#Nemo still leans or steps away when I move to pet her
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I did as much research as I could before getting a cat, I lived with baby locks on my cabinets for months so I could get used to it, I spent 45 minutes with an employee at the shelter bombarding her with questions, and I still worry every day that I'm fucking up.
Anyway, watching old episodes of My Cat from Hell has been comforting in that aspect
#Nemo still leans or steps away when I move to pet her#even after sitting on the floor with her quietly for a while#but I just take that as a sign to...leave#then she'll go hide for a bit#and then she'll come out into the living room while i'm working#she's very comfortable with my apartment#she's tolerating my presence#but she's still not sure about my proximity#which is fine#i knew she'd be a slow burn but she'll sometimes eat treats out of my hand and we play every day#so that's something
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Time for a new story. I'm not a dog person, but I also have a little Nemo President story... Set at the beginning of his presidency, but maybe thematically appropriate right now... They don't fight, but I've picked up on the idea that she doesn't like it when he keeps working... Thanks for your tips on fighting. A first story is in the works... Your Strawberry.
(PS: Dear Anon 2#, I am also thrilled by your stories every time and am eagerly waiting for a new one. The nightmare story is so beautiful! Very poignant).
I miss you
She looked up from her book and sighed at the clock. It was so late again and he was still working. Hours had already passed since their dinner together. There was so much going on at the moment, he was working so late every day. Often they only saw each other at mealtimes and she felt that sometimes he wasn't with her even then. She missed their evening conversations and his closeness very much. Although he was only a few doors away from her, he seemed far away.
It couldn't go on like this and she decided to get him away from his desk tonight. He desperately needed a break and she needed him. As soon as she had made this decision, she felt alive. Energetically, she got up and crossed the flat. Her dog had noticed his mistress' restlessness and jumped after her, tail wagging. But she stopped him, "Stop. You can't come with me. This is my mission." The dog paused and she had the feeling that he understood her.
As she walked the short distance to his office, she was surrounded by silence. It was already so late that no one was moving through the corridors. She stopped in front of his door. Quietly she knocked. Immediately she heard a clear, "Come in." However, when she poked her head through the door, she saw that he was not alone. The smile that had been on her face a moment ago faded. With an "Excuse me" she turned and closed the door again.
She leaned against the wall and sadness came over her. Then she heard the door open next to her. He stepped up to her. "What's wrong?" he asked softly. "Nothing," she smiled sadly. "I just wanted to check on you." He looked at her, exhausted, but a smile stole onto his face. "The meeting will be over in half an hour. Will you come again then?" he asked. She nodded. He pressed a kiss to her cheek and disappeared behind the door again. Slowly she strode back to her flat. There she was greeted barking by her dog. She bent down and stroked through his fur. "I'm afraid that didn't work out," she explained to him, glancing at the clock again. "But, we're not giving up," she affirmed.
After a little more than half an hour had passed, she set off again. Again her dog followed and again she ordered him to stay there. "Don't worry, I'll bring him along," she promised the four-legged friend hopefully. This time she waited a little longer outside the door to find out if he was alone. Not hearing any noise, she knocked again. Again she heard "Come in". When she opened the door, she exhaled in relief. This time he was alone. However, he was sitting at his desk, completely engrossed in his papers. Determined, she stepped up to him. He looked at her apologetically, "I really have to finish this."
Without saying anything in return, she turned around and quietly left the office. This time her dog did not greet her with a loud bark. He seemed to sense her disappointment. When she had sat down on the sofa, he put his muzzle on her lap and looked at her. With that he elicited a small smile from her. Petting him, she explained, "If he's into one thing, there's no need to try and stop him. He would be here, but actually still there. What am I going to do?"
Her dog nudged her and walked a little way towards the front door. Then she realised, "You're going to get him?" Barking happily, he came back to her and let his muzzle slide onto her lap again. "The idea is good, but one alone has little success. We have to work together. I've got an idea about that, too."
This time they walked the way to his office together. But she didn't knock, instead she quietly opened the door and let the dog into the office. Then she closed the door again and went back to her flat, smiling. The dog would manage the rest without her.
He didn't notice the dog until he was standing next to him and nudged him lightly with the tip of his nose. "Hey, what are you doing here and how did you get in?" Immediately his eyes slid to the door, but it was closed. By now the dog's head was on his legs, looking at him. "You look so serious," he realised. In response, the dog shook its head and he saw that there was something attached to its collar. It was a rolled-up piece of paper. Curious, he reached for it. On it was written, "You are all I need and all I lack right now. B."
He looked at the dog again and scratched its head: "Oh dear, this is really serious." He jumped up and called out, "Come on, I have to straighten this out." A happy bark sounded as the dog followed his master. Quietly he entered the flat and followed the dog into the living area. She was sitting on the sofa and he could sense her sadness. He sighed and her gaze immediately slid to him. She said nothing, but a small smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. He stepped closer, slid in beside her and hugged her from the side. "I'm an idiot. I should have realised it the first time. You don't come when there's nothing." She leaned against him. "I miss you. I miss us," she admitted softly. "Me too," he sighed. "We'll find a way not to forget each other. I promise you, I will make a change. I care about you and I want you, I want us to be okay."
Very satisfied, a black shadow trotted silently out of the living area. He had fulfilled his task…
Helloooo, sweet 🍓! ❤️
Omg, if this is not one of the sweetest things ever 🤧🥰 You had me being mad a Emmanuel for not letting go of work, sad for Brigitte that just needed her man, smiling at how understanding Nemo was to the all situation to a big smile at the end when Brigitte and Nemo worked together to bring Emmanuel 🥰🥰 So cute! 🥰 Nemo, what a sweet boy 😍
Thank you so much for this adorable little piece, Strawberry! So amazing! ❤️❤️❤️
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Fight or Flight, Rider [4]
Poe Dameron X Pilot!Reader
A/N: MEET THE SILVER SQUADRON PEOPLE! My babies, my pet project, my post precious creation! - Nemo
Summary: (y/n) has never been so excited - today she gets to meet her Resistance Squadron. She finds they all are rather different, but at the end of the dy they still get the job done.
Series Masterlist
Masterlist
[Gif isn’t mine, t’was a Google find. Credit to it’s creator.]
You and Poe didn’t really talk about what happened last night. As cliche as it sounds, you didn’t need to.
You both decided not to bring it up, not because you were embarrassed or avoiding it, but because it would simply be easier that way. Word spread fast in the Resistance, for better or worse, and that could get anywhere by the end of the day.
Today you weren’t worrying about it though, because today was a big day.
Today you officially met your new Squadron, and today you got to fly with them for the first time.
You were even more excited now than what you were when you raced Poe. Joon, your fellow Nephimmian, stood beside you, shaking his head. Not only was he assigned as one of the Lieutenants of your Squad, but you pulled him out of his bunk at daybreak just to get him to wait around with you for the past hour.
“You’re being too loud,” he said, “You need to calm down.”
“Oh,” you scoffed, “I’ve barely said anything since I greeted you!”
“You think very loudly.”
“Shut up Joon, look they’re coming!” you said, ignoring him as he rolled his eyes, looking over at a crew of pilots headed your way.
A blond man approached your first, holding out his hand for you both to shake as he introduced himself.
“Hey, I’m Commander Gareth Longo, Poe’s told me a little about you two and your venture to help everyone off Creit. Very noble thing for you to do.”
“It wasn’t just us, sir.” Joon said, staying professional as ever, while you rolled on the balls of your feet.
“It’s appreciated just the same Lieutenant. Now let’s introduce you to the others.” Gareth said, turning to the others that came with him.
“That’s Captain Dalyn Menryth,” he said, gesturing to a man with greenish hair, “He’s from Naboo, one of their pilots.”
“One of Naboo’s best pilots, don’t forget!” Dalyn said, catching your eye and sending you a wink.
“Sure. Next to him is Lieutenant Grey Saeth and Cadet Amry, they both came together from Tatooine.” A taller man waved at you with a very wide grin - he seemed as excited as you - and next to him was a much smaller woman - she seemed much less excited.
“We’re a team, Amry and I.” Grey said, pulling Amry to his side as he grinned down at her.
She shot him a smile, before pulling herself away from his side.
“Over there is Lieutenant Lup’ia Tetsuu,” a yellow Twi’lek looked over at you nodding, “She’s a little more of a mechanic than a pilot, but she’s just as useful either way.”
“I’m Cyro Sythen. Cadet. I can introduce myself.” A teal Mirialan stepped forwards, thrusting her hand out to yours. “I heard about you - you almost beat Commander Dameron in a race. You’re cool.” she said as she shook your hand.
You looked back at Joon, smiling.
“You hear that, I’m cool! Sadly, Dameron just happened to beat me by that much.” you said, sucking in a breath through your teeth. “He’s just too good.”
“No such thing Major,” Gareth said, turning his helmet over in his hands, “You can never be too good, only too confident. Now get your ships in the air, let’s get this thing started!”
__________
“I must say, you all were pretty good. Saw some nice moves out there today.”
Your Squad - the Silver Squadron - had all been out for hours, practicing moves, perfecting comms, and learning how each other flew. More training would be needed, but for a first day you all did rather well, even if you thought so yourself. Poe seemed to agree.
“You can all get out there and do it again tomorrow. Fun, right!” he said, enthusiastic as ever.
Grey was bouncing in his seat across from you - which you could already tell was normal for him - while Lup’ia was stuck in the seat next to him, rather unimpressed at being placed next to the human embodiment of sunshine and optimism.
She wasn’t a people person at all.
At least not until Finn came in. Then she brightened up - ever so slightly.
Joon was by your side, tapping his fingers on his leg as he always did when his superiors were droning on about post-flight checks. While on your other side was Dalyn, he’d practically stuck to you since he got his ship in the air next to yours.
“... And I think that’s about it. You’re just about free to go clean up or whatever.” Poe said, dropping the datapad on the table as he smiled everyone’s way. “See you this time tomorrow.”
“You busy tonight Rider?” Dalyn asked, slinging an arm around the back of your seat. “I know a really cool place just down the hall that serves some of the best food in the base.”
“It’s the only place with food in the base, you fool.” Amry said, as she stood from her seat, leaving promptly after with Grey trailing after her.
“Pfft, sure it ain’t exactly delicacies, but maybe we could snag a table and chat for a bit?”
“No thank you.” You said, shaking your head with a light smile.
“Why,” he asked, suddenly going a little quieter, “You busy?”
“No.” You stood, making your way behind him also. Joon was holding back snickers from his seat, while you were caught between sending sympathetic looks at Dalyn and smirking over at Poe.
“Okay.” he drawled, “So you’re not busy, you just don’t wanna eat with me?”
“Listen, Dalyn, you’re a decent guy, and a hell of a pilot, but you’re also a serial flirt.” You said, letting out a quipped laugh at the knowing smile that reached his face. “The other gals and I in the Squad all pulled together before we came in here. You’re a ‘no’, but if you wanna hang over dinner then that’s cool - I’m sure you have more than your fair share of stories to tell.”
“That’s true!” Dalyn said, practically dismissing you and leaning over the table to speak to Gareth. “Did you know, this scar came from a lady -”
“- Captain, I couldn’t care less.”
“Nonsense, of course you’d wanna know, it’s one great story!”
“Joon,” you leant down to whisper in Joon’s ear, “Let’s scram before we get caught too.”
You’d never seen him get out of a chair quicker.
___________
You’d barely gotten out the hallways when footsteps came after you.
“(y/n)! Jeez, you and Joon are fast walkers.” Poe said, finally catching up to you both. “I was gonna ask you something but now I’ve forgotten what it was.” he huffed, resting his hands on his hips.
“So what, are you gonna stand there and breathe really heavily, or are you gonna walk with us to get some food?”
“I was actually contemplating retracing my steps to see if I could remember my question, but I like the sound of food a little more.”
“Ayee,” you smiled, “I knew we were similar!” With that you went back on your quest to the cafeteria.
It was a decent sized place, although smaller than the one back of Nephimm, but it was cosy and snug like that. You rather liked it. The food even tasted a little better, despite the fact it looked a little less appetizing.
Practically as soon as you were seated, Rey came over and took the spot on your left, while Poe was on your right. Joon was unimpressed at his seat being taken, but decided Finn was probably a less rowdy person to be sat next to anyway.
“Dalyn was trying to pull one move on you back there.” Poe said, smirking at you as he sat sideways facing you in his seat.
“Yeah, well, takes more than a wink and a good-looking smile to get me to do things for you.” You said, looking over at him while stuffing your mouth full of food.
“Did you know you’re a vision when you eat (y/n)?”
“It’s her goal in life, I’m sure.” Cyro said, stepping up to the empty seat next to Joon. “Can I sit?”
“Of course.”
“I’m always a vision, so it doesn’t matter what I’m doing.” you said, holding back a snicker. Poe looked over at you, resting his chin on his hand, and just smiled over at you.
“What is he doing?” Cyro asked Joon, the two of them looking between Poe staring at you and you unceremoniously eating your dinner.
“The common name for it, I think, is called ‘giving her heart-eyes’.” Joon said, looking up at Cyro. “In other words he just really, really likes her.”
“What?” Both you and Poe looked up at the duo across from you, you cast a glance beside you to Rey - she only smiled widely at you - before looking to Poe at your other side.
“You’re not really making it a secret.” Joon said. “At times you’re both as subtle as a shotgun.”
“Harsh.” you said, smiling slightly.
“I’m not sure I’m following?” Poe trailed off, his chin now back to resting on his hand.
“Dameron! The General wants to see you.” An officer said, choosing to call across the hall rather than make his way over to the confused pilot.
“Later. Poe. We’ll explain later.” Finn said, showing he was in fact listening, despite being more invested in eating than you were.So with that Poe upped and left, shooting goodbyes to your group as he went.
“You think it’s serious?” Cryo asked, both her eyes and yours keeping on Poe and the Officer as they left.
“If they want Poe?” Rey said, snickering. “No one can answer that.”
__________
Series Taglist: @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @writefightandflightclub @robindoesntloveme @kiaralein @daniellajocelyn @americasass-romanoff @morgannope @smolpeachees @afootnoteinyourhappiness
Series Taglist is Open!
#fight or flight rider#poe dameron x reader#poe dameron imagine#poe dameron#star wars x reader#star wars imagine#star wars oneshot#star wars oc
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Bad Girl Chapter 30: I Have A Name
Chanyeol POV
“An aquarium?” My baby hums looking up at me both confused and amused.
“Last time we went to a pet store, I figure this is a nice step up.”
“As long as I get to pet a dolphin, I will agree.”
I chuckle as I throw my arm around her shoulders and walk her into the large gates. We snag a map from a girl handing them out as we mindlessly wander down one of the walk ways. “What do you want to see first?”
She shrugs, “Let’s just wander, we are in no rush.”
I smile at that, “The whole morning with you, wow, it has been so long since I’ve had a moment alone with you.”
“A lot has happened,” The somber tone in her voice makes me frown, I look down at her and notice the playfulness she had before is gone.
“Let’s not think about that now! We are living in the moment Baby!” I drag her along to the first tank I can find, we stop to see some exotic looking fish.
“Oh look!” She jams her finger against the thick glass, “It’s Nemo!” I follow her gaze to the small clown fish swimming farther back into the large tank. “And Dory too!” The smile that spreads across her face lights up my world but at the same time I step back for a moment and understand what Jongdae meant, looking at her now her smile seems much different from this morning. I brush it off for now, right now we are in our own little bubble wandering down the hall. We point out different sea creatures that we have seen from movies, she tells me things about them that I had no clue about.
I can only picture how amazing we look, my small baby at my side, glowing in the light of the illuminating tanks. I grin as I scan her quickly, patting myself on the back for picking out such a cute outfit for an even cuter girl. In tight blue jeans and a gray sweater she looks so warm and comfortable, a sweet glass of hot coco personified. My fingers run through her natural curls as I pull her close under my arm and kiss the top of her head.
My sweet baby.
“What is that one called Baby?” I nod my head in the direction of a strange giant of a fish probably the size of me.
Her eyes follow mine, “An arapaima, they are from the amazon and can grow to be nine feet long.” She answers so causally a person could assume she works here. I am both amazed and confused by her knowledge, I wonder how I could have never known about her obvious interest in this.
“Baby?”
My baby hums a yes, her eyes never leaving the tank.
“You really like this stuff don’t you.”
A breathy chuckle leaves her lips, “What gave you that idea?”
“The sudden unending knowledge of aquatic creatures.”
“The subject never really came up until now. We also never really had conversations based on how much I know.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“What would you say then? As I remember it Kyungsoo made it very clear that I wouldn’t have a future out of that house if it was up to your guys.”
“Baby-“
“Yes, Daddy?” The word comes out of her mouth like a warning.
I place my hands on her small frame, holding her gently, afraid my fragile girl might break in my hands, “We just want to keep you the way you are.” She looks ready to fall apart in my grasp, cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her outburst. “Come on Baby, lets keep going through, we have a lot to see still!” I pull her along, though it’s a bit forced. It’s not hard to see she’s a little upset but it’s hard to explain our feelings to her when she is just too little to understand our point of view.
We just want to keep her safe and sound.
After we pass a few more tanks and about ten annoying questions later she finally answers some of them, continuing to list off facts without any effort. “So how do you know all of this?”
“Children’s shows.”
I have to do a double take at that answer, “What?”
She rolls her eyes, “From children’s shows, you know the one that teaches kids all about marine life? When I was younger I slept with the TV on and if I didn’t have it on a children’s channel scary commercials would play so I watched it a lot.”
