting to break up his speech. “Well, I never get to go to the beach just for fun, there’s always some sort of photoshoot happening, and since you always offer to make my life a little more normal every time you’re around, I felt as though it would be appropriate to have a casual day at the beach with you.”

Marinette’s hand automatically covered her heart as she felt her heartbeat quicken. He was perfect. Absolutely perfect. He wanted to experience this with her, and make this the memory he thought of when he remembered his one casual day at the beach. Marinette felt herself blush once again as she spoke up, trying to be heard over the waves, “You know, I’ve never actually been to a beach before.” Adrien’s eyes widened in shock and Marinette felt as though she had to explain. “My parents don’t like to leave the bakery for too long, and so we’ve just never taken a trip. I don’t get out of Paris much...” she trailed off, her thoughts going to Tikki. A sudden sliver of fear ran through her heart. What if there was an akuma right now and both Ladybug and Chat Noir are having a casual day at the beach making out. She physically shook her head, trying to clear away the negative. Tikki’s got this covered and there is no reason to worry.

When Marinette snapped back to her senses, and the beautiful boy standing in front of her, she realized that he seemed to be beaming even more now than before.

“Well then, Marinette, let me help you become an expert beach-goer.”

And he did just that.

After a brief amount of time where Marinette was allowed to change into her swimsuit underneath her clothes, the duo did everything imaginable at the beach. It turns out that the crew rented out the whole beach for the day, so it was only going to be the two of them. They built sand castles and Marinette laughed as Adrien’s was swept away by the ocean before he finished, but Marinette’s remained untouched. They buried a producer in the sand and even were able to find some kites and fly those around. Eventually, Marinette worked up the nerve to push Adrien into the water. Everything changed after that.

Their clothes were shed and only their swimsuits remained. They were running and splashing each other and Marinette was worried she wouldn’t have enough air in her lungs to breath with all the laughing she was doing.

Eventually they were pulled out of the water, dried off, and mic’d, and forced to sit down and chat about their relationship while eating, and yet trying not to eat a beachside picnic.

“Marinette, this has been the most fun I’ve had on a date so far,” Adrien said, gazing at Marinette in a way that made her blush. That was a pretty high compliment from someone who has been speed dating 30 girls in the past 5 weeks.

“It has been really fun. But I think my favorite was kicking your butt at Ultimate Mecha Strike.” Adrien burst out laughing and Marinette couldn’t help but join.

“That was a lot of fun, but I still think I could beat you in a different setting.” Marinette snorted, and Adrien had the gall to look offended. “What? You don’t think I could take you on?”

“I think you could try really really hard,” Adrien was laughing again and slightly tackled Marinette, who was laughing again too. She was suddenly aware of the way it felt to have Adrien on top of her, the way his skin, not covered in a leather suit, felt touching hers, also not covered in leather. The way that he didn’t seem to bear any weight on her. Up close, his eyes were even prettier. Marinette knew that if she had the time, she could stare into those eyes and never get bored. And those eyes seemed to be staring back at her. He gently leaned down farther, until their lips were almost touching. They were sharing the breath, and Marinette could feel his lips on hers.

“You know I really really like you,” Adrien whispered. Marinette didn’t answer, as her body was screaming to kiss him again. “Marinette, I want to take you to the end. I really think you could be it for me.” Marinette’s breath caught and she looked deeper into those eyes searching for the hesitation he must have, not knowing that she was Ladybug.

“I think you could be it for me too, Adrien.” Marinette whispered back. Instead of responding, he closed the small gap between them and kissed her once more. This one got a little steamier, especially with them lying down on the beach, which had always seemed so romantic. The thing that broke the moment was a pain in her back as the pair shifted slightly, jamming Marinette’s mic pack into her spine.

She broke them apart and smiled at him. They sat up remembering that there were not only people watching, but recording their every move and word. Adrien seemed to understand Marinette’s sudden discomfort and asked one of the producers to take their mics off so they could get back into the water.

They traveled far enough into the water that it went up to about Marinette’s waist, Adrien’s upper thighs. They could stand, but it was too far for the cameras to pick up any sound unless they shouted. It was as much privacy as they would get.

