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welllpthisishappening · 5 years

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The Period of the Long Change (1/15)

It’s quick. One second she’s standing there and everything is fine and then Emma looks up and it’s not. It’s awful. And the lights are too bright and there are too many rooms and too many opinions and her phone won’t stop ringing because everything seems to be changing all at once. She’s never been great at coping with change. But, maybe, if she can just figure it out and stay right where she is, with Killian Jones, captain of the New York Rangers, at her side, it’ll be alright.

It’s slow. One second he’s standing there and everything is fine and then Killian’s breath catches and it’s not. It’s terrifying. And the noises are too loud and there are too many questions and he can’t find the right answers to any of them, not sure how to cope with everything changing all at once. That’s never really been his forte. But, maybe, if he can just figure it out and stay right where he is, with Emma Swan, director of New York Rangers community relations, at his side, it’ll be alright.

It’s another season and another challenge and Emma and Killian are both struggling to get over the boards.

Rating: Mature. Word Count: 7.5′ish this chapter and just…a lot in this story AN: Hellllllooooo, internet. Approximately a million years ago, @optomisticgirl requested a story where Killian got hurt, but like…not too hurt, with some angst and some dramz and I…never wrote it. UNTIL! Over the course of, like, two and a half weeks this past summer, I churned out this entire, vaguely ridiculous thing. This story is about an injury, so if that is not your jam, I get it. But there is also a lot more than just Killian being an idiot here. There’s still kissing, is what i’m saying. As always, your enthusiasm for this hockey team and hockey family and how much I enjoy writing about them blows my mind. Updates coming every Tuesday and Friday, as per usual. I hope you guys enjoy it!!

Also on Ao3 and FF.net if that’s your jam.

“Theodore Roosevelt.” “You’re making that up.” “I’m not!” “Theodore Roosevelt never came to Nashville.” Emma narrowed her eyes, twisting her lips and hitching up the kid in her arms. The same kid who, it seemed, was far more interested in the ends of her hair than the very bright lights and decidedly loud noise that downtown Nashville provided.

“Why would I make that up?” she asked, and they’d stopped walking completely now, frozen in the middle of the sidewalk debating the merits of a fact she’d looked up on the plane earlier that morning.

She’d totally paid for wifi.

And Killian had fallen asleep. With a different kid draped over his side and a a knee digging into, Emma assumed, several different organs, and it was so goddamn adorable Emma knew she’d never be able to even close her eyes, let alone get anything resembling rest.

So she’d looked up fun facts about Nashville instead.

And let Peggy keep yanking on her hair.

“I really do not believe that,” Killian continued, Matt clinging to his back with his arms tightly around his neck and his legs wrapped around his middle and they must have looked absolutely insane.

It was, probably, because of all the team-branded merchandise they were collectively sporting.

Matt hadn’t taken his Jones jersey off once in the last week, not since he realized he got to go to Nashville too and Emma wasn’t entirely sure he completely understood what the All-Star game was, but Roland had done a pretty good job of trying to explain it and none of it really mattered when they both realized they were going on the ice for the skills competition.

So Matt refused to take the jersey off and practiced slaps for the past week, some kind of almost slap shot that was, according to both Will and Killian, closer to a wrist shot, but their kid was four and the specifics weren’t important when it was so consistently adorable.

Emma’s phone was going to run out of storage space for photos by the end of the weekend.

“Are you suggesting I’m making up my fact?”

“I’m not suggesting you’re making up your fact, Swan,” Killian said, shrugging to try and make sure he wasn’t inadvertently choked in the middle of downtown Nashville.

“Then what, exactly, are you suggesting?” “That you’ve been duped by the internet.”

“I refuse to believe the internet would lie to me.” Killian arched an eyebrow, but Emma didn’t waver, just widened her eyes in response and they were almost inexcusably far behind the rest of the team now. She could barely hear Will shouting – which was probably for the best, honestly, because Emma was fairly certain he’d been talking about some kind of mechanical bull before and Ruby kept wearing a cowboy hat and the whole thing was just kind of absurd.

And kind of adorable too, but that was neither here nor there when Emma had her internet reputation to worry about.

“Where did you learn this fact?” Killian pressed, taking a step closer to her until Emma was pretty sure they were breathing the same oxygen molecules and her heart stuttered when he made a face at Peggy. “It couldn’t have been a very reputable website.”

“Why are you refusing to believe this?” Emma asked. “I swear to God. Teddy Roosevelt.” “That’s not an answer, love.”

She stuck her tongue out, but he made a face at her instead – a twist of eyebrows and lips and whatever he did with the color of his eyes when he teased her, made them more blue or something equally absurd – and Emma was disappointed she’d lost so quickly.

“I honestly can’t remember,” she admitted. “But it wasn’t, you know, Encyclopedia Britannica.” Killian laughed, loud enough to draw a few curious stares from several tourists, most of them sporting NHL jerseys, and one of them was a Rangers sweater because that was just the kind of life they lived at this point.

The guy gasped when he realized who they were.

And Emma had to bury her face against the bundle in her arms to stop herself from dissolving into several different emotions and sounds, most of which might have just been generic happiness.

“Holy shit,” the guy breathed, eyes wide and mouth hanging open and Killian stopped laughing when he swung Matt back onto the ground. “Oh shit,” the guy repeated. “That’s…um…sorry, sorry, Cap. That’s…uh…hi.”

Emma lost the battle against those emotions too.

That was disappointing.

She didn’t stumble when Matt slammed into her side though, which was a bit of a victory, and even managed to offer to hold the phone for the Rangers fan when he mumbled the request, staring at his shoes and the sidewalk like he was their kid and had just been reprimanded for swearing – more than once.

It took a few more minutes before he left, more quiet questions and hopes for another Cup run and there might have been an autograph request, but the rest of the team had finally realized Emma and Killian weren’t with them, and the guy nearly fell off the sidewalk when he found himself face-to-face with Will and Robin as well.

“Holy shit,” he said again, and Killian actually clicked his tongue.

Emma was going to laugh for the rest of the night. That would make it difficult for her to do everything she had to do.

She’d made some lists on the plane too – in between facts and absurdly overpriced wifi. She was totally going to expense it.

“Was Cap going to ground that guy?” Robin asked as soon as the fan disappeared, jogging back towards friends wearing different jerseys and expectant looks and Emma hoped he didn’t drop his phone.

He kept shaking.

She nodded, scrunching her nose and resting her arm on Matt’s shoulder, ignoring the way he squirmed against her. “Two minutes for roughing.” “Does that make sense?” Ruby asked. She was still wearing the hat. It might have been a different hat. She probably brought multiple hats to Nashville.

She probably brought Emma a hat to Nashville.

Emma was absolutely not going to wear a cowboy hat.

She drew the line somewhere.

“Of course it does,” Emma said. “He got that pre-checking look.” Will snickered, more than prepared when Matt moved towards him and jumped up, swinging him over his shoulders with practiced ease. “That’s definitely true. He does that thing with his mouth. It’s like his lips disappear.” “Oh, right, right,” Ruby nodded. “Were you going to check that guy for swearing, Cap? Because i don’t know if I’d be able to spin that. Bad press.” “Isn’t any press good press?” Roland asked, sporting a recently-bought Locksley jersey and several recently-acquired inches from a growth spurt that wouldn’t seem to end and Emma would have bet several thousand dollars and, possibly, one ride on a mechanical bull that there was a hockey puck in his pocket.

Roland almost always, inexplicably, had a hockey puck in his pocket.

It delighted Matt.

Ruby looked offended at the question, mouth falling open as her eyes darted from Robin to Regina and back to the teenager in front of her – a moniker that was recently acquired too – and, at some point, Emma had drifted back towards Killian’s side.

He tapped his fingers on her hip, hooking his chin over her shoulder and there must have been hair in his face, but he didn’t seem to mind and she really wished they’d been able to keep flirting.

Maybe she wanted to ground the jersey-wearing fan too.

“What have you been teaching this kid?” Ruby balked, waving her hand through the air and nearly taking out a guy who Emma was ninety-two percent positive worked in the Predators’ front office.

“God, Lucas, relax,” Robin muttered, corralling her arms. “There have been no press-based instructions or media relations. No one is encroaching on your territory.”

“Ok, that’s not what I said, at all.” “Eh,” Will objected.

“You want to voice that a little louder there, Scarlet?” “No, I do not. But you were doing those crazy things with your hands and if Cap’s lips disappear when he’s getting ready to check people then your hands develop minds of their own when you’re getting ready to take someone down via press release.”

Emma couldn’t mask her laugh, a trend she wasn’t sure she entirely appreciated, and whatever noise Killian made against her neck seemed to roll down her spine and settle in the very center of her, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

Will grinned triumphantly.

“I am expressive,” Ruby said. “There is a difference. And I’d like the record to show, as it were, that I am the only one concerned about Rol’s potential for fines when he inevitably takes over the league from you ancient losers.” “Ancient losers,” Killian echoed, but the words got lost in Emma’s hair and her neck and hishands also appeared to have minds of their own, drifting dangerously close to the bottom of her shirt. With his number on the back.

Always.

Or indefinitely.

Or whatever.

Emma was totally going to ride a mechanical bull later.

And make sure they got back to that facts discussion.

“You heard me, Cap,” Ruby grinned. “Plus this is all your fault anyway because you were totally going to check that guy in traffic for possibly scaring mini-Jones with his brash language and now here we are, late for the plan and the fun.” “You didn’t even realize we were gone,” Emma pointed out. “Also, is there actually a plan?”

“Em,” Will groaned, but that might have been because of the fist dangerously close to his neck and he mumbled something that sounded like careful with the gloves, Dr. J under his breath. She didn’t realize Matt had moved at first. He was very quick. “It physically pains me that you do not remember the plan.” “I think that might be my kid’s fist.”

“Lucas and I worked hard on this. She bought a hat! I mean, look at how ridiculous that thing is.” “Hey,” Ruby snapped, but Killian was laughing again and possibly trailing kisses along the curve of Emma’s neck and she really couldn’t think when he did that.

“It is a little ridiculous, Lucas,” Robin reasoned, slinging an arm over Regina’s shoulders and she was smiling.

“She’s committed to the look,” she said. “It’s just…a very specific look for a very specific place.”

Ruby sighed, full of drama and feeling and, presumably, some kind of detailed plan that Emma hoped eventually included food because she was kind of starving and there were, already, at least thirty post-it notes stuck to the wall of their hotel room.

“The plan,” she said. “And Mattie if you don’t stop trying to strangle Uncle Will, we’re going to have a pretty serious discussion about ice time tomorrow.” Matt almost jumped back onto the ground, Roland letting out a low whistle when he rested a hand on the four-year-old’s jersey. “You’re not helping,” Emma muttered, but she was just met with a smile that was equal parts Robin and Killian and Roland Locksley was probably going to avoid any bad press in his career based on his charm alone.

Regina was very likely counting on that. It was probably factored into the metaphorical contract negotiations already.

“Sorry, Em,” he mumbled. Too charming. Way too charming. And she refused to accept responsibility when she sighed too, wrapping one of her arms around him and ignoring whatever teenage-noise he made when she tugged him against her chest and kissed the top of his hair.

“There is food involved,” Will promised, like that made up for everything. “And Lucas’ absurd hat makes a hell of a lot more sense when I tell you where we’re going.” “Oh God,” Killian muttered.

“Don’t do that, Cap. This is fun. We are having fun. We are experiencing things. Your kid is going to learn something.” “At a restaurant with a mechanical bull?”

“How do you know about that?” “Years of experience and how much you will not shut up about the goddamn mechanical bull.” “Wash that mouth out or I’ll ground you.” “You are not a father figure.” “Ok, first of all, that’s rude,” Will said, holding up one finger for emphasis. “And second of all, that is a blatant lie. Your kid wouldn’t be trying to strangle me otherwise. And–”

“–Oh my God, can we just go?” Emma grumbled, and the baby in her arms did not appreciate the influx of noise.

Will glared. “Third,” he said pointedly. “I know I can’t ride it, I am not an idiot. But Lucas can and so can Gina and so can Emma. And the Yelp reviews promised this place was good. Some kind of BBQ heaven where you can probably tell us things about Tennessee technique and how it differs from Kansas City.” “Is there a Tennessee BBQ technique?” Killian asked, flashing a smile Emma’s direction when Will sounded like an actual predator, growling low in the back of his throat.

“You’re antagonizing him on purpose,” Emma muttered. He nodded, tugging Peggy away from her side and making that face again, slightly stunned and a little overwhelmed and she was, at least, ninety-five percent positive he didn’t even realize he did it.

Every. Single. Time.

She fully expected her heart to explode at some point in the next three days.

Preferably after they got BBQ.

“Oh I’m absolutely doing it on purpose,” Killian said. “And It’s absolutely working. Always does. He’s way too easy.” Will inhaled sharply, twisting awkwardly so he could get both hands on Matt’s ears. “Don’t be an ass, Cap.” “Hey, c’mon.” “Ground me!” “Out of context, that’s really weird, isn’t it?” Ruby asked, laughter clinging to her voice and Roland’s whole body was shaking against Emma’s side. Regina had actually moved her hand over her mouth.

“And did Scarlet actually just say something about Yelp reviews?” Robin asked. “Why does Scarlet know what Yelp is?” “You know what?” Will snapped, rolling his whole head and Matt had moved to his side, clinging to him like some kind of koala in a Jones jersey. “You guys can find your own food for the rest of the weekend. I’m done with this. I hope Lucas gets mercilessly made fun of on the internet for her stupid hat.” Roland whistled again, Matt grinning because he definitely had no idea what was going on and Will was, at least, consistently entertaining. Ruby kicked him. “Stop insulting my hat,” she yelled. “It is on theme. And do not act like you also don’t have one.” “Aw, c’mon, Lucas!” “Wait, what?” Killian sputtered, eyes bright and mouth nearly on the sidewalk, and Robin wasn’t so much as standing next to Regina as she was completely supporting his weight now. “Do we all get hats?” Emma turned, staring at him skeptically. His eyes definitely got more blue. “Do you want a hat? And, Scarlet, for whatever it’s worth, the rest of the weekend is already all planned because that’s how All-Star weekend works and you have already agreed to several team events.” “Did I?” “Enthusiastically.” “I have no memory of that at all.” “That’s because you don’t listen,” Emma said. “Talk to your agent.” Will gaped, but Regina just moved her hand back to her side and shrugged. “You said yes. I’m not in charge of your life, Scarlet. How many events is it, Emma?” “And how many post-its have already been sacrificed to the cause?’ Ruby added knowingly.

“Enough,” Emma muttered, but Matt’s shout was louder and lots seemed to echo off the actual, flashing neon signs around them.

Ruby’s eyebrows moved – and reeked of judgment. “It’s fine,” Emma promised, but that was only kind of half true and she was only kind of running on fumes and a few hours of sleep and it was so much better than it was a few months before when Peggy seemed intent on setting several records for screaming and crying in consecutive nights.

This weekend was going to be good.

She was convinced.

This whole season was going to be good. Something about the talent and the years since the last Cup run and Emma was a little selfish because she kind of wanted their kids to see them win.

In the metaphorical and literal sense.

She’d read a lot of internet headlines in the last few weeks.

“Why don’t we head to the restaurant?” Regina asked, but there was a hint of something to her voice and Emma resolutely refused to meet her gaze. Or Killian’s, eyes boring into the side of her head at the same time his fingers traced absent-minded patterns on Peggy’s side.

“Yeah, ok,” Will said quickly. “We’re not that far anyway. Super good, super warranted Yelp reviews. You guys’ll see.”

“C’mon, mini-Jones,” Ruby said, holding her hand out expectantly for Matt. He took it without question.

Regina hummed, eyes still staring straight at Emma, and she licked her lips, letting Roland go so he could dissect Killian’s chances of winning the speed competition with Will and Robin. She didn’t move.

“So,” Killian said softly, as soon as the rest of them had moved halfway down the block. “Teddy Roosevelt, huh?”

Emma laughed, letting out the air she’d absolutely been holding and she didn’t want to be tense. She wanted to be as happy as she absolutely was, but there was still a lot to do and two kids at the All-Star game for the first time, and she should have slept on the plane.

“You don’t think it’s a real fact.“ “Eh, if you’re willing to believe it, then so am I.” “That’s absurdly romantic and possibly dangerous.” “I’m not sure where I see the danger is involved,” Killian countered. He rocked towards her, fingers brushing over the curve of her jaw and into her hair and that was probably where Peggy got it from. “Ok, tell me the fact again, even if you are taking my side of things.” Emma blinked. “How do you figure?”

“You’re always team-based facts, love. I’m here to provide information on the city and possibly the state of Tennessee–”

“–And Tennessee BBQ techniques.” “I’m really not sure if that’s a thing.”

“Better look it up,” Emma suggested, but the words got caught in her throat when Killian ducked his head.

She wasn’t really breathing when he kissed her, was more than willing to suffocate in the middle of the goddamn sidewalk if it meant he kept doing whatever he was doing with his tongue and his fingers dancing across her skin, just underneath her shirt, but Emma swore her lungs actually relaxed and she might have exhaled against him, like she wasn’t absurdly stressed out for the four fan events she had to run in the next forty-eight hours.

“That’s really not fair,” Emma mumbled, and she felt him smile against her, tugging her closer and trying to stay balanced with a baby in between them and there was a metaphor there that she wanted to ignore for several more minutes of uninterrupted makeouts.

She shivered.

Killian hummed, brushing his lips over hers again and Emma closed her eyes, trying to make sure her lungs continued to function and Matt shouted from the end of the sidewalk.

“You’re scaring your children for life,” Ruby yelled. Her hand was still wrapped up in Matt’s, the smile on her face obvious still.

“Absolutely worth it,” Killian muttered, and Emma bit her lip. It was absurd, really, all things considered, after actual years and two kids, but the flirting was still easy and constant and he was probably going to win the speed competition just so he could show off in front of her and their kids and Nashville might be her new favorite place in the world.

Emma kissed him that time. “Charmer.”

“That’s almost too easy too.”

“I’m sorry I took your fact job,”

“I promise that’s not something you ever have to apologize for, Swan. I am curious about Theodore Roosevelt though. Did he go hunt a bear after he drank this supposed coffee?” “Oh my God, that’s not true either. He wouldn’t kill the bear. That’s where we get teddy bears from, right?” “I have no idea.” “Some paragon of historic virtue you are,” Emma said, pointedly ignoring whatever laws of gravity his eyebrows were currently defying. “I’m going to tell Liam. And you’re never going to hear the end of it.”

“The fact, Swan.”

“Fine, fine, so Teddy Roosevelt is here in Nashville, which was founded on Christmas Eve in 1779, by the way, so you’re totally off and–” She rolled her eyes when he looked at her, something that was almost shy of patient with just a bit of expectation and, maybe how much he’d also still like to be making out in the middle of the sidewalk. Emma hoped there was no Page Six equivalent in Nashville. “Anyway,” she said. “Teddy is here and drinking coffee at the Maxwell House Hotel when he says it’s ‘good to the last drop,’ someone overhears him, thinks, ‘Wow, that’d make a really good catchphrase,’ and now, here we are.” Killian nodded seriously, smirk tugging at the ends of his mouth and Ruby sounded like she was actively plotting their pre-dinner murder a few feet away. “You know that’s exactly what they said?” he asked.

“Yes,” Emma nodded. “Without question.” “Of course.” “You got any Predators facts to back it up? If we’re just going to change things completely.” “The rules switch was your decision, love. I was just sleeping.”

“Sounds like a no.” Killian shook his head, another quick kiss and the smirk wasn’t so much a smirk as it was full-blown genuine happiness when Emma chased after him. “We’re going to be late,” he said. “And Lucas sounds very serious with those threats. But the Preds did play in Japan once.” “Wait, what?” “Swan, did you not know that?” “You didn’t know about Teddy Roosevelt.” “Because I’m still not convinced Teddy Roosevelt was an undercover slogan writer.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “When did they play in Japan?” “The start of the 2000-01 season. Against the Pens. Two games in Tokyo and both of them finished 3-1. They each one a game.” “Symmetrical.” He chuckled, an arm around her waist and fingers still dancing on her skin, but Emma fell into an easy rhythm next to him when they started walking. That was probably a metaphor too. “And,” Killian added. “Roosevelt was hardly the only present to hang out in Nashville. Andrew Jackson, Andrew Jackson, and James Polk too. They were all horrible people, well, maybe not James Polk because I have no idea what he ever did, but Jackson for sure.” Emma nodded, stopping just short of Ruby and Matt and she didn’t have to ask before taking Peggy away from Killian so their son could climb up his side.

“We ready to eat now?” Ruby asked.

“Yeah,” Killian answered, and Emma’s smile seemed to move across her face easily. She was going to have to buy more post-it notes. “Let’s get out of here before anyone else sees your hat and makes fun of it.”

No one did, in fact, make fun of Ruby’s hat – although things got rather close when they realized the bag she’d been carting around was filled with those hats Will had been talking about and Emma’s flew off when she barely lasted five seconds on the goddamn mechanical bull.

Regina made it twenty-six seconds.

It was, apparently, some kind of record.

And the BBQ was good, no matter what type of sauce it actually was, because there absolutely, positively was no such thing as a Tennessee way, it was Nashville technique and Memphis technique and tomato-sauce based – or so both David and Liam claimed when they were both, separately, FaceTime’d for argumentative backup.

“You going to actually sleep tonight, love?” Killian asked, several hours and two sleeping kids later. He grinned when he saw her, tucked under a small mountain of blankets and a different t-shirt with his number on the back, and Emma tried to nod convincingly.

It didn’t work.

Open book or those years of experience and–”Did Mattie take off his jersey?” “Absolutely not,” Killian said, taking a step another step towards the bed and if it weren’t for all of those things that made it absolutely possible for him to read her, she probably wouldn’t have even noticed.

As it were, they operated on some kind of two-way street of relationship feelings and blatantly obvious flirting and knowing each other and Emma didn’t miss the way his step shook slightly, eyes just a bit unfocused and gaze a bit hazy and he shook his head once, like he was trying to get rid of several different types of cobwebs.

“Killian,” Emma said slowly, climbing across the bed. He flinched when her hand landed on his chest. “Hey, you ok?” He didn’t answer immediately, just blinked once, twice, three times, and he was breathing through his mouth, soft, but challenged and Emma tried not to hold onto his shirt too tightly.

That didn’t work either.

“Fine,” Killian said, voice clipped and Emma’s pulse stuttered when the word seemed to shake its way out of him.

“Maybe Ruby should be talking to you about good press and bad press. That wasn’t a very convincing quote, Cap.” “I don’t need to be convincing when it’s the truth, Swan.” “You want to try again, then?” “I’m fine, Emma,” he said, wrapping a hand around her wrist. He closed his eyes though, shoulders shifting slightly when he inhaled and Emma’s mind was racing, trying to figure out what the hell was going on and how many hours of sleep they could possibly get if she spent the next forty-five minutes, at least, interrogating him.

Killian seemed to realize his mistake as soon as her name was out of his mouth, eyes snapping open so quickly she was briefly concerned for the state of his eyelids, and his grip tightened a fraction of an inch, tongue darting out between his lips.

“Fine,” he repeated, but Emma got the strong, and vaguely terrifying, feeling that he was trying to convince himself as much as her.

“Yuh huh.”

“I promise.” “What happened?” “Nothing.” “Killian!” “Nothing, Swan,” he muttered, and that was an even worse quote than the first few combined, quiet and not quite articulate and her heart appeared to be trying to work its way out of her chest. “You need to get some sleep, love.” She groaned, falling back on her heels and rolling her whole head in response and he’d really gotten ridiculously good at making that face – God help their kids when they did actually start to get grounded. They wouldn’t know what hit ‘em.

“I can’t believe you’re trying to deflect on me.” “I’m not.” “If I yell again I’m going to wake up Mattie and then we’re really never going to get any sleep because he’s going to come in here and we’ll both end up rather bruised and battered in this surprisingly small king size bed.” “Can a king size bed be small?”

“I’m sure it can when it’s also filled with a four-year-old and his magical, flailing limbs.” “The magic part’s pretty impressive,” Killian said, lips quirking up and Emma huffed when his deflection almost worked. “No such luck, huh?” She shook her head. “A valiant effort on your part, though.” “Ah, at least there’s that.”

He didn’t shake or wobble or any other verbs that weren’t great for a professional hockey player making his sixth All-Star appearance, but Emma wasn’t entirely prepared for him to lean forward, nudging her onto her back until he was hovering over her. She smiled when she dragged her heel over the back of his calf, earning a quiet groan for her efforts and a few curse words he would have chastised their friends for.

“That mouth, Cap,” she whispered, pushing her fingers into his hair and maybe they were both to blame for Peggy’s habits.

That sounded better anyway.

“I can’t think when you do that.” “That’s absolutely the point.”

Killian hummed, hands moving and hips moving and Emma gasped when his lips found that one, particular spot behind her ear. He twisted, staring at the portable crib that had taken them far too long to construct that afternoon and the sleeping kid in it, seemingly convinced they hadn’t woken her up or scarred her for life.

“You’re going to have to be quieter than that, love,” he mumbled, and she barely heard him over the rushing in her ears and the feel of him everywhere and the king size bed was ridiculously comfortable.

“Then you need to not be such a tease,” Emma countered.

“That’s half the fun.” “Not when you’re working on borrowed time.” “Nah, it’ll be alright. He was exhausted. And more than happy to fall asleep after a detailed discussion of how the accuracy challenge works.” Emma laughed before she could consider what kind of absurd pillow-talk this was, but her pulse was still doing something stupid and she’d put half a dozen different internal organs through several emotional wringers in the last few hours and she was pretty positive her right thigh was bruised from her fall off the bull.

She gasped when Killian’s fingers brushed over the spot, and she’d never seen him move that quickly – head jerking up and eyes filled with concern and she didn’t even get her promise offine out, which, really, didn’t seem very fair.

He moved slowly, like he was suddenly terrified she’d evolved into glass, clicking his tongue when he saw the mark. “Why didn’t you say you got hurt?”

Emma rolled her eyes, well aware Killian couldn’t see her when he was staring intently at her thigh. “I don’t think that counts as hurt,” she argued. “Not really. I was just incredibly bad at staying balanced.” “That’s not true.” “Five seconds.” “Five and a half.” “Were you counting?”

He widened his eyes, smirk turning slightly lecherous and Emma absolutely swooned – possibly melting into the pillows and the blankets. “Watching,” Killian corrected. “Admittedly a little intently.”

“Only a little?” Emma shrugged when he glanced at her, and they were honestly so ridiculously good at flirting with each other, it was a miracle they managed to get anything else done. “A lot,” Killian muttered, dropping his head back to her leg and Emma wasn’t sure what noise, exactly, she made when his lips traced over her skin, but she felt his lips move and she had to bite the side of her tongue. He moved slowly, and maybe even a little reverently, brushing around the bruise that appeared to be a bit more purple than Emma was used to. It was like being on fire and doused in ice water, all at the same time, every kiss sparking under her skin and in the center of her soul, which, really, was just absurd, but she loved him an absolutely absurd amount and loved their life more and she was so goddamn exhausted she was probably delirious.

So, honestly, Emma couldn’t be held accountable for her own thoughts.

And, really, they should have expected it because whatever Killian was doing was probably illegal in several different countries and, possibly, in Tennessee and Emma had to let go of her tongue at some point and they both laughed when they heard the footsteps.

“Da….” Matt said, dragging out the word and leaving off the last letter, a tried and true technique when he didn’t want to sleep and, especially, didn’t want to sleep in his own bed.

Emma grinned at Killian. “Absolutely, totally exhausted and asleep, huh?” He shrugged, kissing her hip and rolling back to his side, and she couldn’t quite keep her anger in her, the sight of an enormous Jones jersey on their son doing something particular to all of her heartstrings.

“What’s the matter, kid?” Emma asked.

Matt wavered, rocking back and forth and looking anywhere except his parents. “It’s…dark and…”

“What? Noisy?”

Killian choked, squeezing his eyes closed, and Emma elbowed him sharply in the side. He wrapped an arm around her waist in retaliation, pulling her flush against his chest and they’d, finally, managed to wake up Peggy, cries echoing in the room and the darkness and Matt was still frozen in the doorway.

“Now, you’ve done it,” Emma growled, but Killian just burrowed against her neck and and her hair and they were absolutely destroying their kid’s collective psyche. “Is that what it was, Mattie? Too loud?” He shook his head slowly. “No,” he mumbled. “Not noise.”

Killian tensed. And Emma knew what it was.

It was too quiet.

Nashville was, after all, not New York and there weren’t as many sirens or cars outside the window or even voices, people walking by their usually calm block no matter what hour it was.

It wasn’t home.

Maybe Nashville wasn’t Emma’s favorite place in the entire world.

The bed creaked when Killian moved, propping his head up on his hand and keeping his arm around Emma. “C’mere, little man,” he said, waving Matt into the room before climbing back off the blankets to try and quiet Peggy. Matt didn’t need to be told again, flying across the few feet of hotel-provided space and Emma barely moved her arm out of the way in time. “Don’t flail around too much, ok?” Killian asked. “Mom’s already bruised enough as it is.”

Emma scowled at him, but that anger didn’t last long either – it never did when he started making faces at Peggy. “You want me to do that?” she asked, but he shook his head before she’d finished the question.

“Get some sleep, Swan. We’re good.” “Yeah, we are.”

It was the best she’d slept in weeks – eyes fluttering open for a few moments when Killian climbed back into bed, pressing a kiss to her temple and he couldn’t really get his arm back around her waist when Matt had claimed, at least, nine-tenths of the bed, but he made an effort.

And the first of the four fan events went off without a hitch, a very old phrase that Ruby made fun of Emma for as soon as the words were out of her mouth, but the crowd was happy and the chain restaurant wasn’t a jerk about the size of said crowd and all three New York Rangers All-Stars smiled in every single picture they took.

There were an absurd amount of pictures.

And Killian Jones, captain of the New York Rangers and captain of the Metro All-Stars again and father of her painfully adorable children, kissed Emma Swan, New York Rangers director of community relations, fan experiences and events while in uniform in the hallway outside the home locker room of the Bridgestone Arena.

“Skate fast,” Emma mumbled, tugging on the front of his jersey and ignoring Will’s commentary while he did his best not to dislocate one of his shoulders. Matt was, naturally, on his shoulders.

Killian grinned. “Always.”

Ruby, to her credit, didn’t make fun of the blatant and slightly public display of affection once they settled into the press box, refusing to give up Peggy even for a moment, but her eyes kept darting towards Regina and it only took one event for that to get incredibly annoying.

“Alright,” Emma said. “Let’s have it.” Ruby tilted her head. “Have what?”

“You going to reprimand me for my bad press or destroying my kid’s minds or whatever? Because I don’t think Peg will remember and Mattie absolutely does not care when there’s ice to worry about and–” “–Wait, what?” Emma blinked, brows furrowed and confusion settling between her shoulder blades. “What do you mean, what?” “What the hell are you talking about?” “This,” Emma said, waving an impatient hand through the air. Ruby’s mouth twitched. “Did you text Reese’s about it too? Should I expect several detailed messages later?” “Only if they’re about how much David wanted to come to Nashville, but couldn’t get time off.” “He tried to get time off?”

“I mean, not really,” Ruby shrugged. “Plus they’ve got Leo to, you know, obsess over anyway, so, there’s that.” “They are super obsessed with that kid,” Emma agreed. “Reese’s takes more pictures of him than I do.” “Which might be saying something,” Regina muttered. She smiled when Emma glared at her.

“Ok, seriously. If this isn’t about the makeouts, then what is it?” “You think we were having secret, silent conversations about you making out with your husband?” Ruby asked skeptically. “For real? Em, you do that all the time.” “Constantly,” Regina added.

“Like. Literally every home game. I’m pretty positive Scarlet and Locksley somehow bet on the total number of times they’d be almost disgusted by how stupid into each other you and Cap are.” “You know you haven’t gotten anymore eloquent over the years,” Emma said.

Ruby shrugged again. “That’s not a bad thing. My supposed lack of eloquence or how much time you do actually spend making out with Cap. But you guys make cute kids, so I can’t fault you that much.” “That sound a bit like you’re picking favorites, Rubes.” “If you tell Mary Margaret then I will do something ridiculous and drastic. And it’s not so much favorites as it is the fact that mini-Jones clearly likes me the most. You can tell Scarlet that.” “Is it weird that you guys argue about this?”

“I really don’t think so.”

Emma hummed noncommittally, eyes flitting towards the ice and the small crowd against the boards she knew her kid was in the center of. Roland had two sticks in his hand, resting the smaller one on his shoulder as he skated backward, and Matt had one hand in Killian’s glove and the other in Robin’s while Will filmed the whole thing.

Heart explosion, right on cue.

Matt did his best to keep his balance, wobbling despite the hands and the support and the rest of the All-Stars cleared a path in front of him – some unspoken command because Killian Jones was, absolutely, the face of the league even years removed from an improbable gold medal run.

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen,” Ruby mumbled, but she had to shift Peggy to try and wipe her cheek on her shoulder, and Emma didn’t try to argue.

It was dumb and perfect and Scarlet was mic’ed up, someone in the box turning up the TV broadcast when the camera panned to the moment.

“Right, left, Dr. J,” he said. “You gotta pick up some speed before you can run.”

Matt nodded seriously, like he was getting ready for a penalty shot in a series-clincher, and Killian’s eyes darted towards Robin before they both pushed lightly. There was no more stumbling. There wasn’t even a hint of fear. Matt Jones, four years old and certain his dad was the greatest player to ever play any sport, moved on the ice like he was born there, which was kind of true.

Roland cheered, both arms thrown into the air and caught on camera and Ruby mumbleddumb no less than twenty-two times while discreetly crying and ignoring her phone when Mary Margaret, presumably, texted about it all.

“You ever going to tell me what you were Morse-coding about then?” Emma asked, reluctantly pulling her eyes away from the ice to stare at Ruby.

She sighed. “Your phone hasn’t rung yet?” “Should it?” “Em.” “I legitimately don’t understand the question.” “I really thought she would have called by now.” “She said she was going to,” Regina said, like any of this made sense and Emma wasn’t waving both her arms in the air in a pitiful impression of Ruby and an air traffic controller. “Maybe she got tied up with All-Star stuff.” “Who?” Emma asked. No one listened to her.

“I mean, that’s kind of a stupid excuse, don’t you think?” Ruby grumbled, and Regina made a noise that might have been an agreement. “She was really interested.” “She said that? Those exact words?” “Verbatim.” “Huh.” “Who the hell are you talking about?” Emma demanded, but she may have been shouting from the ice for all the good it did her and, really, she should have been paying more attention to the ice.

And Will was still mic’ed up.

“Cap,” he yelled. “Cap! Holy fu–”

The NBC broadcast barely cut him, staving off a very angry response from the FCC and several hundred families, but Emma didn’t care about any of that, eyes widening and breath catching and she was still moving her hands through the air when her gaze snapped towards the closest TV.

She thought it was Matt at first – was positive something must have happened, some wayward skate or an All-Star who didn’t get that memo about getting out of the way, and he’d never really learned to stop, and the boards weren’t very forgiving to a four-year-old – and Emma wasn’t sure how much more damage she could inflict on her lungs.

It wasn’t Matt.

And Emma was never entirely sure how she didn’t fall over.

It probably had something to do with Regina’s arm around her shoulders and Ruby’s quiet assurances that it was fine, it’s all going to be fine, Em, but she never really knew.

The whole thing seemed to happen impossibly fast.

One second Killian was standing there, skating behind Matt and the next he was on the bench and Emma could barely see him, a crowd around them and a face that she dimly remembered as the Hurricanes athletic trainer.