“Why did you sleep with the TV on? It’s bad to leave it on, the lights from it don’t let your brain rest,” I find myself scolding her. In turn I scold myself from picking up useless information Kyungsoo spit out.
“If I didn’t I would have nightmares.”
“Nightmares?”
“You know about stupid stuff, ghosts and all that jazz.”
“Why have you never said something before? Do you have them now?”
She shrugs, “No, not really, when I have someone sleeping next to me they can usually keep the bad dreams at bay.”
“And when they can’t?”
“I’m not afraid of the monsters under the bed anymore,” She looks away from the shark tank in front of us, her eyes locked on me, “Not since I realized what real monsters are like.”
I don’t know how to respond to that, under her cold stare, but she doesn’t expect me to. She returns her eyes to the tank as she slowly walks through the rest of the tunnel, leaving me confused and concerned. I follow behind, sure that I had missed something, a few somethings, if she is this upset. What did I do wrong? I want to ask but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is her name, “Baby!”
She keeps walking her eyes trained on a specifically nasty looking shark with a mouth full of teeth. He swims along with her, entranced by her like all dangerous creatures are. We walk through the rest of the aquarium five feet apart, she ignores me calling for her, all my questions and snide comments like I’m not even there.
I don’t understand.
Not wanting to cause a scene in a crowded place I do nothing but follow like an unwanted shadow. Once we step out of the building into the parking garage I decide enough is enough. I rush to catch up to my baby, grab her arm and whip her around, “Baby, what the hell? Please say something!”
I am surprised to see her crying, fat tears stream down her face, ruining the little makeup she has on when she wipes them away with her sleeve, “Me? You want me to say something? You could at least say my fucking name once!” She snaps me out of nowhere.
I open my mouth to snap back but I only dig myself a deeper hole, “Baby-“
“Stop!”
I do. I snap my mouth shut and stand still in the middle of this mostly empty parking lot and watch my baby fall apart.
“Can you honestly not say my name? Do you even know it still? Do any of you?” She rubs her palms against her eyes, “It’s always baby this, baby that, baby, baby, baby! I have a name!”
“Shush, oh sweet girl, of course I know your name,” I tell her softly, taking a few steps closer while she isn’t looking. “It’s a term of endearment, it’s out of love.”
“It’s dehumanizing.”
“You never seemed to mind it before,” I inform her. She has always been my baby since I met her, I don’t see how it’s any different now.
She takes her hands away from her eyes and glares at me, “I was okay with a lot of things before that were not okay.” She closes her eyes for another moment, her face softens as she reins in control of her emotions. I wait until her small tantrum is over. She takes a deep breath before opening her eyes, “I just want you to use my name every once in a while, so I don’t feel like I’m just a thing, that I’m just your baby.”
“I don’t see the big deal, but if you want, I will, okay?” I finally take the final steps into her space and cup her cheeks, “Whatever you say baby.”
She closes her eyes for another moment before taking another breath and pulling away. “Let’s go home, please.” I take her hand and lead her back to the car, sure that we had figured all of this out.
I just need to use her name a bit more, no problem. Though I don’t understand why, baby just flows so much better. It fits her so much better. But I need to always make sure my baby is happy and if using her name will make her smile brighter I can try to do it, “My sweet baby,” I mumble in the car as I clasp her small hand in mine over the car console.
“I’m more than just your baby,” She tells me in a small voice, barely above a whisper, I’m not even sure I was mean to hear it.
I chuckle under my breath, thinking to myself, not anymore.
………………
Kyungsoo’s POV
Chanyeol and my baby step through the doorway together, the idiot smiles at her as he goes in to kiss her forehead. He mumbles something to her, she gives him a small smile. The giant then turns to me, standing in the hallway right in front of the kitchen, comes over and leans in to whisper in my ear, “She’s a little cranky today. Be nice and let her help you out while you are spending time together, I think she wants a little big girl time.”
My eyes move to my baby, she is watching us with a small amount of irritation but it disappears once Chanyeol turns back around to face her.
“You be good for Kyungsoo, okay baby?” He warns playfully.
She sighs, her eyes close for a moment before opening up with a small smile on her face, “Okay, Daddy.”
He leaves.
I hold my hand out to her, “Come on Baby.” She makes a face, her lips quirk downward, her brow crunches together, it’s only for a moment but it was there. She comes over and places her small hand in mine.
“Daddy Soo,” She hums quiet, but firmly, “Could you do me a favor?”
“Depends what it is,” I answer honestly as I pull her into the kitchen, where I have all of the ingredients we will be using. I would love to say yes, that I would do anything she said but I don’t want to lie to her.
“Could you not use the word baby a lot today? Yeolie kind of maxed me out on it today.”
I sigh with a roll of my eyes, “Of course he did, sweet girl, I’ll do my best. Let’s go cook something special, maybe that will take your mind off that annoying man.”
“I get to help?” She questions, pointing at herself as if I could be talking to anyone else.
“Yes, you get to help.”
I grab an apron for her and tie it around her waist before rolling up the sleeves to her sweater. She is smiling again, this time it’s brighter and feels more genuine. I can’t hold back a grin from spreading across my own face at the sight.
Her hands clap together, a new bright energy radiates around her, “What are we making?”
The words are stuck in my throat at such a beautiful sight. In this moment I realize how long it’s been since I’ve seen that smile, the date is out of my mind but the picture is forever engrained in my brain. It was warm out, she was wearing a green dress for whatever occasion my brothers saw fit for her to wear the flowy gown. Our fingers were intertwined, and I tell her some cheap joke, but it makes her laugh. Her eyes lit up like they are now, I wish I could remember what I said so I could always see this smile on her face.
“Daddy Soo?” She sings in my face, it’s terrible but I smile.
“My sweet girl,” I mumble as I bring her small face close to mine for a brief but sweet kiss. I pull away but keep a strong hold on either side of her face and just stare at her for another moment.
“I thought we were going to cook,” She whines with a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“It has been so long since I’ve seen you this close, give daddy a minute to enjoy you.”
And I do. I stare. A slight blush shows through even with her dark complexion. I grin with satisfaction at such a usually hard feat. I can’t help but kiss her once again.
I sigh, “Okay, I’m done,” I let her go as I step away. “We are baking a chocolate cake today.”
“Ah, no sharp objects involved,” She clicks her tongue.
“I can have you watch me if you are going to give me attitude.”
“No daddy Soo, I want to help, I won’t give you any attitude.”
One more kiss, “Good girl.”
“Are we making it from scratch?”
“Of course, would you think I would feed you anything processed?”
She chuckles, “I’m sorry for doubting you.”
My eyes scan over all of the ingredients, making sure I have everything we’ll need. Everything is within her reach, I center her at the counter in front of the large mixing bowl and place myself behind her. Together we measure out flour, sugar, and coco. Next are the eggs, I teach her how to crack it with one hand, my own wrapping over hers’. My fingers intertwining with hers’ help me to place the pressure in the right areas without loosing any part of the shell.
“This is so cool!” My baby beams up at me.
Happiness blossoms in my chest.
It feels like it has been forever since I’ve been this happy.
We mix everything together and pour the batter into the two circle pans before placing each pan in the oven. Now we wait. We spend the time cleaning up our mess and setting up for decorating the cake when it’s done. I play some music in the back round as we move about the kitchen in perfect harmony, singing and dancing happily. My baby is beaming at me, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world.
I catch her with an arm around her waist to pull her to me. Chest to chest, I spin us around on our toes around the island, her head drops back as a sweet laugh echos through the house. Once the oven beeps we pull the cakes out of the oven and leave them to cool for a few minutes. We make quick work of a homemade icing recipe, it’s done within 15 minutes so we are on to the next step, the thing she is most excited about, decorating.
The chocolate frosting goes on smooth after we place one layer of cake on top of the other. She nibbles on her lip as she frosts her mind completely focused on the task in front of her but I can’t get my mind to register what she is doing to the cake. I’m too focused on her, on the way her jaw sets, on her narrowed eyes, on the way her head cocks to the side, on the smile that spreads across her face as she finishes.
She’s done.
“Daddy?” She sing songs again, a knowing look on her face. “Anyone in there?”
“Sorry, it’s just been so long since I’ve had the chance to look at you,” I tell her for the 100th time today.
“I know, is that why you are always so quiet? Are you just thinking and staring?”
I know she is teasing, I laugh, “You caught me!”
“It’s time to cut the cake!” She claps her hands together joyously. I just smile as I grab a large knife from the knife block. Big eyes beam up at me, “Can I cut it?”
I raise a brow at her.
“Please?”
I want to say no, I want to say no so bad I have to clench my jaw to keep myself from just blurting the word out. I think of Chanyeol, of his request to let her be big and I realize I forgot to honor her earlier request of using her name more. I look from her to the blade and sigh, I grasp the blade slightly before handing it over. The smile I received in turn was well worth it.
“Thank you!”
I watch her anxiously as she holds the knife to the cake and brings the blade down. It’s okay, she cuts it neatly into twelve even pieces. She chuckles to herself, “Someone isn’t getting cake.”
“Multiple people aren’t getting cake by the time we get our fill,” I tease back earning a full laugh from her. She hands the knife to me like the good girl that she is, “You did such a neat job, I’ll grab the plates.” I set the knife down on the counter.
I turn around, only for a second, it was really only a second but that’s all it took. I bumped the knife, it was my fault but she shouldn’t have reacted the way she did.
“Shit!” The word is out of her mouth before she can stop herself. I’m over her shoulder in seconds, all I see is red. The knife clatters to the floor, drops of blood quickly follow before she has the chance to pull her hand to her chest.
“You grabbed the blade.”
She spins around, she tries to hide her hand and fails, “Please don’t freak out!”
“You grabbed the blade!” I repeat louder this time.
“It was an accident! It fell! The knife fell and thought I could catch it, it was an accident. Please stay calm, we have had so much fun so please don’t get mad.”
“Get mad? I knew I shouldn’t have done this! I knew it!”
“Daddy it was an accident! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry please don’t be mad!”
I shouldn’t be mad. I know it shouldn’t be but my baby is bleeding and all I can see is red and all I can feel is anger. Angry at myself for letting this happen, angry at her for doing something so stupid, I can’t handle this.
“I can’t talk to you right now, go find Lay Hyung.”
She reaches for me with her good hand, “Daddy-“
I shake her hand away, “I can’t look at you right now. It’s my fault you are hurt, I should have known better than to let you do that. I just…” I want to put her in my room and never let her out. She can’t get hurt like this.
“But-“
“God, Baby can you listen for once?” I snap at her, “I tell you to not use knives but you beg me with those big eyes of yours, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to say no. You go on about how you are a big girl but you aren’t. You are a little girl who can’t do anything without someone watching you. I knew today was too perfect, you were behaving so well, I had my baby back but-“
“I told you not to call me that!” She growls in response, her meek stance finally leaving.
“You are my baby! You will always be my baby!”
“I’m a person! I made a mistake I don’t understand why you are yelling at me!”
“Just fucking listen! Go to Lay!”
Her eyes are glossy but I can’t get myself to calm down enough to care. She needs to get away from me before I loose it. She finally listens and turns to leave. The moment she steps out of the kitchen she goes to the right, I freeze. Before I can call out to her Tao is already racing down the hall after her, I follow.
“Baby! Where are you going?” Tao calls to her.
She doesn’t answer. Her good hand reaches for the door. My brother reaches out to her, grasping her shoulder he pulls her away. In one fluid motion she has Tao flipping over her shoulder and sprawled out on the floor. Both of us freeze, dumbstruck by such skill.
“Baby?”
#exo#xiumin#kai#sehun#kyungsoo#chanyeol#luhan#chen#suho#baekhyun#exo mafia#our girl is ready for a fight#are you?
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Not All Talk part 2
Summary: Best friends plan their lives together from time to time. It’s all pretend, just for fun. Until its not.
You can read the first part here.
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Emma dropped the last box on the floor. She stretched her aching muscles before collapsing on the couch letting her legs dangle over the arms.
"We still have unpacking to do, love." Killian leaned over the back of the couch, looking down on his best friend.
"We can do that tomorrow," she replied with out even opening her eyes.
"Then we have to at least organize the furniture."
"Let's do it tomorrow."
"Is tomorrow going to be your answer for everything?"
"Ask me tomorrow."
Killian let out a huff before rounding the couch and plopping down next to her head. He looked around the space. It was small place but it was theirs. "We finally did it. We moved out and got an apartment. We are now roommates."
"Yup. And I say as our first day in our apartment we have done enough work and should take the rest of the day enjoying our place."
Killian smiled. "There's a sandwich shop down the street. How about we grab lunch?"
"That sound great," Emma replied sitting up.
-------------------
"Swan!"
Emma looked up from the book, she's been trying to study. She heard footsteps coming her way before Killian opened her door leaning on her doorway. "I thought you were going to do the dishes today?"
"Oh yeah. Sorry. I'll do them tomorrow."
"You said that yesterday, love."
"I'm sorry. My classes have been picking up and work is crazy-"
"Forget it lass. It's okay." Killian left closing the door without looking at her.
--------------------
"Killian!"
Killian heard his name over the sound of gunfire coming from the tv. He averted his gaze from his show to see Emma emerge from her bedroom and make the short walk to the living room. Pausing his show he asked, "Swan?"
"Can you keep it down?"
Killian raised a questioning eyebrow at this. He didn't think it was that loud.
"Come on, Jones. I'm trying to take a nap before my shift. You don't need the volume on 40."
"Lass I only have it to 25. If I turn it down I won't be able to hear them talking."
"Can't you watch it later then?"
"I'm in the middle of an episode. Let me finish this then I'll turn it off."
"Fine," Emma huffed returning to her room. Killian didn't turn it off after one episode.
--------------------
"SWAN!"
Emma nearly dropped her laptop on the floor at the sound of her name. She looked up to find a wet Killian standing at the entrance of the hallway wearing nothing but a towel clutched around his hips. "What the hell Killian?"
"Did you by any chance take a shower today?"
Emma's face scrunched up in confusion. "Yeah. I took a shower."
"You couldn't be bothered to inform me you used all the hot water. Again."
"How was I suppose to know? The water was still warm when I got out."
Killian looked like he was going to say more but stoped himself. He let out an aggravated sigh while pinching the bridge of his nose. Dropping his hand he looked back at her, "How about just warn me everytime you take a shower?"
With that he went back to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
-------------------
"JONES!!"
His head snapped up from the book he was reading at the sound of his name. Only a fews seconds later Emma burst in the door.
"Where did you put the mail that was on the counter?"
"I put it in the bin. It was all junk mail."
"My check was in that pile," Emma screeched.
Killians eyes widen slightly, realizing his mistake. "Oh."
"Stop cleaning shit up! This is like the fifth thing of mine you've 'cleaned up' and has been thrown away or just disappeared."
"Swan it's just in the recycling."
"That's not the point." Emma left the room slamming the door.
---------------------
"SWAN!"
Emma jolted awake. Her heart racing at the sudden wake up call. Once she heard her bedroom door slamming open she sat up, turning toward her roommate.
"Did you eat the rest of the fish Nemo brought over?"
"What?"
"Did you eat the fish Nemo brought over?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I was planning on eating that. I've been looking forward to it all day."
"I'm... sorry?"
"Ha I've heard that one before."
"What do you want from me? I ate it, it's gone."
"Next time ask. Or at the very least warn me that my food is gone."
Emma rolled her eye and turned over laying back down with her back to him. She heard him huff before closing the door leaving her room.
--------------------
"We barely see each other. Killian is always either working at the docks or at the bar. I'm at class or working. But when we are home together one of us is mad at the other. All we do is fight." Emma explained to her adoptive mom. Ruth placed a mug of hot chocolate with cinnamon in front of her while she herself enjoyed a cup of tea. "Oh and he has this mysterious girlfriend, he refuses to talk about."
"It's only been a couple months, Honey. Give it time. You two are still learning how to live with each other," Ruth calmly said, deciding to ignore that last comment.
"We have been talking about living together forever and known each other for longer. You'd think we know how irratating the other was by now."
"Emma." Ruth didn't say anything until Emma looked up at her, "Talking is the easy part, doing is a whole different thing. Killian is still the same boy you knew before but now you're just seeing a different side. Now it might not be one you always agree with but you have to decide can you live with it."
Emma knew she was right, but she didn't know what to say. Thankfully Ruth changed subjects, "so tell me about this Graham fellow."
---------------------
Killian offered to help Nemo on his boat, they were well away from the shore when Nemo asked about Emma. Killian was in the midst of airing his grievances to his uncle when he was cut off. "Killian you need to calm down and take a step back. This is Emma you're talking about."
"Aye and she right infuriating lass. She's so damn stubborn and nonchalant-"
"And she was like that before you decided to move in together," Nemo said cutting him off again.
Killian stopped at that. He knew that but roommates was so different then just being friends. It was a change Killian wasn't prepared for.
Nemo came up to him and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's been difficult. But you have to ask yourself, what is important? Living shipshape or living with Emma?"
When Killian didn't answer Nemo changed subjects, "Come on let's get back to shore."
---------------------
Killian was walking back to the apartment in deep thought. He thought about what Nemo said and he thought of all the arguments he and Emma had. They definitely needed to talk.
He unlocked the door hoping to find Emma home so they could try to work somethings out. But when he opened the he found more than what he was hoping for. Emma was sitting on the couch with a towel bundled up in her lap and if he looked close enough he swore he saw the towel breathing.