“Marinette, I have to tell you something,” Adrien said, pulling her close and turning her so that the cameras couldn’t see either of them very well. They were just far enough in the water that the waves didn’t jostle the couple too much, so it wasn’t difficult to stand in one place and fully focus on Adrien.

“Marinette, I—I—I love you.” She was almost too shocked to say anything back.

“You do?” was all she could say. He didn’t know that she was Ladybug, didn’t know that she knew exactly who he was. And yet.

“Yes, of course I love you. You are the only one that has even come close to capturing my heart on this whole journey and I knew that I needed to tell you today, in a way that not everyone could hear just yet. This was something I wanted to do privately first.

Marinette was so stunned, she got knocked over by a wave.

In hindsight, she should have seen it coming. She was freaking Ladybug for goodness sakes and she could have held her ground or at least her balance. Instead, she was so busy staring at Adrien. This boy, who just confessed that he loved her, even though he only knew half of her. Even though he also wanted to pursue whoever Ladybug is. This boy, who unknowingly had the opportunity to get to know both sides of her and still choose Marinette over Ladybug. She was so overwhelmed with love and emotion that, yes, she got knocked over by a wave.

Adrien’s reflexes were quick though and he grabbed her and held her steady, waving off the crew that was rushing to come save her. After coughing a little bit, she stood up straight and faced the man she loved, and who loved her in return, with a hesitant smile.

He matched her smile with one of his signature Chat Noir ones, and Marinette knew that a pun was coming. “Water you doing getting caught in that wave? Weren’t you paying atten-sea-on?” Adrien looked so proud of himself for those two lines, but Marinette, still slightly caught off guard by the love announcement and the wave-attack and therefore not thinking straight, groaned and rolled her eyes.

Adrien physically took a step back, letting his hands drop to his side. He looked hurt, and yet... pensive. “You don’t like my puns?”

Marinette just looked sheepishly at the ground.