Emma didn’t blink. She knew she needed to blink, knew her eyes were going dry and her mouth was hanging open, but nothing seemed to work or respond and Ruby was still mumbling words in her ear.

Killian didn’t get off the bench.

Will had moved at some point, Matt clinging to him with his face buried in his neck and Roland a few feet away, his hand on the back of a jersey with Jones plastered across it. Emma’s phone rang. She didn’t move.

“Em,” Ruby said slowly, but she she just jerked her head in response, not quite a shake or a nod or anything except the absolute terror her whole body was flushed with.

“What happened?”

“I don’t–” “–Did you see what happened? Why isn’t he getting up? Is he still on the bench?”

Ruby had to use Regina as leverage, pushing up on her shoulder to stand on the balls of her feet, and she nodded without looking back at Emma. “Yeah,” she said, tone clipped and quiet and Emma couldn’t think about that without wanting to cry.

She still wasn’t sure she’d blinked yet.

“But what happened?” Emma pressed. “They were…everything was fine and ridiculously cute and…”

She cut herself off, clamping her jaw closed so tightly she was sure she’d done permanent damage to her teeth. Ruby turned around. “What?” she asked. “What’s the matter?”

Emma swallowed, closing her eyes and trying to will away images of the night before and slightly shaky steps and a hazy look that hadn’t seemed quite so troubling when it was forgotten in makeouts and bruises and they’d promised it was fine, just a few days before the Christmas break and a hit that kept Killian off the ice in the third period.

Nothing was wrong.

Nothing had happened.

Emma blinked – and felt the tears on her cheek.

“Hey, uh, guys.”

They all spun at the sound of Robin’s voice, standing in the doorway of the Predators’ press box in his socks and his jersey and he’d never been that out of breath, even after overtimes and playoff wins, and he couldn’t seem to look Emma in the eye.

“How did you get up here?” Ruby asked. “And where are you skates?” “Uh, in a stairwell.” “You took your skates off?”

“Yeah.” “What happened?” Regina asked sharply, voicing the question Emma could feel stuck in the back of her throat. Ruby was still holding Peggy. She wished she was holding Peggy. Her feet wouldn’t listen to her brain.

“Emma,” Robin continued, rushing over her name like he couldn’t waste time lingering on the letters. “You’ve got to come downstairs. Now.”

She blinked again. Which, honestly, just seemed unfair.

“Bad?” she asked, and it was the worst question she could have come up with, but she’d never had any media training and it was the only word her mind could come up with.

Robin nodded. “He passed out on the ice. I don’t…it was bad, Em. They were trying to figure out what happened and get him back up and I just…you’ve got to come back down with me.” “Back up?”

“Lost consciousness for a couple seconds.” Emma exhaled, body sagging forward and they’d drawn an audience, several dozen eyes widening when Robin walked into the box. He laced his fingers through Emma’s, a small smile on his face when she didn’t do anything except keep crying. “C’mon,” he said. “Scarlet’ll watch Mattie. Lucas, you’re…” “Yeah, yeah,” Ruby promised. “Go, Em, we’ll be down soon.” Emma didn’t say anything, didn’t trust herself to say words that weren’t tinged with something that felt a bit like despair, and Robin didn’t let go of her hand while they walked down fifteen flights of stairs.

He left his skates in the stairwell.

#cs ff #captain swan #captain swan ff #cs fic #captain swan fic #blue line change #athletes are idiots #like #they're dumb #so let's keep that in mind going forward

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dictionarywrites · 6 years

Note

New Jersey/Perfect Tommy slow dancing? Bonus points for being totally unashamedly in front of people, although private-and-sexy is also excellent. I just love how you write them.

My Ao3 | Send requests | Tip jar!

It’s been... Yeah, it’s been a pretty long day.

Buckaroo is tired as all Hell, and his shoulders ache as he comes into the broad living quarters they tend to use. Buckaroo likes to have a kitchen and a dining room and a living room - it’s nice to be able to do their own dishes and do a little of their own cooking when they feel like it, nice to be able to chill out in a home space that’s a little separate from the rest of the Institute.

Reno is asleep on his feet - he’d been shuffling cards absent-mindedly in the car ride from the airport, and Pinky had been catching cards as they’d fallen every other minute; Pinky himself keeps rubbing at his eyes and yawning regularly, and Tommy...

Tommy napped on the plane, and looks fresh as a daisy.

He has a smug grin on his face as he leads the way into the corridor, pushing the door open into the living room cum dining area: his lips are parted as he gets ready to say something, but he freezes in the doorway.

“... seem to whisper, “I love you”... Birds singing in the sycamore tree... Dream a little dream of me...”

Tommy’s mouth opens a little wider, and he cranes his head into the living room, looking through the open archway that shows the kitchen. New Jersey is crooning to himself absent-mindedly as he dries a baking sheet with a clean dishtowel, his back to the Cavaliers as they enter.

He’s got a nice voice, New Jersey - technically, Buckaroo had hired him as a neurosurgeon more than as a band member, but he’d known in the back of his mind that Sidney could sing, as well as playing the piano and the cello. It’s low and rich, not as deep as one would expect, and he sings--

Sweetly.

He always had in college, but that was a habit he had while scrubbing up for surgery, or while baking - or while doing the dishes, just like this. Buckaroo smiles slightly, and he turns his gaze to Tommy.

Perfect Tommy looks nothing short of starstruck. He walks forward very slowly, as if scared of frightening an animal he desperately wants to get close to, and New Jersey turns, grinning as his eyes widen in surprise to see them. He’d had a surgery he’d stayed late on last night, a complex work on a kid’s tumour the next county over, and he looks tired, shadows under his eyes, but he’s relaxed.

“Stars fading, but I linger on, dear,” New Jersey sings, absently shucking the towel onto his shoulder, and he puts his hands out. Dreamily, as if not entirely sure he’s awake, Tommy lets New Jersey take one of his hands and put another hand on his hip, and he shoots Buckaroo an ecstatic, “Can you believe this!?” look as New Jersey pulls him into a clumsy waltz. “Still craving your kiss... I’m longing to linger ‘til dawn, dear, just saying this--” Tommy giggles.

Buckaroo laughs, shaking his head slightly and stepping back to let the other two guys step into the room, and he wonders how aware Sidney is of precisely how genuinely weak-kneed he’s making Tommy - judging by the fact that he’s remaining confident and still singing, instead of accidentally dropping Tommy on the floor or tripping over his feet, probably not at all. Reno and Pinky exchange a tired, but knowing glance, and Buckaroo vaguely muses that the blush on Tommy’s cheeks would photograph very well, if they could get New Jersey to sing to him before a photoshoot.

New Jersey trails off with a laugh, pulling Tommy against his chest in a half-hug, and Tommy sets one of his palms on Sidney’s pec, exhaling shakily. “You can do this to me whenever you want,” Tommy says breathlessly.

“I thought it was something we were doing together,” New Jersey protests, vaguely, but he pats Tommy’s shoulder. “I don’t know, you look pretty good when someone’s getting you to dance.”

“Yeah?” Tommy asks, looking into New Jersey’s face, and New Jersey’s gaze flits down to Tommy’s parted lips, and he abruptly nearly stumbles, but Tommy catches him around the waist, keeping him still.

“Yeah,” New Jersey says, a little hoarsely. “Real good. Sorry, Tommy, I didn’t mean to, um--”

“Anything you want, Sid,” Tommy says softly, tone laden with implication. “Whenever you want.”

“Well,” Pinky says loudly, “that’s enough of that for me. Try not to get the cowboy above an R-rating in the public spaces, Tommy. Good night!” Reno laughs as Pinky’s overdramatic condemnation, but he tips his hat to Tommy, Buckaroo, and Sidney as he follows Pinky out into the corridor and toward their respective bunks.

“No promises,” Tommy says breezily, and New Jersey gasps.

“I didn’t know you were, um,” New Jersey says, swallowing, “I didn’t know that-- Not that I wouldn’t have, uh, if I, but you know, because I didn’t mean anything by it I was just-- But if you want to take it as meaning something, like me being... You know, because I am kinda, because I am, I don’t know if Buckaroo said, but I don’t really-- You know, girls, but you’re just... You know.”

“There a sentence in there, Buck?” Tommy asks casually, looking at Sidney with amusement. “I didn’t quite catch one.”

“Nor did I, Tom,” Buckaroo replies, restraining the urge to outright chuckle. “Maybe it’s, uh-- Maybe it’s like a puzzle, I don’t know. Doc Zweibel here can be a real enigma. I’m going to bed. Tommy?”

“Buck?” Tommy asks, not tearing his gaze away from New Jersey. His hand is absently drawing circles against Sidney’s collarbone through his shirt.

“R-rating or below, man. Take it to the bunk elsewise.” Sidney lets out a heady gasp. “That goes for you too, Sid.”

“Yes, sir,” Tommy says exaggeratedly.

“No promises,” New Jersey says, and Tommy giggles again, the sound shocked out of him. He looks at Buckaroo again, as if Christmas has come early, in a g-string and rollerskates, complete with a new guitar.

Chuckling as he rubs his hand over his eye, Buckaroo shakes his head, and he slips off down the corridor - he’s careful to shut the door behind him, firmly. There’s already insulation to cancel noise between the living room and the bunk corridor, but...

Hey. Let’s just hope they won’t need it.

#buckaroo banzai #fanfic #dictionary writes #listen...#Anomymous #t; answered asks #as defined by dictionary

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jacenpetertodd · 6 years

Note

❛❛This mark. It appeared this morning. I don’t want it - I. Don’t. Want. It.❜❜ um? whatever ur current top ship is?

Idk if it’s my top ship, but I’vebeen wanting to write some Amanda/Litzibitz and soulmates are a veryWendimoorian concept, so here you go. Also this turned into a fix-it bc honestly how could it not

At first, Amanda thought she mightbe having another attack. The black mark on her wrist definitely wasn’t therelast night.

But it wasn’t painful. It didn’tfeel any sort of way, really, and her hallucinations were always more aboutsensation than sight.

This was a simple darkening of herskin in roughly the shape of a flower in bloom.

Honestly, it looked like a tattooshe might have chosen to get on her own, if she had ever considered a tattoofor more than the few seconds it took to remember that the needles would almostinevitably set off her pararibulitus. (The first few years she’d had thedisease, they’d tried to draw blood for testing several times. It had alwaysresulted in her screaming on the floor.)

So, surprise tattoo was probablyout. But she was in a fantasy land, and she had teleported three of her bestfriends across dimensions a couple days ago.

Maybe this was some sort of magicthing?

So, her first course of action wasto ask Wakti Wapnasi. She didn’t much like the answer.

“There’s this mark on my wrist? It appeared this morning?” She heldout her arm to display it.

“Your soul mark,” the forest witchdeclared immediately.

“What?”

“Do you not have those in yourworld?”

“What? Random tattoos that appearovernight? Nope. Not ringing any bells.”

Wakti revealed a faded symbol onher neck. A black circle over two thick lines. Amanda had noticed it before,but always assumed it was simply a tattoo.

“Everyone in Wendimoor has one. Itwill lead you to your soulmate.”

“So now there’s a mark on my skintelling me who I’m going to fall in love with?” Amanda was having troubleunderstanding how exactly this worked. “That’s bullshit. I don’t want this.”

“Not lover,” Wakti corrected her.“Soulmate. It can be a lover, but all it means is that it’s someone who isimportant in your destiny. Mine led me to Mona Wilder.”

“Mona Wilder? The woman from myworld you’ve been working with?”

“That’s right.”

“But, I don’t understand. I’m notfrom your world. I shouldn’t have one.”

“You may not be ‘from’ here, butyou are part of this world now, are you not?” Wakti pointed out.

Amanda stormed out of the cave ina huff.

Several hours of stressfuldecisions later, Amanda was taking a runaway prince home and trying to stop afeud. Normal stuff. Sort of. Not really.

“Don’t move!”

Just when she thought her lifecouldn’t get any weirder, there was a pink-haired girl in a cowboy hat pointingan oversized pair of scissors at her.

The pink hair she could deal with.The cowboy hat was a bit much.

“I guarantee, whatever you’re madabout, it has nothing to do with us,” Amanda snapped, raising her hands insurrender nonetheless.

“Litzibitz! Her wrist!” one of their captors – a womanwith equally pink dreadlocks – shouted.

Amanda realized that her new markwas clearly visible. What kind of hang-up did this world have with their fatetattoos?

But the cowgirl – Litzibitz? – hadsheathed her scissors and was frantically pulling up her sleeve, revealing amark on her own wrist. She stepped forward and reached out for Amanda’s wrist,which Amanda hesitantly offered. The girl held their arms beside each other,and it became clear.

“They match,” Litzibitz murmured.

She looked Amanda directly in theeye, although what she was searching for Amanda couldn’t say.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I’m helping Farson return to hisfamily.”

“Farson Dengdamor?”

“I ran away,” Farson explained.“And Amanda thinks I should go back and try to talk sense into my mother.”

“Well, we all know that won’twork,” another woman, this one with giant knitting needles, muttered.

“Hey! Why not?” Amanda asked.

“I’ve been trying to tell you,”Farson said. “My mother won’t listen to reason.”

“Frija Dengdamoor is well knownfor her pigheadedness,” Litzibitz agreed.

“That is my mother you’re talkingabout!” Farson snapped.

“Am I wrong?”

Farson didn’t reply, which reallysaid it all.

“Listen, we have to do something!”Amanda insisted. “You can’t all just run away.”

“It just so happens that myfriends and I are on our way to meet Silas Dengdamoor and talk of peace,”Litzibitz said. Her eyes met Amanda’s, suddenly shy. “You could join us, ifyou’d like?”

Amanda thought for a moment. “Newplan, Farson. Let’s go see your brother.”

She told herself it wasn’t becauseof the mark on her wrist, or the soft6 curve of Litzibitz’s smile.

As the Trosts and the Dengdamoorsseemed poised for peace, Amanda turned to look at her new soulmate, and sawmovement in the trees. Movement, and a gun. Fear constricted her chest, andsuddenly she was drowning. Water poured into her lungs.

Litzibitz grabbed her hand, andAmanda was pulled just enough back to reality that she remembered who she wasand what she could do. With a burst of concentration, she dragged the waterinto reality. And then she dragged herself out of it.

She admitted that attempting torealize her hallucinations and teleport at the same time may have been anoveruse of her powers, and possibly all just an overreaction. But consideringthat she used to just scream, she decided it was an improvement.

She helped a struggling Litzibitzout of the pool and examined the motley crew she’d dragged with her in herpanic.

Litzibitz and her friends, Farson,Silas, his bodyguard. And Todd. Staring at her like she’d grown a second head.

She looked around the cave,slightly disturbed to find it empty.

Barely sparing another glance forthe ones she’d saved, she ran outside, to see her mentor facing the might of… abloody woman with a wand duct-taped to her arm?

Litzibitz was quick to follow heroutside, and already unsheathing her scissors.

“Who are you, and why do youthreaten Wakti Wapnasi?” she demanded.

Before the woman could reply, shewas knocked backwards into a tree by a blast of air. Silas Dengdamoor held theweapon, an oddly shaped air horn.

“Her name’s Suzie Boreton,” Toddexplained, standing behind Silas. “She’s a nasty piece of work.”

“Certainly looks like it,” Amandaremarked.

“So, what do we do now?” Litzibitzasked. “They were listening! We almost had peace! And then we all justvanished. How is my father going to take that?”

“Don’t worry,” Amanda said. “We’llfigure it out. And… if it helps you feel better, I don’t think we left asuccessful negotiation. I think… I saw one of the Kellum Knights in the trees.That’s why I panicked.”

“But-”

“Litzibitz Trost,” Wakti said. Itwas no louder than her normal voice, but it seemed to echo around the forestnonetheless.

Litzibitz approached the forestwitch reverently.

“I see you still have a part toplay in this after all,” Wakti murmured. “You are an amplifier.”

“A what?”

“Amanda Brotzman, you must havefelt it. When she is near, your power is greater, more easy to use.”

“That does explain how Iteleported eight people, most of whom I barely know,” Amanda mused.

“I’m not just going to be used assome magic talisman while other people fix things!” Litzibitz insisted.

Her friends had drawn closer in aprotective circle.

“That’s not what I want either,”Amanda pointed out. “Magic solutions don’t tend to work the way you want themto. Look, we’ve got representatives from both your houses here. Why don’t wemake this our base, and draft some sort of peace agreement? And then I candeliver it to your families through the pool, and no one has to risk theirlives. Sound like a plan?”

“That does seem… rather wise,”Silas admitted. “Is there any way we could bring Panto here as well? It doesn’tseem fair to have two Dengdamoor heirs to one Trost heir.”

“And you miss him,” his tallbodyguard observed.

“And I miss him,” Silas agreedeasily.

“I could try summoning him throughthe pool,” Amanda suggested. “But I don’t know if it will work. The last peopleI summoned were people I knew pretty well.”

“Well, you have me,” Litzibitzpointed out. “I’m some sort of amplifier, right? And I know him very well.”

Amanda smiled at her. Wakti hadtold her that soulmates weren’t necessarily lovers, but the more she got toknow Litzibitz Trost, the more she thought she might not mind if they were.

“I think this just might work.”

#dghda #this is 100% self-indulgent and I don't care #boycottromance

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o-ver-watch-blog · 7 years

Text

Jealousy Imagines

I saw a post earlier about some jealousy stuff w/ the bois of Overwatch, so I decided to do some myself because I get weak in the knees for overprotective significant others.

McCree:

“Darlin’, you sure you should be havin’ all that before dinner?”

You looked up from your molten chocolate milkshake and tilted your head. “Dinner’s in an hour. I’ll be fine.”

Jesse chuckled. “You’re a marvel.”

You playfully smacked him on the shoulder, pursing your lips. “Jess, you had two pork chops for lunch. I don’t wanna hear it.”

His smile widened. This weekend trip to the beach had him in a wonderfully soft mood; it seemed he had never loved you more. Overwatch business had you both so wound up lately that it was hard to let loose with one another. However, the smell of the ocean and the midday naps gave your relationship a new lease on life.

“I’m gonna go grab a smoke. Be back in a minute.” Jesse plucked his hat from the booth seat beside him and headed out to the boardwalk.

You grinned down at your mug, swirling the fudge and ice cream with your straw. Every once in a while, you’d peek outside and watch him as he leaned on the wooden railing facing the ocean. His foot was up on one rung and his flannel shirt was stretched to the absolute maximum over his broad shoulders. It was amazing how attractive he looked when he wore normal clothes.

“Excuse me,” a voice said beside you. You looked up and saw a stranger smiling down at you. “I didn’t want to come over while he was here…” they laughed, covering their face. “I’m sorry. I never do this. It’s just… you’re really cute. Could I… give you my number?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh, um… thank you. But that guy’s my boyfriend.” You hooked your thumb over your shoulder toward the cowboy.

The stranger made a crude face. “What? He’s old enough to be your father.”

“Is not,” you frowned.

“Seriously? There’s no way,” they shook their head, brushing your shoulder with their fingers. The cheeky smile returned to their face. “C’mon. I’m doing you a favor here, if he really is your boyfriend.”

“Mm-hmm,” Jesse’s voice rumbled from behind you. “And what favor is that, exactly?”

The stranger’s face turned pale. “Well…”

He took his cigar from his mouth and stared the kid down. He was probably twice their age, which was good, because they were much younger than you.

“Sir, there’s no smoking in here,” a waitress said.

Jesse handed her a twenty, and she walked back to the front counter.

“I’m gonna… go.”

“Yeah,” he drawled. “Good thinkin’.”

The stranger disappeared from the shop and Jesse offered you his hand. You took it and dusted yourself off.

“Hope I didn’t get any of their cooties on me.”

Jesse bellowed a laugh, clutching his stomach. “That’s why I love you, babe. You just get right up and make fun of anythin’.”

You grinned up at him. “I love you too.”

Soldier: 76:

It was an impossibly lovely day at the Gibraltar base. You and Jack were watching some infantry recruits practice below over a bottle of champagne and a box of pizza.

“This is the life, isn’t it?” his gruff voice rumbled in your ear. He nibbled a bit at your neck.

“Jack, stop it,” you giggled. “Someone could see us.”

“Oh, now you’re shy? Yesterday you were practically begging for it in the kitchen.”

Your cheeks heated. “T-that’s not even remotely…” You folded your arms. “I can’t believe you would bring that up.”

He laughed and lifted the bottle of champagne to his mouth. “If I could do you right here, right now–”

“Strike Commander, sir…” A recruit stood at the door to the ledge.

Jack rolled his eyes and handed you the bottle. “Be right back.” He hopped to his feet. “I haven’t been called that in years, kid. Whaddya need?”

You giggled to yourself. He would never be able to live that down–you were sure that rumor would spread like wildfire through the ranks. You took another swig of the champagne and bit into your slice of pizza.

After a bit of murmuring, Jack headed back into the base and the recruit stayed with their feet rooted on the ground. Most of them were afraid to talk to you. Jack had made it known that you were his, and that anyone who bothered you would be in for trouble.

However, this recruit seemed to have missed the memo. “How are you doing today, ma’am? That champagne looks good.”

You nodded, returning a friendly smile. “It is. I’m well, thank you. How are you?”

“Good. Training has been rough lately.” They rocked on their toes. “Whenever I see you, though, it makes it a little better.”

“Ah. Well.” You lowered your eyes to the ground, stifling a laugh.

Jack handed the recruit a set of keys. “Before you go, drop and give me fifty.”

The recruit wasted no time in falling to the ground. They never looked up once.

Jack sat back down next to you. “I’ll keep my eye on that one.” The two of you laughed.

“Poor kid,” you mumbled. Jack went a bit too hard for you sometimes, but you did love it a little bit when he made a show of his affection at someone else’s expense. It usually happened to be through training bots, but a trainee would do this time.

Hanzo:

“Here we are,” Hanzo said, his hand sweeping over the cherry blossom grove before you. It was teeming with people. You two had been to so many parades and festivals over the past few months that you could barely believe that people kept coming to them. You also couldn’t believe how annoying wearing a kimono got, but it was worth it to see Hanzo melt.

“I’m hungry,” you stated. “And sweaty.” You flapped the arms of your gown in an attempt to air yourself out. It didn’t work.

Hanzo chuckled. “My love, you are always so.”

You raised a brow at him. “Do I smell?”

He shook his head quickly, putting a hand on your arm. “I apologize, I did not mean–”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, I was joking.” You laughed.

He straightened, his mouth drawing down to its normal position again. “I see. Then… I do not apologize.” He glanced at you sideways. He wanted to know if it was funny. He was trying to get a hang of jokes lately.

You gave his shoulder a squeeze. “You’re learning.”

The two of you walked for hours, watching the sun set over the grove, shading everything in pink. He was almost beaming at the end of the walk. He had lost himself in conversation with you, which happened less often than you liked. He laughed from his belly and relaxed his stance and bantered with you back and forth. Sure, you loved having quiet time with him, but this was bits and pieces of the real Hanzo peeking through his thick skin. It was truly a spectacle.

“Hold on,” he said, looking into a little gift shop on the way out of town. “Stay here. I will be back.” He jogged into the shop and disappeared behind a rack of clothes.

You kicked at the ground. You were sad that the night was over. While this touring of various festivals was getting tiring, Hanzo loved it immensely. And if you were lucky like you were tonight, he would start to relax more with you. You knew as soon as he came out of that gift shop, the tough man facade would be back up.

You spotted a group of boys you had seen throughout the night across the street. They seemed to be talking about you.

“White boys even bothering me in Japan,” you muttered to yourself. You wrapped the kimono tighter around yourself and turned your back to them. Hanzo would be out soon enough.

You wandered around the street, looking for any potential dining spots for the remainder of your trip. Soon, however, the sun set completely and the street emptied out. You began to panic. Where was Hanzo?

You started toward the shop, but then saw the boys cross the road. In an effort to look unbothered, you stopped where you were and pretended to not see them.

“Hey, princess, you look lost.”

“I’m not, thanks.” You crossed your arms. It was silly, really; you could snap these boys in half, but no matter how much pain you put them in, you could always be afraid of how they looked at you.

“You’re a long way from home,” another said.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “So are you. What’s your point?”

“Ooh, ouch,” they snickered. You gritted your teeth against the heat rising in your cheeks.

“Please just leave me alone. I’m not interested.”

“Not interested?” the biggest one asked, tilting his head. “Looks like we’ll have to teach this bitch to respect–”

In an instant, he was on the ground, arm twisted, with Hanzo’s foot on his back. The rest of his group scattered.

“One move, and I break your arm.”

“What the fuck, dude! That hurts!”

Hanzo moved the boy’s arm inches from breaking. His face was stoic, staring down at the teenager with quiet, deadly malice. You started to get scared when he didn’t let him go after a few seconds.

“You will never speak to any woman like that again. Especially one who is under my protection. Because there is one thing I have learned from loving her. Do you know what that is?”

“What?” the boy winced, tears coming out of his eyes.

Hanzo leaned down further, his face still. “I would kill for her,” he growled.

“Hanzo,” you whispered, covering your mouth in shock.

He looked up at you. He immediately released the boy’s arm and stepped off of him, and he ran.

“I…” Hanzo stepped toward you. “Am sorry.” He lowered his eyes to the ground. “I did not mean to frighten you.”

You threw your arms around him and buried your face in his neck. He stiffened. You could hear his heart beat erratically.

“Did you mean that?” you whispered.

He sighed and rested his hands on your back. “Yes, my love. Every word.”

You released him from the hug, knowing it made him uncomfortable to do so in public. “What took you so long in there?”

The corner of his mouth turned up as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a short necklace with a cherry blossom pendant attached to it. “Exorbitantly expensive and of questionable quality. Just how you like it.”

#mccree imagine #s76 imagine #hanzo imagine #overwatch imagine #overwatch

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dominodebt · 7 years

Text

seraphim

Angela feels a hand grab a fistful of her medical coat and yank her back.

She gasps and twists around—the clipboard in her hands is thick and metallic and she’s more than willing to break it over someone’s head—when her wide eyes fall upon Gabriel Reyes, who arches an eyebrow, still gripping her coat.

“The wall, Doc,” he states flatly.

Angela blinks twice at him, color creeping into her cheeks as she turns around—the tautness of her coat drops as Reyes releases her—and glances at the solid wall she’d been preparing to stride right into.

Again.

Gott verdammt

“It’s only because—” she begins, a defensive edge to her voice even though all Reyes has done is keep her from humiliating herself.

Reyes just holds up a dark hand to quiet her.

“The layout is flipped,” he supplies, because this is the fourth time they’ve met like this in Angela’s first two weeks at Blackwatch’s building. “Back at Gibraltar, that’s where your infirmary was.”

It’s true. The Blackwatch base had been constructed to mirror its law-abiding counterpart. Angela, whose feet had long memorized the path to her infirmary from any point in Overwatch’s HQ, often finds herself taking wrong turns, ending up in everything from janitor’s closets to one regrettable trip into Jesse McCree’s quarters.

An accident that she still maintains is his fault for leaving his door unlocked.

She and Reyes just look at each other then. They’ve been doing that a lot, lately—saying things without words. Communicating through a language of eyebrow dips, mouth twitches, and head tilts.

You can leave any time you want, his arched eyebrow says.

I dare you to say that out loud, her tensed jaw replies.

“If y’all are done canoodlin’ like a couple’a rookies,” an unmistakable Southern drawl has Angela preemptively rolling her eyes, “we gotta situation.”

Angela and Reyes step apart, both glaring at McCree, who tips his hat with a toothy grin.

“Morrison’s waitin’ fer ya in the war room,” he explains, and Reyes strides past him with a nod. Angela loiters behind, shooting the gunslinger a sharp look for his canoodling comment. McCree just smirks back.

“Do you think this is about King’s Row?” she asks.

McCree snorts, crossing his arms and making the Blackwatch logo he bares on his shoulder shift. “Knowin’ Morrison, this could be a call for us to pick up his damn dry cleaning.”

Angela sighs, weighing the clipboard she still holds in her hands and gently persuading herself not to whack the cowboy upside the head with it.

“Be serious, Jesse, please—”

“I honestly don’ know,” he amends, eyeing the clipboard in her hand like he’d just realized how sturdy it looked. “Could be King’s Row. Could be a million other things.” He offers her a one-armed shrug. “World of problems ‘n all that, y’know?”

Angela bites back a scoff. A world of problems indeed.

She’s preparing to turn back the opposite direction—to where her infirmary actually is—when she catches Reyes doubling back, leaning around the corner he’d turned to look back at her.

“Ange,” he calls, frowning as he peers at her from down the hall. “You coming?”

Angela hesitates—she’d never been invited to any kind of war room meeting. Not unless her expertise as a healer was needed, and Ana usually stepped in to fill that role instead.

“Um, certainly, Commander,” she calls back, cursing her unsteady reply.

McCree elbows her in the side, grinning from beneath the shadow of his hat.

“Canoodlin’,” he repeats.

Angela smacks him on the shoulder with the clipboard and goes storming after Reyes.

-0-

Reyes watches her a lot.

It’s a sensation she’s well accustomed to—eyes on her back, tracking her steps, watching her movements—and one she’s grown mostly used to. There are a million and one reasons to keep someone like her in one’s sights.

She’s seen herself after long operations or stretches of sleepless nights. She’d be slow to turn her back on someone like that too.

But with Reyes it feels less like she’s being watched and more like she’s being…studied.

Evaluated? The thought makes her chest tight.

“Hey.”

She catches Reyes’ arm as he turns to leave, and he stops immediately, looking back at her with raised eyebrows. They’ve just finished attending a meeting about the escalating situation in London, and Angela knows he’s on his way back to his quarters to get some sleep for once in his life, but she can’t stop herself.

“Are you okay?” she asks seriously, trying to search his dark eyes.

He lifts a single eyebrow at her question. “Yes?”

His hand ghosts to his ribs—a gunshot wound she’d patched up weeks ago.

“I mean with this,” she hastens to explain, waving her free hand vaguely at herself. “With me. Being here.”

Reyes’ expression flat lines—his face goes completely blank with confusion for a moment—before he’s frowning down at her.

“Yes?” he says again, shifting his weight in a way that indicates he’s planning on standing in this empty meeting room with her longer than he anticipated. “Ange, did something happen—?”

“No!” she rushes out, fingers tightening instinctually where she holds his arm. The action draws both their gazes and Angela drops his arm entirely, stepping back.

“No,” she repeats, collecting herself. “I just…sometimes it feels like you’re watching me.” A pause. “Like…like you’re looking for something.”

She watches as he tilts his head, crossing his arms as he considers her.

“Looking for what?” he asks, which isn’t really what she’d been hoping for, if she’s being honest.

Angela shrugs, a little uneasily.

“I don’t know,” she admits. “Sometimes I feel like you’re…evaluating me. Making sure I’m not going to…you know…”

He lifts an eyebrow, staring down at her in a way that implies he does not, in fact, know.

She gestures a bit uselessly with her hands.

“I’m worried you’re waiting for me to mess up,” she confesses in a rush. “So you can, I don’t know, have a reason to send me back to Overwatch.”

Reyes, to his benefit, keeps his cool. It honestly just makes Angela more nervous.

“Why do you think I brought McCree?” he asks.

Angela shrugs, frowning at the change of topic. “I believe your exact reasoning was so that he and Jack wouldn’t kill each other?”

Reyes dips his head in agreement. “That’s true, but it’s also because when I left, Jack told me to take people I wanted watching my back. I don’t have time to waste waiting for someone to mess up, or not meet my expectations.” He huffs a laugh crossing his arms. “Half the time, I don’t even meet my own expectations. It’s just part of the job.”

Angela nods slowly, digesting his words. Reyes looks away then, studying a window across the room.

“Watching you is a leftover habit,” he explains, voice much softer. “Don’t think anything of it.”

Angela quickly turns away so he won’t see whatever the fuck-all is going on with her face after a comment like that.

“Right,” she says, a bit too hurriedly. “Well, thank you for clearing that up, Commander.” She moves to stride off, but Reyes calls her back.

“And Angela?”

She turns back to face him. Reyes cocks an eyebrow.

“The only way you’re going back to Overwatch is if that’s what you decide you want to do.” He levels a look at her. “And even then, I can’t promise I’ll let you go easily.”

-0-

“It has been statistically proven a hundred times that torture does not—”

“I know, Doc!” McCree cuts her off with an annoyed look. “Believe it er not, the Deadlock Gang was pretty fuckin’ familiar with the concept.”

Tension hangs like humidity in the closed-door meeting as Angela and McCree scowl at each other from across the table.

“Angela.” The doctor snaps to attention at the sound of her name in Reyes’ voice, though the Commander is staring down at a tablet in his hands as he paces the room. “No one here is in agreement with the concept. McCree’s moral compass works just fine.” He glances up at her then, and gifts her with a quick twist of his lips despite his obvious exhaustion. “Usually, anyway.”

“Hardy har har,” McCree laughs back sarcastically, rolling his eyes. “I ain’t the shadiest motherfucker here, Reyes. Not by a long shot.”

“You’re not,” Reyes agrees, tapping commands into the tablet. “You’re also not the one suggesting we torture information out of the Omnic Overwatch picked up in their last raid.”

Angela’s stomach twists at the thought, but she holds her tongue this time.

“Can ya even torture an Omnic?” This from McCree, who has his thumbs hooked in his belt loops as he tracks Reyes’ pacing. “I mean…there’s not much to ‘em by way of emotion, right?”

Angela’s eyes flash to the gunslinger’s, her expression just this side of scalding even though she hears the genuine question in his voice. He isn’t being cruel—it’s this very same brutal honesty and coldhearted viewpoint that kept him alive when he ran with Deadlock—but it makes her snarl all the same.

“He is a highly advanced technological being, Jesse,” she tells him coolly, trying to swallow her anger. “Not a toaster.”

Reyes pauses at this—she can hear his rhythmic pacing stop—and her face grows hot when he feels his gaze, but she stares resolutely at McCree, who treats her to a flat look, void of any of his typical humor.

“I know yer pissed, Doc,” he says, and she can see him lift an eyebrow from beneath his hat. “But keep yer words outta my mouth. I say enough dumb shit on my own.”

Angela swallows hard, looking away, chiding herself.

“I’m sorry,” she murmurs, staring down at the files spread across the table. “I just…this is all very…”

She grits her teeth. Part of her—an overwhelming part, actually—wants to look for Reyes, to seek out his expression. But she knows what she’ll find if she does.

I told you Blackwatch would be like this.

I tried to warn you about this kind of thing.

I begged you to stay behind and you didn’t listen.

No. The denial cracks across her mind like a whip. You are apart of Blackwatch. You have every right to be here. Every right to be heard.

Reyes wouldn’t have let you come if he didn’t think you could do this.

“What if we get the answers another way?” she asks shortly, still staring at the papers fanned out around her. “This can’t be the only solution.”

She glances sideways, watching McCree scratch at his jaw, considering it.

“I mean,” he says, shrugging. “We’d need more intel, and to get more intel, we’d need a green light from the big Oh-Doubleya.”

OW means Overwatch, and Overwatch means Morrison. Angela grits her teeth.

“It’s not the only solution.” The doctor isn’t so disrespectful as to not look at her Commander when he’s speaking, and reluctantly raises her eyes to see Reyes staring right back at her. “It’s just the solution that Morrison asked for.”

“Fuck Morrison, then,” she bites back, a fierce immediacy to her words that makes Reyes lift his eyebrows. McCree makes a noise that sounds vaguely like he’s choking.