Emma looked up at him giving him a soft smile. "Hey," she all but whispered.
"Hey." He pointed to the towel. "What's that love?" Almost as soon as he asked a soft 'mew' was heard come from the towel. Killian walked over, leaning in to see a tiny kittens face poke out of the towel.
"I found him when I took out the garbage. I heard him crying, I thought he was hurt but when I found him and crouched down he came right up to me and started licking my fingers and head butting my hand. I looked for mom or any signs of other kittens but I couldn't find any. I brought him in and cleaned him up in the sink. I was drying him off when he fell asleep," Emma explained.
Killian couldn't take his eyes off the little creature. He couldn't have been more then two, maybe three weeks old. "Have you fed him yet?" When Emma shook her head he got up and went to the cupboard. He found a can of tuna, opening it up he dumped it on a plate mushing it up a bit more before placing it on the island separating the kitchen and the living room.
"Put him up here, love." Emma picked up the towel with the kitten inside carrying him the short distance to the island. Once placed up there she freed him from fabric. Seeing the food the small animal walked on wobbly legs slowly making its way. When he was close enough he layed down again half on the plate half off. They watched as his little tongue licked at the food occasionally taking a bit of food in his mouth.
Killian spoke first, "we should take him to the animal shelter in the morning they have a vet that can look him over and proper food for him."
Emma just nodded in response. She didn't dare take her eyes off the poor little creature. But Killians next question made her.
"We should decide if we are going to keep him or not before we do."
Emma darted from her friend to the fuzzy creature on the island between them back to her friend. "Well, he isn't the fox we agreed on but he's awfully cute. I'm okay if he stays."
"I thought 'cats were mean'." Killian threw her words back at her with a smirk never leaving his face.
"He's not a cat. He's a kitten," she said matter of factly reaching forward scratching the kittens head lightly.
"He's going to need a name. If it even is in fact a he."
"How about Todd or Foxy if he turns out to be a she," Emma offered. Killians smile was his only answer.
--------------------
The next day while Todd was getting checked out the roommates had a talk. They told each other what bothers each other, little pet peeves the other does. They made a set of rules and both agreed to try harder at living together. As days turned to weeks and weeks turned to a month things got better. Besides Todd growing, nothing eventful happened.
Until one night Killian came home drunk. Emma was mindlessly watching tv when he stumbled through the front door. That was the night he told her about Milah. His mysterious girlfriend was apparently a married woman who visited him at the bar. That night she came to the bar ending whatever relationship they had. “The whole thing was ridiculous really,” he said when finished.
Emma stared at her friend for a moment as the sat on their couch. She was facing him her legs tucked under her with her arm leaning in the back of the couch supporting her head. “Thats not ridiculous. You want to hear ridiculous?” Emma went on to tell him all that conspired between her and Graham. How she encouraged him to leave his abusive girlfriend. When he did and came to her, she got scared and ran away.
“Seems as if we have drifted quiet bit lass.”
“Yeah. We have.”
“Well thats going to change. Every... What day is it?”
“Sunday.”
“Right. Every Sunday, I say we order in and have a movie night. Just roomates. What do you say love?”
“I say the sandwich shop is open 24/7.”
----------------------
It was one such movie night when it happened. They were all sitting on the couch. Todd in Emmas lap, Emma leaning into Killian with her head on his shoulder. The movie playing was some ridiculous rom com, both of them too comfortable to be bothered to grab the remote and change it.
“What kind of date would you take me on?” Emma asked suddenly.
“What?”
“What kind of date would you take me on? We always talked about our kids, and we planned our wedding. We even made up our Disney themed apartment. But you never told me what kind of dates we would go on.”
Killian thought for a moment before he answered, “Our first date I would take you to a nice restraunt. Then I think a nice walk by the water, maybe even taking you out on Nemo’s boat. How does that sound?”
Emma lifted her head to look at him, “That sounds nice.”
Killian looked at his roommate, his best friend. Looking into her shining green eyes he realized he never wanted anything more than to take her out for dinner as more than friends. He was silently hoping maybe she would want the same when Emma spoke up.
“I would picked have you.”
“I would have chased after you”
Emma leaned forward pressing her lips against his. He kissed her back. When they broke apart she said “what would our second date look like?”
Killian smiled and replied, “That is a surprise.” Before kissing her again.
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And thats all she wrote. Hope this is a decent “sequel” there will be a third part to this story. Also this second part is dedicated to @superchocovian hope you enjoy.
#ouat#once upon a time#not all talk#captain swan#captain swan au#cs fanfics#cs au#cs ff#cs fics#killian jones#emma swan#ouat fic#ouat fanfiction#ouat fanfic
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Carnival
warnings: fluff
requested: nope
masterlist
“We should name him Nemo,” she says, holding up a plastic bag with an orange goldfish swimming around in the middle of it. She’s smiling as she admires the tiny pet that she has won for herself.
She and Harry had decided upon going to a carnival a few miles outside of town for their one year anniversary, wanting to try and do something a little different. They had been talking about it for weeks before she suggested the idea, almost bursting from so much excitement. A small town, makeshift carnival wasn’t Harry’s first choice for how they could celebrate, in fact he would have loved to have had a quiet night in, just the two of them. Maybe snuggle underneath a few blankets together and watch a silly rom-com or two, but Harry doesn’t mind. Truthfully he’ll go anywhere she wants as long as it entails him getting to be with her.
“I think nemo’s already taken, love. What about Kevin?” Harry suggests, reaching out to lace his fingers with hers. The ones that aren’t grasping the fish that’s captured almost all of her attention.
Harry’s not entirely focused on the moment either though. His mind keeps taking him back to when he first kissed the gorgeous girl standing next to him and how he already knew he was in love with her. They were sitting in his car, the atmosphere slightly awkward as their first date was coming to an end, and Harry knew he had to kiss her. He just had to. She was wearing an old hoodie of his that he’d been meaning to get rid of for while, but never got around to it. He had given it to her to wear when he noticed that she was a bit cold that night and told her to go ahead and keep it when she tried to give it back. “Looks better on you, love,” he had told her. That’s when decided to kiss her.
Harry doesn’t believe in love-at-first-sight or even love-at-first-kiss for that matter, but she just had a certain effect on him. Harry can’t complain though. She’s unlike any girl he’s ever even dreamed of.
“What if I named him Harry? Harry The Fish. I think he might be a lot cuter than you,” she teases. Harry laughs and gently pulls her into him. He rests his hands on her waist.
“He doesn’t give better kisses than me,” he argues, planting one on the side of her head. His grip on her tightens a little as she laughs at him.
“Absolutely not,” she says before pushing herself up on her tiptoes to gently connect their lips. Harry could kiss her all day if she’d let him. He swears he can never get enough of her. Swears she always leaves him wanting more.
“You know, I totally let you win. Could’ve easily used more strength to win that fish for ya if I wanted to.” Harry smirks, watching as she rolls her eyes and pulls away from him to give him a light shove. He’s cold now that she’s stepped out of his embrace, despite wearing a sweater, but it is nearing the end of fall, and winter is right around the corner. Another reason why he wanted to stay in. Y/N is always warm and he wouldn’t mind keeping her as close to him as humanly possible.
“Sure, Harry. I won because you let me, and not because your girlfriend is capable of kicking your ass,” she says sarcastically.
Harry shakes his head, but he smiles. “Nope. I was only being a gentleman.”
She arches a brow before she starts giggling at him. Harry’s heart melts as the sound rings through his ears. He watches her intently, the side of his mouth curling upward into a gentle smile. He’s rather smitten with her and believes she’s the most wonderful girl he’s ever been lucky enough to meet. He loves the way she makes his head spin and chest ache to be with her. The way her eyes shine so bright, as if they hold every good thing in the world, and he loves the subtle creases by her lips from smiling all the time. Harry makes sure she’s smiling all the time. He never wants to see her upset, which is why he can't stand it when she gets frustrated from all the studying she’s always doing. Although, he does have to admit that it’s the cutest thing in the world when she pouts as a result of it. He can’t help but steal a kiss from her when she does that.
Her hair falls in front of her face a moment later and Harry reaches out to brush it behind her ear. He wraps his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side again, before asking, “You wanna ride the ferris wheel, love? You mentioned it earlier.”
She shakes her head, leaning into his chest. “I’m actually pretty tired, H. I think we should go. We could head back to your place and watch a movie for the rest of the night,” she says.
It’s somewhere between ten o’clock and eleven, and the two of them arrived a little after seven so it was understandable that she was starting to feel drained. They have been around the whole park playing games and eating food, even trying some strange ones. Y/N tried funnel cake for the first time and it’s beyond Harry how she’s been alive all this time without trying the popular fried dessert. They have done everything they planned to do except for one thing, which has apparently slipped Y/N’s mind. Harry was reluctant about the carnival at first, but he’s been looking forward to the firework show after closing time ever since they agreed to stay for it.
“What about the fireworks, baby?” He asks as they sit down on a nearby bench to rest. She doesn’t answer him, and he thinks she’s falling asleep on him. He kisses her forehead to get her attention, which causes her to stir.
“I’m so tired,” she murmurs. Harry sighs as she moves her body closer to him, and shifts in an effort to find a comfortable position. She settles for laying her head back on his chest, her eyes fluttering shut.
He wants to give her what she wants. There’s no doubt that Harry wants to take her home and be able to hold her. To cuddle her. He loves when she’s lying beside him, with one or both of his arms draped around her somehow, while the tv or random music hums in the background and they enjoy each other’s presence. They won’t be saying anything, only sharing a few kisses here and there as they briefly fall in and out of sleep. It’s not that he doesn’t like listening to her talk or appreciate having a conversation with her, no. Frankly he could listen to her talk for and never find it boring, but he loves just being with her as well. The silence between them is just as comfortable to him as all the other romantic stuff they do.
There’s a different part of him telling him that they should stay. It’s telling him that if they make it a little while longer, they won’t regret it. Harry knows it’s not going to be anything like a Fourth of July show, but he wants to do it all with her regardless. They’re celebrating tonight and he doesn’t want to leave a single thing out, especially not something he was looking forward to. Even if it might not be that big of a deal.
“I know you are. I am too, but we really wanted to see the fireworks. Please?” Harry pleads. He rests his chin on top of her head, giving her a soft squeeze.
“Yeah, okay,” she yawns, shutting her eyes.
Before long, lights everywhere are starting to shut off as workers close down their booths, and the excited laughter and screams coming from all around the park begin to dwindle as everyone makes their way home for the night. Or if they're like Harry and Y/N, heading to the front lawn for even more fun.
She’s still cuddled into Harry’s arm, fully asleep. Harry shifts on the bench causing her to stir awake and groan at him. Harry playfully rolls his eyes at her.
“Time to go, sleepyhead.” He lifts himself off the bench.
She doesn’t budge. Instead she holds an arm up as if she’s telling him to carry her. Harry sighs at his girlfriend, almost having trouble believing how ridiculous she is. He picks her up anyway, taking her by her arm for her to wrap it around his shoulders and swiftly sweeping her up by her legs. She giggles as she pecks him on the cheek. It’s a little sloppy given her tired state.
Soon they’re outside the gates of the park, joining the other people standing around and waiting. Harry sets her down and she immediately lays herself down on the ground. Harry scoffs before decided that he’ll go ahead and join her. He lays right beside her, a twinkle in his eyes from the moon as he scans over her features. She so beautiful, and she’s all his.
“I think I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you,” he whispers just above her ear.
“You only think?” She aks, starting to giggle again. Harry adores it.
“I am definitely going to spend the rest of my life with you,” he says.
“What makes you so sure?” She turns her head, rolling on her side in the process.
“Because I’m going to marry you someday,” he answers, face completely serious now. No grin, no signs of a smirk. He means every single word.
“And what if I say no?” She quirks one of her eyebrows, challenging him. She moves, throwing one leg over him and resting on his legs.
“Then I’ll do this,” he says, flipping the two of them over so that he’s now on top of her. A shriek emits from her mouth as Harry bends down and starts tickling her. Her laughter is uncontrollable as her arms swat at him to get him to quit.
“Harry stop!”
“Tell me that you’ll say yes,” he teases.
“Okay, okay, I’ll say yes! Just stop!” She squeals. Harry stops his actions, pulling himself off of her and flopping back down on the cold grass.
“We’re only seventeen, Harry. There’s no need rush things,” she tells him, panting out the words because she hasn’t caught her breath yet. She’s not looking at him or where their hands are fitting together so perfectly that the two of them swear they were made for each other, but rather at the stars. They both hear fireworks begin to go off and paint the sky in an array of pretty colors and while she is enraptured by it, Harry’s busy staring at her. She’s the prettiest thing underneath the night sky.
“I know, but whether we’re seventeen or eighty-two, I’ll always love you,” he says, before planting soft kisses into her hair and eventually her lips, the entire world falling away from them.
Feedback is appreciated & requests are open! All the love xx
#harry styles fluff#harry styles au#harry styles imagine#harry styles#harry styles blog#one direction#harry styles angst#harry styles blurb
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CR: ~VE~ Chapter 20
The syringe shatters when it hits the pier.
“That’s...”
I walk towards the source of the noise. In the shadow of the submarine stands Nemo, and in his arms--
“Pauline!”
I run towards them before I can fully comprehend what happened.
“What happened?!”
Nemo is gently petting her hair, murmuring something. When he finally registers my presence, he turns his head towards me so slowly that it looks unnatural.
I take a deep breath, then repeat: “What happened?”
Nemo’s expression is blank for a few seconds, then he slowly, forcefully smiles.
“I suppooooose it was wise of you to keep an eye on me.... ‘Doll’."
He gingerly lays Pauline down on the pier, taking a moment to brush a few stray hairs away from her face.
“I’ll leave the good Professor to you, then... it’s time for me to leave.”
“No.”
He looks a little surprised at my defiance, but I’m certain of one thing: this is an act.
I take a step towards him, my face firm. “Nemo, I want you to tell me what happened.”
Nemo sighs and puts a hand on his hip. “I doubt you’d understand, little doll, but I’ll humor you... and keep it as simple as possible.”
The corner of his mouth twitches when he sees that I have no reaction to his cruel nickname for me. I stay silent, waiting for him to speak.
“I’m keeping my promise to her. I’m making her happy, the only way I can.”
I furrow my eyebrows and wait for him to continue. He doesn’t.
“That makes no sense. You saw how happy she was on the Harper! What kind of happiness could she possibly get by the man she loves leaving her?”
Nemo sways for a moment, then grimaces. “W-What would something like yooooooou know? A heartless homunculus who doesn’t even understand looooove?!”
He waits for me to have a reaction, but my stare is even.
“Every time you call me ‘doll’ or ‘homunculus’, you’re telling me that this isn’t how you actually feel. The real Nemo would never be so unscientific.”
I see the whites of his eyes behind his goggles. He curls his lips back as he takes a threatening step towards me. “How daaaaaaaaaaare--”
I interrupt him. “You told me earlier that hypotheses can change based on new evidence. What kind of scientist would turn his back on that evidence? Nemo... tell me how you really feel. What you’re really trying to accomplish, because I know that this isn’t you!”
Nemo throws his head back and shrieks in frustration, covering his face with his hands. He staggers backwards and balances himself on the Harper, his entire body shaking. I take this opportunity to run over to Pauline.
As I suspected, she’s sleeping soundly.
“Ehehe...”
I turn around to look at Nemo. He’s still holding his face, but I can see his delirious smile.
“Ha... hahaa... haaaahahahahaaaaAAHAHAHAHA!!!”
I’m rooted to the spot, unsure of whether I should go get help or if I should continue to try to reason with him.
I’m starting to think that Impey would be better at this when Nemo speaks:
“Don’t you remeeeeeember, Car~di~a~chan? Don’t you remember what Aleeeiiister saaaaid? My very exiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistence is a pile of lieeeeeeeeeeees!”
I do remember that. I had thought that it was throwaway commentary at the time, but clearly Aleister had known everything that Nemo was hiding behind his ridiculous facade.
“HOW-E-VEEEER!” Nemo points a finger at me. “I would never, NEVER lie about scieeeeeeence. ... I’ll give you that one... Cardia-chaaan...”
He lowers his hand and looks past me, down at Pauline.
“And I would never, ever lie.... about my love for my professor.”
He then turns around and scrambles onto the Harper, frantically opening the hatch and leaping inside.
“No!” I run towards the submarine, but it begins to shift before I can get close enough to hold on.
“Impey...”
I take another look at Pauline before I begin to sprint back towards the barracks.
-----
The rocking of the water only comforts Nemo a touch as he begins driving the Harper out to sea. He’s focused on the expanse ahead of him, ready for it to swallow him whole.
Everything is muted below the surface- color is drowned, sound is nothing but a mournful cry and a distant echo, and movement is deadened by resistance.
Yes, this serenity is what he needs in his life now. A solitude to dull the ache of reality. A place where no one can--
BANG!
Nemo looks around, raising an eyebrow. “Hrrmm~?”
Where was he? Oh, right. A solitude to completely envelop him and--
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Nemo frowns. There is most definitely someone or something on top of the Harper. He quickly pulls the periscope to his height and peers into it, rotating it until it lands squarely on the orange fabric covering Impey Barbicane’s posterior.
For once, Nemo is at a loss for words, and all he can do is watch as his eternal rival crawls along the top of his submarine and begins to... slide down the front.
“HEY!!!”
Nemo doesn’t want to turn around, but he does... very slowly...