Marinette watched as the gears seemed to turn in his head. She could only imagine what he was thinking, but after a minute, his face turned all serious and he looked her right in the eye as he asked her, more like told her, “You’re Ladybug, aren’t you?”

~~~

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iamtheimagonator · 4 years

Text

When We First Met Pt 2

Lost and alone.

That’s how Juliette felt knowing that her father was out there somewhere, possibly still in New York, but she was unable to see him. He was a war criminal now. As Juliette was still a child in the eyes of the law, Tony had made sure that she wasn’t arrested along with the others and instead, he let her stay at the compound under Natasha’s wing. Natasha was usually Juliette’s rock. She had been the first to welcome her into the ‘family’ that comprised the Avengers. These days though, even spending time with Natasha wasn't enough to make up for the damage done in Berlin.

It hadn’t been long since the team returned to New York, but the media had already been blocking the entrance of the compound with questions about Steve’s ‘betrayal’ and the fight at the airport. She didn’t blame Tony entirely, though she wished he could have compromised.

At least he was doing all he could to help her adjust.

Now, Juliette stood outside an apartment in Midtown, Queen’s. She took a shaky breath and double checked the address Tony had given her once more while waiting.

The door opened and there stood a middle-aged woman, though she still looked flawless, with an apron around her waist gawping down at the girl.

“I’m sorry. I must have gotten the wrong apartment, I’m looking for-”

“Juliette.”

Peter stood there in a blue sweater, no longer bruised up and his hair was notably less sweaty than when they’d last met. He looked like a dorky Prince Charming. Those chocolate button eyes widened slightly in surprise when they caught onto her own blue ones but he stayed silent so she could explain herself.

“I’m sorry to intrude. I just- I didn’t know where else to go.” Juliette blurted as the boy moved closer. The woman had already thrown the door open wider and was ushering the girl inside.

“Well, don’t just stand there, invite her in! Miss Rogers it’s an honour. First Tony Stark and now you! Our most exciting visitor is usually the sushi delivery man. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Meatloaf? Wait, of course you don’t want that, not when your father-”

“May! It’s fine. Juliette is here because I left some paperwork at Stark’s lab during the internship. She hangs out there sometimes. We’re gonna go to my room, okay?” Peter was already taking hold of her hand and pulling her down a small hallway, leaving May standing at the door still a little star-struck and flustered.

“Your aunt seems nice.” Juliette remarked as she examined the mess of materials strewn over the desk in the corner.

“Yeah she is-please don’t touch that. Sorry about that, May doesn’t meet a lot of heroes.” He shook his head when Juliette gave him a look. “That doesn’t count. My aunt doesn’t know about me, hence the Stark internship. I just don’t want her getting hurt, you know?”

“No. I mean- my mum only agreed to have me when she worked for the government and they wanted to use DNA they’d found from my dad to try and create some kind of super baby which obviously it didn’t work but she’s pretty lenient with the fighting stuff. And my dad- yeah. I don’t really have anyone I need to protect like that. I was in the media so much as a kid while they experimented on me that I wasn’t allowed out. No school friends, not even a dog.” She sat down on the bed and after some hesitation, Peter joined her.

“Well, at least you didn’t have to take algebra. Sorry. That was- that was a little ignorant.”

“I would love to take algebra. Go to an actual school, have a proper life. Your version of hell sounds like my heaven.”

“I would gladly switch places with you. In a heartbeat.” Peter chuckled then went quiet and a comfortable silence settled over the two of them.

“So. You wanna talk about it? I’m a pretty good listener.”

Juliette hesitated for a moment, talking feelings wasn’t something she did often. Mostly because she had no potent feelings she felt the need to discuss, unless someone like Natasha asked. Then again, talking to someone without interruption sounded like a good way to confront herself.

“It’s just…I mean yes, I knew that there would be consequences when my dad refused to sign the accords. I knew he would put himself at risk to protect Bucky. But the Avengers are my family, every single one. And now my family has been torn apart and I’ve lost my dad again and every time someone looks at me I can see the pity in their eyes because I’m the freak show government experiment and the minute I finally find my place it all goes to crap and it just- it sucks!”

