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#goddamn let him be happy with his niece
agirlwithadiary · 2 years
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"I can go anywhere I want, just not home.."
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vivwritesfics · 1 month
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Cowboy! Max Au
Okay so i got a request (that's hopefully out by the time this is) and this... is what came from it (goddamn i love a cowboy au) now let me just preface this by saying i am an english rider - i (used to) show jump and that sort of stuff. My cowboy knowledge is heartland
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Max's roping horse is called Rocky
He trained Rocky himself, bought him as a two year old and brought him on
All of the local rodeos knew the Verstappens
Mostly they knew Max
Because he competed in most events
Roping, bull riding, steer wrestling
max did it all
he didn't need to do the rodeo events
most of his time was spent working with his dad on the Horner ranch
they were a bit like one big family
but the rodeo events made him happy
so he kept doing them
he might return home bruised and battered, but he didn't care
the local bar was usually full of cowboys
max was no exception
he stood in the corner with danny, nursing a whisky
(it wasn't his drink of choice, but what cowboy drinks a gin and tonic?)
suddenly someone was bumping into him
almost knocking his drink out of his hand
"What the fuck?" Max shouted over the cowboy chatter as he turned around
"Sorry!" she shouted back and max turned back towards danny
he didn't think he'd see her again
the next day he was taking rocky along the roads, heading to the far away paddock where Horner was letting his cattle graze
there had been reports of cattle thieves so max and his father were taking shifts with watching over them
she was there, walking along the roads
getting in max's way
"what the fuck are you doing here?" he asked as he trotted rocky in front of her, cutting her off
"I'm going to see family, if you don't mind," she said, but it wasn't as polite as the words might suggest
actually, it was rather aggressive
max let her go, he had better things to do
that night, while checo (another rangler that worked for horner) watched the herd, max and his dad had dinner with the horners
geri cooked
she loved ensuring they all had enough food to get through the day
the first thing max noticed was that the table was set for one more person than they were expecting
max thought nothing of it
maybe it was another ranch hand
but no
she came striding into the room and took a seat beside him
"max, this is my niece from england," horner said as they passed the potato salad around the table
"do you think you'd be able to show her the ropes while she's here?" geri continued
their niece sent max a sarcastic smile
"sure," he spat, because he couldn't say no to the horner family
okay so now we're at the end i might make this a series with this being the first part- if thats the case, i'll give this a proper title
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hotdsworld · 6 months
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Pretty mouth - Aemond Targaryen x female!reader
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A/n:I feel like I will write it, publish and then I will hide because I will be ashamed however, it doesn't hurt to try.
Summary: Once you were a shy innocent girl, years later it seemed to change until your uncle Aemond reminded you of who you are under the facade.
Warnings: 18+, uncle/niece relationship (sort of), oral (m receiving), degradation, dubcon (it's really not but I will put it since better safe than sorry)
Minors do not interact!
Aemond would have liked you, he really would... if you weren't such a goddamned brat. He just couldn't stand you opening your mouth to defend your bastard brothers. Every fucking time Aemond said something about them you just had to open your plump pretty lips to say something back. He didn't understand. You were a child born of a marriage, why did you defend those bastards? It wasn't like you were one of them. Yes, they were your siblings but you didn't have to deny the obvious, or at least it was what Aemond thought. He would have liked you, you were the best one of all of your siblings. Rhaena and Baela annoyed Aemond greatly probably because they jumped on him along with your bastard brothers, but you didn't. You weren't there in the first place, perhaps that's why he felt more sympathy towards you back then. Such an innocent thing who believed Aemond to be innocent too. You were so pure and quiet back then. It began to fade as you grew up to be a confident woman who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, in Aemond's opinion you just grew up to be a fucking cunt. You used to be so sweet and all of that, but most importantly you knew how to keep your mouth shut.
Aemond stood up hitting the table with his fist, he made everyone focus on him. You had to hold yourself back from rolling your eyes. You knew perfectly well what he was after, he took any chance to make fun of your brothers.
"Final tribute..." He raised his cup. You wondered when the bomb was going to explode, after all the whole evening was peaceful after Viserys' speech. It made you wonder, of course, his words moved you not so deeply but they did. As a child, you wished things to be different but now it seemed like a distant dream, a childish dream. "To the health of my nephews, Jace... Luke... and Joffrey. Each of them handsome wise..." He made a pause and you looked right into his eye, he seemed to want to provoke you even though his words were directed at your brothers. He knew what would make you react, you loved your siblings and he knew that. Aemond noticed that for your family you would do anything. "Strong..." He finished his previous words.
"Aemond." Alicent didn't seem too happy, perhaps she wanted the divided family to finally get along and her son was making a show.
"Come, let us drain our cups to these three Strong boys." Aemond ignored his mother who looked like she wanted to be somewhere else but here.
"Oh, come on, uncle... Is your vocabulary so limited that you don't know more compliments? You repeated the same compliment twice, careful... Some might think that you aren't well-educated like some claim you to be." You said casually but now for Aemond, it seemed like you forgot to how keep your mouth shut. He just wanted to praise his STONG nephews. Was it so bad? He just wanted to compliment them and you just had to open your fucking mouth. You noticed his sharp jaw clenching and you felt like you had to add something despite the promises from earlier to your mother about behaving well. "Although, perhaps you meant to say it twice... Maybe you do envy their strength so much that you can't help yourself but talk about it... Perhaps you lack the strength?" You didn't offend him much, just spoke your thoughts. Aemond's jaw clenched even tighter, he was replaying in his head how he would punish you. After Jace joined in and punched Aemond you almost cheered, however, guards quickly caught Jacaerys and Lucerys so it was no fun anymore. A shame, you could enjoy more drama. As your mother ordered your siblings to go you stayed saying that you wished to talk to Helaena about something important. Your mother agreed reluctantly after you reassured her that it wouldn't be long and after you would go straight to your chamber. Your mother believed you, of course, your father not so much but he didn't question you. The room cleared, and your side of the Targaryen family left to their chambers while you stayed in the dining room.
"Mother, I wish to speak to my niece. I understand that my behavior was not proper and I wish to apologize to her in private." He was lying but Alicent, of course, believed her son. Otto walked out soon after with Helaena and Aegon, and Alicent followed soon after. You looked at Aemond slightly confused as to why would he want to talk with you and what about. You bit your bottom lip without actually realizing it, it was something you would do pretty often as you were thinking. It was driving him mad, it was like you were doing this on purpose.
"Do you realize I have nothing to talk with you about?" You finally asked interrupting the silence. Aemond approached you quickly, making you take a few steps back until your back met the cold wall behind you. His eye looked at you like he was analyzing you, your lips slightly parted at the closeness. It made him fucking hard, only the sight of your plump lips opening.
"Kneel before me." He demanded. You weren't shy, but it felt more intimate. Especially, when he grabbed a fistful of your hair and made you kneel before him. You opened your mouth to say something but he interrupted you quickly. "Shut the fuck up, I swear to gods. I know you have it in you, to be all pretty and quiet, yes? So let's make a deal, you will suck me off nicely since you caused a mess here." He didn't exactly say what was it about but once you looked at his pants you knew. They became tight and his bulge was visible, it looked big, it's not like you looked at it for the first time. Sometimes you would just look there curious but now he was more visible. You licked your lips, and desire sparkled in your eyes. Aemond chuckled noticing how you looked at his fucking bulge that you caused. "Look at you, one glance at my clothed cock and you already are drooling, what a pathetic little slut you are. Perhaps followed your mother's lead? Lost your innocence before getting wed..." he began with a smug smile on his face, "No... You didn't. I can see the way your body acts now... It is foreign to you. Don't worry, sweetling I just might ruin your pretty mouth a little but nothing besides... Although you already ruined that yourself." He unzipped his breeches and slid them down to his ankles, he didn't bother to take them off his cock was just aching. The sight of you on your knees was driving him crazy, it looked like you belonged there. On the other hand, you just watched in awe. Of course, you noticed how attractive Aemond is, a while ago actually. Perhaps you would have liked him if he didn't insult your brothers so much. You stared at his member, it seemed hard and... painful.
"Does it hurt?" You asked softly, the complete opposite of the tone of the words you said to him at the dinner.
"Yes, and you will help me with that pain since you caused it. You will prove that your pretty mouth can be actually useful." You looked confused after all you had no idea how to help him. You knew about sex but nothing like this. To him, you looked like the innocent girl again and it drove him crazy. You couldn't deny the heat between you too, perhaps that's why you didn't stand up, that's why you let him tangle his fingers in your soft hair gently guiding you towards his hard cock, the tip already leaking with precum. You couldn't help yourself but wonder what it would taste or feel like. He seemed to notice your curiosity since his fingers moved in your hair urging your head even closer. He didn't say a word but you understood. You gave his tip a small lick, collecting the precum from there. The taste on your tongue was salty, although it didn't taste bad... Just new. Aemond was getting impatient, he understood how new it was to you but he needed a release. Aemond allowed you to give him a few more licks on the tip and around it.
"We shouldn't." You said quietly like you didn't even want him to hear you. It felt bad because you were unmarried, yet you didn't want to go. Aemond was getting even more turned on, it appears that you are still the innocent girl underneath the facade of powerful woman. He knew you are powerful, he admired how you got confident but not with him.
"Come on, slut. You couldn't keep your mouth shut before so don't keep it shut now." He held your hair tighter as he urged you to open your mouth, it was exactly what you did. You couldn't believe yourself, since when were you so obedient... and towards Aemond? Your thoughts were interrupted as his tip pushed past your lips gently, he tried to keep in mind that you had never done this before but the warmth and wetness of your mouth surrounded him so well. After a few thrusts, he let out a grunt, he was never vocal, and yet with you his fucking brat of a niece he felt a need to be vocal. the fact that in those things you were inexperienced and you couldn't really argue back because he knew better. At first, you couldn't fit all of him, he was just so fucking huge you couldn't understand how it was going to fit in your mouth, but Aemond was determined to make it fit. You were looking up at him with your watery eyes, so pretty as he began to thrust deeper and faster. He tried to hold himself back, considering you being inexperienced but he just couldn't. "Taking my cock so well, fuck. It's like you were made for it. This pretty mouth taking me so fucking well, it's the first time that I like how you use your pretty mouth, whore. If I didn't know better I would think that you did this before." He keeps talking and as a woman, you should feel disgusted by the degradation but somehow it made everything even better. You feel a tingling between your legs and you can't help but squeeze your thighs together as Aemond fucks your mouth. Even though he tried to be gentle before it wasn't the case now. His tip hitting the back of your throat, making you gag and your eyes water even more but somehow it felt good to you. Aemond took notice of you squeezing your legs shut, his pace got faster as he began to chase his high. His grip on your hair tightened. "Does sucking me off turns you on, little cocksucker? It does, doesn't it? You are like a little whore, princess... Enjoying sucking your uncle off... Fuck..." He cursed as he felt his balls tighten, ready to burst the load at any second. Aemond was so fucking close all thanks to you, the fucking brat he hated so much, and yet, he felt a strange attraction to you. "I'm going to cum in this pretty mouth of yours and you will swallow, yeah?" It wasn't even a question he just made sure that you understood what he expected of you. He was pulling your hair hard, pulling you down onto his dick. You looked so pretty right now, your mouth stuffed with his huge cock. Tears running down your soft cheeks, you looked like an angel to him... Well, perhaps a fallen angel considering the act. He came inside your mouth with a loud moan. The warm salty liquid filled it up but there was even more. You tried to swallow it but some of it dripped down your chin. Aemond quickly wiped the dripping down semen with his fingers and smeared it onto your lips, coating them even more with his cum. He remembered how you squeezed your thighs together and sighed, he was frustrated but he couldn't please you now. "The guards will be here in a few minutes, I would help you, my little slut but I doubt it would be good for your virtue if they caught us." You rolled your eyes.
"Oh, fuck off you wouldn't please me even if you wanted." You said coldly and Aemond scoffed noticing the brat coming back. He almost felt sorry for your frustration... almost. Aemond looked down on you enjoying the sight, you were on your knees your eyes still watery your cheeks a bit red, and your hair was messy because of his constant pulling. Even if before he thought that you had a pretty mouth it looked better with his semen on it. As you noticed him staring you licked your lips clean from the salty liquid and stood up. Aemond smirked leaving the dining room and you couldn't help but wonder what the fuck just happened and why did you allow it like some common whore. You knew you would get off to the thoughts of him too so it makes everything even worse. Aemond was walking to his chamber with the memory of your pretty mouth taking him so well, he will probably jerk off to this memory until he gets to ruin every part of you, and he intended to do so you, on the other hand, decided that you would never let something like this to happen again. You had to remember about your siblings.
A/n: not cause I feel like it's shit ass bad but I already wrote it so kind of don't know whether to post it, dear gods. Y'all spare me it's my first 🥴
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always-andromeda · 6 months
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-ˋˏ 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 ˎˊ-
𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠・Joel Miller x Fem!Reader
𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭・2,720
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲・There are many difficult memories Joel associates with his birthday. Ones that he's attempted to forget for about twenty years. You attempt to give him a birthday to remember.
𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞・(credit to @saradika for the adorable dividers, please check her resources out!!) happy birthday, Joel; you deserve everything and more, babygirl. ♡
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬・post-outbreak universe, angst, comfort and fluff, pet names (darlin'), mentions of alcohol, lots of feelings lmao, those are all I can think of!
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Eyes fluttering open, you drowsily felt the space on the bed beside you. The sheets had long since lost the warmth of the man that normally slept with you. You groaned. Of course Joel had to sign himself up for a patrol on his birthday of all days.
But you truly couldn't blame him. Though it had been a little over a year since he and Ellie had returned to settle in Jackson, he was still working his ass off like a new arrival; like he still had something to prove. As if Tommy hadn't vouched for his usefulness to the community dozens of times. As if Joel himself hadn't shown how he'd seemingly perfected the art of survival.
You'd learned why he was like this a year prior; when Joel had only been around for a few months. Back then he was merely a patrol partner who you'd found yourself catching the eye of from time to time. Back then he chuckled softly at your jokes and offered up little bits and pieces of his own history whenever the conversation called for it.
Then came the day that Tommy said it; the thing that made your heart break for his older brother.
"Damn...September 26th..." he'd sighed and whistled before taking a swig from his beer.
You sat on the stool next to him, swirling your own drink and throwing him a sideways glance. "Yeah, what's so special about today's date?"
Tommy looked down, then he explained, "It's Joel's birthday. How old is that bastard now?" a tight light smile formed on his lips as he seemed to reminisce. "Fifty-seven, I think?"
"Goddamn," you muttered. "Why didn't you tell me? I would've gotten something for him."
Tommy shook his head. An immediate sadness appeared across his features as he said, "Nah, he hasn't really made a big deal out of his birthday since...well...since ever, really. But he especially doesn't like talkin' about it these days."
"Why?"
Swallowing hard, Tommy answered, "A little over twenty years ago today was when the outbreak first started. And it was the day that Sarah passed."
Tommy had talked about Sarah a few times. He remembered his niece very fondly and with Maria's encouragement, made it a point to not let her memory be forgotten. After all, it was the memory of Sarah and anyone else lost to the virus that drove the community to continue on; to keep fighting for those who were still there.
But this time, her memory seemed to haunt him. Right now, Sarah wasn't a heartening symbol. She was a reminder of everything he'd lost – everything that Joel had lost – when the world fell apart. A reminder of just how hard both brothers tried to hold onto the scraps and how hard they fought to forge something new for themselves.
"Oh," you breathed out.
"Yeah," Tommy said. "He figured that it didn't seem right to him. To celebrate his life on the day that she lost hers. So..." he trailed off, searching for his words.