“What?” she demands, straightening up, crossing her arms. “Blackwatch does the dirty work, right? We were created to break laws and bend the truth anyway, weren’t we?”

She notes her own use of we, a pronoun she used to only attach to Overwatch. Reyes’ notices too, she knows—half because he notices everything, and half because his lips twitch with a smirk when it slips out.

McCree leans into her line of vision, expression doubtful.

“Ange…I really don’ think Overwatch intended themselves to be the ones we lied to,” he drawls.

She doesn’t turn, still meeting Reyes’ gaze head on.

“Even better,” she says. Her heart’s hammering in her chest. What the fuck is she even suggesting? Go behind Overwatch’s back? “Then they won’t expect it.”

Pull a fast one on Jack Morrison?—fine, maybe. His attention is always on a million other things. They could make it work.

Pull a fast one on Ana Amari?—not on your life. Not on anyone’s life.

She and McCree both look to Reyes. The Commander’s eyes are on the table—tablet forgotten—his knuckles rapping lightly against the wood as he thinks.

“There are rumors of Omnics fighting back against the uprising,” he murmurs.

Angela lifts her eyebrows. “What kind of rumors?” she asks.

“One of Overwatch’s agents found the body of an Omnic in an alleyway with a handful of dead civilians,” he recites lowly. “The civs’ wound were all to the chest. The Omnic was shot in the back.”

“Friendly fire?” McCree offers, but even he doesn’t sound convinced.

“The Omnic was ransacked for parts afterwards,” Reyes continues. “The damage was methodical and precise. Probably done by other Omnics.”

“A traitor then,” Angela suggests. “An Omnic who died protecting humans.”

“If one Omnic can reject its programming, and turn against Null Sector,” Reyes agrees with a nod. “There’s definitely more.”

“We just gotta find ‘em,” McCree points out.

Reyes glances sideways at the gunslinger then, eyebrows raised.

“You gotta find ‘em,” he corrects. “That’s your next assignment. You up for it?”

Angela stops listening as they start discussing the parameters of the mission, chewing her lip in thought as she stares down at the Overwatch reports that crowd the table, wondering why none of them had mentioned this. She wonders how Reyes knew.

Because Reyes knows everything, a voice in her head chirps unhelpfully.

She starts back to the present when the door swings shut with McCree’s exit, and Angela looks up to see Reyes watching her.

“You alright?” he asks, and she nods.

“Sorry for…” she gestures vaguely to the room. “I guess I’m still adjusting.”

Reyes considers her for a moment, tilting his head.

“You know, you’re not good enough to be here,” he tells her, and Angela’s breath gets caught in her chest, mouth falling open with indignation—she will tear this base apart if he even suggests she pack her bags how dare he—before he gifts her with a wry grin. “You’re good enough to help make us better. That’s why we listen to you. Well, that and you typically have the best plans.”

Her anger dies just as quickly as it’d blazed up. Oh.

“I didn’t know Blackwatch was supposed to be better,” she offers.

Reyes cocks an eyebrow. “Then why’d they send their best?” he counters.

Angela just watches as he flashes her a quick smile, then turns to follow McCree.

-0-

“Um, ma’am?”

Angela glances over her shoulder at the woman who’d spoken, lifting an eyebrow. It’s still a little bizarre to her—she’s used to being the elusive Overwatch doctor who never left her infirmary and took her meals alone at three in the morning. The genius that Morrison had brought in to cheat death. She had—Angela tenses, she does—consider the Overwatch strike team to be her family, and would drop anything to help any one of them at a moment’s notice.

But Blackwatch is…different.

Reyes put his faith in her—in her, not just her brains or her medical expertise—and in turn, so had the rest of the organization. It’s a large task—she’s never prided herself on her people skills, and running a group like Blackwatch demands a certain amount of social wrangling—but when she catches sight of herself in one of the many reflective services dotted around the base—scuffed combat boots, darkwash jeans, pitch-black medical coat, Blackwatch crest stitched over her heart—she’s reminded of who she is and why she’s here.

Angela squares her shoulders. A lot of people are depending on her for a lot of different things.

Well…maybe not a lot of people—unless an agent has come into her infirmary, she probably hasn’t spoken to them, and she’s rarely around in the mess hall or other communal areas—but Reyes is depending on her, and Jesse too, even if the little shit doesn’t always say so.

“Yes?” she prompts, a bit belatedly.

The woman hands her a tablet. The pair of injured agents Angela had been speaking to dutifully avert their eyes as the Blackwatch doctor takes it in her hands.

“Commander Reyes is unavailable at the moment. On assignment with Overwatch in Russia. It seemed appropriate to defer to you.”

Well there’s a concept that will keep Angela up for days.

Still, she lets her gaze sweep across the screen, frowning as she tries to get a handle on what she’s looking at. In this moment, she suddenly appreciates all the times Reyes has been given something—a document, a communication device, a laptop, a photo—without any context or preamble, and he instantly knows what it is, why he’s looking at it, and what needs to be done.

She’s not as practiced as Blackwatch’s Commander, but in a few moments, her expression clears. Security logs. She’s looking at security logs for the base.

She flicks her gaze back to the woman, trying very hard to make it not seem like she’s asking for a clue.

The woman coughs awkwardly into her fist. “You, uh, may want to check the ID logged at fifteen hundred hours,” she suggests.

Angela’s brow furrows. Fifteen hundred hours is three o’clock, which—by her unnervingly accurate internal clock—had just passed.

She drops her gaze back to the screen, searching…

“Jesse McCree,” she growls, roughly passing the tablet back to the woman as she strides past her towards the infirmary, black coat snapping behind her

She sees him before he sees her—a phenomenon not common with the deadeye gunslinger—and frowns when she sees him apparently bent over something on her operating table.

“Well, this is a surprise,” she bites out when she crosses the threshold of her infirmary, combat boots cracking under her angry footfalls. “Considering Reyes sent you to King’s Row four days ago on a six week mission.”

Her sharp tone belies her worry. What the fuck could have happened to make him pull out of a mission so early? And without calling? Jesse McCree leaves missions one of two ways: returning home with success, or being dragged bodily out of the field by Reyes after a failure.

“Jesse?” she tries to temper her tone, sidestepping him to get a better look, whole body tensed as her instincts rail at her that something’s wrong something’s wrong something’s so very fucking wrong—

He turns, and years of her chosen profession keep her expression neutral as she takes in the blood he’s covered in.

“What happened.” The words are clipped and practiced as she draws closer, scanning his injuries, cataloguing the worst ones she finds, narrowed eyes flitting between the openly bleeding wounds and the deep bruises. “Jesse, what—?”

And then she sees him. Or, at least, what’s left of him.

“Let m’ explain,” McCree coughs out.

Angela can’t look away.

There—on the hard metal of her operating table—is the mangled, bloodied body of a young man with dark hair and familiar tattoos on what’s left of his right arm.

Genji Shimada.

“Jesse, what the actual fuck—”

“I barely got him back here,” McCree rushes out. “Just hear me out, Doc.”

Angela steps closer, whole body tensed.

So McCree explains how he’d been minding his own business, getting the mission set up, then he’d heard shouting and had gone to investigate, found the dueling Shimada brothers, watched as Genji had apparently offered himself up at the end, and McCree had been compelled to chase off the older brother. When he’d turned back around, the younger brother had leapt towards him, sword drawn—

“You shot him?” Angela demands when he gets to that part of the story.

“It was a nonlethal shot to the leg!” McCree argues, a defensive lilt to his voice like he’s being accused of cheating on an exam and not hunting down a lethal heir to an empire of criminals—

“Jesse.” Angela’s voice is taut as a wire. “It doesn’t matter if the shot is nonlethal when your target is already dead.”

“He ain’t dead,” McCree snaps. His eyes dart to the boy who lies on the bed, doing a very convincing impression of a dead person. “Not that dead, anyway.”

“Jesse.” She rubs her temples with both hands. “There are not degrees of deadness.”

“You can save him!” McCree insists, stepping forward, every aspect of his body language begging for her help. “C’mon, Ange. Please.”

Angela drops her gaze back to the boy. He draws a ragged breath that sounds like he’s drowning and her mind is suddenly racing with all the different things that are doubtlessly wrong with him and he needs and IV and a drip and she’s got to stabilize him and she’s got to get her hands on some of that of Omnic biotech—

“I saw him go down,” McCree tells her lowly. “I saw the whole fight. It ain’t fair what happened to him.”

“It isn’t fair what he’s done to most people,” Angela counters softly. But even as she says the words she doesn’t believe them. Fairness is not an accurate scale. It never has been. Nothing is fair.

McCree’s staring at her—she can feel his buckshot gaze boring a hole in the side of her skull as she gazes down at the battered and broken Shimada heir.

This is a judgment call. And for once it’s all hers.

That means if it goes horribly wrong, all the blame will be on you.

Her jaw tightens.

No more orders to hide behind, Ange. Pull the trigger or don’t.

She thinks back to her first meeting with Jesse. How Reyes had railed and railed against everyone in Overwatch to spare the gunslinger and give him another chance. She’d watched silently as Reyes had vouched for him—putting his own honor and prestige at stake just so Morrison would give the okay for her to stitch the scrappy outlaw back together.

Her eyes trace the remains of Genji Shimada.

“Go get yourself cleaned up,” she tells him brusquely, turning on her heel to start collecting supplies from the corner of the room. “And tell everyone the infirmary’s closed.”

-0-

Angela finds him sitting on the steps out back, overlooking the training fields.

The morning air bites as she steps out into it, holding a blanket around her shoulders. Yesterday’s clothes are stiff with blood and sweat, but it’s nothing she isn’t used to as she steps carefully across to the staircase with two cups of coffee in her hands.

“Hey,” she greets the gunslinger softly, knocking his shoulder with the bottom of a coffee cup.

McCree jolts so badly he almost knocks the cup out of her hands, and Angela hisses as she pulls back, trying to keep the burning hot liquid off her hands.

“Easy,” she murmurs, searching his eyes when she lowers the drink back towards him. “It’s only me.”

“Sorry,” he mutters back, accepting the cup.

Still eyeing him, she flops rather ungracefully beside him on the stairs. McCree truly looks awful—still clothed in the filthy mission clothes he’d returned in yesterday, dark shadows bruising the skin beneath his eyes, hair hanging limp and matted with blood. She wonders where his hat went.

She huffs in sympathy, hands twitching with the sudden desire to card her fingers through his hair and push it up out of his eyes. The action reminds her too much of Ana.

“You need a haircut, cowboy,” she says instead, settling in closely beside him, their shoulders resting up against each other. “You look terrible.”

He just grunts in acknowledgment, taking a long sip from the coffee cup, eyes both a thousand miles away and nowhere at all.

“I’m serious,” she continues. “I just pulled an all-nighter with my arms elbow deep in somebody’s chest cavity. I know what I’m talking about.”

A short, breathy laugh—more scoff than anything—is her only answer. Angela sighs.

“Hey.” She nudges him gently, trying to draw his gaze. He glances at her blearily. “You did the right thing, Jesse, okay? A lot of people would’ve left him for dead.”

His eyes fall back on the coffee cup in his hands.

“I think a couple month ago I woulda left him fer dead,” he mutters back.

Angela allows this with a nod, idly tapping her fingers out in a silent rhythm on her own mug.

“Probably,” she agrees, because she’s not in the business of lying to those she cares about. “If it’s any consolation, a couple of months ago I would’ve been ordered to leave him for dead, and I honestly probably would have listened.”

McCree nods as he considers this, still staring out at the fields. Some Blackwatch agents are out, running drills and exercises. Angela finds herself combing the field for a familiar face, before she remembers—right. The mission to Volskaya.

Silence falls between them for a moment—soft and companionable. She wonders—off-handedly—what their relationship would be like if she hadn’t come to Blackwatch. It’s not that she can’t picture her life without McCree—she had thousands and thousands of hours logged at Overwatch before Reyes came barging in with the outlaw tucked under his arm—but she doesn’t really want to.

“He’s going to make it, you know,” she tells him quietly. She sees him holding himself tightly against the brisk morning air and shifts the blanket to throw half of it over his broad shoulders. He gives her a peeved look, which she counters with an arched eyebrow, and with a roll of his eyes he tugs it around himself.

“I ain’t a child,” he mutters, but she can see him loosen up at the extra warmth.

“Because only children get cold,” she deadpans back, taking another sip of coffee. “Naturally.”

McCree sighs. “Thanks,” he mumbles after a bit, idly picking at the edge of the coffee cup. “For…y’know…”

“It’s my duty and my privilege,” Angela answers airily. She smirks when she feels his exasperated look. “I’m teasing. Of course you’re welcome, Jesse. It’s what needed to be done.”

He just heaves a sigh, and Angela watches as he tips sideways—slumping over until his head is resting on her shoulder. Angela glances down at him with a curious look as he shuts his eyes.

“I didn’ sleep much.”

“I gathered.”

She can see his smile flash white against brown skin. Oh no.

“Did’ya spike my coffee like you did Reyes’?” he asks.

Angela sighs sharply, rolling her eyes up to the sky.

“That was one time and it’s only because he was actively refusing to sleep and I did not spike his coffee that would have killed him I just—”

But McCree is laughing—endlessly amused with himself, as always—and she lets it go with an annoyed tsk, lifting her coffee cup to her lips.

“D’ya ever regret leaving Overwatch?” he asks lazily. There’s sleep in his voice. She wonders if he’s going to remember this conversation.

“No,” she says simply, shrugging the shoulder not occupied by the gunslinger. “I love Blackwatch.”

Silence returns. Angela listens to the steady rise and fall the gunslinger’s breathing.

“Do you want to call Reyes?” she eventually asks, glancing at him. The list of things she would do on behalf of Blackwatch’s Commander is dizzyingly long—thinking about it is looking down a flight of stairs that just descends into darkness. She has no way of knowing how far she’ll go until she’s there.

But still, she’s not so arrogant or selfish as to think her relationship with Reyes—another thing she doesn’t like to mentally linger on—trumps all his other rapports. He and Jesse are impossibly close—she won’t be offended if he wants his mentor’s input on what to do with one misplaced Shimada heir. She won’t even be surprised.

Jesse sits up instead, giving her an unusual glance. Without his hat, she has a clear view of his face, and watches his strange expression.

“’M mean,” he says, still looking her over curiously, like he’s missing a joke Angela doesn’t remember telling. “I kinda thought I’d just ask you.” He offers an unsteady shrug at her continued perplexity. “Yer sorta…I mean, Reyes kinda left you with the keys to Blackwatch, an’ we all know he’ll go along with anything you decide anyway.”

Angela doesn’t know what to say, so she just stares.

The gunslinger misreads her silence, and pulls one hand off his coffee cup—the bloodstains on his gloves leave a crimson handprint that draws her gaze—to hold up in front of himself, hastily trying to save face he hasn’t lost—

“Not ‘cause like—I mean, fuck we all know—it ain’t—” McCree fumbles horribly for words, and Angela just watches, completely at a loss for what he’s trying to express to her.

“He agrees with ya because he knows yer a damn genius. Not because of—” Angela wishes she were in a place where she could better appreciate the flush that splashes across McCree’s cheeks. “—other things.”

“Other things,” she repeats, lifting an eyebrow. “Like…?”

McCree’s brown face is positively scarlet. “Yer not serious.”

Angela opens her mouth to reply, when a shadow falls over them. Her lips quirk up instead.

She turns around, facing away from McCree and missing his grumbled, “speak of the fuckin’ devil,” to look up at Reyes.

“You’re back early,” she notes, offering him a half-smile.

He nods, surveying the practice fields before dropping his gaze to hers. A small smile tugs at his lips.

“Got a weird call about some gunslinger who came back weeks early from assignment, a half-dead assassin, and a doctor who probably hasn’t slept in a good fifty hours trying to wrangle them both.” He shrugs, playing for casual. “Thought I’d check it out.”

“To be fair, the half-dead assassin didn’t require much wrangling,” Angela remarks, taking a sip of her coffee. “And I’ve only been up for thirty hours.”

Reyes just scoffs, rolling his eyes.

“Get to bed. Both of you,” he grumbles, before turning away. “Or I’ll drug you.”

McCree cackles and Angela lets her head fall back with a groan.

“It was one time!”

-0-

“Cadet Oxton,” Angela greets the girl kindly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The girl’s eyes are wide as she looks around—the screens in the infirmary reflect brightly off her irises—and Angela smiles lightly. She’s so overwhelmed, she’s missed the doctor’s greeting.

“Cadet Oxton?” Angela folds her arms against her chest, arching an amused eyebrow as she leans forward to level herself with the seated woman. “Lena?”

She starts, a small gasp escaping her as her gazes focuses in on Angela.

“Oh! Dr. Ziegler!” Her spine snaps to attention—eyes still flipped wide—and Angela places a thin hand on her arm before she can lift it up in a salute.

“Settle down, Cadet.” A smirk pulls at Angela’s lips as she straightens back up. “It’s only me. No need to be so formal.”

“Um, of course, ma’am,” she hastens to say, arm still hovering awkwardly, like her brain is still ordering a salute. “I—sorry, I just, I didn’t—you’re kind of a legend, ma’am, so I’m a little—”

She snaps her mouth shut then—color pooling in her cheeks and dusting the tips of her ears—and Angela just shifts her weight with a small laugh.

“Well, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I assure you I’m nothing extraordinary.”

She glances up to see the cadet fixing her with a poorly disguised look of doubt.

“But…you’re Dr. Ziegler,” she tries, and Angela is willing to give her full marks for at least not actively trying to sound pushy. “You invented the Valkyrie suit! You were brought onto Overwatch when you were, like, nineteen!”

Angela smiles softly as she collects a clipboard carrying the cadet’s data. She’s only in for a check-up, but Morrison had sent her to Angela due to Lena’s unique relationship with time and space—and specifically her placement in it. The girl is, in Angela’s professional opinion, completely fine thanks to the chronal accelerator she wears across her chest, and the doctors at Overwatch are more than qualified.

As they should be. She’d handpicked all of them before leaving.

But Lena Oxton is bright and cheerful and enchanted by every aspect of Blackwatch, so Angela’s glad she was sent her way.

“I was twenty-three,” the doctor offers.

Lena heaves a very theatrical sigh, and Angela’s lips quirk in amusement at her dramatics.

“Still,” the cadet maintains. “You were a huge inspiration!” She shifts slightly in her seat, and Angela watches her curiously.

“You…well, stories about you…it’s part of the reason I joined up,” she mumbles, looking down at her hands, face flushed with embarrassment.

Angela pauses, looking up to stare at the young girl, touched.

“Oh,” she says. “I’m…I’m honored, Cadet, really.”

Lena shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“My town…I’m from King’s Row,” she rushes out, still not meeting Angela’s gaze. “When Null Sector rose up…and people were just dying in the streets…I couldn’t just…I had to do something.”

Angela works her jaw. She knows that feeling—perhaps a bit too well.

“Don’t worry,” she tells the other woman, giving her her best optimistic smile. “Between Overwatch and Blackwatch, we’ll have the situation under control in the very near future.

Lena cocks her head at this. “Blackwatch?”

Angela nods. “Well, yes. Overwatch rarely makes a movement in situations like this without first reviewing Blackwatch intelligence.”

Lena seems to consider her words, brow puckering in thought.

“Why did you leave, Doctor?”

Angela goes still for a moment, hands freezing over her work.

“I beg your pardon?”

She glances behind her—needing to see the woman’s face, needing to have something to read, needing some kind of control—to watch as the cadet goes absolutely scarlet, mouth snapping shut.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s alright,” Angela cuts her off, voice soothing and calm. “Everyone thinks it, I’m sure.”

In truth, no one has ever outright asked her such a question. Why. Why had she left Overwatch?

“I wanted to follow Commander Reyes,” she says slowly, leaning back against the counter opposite Lena and folding her arms across her chest, frowning at the floor in thought.

Lena tilts her head, still flushed from her last social gaff, but apparently more curious than embarrassed.

“Did you work with him a lot at Overwatch?” she asks.

Angela shakes her head. “Not really,” she murmurs. “I mostly answered to Morrison. But we still knew each other very well. He was…he has this way of inspiring greatness without really any effort, it seems.”

She flicks her gaze up to see Lena watching her with rapt attention.

“I came to Blackwatch because I wanted a chance to achieve that greatness,” she finishes, shrugging. It’s not the whole truth, but not even Angela is sure she knows what the whole truth is.

Lena nods, looking like she’s pondering the doctor’s words with the utmost seriousness.

“I…I want to believe people can achieve greatness at Overwatch too,” she confesses.

Angela feels her lips curve in a slightly sharp smile.

“You can,” she says simply. “Someday you’ll be honored at Overwatch, I’m sure.”

And she means it. Cadet Oxton’s marks are already leagues higher than most recruits’.

But Lena still looks unconvinced.

“And you won’t be?” she asks.

“There’s a different kind of glory with Blackwatch,” Angela explains. “It’s…it’s the kind of thing you don’t get a medal for. You just look inside yourself, and know you’ve changed for the better.”

A beat. Angela shifts her weight.

“Can you keep a secret, Cadet?” she asks, lifting an eyebrow.

Lena blinks, caught off-guard.

“Can I what?” she asks.

“Keep a secret,” Angela repeats, studying the girl closely. “From Overwatch. Well, Jack Morrison, specifically.”

Lena’s eyes go wide. “You want me to lie to the Commander?” she asks in obvious disbelief.

Angela chews her lip for a moment. She’s going about this the wrong way.

“How fast can you actually move?” Angela questions instead, already reaching for the clipboard she uses specifically for Genji.

Lena tilts her head, considering it. “Well, with the three charges I’m allotted, I can blink about thirty feet—”

Angela lifts a hand to cut her off, and Lena falls silent with a confused look.

“How fast can you move, Cadet. Period.”

It takes a second, but then there’s a grin splitting the young woman’s face.

“I can’t be caught.” Her tone is absolute, but her eyes gleam with the thrill of a challenge.

Angela smiles back. Genji’s in sore need of some competition, and she has faith that this cadet is as fast as she claims.

“How do you feel about a spar before heading back to Overwatch?”

-0-

“Deputy Director?” Angela’s voice is riddled with uncertainty.

McCree snorts at her tone, pulling his hat down to cover his eyes as he leans back in his chair, arms folded behind his head.

“Easy on the confidence there, Ange,” he drawls, voice as heavy with sarcasm as it is his Southern accent. “No need to get such a high opinion of yerself.”

Her eyes snap to the cowboy—he’s chuckling from beneath the brim of his hat, damn him—before looking back to Reyes, who just quirks a brow at her.

“You can say no,” he says, tone betraying nothing because he’s about as good at hiding his emotions as Angela is bad at reading them. He’s like Amari that way—quiet in his expressions, a soft-spoken body language. Angela and Morrison wore their hearts on their sleeves like badges of honor, and granted, everyone—Amari, Reyes, Morrison McCree, Reinhardt, Torbjörn, Angela herself—could all be counted on to lose their heads every once in a while, but those two always played their cards close to their chests.

At first, when Angela had come with him to Blackwatch, she thought maybe she’d somehow gotten better at reading him, but she thinks it has more to do with him dropping his guard around the Blackwatch base.

Now, however, they stare at each other, an offer on the table.

“I just…” she fumbles briefly, trying to disentangle her own thoughts. “I’m not exactly trained in that way, Reyes—”

“Are you really going to bring up formal training with Jesse sitting right here in comparison?” Reyes deadpans, arching an eyebrow at her.

The legs of McCree’s chair clap sharply as he slams back down, pushing his hat out of his eyes to glare at Reyes.

“Well excuse the hell outta me, Commander,” McCree interjects hotly. “Didn’t realize we had such high expectations ‘round here. Ya wanna see my fuckin’ résumé?”

“Seen it. Not impressed,” Reyes replies, smirking at the gunslinger.

McCree flips him off, but Reyes is already looking back at Angela.

“I trust you,” he states plainly, offering a shrug. “That’s really the only requirement there is. Anything more—like, say, purely for example, being one of the leading medical authorities in the world—is just extra.”

“Extra bullshit,” McCree mutters, still nursing his pride.

Angela tilts her head. “Will I have authority over Jesse?” she asks, fighting to keep her tone neutral when the gunslinger’s gaze snaps to hers. “Just asking. No reason.”

Reyes lifts his eyebrows. “Don’t you already have authority over him?”

McCree pushes roughly away from the table, and Angela and Reyes exchange smirks.

“Alright, I get it. Y’all suck, and I ain’t goin’ outta my way to help ya next time,” he remarks, scowling as he pulls from the room.

“Do not bother Genji,” Angela calls after him with a frown. “I’m serious, Jesse, he needs rest.”

The gunslinger throws up a hand to show he hears her before ducking around the corner, out of sight.

Angela watches him go with a sigh, while Reyes just keeps his smirk.

“He makes it too easy,” the Commander murmurs, and Angela just nods in agreement.

They both stare down at the table between them, silent.

“Do you really want me to be Deputy Director?” she asks quietly, hazarding a glance up at him.

He lifts an eyebrow, meeting her gaze. “I’m not really in the business of asking for things I don’t want, Doc,” he tells her evenly.

She bites her lip, lowering her eyes.

“I get that you’re unsure,” he tells her quietly. “I get your hesitation. It’s a lot, and I’ve been asking you for a lot for a long time. But you can say no.”

“It’s just, when I think of Deputy Director, I think of Ana,” Angela explains. “And I don’t think anyone could fault me for being wary at the idea of filling a role like hers.”

Reyes dips his head in agreement. “But to be fair,” he adds, and she looks up at the sound of a smile in his voice, his dark eyes warm with humor. “Part of the reason Ana’s job is so hard is because Jack fucks up all the time.”

Angela laughs under her breath, shaking her head. “Yes, but you come with McCree,” she points out.

Reyes looks away, cursing the gunslinger under his breath, but there’s no heat to it. He pushes away to stand up, and Angela is suddenly seized with decision.

She wants this. She has no idea what this is—just like she didn’t know what Blackwatch was, or what leaving Overwatch would mean. She’d trusted the steadfast certainty of Gabriel Reyes and simply walked on.

She’d follow Reyes to the ends of the earth at this point. She’d always hated jokes about her being some kind of guardian angel but she’ll defend Blackwatch with any bit of deific powers she has.

“We can talk it over late—”

“I’ll do it,” she blurts out.

Reyes blinks, surprised, frozen halfway upright. “Wait, really?” He frowns, lowering himself back into the seat. “Ange, you can think it over if—”

“I’m not really in the business of doing things I don’t want to do, boss,” she tells him flippantly, and reaches for the documents to sign.

-0-

“Angela!”

Reinhardt’s loud voice booms through the halls, and the doctor has a brief moment to brace herself before she’s being swept up off the ground—

“Hallo, Reinhardt,” she greets him, smiling fondly as the great man hugs her tightly, laughing all the while.

“Put ‘er down, ya big hunk of armor,” Torbjörn grumbles, and Angela smiles as she’s set down with impossible gentleness to see the engineer approaching, hat drawn low over his eyes.

“Hello to you as well, Torbjörn,” she says kindly.

Her old friend just grunts in acknowledgement, and before Angela can tease him further, a streak of blue darts into the holding bay.

“Oh! Dr. Ziegler!” Lena seems to almost screech to a halt as she throws her arm up in a hasty salute, eyes wide behind her visor. “It’s good to see you again, ma’am!”

“At ease, Cadet,” Angela tells her, still laughing. Her face hurts from all the smiling. “I’m not your commanding officer.”

I’m not even an Overwatch officer, she wants to add.

It’s impossible to miss. Lena, Reinhardt, and Torbjörn are all decked out in Overwatch’s traditional blue, white, and yellow, while Angela sits in a Valkyrie suit of black, white, and red.

She and Lena sit shoulder to shoulder, their contrasting sigils brushing against each other. The Cadet is unusually quiet—and Angela studies her gloomy expression with concern.

“Lena,” she offers quietly, reaching out to lay a hand over the cadet’s tense fist. The girl snaps to attention, swinging her wide eyes over to the doctor. “It’s going to be okay.”

Lena’s throat bobs with a hard swallow, but she nods anyway.

Reinhardt moves into the holding bay then, taking a seat across from them in the enormous holding bay, Torbjörn following after.

“So,” Torbjörn drawls, leaning back in his seat to gaze at her, arching an eyebrow over his good eye. “Just where ‘n the hell have you been?”

Angela levels a flat look at him.

“Sweden,” she deadpans. “I was staying with your wife and children, Torbjörn. Didn’t they tell you? I’ve been having such a lovely time.”

Reinhardt laughs uproariously—the noise practically shaking the holding bay they’re seated in. Lena cracks a smile as well, uncertain of the inside joke but delighted at the doctor’s sarcasm.

“You must tell us everything!” Reinhardt exclaims. “Our Angela is a Blackwatch agent! And Deputy Director too! Ana was so proud she cried.”

“You were the one who cried,” Torbjörn points out dryly.

Angela just laughs again. “It’s wonderful, Rein,” she tells him. At his insistence, she spends most of the flight to London sharing stories from her time at Blackwatch—had it been a year already?—pausing when Reinhardt interjects, or Lena asks a question, always keeping an eye on Torbjörn, who takes in her tales with a neutral expression.

“I’ve never been prouder of my work,” Angela finishes with a small shrug. “Reyes and I work very well together.”

“I don’ doubt that last part,” Torbjörn returns, giving her a look too steely to be played for laughs.

Angela hears the change in tone before the others, and her eyes narrow.

“I beg your pardon?” She’s unrehearsed for masking her temper and it shows. Rein’s laughter quiets immediately, and she can feel his frown even as she gazes back at Torbjörn.

“I’m just glad to hear you’re settling in so nicely at Blackwatch,” the engineer goes on, a quiet unkindness to his voice that Angela doesn’t like.

“I have settled there,” Angela agrees, words lightly chilled. “I’ve found great success and happiness there, Torbjörn.”

He scoffs at this, and Angela’s fingers reflexively tighten on her staff.

“Oh, trust me dear, that I don’ doubt at all.”

“Torbjörn …” Reinhardt glances sideways at his friend, while Lena is looking between the two Overwatch legends with a very stark look of concern.

“Not sayin’ anything that isn’t true,” the engineer points out.

“You’re also not saying anything that needs to be said,” Angela counters.

A jolt runs through the holding bay at the carrier’s landing, and light floods the area when the doors slide open.

She and Torbjörn are still staring at each other.

Reinhardt hustles Lena out quickly, turning around to give the two of them a hard look before disappearing out into the London sun.

Angela breaks the stare down first—it’s something she learned to do with McCree ages ago—and goes to follow.

She feels a hand on her arm, and glances down even though she’s recognized Torbjörn’s touch for years.

“I don’ mean to be hard on ya,” he mutters, stubbornly avoiding her gaze. She smiles softly at his familiar gruffness. “I just…it’s hard, with ya being gone all this time. Old men like me and Rein—we worry, ya know?” He glances up at her then, single eye bright and serious. “We miss ya.”

Angela smiles. “I miss you all as well,” she tells him. And she means it. She misses Reinhardt’s bold, booming voice. She misses Torbjörn’s occasional curse rattling out from beneath a vehicle he’s working on. She misses Ana’s warm voice offering smooth instructions. She misses the slow, small smiles that would occasionally cross Morrison’s face, clearing out the worry lines.

“I’m still me, Torbjörn,” she tells him softly, wondering if the statement is for his benefit or hers. She offers him a small smile. “Really. I am.”

He smiles back at her then, patting her arm.

“I know, I know,” he assures her. “Just…keep it that way, yeah?”

She nods back. “Of course.”

A pause. He looks her up and down.

“Ya know…the black suits you,” he eventually remarks, almost to himself, before turning to head over to where Reinhardt and Lena are reviewing their orders. Angela takes a step to follow him, when there’s suddenly a voice in her ear—

“You read me, Mercy?”

Angela frowns, touching her earpiece.

“Reyes?” she asks, recognizing his voice but unsure why she’s hearing it. “Are we not using the main channel?”

“Just wanted to check in with you. Be careful out there. If things go sideways, McCree and Genji are around.” He rattles the information off, quick and confident.

Angela’s lips quirk. “I’m not going to need saving by a couple of rookies, Commander. Some faith, please.”

“I know you know I can hear ya, Doc,” McCree’s voice crackles in, annoyed. “An’ I haven’t been a rookie in years.”

“Your shooting suggests otherwise,” is Genji’s smooth reply, and Angela lifts a fist to smother her laughter from those not in on Blackwatch’s private line.

“Hey, Genji, ain’t that the cadet that laid you flat on yer ass that one time?”

“How someone wearing a cowboy hat can muster a superior tone of voice is honestly miraculous to me.”

“Focus, you two,” Reyes cuts across their bickering. “Just be glad Ana decided to stay back at HQ for this one. If she ever saw you, not even I could bail you out.”

The boys fall silent, and Angela glances over her shoulder to see the group getting ready to move.

“Anything else, Commander?” she asks. “I think we’re going to get started.”

There’s a brief moment of silence. Angela tries not to dwell on it.

“I’m watching your back,” he reminds her. She can hear the smile in his voice too. “Do Blackwatch proud out there, yeah?”

She preens a bit, knowing he’s got a camera on her somewhere.

“Always do.”

She hears his answering chuckle, before there’s a pause, and then—

“Reyes here. Latest Blackwatch intelligence indicates heavy Null Sector numbers inside the power station…”

-0-

Blackwatch’s base is fairly empty.

It feels strange, Angela reflects. The constant noise and movement of all of Blackwatch’s agents—and her place in the swing of things, not barricaded back in her infirmary—is what took the longest to get used to, but now she finds herself oddly missing it.

The King’s Row situation has been resolved, and with nothing looming on the horizon, Reyes had kicked just about everyone out, insisting they take time for themselves before he has to call them all back again for god knows how long.

Even McCree and Genji had left—though only after promising to share their location with Angela and Reyes at least once a week and not do anything excessively stupid—and Angela soaks up the silence as she and Reyes sit in her infirmary, each wrapped up in their own work.

“You always yell at me when I sit on your table,” Reyes comments, glancing across the room. Angela hooks her ankles together where her legs dangle off the side of the large metal operating table that dominates the center of her infirmary, perched neatly on its edge, focused on a tablet in her hands.

“When you clean the table everyday, then you can sit on it,” she returns, drawing a smirk out of Reyes, who had seen nothing in her expression that indicated she’d even been listening. She uses her knuckle to scroll down on the screen, text reflecting off the lenses of her glasses.

Something about her tone seems to tip Reyes off, and he lowers his papers, studying her for a moment. When she doesn’t acknowledge his gaze, he frowns.

“What are you looking at?” he asks.

He sees Angela tense—her entire being seizes up for a half second, like a string being yanked taut—before she continues scrolling like nothing had happened.

Reyes watches her, dully remembering when he would have missed such a quirk.

“Ange.”

“I still get KIA reports from Overwatch.”

The confession is quick and harsh. Reyes can only stare, holding himself stiffly in the office chair.

“Angela—”

“I have to read them, Gabe,” she murmurs. He sees her eyes narrow behind her glasses as she scrolls on. “You know that.”

He holds in a sigh—because he does know that. Just like he knows no amount of reasoning, bargaining, or plain begging will get her to stop.

This phantom guilt that she wraps herself in worries him constantly. He knows anyone else—himself included—would have folded under the weight of it years ago, but she continues on, shouldering more and more blame until he’s sure she’ll ruin herself.

It’s a testament, he decides, to her nature—both resilient and haunted—that she can manages this much remorse, and that she decides to take it on in the first place.

And while he doesn’t boast a heart as sturdy as hers, he can do his part to try and lessen her load.

