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rory-butnot-gilmore · 1 year

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Little Moments in Time

You and Sarah make dinner for Joel and Tommy before you leave for a business trip. The world then falls apart, and you find yourself separated from your family. 20 years later, a weird twist of events leads you back to the man you loved.

Pairing: joel x fem!reader

themes/warning: oh yeah, there is angst this time, death and violence, pain and sadness, with a little bit of fluff if you squint <3 also, there are some parts that i tried really hard to do extra research on so it wasn't like completely off trail from the canon storyline, but I couldn't find much.

part one

september 24th, 2003

You and Sarah both danced around the kitchen, while you made barbecue chicken and rice. It was supposed to be spaghetti night, but after your recent trip to the doctors and finding out you had celiac disease, gluten free options started to be incorporated. Joel and Sarah definitely didn't mind though, because both of them thought the things you cooked instead were great. Joel didn't even notice some of the differences in the things you made sometimes.

"So, what is it you're doing again? On your trip?" Sarah asked as she grabbed down a can of corn from the cabinet. You looked at it and made a mental note to make sure Joel went shopping for groceries.

"So now that I am an actual nurse, I am going to Chicago to help out with some younger college students somethings I know about nursing," You explained to Sarah, who smiled and nodded. She loved your job, and was always so curious about the things with it. Joel teased that Sarah would follow in your footsteps.

"When you get back, we are going shopping for my maid of honor dress right?" Sarah poured the corn into a small pot.

"Yes we are, are you excited?" You nudged her with your elbow, and she giggled before nodding.

Things had been official between both you and Joel since the week after your second date. You went everywhere with him and Sarah by then, all of her soccer games, every school recital, and every moment. By the fourth year of dating, you gave up the apartment life and moved in with them. Then last year, Joel finally proposed after dragging his feet for so long. You didn't mind the delay though, because life for the two of you already seemed so perfect.

"Oh damn it smells great in here!" Tommy exclaimed as he came through the door, he grinned at the two of you when he came into the kitchen.

"Hey, how was work?" You turned off the stove, and grabbed the plates that Sarah had already gotten down. Joel came in behind Tommy, and gave Sarah a quick kiss on the head. He wrapped his arms around your waist from behind, as you made Sarah a plate.

“It was shit, don’t let Tommy tell you any different, the bastard didn’t tell me how anyone the guys we have to work with are this time,” Joel laughed, “The plans are coming along though, and we should be able to start on it within the next day or two,”

“Well hopefully your string of good luck continues babe,” You kissed his cheek, and handed him Sarah’s plate, “Tommy you can come make a plate,”

“Thanks Y/n, you know I still don’t understand why Joel got to end up with you?” Tommy made his eight year old joke. Joel flipped him off and made his plate and made a plate for you.

“Hm, I mean if I remember correctly, you were too busy making out with one of my best friends?” Sarah laughed, covering her mouth to stop the water she had just drank from spraying out. She started coughing a little, but she was still laughing at your comeback.

“How is my dear old friend doing?” Tommy came behind Joel and grabbed his plate to start making it. You grabbed three beers out of the refrigerator for the Miller brothers, and yourself. Everyone sat down at the table together, and started talking about your days. Sarah talked about a test she passed. Tommy told an embarrassing story about Joel from the day. Joel squeezed your hand while you talked about your flight leaving in the morning. Tommy headed out a little bit after you cleaned up from dinner. You helped Sarah get her curls into a style that would help keep them from getting ruined during the night. Once she was all set, you and Joel started your night time routine.

Once you thought Joel was done with the shower, you climbed in. You sighed happily as the water rinsed over your skin. Before your hair was even completely wet, Joel climbed back into the shower. You rolled your eyes but turned to look at him. Joel was unapologetically looking you up and down, and pulled you against him.

“I figured I could rinse the grime off of me before I ambushed you,” Joel shrugged, and explained his reasoning for not just suggesting a shower together in the first place.

“Joel Miller, are you trying to seduce me before marriage?” You teased, and he shook his head.

“Mm, no, no I don’t think I would ever do such a thing?” Joel started to kiss your jaw and neck, his hands resting on your lower back, fingers just barely tracing the top of the curve of your ass.

“Sarah isn’t asleep yet, so this is holding off for right now,” You played with the hair at the nape of his neck, not really wanting the touches to stop. Joel groaned but still pulled back, smoothing your now wet hair down and out of your face.

“I don’t know how her or I are going to do without you for a whole five days?” Joel whispered, and kissed your forehead, “Sar’s cooking lessons better have been paying off, if she’s going to be cooking for me on my birthday,”

“She will do phenomenal, she wants to make you pancakes, I know you’re super stressed with work, but I left you a grocery list so you can make sure you make her dreams come true,”

“Isn’t it supposed to be my dreams coming true? It’s my birthday?” You glared at him, and started washing your hair. Joel swatted your hands away and helped you scrub the shampoo into your scalp.

“I’ll get the pancake mix, we will call you while eating our pancakes, you can sing me happy birthday while I do,” Joel teased, and helped get your hair rinsed out. You leaned your head back and he kissed your neck gently.

“Then when I get home, her and I go to pick out her dress, pick up my dress, and then we will be two weeks out from me marrying you, old man,” You wrapped your arms around him, and pecked his lips, “Cold feet?”

“I’m about to be thirty-six years old, and I’m marrying the most beautiful, smart, and loving woman I have ever met,” Joel’s voice was softer now, “The same woman who loves that awesome daughter of mine, plus she’s a bit younger than me so that totally boosts my ego,”

You raised an eyebrow and he laughed a little.

“My feet are as hot as they could be Y/n.”

september 25th, 2003

Joel drove you and Sarah to the airport in your car. Sarah teared up more the closer you got to the security. You were quick to pull her into a tight hug.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay, it’s only five days and I will be home,” You whispered, trying your hardest to fight back your own tears, “You can call me each day too, I won’t mind, I have my cell,”

“I love you mom.” Sarah blurted it out so fast, that both you and Joel were taken aback by it. You didn’t hesitate for too long though before you were holding her even tighter. Joel pulled both of you into a group hug, and everyone said their I love you’s. No one said goodbye, just reminders that you would be home soon. That this was only a temporary thing.

You didn’t let yourself fully cry until you were on the plane, and you cried until you landed. Sarah called you mom, for the first time in eight years, she called you mom. It made your heart swell ten times the size it already was. Sarah held such a special place in your heart, that was never a doubt. There was a certain kind of satisfaction knowing that you held the same spot in hers.

You got off the plane and took the cab to the hotel, that was where you first met the next person who would change the course of your life for the next twenty-years. She was twenty-four years old, and with her best friend. The two of them were laughing in the lobby of the hotel, but hers was the loudest. She was going to be your mentee during the trip, but in the end she was so much more.

“Oh!” She finally saw your name tag, and waved you down, “You’re Y/n! I’m Anna, I guess you’re in charge of me for this whole thing huh?”

“Anna, it’s great to meet you,” You shook her hand and then her friend’s.

“I’m Marlene, not here for the nursing stuff, just this annoying person right here.” Marlene nudged Anna, who had no problem nudging back.

Marlene went on her own adventure, while you and Anna went to the first activity. It was in the local hospital, and the senior nurses explained how the next five days would be. Anna was a jokester, and you knew that she was going to cause a bit of trouble. Still though, she was fun to be around. The first day went by really quick just with her jokes alone.

That night after a bar outing with Marlene, you and Anna were in your hotel room together. She was sitting in the chair that was to your desk, with her feet propped up on the bed you were sitting on. The two of you were talking about anything and everything. Just bonding over whatever you could find.

“Okay, so you’re only thirty, you’re about to be married and a step-mom?” Anna laughed, and you nodded with a grin on your face.

“You know, I don’t like the step part of it, but I do like the sound of mom,” You smiled, thinking about Sarah, “Joel, my fiancé, does nothing but tell me about how I saved them, but in reality they saved me more than they know,”

“I can’t even imagine where I will be in six years, at thirty, but it definitely doesn’t feel like I would be a mother.”

september 26th, 2003

You, Anna, and Marlene were all in your hotel room. The emergency broadcast was going off, and you were all watching everything unfold. When your cellphone started to ring, you answered it before the second ring went off. It was Sarah, and she was asking if you knew what was happening.

“I woke up and Dad isn’t here, and-” Sarah screamed a little, and the line went dead. Your entire body started to shake.

“Sarah?! Sarah, baby! Sarah!” You were yelling into the phone, hoping that her voice would come through the dial tone. You never got to hear her voice again though.

The next three days, were more torture than you could even imagine. The three of you were all escorted out of the hotel by military eventually, and made your way to a safe zone. It didn’t feel safe though, none of it did. You put Sarah, Joel, and Tommy on a name list. So that it could be broadcasted soon enough. Eventually you were all within a QZ. You waited everyday for any sign of the Millers, hoping they would eventually show up. It didn’t take long before you all started to catch onto the bullshit that was FEDRA, and that was when the Fireflies became a part of your life.

2009

You found the safe house, Marlene should have been there already. Then you heard the screams, and you ran around to the backside of the house. You went through the back door, and busted into a bedroom. Anna was on the floor, a baby with an umbilical cord still attached laying in front of her, and an infected dead off to the side. Anna was breathing heavy, and the baby was crying.

“You k-know how I said I couldn’t see my self being a mother at thirty?” Anna was breathing heavily as you rushed closer, she cut the umbilical cord with her own knife and started to tie it off, “Looks like I was wrong, but also right,”

She bent her leg out, and you saw the bite on her inner thigh. Your entire heart stopped and you dropped down to your knees. Anna was shaking a bit, but she picked up her baby anyways. The tiny infant calmed down looking at her mother.

“Anna, what are we going to do? I mean Marlene should be here soon, but was the baby? I mean?” You were stumbling over all your words. The girl who had become your family was dying, and there was nothing you could do.

“You are going to take Ellie, wait for Marlene downstairs, and I am going to ask you one last favor Y/n,” Anna whispered, “Make sure she’s loved, make sure she’s safe, and please kill me before I hurt you,”

“No, no, I’ll take her soon, I’ll go downstairs, but I can’t.. Marlene will be here soon, she needs to get to say goodbye Anna, and you h-have a little time, spend these last minutes with your daughter,” You sat against the wall next to Anna, watching her with the baby. She glared at you for a moment, before giving up and looking at Ellie.

“She’s so damn beautiful Y/n, and I will.. I will never get to see what she becomes,” Anna whispered, “If anyone asks, y-you know I cut the umbilical cord before I was bit? They would never let her live other wise,”

“If they ask, I was here the entire time.” You whispered, and laid your head on her shoulder.

2023

Every part of you wanted to kill Marlene, for dragging you back to Boston. After you knew Ellie was safe, you decided to set out and try and find whatever you could about the Millers. Any kind of sign of what happened to them. Now, fourteen years later you were back at your original QZ. After they ran their tests, and you lied and explained you were coming from the fallen QZ in Chicago, they let you inside. You showed up at the building Marlene had explained to you over the radio, and made your way inside. You quietly snuck your way in, your gun ready to shoot at any sign of trouble.

You slowly went up the stairs, and then heard a loud thud. When you made it to the top, you saw Marlene holding her side, with another woman standing next to her. There was a man and a woman with their backs turned to you, and a younger girl on the floor.. A girl who looked almost identical to her mother.

“Get your gun out of her face.” You snapped, and the man turned around. Then your entire heart fell down into your stomach even more than it was seeing Ellie.

He was standing there, and he was alive. Marlene was watching the both of you, waiting for the blow up. His eyes though, they stayed on you, and then trailed to the chain around your neck. Hanging off of it was a simple diamond ring, that he remembered clear as day picking out with his daughter. He looked older, seemed different, but yet you felt like home was standing only a few feet in front of you. You lowered your gun and glanced at Ellie, who was staring at you like she knew exactly who you were. In reality, she might have, she did have a picture of you that you slipped in with her stuff when you left her at the military school. It was your picture name tag from the convention you met her mom at.

“Y/n?” Ellie and Joel said your name at the same exact time, and for a moment it sounded like the world stood still.

next part

#joel and sarah #the last of us #joel miller #reader insert #prompts #pedro pascal #oneshots #joel miller x reader #joel x y/n #the last of us actually wants to kill me #the last of us hbo #ellie williams

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wellimaginethat · 4 years

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Danger Prone

Pairing: Jay Halstead x (female) Reader, Kelly Severide x BestFriend!Reader

Requested?: Yes

Word Count: 1909

Author’s Note: This was fun to write and that gif is perfect

Trigger Warning(s): Injury, needles, car accident

Disclaimer: I don’t owe nor am I affiliated with any of the Chicago shows, I just like to play with the characters

Summary: Y/N and Kelly are best friends and have been practically since she started at 51, she’s been dating Jay for about a year and when she’s injured in a car accident, they’re both insanely worried about her.

Y/N = Your Name

Y/EC = Your Eye Color

You were joking around with the rest of your teammates, telling an embarrassing story in an attempt to make Gallo feel better over his recent mess up in his relationship.

“I can’t believe you’d ever screw up that bad.” Kelly told you, barely containing his laughter as he shook his head.

“It’s a completely true story.” You told him, laughing.

Gallo’s spirits seem to lift a tad. “I have to agree, you seem too calm and collected to ever mess up that bad.”

You shook your head. “I wasn’t always this totally cool badass with nerves of steel.” You told them with a proud smile, causing them both to snicker. “But it’s true. I thought he was going to say he loved me, instead he told me about how he was sleeping with my so called best friend.” You shook your head a bit before shrugging. “All for the best, really, cause now I’m happy.”

“So I take it that things between you and Halstead are going well?” Kelly asked you, picking up his mug to take a sip of the coffee.

You nodded, smiling proudly. “Things are going great between us.”

“Well I’m happy for you.” Kelly told you.

Gallo nodded. “I am too.” Although you could sense that he was a bit saddened.

“Hey,” You put a hand on his shoulder, looking at him. “Listen to me, you are gonna find someone and they’re gonna love you and everything about you.” You told him in a soft voice. “It just takes time for some people. Look at Kelly, it took him this long to find a woman that could put up with his shit.”

Kelly rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks Y/LN.”

You smiled at him. “Oh shut it, you know I love you.” You told him, laughing a bit before looking at Gallo again. “It will be okay. Sometimes things happen for a reason. Take it from me, if Jason hadn’t been such a dick then I never would’ve met Jay and I wouldn’t be as happy as I am.”

Gallo smiled at you and nodded. “Thank you.” He told you softly.

You nodded and patted his shoulder before removing your hand. “Anytime.” You told him, you kinda thought of him as a kid brother even though the two of you were close to being the same age.

You were nearing the end of your shift and you really couldn’t wait to get home, it had been a busy night and you wanted to shower and curl up on the couch.

When your shift finally ended, you headed outside to your car.

Kelly jogged up to you and bumped your shoulder. “If you and Halstead aren’t busy tonight, you should swing by and have dinner with Stella and I.”

You looked at him with a smile and nodded. “I don’t know what Jay has planned, or if he’ll even be free tonight, but I’ll mention something to him and let you know.”

Kelly nodded and headed over to his car.

You got into your car and started it before starting to drive, you were less than a block down when a car ran a stop and hit the side of your car.

It all happened so suddenly and then time started to slow down. You were trying to regain your senses after what happened, but it felt like you were moving in slow motion.

Kelly was at the passenger side now, pulling the door open and leaning in to check on you.

“Y/N, Y/N!” You could hear him shout, trying to get your attention but everything seemed so distorted and he sounded like he was miles away.

Then everything came back and you waved your hand to him. “I’m fine, I’m good.”

“That’s for a doctor to figure out.” Kelly responded.

Soon someone was putting a brace on your neck and they were pulling you out of your car, you didn’t really feel any pain, but you were still in a daze.

The ride to the hospital was spent with the paramedics checking you over, you were so thankful that it wasn’t Brett and Foster because you knew they would be making a complete fuss over you.

When you got to the hospital and were being wheeled in, you were having trouble focusing on anything, but you could recognize the voices.

“What do we got?” You knew that voice, it was Will. Great, that meant that Jay would find out about this and probably worry about you.

“Female, 28, car accident.” The paramedic rattled off. “Sustained a head injury and extensive bruising from the air bag and seat belt.”

“We’ll move her on my count.” They moved you over to a hospital gurney and soon you could see Will leaning over you, checking your eyes with a penlight to make sure your pupils were dilating. “Let’s get her in for a CT scan.”

You were wheeled in for a CT scan and then taken to a room in the ED to be further checked over and to have your head bandaged up better.

Kelly stepped into the room as soon as he was able to, which was while they were bandaging your head. “How’re you doing?” He asked gently.

You gave him a thumbs up. “I’m good.” You assured him. “My head hurts a little, but I’m fine.”

Kelly nodded and took a seat in the chair near the wall to stay out of the way.

“We’re going to need to take some blood to run some labs.” April told you, moving to your arm to insert the needle.

You tried not to pay attention to the needle as she drew blood and focused solely on Kelly. “So what are you planning for dinner?”

“Hm?” Kelly looked at you.

“Earlier you were talking about Jay and I joining you and Stella for dinner, what are you planning?”

Kelly shrugged. “No idea.”

You laughed. “You plan a dinner party and don’t know what you’re going to serve? How am I supposed to bring wine if I don’t know what the menu is?”

Kelly snorted. “Like you’d bring wine.”

You laughed. “That’s true, wine is disgusting.” You shrugged. “Okay, then how will I know what kind of beer to bring?”

“Any kind of beer is good beer.” Kelly told you.

“Touche.” You replied as April finished collecting your blood, and that was when you saw Jay walking in.

“Will called me and said you were in an accident, are you okay?” Jay asked, immediately walking over to where you were sitting. His hands going to your upper arms to steady you as he looked at you, worried.

“Jay, I’m fine.” You told him.

“That bandage says otherwise.” Jay told you, his eyes narrowing in on the bandage.

You reached up to cup his face, causing his eyes to meet yours. “I’m okay.” You said softly.

Jay stared at you for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”

You smiled at him. “So Kelly invited us over to have dinner with him and Stella tonight, what do you think?” You asked, glancing over at Kelly as you spoke before looking back at your boyfriend.

Jay turned to glance at Kelly before nodding and looking at you. “Sounds like a good idea, if you’re feeling up to it.”

You nodded. “Again, I’m fine.” You smiled, you were glad he cared enough to be worried, but it seemed like a bit much.

Jay nodded.

Kelly stood up. “Alright, then we’ll see you guys tonight?”

You nodded to him. “Yep, we’ll be there.”

“Good.” Kelly walked over and patted your arm. “Take care of yourself.” He looks at Jay. “Keep an eye on her, she’s danger prone.”

Jay chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I know she is.”

Kelly chuckled and patted Jay on the chest before leaving.

You smiled. “I’m glad you guys get along and all, but it’s not nice to gang up on me.”

Jay looked at you with a smile. “Well it’s not nice to scare us.” He commented, leaning down to kiss you gently. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

You smiled up at him and nodded. “I wanna go home.”

“Have they released you yet?” Jay asked.

You shook your head. “No.”

“Then you have to wait.” Jay told you simply.

You pouted. “Can’t you help me escape?”

Jay laughed and shook his head. “You wouldn’t help me when I got shot.” He retorted softly.

“That was different.” You pointed out. “You almost died.”

Jay waved it off, causing you to chuckle and him to smile. He was looking out the door now, waiting for someone to come in with any information. His arm was gently draped over your shoulders now.

You leaned your head onto his chest, still sitting on the edge of the bed.

“So what exactly happened?” Jay asked gently after a moment.

You sighed. “Some lady ran a stop and t-boned me.” You huffed. “Totally wrecked my car.”

You could feel his chest rumble when he chuckled, shaking his head. “You and your damned car.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault, I love that car.” You pouted. “And now she’s ruined.”

“You know, I’ve met guys less in love with their cars than you are with yours.” Jay commented.

You rolled your eyes. “I worked my ass off and saved every little bit of money I could for that car.”

“I know.” Jay told you softly. “And I’m sorry it got wrecked.”

“Me too.” You huffed then looked up at him. “Guess it’s time for me to find a new car.”

Jay nodded. “Maybe something a little safer.”

“My car was safe.”

“It was old and falling apart.” Jay countered.

“It was a classic.” You argued softly, poking his chest.

Jay chuckled again and shook his head. “Okay okay. Time to find a new classic.”

You sighed and nodded. “I guess so.”

Will walked in after a moment. “Good news is that you only sustained minor injuries.” He told you. “You do have a slight concussion, so you’ll have to take it easy.”

“Can I go home now?” You asked eagerly.

Will paused and tried to stifle a laugh but nodded. “Yes, you can. They’ll be in with the paperwork soon.”

“Great, thank you.” You beamed and looked at Jay. “See, I’m fine and I can go home.” You stood up.

Will shook his head some and stepped out of the room.

Jay followed him. “Hey, thanks for calling me.” He told his brother.

Will turned to him and nodded. “No problem, I figured you’d wanna know.”

Jay nodded silently.

Will raised a brow. “You okay?”

Jay hesitated and nodded some. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sure?” Will asked, knowing something was up. “She’s fine, Jay. Really, I wouldn’t let her go home if she wasn’t.”

“I know.” Jay told him, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Then what’s wrong?” Will asked, frowning slightly.

Jay sighed. “Nothing.”

“It’s obviously something.” Will told him.

Jay sighed again and nodded.

As soon as you finished the paperwork that you had to sign, you stepped out of the room and saw that Jay was talking to Will, his back to you.

Will nodded in your direction, causing Jay to turn to face you. “I’ll catch up with you later.” Jay told his brother before walking over to you. “You free to go?”

You nodded to him, smiling. “Mhm.”

Jay wrapped an arm around your shoulders and left the hospital with you.

#jay halstead x reader #jay halstead imagine #jay halstead imagines #chicago pd imagine #chicago pd imagines

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kim-ruzek · 3 years

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Girl Code Duty

Summary: Fix-it for 3x20. Sylvie stops Kim making the bad decision to sleep with Roman.

Warnings: Sean Roman bashing.

Word Count: 3.4k

Read on AO3

Notes: This is the quickest I've wrote a fic in so long and I loved every second of it. This was basically just written as an excuse to Roman bash, and I like fixing things so that Kim never slept with him. I'm just sad I had to acknowledge that my girl Sylvie also had.

Also, a thank you to @justanoffalygirl because one) this fic idea was created when talking to them, and two) for letting me steal a line from their fic.

Sylvie sits at the counter at Molly’s by herself, quietly drinking her beer. It’s one of those nights at the bar, where it’s full—not full-full, that it was loud and overwhelming, but enough that you could sit alone in the crowd peacefully unnoticed—but not that much by fifty-one, or really with their friends from the twenty-first or Chicago med.

It had been a quiet few days. Her shift—which ended that morning—was an uneventful one, nothing too straining happening the whole shift. Those shifts can be hit and miss, for Sylvie. On one hand, they’re a breath of fresh air, a welcome break from the chaos that comes with her work, but in the other hand, they tire her in a whole different way to a chaotic shift.

Sylvie’s born to be a paramedic, and she truly thrives in the situations the profession demands of her, and the days where she does nothing but sit around itches her feet, tiring her with boredom.

And of course she’s still mentally exhausted by all the drama that went down with Chilli.

Sylvie had a rather uneventful day even after the shift. A day spent watching home renovation shows, which though entertaining, just made her even more itchy to do something. And all that did was make Sylvie realise she’s gotten herself into a really boring rut recently.

So in the evening, she found herself at Molly’s.

She had gone thinking at least she’ll get some excitement hanging with her co-workers and friends. Otis isn’t on shift today, but Gabby and Herrmann are and it’s always exciting around them. But the punters are keeping them rather occupied, and the rest of the bar is rather empty of friends.he had gone thinking at least she’ll get some excitement hanging with her co-workers and friends. Otis isn’t on shift today, but Gabby and Herrmann are and it’s always exciting around them. But the punters are keeping them rather occupied, and the rest of the bar is rather empty of friends.

It’s okay, though, she finds herself thinking, enjoying the beer and the peacefulness of just among the crowd. The perks of drinking at a bar, with none of the anxious worries of perverts or being in danger; not with this being a firefighter run bar.

“Herrmann! Another beer, please?” Sylvie’s attention is drawn to where Kim Burgess sits, at a table not too far away from the bar. Her voice is a few octaves louder than it normally is, and Sylvie wonders how many beers she’s had. Having gotten drunk with Kim before, Sylvie would think at least a few.

Kim had been Molly’s when she had came in herself, and Sylvie had not been surprised having heard from Gabby the events that pd and med was focused on today. No one could say they didn’t have a quiet day.

Sylvie briefly had considered going over, but Kim had been sitting with Sean Roman and Natalie Manning, the three looking as if they were processing the day’s events together. Knowing how important those decompressing moments are in their line of work, especially decompressing with those you were ‘in the trenches’ with, as it were, Sylvie had decided against it.

And up until now, Sylvie had forgotten all about them.

In the time between Sylvie getting here, and this moment, Natalie had left, just leaving Kim and Sean remaining, and there is a couple of empty beer bottles on the table.

Sylvie watches them for a few minutes. She’s aware that it’s rude to stare—her mother’s words to her when she was a young girl echoing in her mind—and that she should either look away or go over to them, but something, right at the back of her head, niggles at her, telling her to watch. And as a trained paramedic, Sylvie has learnt to listen to those feelings.

Kim is drunk, that Sylvie could see. Not so much that Herrmann should cut her off, but definitely slightly more than her usual preferred tipsy. Sean is also buzzed, which makes sense depending the case they had. They’re sitting very close to each other, very much in each other’s space, and they’re clearly having a good time as they’re laughing. Kim’s hand keeps touching Sean’s shoulder, a touch he’s very much returning at every given moment.

Yet again, this makes sense; Kim gets super affectionate the more drunk she gets.

But at the same time, Sylvie understands that isn’t Kim’s usual affectionate touch and it dawns on Sylvie why her friend senses have been activated. Sylvie isn’t watching her friend get drunk after a tough day: she’s watching her friend considering making a very stupid, drunken mistake.

Kim is considering sleeping with Sean.

Or, she should say, Kim’s considering letting Sean fuck her, quickly, because Sylvie’s own experience very much told her that there’s no way that man knows the woman is also meant to be satisfied. And what a glow down that would be for her, as from what Kim’s told her drunkenly before, Adam is very good in that area.

No, Sylvie thinks to herself. There’s no way her girl code can allow Kim to have such disappointing dick. It’s a bad decision for Kim to have her post-engagement rebound like this anyway, and even if that wasn’t enough for Sylvie to interfere, she couldn’t in good consciousness subject her friend to that.

Every time Sylvie looks at Sean and remembers that night, all she can think is how she wished someone was able to do that for her.

Sylvie jumps off her stool, walking towards Kim and Sean now stand. It looks like this is their last beer before they’re going to leave, and Sylvie’s glad she spotted them when she did.

“Hello, you two,” Sylvie greets them, inserting herself between the two of them. Cock-blocking her friends to stop them making bad decisions is something she’s rather good at—she’s not just an amazing paramedic who saves people on duty, medically.

A look of irritation passes across Sean’s face, but Kim’s far from annoyed at her sudden presence, evident by how she throws her arms around Sylvie the moment she gets there. Kim hugs her tight, her drunkenness making her squeeze maybe a little too hard.

“Sylvie! Hi.” Kim grins widely at her. “We saw a baby survive today. It was, Sylvie, it was incredible! And amazing! Medicine is truly incredible,”

Sylvie smiles at her friend’s excited amazement. Kim then gasps.

“But I don’t need to tell you that, do I? That’s basically what you do every day. Like a blonde, pretty superhero.” Kim squeezes her again.

“Oh, I don’t know if—” Sylvie begins to protest, but Kim cuts her off.

“Yes. You’re a superhero.” She nods with enthusiasm, certain in her belief. A smile appears on Sylvie’s lips again.

“Okay. I’m a superhero.” She concedes, before adding, “but if I am, you definitely are. You’re a kickass cop!”

“Hm. But you save lives. Like actual lives, people call you when they’re dying. I’m like the sidekick to your superhero. Like you’re the boss, the one people go to. I just help,” Kim rambles on. Sylvie’s got an urge to point out to that technically, paramedics generally turn up to assist cops, not the other way around, but she pushes it down, knowing drunkenness knows no reason or logic.

“Okay, then, sidekick. Let’s get you home,” Sylvie says, thinking that it’s not only best if she stops Kim from leaving with him, but ensuring that even after she leaves the bar that she doesn’t make the bad decision.

“Oh. Brett, actually, Kim and I, uh, we were getting a taxi together,” Sean speaks up then, reminding them of his presence. At the use of her last name, Sylvie almost rolls her eyes. It’s almost as if he was trying to pretend he hadn’t seen her naked, that they hadn’t also “got a taxi together”.

Sylvie must’ve drank more of her beer than she thought as she’s tempted to remind him of such—and how Sylvie had left alone in another taxi only fifty-two minutes later.

“Well, I’m here now,” Sylvie dismisses him, acting as if his meaning of getting a taxi together had gone over her head. She links her arm with Kim’s, keeping her attached to her side. Kim looks between the two of them, as if trying to decide which one to go with. (Like Sylvie would be giving her a choice).

“No, uh—” Sean continues to protest, but Sylvie sticks to doing her friend duty, interrupting him by talking over him.

“Come on, Kim. I’ve had a boring day today, I can use some girl time,” Sylvie tells her friend. At her words, Kim pouts sympathetically at her, and Sylvie knows she’s successfully diverted her friend’s attention away from Roman. Kim then looks at Sean, giving him an apologetic look.