You stopped him with a pursed smile and a compassionate hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. I get it."
And you truly did. It made sense that Joel wanted to keep himself busy. Plenty of folks did that; couldn't dwell on the past as long as you kept moving. The simple answer, however, was that Joel didn't trust any of it.
Sure, Jackson was beautiful; truly a marvel of human spirit and ingenuity. But you always caught how unsettled Joel seemed, head kept low, eyes up at all times, checking to see if and when he needed to scoop Ellie up and jump ship. Decades of fighting for survival had turned him into a warrior. It had also turned him into a recluse; a closed-off, touch-starved old dog that bared its teeth when approached but still whined in relief when you scratched behind its ear. Every little bit of love you gave seemed to hurt as much as it helped.
Which is why you were determined to do something on this day. Something that would hopefully numb that pain a little more and get him more used to feeling the tenderness of real intimacy with someone.
It wasn’t easy. Once you had confirmed that Joel had indeed gone out, you got dressed and ran through your mental list of all the different vendors on main street that you needed to visit.
Though Jackson offered a range of luxuries, almost all of them came at a pretty decent price. A few hours in and you’d traded practically half of your things away to gather up the supplies to put together a present and a modest party. When Tommy caught you trading in one of your winter coats for a brand new pair of boots Joel's size and you told him of your plan, he almost looked nervous.
You second guessed yourself for a minute. Tommy had known Joel for much, much longer than you had. Maybe he knew better than you. But something inside assured you that this time around...you definitely knew better.
Quickly quelling the nerves dancing under your skin, you joked, "Don't worry, I'm not doing anything too fancy. I've got these boots, some new strings for that guitar of his, and after this, I'm gonna head down to the cafeteria and pick up some of those special dark roast coffee beans he likes. Just some little practical things. Don't wanna give the birthday boy a heart attack."
Tommy laughed, "He ain't had a birthday in over two decades, girlie; puttin' those alone in front of him might send him into cardiac arrest," he nodded towards the boots on the counter before you.
They were very nice. The kind of thing Joel always hesitated to get himself. During his year in town, you were pretty sure you'd only seen him replace his shoes once. And when he did, they were a well worn pair that had been tucked away deep in the town's clothing storages. Almost every day you got to see the ugly pair of boots stationed by your front door, rubber soles caked in dried mud and already starting to pull away from the rest of the shoe. 
You scoffed, "Then so be it, because he needs these. He needs this."
Perhaps it was a little selfish of you. But you wanted to spoil him. More than anything you wanted him to feel just how much you loved him. Neither you or him had said it, always too afraid to speak those feelings aloud. The world had become too dangerous for such open affection. But you could show it. You could show how much you loved him.
"Okay, if you say so," Tommy replied hopefully. "Good luck on your little mission."
You appreciated his encouragement and smiled to yourself as you stowed the boots away in your wagon with the rest of your birthday stash. Perhaps you could make this birthday one that Joel actually wanted to remember.
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The sun went down slowly, showering your kitchen in golden warmth. As much as you normally loved seeing the sunset, this time it made you nervous as it gradually faded into the darkness of night.
With your eye flickering between the clock and the front door, you were getting nervous all over again. You'd anticipated Joel spending the day out, but you hadn't expected him to be gone for this long. How many jobs had he signed himself up for that day?
The longer you lingered on the question, the more you doubted yourself. What if this was too much? What if it offended him? After all, in all the time you'd known him, he'd been a stubborn man, stuck in his ways. And this had been his way for so long. Who were you to interrupt that?
The urge to scrap the whole idea and pretend you'd never made the effort in the first place was strong. It would be embarrassing to explain that you had nothing to show for your day if and when Joel came home and asked about it. But surely it would be less embarrassing than facing rejection from him. 
Before you could do anything impulsive, the door swung open, causing you to jump from your spot on the couch.
"Sorry I'm so late," Joel explained. "One of the horses kicked a fence in at the stable and Tony wanted to get it fixed before tomorrow so I stayed back to help."
Judging by his rumpled curls, tired eyes, and the stench of sweat and wood shavings that clung to him, you could tell he'd physically worn himself out that day. And you cringed internally knowing you were most likely about to wear him down emotionally as well.
"That's okay," you replied, trying to put on a chipper tone. "I'm sure Tony really appreciated your help."
"Damn right he did," Joel smirked before pulling his arm out from behind his back. In his hand was a bottle that you quickly recognized.
"Holy shit, where'd he get this?" you marveled, taking the bottle of wine from him and turning it in your hand as if it was a mirage. It was a Cabernet Sauvignon with a fancy cream colored label and gold text. You couldn't remember the last time you'd seen something this fancy that was actually intact.
"That fucker's got a whole load of alcohol from before the outbreak. Said he'd give me this one if I promised not to tell Maria about his stash," Joel chuckled.
"Yeah, no kidding," you said before pausing and looking back up at him. "Wait, Tony gets the stable guys to help him out all the time. Is he giving them all secret complimentary bottles of alcohol?"
"Actually," Joel began hesitantly, turning away to take off his boots and shed his jacket. "He said this was a special favor. Told me to go home and have a drink with my lady."
Coming from Tony, the sentiment would've made you roll your eyes. But coming out of Joel's mouth with that smooth-like-molasses Texan accent, it had you melting. At the end of the day, there was always something so warming being known as his.
As much as you knew about Joel's past through his own admissions, it was moments like these that let you know he'd changed so much since those days. Now, he was a good man. A good man who the community could depend upon. And more importantly, man who you could trust with everything...maybe even sappy displays of affection.
With reinvigorated confidence, you took his hand in yours and led him into the kitchen. Before he could ask what you were up to, you said, "Well, if Tony is so insistent on us having a good night, let me make it a little better."
Joel still seemed a little confused, his deep brown puppy dog eyes framed by furrowed brows as he watched you open the fridge and reached in to grab something. 
In your hands was a simple cake set neatly in the middle of a glass platter. Under the layer of buttercream frosting were two layers of cake along with strawberry jam between them. The jam had been another trade you felt privileged to acquire. One of the women in town, Bonnie, made jams for every season. The strawberry jam you'd acquired was her last jar from the summer harvest. And you hoped and prayed with everything in you that you hadn't messed up the cake and frosting recipe you'd borrowed from her.
Setting those worries aside, you put on a small smile before setting the dish down on the kitchen counter before him. Joel stared down at it, a volatile expression on his face.
"I couldn't find any of those fancy little number candles, so we'll have to stick with the regular ones I have in my junk drawer. Though it would be funny if I just stuck fifty-eight candles on there," you rambled. "Not that fifty-eight candles would fit on there anyways. Or that you could even blow out fifty eight candles all at once–"
Joel cut through your halfhearted attempt to diffuse the tension and muttered, "How did you know?"
"Tommy told me–"
"Of course he did," Joel cut you off with a hint of exasperation.
"Wait, before you start planning on drilling him a new one, just hear me out. Because he told me about how hard this day is for you. And don't worry, I completely understand it. But...I–" you chose your words cautiously, "–care about you...a lot. And I wanted to celebrate you. I know you think that you don't deserve it. But I believe you do."
"Darlin'...this is..." Joel trailed off with a sigh.
You took a deep breath. It's now or never.
Finally, you said the magic words you'd held inside for far too long, "I love you, Joel."
He blinked hard a few times, processing this new information before it started to click. For the first time ever, you thought, you were seeing Joel Miller get nervous. You'd seen shades of uncertainty wash across his worn face, but never had you seen such boy-ish anxiety like this. With soft, glossy eyes and slightly quivering lip, he looked so different. He looked like a man unburdened by the world and his past; only weighed down by the crippling realization of just how much he was valued. You decided it was the most raw and beautiful side of him you'd seen so far.
You repeated firmly, "I love you so much. And I want to show you that love. Even if you've got nothing else in the world...you can have that. You get to have all of my love."
That made his head hang and his shoulders sag. You couldn't tell if this was a good thing or not. So you walked around the island and approached him gently.
"Are you okay, Joel?"
He lifted his head just enough for you to see that there were a few stray tears falling down his cheek. He wiped them away and sniffled before bringing himself to meet your gaze. With a wobbly smile playing on his lips, he whispered hoarsely, "I'm fine, darlin'. I'm just...I'm glad to have ya."
You wrapped your arms around him. And as he returned the gesture, he let himself bury his head in your neck. His tall, broad frame curled around you. The marble statue he seemed to be normally had crumbled away. Here he was all softness, all warmth, all yours.
With his lips beside your ear, you heard him murmur softly, "I love you too, darlin'."
Your chest swelled with joy so intensely that for a second you were sure that you were the one who would be having a heart attack. But even as tears threatened to spill from your own eyes, you forced yourself to take deep, even breaths to calm yourself down.
As the emotional fog of the moment cleared from your mind, you remembered the rest of your plan. With a start you pulled back from him and said excitedly, "I have some presents for you too!"
"Multiple presents," Joel laughed to himself. "Goddamn, woman, you've really thought of it all, haven't you?"
"Yep," you replied proudly. "I have."
"Well, run along and get 'em. I'll crack open this bottle and get out the glasses. Then I'll take a look at your presents."
"Deal!" you said before pressing a deep kiss on Joel's lips that was sure to make his head spin.
He watched you hurry upstairs with another quiet laugh. Turning to take another look at your handiwork, he thought back to the time before all this. A time when something like your modest cake would've been normal. But these days...to put time and effort into such displays was a rarity, a privilege. To him, however, it was doubly so, considering the fact that it was coming from you.
The warm glow filling his bones was unfamiliar. But this time he wasn't afraid of it. For once, he wanted to embrace it. It wasn't often that a guy like him got the love of a creature so special. And he intended to cherish it for as long as he possibly could.
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justagalwhowrites · 9 months
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Lavender - Ch. 43
Joel does everything he can to get to his girls. A continuation of Lavender, Ch. 1- 42 found on Tumblr here.
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Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader
Warnings: Canon-typical violence. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+
Length: 3.9K
“What did you do!” 
You practically launched yourself at Ellie’s prone body, carefully looking her over. She hadn’t been shot, at least. Her bones were intact from what you could tell, her breathing even, heart rate good. 
“What happened to her?” You demanded, only then realizing that David was in the room, too. “I can’t do anything for her if you don’t tell me what the fuck you did!” 
“We didn’t do anything,” David said, sounding almost defensive. “We were trying to get her to bring her here, to you, and she ran…” 
“Yeah, you think?” You snapped. 
“She was on a horse,” David continued. “She was thrown…” 
“Jesus,” you muttered, starting to look over her head. “Just wanted to give a fucking child a closed head injury? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
David glared at you. 
“I wouldn’t do anything to try to hurt her,” he said. 
“Yeah, I bet you wouldn’t,” you muttered. “Have a flashlight? I need to check her pupils…” 
James handed you one and you gingerly lifted her eyelid. You shined the light in her eye, wincing a little as you did, even though she couldn’t see you in her current state. “Sorry, Baby Girl, I know this is bright…” 
Her pupil contracted and then dilated again when you moved the light away. The other eye did the same. 
“Pupil dilation is normal,” you said. “Without something to scan her with, I can only do so much. How long has she been out?” 
“A few hours,” David replied. 
“A few hours!” You snapped. “Jesus Christ…” 
“Is she going to be OK?” David asked. He sounded genuinely concerned. Knowing what you did about at least one girl here, it turned your stomach. 
“I don’t know,” you snapped. “If you were so worried about her welfare, maybe you shouldn’t have gotten her thrown off a goddamn horse!” 
“You don’t seem particularly grateful that we brought you your niece,” David crossed his arms. “Thought you might be a little more receptive to the needs of your fellow man if we…” 
“If you kidnapped and injured a child?” You asked. “What happened to the man she was with?” 
“She wasn’t with a man,” James said, looking almost smug about it. Your stomach twisted, heart clenched. “She was alone.” 
Joel wouldn’t have left her alone. He wouldn’t have. He either couldn’t stay with her or… 
You felt like you were going to vomit. 
“Doc?” Ellie’s voice was groggy. She started sitting up and you moved to go to her but James’ arms went around your waist, pulling you back into him. 
“Hey!” You shrieked. “Put me down! Let me go!” 
“Doc!” Ellie scrambled to her feet and you reached for her, kicking back against James as he pulled you out of the small cell. David closed and locked it behind you as Ellie hurled herself against the bars, her arms stretching and reaching through. You lunged as much as you could in James’ grip, your fingertips managing to brush hers. “No! Fuck, leave her here!” 
“Don’t let him touch you!” You screamed. “Don’t trust him, don’t listen to him!” 
“James!” David yelled. The man holding you slammed your head into a wall and you passed out. 
***
The first man who came for Joel was a fucking idiot. 
He’d never have survived outside a QZ in the same way Joel and Tommy had. He’d have been eaten alive in days, at best. He came to the basement Joel had been in for who the fuck knows how long. He didn’t check his six, his trigger discipline was shit, his reaction times were bad. He couldn’t really fight against Joel. He tried, he strained, but Joel looped his arm around the man’s neck and he broke it. 
He’d need to get information out of one of them but there were more upstairs. He was sure he could get one or two of them to cooperate. 
His side pulled and burned but he was almost happy for it. It meant he was alive, that he could still get to you and Ellie, could still save you. He’d take pain for that. He’d take any amount of pain for that. 
He made it up stairs and the man in the living room was smarter. He swung at Joel, forcing him to dodge him before he brought his gun around. Joel had to lunge for him, knocking the weapon aside, before slamming the man’s head into a doorframe. He taped the man’s arms behind his back, bound his legs together and left him slumped against a wall just as the shadows of two more men passed outside the window. 
Joel crept out through a side door, crouching low, gun from the unconscious man in his grip. He stayed tucked behind the overgrown bushes, watching the men’s shadows in the snow. When he knew he could get to them, he readied his gun and leveled it at the first man, shooting him in the head. The other man was slow to react, stumbling back from his fallen comrade on instinct before going to raise his weapon for Joel. 
But Joel wasn’t bothered by killing. Not by the body or its blood or its pain. He had one person inside to interrogate but he wanted a second. He wanted to be sure. And this man looked afraid. 
He liked them afraid. 
He slammed the butt of his gun into the man’s temple and he went limp. Joel dragged him inside and taped him to a chair in the living room, breathless and aching. He checked the wound at his side, lifting his shirt to see the stitches and the angry red flesh that was still oozing blood. Ellie had kept him alive. Had somehow known that these men had you, too. He’d make them tell him where you were, where you both were. 
Joel didn’t have time to wait for the man to come around on his own. He got his knife from his pack, along with the map of the region, and pulled a chair up in front of the second man. The man who was afraid. He’d give in quick. He almost hoped it wasn’t too quick. 
He slapped the man’s face, rousing him with a low moan. He looked around for a moment, tried to move but quickly found that he couldn’t. 
“What the fuck?” He started hyperventilating, eyes going wide. “What the fuck man…” 
“You and your friends,” Joel tried to keep his voice even and calm. “You took my girls. Tell me where they are and this is a lot easier.” 
“I don’t know what girls you’re talking about,” the man sounded panicky. 
Joel nodded slowly. 
“Had a feelin’ you’d say that,” he stood and pulled his fist back, putting all his weight behind the swing he brought down on the man’s face. He screamed. Joel ignored him, punching him again and again, feeling the crush of the bones below his fingers. You’d know the names of them - what to call them beyond the nose, the structure around the eye. He wondered if you would tell him sometime, if he asked the right way. He wanted to know the parts of the people he broke, especially the ones he broke to get to you. 