The wheels of the office chair squeak as Reyes pushes himself off of her desk to go rolling across the infirmary floor. Angela glances up as he braces his arms against her knees to stop himself, before pulling closer, folding his arms over her lap and laying his head down on the back of them, her knees digging into his chest, his mess of dark hair curling against her white undershirt.

She’s completely still against him, save for the gentle swell of her breathing.

“Go on then,” he mutters, closing his eyes and settling in. “Read ‘em.”

She understands. Of course she does.

There’s a beat of silence, but Reyes knows her hesitation has nothing to do with him.

“Ramirez, Lita,” she eventually recites, and he lets go of a breath she didn’t even know he’d been holding.

-0-

It’s been a while, but Angela hasn’t forgotten her way around Overwatch.

She’d managed to haul McCree in by herself, fiercely ignoring the eyes she felt on her as she pulled the half-dead gunslinger to her old infirmary.

One blazing look from Blackwatch’s second-in-command and the medical staff in the room had vanished.

She knows it’s only a matter of time before someone—Reinhardt, Torbjörn, Ana, Morrison—comes looking for her. She works as quickly as she can, ignoring her own injuries as she tries to stabilize McCree with equipment that feels odd and foreign under her hands.

She hears the door when it opens but doesn’t turn, focus pulled entirely to the boy bleeding out under her steady hands.

“Not everyday we get a visit from Blackwatch’s Deputy Director,” Morrison remarks upon entering. Angela’s features twitch with dislike. It couldn’t have been Reinhardt, could it?

“I’m busy, Jack,” she tells him stiffly, reaching out with bloody fingers to adjust the dial on a nearby piece of equipment.

“I’ve got time.”

Angela glares down at the unconscious face of McCree, stewing.

She knows a threat when she hears one.

She turns around then, and Morrison gets his first look at her patient. He frowns, titling his head as recognition flickers across his face.

“Deadlock Gang?” he verifies.

Angela glares. “Blackwatch,” she bites back.

Morrison lifts an eyebrow at her tone.

“You’re at the Overwatch base, Angela,” he reminds her lowly, as if she’d somehow forgotten. “Mind yourself.”

“I didn’t have time to get him to Blackwatch,” she explains tightly. “I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here. Just let me do some minor work and then we’ll be out of your way.”

“No need,” Morrison says, taking a step closer. “I’ve been wanting to chat with our friendly arms dealer for a while.”

The tension on the room shifts abruptly, and Angela’s eyes narrow.

“Leave him be, Jack,” she says, the barest hint of malice gracing her words. She takes a step forward, boots thumping distinctively in the silent room as she moves to place herself between the two men. Her black Valkyrie suit stands out boldly in the pristine white of the infirmary, and the red light it casts bathes her in an eerie crimson glow.

It’s a power play McCree can’t quite appreciate in his current state, but Morrison’s eyes narrow at the action.

There’s no sound save for the shallow breathing of McCree and the various beeps and whirrs of the equipment. She arches an eyebrow at Morrison’s increasingly dissatisfied gaze.

“I was under the impression that you didn’t much care for the outlaw, Doctor,” he tells her. There’s a careful cadence to his voice—taut with anger simmering just below the surface.

“He has a name, Jack,” Angela counters lowly. She folds her arms across her chest, watching as Morrison’s too-bright eyes flash to the Blackwatch sigil branded into her suit’s shoulder.

More silence—Angela sizes the Strike Commander up, wondering when she lost the ability to read his mood.

“You’ve changed, Angela,” he eventually murmurs, lifting his gaze from her shoulder to her eyes. There’s a darkness there that hadn’t previously been. Angela feels her chin lift—a prideful reflex she didn’t even know she possessed.

His words spark a rage in her that is tired and old, but still bares its teeth when prodded too hard.

“I have,” she agrees lowly, tone tightrope taut. “Sort of how life works.”

Morrison just sighs then, dropping his head and raking a hand through his hair. She notices it’s a more white gold than its previous blonde. She’d thought it to be a trick of the infirmary lights, but she thinks age just might be catching up with the Commander.

“Alright,” he mutters, and Angela goes tense. She doesn’t like the definitive snap of authority in his voice.

“Alright what?” she asks, assessing him sharply as she shifts her weight to the side, trying to hide McCree entirely behind her frame. The action kicks her wings out, blocking him from view.

“You can treat him here,” Morrison tells her. “Then I get to talk to him.”

Angela scowls—temper going supernova at his flippant decision. She should just accept his grace and get on with her life but something—Blackwatch? Reyes’ influence? Her own damned fucking stubbornness?—makes her dig her heels in.

“I don’t remember asking for your permission,” she tells him lowly. “And you aren’t talking to him.”

“You can’t have it both ways, Angela,” Morrison tells her, voice suddenly sharp. “You’re either an agent of Overwatch and you listen to me or you’re an agent of Blackwatch and you have no business here—”

“I can’t have it both ways?” Angela demands. “You’re the one who sweeps into our base like you’re somehow in charge in that god-awful coat when you know not a single agent there gives a damn what you say unless Reyes agrees—”

“Blackwatch was made to serve Overwatch!” Morrison shouts. “I am in charge!”

The thing, Angela’s learned, about working around death as long as she has, is you gain access to a certain expression that not everyone can wear. It’s the way your features arrange themselves after you’ve started into the face of death over and over and over again.

She fixes Morrison with such a look—a look of absolute fucking death—and speaks.

“I am not an agent of Overwatch.” Angela’s voice is dark and hollow, like the creaking of the gallows chain. “I’m the Deputy Director of Blackwatch. And I don’t take orders from you.”

Morrison gazes back at her, but at that moment, McCree returns with a gasping breath, and Angela turns her back on the Strike Commander without a second thought.

-0-

“Dr. Ziegler?”

Angela frowns, immediately pulled from her work at the unfamiliar voice, looking over her shoulder to see a man in an Overwatch uniform standing in the doorway of her infirmary, gun drawn and pointed at the floor.

McCree rises from where he’d been sitting at her desk, doodling profanities onto her whiteboard, but he’s all business in two seconds flat. Angela watches his expression harden as he crosses the floor to stand beside her, one hand ghosting towards his sidearm.

“Who’s askin’?” the gunslinger asks, a rough cut to his voice.

Angela appreciates the gesture—particularly because she herself is unarmed at the moment—but she plants a thin hand on McCree’s chest anyway, cautioning him with a look.

“Who are you?” she asks, quick-freezing her words with as much chill as she can manage. From the look of surprise that crosses the agent’s face, she can manage a lot.

“He’s with me.”

Angela goes still as the voice drifts in from the hallway, and watches as the Overwatch agent hastily holsters his weapon, looking back at whoever is approaching. The speaker must make some gesture, because he ducks out a moment later, tips of his ears bright red.

“You’ll have to forgive him,” Ana Amari says from the doorway. “Overwatch agents can get very…overzealous when dealing with Blackwatch.” She offers a thin smile. “Family feud and all that.”

“Ana.” Angela almost chokes on the name—coughs it out through stiff lips and gritted teeth.

The sharpshooter lifts a silver eyebrow as she eases into the infirmary. Angela can feel McCree’s heart hammering under her fingers where she still holds a hand to his chest.

“My, my,” the woman murmurs, smirking slightly as she takes in the scene before her. “What a sight.”

“What’s wrong?” Angela asks immediately, stepping away towards McCree to draw nearer to Ana. “What happened?”

Ana raises her eyebrows. “You tell me,” she replies. “Jack’s awfully upset with you. What’s that about?”

Angela grits her teeth, recalling her last encounter with the Strike Commander.

“That’s between us,” she forces out, though she knows it isn’t.

Ana flashes her a bright smile—all teeth.

“No it isn’t,” she corrects the younger woman. She glances over at McCree. “Jesse, put your gun away, darling, you might hurt yourself.”

Angela watches as the gunslinger hesitates, before slowly sliding Peacekeeper back in its holster.

Ana looks back to Angela. “Jack was being pushy with you the other day. He’s an asshole—it happens. I don’t blame you at all, but pulling rank on a Strike Commander?” The Captain lifts an eyebrow. “Bold choice.”

Angela glares back at her evenly. Ana continues.

“It’s in your nature to be contrary, Angela—to snarl back when taunted. To never relent and never give in.” Ana eyes her carefully. “But it is not in your nature to be stupid.”

“I’ll fight you,” Angela warns, low and steady.

McCree’s gaze snaps to hers, eyes wide with shock, but she presses on.

“I mean, not you you, but Overwatch. The UN.” She swallows, before saying the name they’re both thinking. “Jack.”

Ana just gazes at her evenly, expression a carefully fixed mask.

“And why would we fight, Angela?” the Captain asks. “Or have you decided you no longer want to be a team player?”

“Hard to be a team when things aren’t equal,” Angela retorts.

The humor dies on the sharpshooter’s face.

“You were breaking protocol,” Ana reminds her.

“The way I hear it, that’s what we were intended to do,” Angela returns. “You can’t pick and choose where Blackwatch breaks the rules.”

Ana chuckles softly to herself at that, but the sound holds no humor.

“Can’t I?” the sharpshooter muses. “Interesting. I wasn’t aware.”

Angela’s mouth falls open to snap back, when there’s another presence in the doorway.

“Ana.”

The whole room glances up to see Reyes at the door, expression cold.

Overwatch’s Captain just smiles back at him, unruffled by his sudden appearance.

“Commander,” she greets him casually, snapping what can only be called a sarcastic salute. “So good to see you.”

“Didn’t know you were scheduled to stop by,”

Ana just offers a blasé shrug, but the gleam in her eye makes Angela’s hands itch for a weapon.

“Well, Blackwatch always seems to have so much fun doing things off the books. I thought I’d give it a try.” She smiles sweetly, all graceful control and elegant calm.

“If there’s a problem with Blackwatch, you come to me,” Reyes reminds her.

Ana gives him a look of innocent confusion.

“I didn’t want to bother the Commander with something so small. I thought I’d just ask your Deputy Director. Surely she’s qualified to—”

“You’ve made your point, Ana,” Angela cuts her off, earning a quick look of blazing ferocity from the sharpshooter before her expression smooths out again.

“I certainly hope so,” she replies. She pushes hair out of her eyes, offering Angela one last glance.

“You could come home, you know,” she tells the doctor seriously. “It would clear up an awful lot of trouble.”

“Ana.” Reyes’ voice brooks no argument, and Ana smiles to herself.

“Don’t be so put out, Gabriel,” she tells him, patting the Commander on the cheek as she passes. “The offer stands for you too.”

She sweeps from the room then, and silence roars in her wake. Angela’s looking to Reyes, who just stares after the sharpshooter.

“How did she get scarier?” McCree asks woodenly, still staring at the place she’d stood.

“It’s a talent, I think,” Reyes mutters back. “Like how cartilage never stops growing? She’ll just get progressively more intimidating as life goes on.”

“She’d never hurt any of us,” Angela mutters, crossing her arms.

“Doesn’t mean she won’t make me shit myself,” McCree retorts. He looks sideways at Angela. “Whatever you did to piss ‘er off like that? Word of advice—don’ fuckin’ do it again.”

Angela finds Reyes’ eyes, and her jaw tightens.

“We’ll see,” she tells him.

-0-

Being an outsider is not exactly uncharted territory for Angela Ziegler.

Her teachers boasted endlessly about how gifted she was—how special, how elite. Systematically set aside for displaying premature levels of intellect at a young age, a rift arose between herself and her peers that never quite smoothed over. Those on the other side of the academic wall resented her bitterly, so Angela’s logical solution was to keep going up—to work harder and study longer and think faster than anyone. She took her raw genius and forcibly marshaled it into a finely tuned machine that she kept going at all hours.

No rest. No pause. Just facts and data and answers and progress. She set her sights on perfection and never accepted a degree less than that, in anything that she did.

The wall became a pedestal, then a tower, then another building entirely—one only she occupied.

The lonely life of a genius, or whatever bullshit others gossiped about behind their hands. Angela never took the time to listen—never wasted a thought on them.

So when she strides into Overwatch’s headquarters, baring Blackwatch’s symbol on her chest—a skull and a sword sewn over her heart—she has no reaction to the dozens of eyes that she feels track her movements.

Maybe that’s why she’d fit in to the shadow organization so well. She’d already existed on the fringes of society—why not just set up shop there?

She feels Morrison’s gaze on her when she enters the room, but doesn’t even spare him a look, feigning interest the week-old notes still attached to her clipboard.

“You know,” he drawls, as she pretends to tick something off of a list that’s not there. “Blackwatch is supposed to be a secret sort of thing.”

Angela arches an eyebrow at her clipboard, making more pointless, empty notes.

“I’m aware, Commander,” she tells him mildly. “My hand still aches from all the security releases I had to sign.”

She hears him sigh. Her pen scratches against the paper.

“Do you really need to parade around—?”

“I’m not parading anywhere,” she cuts him off, a touch of coolness to her voice. “I’m attending a meeting. At your request.”

She flicks her gaze up to meet his unamused frown.

“You could have worn your old Overwatch uniform,” he informs her coldly.

Ana’s standing in the corner—an observation Angela only makes now that she’s bothered to look. It unnerves her that the sharpshooter’s presence had gone unnoticed. She used to be able know the other woman’s position inherently, like a reflex.

She looks back to Morrison, trying not to think of what else she has forgotten.

“I could have,” she agrees, voice detached and chilled. “I could have also worn my Valkyrie suit, or my military dress, or desert fatigues—I could have borrowed McCree’s belt buckle and worn that.” She gives him a small smile that’s all teeth before dropping her gaze back to her notes.

She realizes—off-handedly—all she’s been doing is underlining Gabe’s name with increasing force as Morrison’s tone sinks deeper and deeper under her skin.

Morrison shifts his weight, crossing his arms.

“Still warming up to things at Blackwatch?” he asks with an arched eyebrow, like he’s just pegged her mood to perfection.

Angela lets out a smirk—abnormally sharp and maybe a little too tight. “Warming up isn’t really what I’m known for.”

Morrison stares her down. Ana is still standing with her back turned, but Angela can clearly see the way her head’s titled—the sharpshooter is hearing every word.

A silence settles over the room—uneasy and cold. Angela can’t remember feeling this misplaced at Overwatch.

“We should wait for Reyes—”

“Gabe said to start without him—”

Angela and Morrison lock gazes. Ana’s shoulder blades stick out like knives across her back.

“What do you mean, start without him?” Morrison repeats with a hard look. “He’s my go-between with Blackwatch. He has all the information I need.”

Angela’s answering glare is a cold snap—sudden, startling, and bitter in its frigidness.

“He was kind enough to pass that information to me,” she tells him tightly, fingers going white where she holds her clipboard. It’s all coming clear now, so fucking clear—

Morrison scoffs. “He passed it to you?”

“Yes.” Angela’s tone teeters on a knife’s edge. “He did.”

“So what, you’re Blackwatch’s secretary now?” The Strike Commander’s words drip with disparage.

“Jack.” Ana’s voice is quiet and sharp. She glances over her shoulder to give him a look of warning.

“You never thought I’d go with him.” Angela’s realization is faint, words so soft she wonders if her pounding heart will drown them out. “You never saw me as the wild card. That’s your problem—one of your problems, actually—you think you understand people and you don’t.”

“Angela.” Ana turns around now, voice dark with displeasure as Morrison glares openly at her.

“What are you talking—?”

Angela cuts him off ruthlessly, temper spiking, words flaring out like a flash fire. “You read my file like you were reading my autobiography. Like knowing where I was born and where I went to school and what doctors gave me their stamp of approval—”

“Angela.” Ana’s voice is a command for silence. Angela defies it without thought.

“—would tell you everything you needed to know about me. But it didn’t, did it? It didn’t tell you that I hate having the UN looking over my shoulder every time I do something they find interesting, that I hate being spoken for by Overwatch-approved representatives—”

“Angela, you are so out of line—” Morrison begins.

“It didn’t tell you my parents died in the war.” Angela can’t stop the words spilling out of herself now. “Didn’t tell you that that made me more loyal and protective than any person has any right to be.” Morrison’s eyes go wide at her words, while Ana’s narrow to slits, her jaw set stiffly as she surveys the doctor.

“And then you let Reyes go. And you didn’t think anything of it, because you thought you knew me and you didn’t—”

“That is enough Angela,” Ana again, stepping forward like she’s going to force Angela out or hold Morrison back.

“—so maybe that’s why you made Blackwatch.” Angela doesn’t know if her words are shaking or if she is. “So you could keep all your mistakes in one place, and make sure they can never—”

“Angela, leave!”

“—come back to haunt you. Maybe that’s why you hate us.” She stares him down, chest heaving. “Because every time you see this—” she slaps a hand over the Blackwatch logo like she’s pledging allegiance to a new country—one she’d kill and die for, one she’ll defend unto death “—you’re reminded of all the times you were wrong.”

She turns on her heel then, all but throwing herself out of the room, her black coat flaring out behind her like some storm she’s leaving in her wake. She feels like a livewire—ultraviolet. Too bright too hot too much—

Reyes is there, striding towards her from the tarmac—because of course he is.

Their relationship is vertigo—pushing and pulling at the same time. An endless give and take that boils down to a balancing act between pillar and pendulum.

Anger roars in her ears, so loudly she almost doesn’t hear him when he finally reaches her side.

“—the fuck did you do Ana’s been lighting my phone up since I got off the plane—”

“Good news.” Reyes breaks off with a rush of air as Angela slams the clipboard into his chest for him to take, striding past him—eyes overbright, heart beating wildly beneath her Blackwatch sigil. “The gates of hell just opened, and you’re my plus one.”

-0-

“Ange.”

Angela knows it’s Reyes without looking—his voice is a perfectly clear indicator, but so is the fact that he’s the only person alive with permission to enter her infirmary unexpected and uninvited—so she keeps working.

“Gabe,” she returns calmly, eyes skimming the document before her, ticking boxes, making notes, crossing out certain lines, underlining others.

There’s a creak as he eases forward, leaning one broad shoulder heavily on the doorway.

“Come on, Ange,” he says, voice teetering between exasperation and entreating.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, an arch lilt to her voice that smacks of dismissal. Reyes rolls his eyes.

“Angela.” Reyes doesn’t often get curt with her, but once in a while—when she’s being particularly stubborn—his voice will take on a certain tightness. “I had to go look at the bullshit statute. McCree had to go look at the bullshit statute. Now you have to go look at the bullshit statue.”

“What about Genji?” she asks mildly, already knowing perfectly well what about Genji.

“Sure, let’s bring along the lost Shimada heir that Jack thinks is dead to Jack’s fucking statue party,” Reyes retorts, bracing one arm against the doorframe as he shifts his weight. “Why the hell not.”

She lowers her clipboard to toss him an incredulous look.

“Is that honestly what they’re calling it?” she asks. “A statue party?”

Reyes heaves a sigh. “I don’t know, Angela. They didn’t send out invitations, okay?”

She snorts, lowering her gaze once more. “I’m disappointed,” she quips. “They should have all come with little miniatures of it, so we could all have a little golden Jack Morrison wherever we go.”

Reyes just sighs again. “I will drag you there, Angela, so help me.”

That gets her attention. She lifts her eyes, arching a single brow, gazing at him from around a perpetually errant blonde curl.

“I would like to see you try.”

They wisely both decide to let that go.

“Thirty minutes, Ange. Tops. We show up, we try not to blind ourselves looking at the damn thing, we leave.” He spreads his hands. “That’s all.”

Angela gazes at him. She knows she’s going to agree eventually—they both know it—but that doesn’t mean she’s not going to say her piece.

“Firstly,” Angela begins, tossing down her documents and scowling across the room at him. “Why does he get a statute?”

Reyes rolls his eyes up to the ceiling. “Ange.”

“I’m serious! So what, he’s Overwatch’s golden boy. Super. Ana Amari’s served there for just about as long, and without her, he’d be dead. I vote she gets a statue.”

“We don’t get votes,” Reyes reminds her, finally pushing away from the doorway to stride across her infirmary.

“Then I don’t see why I should care,” she returns smartly, watching as he picks up her coat from where she’d slung it over her chair. “What are you doing?”

“Listening very patiently,” he answers, flashing a smile when she shoots him a glare. He holds up the coat for her to slip into. “Come on. I told McCree I’d pick up food for him on the way back.”

“You left him there by himself?” she demands, finally relenting and shrugging on the offered coat. “At the statue party?”

She peers up at him as she pulls her hair tie free to redo it, and after a beat he blinks, seemingly remembering that she’d asked him a question.

“Just for a minute,” he defends himself. At her pointed glare, he rolls his eyes. “Well someone had to come get our dear Deputy Director, since it became clear a half hour in that said Deputy Director was declining to show up.”

Angela just sighs as she ties off her new ponytail, tossing curly blonde hair over her shoulder. It’s getting long again. Maybe she’ll ask Ana to cut it when she sees her.

They step out of the infirmary, finding a matching pace as they make their way through the familiar halls.

“So, if the Blackwatch base mirrors the Overwatch base…” she begins, glancing up at him with a small smile as she fusses with the collar of her coat. “Theoretically…”

“Jesse already beat you to that joke,” Reyes tells her, smirking at the frustrated look she pulls. “He and Genji were very well prepared for it. They drew me a diagram.”

“Of what a Gabriel Reyes statue would look like?” she verifies, humor returning at the thought.

Reyes rolls his eyes as he holds the door out of the base open for her.

“Yeah,” he mutters as she steps past him. “And you might think, ‘I wonder what heroic pose Jesse picked for his mentor to have in this imaginary statue, since, you know, he’s the only goddamn reason Jesse’s not dead in a ditch somewhere.’”

A smirk tugs at Angela’s lips, but she smothers it.

“Naturally,” she replies. “So what did he pick?”

Reyes just reaches into a pocket on his uniform, pulling out a folded up piece of paper he passes to Angela.

It’d been drawn by Genji, she notices immediately, recognizing the style she’s seen in doodles on the edges of med charts she leaves in his room. But she also notes McCree’s messy scrawl providing various commentary.

It’s a statue of Reyes, hastily colored with what looks to be a yellow crayon. The statue is mounted on a pedestal, proudly flipping off viewers with its three-foot fingers.

“Charming,” she remarks brightly. “I think Genji captured your likeness well.”

He just gives her an annoyed look that she answers with a cheerful grin.

-0-

Reyes is shirtless in Angela’s infirmary, and she’s not really sure how they got here.

A jolt ricochets through his body as Angela presses her cold fingers to his shoulder, where she traces circles into the flesh with the pad of her thumb. His skin feels hot beneath the light pressure of her touch as she glides her fingertips across his collarbone, pausing when she reaches the notch at his jugular. His Adam’s apple visibly bobs at her sudden attention.

“See something interesting?” His voice rumbles beneath her hands.

The question draws color to her cheeks, but she tries to play it off with a look of keen scientific interest.

“Just…checking for irregularities,” she answers airily.

He wants to say more—is that how they’re playing this? A medical examination, really?—when she lays her hand flat against his sternum and Reyes finds himself mysteriously short of breath.

The doctor’s hands are strong and well-used—knotted with calluses that raise goosebumps all along Reyes’ body as she moves, fingers teasing lightly at his flesh as she does.

Angela lingers over Reyes’ heart, eyebrow lifting at the frantic beating she feels below her touch. She tries to match the sharp staccato with her fingertips—drumming them softly against Reye’s chest—and he huffs out a breathless laugh.

��“Any irregularities?” he asks, half-joking. She hasn’t made eye contact with him yet. It’s unnerving.

She doesn’t reply, seemingly absorbed in the feeling of his heartbeat, face impassive.

Doubt slams into Blackwatch’s Commander, and he resists the urge to pull away from her immediately. He misread the situation. He misread it so badly Jesus fuck Reyes what were you thinking—

“Ange, look, we don’t have—”

Her other hand—which he realizes had been curled tightly in a fist by her side—suddenly shoots up to seize his own hand. He jumps slightly, frowning at the sudden action, until she guides his fingers to the underside of her opposite wrist.

Her heartbeat hammers at her pulse point—just as wild as his—and Reyes lifts an eyebrow.

“Oh,” he manages. “Okay.”

“Yeah.” Angela is still staring determinedly at the space where she holds her hand over his heart, flushing darkly. “Pretty much.”

Her hand drops down lower abruptly, apparently surprising both of them, because Reyes chokes on a strangled noise of alarm and Angela just turns redder.

But she’s made it this far and Jesus, Angela it’s not like you’ve never fucking handled bare skin before get over yourself—

She positions both of her hands along Reyes’ exposed sides, fingers splayed out, slotting them between the spaces of his ribs, feeling his diaphragm expand and contract with his steady, even breaths.

“Little overdressed, don’t you think?”

Reyes’ voice is careful—like his words will shatter whatever curiousness has fallen between them.

Angela drops her hands and steps back—she sees one of Reyes’ hands twitch up, reaching for her like a reflex—and she thinks her heart might actually crack her ribs it’s pounding so hard.

She shucks off her medical coat with an astonishing lack of grace and just hurls it in the direction of her chair. Reyes’ lips quirk, and he glances over his shoulder to see where it lands.

“Hey. I paid good money to get you that coat,” he objects, grinning as he watches the coat catch on the back of her chair for just a second before flopping unceremoniously to the ground.

“Jesse goes through jeans like they’re tissues,” she retorts, fingers curling in the hem of her shirt, tugging aimlessly in any direction but up. She’s flushing so darkly she wonders if he can feel the heat radiating from her—she wonders if her fingers had been cold when she’d—

The communicator in Angela’s coat goes off suddenly, and she nearly jumps out of her skin at the noise.

She crosses the room over to it, pulling it out of her coat pocket and reading the message.

“Genji,” she mutters. “He’s not doing well. That new medication must not have agreed with him.” She frowns, thinking it over, before pulling her coat back on and tying her hair back up. “I’ve gotta look into it.”

Reyes just nods, moving to reach for his shirt where it’d been discarded on the operating table—

Angela snatches his shirt before he can reach for it, holding it briefly out of his grasp.

“We are revisiting this when I’m done,” she tells him seriously, then throws his wadded-up shirt at his face.

-0-

The agent Angela is speaking to isn’t listening to her, and it’s starting to really piss her off.

She keeps staring resolutely at him, continuing her lecture about why we check back in at the conclusion of missions because if we don’t then everyone think we’re fucking dead and then Reyes has to send out a team and—

“Agent.” There’s a cold bite of authority to Angela’s voice, and the boy immediately jolts to attention, eyes snapping back to hers. She lifts an eyebrow. “I really hope whatever’s caught your eye is worth it,” she tells him, voice hard and even. “Because if I turn around, and I don’t see anything worthwhile—”

“Sorry.” Angela goes stock-still at the sound of Jack Morrison’s voice. “Sorry, Angela, it’s me.”

She turns around and sure enough—Overwatch’s Strike Commander stands in the middle of a Blackwatch corridor.

“Where’s your big blue coat, Jack?” she asks, lifting an eyebrow. “Almost didn’t recognize you without it.”

The agent behind her coughs to try and cover a laugh, and Morrison sighs.

“Can we talk?” he asks.

Angela hesitates for a brief moment—theoretically she could say no, couldn’t she?—before dismissing the agent with a sharp jerk of her head.

Morrison falls into step beside her as she leads him deeper into the Blackwatch base, shouldering open a door that’s not marked differently that any of the others, and

“Nice office,” Morrison offers.

Small talk. Angela sighs.

“I spend most of my time in the infirmary,” she explains, crossing her arms and declining to sit. “It doesn’t get much use.”

He nods to himself, sitting down on the edge of her desk, glancing around at what few personal items the room does have—a picture of her and Torbjörn from the Halloween party years ago, the prototype of her Caduceus staff mounted on the wall, a oversized Swiss flag that hangs across the front of her desk, and a candid snapshot of Genji and McCree arguing about something in the Blackwatch practice facilities while Reyes stands between them, looking directly at the camera with the face of a man who ran out of patience about a decade ago.

She’d been the one to capture the image, and it’s honestly one of her proudest accomplishments.

“You wanted to talk, Jack,” she reminds him. “So let’s talk.”

Morrison gives her a quick look before dropping his gaze to his hands.

“I knew about your parents,” he begins, and Angela feels herself tense—her body springs taut like a mousetrap—as she recalls their conversation a week ago.

She doesn’t say anything.

Morrison inclines his head, like he’s taking her silence as permission to speak further. “It wasn’t on your file, but I asked around. I was…curious, I guess. I didn’t understand how you’d come to become…well, you.”

He must read the sharp question on her face, because he hastens to continue. “Not in a bad way just…well…” he shrugs. “People don’t just wake up one day and decide to do the kinds of things you do.”

“Cheat death,” she supplies blandly, and he inclines his head in agreement.

“I poked into your upbringing, your background, talked to old teachers and classmates…” Morrison shrugs. “I guess in a way, I did think I knew you.”

Angela says nothing. Her tongue’s stuck in her jaw.

“Gabe’s a brother to me,” Morrison says. His words are casual—the loyalty he lines them with is not. “I didn’t want him to go to Blackwatch, I wanted him to stay. So I could watch his back and he could watch mine.”

There’s an unfinished part to that sentence that goes, the way it’s supposed to be. Angela hears it anyway.

“Isn’t that why you have Ana?” she forces out, because apparently, even in the most serious of situations, she just cannot keep her goddamn mouth shut.

But Morrison just chuckles. “I have Ana for a lot of reasons,” he says. “Mostly to keep me from ruining everything.”

Angela nods. Ana has official jobs and expectations but at the end of the day, she’s there to keep them all alive and bail them all out.

“I knew you were going to go with him to Blackwatch,” he admits, and Angela feels her chest go tight. He laughs to himself, shaking his head, still ducking her gaze. “I knew it, but I was so mad—so mad that I was going to lose two of my best agents—my best friends—in one day.”

Angela allows a brief bout of silence before pushing on.

“How did you know I was going to go with him?” she asks quietly.

“Reyes is a natural,” Morrison answers. “He gets people—like really gets them, on a seriously personal level, even if he’s barely met them.”

“He’s empathetic,” Angela offers by way of explanation. It’s a character trait that had drawn her to him in the first place. She could read bodies, he could read people. It intrigued her.

Morrison nods. “You two…you balance each other out. It doesn’t make sense for you to not work together.

Another pause. Angela can’t tell if she prefers this slow confession or if she’d rather him rush to get it all out at once.

“You said Blackwatch is where I keep all my mistakes,” he begins, and Angela feels her stomach bottom out.

“God, Jack, we don’t need to rehash that, do we? We both said—”

He holds up a hand to stop her, eyes still downcast.

“I…I’d be lying if I said I never resented Blackwatch,” he explains. “Lying like a damn dog. I wanted to be able to look after you—I wanted to use Overwatch to protect you and Reyes—hell, even McCree and Genji.”

Angela watches as he stares at his hands, deciding now is probably not the best moment to bring up the prodigal Shimada heir.

“But I was wrong, which—as Ana will tell you—happens a lot,” he continues. “You and Reyes don’t need Overwatch to protect yourselves. You don’t need me to protect you. If anything, I needed you to assure me that I was still—that people still—”

“You wanted to be needed,” Angela says softly. “To be a leader. But we didn’t need you.”

Morrison sighs, resting his arms on his knees as he stares up at the prototype Caduceus staff—the same one she’d presented to him all those years ago.

“Blackwatch is…necessary,” he explains slowly, brow furrowed as he studies his hands. “I’m not so naïve to think otherwise. Without the intel we get from Blackwatch’s work, all of Overwatch would’ve folded years ago.”

Angela nods in agreement.

“But Blackwatch doesn’t need Overwatch,” he continues carefully. “And I think that’s what really got me. Not saying it’s right, not saying it’s justifiable or worth defending. Just trying to give you the explanation you deserve, and offer an apology, if you’ll take it.”

An apology from Jack Morrison. Angela shrugs.

“Sure,” she agrees. A beat passes “Can I get it in writing? I’d like to frame it on my desk.”

Morrison huffs a laugh, finally glancing up at her.

“I think,” he says quietly, smirking at Angela’s very smug expression. “I think you’re very well-suited here, Deputy Director Ziegler.”

Angela feels a smile tug at her lips.

“Thank you, Strike Commander Morrison. I think I agree.”

-0-

They’re in Reyes’ office this time.

He’s sitting behind his desk, staring down at a map of the Gibraltar base that she knows he’s had memorized for years.

“We have to do something,” she tells him quietly, watching him from where she leans against the edge of his desk.

He just sighs, arms folded across his chest. “It’s not an easy situation, Ange.”

She rolls her eyes. “Right, because everything up until this point has been a cakewalk. King’s Row? Simple. The Shimada’s rebellion? No problem. Oh, and that mission to Dorado? The one that McCree almost died on? So easy—”

“Angela,” Reyes cuts her off, flicking his gaze up to hers, annoyed. “Just call me an idiot next time, okay? Saves a whole lotta time.”

His voice takes the fight out of her immediately, and she sighs as she pushes away from his desk to pace the room.

“Overwatch is falling farther out of favor everyday,” Angela points out. “Gabe, when it falls, everything we’ve done—”

“I’m not ashamed of anything we’ve done.” Reyes voice whips out low and fast, and Angela flushes despite herself.

That sentiment could be applied to so many things but you immediately go there, don’t you Angela?

“I’m not either,” she tells him firmly. “But that doesn’t mean I want it on display for the whole world. This isn’t just about us. What about Jesse and Genji? I won’t let the UN so much as look at them, Gabe. They will tear them to shreds and I won’t let them—”

“The UN isn’t touching those boys,” Reyes rumbles back, expression darkening at the thought. “End of discussion.”

Angela swallows the rest of her threats, trusting the solidness of Reyes’ resolve.

Silence falls between them—uneasy and uncertain.

“What if we took them down first.” It tastes more like a statement than a question, but she’s already said it, and she can’t take it back.

Reyes’ gaze heavy across her shoulders.

“Say again?” he requests, voice soft and low. She won’t face him.

His chair creaks as he rises from it. He steps closer and her skin prickles at his sudden proximity.

“If we take down Overwatch, we control what the UN finds afterwards,” she murmurs, almost to herself. “We could wipe Jesse and Genji from their records. Give them a chance to escape.”

His hands come up to rest on her shoulders. His touch is grounding as always, but Angela’s head is still spinning.

Why is she even suggesting this?

“You always have the best plans,” Reyes had said.

“Could we do that?” he murmurs back, chest a hard flat wall of muscle against her back. “Not just logistically, Ange. We both loved Overwatch—there are still people there worth protecting—”

“So we protect them too,” she maintains quietly. “We burn whatever they have on Fareeha. Leave behind only Rein’s battle prestige. Blackout the names of Torbjörn’s kids.” She pauses, and his fingers flex where he holds her. There’s someone missing from that list and they both know it.

A certain golden statue comes to mind. Angela works her jaw.

“Jack is Overwatch,” he tells her, as if she isn’t already acutely aware. “We can’t take one and leave the other. If Overwatch falls, Jack will follow—”

“We’ll clean Jack’s slate too,” Angela insists. “We’ll find a way.”

Family first. Always.

She turns to face him then, tilting her head back to look him in the eyes, matching Blackwatch sigils stark white against the pitch of their uniforms.

“What about us?” Reyes asks her softly, lifting an eyebrow. He sounds like he couldn’t care less. “Who’s gonna clear our names?”

She shrugs. “Who cares?” she counters, leaning forward to rest her cheek on his chest, tucking herself under his chin. “If the boys are safe, and we’ve saved what we can of Overwatch…” she trails off. “Who really cares what happens to us?”

Reyes snorts. “Spoken like a true martyr,” he deadpans, arms coming up to wrap loosely around her waist.