“Sorry, Sean, she needs girl time.” Kim tells him and Sylvie would be lying if she didn’t get some satisfaction in how disappointed Sean looks.

Annoyance is also wrapped up in his expression, but Sylvie can see he’s trying to hide it, presumably so to ensure Kim wouldn’t dismiss whatever was going to happen from happening another day. Sylvie makes a mental note to make sure, when her friend is sober, that this was a one off, that Kim shouldn’t ever consider going there again.

With that settled, Sylvie lightly tugs at Kim, to get them moving towards the door. Sometimes, leading drunken friends can feel very much like herding farm animals, but Kim moves with little encouragement, barely taking the time to say (well, yell rather loudly) a goodbye to Sean before she heads to the exit with Sylvie.

“Can we go to yours instead?” Kim asks, yet again her voice louder than usual, as soon as they get into Sylvie’s car. “You know, for girl time? I really don’t want to be at mine,” she adds on.

“Sure, that’s fine,” Sylvie nods. She understands Kim’s unwillingness to go back to her apartment; just a few weeks ago, she was thinking it would soon not be her home, that she’d be building a life in another apartment with Adam.

After Kim asks her that, she stares out the window for a minute or so, a troubled and sombre expression on her face. All Sylvie does, all she knows Kim needs from her at that moment, is reach over and lightly squeeze her hand.

Then, whatever dark thoughts were swirling around in Kim’s mind passes, and Kim’s her animated drunken self, rambling on about the baby again for the rest of the journey to Sylvie’s apartment.

“So what do you want to do?” Kim asks her when they enter Sylvie’s place. Before Sylvie can answer, Kim gasps, spinning around to face her.

“We could put on some music? I’ve missed dancing. I love Molly’s and all, but it’s not always the best place to just let loose. Or do you want to watch a movie? Oh! Let’s watch one we can make a drinking game to play while watching. Or do you just want to drink and talk? Or a game? But what game would be fun just the two of us? Maybe we should call others. Gabby’s working isn’t she? But maybe—” Kim talks a million miles a minute, her mind jumping all over the place.

“Kim. Kim.” Sylvie grabs her attention, interrupting her friend. “How about we don’t drink, and you go to sleep?”

“But what about you? You wanted girl time.” Kim tilts her head, her drunken confusion amusing Sylvie. Sometimes Sylvie thinks there’s nothing funnier than being sober, or more sober at least, than your drunk friend.

“I’m fine. But you need to sleep. This has already been enough excitement to make up for my boring day,” Sylvie reassures her, expertly leading Kim to get bedroom while she talks.

“Oh. Okay.” Kim accepts. “But do I have to sleep? I’m not tired,”

“That’s because you’re drunk, Kim. You’re buzzed. But you’ll thank me tomorrow, so come on. Get off your shoes. You can borrow some of my clothes to sleep in if you want?” Sylvie offers as Kim sits down on her bed, doing as she said and taking off her shoes. Kim shakes her head.

“’s alright. I can just sleep in this.” She responds. Sylvie can see that she’s starting to loose her buzz, her eyes getting tired.

“You sure?” Sylvie double checks.

“Yeah. But I don’t feel right sleeping here. This is your bed, I’ll take the sofa,” At Kim’s words, Sylvie shakes her head.

“No, I want you to sleep here. It’ll help your hangover to get some good rest. And I’m not on shift tomorrow, so I can sleep the whole day if I want, so it’s fine.” Sylvie reassures her, holding up a hand as Kim goes to protest.

“Kim. I’m a paramedic, remember? You should listen to me.” That stops her, and so Sylvie nudges her, moving onto the next part—actually getting her in the bed. Because it has been a while since Kim’s last drink now, and her buzz is going, leaving a sleepy drunk Kim in it’s wake, that is a relatively easy task.

“You’re such a good friend,” Kim tells her, her voice sleepy, after Sylvie’s gotten her into her bed. Sylvie smiles at the brunette. “An amazing kickass, sweet wonderful friend,”

“You want to know something?” Sylvie asks softly as Kim snuggles down into the sheets, settling. “You’re an amazing kickass, sweet wonderful friend too,”

“No, I’m not.” Kim protests. Her voice is quiet, full of sleep still, but Sylvie can also hear the pain, the hurt, that’s in it. “I’m an idiot. Why did I think I’d get to be happy, that I’d get my happy ever after? And now I never will. Who’ll want to be with me, when they find out I’ve had a failed engagement? I never wanted this, I only ever wanted to be engaged once, and now. I’ll probably never be again.”

Sylvie sits on her bed, next to where Kim lies. Kim’s looking at her with such pain and hurt in her eyes, a pain and hurt that Sylvie has known herself, and she’s glad she intervened because this Kim, this drunken hurt Kim, is most definitely not ready for a rebound.

“Kim. That’s not true. You will find love again, I mean, you’re a catch! And who cares if you’ve had a failed engagement—so have I, remember? It doesn’t define you or stop you from getting dates. Yeah, it’s a little bit more than this, but it’s still essentially just another break-up.” Sylvie strokes some of Kim’s hair, in the way her mother did to her when she was a little girl.

“And you are many things, Kim Burgess, but an idiot is not one of them. You deserve happiness, and you will get it. I promise. And if anyone ever tells you otherwise, give me their names and I’ll kick their ass. And that includes you, yourself. You’re a wonderful person, and you should recognise that.” Sylvie reassures her friend, her voice firm, showing how serious she is.

Kim gives her a small smile, her eyes having become watery at Sylvie’s words. Sylvie can still see the pain in her, but she can also see that her words has had an affect on Kim, in a positive way. From her own experience, Sylvie knows Kim is far off from being totally okay, but she knows that a small part of her has been healed ever so slightly. And that is a win, for both of them.

It’s not long after that Kim falls asleep. Sylvie turns off her bedroom light, after putting a glass of water and paracetamol in her bedside table for when Kim wakes up in the morning.

Sylvie’s already awake, sitting at her kitchen table with a cup of coffee, pancakes and a newspaper when Kim sleepily stumbles out of her bedroom rubbing her eyes.

“Good Morning,” Sylvie smiles at her in greeting. Kim blinks at her for a few seconds before returning the smile.

“Morning,” Kim’s voice is still groggy from sleep. Sylvie pushes her plate towards her.

“Here. Eat.” Sylvie tells her. Kim opens her mouth, and sensing protestions, she holds up her hand. “You look like you could do with it, and I can always make more.”

Sylvie watches as Kim sits down at the table, obediently beginning to eat. She rises, heading for her fridge. “I’ve got some bacon you can eat with that, if you want? It’ll help you with your energy. Also, I can make you some coffee,”

At that, Kim’s head lifts up. “Coffee,”

Sylvie laughs at that reaction, and how Kim’s voice sounds so desperate and she realises offering the coffee should’ve been her first move.

“Please,” Kim then adds, as if realising that she could be coming off rude. She isn’t, of course. Sylvie recognises she’s just sleepy and hungover, but Kim is always so conscious of being polite. “Thank you. And could I have some of that bacon, please? It sounds like such a good option right now,”

Sylvie places the freshly made cup of coffee in front of Kim before working on the bacon. It’s silent in the apartment, as Sylvie cooks and Kim eats, and she finds herself thinking that if she hadn’t been at Molly’s, Kim would’ve been having a very different, awkward morning instead.

“Sylvie?” Kim says as she eats the bacon. Sylvie looks up from her newspaper. “Thanks. For what you said last night. I, I needed to hear that.” Kim smiles at her and Sylvie returns it.

“No problem. Really, Kim. I’ve been there, remember? And at least I didn’t have to see my ex-fiancé every day at work.” Sylvie affectionately squeezes Kim’s hand. “Anytime you need to talk, especially to someone who understands, I’m here. Even if you just want to get drunk and talk about anything else,” Kim smiles appreciatively at her words.

After Kim’s finished her coffee and food, she tells Sylvie that she’s going to go, needing to go back to hers and shower and get dressed before work. Sylvie offers to drive her, but Kim shakes her off, saying she’ll get a taxi. Sylvie wants to protest, insist, but she can tell that Kim isn’t just wanting a taxi because of not wanting to a burden, but because she needs the time alone, so Sylvie drops the matter.

“Thank you. Really.” Kim says to her as she goes to leave. She hugs Sylvie tightly, appreciatively, a hug Sylvie happily returns. “And not just for this, breakfast and letting me sleep here, or even not just for what you said but for the whole night. I, I was feeling very emotional and that combined with the alcohol... I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for making decisions,” Sylvie nods, getting exactly what Kim meant.

“It’s fine. My duty, really, as your friend.” Sylvie replies, continuing.

“I mean not just because I’ve been there, and because you were drunk, but because honestly? As your friend, it’s my duty to save you from disappointing dick,” Sylvie pulls a face, remembering her encounter with Roman.

A laugh splutters out of Kim, and she leans forward towards Sylvie. “Really? He’s no good? I mean...I get that vibe, but really?”

“Kim. I was out of his apartment fifty-two minutes later. He’s not just disappointing, he’s quick and awful. Very in-out, selfish kind of man.” Sylvie grimaces as she remembers. Kim laughs again, and Sylvie’s happy at least something good came out of that night.

“Oh god. Really, then. Thank you. I mean, I get the vibe, but you seriously left that soon after?” Kim shakes her head. “I’m sorry you had to go through that,”

“Trust me, so am I. So, please, Kim, never ever consider that again, no matter how drunk. It will not be worth it.” Sylvie shivers at the memory. Kim pulls her in for another hug.

“Don’t worry, I won’t. I don’t even know why I even considered it. Maybe because I know how much Adam hates him, so I was kind of being a bit destructive? I don’t know. But whatever the reason, it has passed. If I’m going to make a bad decision, I better be getting satisfaction from it,” she reassures her. Sylvie grins.

“Good. My job here is done, then.” Sylvie pauses. “And Kim, for what it’s worth? If I was you, I’d probably spend some time thinking about that reason why—maybe your relationship with Adam isn’t as failed as you think. But I know I don’t know the ins and outs, so maybe don’t give my opinion much thought. Now, you should get a move on! You’ve got work.”

Kim gives Sylvie a thoughtful look, before nodding. “Yeah, I should go. Bye, and uh, thanks again,” she says, before heading out of the door.

#kim burgess #sylvie brett #chicago pd #Chicago pd fanfiction #Chicago pd fic #ree writes #ree's.writing

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serifsans · 2 years

Note

Jean-Paul: June 20, 2003

"David?"

It's been so long since anyone's called him by that name that Jean-Paul almost walks on but he catches a whiff of a once-familiar perfume and realizes that he knows that voice.

"Raquel? Raquel, darling, look at you, you're a sight for sore eyes."

She does look good: older now, yes, but still just as elegant as an Italian model stepping out of a Vogue cover. The Brigitte Bardot hair's sleek and straight now and she's traded miniskirts and sequins for high-necked lace but it's still her.

"Look at you," she says. "You must close to fifty now. Who's your plastic surgeon?"

Jean-Paul's been running from the past ever since he landed on Earth but even still, they go out for lunch together at a little cafe he knows with the best wine selection in the city. He's glad he wore one of his better suits today, glad he's polished and pristine because most of the time he isn't.

"Are you still in the business or did you leave that behind? Feel free not to answer, I'll hardly be offended," he says after the waiter drops off their salads: berry and fig, goat cheese, candied almonds so tasty that it almost makes him cry.

"I own a martini bar in Chicago. The Rising Sun. Please drop in if you ever find yourself in the city. Marlon works there but he's the last of the old crew I keep in touch with. Do you remember Marlon?"

"With the Velvet Underground records? Trust me, I remember Marlon. Give him my regards, won't you? I'm terribly sorry we parted on such bad terms but I was a little monster back then. Although I really would like my scarf back. I'm still cross about that."

She laughs but he's not 100% joking. It was a damn good scarf and Marlon shouldn't have taken it in the breakup.

"Really, after all this time?"

"It was the finest scarf in all of Maroa, darling," he replies.

"And what of you? Are you doing well? I suppose Mauro's not still alive after all this time, is he?"

He spears a fig on his fork and it tastes good, really compliments the cheese nicely.

"Oh no, he passed about two years after you left, I think. His heart just couldn't keep up with his lifestyle. I was such a darling pet that he set me up quite nicely in his will, so now I do a bit of this and that as it pleases me. I have a little bath store now in Phoenix: Desert Sunset Soaps. It keeps me busy."

Jean-Paul leaves out the fact that he burned through most of his inheritance in less than five years and cheated and scammed his way through life for a long time after. It's in the past now. She offers her condolences because that's what one does but both of them know he never really had any emotional attachment to the man. He was fun sometimes though, even if he had the worst traits of volphs and vampires alike mixed up in a human body.

"You know, I see a ring," he continues. "Are you married? I really hope you had a fabulous wedding, darling."

"I've had three fabulous weddings," Raquel replies. "Terry's lasted a couple decades, so I think I'll keep this one. And what of you, hm?"

God, how to answer this question? He loves Volchenkov terribly but he's never sure if they're on or off.

"A bachelor through and through. I suppose I might've liked to raise a family but it is what it is."

"Then Bonnie...?"

"No, I still don't know what happened. I suppose I won't unless someone digs into cold cases and we all know how well disappearances get investigated in Maroa."

There's a hand on his.

"I'm so sorry, David. I don't mean to pry into old wounds."

"No, you're quite alright, darling, don't worry! I've made my peace with everything. My life's really charmed nowadays, trust me"

Later that night, Jean-Paul calls Vladimir. They might technically be broken up now but he just wants to hear his voice.

#ooc #drabble

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aphrodites-law · 4 years

Text

A Bit of Clarity 🍂 (10/?) The visions had started last autumn, a year ago now. It had caused a bit of chaos for some, a bit of clarity for others. Two days ago, Clarke Griffin had been perfectly fine managing both her Café and her stress. But now she was curious - so deeply curious about the vision of herself entwined with the aloof Lexa Woods that it was leading her to complete distraction. (ao3)

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] [part 4] [part 5] [part 6] [part 7] [part 8] [part 9]

The play wasn't horrible by any stretch of the imagination. It was the most fun Clarke had had in a long time. She laughed so hard at parts that tears sprung to her eyes and her cheeks started to hurt by the end of it. The 1920s décor and costumes were stunning, the performances captivating, and the story the perfect balance between humor and social commentary. Even Lexa, who already knew the jokes and twists, still laughed loudly.

Clarke took as much joy from the sound as she did the play. When the curtain fell for the last time and the lights fully came on, she looked over at Lexa and found herself captivated. Lexa was still clapping for her cousin’s success, her face beaming with pride, and Clarke couldn’t really explain why it made her adore this woman so much more.

"Are you hungry?" Lexa asked her.

Clarke nodded mutely, unsure what to do with the intensity of her feelings. She let Lexa take her hand and lead her out of the theater, where the crowd spilled out of the great glass doors.

Cocoa Street was the longest street in Costial, cutting through the city in a curving fashion. Clarke's favorite part was the food trucks; rows of them on both sides with their own specialties and flair. You could very well order duck à l'orange with mashed pumpkin at one truck and a burger with fries at the next one. The Italian ice cream truck was between the rival crab cake trucks and the Noodle Brothers were right next to the Pizza Sisters. There were lines wherever you went, sometimes even street performers to soften the blow of the waiting time. It was absurd and it was wonderful.

They ate Chicago-style hot dogs and curly fries, slowly walking down the street as they laughed about the play. Lincoln had relied on alternate history to weave the visions into his tale, using them for comedic effect in the more dramatic beats. A secondary character had one in the middle of a monologue, suddenly passing out while a crowd rushed over to him. The visions were reenacted with tricks of light and masked characters, reminiscent of interpretive dances.

"Okay, I have to ask," Clarke brought up while they meandered down the street. "The castle on the hill - that's the Polis Hotel, right?"

Lexa nodded. "Lincoln has a complicated relationship with his heritage, to say the least. He's keenly aware growing up in a luxury hotel was a great privilege, but it also messed with his head. He basically shared a home with thousands of strangers for eighteen years."

"I'd always admired Polis from afar, but I can't imagine growing up there. Don't get me wrong, that was one hell of a party, but-"

"It's not a place for a kid," Lexa finished, in agreement.

Clarke ate the last bite of her chocolate waffle and threw the paper in the trash. “You must be pretty familiar with it.”

Lexa glanced at her and smiled. "The cat and I go back."

"Right. That night was a bit intense, even for you."

Lexa let out a laugh, looking away with a hum. "You know, you make me sound quite strange."

Clarke bumped her shoulder. "You pinned me against the staircase - you are strange."

"I didn't… pin you," Lexa replied with a huff. "I was drunk, high off an excellent game of poker… and I saw you. And I needed to be close to you."

Clarke stopped them in the street, grateful they'd left the busy part. "And the Gazette?"

“What about it?”

"You offered me a side job. Just like that."

"Oh," Lexa remembered. "I genuinely thought you'd be good at it. Still do. Your style would be perfect."

That was surprising, but Clarke wasn't convinced. "It wasn't because of your vision?"

"It was a way to talk to you, yes, but I meant it. I know the visions were… well, the reason for this, that they nudged us together, but I'd noticed you drawing before."

They walked a bit further before Clarke took a small breath. "I, uh, may have looked at the pages in older prints."

Lexa glanced at her. "And?"

"It could be fun. I'm just not sure-" Clarke scrunched her nose. "I'm just so rusty. Art is what I got into college for, but then I took up business classes and… I don't know, it just felt so much easier. Don't get me wrong, managing the café kicks my ass every day, but I like the challenges. With drawings, paintings, whatever… it feels like putting your heart on the line each time. And nine times out of ten, your heart ends up getting trampled."

Lexa took her hand to stop her. "I would never suggest you do something that makes you uncomfortable. If it's truly just a hobby to you, a way to pass the time, you should keep it that way."

It wasn't like Clarke hadn't considered it. Drawing, sketching; it came as naturally as breathing. She'd done it since she could hold a pencil and she still did it whenever the world became too loud. It was an escape; a different way of thinking. Her own little world. Illustrating short stories could be a welcome breath of fresh air. A way for her brain to snap away from bills, calls, deliveries, and the hundreds of post-its in her tiny office.

"And for the record," Lexa added as she stepped closer, her voice impossibly soft, "I would very much stand in the way of whoever or whatever would try to trample you."

Clarke grinned, very much aware that, not so long ago, these were not words she could have ever imagined Lexa Woods telling her.

* * *

As she had the last time, Lexa insisted that she walk Clarke back to her apartment. After a night full of laughs, great food, and Lexa's hand in hers, Clarke still didn't have her fill and so didn't tease Lexa too much for also wanting to enjoy every last second. When they made it to her door, Clarke turned around and leaned against it. Tonight couldn't end here.

"By the way, you were wrong earlier. My vision isn't the reason for this." Clarke waited a beat before playing her last hand: "It's not the vision I thought about that night after the rooftop."

Lexa's mouth parted open and she glanced at Clarke's lips.

"I was going to," Clarke continued, "but it didn't hold a candle to how you made me feel when you grabbed my hand."

Lexa swallowed when Clarke reached for her jacket to tug her closer. "How did I make you feel?"

Clarke pulled her in until their foreheads touched. "Warm. Dizzy."

"Dizzy on a rooftop? That's a safety hazard."

"Are you trying to turn me on or are you trying to make me laugh?"

"They're not mutually exclusive."

They broke into laughter anyway. Lexa leaned in to kiss her, only to stop just as their lips brushed.

"You never told me about your vision," Lexa pointed out. "Not… not exactly."

Clarke smiled, smug. "Oh you want details, hm?"

"I'm a journalist. A thorough account would be nice, yes."

Clarke narrowed her eyes at her before crushing their lips together, unbelievably pleased when Lexa moaned and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"Shut up, journo," Clarke husked between kisses.

Lexa kissed her with little restraint then, moving until Clarke was pressed against the door. Each one of Lexa's kisses felt like something special; like finally she'd shed her old fears. Clarke didn't even want to think of not being close to Lexa right now. The night couldn't end - not like this. She pulled back and gazed at Lexa, trying to catch her breath.

This close, Clarke could commit to memory every detail of her face. She'd always thought she got a good look at Lexa at the café, even with the counter between them, but it was nothing compared to this. Lexa's lips were full and at their most tempting when slightly parted, betraying her own desire. Her eyes were hooded now, longing, and Clarke had little doubt hers reflected the same want. She threw caution to the wind:

"Come inside?"

Lexa hesitated, visibly torn.

"We don't have to do anything. I have a nice wine we can try. Some of Gus's tartlets left over. We can even sit with the box between us. I just… I don't want tonight to be over yet."

* * *

It was not what she'd had in mind. She swore it. Nevertheless, when Clarke found herself straddling Lexa on her living room couch with the box of tartlets discarded on the floor (the tartlets well finished by then), she couldn't remember why the hell not.

Maybe the air had already been too charged by the time she wiped her thumb over Lexa's lip to catch a crumb there, and maybe Clarke had liked playing with fire, but now she was well on her way to being burned. Lexa's hands palmed her ass while they kissed, but it was the boldest she allowed herself to be and Clarke was quickly reaching her breaking point.

"Touch me," she pleaded between kisses.

Lexa let out a choked moan when Clarke reached for her hand and guided it to her breasts. She paused, looking up. The green in her eyes had darkened, especially in the dim light, and she breathed deeply.

"Clarke…"

"I know, I know, just - something. Anything." Clarke leaned her forehead against Lexa's. "I feel like a fucking teenager."

Lexa let out a small laugh before kissing her sweetly, slowly. It had the soothing effect she had intended, and before Clarke realized it, Lexa had lied her down on her back. She hovered over her, then looked down at her cleavage and pressed her lips against the exposed skin.

"Is that better?" She asked.

"Close…"

Lexa let out a hum against her skin, pressing another kiss lower. Clarke brushed her fingers in Lexa's thick hair, digging just slightly in her scalp, surprised when Lexa let out a small moan and then froze with wide eyes, like Clarke had just found her secret.

"Oh," Clarke breathed out, her smile widening. She repeated the gesture, pressing her fingers just a bit harder.

Lexa immediately grabbed her hands and pinned them down on each side of Clarke's head.

"Don't do that," she warned her, breathless.

Clarke smirked. "I think I will."

"It was just a reflex," Lexa blushed. "It's been a while."

Clarke couldn't help but laugh, happiness bubbling in her chest at how comfortable she felt with Lexa's body slotted between her legs. "Well, I'm very happy to find out whatever draws out those sounds from you."

Lexa seemed to realize just how close they were, locked together with their fingers entwined. And just like the rooftop when she'd suddenly grabbed her hand, her expression changed. Confident. Eager.

She sat back, eyes trailing down Clarke's body before she let go of her hands to touch her thighs.

"You like control, don't you, Clarke?" She asked. She ran her hands up her thighs, caressing them slowly. "But not now."

Clarke nearly lost her breath, not expecting the way Lexa had shifted so quickly from embarrassed to self-assured. She watched as Lexa drank her in, from her bunched up dress to the fast rise and fall of her chest.

"Touch yourself," Lexa told her, and then leaned down to brush her lips against hers. "The way you did after the rooftop."

"Lexa-"

"I want to watch you."

Clarke nodded, her hand trailing down her own body to the bottom of her dress. Lexa watched as she reached beneath the fabric, eager to follow her command. She slid her hand beneath her tights, beneath her underwear, moaning at the relief when she finally touched herself. She knew Lexa could feel her heat; knew they were both reaching a point of no return. It had started when Lexa had kissed her at the start of their date, but Lexa's hands on her ass while they'd kissed had awakened her completely.

Lexa briefly glanced between their bodies, groaning when she saw Clarke's hand moving.

"Is this how you did it?" She asked. "Two fingers?"

Clarke let out an obscene moan, too far gone to care. "Three," she whimpered.

Lexa's jaw clenched, but her control was remarkable. "Did you imagine it on the rooftop? Me inside you against that wall?"

Clarke's eyes squeezed shut as she bit down on her lip. "Yes. Fuck."

She swiped her fingers over her clit, but the angle and her tights restricted most of her movements. She was fairly certain Lexa knew it. Lexa leaned down again, kissing her neck.

"How did I fuck you?" She asked by her ear, one hand reaching up to lightly brush against her breast.

Clarke panted, fighting the unbearable need to penetrate herself. She needed release, and fast, but a part of her was too stubborn to give in just yet.

"You pressed me against the wall," she revealed, burying her face in Lexa's neck. With her free hand, she dug her nails in Lexa's ass, feeling a thrill when Lexa bucked against her. "And then- I… I needed more. I needed you deeper."

"So I turned you around," Lexa guessed, squeezing her nipple over the fabric of her dress.

"I- oh, fuck, I couldn't stop thinking about you inside me; how well you'd fill me," Clarke said, her middle finger trembling from the angle, desperate to inch inside herself.

"Jesus, Clarke," Lexa breathed out in the space between her neck and shoulder. Her lips felt like heaven against her skin. Clarke couldn't get enough.

"Clarke," Lexa repeated, raising her head. "Look at me." It was softer then, more of a plea.

Clarke opened her eyes and felt her movements slow down. It was like experiencing déjà-vu, except of course that was impossible. They'd never done this. But she suddenly realized it had all started here. She'd had her vision on this very couch and here she was - not fulfilling it, exactly, but close. Yet what she'd seen and even felt had never been like this. It had been purely physical - an erotic thrill in her otherwise predictable life. But she hadn't felt her heart beating out of her chest. She'd had a sense it was more intimate than what she was used to, but hadn't been able to quite grasp what that meant. She knew now. Their intensity wasn't so much physical as it was emotional.

She felt safe with Lexa. They still had so much to learn about each other, but she felt safe. And Clarke had never realized the importance of it. Lexa had trusted her with her pain and her heart - that wasn't something Clarke took lightly. It was a feeling not even her vision could have conveyed.

"Fuck, wait, wait, stop," she abruptly panted, pulling her hand out of her underwear.

Lexa backed away immediately, but Clarke sat up to stop her from moving off the couch.

"Lexa, I… I want to be with you," she said, as if remembering her vision had suddenly clarified everything. "When you're ready, I want to be with you completely."

"I want that too." Lexa still seemed confused, or maybe surprised Clarke had done the equivalent of dunking ice cold water atop her own head.

“Right. And - this is fun. I-” Clarke’s eyes briefly closed as she bit her lip. “Fuck I really want to get off-”

Lexa smiled.

“-but not like this.” Clarke reached out to cup her cheeks. “Not without you.” She kissed Lexa briefly, barely a brush of lips, and watched as her eyes followed her every move so tenderly. “Not if I don’t get to touch you too.”

"Clarke…"

Clarke shook her head, kissing her way down Lexa's jaw and neck. "Not if I can't see all of you. Can't hear you moan my name." She licked over Lexa's pulse, enjoying the way her hips bucked against her. "Not if I can't taste you while you come undone."

Lexa pulled back and brushed away some of Clarke's wild strands of hair. "Such words… You should be a journalist."

"I hear they have egos."

"Oh yes, terrible."

"I'm glad I found one that's not so bad then."

They smiled at each other, then took a breath.

"Sorry," Clarke sighed. "I feel like I'm the one giving you whiplash now."

"No, it's only fair. If anything I admire your restraint."

Clarke leaned back against the arm of the couch. "Maybe you'll just have to work harder next time."

Lexa smirked. "I can do that." She glanced at her breasts. "At least I made new friends."

Clarke let out a laugh, enamored. "Alright, well, you and my tits can pick up this conversation another time. I need a shower and if you're not gone in two minutes, I'm definitely dragging you in with me."

Lexa hummed in agreement.

After Clarke walked her to the entrance and watched Lexa put on her shoes and jacket, they lingered in the doorway.

"Thank you for tonight," Clarke said. She had never felt like this before - a part of her desperate to find a way for Lexa to stay. A way to prolong the conversation. To ward off the night so that Lexa and her could just live in this moment a while longer. "The play, the food, this… Everything."

She hoped Lexa felt the same.

"Trust me, it was my pleasure," Lexa replied, her face still slightly flushed.

"You've set the bar high."

"You took me to a secret hike. I was just trying to catch up."

At Clarke's smile, Lexa bit her lip and toyed with the button of her jacket. "Anya used to say I reacted to everything with either fight or flight. I didn't prove her wrong when I left for Costial, but I don't want to run away again."

Clarke nodded in understanding.

“It just… creeps up on me sometimes,” Lexa continued. “I could be having the time of my life one second and the next my chest gets tighter and the world gets smaller. Suffocating.” She gave her a resolute look. “When I meant slow, I meant… I just need to be sure that feeling won’t come between us again." She glanced at her lips. "But… It also means that once we do cross that line, I intend to make up for lost time.”

Clarke swallowed, fighting the urge to drag Lexa back inside. "I'm a patient woman."

Lexa smiled. "Goodnight, Clarke."

"Mm. Text me when you get home?"

"I will."

[part eleven]

#clexa #f: a bit of clarity #w #can you believe these two

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karihighman · 4 years

Text

Witness - Upstead AU

PART 2: BECOMING YOUR FRIEND WAS A CHOICE

After the longest night of her life, Hailey just wanted to sleep. The problem? It was 6AM in the morning, and her roommate, Vanessa, was already at work. Vanessa works at the recreational center nearby Hailey’s family’s bakery. She grew up in the foster care system, and worked odd jobs to put herself through college. She has a social work degree, and plans to open her own community center. That’s where Hailey met her, was in college. Point being, Vanessa was always up before the sun, and would get home in the early evenings. Meanwhile, Hailey takes her classes during the day, and on her off days, she spends it working the afternoon and night shifts at the bakery. Her parents need a break, and honestly, she needed a break from them.