Silence again. Awkward yet strangely comforting silence. Peter didn’t bother feeling sorry for her or trying to make light of the situation, he just listened and waited for the energy in the room to calm down again. “Yeah, it sucks. Mr Stark didn’t really elaborate on why we were fighting against Captain America. I was just happy to be there. I’m happy I met you. And the looks- I get it. I’m not saying it’s the same but I get it. When my parents died, it was like I was living my fifteen minutes of fame. Suddenly everybody cared, and at the same time it felt as though nobody did. But… we’re friends now, right? That’s why Mr Stark gave you my address? So if you ever need a shoulder, or a rooftop, I’ll be here.”

It took Juliette a moment to process Peter’s words as she finally looked up to check for any falsity in them. The last time they were together, they were on opposing sides. Now though, Juliette felt a connection she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Peter was staring right back at her and managed a slight smile that Juliette returned.

“Yeah. We’re friends.”

@dreamofaprilsblog @wotamelonsugar

Part 1 Here

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kaitycole · 4 years

Text

A Year After: Sawyer

Summary: What happens in the 365 days since Morgan left Sweetridge for her dream job in Boston.

Word Count: 2629

Pairing: Sawyer x Morgan (F) (Past tense) Sawyer x ???

Rating: PG-13, there’s smut but it’s pretty tamed

Tag List: @desiree—1986 @kacie-0156 @shakespeareanwannabe

A/N: This is the second part which follows Sawyer once Morgan leaves.

P.S. This is prior to me reading Book Two as well as a modified ending to Book One.

“I….”

“Seriously? Did everything that’s happened the last few weeks mean so little to you?”

“No! Sawyer, I couldn’t say goodbye because the last few weeks have meant everything to me! All last night, I kept trying to find the right moment to tell you, but every time…I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

Sawyer shakes his head repeatedly, “I just don’t believe it. You could’ve said something when we snuck off, before we…we…”

He doesn’t finish his statement, he just turns away from her, hopping back up on his horse.

“Sawyer…”

“Hope that job gives you everything you want, Morgan.”

She watches as he taps the horse’s side, causing his horse to start walking back up to the ranch. Getting back in the car, she looks back at the Oakley’s, Cliff patting his son’s shoulder as he walks into the house.

I’m doing the right thing, right? This is what I’ve been working towards for years.

“Alright Spike, let’s go.” She looks over to at the cactus, but for some reason she gets the feeling that if it could, it would give her a disapproving look.

Fall

“What did you expect, Sawyer? She was just passin’ through and you barely knew each other.” Duke starts on his lecture as Sawyer aggressively shovels hay in the barn.

It has been three months since Morgan left, taking that fancy schmancy job in Boston, leaving the Montana gang behind her. But based off Sawyer’s behavior, you’d have thought that she left yesterday. Duke has never seen his brother this low over a girl before, sure he had a few interests in high school that ended, but this was different.

He props the shovel up against the wall before sitting on the floor. He runs his hands through his hair after sitting his hat on his knee.

“I guess I just thought she meant what she said.”

“I know it’s hard, but it does get easier, Sawyer.”

“Yeah, I’ve been hearing that a lot lately.” Standing up, he kicks the ground before walking out of the barn, not really feeling any better from his brother’s version of a pep talk.

Later that night, Sawyer let’s Juliette and Curly convince him to join their bonfire. Dallas and Jo are already there when they finally walk up.

“Hey y’all!” Juliette says as they all sit around the fire, seeing Sawyer looking at the spot that had been Morgan’s not so long ago.

“Are you excited for Smalltown, USA to come?” Jo says, trying to break the awkward silence.

“I think it will be a big thing for Sweetridge. Help put us more on the map,” Curly shrugs.

“What about you, Sawyer?”

“If it’s fixin’ to end like the last time a stranger came here, stayed and then just up and left, I think I’ll pass.” He pushes himself up and walks away.

“Morgan leaving really tore him up, didn’t it?” Jo asks as Juliette nods.

“I’ve never seen him this upset before, but you can’t blame him. Her leaving threw us all for a loop.”

“Should one of us go talk to him?” Curly asks, hating seeing a friend so upset.

“He’s not ready for help. But when he is, he’ll come askin’.”

* *

He finds himself driving with no real destination. Constantly flipping through the stations to try and find something to stop on. Every song so far has been one they listened to, reminded him of her or that she loved.

I've changed the presets to my truck,

So those old songs don't sneak up.