She shrugs in his hold. “Spoken like a member of Blackwatch,” she corrects.

She feels him press his lips to the crown of her head, and smiles to herself.

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Wow! Three whole days late! Whoops!

Seriously though, if you follow me on twitter or tumblr you know that I kinda got slammed in a bad situation. I put up a post about it here if you're curious but I won't lie to you guys—it's not gonna affect my writing that much. The last thing I want is people to be like "Duch is begging us for money!" Duch just got fucked and made a tip jar. That's all.

Anyway, Blackwatch AU! I'm pretty happy with how this turned out, and I think some parts of it are my best pieces of writing, but I wish I'd gone harder. But then again it's already like 15k and some change so maybe I went pretty hard already.

And a big thank you to @barddog for beta’ing this for me <3

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I hope you guys like it. I'm gonna lay low for a while and fulfill some writing prompts on tumblr. If you're interested, send me one!

Have a good one kids <3

don’t ask me about the title I don’t know how to title things we should know this by now I’m sorry

#Overwatch #Mercy #McCree #Ana Amari #Reinhardt Wilhelm #Torbjörn Lindholm #Genji Shimada #Angela Ziegler #Gabriel Reyes #Jack Morrison #Mercykill #Blackwatch AU #Blackwatch!Mercy #Not My Circus Not My Monkeys