Impey Barbicane is upside-down, staring angrily through one of the large portholes as he hangs onto it like a deranged orangutan.
“Nemo! Turn this submarine around, I mean it!”
Nemo walks up and peers through the porthole, examining his precariously hanging friend.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Impey continues to pound on the porthole.
Nemo idly glances at the mechanisms on his bridge and taps his finger against his chin.
“Engines, standby~” he muses. “Prepare to dive~”
“NEMO I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU MAKE THIS THING DIVE I WILL HOLD A MAGNET TO YOUR FACE!”
Nemo furrows his eyebrows and points to his face. “GOLD HAS NOOOOO MAGNETIC ATTRACTION YOU NITWIT!”
“Yeah, well congratulations, because this nitwit is your so-called eternal rival, remember?!”
Nemo takes a step back from the porthole and inhales before focusing his intense stare at Impey.
“Swim away, Impeeeey Barbicaaaane...” Nemo’s voice is dark. “Swim away like a good little fish or you will be dragged doooooooown!”
“Fine! Time for me to show you what this genius engineer is really made of!” Impey grunts and scuttles around before beginning to climb back up to the roof.
Nemo hopes against hope that his friend is smart enough to dive into the water and make it back to shore. No, he’s plenty smart... at this point it has to do with sheer stubbornness.
And stubbornness is something that Impey Barbicane has plenty of, because he’s stubbornly opening up the hatch!
“I-- IMPEY BARBICAAAAAAAAAAANE!!”
“Move, I’m coming in!”
Nemo presses himself against the console, watching in horror as the hatch opens up under Impey’s incredible strength. He leaps down and looks at the scientist with narrow eyes so bright that Nemo’s afraid he will be burned.
“Mind explaining what you’re doing, Nemo?” asks Impey.
Nemo crosses his arms and smiles. “Exaaaaaaaaaaactly what it looks like, Impeeey Barbicane! I’m taking the Harper out to seaaaaaaaaa!”
“You know this thing can’t be manned by just one person!” Impey raises his voice.
Nemo shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t seem to have any trouble soooo far... buuuut, if you’re offering to join me on my voyage, I would be happy to accept~!”
“Tch, I don’t plan on joining any coward running away!” Impey snaps. “And that’s just what you’re doing, Nemo. You’re running away because you’re afraid to fall in love again!”
“HAAAAAAAA----HAHAHA!”
Impey jumps back when Nemo suddenly bursts out laughing.
“Is-- is thaaaaaaaaaat what it looks like, Impey Barbicaaaaaaaaaane?!” Nemo’s entire body is shaking from the force of his laughter. “It’s too late for thaaaat!”
He shakes his head, his face suddenly turning serious. “I took that shot of pain back when we escaped Buckingham.”
“Then why are you running? Nemo, do you know how hard Polly-chan is going to cry when she realizes that you’re gone?! I can’t stand men who would make a girl cry like that!”
“I knoooow... I know she’ll cry,” says Nemo. “But she’s having a few tears now instead of a lifetime of isolation.”
Impey raises his eyebrows. “What... what are you talking about?” He turns around as Nemo walks past him, through the bunks and into the salon. “Hey, I’m not done talking yet! Nemo!”
When Impey reaches the salon, he sees Nemo standing in front of a map of the world that he’s pinned to one of the bookcases. He reaches up and traces his fingers over Asia, finally to that beautiful country that he can never see again.
“My home doesn’t exist anymore, Impey Barbicane,” his voice is pained. “It’s still on the map there, see? But it’s... it’s not the same. Colonization has destroyed that land, and its people are eternally suffering under that damned Empire’s heel!”
He leans his head forward and rests it against the map. “But there are other ways to lose your home.”
Nemo reaches up with his other hand and drags it across Europe until it hovers over France.
“What do you think becoming an enemy of the Empire would do to you, Impey Barbicane? Becoming a willing accomplice of the man who lorded over the skies in a chariot of metal-- Impey Baaarbicaaaane, do you think she would ever be able to go back home?!”
Impey can only watch as Nemo digs his fingertips into the map and rips through France, shreds of the paper falling to the floor.
“What’s worse than your home being destroyed--?! Only thiiiiiis--!! Having your home turn its back on yoooooou! That rejection--- I could never wish it on heeerrr!!”
Nemo leans back before slamming his head into the bookcase, a pitiful moan rising from his throat.
“If I leave-- if she believes I’ve taken her dream and left-- then she can still go hoooooooome! She can go back to her family, to the friends that are still living---!”
His moan turns into a hysterical sob.
“If oooonly she didn’t feel the same way as I did--! If only she failed the experiment, if only-- if only she rejected meeee! Then, none of this would have happened! I wouldn’t-- I wouldn’t want to spare her this lonely faaaaaaaaate!!”
Nemo sinks to the floor and clutches his head in his hands, trembling.
Impey looks at his friend, his “rival” collapsed on the floor. He sighs and shakes his head.
“Have you tried talking to her about it...?” he asks, his voice gentle. “I mean, look, I know I’m not the greatest example-- I clam up when I even think about talking to my angel about my real feelings, but... man, you’ve gotta talk to her. Tell her what you’re afraid of. Be honest with her, you know?”
Nemo just hugs himself tighter, sobbing louder.
“I’m putting the Harper back in port,” says Impey. “If you’re intent on making Polly-chan cry, then you’re going to have to be there to see it. But, if you talk to her... Nemo, I really think you might have found something special.”
Nemo hiccups and slowly looks up at Impey from the floor.
“Sometimes, what people call ‘home’ isn’t a place. We’ve both lost our home, you know? But, Nemo, my new home is Cardia-chan, Saint-chan, Lupin, Fran, the others... and you. Never would’ve thought this when we first met, but you’re part of my home now. And I hope that you’ll let all of us be part of your home, too.
Impey rubs the back of his head and laughs. “I mean, you kind of don’t have a choice at this point. You’ve put us through so much-- so you’re stuck with us, right? Okay, then... let’s go ‘home’, Nemo.”
Impey extends his hand to Nemo, and Nemo stares at it for a long time.
Finally, he reaches out to Impey, and Impey helps him stand back up. Then the scientist leans on the engineer, and they hobble to the bridge to send the Harper back home.
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Bits of Fluff
I got tired of writing things with continuity, so have some quick little reads featuring our favorite characters, some special guests, and fluff.
Tagging: @amicitonia @alicemoonwonderland @nemo-ne-impune-lacessit @roses-and-oceans @stephicness @joioliviapolaroid @kerrtrash @ponkita @crazykruemel @for-lack-of-a-better-world @tales-of-a-fallen-star @zoeyredbird1 @themissimmortal @blind-bae
Noctis
You breathed out a sigh, rolling over and stretching your arms. You really didn’t want to get up today. The bed was warm, you were entirely too comfortable, Noctis was still snoozing beside you… your alarm clock wasn’t even set today, anyways.
Noctis hummed quietly and snuggled closer to you, burying his face in the crook of your neck, seeking your body heat in his slumber. You smiled fondly at him and ran your fingers through his hair, slightly smoothing down his radical case of bedhead.
Noctis simply snored softly in response. You giggled softly and allowed the sound to lull you back into sleep.
Prompto
“Alright babe, just a couple more photos. The lighting over here is beautiful.”
You chuckled at him, moving over to the designated spot. Prompto was taking photos for his portfolio, and he’d asked you to be his model. You couldn’t tell that pout no, and that's how you ended up being his seaside supermodel.
“And pose just like that…” The camera flashed and clicked, and Prompto grinned. “Perfect.” He waved you over to come look at the pictures.
“Prompto, these… they’re astounding.” You stared up at him in wonder. “You really have an eye for this.”
His cheeks flushed under your praise and he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, a shy smile on his lips. “It helps when my subjects are beautiful.” And his blush only deepened when you kissed him.
Gladio
Gladio pouted at you as you jotted away in your notebook, your attention entirely on getting your ideas onto the page as quickly as possible. Nevermind the fact that your thinking face looked absolutely adorable to him… he wanted attention.
He let out a high-pitched whine, finally drawing your attention. Your eyes scanned him, taking in the pout on his lips and his slightly hunched posture and the soft question in his eyes. You breathed out a laugh and set your notebook and pen aside, opening your arms to him.
Gladio crawled forward without hesitation, nuzzling into your embrace. “You big teddy bear,” you said, fondness in your tone, and Gladio’s only response was to pull you closer.
Ignis
“Oh,” you started, staring at the flour spot on your shirt. “You did not.”
Ignis looked entirely too proud of himself as he returned to stirring the cake batter, his tone a mask of innocence even though a smirk curved his lips. “Did not what, my love?”
Your eyes narrowed. “It’s on, Scientia.” Swiftly, you plucked his glasses right off of his nose, then tossed a pinch of flour into his face.
Ignis turned slowly, face completely powdered and his eyelashes white as snow. “It is indeed.”
He cracked an egg over your head, and you smeared cake batter into his shirt. He tossed more flour at you, and you retaliated with pouring vanilla into his hair.
Suffice to say, the cake didn’t get baked, and the two of you spent two hours cleaning the battle zone.
Ravus
Ravus presented his phone to you, showing you another picture. “This is when they were puppies. They always curled together when they slept.”
You cooed at the photo, scratching behind the now-adult Umbra’s ears. “They’re so adorable!” Umbra shifted slightly in your lap before relaxing again, resting his head against your knee and dozing.
Pryna huffed softly from Ravus’ lap, and he reached down to pet her as well, scrolling through his phone’s memory for more things to show you. “Oh,” he said, clicking on a video, “This was when Pryna had a rash and had to wear a cone so she’d leave it alone.”
The video played, showing Pryna swinging her head around and walking mostly normally, only to run directly into a wall. Laughter played from the video and you soon joined in, the sound infectious. “Ravus, Six, they’re so silly. What precious dogs.”
“Aren’t they?” Ravus agreed, leaning closer to show you another photo.
Luna
Luna hummed softly as she intertwined the stems of the sylleblossoms, creating a flower crown. Once she finished, she leaned closer to you and reached up, placing it upon your head. She grinned at you, clapping her hands together. “You look perfect.”
“Feel perfect, Lu,” you said, scooting closer to her and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”
Luna giggled and cupped your face in her hands, pulling you back to her for a proper kiss. She fixed the crown upon your head and smiled, pressing a kiss to the tip of your nose. “My noble love.”
You giggled and removed the crown, placing it upon her head. “My princess.”
Cindy
Cindy wiped the sweat from her brow, straightening up from being bent over the car’s engine and doing repairs. She stretched, joints popping satisfyingly, and she let out a hum.
“Cindy,” you call, approaching her with a tray. “I brought you some lemonade. It’s a scorcher today, wouldn’t want you drying up.”
She grinned dazzlingly at you, plucking a glass from the tray and downing it quickly. She hummed appreciatively as she placed the now-empty glass back on the tray. “Goodness, doll, I don’t know how you do it, but every time you make lemonade it’s better than the last.”
You scoffed lightly and looked away, though you were unable to keep the smile from curving your lips. “Thanks.”
“Ain’t a thang.” Cindy sang, stepping forward and pressing a kiss to your cheek before she strolled back over to the car, continuing her work.
#final fantasy xv#ffxv#chocobros#ravus nox fleuret#cindy aurum#lunafreya nox fleuret#ignis scientia#noctis lucis caelum#prompto argentum#gladiolus amicitia#(i should add more tags but at this point? nah)#writing#i tagged a bunch of people in this and i'm.... somewhat nervous bc i stretched my bounds a bit#haaaa. it'll fuzz over...#anyways yeah reverence and mercy are giving me the side-eye so i decided to escape#woot#and these are more domestic than fluffy at times... hmm. welp#domesticity is fluffy in and of itself#haaaaaaa
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The Promise
A Captain Swan AU
Killian and Emma, two souls destined to be one. Come along on their journey of True Love, filled with romance, passion, and challenges as they fight for their Happy Beginning in The Promise.
Special thanks to @duathadun @hellomommanerd @linda8084 @juliakaze and @hookedmom
Can be found on Tumblr (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)
(15) (16) (17) (18)
Can be found on FF (Rating changed to M)
Can be found on AO3 (Rating will remain T to T+)
Grab a tissue and let’s go....
Chapter 19
Words ~ 13K+ Rating ~ T
New York City, NY
Late Friday to Early Saturday
“Mr. Jones, I’m calling to let you know your brother is awake,” Liam heard Doctor Hopper say.
The doctor’s words didn’t initially register, making Liam think perhaps he was dreaming. Not responding immediately, he looked around the room and heard the music playing, saw the lights from the city outside the windows shining, and heard the gentle hum from the air conditioner; all sounds assuring him that he was not dreaming. “Killian is awake?” he couldn’t help but ask, just in case he had been hallucinating.
“Yes. I was standing next to his bed when he opened his eyes
“How is he, Doctor Hopper?” he asked anxiously, “Is he alright?
“Based on Killian’s questions and comments when I spoke to him, I have every reason to believe all is fine.”
Liam sighed in relief. “I’m on my way.” He needed to get to the hospital. He needed to talk to Killian, if only to assure himself that he was fine. And once he had done that, then they needed to have a discussion about Emma.
“Mr. Jones, perhaps it would be best for you to wait until the morning. Killian is going to be undergoing several tests over the next few hours and I really don’t want to overtire him until we’re sure there are no complications. Shall we meet tomorrow at say…10:00?”
Unable to hide his disappointment, Liam agreed and hung up the phone. As soon as the call disconnected, he sent a quick text to Nemo, letting him know about Killian’s awakening and then, as usual, ended up next to the window. The lights far below caught his attention in an almost hypnotic way and he allowed himself to get lost in his thoughts.
He kept playing what he wanted to say to Killian over and over in his head, rewinding and editing as necessary until he was comfortable with the message he wanted to convey. Once that message was complete he turned to go to bed, noticing his reflection for the first time in the window. The man looking back at him wasn’t frowning…his smile wasn’t huge, but it was there. Liam Jones was happy for the first time in many years.
When he finally crawled into bed, he knew he should be tired, but his mind was wide awake and active with thoughts of what had transpired over the past week. It didn't seem possible that less than a week ago, Nemo had stopped by his office and after a few exchanges said to him, "Don't ignore the pain, Liam, as that helps make you the man you are supposed to become, but trust your brother. If he says one look and he knew Emma was the one for him, just may I remind you, as your father did, then perhaps you are not giving him credit to know his own mind." And that was crux of the matter, really. That he continued to view his brother as that four-year-old little boy that he had almost lost. That same little boy that he had tried to save and protect for close to thirty years. How did one change a behavior when it had been part of his very existence for longer than not?
Nemo's words, "This is when we come together as a family and perhaps if we meet her halfway, Emma will save all of us just like she seems to have saved your brother," had made him want to laugh at the possibility that someone who had come from the very same place as the woman who had crushed him could ever save him. But now, looking back at what had transpired in such a short time, he had to wonder if perhaps his old mentor had known something about Emma that either he hadn't known or that he hadn't been willing to see. His judgment had been sorely impaired for years and while no means perfect, he felt he was back on the road to discovering the man his mother would admire.
To say that he regretted his behavior, especially toward his brother, was just a part of what was going on inside his head. There seemed to be too much clutter for him to really make sense of all the emotions, but the more that he attempted to organize and understand the many parts of his feelings, the better he seemed to be able to put them behind him in order to take responsibility. He knew, though, that taking it was only the first step toward healing wounds that ran deep. He felt it was important for all parties to come together, otherwise it was like covering something with a band-aid that never was able to heal properly. With band-aids often the hurts were covered, allowing them to fester, creating pain that could take years to fix. While he deserved for Killian to shut him down and walk away, Liam hoped that his little brother would meet him halfway.
After several hours of being no closer to sleep than when he had crawled into bed, Liam padded into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Leaning against the counter, he sipped the strong brew and mentally made a check list of what he needed to take to the hospital with him. Once the caffeine started zipping through his system, he poured another cup, and went to shower.
After he was dressed, he searched for an old gym bag which would easily hold a few changes of clothes for Killian. A couple pair of gym shorts and t-shirts, which the doctor had recommended for comfort, along with shoes and socks were the first things to go in the bag. Some toiletries followed and just as he was zipping it, he decided to include a pair of jeans and a shirt. He had a few hours before he was to meet with the doctor, and with the bag and a third cup of coffee, he decided to stop by his office to try to catch up on some overdue work.
Boston, MA
Saturday Early Morning
Ruby closed her suitcase and took another look around the room that she had shared with Emma and Ashley until they were 18 and moved into their first apartment together. So many memories within these walls, she thought. From gossiping about boys to experimenting with make-up, they had shared the highs and lows of each other's lives. And even though other kids had come and gone in the Home, they had remained constants, always together. Always there for each other. Sisters in every way but blood.
Pushing away from the bed, she walked over to the window seat where her raggedy doll, dressed in red, sat next to Ashley's, dressed in blue and Emma's, dressed in white. "We made quite the team, didn't we Annie?" She crooned to her doll, hugging her close to her chest.
These days the doll's answers weren't so readily heard as they were when she was ten, but the comfort she derived from holding her tight almost had her stuffing the doll into her suitcase. Only the little smirk that she'd be sure to get from Victor prevented it, and when the doll just gazed at her with its wide blue eyes, after another hug, she kissed its forehead softly and set it back on the cushion. She had confided just about as many secrets to the doll as she had to Ashley and Emma, and as they moved their separate ways, it was a little frightening.