But they still find me

And remind me

Yeah you come back that easy

He slams on his breaks, pulling his truck over to the side of the road before he slams his palms against the steering wheel. He assaults the steering wheel some more, before he screams, “Fuck!”

Sawyer takes a deep breath, pulling himself together even though the tears on his cheeks show that he’s actually falling apart.

“Come back Morgan, come back to me,” his voice is low, almost a whisper, “Please.” His voice cracks as a sob escapes.

Winter

The Oakley’s, Mendoza’s and friends are all gathered together, watching their episode of the reality TV show.

“We can clearly see who the main character of this episode is,” Juliette jokes, nudging Sawyer’s shoulder with her knee since he was sitting on the floor in front of her.

“I’m just flaunting what my Momma gave me,” he playfully shrugs.

“I really hope we don’t get an influx of people moving in. I’d hate for the smalltown charm to be taken over.” Asha says, “Tourists I’m fine with. Residents, not so much.”

“I can agree with that,” Cliff said.

“You think Morgan is watching this?” Curly says, slightly hopeful.

Almost everyone gives him a dirty look before hearing Sawyer sigh, “If she was ever the girl I thought I knew, I’d say she is. She has to miss y’all.”

Juliette rubs his shoulder, “She misses you too, Sawyer.”

He shrugs, standing up, “Yeah, I don’t know about all that. ‘Scuse me, I need some air.”

Juliette follows Sawyer outside, “She’d be a fool not to think about you.”

He shakes his head, “The only fool is me, thinking that what she and I had was anything more than some fling.”

She wraps her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. Their friendship was the perfect solace for Sawyer, Juliette didn’t demand anything back but for his support when she needed it and help when she found herself in trouble.

He winces, her brow knits as she gently slides his shirt up, revealing dark purple bruises, “Ohmygod! Sawyer what is that!”

“Looks like a bruise to me,” was not the proper response he learned when she swatted his arm, “I got roughed up training for the rodeo.”

“What!?! I didn’t know you were training.”

“I just needed something to do to get her out of my head.”

“By the looks of this, she’s still in your head.” Her fingertips gently rub over the bruises.

He leans down, pressing his forehead to the top of her head. He takes a deep breath, inhaling her scent. They’ve never walked so close to the edge before. They were friends, that’s all. Sure, they were each other’s better half, but that’s just what best friends right?

“Jules ,” he whispers as he pulls her chin up towards him. He presses his lip to her, trying to find comfort, find what he’s been missing since Morgan left, but he doesn’t.

“Sawyer,” she pushes him away slightly. Looking at his face, she sees pure guilt. She places a hand on his cheek, giving him a gentle smile.

“I’m sorry.” He kicks the dirt at his feet.

“I’m not mad, but that isn’t how you’re gonna get over this.”

“I know.” He shoves his hands in his pockets.

She loops her arm with his, “Let’s go drink, huh? Oh, and Sawyer?”

“Yeah?”

“You ain’t half bad at kissing.”

Spring

“And the winner is Dick Mullagen, with a score of 86!” The crowd is a mix of cheering and boos after the announcer give the name of the winner.

“That’s a bunch of horse manure if you ask me,” Curly says, “He had that one in the bag!”

“Hey, here he comes,” Jo says as Sawyer walks over to the group.

“Just need a little more practice, is all,” Cliff says, patting his son on the back of his shoulder, “I’m still proud of you, son.”

“Thanks dad.” Sawyer smiles, it’s the first sincere smile he’s worn since Morgan left.

“Hey Oakley,” Dick yells from behind him, “I’d say better next time, but we all know I’ll win.”

Sawyer rolls his eyes.

“Do you think his mother knew he was going to be a total dick or that he became a dick because that’s his name?” Dallas asks, causing the whole group to erupt in laughter.

* *

“You done training for the day, Oakley?”

He pulls on Dolly’s harness, stopping her before looking over at Juliette. She was carrying a pitcher of lemonade. He hops off his horse and joins her for a glass.

“Refreshing, Mendoza.” He winks at her.

The two have seemingly moved passed the kiss they shared, but each would be lying if they said they weren’t thinking about it. A few touches lingered, cheeks blush and late nights lasted longer.

They weren’t going to overstep the wall between friends and more than friends again because they couldn’t. Not because of the feud or that they were being stubborn. Sawyer knew Juliette, she was his best friend, and she deserved someone who would give her the world. Sawyer knew he couldn’t give her that, right now she’d just be a rebound, something she never deserved to be for anyone.

But he wouldn’t say no to some harmless flirting.