Her parents were great, helped Hailey with her tuition, and were in her life for all the major moments. But, her parents’ relationship? That was another story. Her dad was abusive towards her mom, her brothers, and herself when they were younger. The physical abuse didn’t happen anymore, but it didn’t stop her father from berating her mother, or his sons and daughter. It only happened sometimes, when he would get really plastered.

If his sports team lost, if he lost his job, you name it, it usually ended up in the same tragic way.

Hailey was drawn out of her own thoughts by the pulling back of the hospital curtain. The last thing she remembered was meeting Jay, and by that time, it was either 1 or 2 in the morning. So, at least she’d gotten a few hours of sleep. Why it was still at Chicago Med, she didn’t know. But, she assumed the redheaded doctor that entered her room could answer that question.

“Hailey Upton, good to see you awake! I’m Will Halstead, and I’ll be reviewing your discharge information with you.”

Hailey furrowed her brows. Did he just say Halstead? Or was she hallucinating? “Did you say Halstead?” She asked him.

Will’s mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. “Yes, I did. I’m assuming you met my younger brother, Jay, a few hours earlier.”

Hailey nodded, remembering the very attractive detective she had spoken to. “Yeah, I did.”

“He was the one that told me you had fallen asleep mid conversation, so we figured it was okay to let you sleep given what you’d been through.”

Hailey’s mouth dropped open a bit. She fell asleep? While talking to Jay? Well that’s just great. “Oh. Well, if you see him, could you please tell him I’m sorry about that. I had been working a full shift, and had a full day of classes the day before. I’d barely logged 4 hours the night before, so I was on “this is my fourth coffee” mode.”

Will was maneuvering around her as she offered up an apology. He shined a bright light in her eyes to check her vision, which jarred Hailey a little. She blinked to get the spots out of her eyes, but tried to listen to what he was saying as he put the blood pressure cuff on her arm.

“Hm?” She hummed as he put all his materials down.

“I just said we’re done. You just need to sign this paper, and you’ll be on your way.”

“Oh,” Hailey faltered. “Yeah, okay. Um, I’ll just need to call a cab or an Uber since my roommate’s at work already. And, well, my car is back at the bakery…” She wasn’t meaning to spill her guts to Dr. Will Halstead, she was just talking out loud.

Her head snapped up as Will snapped his fingers. “Well, I happen to know someone that’s very willing to give you a ride back home. Plus, you can apologize on the way to your apartment.”

Hailey barely mastered an “Um” when she was met with those damn green eyes again.

Jay stood next to his brother, which 1) allowed Hailey to see the resemblance between them and 2) allowed Hailey to pay attention to tiny details about him. Like the smattering of freckles across his face, or how he always kept his hands in his pockets. His eyes were kind, and his smile was soft as he gave her a small wave.

She couldn’t help but smile back. “Hey, Jay.”

“Hi Hailey,” he replied. “I figured since we didn’t get to finish our chat earlier, that I’d offer you a lift home so we could.” He shrugged his shoulders awkwardly, like he didn’t really do this often.

Neither did Hailey, but what other option did she have?

“Uh, sure, thank you. Just let me grab my stuff and we can go.”

Jay nodded, and Hailey hopped off the table she fell asleep on, and onto the ground to pick up her purse. She zipped up her jacket, and she was fine to go. She noticed on their way out of the hospital, that Jay was wearing normal clothes. Usually the police officers she saw wore navy and/or light blue uniforms. She did however, see a glimmer of a badge on his belt, only because he fished his keys out of his back pocket.

She had the dumbest thought in the world as they exited the doors and Jay pointed them to his truck. Where did he keep his gun?

She smiled to herself and ducked her head down before Jay could catch her and then ask her what she was smiling about. She ran a couple fingers over her lips before stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets as they stood in front of his black GMC truck.

“And here I thought you’d be driving one of those white patrol cars I see roaming neighborhoods,” she told him, cracking a smile so he knew she was only kidding. Somewhat, anyhow. Truth be told, he was nothing she thought a cop to be. The ones that showed up at her doorstep all those years ago….they were blunt, harsh, and intimidating. Older guys shoving her and her brothers out, others holding their parents back.

It was a lot to handle at 12 years old. Her brothers were 14 and 15 at the time, so they looked out for her. But even they couldn’t comprehend why their parents were being talked to separately, or why their mom looked like she’d been crying, and why their father looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. They’d been fine all of those nights….or so she thought. Sure, there were some screams from a loud argument, or a harsh word exchanged here or there, but she thought all adults fought at some point. People in general fought, right? War, politics, etc. People can hurt other people. It may have been a harsh reality for a twelve year old to hold onto, but, hey, she wasn’t like most girls. Never had been. Never planned on being either.

—————

Jay couldn’t help himself. On the 20 minute drive from Med to Hailey’s apartment, he’d keep checking on her out of the corner of his eye. Once or twice, both of his eyes would flutter in her direction, to which he’d offer her a general smile. He’d breathe a quiet sigh of relief when she’d return it tenfold.

She had a really pretty smile. No, he thought to himself. He’d used pretty before already. Call it detectives intuition, or maybe it was just because he’d grown up studying people and how they behaved since his own family dynamic was pretty screwy – but regardless, he knew people like Hailey had stories buried beneath the surface.

He could tell by the tension she held in her face and body. How her jaw clenched ever so slightly, or how her hands would fidget in the same patterns every couple minutes. And of course, her tell of running a hand through her hair.

Complex, would be the word he’d use to describe that behavior. Mysterious would be the term he’d use to describe the enigma that was Hailey Anne Upton (he’d peaked at Will’s chart for a second, sue him). But, her smile? Gorgeous. Yeah, that was the one.

He almost contemplated asking her about herself, so he could get to know the woman wrapped up in so many proverbial layers. But, her voice cracked through his illusion. “This is me right here.”

Jay was pulled up to the curb of a quaint apartment complex, with a few units, he assumed on either side, even though he only saw the front. The white building’s homes each had their own bright orange doors, which he found funny given the classic white paint job.

Then he noticed the orange tiled letters and numbers that made up the street address of the complex. 185 Vinton Street. They were – you guessed it – bright orange. He frowned, not out of sadness, but out of…oddness? He couldn’t quite pinpoint the emotion. He was just….observing things. Like the way Hailey idled in the passenger seat for a few moments while he had gotten out.

“You alright?”

He tapped lightly on her window. She pointed down to the lock, and he could’ve – and should’ve – smacked himself silly for not unlocking it. Nice going moron. He grimaced, hoping his eyes conveyed a sheepish apology as he rectified the error. Her lips had twisted into a semi smile as she got out. She seemed to be smiling at herself, but she looked at him before looking back down to her feet.

“Um, thanks for the ride back. And I am sorry about falling asleep last night. Or should I say this morning.”

Jay leaned against his truck. “That’s okay, really. You needed some rest. Not many people see things like that. I mean, I do, but that’s because it’s my job. You’re…I mean, I don’t know much about you, but like you said – you’re a future psychologist – you’re not a cop.”

Hailey pulled her bottom lip inbetween her teeth. “Yeah, right.” She paused for a second, before asking: “Is that the last thing we talked about?”

“Um, no. No, the last thing we talked about, or should I say, I was talking to you about, was: golf. Which I found ironic that you fell asleep during the middle of the conversation, as you had just got done saying how you loved it, despite your roommate Vanessa making fun of you for it.”

Hailey shook her head as she walked to stand across from him, so she could lean her shoulder against his truck too. “Gotcha. Well, if you’d like, we can finish that conversation? I have coffee inside,” she offered, mentally smacking herself for how lame that invite was.

“Uh, sure, that is if you don’t mind. I could use some coffee right now.”

Hailey motioned for Jay to follow her up, and they entered her apartment. She thanked the lord that she was the neater between herself and Vanessa, so their apartment wasn’t a total disaster area. Vanessa’s room, however, was a completely different story. But that was partially because her boyfriend Kevin would sometimes stay over, and his stuff was left there too.

Hailey had told Vanessa she could always move in with Kevin, or find a place of her own, but she insisted that she and Hailey would be roommates until both of them had boyfriends. Hailey rolled her eyes at that ridiculous rule, but was secretly glad. She loved having Vanessa around.

“Welcome,” she said, raising her arms out as if to display the small space to him. “Um, you can sit wherever. I’ve just gotta change my clothes real quick, then I’ll put a pot on.”

Jay was admiring the photos that littered their living room area. Vanessa and Hailey had both taken photography as one of their electives, so black and white photos from a class project decorated their place.

He turned his head toward her as she spoke though. “Okay, thanks.”

Hailey quickly nodded before hurrying back to her room to throw something other than her jogging sweats and hoodie on. Sometimes she’d wear old clothes if she was going to be working in the back of the bakery, because flour + nice clothes = total mess.

She pulled on some jeans and a plain white tee shirt that she tucked in, before tossing her hair into a messy ponytail. Better, she thought to herself as she looked in the mirror.

She walked back out to see Jay camped out on her couch. The kicker? Now he was the one asleep. She literally had to bite her tongue to keep from bursting out in laughter. It was cute, seeing him all nestled up like he’d meant to do that all along or something. His elbow propped his head up a little against his hand, and the lower half of his legs were hanging off the edge. She was honestly surprised he didn’t take up the whole couch, given that he had to be at least 6 feet tall.

Vanessa’s boyfriend Kevin, after all, was like 6’4. That was pretty much all she knew about Kevin though, as she’d only seen him in passing. Thankfully, he’d been clothed, as had Vanessa, or else Hailey would’ve had to move out for sure. Vanessa had joked to her one night after Kevin dipped out that there’d be a day where Hailey would be the one sneaking a boy back to their apartment. Hailey had rolled her eyes, and told Vanessa to keep dreaming. But now, as she watched the slow rise and fall of Jay’s chest against his light grey fitted shirt and unzipped jacket, she realized she did in fact, have a boy over.

She let out a puff of air, feeling silly for just standing there like a moron. She didn’t know if she should wake him or not. She didn’t know what times cops had to be at work. All she knew was she didn’t have to be at work until noon, and it was only….she looked across the way to her microwave clock. 7AM. Cool, cool. She ran a hand through her hair again, before deciding to brew the coffee she’d promised him. Hey, even if he was asleep, didn’t mean Hailey didn’t need the coffee just as much as Jay did.

So, she bounded over to her kitchenette and put on some coffee. She leaned against the counter, pulling her phone out to check her messages.

One from Vanessa, which read: SORRY I COULDNT COME GET U THIS AM. DID U MAKE IT HOME OK??

Hailey typed a response. YES I DID, V. DONT WORRY.

She watched the three bubbles pop up on her screen. K. AND UR OKAY RIGHT?

YES :) TALK TO YOU LATER VANESSA.

She flipped her phone off before going to fix herself something to eat. Her grumbling stomach gave her hunger away. She was making eggs and bacon when she heard a mumble from her sofa. She’d honestly forgot Jay was there, he was that quiet.

“Mmm,” she thinks he “said.”

“It’s okay Jay, this time you were the one that fell asleep,” Hailey called over her shoulder. “I knew you’d wake up sometime though, so I figured you deserved some rest too.”

She was plating a portion of food for herself when she saw him emerge from the couch. He was headed for the coffee, but hey, the rest of her food wasn’t going to eat itself. “And you’re welcome to the rest of the food there,” she offered as casually as she could as she sat down.

Jay had been filling up a coffee mug when he turned his head up to look at her from across the way. “Oh, no, that’s okay, Hailey. I–“

“Seriously, Jay. I don’t mind. Besides, it’s the least I can do after falling asleep on you–“ she felt her cheeks heat up at the only semi-innocent implication that created. “–I mean, y’know, during our conversation, not to mention you taking me– giving me a ride home.”

Jay set down his cup, but he didn’t argue. He grabbed some food and made his way over to where she was sitting. They sat in silence for a few minutes, simply drinking their coffee and eating their food.

Hailey was the first one that spoke. “So, what exactly were we talking about when we were talking golf?”

“Ummm,” Jay mumbled as he finished a bite of eggs. “I think we were onto what is better: a club or a putter for a shorthand shot on the green.”

They answered simultaneously: “putter.” They smiled at each other.

“Huh, I never thought I’d meet another golf aficionado,” Hailey said as she bit into a piece of bacon.

Jay shook his head as he swallowed another bit of coffee. “Neither did I. I mean, my brother and I golfed sometimes…before he went off to med school and I joined the service. But, since then, neither of us have really had the time for it.”

Hailey pouted. “Aw, well that’s no fun. I think everyone should have something that they enjoy in their day. Like for me, it’s photography. Well, I really like still life’s. My roommate, Vanessa, she likes the live-action type of shots. But me? I like capturing a single, seemingly minute, moment of time.”

She realized she’d completely glossed over possibly the most important part of what Jay told her. Nice work, Hailey. “So, you were in the military?”

“Yep. Rangers, 75th Battalion.”

“Wow,” she mused, very impressed. She’d never known someone in the military before. Her older brother Andy almost joined the Navy, but it was only his backup plan if he didn’t make it into law school. But, when he got in to Harvard Law, he couldn’t pass it up. “That’s incredible. I, well, I mean, thank you,” her foot should’ve met her mouth a few words ago when she saw his eyebrows raise. “Thank you for your service.” She clarified, hoping her face was not as red as a tomato right now, or else she could just die of embarrassment.

Her pinky graced her cheek as she ran a hand through her hair once more. Nope, all good. Phew.

“Thanks,” he said gently. “Most people want war stories, or dangerous tales because they think it’s like it is in the movies.”

Hailey frowned. She was no movie buff, but even she knew nothing was like it was on TV or film. No way. She knew that after she watched her first princess movie. A prince would sweep the girl off her feet and away from danger. But, no one came to save her from her own hell. So, she’d given up on the whole idea of fairytales; honestly, she’d given up on the idea that life was going to give her anything. That’s why she worked damn hard to get where she was.

“Oh, no, I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like over there for you. I know what that kind of impact veterans can have when they come back from war. It’s a lot.”

Jay nodded, actually feeling thankful that someone understood that. “Exactly.”

Hailey offered him a smile, but he could tell it was tinged with sadness. Or maybe like she had something to share too.

“So, what about you? I mean, as I’m sure you guessed, I jumped from the army to the police, but what made you want to become a psychologist?”

“Um,” Hailey did her same nervous habit of running her hand through her hair. Shit, well that she wasn’t expecting. Most people liked to talk about themselves, or didn’t care to hear about psychology, of all things. Guys, Hailey, not people. She and Vanessa could talk classwork all day.

“I’ve just always been interested in helping people. And I’ve always been good at reading people, I guess. Like how they act, or interact with other people. People always think that their eyes or their lips give away what their intentions are, but actually, it’s their body language.”

Jay’s head tilted. “Is that right?”

Hailey vehemently nodded her head. “Yessir.”

Jay narrowed his eyes slightly. “Well then, Dr. Upton, what am I saying? Or what are you getting from me?” A small smirk played on his lips, and Hailey had yet another moronic thought of wanting to kiss it off of him.

She tilted her head a bit too, as her eyes studied him. One of her brows arched as she noticed his movement underneath her gaze. She clicked her tongue against her cheek.

“Well,” she began, unfolding her hands. “You’re sitting straight up, which indicates a polite demeanor. You’re holding eye contact, which means you’re not afraid of the truth. Your hands underneath your legs show that you’re carrying something, or have a lot on your mind or on your plate, as they say.” She debated on throwing him a bone with the last one. “And your feet are pointed at me while we’re talking, which means you’re genuinely interested in what I have to say.”

She could help but break into a grin when he did. “I appreciate it, by the way.”

He had opened his mouth to say something in return, when their moment was interrupted by the sound of a phone. Hailey had hers on vibrate in her pocket, so she knew it wasn’t hers, as this was an actual ring. “I think that’s you,” she said to Jay.

“Oh,” he mumbled, fumbling for it in his pocket. “Sorry. It’s work.”

She flitted her hand off, indicating that he could take the call. She busied herself by taking their plates and mugs to her sink, washing them off, and placing them on her drying rack. She’d just begun to turn around when she almost ran smack into Jay. Not that she would’ve minded…that much. She was 99.9% sure he was perfect, in every way. From the way his shirt pulled across his pecs, to the way his broad shoulders took up a doorway, but weren’t overpowering in the least.

“Uh,” she awkwardly sputtered. She really needed a new vocabulary. “Sorry,” she squeaked, not daring to look up into his green eyes. They were standing so close together that she felt his breath hit her cheek though. And that was about all she could handle right now, without her legs giving way, that is. Hell, she even held onto her counter for support. Subtly, of course.

“I, sorry. I have to go. My sergeant said we got pod footage of the guy that killed Crawford.” He was about to break apart from her, when Hailey heard a sharp intake of air. “Actually, um, we might need you down at the district.” He finally said. His voice was so smooth and low it reminded Hailey of rich milk chocolate, and she felt like she needed to sit down before she either A) kissed him or B) grabbed a giant Hershey bar from her secret stash.

“Oh, okay,” she replied stupidly. Duh, Hailey, major duh. “So I guess I’m riding yo– I mean, riding with you.” Yep, if she could melt into a puddle on the floor, right then would’ve been the perfect time to do it.

“Looks like it,” he said as he finally put some distance between them.

Hailey oddly felt at ease with that. She just hoped she’d still feel that way once she was there.

___________________________________________________________

TAGGING: @ruzek-halstead (requested) um, let me know somehow if anyone else wants to be tagged? i’ve never done tagging on my fics before lol. hope you like this second part. part 3 will be the last installment. but it’ll be good, don’t worry! ;)

#upstead au #upstead fanfiction #upstead fanfic #part 2 #just friends?#more than friends #hailey x jay #jay x hailey #halstead brothers #cpd fanfic #chicago pd fanfiction #my writing #lemme know what you think!

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atlafan · 4 years

Text

Take it Slow - Part Thirty-Four

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry.

Warnings: Fluff and Smut.

Masterpost (all previous parts can be found in the masterpost)

You woke up a groggy mess the next morning. You weren’t sure how you were supposed to walk around all day shopping when your legs still felt like jello. He said that was him going on easy on you. You’d be lying if you said you weren’t curious as to how Harry usually fucked someone. You also wondered if he ever fucked someone he was in love with before. The way he grabbed your hand last night as he went deeper inside suggested that maybe he hadn’t. You looked over to the bathroom. A shower would surely bring you back from the dead. Your mind raced to fucking Harry in the shower, like full on. He’d probably lift you up and press you against the tile. You smiled at the thought of doing it all over your apartment when you got back.

When you were in college, you fucked all the time. You were constantly hooking up. Sometimes with the same guys, or maybe you’d meet someone new at a party. You liked having sex, it always made you feel powerful. You enjoyed being on top and doing the majority of the work, with college guys that was the only way to get what you were really after. The boys didn’t know what to do to make you feel good. You imagine once you gain your full confidence back, you and Harry would probably fight for dominance quite a bit. You welcomed the challenge.

Harry rolls over, almost crushing you. He places light kisses on your cheek, making you giggle. His eyes flutter open, and he smiles big at you.

“How’s my ba-“ You push on his chest to roll on top of him. You hide your face in the crook of his neck. “Feelin’ a little shy?” You nod your head yes. He chuckles. He really does think you’re the cutest thing in the world. “How ‘bout a bath this mornin’, hm?” You look up at him and smile. “Stay here, I’ll go set it up.” He kisses your hairline, and gets up.

You engulf yourself in the blankets, taking in his full scent. Nothing smelled better than Harry, absolutely nothing. He comes back several minutes later to let you know the bath was all set. You walk in with him and see he’s lit some candles. You take a minute to brush your teeth before you get in. You give him a fresh, minty kiss. He gets in first, and then you. You lean right up against him and sit in a comfortable silence as he holds you.

“How are you feelin’ this mornin’?” Someone had to break the silence.

“Alright.” You yawn, and press your head further into his shoulder.

“Just alright?”

“I feel like I’m floating.” You feel his smirk against your head.

“What was your favorite part?”

“Being as close as we possibly could be.” You turn to look at him and grin. “On a less sappy note, I think you’re the only guy ever to hit me like that, it felt incredible.” He tilts your head up to kiss you. “What was your favorite part?”

“Same as you, just really liked bein’ so close to you.” You raise an eyebrow at him. “A less sappy thing would definitely be finally feelin’ how tight you are around me.” You cheeks flush.

“Maybe it’s not that I’m tight, maybe it’s just that your dick is big. Ever think of that?” You giggle.

“Let’s go with both.”

After your bath, Harry makes you both some coffee while you put on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. You opt for sneakers today to give your feat a rest. You put a braid in your hair and throw the rest of it up into a ponytail. Harry has a pair of loose fitting jeans on and a sweatshirt as well. He hands you the coffee.

“Mm, thank you.” You take a sip and smile at him. You think back to last night and blush.

“You excited to do some shoppin’?”

“Yes!”

“Your hair looks nice like that by the way. Don’t think I’ve ever seen ya braid it like that.”

“Thanks babe.” You get up and kiss him on the cheek.

“You really like the earrings?” He twists one between his fingers lightly.

“I love them. Never taking them out.”

You and Harry set out to the shops. You start out at a few clothing stores. He takes note of the things that catch your eyes. You talk about wanting to get small things for the girls since they’re watching your place. You end up buying a few things here and there, and Harry helps you carry the bags.

“How ‘bout this place?” You look up and see it’s a jewelry store. “I’ve gotten some of m’rings here, I’d like to see if they have anythin’ new.”

“Sounds good to me.”

You both walk in, a man greets the both of you. Harry walks around. His eyebrows are furrowed until his entire face lights up.

“Babe, look at this one.” He waves you over. “It would look good on m’pinky, don’t you think?”

“Try it on, let’s see.” A man takes the ring out of the case for Harry to try on. He slides it onto his finger, and holds his hand out for you. “Oh, I like that on you. You should definitely get it.”

“You don’t think it clashes too much with the others?”

“Since when do you care about things clashing? It would look odd if it didn’t.”

“True.” He looks at the man behind the counter. “Alright, I’d like to get this please.”

As Harry goes over the paperwork for the ring with the man, you continue to browse. Everything was so beautiful. Every single price tag made you want to vomit, but it was still nice to look. You find yourself looking at diamond rings. You scrunch your face at some of them, thinking a few of the diamond shapes were ugly. You hated the way large diamonds looked on thin bands. You much preferred a thick band with a modest stone. You also preferred a square shape to a round or oval. Harry turns around to see what you’re up to while he waits for the man to return with his ring. He desperately wants to know which ring has made your face light up the way it has. He walks over to you.

“See anythin’ ya like?” He startles you.

“Hm? No, just looking over everything.” He watches your eyes carefully, and follows them to the ring with a thick band and square diamond. He makes a mental note. “What’s the status on your ring?”

“They’re just polishin’ it up f’me.”

“Was it expensive?”

“Sort of, but he cut me a deal since I shop here a lot. If there’s anythin’ that catches your eye don’t be afraid to tell me.”

“You are not buying me anymore jewelry.” You walk away from him, moving on to look at some of the necklaces.

“This one’s cool.” You scrunch your face.

“Too out there for me. I’m a little plainer when it comes to jewelry, I don’t like things that stand out too much, on me of course.” You see one that would almost look good on Harry. “This would look nice on you.” You show it to him.

“You know I used to wear necklaces all the time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I have a cross I used to wear a lot, stopped for some reason. I was afraid of it gettin’ dirty on my shoots. Or worse, losing it while I was travelin’. Might start wearin’ it again though.” Harry’s eyes scan over the various pearl necklaces. “Had a pearl necklace I absolutely adored, but I had to sell it a while back to buy some equipment. Broke my heart.” You make a mental note to buy him pearls for his birthday in a couple of months. “Is that weird?”

“Not at all! You know I love your style baby.”

“Sir?” The man says to Harry. “Your ring is ready.”

Harry smiles big and takes it out of the box to put it on his pinky. He takes your hand in his, and you leave the store.

You duck in and out of a few more stores, and decide to take a break at a café for lunch. You get your food to go so you can sit in a park to eat. It was cold out, but you wanted to stay outside.

“Where are we going tonight, Harry?”

“Mitch and Sarah have this club they like to go to. It’s nice.”

“Do people do cocaine there too?” You giggle.

“Love, any party after two in the mornin’, there’s gonna be cocaine.” He laughs.

“I can’t get over the architecture out here, it’s so cool.”

“I used to feel the same way when I first started exploring Boston.”

“Can I ask why you chose such a small city to stay in? Why not New York, or Chicago, or even somewhere out in California?”

“Don’t know.” He shrugs. “It mostly had to do with how expensive the schools I was lookin’ at were.”

“There weren’t any colleges here you wanted to go to?”

“There a few I applied to. But the more I looked into the various international programs other schools had I figured it would be cool to go somewhere I had never been before. I remember my mum was pissed because the first summer after my freshman year I didn’t come home until the middle of July.”

“Why’s that?”

“Niall, Louis, and I took a cross country road trip. We wanted to see it all. It was so much fun.” He smiles at the memory. “We all just really enjoyed Boston. I honestly think New York would’ve been too busy for me. I like how easily you can get to the suburbs, and even when the traffic’s bad, the drive to where you’re goin’ isn’t long.”

“It really is a great city. When I was a kid I always wondered what people did to be able to live there.”

“How come you stayed in Massachusetts? You didn’t want to explore?”

“I actually spent a semester abroad in L.A., it was incredible. I drove out the beach every weekend.”

“What year did you do that?”

“It was my second semester sophomore year. Rachel and I got accepted into the same program, so we went together.”

“I imagine there were many shenanigans.” You scoff.

“God, you have no idea.” You take a bite of your sandwich. “Since we all lived relatively close, over most winter breaks we would try to get together for a weekend trip to New York, or something fun like that. See a show and all that.” You take a sip of your drink. “I think same as you, those larger cities are just too busy. Plus, even though my family drives me nuts, it would be hard to be so far away. I don’t know how you do it.”

“It just makes the visits better. We hardly ever argue about anythin’ cause we don’t wanna waste the little time we have.” Harry sips on his drink. “My mum gets it, she raised Gem and I to be pretty independent spirits. She was understanding about us wanting to fly the coop, so to speak.”

“I had lived with my dad after my parents split, when I was home on breaks from school.” Harry raises an eyebrow at you. “I know, super confusing. But honestly, it was the best option for me at the time. My mom moved out my senior year of high school, and with so much change going on, I needed something to stay constant. I didn’t want to pack up my room or leave my side of town. Bridget moved in with my mom. She was only supposed to stay for six months.” You roll your eyes. “Anyways, I was so grateful that I started applying for jobs early, because I got an interview with where I work now at like the end of April. There was an alum that worked there at the time that I had connected with. He helped coach me through the interview process. After like three rounds of interviews, they took me on. I actually started out in their social media department, that’s how I met Niall because he was there too.” Harry nods along. “That’s a story for a different time.” You giggle. “Anyways, my dad was happy I had gotten such a great job, but he couldn’t wrap his had around the fact that I’d rather go live with Rachel and Sarah and pay rent, then live for free at home and commute.”

“Commuting from your dad’s house would’ve been so stressful.”

“No kidding! I would’ve had to get up even earlier to catch the T. He yelled at me almost every day for two weeks, and I had finally had enough. I was like if you think this is what’s going to keep me here, you’re crazy. I tried not to get too mad at him because I understood at the end of the day his youngest kid was moving out. I thought I did pretty well for myself.”

“You certainly do. You should be proud of how fast you’ve been able to move up.”

“I know you like the benefits your work has, but do you think you’ll ever run your own business full time at any point?”

“I don’t know, honestly. I like the idea of continuing to build my own brand, maybe even lease my own photo studio…but it’s such a difficult business. You’re either busy all the time or not at all, there’s little in between. At lease with the magazine, there’s always a steady paycheck comin’ in.”

“Well, if you do ever lease your own space I know someone in marketing that can really help you build your brand.” You wink at him. He puts his arm around you, and pulls you close to him.

“I hate to say this, but I think I could use a nap.”

“Yeah, pretty tired myself. Let’s head back.”

After a quick power nap, you and Harry get ready to meet Mitch and Sarah. You all decided to have dinner together before heading to the club. You were all having fun, drinking and dancing a bit. You didn’t want to go too crazy because you didn’t want to be hungover for your flight tomorrow afternoon.

“Harry?! Is that you?!” Harry’s face as pale as a ghost. And you swear you heard Mitch say oh fuck. Some random girl attached herself to Harry’s body, almost pushing you out of the way. “I told you girls it was ‘im!” A few more girls gather around. “How ya been Styles?” Her accent was thicker than his.

“Um…good.” He takes a step back from the girl.

“It’s been ages! How long ya in town for?”

“I, we leave tomorrow.” He hooks his arm around your waist and the girl shoots daggers at you. “Just home for Christmas.”

“Oh, I see. And who’s this then?” You go to speak, but Harry speaks before you.

“My girlfriend, obviously.” His grip on you tightens.

“She can’t be your girlfriend, you don’t do girlfriends remember?” She says laughing. “At least that’s what yeh told me, and every other girl you’ve fucked in London.”

“Alright, Melissa, that’s enough.” Sarah says stepping in. “What did you do, stalk us? I know you saw my Instagram story. I’m about ready to block you.”

“A girl can’t come to the club with her friends anymore?”

“Interesting how you made sure to be here when you knew Harry would be here.” Mitch says. She looks back at you.

“Fine, I’ll leave yeh all alone. He’s gonna break yeh heart honey, trust me. This man is incapable of anythin’ other than a good fuck.”