The man slumped over and Joel grabbed his hair in his fist, raising his head so he was looking him in the eye. 
“Fuck, please!” The man’s voice was distorted, his nose crushed. “I swear, I don’t know what you mean…” 
“Yes you do,” Joel said, holding the man’s head still while he pressed his thumb into his decimated nose. “You know exactly what I mean.” 
The screamed, the shriek ripping through him with an almost vicious, ripping sound. The man slumped against the wall began to stir. Joel smirked. This was going to get easier. Better. 
“Are my girls alive?” Joel asked, pulling his thumb back from his nose and wiping the blood on the man’s coat. 
“I don’t know anything about any girls!” The man was crying. “Please…” 
Joel sighed and brought his fist into the man’s stomach, knocking the air out of him, before landing another blow on his face. He gasped and moaned. 
“Jesus Christ!” The man against the wall was trying to move but was stuck. 
Joel just smiled. 
“Jesus ain’t here, friend,” he said. “You better start prayin’ to me.” 
He pulled out his knife and held it in front of the man in the chair. 
“No,” he shook his head. “Please, no!” 
“Not what I want to hear,” Joel said before he brought it down into the man’s leg, just behind the top of his knee. The man’s scream was almost deafening. Joel panted for breath, his side aching, waiting for him to get to the point that he could answer. 
“My girls,” Joel said. “Are they alive? Where are they?” 
“Marco!” The man groaned, twisting his head around to look at the man against the wall. “Please!” 
Joel grabbed the man by the chin and forced his head back around to face him. 
“Why are you lookin’ for him?” Joel asked, twisting the knife in the man’s leg. He shrieked in pain. “You think he can help you?” He let his face go and the man panted for breath, closing his eyes. Joel tapped his chin with his open hand, making his eyes open again. “No, you’re stayin’ with me. You’re mine so you pay attention to me. Now, tell me where my girls are, if they’re alive, or I’ll pop your fuckin’ kneecap off.” 
He started putting pressure on the knife, feeling the resistance of the bone and the pull of the stitches in his side. He didn’t care. He’d skin the man alive if he had to, take him apart piece by piece if that’s what it took and bleed himself dry as he did it. 
“They’re alive!” The man screamed. Joel released the knife, letting up on the pressure. The man’s body relaxed a bit as he caught his breath. “They’re alive, David decided he wanted to keep them, they’re in the town…” 
The man trailed off, still gasping for air.
“What town?” Joel asked. The man just closed his eyes, body going limp. Joel clenched his jaw. He didn’t have time for this. He grabbed the man by the hair again, jerking his head around so he was looking Joel in the eye. “WHAT TOWN!” 
“Silver Lake!” The man said quickly. “Silver Lake, it’s not a real town, it’s an old ski resort, please….” 
Joel opened the map and ripped the knife free of the man’s leg, jamming the handle of it into his teeth when he let out a pathetic moan. 
“Mark on the map where your fuckin’ resort is,” Joel ordered. “And it’d better be the same place your buddy points to.” 
He held the map in front of him and the man, shakily, pressed the bloody tip of the knife into the paper. Joel nodded, setting the map down and taking the knife from the man. He looked relieved and Joel almost smiled at it. He wasn’t sure why the men he interrogated did this. Why they thought he’d just let them go free now that he was done with them. Why they had any thought that he might be a merciful man - especially when it came to you and Ellie. 
“Please,” the man managed. Joel didn’t bother to wait for him to finish, he just thrust the knife into his stomach and twisted it, the man’s head and shoulders slumping forward as he yanked it free. 
“What the fuck!” The other man - Marco - yelled. “Why would you do that! He told you what you wanted to know!” 
“Because,” Joel picked up the map and noted where the mark was before folding it and putting it in his back pocket. “I wanted to. You and your people took my girls from me. He had to pay and now, so do you.” 
“I’m not going to tell you a fuckin’ thing,” he said, looking around as though he’d find a way out. Joel shrugged, picking up a pipe from the ground and stalking over to him. 
“That’s OK,” he said simply. “I believe him.” 
Joel barely noticed the pull of the stitches as he brought the pipe down on the man’s head.
***
You woke up cold. So cold it was like you’d fallen asleep in a snowbank, without bothering with a sleeping bag or blanket or fire. Your whole body was shaking with it. Your head hurt. 
You opened your eyes slowly, James and another man leaning against a shelf across from you. You groaned. 
“You’re getting to be more trouble than you’re worth,” James said, his arms crossed over his chest. 
“Where is she?” You managed, sitting up. 
“With David,” James said. “He’ll take care of her.”
“He’s a fucking rapist,” you snapped, forcing yourself up to your feet. “He’s attacking children, do you understand me? Children!” 
James shrugged. 
“Marriage in biblical times was different,” he said. “He’s doing what he must to lead us.” 
“You’re disgusting,” you snarled, prowling toward him. “You’re sick, you’re evil and I swear if he lays a finger on that girl I will fucking castrate him.” 
James just shrugged before bringing his fist back and swinging, slamming it into your cheek and sending you sprawling to the ground. 
You’d never been hit before, not like that. You’d somehow survived this long in the apocalypse without anyone landing a punch and it made your head spin. First was the shock of it, the odd feeling of your brain rattling in your skull. It took you a moment to get your bearings as the pain set in, starting like a spike against your temple and radiating out from there. You groaned, pushing yourself up. 
But as you looked up, James and the other man at your back, you saw it. Bodies, hanging from meat hooks, dangling over frozen water in a boat house. 
“What the fuck,” you breathed, scrambling back from them. 
It took you a moment to piece it together. It was so… unnatural. Abhorrent. You had to try to force yourself to not vomit. You were still on your hands and knees when James’ hand fisted in your hair, pulling you to your feet. 
“You’re eating people,” you said through gritted teeth. His face curled into a snarl and he threw you into a post. You caught it, managing to stay upright in spite of the shock of pain against your ribs. “You’re fucking eating people!” 
“Food has been scarce,” he said, coming toward you again. You backed away from him, toward the hanging bodies. You tried not to think about that part of it. “Would you have us starve?” 
“Is that why your patrol was out that day?” You asked, ducking behind another post to put something between his body and your own. “Were you looking for people to fucking eat? Is that what was supposed to happen with us?” 
“We have to feed our families!” James lunged for you again but you jumped back, his fingers glancing off your shirt. “What’s the point of having all of us die if we could have just…” 
“Eaten fucking human beings?” You yelled. “You’re sick. You’re sick and if your god exists I hope he send you to fucking hell…” 
He lunged for you again and you stepped back, not realizing how close you were to the opening in the floor to the frozen water below. You fell back onto the ice, sliding along the slick surface, the feeling sharp and cold. James came to the edge of the dock and smiled down at you. 
“No where left to go,” he dropped onto the ice beside you. You tried to scramble back, hands slipping on the ice. The bodies overhead swung on their hooks and you felt sick. “David told me to decide whether you would become an obedient wife or be used in… other ways. I don’t think you have it in you to be an obedient wife.” 
He crouched over you, his hand going around your throat, slamming you back down into the ice. Your head spun. You thought you heard cracking. 
For a moment, you heard Joel's voice in your head. "Don't let anyone take you from me."
You tried to thrash against him and it shook his grip on your throat enough to draw a full breath. You brought your whole upper body up and back down on the ice, a sharp crack snapping through the air. James didn’t seem to notice, too busy scrambling to get ahold of you again. You raised your shoulders again and slammed yourself back down and the ice gave way, sending you plunging into the water below. 
James tried to grab you as he went down but his fingers slipped off your wrist as he sank into the water. You kicked him in the chest, sending him further below the ice as you swam for the hole you’d made in the surface above, the cold of the water stabbing into you live a million knives across your skin. You managed to reach the surface, the ice feeling thick now that you were on this side of it. You pressed your hands into it, trying to keep your bearings, find where you’d broken through, fighting to stay calm. Your fingers spread over the underside of the ice, stretching and reaching, your lungs starting to burn, as you found the hole you’d fallen through. 
You latched onto it, pulling yourself toward it and breaking through the water, gasping for breath as you hauled yourself back onto the ice and started crawling for the dock. 
“You bitch!” The other man said as you clambered onto the wood. He grabbed you by the collar, hauling you up as you coughed and panted. 
“Go in after him,” you managed, tone daring him. “See if you can help.” 
He punched you across the face and threw you away from him, sending you sprawling onto the  floor. You tried to get back up, limbs shaky, cold cutting you deep, head spinning. Blood was dripping into your eyes as you tried to see clearly enough to find a weapon of some kind. 
You barely noticed Joel moving in on the man, his shirt covered in blood. 
*** 
The resort had been easy to find once he had the map. 
In appearance alone, it would have reminded him of Jackson. It was about the same size, the same western look. But this town he’d have thought was uninhabited if he didn’t know better. There were signs of people, since he knew to look for them. Footprints in the snow going to a few of the buildings, holes in buildings patched with boards or tarps. 
He wasn’t sure where to start looking for you and Ellie. But he saw some fresh footprints going into an outbuilding on the water, so he started there. At the very least, he could get information about where to look for you. 
Joel crept inside, hearing some kind of commotion now that he was inside. 
“You bitch!” 
“Go in after him,” he recognized your voice. “See if you can help.”
He had to stop himself from running for you, peering around a storage rack to see just what he was getting himself into. The man holding you punched you and threw you. Joel’s blood got hot, the fire of it running through his whole body. It was urgent, insistent, all but screaming at him to avenge you. He needed to act, needed to make this man hurt, before the fire swallowed him whole. 
He grabbed an axe from the shelf and stayed low as the man looked down into the water. He approached him quietly, adjusting the axe so he’d hit the man with the blunt side first. Joel wanted to look at his face when he died. He wanted this man to know it was coming. 
Joel swung the axe, catching the man in the shoulder and sending him sprawling to the dock below. 
“What the…” he began, already trying to get his bearings. His eyes went wide at the sight of Joel and he started trying to get away, pulling himself back along the dock, the boards creaking. 
“Shouldn’t have touched my girl,” Joel snarled, raising the axe and bringing it down into the man’s head, splitting open his skull with a satisfying thunk, blood splattering. The man slumped to the ground, still and dead. Joel dislodged the axe and went for you. 
Your face was bloody and you were soaking wet, your whole body shaking. 
“Oh, Baby,” he breathed, getting down on your level, delicately taking your face in his hand. 
“You’re alive,” you gasped, panting for breath. “Joel…” 
You all but clawed your way up his body and wrapped your arms around his neck, clinging to him. 
“I’ve got you Baby,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry I let you get hurt but I’ve got you… Do you know where Ellie is? We have to get Ellie…” 
“Near the steakhouse,” you said as he helped you to your feet. “We have to get to her, Joel, the leader here… They’ve been eating people, they’re fucking eating people and the man in charge has been raping girls, we have to get her away from them…” 
Joel’s chest got tight but he gave you a stiff nod, pulling you against his side. There was a shelf on the way out, with packs from travelers. Yours and Ellie’s stuck out. 
“Can you carry those?” He asked, nodding at them. You nodded, grabbing them and slinging both bags over one arm. You were shaking against him, one of his hands clutching your shoulder, the other holding the axe. 
“That way,” you managed, nodding toward a larger building near the tree line, smoke curling up from the roof. The two of you were close when the door flew open and Ellie stumbled into the snow. Joel almost dropped the axe to go grab her, hold her to him, when a man ran out of another building. He reminded Joel of the men he’d killed before, scraggly beards and long hair. He released you and ran, more stumbling than anything. The man was so singularly focused on Ellie he didn’t see Joel coming. 
Joel raised his axe and brought it down on the man a split second before he saw it, his hands going up to protect himself. It was too late, the metal lodging itself in the man’s skull. Ellie shrieked and tried to run but Joel grabbed her, trying to be both firm and gentle, blocking the view of the bleeding man on the ground with his body. Her eyes were wide and panicked, her face bloody. 
“Let me go!” She shrieked, swinging at him. 
“Ellie!” He took her by the shoulders, giving her one small but firm shake. “It’s me, it’s me, it’s OK Baby Girl….” 
Her eyes searched his own and her arms went around his neck. He pulled her in close, concentrating on the feeling of her small, warm body against his. 
“You’re OK Baby Girl,” he said, looking back behind him as you came up, dropping to your knees beside them. “We have you, you’re OK. You’re OK.” 
Your forehead dropped to Joel’s shoulder and you put a hand on Ellie’s back, trying to take deep, even breaths as you shivered. 
“I’ve got you both,” he said, as much for himself as it was for the two of you. “It’s OK now. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
A/N: FERAL JOEL!
FERAL JOEL!
FERAL JOEL!
AHHH THE WHAT TOWN CHAPTER OMG
This was so much fun to write, I hope it was fun to read. Things are getting into position for the last arc of the story and then the resolution. Can you believe that? I can't believe that. I'm not sure I'm ready for it. But it's coming, either way!
I do have a taglist if you'd like to be added to the last few chapters of this fic. Just comment below if you do!
Thanks for being along for the ride and following along with Doc and Joel. Sharing them with you has been an absolute joy. Love you all!
Taglist: @paleidiot@ayamenimthiriel@ginger-swag-rapunzel@drewharrisonwriter@flugazi @pedropascalsbbg@taoyuji@starstruckmusiciansartghost@splendsay@bigboiseason123@jpbplvr @ashleyandring @mrsyixingunicorn10@sloanexx@ninaminaromina @lady-bellyn @hufflepuffriver @sarap-77 @storyarcscribe @mellymbee @jasminedragoon @lemonmeli @reds-ramblings@arizonadaydreamer@mumma-moonchild@blackroseguzzi@candypeaches16@kittenlittle24@wrappedinfiction@oatmeaiboy@pedritosdarling@winchestergypsy90@imnotdatboii @lalalalemonade11 @maknimuk1@mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes@pedrosaidsheispunk@commanderawkward@n7cje@elliesgirlll@tsunamistorm123@spookyxsam@leeeesahhh @anoverwhelmingdin @untamedheart81 @pedropascalfan221 @pedr0swh0r3 @pedrobae@fifia-writes@fatima-marisa @acf2023 @1soff@encephalitiskat
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Why Does Change Hurt So Much?
Joel Miller X F!Reader Joel wasn't a terrible person, he'd done everything he could to make sure everyone he cared about was safe. Until Ellie finds out the truth, finds out that Joel's never been truthful, until Ellie hates him. A/N:this fic idea had been bothering me for DAYS so I finally took the time to write it, there's no real major warnings besides the D slur as well as Joel talking about his past also also, SPOILERS FOR THE LAST OF US PART II, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED also also also:feedback is HIGHLY appreciated! Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
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Everything started to change after Ellie had stopped speaking to Joel, even if it was tearing him apart inside that he couldn’t just casually go and talk to her. He’d met you first at the Tipsy Bison, it was an accident and Joel hadn’t stumbled over his words in so long. Your first date was magical and the only person he could talk to about it was his brother. Sure he could’ve talked to Maria about you too but she was dealing with his niece's terrible twos at the moment. He’d fallen in love hard and fast but refused to admit he was the first one to say ‘I love you’. Then came the engagement. Joel downright refused to make a fuss over it because the one person he’d wanted to tell wouldn’t be there. It felt almost wrong to keep living his life after what happened, as if he wasn’t meant to be happy.
The wedding was a simple and quiet affair, only a handful of people were in attendance as the pair of you bound yourselves to one another. You’d looked ethereal before him, a goddess sent down to make sure he didn’t do something stupid. It reminded him of when he’d rescued Ellie from the hospital, he’d knocked the surgeon and nurses out before taking her from the bed. Marlene had been an unfortunate casualty but he downright refused to let them murder her for the sake of something that wouldn't work. 