Her attention shifted to the bookcase, which sat next to the window, holding an eclectic array of books. There were tattered copies of Charlotte's Web and Black Beauty next to Harry Potter. All were well read and well-loved and many eliciting discussions long into the night. As her eye moved down the shelves, she saw her Little Red Riding Hood next to Ashley's Cinderella. A quick glance confirmed what she had already known - that Emma's fairytale books were missing, which wasn't really surprising as she had loved them best of all.
Knowing it was about time to leave for Emma's graduation, Ruby turned back to the bed, picked up her suitcase, and just as she moved to walk out of the room, her eyes landed on a picture that had been taken when they were twelve or thirteen. Ruby, as the tallest, stood in the center flanked by Emma and Ashley, all wearing huge grins and shirts that said, "All for one, and one for all."
"I wonder," she murmured, remembering their treasure box they had hidden not long after the picture was taken. Her suitcase was dropped, and she was in the closet, searching for the loose board before she even realized she had moved. When she found it, using the palm of her hand, she popped it up enough to move the board aside and pulled out the small box that held their treasures.
A quick glance at the clock assured her that, even though time was short, she still had a few moments for nostalgia. After all, she was leaving for six months and when she returned life would look different. Ashley and Sean were thinking of moving outside of Boston, Emma and Killian were moving to New York and she was...well she hoped she would be planning her own wedding. A lot of changes in a short time were bound to bring on a little melancholy, right?
Reverently, the lid was removed and set aside. Inside she found three mood rings and slipped one on her finger, wondering if it still turned colors. There were hair ribbons, an old necklace, a pet rock, sunglasses and a picture Emma had drawn of herself standing next to Snow White and Prince Charming. The last thing in the box was their old Magic 8 Ball. Memories of them asking it about grades and clothes and friends bombarded her, and feeling her eyes glass over, had to blink several times to clear her vision.
Hearing Blue calling her to come help, she quickly reloaded the box, noticing that, indeed, her mood ring had turned dark blue. That's a good sign, she thought as she picked up the ball to drop it into the box, but couldn’t resist asking it, "Have I met my Prince Charming?" It’s answer, "Yes, definitely," put such a huge smile on her face, she couldn’t help but ask it another question. "Is Emma getting her happy ever after?" The resulting message sent a chill through her body.
University Hospital
Newark, NJ
Saturday Mid-Morning
When Liam arrived at the hospital a little before he was to meet with Doctor Hopper, his first inclination was to go directly to Killian's room. He needed to see with his own eyes that Killian was indeed awake and that he hadn't merely been dreaming it were true. But as luck would have it, when he stepped off the elevator, the doctor was standing at the nurse's station waiting for him.
"Mr. Jones, I'm happy to see you. Come with me."
His abrupt greeting took Liam a little aback, but he followed the doctor around a corner and into an empty room, anxious to hear what he had to say. "How is Killian?" he blurted without preamble.
When Doctor Hopper crossed his arms, leaned against the counter and looked at him from under his glasses, Liam prepared himself to hear the worst.
"Medically, your brother is doing surprisingly well. All his tests came back within normal ranges and I don't anticipate any residual damage. He's very fortunate, but..."
He hesitated just a tad too long for Liam's comfort. "But what? What is it you're not telling me?" His rapid speech was the only external sign of his anxiousness whereas internally his pulse was quickly escalating and his breathing becoming shallower by the minute.
The doctor must have realized how his comment had sounded because he immediately responded, "No, no. Killian is fine. But he's insisting that he's checking out of the hospital today. I'm hoping you can talk some sense into him."
A relieved laugh burst out before he could stop it, and regaining a little decorum, he smiled at the doctor. "I'm sorry, Doctor," he shook his head at the thought, "but Killian stopped listening to me a long time ago. However, I'm willing to try."
Doctor Hopper nodded. "I certainly understand, as many times patients refuse to listen to family members when it comes to their care, unless of course," he took off his glasses and proceeded to clean them, "they're married. Sometimes that helps, but not always. Now here's what he's saying...."
~~~CS~~~
Killian watched the lass as she tightened the brace around his knee one more time.
"How does that feel?" she asked as she handed him a crutch to use for support.
"How do you think it feels?" He growled. "It feels fine. Now can I walk?"
"Mr. Jones," she began in a placating tone, "your knee..."
Killian tried for patience but after what he had endured in the twelve-plus hours he had been awake, those reserves were all but depleted. "I'm not bloody daft," he interrupted her explanation, "I heard you the first and the second time. Now can I walk?"
She inclined her head in agreement and helped him stand while supporting some of his weight. "Here's the crutch. Don't try to move right away. Let me know if you feel light headed."
Killian had to admit, but only to himself, that his body seemed weaker than a newborn babe’s and that the room had taken on the feel of an amusement park ride, but once he started breathing through the pain, he felt stronger. Digging deep down inside, he put one foot in front of the other, and with the persistence and fortitude that he had learned from his parents, he walked across the room and back before collapsing onto the side of the bed. He had sweat pouring down his face, but refused to show pain, instead giving the therapist a cheeky smile. "Satisfied?"
Her glance told him that she was used to people behaving rudely when she was only trying to help, but he needed out of this bloody place. There was someone in Boston that needed him, and he was tired of waiting. "Mr. Jones," she sighed as she took the crutch and leaned it against the bed. "You must remember all the instructions I gave you. Do not overtire yourself."
"I'm not likely to forget them as you've repeated them ad nauseum since you walked through that door. Are we done?"
Killian watched her as she cleaned up her work paraphernalia and picked up his chart to make notes. Was she one of the ones he’d heard speaking about the accident before he woke? That they were outside his room and not right next to his bed had prevented him from hearing more clearly, but the words he did hear, they nearly tore him apart. Those words seemed to add validity to what he heard Liam say. And while unclear on what day the conversation had occurred, the meaning was very clear. Emma was dead and not coming back to him.
Since waking last night and seeing his red-headed doctor, he hadn’t felt like doing much talking. He had asked about Robin but hadn’t had the strength to ask about Emma, because…he already knew the answer. Talking about it just made it more real and he wasn’t strong enough to deal with the fact that he would never see his Swan again. Never hold her in his arms again…except in his dreams. There she was always waiting for him.
The lass closed the chart, picked up her bag of equipment and checked the brace one more time before conspicuously leaving an ice pack nearby and exiting the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Killian let out the breath he had been holding and allowed his shoulders to droop with fatigue. Only alone would he allow the pain that was his constant companion to surface, as it could be construed as a weakness. And he had no time for being weak. He had lost too much here in this place and each day he remained here, he felt his soul slowly being sucked away. Now, the strength he gained from having Emma's love wrapped around him had become even more important. He had to borrow on that strength to get on his feet enough to get back to Boston, because he knew what he needed in order to heal could no longer be found here.
As soon as the throbbing in his leg had become nothing but a dull ache, he contemplated using the ice pack. But his hope was that as soon as Liam arrived, he would be able to leave and to do that he needed - a shower. The question was, could he make it on his own?
He eyed the bathroom door some six feet away and, positioning the crutch, he used it and the bed railing to manipulate himself onto his feet. From there it was a less than a dozen miserable steps before he reached the door and entered the tiny room. With no normal clothing to put on after showering, he took a couple of the arse-showing gowns and dropped them on the counter for easy reach. A flick of the wrist started the steamy water and, dropping the offending gown, he stepped in.
~~~CS~~~
As he walked toward Killian's room, Liam found himself rubbing an imaginary spot over his heart where Doctor Hopper had inadvertently shoved a dagger. His words, while innocent, had really brought his poor judgment right back and planted it squarely in his lap. The universe, it seemed, had decided that it was time for him to man-up, and he was feeling like it had brought everyone surrounding him to the party. Now, the words, "unless they're married," kept reverberating inside his head, echoing louder and louder with each step he took until he had no choice but to confront them head on. And what did he find?
His discovery was that the good doctor was probably right. Had Emma been in the same hospital instead of across the country, Killian would have been willing to stay. He might have insisted that they share a room, but he would have been willing to cooperate and not so quick to leave University Hospital.
What Liam hadn't uncovered in his musings was just how Killian even knew where she was, or that she had gone away for treatment. As far as he was aware, no one even knew about the others in the car. In fact, Doctor Hopper had mentioned that Killian had asked about Robin, and that had been the first time he had heard that name. Who, then, was talking out of turn? And now that Killian knew she was in Seattle, and Liam's less than chivalrous part in her transfer, would Killian's willingness to listen to his story be affected?
~~~CS~~~~~
Killian tied one gown in back and then slipped the other on in reverse, allowing himself some semblance of modesty. Getting the brace back on in such a confined space proved difficult, but once he had succeeded, he felt better than he had since he'd been awake. They had moved him all over the hospital, allowing every machine possible to study his brain, and following that, several others had asked him the same bloody things over and over again. It had been many grueling hours of questioning and by the time he returned to his room, he had been glad Liam hadn’t been there waiting for him. Having to keep up his front of ‘being normal’ would have been too difficult, mostly because he knew that true normal was asking the impossible.
~~~CS~~~
Liam had been waiting for several minutes when Killian emerged from the washroom. The only outward signs of his accident were the tiny cuts left on his face, the knee brace and crutch, and the pallor of his skin. "Killian, I'm so relieved you're awake." He quickly moved to Killian's side to give him a hug and when Killian remained passive in his arms prepared himself to explain.
"Aye, I'm awake." Killian answered matter-of-factly. "Did you bring me some clothes?"
Taken aback at his brusque tone, Liam held the bag out toward him, studying his face for some sign of what he was thinking or feeling. Without saying anything further, the bag was slipped over a shoulder and Killian retreated back behind closed doors, leaving him to try to piece together what had just happened and how to approach the conversation that would be the start of making things right between them, as brothers.
~~~CS~~~
Killian collapsed against the closed door and felt tears spring to his eyes. He had known it would be difficult to be near Liam, but discussing Emma with him, knowing how Liam felt about her, was too hard. In his current condition, the strength he needed to process all of those emotions just wasn’t there. With every cell in his body vibrating with pain, the only other overwhelming emotion he had room for was anger. He was angry at himself, at Liam, at the doctors and even, god help him, at Emma; feelings he hadn’t had he lost his parents. "How am I going to get through this?" he whispered to the silent room, fighting against the need to slide down onto the cold hard floor and sob
He was unsure how long he had been in there before he heard rapping on the door followed by Liam’s voice, “Killian, you alright?" and realized he needed to get dressed and get his brother to take him to the airport. It was time to go.
~~~CS~~~~
The second time Killian emerged from the washroom, he was fully dressed with his brace over his jeans, leaning heavily on the crutch. And even though the look on his brother's face reminded him of the stubborn man he'd seen in the mirror for too many years, Liam took a deep breath and wandered into the minefield. "Killian, we need to talk about Emma," he blurted out.
Killian's head lifted quickly, his blue eyes steely as they bore into him. "No, we don't." His words were measured, almost as if he were in pain. "I know about Emma."
Liam couldn't quite connect the pain in Killian's voice with the knowledge of Emma's whereabouts, because she was getting the best care possible. If anything, he expected anger for the way he had behaved as an arsehole for years, and hadn't even succeeded in caring for Emma properly. "But Killian, Emma is--"
He hadn't been aware that an injured man could move as quickly as Killian did, but before he had even finished the sentence, Killian was snarling in his face, "Do not mention her name to me. When I am ready to talk, you will know. Sound familiar?"
Liam was thrown right back into that room he had been hiding in after finding Lily and discovering her duplicitous nature, and it hit him this time like a punch to the gut. His brother was behaving exactly like him. He was pulled back to the present when he heard Killian say, "We'll be right there," and then hang up the phone.
"Where are you going, Killian?"
Killian gave him a hard stare as he turned toward the door. "To sign myself out of this place and then to the airport. You taking me or do I get a cab?" he asked before he vanished out the door.
Liam took a look around the room and picked up the bag, slipping it over his shoulder. "Pot, meet Kettle," he murmured as he followed.
Seattle-Grace Hospital
Seattle, WA
Early Saturday Morning PST
Mary Margaret didn't usually go into the hospital on Saturday, but after her session with Emma, and the glimpses into Emma's memories, she felt that a breakthrough could happen at any time. Dropping her bag in her office, she took the elevator to the fourth floor, and when she arrived at Emma's room, the sight that greeted her nearly broke her heart.
Emma was sitting up in bed, her sketch pad on her lap, head bowed, her shoulders shaking as giant, silent sobs shook her body. Knowing that she should never get so emotionally attached to a patient but realizing she was too far gone, Mary Margaret did the only thing she could do. She took the lost girl in her arms and let her cry until no more tears were left.
As Emma's tears quieted, Mary Margaret handed her a tissue, watching as she wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and once again gained control. "Do you want to tell me about it?" In her experience talking about one's feelings helped, however, when it was suspected that feelings or emotions were the cause of what brought the patient to her, it became more of a delicate matter.
Emma's silence was almost off-putting, but watching the emotions flit across her face told her all she needed to know. When she handed over the sketchbook, her face telling a story of its own, Mary Margaret was almost hesitant to look down, but once she did, a smile graced her face as she gazed back at the patient. "You remembered this?”
Emma hesitantly nodded her head. Studying the picture, Mary Margaret was once again in awe of the talent exhibited before her. Emma had drawn three girls standing close together, arms around each other, as if a team, and huge smiles on their faces. "Is this you?" She pointed to one of the girls on the end. Emma shook her head yes. "This is excellent work. Were you awake when the memory returned?"
Emma reached for the ever-present whiteboard and wrote, "No. Dream."
"Ah, ok. Let's see if you can remember more about this time in your life, alright?"
Nodding her head eagerly, Mary Margaret gently prodded at the edges of Emma's brain, asking subtle questions about the picture. Emma remembered generalities; she felt happy and carefree, the other girls were her best friends and they had eaten snow cones, each of them liking a different flavor. "Search the picture in your mind Emma," Mary Margaret instructed, "can you hear their name?
She watched as Emma closed her eyes and waited. When she opened them, her response was immediate, in that she grabbed the sketch pad and drew another object next to them, before writing something next to the two girls that were not her. When she handed over the sketch pad, Mary Margaret read the names, "Red and Ella," thinking nicknames, but a wonderful start. Her eyes were then drawn to the new object that had been drawn. "And this, Emma. Do you remember playing with this?"
Emma shook her head and pointed to Red and Ella. "You remember playing with it alongside Red and Ella?"
Another nod. "Do you remember what it's called?"
This time, Emma shook her head indicating that she didn't remember. "It's called a Magic 8 Ball."
Group Home
Boston, MA
Saturday Late Morning
With Blue's assurances that if anything had happened to Emma, they would know, ringing in her ears, Ruby had allowed herself to be swept up helping to set up for the post-graduation festivities. They cleaned and rearranged furniture and then hung streamers and decorated several tables. Finger foods that didn't need refrigeration were arranged on one and a place for a wedding cake that would be delivered later was made on another.
Ruby moved from group to group, helping fill balloons with helium in one place to supplying tape to a group hanging signs of congratulations in another. She tied ribbons on balloons and attached them to chairs and railings. She lifted the smaller children up so they could help with decorating and carted a large trash bag around collecting the wrapping that had been dropped on the floor in the excitement.
Eventually, the melancholy returned and taking a bunch of balloons and a roll of streamers, Ruby left the chaos of the house for the quiet oasis in the backyard. The minute she stepped out the door, the peacefulness of the surroundings calmed her as they had so often when she was growing up. She quickly decorated the porch railing with the balloons and streamers and then made her way to the swing that had been hanging from a large tree branch for as long as she could remember. The same tree she remembered climbing as a child to peer through the branches and that she used to hide behind during hide-and-seek. It was the same tree under which she, Ashley and Emma used to spread a blanket and play with their dolls.
"Ashley," Ruby smiled at her friend as she smoothed out her doll's dress, "meet, Annie. What did you name yours?"
Ashley picked up one of Ruby's doll's hands. "Pleased to meet ya, Annie," she giggled before she stood her doll up, too. "Meet Ella."
"Well hello, Ella," Ruby greeted the doll in a high-pitched voice. “How are you?"
Ruby remembered Emma hadn't been outside with them because she had been sick with a fever, and Blue had suggested they let Emma sleep. However, as was usually the case without their third musketeer, they had quickly gotten bored and packed up their dolls, ending up on the floor of their bedroom, while Emma and her doll had played from afar.
"Ready, Ella?" Annie asked her new friend.
"I'm ready, Annie," answered Ella. "Let's go find out what our new neighbor's name is."
"Yes, let's," Annie agreed as they started walking toward the 'house' next door. "Knock, knock," Ruby made the sound as if her doll were knocking.
Emma had picked up her doll and walked her across the blanket on her bed and pretended to open a door. "Hello."
"Welcome to the neighborhood," Annie said to the new friend, "I'm Annie and this is Ella.
"Thank you," the new friend said. "It's nice to meet you, Ella, Annie. My name is Kate."
"Hello, Kate," they said in unison."Such good memories," Ruby murmured as she came back to the present when she heard Henry calling her name. "Coming, Henry."
Seattle Grace Hospital
Seattle, WA
Saturday Late Morning
Her eyes cataloged what they saw looking back at her in the mirror. Long, blonde hair lying limp against her skull, bright green eyes rimmed by huge purple bruises and a swollen face covered with...yes, more bruises, these ranging in colors from the darkest purple to the lightest yellow.
"Who am I?" She asked the face silently.
"Your name is Emma Swan," the doctor with the kind blue eyes had told her.
"But who is Emma Swan?" she pleaded. "Why don't I remember her?"