Melissa and her friends walk away. He waits until she’s completely out of view before letting go of you.

“I am so sorry about that.” He says to you.

“I’m blockin’ her right now. Didn’t think she still followed me. Sorry ‘bout that, H.” There’s that nickname again.

“You couldn’t have known.”

“So was that just like an ex-girlfriend or something?”

“Sort of. She was just a summer fling, nothin’ more, and I made that clear. It was years ago, but she stayed hung up on me. She’s text me all the time when she knew I’d be home.”

“And stupid you would continue to hook up with her.” Mitch says.

“I was like twenty-years old, fuck off.” He looks back at you. “I really am sorry, I-“

“Harry, it’s okay. It was before we knew each other. Your past is your past.” You shrug.

You genuinely weren’t mad. You have zero control over who Harry used to date or hook up with. And you could tell he was embarrassed by having one of his skeletons come out of the closet, you weren’t going to make him feel bad.

“Let’s not let it ruin our good time, hm?” You hug him and kiss him on the cheek.

The four of you spend the rest of the night uninterrupted, which everyone greatly appreciated.

“What time’s our flight tomorrow again?” You ask in the cab back to Harry’s flat.

“It’s late, like 11PM, I did that so by the time we get home it’ll be like we’re just goin’ t’bed early. Less jetlag.”

“Oh, so we have a whole ‘nother day to like explore?”

“Yeah.” He smiles. “Anythin’ in particular you feel like doin’?”

“Gosh, I don’t know. We went to all the big touristy sites. I wouldn’t mind going back to the London Eye, the view was just so spectacular.”

“We can do whatever you want, angel.” He leans closer to you and giggle.

You get up inside the flat, and get ready for bed. You each do your nightly routines, and get into bed. You had never felt closer to Harry. You snuggle up close to him. He takes his book and his glasses out.

“Know it’s late, but do you mind if I read for a bit?”

“Not at all! Do you wanna read to me?” He chuckles.

“You’d be thoroughly confused, I’m already halfway.”

“Don’t care.” You yawn. “I’ll end up falling asleep anyways. Just wanna listen to your voice.”

“Alright love.”

Harry reads out loud from his romance novel, and the sound of his voice is quite soothing. Your eyes feel droopy, and you soon drift off. He stops reading when he hears your light snores. He turns the light off, and slouches a bit to get comfortable, careful not to wake you.

The next morning you wake up on your back with Harry’s face against your chest. Your body was feeling much better, inside and out. You run your hand through his soft curls, and watch as his eyes flutter awake. He nuzzles into you, not quite ready to face the morning sun.

“Mornin’, love.”

“Good morning.” You bite your bottom lip. You had honestly forgotten how much you enjoyed morning sex. It was lazy and sloppy, and a perfect way to wake up. You just weren’t sure how to initiate since Harry was usually the one to suggest something. “Um…how’d you sleep?”

“Good. You?”

“Good.” You have a thought to maybe turn over so he’d be forced to spoon you, but when he was like this, you were trapped. He hears your heart start to beat faster, and leans his head up to look at you.

“You okay?”

“Mhm, yeah.” You smile at him. You knew he’d love to just hear you say it. But you weren’t going to give him the satisfaction. “Do you…um, you know, feel like giving it another go?” Both of his eyebrows raise.

“Feelin’ a bit puckish this mornin’ are we?” You nod your head yes. “Right, well, let’s just go ahead and take care of that shall we?” You giggle as he fully gets on top of you.

Harry’s hand dips down between your legs to rub lightly on your slit, teasing you only slightly to get you wet. You reach between the two of you to grip his hardening cock. You pump him slowly as he groans into your neck.

“Harry?”

“Mm?”

“Could I…get on top of you this time?” He props himself up to look at you.

“You don’t think that’ll hurt?”

“Not if you let me do it.” He knows you mean it won’t hurt if he just lets you do all the work.

“Alright.”

He rolls over and waits for you to get on top of him. You grip him again, lining up your center with his tip. You slowly sink down on top of him. You both let out a moan. You sit there a moment, getting used to him.

“Mother of fuck.” You say under your breath. He was just so big.

You lean forward slightly to grip the headboard. Harry thought you looked heavenly from this angle. You slowly lift yourself up, and slide back down him. His hands grip your hips, fingers imprinting into your skin. You eventually find a rhythm, and bounce up and down slowly on his cock. It was killing him not to move, but he was so lost in the expression on your face; pure bliss. You were grinding against him in just the right spot. He takes one of his hands to rub your clit, causing you to throw your head back.

You continue to grind against him slowly, your hands drift down to his shoulders, and you sink your nails in. He could feel your body tensing up the way it always did when you were close. You were moaning, pretty loud. You wouldn’t tell him this, but an orgasm from this angle was like no other.

“Baby, can I please move a bit, you’re killin’ me.”

“Inna second, oh shiiiiiiiittt.” You have a tranquil release, and pause your movements to catch your breath. “Okay.” You lean down on him, and wrap your arms around his shoulders. His hands slide down to your ass to grip you. “Proceed, BUT be careful, please.”

“Don’t worry, I gotcha.”

Harry’s hips thrust up inside you, and it feels absolutely amazing. His pace isn’t quite as slow as the one you were taking, but it wasn’t crazy fast either. You could feel his nails digging into your butt, and just the intense need he has for you. You use your hands to push yourself up. A confidence takes over you since everything is feeling good. You bounce on him while he thrusts up into you, both getting in sync.

“Fuck, you’re so sexy like this.” One of his hands slides up your body, reaching your cheek. You turn your face to kiss his palm.

You take his hand in yours and raise his fingers to your mouth. You kiss his index and middle finger before taking them into your mouth. You close your eyes and suck on them. Harry’s eyes nearly pop out of his head and his jaw drops. Who were you right now? You take his fingers out of your mouth. He grips the back of your neck, and pulls you down to him. His tongue goes into your mouth as his hands grip your hips to rock you faster on him.

“Fuck, Harry.” His dick is hitting that special spot inside. You sink your teeth into his neck, causing a growl to come from his lips.

“M’gonna come babe.”

You both were panting. Your back arches as you feel his hot come shoot up inside you at the same time your release comes. You collapse on top of him, you were exhausted having not ridden a dick in quite some time. He moves the hair that’s plastered to your forehead away, and kisses your hairline. You slightly lift up so he slip out of you, and you feel his come leak out of you. You feel a slight embarrassment since you were resting on one of his thighs. He was bound to feel it.

“You’re incredible.” He says, almost breathless. You look up at him. “I mean, just watching you go to town like that…” He runs a hand through his hair and looks down at you. “And then when you su-“

“Harry.” You cover his mouth with your hand, and hide your face in his chest. “Please, it’s too embarrassing.” He chuckles and rubs your back.

“Nothin’ to be embarrassed about.”

“I don’t even know why I did that…” You groan.

“It really turned me on, so please don’t second guess yourself.” He kisses the top of your head. “Sometimes when you’re in the heat of the moment, you just do things. Happens to me too.” You lean up and kiss him. “You did really well, took all of me no problem.”

“Right.” You didn’t have the heart to tell him that your vagina was throbbing. It was going to take you a while to get used to his size. Length is one thing, but the girth Harry had was just so thick.

“Do you feel safer on top?”

“I don’t know exactly.”

“Well, you didn’t get triggered.”

“I think it’s sort of like when we were just touching each other. Some things trigger and others don’t. I just happened to be fine this morning, and I’m thankful. Felt so good.”

“I’d love to lay in bed with you all day, but I don’t wanna waste our last day…”

“Me either. Let’s go get cleaned up. Then we can pack up, and enjoy the rest of the day.”

You get off of Harry, and step to get off the bed. You catch the blankets the wrong way, and end up slipping, and falling to your hands and knees.

“Shit!” Harry starts laughing. “This isn’t because of you, I slipped.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself, love.”

You and Harry did some more sightseeing, and took a ton more pictures. You were feeling really clingy to him, so your hand never left his. He liked that you were being so affectionate. You could be so reserved in public sometimes. He liked putting your relationship on display.

“Wanna drive us back to the flat?”

“Really?!”

“Promised ya didn’t I?”

Harry hands you the keys, and you get it in. You drive slowly at first and laugh as you start to get the hang of it. He takes a video of you driving on your phone because he knows you’ll want to show everyone later.

“Expertly done.” He says as you pull into his flat.

You both feel sort of sad to be packing everything else up. But it’ll be nice to get home, and have a few more days off together. You and Harry plan to get him all moved in.

The ride to the airport is quiet, but comfortable. It was late, and you were both tired. Right now you were thankful your tickets were first class. You couldn’t wait to get cozy with Harry in the large seats. You drape your blankets over the both of you, and snuggle into his chest. This trip was better than you both ever could’ve expected.

#take it slow #harry styles #harry styles imagine #harry styles x reader #harry styles y/n #harry styles y/n fic #harry styles smut #harry styles fluff #fluff #smut #harry styles smut fic #harry styles fluff fic #how's a little aftermath for ya?#yall still invested in the story?#hope so cause i've got a lot more to say

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justanotheronechicagofan · 4 years

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Previous Chapter

6. The Call

The happenings of the first phone call Jay makes to Madeline in 5 years Jay Halstead, Hailey Upton, Madeline Grace Halstead (OC)

Jay caught himself feeling slightly disappointed when it went to voicemail but couldn’t help but smile as he listened to the pre recorded message. *Hi, you’ve reached Madeline. I’m sorry I missed your call but I’ll call you back as soon as I can. Please leave a message and have a good day!* “Hey Mads. I got your card. Maybe we can have lunch or something if you’re up for it? Lemme know when you’re free, cause uh I’ve missed you. Alright, call me.” he sighed as he ended the call and slid his phone back into his pocket.

“So, who’s your secret admirer?” his partner’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Uh- not an admirer. She’s -” Sensing his awkwardness, she quickly supplied “The girl from yesterday?” “Yeah, the girl from yesterday. I called but uh voicemail” he said. “Ahh” She gave a sympathetic smile before saying “Voight wants us at the board” nodding at the door. “Copy that” he said as he shut his locker. Hailey couldn’t help but notice that he eyed the envelope on the shelf beforehand.

Hailey glanced at her partner as he checked his phone for probably the millionth time that day before taking a swig of his coffee and sighing. “She’s probably busy,” she said softly. “That’s what I keep telling myself” he muttered as he tipped his head back into the headrest. “Jay. She’ll call” She said matter of factly, hoping that would reassure him. Hailey decided not to touch on the subject any further but noticed how distant he was getting as the day went on. She’d seen how the excitement that flashed across his face every time his phone buzzed, quickly became replaced with something she couldn’t quite place as soon as he looked at his screen.

It was now nearing 8pm and they were at a point in their case where they couldn’t get any further until they hopefully got something from the all day surveillance they had set up tomorrow. “Alright. Go home and rest up. I need you all back here at 8 suited up and ready to go” Voight’s order was met with sighs of relief from the team. “Jay, you not leaving?” Antonio called out from the landing where they were all standing, ready to head downstairs. “Uh yeah. I am.” he said as he got up, putting his phone back in his pocket. “I need to grab some stuff from my locker though so you guys head off without me” “Alright then, see ya” Antonio replied before heading downstairs, Adam, Kevin and Kim following after saying byes. “You sure?” Hailey asked, leaving ‘you’re okay?’ unsaid as she searched his face. “Yeah. See you tomorrow Hails” he replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes before disappearing to the lockers.

Jay trudged up the stairs of his apartment, slightly slamming the door when he entered. He peeled off his shoes and threw his keys into the bowl before heading straight to the fridge. He flung away his phone next to him on the sofa and took a swig of his beer while he searched for a distraction on the tv. He heard his phone ping but turned it on silent, frustrated when it was just a notification from Facebook. A while had passed and he was now on his second beer and starting his takeout. He caught himself reaching for his phone and stopped but the desperation got the better of him 2 minutes later. He erupted into a smile when he saw his screen.

💬Madeline [16 minutes ago] Hey. Sorry, I’ve been busy all day. I’m free now though if you want to call? :)

He instantly unlocked his phone and pressed call, losing confidence that she would pick up when it finally connected on the last ring.

“Sorry sorry! Couldn’t remember where I put the phone down.” “Hey Maddie” he smiled hearing her voice “So, where was it?” “In the fridge” she laughed. “I know, new one for me too, embarrassing really. Anyways, um Hi.” “Hey. This a bad time?” He asked, noticing the shuffling and clattering in the background. “Hm? Oh no no, great time. I’m just putting away dishes and reheating dinner at the same time” “Ahh. Friend coming over?” Jay tried to sound nonchalant as he contemplated the possibility that the ‘friend’ could be the father of his sister’s child. “No friend” she chuckled, “It’s for me” “Wha- Mads. You haven’t had dinner? How come?” he questioned, his big brother instincts kicking in. “Honestly, it was just one thing after another - hectic day” “Maddie, you should eat - what you having?” “We had spaghetti and meatballs tonight so meatballs it is. What’d you have?” “Chinese takeout. So, tell me about this hectic day” “You sure you want to hear? It’s probably really boring compared to yours” “I’m all ears Mads” “Okay well, I had classes till 4:30 and was going to the library to study but then, day care called and said Nate was having a really bad day so I picked him up and I kind of needed Mrs Carter to watch him but she wasn’t in cause you know it’s not her usual day to. I didn’t end up getting much work done but you know, it’s good that I spent the day with Nate cause I don’t think I would have been able to concentrate anyways.” Listening to her chatter, I missed this he thought. “That’s uh - that’s really busy Mads. You okay? And classes? Where’s school?” He stumbled through the reply, trying to dig through the information that he had just learnt. “Oh. The classes aren’t for school. It’s ballet classes. I do go to college too which I guess is school” she laughed. “Wow Mads. College? Guess you and Will took all the smart genes huh” he joked. “That’s really great. And you’re a ballerina?” he smiled, remembering the rare time he got to go to a recital during his leave. “Not yet. Training to be one though.” she said bashfully. “Mads, that’s - I’m real proud” he beamed, wishing that he could tell her in person. “Thanks.” she said before mumbling “Mmm man, that’s good” “You good there?” he said amused, an eyebrow raising. “Yeah. I was just like SO hungry, you know. So … What about you Jay? How was yours? “Uh yeah. It was good” “Uh huh. Come on I told you about my day, you gotta tell me yours. Please?” he chuckled as she said the last word, seeing her signature puppy eyes in his mind. “Well, I can’t tell you much because a lot of it’s confidential but most of the day was chasing leads” “And that’s all you can say?” she said dramatically “Uh … ask around, talk to people, although sometimes you have to chase them to. Look at CCTV footage, track down calls, things like that” he listed. “And you do that on the daily??” her voice mesmerized, reminding him of the times he and Mouse would tell their more positive stories from the tours. “Yeah. Most times when we’re solving a case. Sometimes we’ll go undercover or go do surveillance or something.” “That’s awesome Jay. You have like the coolest job in the world” she stated in awe. “Yeah. I guess I do.” he said as he relished in the reminder for a second before joking “Don’t let Will hear you say that though!” “Hm, yeah-” He heard her trail off with an emotion he couldn’t quite place. “What is it Mads?” “No it’s nothing.” she said quickly. “You sure?” he asked. “Yeah, all good” she said a little too cheerfully. He was about to push but stopped himself, unsure of how that would sit in their present dynamic. “Your day. It uh- it sounds like a lot. You sure you’re okay?” “Yeah it’s fine Jay. I have a routine down and-” their conversation was cut short as cries filled the other end of the line. “Sorry, hang on a sec?” He listened to his sister trying her hardest to soothe the toddler. “Sorry Jay I-” “No Mads. Don’t apologize - go. He needs you” “Okay. I love you” she said before quickly ending the call.

Those last three words made him taken aback, opening the door to a range of emotions. Maybe she had just said it as a customary thing, but he wanted to ask her - how? why?

He tried to remember the last time she had said that to him. It was the week after her 14th birthday. She had made him promise that he would come see her but was calling to apologise and tell her that he couldn’t. Although that short conversation left him with more questions than answers, he felt that warmth filling the hole again. He tried to hold on to it but it lost to the usual suspect. Guilt. He sat there motionless, letting the trains of thoughts run free in its tracks and take over.

💙✨🦋✨💙

Next Chapter | Finding Gracie Masterlist

A/N - The characters belong to Dick Wolf and are from the One Chicago universe he created. Whew! This is the longest chapter I’ve written so far although it was mostly dialogue (which I want to get better at because I feel like it sounds so unnatural). I’m thinking of having upstead in the next one ...

#chicago pd #jay halstead #hailey upton #halstead sister

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myonechicagoworld · 3 years

Text

CHICAGO FIRE – MERRY CHRISTMAS, ETC (S01E10)

[door slams]

Joe Cruz: [breathing heavily]

Where is he?

Where’s Leon?

Flaco: Where’s my money?

Joe Cruz: Okay, look… I have a grand, but…

[door opens]

Joe Cruz: Leon.

Flaco…

[door shuts]

Joe Cruz: Listen, man… I

Flaco: The deal was for ten grand, Joe.

Joe Cruz: I… I can make payments

Flaco: You know how this works. I give you a break, word gets out,

and everybody else wants a break. And I spend half my day

explaining to people why they ain’t gonna get one.

So no breaks.

Do you have the money or not?

Joe Cruz: No, I don’t.

[gun clocking]

Joe Cruz: No!

[door slams]

Joe Cruz: [panting]

Kelly Severide: Hey, yeah… is, uh, Renee Royce there?

[chuckling] Leave…uh, leave what?

Word? Uh, yeah, sure.

Yeah, go for it. Leave word. Thanks.

cutscene

Peter Mills: Good morning, ladies.

Leslie Shay: Peter Mills, it’s the saddest thing. Christmas lights at

the north gate got blown down.

Peter Mills: What? We are gonna have to do something about that.

Leslie Shay: The fireman that saved Christmas.

Peter Mills: Mm.

Gabby Dawson: [laughs]

You think if I asked him to my cousin’s Christmas

party, he might take it the wrong way?

Leslie Shay: Family functions are usually reserved for serious

suitors, so shouldn’t you be asking Casey?

Gabby Dawson: [clears throat] I just need a date so that my cousin

doesn’t make any more comments about how I’m

gonna die alone.

Leslie Shay: So you afraid Casey will say no?

Gabby Dawson: Bitch, please.

Peter Mills: Hey, hey, Cruz, you give me a hand here?

Joe Cruz: In a minute.

Peter Mills: Okay.

Joe Cruz: You said ten minutes.

Leon Cruz: Yo, I don’t even want to be here. Why you calling me?

Joe Cruz: Come on inside.

Leon Cruz: What? So a bunch of fat firemen can make jokes about

my face?

Joe Cruz: Look, this is a daily police bulletin. We get one of these

every day.

Leon Cruz: That’s what ‘daily’ usually means.

Joe Cruz: “Expect increased violence in neighbourhood of

Humboldt Park due to an escalating gang conflict.”

Leon, this is some serious business you’re getting

wrapped up in. I don’t know how else to say it, man,

I’m worried about you.

Leon Cruz: Then pay Flaco his buyout and be done with it. Oh, but

you don’t got ten grand, right? So why are we still

talking?

Look, just keep your nose out of my business before

you get my ass kicked again.

Joe Cruz: Leon, man.

Leon!

[grunts]

[station alarm buzzes and blares]

(Over PA): Shift 51, Truck 81, Ambulance 61.

[indistinct radio chatter]

Lady 1: I was deep-frying eggplant. I turned my back for a minute

and there were flames everywhere. I… I tried to beat it out

with a towel, I just…[continues indistinctly]

Matt Casey: Let these two take care of that hand.

Chief Boden: (into radio) Truck 81 is on the scene.

[smoke alarm beeping]

Christopher Herrmann: Aah… turn off that smoke detector.

[fire extinguisher spraying]

Matt Casey: All right, let’s do a quick walk-through, open some

windows, get this place vented.

[beeping stops]

Mouch: Holy moly. These folks must be the 1% I keep hearing

about.

Otis Zvonecek: Oh, you guys! This priceless piece of artwork has

been destroyed.

Oh, wait. Nevermind. It’s supposed to look like that.

Mouch: [chuckles]

Gabby Dawson: All right?

Lady 1: Thank you.

Matt Casey: Probably need a new countertop, but everything else is

okay.

Lady 1: Oh my God, thank you.

[kissing sound]

Lady 1: Thank you so much.

(Over radio): Truck 81, are you available to assist at a pin-in

accident?

Matt Casey: (into radio) Truck 81 responding.

Pack her up. We got another call.

[siren blares]

[horn honks]

Lady 1: Come back! Somebody stop them!

Chief Boden: Ma’am, what’s the problem?

Lady 1: My diamond necklace was sitting right there on my dresser,

and now it’s gone. And one of those firemen took it.

[siren fading]

- Title -

Christopher Herrmann: [groans]

Matt Casey: What’s the matter, Herrmann?

[truck door shuts]

Man 1: Matthew Casey. How about that?

Matt Casey: What are you doing here, Griffin?

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): I’m with Internal Affairs Division now.

Christopher Herrmann: What’s the IAD doing here?

Otis Zvonecek: CPD too.

Matt Casey: What the hell’s going on?

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): A woman on Green Street said somebody

walked off with her diamond necklace.

Mouch: What?

Otis Zvonecek: [grunts]

Matt Casey: This is a joke, right?

Man 2 (Detective): No joke, Lieutenant.

Matt Casey: My men aren’t thieves.

Man 2 (Detective): All the same. We’re talking about a 50,000 dollar

piece of jewellery.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): That’s a class 2 felony.

Chief Boden: Casey, the police need to take statements from you

and the men.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): And I’m gonna need you to fill out a form too.

Basic stuff… where you worked in the fire,

who you worked with, if you saw the missing

item or anything else at all suspicious.

Matt Casey: Can I have a minute?

Truck Firefighter: Man…

Chief Boden: I know what you’re gonna say.

Matt Casey: On my best day, I’d have to fight the urge to choke that

guy out. Today’s not my best day.

Chief Boden: The possible theft of a 50,000 dollar necklace

supersedes any concerns about your personal

feelings toward Ted Griffin.

Matt Casey: Chief, you know as well as I do, none of my men took

that necklace.

Chief Boden: I hope not, ‘cause I don’t want to see any of them

lose their job and face criminal charges. And I don’t

want to see their Lieutenant get a black mark on his

record, so let’s just play this one by the book.

Matt Casey: [exhales]

Chief Boden: Good.

cutscene

Kelly Severide: Yeah, stop right here.

Squad Firefighters: Go ahead, lover boy.

Yeah, go break her heart, huh?

[squad door shuts]

Squad Firefighter: Never thought I’d see the day.

[chuckling]

[knocks on door]

Kelly Severide: Uh, hey. Um, does Renee Royce live here?

Man 3 (Renee’s Assistant): [scoffs] Renee, there’s a fireman here

for you.

Renee Royce: Excuse me, gentlemen.

Thanks, Ray.

Hi.

Kelly Severide: Uh, don’t mean to interrupt. Um, I know you said

you worked from home on Fridays, and uh…

Renee Royce: And you just pictured me all alone answering emails

in my underwear?

Kelly Severide: Well, I am now.

Renee Royce: Mmhmm.

Wow, these are, um, gorgeous. Thank you.

Kelly Severide: How about dinner tomorrow night? No interruptions

this time, I promise.

Renee Royce: Okay. All right.

Kelly Severide: Okay.

Renee Royce: Okay.

Kelly Severide: I’ll see you then, Royce.

Renee Royce: Okay, Severide.

cutscene

Gabby Dawson: [chuckles] Wait, so what exactly do you have

against Mills?

Leslie Shay: Not a thing. He’s adorable. He’s like a harmless little

puppy dog.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah, a puppy dog with a little wolf blood in him.

[chuckling]

Gabby Dawson: Hey, what’s up, Chief?

Leslie Shay: Hey, Chief [clears throat]

Chief Boden: Sit.

Leslie Shay: Uh, Chief, is this about the diamond necklace Dawson

stole at the residence…

Gabby Dawson: Hey.

Chief Boden: Someone from another shift apparently just told your

field chief that sometime in November, four units of

Toradol went missing from your rig during your shift.

Gabby Dawson: What?

Leslie Shay: Hm?

Gabby Dawson: Who’s saying this? I bet you it was Lowell.

Chief Boden: Don’t you worry about who said it.

Gabby Dawson: And why are they waiting till now to say anything?

Chief Boden: That’s probably because they heard IAD is sniffing

around our house. They want to cast the blame if

any more narcotics turned up missing.

Gabby Dawson: You know some junkie probably stole it off the rig

when we were busy saving his friend.

Chief Boden: That may be so. But it’s on you, Dawson.

So the two of you knock your heads together,

get back to me with your official version about what

happened by the end of the shift.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah, we’ll figure it out, Chief.

Chief Boden: You better.

Leslie Shay: [exhales] Thanks.

Chief Boden: You’re welcome.

cutscene

Peter Mills: We saved this lady’s house. Where does she come off

accusing us of stealing…

Mouch: It’s not like it’s without precedent. Back in the day, I worked

with Pat “The Pinch” Osbourne. Had fingers like flypaper.

The roof could be caving in on us, and Pat would take a

moment to rescue the silverware.

Peter Mills: So… what’s the deal with the Lieutenant and the guy

from IAD?

Christopher Herrmann: Uh, eh, bad history. They went through the

academy together.

And… there was an incident.

Peter Mills: What kind of incident?

Mouch: The kind that ends with Griffin getting his face punched in.

Peter Mills: Wait, why… why did the Lieutenant hit him?

Mouch: He was talking trash about Casey’s family.

Um, but, see… we don’t talk about that.

Otis Zvonecek: Whoa, whoa, whoa, guys, here we go. Here we go.

Hey, Lieutenant. Lieutenant, check this out.

The people with all the artwork… Sandra and uh,

Richard Vaughn… they’re selling their entire art

collection at auction.

Matt Casey: I already finished my Christmas shopping.

Otis Zvonecek: No, no, no, no. Think about it. You don’t sell your

art collection. Your children sell your art collection

after you die, or… you sell it if you need the

money.

Matt Casey: Otis, I have things to do.

Otis Zvonecek: The… the diamond necklace, it’s an insurance

scam.

Matt Casey: So this woman nearly burned down her home in some

elaborate scheme to get firefighters in there so she

could accuse…

Otis Zvonecek: No.

Matt Casey: ‘em of stealing a necklace?

Otis Zvonecek: She didn’t set the fire. But when it happened,

she saw an opportunity to cash in.

Matt Casey: Yeah. You should write that down.

Otis Zvonecek: [sighs] Okay, I will.

cutscene

Christopher Herrmann: All right.

Gabby Dawson: Shay, your ride’s here.

Christopher Herrmann: There you go. Thanks.

Otis Zvonecek: Great.

Christopher Herrmann: Yeah.

Gabby Dawson: [chuckles] You going to the prom, Herrmann?

Christopher Herrmann: Hey, this is the flagship for Caesar

limousine.

Your chariot awaits, ma’am.

Gabby Dawson: Ooh.

Christopher Herrmann: This guy, he’s liquidating his company.

I can only afford one vehicle to start,

but I figure I roll the profits of this one

into the next, and then the next,

and before you know it, I have a

whole fleet.

Airport runs, weddings, prom season.

Otis Zvonecek: Really, Herrmann?

Christopher Herrmann: Hey… I was smart enough to bring my own

mechanic to the negotiations. Severide got

the guy to knock 1,500 dollars off

the price.

Kelly Severide: You’re gonna have to spend some of that money to

fix this charging issue. And you definitely need to

replace the timing belt.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: And I thought I replaced every vial I gave you, but I

must have lost count.

Kelly Severide: Hey. How can they bust you for something that

somebody said happened a month ago?

It’s their word against yours.

Leslie Shay: If it were my ass on the line, I’d put up a fight.

But Dawson’s the PIC. It’s her ass on the line.

Kelly Severide: Well, I don’t know what to tell you.

Leslie Shay: No, you’re right.

It’s not your problem. You got what you needed.

Kelly Severide: That… Shay.

[station alarm buzzes]

Kelly Severide: Shay.

[station alarm blares]

(Over PA): Ambulance 61, Truck 81. Gunshot victim,

67 North Avenue.

Matt Casey: Capp, move this thing, will you?

Capp: You got it.

[engine sputtering]

Christopher Herrmann: Oh, please, please start.

[engine starts]

Christopher Herrmann: Yes!

(Over PA): Be advised. Reports of multiple gunshot victims,

Humboldt Park.

Matt Casey: Humboldt Park. As predicted.

[truck engine starts]

[door shuts]

[siren wails]

[truck door shuts]

Matt Casey: Everybody back up. Give ‘em some room.

Gabby Dawson: Hey, Shay, let’s get a “C” collar on her. Get her in

the back of the ambo and start an IV.

Matt Casey: Is this the one?

Police Officer: The other two are DOA. It was a drive-by vehicle to

vehicle. Girl was hit by a stray. Shooters are long

gone.

Matt Casey: Check these two, just in case.

Joe Cruz: I’m on it, Lieutenant.

Gang Unit Detective: What colour was it? The car, what colour?

Was it an SUV, a Sedan… what? Hey,

come on, man, my partner heard you say

you saw the other car.

Man 4 (Eyewitness): Not really. I mean, it all happened so fast, man.

[music playing from car]

cutscene

Leon Cruz: Yo.

Joe Cruz: Yo? Leon, I left you like four messages.

Leon Cruz: Busy day.

Joe Cruz: Yeah, no kidding. We just got a call on a drive by on

Augusta and Pulaski, and your boy Flaco was

behind it.