Ellie had gone back for the backpack with the memories of her life before infection, Marlene’s body had slowly decomposed into the ground. The doctor and ‘friends’ must have fled as there was no sign of them when Ellie arrived. She listened to each and every recording, the sick realization that Joel had lied dug so dangerously deep. The only person she’d had any trust for, and he fucking lied! How could he do this to her, it didn’t make any sense for him to lie to her about something so serious. Maybe Maria was right, maybe she truly knew nothing about Joel Miller.
The little tussle with Seth had been almost accidental, you and Joel had been sitting together by the bar, watching Ellie and Dina dance together. You knew the story of what happened and how it came to be that Ellie wanted nothing to do with Joel. It was heartbreaking to hear how much Joel truly cared about the teen. You weren’t going to interfere though, there was nothing more irritating than someone else knowing your business. And then Seth goes and calls Ellie a dyke. Had Joel not thrown himself out of his chair you absolutely would have. You were in a goddamn apocalypse and this bigot was being hateful still?
Of course that didn’t mean Ellie was going to take kindly to Joel trying to defend her. The bar was silent as she hissed the words “I don’t need your fucking help”. Your heart broke at the expression that flickered over his features. Joel had managed to hide how distraught he was for years, but to hear it again that Ellie practically hated him dug the knife a little deeper. He didn’t say anything as he turned to leave, wrapping his arm around your waist to pull you flush to his side.
Ellie stared as the two of you left, more confused than hurt in that moment as she suddenly realized she had no idea who you were. Dina called her name softly, it was time to leave and not make anymore scenes. Why did the thought of Joel finding someone bother her so much? He’d made it quite known that he was perfectly happy on his own.
“Ellie, why don’t we leave and talk about this somewhere else?” Dina seemed a little more desperate now, everyone was staring at the pair.
“Yeah, let’s go” Ellie laced their fingers together, walking briskly out of the bar before anyone else could utter their own hatred.
Joel’s hands were shaking as he tried, and struggled, to pour the ground coffee into the press. Tommy had managed to find not only a french press, but also six bags of ground coffee during their last run. It was the only thing, besides you of course, that seemed to help manage his anxiety. Ironic isn’t it?
“Joel, you have to understand where she’s coming from, she was told that she was going to ‘change the world’ and do bigger and better things,” You never faulted Joel for his decision, but you could understand why Ellie was angry with him.
“I should’ve just told her the truth from the start, maybe she wouldn’t hate me as much,” Joel hadn’t regretted letting the doctor live, the man was just doing what he was told.
“I think she would’ve been upset no matter what, she’s still a kid,” You watched and waited as Joel finished scooping the coffee in, pouring over the hot water to let it steep.
The air in the kitchen seemed to almost thicken as you both waited for the conversation to continue. It was never easy watching Joel slip further into this depression, nor was it easy watching the way Ellie became more hostile. It was subtle at first, Joel would be in bed for an extra twenty minutes whereas before he’d be up before the sun was even out. Ellie would snap on people much quicker, blaming it on a multitude of things instead of addressing the issue. Joel frowned as he pushed the plunger down slowly, making sure it was level with the bottom before pouring himself a cup.
Before you could say anything else a knock at the door caught both your and Joel’s attention. It could be one of three people. Tommy, to see what happened at the bar, Seth to apologize, or Ellie. You weren’t sure who you were hoping was on the other side of the door, you were hoping for a brief second that it was Tommy. Joel opened the door slower than normal, brow furrowing as he stared down at Ellie.
“Hey, is it okay if we talk outside?” She glanced over to where you were sitting, her eyes widened with a million different emotions before they locked back on Joel.
“Sure let’s go,” Joel looked back at you for a brief second, nodding his head before stepping out onto the porch with Ellie.
The door shut with an almost silent click, normally Joel preferred something that made a little more noise as he’d lost his hearing almost entirely on the right side now. He only had himself to blame of course, shooting infected with a rifle wasn’t always the smartest idea. That wasn’t why they were here though, and Joel was terrified of what was going to happen.
“Why did you do it?” Ellie hadn’t even given him a moment to sip his coffee, which at the moment was keeping him grounded.
“I couldn’t let them kill you for something that had a one percent chance of working,” Joel stared down at the steaming mug, a frown pulling at his lips.
“It wasn’t your choice to make, Joel, and you know that. You took away the only thing that mattered most to me,” Ellie had been furious, the anger burning like a wildfire inside of her for so long.
Joel didn’t say anything, instead bringing the mug to his lips and letting the liquid soothe his throat. He wouldn’t admit to absolutely anyone, but he’d fallen to his knees once you and him were alone after the incident at the bar. He’d cried until his throat felt raw and torn, gripped the fabric of your shirt until his knuckles turned white. Joel had blamed himself for years, for all the lies he told to make sure Ellie never found out the truth. He had promised himself he would tell her that he had taken away her choice because he was selfish. But then she’d found out, and she’d hated him even more than he could ever hate himself.
“If I could relive that day, I would do it all over again,” Joel had lost too many people in his life, he’d nearly lost you a few times and he couldn’t talk to anyone about it.
Ellie’s shoulders slumped forward, head hanging down as she struggled to take in his words. They had been a team, never keeping secrets when it mattered most, but right now there was still that wall between the two of them. Snow had started to fall from the sky, albeit slowly and drifting away from them it seemed.
“I killed a lot of people that day, and I’m not proud to admit that, but I wasn’t going to let them kill an innocent child for something that would not work,” Joel stood up straight, or as straight as his back would let him at the moment.
“I’ll never ask for your forgiveness, lord knows I don’t deserve it, but you deserved more than a fantasy built on lies told by the people who claimed to care about you,” Joel finished off the coffee, grimacing at how cold it had become.
Ellie stood there silently, mulling over everything Joel had said to her. She’d only seen Marlene’s side of everything, the way she spoke about the vaccine as if it was a miracle cure. Even if it didn’t work, if it was all just a pipe dream that was made up by a bunch of morons, Joel took that from her.
“I knew your mother, very briefly, but I don’t think she would’ve wanted her only daughter to be murdered for the same thing that killed her,” Wait, what did he just say?
“You knew my mother?” Ellie’s voice was soft, shock coursing through her like a bolt of lightning.
“Like I said, I knew her very briefly, she was already six months pregnant by the time we met. Tommy had joined the fireflies already when we ran into one another, she was a total spitfire that took shit from no one. I can see where you get it from,” Joel reached down to set the mug on the table behind him.
No one had ever told Ellie about her mother, and one of the only people who even knew her mother was dead and gone. She’d always wondered what her mother was like, was she kind and smart? Or was she as much of an asshole that Ellie had made herself out to be?
“Tommy knows more than I do about her if you’re ever curious, but yeah, your mother died making sure that you were safe and sound, I don’t think she would’ve appreciated what Marlene tried to do,” Looking over at Joel reminded Ellie of exactly why they were in this situation.
The lies had built up for two years before she finally confronted him, angry that something so serious had been kept from her. Joel didn’t lie after that, he told her everything she wanted to hear and accepted when she cut him off. He was thankful for it in a sense, if Ellie hadn’t stopped speaking to him he would’ve never found the courage to talk to you.
“You got married, and you didn’t tell me,” The hurt was precedent in Ellie’s tone, though she felt stupid for being upset.
“You weren’t talking to me, and Tommy didn’t think it was his place to tell you I’d found someone to spend the rest of my life with,” Joel loved you more than anything, even if the two of you found out neither of you could have any kids it was fine.
Joel had already been a father, he’d lost one daughter the day the apocalypse started, and lost the second due to his own actions. Another child would just complicate things further for him, he’d be more worried during patrols wondering if you and the kids were okay at home. You’d been more worried about Joel’s reaction to hearing that you couldn’t have children than actually hearing it. You had accepted that you wouldn’t be a parent, especially once the world went to shit and all your friends and family were dead. 
“She knows the truth, I ended up spilling my guts one night after drinking half a bottle of whiskey, gotta say she’s a much better person than I will ever be,” Joel wasn’t dumb, he’d done horrible shit in his life and would spend the rest of it atoning for it.
“She knows I got bit?” Ellie clenched her hands into fists, the tattoo that covered the skin was a much more pleasant sight, but it still hurt to know a stranger knew her entire life.
“I told her about everything, from when Sarah was a baby, to coming back to Jackson. I’m not going to keep secrets from my wife Ellie,” Joel’s anger wasn’t something that built slowly, he would be the first to admit how hot headed he was.
Ellie opened and closed her mouth a few times, what could she possibly say to that without sounding hypocritical. She was the one to cut Joel out of her life entirely, he wasn’t going to go skipping to her house to announce that he’d gotten married. But her life wasn’t something for him to tell.
“I didn’t tell her about Riley, or Cat, or hell even Dina. I told her about how Marlene begged us to take you to the hospital, how we lost Tess, Bill, Frank, Henry and Sam along the way. I didn’t tell her about David, or the way I tortured three men to try and find you. How I killed fifteen men to get to you, the surgeon is lucky I didn’t kill him,” Joel scoffed lowly, running his tongue over his teeth as the taste of coffee lingered.
“You didn’t tell her about all of that?” Maybe she should’ve been screaming at him, that he had still spewed too many secrets that weren’t his.
“No, she knows the bare minimum about you,” Joel’s hands had started to shake again, though he was more sure that it had to do with the cold rather than anything.
Ellie wanted to know everything about you, where you’d grown up, how old were you before the apocalypse happened, how did you manage to tie down Joel Miller. Her thoughts strayed back to Dina, what would she make of the situation when they got to talk again?
“Joel?” Your voice was quiet, a cardigan wrapped tight to keep off the winter chill that was trying to seep itself into your bones.
“Go back inside hun, I’ll be in in a few minutes,” Joel reached over, cupping your cheek with a cold palm.
“Make sure you stay warm, don’t need you getting sick,” You smiled softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his palm before glancing over at Ellie.
“I will, scouts honor,” Joel’s eyes crinkled as he smiled at you.
To anyone that witnessed the moment it was obvious how in love you were, Joel’s eyes sparkled with love and affection. Ellie looked away, feeling as if she was intruding on a personal moment between the two of you. It wasn’t until she’d heard the door shut once more that she lifted her head, looking back over at the older man.
“Look, if you’re here to get mad at me some more about the past, just go home and get some sleep, you’re taking over for Tommy and I tomorrow for the afternoon shift,” Joel grabbed the mug off the table, ready to go inside and lick his wounds in private.
Ellie didn’t say another word, watching as Joel stepped inside his house and shut the door with a deafening click. It felt as if they had sealed their fate, they would never be able to truly move past the issues at hand. Joel had admitted fault, had told Ellie that he knew what he did was wrong, but he couldn’t lose someone else. Ellie couldn’t see it that way, she wanted to truly hate Joel for what he’d done. Maybe she’d ask Tommy about her mother, learn everything about her that she could. Maybe, just maybe, she could learn to forgive Joel.
Joel stared down at the single mug sitting in the sink, he wanted to go outside and talk to Ellie for just a few more minutes, but this wasn’t something he could fix on his own. He’d joked about seeing a therapist, knowing that there were a few living in Jackson he could talk to. He’d have to leave out key information though, and that didn’t feel right with him if he was going to spill his emotions.
“Joel, let’s go to bed,” You wrapped your arms around his waist, pressing your cheek against his back.
“You think she’ll ever forgive me?” Joel never got his hopes up, it was too dangerous to hope for a positive outcome.
“I think she needs time to figure out who she is as a person on her own, she needs to find her identity before she starts to accept people in her life,” It was something you’d thought about for a while, being married almost two years, having met right after Ellie stopped speaking to him.
You knew Joel wanted Ellie by his side but he needed to punish himself for what he’d done, for his actions having consequences that caused this to snowball. You were surprised to hear he’d let the doctor live, knowing how dangerous that could have been considering the circumstances. You’d mulled over the story yourself multiple times, coming to the same conclusion after deliberating. Had you been in Joel’s shoes, you would have saved Ellie as well, keeping her safe in such a toxic world.
“I wish she could’ve met Sarah, they would’ve got on like a house on fire,” It was something Joel had mentioned a few times, of course Sarah would’ve been in her 30’s had that night not happened.
“I think you seem to forget that Ellie is still a kid, Sarah would’ve been an adult with possibly children of her own,” You patted Joel’s stomach playfully, pulling your arms away to head on up to bed.
Joel refused to let his mind wander, to think about what would’ve happened if Sarah had lived. He wouldn’t have been here with you, Ellie would’ve died for nothing, and his brother would’ve still left, it didn’t seem worth it. Turning off all the lights downstairs Joel made his way up to where you were. Grabbing his pajamas to change out of the heavy clothes that kept out the normal winter chill. You’d started stealing Joels’ shirts to sleep in only a few months after you had gotten together. Joel of course encouraged it and even snuck a few of his own shirts into your drawers.
“Do you think I’m a bad dad?” The question caught you off guard, it wasn’t something he’d ever asked before.
“Absolutely not, and I swear if you start blaming yourself for stuff that was out of your control I’m going to grab my slipper and beat you with it,” You pulled off your jeans, shrugging on one of Joel’s shirts and a pair of sweatpants.
“Yes ma’am,” Joel chuckled, pulling on his shirt before turning to face you.
He wasn’t surprised to see that you’d already crawled into bed, blanket pulled up nearly over your head as you stared back at him. Domesticity felt good, a comforting weight he hadn’t felt since he arrived back in Jackson all those years ago.
“You sounded like a wonderful dad, Joel, Sarah was a very lucky girl to have you as her father,” It needed to be a reminder that Joel was a good person who’d had to do bad things to survive.
There was no right and wrong in the world anymore, some people killed to survive, and some people survived to kill. You’d had your fair share of run-ins with the wrong type of people before, didn’t make it any easier. Things were different in Jackson though, you didn’t have to worry about where your next meal would come from. Raiders were killed before they could make it past the walls. It was a comforting change of pace compared to how horrible the world was otherwise.
You had slipped into a dreamless sleep, curled tight around Joel’s body as the two of you slept the night away. Joel was thankful he woke up before his alarm went off, wanting to make sure he hadn’t disturbed you at all. He got dressed silently and pressed a gentle kiss to your head before heading out on patrol. Just a few houses away Ellie was deep in her own dreamland, a nightmare wracking her body as she tried to save Joel from a pack of clickers. Her screams were deafened by the agonizing screeches they let out. He was going to die before Ellie could forgive him, before they could try and rebuild the bond they had before.
“No!” Ellie nearly threw herself off the bed, grabbing onto the mattress before her body could leave the plush comfort.
It was a bad dream, nothing bad happened and she was still safe inside of Jackson. Maybe she should’ve talked with Joel a little more, and taken the time to discuss things instead of getting angry. After patrol, that’s what she would do is corner Joel so they could discuss everything.
Jesse had called Ellie out on her shit the moment he went to get her, joking that she was trying to steal his ex Dina right out under his nose. It was all in good fun as the trio went out onto patrol, Ellie and Dina breaking off to look through a large abandoned building. It reminded Ellie of the nightmare, listening to Joel’s terrified screams as he tried to escape. Shit, this was not going to be a fun day.
“We can head out a little earlier if you want, make sure Joel and Tommy are good for the swap so they can head home?” Dina could sense that Ellie was faraway, gaze locked onto the nothingness that sat in front of them.