He hadn't said anything more because, really, what could he say? He had just continued watching her, but not with pity in his eyes. They had contained concern, care and even empathy.
The eyes in the mirror, though, they looked lost, and even though she had been told that her name was Emma Swan, she couldn't connect that name with any familiarity. "Are you sure?" She asked again, the pain and frustration evident even inside her own head.
"Yes. Trust us." This time she could hear another voice added to his. Mary Margaret, the woman with the soft eyes and gentle voice, had joined them. "It will come, Emma. We will work on it, together."
Together? Why did that sound so familiar? But the words were just slightly off, different than what Mary Margaret had said, but they were stuck inside her head. With the word reverberating inside her mind, she crawled onto the uncomfortable bed and fell into a restless sleep.
She dreamed she was standing next to a large tree, it's branches stretching tall toward the sky. She could see a swing hanging on one side of the tree and if she listened carefully, she could hear the tinkling laughter of other children. Backing away from the trunk, she looked up into the branches to see the face of someone looking back at her. With a mischievous grin, the face disappeared from view.
"Wait. Wait. Come back." But before she had even finished her thought, the scene had faded from view.
Tired and feeling alone, she curled up into a ball as tight as possible and allowed herself a few moments of grief. It seemed that she had just settled when she heard, "Hello," being called faintly, ever so faintly.
"Hello. What is your name?" a disembodied voice called quietly to her right.
She turned quickly to ask them whom they were talking to before they faded from sight, just like the other scenes she had pictured, and then lost just as quickly. But before she could give voice to her question, from her left another voice filled the air, " My name is Kate."
The voice was so close and so familiar that she whipped her head to the left and found herself looking into...a much younger version of herself holding a raggedy doll. "My name is Kate," the young girl said again.
"Kate," she repeated. It felt right. "Kate," she said again. This time it felt more familiar. "Kate," she said a third time, and the name felt more comfortable still. She needed that. She needed to feel comfortable with the person she was right now. "My name is Kate. It's Kate." She felt like she had taken ownership of it and for the first time since she had woken up in this place, she felt a glimmer of hope.
Her eyes popped open, and taking her sketch pad, she drew the scene with the girl in the tree. She wasn't positive, but thought maybe she had drawn that girl before. Next to the tree, she drew a simple sketch of her younger self and the doll and then wrote next to it, “My name is Kate Swan.
As she studied that name, she realized that the graceful, elegant Swan name no longer fit the person she saw in the mirror. She needed a name that made her feel comfortable and safe. With that thought, she marked out the entire sentence and tried again. Once she had completed the task, she put away the pencils and promptly fell into a deep sleep where she waited for the eyes to come to her.
~~~CS~~~~
An hour later, David Nolan stopped by to check on his new patient and found her drawing lying on the bed, as if waiting for inspection. "Oh, no," he whispered as he read what she had written.
He decided that Mary Margaret needed to see the new development and slowly slipped the paper out of the book to take with him. "I hope this isn't a permanent problem," he murmured.
She had written, "My name is Kate Blue."
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, NY
Saturday, Early Afternoon
Regina stood outside the door of the rehabilitation room and watched Will put Robin through the paces of learning to transfer from the bed to a chair and back again. With every try, his moves became easier and more natural, but with his shirt sticking to chest, she could tell the exertion was taking its toll and he would tire soon. She knew he was pushing himself because he wanted to get out of the hospital, but she also worried about him. She didn't want him to push so hard as to risk injury because, according to his doctors, he was on schedule to be discharged before the following weekend. She was looking forward to taking him home so they could see where things would go between them.
And then there were the two pieces of news her mother had shared with her. While both inadvertently involved Killian, one more directly than the other, she knew as soon as she told Robin, he was going to be anxious to speak with Killian himself. The fact that their line of communication had been cut off since the accident had been difficult for him. He needed to assure himself that his friend of many years was okay, and that Robin cared so deeply made her love him even more.
And the second piece of news, while not entirely a shock, did surprise her just a little as she thought Nemo would want to hang around and make sure that all was well with Killian and Emma. However, according to her mother, they were flying out bright and early the next day to spend the summer traveling wherever the whim took them. Her mother even said that during part of the trip, they might not even have the ability to communicate with the outside world. Afraid of what her mother’s answer would be if she had questioned more, Regina had instead wished them well and hung up the phone.
And now, they had to not only worry about Killian and where he was flying off to, but why no one seemed to have any information about Emma’s injuries. That, in and of itself, was a bit concerning. Her current working theory was that Blue had been notified of Emma’s accident and had her moved back to Boston to be close to her friends. Deciding it would be a good time to catch up with Elsa before any other interruptions occurred, Regina dialed her number. It would be a good way to pass the time while she waited for Robin to finish his therapy.
Group Home
Boston, MA
Saturday, Mid-Afternoon
"Elsa," she heard Anna call her name in a voice just a little too loud.
"Go 'way," she managed to mumble before settling a little deeper into her pillow.
"Elsa. Wake up!" Anna repeated a little louder, and this time added shaking her shoulder, making her feel like she was on a boat being tossed around by high waves.
Elsa swallowed hard to push down the bile that had risen in her throat and cracked open one eye. When the spinning room joined the bell choir in her head, she groaned and shut her eye again. "Later… Wake later..."
"Elsa. Your phone has been vibrating like crazy. Weren't you going to Emma's graduation? What did you have to drink?" Everything was blurted out in one breath.
When Anna was excited, she often spoke quickly, but Elsa had always been able to understand her. Today, however, it felt like her thoughts were mired in molasses. Taking them apart piece by piece, she bypassed the part about her phone and went straight to Emma's graduation. Was she going to the graduation? "Ugh," she groaned as she pushed up into a sitting position and had a moment of panic before remembering that she wasn't going to the ceremony but just to the party. "I must be coming down with something. What time is it?"
"Around 3:00, I think. And you didn't answer. What did you drink last night?" She humphed and handed over two Tylenol and a glass of water.
Draining the glass, Elsa handed it to Anna and buried her face in her hands, waiting for the medication to stop the pounding in her head. "I just had some New York Iced Tea, that's all. Why do you keep asking me what I had to drink? You know that I only have a little wine now and then."
"True, but this time I'm asking because the girls who brought you home last night were all giggly and said, "Oh don't mind her, she had too much to drink." She shook her head and handed Elsa a plate with a dry piece of toast on it. "Here, eat this."
Picking up the toast, Elsa absently nibbled on it while thinking over what Anna had said. "But that can't be right. I told you, I was just drinking New York Iced Teas." She dropped the half-eaten toast back on the plate and prayed it stayed down.
"Elsa," Anna prodded gently, "by New York Iced Teas, do you mean Long Island Iced Teas?"
All of a sudden Elsa had a quick memory of the cute guy behind the bar saying, "Whatever you want to call them, doll, but be careful as they pack a punch." And she had giggled. She groaned again. "Maybe a hot shower before the party will help." Slowly, she pushed off the sofa, which apparently was as far as she made it when she got home, and headed toward the bathroom.
"Don't you want to check your phone? It might be important," Anna called to her just before she left the room.
Did she want to check the messages now? Not really. "I'll check them when I get out. It's probably just Ruby wanting me to pick up some last-minute item." With that, she shut the door and hoped a hot shower was powerful magic for what ailed her.
Harvard Campus
Boston, MA
Saturday, Late Afternoon
Henry sat next to Ruby on the hard metal chair, swinging his feet back and forth. He was feeling uncomfortable because he had to wear a shirt and a tie and he didn't like its tight fit. He had tried using Killian's motto of it being important for his chest to breathe, but Blue had rolled her eyes at him and told him to get dressed. That had been hours ago, and now here he sat being strangled by his tie, even though secretly he felt very important that he was the only kid who had been invited to Emma and Killian's graduation.
"Ruby," he whispered, "when does it start?”
She smiled down at him and patted him on the leg. "Oh, not for a while yet."
"Then why," he frowned at her, "are we here so early?"
"Because, silly," she grinned, "we wanted a good seat."
Henry looked around at the sea of people sitting around him and mentally shrugged his shoulders. If she says so, he thought as he went back to swinging his legs to see how close he could get to the chair in front of him without actually touching it. When he accidentally kicked it and the lady sitting in there turned around and gave him a dirty look, he gave her what Blue always referred to as his charming smile. He thought about continuing the game, but when Ruby laid her hand on his leg, he humphed and stopped. Adults can be so annoying, he thought as he tucked his hands under his legs and resumed looking around.
But that thought brought him to the way that Blue, Ruby and even Marion had been acting all week since they had told him that Emma and Killian had gone away for a few days. They thought that just because he was a kid, he didn't notice these things, but he was ten-years-old, after all. Something was up, he was sure of it, and those extra decorations at the Home were a part of it.
"Ruby," he leaned closer, "why are there so many people here?"
"Because there are a lot of people graduating," she answered.
He thought that over for a few seconds before asking, "So how does this graduation work?"
“Well," she began in a patient voice, "in a minute all of the graduates will come in and sit down. Then there will be speeches. Then they will call out names, and once the graduates leave, then we can too."
"This is going to take forever, isn't it?" he sighed.
"Probably," she agreed. "Want to play something on my phone while we wait?"
"I guess," he grunted. Her phone didn't have as many fun games on it as his did, but it was better than nothing. Settling on one, he kept busy until the music started and he could keep an eye out for Emma, Killian and Robin.
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, NY
Saturday, Late Afternoon
Robin had known the minute Regina appeared outside the rehab room, and when she didn't immediately come inside assumed she was allowing him time to complete his therapy. But when she shoved her phone in her pocket and he caught the frown that made its way across her face, he knew there was more to the picture.
"We ‘bout done here, Will? My lady looks lonely.”
Will looked toward where Regina was standing and back at Robin. "Look like a lovesick fool, you do."
"That's because I am," Robin agreed cheekily. "We done? I need to say hello properly.”
Will smirked at his comment. "'Ere, 'ere. None of that 'ere in the 'ospital."
"Not even a little?" Robin inquired, "Especially if she's the love of your life," he finished quietly.
"Like that, is it?" Robin nodded his head. "Then I say, if you're lucky enough to find someone that you love, and she loves you, you grab on with both hands and don't let go."
"Oh, I don't plan on letting go...ever." Robin finished just as the lady in question walked up.
"What are you two so deep in discussion about?" Regina asked them, lifting a thin eyebrow.
Her prissy voice, thought Robin, reaching for her hand to draw her close, really turned him on. Of course, if he told her that, she might very well tell him to sod off, so he just grinned and kissed her hand. "Oh, we were just discussing what type of behaviors might not be appropriate in the hospital. Would you like to guess?" He did his best to give her a lascivious smile, and when she blushed knew he had succeeded.
"Oh? I'm sure I can guess." She cut her eyes away from his to look around the room as if afraid of what else might be said.
Her insecurities were so endearing that he found it difficult not to pull her down onto his lap and show her a thing or two that might not be appropriate in the hospital, but things he really wanted to experience with her. "Am I free to go, Will?" he asked without dragging his eyes away from Regina.
Will sighed dramatically, "Off with you, then," and turned the wheelchair handles toward Regina. "See you Monday."
"Thanks, Will," Robin called as Regina pushed the chair out of the rehab room and into the hallway.
"Where to, Robin? Do you want to get some fresh air?”
Did he want to go outside where there might be dozens of other families visiting on a Saturday afternoon or back to the privacy of his room? "Can we go back to the room first?"
She didn't say anything as she pushed him back to his room, but he could tell something was on her mind. He hoped that once they were settled where it was quiet, she would open up to him about what was going on to cause such a frown.
“Here we are." She pushed his chair over beside the window. "Would you like something to drink?"
He nodded his head and watched her get him a glass of water, and while he drank it, she kept tucking her hair behind her ear and worrying the lipstick off her lips. He handed the cup back for her to set on the table and when she turned back his way, he pulled her down onto the arm of the chair and back into his arms. "This is what I really need," he said against her lips just before taking possession of them. The minute she gave in, he kissed her with the pent-up feelings he'd been holding onto. After longing for her for months, being with her but not really with her was rather hard and if they didn't stop, painful might have to be added to the description.
She felt so good in his arms, he groaned with pleasure, not realizing it could have misinterpreted when she pushed out of his arms and stood up. "Robin, I'm sorry," she apologized. "Are you in pain? Should I call the nurse?"
He gave her a cheeky smile and pointedly looked down at his lap and back up at her. "I'm not sure this kind of pain fits under her job description, do you?"
When she realized what he had said, her eyes widened in surprise and her cheeks blushed. "Oh, you," she exclaimed quietly.
"I'll behave," he promised. "Sit with me and tell me why you were frowning earlier.”
Boston, MA
Saturday Late Afternoon
When Elsa came out of the bathroom with a head that was only slightly pounding, she considered it a win. She settled into an overstuffed chair and, with her feet tucked underneath her, leaned her head against the back. "How could I be so dumb?”
"Oh, that's easy," Anna piped up.
Elsa lifted her head giving her sister a dirty look. "Gee, thanks."
Anna grinned and shrugged her shoulder. "You're welcome. Now check your phone. Do you need me, cause if not I'm off to the hospital?" She gathered her things, ready to leave no matter what the answer ended up being.
Elsa figured there was more to that story than she knew but decided it could wait 'til another day. "I'm good. Where's my phone?"
Picking it up off the table, Anna tossed it in her lap and was out the door with only a brief wave.
Elsa stared at the closed door and again wondered what was going on with Anna, but with a shake of her head she mentally saved it for later. Picking up her phone, she looked at it expecting to see a message from Ruby asking her to pick up something for the party. Instead there were multiple messages from Regina as well as a voicemail"Elsa, It's Regina. I'm sorry that I disappeared with no warning, but something happened. Give me a call when you get this message and I'll try to explain."
"Oh no," Elsa murmured as she dialed Regina's cell phone. "Pick up. Come on, pick up," she chanted over and over.
"Hello," she heard Regina answer somewhat breathlessly.
"Regina. It's Elsa. What happened?" As the entire story came out, Elsa found herself unable to sit still and, pushing up, paced back and forth in front of the chair.
She learned about Robin and that he was in a hospital in New York City. Regina then went on to explain that Killian had been in a coma for a few days but had awakened and been taken to Newark airport. There the story got murkier as no one knew exactly where he had gone.
But that wasn't the biggest mystery. The biggest mystery surrounded Emma and her injuries. Because everyone knew that if Emma had still been in the hospital, Killian would have been by her side. Not wanting to jump to any conclusions until she had talked to Killian, she shoved the worry aside for the moment but the question remained. What had become of Emma?
"Oh, Regina. How awful for you to have to get that call. But I'm glad Robin has you. How are things between you two?" Elsa was curious as to how much Regina would confess now that her title as Robin's professor was over.
"Things are good, Elsa. In fact, really good. He's going to stay with me when he's discharged from here."
"I'm so happy to hear that. You both deserve such happiness. Do you mind if I speak with Robin a minute, just to assure myself he's fine.”
She heard Regina hand Robin the phone, and their conversation was so intimate and so different from the last time that she had seen them together that she couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face nor the tears that filled her eyes. They had waited so long to be together and now, though tragedy had struck, they had each other. "Elsa?" her friend's voice came through the line. "How are you?"
"How am I, you big dumbass? How are you? I really should kick your ass when I see you for not letting me know about the accident sooner. I'm so mad at you," she sniffed, "but very happy that you finally got the girl.”
Robin chuckled, "Breathe, Elsa. You sounded a bit too much like Anna there for a second. I'm fine and I'm sorry you worried." She heard him ask Regina what day it was before he continued, "How was graduation?”
"It was graduation. But tell me about you." She learned a little more about what was in his near future, medically and that he hoped to be out of the hospital the following week.
She promised him that as soon as they hung up, she would go see if she could track down Killian.
She heard Robin hand the phone back to Regina. "He's really okay?”
Elsa could hear the smile in Regina's voice, "He's more than okay, Elsa. But yes, he's going to be fine. He's getting great care, and when I get him home I'm going to give him even better care."
She overheard Robin make a suggestive remark. "Hey TMI!" she exclaimed, "I didn't need to hear that!" and laughed at Regina scolding Robin. They are going to be just fine, she thought before pulling her thoughts back to her other friend involved in the accident. "What can I do from this end?"
"You really didn't know anything about the accident?" Regina had taken control of the phone again and the tone of her voice said she had expected someone else had relayed the information about the accident.
"No, nothing." She chewed on her bottom lip thinking that right now, Ruby, Henry, and Blue were waiting for Emma's name to be called at graduation. "Which means that neither do Ruby or Blue or any of Emma's other friends. I need to go and let them know."
"Thanks, Elsa. Please call or send a text if you find Killian or if you find out anything about Emma.”
Hanging up the phone, Elsa felt a sense of urgency take hold and ran to the bedroom to throw on a pair of jeans and an old shirt. She had just slipped on her sneakers when there was a knock at the door. On the way to answer it, she drew a brush through her still wet hair and pulled it into a high ponytail. When she opened the door, all rational responses flew out of her head as she was left gasping at the sight before her.
Killian Jones, who always looked put together, was anything but. He was on his feet, but barely, his body seeming to sag against the wall and his knuckles standing out white where he was gripping the crutch too tightly. His face was pale against his dark beard that had grown long and scraggly, and when he opened his eyes, his haunted gaze pierced her very soul. She knew before he even opened his mouth that it was going to be bad. "Killian?" she whispered brokenly as the tears sprang to her eyes.