“How are you feeling nowadays? You haven’t mentioned her lately?” Juliette says, sitting next to him.

“Better. I think I just needed to find what made me happy again.” He sighs, “I still miss her though. It just doesn’t hurt as badly.”

“As long as it’s not destroying you, it’s completely normal.”

He sighs, leaning his head on her shoulder, “Is it wrong that if given the chance, I’d want to try again with her?”

“Nope. Not at all. As long as you don’t lose yourself.” She tilts her head, resting it on his, “I’ll be here for you, every step of the way.”

Summer

Sawyer wipes the sweat from his brow before placing his hat back on. Dolly trotted up to him, nudging him with her snout.

“You want a treat, girl?” Sawyer chuckles.

“Neiigghh!” The horse exclaims before chopping down on the carrot Sawyer holds out for her.

“We have another busy day today, Dolly.”

The horse’s demeanor changes, her ears duck down and she shakes her head.

“I know girl. But you’ll get extra carrots, how’s that?” Sawyer rubs the mare’s neck. She seems okay with this exchange and trots off before he can change the deal.

Shaking his head, he laughs before he hears a high pitch squeal and turns to see Brit. He puts on a smile, not his typical charming one, but a smile nevertheless.

“Sawyer!” She throws her arms around his neck, pulling him close to her.

“Hey Brit. You ready?”

“Of course!” She steps back and does a twirl, “Like my outfit?”

Sawyer looks down the slender blonde’s outfit, it was once again not an appropriate one, but she never listened to him. She has on a strappy short sundress with brand new cowboy boots. Clearly, they were bought when she first met Sawyer. Her long blonde hair was braided and tossed to the side.

“You look nice, Brit.” He bites the inside of his lip. Sawyer gathers up a horse for her and whistles for Dolly to join them.

After exerting little effort, she pokes out her lip and stomps her foot, “Sawyeerrr!” She whines, “I need help!”

He walks over to her, holding the top of the saddle and has his hand on her back, “Just step up and then swing your leg over.”

“Yay! I did it!” She squeals.

“You sure did,” he walks over to Dolly, who just stares at him. He lowers his voice, “oh hush.”

Once he is on Dolly, the two of them begin riding around the field.

* *

“I really enjoyed today, Sawyer,” Brit says before they stop and he hops off.

“I’m glad that you did. You’re getting a lot better.” He places his hand on her lower back to help her get down.

“I’m even better at riding in other ways,” she gives him a flirtatious smile as his face turns completely red.

“Now Miss Brit, that’s no way for a lady to talk.”

She tosses her head back, laughing, “If you’d let me, I’d show you I’m not lady.” She places her hand on his arm, letting it linger against his muscles.

“Same time tomorrow, Cowboy?”

“Same time tomorrow,” he tips his hat towards her before she walks away from him.

Reaching down, he grabs a carrot for each mare before he hears Curly yell, “Morgan, wait!”

He snaps his head in their direction, “Morgan?” He drops the carrot, much to Dolly’s dismay and runs after her.

“Morgan! Morgan, stop!” He shouts, pushing himself to run faster. “Wait!” He hits him palms on the hood of her car, almost daring her to drive off.

“Sawyer, move please.”

“Not until you talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to say,” her voice cracks, the tears falling.

“Get out of the car, please.”

“Just move, let me go.”

“Get out of the car, dammit!”

With a small huff, she gets out of the driver’s side before he walks over and stands in front of her.

“Don’t you have some blonde to get back to,” her voice is sharp.

He chuckles, “You mean Brit? Jealous?”

“As if. She looks as smart as that fence post.”

He chuckles again before explaining to her what Brit was doing at the ranch. That ever since Smalltown, USA aired the episode on Sweetridge, that tons of people came to the Oakley ranch for horseback riding lessons. How his brother sold him out since the women would pay extra for Sawyer to teach them.

She looked up at him completely embarrassed, her face burning red while her mouth once again went dry.

“I’m sure that’s not why you came back here though.” He has one hand pressed against the car by her head while the other hangs by his side “Why’d you come back, Morgan?”

Sawyer would be lying if he said he wasn’t glad she was back. That he had dreamed of this moment for a whole year now. But he was trying so hard to not let himself go there, he couldn’t go through that pain again.

“You.” Her voice in low, raw from the emotions flooding over her.

He leans into her, a huge smile on his face, “What was that?”

Looking up, she catches the look in his eye. It was the same look she’s had since leaving Boston the second time. She wraps her arms around his neck, pulling him into her because she presses her lips to his. He wraps his arms around her waist, pushing her into him, deepening the kiss.