“Yeah, I gotta talk to him tonight, maybe his wife too,” Ellie hopped onto Shimmer, grabbing the reins to make sure she wouldn’t startle when Dina hopped on the back
The ride over was stressful, the snow whipping around them harshly as Ellie tried to remember the route from memory. They had to change it recently due to a tree being knocked down during a whiteout. Shit, were they supposed to go left at the crossroads instead of right? No time to think about that, need to get to the next checkpoint. Luckily Ellie could just barely make out the hotel, hopefully Joel and Tommy were still inside.
“Shit, Jesse’s here too,” Dina’s voice was muffled against the wind, but Ellie heard her clear as day.
Why did one of the people she didn’t want to confront have to be here too? It was going to be hard enough dealing with Joel, let alone Jesse and Tommy. Ellie ducked her head as they made it into the lobby, Shimmer stopping beside the other three horses.
“No, that’s absolutely not happening, you have to find someone else,” Who was Joel yelling at? Or better yet, why was he yelling?
“Joel, we need a group to go there, you’re one of the best leaders we’ve had in years,” Shit, this didn’t sound good.
Ellie slipped off the horse slowly, tiptoeing to where the other three were hanging out. Tommy had his hands on his hips, staring at Joel exasperatedly. From the sounds of it they were sending out a group, and not a small one at that, to get supplies from somewhere. Dina pressed herself against Ellie, trying to make the pair more invisible.
“Tommy I have someone at home that will worry herself the entire time, I’ve basically lost my hearing entirely on the right side of my head, you think it’s smart to send me out there again?” Joel wasn’t willing to risk his life anymore, not after you came into the picture.
For the first few months after he and Ellie had stopped speaking Joel was reckless, he’d nearly gotten himself killed a handful of times and had his ass handed to him by Tommy just as much. Joel had prided himself on being a protector, and with nothing else to protect he didn’t see the point in trying anymore. Then you came along and Joel didn’t want to assume things were perfectly fine, he had a lot of trauma and shit to work through.
“This’ll be the last run, we just need to get these medical supplies, please,” Tommy wasn’t above groveling, not when it mattered most.
“Tommy I-” Joel was about to rebut, neither of them were fit enough to go on such a long journey before Ellie and Dina burst into the room, effectively cutting him off.
“Let us go, we’ll be able to handle the journey a lot better,” That sounded a lot better in her head, but damnit right now wasn’t the time.
Joel’s face morphed into something that Ellie hadn’t seen in years, there was a deep anger in the color of his eyes, something she couldn’t escape. Why did he look so angry that she offered to go in place of him? Or was there something else she wasn’t aware of, something she was supposed to do and never got the chance to.
“You’re gonna need a bigger group than four people, at least 8 if you’re going to get all the supplies you need,” Joel didn’t look away from Ellie as he said it, she wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or Tommy.
“Joel, c’mon it’d be smarter to send people that can handle this type of journey if you can’t,” Oh, that was definitely the wrong thing to say to him.
Jesse prepared himself for the onslaught of anger that Tommy was about to be on the receiving end of. No one ever doubted Joel could handle anything you threw at him, so to have Tommy insinuating that Joel couldn’t? It was hearsay. 
“You know what? I’ll go by myself, I have the bags on the horse already,” Joel stormed off, the sound of his boots echoing inside the empty hotel.
Tommy wanted to go after him, to tell him to stop being a dumbass and just listen to some reason for once in his life, but by the time Tommy reached the bottom of the stairs Joel was gone.
“Shit, I’m gonna have to tell his wife he’s headed off to get medical supplies on his own, shit,” Now Tommy Miller wasn’t afraid of much besides his brother's temper, when his wife was upset, and the lovely woman his brother married.
He’d only ever had to give her bad news once before, and lord did Tommy never want to go back and relive that moment ever again. That woman could be downright terrifying when she was pissed off, and this would set her off the deep end.
“If we head out now, we could catch up with Joel and make sure nothing bad happens,” It was a long shot, but right now Ellie was worried Joel would end up dead.
“All three of you go, we’ll make sure someone’s watching the gate even more for when you get back,” Sure the trip would be long and strenuous, but Ellie needed to keep Joel safe.
He’d do it for her.
◤──•~❉᯽❉~•──◥
Joel had been downright furious that Ellie had followed him on Tommy’s orders. He refused to speak to anyone for the first few days, sitting away by himself as everyone slept. Dina didn’t bother to try and start a conversation, she knew it was useless. Jesse filled the void with random facts that he’d found out over the years, it was nice. They only ran into a couple infected which were taken out quickly. Joel’s mind kept reverting back to you, would you be angry with him when he finally got home? Or would you shower him with love and praise at all the medicine and supplies he’d gathered.
“So we’re gonna gather everything we can carry and bring it back to Jackson,” Joel had ripped the list into three pieces, handing one to Jesse, and one to Dina.
“If you run into any raiders or infected, keep quiet and try to take them out without raising suspicion.
The trio nodded, waiting for further instructions on what to do before everyone went off to find what they needed. Joel simply stood there waiting for confirmation that they were ready to go. Dina’s eyes widened as she watched his jaw tighten, a scowl pulling across his face. Shit, the ride back was going to be even worse than the ride here.
“Ellie and I will check the basement, it would be better to have two people down there instead of one,” Dina grabbed her gas mask just in case, never knew where you’d run into spores.
Jesse headed off to the upper floors while Joel went off into the infirmary that was located on the base floor. Ellie and Dina were nearly silent as they scoured the area, grabbing anything that would be useful and stuffing their bags full of medicine. There was a lot more than she’d been expecting which was a nice surprise but something felt off.
“Is it just me, or does this place feel a little weird?” Ellie was trying to carefully place the glass vials in the bottom of her bag, making sure they didn’t break on the transport.
“No, it definitely feels a little weird, why would people leave this much medicine laying around?” Dina had been stuffing her own bag with gauze, scalpels(wrapped in fabric to prevent damage)and bandages.
“Yeah, let’s just fill the bags and get back to Joel and Jesse so we can leave,” Ellie slung her bag over her shoulders, making sure the straps were good before heading out of the basement.
The main floor was silent, not even the breeze blowing by outside could be heard inside of the building. This was even more nerve wracking than dealing with an almost pitch black basement while scouring. Jesse was the first to come down, bag protruding almost comically from his back with everything he’d found.
“Hey, you guys manage to get some stuff?” Jesse had gotten a little nervous when he thought he’d run into a clicker, but thankfully it was a dead one.
“Yeah, a lot of stuff in the basement surprisingly,” Dina glanced around the space, eyes landing on the door that Joel had gone through.
It was shut tight, which confused her for a moment before she started to rattle off the reasons he might have shut it. Being around Ellie was clearly bothering him, so maybe he was taking a few minutes to compose himself before coming back out? That seemed the most logical, Joel could handle a few infected if it came down to it.
“Hey, should we make sure Joel’s alright? It’s been a while and we need to get back on the road before nightfall,” Jesse’s worry started to sink in, Joel was always the first to come back during a scour.
“Let’s go,” Ellie didn’t wait for the other two, running towards the door that stood between her and Joel.
She stopped before her body could slam into the dense wood, turning the handle slowly to make sure it didn’t startle Joel, or whoever else could be in that room. She’d half expected to see Joel mulling over different items, questioning what would be best to take back. What she hadn’t been expecting was to see Joel sprawled against the other side of the room, hand pressed against his stomach. Shit, the last time this happened was because a raider had caught them trying to escape.
“Shit!” Ellie ran into the room, throwing herself beside Joel as he tried, and failed, to stop the bleeding.
Jesse and Dina threw open their bags, pulling out supplies to help Joel before he could lose anymore blood. His skin was clammy, sweat dripping down his face as Dina began to thread a needle. Jesse had gotten the bleeding to stop with a few gauze pads, pushing passed Ellie to get to Joel’s wound.
“Unfortunately I don’t think there was anything to numb this, so I’ll be as quick as I can,” Dina couldn’t help but notice another scar directly next to the fresh wound, they looked so similar.
“‘S fine,” Joel’s words slurred, his breathing labored as Dina began to stitch the wound.
Shit, his wife was definitely going to kill Ellie the moment they got back home and realized that Joel had gotten hurt on their watch.
“Stay with him, I’m gonna bring the horses around,” Ellie pushed off of the floor, running out of the room to get back where all the horses were tied together.
Except something caught her eye before she could grab the reins, someone was watching her from afar. Ellie glanced over at the stranger, the way their shoulders were pulled back as if in a fighting stance, a long braid trailing down their back. Was this the person that stabbed Joel? Another person ran over to the girl across the room, though this person was shorter with a buzzed head. They took off when Ellie grabbed Shimmer's reins, kicking up a small amount of dust as they did. Have to get Joel, that’s the main priority.
“Shit! Ellie!” Dina was frantic, trying to stop Joel from slipping into unconsciousness.
The sound of the horses was loud, any infected or raider would hear them in a heartbeat with the amount of noise they were making. Once outside the room Ellie tied them to the door handle and ran inside.
“What’s going on?” Ellie was terrified, this couldn’t be happening.
“The stitches ended up popping, I can’t stop the bleeding,” Shit!
Ellie reached into her bag for her switchblade, it had kept her alive for this long it would keep Joel alive for a little bit longer. Jesse had gauze pressed against the wound, keeping a solid pressure to help the wound at least slow in bleeding. This was either going to work, or send Joel into shock and give the poor man a heart attack.
Flicking open the lighter she’d stolen from Tommy all those months ago she held the flame underneath the blade. Endure and survive, the words from her favorite comic were on repeat in her mind as she waited for the blade to be hot enough to cauterize the wound.
“I’m so sorry Joel,” Ellie winced as she pulled back the gauze, the wound had stopped bleeding but the pain he was about to endure would be catastrophic.
She pressed the blade against his skin, listening to the way it sizzled and bubbled slightly. The smell of burnt flesh permeated the air before Joel’s scream echoed around them. His heart was racing, pulse jumping as the pain coursed through his body. This was how he was going to die, thousands of miles away from the love of his life, unable to tell her he loves her once more.
“Try and stay awake, please, we need to get back on the horses and get home,” It would be a longer ride back home with Joel's condition.
Dina and Jesse ran to get everything on the horses so that their only worry was getting Joel ready to go.
“Just go, please,” Joel hadn’t felt pain this horrific since the last time he’d been stabbed with a bat.
“I’m not fucking leaving you Joel,” Ellie was pissed at both herself, and at Joel.
There was no way she was going to leave him here to die, not when they had so many things to sit down and discuss. Could she possibly look you in the eye and say that Joel had died under her watch?
“Ellie, we’ve got the horses ready to go, Jesse’s going to ride with Joel and make sure that he’s okay the ride home,” Jesse, of course he’d be the one to do what Ellie couldn’t.
“We have to move him slowly, we go too fast and it’ll all be over,” Ellie couldn’t stop staring at the wound, the way the blood had started drying on his skin.
Dina restitched the wound once more for good measure, cleaning up the excess blood to try and prevent an infection from starting. Their biggest hurdle was getting Joel onto the horse without causing him anymore pain. Jesse made sure he was comfortable before they headed on their journey back home.
Ellie wasn’t sure if she was more thankful there weren't any infected or raiders on the way back, sleeping huddled together to stay safe. Joel was silent the entire time, hands clutching the saddle as they trotted along. A trip that had taken them five days previously, took nearly three weeks. Ellie’s heart broke watching the way Joel would cling to the hope that he’d see his wife again before realizing how far away they still were.
Tommy had been by the gates when they arrived, screaming at everyone to open the doors and let everyone inside. Ellie could see you pacing back and forth, your eyes full of worry as you waited for them to get inside. This was definitely putting Ellie in your shit list for sure, she couldn’t even manage to keep Joel safe during such a normal supply run.
“We’re gonna need a medic!” Tommy’s voice carried above everyone’s alerting the right people to try and get Joel the help he needed.
He’d gotten paler the longer they rode, hands shaking and weak as he forced himself to keep holding on. Just a few minutes more and he’d be back in bed with you, in the house he’d been able to call home.
“Joel!” You had started crying immediately, running over to where he was standing with Tommy.
The front of his jacket was covered in old blood, it was unfortunate because Joel really did like that jacket, it kept him warm.
“Hi baby girl, sorry I was gone for so long,” Joel pressed a weak kiss to your cheek, frowning when he noticed you’d been crying.
“Joel, I’ve been so worried,” You cupped his face in your hands, noticing how sullen his face was, how sallow his skin looked.
“Just had a little incident, nothing to be worried over,” Joel wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you flush to his chest.
One of the doctors that worked in Jackson came to get Joel and bring him to the infirmary to make sure everything looked good and clean up anything that needed it. You refused to leave his side, hand clutching him. Ellie, along with Dina and Jesse, took all of their findings to the infirmary while avoiding Joel and you as best they could. Ellie wasn’t sure how much Joel remembered of the incident, or if he’d even tell you the truth.
“I have to admit I’m surprised, you guys made out with enough supplies to last us a few years,” People in Jackson were usually more careful about everything they did. Just because you live in paradise, doesn’t mean everything is back to normal.
“We gathered as much as we could there’s still a lot more,” It would be stupid to send them back without more backup, especially if she ran into that girl again.
“I’ll talk to Tommy about sending a different group out, if we can clean the place out we’ll be good for at least a decade or two,” It was risky, but the thought of not having to worry about sickness was nice.
Dina and Jesse bid a quick goodbye before heading to their homes, ready to wash off the last few weeks and get a good night's sleep. Ellie couldn’t move her legs, no matter how much her mind was screaming at her. She could see Joel in the hospital bed, eyes closed as he slept off whatever drugs they had given him. You were watching him, tears sliding down your cheeks as you started to accept that Joel would be okay.
“It’s my fault,” You flinched and threw yourself away from Joel.
“What?” Your brain was still fuzzy, the tears cold on your face.
“Joel got stabbed because of me, he originally didn’t want to go and get the supplies because he was worried about you. I had said that I would go in his place but he left before any of us could stop him. I’m so sorry,” Ellie couldn’t stop the way her bottom lip quivered, the tears that pooled in her eyes.
“Oh sweetheart,” You walked over to where she stood, wrapping your arms around her in a comforting embrace.
Ellie wasn’t sure what emotions were running through her, but she knew that no one had ever hugged her this way except for Joel. Her arms moved slower than the rest of her body, wrapping around your middle and squeezing. You wanted to tell her that everything would be fine, that Joel was stable and the wound was cleaned up. Before you could utter a single word you felt tears soak into the front of your shirt.
“Oh, Ellie, it’s okay baby girl,” That caused the teen to cry harder, gripping onto your shirt as the two of you stood in the middle of the room.
“I just wanted to tell him I was sorry, I thought I was too late,” Her voice was cracking on every other word, emotions getting the better of her.
“You can tell him when he’s back home in a few days, he’s gonna need some time to rest and recuperate,” You could tell from the wound that Ellie had been the one to save his life, she shouldn’t blame herself.
No words were spoken as you comforted the young teen, she needed to see that Joel was truly okay first and foremost. The doctors had made sure there was no infection before dressing the wound, and right now he was knocked out.
“I’ll come and get you personally when Joel’s back home, okay?” You pulled back from the embrace, cupping Ellie’s cheeks gently so that she could pull away if need be.
She simply nodded, eyes still shining with tears as she stared at you. Maybe it was her own way of coping but right now all she wanted to do was cuddle up in bed with a stuffed bear. You smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead before letting her run off. Joel was still asleep, snoring slightly as the medicine worked its magic on his stomach. You’d make sure that Ellie could say her apologies to Joel, maybe rebuild their relationship.
For now, you were going to sit by his side and read, it was going to be a while before Joel could go back home.