He swallowed audibly, obviously attempting to hold himself under control. "The key, Elsa. Please tell me you have the key." His whisper was that of a soul who had been tortured and was hanging on by a minuscule thread.
She felt a tear trickle over, spilling down her cheek as she reached on a shelf and picked up Emma's extra key. With measured steps, she advanced toward him, handing it to him carefully. "Emma? Killian, where's Emma?"
He closed his eyes, and with moisture leaking from the corners, whispered words she expected, but she wasn't ready to hear, "She's gone, Elsa. Emma is gone."
The shock of the words hit her with such force her phone fell out of her hands and bounced on the stairs, shattering. She couldn't move, feeling as if she were paralyzed with her feet nailed in place. Unsure what to say or how to comfort this man who had loved her friend more than life itself, she reached out to squeeze his arm, but he shrank away from her comfort.
"I can't. I need time." His body sagged even further as he turned away to open the door.
Her mind was going in a million directions, thinking of all the things that needed to be done. "Has anyone notified Blue?" she finally asked him. When he shook his head no, she decided that she would do this for her friend. "I'll handle it. Do you need anything?"
He didn't say anything right away, just leaned his forehead against the door of their apartment. Finally, he lifted his head and whispered so softly, that she had to strain to hear him, "Emma. I just need Emma."
New York City, NY
Saturday, Early Evening
On the way to Newark International Airport, Liam had tried several times to get Killian to open up to him, but the way every attempt was shut down, it seemed that the brothers had truly switched places. This time, Killian was the one who wouldn't listen or talk, which reiterated what a wanker Liam had been for years. And now within the span of a week, his brother and the woman he planned to make his wife had unknowingly started mending the pieces that had once been his heart; the heart that had shattered on that fateful day when he had walked into his apartment and found that his ideas of love and commitment were not the same as the woman he had married. He was finally admitting that he had become a bitter man who cared for no one's feelings but his own and who had treated his only living family as if he was still the lad he needed to protect. The man he had become was not someone he liked looking at in the mirror. Was he strong enough to put his heart and his family back together again.
Arriving home, he dropped his phone, keys and wallet on the table next to the door and immediately walked to the large set of windows lining one side. As dusk settled over the city, the lights spread out before him, reaching as far as the eye could see. And here he stood all alone, which was just what he deserved.
He had stopped by the office, thinking since it was Saturday, he might as well catch up on some of the work he had put off while spending time at the hospital. But even that had proven to be a bad idea, as he had spent nearly the entire time staring off into space. His thoughts had been on Killian. Worrying about Killian, except...this time, it wasn't just Killian, but also Emma's well-being that occupied his mind. And that was a foreign concept for him, thinking of someone else. Caring about someone that he had never really met.
Finally accepting that he wasn’t going to get any work done, he hadn't been ready to go home to a too-quiet place, and ended up at the gym. However, after only a mile on the treadmill, he had given it up and taken a walk through Central Park. Once again, as he walked his thoughts had been on Killian and Emma and the journey they had ahead of them. According to the doctor, Emma's injuries were substantial, and she would need a strong support system. Would Killian be all she needed? If not, and she needed more, was it possible that he, too, would be allowed into their circle? Could they forgive his behavior?
Emma and her wounds filled his mind, and wondering how long it would be before she was well, he turned on his laptop and researched her injuries. His findings led him to believe that by sometime in August, her broken bones would be healed and the surgeries to replace her facial bones and teeth would be completed. Meaning that before the fall, perhaps, they would have a chance to work together to be a family. Was that possible?
When the plastic bag with Emma's belongings caught his eye, he wondered if he had the courage to get to know her through the photos on her phone, something he hadn't had the strength to do just a few days ago. The fact that it was still in his apartment and not with Killian brought to mind other questions. Why hadn’t he given it to his brother? Had he worried he'd have to explain why he had it? Perhaps. Had he worried Killian would have demanded taking it to her right then? Possibly. But more than likely, it was because he hadn't been thinking about her, but about Killian and what Killian needed. Another situation where he had thought of his brother as a lad and not a man.
When the screen on her phone lit up with an incoming text, he blinked several times, wondering whom it was from. Did they know about the accident? Unable to stop himself, he opened the bag and pulled out the phone, holding it out in front of him as if it were going to explode in his hand if he moved too quickly or brought it too close. It vibrated again as he stared at it, and noticing that there were multiple messages, his thumb hovered over the screen...until...he slid it across, and the image would be forever engraved on his mind.
He was looking at a picture of a man and a woman who were so totally besotted with each other that the world around them seemed to not exist. The look, he was more than familiar with as it had been the same look his parents had given each other when they had been alive. A look that said you are my everything. A look, he acknowledged, that he had never shared with Lily. His little brother had been lucky to find the person who gave him that look. Damn, little brother, how did you get so lucky?
Scrolling through her photos, he began to get a feel of the woman behind the pretty face. There were pictures of her with not only Killian and Robin, but with other women. A brunette and two blondes, a redhead, all smiling or laughing. Several older women and children, even the little boy Liam vaguely remembered from the report he had been given. Was he Emma's as the investigator assumed?
Liam placed Emma's phone back inside the bag and tucked it into the corner of his desk. If Killian stayed in Seattle with her the entire time she was recuperating, then he had a few months to try to become a man that Killian could look in the eye and respect. To try to become that brother that he deserved. He was determined that when they arrived, he would be waiting with open arms and an open heart.
Boston, MA
Saturday Early Evening
As soon as Elsa was gone, Killian slipped the key in the lock and pushed open the door. He knew returning was going to hurt but nothing had prepared him for the distress he felt when the memories bombarded him the minute he stepped over the threshold. Kissing her against the door, loving her on the sofa, watching her sit at the table and study. One by one, the memories washed over him, causing him to feel so desolate that he was forced to lean on the sofa to maintain his balance.
When he pushed off, it took every ounce of strength he had left not to run out of the room but to move farther inside, closer to the spot where, during the last night they spent under this roof, he had asked her to marry him for the second time. But this time, he had slipped a ring on her finger. His words haunted him in how true they had proven to be.
"Swan, I know there are parts of our immediate future that are uncertain, but I want you to be sure of one thing. And that is that I will always, always be by your side."
However, he had failed her, and he had to live with that knowledge for the rest of his days. But how? How did one live without one's heart? She had been his heart, and without her in his arms and by his side, he felt that his heart had been ripped from his chest and crushed, a description that he had heard before from Liam. Was that the destiny of the Jones men? To forever be alone?
A few measured steps and his question was answered when his eye caught a picture of Emma, Henry and him, taken when they had gone whale watching. So, no, he might be without his mate, but he was not alone. There was Henry who needed him now...but could he give him everything he needed with a missing heart? After all, there was only one Killian Jones. Was there still enough to go around?
She's everywhere, he thought, as he picked up one of the sketch pads he never saw her without. The dates on the inside cover indicated the drawings were before he had moved to the states, but as with any of her work, he was immediately captivated. He found his eye drawn again and again to her renderings of Captain Hook and how closely her imagination had made him Killian Jones' twin, creating a feeling they had met in another realm and had been searching for their other halves to make them whole.
"And I did, Swan," he whispered as his finger traced the drawing, imagining he was holding Emma's hand as she moved it over the paper. "I searched my whole life to find you, and now..." the words died as a sob bubbled up inside and the pages blurred. The pain becoming too much to bear, he tossed the book aside, making his way to the bathroom to take a hot shower. As the water creaked through the old pipes, he took off the brace and groaned in pain as his knee protested. Dropping the clothes Liam had given him earlier, he stepped into the hot shower and let the steady pulsing spray pound against his aching head.
It didn't take long, though, for his mind to no longer find rest under the hot water, because as it splashed, Emma's scent quickly filled the space. Within minutes all he could feel were her soft arms circling his waist, her womanly body pressing against his back and her hands working their magic until he had taken her against the wall. Turning his face up to the shower spray, the water mingled with his tears, and as the despair rose up from inside, his cry echoed around him sounding more like a wounded animal than that of a man.
He stayed that way until the water ran cold, and then hauled his weary body out, drying and dressing in an old tee and sleep pants. A glance in the mirror told him it wasn't Killian Jones looking back at him, but the scraggly beard reminded him of the Liam as he had looked…was it just last weekend? Using his electric razor, he quickly straightened his beard until once again, the scruff in place, he was looking at the man he had been for the past few months. But that man didn't feel right, either. He had told Robin that unshaven Killian had given him luck. But unshaven Killian now was only feeling pain. Before he could change his mind, the scruff was gone and a clean-faced Killian Jones' eyes met his in the mirror. The eyes couldn't be fixed as easily. The eyes were windows to his soul, and they showed the truth.
Leaving his image behind, he walked into the bedroom where Emma's easel was the thing he saw first. She had placed it next to the bed before they left, telling him that as soon as they returned, she would show him his gift. Could he look at it without her? Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly reached out his hand to yank off the covering. As the picture slowly came into view, he found his legs would no longer support his weight and slid down onto the edge of the bed, instantly transported back in time.
"I believe when two souls are destined to meet, when they become one, nothing can pull them apart. Today, with these beads, I thee wed for as long as this rock, this earth, this sea and the sky shall live. And I promise you that I will never forget these beads and our promise to each other and what they stand for. I love you Killian."
"And I promise to always be there when you need me and to never, ever say goodbye to you. I love you Emma."
She had painted their cliff with the rock and the water and the trees, blended together on the canvas as if they were living and breathing. When he closed his eyes, he could smell the seawater, feel the breeze blowing across his skin and hear her telling him how much she loved him in that sweet voice he loved so much, and as the pain washed over him, he couldn't breathe.
Falling back, he buried his face in the pillows and let everything inside bubble over and spill out. The smell of her surrounded him, bringing with it not comfort, but more pain, squeezing his chest painfully until he gasped for breath and slid down onto the floor. As the tears cascaded down his face, his eyes stared up at her creation and rocking back and forth, he whispered, "I love you, Swan," over and over again.
Boston, MA
Saturday Evening
When the car was parked in front of the Home, Blue sent Henry inside to change before turning to Ruby. "This wasn't your fault." She hoped to calm her down, as she had noticed how tightly Ruby was gripping the steering wheel on the way home.
Ruby didn't say anything for a few minutes, just stood there worrying her bottom lip before she finally mumbled, "But the-"
"No buts," Blue interrupted before any negative thoughts could be spoken where they might take root and grow. "No black ball is able to tell you the future. I told you girls that when you were growing up, and it’s still true today."
"I know, Blue. But this isn't like Emma." She looked at her watch. "And Victor will be here in thirty minutes for us to catch our flight, so...”
Hooking her arm with Ruby's, Blue directed them toward the house. "I know you're worried, Ruby, and so am I, but you have a responsibility to be on that ship for the next six months. I will keep you posted.”
"Promise?" Ruby sighed, knowing there was really no other option.
"I promise." As soon as she felt Ruby relax, Blue squeezed her hand and continued, "Since we stayed on campus waiting, Ashley and Elsa should already be inside. Let's go see if they've heard from Emma or Killian."
Walking toward the door, something told Blue that once inside they wouldn't find out any more information about Emma than they already knew, and were going to have to expand their questioning. She felt her mama bear protective streak rising up inside her, something she hadn't had to use since the incident with Neal, and knew that she wouldn't rest until she had found all the answers she needed.
Seattle, WA
Saturday, Early Evening PST
David slipped behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on the gentle swell of her stomach. "How are we feeling?"
"We," she leaned back against him, "are feeling fine. How was your emergency?"
He helped her set the table, and once they had each helped themselves to the various Chinese takeout items he had brought home, filled her in on what had taken him to the hospital on a Saturday afternoon.
When he was finished with his story, Mary Margaret contemplated him with her professional eye. "There's more, isn't there David?" she asked him quietly.
He should have known she would be able to see right through him as he slowly got up from his chair and pulled the picture from his briefcase. "I stopped by to check on Emma on my way out and found this." He handed her the picture.
He watched her catch her breath as she studied the drawing and when she looked up, her eyes were glassy. "Oh dear. That poor girl."
David wasn't sure he had ever seen her so empathetic over an amnesiac before and pulling her into his arms, letting her cry on his shoulder. "If she's calling herself Kate Blue, can Emma Swan find her way back?”
It took her a few minutes to control herself but when she did, she picked up the picture once again. "Emma's in pain for some reason, but yes. She will be back, stronger and more beautiful than ever. Until then, if she feels stronger as Kate Blue, then I’m going to allow it. But I’ll never stop trying to get her to remember Emma. You can count on that."
Boston, MA
Saturday Evening EST
Henry wasn't stupid and could tell that the adults were worried about Emma and Killian, but thought if they kept it to themselves, he wouldn't know. He knew. He also knew that Blue was trying to act calm for the sake of all the other adults around her, but he had caught her wiping her eyes with a tissue. He knew it was something bad.
Ruby and Victor had driven off a while ago after a lot of hugging and tears, but after she had promised to send him some really cool stuff, he had given her one more hug and waved goodbye. Ashley and Sean were somewhere in the house with their baby, Alex, trying to get her to go to sleep, and everyone else was waiting for Elsa. Apparently, her sister, Anna, had told Blue that Elsa had planned on attending the party, but no one had heard directly from Elsa herself. He had to wonder about adults sometimes, as he got in trouble if he didn't check in. Yet, here it was almost a week since he'd heard from Emma and Killian and he hadn’t heard from them. He didn't think Roland had heard from Robin either, and yet, chances were, they didn’t see anything wrong with their actions. There was something wrong with that picture, as Blue would say.
Watching out the window of his bedroom, he caught sight of Elsa running up the walk, and without thinking he took off down the stairs. He reached the first floor just in time to see Blue quiet her and then quickly lead her down the hall toward the offices. He followed quietly, taking care not to step on the squeaky boards and listened outside the door.
"Blue," Elsa took deep breaths and tried to get her breathing under control. "Have you heard about the accident?"
"Accident? No nothing. Tell me." Blue sounded upset but he didn’t think she was crying yet.
Elsa told Blue about talking to Regina and hearing that Emma, Killian and Robin had all been involved in a horrible car accident on Monday. She went on to say that Robin was in New York having to learn how to walk again.
"Oh, that poor boy," Blue exclaimed. "I'll have to contact his father. Did Regina know anything about Emma or Killian?"
When Elsa started speaking again, her voice softened, and Henry thought she might be crying, but since he didn't want to risk being seen, he stayed hidden. "I saw Killian, Blue. He looks awful, not only physically, but his eyes are haunted. He looked like he was barely able to hold himself together.
"And our girl, Elsa. What of Emma?"
This time, Elsa was crying so hard, Henry had trouble understanding her, but when she said, "Killian refused to talk to me but he did say one thing." She sniffed and blew her nose before continuing, "He said, 'Emma is gone.' How can that be, Blue?"
The minute Henry heard those words, he didn't wait around to hear anything else. He needed to get to Killian and find out what was going on. Grabbing his jacket and one of the extra Charlie Cards for the T, he took off running before anyone could stop him. He needed to find Killian and he needed to find him now.
CS~CS~CS
The knock on the door roused Killian from where he had slouched against the side of the bed, trying to escape from his grief. But it didn't seem to matter where he was or what he was doing, the grief continued to bombard him, sometimes just a little and other times it overwhelmed him, coming in waves. Not interested in hearing any platitudes he ignored the knocking until it came again. This time louder, more forcefully.
As he made his way to the door, he wiped his face and prepared to face questions that he wasn't ready to think about or even talk about, but when he opened the door, instead of questions, he was met by the rush of a small, but sturdy body. Henry wrapped his arms around Killian's legs and turned up his tear-stained face. "Is it true? Is it true, Killian? Is Emma gone?"
Killian looked down into the freckled face of the little boy who had come to mean so much to him and Emma, and wished he didn't have to break the child's heart. "Aye, lad. It's true." He whispered brokenly.
"But it can't be true, Killian. It can't be. We need her," cried Henry. "We were going to be a family." Henry's little body was shaking so hard that, in his weakened state, Killian was afraid they were both going to fall.
Sliding toward the sofa, he sat down, pulling Henry onto his lap. As Henry relaxed against him, Killian leaned his cheek on the top of his head. "Is that what you want, Henry? To be a family?"
Henry nodded his head, snuggling even closer against Killian's chest. "Then we shall. And I know just the person to help make it happen."
~fin
And now we are at the bottom and there’s no where to go ut up... However you will have to hold out till Jan 3 for Chapter 20, which shows a time jump until end of July/August. In the meantime I’m working on a bit of Christmas fluff that takes place during Emma and Killian’s first Christmas together - which takes place during Chapter 8.