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elliotthezubat · 7 years

Text

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 9

from trips to the land of the rising sun to growing families

Kid: (smiles) "Your skin is flawless..." (brushes a hand along her waist, as he perceives something deeper...) "But it's your soul that shines..." (kisses lightly along her neck) stocking: *she sighs softly* Kid: (continues kissing, a bit higher, until he reaches the corner of her mouth) stocking: mmmm~ Kid: (kisses her lips, while keeping his lips mostly shut, waiting to gauge her reaction...) stocking: mmm kid~ Kid: (lets his tongue pass slowly over her lips) stocking: *she shivers a bit* Kid: (pulls back) "S-Sorry..." stocking: no, i-its fine... *she kisses him on his forehead* Kid: (rests his hands along her waist) "Maybe you should take the lead..." (starts to lie back) -later- stocking: *panting* h-how.... how was it? Kid: "Oh, God..." (panting) "Incredible." (looks at her, laughs a bit) "Just incredible." stocking: hehe~ you make the cutest sounds. Kid: (smirks, turning over to look at her) "I could say the same to you. Especially your laugh..." (lets a hand rest on her breast) "...when I do this..." (tickles her nipple) stocking: ah~! k-kid that tickles! Kid: "Heh heh heh..." (draws her in for a hug, kisses lightly on her lips) stocking: mmmm~ i love you so much kid. Kid: "I love you, too, Stocking. I never say it enough, I need to not only say it here...But I love you." (rests his chin against her shoulder) stocking: *she smiles* Kid: (kisses her shoulder) stocking: *she slowly falls asleep in his arms* Kid: (smiles) "I love you." (slowly falls asleep as well) -the next morning. its the weekend!- stocking: zzzzz.... Kid: *Yawn* "Hmm..." (hugging Stocking) stocking: mmmmm.... Kid: *Yawns again, opens one eye, smiles* "Beautiful..." stocking:.... *she opens her eyes slightly* mornin... Kid: "Morning." (kisses her cheek) "Did you..." *yawn* "...sleep okay?" stocking: yeah... you? Kid: (nods) "I...think intimacy can be a good stress relief for sleep." (smiles) "Thank you for being here." stocking: *she smiles* anytime kid. Kid: "Stocking, it's Saturday...Would you...like to shower? With me?" stocking:....sure. Kid: "Are you sure? I mean only as an invitation." stocking: i-if you really want, i guess i wouldnt mind. Kid: (smiles) "Just bathing. Nothing else unless you are interested. At least I can help you reach your back..." -one shower later- stocking: haa~ that was relaxing. Kid: (sighs) "Yes, it was." (naked, leans back, stretching his back) stocking: thanks for helping me with my hair. Kid: "I hope I was helpful--I didn't want to massage too hard." stocking: *she smiles* Kid: (opens their dresser, removes two sets of boxers) "Which should I wear?" stocking: whatever you feel like, babe. Kid: "Hmm...These red silk." (smirks, holds them up to her) "Smooth, are they not?" stocking: oooh. *she strokes them* Kid: (smiles) "What are your favorite underwear to put on?" stocking:...*bluuush* d-depends. Kid: (approaches, stroking her cheek) "On what?" stocking: well, normally i just wear white and blue striped undies, but sometimes i like to wear black silky undies for... special occasions~ *she traces a finger up his chest* Kid: (blushing a bit, but even voice) "Black is always a good color." (takes her hand, kissing it) "I love your striped white-and-blue, by the way." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (smiles) "You are beautiful." (rests his hands along her shoulders) "I love your style." -later- Patty: (in Kid's suit) "Symmetry is key." liz: still cant find your spare clothes, eh? Patty: "Nah. I went into the shower, pop out--boom! Gone! I asked the maids, but they said they didn't take them. Who the hell steals clothes in this house?!" stocking: morning guys. liz: hey, but really, you literally have the same exact outfit in your closet. Kid: "Good mo--" (eyes widen) "Patty?" Patty: "But I like that outfit! I swear, if someone messed it up, I'm gonna wring their neck!" (turns, looks at Kid--and imitates his two-finger pose and usual frown) "Hello, Kid. How is this symmetrical day treating you?" Kid: (clutches Stocking's hand) stocking: *chuckling* Kid: "F-Fine. You, um...said you could not find your outfit?" liz: she literally has one just like it in her closet! Patty: (pouts) "Yeah, it was my favorite, too! I was in the shower, someone stole my clothes, and I had to skip out of the bathroom in my towel." (gestures) "So I popped into your closet and took one of your suits!" (glares at Liz) "I said it was my favorite! I am superstitious like that! At least if I put on one of Kid's suits, I might get some of his good luck!" Kid: (whispers to Stocking) "Some luck..." stocking: *sweats* Patty: "I swear, if there is one alteration, one tear in my sweater and shorts, that person is getting an ass-whooping! And don't even get me started on my favorite hat--who knows what sick pervert might be doing with that?!" Kid: *sweating more* stocking: um.... Patty: (studies Kid and Stocking) "You two have a good night's sleep?" stocking: you bet. slept like a rock last night. Kid: "Yep. Sleep." (sweating more, wiping his forehead) "Just sleeping. Sleep, sleep, sleep..." Patty: "..." (leaning forward at Kid and Stocking, studying them) liz: ?? Kid: "...The...suit looks good on you...Right, Stocking?" stocking: yeah, it sure does! Patty: (smirks) "Oh, really?" (looks at Kid) "So, you don't mind if I keep it?" Kid: "N-No! Take it! It's yours!" Patty: "Do I have your permission to...cut off one of the sleeves?" Kid: o_o liz: he has thousands of them just like it anyway... kirika: DO IT FOR THE VINE! Kid: "I CONFESS! I TOOK IT!" Patty: "...Ah ha! J'accuse!" *Phoenix Wright stance* liz: when does she speak french? Patty: "Been practicing!" (realization) "If you took my clothes, though, did you also take my bra and panties?" Kid: "What?!" stocking: no! Kid: "I-I-I didn't! I didn't find any bra and panties when I stole your outfit!" Patty: "Then who did?!" Kid and Patty: (looks to Liz) "Ideas?" liz: *shrugs* *mewling is heard someplace* kirika: *sweats* Kid: "Shh...What's that sound?" kirika: nothing! Patty: "Kirika? You hot? Do we need to fix the A/C again?" kirika: its nothing im fine! stocking: is... is that a cat? Kid: (spots ears) "What on earth?" Patty: (rushes towards Kirika) "Are you hiding a kitty-cat? WITH MY UNDIES?!" *a small kitten is nestled in patti's undergarments* Patty: "...Well, a pussy in my undies is--" Kid: (slaps hand over mouth) "No." kirika: s-shut up! *blushing* Kid: "You brought in a cat? Why didn't you just tell us?" kirika: she's a baby! i couldnt just leave her out there on her own! i-if you tell anyone i'll kick yer ass! Kid: (holds up his hands) "No problem there. But in the future, tell us: I certainly would not have objected if you explained to me first..." (looks at the cat) "I know they can be messy, but I do want to overcome...some of my symmetrical tendencies." Patty: "Aw, she's so tiny! You didn't see her mama anywhere?" kirika: ....... Kid: "Oh...Well, our first step is to bring her to a vet. Tezca had recommended one to us--I hope they are accepting new patients." kirika: ... i guess... Kid: "Stocking, please make sure the cat is warm. We'll take her over as soon as I get a vet..." stocking: ok... she's doing good so far. Kid: (on the phone) "We'll be right over." (hangs up) "Let's get going to the vet." -later- stocking: she's in good health. kirika: *sigh of relief* Kid: (smiles) "Is the kitten ready to return home?" kirika: i think so. Patty: (back in one of her usual outfits) "So why won't you give me back my cowboy hat?" Kid: (frowns) "Drop it, please." Patty: " 'Kay! Kirika, what you gonna name the kitten?" stocking: i spilled juice on it by accident. we need to wash it off. kirika: i was thinking 'Mocha'. Kid: (laughs a bit at Stocking's remark, whispers) "Good save." Patty: "Hmm...Neat name, Kirika!" (leans down, quietly looks at Mocha) mocha: mew! *she seems pleased* Patty: (hugs Liz and Kirika) Kid: (puts an arm around Stocking) -later, on the day of the school trip- Kid: "You all have your tickets?" -they all do- tsugumi: i cant wait to introduce you to my family and friends back home! Meme: "It'll be great to see where you grew up!" Anya: "And I've been studying my Japanese!" (struggles to say "Kon'nichiwa") "Cone-itchy-wah!" mio: werent you already to japan, senpai? i mean, you showed up there and brought me to death city. tsugumi: pretty close. ao: perhaps we can visit my grandmother at the old shrine. Meme: "But Mio, not in Tsugumi's neighborhood, though." (puts finger to her chin) "Um...Tsugumi, am I forgetting something?" mio: i got your ticket for you. Meme: "Ah, thank you, Mio!" (pats her head) -where is the first stop on the trip? mana: <ok where did we end up?> *looks at her map* <SHOWTARO YOU IDIOT THIS IS TOKYO NOT TOYKYO!!> Shotaro: <Ha ha ha! I had the silly map upside-down sorry!> chie: *sigh* *facepalms* stocking: excuse me ma'am? *ahem* <do you know where Sakurao ryokan is?> chie: <Sakurao? sorry, dont think i've heard of it.> Shotaro: <I could help! I'm great at directions! Right, Mana?> mana: *glaaare* Shotaro: (smiles, ignorantly, then looks at Stocking) <See?> *bwhamp* Shotaro: <Ouchie> sayaka: ACK! my luggage opened up! Crona: "Here, let me help you..." --Black Star stares at Shotaro-- Black Star: "Um...Does this dude look familiar to you?" sayaka: ...... maybe he's you and tsubaki's son from the future? idk. Crona: (rolls eyes, putting more of Sayaka's items into suitcase...) "How did you fit a sword in this suitcase?!" sayaka: ack! i didnt intend that! Crona: "Who doesn't realize they packed a sword?!" Harvar: "..." (hides his luggage behind his back) sayaka: i did bring my soul gem, so it must have come outta there. liz: amazing how security isnt doing anything about it. guard: <we see shit like this all the time.> Kid: (smirks at Stocking) "At least when you bring swords, they're carry-on." (points at her legs) Patty: <Yeah, those metal detectors keep going off when we weapons go through them.> (realizes she just spoke Japanese--and sees the subtitles under her) "Huh." soul: ......... mana: ???? <whats with you?> soul: uh....huh? stocking: she's asking whats wrong with you. soul: n-nothing, its fine. Kid: (observing Soul) Black Star: "You sure, bro?" soul: y-yeah. Black Star: (studies him) "Say...Isn't Mrs. Albarn still around here in Japan?" soul: beats me..... i think... nevermind... Black Star: "..." (pats his shoulder) "Yeah." chie: <well, since most of you dont seems to understand us, we'll have to switch to what is commonly refered to as the universal language. aka.> english. Patty: <Everyone in the world speaks English!> (smacks the side of her head) "Sorry. I was stuck on Japanese." Kid: "So, no idea where our hotel is? I assume we will have to check with Information..." liz: dont mind my sister, she's a bit... well. just herself i guess. mio: whats with all the stuff you have harudorin? tsugumi: just some stuff im dropping off at my house Anya: "That is quite a number of items to constitute 'just some stuff.' What is it all?" tsugumi: souviners and stuff mostly. -later, after being brought to the ryokan- Patty: "Oooo, very traditional looking...Props to whoever made this choice!" -soon, everyone is brought to their rooms- Black Star: "Who has which rooms?" -soul and patti, meme and ao, anya and mio, tsugumi and liz, sayaka and homura, madoka and chrona, mami and tsubaki, kid and black*star, stocking and shinra, arthur and eternal feather- eternal feather:.... *sigh* Arthur: (seductive grin) "Hey..." shinra: dude. not here, not now. Kid: (grunts) "This is not the roommate I wanted..." Black Star: (frowns) "Would you sit down? The room is symmetrical enough--you can stop checking the fibers on the mats!" -and so- soul:........... Patty: "...Soul?" soul: yeah? Patty: "I'm sorry if this is awkward being your roomie. Anything you need me to do, just ask." soul: no worries... its been a while since i got to have a roommate........i just.... that girl at the airport.... Patty: (turns over on the bed, looks at him) "What about that girl?" soul: she looked just like maka.... but with shorter hair.... Patty: (frowns) "I...could see that...You miss her, huh? A lot" soul: of course i do... she was my partner, after all.... sure we squabbled a lot, but at the end of the day, i still cared about her.... Patty: (laughs a little) "You two really did fight a lot..." (sad eyes) "I don't know how much you miss her...but I miss her, too...She was always kick-ass, was kind..." (sniffs a little, approaches Soul, hugs him) soul: she sure was..... Patty: (pats his back) "Soul? Is there anything you want to do here in Japan? For Maka's sake?" soul: just, try to enjoy myself. Patty: (smiles) "Okay...We should start that now." (lets go) "Think we can get a drink somewhere in this hotel? Some saki?" soul: i think you mean sa-ke. but i dont think you're allowed to have alchohol. -elsewhere- eternal feather: *reading* Arthur: ("She hasn't looked at me at all..." clears throat) eternal feather: ?? Arthur: "So, what're you reading?" eternal feather: just a phrase book. Arthur: "I thought you _were_ Japanese." eternal feather:............ *she calls him a jerk in Vietnamese* Arthur: "Sorry, what was that?" arthur: *she just ignores him* Arthur: "...Whatever. I'm going to bathe..." eternal feather: *sigh*.... (thinking: i wonder if i could learn more about hiro this way....worth a shot, right?) Arthur: (enters changing room) -after that- eternal feather: so, you're hiro's cousin, right? Arthur: "Yes." (smirks a bit) "Heh heh heh..." eternal feather: o-o..... so... does he have any hobbies? favorite shows, anything like that? Arthur: "..." --A Good and Bad Conscience pop up on his shoulders-- Good!Arthur: "You should tell the truth: a shining knight does not deceive a lady!" Bad!Arthur: "But a knight has to have fun once in awhile--lie your butt off!" Arthur: ("...What should I do: tell the truth, or lie?") -just be honest here.- Arthur: "Well, Hero likes martial arts movies. He practically has Bruce Lee's films memorized." eternal feather: ah. Arthur: "He always has to go to the convenience store to get food for everyone else, but really, he's rather cook his own meal--since he's, you know, all on his own." eternal feather: i thought he was living with his parents and sister? Arthur: (shrugs) "Sometimes, he's on his own, home alone in the house." eternal feather: i guess. Arthur: (smirks) "Why are you so keen to know about Hero? Thinking about making him dinner and having a night-in watching Jackie Chan films?" eternal feather: *blush* i-i just... want to know about his interests. is that so wrong? Arthur: "No. Not wrong at all." Arthur: "But talking to me won't help you as much as talking to him yourself." eternal feather: i guess.... *she sighs* y-you wont tell him this, will you? Arthur: (smirks) "How much you willing to pay for my silence?" eternal feather:.... nevermind.... *she goes to bed* Arthur: "Jeez, alright. I'll keep my mouth shut." (turns off lights) "Night." -the next morning- shinra: *with a red bruise on his face* ow... stocking: i wanna change rooms. Black Star: "...I'll switch. But what happened to you?" shinra: she woke up and started screaming and hitting me. Kid: "Stocking?" (approaches her) stocking: *she hugs kid tightly* i forgot we werent sharing a room....do you hate me? Kid: "No, I could never. But you must apologize to Shinra." stocking: s-sorry for beating you up. shinra: i-its cool. hurts like hell, but its cool. Black Star: (slaps Shinra on the back) "Come on, dude. I'll help you move your stuff into my room." Kid: (hugs Stocking) "It's okay. You're okay." -so they do some exploring around town- Black Star: "Helloooooooooo, Tokyo! Woot!" Kid: "Good work undermining the 'ugly American' stereotype, Black Star." soul: so, where to first? Kid: "Tokyo Tower?" stocking: that sounds great! Black Star: "A view of the city from its highest point--the best place for a god to stand above all! Come on, Tsubaki!" -and so- tsubaki: the view is just breath taking... Black Star: (silent, just smiling) Patty: "Where's our hotel at, Sis? I can't see it from here." liz: its so huge... Patty: "Well, if the hotel's so huge, why can't I see it?" stocking: i think its over there. Patty: (turns) "Oh! I didn't even look that way! Thanks!" Meme: (sighs content) "It is a great view." Anya: "Is this really as high as this building goes? I thought it would be taller." tsugumi: its pretty high up though. mio: *green in the face* too high up... Meme: "Mio? Um...Let's walk back a bit..." (holds her hand to guide her away from the view) mio: can i go back down now? Meme: (smiles) "Of course. Let's head to the elevator..." Anya: "Best let the tower's staff know, too." -later- liz: so where to next? Black Star: "Get a snack or an early lunch? I'm sure we could find a decent restaurant." tsubaki: i think there's someplace around... oh! how about there? Patty: "...I can't read that sign. What's it called?" tsubaki: 'Shirosaki restaraunt and sushi bar' Kid: (opens smartphone he got in Japan) "It has good reviews, and it is affordable." (smiles) "Well, lunch will be on me." stocking: neato! Patty: "Say bye-bye to your food budget, Kiddo! Come on, Black Star!" Black Star: "Eat Kid out of all his money! Yahoo!" Meme: "Mio, are you okay?" mio: yeah... a bit better now... Meme: (smiles) Anya: "Will this food be authentically Japanese, or only kinda Japanese?" tsugumi: about as authentic as it gets. Anya: "I hope so." (opens menu) "Um...Could you translate for me?" tsugumi: of course. what looks good to you? Anya: "I would like a sushi that fills me up quickly, with a lot of flavor. Meat or vegetarian--whatever works." -after lunch, shopping time!- Kid: (shakes his wallet--and only a moth flies out) "Thank goodness for a DWMA credit line..." Black Star: "Charisma Justice comics everywhere! So many to buy!" (hugging manga) stocking: oh my gosh! they have all the hottest lines, Raku-Chan, Fruity nyan nyan, fangblade. the whole works! Kid: (smiles) Patty: "Look at the arcade! Who's up for DDR?!" stocking: *raises her hand* Meme: "Oh, that'll be fun! Come on, Mio!" tsugumi: there's a purikura booth! Anya: "Pure what-a?" tsugumi: pu-ri-ku-ra. its really cool. its like a photo booth, but you can customise it with stickers and stuff! Anya: "Well, I could be convinced..." (blushes, takes Tsugumi hand to lead her to the booth) ao: i'll come as well. Anya: (frowns) "Oh, joy." Kid: "Stocking, which song are you coming to play on DDR?" stocking: lets go with this one. Kid: (smiles) "Good choice..." -later- Kid: "Wow." stocking: phew. Kid: "Heh. You still have great steps..." stocking: i've been practicing. Kid: "At the arcade?" stocking: at the arcade, at home. Kid: "Let me know the next time you want to compete--I'd love to play." stocking: sure~ Anya: (looking at photographs) "Should I have added more stickers?" tsugumi: i think it looks cute. stocking: can we get a turn>? tsugumi: sure! Kid: (smiles) "After you." -so they go in and take some pics- Kid: "I wonder how they turned out." stocking: they're so cute! Kid: (smiles) "Yes...and they only accentuate your cuteness." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (hugs her from behind, pointing at one photo) "I like that one the most. I haven't seen you smile like that in a long time..." stocking: *she smiles and kisses him* oh look at this one! *she points to one of kid kissing her cheek with heart stickers on it* Kid: (smiles...kisses her other cheek) -later- Black Star: "So many comics...food...Man, I should be in Japan more often. I'd probably be the King around here." tsubaki: maybe. Black Star: "Emperor Black Star! Hey, every emperor has to be a DWMA grad anyway--I COULD BE RULER OF JAPAN!" soul: oh boy. Kid: "Japan under Black Star...I would move out." Black Star: (frowns) stocking: so, now what? Kid: "Perhaps a walk through a park?" stocking: sure. --At Shinagawa Park-- Kid: (sees the children playing in the park) stocking: oh look. *she points to a karaoke stand* why dont we go there? Kid: (nods) "Let's." -and so- Kid: "Which song were you considering?" stocking: how about this? -pop drop candy- Kid: "Catchy." (smiles) -stocking sings along- Kid: ("The voice of an angel...") soul: ok, my turn. -kagerou days- Patty: "Yay, Soul! Woo!" -later, back at the hotel- Patty: "Soul should sing more often!" Kid: "Indeed." (holds Stocking's hand) stocking: so..... whos up for some ghost stories? liz: nope! Patty: "Yep!" Black Star: (raises hand) "Yeah!" stocking: who's up first? --Lights flick off-- --A flashlight turns on-- ???: "I'll go first..." liz: EE! --The flashlight shines to reveal it is Meme-- Meme: "Bwa ha ha! I have a tale to make your skin crawl!" mio: oh boy. Meme: "I will tell you of the Red Cloak, the charming man who corrupts young ladies, dragging them to their graves..." tsubaki: ooh. liz: Q~Q Meme: "The Red Cloak is a man, sharply dressed, who visit social gatherings. He's the man in the corner booth at the bar. He's the handsome gent across from you on the bus. And he sits beside you..." stocking: *she looks at kid* Kid: (gulps, holds her hand a little more tightly) Meme: "His voice is smooth. His features are delicate, but his build is muscular. He is one hot body." Patty: "Oh, that's hot..." Meme: "But he is facing a conundrum: he is heading to an event, and he is not sure which tie goes best with his suit. He shows you the ties: one is red, and one is blue." Meme: (shines the flashlight on Liz) "Which color do you choose?!" liz: i dunno. Meme: "YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE, ELIZABETH!" liz: uhh red? Meme: (buzzer sound) "Wrong answer! He was hiding a switchblade underneath the red tie and cuts your throat! Pick again!" liz: *gulps and holds her neck* BLUE! Meme: (buzzer sound, twice) "Now he chokes you until your face turns blue and you die! HA HA HA H--" Anya: (grabs flashlight from Meme, lightly taps it on the top of her head) Meme: "Owie...Anya, that was mean." Anya: "Stop scaring the coward: you know how sensitive she is." liz: so im basically screwed either way... Meme: (takes the flashlight back) "YES!" Anya: (takes back the flashlight) "Stop that! *sigh* Who else wants to play?" Meme: (frowns, sighs) "Mio, you liked the story, right?" soul: i'll go. this is the story of a family. a father, a mother, and a child. soul: they were a relativly normal family, until one day. the father accidently killed the mother in a drunken rage, and buried the body in the cellar. he told the child his mother was on a trip. soul: days came and went without any problem. eventually, the father asked why the child never asked his mother. and the child said this…. soul: 'but papa, mama's standing right behind you.' Anya: (hugging her knees to her chest) liz: EEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!! Meme: o_o Patty: "AAAAAH!" stocking: freaky. Black Star: "Tch. That's the best you got, Soul? I could tell a way scarier story..." --Black Star takes the flashlight-- Black Star: "There was a man who ran a burger restaurant. He had so few customers that he had to throw out the rotten meat at the end of each day--and that smell always attracted dogs to the dumpster..." tsubaki: ?? Black Star: "Tired of his life, tired of his failed business, tired of everything, this owner got fed up--and he shouted at one stray hanging around, 'Beat it, you damn mutt!' And the dog looked back...and in the shadows the owner could see there was something wrong about this dog...freaky about this dog..." Black Star: "This dog...HAD HIS FACE!" soul: dude what the fuck?! Black Star: "Looked just like him! Exact same eyes, exact same nose! And the dog had his voice when it shouted, "Leave me alone!" liz: Q~Q Black Star: "The owner stepped back! He tried to say something, anything coherent! But all that came out was one sound: 'WOOF!'" madoka: i dont get it... Black Star: "Shocked at the sound of his own voice, he fell back! And he saw, in the rain puddle next to him, THAT HE NOW HAD A DOG'S FACE! All he could do was howl into the night, as the face-stealing dog sprinted off with the face of him that he stole! BOOOOoooooOOOOO!" Anya: (frowns) "Yeah, not impressed." Patty: (muffled voice) "I thought it was good. Right, Sis?" ao: i think i know one. this is a story my grandmother told me and my sister when we were children. Anya: (rolls her eyes) Meme: "Oh?" -a few stories later, it was kid's turn- Kid: "Oh, um...I'm not sure I can rise up to the level of these stories...but I do know one..." (looks to Stocking) stocking: what is it? Kid: "The story of the kunekune. That's Japanese for twisting, turning, meandering. They say that you should never look directly at the kunekune, or you will be driven insane." soul: oh? sort of like a kishin? Kid: (shudders) "No, not quite like that. Its power comes from being at a distant...so that its vague shape drives people insane trying to determine just what it is..." sayaka: creepy. Kid: "If you look to the horizon, you can see it: it's like a white squiggle--rather asymmetrical, too...But it is too indiscriminate to really refer to it as having a human form. Some witnesses have said it is in the shape of a child. Others said an elderly person. Some said even a bestial form." liz: TT~TT Kid: "People who have seen this apparition have similar symptoms: face become pale, sweating, trembling...they start to speak in a voice not their own..." Kid: "In the worst cases, the person collapses onto the floor--and laughs. Just...laughs. No one is ever the same after seeing the kunekune." mami: so, who's next? Kid: (hands the flashlight to Stocking) "Care to have a go?" stocking: ok. sometimes, while walking home late at night, you will come across a woman. she looks like any other woman, but is wearing a surgical mask, or a scarf. Kid: "..." stocking: sometimes, this woman will come up to you and ask. 'am i pretty?' if you say yes, she will remove the mask and reveal her mouth has been split at the ends, giving her a smile from ear to ear. she will then ask 'how about now?' Patty: o_O Kid: (shudders) Black Star: "Dude..." stocking: if you say no, she will kill you. if you say yes, she will give you a smile like hers. the best way to deal with this is to say you have someplace to go. she'll let you be on your way then Anya: T_T Meme: (clutches Mio) "Creepy..." mio: well i got one. and this is a legit true story too. Meme: "..." (squirming) Anya: (raises eyebrow) mio: after hanging out at the mall in my hometown, i decided to take the bus back home. as i rode, more and more people got off, until eventually, it was just me and the driver. Meme: (sweating) mio: he didnt know i was still on the bus, so he drove up into the mountains. and as he drove, he opened up his mouth........... Meme: (clutching Tsugumi) mio: he opened his mouth..... AND BEGAN SINGING THE PRETTY CURE THEME SONG AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS!! --Everyone screams-- stocking: thats it? mio: it was weird! the guy was, like, 70 or something! eventually when we got to the bus station he found me and had my mom pick me up. Patty: (shuddering, clutching Liz) "Creepy..." mio: okkkkk boyle, you wanna go? Arthur: "Very well...This story is called...the Ogre." --It's exactly what you expect his story about be about-- -elsewhere- maki: i dont know why, but i think im gonna kick arthur's ass when he gets back from the trip -back in the ryokan- Arthur: "And that is how I valiantly defeated that beast and claimed victory for the Princess!" mio:................ Kid: "...You just told a story of sword and sorcery, not really a ghost story." Arthur: "Every story I tell is about knights! That's my motif!" shinra: i got one thats really creepy. Crona: "R-really creepy?" mami: do you want to get something from the vending machines? Crona: (nods) -in the hall- mami: how are you holding up? Crona: (smiles) "Better. Thank you. You're...very kind." mami: *she smiles* ah, here it is. so what would you like? Crona: "Something with a little chocolate?" mami: hmm. oh. how about a kitkat? Crona: "Oh, they have those here?" mami: mmhmm. they also have green tea flavored kitkats as well. Crona: "I-I hope we can buy some before we leave..." mami: *she buys a few* here you go. -back in the room, patti is telling her story- Patty: "I shall tell the tale of Shirime. Have you all heard of it?" liz: its not a 'cursed' story is it? if it is, skip to another one. Patty: "No, no--it's really cool! It's a ghost with no face, and a huge eye coming out of its butt!" liz: ...........what...... Patty: "A samurai was walking to Kyoto, when someone in a kimono stepped out of the shadows to block his path. The kimono man asked for a moment of the samurai's time." Patty: "The man turned around, dropped his clothes, and bent over--revealing a big honking eye coming out of his butt!" Patty: "And the butt-eye glowed! Like a flashlight shining out in the night!" -silence- Kid: (slaps hand over his face) Patty: "Ha ha ha! Pretty gross, huh?" sayaka: AND THEN A SKELETON POPPED OUT! liz: *SCREAM* Patty: "Hey, no one asked for you to add to my story! It was perfect on its own!" sayaka: sorry~ *sweatdrop* anyone else got any stories? Black Star: "Tsubaki? You got one?" tsubaki: well, there is one, though im not sure if it counts as a 'story'... Kid: "Well, let's here it." (holds Stocking's hand, whispers) "Some of these are really scary..." tsubaki: there's an old shrine behind my home, the nakatsukasa family shrine. its a very old building. it's been around as long as i can remember. my father always told masamune and i to never go inside. Black Star: (serious face) Patty: (quiet) tsubaki: sadly, thats all i really know about it. but it always really scared me. Black Star: "...You going to your home while we're here though, right?" tsubaki: yes. but we really shouldnt go in that building. Black Star: (nods) "Okay...But maybe your dad could be a little more honest about whatever it is why he doesn't want to go..." Patty: (whispers to Liz) "Black Star should totally go inside the shrine." liz: no! -later- Kid: "Everyone going to be okay sleeping? Liz? Crona?" Crona: (shaking a bit) "S-Sure..." liz: Q~Q Kid: "Liz? Maybe we should stay up with you for a bit..." liz: o-ok.... stocking: *she smiles* Patty: (hugs Liz) -later- stocking: *asleep between kid and patti* liz: *sleeping aside patti* Patty: *yawn* "This is nice, Kid..." Kid: (smiles) "Get some sleep, Patty." Patty: *yawn* "Love you..." Kid: "I love you, too. Good night." Patty: (snoring) Kid: (falls asleep) \kiiiiiddoooooo~\ Kid: (tossing) "Wha--?" -silence- Kid: (in dream) "Who's there?" -a figure is huddled up in a corner of the room- Kid: (awake, sees the figure...but can't quite sense a soul there...) "H-Hello?" -the figure turns back. it looks like you, but with 5 black lines running from the top of the lip to the chin. its teeth are bloody. it is holding a limp and near lifeless stocking, who is twitching with a blank, wide eyed expression- Kid: (eyes wide) "No...Not again...You get out of here!" stocking:? k...ki.....id..... *her neck is bloody* Kid: "Stocking!" (gets up, rushes to her) "Let go of her!" \she is mine.\ Kid: (seizes Stocking, cradling her from the Mad!Kid) "No, she is not!" stocking?: *choking on her own blood* Kid: (hyperventilating) "Stocking, no, no, no..." (puts his hands to her neck, trying to stop the bleeding) "Patty! Liz! Call an ambulance!" -they arent there- Kid: "Someone! Help!" stocking?: *a gurgling sound rattles from her throat as her eyes roll back* Kid: (he can't feel her soul...) "No." (he falls over her. Silent. Then he starts sobbing.) "Stocking." stocking?: *her skin begins to decay and turn to dust, leaving only bones* Kid: (gasps, then lets out a wail) -the body lay lifeless for a few moments, before it springs to life, letting out a demonic scream and sinking its needle like teeth into kid's neck- Kid: (shrieks, slapping at his neck, feeling blood seeping out of the teeth marks) ???: KID WAKE UP! Kid: (eyes break open as he screams and throws out his hand to grasp at something) stocking: kid? are you ok? Kid: (clutches Stocking in a hug) "Thank God...I thought you were dead." stocking: ??? Kid: "A dream. I dreamt you were dead...And..." (cries) stocking:........ *she strokes his head* ssshhhh... its ok kid.... im here... Kid: (crying) "Stocking..." stocking: *she kisses his forehead* i love you kid. Kid: (his sobs only rise in pitch; he clings to her, trying to calm his breathing) liz: breakfast ti- kid?! stocking: shhh. he had a nightmare... liz:....kid..... Kid: (buries his head into Stocking's chest, trying to hide from Liz) stocking: its ok kid.... its going to be ok... Kid: "How can you know that? How can you know it will be okay? What if--it happens again?" stocking: its going to be ok. i'll always be here for you. Kid: (silent, but calmer...) "Th-thank you..." -later- Kid: "..." stocking: ...... *she holds his hand* Kid: (slight squeeze) "I...want to do something to calm down..." stocking: like what? Kid: "I think I'll relax in the bath...maybe tonight. But I also...Stocking? When we were in the park, and saw those children playing...I felt happy because I thought...I thought about you and me..." stocking: oh? Kid: "I want a future, Stocking. I want to live. I want to live for you, for any children we would have. And I...I can't do it if I am...like I am afraid." (looks at her) "How do you keep going?" stocking: ...... Kid: "How do you keep staying alive?" stocking: its..... hard to say really.... Kid: "???" stocking: s-sorry. i dont usually have those kind of thoughts. Kid: (nods) "I mean more so depression and feeling dread...fearing the next bad thing that will happen." stocking:...... -later- Patty: (hugging Liz) "Kiddo..." liz: he's...doing better now... Patty: "He still looked pretty bad...Sis? Is Kid going to get better?" liz: im sure he will. Patty: "..." (sniff) stocking: *she's holding kid* Kid: "..." (his breathing has calmed) "Thank you." stocking: did you want to do anything else in tokyo? we're going to be going to the next stop tommorrow... Kid: "I was thinking of two places. The Meiji Shrine, and the National Museum." stocking: m-meiji?! Kid: "Stocking? What's wrong?" stocking: meiji as in..t-the chocolate company~?! *her eyes light up* Kid: "...Well, I meant the shrine. But we can also visit the chocolate facto--" stocking: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!!!! liz: gck- ...m-my ears... Kid: (hair blown back) "So...we'll go to the chocolate factory, then..." stocking: yay! Kid: (smiles) "Go get dressed..." -and so- Kid: (looking at Stocking) o_o stocking: what? Kid: "You're glowing. It's like pure happiness radiates off of you." (holds her hand) "You are beautiful." stocking: *she smiles and blushes* Kid: "Let's go. I think the walk will do good for me, and the factory...Well, I think you're going to be pleased with it"' stocking: ok. --They arrive-- Kid: "Ready to enter?" stocking: yes. Kid: "Okay..." (pushes open the doors--and hit with the scene of chocolate, which again knocks back his hair) "Again? Really?" stocking: *joyful squeals* Kid: (still smiling, as they enter...and they approach a platform, overlooking the factory's workings...) stocking: *drooling* Kid: (looks down from the platform to see...) "Is that a canal? Full of chocolate?!" stocking: am i dreaming? Kid: (smirks) "I could pinch you...": stocking: oh~? Kid: (gets closer to her to look over the platform) "Oh, believe me, you're not dreaming..." (smirks) "...unless you're asking..." stocking: hehe~ is there a gift shop? tell me there is. Kid: (nods) "I already called a delivery service to ship anything you buy back home for you..." stocking: ..... I LOVE YOU!!! Kid: (smirks) "Is that you, or your candy-fetish talking, Miss Pheles?" stocking: *pouts* making fun of me are ya? you're so meeeean! Kid: (brushes his lips along her pouting ones) "I like your candy-fetish..." stocking: i like cakes and desserts too. Kid: "Sweets for a sweet person..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (looks at the river of chocolate) "Am I going to have to install something like that in the Mansion?" stocking: its not _that_ extreme, haha. stocking: but its tempting~ Kid: (whispers to her) "Imagine swimming in it..." stocking: yeah.... the downside is it'd be a pain to wash out of my hair... Kid: (nods) "Showercap, maybe..." stocking: maybe~ Kid: "Or a chocolate bath...just up to your shoulders..." stocking: you'd have to clean me of then~ Kid: "Sounds...tasty." -later- Kid: "Is that enough chocolate? I think there’s still a few bars in the back corner--expired chocolate." -later- stocking: so this is the shrine, huh? Kid: (smiles) "Peaceful." stocking: its nice. Kid: "Yes...I can hear the wind brushing along the tree branches..." stocking: *she listens* Kid: (inhales, exhales...meditates on the sound of the wind) stocking: *humming* Kid: (listens to her humming..."What is that song?") -that night- liz: so where's the next stop? Patty: "Kid and Stocking coming along?" Kid: "Of course. Did you think we'd pick up and go elsewhere?" soul: its a class trip, remember? Patty: (pouts) "After the lovebirds went off on their own, I thought they had eloped or something at the shrine." Kid: "Wh-What?!" stocking: *angel chop!* Patty: "Ouch!" (small halo forms over her head) "Man, I didn't want to die like this..." (falls back into Liz's arms) x_x liz: you're not dead yet! Patty: "Send my body to Artie. Stuff it and keep it next to his bed..." *Gak!* Arthur: 0_o Kid: "...Right. So, how about Nara?" tsugumi: i have a book here about the sights. i could.... soul: she better not tsugumi: *snicker* i could.... NARA-rate it for you! Meme: -_- Anya: -_- Patty: "...Stocking? Hit her." mio: oh my god. stocking: *facepalms* tsugumi: come on, that was a good one! sayaka: i liked it. Black Star: "...Oh! Now I get it! Ha!" tsugumi: see, some people appreciate my jokes! Crona: "...Um...what is in Nara?" mio: ask tsugumi, she can nara-rate it for ya. tsugumi: gagantous! shinra: gaga-what now? Meme: "We...still don't know." Anya: "It's like a nervous tic..." Crona: "Um, Tsugumi? Please tell me about Nara." -the next morning, after they all gather their things and head for the hotel in nara, tsugumi shows chrona the book- Crona: "Deer?" tsugumi: a whole park full of them. you can even feed them! Crona: : ) eternal feather: so where is the hotel? Kid: "Close to nature. It's the Nara Hotel." stocking: ooh. mio: oh man, i think i saw this hotel in 'another'.... *shudders* Kid: "The Imperial suite...traditional decor...Japanese rooms...Wait, what do you mean 'Another'?" mio: its a horror anime. also really bloody. sayaka: yeah, i never finished it... not after the umbrella scene....*shudders* never run down the stairs with an umbrella. Kid: "I don't usually." (clears throat) "I trust we will have better room arrangements this time." (looks to Shrina) shinra: what.... WHAT?! Kid: (cringes) "Sorry! I didn't mean to stare. I just meant that...Um..." (smiles) "Who would you like to room with? Whoever you want..." shinra: im down with whatever really. Kid: (nods) "Stocking? Will you room with me?" Stocking: of course.~ Kid: (smiles) Patty: "Me and Sis!" sayaka: dibs on soul-brother! soul: heh... Crona: "M-Mami?" chrona *she smiles* ok. Anya: D: "Why?!" Arthur: o\\\\o "I-I-I...I'm okay with this. Yeah. Sure." Meme: (pouts a bit, looking at Mio...) ao: aw, how cute. tsugumi: ^^; homura: guess it cant be helped. Kid: (leans against Stocking, resting his head on her shoulder) Patty: "Deer! I saw a deer!" tsugumi: ahh! so cute! Anya: (rolls eyes a bit) "So many on the castle's grounds..." Black Star: "Magnificent beast of nature! So graceful! So beautiful! Good for you, you deer!" Kid: "Stop sticking your head out the window, Black Star!" mio: kinda scraggly lookin....but cute i guess... Meme: "Oh, we're approaching the hotel..." -after everyone settles into their own rooms- Kid: (seated on floor in traditional Japanese room, looking out open door to porch) "Peaceful." stocking: its really nice. Kid: "Is this room okay? Some people aren't used to Japanese rooms and want something more Western..." stocking: i dont mind. my dad loves this stuff. Kid: (smiles) "Have you gotten him a souvenir yet?" stocking: a few actually. i got him this. *she holds up a figurine of a girl with dark hair and wielding a sword* i also got him this. *a kokeshi doll* Kid: "Apt. That's very kind of you to get something for your father...I'm not sure Father will like my gift." stocking: what did you get him? Kid: "A bonsai and some new clippers to go with it. And the largest box of Pocky I ever saw." --Meanwhile, in the Death Room-- Lord Death: (staring up) "It's 20 feet tall!" yumi: *adjusts her glasses* wow. -back at the hotel- Kid: "I'll have to think of something else for him..." (lies on floor) stocking: you ok? Kid: (smiles) "Yes. I just don't want to disappoint Father...or anyone else..." stocking: im sure he'll love it. Kid: "Thanks..." (stares at the ceiling) "Stocking? What would you like to do while we're in Nara?" stocking: well, what all is there? Kid: "Numerous temples, the imperial palace, the primeval forest, museums, hot springs..." stocking: hot springs sounds nice. Kid: (nods) "Yes. I think that would relieve some tension..." (winces, rubs his neck a bit) stocking: *she smiles* Kid: "Do you feel tense?" stocking: i would like to relax with you, if thats ok~ Kid: (smiles sweetly) "Always." -later at the onsen- Kid: "Ah...So warm." stocking: this is nice. Kid: (looks at her) "Indeed. You feel your muscles relaxing?" stocking: yeah. Kid: "Do you...feel awkward? I mean, being here with me?" stocking: no. if anything, i feel very comfortable. Kid: (smiles) "I'm happy to hear." (offers his hand to her) stocking: hey kid?.... liz told me that on the trip here....you had a nightmare where i dumped you. is that true? Kid: (frowns) "It's true." stocking:..... *she kisses him* well, thats never gonna happen. dream me is a bitch. i love you, ok babe? Kid: (stares--then laughs) " 'Dream me is a bitch'?" (laughs a little more, holds her shoulders) "I love you, too." (draws her in for a hug) stocking: *she hugs him* you're the most amazing guy, i'd have to be an idiot to pass that up! Kid: "No, please don't say that." (pulls back a bit) "Stocking, I want us to be the best we can, for ourselves and each other. I would never want you to be in a relationship if you felt uncomfortable with me. I love you too much to hurt you like that.” stocking: well, im perfectly comfortable with you, so dont worry about that, ok? lets just focus on happier things. Kid: (smiles) "Okay." (rests his hand along her waist) "This feels perfectly comfortable, too. And happy." stocking: hey kid? Kid: "Yes?" stocking: *she dives under the water then comes up behind him and glomps him* SNEAK ATTACK! Kid: "Ah!" (falls face-first into the water, with Stocking on top of him) stocking: hehe~ Kid: (still under the water, not moving) stocking: kid? you ok? Kid: (while she's distracted, he turns over to face her, his hand cupping one of her buttcheeks) stocking: O////////O ah! Kid: "Hee hee...Very shapely." stocking: kya~! Kid: "Should I let go?" stocking: *blush* well, if you want... or did you want to move your hand a little.... higher up~? Kid: (smiles) "Gladly..." (moves his hand a little higher up) stocking: almost there~ Kid: "Where do you want it, love?" (keeps moving up, waiting to know where she wants his hand...) stocking: i'll give you a hiiint~ they're soft and round~ Kid: (smirks) "You forgot 'beautiful,' too..." (rests both hands along her breasts) stocking: ahhhh~ that feels so good kid... Kid: (massages her breasts, while stroking her nipples) "Stocking..." stocking: *she sighs contentedly, blushing* Kid: "Is this good?" (tickles left nipple with the tip of his finger) stocking: a-ah~ Kid: "Or maybe this...?" (leans up, and kisses the top of her right breast) stocking: *she moans softly* Kid: (kisses down her breast, until he reaches her nipple) stocking: oh-ohhh~! Kid: (feeling himself grow harder at her sounds; he licks along her nipple, as his other hand continues to play with her nipple) stocking: d-do you want to move this to our room? Kid: (looks down, nods) "Yes." -later- stocking: *laying in his arms, panting* ahh.... i... forgot how good that felt.... Kid: (panting as well) "Yes...Thank you. I needed that..." (laughs) stocking: hehe~ *she kisses him* t-thanks for being gentle with me.... i think im g-getting better.... Kid: (smiles) "I'm glad..." (kisses her forehead) "You are getting better..." (smirks) "...in many ways. That mouth of yours..." stocking: *blush* y-yeah... Kid: (blushing, too, and sweating nervously) "Stocking? How am I with...my mouth?" stocking: hehe, you're quite talented, especially with your tongue~ Kid: (blushing, nervous smile) "Th-Thanks...I still feel like an amateur at all of this..." stocking: yeah... i-its been a while. Kid: (serious) "Too soon?" stocking: n-no. i was ready now so.... *she smiles* nevermind. Kid: "No, what were you going to say?" stocking: i was ready for sex, so its perfectly fine. Kid: (smiles) "I'm happy that you were ready." (kisses her forehead) "Stocking, I follow your lead: whenever you are ready, please ask." (hugs her) stocking: so what did you want to do tomorrow? Kid: "I heard some of our friends wanted to visit the petrified forest to see the deer and hard wood." stocking: *snickers* b-but yeah, the deer are adorable arent they? or rather... a-deer-able?............wow that was awful. Kid: "Oh, that is a bad pun..." (lightly strokes her lower back) "You should be spanked for that one..." stocking: oh~ Kid: "Should I...?" stocking: i-if you want~ Kid: (smirks, rubs along her backside...then gives a light spank) stocking: ah~! Kid: "How does it feel to be the *butt* of the joke...?" stocking:...........