“Sawyer,” she moans, feeling him kiss down her neck.

“Oh, get a room, would ya!” Curly and Juliette yell at the couple.

“That’s not a bad idea,” she winks as he picks her up, “Then let’s go.”

* *

Morgan has her head resting on Sawyer’s chest, one of his arms wrapped around her. They lay there, wrapped in nothing but each other and a thin sheet.

“Morgan,” his breathing is slow, she swore he had fallen asleep.

“Yes?”

“What about Boston?” He feels her stiffen next to him, “I can’t do this again if you’re just gonna leave.”

She sits up, looking over at him, “I quit.”

“You quit?”

“I left Boston for good. I quit my job. I came here…for you. For us.” She takes a deep breath, “That is, if you’ll take me back.”

He runs his finger through his hair as he sits up, “Morgan, I…I don’t want you to regret leaving Boston.”

“I went there, I was miserable without you.” She straddles his lap, “I want to be here. With you.”

He chuckles as she reaches over and placing his black hat on her head, “What on earth are you doing?”

“If I’m going to stay here, I think I need a refresher course on riding,” she winks just before he pulls her into his chest and kisses her, “And I hear you’re the perfect teacher.”

#pixelberry #choices fanfiction #choices #big sky country #choices bsc #sawyer x morgan

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the-broken-truth · 4 years

Text

The Badger’s Butterfly - Lorelei x Riza (Villainous Nights MC) Pt. 1

Summary: When Andi accidentally hurt Riza (Villainous Nights MC) during a fight against Optimus Goons, Lorelei gets defensive and territorial over the Telepathic Monarch; not wanting anything else to hurt her. But just how far will she go to keep her butterfly safe?

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It was a regular night for the members of the Syndicate - Optimus Goons were seen gathering up families were verified to have members with superpowers or ties to those with powers. Bat was able to give the members of the Syndicate the list of names of the families Optimus already took but they were able to intercept them at the last family house and that’s where the battle broke out. The family was already locked away in the van, handcuffed in the back with all of the other families that were stolen away that night, but the back of the van was still opened when the Syndicate arrived to save them.

Wolf, Falcon, and Cat were all dealing with the largest cluster of goons while Badger and Monarch were fighting their way to the van to save the families. Optimus called in some backup and the fight was getting more tiring for Wolf, Falcon, and Cat.

“Go. Help them, I can keep the families safe.” Monarch told Badger once the two of them reached the van.

“Are you sure you can take care of them alone?” Badger asked as she looked at her girlfriend in concern, only to be met with a smile.

“I can keep the goons away but the others need you to take the goons out so that we can get these people to safety. Now go, Badger.” Monarch commanded as she began building power up in her hands. As much as Lorelei wanted to stay beside her partner and girlfriend, she knew that Riza was right; she knew the girl could keep these people safe. Exhaling, Lorelei pulled the butterfly-masked girl in for a brief kiss before she ran off to fend off the rest of the Optimus Goons with the others.

“There’s no end to these guys! They’re like roaches!” Andi hissed as she punched one goon away then kicking another with an electrified charged kick, sending him flying into a nearby store window.

“We have to stop them before we get the families to safety. We can’t risk them getting hurt.” Duke barked as he froze 3 Goons in ice.

“Monarch has them safe, just keep fighting!” Lorelei growled out as she socked 2 goons on their asses with rock-covered fists.

The battle kept drawing out until Andi noticed the electrical sources around her and began to absorb the power the lamp posts, an electrical box on the side of the building, and a few other items.

“Everyone, get back!” Andi called out to her teammates and on instinct, they all moved away as Andi let loose a pillar of electricity, sending it flying, running currents through the enemy but that when Andi’s eyes went wide as one of the pillars of electric power went in the direction of the trucks; that’s when it dawned on her.

“The trucks are magnetic! Monarch, get back!” Andi called out to the butterfly-masked girl, who looked in horror at the pillar coming closer.

Turning her back to the attack and pushed all her power out through her hands; adding a thicker shell of protection to the metal trucks but leaving her back completely exposed…

That’s when it struck.