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💋 ( from venus and mars !! )
♕ Let the music play…
Status : Accepting @shcllshcck 💋 to randomly kiss my muse
Venus ✗ Yuzi ❅ “I really don’t know”, she whispered, gazing at Venus, tugging at the bra, still feeling nervous, even after months, showing off new underwear, having to present it to her girlfriend, first when still being in a shop, underwear meant to seduce Mars, born from the wish to help her out, judged by her previously simple underwear, only basics, bought due necessity and comfort while training. Embarrassment made her turn around, look into the mirror again, looking at the bra again, trying to judge whether it fit, the emerald satin a striking contrast to her pale skin, standing out on her body, emphasizing her curves, pushing her sizes, a first to choose on her own, a quick buy on her way home, quite spontaneous, following the suggestion of the saleslady. Wearing it in front of Venus, though, made her more sensitive, now getting new thoughts, whether she would have chosen it, taken it out for her, would have bought it for her, getting second thoughts on the choice made alone, without her girlfriend’s opinion. She was still looking, observing her frame in the mirror, turning around a bit, her living room quite useful, one of the corners decorated, one wall entirely, another half-way, covered in mirrors to help while dancing, interrupted by the windows inbetween, few additions to her scarce living room, a futon serving as couch, the book shelves on one wall, TV and stereo, sight to her open kitchen area. Venus now was one of those additions, comfortable on the ground, muddled in the pillows, just a few steps away, she could feel the stare to her back, able to watch her guest in the mirror, seeing the wave of her hand, making her turn around, closing the distance, crouching down in front of the futon, one hand already reaching for a blanket, meaning to cover her close-to-naked frame. Something deemed impossible, suddenly being pulled forward, thrown to her back, pressed down lightly. Her mind immediately shut off, eyes falling close, lips moving against their counterpart, a kiss so slow and sensual, driving her crazy already, sensitive to each little touch, contact feeling hot to her bare skin, to the arm wrapping around her waist, drawing her upwards, away from the pillows beneath, making her arch her back, moving up towards Venus’s body, yearning for the feeling of her frame, wanting it close to her own. Lips slowly moving away, tracing her jaw line instead, moving down her neck, travelling past the new bra and her stomach, it lured out Yuzi’s voice, made her body move along, losing her reason, hands moving around, one looking for it’s counterpart, fingers entwining, the other clinging on, grabbing the shoulder on the level of her hips. “I’ll- I’ll keep it”, she gasped, forcing her eyes open, moving up lightly, searching for Venus’ eyes, met with dark orbs, the satisfied gaze to her words, willingness to keep this set. “Please…”
Mars ✗ Yuzi ❅ “No more”, she whispered, crawling backwards, away from Mars, still breathless from the silent war, started somewhere inbetween the episode, some criminal investigation show, her own position down on the ground, loving to sit there, back resting against the cushion, cuddled into the corner of the L-shape, arms resting on the TV facing side, chin placed on top, first disrupted with the delivered drinks, the sudden touch to her side, craddling her sides, looking for some sensitive spot, eventually found. Naturally she wasn’t sensitive, wasn’t feeling ticklish by mere touches, her girlfriend just had her ways,teasing her in a special way, making her silently squirm, unable to laugh out loud, not even showing a smile, only twitching and jerking. From that point, that little torture, pestering her with little touches, fingers relentlessy touching her skin, easily reaching it with evening attire, running shorts and cotton bralette, meant for easily getting into bed, now backfiring on her, offering so much skin to attack on, they had slowly started moving, couch table shoved aside, getting more space on the ground, not giving her much of a break, a breather every some moments, enough to catch air, just before being picked on again. Indefinite amount of time had passed, she hadn’t watched the clock, finally allowed freedom, moving away from her beloved torturer, abs hurting from the unwanted exercise, aching like after too many sit-ups, making it hard to get up, supporting herself against the wall, carefully getting up, eyes already set on the bedroom door, planning to hide, roll herself into blankets, hiding her revealed skin from Mars. “I’m done”, she mumbled, taking a first step, inching closer to the next room, not getting a chance to, pressed against the wall, skin to skin, looking up to Mars, sneakily tip-toeing, meaning to be on the same eye level, her movements not all that unobtrusive, unable to do so secretly, not with them being this close, closeness making her feel tense, nervous, expectant. “No more tickling…” Indeed, there was no more tickling, hands to her sides making her hold her breath, afraid of more torturing, only resulting in soothing caresses, calming her down, exciting her more, licking her lips, eyes looking for their counterpart, locking, merely a second, finally receiving something else, receiving a tender kiss, making her sigh silently. Easily she solved from the wall, pressing against Mars instead, wrapping her arms around her neck, feeling hands move to her hips, pulling her closer, smoothing over sensitive skin, still sentient from earlier tickling. Distance earlier created, moving away from the wall, closer to Mars, was cancelled again, pressed against it, slowly, tenderly, fitting Mars’ caretaking attitude, yet it was forceful, she knew it, there was no escape, she was stuck inbetween her girlfriend and the wall, wouldn’t be able to slide out, not without being allowed to. She didn’t mind, on the contrary, supported the closeness, lowered her tip-toeing, rested against the wall, moved up one leg, hesitantly wrapping it around matches, encouraging skinship, asking for more of that little affection, body betraying her, requesting the things she couldn’t do with words.
Venus ✗ Yuzi ✗ Mars ❅ “Nemo, Nemo”, she whispered, looking at the fish tank, the clown fish swimming around inside, tapping against the glass, fascinated by the tiny animals, none she had seen often as kid, growing up with military dogs at most, the ones she hadn’t been allowed to play with, strict rulings forbidding it, the way they raised their partners, way unlike pet dogs. Even now, seeing that fish tank, able to talk to them, not feeling the least embarrassed, it was due to circumstances, being in a hotel room, the small animals part of the luxurious interior design, an early Valentine’s present, two nights in the hotel, meaning to offer relaxation and privacy, given to her girlfriends as a surprise, earlier than the actual holiday due conflicting schedules. It wasn’t even cheap, nothing she’d point out, keeping that to herself, having saved up for it for a while, wanting to repay their kindness, their taking care of her, their continueous affection, their keeping up with her character. Distraction came soon, feeling a loose hug from behind, seeing Mars’ reflection in the glass, slowly moving up, resting into the embrace, silently melting into the affectionate touch, head leaning back against her shoulder, hands covering the ones on her stomach, closing her eyes, feeling the warmth coming from behind. It was soothing, losing herself in that hug, not caring about it anymore, the fancy hotel suite, the thought behind having rented it, to get them some time together, without being disturbed. Indeed, they wouldn’t get disturbed, not the least, the thought maybe backfiring, feeling lips pressed to hers, threatened from both sides, locked inbetween her girlfriends, tugged to the front and back, busy with even just replying to the kiss, becoming a bit difficult with lips to her neck, sneaking past the curtain of her hair, making her sigh into the kiss, fingers moving away, leaving Mars’s hands, crawling into Venus’s shirt, lightly pulling her closer. Inbetween their hands, played by her girlfriends, she was merely wax, twisted around their fingers, a pupped moved with their directions, she was always unable to protest, they knew too well how to coax her, make her do what they wanted. “Not… Not again”, she managed to get out, finally, with the kiss broken, one more pair of lips to her neck, making her shiver, biting back some gasp. “There’s… This hotel has great service… Massage and sauna and a pool…” A weak try, trying to distract them, while she still had time, before entirely being sucked in, unable to let them go herself, wanting to spoil them a bit, offering the luxuries of this hotel, several special offers, the spa and resting area, the restaurant and bar, there was more than just the hotel room, something she wanted to make obvious, pointing it out to the youngers. “There’s still… Save it for the night…”
#planetei#( venus )#( mars )#( au )#( lmao i couldn't help it with venus )#( and i'm horrible so i did all three versions omg )#( and i couldn't help myself with the situations lmao )#( i wanted to make it innocent but watch me fail )#.• ♕ ┊ ANOTHER STORY AND ANOTHER WORLD. REMAINING HEART & SOUL FELT. ( verse )#.• ♕ ┊ A FAINT ECHO AND MELODIC REMAINS. LITHE STEPS TAKEN & YET TO BE MADE. ( drabbles )#( drabble )
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C:R ~VE~ Chapter 7
It typically takes an hour for the sleeping draught to take effect, but I’m usually fortunate enough for a placebo effect to take place almost immediately after I take it. I lean against the wall of the airship and slump over, listening to the sound of my breathing. In and out, in and out.
I decided to retreat to the engine room of the airship. There are no windows here, so it is easier for me to pretend that I’m not so high in the air.
The bridge is so boisterous, it’s bursting at the seams with joy. The adrenaline of our rebellion and great escape is thick in the air, and the noise of talking and laughter is almost as loud as the noise of the airship itself.
“I wish…”
I murmur to myself.
It’d be so nice to be able to enjoy this with all of them.
But behind them would be that frightening blue, that ever-stretching, endless blue…
I hear the door open and look up to see Nemo. He has his tongue stuck out and his eyebrows are furrowed as though he’s deep in thought.
I decide not to say anything, and just watch as he walks over to the dials and valves and… and other things that make up a steam engine. The way his fingers move skillfully over the bits and bobs makes me think of a musician. I straighten myself up to get a better look, though I have no idea what he’s doing.
Eventually he looks over his shoulder at me and flashes a golden grin.
“Hee hee hee… interested in the machinations of a geeeeeenius?”
I reply with a weak smile of my own. “I’ll be honest. I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re doing. But it looks impressive.” I shrug. “So… I’m just happy to watch.”
Nemo clucks his tongue at my groggy response. “How long ago did you take your medicine?”
“About ten minutes ago. However, I tend to become calm almost immediately after I take it. My body’s easy to fool, I suppose.”
“Mm… I’d say it’s more like your mind is able to rest easy because of the confidence it has in chemistry.”
I smile. “That is true, isn’t it? Chemistry is the netting that makes up biology, after all…” I pause to laugh at myself. “Though I never was very good in the chemistry laboratories at the university. I guess you could say, instead of creating… I prefer to study the life already created.”
I close my eyes. “I suppose a poetic way to say it would be to call me ‘Lachesis’. I take the threads of life already created and observe them. I watch them… on and on, until their strand is cut.”
Thinking of the classics like this makes me recall another story.
“Polyphemus… when he asks the hero his name… the hero tells him that he is ‘nobody’.”
Nemo has his back to me.
“But, the hero isn’t ‘nobody’, even if he calls himself that,” I continue. “He’s a great man…”
I slowly lower myself to the floor, resting my cheek on my arm.
“It’s such a shame… that he calls himself… ‘Nemo’… ‘nobody’….”
As my body settles and my mind begins to wade towards sleep, I hear Nemo turn around and take a few steps towards me.
I feel him put his hand on my head and begin to gently pet my hair. It’s a little strange to be pet like this, but it feels nice.
It isn’t long before I fall asleep.
-----
I’m not sure how many hours I’ve been before I feel a hand gently shake my shoulder.
I slowly open my eyes. It’s very dark in the engine room now, the only light a dull green gleaming from overhead lanterns.
I look around, trying to make out the vague shapes of the room. Eventually I see Cardia stretched out nearby, her mouth opened cutely as she dreams. Sleeping with his back to her is Finis, his hair undone and streaming like golden thread across the floor.
I look up at Nemo, who’s practically vibrating from excitement.
I re-adjust my glasses so I can see him more clearly before whispering, “Have we landed?”
“Nooooooot quiiiiiiite…” he says, a wide smile stretching across his face.
“Then why…” I sigh. It’s not that I’m not happy to see him. It’s just that we’re still so high up in the air, and I have no more medicine to relieve my anxious mind.
“I want to show you somethiiiiiiiiiiiing!” The way he’s jumping from foot to foot reminds me of a crab scuttling across the beach. “It’s reeeeeaaally niiiiiiiiiiiiic—” he gives a high-pitched yelp when something thumps him in the back.
Behind Nemo, Finis is sitting up and glaring at us with all the might of Hell itself. A wrench clatters to the ground, and Finis hisses: “I will strike your head next time if you do not cease your mindless chatter!”
My fear of this angry child bests my fear of the sky, and I whisper to Nemo: “Let’s go.”
With Nemo’s help I stumble to my feet, and I lean on him as we scramble out of the engine room before Finis can find more heavy metal objects to fling at us.
Once safely outside the engine room, I immediately close my eyes. We’re on the main deck of the ship, and I can feel the sky blowing against my face.
“I can’t…” I whisper.
I feel Nemo’s hand on my cheek, and I whimper before opening my eyes. He’s staring at me with concern, and in his goggles I see countless glimmering lights.
“Huh…?” Confusion momentarily overtaking my fear, I risk a glance upward.
Stars. Hundreds of thousands of stars surround us, swirling in paths of indigo and blue.
Still holding onto Nemo, I take a hesitant step out onto the main deck to get a better look. Below us is nothing but black, making it look like we’re floating on the sea instead of sailing through the sky.
“Are we in space…?”
Nemo cackles.
“What a cute reactiooooooooooooooon! No, no, we’re out over the sea now! Without the lights of society dimming it, the sky can show off her true splendoooooor!”
I try to take another step towards the stars, but my legs won’t budge. I hold onto Nemo’s arm tighter and look over my shoulder at him.
His smile is surprisingly calm, though he still looks giddy. Is it because he was able to show me this?
I blush and look away, chastising myself for thinking like that.
“Hey, heeeeeeeeeeeeey! I have a magnificent ideaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” he gives me a thumbs up. “Let’s go to the observation deck! It’s windowed in, and the view will be maaaaaaaaaagnificent!” He strikes a triumphant pose, and I laugh despite myself.
“I’d like that,” I whisper. “Believe me. I just…” I can feel the airship move under me. “It might take awhile for me to move. I’m sorry, when I’m afraid I sort of get… stuck.”
“Not to wooooorry!” Nemo takes a step forward, and I suck in my breath when he suddenly lifts me off the floor and carries me close to his chest.
I can’t speak, and I can’t stop my blood from rushing to my face. Still afraid, I cling to him with all of my might, burying my face in his shoulder. I’m beyond shame at this point, I just want to hold onto the one keeping me safe as we soar high in the air.
“I already toooold you I wouldn’t let you fall,” he says. “Now, come on…”
My lips are so close to neck that I can feel the heat radiating off of his skin. My breathing becomes heavier.
“Hmm? Calm down, we’ll be inside soon.”
Does he think I’m clinging to him out of fear? That might be partially true, but… I don’t want to calm down, and I don’t want him to let go of me.
I hate myself for feeling this way, and I cannot forgive myself for letting my emotions jeopardize my expedition. But right now, I’m letting myself feel this. This moment, I’m letting him surround me.
He kicks open the door to the bridge and carries me in. Barbicane is at the wheel, and he waves to Nemo over his shoulder. Luckily, he doesn’t turn around to see that I’m with him.
“Get out of here!” says Barbicane. “I told you that you need to get some sleep!”
“Just headed to the observation deck, my friend, no need to go into conniptiooooooooons!”
I press my nose and mouth against Nemo’s shoulder to stop myself from making any noise. If Barbicane sees me being carried like a blushing bride, I would never hear the end of it.
Nemo just laughs and walks up the stairs leading to the observation deck.
It’s small, really only room for one or two people. But this isn’t a luxury ship, so this deck is likely more for a lookout than sightseeing. It’s an enclosed space, though, and I’m grateful not to feel the wind on my face anymore.
Nemo sits down and leans me against the wall, still allowing me to be held against him. I finally let myself relax.
Above him I can see the constellations hanging in the sky like gems. If we were on the ground, I might have been able to use the stars to figure out where exactly we were. But no, up in the air like this I can’t concentrate on anything.
I lean into the crook of his arm and prop myself against his shoulder so I can see more.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmur. “As frightening as it is, it’s beautiful.” I trace the patterns of the sky with my eyes. “You won’t let the sky devour me, will you?”
Nemo laughs. “You’d need an anti-gravity device for thaaaaaat…” his smile is lopsided. “And I’m afraid that went down with the Nautilus. So, there’s no need to worried about being sucked into the sky. I promise.”
He leans back to get a better look at the stars and sighs before lifting up his goggles and resting them on his forehead.
It’s… incredible. He’s incredible.
I mean, I knew he was an incredible man with an incredible mind but…
To be blunt, he’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.
Well, I’ve always found him attractive. His eclectic features perfectly suited his ‘mad genius scientist’ aesthetic. But this is beyond merely ‘attractive’.
Silver eyelashes frame eyes such a deep indigo that they look violet in the starlight. His lips, usually stretched wide in a grin, are relaxed and parted in wonder at the dazzling display of natural science floating above us.
Looking at him like this… he really does look like a prince out of a fairytale.
And here I am, resting my cheek against his shoulder. I don’t know whether I feel out of place or incredibly lucky.
I quickly look away, suddenly aware of how long I’ve been staring at him.
I feel Nemo’s body shake with laughter, and I look up at him to see his usual grin.
“Aaaah, now you know my secreeeet~. I have to wear these goggles to stop hapless young individuals from falling head over heels for me!”
My face falls.
“You know,” I sigh. “For a moment, I almost believed you were going to say something serious.”
If only he were serious. If only I could tell him that I had already begun falling for him long before.
But that would change everything- our friendship, our dynamic, our partnership… I can’t risk it. I can’t risk it, no matter how much I want to feel his lips and feel those long eyelashes flutter against my skin.
“Er…. are you alright, though?”
One of his eyebrows is arched in worry.
“You’ve been flushed for awhile now. Have you had a reaction like this to your medicine before?”
Oh boy.
“No, I’m fine,” I shake my head.
With my luck, he’ll tell me I have an accelerated heartrate, too.
“I’m just happy,” I say. “I’m happy I can see the sky like this and still feel safe.”
I reach up and brush a strand of hair out of his face. “Thank you, Nemo. If you’ve shown me this much on our first night, I can’t wait to see what we’ll discover next.”
He rests his chin on my head and I can feel his body relax. “It’s nice~. It’s nice to have a friend who can appreciate the power science holds over all of us.”
I close my eyes, and he also shifts to make himself more comfortable. Soon we’re lying down, looking at the endless sky above us, our limbs entwined in a tight embrace.
This is enough. Even if he never calls me anything more than ‘friend’, it’s enough.
I would give up a thousand romances just to be his friend.
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