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https://www.tumblr.com/dragynkeep/723731318921363456/i-dont-really-understand-the-argument-that-aang
Thoughts? No pressure, don't read if you don't want
"The Lion Turtle saves Aang from making a hard decision" It literally didn't. Aang full on said the words "I have to kill Fire Lord Ozai." He is not happy about it, but he is willing to do it. Even AFTER the Lion Turtle gives him an alternative he still almost does it anyway while in the Avatar state, only stopping himself at the last minute. And even BEFORE the Lion Turtle he had been willing to admit "Fire Lord Ozai is a terrible person, and the world would probably be better off without him"
Aang WAS willing to do the same as Gyatso and take a life if absolutely necessary. But he had a different option, and he took it - again, after seriously considering going for the "just kill the bastard" route.
Could the Lion Turtle have been set up better? Yes. But that doesn't change that fact that Aang's view-point was challenged and he concluded that pacism does not have to mean "just let the bad guy kill everyone", and to say that he didn't is either complete dishonesty or an admission that this kids show was too complicated for you to understand.
"Aang is not only responsible for himself" Neither was Zuko. Yet he let Ozai live when he had the perfect opportunity to kill him - even better than the ones Aang got for most of his battle with Ozai - because he believed it wasn't his fate. Where is the hate for Zuko?
And where's the hate for Iroh for going "Oh, even if I could defeat Ozai, history would see it as just a brother killing another brother for power?" yet sending his nephew to a potentially fatal battle with his niece for the title of Fire Lord? Where's the hate for him for going "Well, what history will think of me is more important than me at least backing up the Avatar?" Why didn't Iroh, the White Lotus, or any of the adults so much as offer be by Aang's side in the battle?
If everyone is throwing the responsibility on his lap, then Aang is the one to decide how he's gonna handle that responsibility, and if other people got a problem with that, they better step the hell up and take charge for once.
"This might be a kid's show instead of Game Of Thrones, but people still died, so it could have had the main character save the day by killing the bad guy"
Buddy. Buddy. Come on.
Avatar TELLS us Ozai disfigured his son, and we see the scar on his face, but it doesn't SHOW us the gory details. We KNOW people died, and we see bodies, but we don't see burnt corpses, people being crushed under rocks and bleeding to death, or hitting the ground after a fatal fall. Nick downright had the writers change scenes before they were animated because they were considered "too violent." They even cut away when Sokka slices a watermellon with his sword because the watermellon in question was representing a human head - it wasn't even a human being!
Kids shows have very specific, often kind of absurd rules - Teen Titans is infamous because Cartoon Network let the villain kidnap, torture, and try to murder to murder the heroes and even be implied to be a pedophlie and we see him burn away a teenager's clothes, yet he HAD to be called "Slade" instead of "Deathstroke" because "Think of the children!"
Saying "Nickelodeon is never gonna let the good guy save the day by murdering the bad guy" is not at all absurd just because they let the writers get away with other tihngs.
And once again, even if they COULD get away with that, they still wouldn't do it because as the anon so kindly pointed out, Aang's arc and the entire theme of mercy the show had from the very beginning do NOT allow that ending to make any goddamn sense.
Characters saving the day through murder is not inherently more "mature" or "more satisfying to watch" than the hero being merciful, and this kids show is not Game Of Thrones, GET OVER YOURSELVES ALREADY.
You like a kids show. A cartoon for 7-year-olds. A show in a children's network. Just because it didn't talk down to it's target audience doesn't mean you can expect it to deliver stuff it never promised you in the first place.
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alinahams · 11 months
Note
What exactly bothers you about the way the showrunners have characterized Daemon? Isn't show Daemyra just as toxic as canon one? Why are you so against the show one if the canon is your favorite?
Uh, what exactly do you think is so dark and toxic about Daemyra? Is it the incest? The age gap? Because let me introduce you to world history hun. Name one monarchy in history where inbreeding wasn't practiced. One time and era when relationships didn't have age gaps? It was simply the norm. Nothing out of ordinary or dark or disturbed or inherently crazy as the showrunners seem to think.
Daemon and Rhaenyra weren't some great exceptional pairing with dark twisted mental issues or feelings or misplaced loyalty to gender identity crisis or whatever bullshit the showrunners are trying to portray. They were literally a more common pairing than like 90% other sibling Targaryen marriages. In medieval times, uncle-niece weddings were so common, you'd be hard pressed to find one royal line where there wasn't one.
Infact, Rhaenyra has more power and agency than most girls did in those days. She chooses him. She's the heir. She's the King's favorite. She's the one in a higher position of power and she chooses well within her rights and standards. There's nothing so insane about this pairing if only you read one history book.
Also, why pretend like he didn't work his goddamn ass off for Rhaenyra? Supported her, fought for her, protected her, gathered allies and sat her on the Iron Throne and helped her keep it for however little while she did. Why is what he did for her never considered when people want to talk about why he married her? Why is it that he abused and used her when there's not one fucking shred of evidence for that!
so what is so toxic about their relationship from canon? It's a pairing, the main pairing of an important event in-universe history and in Targaryen history. It's written to be a product of it's time with elements of fantasy and dragons thrown in. Why read historical fantasy if you can't stomach history??? Rhaenyra is like every woman in her world, inspired by women in power in medieval times who still acted like real, emotional people! Who were happy to be women! And Daemon is every bit a man of his time. He has ambitions and he has feelings. He's still a human being.
The good elements, soulmatism and love we try to analyze in their relationship is because it's a fantasy story. And they're the main characters!
If their relationship isn't supposed to be the endgame, Rhaenyra's happiness, the destined, then why did they give us so much about their relationship? Why is this one more focused and highlighted than Rhaenyra-Harwin, Rhaenyra-Laenor, Daemon-Laena or Daemon-Nettles? They had kids with other people, they loved and married other people in their lifetime. So why is GRRM putting so much emphasis on them? If Daemon is all evil monster, why is he the most emphasized and mentioned and important man in Rhaenyra's life? If Rhaenyra was this evil hag, why did her line, her sons ultimately come out on top?
Like, a story is supposed to have a purpose right? What is that purpose if Daemyra was all evil, dark and shit? Characters are supposed to have arcs right? What is the purpose of them if they just remain one dimensional idiots all throughout with no growth or changes?
You explain that first then I'll explain why show Daemyra is so shit.
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dallianceangel · 1 year
Text
𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞 🍆😜
Here's another sexy drabble for you 💗 I could have written more but I've got my sister and my niece and nephew staying and I've no space in my bedroom to write which means I write downstairs, so writing smut feels awkward at the moment. I've also given myself the challenge of writing at least one drabble a day, but let's see how long it lasts 🤣🤭
Credits to the owner for the Halloween divider.
♡ Comments, likes and reblogs are highly appreciated ♡
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"Of course, I'm fucking angry, Hap. There's a giant hole in our goddamn wall."
This is the last time you'll ever trust your husband to do some home improvements without you being there to guide him. Coming home after an exhausting twelve-hour shift at the hospital, you never expected to find a giant hole in your bedroom wall, but life has a funny way of taking you by surprise. An accidental surprise that you're too infuriated to see the bright side of.
"Come on," your husband replies through the other side of the hole, his mind well and truly in the gutter, but that's to be expected from a man who was once used to having women throwing themselves at him. "It's not as bad as you think."
"Oh, really?" you ask with your arms folded. "What good could possibly come out of this?"
A smirk appears. Unzipping his jeans and pulling down his boxers, his pussy-splitting cock springing free, your eyes widen as you watch him press his body against the wall to allow his cock to enter the accidental glory hole. The sight is enough to make you forgive him. Thank God for that.
You drop to your knees. "I fucking love you, Happy Lowman."
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fishnets-fingers · 5 months
Text
sparklers, stutters & sweet treats 
a/n - happy deepavali! it's been a while since i wrote layla and harry, so i'm nervous posting this. in six months, layla accompanies her folks to visit family in chicago to celebrate. so, i thought i'd bang out this blurb because i'd regretted not writing about the two celebrating. as always reblogs and comments are appreciated! happy reading :)
MASTERPOST (if you wanna read more of Layla and Harry)
The drawing room of Vasanth’s and Abi’s home looked like a hurricane ravaged it. It started with the boxes and packing tubs piled into the guest bedroom on the ground floor. Now those boxes were open; bubble wrap, packing peanuts, old gadgets, clothes, crockeries, baby gizmos, and Abi’s old shoe collection spilled over. “It’s only getting worse,” Abi groans, face heating up from exertion. She padded back to the loveseat, sighing in relief as her back hit the cushion. The room was littered with things the couple had accumulated over the duration of marriage. 
“This was a bad idea,” Layla agrees, voice muffled from the handkerchief she’s tied around her head to cover her mouth and nose. Her makeshift mask didn’t help. She sniffled as she was going through the cardboard boxes. 
“Got another box,” Vasanth announces, climbing down the stairs holding a food processor box. 
“No, come on, I’m done,” Layla complained. “My back hurts. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
“Deepavali is only two days away. We don’t have time, kutti.” Vasanth makes his way to the two, tripping over the things split over from the boxes. 
“Vasanth, Layla’s right. Let’s just call it. Maybe we lost the box of decorations during the move,” Abi says. 
“It can’t be lost. I was the one who loaded the box in the moving van in Cary.”
“Maybe the moving people stole it. We’ve gone through every goddamn cardboard box in this house.”
“Why would the movers steal a box filled with lamps, string lights, and fake garlands?” Vasanth shakes his head, reaching to get the knife.
“Maybe they were feeling particularly festive that day?” She shrugs.
Abi snorts at her niece’s retort, hand absentmindedly rubbing her swollen belly to calm her active baby. 
“Don’t encourage her, Abi.” He opens the box he’d carried downstairs and frowns when he’s met with Abi’s DIY beading kits. “There are three more boxes upstairs. Get them.”
Layla whines and Abi injecterjects before Layla speaks, “We do have a baby coming in three and a half months. I think people will cut us some slack if we don’t decorate.”
“What will our guests think?” Vasanth asks the two women.
“What guests? It’s three people. Anne, Harry and Earl aren’t gonna judge. Plus we could tell them that people don’t decorate much for Deepavali. They’re not gonna know,” Layla voices her support for her Aunty’s idea.
“You two are such bad influences.” Vasanth mutters as he considers stopping the task at hand. “No, we’re decorating. It’s bad enough to be thousands of miles away from our family for every holiday,” his voice firm. 
“Vasanth,” Abi coos, eyes softening at the sight of her husband, sitting up to put a hand on his shoulder and giving him a reassuring squeeze.
“சித்தப்பா (Uncle),” Layla pouts. “Are you homesick?”
“No, I’m not,” he tells her, squaring up defensively. “Didn’t I ask for the boxes from the attic to be bought down here?”
“Are you really going to make your pregnant wife climb up and down three flights of stairs?” Layla asks.
“Didn’t ask her. I asked you,” he raises his eyebrows when she huffs.
“Fine but this is child labour, I tell you.” She stomps her way to the staircase. 
“I’ll take my chances in court,” her uncle replies, making Layla stick her tongue out at him. 
////
“Hey there, dickhead,” Harry calls out, rolling down his window.
“Harry!” Layla waves from where she’s sat on the front porch steps weaving together fairy light on the marigold garland. “How did the meeting go?” Harry had been stressing about his meeting with the college recruiter for days on end.
He pulls up the driveway, quickly tossing his shades on the passenger side. “Pretty good,” he replied, making his way over to his girlfriend. “She asked me a lot of questions about my time in the Arctic.”
“That’s nice. How lucky that she happened to be coming to Chapel Hill!”
He grunts as he lowers himself next to her, clipping his keys to his belt loop when his car beeped locking shut. “Recruiters usually do that,” he says quietly.
“You’re disappointed with yourself,” Layla narrows her eyes as she looks at the way the corner of his lips pulls downward imperceptibly.
Harry shakes his head. “What's all this then?” He motions towards the garlands and the lamps scattered on the floor.
“Decorations for Deepavali.”
“Did you text me last night saying that you guys didn’t find the box with stuff?”
“We didn’t.” Layla chuckles. “Took us hours to pack and put everything back. I went to bed at 3am, only to be woken up in three hours by a call from தாத்தா (grandad).”
“Where did you get all of this then?”
“சித்தப்பா (Uncle) was moping around all homesick this morning, so I looked around after they’d both left for work. Found it in the closet of my room, behind my suitcases. Aunty is coming back after her lunch meeting. We’re going to surprise him with a decorated house.”
“Want a hand?”
“You’re changing the subject,” Layla notes.
“And why would I do that?” 
“Because you don’t like to admit that you messed up. You’re clearly miffed about it,” she points out.
“The recruiter asked me about the break in my CV,” Harrys says, voice despondent. 
“Oh,” Layla replies quietly. This was the question he was dreading. He’d prepared an answer for it, of course - a very diplomatic answer, but he still felt like he’d fallen behind his peers. 
“I fumbled,” he ran his hands through his hands in exasperation. “I mean I had a script and everything. Still managed to fuck it up. I gave her the answer but it came out all shaky.”
“You aren’t going to be the only applicant who’s taken gap years. Everyone is doing that now,” she reassures with a kiss to his cheek. 
“But I could have been more confident with the answer. It’s early acceptances and they’re very-”
“Did you stutter throughout the interview? Was she displeased?”
“No,” he shakes his head. “It went well. I made her laugh twice. She seemed very enamoured by my fellowship stories.”
“See! You’ve charmed her! She seems impressed. I know this is a competitive program and all; I’m certain your application will stand out. People stumble all the time, especially in high pressure situations. She’s probably seen many applicants stumble. Don’t make a good interview experience all about one small indiscernible moment. One she’s probably not going to remember after a few minutes.”
“Yeah. That makes sense,” Harry sighs. “You’re good at this.” He turns to see her with one eyebrow cocked up and explains, “This talking thing.”
“Hmm,” she smiles. “It’s not like I spent five years training to be a therapist, only to hate it and move to researching the brain.”
“The world was robbed,” he chuckles, throwing his arm around her shoulder.
“Well, if my smartest boyfriend says so,” Layla giggles, leaning forward to kiss the corner of Harry’s mouth.
“Hey! I’m your only boyfriend,” he stitches their lips together, hand coming to stroke her cheek. 
“Guess, you’ll just have to take my word for it.” She laughs, pulling him to her mouth by his collared shirt. “Now, come on, help me with the door,” she murmured against his panting mouth.
It look them thirty minutes for the two of them to finish decorating the door. Harry passed her pieces of cut up tape, while Layla stood on the step ladder trying to make the marigold garland hang in perfect U. Harry asked her questions about how they celebrate the festival back home as they’d folded shiny gold craft papers to make paper rosettes.
“Can you text Aunty, please? My phone’s inside the house. Ask her to pick up a pack of lithium button batteries on her way home,” Layla says, blowing on the paper to check if they are holding up.
“Hmm.” Harry can’t help but smile, when he looks up from his text. Layla’s crop top had ridden up - with the way her arms were stretched up - revealing the soft skin of her belly. She’s rolled down the waistband of an oversized basketball shorts, making the pudge under her belly stick out. He takes two steps towards her, tucking his phone in his pocket, hands coming to rest firmly on her hip. An innocuous gesture that he’d done many times during the course of their decoration to steady her on the ladder that Layla didn’t pay much attention to. He flicks his gaze up and sees her with furrowed eyebrows straightening out the fairy lights. His thumbs caresses the warm skin above the band of her shorts before he leans in and nips her belly.
Layla shrieks in response, and Harry’s hands tighten around her hips so she doesn’t lose her balance. 
“Harry!” She giggles, when he peppers kisses below her bellybutton. “What are you doing?”