Leon Cruz: Yo, can I call you later?

Joe Cruz: Are you with him right now?

Leon Cruz: Mmhmm.

Joe Cruz: It don’t matter. I’m gonna do the talking.

There’s gonna be retaliation, Leon, and I know you know

that. You gotta put some daylight between you and

Flaco.

[locker door shuts]

Joe Cruz: Listen, Leon… I know you think you don’t got a way out

of this life, but you do. I can help you. Not… not right

this minute, but I can help you get out. Just say the

word. You want my help, just say so.

Leon Cruz: So.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: There you go, sweetie. Get in there. Have a seat.

You’re gonna catch a cold out here.

Gabby Dawson: [sighs] Okay, James, I’m gonna take your blood

pressure. Is that okay?

Man 5 (James): Will it hurt?

Gabby Dawson: I do it every time, and you always ask me if it’s

gonna hurt.

Man 5 (James): You never know.

Gabby Dawson: I don’t know, it’s just too soon to ask Casey.

This isn’t the first time his relationship with

Hallie flatlined. And if it somehow gets revived

again, and she finds out that I asked him on a

date…

Leslie Shay: Won’t you regret it if you don’t ask him, though?

Gabby Dawson: [sighs] It’s gotta be Mills. He’s just the more

appropriate choice.

Leslie Shay: I guess you’re right.

Oh, for your dress, there’s this new shop on Damen.

Gabby Dawson: No way. I sprained my credit card Christmas

shopping. I’ll just recycle something.

Oh, 110 over 60! James… you’re like a triathlete.

Leslie Shay: You’re good to go, sweetie. We’ll take you in and get

you your meds, okay?

Gabby Dawson: Oh, James, that reminds me. Did you steal any

Toradol from us last month?

I’m totally kidding [laughs]

cutscene

Gabby Dawson: Hey, give me a minute.

Quick question [clears throat]

Saturday… what are you doing?

Matt Casey: Depends. What do you got?

Gabby Dawson: Um, my cousin, the poster child for better homes &

gardens, throws this really super fancy Christmas

party every year. There’s a string quartet, plum

pudding, nutmeg sprinkled on the eggnog. It’s so

perfect you want to vomit.

Matt Casey: Sounds awesome. And you need a date?

Gabby Dawson: Yeah. I mean, I just need a friend to bring along,

really.

Matt Casey: Oh. Then maybe you should ask Mouch.

If you’re up for a date, tell me what time to pick you

up.

Gabby Dawson: 7 o’clock?

Matt Casey: Great.

Gabby Dawson: [whispers] Yeah, I need a new dress.

cutscene

Christopher Herrmann: Chief, are you just gonna let these pretend

cops violate our civil rights?

Otis Zvonecek: Yeah, don’t they need to show us a warrant or

something?

Chief Boden: They are well within their authority to search firehouse

property.

Peter Mills: Even our personal lockers?

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): You mean the department’s lockers?

Besides, it shouldn’t bother you if you’re not

hiding something.

Matt Casey: Griffin, can I have a moment with you?

Chief Boden: Locker room, guys. Come on.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): What? You want to punch me again?

Matt Casey: When’s the last time IAD searched an entire house?

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): A firefighter stole a 50,000 dollar necklace,

and it’s my job to find out who. But don’t

blame me if you suddenly regret assaulting

a fellow classmate.

Matt Casey: Regret it? I’m glad I did it. You weren’t the first idiot to

make a crack about my family. You’re the last.

No one’s brought it up again since I laid your ass out.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Sucker punched.

Matt Casey: You saw it coming.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): The only ones who saw it were your buddies.

None of whom had the integrity to say what

really happened.

By the way… how is your mom?

Chief Boden: Hey! Hey!

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Whoa, whoa, whoa. Casey blood sure runs hot,

don’t it?

Chief Boden: Do your job.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: Remember that one call we went on at D and

University?

Gabby Dawson: Which one?

Leslie Shay: We got a block away, and we realised the jump bag

was sitting on the curb. I think that’s when the vials

went missing.

Damn girl, you wear that dress, I’ll be your date.

Gabby Dawson: I don’t know. I feel kind of naked.

Leslie Shay: It’s perfect.

Excuse me. Ring this up.

Gabby Dawson: Oh, no, um, I need to think about this one for a

minute. Thank you.

Is everything okay?

Leslie Shay: Yeah. Why?

Gabby Dawson: You seem more worked up over this Toradol thing

than I am.

Leslie Shay: No, I’m not worried.

(Over radio): Ambo 61, what is your location?

Leslie Shay: (into radio) Ambulance 61. We’re at Armitage and

Damen.

(Over radio): Take in a working fire. 1100 block North Hamlin.

Gabby Dawson: Okay, I’ll take the other one.

[station alarm buzzes & blares]

(Over PA): Engine 51, Truck 81…

[cheering]

Matt Casey: Let’s go.

(Over PA): Squad 3, Battalion 25, Ambulance 61. House fire,

1100 block…

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): This house was supposed to be taken out of

service.

Chief Boden: You never made that request. So now you guys are

gonna have to sit tight…

[locker door shuts]

Chief Boden: Until these men get back.

[engine starts]

Otis Zvonecek: That address is Humboldt Park again, isn’t it?

[sirens blaring]

Chief Boden: This is Battalion Chief Boden at 1140 of North Hamlin.

Police Officer: We responded to a call of a gang shooting into the

building. They torched it and fled before we got

here.

Chief Boden: Who’s inside? Another gang? Any civilians?

Police Officer: You know as much as I do.

Chief Boden: Could be gang members inside. I count six

mailboxes. That fire has reached the structure.

Victim 1: Help me!

Matt Casey: Mouch, Otis, on the aerial. Get ready to vent the roof.

Herrmann, Mills, Cruz, with me.

Chief Boden: Be careful.

[siren wailing and comes to a stop]

[gunshots]

Firefighter: Get clear! Get clear!

Matt Casey: I got you, Herrmann.

Christopher Herrmann: [grunts]

Chief Boden: (into radio) This is the Chicago Fire Department.

Lay down your weapons. We are trying to help you!

[gunshots]

Chief Boden: Cruz!

Joe Cruz: [speaking Spanish]

We’re not police. You’re gonna die if you stay in there.

Let us help you!

I’m coming in.

Matt Casey: Cruz!

Joe Cruz: Don’t shoot!

[door breaking]

Joe Cruz: [speaking Spanish]

Chief Boden: Cruz!

Joe Cruz: [speaking Spanish] Don’t shoot!

You the Kings?

Insane Kings. I’m Leon’s brother. Where is he?

Where is he? Where is he?

Christopher Herrmann: That’s the shooter. Get over here,

you punk. Take a look at him.

Joe Cruz: Hey, we’re in! Let’s go!

Matt Casey: Take the infrared. Mills, catch up with Cruz.

Herrmann… you okay?

Christopher Herrmann: I’m gonna crack one of those punks upside

their head.

Matt Casey: No. You’re gonna sit this one out.

Severide.

Kelly Severide: Let’s go.

[ladder raising]

Joe Cruz: Here you go. Put your arm around me.

You’re doing fine. Keep going.

Come on, just take it easy. You’re almost there.

All right, here we go.

Hey, somebody take this guy.

Christopher Herrmann: We got him.

We got you.

Shay!

Gabby Dawson: We got you, sir. Here you go.

[chatter on police radio]

Victim 3: [coughing] Help us! [coughing] Help up!

Chief Boden: (into radio) We got a woman and a kid on the second

floor. Front, center.

Matt Casey: (into radio) We’ll get ‘em.

Victim 3: Help us.

Kelly Severide: Fire department! Call out!

Victim 3: Help!

[coughing] Help us!

[coughing]

Matt Casey: Let’s go.

Victim 3: [coughs] My little one. I don’t know where he is.

Matt Casey: Severide’ll find him, but we need to go.

Victim 3: You don’t understand, I need to find him.

Matt Casey: Ma’am, we need to go right now.

Victim 3: Marco!

[doors breaking]

Peter Mills: Hello! Anybody in here?

Joe Cruz: Anybody in here?

All clear.

Peter Mills: Clear!

Matt Casey: Come on. Come on, buddy.

Victim 3: Please.

Matt Casey: We’re gonna find him.

Victim 3: [coughing] Marco! Marco!

Matt Casey: Ma’am!

Kelly Severide: I got him!

Joe Cruz: Get this guy out of here!

Peter Mills: Cruz, hold up. I’ll be back!

Come on, buddy. Up. I got you.

[knocks on door]

Joe Cruz: Fire department! Clear the door!

Anybody in here? Call out!

Victim 4: [coughing]

Peter Mills: Come on.

Victim 3: [coughing]

Chief Boden: Got two minors, smoke inhalation. Get ‘em to the

ambos.

Christopher Herrmann: Let’s go.

Chief Boden: What do we got?

Kelly Severide: First and second floor are clear.

Victim 5: My leg!

Peter Mills: Watch your step here.

Victim 5: [groaning and grunting]

Matt Casey: Mills.

Peter Mills: Yeah?

Matt Casey: Where’s Cruz?

Peter Mills: He’s still up there.

Joe Cruz: (over radio) This is Cruz on (into radio) three. All clear.

Headed up to four now.

Matt Casey: (into radio) Cruz, wait for me. I’m coming up.

[infrared beeping]

[bangs on door]

Joe Cruz: Move away from the door.

[grunts]

Fire department! Call out!

Victim 6: [coughing]

Joe Cruz: Leon!

Victim 6: [coughing]

Joe Cruz: Leon!

Victim 6 (Flaco): [coughing]

Thank God. Joe… help me…

[coughing & wheezing] Help me!

[coughing] Please!

[coughing] Please! Help…

[wheezing] Joe!

[door shuts]

Joe Cruz: (into radio) This is Cruz up top. All clear.

cutscene

Chief Boden: [exhales] Hell of a job you did out there, Joe.

Hey… we missed one.

Don’t beat yourself up about it. If you hadn’t gotten us

through that gauntlet, we might have missed them all.

Otis Zvonecek: Casey. Hey, you’re not gonna believe this.

So I ordered a background check on Sandra and

Richard Vaughn…

Matt Casey: Otis I don’t…

Otis Zvonecek: And they are leveraged up to their eyeballs. It’s one

judgement after the next. They… They’re staving

off bankruptcy. They’re in financial ruin. And

Mr. Vaughn… investigated twice for wire fraud.

236 subscribers are gonna hear about this on my

next podcast.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Well, Lieutenant Casey. Four hour call, huh?

That was… pretty convenient.

Matt Casey: It’s insurance fraud. The woman with the diamonds?

They’re broke.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): What do you do off-shift, drive around in a van

solving mysteries?

[door shuts]

Matt Casey: Ugh.

[knocks on door]

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Lieutenant Casey. You’re up.

Matt Casey: What is it you’re hoping for, Griffin?

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Toss the room. Search him.

Matt Casey: Seriously? Come on.

It’s all yours.

cutscene

Leslie Shay: It was extremely careless on our part. You leave a bag

of full medication on a curb at a college campus,

you’re asking for trouble.

Chief Boden: And you are gonna be so much more careful in the

future, right?

Leslie Shay: Yes, sir.

Gabby Dawson: Absolutely, Chief.

Chief Boden: Hmm. Okay.

Just write down what you told me. Don’t sign

anywhere until you bring these back, because I

have to witness your signatures. If you would

like Mouch to go over it with you as your union

representative, you do have that right.

Gabby Dawson: You want us to sign it in blood, or will blue ink

suffice?

Chief Boden: Don’t you drag your heels now.

Gabby Dawson: No, we’ll get it right back to you, Chief.

Chief Boden: Shay… one moment.

Leslie Shay: What is it, Chief?

Chief Boden: Nothing. Go on.

cutscene

[R&B music playing]

[panting, kissing sounds & moaning]

Renee Royce: Skinny margaritas.

Kelly Severide: What?

Renee Royce: Skinny on the calories, not the alcohol.

Kelly Severide: Ah! Ahh.

You have a really nice place.

Renee Royce: Mmm, thank you.

Kelly Severide: Guess it pays to work in… foreign financial…

Renee Royce: International finance law. Yes, it does. But I want to

hear about you and how you fight fires every day.

Kelly Severide: It’s not every day. On 24, off 48.

Renee Royce: Oh yeah?

Kelly Severide: Yeah.

Renee Royce: I didn’t know that.

Kelly Severide: Uh, huh.

Renee Royce: And then what do you like to do on your off days?

Kelly Severide: I repair boats up near Monroe Harbour.

Renee Royce: Um, do you go out to the lake much?

Kelly Severide: Yeah, more in the summers, but…

Renee Royce: Mmm. I haven’t been out in a while

Kelly Severide: I’ll take you some time.

Renee Royce: Oh, will you now?

Kelly Severide: Any time you want, Royce. Just say the word.

Renee Royce: Hmm.

Kelly Severide: What?

Renee Royce: Who was she?

Kelly Severide: What do you mean?

Renee Royce: The Renee that ruined my name.

Kelly Severide: She was my fiancée.

cutscene

[car door shuts]

[knocks on door]

Matt Casey: Evening, ma’am.

Lady 1 (Sandra Vaughn): Can I help you?

Matt Casey: I just wanted to apologise on behalf of Truck 81 for

your missing item, and to let you know we’re going

to get to the bottom of it.

Lady 1 (Sandra Vaughn): Well, I should hope so.

Matt Casey: This is a thermal imaging camera. It’s a really great

piece of technology. It helps us see through the

thickest smoke.

Lady 1 (Sandra Vaughn): Okay.

Matt Casey: We all carry them, and we leave them recording the

whole time we’re on a call. And actually I’m on my

way to drop all our cameras off with the police so

they can review the footage, and see exactly what

happened the entire time my men and I were inside

your home.

So don’t worry.

Lady 1 (Sandra Vaughn): Okay. Is that it?

Matt Casey: Yeah.

Lady 1 (Sandra Vaughn): Great. So maybe you should leave now.

[door shuts]

cutscene

[locker opening and things falling out]

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Son, you’re a slob.

Man 6 (Man in uniform): Got something.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Oh yeah. Oh boy. Gimme that. Gimme that.

Oh, false alarm. Just an adorable pair of kitty

cat cufflinks.

Mouch: It’s the maneki-neko, a Japanese good luck charm.

And those were a Christmas gift if you don’t mind.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Hey, domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.

Mouch: That doesn’t even make sense.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Chief Boden, have you been able to locate

Lieutenant Casey?

Matt Casey: I’m right here.

[cell phone rings]

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Griffin.

Is that a fact?

That’s very interesting.

No, thank you.

The diamonds slipped down into a heat

found ‘em.

Mouch: You gotta be kidding me.

Christopher Herrmann: What a surprise.

Man 1 (Ted Griffin): Less paperwork for me. Hallelujah. Let’s go.

Do say hi to your mom for me.

Matt Casey: Door’s that way.

[door shuts]

Christopher Herrmann: All right… so what’d you do?

Matt Casey: Nothing. I just told her we recorded the whole thing on

our thermal cameras, you know.

Christopher Herrmann: Yeaahhh…

Peter Mills: Wait, thermal cameras don’t record.

Christopher Herrmann: [gasps]

Peter Mills: Oh. That’s good.

Christopher Herrmann: Ooh.

Capp: Casey, you have a visitor in the briefing room.

Matt Casey: Chris. This is a nice surprise. Merry Christmas.

[kissing sound]

Christie: Yeah, Matt. Merry Christmas.

Almost done shopping [chuckles]

I couldn’t remember if you’re a large or extra large,

but there’s a gift receipt in there.

Matt Casey: Oh. That’s really sweet. Thank you.

Christie: Since we saw you at the cemetery… Violet’s been pretty

flipped out. “Why doesn’t Uncle Matt ever come to see

us? And does he not like us? Do you not like him?”

And she shouldn’t have to be asking those questions.

And… that’s on you and me.

Matt Casey: Absolutely it is, yeah.

Christie: I feel like she’s been without her uncle, and… I’ve been

without my brother for too long.

Matt Casey: Yeah, I want nothing more than for us to be in each

other’s lives. The last time we talked about it…

Christie: I know. I remember the conversation.

Matt Casey: [sighs]

Christie: [exhales] So you’re still defending her?

Matt Casey: I’m not gonna turn my back on her.

Christie: Don’t you miss dad?

cutscene

Matt Casey: Yeah, but there’s something.

Gabby Dawson: Excuse me one second. I need to steal him.

Matt Casey: Um, uh, bye.

Drink?

Gabby Dawson: Oh, thank you.

Oh, I can’t wait to show you this room.

Matt Casey: Okay.

Ooh.

Wow.

Gabby Dawson: It’s nice, right?

Matt Casey: Yeah.

Gabby Dawson: [clears throat] Oh, and hey, I promise I won’t let my

aunt corner you again [chuckles] like that.

I’m sorry.

Matt Casey: [chuckles] It’s okay. She’s… she’s fun.

Gabby Dawson: Yeah, she’s better when you’re drunk.

Oh, better learn how to keep up, buddy boy.

Matt Casey: Yeah.

Both: [chuckles]

Gabby Dawson: I mean… are we just here as friends, or… is this a

date?

Matt Casey: I can’t. I mean…

Gabby Dawson: No, yeah. I get it.

Matt Casey: It’s not a good time.

Gabby Dawson: [clears throat]

Matt Casey: Because it’s worth doing right.

Right?

Lady 2: Oops sorry. Don’t mind us.

Gabby Dawson: [clears throat] Uh, you ready for dessert?

I’m ready… for dessert?

cutscene

Leon Cruz: This is crazy, bro. I was just up there, like, ten minutes

before it all went down. Flaco sent me to get Shorty.

Otherwise… I don’t know…[sighs] Somebody’s gotta

be up there looking out for me.

Joe, you okay?

Joe Cruz: I can’t. I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I…

[breathing unsteadily]

cutscene

Kelly Severide: You’re up early.

Leslie Shay: You know I love you, right?

Kelly Severide: Okay, what’s going on?

Leslie Shay: I love you because I know you’d stick your neck out for

me the way I have for you.

Kelly Severide: Of course I would.

Leslie Shay: And I did that to get you over the hump.

Kelly Severide: Which you totally did.

Leslie Shay: And then I found these in the trash.

Kelly Severide: Those are ol… they’re old.

Leslie Shay: I perjured myself for you, Kelly.

Kelly Severide: Shay…

Leslie Shay: I’m out.

Kelly Severide: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you mean?

Leslie Shay: I mean I’m out. We had a deal… we wouldn’t get in

each other’s business, but I can’t hold up my end.

So I’m out.

Kelly Severide: Shay, it’s okay. I got it.

I got it. I got it.

Leslie Shay: No, you don’t got it!

I’m not gonna sit here and watch you… just fool

yourself.

I’ll get the rest of my stuff later.

Kelly Severide: Shay, hey, please don’t go.

Please don’t…please don’t do this.

[door opens and shuts]

Kelly Severide: [sighs]

cutscene

Joe Cruz: [breathing unsteadily]

[cell phone vibrates]

Voicemail (Matt Casey): This is Matt Casey. Leave it here and I’ll

call you back.

Joe Cruz: Lieutenant, it’s Joe Cruz. Um… Casey, man, I need to talk

to you. Uh… It’s really important. I, uh… [sighs] I, um…

cutscene

[whistle blowing]

Gabby Dawson: Here we go. I’ll make my brother get the rest of

your stuff tomorrow. And you are totally welcome

to stay with me as long as you want.

Leslie Shay: Thanks.

Gabby Dawson: You gonna tell me what he did?

Leslie Shay: No. You gonna tell me how your date went?

Gabby Dawson: Nope.

He’s good.

Police Officer: Thank you.

[dispatcher chatter over radio]

Leslie Shay: Come on, give me something.

Gabby Dawson: [chuckles] Well, I was right about Casey. He’s still

into Hallie. And I’m an idiot.

cutscene

[whistle blows]

[door buzzes]

Matt Casey: Hi, mom.

cutscene

[traffic]

Leslie Shay: Tomorrow night, you and me are gonna have a few

margaritas.

Gabby Dawson: Heh! A few pitchers, you mean.

Leslie Shay: Yeah, that was implied.

[horn blaring]

[cars & truck skidding]

Shay & Dawson: [gasps]

[truck and ambo crash]

- end -

Definitions:

Buyout = Purchase of the target’s outstanding debt.

Internal Affairs Division = A division of a law enforcement agency which investigates cases of allegations of misconduct and complaints against any member of the fire department, and the necessary actions taken.

Toradol = Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Toradol is used short-term (5 days or less) to treat moderate to severe pain.

PIC = Paramedic in charge

C-collar = Cervical collars (C collars) are used to support your spinal cord and head, and to limit the movement of your neck and head. They’re typically meant for short-term use while you recover from an injury, surgery, or pain.

DOA = Dead on arrival

Drive-by vehicle to vehicle = Shooting someone in a moving car from a moving car

Thermal imaging camera = Type of thermographic camera used in fire fighting. By rendering infrared radiation as visible light, such cameras allow firefighters to see areas of heat through smoke, darkness, or heat-permeable barriers.

Maneki-neko = Common Japanese figurine, which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. The figurine depicts a cat, traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail, with a paw raised in a Japanese beckoning gesture.

Domo arigato = Japanese phrase meaning “Thanks a lot”. The Japanese phrase said in this episode is part of a Japanese song.

13 notes · View notes

beca-mitchell · 4 years

Text

fool’s gold (1/1)

Summary: Beca finds herself in Colorado bidding on a date with one Chloe Beale. Accidentally, of course. Besides, it’s for charity. Set after PP3.

Word count: 4,216

Rating: T

Read below or on AO3.

Beca finds out about it accidentally. A total accident wherein she did not intend to find out this information. She had been perusing the Bellas groupchat, a chat which she had been slightly too busy to participate in recently, when something caught her eye.

Chloe’s name plus the word “date”. It had taken a few tries and a few shaky swipes of her finger before she figures out that Chloe is participating in some charity event.

Beca hesitates at first, about to type out a message to Chloe right in the groupchat, but she quickly switches over to her private conversation with Chloe and winces when she realizes that her and Chloe haven’t really kept up an ongoing text conversation (and hardly any phone calls) over the past few months.

Beca sighs, flipping back to the groupchat and hoping against hope that somebody else—probably Aubrey or Flo—will ask Chloe about it.

Flo F. What kind of charity is it?

Chloe Every year, the senior vet students run some kind of fundraiser. This year it's for research. In the past, this auction thing has been a huge hit!!

Fat Amy So you’re selling your body? Nothing wrong with that of course.

Chloe No, I’m just…auctioning off a date.

Beca puts her phone down slowly.

Had three and a half years really flown by that quickly? Chloe was almost done with veterinary school and Beca felt like she was still struggling to stay afloat herself.

Well, that was a little untrue. Six Billboard Top 100 hits, a Grammy nomination, a North American tour with an international tour on its way, her first album had gone platinum with the second hot on its heels—

It’s just that Chloe Beale had always seemed so wholly unattainable even with everything that had transpired between them. And Beca wasn’t completely stupid, she knew some of this was her own fault, but life just came at her too fucking fast.

(This being the whole ‘we definitely have feelings for each other but we are also definitely not doing anything about it because one of us is in Colorado and the other is in California sometimes but not always’ thing. God, that always knocked the wind out of Beca. In any case, it had been one weekend of Chloe visiting Los Angeles and a drunken kiss that led to a little more, but nothing really, then an unspoken decision to never speak about it again.

Yeah. This.)

— — — — —

It takes Beca another two hours to finally message Chloe and she almost has a heart attack when she pulls up their conversation.

Chloe’s last sweet dreams! xo stares back at her accusingly.

Beca So, a date huh?

She groans.

Yes, obviously a date. Aubrey already asked for more details an hour ago and the groupchat had long moved on.

Chloe’s reply is nearly instantaneous.

Chloe ??

Beca The whole auction thing you know for charity

Chloe oh haha, yeah. It’ll be nothing. Just some rich student with too much to spend. I don’t have my hopes up or anything.

But if Chloe could have her hopes for somebody in particular…Beca’s fingers tap anxiously on the edge of her table as she stares back at Chloe’s innocent-enough message.

Beca oh, well fingers crossed lol

Chloe yeah.

Beca winces at the one-word response, telling herself not to read too much into it—it doesn’t mean anything, they’re fine, they’re fine, they’re fine—

Chloe I miss you

She sighs in relief.

Beca miss you too chlo

— — — — —

“You didn’t ask her out yet?” is Theo’s confused inquiry. “Wait, you weren’t dating already?”

“Just—just look up flights to Colorado.”

“I’m not your assistant, just in case you forgot.”

“I know, but Jeff’s on the fritz today and I don’t need another snide remark from him.”

“Snide remark? About what?”

“…about Chloe.”

“Ah.”

— — — — —

Beca isn’t sure how she ends up here, but she ends up doing some casual research about this supposed senior tradition at CSU’s veterinary college and it ends up being more of a thing than Beca originally expects. Like a super serious thing where people buy tickets to attend.

All proceeds go to the National Animal Disease Center and the Animal Welfare Institute. Tickets at the door will be $55.

Beca stares at the long list of details and scrolls for an embarrassing amount of time until she finds a list of “Auction Participants”. She exhales noisily through her nose when she finds Chloe’s name, surprised to see separate profiles attached to all the students participating.

Chloe Beale, Rising 4th Year Veterinary Student, DVM Candidate

Chloe enjoys singing and morning runs. She will probably fight you over whether the CSU Rams could hold up against the Barden University Knights. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at Larimer Humane Society as well as the CSU Zoo. You might have seen her running a few weekend educational programs for children 10 and under.

PS. She’s single!

Beca isn’t sure what grates on her more, the fact that the description doesn’t say anything about how Chloe hums her favorite songs when she gets nervous, or how Chloe’s hair grows at least a shade and a half lighter during the summer, or—or how Chloe can talk at length about nearly anything if she thinks it’s something that another person will find interesting. She is selfless and beautiful inside and out.

And that last line. Beca’s fist clenches. She isn’t sure why it annoys her so much, but she hates the idea of this auction gimmick even if she knows instinctively that it is all in good fun and Chloe genuinely wouldn’t have consented to it if she didn’t believe in it or trust everybody who would be participating. Still, maybe Beca doesn’t want Chloe to…be single.

Her brow furrows at that last tapered-off thought.

To distract herself, she taps Theo’s number into her phone and waits with bated breath.

“Hello?”

“Did you book the ticket yet?” she asks in lieu of greeting.

She’ll let his amused chuckle slide this once.

— — — — —

So maybe it isn’t really an accident.

She’s in Fort Collins, Colorado, on a beautiful but pretty damn chilly campus. Beca pulls her windbreaker tighter around herself and tugs her scarf up over her mouth and nose. She hasn’t been recognized yet, but she has a suspicion that there have been two young ladies following her, but she can’t be certain.

Though her fame is manageable, it still flares up unexpectedly and at inopportune times.

Like the last time she had visited Chloe on campus and they had spent the weekend eating at Chloe’s favorite spots and drinking cheap wine until they were laughing and leaning heavily against each other. Beca had loved the scent of Chloe’s shampoo as it wafted up from where Chloe had her head pressed against Beca’s shoulder and neck, her giggles tapering off into nothing. Back then, they hadn’t kissed yet—Beca was still recovering from the sting of seeing Chloe kiss Chicago even though it had happened months prior, but nothing had ever transpired.

And for a moment, when Chloe lifted her head off Beca’s shoulder, Beca had thought Chloe was going to kiss her. And she wouldn’t have minded, not at all. It had been something she had been thinking about for so long that Beca’s heart began to pound in anticipation. Then Chloe’s roommate had let herself into the apartment despite Chloe’s insistence they were going to be alone and she had recognized Beca surprisingly quick considering Beca had only one or two viral music videos released at the time. Beca hadn’t been sure, but Chloe had looked supremely disappointed.

Focusing back on the present, Beca gazes at the familiar, yet unfamiliar campus. She had made sure earlier that there hadn’t been a completely strict dress code for the event and opts for a loose wool sweater and nice jeans (a memory of Chloe’s fleeting “those jeans make your ass look good” passes through her mind, but she pays it no mind). She buys a lanyard with the CSU name and mascot emblazoned on it. Just to add to the look.

She finds the student center soon enough. Happy to be out of the chill for a moment, Beca pulls her scarf down but leaves her toque on, keeping it tight over her eyebrows.

“Hey,” a voice calls instantly and Beca jumps because for a moment, it sounds like Chloe. But that would be impossible, she’s barely been there five seconds— “I know you, you’re Chloe’s friend, right?”

Beca turns to see young man, around her age, smiling in a completely nonthreatening manner. She vaguely recognizes him from some of Chloe’s social media posts, but she can’t quite place his name. “Hi,” she says instead.

“Did Chloe invite you to this?” he asks, sounding entirely too amused for Beca’s liking.

“Uh…” Beca isn’t sure what the better answer would be—yes, Chloe invited poor hapless Beca Mitchell to watch her get auctioned off and alternatively the implication that Chloe would need some pull from somebody like Beca which is dumb because despite the crappy dating profile on the website, Chloe needs no help at all; or no, Beca invited herself because she’s there on a mission. “Hm,” she says evasively instead. “Sorry, what was your name again?”

“Benjamin, but you can call me—”

Beca smiles. “Ben,” she finishes. It’s cute how much he reminds her of Benji. “Chloe posts about you a lot.”

“Yeah, we kind of…” he laughs, pushing up his glasses. “Bonded, I guess. She’s been a good friend. Helped set me up with my boyfriend.” He nods his head towards the door. “Want to come sit with us? We’re mainly here for the show and the food. Do you have your ticket?”