*she bursts out laughing* Kid: (blushing a bit) "Too corny?" stocking: its cute. like you~ Kid: (blushing) "Th-Thanks..." (hugs her) "Stocking? I love being with you, here in the bedroom or anywhere else. I love you." stocking: i love you too. *she smiles* Kid: "What now? Have something to eat? Get some sleep?" (smirks) "Or do we need another bath to clean up?" stocking: *yaaawn* Kid: "Sleep it is..." *Yawn, then kisses her shoulder* "Good night, Angel." -the next morning- Kid: (murmuring a bit in his sleep as he wakes up) stocking: morning handsome~ Kid: (smiles) "Morning, beautiful..." (strokes a hand along her cheek) stocking: you hungry? Kid: (nods) "This hotel has an excellent breakfast." ((I think this real-life hotel does serve breakfast--not sure what, though)) -later- tsugumi: aww, they're so cute. *she's feeding a deer* Kid: "Mmm..." Kid: (holding up food to deer) "P-Please? Don't slobber on me?" -it sniffs and nibbles the food- Kid: "G-Good deer..." Patty: "Hey, Bambi? Can I ride you?" liz: i dont think thats a good idea Patty: "Oh, come on--it's not like I can get arrested. We're like diplomats or something!" Police Officer: "You even attempt to ride that deer, and I'll lock you up for decades." (stares at Liz) "And you, too." liz: lets just go over here. *picks up patti and walks off* Patty: (slung over Liz's shoulder) "Bye, Officer! Don't tell customs how much stuff we're bringing home!" Kid: "Stocking? Look at this deer...She has a marking there..." stocking: oh? *she examines the mark* Kid: "Angel wings." stocking: woah. cool. *she takes a picture* -a buck ends up headbutting arthur in the crotch- Arthur: (shriek, as he then falls to the floor, clutching his Crown Jewels) Anya: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Patty: "Get ice! We must save his glorious baby-parts!" guard: we'd arrest him for attempting to ride the deer, but it looks like he's been punished enough. *cringes* shinra: *snaps a pick and chuckles* --Meanwhile, in Fire Brigade HQ-- Tamaki: "Hey, I got a text from Shinra--" Tamaki: o_O leonardo: what is it? Tamaki: (breaks out laughing) "Best. Day. Ever!" ("But now he'll never be a father...") -back in nara- Kid: "Well, while doctors tend to Arthur's...injury...I am interested to see the forest." Black Star: "Tsubaki! This deer is like the Will inside of you! He's not going to get all pissy at me, is he?" stocking: yeah. do you know what fashion trends are popular in nara? tsubaki: ^^; Kid: "Well, you cannot go wrong with an authentic Nara kimono. Care to visit some of the shops?" stocking: sure! --At one kimono shop-- Kid: (already dressed in a dark blue kimono) "Hmm...I am pleased it closes in the front, for the sake of symmetry." stocking: *in a purple and black kimono with a crane design* looks nice. tsubaki: *in a floral patterned green kimono* i think this will work. <thank you very much, ma'am.> Kid: (blushing at Stocking) Black Star: (in a bright blue kimono) "Ah, I can feel the wind between my legs...Neat!" soul: *he went for red* mami: it looks nice, chrona. *she went for a light blue with a flower petal design* Crona: (in black) "I-I hope so." Ragnarok: "Tch. Some color..." Ragnarok: (whistles at Mami) "Nice flowers." mami: ^^; Ragnarok: (smacks Crona) "Say she looks pretty!" Crona: (blushing) "M-M-Mami? You look...nice in that...kimono." (nervous smile) mami: *she smiles* thank you chrona. Crona: (sweating nervously) -later- Kid: "Nara really is beautiful...peaceful..." (holds Stocking's hand) "...intimate." stocking: *she smiles* Kid: "I suppose now is time for dinner." (sees some snow falling outside) "There's a Teppanyaki around that will warm us up." stocking: snow? already? y-yeah that sounds good. Kid: "Stocking? Are you okay?" stocking: yeah, just surprised from the snow. i thought it was like...summer now? my internal clock must be messed up. Kid: (blinks, looks outside again...then frowns) "Patty?!" Patty: (standing over window, sprinkling salt outside) "Had you going, huh, Kid?!" Kid: (slaps hand over his face) "My internal clock is worse than yours, Stocking." liz: *sigh* so what now? Kid: "Still up for dinner?" soul: sure. sayaka: yep! Black Star: "Yummy!" -and so- Patty: (clapping her hands for the chef's performance) "Bravo!" stocking: woah! Kid: "Impressive." Black Star: "Dinner and a show--good bargain." shinra; so what are we all getting? Kid: "I'm interested in the Kobe beef." soul: i'll try the okonomiyaki. Black Star: "One of everything." tsubaki: ^^; i'll have some udon. Patty: "Okonomiyaki!" sayaka: i'll have the okosana lunch. Crona: "Just udon." -after lunch- Black Star: "BuuuuuuUUUUUUUUrp!" stocking: yummy~! Kid: (pats napkin) "Delicious." homura: any idea on what to do next? Kid: "There are museums, shrines, shops, parks...What would everyone be interested in visiting?" liz: maybe check out some shops? Patty: "More souvenirs! I want to get a little deer figurine for Lord Death!" soul: i think i'll get some more postcards. Kid: "Father asked me to get him and Azusa new kimonos. I want to find something else for him." Black Star: "I'm going to help Arthur kidnap a deer." stocking: oh look at this! *its a small statue* tsubaki: black*star no! Patty: "Neat, Stocking! Buy it!" -later- Kid: "Do you think Father will like this? He hasn't played music in awhile, but I thought he'd appreciate this lute." liz: sure. Patty: "Maybe your dad will write some new songs. It's been awhile since he did that, too." stocking: he does that? Kid: "Yes. He has a really good singing voice." Kid: (smiles) "He used to sing me to sleep..." stocking: ah. Kid: "What did you buy, Stocking?" stocking: this fan. Kid: "Neat. Any writing on it?" stocking: just a picture of a mountain. Kid: (nods) "Liz? What did you buy?" liz: i got this. *a hair pin* Patty: "Cute!" (a thump emanates from Patty's suitcase...and she starts to sweat) liz: patti.....open the case. Patty: (sweating nervously as she opens--and a buck springs out, leaping over Liz and knocking Kid to the floor) Kid: "Omph!" liz: h-how?! Patty: "I just wanted one!" Kid: (clutching his chest) "Ow!" Deer: (breaks through paper walls, heads down the hall) -later, after the bail is paid- tsubaki: well, my home isnt too far from here. im sure my parents will let us spend the night. Kid: (large bandage over his chest, glaring at Patty) Patty: o_O "Nara prisoners are weird...One wanted to buy my kidneys..." sayaka: *healing* feel better kiddo? Kid: (nods) "Thank you." sayaka: C : tsubaki: <excuse me sir, could you take us to sunrise village?> Black Star: (carrying four persons' luggage) driver: ah, of course. -and so, they arrive in the village- Crona: "What's your home like, Tsubaki?" tsubaki: it's a rather rural area. Patty: "Are there deer?" Kid: (glares at Patty) tsubaki: occasionally. Black Star: "I hope your parents have enough room. Otherwise, we're stuck in close quarters." tsubaki: i think that's the estate now! Kid: (frowns) "I will have to offer recommendations to your parents for a redesign. It's not symmetrical at all--" tsubaki: *glare* Kid: (sweating) "I'll...wait for them to seek my invitation to advise." (hides behind Stocking) stocking: hehe~ Meme: "What are your parents like, Tsubaki?" tsubaki: well, they're nice i suppose. *sweatdrop* Anya: (noticing her nervousness) "Compared to, say, my parents?" tsubaki: i cant say for sure, i've never met your parents, anya. Anya: "Did they keep you locked in a castle for almost a decade, where your only source of entertainment was some sharp-toothed pianist with a sour disposition?" (glances at Soul) soul: *SWEATS* tsubaki: no! they're nothing like that! Anya: "Hmph. Good. I would hate to have parents more obsessed with rules than amusement." (smirks at Soul) soul: *huffs* Kid: "I just hope we get decent sleep. _We gave up an excellent hotel room all because one frustrating person--_" Patty: (glares) -they are now at the door to the property- Black Star: "Do we knock? Ring a bell? Throw a rock at the window?" servant: *tending to the garden* .... !!! <ah! lady tsubaki! you're home? i shall alert lord sanjuro at once!> Meme: " 'Lord Sanjuro'?" tsubaki: my father. servant 2: <you may enter> -they enter the building- Black Star: "Duuuuuude..." mrs nakatsukasa: ah, my child. *she hugs tsubaki* Anya: "Hmph. Quaint." tsubaki: *she hugs back* tsugumi: she looks just like an older tsubaki. Black Star: (blinks) "Oh, me? Um, yeah. I just tend to stick to the English." (holds out a hand) "Black Star, ma'am." mrs nakatsukasa: ah i see. well, make yourselves at home. my husband will be with you shortly. *she smiles* Kid: (bows) "We appreciate this, Lady Nakatsukasa. I am sorry for this imposition." (grabs Patty by the neck, pulling her down into a bow) Patty: *Ouchie!* soul: hmm? *he listens in* ???: <yes, ever since your son's passing, lady Oichi's mental state has...rapidly declined.> Mr. Nakatsukasa: <"I understand that. Please, we are trying our best--"> soul: ?? ???: <i know. even though their marriage was arranged, she loved him very much. now for my main concern. some of the servants who went into her quarters....they have not come back out. i've even heard screams at night.> Mr. Nakatsukasa: (almost to himself) "...It's happening again, isn't it?" mrs nakatsukasa: *knock knock* <sanjuro, tsubaki is here with her friends.> Mr. Nakatsukasa: <"Friends"? Hmmm...This may be advantageous...We will return to this in a moment. Excuse me...> --Sanjuro exits-- Sanjuro: (holds out arms to Tsubaki) tsubaki: ah! father! *she hugs him* tsugumi: um, he- *ahem* <hello sir.> *she bows* Kid: "Thank you again, Lord and Lady Nakatsukasa. We are most satisfied with the sleeping arrangements." tsugumi: *looking at pictures* ..... *she spots one, of two young children in yukatas* ... !!! ah! tsubaki: hmm? oh, that's a picture of my grandfather and his sister when they were children. Meme: "They look happy." tsugumi: i know who that girl is! mio: oh? Anya: "You do?" tsugumi: im not sure if i can believe it...n-no... this is definatly a picture of my grandma when she was young! Anya: o_o Meme: (gasp) "It's like a plot out of a tv drama!" tsubaki: now that i think of it, my grandfather did mention that he had a sister who left for the city... Anya and Meme: (clutching hands, crying) "A family reunion..." mio: you guys are weenies. -_-; ao: oh! so its similar to black*star and myself then? Black Star: "That's...an odd coincidence." -later- Patty: (holding up a family tree chart) "And that's how we know that we are all technically each other's cousin. Thus concludes my lecture. Thank you." Sanjuro: "...You have made some odd friends, Tsubaki." tsubaki: ^^; Black Star: "Don't judge us too severely, Mr. Tsubaki's Father--we're still some kickass warriors!" shinra: *looks at the line between the drawing of him and arthur, with a line pointing from arthur to shinra that says 'secretly has feelings for'* PATTI WHAT THE HECK!? Patty: "Well, why else do you obsess so much about him if you don't have bow-chika-wow-wow feelings for him?" shinra: THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS!! Patty: "But that's hot! Don't ruin this fantasy for me!" Sanjuro: o_o tsubaki: why dont we get some fresh air, father? ^^; Sanjuro: "Yes, let's..." (shudder) Patty: "???" mio: jealous, hepburn? Anya: *blushing* "A-About what?" mio: your boyfriend having the hots for a dude? Anya: "HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" (awkward silence) "Oh, go back to your girlfriend..." shinra: ok im confused now. Meme: (smiles, hugs Mio from behind) "Yeah, Mio, I'm confused, too." (smirks) "Who's your girlfriend?" shinra: w-wha?! i-i dont know what you're talking about! Meme: (still smirking) "I meant Mio's girlfriend. Or do you have one too, Shinra? Maybe you are cheating on Anya?" Anya: o_O mio: O////////////////////////////////////////////O *faints* ao: i think by 'anya's boyfriend', wakabe-san meant arthur. Meme: (holds Mio's limp body) "So cute." shinra: IT WAS ONE TIME ON ACCIDENT I WASNT GETTING OFF TO IRIS I SWEAR................. O________________O Anya: "I AM NOT DATING ARTHUR! I--" (hears Shinra) "WHAT THE HECK?!" soul: *laughing* way to dig your own grave kusakabe!! tsugumi: *GASPS* miss anya! language! Anya: (slaps hand over her mouth, practically crying in embarrassment) Black Star: "Dude, cursing in Mr. and Mrs. Tsubaki's Father and Mother's house? What is wrong with you, Princess?" sayaka: .................... i ship it. Crona: "Which ship? I've lost track..." -outside- tsubaki: it's been a while. Sanjuro: (looking at the sky) "Yes. Is it so different from how you remember it?" tsubaki: not by that much... do you think... i made the right choice about masamune? Sanjuro: "...I don't know. What do you think he would have done had you not...not...?" tsubaki:..... im not sure.... i dont think i want to know.... Sanjuro: (holds her hand) "He is still with you. Tell me, do you sense him, within your soul?" tsubaki:.... *she nods* just a little, but yes. Sanjuro: "Then he is still here. And that's going to have to be enough." tsubaki: *she nods* i could never tell oichi-nee.... she'd probably hate me... Sanjuro: "She...would not understand. It is not your fault..." tsubaki: *she hugs him* ........ Sanjuro: "Your mother and I love you, Tsubaki. A parent always loves their child..." tsubaki: *she smiles* Sanjuro: (pulls back) "You and your friends will need your sleep. How long will you be here?" tsubaki: we might be here for a day before moving on to the next stop on our class trip. Sanjuro: "Stay as long as you desire." (small laugh) "You have surrounded yourself with some real weirdos." tsubaki: and this isnt even all of them. Sanjuro: "Tell me, are students at the DWMA as loyal as those weirdos in there seem to be?" tsubaki: *she smiles and nod* as loyal as they get. Sanjuro: "That is all a parent needs to hear." (stands up) "Get some sleep, Tsubaki. And welcome home." -the next morning- Kid: *yawns* stocking: zzzzzz~ Kid: (reaches to check the time on his phone) "Hmm...Stocking?" stocking: *yaaawn* hnnn gwuuh? Kid: *Yawn* "It's almost 8. I thought Tsubaki's parents were serving breakfast..." *Yawn* "...at this time." stocking: ah, right! -at breakfast- Black Star: (holds up empty plate) "May I have seconds, please?" (wide grin) Kid: (smirk) "On our best behavior, are we?" tsubaki: ^^; mrs nakatsukasa: coming right up. *she smiles* Black Star: (smiles happily) "I see where Tsubaki gets her cooking expertise! Delicious meal!" Patty: (shoveling food in her mouth) Anya: (still blushing) soul: *pap pap* happens to the best of us, princess. Anya: "Wh-What?" soul: nevermind. Meme: "Mio, how's your meal?" mio: guhd. Meme: (smiles) "Smaller bites, sweetie." mio: *blush* y-yes ma'am... Meme: (smiles) Sanjuro: "Tsubaki, what is on the agenda for you and your friends?" tsubaki: well, visiting the major areas in japan, kyoto, osaka, shinjuku, etc. Sanjuro: "And for today? More sites in Nara?" tsubaki: perhaps. Kid: "What did you want to do today, Stocking?" stocking: not sure yet. tsugumi: maybe we could go to kyoto and visit my family? Meme: "Oh, that would be fun!" Anya: (too loud) "YES IT WOULD!" (blushing) ao: i would love to meet them. tsugumi: my house isnt as big as here, so... soul: we can get a hotel, no biggie. Kid: (nods) "We can cover that expense." Meme: "Hmm...I guess a few of us could sleep over at Tsugumi's. Anya, you should sleep over at Tsugumi's." Meme: "You too, Ao." mio: i'll sleep over too, i guess. ao: i would love to! Meme: "Well, if Mio is going, so will I!" mio: .////////. tsugumi: awww! Meme: (smiles) Anya: (glances at Arthur...then turns away) Arthur: (avoiding eye contact) "Shinra...Help me?" shinra: you dug yourself into this mess, you dig yourself out. Arthur: "You help me, or Iris learns what happened to that missing pair of underwear!" shinra: THAT WAS YOU! Arthur: (pulls out cell phone) "Not if I tell her it was you first!" -riiing- iris: shinra? are you there? shinra: uhh... h-hey iris... iris: well, a-about that... *ahem* thing i misplaced, turns out it got stuck inside my pillowcase during laundry. mystery solved, i guess, haha. Arthur: (eyeroll) "Some hero you are..." shinra: oh hush....wait.... if it was in the pillow case... who's undies did you take? -meanwhile- akitaru: thats weird. i could have sworn i had an extra pair of underwear. Takehisa: "You should learn to fold and organize your undergarments more thoroughly, sir." -back with the group- Black Star: (finishes his meal) "To Kyoto? Or is there more here?" (remembers) "Hey, how about that haunted shrine, Tsubaki?!" tsubaki: .................... mrs nakatsukasa: i dont know w-what you're talking about. tsubaki: oh! the haunted house tour at the one amusement park? sure, that sounds fun. Black Star: (frowns) "But Tsubaki, you told us about--" tsubaki: the shrine haunted house at the park. -she covers his mouth- Black Star: (muffled) Kid: o_o; -later, they head to kyoto- Sanjuro: (serious) "Tsubaki?" tsubaki: yes? Sanjuro: "Be safe. We love you." tsubaki: ok. *she hugs him* Black Star: "Later, Mister! Thanks again!" Sanjuro: (waves goodbye to his daughter and her meister) -they arrive to the hotel in kyoto, which is a themed hotel- sayaka: oooh an underwater theme. nice! Crona: (staring at a fishtank) "Peaceful." tsugumi: you go on ahead, we're going to go to my house. Kid: "Tsugumi? Please text us to know you get there okay." tsugumi: yes sir *salutes* Kid: (smirks, returns salute) Anya: "L-Liz?" liz: *shrugs* -and so- -din don- Meme: (waiting) "Tsugumi? What are your parents like?" ???: <coming!> *she opens the door* <ye- tsugumi!> *she hugs her* tsugumi: <mom!> *hugs back* mio: that answers half the question. Anya: (slight smile to see the hug) Meme: "I guess so." ao: <its nice to meet you mrs harudori. my name is ao hoshino, one of tsugumi-chan's partners.> mrs harudori: <o-one of?> tsugumi: *sweatdrops* <its a long story mom. a really. long story...> Anya: "Um...I-I don't understand." Anya: "What are they saying?" tsugumi: you can come in. my brother's been studying english, so you might understand him better....hopefully. Anya: (pouts) "I still feel like a third wheel...or fifth wheel..." Meme: <You have a lovely home, Mrs. Harudori.> mio: *pap pap* Anya: (frowns) "What is with the *pap pap*?" mrs harudori: <why thank you... meme-chan, right?> mio:.... *shrugs* Meme: (nods) <"Tsugumi has told you about us?"> -later, in the dining room- mr harudori: <ah, seems your brother is home now.> Osamu: <Hey, Mom. I'm home! What's there to eat--> (sees the guests) <Sis!> tsugumi: <sister tackle attack!> *hug* Osamu: <Umph! You're getting taller, Little Sis!> (sees guests) <Who are these young ladies?> tsugumi: <these are Anya, Meme, Ao, and Mio.> mio: yo. Meme: <Nice to meet you!> Anya: "H-Hello." Osamu: "Oh? You speak English?" Anya: (nods, avoiding eye contact) mio: *playing her handheld* Osamu: <...They seem a little shy, Tsugumi.> ao: <would you like to give us a tour?> tsugumi: sure, i'll show you around Osamu: <That should be fun.> "Anya, is it? Come on, you'll see all of Li'l Sis's stuffed animals." Meme: "Hee hee hee." -in tsugumi's room- mio: wow. thats a lot of magical girl posters. tsugumi: ^^; Meme: "I think they're cute." (looks in Tsugumi's closet) "You have some cute clothes you left behind, too, Tsugumi." mio: ...hm? who're these? Osamu: "???" tsugumi: ah! these are my home friends, Miku, Saori, and Satomi. Anya: (frowning) "Those names seem familiar. You wrote to them?" tsugumi: *she nods* Meme: "You'll be visiting them while we're here?" -din don- Osamu: "You expecting someone?" tsugumi: *shrugs* *she opens the door* ???: <TSUGU-NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!> *TACKLES* Anya: "She's being attacked!" tsugumi: ack! <m-mii-chan!> miku: <OHMIGOSHTSUGUMIITSREALLYYOUIMISSEDYOUYOUGOOBEROMG!!> Meme: "Wait, Anya! It's not--" Osamu: <Oh no...> ???: *pulls her back* <easy there.> miku: <ehehe, sorry satomin.> Anya: "???" tsugumi: ah! miku! satomi! Anya: "They aren't here to kill Tsugumi?" satomi: its great to see you again, tsugumi-chan. *she smiles* tsugumi: ah, so you've been practicing english too, sato-chan? *she smiles, then frowns* where's saori? miku: <she's not here, she's staying with her dad in okinawa for the summer.> tsugumi: ah. Meme: "Um...Hi?" satomi: hmm? say, werent you that girl in a missing persons report some time ago?...... Meme: T_T "Yes..." (holds out hand) "Meme. *sniff* Pleasure to meet you..." satomi: .... meme? well, the person missing was 'Megumi Kozuki'.... must just be a coincidence then. i'm Satomi Kannagi. miku: <Miku Maebara here~!> Anya: (serious) "Anya Hepburn." (grabs Tsugumi's arm) "Tsugumi's meister." ao: <Ao Hoshino, tsugumi-chan's meister as well.> satomi: ah. i see.... mio: *acknowledging grunt* tsugumi: that's Mio. Meme: <And this is the delightful Mio.> tsugumi: she's meme-chan's partner. Anya: "So, how did you know that Tsugumi was coming home?" satomi: mrs harudori called us. Osamu: "So, are we going to have to set more plates for dinner?" -at the hotel- Kid: "What would you like, Stocking?" stocking: i hear there's a really neat pool here. Kid: (smiles) "Does it have a slide?" stocking: yep, there's even tubes connecting the aquariums so you can sorta swim with the fish. Kid: "I have my swimsuit in my luggage. I can be ready in a few minutes." stocking: *she puts on a pink and orange bikini* Kid: (in black trunks with white lines along the hems) "God, you look amazing..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (gazes at the pool) "Wow. It's big." stocking: look, the fish are swimming in the tubes! how cute! Kid: (smiles) "It's soothing, too. stocking: *she slips into the pool* Kid: (follows after her) "The water's not too cold." stocking: splash attack! *she splashes him* Kid: "Hey!" (laughs, splashes back) "Take that!" stocking: ah! haha! Kid: (slides under her, picking her up in his arms) stocking: *she chuckles and kisses his forehead* Kid: (smirks, as he falls backwards, letting her fall back into the water) stocking: *she holds her breath as she goes under* Kid: (holding his breath, he swims along with her) stocking: *she looks at a tube with a few fish swimming through* Kid: (studying the fish, pointing to a large eel in the tube) stocking: *she looks at it* Kid: (eyes widen, as he points to a nurse shark!) stocking: !!! Kid: (lets go of Stocking's hand to swim up to catch his breath...) stocking: *she also catches her breath* Kid: "I can't believe a nurse shark was in there!" stocking: wow. Kid: (sees the slide) "Want to?" stocking: oh hell yeah! Kid: (helps her out of pool, as they climb up to the slide) "Is it one at a time on the slide?" stocking: looks so. Kid: "Who should go first?" stocking: hmm. 'children must be accompanied by an adult'. *she ends up going first with a younger child* child: weeee!!! Kid: (smiles: "She will be a great mother...") child: thanks lady! stocking: no problem. Kid: "Is it okay to come down?" stocking: *she gives him a thumbs up* Kid: (smiles, sits on the edge...and slides down) "Whee!" Kid: (lands in the pool, going under the water as he descends) stocking: hehe~ Kid: (rises out of the water) "Refreshing, isn't it?" stocking: yeah. Kid: (looks down, then sighs with relief) "I can't tell you the number of pool mishaps I have had..." stocking:........... C: Kid: (chuckles) "Wipe that silly grin off your face. Just be happy your top didn't come off on that slide." stocking: yeah. Kid: "Has that happened to you before?" stocking:.......... *excalibur face* Kid: (sighs) "Something we have in common, then." stocking: ....... *bluuuuuuuuush* Kid: (kisses her forehead) "I can't wait to use the pool back at the Mansion. It's been so long..." stocking: yeah. maybe we could check out the pool at my place too. stocking: well, my dad's place anyway. Kid: (smiles) "I would like that." -later- Kid: "That was refreshing..." stocking: yeah. want to watch tv? Kid: (nods, curls up on the couch) stocking: *she turns on the tv to what appears to be a tv drama* Kid: (hugs her as they watch) stocking: *siiiigh* im thinking about babies again. Kid: (frowns) "Would you hate me if I was thinking about them, too, when you were with that child at the pool?" stocking:.... *bluuuuuuuuuush* Kid: (blushing, too) "I just...thought you looked natural dealing with a child..." stocking: really? i didnt really notice. Kid: "You seemed at ease. Have you...ever babysat?" stocking: nope. Kid: "Maybe...when we get home, we can try to babysit? It could make us used to parenting..." stocking: i guess. Kid: (smiles) "I think you will be a great mother." stocking: *she smiles* Kid: (lays a hand over her stomach, rubs lightly) stocking: *blush* Kid: (kisses lightly along her lips) stocking: mmm~ Kid: (slides hands along her sides, lifting up her shirt...) stocking: ahhh~ Kid: (pulls off her shirt, tossing it towards the door...) Black Star: (kicks down door) "Kid! Stocking! You won't believe--" (shirt lands on head) stocking: O__________O Kid: D: Black Star: "Hey, what the--" (pulls off shirt...and gets an eyefull) "...Uh...Hi." stocking: ./////////. *trying to cover her chest* Kid: "WHY DO WE BOTHER TO LOCK DOORS WHEN YOU JUST KICK THEM DOWN?!" Kid: (summons cloak, covering Stocking) "GET OUT!" Black Star: "O-Okay!" (dashes away) Kid: "...I am so sorry." stocking: i was about to throw one of my swords at him.... Kid: "The next time we see him...Sigh...I'll call the hotel to have the door replaced. Or to have us moved." stocking: *she sighs* your cloak feels nice. Kid: (smiles, blushing) "I'm glad..." stocking: *she snuggles into his chest* Kid: "S-Stocking? We...have the door wide open. I love f-feeling you, but we should do something about t-the door..." homura: *sigh* let me. *in the blink of an eye, the door is fixed* you're welcome. Kid: o_o Kid: "W-Where were we?" stocking: *she kisses him on the lips* Kid: ("Oh...that's where we were...") (returns the kiss) -after a while, she falls asleep in his arms- Kid: (strokes her hair..."She will be a wonderful mother...a wonderful wife...") *Yawns* (carries her to their bed) stocking: zzzzzzzz Kid: "Good night, love..." (pulls sheets over them, letting his cloak remain over her, as he falls asleep by her side) -back at the harudori house- mio: zzzzz *drooling* Meme: (next to Mio, hugging her in her sleep) Anya: (tossing in sleep, groaning) "N-No..." tsugumi: hmm? a-anya? Anya: (wakes up) "S-Sorry...I can't sleep well." tsugumi: do you want some warm milk? that usually helps me feel better. Anya: (nods) -and so- tsugumi: here you go. Anya: (smiles) "You're very kind, Tsugumi." tsugumi: *she smiles* did you want to talk about what was bothering you? Anya: (frowns) "A lot has gone on the last few days...about what I want and...some jealousy." tsugumi: oh? Anya: "Of Arthur...and of your friends here in Kyoto..." tsugumi: ?? Anya: "I mean, you have your friends...and Ao. And Meme and Mio have each other. And I look at Arthur, and I feel...I feel...confused. tsugumi: confused? Anya: "...He is kind of attractive...but obnoxious. He has a...decent physical appearance. But his personality is aggravating. I feel repulsed by him...and...confused." tsugumi:..... C: Anya: -_- "Don't look at me like that. Just advise me: what should I do?" tsugumi: well, i guess you have an aesthetic crush on him. by that, its what you said; you think he's good looking. but if his personality is too much of a distraction, i wouldnt recommend it. Anya: (nods) "That makes sense. I will not be pursuing...But his body is still on my mind...Those abs...Unf." tsugumi: ......... C: Anya: (frowns) "That smile is really annoying...What do you do when you feel distracted?" tsugumi: what do you mean? Anya: "When you can't get an attractive person off your mind? What do you do to focus on anything else?" tsugumi:............................................*steam comes out of her ears* Anya: "Tsugumi! Wh-What's wrong?!" tsugumi: i-im ok. Anya: "O-Okay." (blushes) "Maybe we can discuss this another time...like not in your parents' house." tsugumi: good call. -the next morning- soul: so where to first? Black Star: "Dudes! Dudes! Manga museum! There is a manga museum in Kyoto!" Black Star: (sees Stocking--blushes, turns away) stocking: *glaaaare* sayaka: OHMYGOSHYEESSSSS Black Star: (hides behind Tsubaki) Kid: "So...Manga Museum?" Patty: "Show of hands!" (raises both hands) -seems we got the vote- -and so, tsugumi and company joined as well.- --At the Museum— sayaka: this is so cool! Black Star: (staring) "First edition...Charisma Justice..." (reaches to touch the glass case) sayaka: *INHALES* this is soo awesome! Guard: (smacks Black Star's hand) "Do not touch the glass." tsugumi: look! there's a whole section for magical girls! Meme: (chuckles) "Now you have more decorations for your bedroom." tsugumi: .////.;;; Anya: (slight smile, looking at the outfits in the manga) "Very decorative..." -later- Black Star: "All I'm saying is that, they have exhibits for Oda and the other big names--but none for Okuda? What the heck?" sayaka: *shrugs* oh well, maybe someday. Patty: (holding a stack of manga) "So much reading to do...Kid, let's get this stuff mailed when we get to the hotel!" stocking: well, my dad's now got some new stuff for his collection. Kid: (stares at Stocking's collection) o_O "Does your father have an entire room just for this collection?" stocking: i wish i was making this up. hell, its more like a library sized room. Patty: "Does he keep his manga in plastic bags so the value doesn't depreciate?" soul: and i thought sayaka was the mega-weeb. sayaka: ^^;;;; stocking: *shrugs* i doubt he'd be parting with it anytime soon. Kid: "At least I know what to get your father as a welcoming gift...Actually, when is his birthday?" stocking: he says its a secret to those outside the family. ask your dad, but i doubt he'd tell. Kid: (nods) "Understood. Well, the next time we have dinner with him, I'll get him something." stocking: *she smiles* Anya: (blushing) "Um...Could we...talk a walk at the cherry tree canal, the Philosopher's Walk?" tsugumi: that sounds nice. Meme: (nods) "Mio?" mio: s-sounds fine. Anya: (smiles) "G-Good." Arthur: (to Shinra) "What's up with them?" shinra: *shrug* Kid: "If we are going along the cherry blossoms, perhaps we should be in kimonos? It may make for good photography opportunities." stocking: sounds good! Kid: "Let's bring the souvenirs back to the hotel and change there. Tsugumi and others, we still have your kimonos there with our luggage, so you can change there, too." madoka: i here theres a park with monkeys in it someplace. tsugumi: ok! i already dropped most of my souvenirs off at my house. Crona: (slight smile) "Do you feed the monkeys, or just watch them, Madoka?" madoka: i think you get to play with them, according to the tour guide. Crona: "Th-That's good." Ragnarok: (pops up) "One monkey gives me a stink-eye, I'm kicking his ass!" mami: *tiny chop to raggy* no. Ragnarok: "Ouchie!" Kid: "Well, let's get to the hotel and change..." -students changing, please be patient- Kid: (adjusting his kimono) "Fashionable..." stocking: you look nice. *she smiles* Kid: (smiles at her) "As do you." -and so- Kid: (adjusting the camera at the tripod) "Move in a bit closer, everyone." liz: ok. say 'fuzzy pickles'! --Everyone but Black Star: "Fuzzy Pickles!"-- Black Star: " 'Fuzzy' what?" Kid: (snaps) liz: nice! -liz takes a few shots with her phone- Kid: (holding hands with Stocking in a photo) sayaka: *has a pic with madoka with peace signs and a smile* Black Star: (grabbing Soul in a bear hug) -a few photo ops later- Anya: (smiles at photos on her phone of Meme, Tsugumi, Ao, and Mio) mio: *frowns* stupid glasses shine.. Anya: ("My family never got out for these trips much...It's nice to be with friends.") "You look fine, Mio--stop complaining." Meme: "They make you look smart." mio: 7////7; Meme: ("So cute." smiles) Anya: "I'll text these pics to you, and to your emails..." madoka: ah! i think i see the monkey park now! Crona: (actually clapping) "Yay!" mami: that sounds like fun. Kid: "We still have more than enough room on the camera for more pictures." Patty: "Let's get going!" -and so- ao: they're so cute! Meme: "Hee hee hee..." Black Star: (staring at a monkey) "Hang on--I can totally beat this guy at a staring contest." tsubaki: *she smiles* Kid: (points) "Stocking, look! She has a baby." stocking: awww! --The baby monkey yawns-- stocking: hnnng! Kid: (looking at surprise at that noise) "Um...?" stocking: *blush* s-sorry... cute overload. Kid: (smiles) "I'm familiar with a cute overload...whenever I see you." stocking:... o///////o Kid: (kisses her forehead) stocking: hehe~ --Monkeys keep running around, as Patty and others snap pics-- Patty: "Could you monkeys just sit still?! I want a decent pic of you!" mio: um.....theres a monkey on my head. Meme: o_o homura:.... *snaps a pic* Patty: "Neato!" (photographs repeatedly) mio: 7///n///7 Anya: (chuckles) "Excellent..." mio: T-T Crona: (tries to offer a snack to the monkey atop Mio's head) monkey: *eats it* Crona: (smiles) "So cute. Aren't they, Mio?" mio: maybe... Crona: (holds out arms to the monkey to get them off Mio's head) monkey: *climbs on* mio: *she holds onto her glasses* Ragnarok: "Tch. Stupid monkey. I'm so much cuter..." staff member: ah, that's mochi-kun, he's very friendly. mochi-kun: *sticks tongue out at raggy* Crona: "Hee hee." Ragnarok: "RAWR! Stupid money! Stupid monkey! You poop-flinging jerk!" -later- Ragnarok: (pouting) "I still smell like monkey poop." mami: are you ok, chrona? Crona: (in their usual cloak) "Y-Yeah. I got most of it off my kimono...I will have to get it clean, though." mami: *smiles* Crona: "Mami? Thank you for being so kind." -elsewhere- Patty: "What's the pool like at the hotel, Stocking?" stocking: theres a slide. there's tubes where the fish swim through too. Patty: (smiles) "Neat! That should be fun! I was thinking of getting Black Star there..." -later- Kid: (tapping fingers) stocking: you ok? Kid: (smiles) "Yes. Just thinking how the photos came out...and what to do next." stocking: maybe we could check out harajuku? Kid: "I would like that. What will be there?" stocking: wait, we were there at the meiji shrine. then... how about osaka? Kid: "I would like that. Oh, what about the Namco Arcade?" stocking: yeah! Kid: "Hee hee..." (kisses her cheek) "You still haven't seen what a whiz I am at Mrs. Pac-Man." stocking: you're so on! Kid: "Like Donkey Kong?" stocking: wrong company, but yeah! Kid: "Hee hee..." (kisses her other cheek) stocking: ^^ Kid: (smiles) "That baby monkey...was adorable." stocking: it was. Kid: (rubs her hand) "Do you think...our kids would like video games?" stocking: maybe. Kid: "I hope they would...because their mother would be a great teacher." stocking: hehe~ Kid: "And their grandfathers would be such nerds to them." stocking: oh yes. Kid: (laughs) "Imagine Azusa as a grandmother." stocking:... oh boy. Kid: "She'd probably have them memorize multiplication charts at age 2." --Meanwhile, in Death City-- Azusa: (staring at an unopened home pregnancy test) "..." -back in the hotel- Kid: (rubs her hand) "I don't know what the future holds. But I hope we have children..." stocking: yeah me too. Kid: (quiet for a few moments...) "Are you hungry?" stocking: yeah. Kid: "Room service? Hotel restaurant? Or head somewhere else?" stocking: i dunno~ Kid: (opens the room service menu) "The hotel restaurant has some items room service doesn't...But room service is quite good." (points to the dessert menu...and then folds it out, revealing an even longer list) stocking: *squeeeeeee* Kid: (chuckles) "Room service, then?" stocking: hell. fucking. yes. Kid: (smiles at her) "Hell. Fucking. Okay." (kisses her nose) stocking: hehe~ Kid: (picks up the phone, as he puts a hand along her waist) "Room service? Please send up..." -later- Kid: (pats his stomach) "Satisfying." stocking: huehuehue~ Kid: (sees some whipped cream left on the plate, scoops it with his finger) "Say 'ah...'" stocking: aaah~ Kid: (passes his finger along her lips, waiting for her to lick the whipped cream) stocking: *she sucks on his finger for a few moments* Kid: o\\\\o "Delicious?" stocking: oh yes it is~ Kid: (chuckles, as he kisses her lips) stocking: mmmm~ Kid: (slips out of his jacket, still kissing, then wraps his arms around her) "I love you." stocking: i love you too, babe~ Kid: (smiles, kisses lightly along her neck) stocking: ahhh~ Kid: (whispers in her ear) "The door is repaired, and I had hotel staff reinforce the bolts...But as we are in the living room, should we retire to the bedroom?" stocking: sounds good~ -and so- stocking: *panting* Kid: (kissing her hip) "Was it good?" stocking: ahhh o-oh god yes... Kid: (smirks) "And you thought I was delicious? I just want to eat you up...I can still taste you..." stocking: t-then whats stopping you~? Kid: (smiles, as he positions himself, kissing along her thigh and upward...) stocking: mmmm~ Kid: (reaches her slit, kissing lightly there) stocking: ohh~ Kid: (massages along her legs as he holds her legs down, positions the tip of his tongue to the bottom of her slit...and lightly, slowly strokes upward...) stocking: *she moans softly* Kid: "You taste so sweet..." stocking: mmmmn~ Kid: (repositions himself, so he is lying beside her) "I'm not done yet...but have a taste..." (kisses her, as he strokes a finger along her slit) stocking: *she moans into the kiss, shuddering to his touch* Kid: (as she moans, he lets his tongue slide across her lips to touch her tongue...as he lets the tip of his finger slowly enter her) stocking: a-ahhhh~! Kid: "My Angel...Tell me what you want." stocking: p-please~ make me yours for the night. Kid: (smiles) "Of course...I have two surprises for you." stocking: o-oh? Kid: (slides his finger out of her, bringing it to his mouth to suck for a moment) "Delicious...I had room service bring something..." (turns, as he reaches under the bed...) stocking: oh~? Kid: (wiggles his bare butt at her a little before he comes back with Surprise #1) stocking: *drooling* Kid: (emerges...with a can of whipped cream) "I told the staff we would need another can for dessert." (smirks) "I didn't say what we would be putting it on..." stocking: ohoho~ Kid: (shakes) "Do you want it on you...or on me?" stocking: well, im yours for tonight, sooo~ Kid: (smirks, as he sprays onto both of her nipples...) stocking: *she blushes* Kid: "Care to taste it...?" stocking: aaaah~ Kid: (sprays a bit into her mouth--and some along her chin) stocking: mmmmmm~! Kid: (licks along her chin...as two of his fingers ease into her...) stocking: *she sighs in delight* Kid: (kisses down her neck until he reaches her right nipple...licks slowly as he quickens the pace of his fingers in her) stocking: ah-oh-oh kid!! Kid: (his other hand now teases that right nipple, as he licks her left nipple and maintains the pace inside of her) stocking: ahhhh~ Kid: (lets the tip of his tongue lick her nipple) "So tasty..." (massages her right breast) "What do you want stimulating you down there: my fingers, my tongue...?" stocking: y-your fingers feel good down there, but do what you like. Kid: (smiles) "Then why change a good thing?" (kisses into her neck, biting lightly there; his fingers continue to thrust into her, massaging her walls) stocking: nnnngh~ Kid: (licks where he bit...uses his free hand to spray whipped cream between her breasts) "Are you delicious, Stocking?" stocking: you tell me~ Kid: (smirks, as he licks between her breasts, scooping up the whipped cream...His lips are coated with the cream) "You certainly improve the flavor..." (brings his creamed lips to her lips) stocking: mmmn~ Kid: (his tongue reaches hers...now he has three fingers inside her, his pace now fast) stocking: *her hips buck in response* Kid: "You're almost there?" stocking: s-so close~ Kid: (smirks) "Why should I let you cum, Stocking?" (returns his mouth to her nipple, licking along the edges as he maintains his pace inside of her) stocking: nnnnh~! Kid: (thrusts even more vigorously into her--then bites lightly along her right breast) stocking: ah! Kid: "Cum for me, Angel. Cum for me, you sexy goddess...Cum!" stocking: ah-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!!!!!!! Kid: (removes his fingers, and plants his face down at her, licking up her wetness) stocking: *she moans as she squirts* Kid: "Hmm...Better than honey..." stocking: *shuddering and panting* s-so good~ Kid: (holds her legs down, continues to lick her) stocking: ahh~ Kid: (smirks) "You are one hell of a dessert..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: "How do you taste...?" (crawls up her, stroking his fingers along her body, as he straddles her, leans down, and kisses her...) stocking: mmmmn~! Kid: (lies atop her, his hands massaging her hips) -later- Kid: (sighs) stocking: *shuddering in pleasure as she lays on top of him* Kid: (holds her tightly, to shake off the last shudders of pleasure) "I miss your touch...everytime we are away, I only want to come back to you..." stocking: m-me too... *she smiles* Kid: (smiles) "Were you surprised? With all of my 'presents'?" stocking: y-yeah... Kid: (serious) "Was it okay? Or too much?" stocking: it was... incredible... Kid: (nods) "It's better than importing all of this...although we will have to mail it. I don't want to declare to customs that I purchased...well, you know..." (blushing) stocking: yeah... *bluuuush* Kid: (still serious) "Really, are you comfortable with this? Is it going too fast?" stocking: i-im ok..... little by little, remember? Kid: (nods, kisses her forehead) "I will stop whenever you wish. You don't even have to say it--you can punch me if necessary...even kick me..." stocking:..... *she hugs him* Kid: "Thank you for sharing so much with me..." -the next morning- Kid: *Yawn* stocking: zzzz.... --Stocking's phone vibrates-- stocking: ?? *she picks up* yeah? *YAAAAWN* Patty: (text) hey i know what blackstar did to u and kiddo. then this happened at the pool last night (pic attached) stocking: ?? *she looks at the pic* --Black Star lost his trunks on the slide, with a view of his bare bottom while Liz can be seen in the back laughing-- stocking: *snicker* oh kiiiiddoooo~ looks like karma has taken place~! Kid: (yawn) "Wha--?" (eyes widen) "You know, of all the bare butts I wanted to see when I woke up, that one was at the bottom...so to speak." stocking: *she chuckles* aaand saved to blackmail. Kid: (smirks) "You're so bad..." (kisses her shoulder) stocking: hehe~ Kid: "...Stocking? I just want you to know that...Do you remember those pics of you, naked, that you texted me?" stocking: *bluuush* y-yeah? Kid: "I deleted them about a week after you sent them." stocking: why? Kid: (taps her phone's screen) "Would you want those pics getting used as blackmail, by someone who could hack my phone?" stocking:...... *she tears up* Kid: (sits up, holds her) "Stocking? What's wrong?" stocking: n-nothing... just remembering things from the past... Kid: (serious) "Stocking...Was this about those students who hurt you?" stocking:.... *she nods and silently cries* Kid: (holds her, stroking her hair) "I refuse to hurt you, Stocking. And I want to do everything possible to make sure no one hurts you..." (kisses her forehead) "Did you want me to keep those photos?" stocking:.... i-i understand what you're trying to do, and i appreciate it. Kid: "I appreciated those photos--you shared them with me, I valued them, and you looked so...enticing. But...we were just dating...I didn't know whether I should keep them. Did I do the wrong thing? Should I have kept them?" stocking: dont worry kid, i could always send you more. Kid: (smiles) "So don't delete those? You trust me not to let someone else get their hands on them?" stocking: you could save them to a disc drive or something. *shrugs* Kid: (laughs a little...then realizing something) "Do you still have that...'dick pic' I sent you?" stocking:....... C: Kid: (smirks) "If you send me a naked pic, then I should return the courtesy..." (pulls out his phone, removes the bedsheets from both of them, revealing he is already hard...and he snaps a pic) "And...send." (texts dick pic to only Stocking) stocking: *bluuush* i-im still a bit nervous though... Kid: "Then don't. Take your time, however long that takes. And consider that pic of me a freebie..." (kisses her cheek) "I hope you like it. Maybe you want a different one..." (hands her his phone to let her snap a pic) stocking: actually, i think i'll go for the real deal... *she bends down and licks the tip* Kid: (eyes roll back a bit) "Ah..." stocking: *she smirks and begins rubbing him off slowly* Kid: (nods) "Just like that..." (hums with pleasure) -she continues this for a while until she starts to slide it into her mouth* Kid: (letting his fingers go through her hair) "Your tongue..." (groans) "I'm so close, Stocking...Play with my testicles..." stocking: *she hums and rubs his balls* Kid: "Yes..." (guides her head to take in more of him) "So close..." stocking: *she snares her tongue around him* Kid: (gasps, grunts, as pre-cum develops) "I'm going--I'm going to..." (grunts as he begins to cum) stocking: *she laps it all up* Kid: (lies back on the bed, panting) "Your mouth is a treasure..." stocking: *she licks the last of it up* mmn~ Kid: (draws her up so that she straddles him, as he kisses her lips) stocking: *she slips her tongue into his mouth* Kid: (moans, his hands reaching for her buttcheeks) -later- Kid: (calm, relaxed, holding Stocking's hand) liz: well you two lovebirds are awfully close this morning. Kid: (smiles) "It's...a good morning." stocking: you got that right~ Kid: (blushing a bit) Kid: "Er...I think we were playing video games at the Namco Arcade today before we depart for our next city, yes?" mio: yes please! Meme: (smiles "So cute.") Patty: (shoveling another breakfast pastry in her mouth) "Let's get goin' then." Black Star: (frowns at Patty) Black Star: (pouts at Tsubaki) tsubaki: *sweatdrop* Kid: (smirks at Black Star) "Did you like the view, Tsubaki?" tsubaki: w-wha?! Patty: (practically choking on her own laughs) Kid: "I heard there was a...full moon last night." Black Star: (grinding his teeth) soul: come on man, lighten up. stocking: come on babe, be nice. he doesnt like being the.... 'butt' of the joke! Black Star: "THAT STUPID SLIDE SCREWED ME OVER!" (points at Soul) "No one saw you bare-ass naked out there!" -later- Black Star: "I'll just have to beat someone at a game...STOCKING! I CHALLENGE YOU TO ANY VIDEO GAME OUT THERE!" stocking: alright then. how abooout... this one? Black Star: "...What is it?" -it was bubble bobble- -and so- Black Star: "Fffffffffff...." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (applause for Stocking) Black Star: (marches to Tsubaki) "I am mortified..." tsubaki: *pap pap* Patty: (snaps a pic of Tsubaki encouraging Black Star) Kid: (kisses Stocking's cheek) "Congratulations." stocking: thanks hun~ Black Star: "Hmph. Come on, Tsubaki--let's play a game..." tsubaki: ok. Black Star: (plays Galaga) Patty: (grabs Liz's wrist) "DDR, Sis!" -later- Patty: (panting on the floor) "14 rounds was too many..." liz: phew. Kid: "Have fun, Love?" stocking: yeah. you're pretty good at those shooter games. Kid: (smiles) "Just an application of real life to the game. I don't suppose your father has arcade machines in his house?" stocking: try a whole room full. Kid: o_o; "...Impressive. No wonder you are so skilled." stocking: hehe~ Patty: (sitting up, still catching her breath) "Does...Does your dad let people play them? Or does he want the machines to be in mint condition?" stocking: thats part of an 'exclusive membership'. Patty: (frowns) "So, what do I have to do to be in this 'exclusive membership'? Is Kid in it?" stocking: i'll see if i can get you in~ Kid: (smiles) -later, in akihabara- Black Star: "What's in Akihabara?" mio: its essentially the manga and anime merch capital of japan. Black Star: o_o "YAHOO!" Kid: (whispers to Stocking) "Looks like he's forgotten about the pool mishap..." sayaka: look! there's a maid cafe! Anya: o\\\\o ("Squee!") stocking: *whispers to kid* i bet you want to see me dressed like a maid, dont you 'master'~? Kid: "..." (nosebleed x8) liz: !!! kid are you ok?! Kid: (slaps hankie over his nose) "J-Just humidity...Ha ha ha!" (blushing at Stocking) stocking: well, i could also be a nurse, or even a bunnygirl. Kid: (blushing, whispering) "...How would you respond if...when I was finding our new toys, I saw those outfits for sale?" Patty: "Ladies, I think we all should go to the maid cafe and dress up! And the boys, too!" -and so, everyone joined in on a cosplay photoshoot- Anya: "Too short..." (tugging at her skirt) shinra: *in a maid costume* ./////. Arthur: "How did you convince us to dress like this?!" tsubaki: *office lady style* oh. Black Star: (lifting up his skirt up and down, exposing his boxers) "Really comfortable, though..." soul: .