“Loving on you,” he mumbles, tongue trailing her flushed skin. 
She laughs, “Maybe you can love on me after we’re done with this,” she juts her chin out to the garlands in front of her.
He steps back, looking at the flowers hanging around the top of the doorframe. Making a show of his inspection, with an arm behind his back and this other perched on his hip. “Looks done to me,” he shrugs.
////
“Ugh,” Layla grimaces, from her spot on Anne’s kitchen island. “They’re not sweet,” she points to the packet of dried rose petals.
“Stop eating the ingredients,” Harry scolds, swatting her hand away from the bowl of cream cheese with his spatula. He was baking an eggless Pistachio Kulfi Cheesecake. 
“Pch, you’re no fun,” she rolls her eyes, dangling her legs. “I thought the cheesecake was for me.”
“It is not for you.” He places the spatula in the bowl of his cream cheese and spice mixture and leans against the island with his hips. “I’m making this for Deepavali. Plus, mum would not be a fan if we show up empty handed for dinner tomorrow.”
“All I’m hearing is: ‘Yes, Layla baby, the cheesecake is for you to eat.’”
Harry laughs. “Yes, Layla baby, the cheesecake is for you to eat-”
“Exactly,” she claps, interrupting him. She reaches for the bowl again, only for Harry to push it away from her reach. 
“Nuh uh,” he tuts, wrapping his hands around her wrists and pins them behind her back. He moves to stand in between her legs, bending down to press his forehead to hers. “The cheesecake is for you to eat.” He presses a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “But after dinner tomorrow. Besides, I'm making it without eggs, so it can be an offering when we pray.”
“I don’t believe in God.”
“And I don’t believe in disrespecting traditions.”
“You’re an annoying idiot.”
“Nice comeback, dickhead.”
“You’d deny your girlfriend some sweet treats?” She purses her lips. 
“I got some sweet treats right here,” he whispers, grabbing her hips and pulling her to the edge of the marble counter. 
Their kisses start slow, gentle and brief; Layla nips his bottom lip, making him giggle. She grabs his chin and slowly licks into his mouth. Harry responds by kneading her ass and grinding his bulge against the warmth between her thighs. He pants into her mouth, chest heaving with every breath he takes. Layla crosses her ankles around his hips, drawing his body closer, mewling at the way he suckles at the sweet spot of her neck.
The loud ring from Harry’s phone makes them jump apart. Harry mutters a curse as he silences the device, grabbing the now set crust from the fridge. “Stupid bloody phone,” he mumbles, adjusting his pants.
“Guess we both won’t have our sweet treats today,” Layla smirks.
////
Layla never imagined that she'd be celebrating a major festival away from home. She’d braced herself for the wave of homesickness since the minute she’d woken up. She was fully expecting to cry when she’d talked to her parents and grandparents. But it never came. She misses home, there was no doubt about that. But under the buttery streetlight, the sight in front of her warms her heart. Vasanth holding onto Abi’s hand guiding her to light up the fuse of a flower pot. Anne’s face glowing with a multitude of colours as the firework ignites. Earl holding a rocket, waiting his turn. Other Indian families dressed up, laughing as the colourful fire went off. 
She feels more at ease when a familiar tattooed arm wraps around her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got this look on your face,” Harry observes. They both hung back, refraining from the fireworks from parking with fireworks.
“I’m happy,” she says, gazing up at him adoringly. 
“Hmm, you should be. Iniya deepavali nalvazthukal,” he tells her, slowly, stumbling over the unfamiliar syllables. He’d practised wishing her a ‘Happy Deepavali’  in Tamil all morning. 
Layla’s jaw drops in surprise, eyes shining as she gets on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “இனிய தீபாவளி நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் to you too, Harry.”
When he produces two long sparklers from behind his back, Layla looks up at him questioningly. He’d cared about the planet, she didn’t expect him to join in and she hadn’t burst crackers since her visit to the firecracker factory.
“Thought we’d light just the one in honour of our first Deepavali together,” he explains and she nods.
They joined the four in front of them, lighting up their sparklers with Earl’s, smiling when the crackling pop accompanies the golden hue. A perfect reflection of warmth and light they were feeling on the inside.
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goodnitedrdead · 1 year
Note
I definitely think those type of situations work for Carrillo -- they'd be really cute actually. I love the idea of him making dinner and it burning LOL
Well hello, Christmas anony!
The situation I had in mind was something entirely different from dinner, something a bit more... idk sensual I guess but in the end turns out wrong. Im still working on that so it will definitely be a treat for later 😏
BUT WHILE WE'RE HERE... why don't we use this moment to dive into some hcs? *rubs hands eagerly*
So, it's Christmas Eve and you both had been given the day off, fortunately.
it starts off just as he would've wanted, getting to sleep in for the first time in for fucking ever.
(didn't even get to "sleep in" he was just pleased he didn't have to listen to his damn alarm)
this man is used to waking up at the crack of dawn ever since he was in the military and you know what they say, old habits die hard.
not that he didn't wake up at the crack of dawn this time, but you insisted he stay a little longer in bed because.. "it's Christmas Eve, Horacio. what the fuck else are you gonna do today other than take it easy?"
he decided to listen to you since he knows how you get when sleep gets interrupted for you, so he decided to lay back down.
at this you decided to completely wrap yourself around him to prevent this very very stubborn man to not get up
im talking like tangled legs, half of your body on top of his, face nuzzled into the crook of his neck, hands buried in his hair, absolutely no fucking way of getting out of this one.
he'd keep dozing in and out of sleep, absolutely enamored by you and all he kept thinking while he was in and out of consciousness was just how happy you made him the short time the two of you have been together
eventually when you did get up, and both got ready for the day, you decided to start cooking to have a nice lil dinner with him to celebrate.
Christmas Day was going to be spent with his family, so as of now the both of you didn't have to worry about that. It was the best idea because that way the kids (his nieces and nephews and his own kids) wouldn't attempt their own extraction mission to open their presents on the 24th.
he convinced you to relax and let him take care of the cooking, which you were a bit like ??? because you've never seen this man cook in the time you've been with him.
not saying he doesn't know how, but lets be honest, he's a man of tradition and he's kinda used to letting the women handle it.
HE DOESN'T FORCE IT THOUGH
but he felt it was the least he could do today for you to just let you know how much he loved and appreciated you being in his life
but oh boy, if that's how he shows his love then... 💀
it was early in the afternoon when he convinced you to go out and do some last minute shopping
you were like ok... there's nothing else to shop for--
"come on, mi vida. we're out of milk"
there was literally milk in the fridge but you were like ok and went out to see what you could find
you did some window shopping since you literally had every.damn.thing. at home already
when the hell were you supposed to go back???? he never mentioned a time or?? anything???
whatever, you decided to head back home after like an hour
when you got home you noticed he had his windows open?????
you literally almost knocked down the door because your keys kept falling out of your hands
when you managed to get it open and you rushed inside you almost fucking asphyxiated on the smell and the smoke inside
"Horacio? What the hell happened?" you kept shouting and trying to look for him
when you turned around to go look upstairs you collided with a goddamn mountain
he held you still so you wouldn't fall back and he looked almost terrified
"you're back?"
"Well what else was I supposed to do? What the fuck happened?"
it was almost cute how SCARED he look
the man was absolutely mortified that you'd found him and his own house in this state
he kept stumbling over his words and stammering as he was trying to explain to you how he almost burned down the house because he didn't know how long he was supposed to leave the food in the oven for????
"are you serious?" was all you could ask him. You honestly didn't even have it in you to question him
the look on his face was GOLDEN. if anyone at the office were to see him like this... ohhh boy they'd never let this go
the fearsome Colonel Horacio Carrillo... standing in front of you trying to explain himself and looking like he was about to burst into tears
all you could do was try to hold back your laughter... and just hug him
"let's clean up and find something else to make"
he just nodded and sighed, now he kept trying to apologize to you for what happened
"Horacio, it's fine. Just please, don't ever go near the kitchen again," was all you told him and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose
a smile adorning your face and he nearly forgot what happened at the sight of you smiling at him
he honestly doesn't know what he'd do without you
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elvesandlanterns · 1 year
Text
Ghost Helpline part 9
Konstelacio walked to the Egyptian palace. Much like how Johnnys bike rode on nonexistent roads Konstelacio walked on invisible ground, she believed the Zone would not let her fall and so it didn’t.
—- —- —-
Tim drove past his old home what use to be Drake Manor. He somehow doubted his family had noticed he sold it. He doubted they had noticed the moving trucks and contractors. He told himself it would be because they were busy. It felt like a hallow excuse.
Once Bruce figured it out he would want answers. Tim had them planned, Masters dubious escapades in criminal activity had been on the decline. As well as Masters sudden disappearance a few years ago, required their attention just in case.
Inwardly Tim had had a single conversation with the man, spotted a gaggle of teens who looked happy and sold it to the man on the spot.
When Tim thought over the conversation later, he would call the emotion that came over him jealousy and decide to ignore it.
—- —- —-
“Your highness, it appears Princess Violet will be sealing an audience.”
“Send her in immediately! “ Tucker shouted excitingly, Violet was such a sweet girl, he adored her visits. She usual came with the pretense of picking up her more technically inclined brother but Chad wasn’t here as of late. Which only meant one of three things.
She was coming here to hide.
She was coming in for a check up. (Doubtful.)
Or she was coming here to ask for help.
“Prepare some light snacks, our comfiest seat and coloring pages.” Tucker hoped she was okay, he would never admit it but if he didn’t know any better he would have assumed Violet was Danny’s clone too. In personality at least. Where Dani had gotten Danny’s loud passion, Violet had gotten Danny’s self loathing. Where Dani had his fearless determination Violet had his self sacrificing down to an alarming degree. Dani had her fathers laugh, Violet had his best friends fear of abandonment.
Yeah, Tucker would never admit it but Danny and his ex-arch enemies kid had a lot in common. He sighed oh well. It was fine, if anything it made him and Sam love her all the more. Their niece, their little constellation.
—- —- —-
Billy breathed a sigh of relief. It was good to be back home.
“Captain Marvel, Dr Fate we need to talk. We have a situation.”
Billy sighed he thought to soon.
Zeus: lolz!
Hercules: L L L
Mercury: Run fuck this noise
Billy shushed them, he just wanted to go home. The faster they got threw this the better.
Batman explained.
Solomon: He’s on to us! Kill him!!!
Billy: No we are not killing Batman
Atlas: he’s a threat to our your family Billy, I hate to agree with the old man
Solomon: Hey!
Atlas: but perhaps it’s time to move on
“Captain Marvel are you paying attention. This is serious.”
“Of course of course. But uh what exactly do you want me to do here?”
“I need information.”
“I don’t -“
“Marvel you are a terrible liar, also.” The man dressed as bat shrugged in the direction of superman. Right Superman, a living lie detector.
Billy: well fuck
Mercury: RUN
Solomon: oh is that it? Well then Billy just don’t ‘lie’
Billy could hear the smirk in man’s voice. Well two could play at this game. But first to get Dr.Fate off the field.
“I’m leaving.”
Well never mind then Fate was doing it for him.
Maybe he isn’t so bad after all.
“Dr Fate we need-“
“All is as it should be. Before I am a leaguer I am a Lord of Order. You would all do better to not interfere with which you do not understand.”
Yeah you tell them!
“Especially not with those as vile as demons.”
Billy took it back the bastard could suffer.
In that moment Fate left and two pairs of eyes landed on Billy himself. Goddamn it.
“So … what exactly do you want to know. I’ll do my best but I make no promises to answer everything.”
“THATS -“
“That is enough boys.” Wonder Woman walked in, “We are her to ask for help not interrogate our fellow leaguers. Now then Batman what evidence do you have to think both the girl and Captain Marvel know one another in the first place.”
“ Coordinates“
“What?”
“Coordinates from the demons location line up with the new coordinates you’ve sporadically been taking for the past year or so.”
“Batman that hardly proves-“
“Yes I know her.” Billy wasn’t getting around this, and maybe he could use it to paint Konstelacio in a better light. After all they had to understand, they were his heroes they had to understand that his sister wouldn’t hurt them. Not unless provoked.
—- —- —-
Clark could see Bruce sag in relief, the quest for answers over. But Clark didn’t think it be that easy, Captain Marvel may be immature but his loyalty was relentless. Something in the way he held himself could only leave Clark to believe that Konstelacio had earned that loyalty. Clark looked at Bruce again and sighed instead of voicing his opinion after all it’s not as if he was the detective, no he was just a journalist. Clark eye rolled internally.
“How?”
“She is… my sister in arms.”
Both him and Diana froze.
// … even by demon standards I assume you’re rather young …..//
Clarks hands clenched and unclenched, “What?” He must have heard wrong? Right, right even demons must care about their young.
“She is my sister in arms. She is a good person.”
“A good person, she’s a demon.”
Captain glowered actually glowered at Batman, Clark thought as he twitched to put himself between the two.
“And so is Superman and he’s an alien, so so what? Or is it different because he happens to look like you?”
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hanniballover67 · 2 months
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Johnny and Daniel’s engagement party at Miyagi Fang’s dojo; the whole family - blood and those who became family - are all gathered for the obligatory picture.
Louie, seven beers in, pushes past the photographer to stand, swaying, in front of Johnny.
Johnny growls “Dude, get in line, we’re trying to take the picture.”
Louie jabs a finger at Johnny’s chest, misses and lands on his arm. “You get in line Johnny.” Louie grabs a fistful of Johnny’s t-shirt and pulls him closer. Johnny blows through his lips at the beer fumes which makes Louie angrier. “You hurt my cousin again and it won’t be your car I’ll torch, this time it’ll be your house whilst you’re in it, motherfucker!”
A cacophony of angry shouts, mainly his name, as he and Johnny stare at one another.
Johnny raises his hand and Louie stumbles back to adopt Daniel’s defensive pose, arms raised and suddenly he’s falling backwards when a large hand grabs the front of his shirt and he’s pulled upright.
“I can never take back what I did. I can only apologise and keep apologising. I ever hurt Daniel from this point on and I’ll buy the gas myself and hand you the match. How’s that sound?”
Louie’s confused and his head is pounding and he may have been sick at some point and Johnny fucking Lawrence is a sorry sack of shit but his cousin is holding his other hand and the sun is shining on them and Daniel is almost has happy as the day his kids were born so Louie thinks he can’t be as much of a loser as everyone says Johnny fucking Lawrence is.
He nods his head then closes his eyes at the fresh wave of nausea.
“Shake my hand before you hurl!”
Louie does and then Aunt Lucille is guiding him into his space for the picture and he doesn’t give a flying goddamn that he’s sobbing.
As they disperse for the BBQ-Sushi-Vegan+How much meat can you fit on one table buffet Louie grabs Johnny by the collar and says in his loudest voice “It isn’t homophobia, I want you to know that. It’s family. You’re now family but he’s my family first so, y’know, ass-kicking cousins is where it’s at.”
Johnny nods as he stares into Louie’s eyes and hot damn if Johnny Lawrence doesn’t have the bluest, sweetest, kindest eyes ever. If he was a woman, or gay, he’d swoon at this point.
“I know man and I appreciate it.”
Louie nods as he grabs Johnny’s head for a hug.
“Anyone fucks with you and I’ll kick their ass too, Johnny. Family is family!”
Johnny Lawrence has the brightest smile that lights up the universe and Louie bites his lip after he fails to stop the mini moan that escapes. Then he says “You’re very pretty!”
Johnny blushes as Daniel guides his head from Louie’s meaty grip. Louie hiccoughs as Daniel presses a kiss to his cheek and says “We love you Louie. Let’s get you some sushi, huh?”