Beca blushes but tamps it down as best as she can. “Uh no, I was gonna buy at the door.”

He grins again, but says nothing about that. “Okay, we’ll see you inside. We’re kind of near the back. Turn left when you get in.”

— — — — —

The emcee is fairly decent and Beca cracks a laugh at a few jokes. She has a pretty good view of the stage and she feels comfortable enough sitting near Chloe’s friends. They seem to take a shine to her and teasingly press an auction paddle into her hands.

“For an emergency,” Ben says, mirth in his eyes. And something akin to knowing, as if he knows something Beca doesn’t. She tries to scowl at him, but she misses that opportunity because Chloe is being walked on stage looking like—

“Oh,” Beca murmurs, blushing when she can feel eyes on her. There is no way Chloe can see her in the crowd because she’s sure the spotlight is bright enough based on Chloe’s squint and embarrassed smile. But otherwise, Chloe looks stunning, wearing a pretty blue sundress and white doctor’s coat. Beca blinks back the unexpected surge of emotion—not quite tears, but her eyes do sting a little—that she gets upon seeing Chloe in person for the first time in at least a year.

God, she had gone a whole year without seeing Chloe’s face—without having Chloe’s hands to hold and Chloe’s arms around her.

She never wants to do that again. She never wants to be apart from Chloe for that long, too afraid of her own feelings to push for something she knows Chloe wants as well. She had seen it in Chloe’s eyes over the past decade and more of knowing her. Chloe, her best friend and confidante—the person who most got on her nerves but also knew how to put her back together in more ways than one—

“We’ll start the bidding at fifty dollars! Ten-dollar interval minimum, please and thank you.”

There’s some cheering and laughter in the crowd from a group near the front. Chloe blushes again under the spotlight, but she flips off the group whom Beca assumes consists of people Chloe knows well enough.

“That’s kind of low,” Beca comments.

“You should bid,” Vlad, Ben’s boyfriend, suggests.

“No, I’m just here for support,” Beca replies distractedly as another person bids up to $100. Beca’s fingers tighten momentarily around the paddle before she relaxes and wills herself to scan the crowd as nonchalantly as possible. But before she can really settle down—

“Two hundred!”

It’s arguably the biggest jump Beca has heard over the last few auctions and the murmur that rushes through the crowd indicates that they think it’s something worthwhile as well.

Beca tries not to think about how she made two-hundred dollars in the first minute—probably less—of releasing her second single on Spotify.

“Two-fifty,” a female voice calls out, distinctly confident and self-assured. Beca notes that the blush on Chloe’s face is a little different now, this time a little shy and demure like she knows that person and is touched by the gesture.

“Who is that?” Beca asks quickly.

“Oh, I think that was Amelia,” Vlad says when he notices that his boyfriend is not responding. “She’s in Chloe’s cohort.”

But who is she, Beca wants to demand further.

“Two-seventy,” the same male voice from earlier counters, though with a tinge of hesitation.

“Three hundred,” ‘Amelia’ counters.

A pause. “Three-twenty.”

“Four-fifty.” Without hesitation. An excited murmur ripples through the crowd. Chloe’s hands are now covering her face, but Beca sees that she’s smiling ever so slightly.

“She likes her,” Ben says simply.

“Who likes who.” Beca considers this a very important distinction.

“Amelia likes Chloe.”

“And does Chloe like Amelia?”

“They’re friends.” He stares at Beca pointedly. “Like you guys are friends, right? So what’s a little competition.”

“But Chloe and I are—we’re—”

Beca finds she has no real justification, no real insight to offer because she and Chloe have been teetering on that edge of almost for so long that she has forgotten what it meant when competition came along.

Until Chicago.

And before that, for Chloe, Jesse, but Beca had been nearly completely blind to it.

And now this.

Beca’s hand is rising before she can stop herself. Her brain seems to shut down completely—the rational part at least—as her heart grabs the reins. It’s stupid, it’s archaic, but this is for Chloe (almost literally, but Beca will never succumb to the belief that this is any valid way to date somebody). “Seven hundred,” she calls out. Her eyes widen when heads swivel to her and she quickly ducks, pulling her scarf back up to her nose and mouth. She waves her paddle above her head, too embarrassed to see whether Chloe’s eyes are scanning the crowd for her.

“Holy shit,” Ben mutters.

“Eight hundred,” Amelia counters somewhere in the distance, but suddenly Beca’s ears are roaring with the oddest sound—like a chorus of fucking angels or something.

“Oh my God, the animals are lucky today,” somebody mutters somewhere to Beca’s left.

“A thousand,” Beca counters.

“Um—” Ben seems to think better of it and clamps his mouth shut, though he looks like he might laugh, or worse, smile at Beca. God.

“A thousa—”

Beca’s had it. “Two thousand!”

The shocked silence that follows is enough to tell Beca that she’s completely lost it.

(But she lost it long ago—somewhere between agreeing to join an all-female acapella group when she was eighteen because of that girl with blue eyes and a killer voice and that chaotic year that followed, somehow ending with her kissing the wrong person at the end of it all. No more of that.)

“Um,” the auctioneer has apparently lost all capabilities of auctioneering. “I…guess…? Sold to—” He peers over the crowd. “You?” he asks again, still unsure. “For two thousand dollars.”

Beca quickly presses the paddle into Ben’s hands and sinks lower in her seat, distinctly avoiding all eye contact. Those closest to her finally seem to catch on and she catches the faintest hint of whispers.

“Is that…?”

“No fucking way.”

“God, I knew Beale was lying when she said they weren’t hooking up.”

Beca tries not to think about any of that, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the carpeted floor.

— — — — —

Beca i did something really stupid

Aubrey Yes, the auction was livestreamed. Chloe sent me a link.

Beca holy fuck could you see me???

Aubrey No, but thank you for confirming. Two thousand dollars, Beca Mitchell.

Beca is about to type something incredibly cheesy in response to the mild snark in Aubrey’s text, but she is distracted by Ben’s shadow appearing over her.

“Hey, so uh, you have to actually meet Chloe backstage. To set up the details and stuff. And they’re going to need a check or some other form of payment? For that two thousand dollars you just dropped?”

“Do they accept Amex,” Beca deadpans.

“Yes, I believe so. So now that that’s covered, shall we?” He holds out an arm for Beca.

Beca sighs and clicks off her phone, decidedly ignoring the very long paragraph of text Aubrey just sent to her (she caught words like “my best friend” and “hurt her” and “bear trap” so she figures that’s something she can laugh or cry over when she is inevitably sent back on a plane to Los Angeles).

“Does she know it’s me?” Beca finally asks.

“I honestly don’t know. You’re kind of short and I don’t think she could actually see you.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Beca says, feeling lightheaded.

“It’s going to be fine.”

“Yeah, of course, why wouldn’t it be? We’re friends. We’ve done stupid shit before. She stayed back three years to just be part of an acapella group.” And to be with you, an annoying voice sounds in her head.

Oh, that was actually Ben. Who sounded eerily like Aubrey in that moment. Beca steps away from him.

He stares at her pointedly, pointing at the door.

Fuck, Beca thinks.

It is a simple study room and when Beca opens it, she isn’t expecting the space to be so small and so brightly lit. She winces immediately and nearly steps back out, but Chloe’s gasp is enough to keep her rooted to the spot.

“Beca,” Chloe squeaks. “What the fu—what are you doing here?”

“Hi,” Beca says, waving. Chloe continues to gape at her. “Hi?” Beca tries again.

Before she realizes what’s happening, Chloe is flying towards her and wrapping her arms so tightly around Beca that all the air rushes out of her in one fell swoop. She has enough sense to grip tightly at the back of Chloe’s coat, her fingers scrabbling on the thick, coarse fabric until they settle easily into each other like no time had passed before.

Beca sighs—literally sighs—like a disgusting teenager in love and she kind of thinks Chloe does the same before Chloe is pulling back and punching her in the arm oncee she’s at arm’s length.

“Ow! What the hell?”

“You seriously paid two thousand dollars?”

Oh right, that happened and was still happening.

“It was an accident,” Beca says instinctively and defensively.

“You raised the price by a thousand dollars accidentally,” Chloe clarifies.

“Don’t—don’t call it a price, like you’re…” Beca gestures uncomfortably. “Like you’re on sale or something. And I totally believe it’s your right to do what you want with your body and stuff because you should be allowed to have all that agency and—”

“Wow, Beca slow down.” Chloe grins affectionately. “Nobody’s doing anything with my body, not without my permission anyway. These things usually just end in a quick dinner or like. Laser tag or something. It’s never that serious.”

“I knew that,” Beca says quickly, trying to ignore her own blush at Chloe’s choice of words. “I just…I wanted to be…I wanted to,” she takes a steadying breath, “go on a date with you. And be your girlfriend. And do couple-y things. Because we’d be dating…as girlfriends.”

“You did?” Chloe asks quietly and so delicately that Beca’s breath catches. She tries to maintain eye contact as best as she can.

The air around them feels so heavy. “So much.”

“So you…” Chloe’s brow furrows. “Came to Colorado and paid two thousand dollars to go on a date with me? And I’m assuming you flew…so even more than two thousand dollars.”

“I…it sounds weird. I know. I’m weird. I just—” Beca heaves a breath. “I panicked, okay? I had this crazy vision of you ending up with somebody…with somebody else. That wasn’t me. And that sounds crazy jealous and crazy possessive and I have no right, but I’ve been thinking about you so much and I don’t know that I’ve ever really stopped thinking about you since that first day at the activities fair that entire fucking lifetime ago.” Beca feels winded suddenly and quickly looks up at Chloe with desperation. “I should have just…” she trails off, unsure.

She should have never let Chloe slip away the first time. Then the second time when she had the chance. When Chloe met her in the middle so many times before.

“Beca,” Chloe whispers, pulling her out of her swirling thoughts. “It’s…” She struggles to think of a word for a moment. “It’s okay. I’m not mad, I promise. It’s just…a lot.”

“I’m just so sorry because it seems like I’m always like…just one step off from you. And I just want to be on the same page. I want to be what you deserve.”

“Me too,” Chloe replies, reaching forward to take Beca’s hand. She doesn’t hold Beca’s hand however, opting instead to gently grip her wrist, her thumb beginning to trace soothing circles along her wristbone. “I want to be what you deserve too.”

Beca swallows the immediate protest. She lets it die in her throat because she knows Chloe is right—that they have so much to work on. But they can do it together.

“Things have been weird between us, haven’t they?” Beca asks quietly. She fixes her gaze on the “Since you came to visit me. And we…” she swallows. “We kissed.”

“We did,” Chloe murmurs.

“And have things been weird?” Beca presses.

“A little,” Chloe admits after a pause. “But things have always been a little weird between us.” A small smile slips across her lips as she uses her free hand to tilt Beca’s chin up so their gazes meet once more. “But I’ve liked that.”

“You have?”

Chloe shrugs. “Kind of.”

“We…we don’t have to go on this date, you know?” Beca clarifies, eyes flicking between Chloe’s eyes and her lips frantically. Chloe draws closer. “We…” Beca’s voice cracks. “Don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“What do you want to do?” Chloe asks, her finger still tracing the underside of Beca’s jaw and the side of her neck.

Beca’s eyes flutter shut. “I want to kiss you again. If that’s okay.”

“Do you…” Chloe’s breath is warm against Beca’s mouth as she moves closer still. “Do you…have another thousand dollars?”

Beca’s eyes would fly open if she weren’t completely lost in the sensation of both of Chloe’s hands coming up to tangle into her hair. She moans at the sensation before she can help herself and immediately closes the distance between them, their lips bumping uncomfortably for a second before they settle into a somewhat familiar rhythm. Just like that, with a hint of banter and the way their touches soothe each other, they settle back into familiarity—back into what made them work all those years ago.

Instantly, Chloe’s body seems to press into hers with ease. Chloe’s head tilts and her mouth parts and Beca just about loses her mind. She reaches up to grab Chloe’s shoulders with difficulty before she moves her hands down to hold Chloe’s waist while subtly tugging her closer. Chloe sighs a little into the kiss before she pulls back with Beca’s lower lip trapped between her teeth for a brief moment.

Beca shudders. “Unfair,” she murmurs, momentarily forgetting her own name. Chloe’s name. Amelia. Ben.

There is nothing but this moment, with Beca’s heart threatening to burst from nerves and excitement and passion and sheer joy at the feeling of having the woman she loves in her arms once more.

“Never wait that long to ask me out again,” Chloe teases, pressing her forehead against Beca’s. “This was like…weirdly romantic, but I don’t need you to drop two thousand dollars. No matter how rich you are, miss Grammy nominee.”

Beca tilts her head to steal another kiss. “Again? As in we’re going to have multiple dates.”

“If you play your cards right.” Chloe’s nose brushes against Beca’s lightly. “Not your fancy credit card though.”

“Oh,” Beca says because Chloe’s hands are tugging through her hair again and somehow her toque is on the floor and they’re kissing again.

She could get used to this.

But of course:

“Wait ‘til I tell the girls you paid two thousand dollars to go on a date with me.” She doesn't need to sound so smug, but Beca would be remiss if she didn't acknowledge how hot Chloe sounds saying that.

It isn’t an accident that Beca shuts her up with a kiss.

fin.

#bechloe #fanfiction #pitch perfect #beca mitchell #chloe beale #my fanfic #mine #text #fool's gold

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snarkwrites · 3 years

Text

10 | gangsta ; sweetpea

Notes:

SO.. I uhh... Got super into writing this recently. I just really liked where it was heading after part 7. Yes. Yes, I realize that literally no one asked for more of this but.. I wrote it. Might as well share it.

I warn in advance. There as a graphic and detailed fight in this chapter. Also. There is a LOT going on in this chapter. A LOT. I mean it and I cannot stress this enough. There is a LOT to process here. I basically took two or three episodes and mashed them together.

This is the third of four parts I have already written and waiting to go. I know, I know.. Literally no one asked for this. But you’re getting it anyway.

Warnings:

loosely canon compliant - this is the biggest warning, so if you’re into things that follow exact canon plot you are… definitely not going to like this. angst & slow burn, heavy sexual tensionstarting now, actually - this is just so everyone who started reading this thinking the smut would transpire in a hurry knows that apparently, it is not. violence / swearing & fighting, possible underage drinking and other shenanigans- look.. it’s high school. shit happens. also apparently, my ofc Alyssa uses the word fuck like all the time?…eventual sexual content / a virgin original character- this one is self explanatory. yes, i plan to write a smutty chapter in this at some point. when? i don’t rightly know. it’s got a while before we get there. revenge porn / grooming behaviors + an older boyfriend that Alyssa had in Chicago and moved to Riverdale to get away from are hinted at here. And this chapter might not be the only one in which we hear about Dave Novak. - I put this here so it doesn’t trigger anybody. I tried to be very very very vague when I wrote out things.. But if you can’t handle it, I understand. This is not going to be a huge part of the fic, no worries. It will have a small arc, but then it’ll be resolved.

Pairing:

Andrews!Sibling OFC, Alyssa x Sweet Pea

Other Parts:

[ one - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight - nine - soundtrack ]

Other Stuff:

[ faq - tag list doc ]

Tagging:

@brithedemonspawn is the only person on my Riverdale tag list. If you’d like to be tagged for this story by all means.. Please let me know. Please, I beg. It’d make me super duper happy!!!

TEN.

Toni was awake already. Jabbing at me tentatively. “Okay sleeping beauty. Don’t make me go downstairs and fetch the Prince Charming you moaned for half the night last night.” she teased. Laughing when I went bright red in the face and apologized profusely. “That must have been some dream.” she teased again.

I stuck out my tongue at her, grumbling. “Oh. It was. But it was a dream.”

“Doesn’t have to just be a dream. I went for it with Cheryl. What’s stopping you? Hm?”

“First of all, I am pretty sure he only tolerates me because of you and Fangs. Secondly.. Even if I did think he felt anything…” I took a deep breath. “ I don’t even know how to begin to tell him.”

“Well, I mean.. You open your mouth and words come out.”

“Smartass.” I teased, smiling at her.

“You love me though.” she teased back.

We made our way down into the kitchen just in time to snag what was left of breakfast. What shocked me was that one, my brother was actually sitting at the table and eating with my father and I, his actual family and two, he and the Serpents hadn’t somehow managed to unalive each other during the night.

He even seemed to be talking to a few of them.

My dad caught sight of my face and I tensed a little. He grimaced and walked over, surveying the damage. “What happened, tiny?”

“Fucking Amanda Geller.”

“Language, tiny.”

“Okay, the diseased blight of the earth named Amanda Geller.” I chose a different wording, making my dad laugh and shake his head.

“You shoulda seen it, Mr. Andrews. It went viral.” one of the Serpents spoke up, holding out his phone so my father could see the fight.

I groaned and dropped my head to my arms, lightly beating it against them, swearing to myself quietly. “I knew someone would record the fight. Well.. this is just great.” I took a few deep breaths and continued with my explanation. “All I have to say for myself dad, is I got sick of taking her crap. So when she stole my clothes and hid them all over the hallway, I walked out to get them. She was all in the door when I threw it open to go back inside in a hurry before I got caught. The door hit her nose, she started to scream like the harpy she is and it all went downhill from there.” I reached for a piece of toast and the butter knife to butter the bread a little more.

My dad rubbed his chin. “I think I need to go down and have a chat with Weatherbee. I should’ve done this weeks ago, actually. When this started. Let me know if she posts a video. I mean it, Al. That’s a serious offense. Don’t try to go and handle it yourself. Let me handle it, tiny.”

FP chuckled. “Fred, you know your daughter’s every bit her father’s kid. Meaning, she’s a hothead. It’s going in one ear and out the other.”

“Again, Forsythe. Don’t encourage her, man.” my dad teased FP, gazing at me firmly. Waiting on me to nod and agree. I did, but I also added quietly, “Dad. It’s over and done with. And if it isn’t, I was the one who chose to fight her. If anything comes of it, kind of time for me to quietly take my lumps.”

“This is the same Mandy Geller who had you upset the first week back at school here, right Because I think I know her parents. Maybe I need to talk to them about their daughter’s crap too?” my dad asked. I nodded. Quickly shaking my head when he mentioned involving her parents. It wouldn’t do any good. If Mandy was a bitch, her mother was the queen mother of bitches.

He shook his head. “Honestly, while I’m not in agreement with fighting… I can’t say I blame you. And I told your mom that everybody has a breaking point and that if Archie’s allowed to reach his and explode, it’s only fair that you get the same slack when you finally hit yours.”

He hit play on the fight again, chuckling as he watched it. “ You are lucky you didn’t break your thumb, tiny. If you’re ever in a situation to punch again, don’t tuck your thumb. Fastest way to get it broken.”

FP spoke up, chuckling from nearby. “Your dad knows that way too well, little red. Broke his thumbs three damn times before we finally got it in his head that you don’t tuck it.”

“Forsythe, don’t encourage her, man. Mary would have a fit.” my dad shot FP a look.

“Oh, she already did when I talked to her on video call last night and she saw it.” I admitted quietly, shaking my head. I hated fighting with my mother, but sometimes it felt like my mother went looking for reasons to lecture and nag at me. Like she held me to this god tier standard that she didn’t hold Archie to and sometimes, that really bugged me.

“Sounds about right.” my dad muttered, shaking his head. “How is she?”

“Well, she said she’s got another big case coming up. Then she lectured me like usual. About the fight and about not making waves. Because of everything going on here. I guess she just doesn’t want me overloading you guys.” I laughed, shaking my head. My dad nodded. Telling me that she was just worried about me and that we butted heads because I was a lot like her at my age.

I snorted, shaking my head in disbelief. “Not likely.”

“Sweetie, your mom used to sneak out of the bathroom of Riverdale High to ditch with FP and I. She could drink me under the table sometimes. And if somebody so much as looked at her wrong, she was not hesitant to call them out on it..She was a lot like you are now. I know she seems so straight laced now, but she wasn’t always.”

Something in my dad’s tone made me think that maybe Mom turning uptight had a lot to do with the reason their relationship got so strained. I kept quiet though. Nodding. Taking in what he said.

After I gathered up the plates on the table and put them in the sink, grabbing a wash cloth, Sweet Pea wandered over. Grabbing a cloth that sat nearby, running it under the water. I glanced at him, my eyes naturally settling on his lips straight away. He reached out, grabbing the bottle of Dawn from the edge of the sink, putting some on the rag.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I wanna.” he shrugged it off. We finished off washing the dishes together quietly.

Then Toni, Sweet Pea and I set off for school. And as we walked along, I felt his hand brush up against mine again. Wordlessly, I gave his hand a squeeze.

None of us were talking because all three of us had a lot on our mind at the moment.

A time or two, I felt Sweet Pea squeeze my hand. Just as we went to step into the hall at school he muttered quietly, “It’s gonna be okay, Cherry. Stop overthinking. I can smell the burning.”

I gave him a pout as I met his gaze. Managing a nod.

Toni and I were looking all over for Cheryl. Not a sign of her.

“Maybe she’s with Nana.” Toni took a few deep breaths.

“If she’s not here by lunch, we’ll go to the hospital.” I assured Toni. She nodded, hugging herself a little. “It just bothers me because she wanted to meet us both in the middle of the forest to tell us something. Then she disappears before she gets the chance.”

“I know what you mean. And it doesn’t help that her mother is.. The way she is.” I responded quietly. Trying to come up with something, somewhere else she could be. The treehouse we attempted to build in the forest was torn down years ago, so that ruled that out by default. I shook my head.

XXX

“Your girl’s got herself one hell of a body, Serpent. If I’d known that was hiding under those cardigans and little dresses, man.. Whew.” Chuck smirked at Sweet Pea, waiting on a reaction.

Sweet Pea took a long and deep breath. Opening and closing his fist.

“She’s not my girl. But about the next time you say some stupid shit like that, you’re going to be looking up at me from the floor, dog.” Sweet Pea leaned across the aisle, grabbing Chuck’s collar and pulling him in real close. Sneering at him. Daring Chuck to push just a little further.

He was already in a mood. Between Fangs being held at the station for no reason other than public rumor, being run out of the only place he knew as home and then seeing Alyssa so upset earlier, Sweet Pea was essentially just waiting for further provocation.

Chuck seemed happy to oblige. “I might just have to bump her up higher on my to do list. Since she’s not your girl.”

“Yeah, how about no the fuck you’re not. Forget I said she wasn’t my girl. As far as you and your mangy friends are concerned? She’s my girl.”

“Well, which is it, Serpent? And what are you gonna do to stop me, hm?”

Sweet Pea stood abruptly, sending the chair scraping noisily against tiled floor as it slid in his haste to stand. He reached across the aisle, grabbing Chuck’s head, putting him in a full nelson. Really making sure he locked it in.

“Consider this your only warning, you mangy fucking mutt.” Sweet Pea muttered calmly and quietly before carelessly letting go and letting Chuck spill into the floor.

From the front of the classroom, Archie turned, fixing his eyes on Sweet Pea. And after a few minutes, he wandered back, taking the seat in front of him. Speaking up quietly.

“Did he say something about my sister. Yes or no.”

“Depends on what the fuck is going to be done about it, Andrews.” Sweet Pea answered, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down. Trying to remember that right now, there was sort of a shaky alliance with at least Archie Andrews. And deeper down, remembering Jughead’s advice about the situation with his growing feelings towards Alyssa the night before after everyone else had gone to sleep and the two of them sat out back of the Andrew’s house talking about it.

If he wanted Alyssa, he had to understand that she was nothing if not close to at least two members of her family. He needed to really prove to both the male members of the Andrews family that he wasn’t out to hurt her or just looking for a good time. That he could be trusted.

“Oh. Trust me. If you say he said something, Chuck’s going to wish he’d never even fucking looked at her when we get to wrestling practice this afternoon.” Archie assured Sweet Pea, pausing to continue, “It’s better if I do something, man. We both know that Weatherbee will take one look at you and expel you for nothing other than daring to be a Serpent and not willing to change. I can take a detention, a few late practices where I’m pushed to the brink and it’ll be dropped.”

Archie did make a good point.

And Jughead’s point the night before came back to him too. After debating a second or two, Sweet Pea filled Archie in on the entire confrontation the afternoon before between Alyssa and Mandy. Then he told Archie what Chuck had just said in the hopes of starting a fight.

Archie growled quietly. Turning to meet Sweet Pea’s gaze. “ You want to prove you’re not a threat to my sister? Keep an eye on her.”

Sweet Pea nodded. “Yeah. I can do that.”

Archie managed a smile, nodding. “Leave Chuck to me. I’ll get him when we have wrestling practice. Want me to get in a hit or two for you?”

“Fuck yeah.” Sweet Pea answered with no hesitation.

As class started, Sweet Pea found himself dwelling on Chuck’s assumption that Alyssa was his girl. Wondering if everyone else thought the same. Trying to figure out exactly how he felt about it and wondering if he needed to nip it in the bud for Alyssa’s sake. Wondering how she’d feel about having the assumption thrown at her.

He didn’t have to wait long to find out, because as he wandered the hallway looking for Alyssa and Toni during free period, he turned a corner and found her in a quiet heated discussion with Reggie Mantle, who was going overboard lately with the gifts and gestures to try and win her back.

XXX

“You act like it’s hard to break up with the guy, princess. All you have to do is just stop talking to him. Stop hanging out with them all the time. C’mon. Did you not see just how serious the trouble they can bring you was when the police raided the South Side last night and arrested half of ‘em?” Reggie leaned against a locker, gazing down at me.

I rolled my eyes. Worried about everyone’s assumption that Sweet Pea and I were a thing as of late. Worried that people saying this stupid shit was going to make him like me even less and make those few little friendly moments we’ve managed to have lately vanish.

And that was the last thing I wanted.

But I wasn’t so worried about people assuming Sweet Pea and I were together that I immediately shot down the assumption as Reggie made it.

Instead, I folded my arms over my chest. Gazed up at him, annoyed. “Are you still trying to win the bet? Is that what this is, Reg? That has to be all you want with me.” I mused. Reggie instantly shook his head, trying to reassure me that anything physical had nothing to do with it. Reminding me that he loved me and losing me was killing him. I laughed at that one.

“You don’t even know my favorite color. You don’t know anything about who I actually am, Reggie. You’ve based all of these feelings on the me you knew in fourth grade. I’m not the same girl. Not by a stretch.”

Reggie grumbled. Grabbed hold of my hip. “I know this, princess. And your favorite color is pink, by the way.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “It’s actually black, meatball.”

“But you always wore pink stuff…”

“Have I since we broke up and I didn’t have to pretend to be some quiet little priss though?” I questioned, waiting on Reggie to really stop and think. Realize that he was looking at me through blinders.

“Sweet Pea is not the kind of guy you date unless you want to piss off your family.” Reggie ground out the words, his jaw clenching. I could tell the entire situation was totally lost on him. Before I could stop myself, or stop to think that maybe Sweet Pea didn’t want the entire student body thinking he was bored or desperate enough to date me to begin with, my temper got the best of me and I blurted out, “ There you go, saying stupid crap without stopping to really think. How do you know I didn’t choose you strictly to piss off my family though? How do you really know I’m not choosing Sweet Pea because I actually care about him? I mean... think about it, Reggie.” flashing a smirk as I said it.

Petty and childish? Yes. Did I care much beyond hurting him like he hurt me weeks ago when he made the bet in the first place? Or every single time he’d casually speak over me or try to subtly suggest I do something differently to please him? No. No, I did not.

“Your dad liked me though.” was all Reggie could offer up as rebuttal.

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “You don’t take hints very well, do ya meatball?” I opened my locker, digging through it for the books I’d need after free period ended. Reggie sighed. “ You’re the first girl I actually loved. Forgive me if I’m not willing to stand back and watch you throw it all away on some fucking prick in a gang.”

This irritated me. Way more than it normally would’ve. I think it was just because of whom he was referring to and my growing feelings as of late. I slammed my locker door and whirled around, stepping closer to Reggie.

“But Reggie.. If I actually want Sweet Pea, then it’s not throwing myself away, now is it? Aw.. I know what this is. You’re afraid I’d let him punch my V card before you. Newsflash, Reggie.. If I were going to give it up.. I’d choose him one hell of a lot quicker than you.”

Reggie looked so hurt. And deep down I felt terrible for all the things I’ve said whenever Reggie Mantle forces me into a corner with this shit. I really do regret every single thing I’ve said. I hate hurting him, but he won’t just let me go. He has to keep fighting. Insisting that he loves me. Insisting that he knows me so well when I’m not stupid. I know he doesn’t really love me, more or less, he loves the idea of me. And he doesn’t know the person I am now at all. He only knows the quiet and sweet little girl I used to be back then.

He doesn’t want to know the real me. Every time I tried to open up to him and show him bits of myself, he’d quickly try and stamp it out under the guise of concern and care.

I did my best to keep a straight face. To pretend as if I didn’t feel the least bit of remorse saying everything I’ve been saying to him since we broke up.

After a few seconds of tension filled silence, I sighed and shook my head. Looking up at Reggie.

“You have to leave me alone, Reggie. I don’t love you like that. I thought I did but I.. I don’t, okay? This is over. The more you try to fight for it, the further you push me away. Move on already. Find any of the other girls here that are dying to date you. Just leave me alone.”

“I don’t want anybody else. I want you.” Reggie said it frantically, putting his hand on my upper arms. Gazing down at me. Biting his lip.

And it killed me. It really killed me.

Because I’ve had enough time by now to realize that I don’t feel the same way about Reggie that he insists he feels about me. Something in me snapped and I raised a hand, placing it palm down against his chest to keep him at bay when he tried to step closer. Shaking my head and gazing up at him as I told him firmly. Quietly. “And I don’t want you. This has to stop.”