///////////////. *dressed like a school girl* Patty: (sexy nurse) "Nice skirt, Soul!" (flips up his skirt) Kid: o\\\\o "...I'm a bunny girl...And these fishnet stockings are chaffing..." liz: *in a red dress* Meme: "Very pretty, Liz!" (dressed as a cowgirl) stocking: *nosebleed* *she's wearing a devil girl costume* mio: this is embarrasing.. why do i have to wear a stupid plugsuit? Meme: o\\\\o ("...I am so...um...") "It looks...fine, Mio." madoka: *just wearing a cardboard box over her clothes that says 'gundam'* eternal feather: *muffled speaking from her hello kitty mascot suit* homura: *in a rilakuma kigurumi* Crona: (dressed in shining knight's armor) "Um...Excelsior?" Arthur: -_- "Are you kidding me?!" mami: *she smiles* its cute. *she's cosplaying satsuki kiryuin in her normal mode* Crona: o_o Ragnarok: "...Wow." Kid: (hands cupping his crotch, given...how tight his outfit is) "...Can we just get these photos done already?" sayaka: ok. fuzzy pickles everyone! *cosplaying sailor mercury* --Everyone but Black Star: "Fuzzy Pickles!"-- Black Star: "...What?" -as the picture comes out- Kid: (looking at Stocking...and covering with his hands more) tsugumi: awesome! *she was dressed like a magical girl* Anya: "Hmph. Of course you pick a magical girl..." (blushing at her outfit...and Arthur's...) stocking: you look adorable kiddo~ Kid: "Th-Thanks?" Patty: (leans towards Shinra in her sexy nurse outfit) "Need someone to take your temperature, cutie?" shinra: .////.; Kid: "Um...Why is there a bill for 'costume purchases'? Who bought costumes?" sayaka:..... *raises hand* Patty: (raises hers--and Liz's) Anya: (keeps her hand down...the liar) liz: hey! Patty: "I bought yours for you, you ingrate!" sayaka: iiii bought everyone else’s. Meme: o_o ("Mio's plugsuit...") (passes out) mio: s-senpai get a hold of yourself!! homura:..... (thinking: you perverts.) Patty: "Hang on--I was in a nurse's outfit!" (slaps Meme's face) "Wake up!" -later- Meme: (sipping water) -a few days of the trip later and they were finally able to return home- Kid: (chuckling a little) liz: phew, finally back home. Kid: "Yes." (still laughing) liz: whats so funny? Kid: "N-Nothing." ("Good thing I shipped Stocking and my...'toys', or else getting through security would be awkward.") kirika: *she doesnt even look up from her handheld* yo. -mocha is sitting on top of her head- Patty: "Mocha! Kirika!" (runs over to hug them) kirika: geh! hey! jeez... so, ya guys get me anything? Kid: "A little bit of everything: some culture, some food, some games..." Patty: (holding up stuffed monkey toy) "Eek eek!" kirika: neato. liz: well, i'm gonna unpack, then im going to take a shower. kirika: *smirk* i know somethin you dont know~ Patty: "???" Kid: "What?" kirika: go ask pops. Kid: "He's here?" kirika: in the deathroom. Kid: "I'll walk over, then." -and so- Kid: "Father?" lord death: yes kiddo? whats up? Kid: (smiles) "We're back home..." (walks up, hugs him) lord death: *he hugs him* hey son! how was your trip? Kid: "Some surprises, but I feel like life is getting back to some stability. How were you and Azusa while we were gone?" lord death: *sweats and blushes* um.... Kid: " 'Um'...?" Azusa: "Sweetie, we have to--" (stops) Azusa: o_o "Kid! Um...Welcome!" lord death: *sweats more* y-yumi could you tell him? im too nervous! Kid: "...Hi? Um, Father was about to tell me something...Father? What were you going to say?" Azusa: "...Kid? Why don't you sit down?" Kid: (seats himself at chairs that Lord Death summons) "What is it?" lord death: *blushing* Azusa: "...Kid, do you...I mean, you know that we love you very much. Right?" lord death *he nods* Kid: "Yeeeeeees...Father, this isn't another secret that's going to make things awkward between us, is it?" lord death: of course not! it's gonna bring us together! Azusa: (nods) "We...got back from the doctor, and..." (starts crying a bit) "OH, jeez, this is harder than I thought..." Kid: (panicking) "You're not dying, are you?!" Azusa: (shakes her head, but still struggling to spit it out) "We're...I'm...p-pr-pregnant." Kid: "..." lord death: *blushes* --Meanwhile, at Gallows Mansion-- --EARTHQUAKE!-- liz: WHAT THE HECK?! Patty: (runs out of the bathroom in a towel) "What the hell?!" -meanwhile- cafe master: ??!?!? -meanwhile- gopher: EEEEIE!!! -back in the death room- Kid: (collapsed on the floor) lord death: o-o; Kid: "F-Father? Is that you?" lord death: hey kiddo, its gonna be ok. you're juuust fine. Kid: (remembers what just happened) "WHY DIDN'T YOU WEAR PROTECTION?!" Azusa: "Kid!" lord death: .///////////////////////////. Kid: "And birth control?! Why didn't you--" Azusa: (slaps Kid across the face) lord death: easy now. Kid: (stunned) Azusa: (furious, holding back tears...stands up and marches out of the room) lord death: now now everyone, lets just calm down and take it easy. Azusa: (turns back) "You two talk. I need to calm down." -lord death follows her- Azusa: (crying) "He hates me." lord death: now thats not true, he's just.... im sure he's just shocked. Azusa: "Are we doing the right thing? Did you...want another child?" lord death: *he hugs her* everything will be fine. it will all work out. Azusa: (trying to compose herself, even as she cries) "I'm fine..." (trying to push back) "Just hormones. That's all, right? Just...Just..." (puts her hand to her stomach...and cries) lord death: shhh. there there... would you like some tea to help calm down? Azusa: (a hand over her mouth, but she nods yes) -later- stocking: coming! *she opens the door* oh hey kid, whats up? Kid: (staring at his feet, looking paler than usual) stocking: kid?...come on in. i'll get you some coffee. --He stares at the coffee on the table-- Kid: "...I screwed up." stocking: whats wrong kid? -she sees the bruise on his cheek- stocking: !!! kid! you're hurt! Kid: "...Father and Yumi had news...I-I didn't take it well." stocking: whats wrong? Kid: "...They're having a baby." stocking: !! kid... Kid: (shakes his head) "I...was upset." stocking: i can understand, sorta. Kid: (crying) "I asked...why they didn't use birth control..." stocking: *she hugs him* ........... Kid: "She hates me." stocking: im sure that isnt true. Kid: "She slapped me in the face. I think that's proof..." stocking: !!!! Kid: (sobs) stocking:....... do you want to spend the night? Kid: "C-Can you call Liz and Patty to--to let them know?" stocking: o-ok... -later- Kid: (curled up, but not crying anymore) stocking: *she's stroking his head* Kid: "Why did I say that?" stocking: its not your fault, you just wanted them to be safe. Kid: "Or was I afraid of...being replaced" stocking: ...... you arent being replaced kid... Kid: "...I thought things were getting back to normal..." stocking: shhh..... Kid: "...How do I apologize?" stocking: ...... -the next morning- Kid: (sniffles, coughing, sneezes) "Super." stocking: you gonna be ok? Kid: (blows his nose) "Is there school today?" stocking: yeah.... *she puts a hand to his forehead* christ, you're burning up... Kid: "Ugh...I-I should go back to the Mansion..." (tries to stand...and buckles) stocking: *she catches him* you need rest mister. i'll have one of my dad's servants look after you. Kid: "O-Okay..." -at school- liz: ..... Patty: "Man..." -after school, stocking stays behind- Azusa: "Miss Pheles?" stocking: yes ma'am? Azusa: "...Hi. How are you?" stocking: i'm doing good Azusa: (nods) "Have you spoken with Kid?" stocking: yeah, he's resting at my place as we speak. Azusa: " 'Resting'? Yes, I heard he was ill..." (sighs) "I blame myself." stocking: ....i heard you and kid had a bit of a falling out, huh? Azusa: (nods) "His father...God. He's taking this worse than I am...Look, let's stop dancing around this: you know I'm pregnant with his child, yes?" stocking: *she nods* Azusa: (groans) "Of course he did...Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that: I just meant of course he would share with...well, his family." stocking: *blush* yeah... he's not angry at you. he's just.... *sigh* he worries about you guys. Azusa: (adjusts her glasses) "I appreciate his concern, just not how he expressed it...Could I...Do you think...I mean...*sigh* If I visited your apartment, would he be willing to speak with me?" stocking: well, he's really sick right now... Azusa: "Please?" (removes her glasses) "I really have to speak with him." stocking: *sigh*....ok. Azusa: "..." (hugs Stocking) -and so- Kid: (blows his nose) "Ugh..." stocking: kiiid! im back! i got some stuff for you. Kid: (smiles) "Thank you." stocking: *she opens the door* i see claude's gone home. Kid: (nods) "He was very considerate." stocking: oh, there's someone here to talk to you. Kid: "Oh?" (sees her) "Oh." Azusa: (enters) "Hello." (pulls a chair up to him, sits down) "You look awful." Kid: o_o; "Um...Hi." Azusa: (looks at Stocking--with shiny eyeglasses) stocking: *gives them a look that says 'patch this up you two'* Azusa: (frowns, turns back to Kid) Kid: (terrified of both of them) stocking: its ok kid. Azusa: "I will not apologize for slapping you: you were truly awful." Kid: D: stocking: miss azusa!! Azusa: (removes her glasses) "I will not have you or anyone else shame me for what I did or did not do. The fact is that your father and I have discussed having children for some time, we made a decision, and we pursued it." Kid: "...Okay." Azusa: "We had been trying for a year now." stocking: .... Azusa: "We were seeking advice from our doctors, checking on our health, trying various posit--" Kid: o_0 Azusa: (stoic) "...Anyway." stocking: 7-7; Azusa: "Your father and I love each other. We wanted a child. I am pregnant." (takes Kid's hand) "And you are our child...if you will let me be your...mother." Kid: "..." (sniffs loudly, cries a little) "That's all I want..." Azusa: (crying too, pulling Kid in for a hug) "Okay...Can we just pretend that you didn't say what you said, I didn't slap you, and we were just happy that I'm pregnant?" Kid: (laughs) "Yes." stocking: *she smiles* Azusa: (pulls back) "Good...because this pregnancy is already a nightmare. Do you have any idea what it is like having a shinigami inside of you?" stocking: .///////////////////////.;;;;;; Azusa: "...If I ask whether you two are using protection, will you slap me?" Kid: (shakes his head no) stocking: the worst i'll do is chop you on the head. Azusa: (smirks) "You'd hit a pregnant woman?" stocking: n-no! Azusa: (looks to Kid) "Feel better?" Kid: (shrugs) Azusa: (pats his head) "We'll make you some chicken soup, like my mother made." (stands up) "Come with me, Miss Pheles." stocking: yes ma'am. Kid: (still surprised, pulls out his phone, texts someone...) Azusa: "This recipe will need some spice..." (opens cabinet) "Do you have anything beside sugar?" stocking: i have cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla. Azusa: (groans) "Good thing I bought some while I was out..." (removes some cayenne and hot pepper) "If you are going to prepare a meal to remove a cold, you need spices." stocking: *cringes* y-yeah... Azusa: "Cut the chicken, steam it, and I'll prepare the noodles and spices..." (As she finishes with each spice, she sets it on Stocking's shelf) "Keep these spices and use them later." (eyeglasses flash at Stocking) stocking: suuuure ma'am. Azusa: "What was that?" stocking: of course! *she smiles* Azusa: "Good..." --The meal is completed and served to Kid-- Kid: (stares...the soup is bubbling) "Um..." Azusa: "Eat it." Kid: (chuckles nervously) "Maybe I should let it cool a bit--" Azusa: "EAT IT." Kid: (panics--practically eats it all in one spoonful...then his face turns red and fire explodes out of his mouth) stocking: o-o;;;;;;; we maaay have to work on your nurturing skills. Azusa: "What are you talking about? He's sleeping like a baby now." stocking: *looks at kid* Kid: x_x (passed out from heat exhaustion and slamming the back of his head against the bed's headboard) stocking: o-o;;;;;;;;;;;; -later- Kid: "I think my tastebuds all committed mass suicide..." stocking: *she rubs his back* Azusa: "I will leave you two to it..." (leans down, kisses Kid's forehead) "I love you." Kid: (blushing) "Y-Yeah. I love you, too." Azusa: (nods, smiles at Stocking) "Keep an eye on my child, Miss Pheles." stocking: see you later then. also, you can call me stocking outside school. Azusa: "..." (blushes) "Then call me...Yumi." (hurriedly) "Goodbye." (scampers, slams the door behind her) Kid: o_o stocking: *she chuckles* well then. that was.... something, huh? Kid: "Yes..." (stretches) "But that soup really did get rid of my cold. What did she put into it?" stocking: cayenne and hot pepper.... *gags a bit* Kid: (chuckles) "I think you may have to memorize that recipe, for my next cold...Stocking? Thank you." stocking: *sigh* its disgusting, but at least you feel better... and no problem, babe... Kid: "I'd kiss you, but I don't want you to catch whatever virus the soup didn't...or taste those spices..." (whispers) "But sometimes, a little spice is needed in a relationship..." stocking: *blush* y-yeah... Kid: (yawns) "I think I better get some more sleep..." stocking: yeah. i'll sleep on the couch tonight. Kid: (frowns) "I'm sorry..." stocking: its ok. you need your rest. Kid: "I'll make it up...(Yawn)...to you..." (closes his eyes) -next morning- Kid: *yawn* stocking: morning kid. feeling any better? Kid: (stretches) "Much. Thank you. I feel like 8 million dollars..." Kid: "How...was the couch?" stocking: decent. Kid: (frowns) "I will make it up to you." stocking: *she smiles and hugs him* Kid: (returns the hug) "I better shower." -at school- Kid: (squirming) stocking: you ok? Kid: (nods) "Just...haven't spoken with Father since..." stocking: want to speak with him after class? Kid: (nods) -later- Kid: "Father? I want to--" o_0 lord death: yes kiddo? Kid: (keep calm, keep calm keep calm keepcalm) "That's...a lot of books." lord death: why yes, some of these were from when your mama was having you. Kid: (picks one up...and sees her name inside it) "Yes..." (sits beside Lord Death) lord death: it's been a while, and i need to relearn everything. Kid: "You will. You'll do fine." (smiles) "I have confidence in you." lord death: *he smiles* and someday, if you and stocking ever decide to have little ones of your own, you can use these. Kid: (nods) "...I'm sorry." lord death: oh? for what? Kid: (tearing up a bit) "For insulting you and Yumi...I'm happy for you both. I just...reacted badly." lord death: shhh. there there. its quite alright. Kid: (hugs him...then laughs) "I'm going to be a big brother..." lord death: you sure are. Kid: "...How far along is Yumi?" lord death: we just found out recently. Kid: (sighs) "This is a big change, Father." lord death: i know. Kid: "But...You will be an excellent father...as always." lord death: *he smiles* Kid: (hugs him) "I love you, Father." lord death: i love you too, son. Kid: (smiles) "Father? Would I...be a good father?" lord death: im certain of it. Kid: (frowns) "I still have a long way to go, and I don't think I'm ready right now...but I have been thinking about children much more lately." stocking: yeah. say! maybe when the baby is born, we can babysit as practice? Kid: (smiles) "Would that be okay, Father? For us to babysit my future sibling?" lord death: why of course! Kid: (smiles at Stocking) "Babysitting...That's going to be a challenge." stocking: im sure we can manage. Kid: (nods) "Yes. Father, is there anything we can do right now to help you and Yumi?" -later- Kid: "What now?" stocking: not sure. Kid: "It has been a long day, so perhaps we should get or make dinner." -kid's phone rings- Kid: (picks it up) "Hello." nygus: kid, you're needed at the city gates, its an emergency! Kid: "We'll be right there!" (hangs up) "Stocking, to the city gates! Where are Liz and Patty?" liz: we're here. -and so- Patty: "What's going on, Naigus?" -at the city gates, a woman is standing there. she seems badly wounded- Kid: (trying to stay calm) "Where are the healers?" nygus: on their way. woman: i-im going to die.... Kid: (approaches the woman) "No, you are not...Stay with us." (to Naigus) "What medical care have you administered to her?" woman: does it matter? im going to die either way! i-i dont care what you do to me but....p-please... Kid: (to Naigus) "Administer care, now." (to the woman) "Please, let our first aid attend to you. What did you want to say?" woman: m-my baby! please! if anything, just save my baby! Kid: (eyes widen) "W-Where is your baby?" liz:...... k-kid.... look at her.... Kid: "...Oh." (to Naigus) "Get Stein and any OB-GYNs on retainer, now." woman: *she falls to her knees and coughs up a glowing yellow substance* nygus: jesus. GET A HAZMAT TEAM IN HERE, STAT! Kid: (trying to sense her soul...) "What on earth...?" -later- spirit: *sighs* the baby is fine, but.... there was nothing we could do for the mother. Kid: (can barely keep eye contact) "...We should have been able to..." nygus: she was infected with clown blood. spirit: aka, those freaky madness mutants asura summoned? Kid: (frowning) "...Asura did this to her?" spirit: either that or a clown... *he sighs* Kid: "...Spirit? Naigus? Can we use that substance from the woman to track a Clown?" spirit: sadly, no. Kid: (shakes his head) "There has to be...What will happen to the baby? Who will tend to them?" marie: i'll look after her. Kid: (nods) "Thank you...A child without a name..." marie:.... christa. that's what i'll call her. Kid: "...That's beautiful." marie: shh, its ok sweetie. Kid: "Marie? Is there anything you will need?" marie: i'm gonna need a place for the baby to sleep and stuff! !!!! yuuummiiiiii~ you know what this means? Yumi: "...Please, no..." marie: our babies, are gonna be besties! :D Yumi: (aggravated groan) "Super." -the next morning- Kid: (sitting before a book...) liz: what'cha reading there? Kid: "More so looking..." (It's a photo album of Kid as a baby, along with photographs with him and his father and mother) liz: *she nods and looks* you have you're mom's face....s-sorry. Kid: (smiles) "No, no, it's fine..." (rests a hand on that photo of his mother) liz:.....*frowns* Kid: "What's wrong?" liz: you were pretty lucky to have such a loving mother... Kid: "...Yes..." (rests a hand on her shoulder) "I want us to be that home for you, Liz..." liz: *she smiles and sighs* i cant..... what happened today... with that woman.... it keeps replaying in my head... Kid: (nods) "I am scared for Christa." liz: i think she's in good hands.... Kid: "I know...but when she learns about her mother..." liz: ................. *she rubs her stomach* ........... Kid: "Liz?" liz: ?? s-sorry... just remembering something... Kid: "Something you want to discuss?" liz:..... *sigh* a year before we met you, i- *she sighs*....... i had a child. Kid: "...Wow." liz: yeah.... but i wasnt able to take care of him and patti, so i had to give him up for adoption.... i must be such a shitty parent... Kid: "..." (pulls her in for a hug) "You provided a life for that child. You gave that child a home. What more can a parent do?" liz: i-i guess.... but sometimes i really miss him... Kid: "Do you wish you could meet him?" liz: *she nods* Kid: "...Have you ever contacted the adoption agency?" liz: *she shakes her head* Kid: "...I hope, in the future, when you are ready, that you do. I think you need...to know about your child." liz: yeah... Kid: "...I'm sorry. If I had known I..." liz: its fine kid. Kid: "..." (nods) liz: i feel a little better now. Kid: (smiles) "Liz...I hope you consider this place your home...and that...you find the family you want." liz: thank you kid.... for everything you've done for me and patti. *she hugs him* Kid: "And for everything you both have done for me, Father, Stocking...Yumi..." liz: *she smiles and falls asleep* Kid: (smirks. "It's morning, and she's asleep...I better carry her to her room...") -at school- Kid: (staring at nothing...) stocking: i take it liz caught your cold today? Kid: (frowns) "Something like that." Kid: (sighs) "She...had a difficult conversation with me." stocking: oh... is everything ok with you two? Patty: (realizing...and keeps quiet...) Kid: (smiles) "Yes, they are. Just...something that came up that is deeply personal to her from the past, and was difficult to discuss." stocking: oh..... i understand. Kid: "...Stocking? Can we start shopping for Yumi and Marie's children?" stocking: yeah! that sounds great! Kid: "Great!" (reaches down, slamming down a huge catalog) "I've been going through every baby catalog and--Just look at all the cute outfits!" stocking: woah. Kid: "Squee!" (blushes) "Um..." (clears his throat) stocking: well you seem excited. Kid: (shrugs) "Y-Yeah...Just excited to be working on a project that doesn't involve monsters, mass murderers, or someone walking in on us..." stocking: yeah, haha. *sweatdrop* Kid: (gasps) "A giraffe baby's onesie--!" Patty: (glares) "DIE..." stocking: easy girl. Patty: (fuming) "Giraffes must die...If you two ever dress your baby up like a giraffe, I'm reporting you to the cops." stocking: jeez. Patty: (pouts) "Fine. I won't call the cops on you...only because you'll probably be a great mother." stocking: ^^; Kid: (smiles) "Yes, she will..." (kisses her cheek) stocking: *bluuush* l-lets just get to class. Kid: (grunts as he lifts and carries the big-ass baby catalog) "Co-ming..." Patty: (helping him carry the book) "What's our first class?" stocking: *she checks her class schedule* hmmm... Kid: "Is it math? Literature? Home ec?" stocking: looks like math. Kid: "...Will you be okay with that?" stocking: *sigh* i've been getting better. Kid: (smiles) "And you'll keep getting better..." Patty: (holds up a graphing calculator) "Just need your little cheat-sheet..." stocking: ?? Patty: "Some of the tests don't allow calculators..." (hides the calculator, reveals her watch) "That's why this calculator watch helps! And no teacher has caught me yet! Ha ha ha!" stocking: oh my god. --Someone snatches Patty's wrist, ripping the watch off of her-- stocking: what the hell?! Azusa: (eyeglass flash) "No cheating in the classroom. You'll get your watch back at the end of the day..." (smiles at Stocking, Kid) "Good morning, Kid, Miss Pheles..." (walks into the classroom) stocking: busted. Patty: o_o "At least I didn't wear cheat-sheets under my clothes..." soul: *glaaaare* Patty: "...Hi, Soul! You wearing your sexy boxers today? And cheat-sheets? Please say 'yes'!" Kid: (facepalm) soul: ............ Patty: "Just sayin'." (clicks tongue, aims finger pistol at him) soul: *rolls eyes* -at lunch- soul: yeah, i think this will work. *puts some papers into his bag* Black Star: "What're you doing, Soul?" soul: just prepping for my job interview after school today. Black Star: "Job interview? Where?" soul: the Megalo-Mart. y'know, that big grocery store that opened up last year? Black Star: (nods) "Stipend not covering the bills?" soul: just trying to make a little extra cash. Black Star: (smiles) "So you can buy me a kickass birthday gift?!" soul: heh, maybe. blair said the experience might do me some good. Black Star: "You need a reference? I can write you the best letter, man." -a few days later- soul: morning guys. Kid: "Good morning. How are you, Soul?" soul: pretty good. Black Star: "How's the job?" soul: doing pretty good. they pay's decent enough, thought my coworkers are... rather interesting. Kid: "Oh? How so?" soul: well, you know that akabane kid from the ALT classes? he's working there too. there's also some other people.... and then..... *excalibur face* there's that dickbag, patrick. Black Star: "So, you've been stocking shelves with those jerks?" soul: well, most of the others seem pretty decent. for the most part. but that patrick guy.... just... eff that guy. Kid: "What do you have against Patrick?" soul: where do i even begin with this guy? first off, the guy smells like a literal toilet. he's a complete asshole to his coworkers and to the customers, he's just disgusting to look at, he's literally just horrible. Black Star: "What, he doesn't bathe or something?" soul: not that im aware of. that and.....his 'gas attack'.... *urk* makes me sick just thinking about it. Kid: o_o "Is...Is this even a real person?" soul: i have no idea anymore at this point. the only reason this guy hasnt been fired yet is cause....i heard he's mafia. Kid: (frowns, sighs) "No matter how we try, organized crime keeps a hold of this city..." soul: i'll keep you posted. -a week later- soul: fuck! Black Star: "Dude?" soul: its been a long week, and grossman's been getting worse. Black Star: "...Hey. Do you know how this guy gets home? Which route he takes?" soul: no, but i'm gonna have to tonight. my boss kiiinda asked me tooo 'take care of the mess' as it were. stocking: *whispers* contracted murder?! Kid: (chokes on his drink) soul: that's not all, this guy? he was supposed to have died 3 years ago. Kid: "...Is he a zombie?" soul: dont think so. more like some ghost with physical form. stocking: ghosts you say? well, i happen to be an expert on ghost hunting. i shall help you on this task~ Kid and Black Star: (look at each other) Black Star: "Um...You two okay on your own, or should we come with you?" soul: we could use back up. -that night- Kid: (watching) soul: ok, he's walkin home, tread slowly. Black Star: (in a fedora and a trenchcoat) "How come I'm the only one who wore a disguise?" stocking: *throws out the fedora and gives him a sunhat* Black Star: "Hey!" stocking: shh. soul: ok move. Kid: (nods, follows) -they arrive at a house- Kid: (looks at the address) soul: ok. there looks like a tree leading to the attic. stocking: allow me. *she summons her wings and flies up to the window, cutting it open and entering, tossing a rope ladder down* Kid: (smiles) "My angel..." soul: ok. -they climb up- Black Star: (picking up the rear) soul: ok, now what? Kid: "I'm not sure I can sense this Patrick...I sense a few other souls around here..." stocking: *she looks around* there's a toolbox. be ready to arm yourselves. Kid: (frowns) "Why didn't I bring Liz and Patty...It's not like my clothes turn into weapons..." soul: here. *hands him a screw driver* this should help for now. Kid: "A screwdriver. Oh, joy." Black Star: (pulls out a wooden mallet) -so they sneak down, to where grossman is gorging on something- Kid: (grimacing at the sound, whispers to Stocking) "Since when do ghosts eat?" stocking: unless he was given physical form.... which i think is the case... Black Star: "A ghost in a skin-bag? Weird...What is he eating?" stocking: not sure.... ugh, the smell is awful.. Kid: (smells) "Ugh...Is it meat?" grossman: *BRRRRAP* ugh.. what the hell? stocking: ......... !!!!!! *she tenses up* Kid: (stands alongside Stocking) grossman: wait a sec, aint you that bitch from the private school? yeah, i think you are. stocking:........... grossman: dont give me that look you slut, you know you loved every fucking second of it. Kid: (inhales) "Stocking...Is he..." stocking: ........... *she nods silently* Kid: "...Soul? Black Star? Block the exits." grossman: i kept the pictures, gott'em riiiight here. soul: y-yeah.... grossman: why dun i refresh your memory sweetcheeks? stocking: !!! \make him suffer\ Kid: (already behind Grossman, slams his fist into the back of his neck) grossman: gahk! what the he- Kid: (kicks into Grossman's back, intending to stomp his foot down to pin him...) grossman: agh! the hell're ya doin you shi- Kid: (shoves his foot down, pinning Grossman) "Retribution must be doled out." (looks to Stocking) "What should be done with him?" stocking:....... hell's too good for you. *she slams her swords into grossman, until he's cut up to shreds. her expression doesnt change* Kid: (and seeing her attack...something returns to Kid's eyes: shock) "Stocking?!" stocking: *she then cuts grossman's soul in half, causing it to fade*............................... Kid: "Stocking?! What have you done?" stocking:.............*the house vanishes, leaving an empty lot* i want........to go home now..........*she falls to her knees* Kid: "..." (leans down, and holds her) "Okay..." -later- stocking:....................................... Kid: "Stocking?" stocking:........ *trembling* Kid: "Stocking, I'm sorry." stocking: its not.....y-your fault.....am i a bad person? Kid: "...If it were me, I would have done the same. I am pretty sure I would." stocking:...... t-thanks for burning those pictures.... Kid: "Of course." (hugs her) "Stocking, I will always love you.” stocking:...... i just wanted him gone..... Kid: (nods) stocking: ............ -the next day- soul: well, work's doing much better now. Kid: "...Good." stocking:..... im glad.... i'll have to come in.... Kid: (nods) -a few days later- Kid: "..." stocking: you ok? Kid: (forces a smile) "Yes. You?" stocking: kid. i can tell when you're faking it. whats wrong? Kid: "...You destroyed his soul...and it made me remember..." soul: ??? Kid: "...Do you know what I did in the Book?" stocking: ??? Kid: "...Pandora made me see a vision of you...and I-I-I..." stocking:........ *she hugs him* Kid: "I wrapped my hands around your neck...and I killed you..." stocking:................ Kid: "So when I expressed shock that you killed that man...I understand why you did it...and I have no reason to judge when...when...I am willing to destroy absolutely everyone. And that scares me." (looks at her) "I was scared of you when you killed him." stocking:...................... Kid: "I'm sorry. I just have never seen you look like that before." stocking: i... i felt like i wasnt in control of myself... Kid: "Neither was I...which I think, in some very depressing way, means that my experience in that...hell has made me understand parts of myself..." (moves Stocking's hand to his heart) "I am not any one thing...I am not fully evil or good. I am only me." stocking:....... *she leans into him* Kid: "I'm sorry, Stocking..." (holding back tears) "I'm sorry for what you have been through." stocking: at least....he wont bother me ever again.... Kid: (nods) "Yes...How do you feel?" stocking: scared... but i feel safe with you... Kid: "Likewise...I love you." stocking: i love you too kid. Kid: "...I think...we could both benefit from talking about this...with someone..." stocking: maybe a therapy session? not like couple's therapy, more like one does one session then the other does the other session right after? Kid: (nods) "I want that." -after therapy- stocking: feeling any better? Kid: (smiles) "Yes. You?" stocking: yeah... so what now? Kid: (holds her hand) "I would like to get something for Christa...and that can help for buying for Yumi and Father, too." stocking: sure. mall? Kid: "???" -the store reads: Bundlebug- Kid: "Bundlebug? Odd name..." stocking: its a baby clothes store. Kid: (looks in the window...and squees) "Such tiny clothes!" stocking: *she smiles as they enter.* Kid: (holding up a dinosaur baby t-shirt, smiling widely) stocking: how cute! oh! look at this one! *its a duck onesie* Kid: "Adorable!" (holds up a stuffed tanuki doll, assumes a gruff voice) " 'Hello there, Baby! I'm a tanuki!'" stocking: *snickering* clerk: ah, excited about being parents are we? Kid: (blushing) "Oh, we're not--I mean, I'm not pregnant--I mean--! She's not--!" stocking: its for our teachers. Kid: (nods) Kid: "One of them is my step-mother--I mean, she's not married to my father, but--Um..." clerk: ah, i see. those kigurumi style onesies are really popular, we also carry styles in other animals, like rabbits, cats, elephants, you name it! Kid: "Stocking, which do you think for Christa? Maybe the rabbit?" stocking: oh this puppy one is adorable! Kid: "Oh, I think that should be the one to get her!" stocking: ^w^ Kid: (gathers a few more baby items for Christa) "We'll be taking these, please." clerk: alright then. Kid: "Anything else to buy, Stocking?" stocking: maybe some things for yumi's baby? Kid: (nods) "If we got a puppy one for Christa...maybe a cat one for my little sibling?" stocking: *she nods* Kid: "And I think the baby will need some toys..." (picks up a giraffe stuffed animal) "Um...maybe not that one..." stocking: hmm. how about this? *is a little panda* Kid: "Yes!" stocking: hehe~ Kid: (picks a few more outfits) "So cute..." -later- Kid: (giddy smile) stocking: you seem excited. Kid: "Just...pleased to get something for Christa and Baby Death." stocking: yeah. Kid: "St-Stocking? I...was wondering..." stocking: hmm? Kid: "We're...past 18 years old now, yes?" stocking: i think so. Kid: "But...do you feel like we are adults? Like, mature, independent persons?" stocking: i think so. Kid: "...But how do you know? I worry that I'm not very mature." stocking: lets just take it a day at a time. Kid: (nods) "Okay." Kid: (holds her hand) "I think you are mature..." stocking: *she smiles* Kid: "I guess I'm still thinking about children...It feels like maturity would be the state of being able to tend to a child. I'm not sure when I'll be ready for that." stocking: *she holds his hand* its always good to get in some practice. Kid: (nods) "I wonder how Marie and Christa are doing...It may help to see a parent in action." stocking: want to visit them? Kid: "Yes." -and so- -dindon- marie: oh, hey kid, stocking, come in! Spirit: (playing peek-a-boo with Christa) "Where's Uncle Spirit? Here he is!" christa: :D Spirit: "Where's Uncle Spirit? Here he is!" (giggles at Christa) "So cute." Spirit: (spots the guests...) "Oh, Kid, Stocking, hello! How are you?" stocking: i see you've made friends with her pretty quick. Spirit: (smiles) "Yes...She is so happy." stocking: *she smiles* hey there, look what i got you~ Kid: (shows some clothes to Marie) marie: awwww they're so cuuute! Spirit: (holding Christa) "Look, Christa--isn't that a cute doll your Aunt Stocking got you?" christa: magu magu! Spirit: "Yes, Christa--tanuki!" christa: *she hugs it tightly* ^w^ Kid: "How is Christa, Marie?" marie: she's been doing well. spirit's been visiting a lot. Kid: (sad smile) "Yeah?" ("...A father who wants to be a father again...") marie: yeah. Kid: "What's it like, Marie, to tend to a baby?" marie: well, its a lot of work, but its more than worth it. Kid: (nods) "I imagine that is what Father and Yumi feel." marie: yeah. Kid: "How have Christa's doctors' visits gone?" marie: they've gone well. she's in pretty good health. she doesnt seem to be infected with clown blood. Kid: (frowns) "I...worry when Christa is old enough to learn..." marie: i worry too... christa: *crying* Spirit: "Marie, where's Christa's formula?" marie: its on the counter! Spirit: "Thanks!" (puts the bottle to Christa...) Kid: (studies how Spirit is feeding, noticing the angle and paying attention to Christa's breathing and speed of consumption) christa: :D -when she finishes, she hiccups and giggles- Kid: "So cute..." Spirit: (patting Christa's back to burp her) Spirit: "Stocking? Did you want to hold Christa?" stocking: eh? well, i guess its ok. *she holds her* like this? Spirit: "Support her head a bit more..." stocking: ok. *she does so* is this better? Spirit: (nods) "You're a natural." Kid: (blushing as he watches Stocking) christa: *tired crying* stocking: shhh, its ok... *she rocks the baby and hums* Spirit: (crosses his arms, nods approvingly) -soon, the baby is put back in her crib.- stocking: the nursery looks really good. marie: thanks to gen and sid, yeah. Kid: (nods) "I'm happy how much DWMA members help each other..." marie: we're like a family, in a way. Kid: (holds Stocking's hand) "Yes... -later- Kid: (sighs) liz: you ok, kid? Kid: "Yes. Just thinking about...children." liz: ah..... Kid: "Yeah...Stocking and I met with Marie and Christa today." liz: how are they? Kid: "Well. Marie has kept Christa healthy and happy as any baby can be..." liz: thats good to know. Kid: "..." ("Do I ask her, or let it drop? I just can't believe she's a parent...I wonder where her child is now...") -that night- lord death: hey kiddos, how's it going? kirika: eh. Kid: (smiles) "Father! Hello!" Patty: "Hey, Lord D!" lord death: so how are you all doing? kirika: same as usual. mocha: mrow. liz: alright. Patty: " 'Kay." Kid: "Better. How are you and Yumi?" lord death: quite excellent. *he smiles* actually, much more than excellent. Kid: "Oh?" lord death:.... *bluuush* oh no! im too nervous! come on LD, keep your cool. Kid: "Father, just tell us. You have a receptive audience." lord death: *inhales* yumi and i are getting married! liz: whu-whu-WHA!? kirika: about goddamn time. Kid: (smiles) "Congratulations!" Patty: (raises hand) "Flower girl, right here!" lord death: *blushing+flustered reaper noises* Kid: "How did you propose to Yumi?" lord death: *sweats* Kid: "Well, she obviously accepted. So, how did she react? Where is she?" -meanwhile at marie's place- marie: *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* Yumi: "Please, don't deafen me--I am pregnant." marie: sorry, but ohmygosh im so happy for you!! Yumi: (smiles) "Thank you." (hugs her) "I...have not felt this happy in a long time." marie: *she pulls out a big, big book* well i've been keeping notes from watching wedding shows on TLC so... Yumi: o_o; "Please tell me you do not watch Bridezilla..." marie: naawwww, i have seen stuff like 'say yes to the dress' and stuff. Yumi: "Okay..." (pats her stomach) "I hope we can find one, seeing as I'll be...bigger." marie: C: Yumi: "Do they make maternity wedding dresses?" marie: we can get it custom~! Yumi: "...When can we try out dresses?" marie: first thing tomorrow! Yumi: (smiles, blushes) -the next day- Patty: "What's on the agenda today, Sis?" liz: well yumi asked us to help her pick out a wedding dress. Yumi: "..." lord death: are you alright? Yumi: (adjusts her glasses) "Fine, thank you. Just thinking how much work is ahead of us." (picks up a heavy book effortlessly, then lets go--and it slams hard. It is labelled "Wedding Plans") lord death: ooh! *he puts on his glasses* Yumi: "Yes, I spent most of yesterday afternoon making checklists of what we will need and preliminary plans for where to host the wedding..." (opens the book, revealing thorough, complicated lists of all details) "This is only a rough draft, so I apologize at how unprofessional it may look." (There are also charts, diagrams, illustrations, and photographs) (As well as the dietary needs of most of their likely wedding guests.) lord death: this is quite detailed. if i didnt know any better, i'd think kid wrote all this. no offence, dear. Yumi: (smiles) "I take that as a compliment." (shows an example seating chart) "I imagine as head of the DWMA, you will want to invite everyone. However, given the sheer size of the organization, I am concerned whether there is a venue that could actually house all members." lord death: perhaps, but considering how the death room can expand in size, i think it could be possible to squeeze everyone in here. Yumi: "Excellent." (kisses him on the lips) "You are excellent at changing sizes." lord death: *blush+steam* Yumi: (organizes papers) "Well, I have an appointment with Marie and others to pick out a dress. When will you be measured for your tux?" lord death: soon possibly~ Yumi: (frowns) "Do not procrastinate. I do not want you at our wedding in a T-shirt and shorts." lord death: worry not dearest. *he kisses her forehead* this is something i will take very seriously. Yumi: (smiles) "Excellent. Well, I will see you later this afternoon. Goodbye." (turns to depart) -later- Yumi: (overly ruffled dress that someone picked out for her) "...I look like a baby doll." stocking: hmmm. yeah, that really doesnt seem to work for you. Patty: (frowns) "I thought it'd be cute! Marie, what would you have Yumi wear?" marie: well, i think perhaps something sleek, maybe a mermaid style? Yumi: "Well...that could be good." Patty: "So, like, a mermaid tail and fins?" liz: i think she means like this. *she shows a pic from a magazine* Patty: "...Can we still dress up Azusa like a mermaid?" stocking: *sweatdrop* Yumi: "...I will go change now. Please keep her under control..." --One costume change later-- Yumi: (enters) "So..." marie: eee! its perfect! Yumi: (blushing) "Is it?" Yumi: "I mean, you said that about a lot of dresses, Marie..." liz: yeah, but this one really suits you. Patty: (thumbs up) Yumi: "...Will he like it?" stocking: why dont we ask~? Yumi: (blushes, waves hands) "No, no, no! The husband-to-be is not supposed to see the bride in her dress before the wedding!" stocking: ah! you're right! sorry~ but yeah, i think he's going to like it. Yumi: "...I will buy it, then." (assumes professional demeanor) "Marie, as my bridesmaid, I will need your help: I will require something borrowed, something new, and something blue." Patty: (opens mouth, pulls out a wad of blue bubblegum) "I got the blue!" liz: the dress is new, so dont you mean something old? Yumi: "Ugh, I am stressing out over this..." liz: its ok, everything’s gonna work out at the end. Yumi: "No, not until I have everything in order. I still have not finished the seating chart, the meal options, the proper flowers, the honeymoon, the music--" (stands still--then puts a hand on her stomach) "And...this one." marie: thats why you have us. *she smiles* liz: (thinking: she really is like kid...) Yumi: "..." (sniffs, holds back tears, stands up straight) "Thank you. Please let staff know I will buying this dress. I will pay for it with my account. Let me just change..." Patty: "Hey! We still need to try out our outfits! What color should we wear for our bridesmaid outfits?" liz: hmm... well, 'something blue', am i right? Yumi: (calling from inside the changing room) "Yes, that is the slogan. Do you think we can find a blue that looks good?" -and so- Yumi: "Hmmm..." liz: well? how does it look? Yumi: "Hmmm...Good shade...Very attractive on you, Elizabeth." liz: thank you. marie: blue like a clean soul~ Patty: (tugs at the dress) "What do you think, Stocking?" stocking: i think it looks really nice! Patty: "I'm not a big fan of blue. I was hoping for something with sequins and blinking lights." liz: *sweatdrop* Yumi: (puts a hand on Patty's dress) "It looks wonderful on you, Patricia. Could you please wear it? For me?" Patty: (frowns) "Fine..." Yumi: "Anything else we need, Marie?" -later- Kid: "I wonder how Stocking and the others did today..." liz: we're hoooome! we got the dresses taken care of. Kid: "Ah, welcome home! How do you like the dresses?" stocking: they're great, but you're just gonna have to wait to see them~ Kid: (smirks) "I was afraid you would say that..." (reveals a covered dish--removes the cover to reveal...) "I had the chefs create this decadent chocolate cupcake, with the finest frosting possible...but if you won't show me the dress..." (covers it) "I'll give it to someone else..." Patty: "Oh, that's cold, Kiddo." stocking: Q~Q \depriving her of the sweets she loves? you're such a terrible boyfriend. she probably hates you now~\ Kid: (hums as he walks away, trying to ignore the madness in his head... "I can hear you, but I'm not listening...") (...then Kid looks over his shoulder to see whether Stocking took the bait...) Kid: ("I mean, I'm only teasing her...right?") stocking: *she's eating it* Kid: o_O "THAT WAS MY BARGAINING CHIP! How did--I mean, I was holding the plate, so how did you steal from it?!" Kid: (uncovers the dish...and Patty is under it.) Patty: (waves) liz: o____________o how the.... you know... at this point its the norm for her.... Patty: "Yep! I am beyond your comprehension!" Kid: (pouts) "So now I'm going to have to wait until the wedding to see you in that dress?" stocking: kiddo, kiddo, kiddo~ when will you learn? nothing, and i mean nothing, comes between me and my sweets~. also yes. Kid: (frowns) "Darn." (walks by her) "I'll just have to wait to see you in that dress..." (whispers in her ear) "and get you out of it..." stocking:.......... *stoic face+nosebleed* Patty: "Stop doing that to the poor girl! We can't afford more blood donations!" liz: -_-; Kid: (wiping Stocking's nose) "But isn't she just adorable like that?" stocking: what? bleeding from the nose? *she paps his head* how meeeean! Kid: "Ouch!" (pouts, rubs his head) "I meant that stoic look on your face..." stocking: ................. *she tugs his cheeks* Kid: "Hey!" (grabs her face and tugs) "How do you like that?!" stocking: ah! *she whimpers* \see what you have done? you've gone and upset her! you disgusting, abusive, pig\ Kid: (covers his mouth) "Oh, no...Stocking, I'm sorry!" (approaches her) stocking?: *smiles* drop dead you bastard~ Kid: "...What?" -stockings begin crawling out of the floor and grabbing onto him- 'go die' 'i hate you!' 'kill yourself' 'disgusting' 'worthless' 'scumbag!' Kid: "This isn't happening..." (doesn't move) "This is just a hallucination...This is just a dream. Yes? Right?" (laughs nervously...then screams in panic) liz: kid?!? Patty: "He's shaking! Is he having a seizure?" Kid: (cowering) "Don't move...I could hurt someone..." stocking?: theres a knife in the kitchen.... get to work. i'll forgive you when your dead~ Kid: "...Okay..." (stands up, and walks towards the kitchen...) stocking: ??? *she follows kid* Kid: (approaches the knife drawer, removes a knife...) stocking: KID WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! *she runs and tackles him, knocking the knife away* Kid: "I just was doing what was asked! I thought if I took the knife, that you would tell me that was enough!" (crying a little) "Wasn't that enough?" stocking: why would you even do something like that? Kid: (crying) "I don't know..." Patty: (takes the knife away, placing it back into the drawer..."Better lock this...") stocking: kid. look at me... im not angry with you... Kid: "...I didn't know what to do...I needed to do something to wake up from the dream...and I thought...if I took the knife, something--someone would stop me..." stocking: ........... *she kisses him* im here now.... ok? Kid: (whimpers, holds her) -later, she lays next to kid in bed. they decided not to tell yumi and lord death of the incident- Kid: "...Thank you." stocking: no problem kid.... i love you, ok? no matter what the voices in your head tell you, i love you. Kid: "...I want to get better. It's not fair to you..." stocking: ......... *she strokes his back and head* Kid: "I want to purge those voices...It's just not fair to everyone else..." stocking: i know.... but we're here for you. Kid: (nods) "I believe that..." (turns over, hugs her) stocking: do you....w-want to put you face in my chest?....sorry.... Kid: (blushes a little, nods...approaches her) stocking: *she pulls him in close* you ok? Kid: (nods) "Better...I'm sorry to repeat myself, but I want to get better...You don't deserve to have to deal with someone like...me." stocking: ...... *she kisses his forehead* Kid: (holds her...slowly falls asleep) stocking: i love you kid. Kid: (Yawns) "I love you, t...Zzz..." stocking:...... *she smiles and slowly drifts off*

#death city days #chat rp

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