His new cousin-in-law - near enough! - snorts as he grabs Louie’s other arm and his hand is huge!
“Let’s get him some BBQ and soak up some of the beer. Trust me!”
Louie’s head takes them both in as they bicker about healthy choices even when getting shit-faced drunk.
He’s sat in the middle of the bench between Johnny and Daniel as they each make a plate for him. His niece and nephew are opposite him across the table, flanked by his aunt and ex-cousin-in-law, but family is family and once a Larusso always a Larusso even when you lose the name.
He raises his can of fizzy apricot water - where did that come from and why is it better than a Coors Banquet?! - and toasts to “His amazing cousin and the blonde one.”
The picture of everyone laughing as they raise their drinks sits proudly on Louie’s mantelpiece fifteen years later.
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mlmxreader · 2 years
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Just One Quiet Night, That Was All | Sierra Six x m!reader
Anonymous asked: Hehe prompt time
"All I wanted to do was read my book, listen to music, and relax - then you walk in dragging an entire shit storm behind you"
Some with Officer K x male reader and Some with Six x male reader maybe through a kenobi x male reader in there if you feel like it. I need more bedtime stories please 🏎
summary: Six and Claire come to you for safety and protection, but while they're more than welcome, there's certain things you can't give Six just yet.
tws: swearing, alcohol consumption, smoking
Retirement suited you more than you had once thought, retirement was a goddamn blessing and you were more than happy to make the most of it; not being asked by certain people to chase down and kill others seemed like it would be boring at first, but you soon learned the bliss of it. The quiet nights in, the uneventful days, being able to go out with your friends and not worry about someone finding them and killing them to get to you. Retirement suited you. Sure, you weren't the age of usual retirement, but then again you weren't exactly in a usual career, so you supposed that it did make some sort of sense; the only thing was, you missed Sierra Six. You had worked with him quite a few times, and although he was quiet and he would grumble more than anything, you did always enjoy his company; you did wonder if he would ever want you to be his boyfriend but you were certain that he never would.
You missed him, you worried about him, but he was fully capable of looking after himself, you were sure he was fine; whispers in the wind said that he was wanted for something, and that there was a pretty big sum of money involved in return for his head on a pike. You figured that wasn't your business, though.
Thunder rumbled outside, and the rain raced down the windows, wind howling as you grabbed your battered and beaten copy of All Quiet on the Western Front, putting your speaker on and humming quietly as the sounds of Cannibal Corpse songs echoed throughout the room; you settled on the sofa, kicking your feet up and opening your book.
But then the door opened, and you could hear huffing and grunting. You sighed, shaking your head and putting your book down; you went to where you kept your stack of CDs, and pulled enough of them out so that you could get your trusty knife before you made your way to the door.
You nearly dropped the damn knife. Furrowing your brows as you looked at the exhausted, sweat soaked, bloodied and bruised brown haired man in front of you. "Six?"
"He's in big trouble," the kid next to him said, her voice full of fear. "He said to come here."
You nodded, leading them inside; you sat Six at the kitchen table, letting him lean into the chair as you turned to the kid.
"You hungry?"
She shook her head. "Is Six gonna be okay?"
You took a look at him, then looked back at her with a shrug and a false smile. "He's Sierra Six. He's too stubborn to die."
She laughed a little, but it was cut off by a yawn; she seemed just as tired as him.
You sighed, wondering what you were getting yourself into. "There's a spare room upstairs. It's the first one on your left - there's a lock on the door, the key's under the green snake book."
She thanked you quietly, and went off while you sat opposite Six after fixing two glasses of whisky; you pushed one his way and clenched your jaw.
"What the fuck is going on?"
Six downed the whisky, cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair as he grumbled softly. "She's Fitzroy's niece. Lloyd kidnapped her."
"Jesus Christ!" You growled out through gritted teeth. "What the fuck did you do, Six?"
"I found out some shit I wasn't supposed to," he said quietly, mumbling. "Fitzroy's dead."
You swallowed thickly, running a hand down your face and grabbing the bottle, setting it between you and him. "Fuck..."
"Please, (y/n), she's just a kid, you have to keep her safe," Six pleased. "She's family to me."
You shook your head, patting his shoulder gently. "Yeah, of course I will. But what about you?"
"You don't have to put up with me."
"I will anyway," you chuckled. "You know as well as I do that I've always had a... a sweet spot for you."
Six chuckled softly, daring to look at you as he smiled, tilting his head to the side as he studied you for a second; he poured himself another glass, reached into his pocket for the cigarettes and chucked them on the table. "You were the only man I ever had feelings for."
"The feeling was mutual," you said quietly. "But, y'know, all I wanted to do was read my book, listen to music, and relax - then you walk in dragging an entire shit storm behind you... not quite sure if I can forgive that."
He laughed quietly at that, shaking his head as he chewed at the inside of his lip and hummed quietly; if there was ever a chance for it, now would be it. Even with every other assassin and bounty hunter in the world on his tail, now would be the time to say it. "When we were in West Flanders... I was gonna ask you."
"Ask me what?" You hummed, knocking back the whisky and pouring another before you stole a cigarette and lit it.
Six fumbled with his glass, watching the dark golden liquid swirl around as he sighed and shook his head. "I was gonna ask if you'd be my boyfriend... but then you retired and I didn't know if I'd see you again."
You hummed softly, getting up and grabbing the ashtray. "I would've said yes... maybe... it sounds a bit like it's the wrong time, but maybe now we could..."
"Yeah," he breathed out. "I'd like that but..."
"Don't worry," you shook your head. "I haven't been compromised. I've got friends in high and low places making sure of that."
Six nodded, a little relieved to hear it as he relaxed a bit and licked his lips. "I missed you... thank you."
"Don't worry about it," you told him gently. "You do stink, though, you ain't getting in my bed til you've had a shower."
He couldn't help but to smile. "Yes, Sir."
Maybe, Six thought, maybe things would be okay here; protected by a man he loved so dearly, protected by a love he had once thought he had lost, knowing that your loyalty couldn't be bought by anyone. Your loyalty came from action, and Six knew that he had proved it to you a long time ago; he thought maybe now he had some time to actually do all those things he had wanted to before.
But when he leaned in to kiss you, you put your hand on his chest, shaking your head. "I ain't kissing you while you're covered in... I'm not even gonna fucking guess."
"Sorry." He couldn't hold back the soft laugh that escaped him.
"God, you smell worse than when we were in Versailles," you joked, running a hand through his hair. "But, at least you're here now... even if you did fucking wreck my nice quiet night."
if you liked this fic, REBLOG IT - you SHOULD reblog it; spam likers WILL be blocked. as will blogs that refuse to reblog or to give feedback. if you don't wanna reblog, then you'll get blocked; reblogging is the BARE MINIMUM. don't just "like", REBLOG
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cryptic-creepies · 1 year
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Haha, random Kodomo thoughts go brrrrrr
- Rage and Vice being the types of dads that toss their kids around much to the chagrin of worried spouses. Up in the air or back and forth, doesn’t matter which. Yes, they are still careful. Yes, it still freak their spouses out
- Letting the other Douji/masters meet the little ones!! Service is always the most excited of the bunch, and Orgullo is always the most concerned.
- Let’s elucidate on those points. Service is absolutely a wine auntie through and through, she loves all the little ones to pieces and does refer to each of them as her niece/nephew/nibling. She and uncle Desir will spoil them rotten at any damn possible opportunity.
- Alternatively, Orgullo is always a little bit terrified of meeting one of the little ones for the first time, especially if it’s one of the first ones born. He’s an absolute behemoth of a man (Chihiro fell on her butt the first time they met because her head tilted all the way back) and they’re all so tiny compared to him he’s genuinely afraid that the slightest movement from him could seriously hurt them. Absolutely does not stop them from climbing all over him like he’s a jungle gym, and once they’re old enough to actually roughhouse he loosens up a little.
- Hana is so goddamn happy when Jupiter and Chihiro are born because it means she’s no longer the youngest of them all. Unlike Hibari or any of the older kids, she, Edile, and Avaro are considered to be more like cousins instead. She definitely likes having the big-kid role now and now has her opportunity to accessorize them as the West Tokyo Crew did for her when she was a little one.
- Chihiro only knows so many big types because of Jupiter. Her favorite bug he’s ever shown her is a rosy maple moth.
- Chihiro has a pink and yellow moth plushie she’s affectionately named Pink Lemonade. Three guesses on who gave it to her.
- Jealousy and Machiko are co-parents to twin boys named Haruto and Hayate. Both are so perfectly split between their parents in appearance, but Haruto inherited more of his mother’s personality and Hayate his father’s. Animal motifs for the boys would have been the centipede (Haruto) and scorpion (Hayate). Them and Naoki are born in the same year.
- Maybe it’s more for self-indulgent purposes, but you cannot convince me Kiyose didn’t have some line of WTI merchandise planned like children’s apparel and onesies and whatnot. I just need an excuse for Chihiro or Koko to be wearing a tiny little WTI shirt and a puffy tutu.
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jerzwriter · 2 years
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Five Times... He knew he was in trouble
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Book:  Open Heart (Book 2 Timeline)
Pairing:  Tobias Carrick x F!MC (Casey MacTavish)
Rating:  Teen
Category:  Fluff
Series:  The Five Times… He knew he was in trouble…  He did not do relationships.  Bachelorhood wasn’t just a choice, it was his religion.  Dating was fun, sex was fun, but relationships?  They were work and he already had a job*.  Then he met her, and it all unraveled.
Part 1 Summary:   A chance meeting leaves him stumped, uncomfortable… not really happy… and out of control.
Warnings:  Minimal cursing, alcohol consumption
Words: 1172
A/N:  I wanted to do a 5 Times series for both of my pairings from the LI’s point of view.  For Tobias, I wanted to explore the five times he realized what that odd feeling was stirring inside him from fear, to surrender.  This will have elements from Part 1 of the Their Start Series, as well as Wildest Dreams.  But it provides a little more insight as to what was in his head as it was happening.
A/N 2:   Thank you to the wonderful @lucy-268 for this great quote.  Love you, Kathy! Lastly, I am participating in this week’s @wackydrabbles.  The prompt can be found below in bold.
CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS.
Spotting beautiful women in a crowd wasn’t so much a skill as an instinct, an instinct that started at a very early age and was now perfected.  Perhaps that was one of the reasons he never had a desire to settle down.  Not even a little bit.  Why limit yourself to the same entrée every night?  Sure, it may be delicious at first, but who wouldn’t want something else after some time? Especially when there was a smorgasbord of delicacies to be had right outside the door. 
Even after chaos erupted, the one he scoped today was not hard to miss.  Multi-tasking, as usual, he checked his e-mails as he waited in line, oblivious to his surroundings.  The sounds of frying eggs and early morning conversations came to a halt, replaced by panic after a man fell to the floor with a loud thud.  The physician took over, and he sprang to action; but two young women, apparently doctors themselves, had beat him to the punch.  He was already dialing 911 when one of them ordered him to do so.  Observing, he stood back, he’d jump in if he needed to, and for a moment, he thought he did.
“I’ll start compressions,” she said.
What the… no! He’s…
“Stop!” the second woman shouted.  “Look at his fingernails.  His lips are turning blue too, which means this isn’t a heart attack. This is a pulmonary embolism.”
“Good thing you stopped me!”
Damn straight it is….
He continued to watch, and that’s when he noticed her.  Ridiculously long golden locks cascaded over her shoulders, her crystal blue eyes entirely focused on her patient.  She wasn’t dressed to impressed, a ratty old henly and jeans she probably owned since her college days, not a stitch of makeup on her face, but it wasn’t needed. He shook his head and returned his focus where it was needed.  Sure, Tobias Carrick was a lady’s man through and through, but he never let that interfere with patient care, and there was a patient on the ground even if it wasn’t his.  He had to focus, but goddamn, she made it hard. 
He intended to make his way over as soon as he could, but the women slipped out the door when the paramedics arrived. Opportunity missed. Disappointed, he returned to the line when something snapped. 
Aurora!
Harper Emery’s niece was named Aurora, and he knew those doctors were not from Kenmore… trust, he would have known if that vision worked there.  No way he wouldn’t have sensed her under the same roof as him every day. 
Focus Carrick! He admonished.
He searched his mind, he had seen her picture before… it was her. 
“Damn! They left without their breakfast,” the cashier sighed, motioning to the busboy she asked.  “Do you think you could catch them?”
“Nope. Besides, did they even pay yet?”
“No.  Ah, forget it!”
“No!” Tobias interrupted, “How much did they owe?”
“$13.99”
Throwing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter, he jetted outside, bag in hand.  He caught up to them just a half-block away.  This was his lucky day.  After he got Aurora to take his card, he could focus his attention elsewhere.
She is checking you out, Carrick…
But when he made it clear that he was checking her out too, she blushed and turned away.
Shy.  I like shy.  I can do shy.
He wanted to ask for her number, but it didn't feel right, considering he had just propositioned a job to Aurora.  But hey, Aurora had his number; maybe her friend would call him? She seemed interested.
He was kicking himself in the ass for the rest of the day.  Whenever work slowed down, she came back to his mind.  Sometimes it was her bashful smile; sometimes, thoughts less savory.  It’s ok, he thought.  It’s not like he never saw a gorgeous woman he just had to have before.  This wasn’t unusual, he assured himself.    
But when his shift ended, he found himself at Donahues, the watering hole for the Edenbrook crowd, especially its residents.  It was a long shot, but he was taking it.  There had to be a dozen flaxen-haired visions present that night, and if this were any other day… but it wasn’t. Then one of them approached him.
“Hi,” she smiled with a sultry voice that left no question of her intent.
“Hello,” he muttered, astounding himself at how blasé the word came out.
“I’ve never seen you around here. New to the area?”
“Nope,” he said, taking a swig of his beer.  “Here over a decade.”
“Hmm… and I’ve never seen you? What a sin! I’m glad it’s finally been rectified.”
He looked her over from head to toe.  She was hot.  On any given day….
She caught the once over but cleared her throat nervously when he remained silent after.
“Are you here with someone?” she asked.
“Nope.  But I am waiting for someone.”
“Oh.  Well, if she doesn’t treat you right, I’m Amber,” she winked.  “I’ll be in the back all night.”
Instinctually, he turned to watch her walk away.  It was a force of habit.
Jesus! She is…
He should be following.  There hasn’t been a time when he wouldn’t be following in the past two decades.  But his legs showed no desire to move, and neither did any other functioning body part.  He sipped the last of his drink as an uneasy feeling welled up in him.  This was not who he was.  This was ridiculous.  He saw her once, and he’s sitting here like some sap hoping she’ll walk in.
“Hey,” he said, waving at the bartender.  “Can we settle up my tab? I need to get away from here.”
After hastily throwing some bills on the counter, he raced out the door into the night.  He was already several blocks away when a group of residents poured into the bar, including Casey.  His second opportunity was missed, and he wasn’t even aware. 
Being at home didn’t cure him.  He seared online and checked dating apps.  Had another beer.  His phone rang. It was June, one of his two current flings.  He knew exactly what they’d be doing within thirty minutes if he answered the phone, but he let it go to voicemail.  He didn’t see her face in his dreams that night.  There was only one there… and he had never seen a woman’s face in his dreams before.   
What the fuck is going on?
But as he walked toward Aurora Emery in Kenmore’s lobby the next day, his mind was already calculating how he could ask about her.  He was no longer concerned with professional decorum.  He had a name to go with the face by the time she left, and he knew he’d be on Google tonight.  But he also knew where she would be Saturday morning… and there was no way he was ignoring it. 
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