“You’d really choose that Serpent… over me.” Reggie looked so hurt. He tried to hide it, but I could see it in his eyes. He shook his head sadly.

“I already did if you want me to be honest...” I admitted, going quiet. Feeling like a weight had been lifted at me even admitting the way I felt about Sweet Pea to anyone.

Nevermind that I was admitting it to Reggie, in the hopes of forcing him to finally leave me alone.

It hit me hard. I meant every single word of it.

Somehow, knowing that didn’t have me up in arms. I felt calmer. More relaxed.

“Whatever. When you get hurt, princess… all you have to do is come back to me.”

“Reggie, you have to let go.” I grumbled, gritting my teeth. Shaking my head at him being as stubborn as he was being about this whole thing.

Rather than argue, I sighed. Shrugging.

“We’ll see.” I side stepped Reggie and made my way down the hallway and into the student’s break room.

XXX

Sweet Pea stood there, shocked for a second. Everything she’d just told Reggie played over and over again in his mind. It froze him in place and he stood there in a daze. Just letting himself even begin to attempt processing what she told Reggie with no actual hesitation on her part.

Suddenly, he found himself thinking back. Going over every single interaction that he had with her since they’d been thrown together in Biology. Before that, even. When he’d taken his motorcycle through the car wash fundraiser that the Vixens held one weekend right after she moved to town. The way he’d just kind of.. Seen her and singled her out. Behaving like a jackass because at the time, he’d written her off already. Nevermind that he didn’t know her at all. He’d kind of hung around the car wash that day, giving her hell. Getting a little more curious whenever he’d say something and she’d argue right back. He chuckled quietly when he remembered the part where she’d finally had enough and she’d taken her entire bucket of soap and upended it on his white tee shirt and then she’d doused him with the hose on full blast.

He listened closer. Alyssa only continued to confirm her feelings. His fists clenched every single time Reggie had the audacity to insist that she was making the wrong decision. Every part of him wanted to step out and reveal himself, but curiosity kept him hidden. Listening. Rooted where he stood until he knew the conversation between Alyssa and Sweet Pea was reaching an end because he could tell by the tone in Alyssa’s voice that her patience was reaching it’s last thin strand.

He finally had the sense to rush away down the hall when he heard her walking away. Flopping over the back of the couch in the student break room and settling across it. Staring at the ceiling as he replayed her entire argument with Reggie Mantle. Everything she’d admitted that she felt for him in the process.

Having a verbal confirmation that he was wrong and Alyssa Andrews did have feelings for him completely threw him for a loop. He’d been content to just keep going like they were. Keeping his own growing feelings deeply hidden. To just keep being her friend because it was so much easier than making a move and ruining a friendship.

But now that he knew how she felt… Everything in him wanted to fight. To start attempting to make his own feelings for her known.

He chuckled to himself and made a mental note to tell Fangs later that he’d been right. And he had no doubt in his mind that Fangs was never going to let him forget that, not for a single second.

The door to the break room flew open and Alyssa wandered in, flopping against the couch dramatically. Her head leaning against his thigh. Making him catch his breath a little at the rush it sent racing through his body.

Everything felt amplified right now. From the smallest brush of soft red hair against his arm, to the way her perfume smelled.. The way she looked up at him with a raised brow and slowly licked her lips before asking him what he was giving her that goofy look for.

God, he thought to himself, if we were anywhere but school grounds right now… He quickly pushed the thought out, shrugging. Staying quiet, because he was half afraid if he opened his mouth right now, everything he wanted and needed to say was going to spill out. Messy. Unplanned.

Not how he wanted to go about doing it when he finally figured out how at all.

No, when he finally told her.. He was going to do it in a way that she had absolutely no doubt in her mind that he meant every single word he said.

She nestled her head completely on his thigh and if he thought the jolt at her doing so before was something, this time it was downright electric. Putting him on pins and needles instantly.

“Toni, have you heard anything?” she asked Toni.

Toni shook her head no. Veronica spoke up. “According to someone in the office, her mother came in and told Mr. Weatherbee that due to a family emergency, she was being taken out of school for a while?”

Alyssa shot up off the couch and Toni swore, standing to drag her hands through her hair.

Veronica cleared her throat. Looking from Alyssa to Toni. “Oh no. No you don’t, either of you, whatever you’re thinking.. If you go storming over there right now, guns blazing, it’s only going to make things worse.”

“What the hell do we do then? I’m not letting my girlfriend be locked away like some shit straight out of V.C Andrews, Lodge.” Toni said it calmly, but Sweet Pea knew she was panicking. And he had a second to think. If someone had done that to Alyssa, he’d be storming the place himself.

He took a deep breath. Grabbing hold of Alyssa’s hand. “I know you would literally fist fight God because she’s your best friend. Maybe Lodge is right.” his face went sour as the words left his mouth and Veronica mouthed thank you at him. Sweet Pea got Alyssa sitting down again. “I will physically restrain you, cherry, don’t test me.”

This time when he saw her blushing just slightly as they locked eyes, he knew he wasn’t imagining it.

Veronica cleared her throat, pointing out the obvious flaws in what Toni and Alyssa had been seconds away from doing in going to Thornhill and confronting Penelope Blossom. She emphasized that maybe it would be easier if they went when they knew Penelope was away from the house. Maybe if they talked to the staff left on premises or to Nana Rose even..

“I doubt we’d get anything out of her.” Toni butted in, reminding Veronica that the woman was starting to go senile. Veronica spoke up. “It’s worth a try. I say the three of us go over this afternoon. Under the guise of delivering her assignments. One of the girls on the welcome committee normally does that. I can talk to her and talk her into letting me do it instead. And you two can go with me. If I can get it out of her Nana where she’s been taken, then we’ll regroup somewhere and plan accordingly.”

“I still say we just go straight to the source. We know Penelope’s behind this.”I pointed out. Too angry to really stop and think about things clearly. All I wanted was to go and storm the place.

“And that’s why we need to proceed with caution. Because whatever we do will come back on Cheryl. We don’t want that. She’s our friend.”

“And my girlfriend.” Toni spoke up quietly. Mulling over Veronica’s carefully thought out proposal.

Sweet Pea eyed Alyssa. “You know she’s playing the smarter game here, Cherry.”

Alyssa grumbled but ultimately nodded. “Fine. Fine. Okay, we’ll try to figure out where Penelope’s taken her first.”

And Sweet Pea relaxed a little, not even realizing just how much he’d tensed up just then.

Alyssa settled back against his leg, digging around until she found some romance novel in her messenger bag, opening it to where she’d left off reading.

Sweet Pea feigned interest in his cell phone. Not bothering to move himself because he didn’t want her thinking he didn’t want her close. Toni glanced at the two just when Sweet Pea’s fingers tangled in Alyssa’s thick red hair as he gazed down at his phone intently.

“Hey, you two. Look up and say Snakes.” Toni called out to Sweet Pea and Alyssa. Sweet Pea glanced up, giving her a dirty look almost as soon as he saw her phone raised. Shaking his head. Alyssa rose up a little, leaning against him dramatically, holding up her middle finger against the side of her face visible to the camera as she locked eyes with him, laughing quietly. “It’s just a picture, Sweet Pea.”

“I realize this, Cherry. But I want to be an asshole, so…”

She pouted at him, laughing quietly.

He let an arm settle around the back of the couch and across her shoulder indirectly. Pulling her closer as subtly as he could get away with. She gazed up at him a second or two, swallowing hard and Sweet Pea bit his lip, smirking right back at her.

From across the room, a throat cleared.

Jughead leaned in the doorway. “They’re letting Fangs out.”

Sweet Pea went to stand. Alyssa smiled. Digging around in her messenger bag for a pen. Taking hold of his hand. He raised a brow watching as she wrote a phone number across his palm in black ink.

She kept hold of his hand and muttered softly, “If they try anything.. Call that number. Ask for Mary Andrews. Tell her everything you find out and let her talk to Fangs. Don’t let them toss him a shitty public defender if they have anything they think they can take to court, okay? Please.” before smiling, nodding towards the door. “You need to get going. You guys are gonna have to sneak him out, I’m pretty sure of it. A bunch of people were all stirred up when that news report came on tv last night about him being a suspect in Midge’s death.”

Sweet Pea nodded. He took a step towards the door, but he stopped to look back. “If anything feels weird when you guys go to check up on Cheryl, cherry.. Don’t push. Just leave and go find someone.”

He knew she crossed her fingers behind her back and he grumbled to himself, shaking his head. “I mean it.”

“Okay, alright, shit. Go. Go get our idiot out of there.”

Sweet Pea nodded and stepped out into the hallway with Jughead. “If the tension gets any thicker, Pea, you’re both gonna explode.”

“If only you knew, Jug. If only you knew.”

Jughead eyed him and as they walked towards the police station, noting the crowd gathered out front angrily, they ducked behind the building to meet up with Fangs instead. As they stood there waiting on their friend’s release from jail, Sweet Pea found himself telling Jughead every single thing he’d overheard in the hallway.

Jughead chuckled quietly. Nodding.

“So.. please tell me you’re going for it.” Jughead glanced at him. Sweet Pea took a few shaky breaths and nodded. “Subtly though. She made it really clear to Reggie that she’s trying to get her head on right.”

“Yeah, given what Archie told me about Chicago, I don’t really blame her.”

“What happened?” Sweet Pea asked. He halfway didn’t expect Jughead to trust him enough to tell him. To his surprise, Jughead told him everything he knew… From the fighting Alyssa kept getting in trouble with. Sneaking out to frat parties, getting brought back to her mom’s place in cop cars at 3 am. And then he took a deep breath and told him quietly, “This part stays between us though. And it’s the biggest reason Archie’s twice as protective of her as he is right now. She got mixed up with this older guy, an asshole named Dave Novak. Guy was trying to pressure her into.. Stuff. You know what I mean.” Jughead stopped talking and glanced at Sweet Pea and Sweet Pea nodded. His jaw setting firm because he got the feeling that he was not going to like anything Jughead told him.

And as Jughead got into the whole thing, from the pictures sent because Dave pressured her into doing it, to the way Dave basically started trying to isolate her and put distance between herself and her mother.. To her finally having enough and breaking things off. Telling her mother what happened when Dave wouldn’t take a hint and leave her alone and he kept showing up. Leaving her harassing calls. Uploading the pictures he’d pressured her into sending him of herself to some revenge porn website.

Sweet Pea’s fist clenched and he took a deep breath. “Fuck.”

“Yeah. When all this Black Hood shit started, Archie’s first thought was Novak. But he found out Novak got arrested for pulling similar shit that he’d pulled on Alyssa with a way younger girl and he’s in prison.”

“He better fucking stay there.” Sweet Pea muttered quietly.

“Oh, trust me. If he gets out and he’s dumb enough to show here? You’re gonna have to fall in line. Behind Archie’s dad and Archie. Because Archie went with Fred to pick her up from Chicago and she told them everything on the way back because she was pretty scared. It took everything in them both not to go back and find the guy themselves.” Jughead informed, shaking his head. “She’s always kinda been a handful though.”

“Yeah. I kind of got that idea when Archie was talking about some of the stuff she used to do when they were kids last night. When he was trying to embarrass her but he only made her spray him with the sink hose instead?” Sweet Pea chuckled. Going serious. Staring at the number scrawled across his palm in black ink.

He wasn’t used to anyone giving a shit.

In all of this, adjusting to the fact that she did in fact, give a shit, was probably the biggest thing he was having to adjust to. Because he just wasn’t used to it at all.

Fangs finally made his way out of the station and as soon as they spotted him, the two made their way over, trying to get Fangs out of there as quickly as possible.

Just as they shoved through the crowd, Reggie and some of the other Bulldogs stepped forward, attempting to block their path. As Sweet Pea, Fangs and Jughead as well as some of the other Serpents who’d shown up were trying to fight their way through that situation, a shot rang out.

Fangs hit the ground and Sweet Pea and Jughead dropped beside him. Trying to stop the blood as it flowed from their friends body.

The Bulldogs scattered, as did the rest of the Serpents.When someone finally came to help them, they were rushing Fangs to the hospital. And in the hours following, all Sweet Pea could do was sit there and wait.

Quiet. Angry. With absolutely no way to keep himself calm.

XXX

Veronica came rushing back towards where Toni and I were hidden in the flower bushes that surrounded Thornhill, blocking a clear view of the place. Veronica cleared her throat. “Nana Rose is more clear headed than we thought, ladies. She’s clear-headed enough that she saw you two hiding in the bushes and she wants you to come in too.”

Toni and I shared a look. Wary.

“Penelope’s not in there, right?”

“Nope. That meeting she had with my father will take a few hours at least. Which is perfect, because it gives us time to find Cheryl and get her somewhere safe.” Veronica reassured us.

Toni and I walked in behind Veronica. My eyes darted around as I stood in the entryway of the grand lodge. I’d only been here twice as a kid. Both times Cheryl snuck me in right under her mother’s nose.

The place always felt more like a well kept tomb than a home to me and I always remember feeling horrible about having to sneak back home, knowing I had to leave my best friend behind in such a place.

If not for Jason, I would have felt so much worse. But Jason was gone now, Cheryl no longer had someone with her day in and day out to protect her from her cold hearted shrew of a mother.

Toni nudged me and I realized that Nana Rose was speaking to me. Offering a fond smile. “I remember you. You’re the little one Cheryl used to sneak in to play. Sit.” she told the three of us, nodding towards a deep red velvet covered chaise lounge opposite her wheel chair.

After a few minutes, the old woman sighed, shook her head sadly. “Penelope’s taken her from me. Took her off to that Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Because she refuses to have her daughter’s behavior in this house.”

“And yet..” I started but Toni quickly covered my mouth. Nana Rose gazed at me, nodding.

Veronica spoke up quietly. “Do you happen to know what happened to you?” she asked the question in concern.

“Of course. That hell spawn I call a daughter in law tried to kill me. Cheryl found out what she was up to.. Found me.” Nana Rose was starting to get that vacant look in her eyes and the three of us stood. Checking to make sure the woman was comfortable and that she had everything she wanted or needed in her reach before we made a hasty retreat out of the manor.

Once we were outside, Toni and I both exploded, talking over each other. Thinking up clever ways we’d love to get even with Penelope Blossom if we knew we could get away with it. Veronica cleared her throat, bringing us both to a hush a few seconds later.

“We have to break her out. You guys realize that the Sisters perform extensive conversion therapy, right?”

We shared a look and swallowed hard. “Like a conversion camp? To scare the gay away? What the fuck.” Toni dragged her hand through her hair as she stood there, trying to process. Freaking out even more because now we knew where our friend was.

“We can try to break in and get her tonight. Pretty sure whatever meeting my father’s having with Penelope won’t be over for a while. I can get Archie to stall if we need.”

“One day all bets are gonna be off and I’m going to crush that woman’s vocal cords with my thighs.” I grumbled quietly as we hurried back towards town. To Pops so we could sit and think. Maybe come up with some sort of plan.

“Get in line behind me, cherry. Get in line behind me.” Toni muttered, hugging herself as she shook her head.

XXX

The doctors came out, solemn and quiet. With FP glancing at both Sweet Pea and Jughead.

“Fangs didn’t make it.”

Sweet Pea felt his stomach churning. He stood in a hurry. Still angry from earlier. Convinced that one of the Bulldogs had been the one to fire the shot. Jughead only barely managed to stop Sweet Pea just shy of destroying the waiting room completely.

“We’re gonna meet down by the quarry. Have a little memorial. Then we’re all going to focus on finding out who the fuck did this to our boy. Do you read me, kid?” FP grabbed hold of Sweet Pea, giving him a firm gaze.

“We know who did it. One of those fucking bulldogs.”

“Sweet Pea..”

“Shut it, Jug. The only one who’s halfway decent is Andrews and that’s questionable right now.” Sweet Pea ground out the words angrily.

“You need to get a fucking grip, kid.” FP commanded. Knowing it wouldn’t do him a lot of good. Feeling bad because he was having to lie to his son and one of the most loyal members of the gang but reminding himself that it was for Fangs own good. The quicker he got the kid out of town until the heat was off, the better.

“I need to go find whoever the fuck shot him and get even.” Sweet Pea answered calmly before storming off.

“Get going, Jug. Go after him and make sure he doesn’t do something stupid, son. I mean it. Now.” FP ordered his son. Jughead eyed him, a brow raised.

“I said go, son.” FP repeated firmly. Nodding to the door. Jughead raced out, stopping Sweet Pea in the parking lot. Getting him at least a little reigned in.

“I know you don’t like me. But trust me right now, okay? The Bulldogs were not the one to fire that shot today. It doesn’t make sense. We’d have seen them.”

“Mantle had something in his jacket.”

“I doubt it was a gun. Let me dig around before you go off on a wild hair, Pea.”

“We don’t have time for you to play detective.”

“We’re going to make sure we get the right person and make them pay. I want them to pay just as much as you do.”

Sweet Pea eyed him and then grumbled. “Fine. If you don’t find who did this by the end of the week, I’m getting some guys together and we’re doing this my way. We clear, Jones?”

“Crystal, Sweet Pea.” Jughead took a deep breath. Hoping he could pull off a miracle in just a few days.

XXX

Veronica gave Toni and I the thumbs up and we slipped in through the back way. Grabbing some nurses uniforms and quickly putting them on. We hurried through the halls, about halfway down the first one when Veronica slipped in and caught up to us.

“The wing she’s listed as is down the left hall. Not this one.” Veronica nodded and Toni and I walked down the hallway quickly. Once we found the door with Cheryl’s name on it, we peered up and down the hall to make sure it was all clear.

Nobody was around. Toni burst into the room. Going straight for Cheryl. Fussing over her, the two of them crying as Toni helped her out of bed. “God bless your Nana Rose.” I muttered as I made my way over after giving them time to reunite. Pulling her into a hug. “You scared the living hell out of me.”

“I didn’t even know what my mother was up to until she got me here.” Cheryl hugged me back. Veronica peeked in, nodding at us to hurry. “Run. Now. I’m going out to bring the car around.”

She took off to bring around the car she’d borrowed and the three of us hurried down the hall just as one of the night guards glanced up. Before he could say anything, we were at the end of the hallway.

And then one of the nuns stepped out.

We turned, bolting back the other way. Making a break for the other exit in the building, but then Toni spotted a door leading down to the basement open. She grabbed Cheryl and pulled her in and I leaned in. Hissing quietly, “You guys go down this. Follow it to the end. I’ll meet you outside.”

I hurried through the exit at the end of the hall, ditching the nurses uniform and hat as I went. Skidding to a stop in front of a tunnel. Veronica ran over, and between the two of us, we figured out how to get the padlock undone.

By the time we heard Toni and Cheryl’s footsteps in the tunnel, we had the door open and we were hissing at them to speed it up because we could hear the night guards outside shouting back and forth, looking for the escaped patient.

We tumbled into Veronica’s borrowed car out of breath and shocked we’d actually pulled it off.

And then, Toni checked her phone.

“We need to go to the hospital.”

I eyed her.

“Fangs. When the guys went to get him from the station, somebody fired a shot. It.. It hit Fangs.”

Veronica dropped us off at the door of the hospital and the three of us hurried inside just as Sweet Pea was storming out. Angry. Shouting.

And deeper down, upset. Hurting.

I could see it in his eyes.

Toni ran in with Cheryl in tow to find out what was going on and I caught up to Sweet Pea.

“Hey.. Whoa. Calm down.”

“He’s dead.”

I blinked in shock.

“No.” I shook my head. It didn’t make sense at all. “What happened?”

Sweet Pea was sitting on the sidewalk outside of the hospital by now. I sat down next to him. Trying to gauge the situation before doing anything. Eventually realizing that tonight was the time to push any feelings or anything else in my mind down and just be there for my friend. I leaned against him a little, putting an arm around him. The chill in the air crept in and I realized that I hadn’t even grabbed a jacket earlier, I’d been totally focused on the mission Toni and I had in going to break Cheryl out of the Sisters of Quiet Mercy.

“Those assholes on the football team blocked us so we couldn’t get him outta there fast enough. Started fighting. And in the middle of all that, somebody took out a gun and shot it. They hit Fangs.” Sweet Pea muttered the words quietly. As if he were in shock.

“I left earlier. Was going to go find ‘em. Jughead stopped me. I still want to though. Reggie…” he trailed off, going quiet. I tensed a little, reaching up to grab his jaw. Guiding his eyes down so that he had to look at me. “Was Reggie the one with the gun?”

My stomach churned. Because as much as I needed to know the answer, I was also afraid to hear it. It didn’t track with the kind of guy Reggie was, but these past few weeks have been a real eye opener for me about people I thought I knew.

“All I know, Cherry… He went in his pocket for somethin, right before the shot was fired.”

I fought back the way everything I ate rose up my throat. Took a few shaky breaths. “Was the place as crowded as it was last night?”

“More, actually.”

“It could’ve been any of them.” I bit my lip as I said it. Sighing. Shaking my head. “But if he was reaching into his pocket… Do the cops know you saw him reach for his pocket?”

“Do you really think they’re gonna listen to me, Cherry?” Sweet Pea held my gaze, taking shaky breaths. I swallowed hard, nodding in agreement. Because he was right. They damn sure hadn’t bothered to listen to Fangs when Fangs tried again and again to prove his innocence, hours following his arrest.

I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea or why I did it, but I moved from sitting on the sidewalk beside him to sitting in his lap. Facing him. Leaning against him. Starting to tear up myself because it wasn’t even two days ago Fangs and I had been arm wrestling at lunch. Taunting one another. And if I wanted to sob right now, I couldn’t imagine just how bad Sweet Pea was hurting.

“They won’t listen to you. But maybe they’ll listen to me.”

“Whatever you’re thinkin, don’t.” Sweet Pea gazed at me firmly shaking his head no. I sighed, nodding. “That goes double for you, okay? I mean it, Sweet Pea. Whatever you’re thinking about doing.. Don’t do it yet.”

“I already told Jughead and FP I’d stand down. I don’t fucking want to, but Jughead thinks he can dig around. Find out who actually fired the shot.”

I nodded, leaning into him a little. “Right now you have to be super careful. Because those assholes in there are looking for literally any excuse to lock you guys up… And I don’t want that to happen, okay?” I gazed into his eyes, my hands on either side of his neck. My thumb dragging softly over the raised imprint of the double headed Serpent on the side of his neck.

He sighed again and then he leaned forward. Dipping his head down. Resting it against my chest. I didn’t say anything, but I knew when he started to silently cry. And I sat there, not moving. Letting him get it out.

Toni and Cheryl were walking out of the hospital, hugging each other. They were both crying too. When they sank down to the sidewalk beside us, nobody really said anything for at least ten minutes.

There wasn’t anything to say. We were all too shocked.

“Cheryl, we need to talk to my dad about stashing you at my place. Warn him what’s going on.” I muttered after about ten minutes. Cheryl nodded silently. Toni spoke up. “It doesn’t feel real.”

I nodded in agreement quietly. “You guys go ahead to my dads. If you go up the side of the house, my window should be open.”

Toni eyed me and I mouthed, “I’m behind you guys. Just trying to make sure the giant lug is okay.” to her as she nodded. And then they were gone, leaving me with Sweet Pea.

“You need some sleep, Pea.”

“I need to find out which one of ‘em did this, Cherry.”

“Let Jughead try first, okay?” I pleaded. Knowing in the back of my mind that most likely, my pleas held no weight with him in the situation because I wasn’t deluding myself here. I was still an outsider. He probably tolerated me for the sake of our shared friends.

And me pleading with him to take it easy, keep a low profile right now was admittedly selfish on my part because I loved him.

As selfish as it was, it didn’t stop me from trying.

“You need to get goin.” Sweet Pea muttered quietly. Gazing up at me, biting his lip. I shook my head. “ I don’t wanna leave you like this.”

He nodded and after I pulled myself to my feet, he stood up too. We started down the sidewalk and the further the hospital got from view, the heavier the tension seemed to get. I reached down and laced my fingers through his. Squeezing his hand.

He squeezed my hand back. Taking a few deep breaths.

“I’ll let Jughead try to find answers first.” he spoke up solemnly as we made our way into my dad’s house. I nodded, lingering at the bottom of the stairs. Making sure he actually settled down and tried to sleep.

After a few minutes, I went into the kitchen. Found my father sitting up, talking quietly with FP about something. Agreeing that whatever FP had done was something that needed to be done for safety.

They stopped talking when I pulled out the kitchen chair and sat down in it.

“Tiny, it’s late. What are you doing up?”

I shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep. I.. I wanted to ask you something. Can Cheryl stay here with me a few days?”

My dad nodded. “Penelope, huh?”

“Mhm.”

“Do I want to know?” he asked.

“She stuck her in Sisters of Quiet Mercy. Cheryl barely made it out of there.” I answered as I opened the fridge, digging around for a soda. Pulling the tab and taking a drink. Sinking down into a chair across the table from my father. Staring at the can of soda in front of me for a few seconds. Because between the events of the evening, I was just barely starting to process.

“She did what now?” my dad asked, gazing at me. Waiting on me to tell the whole story. I told him what we thought was the reason she’d done it, but I didn’t mention that Toni,Veronica and I had gone and gotten her out of there ourselves earlier.

Then I spoke up again quietly after a few seconds. “Fangs was shot when he left the station. The doctor said he didn’t make it.”

“C’mere, tiny.” my dad held his arms open and I went into them, smooshing myself against him as I started to cry all over again. FP stood and cleared his throat. “I’m gonna make sure that kid Sweet Pea is actually in the livin room with the others and not out.. Trying to look for somebody to pay for it.”

“Yeah, you do that.” my dad answered, breaking the hug to glance at me. I shook my head. “It doesn’t feel real.”

“I know, tiny. I know.” he answered quietly, using a tone he always used to soothe my brother and I when we were little and we came to him upset about something. “If they have a memorial or anything and you wanna go, I’ll take you.”

“Please?”

“Yeah. You need to get upstairs and actually get to sleep now. I’m pretty sure I know where you were earlier.”

I eyed him.

“You’re my kid. I know when you’re sneaking into and out of the house, tiny.” my dad gave me a small smile and I nodded. Letting out a deep breath as I stepped into the living room. Bumping into FP.

“He didn’t sneak out, did he?” I asked in concern.

FP gave me a knowing smirk. “Nah. He’s in the living room, talking to Archie about what happened. Any reason you’re askin, little red?”

I shrugged. Swallowed hard and managed the feeble answer, “Because he’s my friend and I was worried about him when I saw him at the hospital just now.”

“Mhm. Well, he’s here. Madder than hell. Plotting someone’s end, but he’s here. Keep an eye on him, will ya?”

“Yes sir.” I answered, hurrying up the stairs and into my room. Cheryl and Toni were sitting up talking and I shut the door behind me.

“I told dad where you were and I asked if you could stay here. He said you could definitely stay here. I did not tell him that we were behind your escape. I doubt anybody will do anything, but.. If they do, ah well.” I shrugged as I flopped onto the foot of my bed, glancing up at the two of them, propped on my elbow.

“Fuck them if they do. If they do, we’ll turn over everything we know about Penelope.”

“My mother told me that it was one of the Vixens who told her about Toni and I...” Cheryl spoke up, shaking her head. Disgusted with it. I grumbled to myself about it, glancing at her. “Yeah, it figures it’d be one of them.”

“And when I find out which one, they’re on my shit list.” Toni spoke up quietly.

Glancing over at me. “How’s Sweet Pea?” she asked a minute or two later.

“He’s still downstairs. He’s still messed up about Fangs. I’m just hoping to hell he listens to Jughead and at least tries to let Jughead find out who really shot the gun because I…” I went quiet, shaking my head.

“Yeah. I don’t want anything to happen either. But the whole thing didn’t help tensions at all. FP said earlier that he might have found a place on the outskirts for all of us to go. Some old fairground or something.”

“Yeah. I think that’s what he and my dad were whispering about just now. He knows we all snuck in, by the way.” I informed.

“We should all try to get some sleep. Doubt any of us can, but we should at least try.” Toni spoke up quietly. Cheryl and I nodded in agreement and then the three of us proceeded to do the exact opposite, sitting up all night to hold our own little private memorial for Fangs Fogarty. Talking about all the stuff we’d managed to get into, laughing through tears. Stating what we’d miss about him.

When we finally did attempt sleep, the sun was just starting to come up.

#sweetpea fanfction #sweetpea imagine #sweetpea fanfic #sweetpea imagines #sweetpea fic #my writing ; sweetpea #my fanfiction ; sweetpea #my fics ; sweetpea #// read ALL THE WARNINGS pls and thanks. i can't stress that enough.

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mrvdocks · 4 years

Text

Just Ask ll

Part 1.

“What an asshole,” you mutter, walking right to the bar. “I shouldn’t have come, I’m such an idiot.”

You don’t know what you’re going to do, you just know you need something to be able to tolerate him if and when you go back.

After downing multiple shots, you trudged down the hall, trying to walk as best you could back to the roomette. If liquid courage could help you at any time, it had to be this one. You were planning what you’d say to him, making up a conversation in your head and giving yourself the best arguments and points and ending with him begging for forgiveness, and then maybe, just maybe, you could actually get the ball rolling on the friction you’d been feeling. You smile to yourself, eager to battle it out, and make the leap to open the door. Your smile drops.

He sits there, knees to chest, just staring at the wall. Unconsciously chewing on his lip, just like the good ol’ days. When he notices you, he stops and speaks up. “Hey.”

You sigh, clearly exhausted. You open your mouth to hurl at least an insult or something to make him know you’re still game to argue. When nothing comes out, you abandon all anger and move to sit next to him.