Monarch’s mouth flew open and a scream shot from her throat as Andi’s lightning crashed down upon her, lighting her up like a Christmas tree light. Lorelei watched in horror as her girlfriend was electricity to the point her suit began to tear in various places but the butterfly-masked refused to drop her hands or the shell that was keeping the families protected from the rouge lightning. Monarch felt the lightning coursing through her body like a flooding river but her resolve was strong and her way was true - she was not going to let these innocent people get hurt!!!

With a roar that stopped her heart in strain, Monarch’s body glowed and pulsed out violently, shoving the lightning upward into the dark cloudy skies and away from the families. Riza’s body was smoking, the arms and legs of her suit were torn to shreds before her heart’s beating slowed and she fell to the ground.

“MONARCH!!” The voice of Duke and Andi called out before, the thundering steps of Lorelei closed in on her before she saw her Badger-Masked girlfriend kneeling over her, her emerald eyes laced with tears as Riza’s vision was fading, getting darker around the edges.

“No, baby! No, I need you to say awake for me! Monarch, please, don’t close your eyes!” Lorelei’s voice was desperate but Riza was fading away and it seemed to echo.

“Cat, Call Bat! Falcon, Get these people out of here! Badger, get Monarch; we have to get her back to base!” Duke barked his order but it was wavy as if Riza had her head underwater and his voice was muffled.

“Bat, get the Medical Ward ready! Monarch’s been hurt bad!” Andi’s voice pleaded over the intercom but it was but a whisper to Riza who finally gave in to the numbing pain and slipped into the darkness of her mind.

[Timeskip - Syndicate Lair - 3 Hours Later]

Lorelei’s leg was jumping, sending small tremors through the tiled ground but not enough to do damage to the lair; her fingers were locked in her lap and her head was bowed, eyes wide, and swimming with various emotions.

Duke was pacing back and forth in front of the meeting table while Renzei was sitting, watching his friends go mad; Andi was standing in a lone corner, her eyes occasionally looking at Lorelei, who she knew blamed her. Hell, she blamed herself. Riza got hurt protecting those families because she got reckless, again - now, her friend was in critical condition...because of her.

Soon enough, the door to the Medical Ward opened up and Juliette came out with a towel, wiping some cream off her hands and sweat off her forehead. Lorelei jumped to her feet and marched over to her friend, her large hands gripping the pale woman by her arms; dangerous green met horrified blue.

“How’s Riza? Is she going to be okay?” Lorelei asked - no - demanded to know.

“Calm down, Lorelei; you’re shaking like a leaf.” Juliette’s timid voice rung out.

“Just tell me, dammit! Is my girlfriend going to be okay?!” Lorelei’s voice caused the entire building to shake. Duke quickly intervened.

“Badger, that’s enough! Let Bat explain.” Duke ordered. Lorelei glared at him and growled but still managed to hold herself together long enough to let Juliette go. “Bat, please tell us; how is Monarch?” Duke asked.

“Riza suffered a lot of high degree burns to her forearms because the lightning was following the adrenaline in her body, which was trying to keep the shield up to protect those people; her body is recovering but she is going to be fine. She needs some rest and no missions for a while.” Juliette said; that’s when Lorelei’s eyes went feral.

“She’s not going on any more missions, ever,” Lorelei growled under her breath as she pushed Juliette aside and marched into the Medical Ward; everyone quick on her tail.

Lorelei marched into the room and her heart froze - laying in the bed, hooked up to some wires that were administering burn treatment and other fluids were the light of her life, Her Butterfly - Riza. The dark-skinned girl looked as if she was sleeping, her breathing was slow and steady; Lorelei smiled knowing that she was alive, walking up to the sleeping girl, gently running her hands through her hair.

It wasn’t long before the other members came into the room.

“Lorelei, please don’t disturb her; she needs to rest.” Juliette begged.

“Juliette, unhook her; I’m taking her home.” Lorelei ordered.

“You can’t, Lorelei. She needs proper treatment.” Duke said in his assertive voice. Lorelei glared at him over her shoulder.

“You can’t tell what I can or can’t do with my girlfriend. She’s mine, do you hear me? If it weren’t for me, you all would have never known her, she’s been mine since day one.” Lorelei growled out; her green eyes radiating anger. She turned back at the looked at Riza’s sleeping form, gently caressing her cheek with her hand.

‘I won’t let anything else hurt you, Riza. I promise you.’ Lorelei swore through their bond.

If only the others knew the extents Lorelei would go to keep it.

- To Be Continued -

#lorelei linden #lorelei x mc #villanous nights #lovestruck

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