Shoulder to shoulder, you still can’t bring yourself to look at him. Not directly at least.

“What are we doing, Billy?”

You feel like you’re back in college, in the aftermath of hashing it out and taking a breather over something stupid that doesn’t matter. It seemed so simple then, and here you two were now. Avoiding things and people, and you were adding more wood into the fire you haphazardly helped to start.

“I dunno,” He whispers. “Just….thinking.”

There was something he wasn’t saying. It wasn’t fair that only your secrets came to light tonight. You needed to even the score. “Why’d you send RUN?”

“Why did you?” He counters.

“I asked first.”

He chuckled to himself. “To be quite honest, I was….blithering drunk and lonely.”

Your brows perked up. “So you made me drop everything I care about because you got drunk?”

You weren’t too mad, the liquor had made sure to placate you. You just felt a tinge of annoyance at him. Nonetheless, his recklessness struck a chord in you. It was a tango, it took two, and it only took two seconds for you to ruin your life for him.

“Why did you?” He asked, this time turning his head to meet yours.

You buried your face in your hands, groaning. “I have no idea.”

You do have some idea. You can’t remember a time of normalcy. The domestic life was constraining at times. Not that you didn’t love your son, but you missed certain things before him. How ironic, here you were with an ex and missing your son, yet when you were with Charlie, all you did was miss Billy. You imagined a different path, a dream, maybe Billy could’ve been Charlie’s father and not - you shook your head.

“What?” Billy’s voice brought you back to reality.

“Where the hell were you?” Your voice quivered.

His brows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Why now? Why so late?”

His face fell, some understanding showing.

“I needed you, a long time ago,” Your voice began to crack. “I was doing fine without you! I had you out of my system, I was getting over you.”

Then I saw your face, and now I can’t erase 15 years worth of yearning for you.

Somewhat of a lie, but you didn’t think you should be unloading almost every painful feeling of longing you had for him. He just listened intently, knowing that every word that came from you was a huge hit to your pride.

“I’m sorry. Look, I wish I could give you some sort of explanation that isn’t half-assed but there isn’t. I’m just a screw-up.” And maybe I just missed you, a lot.

You laughed bitterly, half-assed was right.

“What do you see when you look at me, Billy? Am I a screw up to you too?”

“No!” He places his hands on your shoulders, gentle with you. “We all fuck up. It’s been 15 years, something’s bound to change. No one seems to have it all together.”

With a pitiful scoff, you can’t help but feel seen. To feel like he knows how to ‘fake it till you make it’. And boy, does he know. But he won’t tell you this, yet.

Your head lulls down but he places his finger under your chin, forcing you to look at him. You’re emotionally bare in front of him, and he knows it won’t be long till he’s in your position. But it can wait.

“I like you, still. Maybe even more. You’re sexier, you don’t take my shit or probably anyone’s, you’re probably kicking my ass - career-wise I think.”

You give him an easy smile, the corners of your eyes wet for a moment before he wipes it away.

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious,” He laughs. “I think I might be the worst bastard in history.”

“Maybe not the worst.”

He feigns shock but nonetheless sees that you’re feeling better. Unless the front you were putting was more convincing than his ever was.

“Give me one day.” He pleads.

“One day?”

“One day. We can do whatever you want and if you love it then we keep this train going and see where this leads us, or at the end of the day if you still feel homesick, we can go our separate ways.”

I’ll let you go. He almost said. He just got you back, and he would be damned if he was going to let you go without a fight or at least a proper vacation. How selfish of him, but sometimes you had to be.

“I…..okay.”

He smiled from ear to ear, internally sighing in relief. “Great! I think this calls for a celebratory nap,” He checks his phone, it’s two am. “We’ve got a solid five hours and then the fun begins.”

Stepping out into the cool breeze of Chicago, you feel a little bit more optimistic about your relationship with Billy. Home was on the back burner for now, today was about you and your needs.

You stared at the train ticket, eyes flying everywhere trying to figure out what time the next train would come. Got to time that goodbye, maybe.

“Maybe it’s just me and the lack of sleep but I cannot find the next train time.”

“I can check.” He offers, suddenly distracted by the phone ringing. He seems anxious based on whatever he just received but puts up a calm front. “Be back in a bit.” With that, he walks back into the station.

You watch people walking, cars pass and get lost in the city soundscape. A woman passes you and hands you a brochure. The Cloud Gate at Millennium Park. It seemed interesting enough.

“Twenty-four hours till the next train, everything’s going according to plan.” He smiles warmly.

“Great.” You feign excitement. “Except, where will we sleep?”

“That, my dear, can be solved with a hotel room.”

The thought of you two in a hotel room made your mind reel. Not in a bad way of course, but well at least the room would be an upgrade from the tiny roomette. Who knows, the day is still young and maybe your horny prayers would be answered this time.

“Let’s get one now.” You were almost too eager as you took him by the hand and were on your merry way to finding a hotel. He wasn’t complaining.

“Someone’s excited.”

“Is it such a crime to want to fuck someone after being blue balled for twenty-four hours?”

“You know you can’t undo this.”

“Well, I don’t want to unfuck you. Do you?”

“No, ma’am.”

“That poor girl.” You said in a half horrified and half-embarrassed tone.

“What?” Billy asked as if he didn’t just have his hands all over your ass in the lobby. You were thankful you remembered to wear something underneath the skirt you had, afraid that the lobby cameras and some schmuck would’ve had tickets to a free peep show.

“I don’t know whether to smack you or berate you.” You whispered.

“You could fuck me.” The bastard smiled smugly.

You laughed nervously, ashamed to meet the passing eyes of people outside the hotel who’d heard that. “Very fucking funny.”

His shoulders shook as he laughed, content with himself.

“Okay, can we focus on the fact that that room was worth my rent and then some? Where the hell are we going to get all that money?”

“I’ll take care of that.” He said.

Within minutes, he was able to walk into a bank and you stood outside taking in your surroundings. Your eyes trailed off looking everywhere, trying to find something to pass the time. Your eyes landed on an ice cream cart not too far away and as if on cue, your stomach grumbled.

You placed a hand on top of your stomach. “Forgive me.”

You nabbed two cones, immediately devouring one and holding onto the other for Billy. When he came out, you gave him his quickly, afraid that you’d eat more than you’d like to. You raised your brows as if to ask if he’d gotten the money.

“It’s going to take a couple of hours.”

You hummed, dejected.

“Up for some sightseeing?” He asked. You nodded through a mouthful of ice cream and passed him the brochure.

The walk was long but you didn’t mind. It was a clear day, sun shining on the water and the chatter of people made you feel like you were in some cheesy rom-com with the love of your life without a care in the world. If only it were that easy.

“What do you think it means?” Billy asks, looking up at the reflective silver bean.

You mess with your reflection, pulling funny faces and taking some snapshots of it.

“That you definitely need more iron in you.”

He scrunches his face.

“How pretentious we must be. We’re analyzing a giant space bean.”

“Oh yes, 19 year old you must be so proud.” You quip, knowing he was the exact opposite of a valedictorian.

“Hmm no, that was more your expertise. Museum dates, staying in the library at ungodly hours, and making me study my arse off.”

“And now look at me. Totally living the life.” You couldn’t help but take a shot at yourself. Yes, you were smart, but what good had it done for you? Still a hopeless romantic.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Shit on yourself like that. You turned out way better than I did, I guess you leaving me was the right choice.”

“I didn’t leave, you did.”

“And what a screw up it was, hm?” He knows, no he admits, what a gargantuan screw up it was. “I always thought, now I can’t slow you down. She must be out there with an amazing career after all the shit I’ve put her through, and you do.”

“I lied.”

“What?”

“I’m not a nurse,” You’re word vomiting now. “Fuck’s sake I can’t even look at blood without fainting. I failed the program. I decided to choose something my mom didn’t lead me towards so I became a teacher and a…..failed writer.”

He nods and swallows.

“And then I met him. And I thought, maybe this is the right one. Maybe this time I could move on. He gave me the attention I thought I wanted. He gave me everything. But then I’d see you everywhere and I just couldn’t do it yet.”

“You still see him?” His voice is strained, and you pretend like you don’t see his jaw clench asking about this other lover.

You shake your head. “Fucker moved to a different state by the time I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t want him to come back but I also didn’t want to be lonely. So I kept Charlie.”

“I know.”

You smile thinking of your son. “He absolutely hates it when I sing. He loves to just throw a stuffed animal at me anytime I’m close to even thinking of singing.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Okay, well it’s a lot funnier than it seems.”

“I mean, you are kind of a bad singer.”

You punch his arm playfully. He yelps.

“No, I’m not!”

“I remember you trying to sing that god awful pop song in the shower every time and I’d always have to come in to shut you up.”

“You’re just jealous of my voice.”

“I bet the animals are too.” He chuckles. He yelps again as you punch his arm.

His phone dings in his pocket again, but you don’t notice him go into anxious mode again. Your eyes are admiring the architecture around you. He slips it back in and you turn your attention to him again.

“We should go shopping.”

You raise a brow. “Since when do you shop for yourself?”

“Come on, you don’t want to feel the richest you’ve ever been in some fancy new clothes in a hotel room?”

You hum. “I guess I’m overdue for some things.” Your blouse and skirt combo aren’t exactly feeling too fresh anymore and you think of the pretty lace sets you could find for tonight.

“What kinds of things?” He gives you a once over, practically undressing you with his eyes.

“I guess you’ll find out.”

You’ve never set foot in a store this fancy. You don’t see yourself as living this luxury. But a beautiful lavender dress blesses your eyes and you can’t help but take curious strides to it. The material basically melts in your hand, soft and silky.

“This is nice.”

“Very nice.”

You check the tag on the arm sleeve and recoil. “Eh, not that nice.”

“Buy it! It’ll look great on you.”

“That’s like $700, do you know what I can buy with $700?”

“It’s a special night. We’re traveling, we’re together. Can you honestly not say you’re dreaming of something like this?”

“If I told you I had used my savings for this trip, would you forgive me?” You winced, traveling was not cheap nor was it forgiving to your bank account.

“Here, take this.” He says, pulling out a wad of bills from his pocket like nothing. You feel like you’re asking your sugar daddy to fund your next shopping trip.

“How did you - I can’t take this.”

“Shh. Buy yourself something nice. Ok, that sounded wrong but it’s true.”

“Billy.”

“Think of it as a gift.”

You nod hesitantly but thank him.

“Alright, I’ll see you back at the hotel in an hour. Have fun.”

With that, he runs off and you turn back to your options. This was going to be a long hour.

#run hbo #hbo run #domnhall gleeson x reader #billy johnson x reader

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

Text

Survey #334

"i dreamed i was missing / you were so scared / but no one would listen, ‘cuz no one else cared”

Sunrise or sunset? Sunset has prettier colors, imo, but I enjoy the pastel nature of sunrises, too. Are you mentally ill? Oh brother. Are you physically ill? I don't have any serious physical health issues, no. Introvert or extrovert? I'm a very strong introvert. What do you think when you look at your body? That it's fucking disgusting. What have others said when they look at your body? When I was healthy, I was complimented every now and again. With the body I have now? I'm glad people keep their months shut. Do you have a particular song that you feel deeply? There's a good 'ole handful or two. Talk about a time in your life where you have felt most alive? It's weird, I'm not a city person at all, but possibly when I was walking the streets of Chicago with Sara and her dad one evening. There was just so much life, so many new sights, that it was impossible not to. Plus, I was at a very happy point in my life, so. I just enjoyed a lot. Are you confident wearing a bikini? FUCK NO. Have you ever been hurt physically or mentally by a family member? Mentally, obviously. Everyone has at some point. I've never been seriously physically hurt by family, but Mom did spank my sisters and me as kids if we did something wrong. Biggest lie you have told? I don't really know. I get really uncomfortable telling even minor lies, so making a big one would be excruciating. I'm not saying I've never said a biggie, I'm sure in 25 years of life I said something stupid at one point, I just don't remember it. Do you believe in the Illuminati? Nah; there's some compelling evidence, but I just think it's way too big of a secret to keep. Regrets in your life? Blaming the breakup entirely on Jason and saying just plain cruel things to him afterwards. Also sending an appallingly hateful letter to Dad to vent after the divorce. Flirting with my then-best friend's boyfriend at the time behind her back. Dating Tyler (it's a small one, but still a regret). There are others, those are just the only ones coming to me right now. Achievements in your life? Lots of academic success and awards (before college, anyway...), artistic accomplishments like having my work put in a museum, surviving a traumatic breakup, (mostly) recovering from massive depression... What did people say about you in school? Nothing, really. I was a quiet student who just did her work and tried hard. Is there something you have never told anyone? Yes. If you had two days to spend one million dollars how would you spend it? First, I'm paying off college debt. Then Mom gets a new car, followed by me getting new glasses and renewing my permit. I'm getting a good terrarium setup for Venus. Then, it's tattoo time, baby, haha. I can't really do the mental math on how much this all would cost, but those are the high-priority things I can think of. Describe your first kiss? Was it how you imagined? Jason and I were playfighting in bed, and he had me pinned. Our faces were close, and I decided to kiss him. It was a fairy tale moment, in my eyes. He looked so bashful for once (he's far from shy) but also really happy, and I was too. Growing up were you in a wealthy, average, or low income household? Low, I think. Or maybe average, when Dad was still around. Have you been raised by a solo parent? When I was around 17, my parents split, so kinda-sorta. Do you know both your parents? Thankfully, yes. Have you abused drugs or alcohol? No. Are you comfortable accepting compliments? Ehhhh, I really appreciate them and they can make my whole day, but I'm very awkward about it. I get shy. Are you comfortable giving compliments? Oh yes. I honestly love giving compliments; I know how happy they can make me, so why not share that with others? Is any mental illness hindering your life? Guess. (: Is any physical illness hindering your life? Well, it's not an "illness," but the muscles in my legs have severely atrophied from leading such a horribly sedentary lifestyle, and that has greatly affected my ability to work without the risk of just collapsing. Walking at all is painful. Are you preparing for an apocalypse? No. I'm not really one to worry about "prepping." If it happens, it happens, man. I'm not spending loads of money on a "maybe." Are you interested in cults? Not really, no. Are your parents good cooks? Mom is fine, but it's hard to really judge Dad's cooking since he barely ever did it, plus I haven't had his cooking in many, many years. I remember he was great at making breakfast, though. That was like a rare treat, him deciding to make breakfast for everyone. Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Did you like it? No. Do you know anyone who is an actor? No. Have your wisdom teeth come through yet? They never did. Have you ever used a public pay phone? No. Have you ever made an item of clothing? No. Have you taken someone's virginity? No. Is confidence cute? "Confidence, yes. But cockiness and arrogance, no. That’s a whole different area that’s definitely not cute." <<<< Nailed it. Would you be able to date someone who doesn’t make you laugh? Doubt it. Are you one of those people who never drinks soda? No; rather, I drink too much of it. I'm trying really hard to lay off of it, and I drink nowhere near as much as I used to (when oddly enough, I was healthy and fit), but I'm still not comfortable drinking a can and a half a day. Listening to? "Castle of Glass" by Linkin Park. Kinda obsessed. Ever used a bow and arrow? No, but archery is cool. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? I don't think this has happened since my senior shot in HS. Take a vitamin daily? Daily, no, but I really should. I take a Vitamin D capsule every Sunday, though. Favorite Taylor Swift song? I only really like "Love Story" and "Picture to Burn." Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yeah. Which are better: black or green olives? I don't like olives period, but I guess black. What’s your 3rd favourite animal? Huh, never thought of #3, just #1 and #2: meerkats and opossums. Maybe snakes? Do you like mushrooms? NO. NO NO NO. What dream do you remember most vividly? One I don't talk about. A childhood nickname? Mom called me "Twinkie" and still sometimes does. ;-; Does anyone in "real life" know that you take surveys? Would you be embarrassed if they found your blog? Just Sara. And yes, regarding some people. Who was the last person you blocked on social media? Did you have an argument that lead to that happening? I'm unsure, but probably. I don't tend to just like... randomly block people. What was the first social media account you remember signing up for? Are you still a member of that particular website, if it even still exists? Of course it was MySpace. It's still floating around somewhere in cyberspace. What website from your childhood/teen years do you wish still existed? I get nostalgic over the Animal Planet forums sometimes. Have you ever met up with anyone in real life that you first met via the internet? Did you get on as well as you thought you would? Yes, Sara. I felt like it would go just fine, but it went even better than I expected - I was oddly very comfortable around her and her family. Have you ever tried any of those meal replacement shakes? Are you a fan of things like that in general? Yeah; I tried many brands until I settled for Equate, surprisingly. Cheap does not equate to bad quality, my friends. We always have the chocolate ones in the house, and they're really not bad at all. Are you the kind of person to enjoy taking naps? I love me my daily nap, man. What's your favourite kind of cheese to have on a pizza? Idk, whatever cheese is normally used, lol. What's a hobby you loved when you were younger but no longer enjoy for whatever reason? I guess video editing. I can't say I'd no longer enjoy it at all, but now the idea sounds far more like a chore than fun. Is there a popular food/drink that you can't stand? What is it and why don't you like it? I could name five dozen, but here's just a few: coffee, pie, tea, fried chicken (or is that just a Southern thing to be obsessed with?), and... of course now that I'm asked this question, I'm blanking on the huge number I know exist. As for "why," that varies, but it's either just simply a taste or even a texture thing. How would your wedding boquet look like? I want a gothic-themed wedding, so imagine a mix of black and maroon roses... whew-wee. You’re at a bar, and you witness a man drugging some girl's drink. What do you do? No hesitation, I'm decking the motherfucker. Fuck my fear of men, he's getting knocked out, and I'm immediately alerting the staff, as well as of course the girl. Kids? How many? Why? Names? Boy or girl? Y'know, loads and loads of scaly and hairy ones. Got plenty of name ideas depending on what they are and how they look. The only baby whose gender matters to me is the tarantula because females live waaaay longer. Fuck them human babies, not for me. Are you an organ donor? Absolutely. I sure as hell ain't usin' 'em once I'm dead, so consider it my last act of selflessness. Whats the most you’ve ever lost gambling? I don't gamble. What is something you can never give up (that's not love or family)? My pebble from my "graduation" from my first partial hospitalization program. It's meant to symbolize how great pain and trials can file you into something beautiful. It was passed around group, everyone holding it in their hands as they wished me well and spoke their piece about me. I'm honestly just fighting back tears remembering it. Have you ever waited in line overnight for something? No, I'm way too impatient for that shit.. Do you think having an expensive phone is a good investment? Hm. I guess it depends on what you use it for. Have you ever witnessed a birth in person? A human birth, no fucking thank you. I've only ever seen pet cats give birth. Does anyone in your family smoke? My dad does, big time. He quit drinking, but never quite managed to stay away from cigarettes. Have you ever had a pet escape and run away? Seeing as I grew up with outdoor cats that we couldn't afford to fix, pretty much all of our tomcats left for roving once they came of a certain age. Do any of your exes know each other? Juan and Jason know each other, Jason and Girt know one another as well, and Sara and Girt have met. What’s an opinion you find impossible to take seriously? I simply cannot fathom the belief that "dinosaurs never existed." Explain the fucking fossils, like come the fuck on. It's absolute denial in the name of religion. What was the very first election you voted in? This one that just passed, actually. What is one random fact about you? I want like 20 tarantulas but Mom says no. :( Do you spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer? Fuck no, I will do anything to stay inside in summer. Do you wear band tees? if yes, which one is your favorite? I love band tees, yeah. My Ninja Sex Party shirt is the most comfortable, but comfort aside, it's hard to pick a favorite. Possibly my Otep one, 'cuz the design is dope. Do you ever re-arrange your room? No. What season do you want to get married in? Fall. What is the highest name-brand thing you own? Oh god, I don't own expensive brand stuff. I guess the only exclusion would be my Cloak shirt, but even that's not like, mad pricey. What color GameBoy did you have as a kid? Red. What was your favorite GameBoy game? Maybe that Catz game? Even though the music was the most fucking obnoxious meowing ever lmao. What was the last compliment you remember someone gave to you? Who was it? It was this guy in my PHP group; my therapist surprised the fuck out of me by sharing with everyone my most recent poem (I trust him a lot, and he urges me to send him my art, so I've done that twice), and I nearly fucking died from cardiac arrest. However, this Nick guy, who's a poetry major, told me it was better than stuff he reads in his Master's program. I almost cried. Have you ever personally been friends with a stripper or prostitute? No, not that I'm opposed though or anything. If you have tattoos, which one that you have was the most painful? The one on my inner forearm. Have you ever actually met and talked to someone who’s famous? No. When was the last time you got a parking ticket for anything at all? I never have. Do you have any pets who will bite anyone else out there, besides you? No; Roman won't even come close enough to a stranger TO bite, haha. It's funny, he's so goofy and you'd guess outgoing, but instead, he's terrified of people he doesn't recognize. What’s your favorite type of sushi? I don't eat sushi. What’s your favorite patriotic song? Don't have one. Have you ever read a book about a character in a psych ward? No, and I'd really prefer not to because it would just drag me back to dark times. Have you ever been in a mental hospital as a patient? ^ Have you ever had an ulcer? No. Do you like soy sauce? omfg no What’s your favorite store to browse around? Morph Market. @_@ It's a hub for reptiles for sale, and I have my days where I just browse the ball python morphs for like an hour or so, haha. What’s the name of the most recent baby a friend had? Christ, half my friends on Facebook are having babies, idr. I don't know who was the most recent. Do people normally say you’re a fast typer, or are you rather slow? I'm very fast. Have you ever been considered the "smartest person in school?" No; that was my friend Hannia. I'm pretty certain she would qualify as a genius. Her GPA was fucking incredible. Were you named after anyone famous or anyone on television? No.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''leave out all the rest'' by linkin park

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n-jadaddy · 6 years

Text

Streetcar

Erik Killmonger x Black!Reader

This is my first time at this rodeo so go easy on me,teehee. The song that inspired me to write this is called StreetCar by Daniel Caesar. Enjoy!

Let me know

Do I still got time to grow?

Things ain't always set in stone

That be known let me know

“Welcome to New York City!” Sounds of the bus coming to a halt echo through the terminal causing you to jolt awake from your nap. “Damn, we here already?” You shield your eyes and stretch your arms wide as the bright overhead lights flickered on. “Watch your step, don’t forget your to grab your luggage from under the bus, and have a safe night.” With that, the driver stepped off the bus and assisted passengers with their bags. You continue to gather your book bag and black pea coat as the lasting passengers file off the bus, once together you stand and follow behind them. The winds were surprisingly brisk, nothing you weren’t use to but you should’ve brought a bigger coat. ‘I should get somewhere warm.’ You thought buttoning your coat as far as it goes and rushing into the station, past the judgemental eyes of travelers wondering why you were wearing a thin coat in 20 degree weather. Reaching for your phone you press the home button, once, twice, nothing. Just the battery low symbol reminding you that you let your phone die before you left the city,you’d rather not be in contact with anyone. “Guess I’m doing this the old fashioned way” You walked through the revolving door of the station into the cold night air again, this time closing your coat tighter around you to conceal some warmth. Holding your thumb outward patiently waiting for a taxi to pull over your way but they all stopped the people either a few blocks ahead or a few blocks behind you. “Prejudice as hell” you mumbled it under your breath, just as you’re about to give up, a taxi pull up in front of you. Thank god. Anymore time out there you'd be frozen to death.

“Thank you so much, I’ve been waiting forever. I thought I’d never get a ride.” you chuckle sliding into the cab placing your bag next to you.

“No problem, you looked cold as hell in that itty bitty ass coat” the driver laughed. His voice was surprised you, it was musky, deep, and warm enough to make you forget about the weather outside the car. Looking up from your seat belt to get a better look at your driver, you were in shock. From what you could see through the rear view mirror, the man was handsome, his eyes dark and his dreads were well kept braided to the back. If only you could see the rest of his face, yo hoped the rest of it lived up to your expectations.

“Where to?”

“Huh?” you were so distracted you didn’t even realize he asked you a question.

“If you can ‘huh’ you can hear, damn ma, you deaf or somethin’ I asked you where you going” he was becoming frustrated, he adjusted his mirror to see somewhat of your eyes in the darkness of the car.

“Oh, uhh” you hadn't really thought about where you were going specifically, just that you didn't want to be where you were. “I dont know”

“Huh?” he questioned, eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

“If you can ‘huh’ you can hear” you used his words against him.

“Ma, get the hell out of my car” clearly irritated he unlocked the door.

“Wait! I'm not from around here, I dont really know where to go” you protested, hoping he'd reconsider and let you stay.

“I should’ve known, you wearin that small ass coat.” he locked the doors again and pulled away from the bustation taking off down the street. “How about I give you a lil tour then and we’ll see where things go from there” he smirked. You could see a dimple form on the side of his face. ‘Adorable’ you thought to yourself. “Yeah,that sounds great” you smiled and leaned against the window, it’ll be one hell of a cab fair but seeing the city would be worth it in the end, you’ll probably find a hotel while he drove you around.

“Oh yeah, Im YN. YN LN” how rude of you to ask him his name before getting into the car.

“Erik. Erik Stevens” he returned plainly.

You took a moment to admire the interior of the car, it was clean. Really clean, unlike other taxies you’ve been in, there was a faint smell of cologne, not too strong or soft, it was just right. There was hardly any decorations in the car, just a chain with a ring on the end hanging from the rear view mirror, as a rosary would, you could sense it was important but you didn’t want to question it. It didn’t seem like any of your business.

Seems like street lights, glowing, happen to be

Just like moments passing in front of me

So I hopped in the cab and I paid my fare

A faint sound of music coming from the radio to kill the awkward silence. However, that wasn’t enough for him. “So, where you from” Erik looked toward you through the mirror. “Oh, I’m from Chicago” you glanced back. “Aw, word? That’s surprising, I’d think you’d know better that to wear that thin ass coat outside then, it’s cold as fuck out there. Got you on the street shakin like a stripper in church.” You rolled your eyes, you could sworn you heard him smack his teeth at your action but you chose to ignore it. “It’s alright, I didn’t want anything weighing me down” hence why you only have your backpack with you, and that only contains your portable easel, some brushes, and your Macbook. “Hm, so how long you stayin?” “Uh, I don’t really know” “You just all over the place, huh ma.” “Well I know but I don’t. I’ll just be here until my feet take me somewhere else. could be days, weeks, years, even hours. I know where I’m supposed to be, I’ll know once I get there. You know?” You stare outside the window, the streets were surprisingly empty for a city that never sleeps. The lights reflecting off of the buildings were intense,mesmerizing, and inspiring. They focused themselves on the taxi as it moved through the night, like a spot light it made you feel as if you two were supposed to be the only ones in existence. “Yeah, I know” he agreed. “But I’d rather have a plan. Something I can sit with for a while and perfect it until it’s foolproof. I know where I’m going too but I just can’t base that shit on feeling tho, sometimes they can be deceiving and lead you to a dead end rather than your destination. I get you though ma, I’d rather be on the move than sittin in these streets.” he was right, you should’ve thought about this before you left the city. You couldn’t keep doing this every time something went wrong, and if you were to do it again, at least book a hotel first.

“You right” you admitted something you didn't do often

“Damn right i'm right I can't remember a time I was wrong.” he turned the car down another street full of colorful lights and giant lit up billboards with random advertisements. “Since you a tourist, I should show you some tourist shit, this is Times Square don't nobody really come here but tourist who most likely get finessed.” Erik pointed at each building and tried to explain them the best he could, he didn’t know what most of them were called. He just identified them as ‘the one with the big ass lights’ or ‘ the one with the little ass lights.

“You not from here are you?” you asked, trying to look at him the best you could, through your teary eyes from laughing too hard, it’s been awhile since you’ve done that.

“Nah, I’m from Oakland. I moved here after I had a run in with my cousin a couple years back” you weren't going to ask why, you knew your limits and it seemed as if he wasn't going to answer them if you asked anyway, and you didn't want to ruin the moment. You just readjusted yourself and looked out the window.

“What about you, why you here?”

You didn't know how you felt telling a stranger about your personal information but since he shared a little bit about him you'd share the bare minimum with him. “Some stuff back home happened and I decided to remove myself from the situation and come here, it was last minute but I needed to leave.” you couldn't go into detail otherwise you'd cry again, you’ve been strong for weeks now it was time to stop crying and move on, no matter how much you loved him he would want you to. You just couldn’t stop thinking about what you were suppose to do together, get married, have kids. But he had to fight, what did he have to prove? He was already an amazing boxer as is, he just had to fight in that match. And now he’s gone.

Life just ain't fair

Erik could sense the tension grow inside the car and he changed the subject. “Let's go get something to eat, I’m buyin. You've been out and about and I’m sure you're starving”

“Yeah, thank you.” you blink back your tears and smile.

Erik pulled into the parking lot of a 24 hour pizza parlor because he sworn up and down that Chicago’s pizza was trash compared to New York’s. He pulls into the parking lot and stops the car. He gets out the car and walks toward the doors, “let's go princess!” he calls out you rush out and jog to catch up behind him. Erik was taller than you thought, and swole as hell. He remind you of someone.

“I’m not a princess.” you stated crossing your arms and dropping your hip. He turns around fully facing you for the first time since you met and you were at lost for words. “Then what are you, princess?”

‘Adonis?’ you uncross your arms and stepped closer to him. This is impossible, Donnie died after in match a month ago but Erik looked so similar to him, everything down to the slightest detail, minus the dreads and the scruffy beard. You both looked into each others eyes, it was like you were lost in time, like you're supposed to be there for the rest of your life. You reach up to touch his face just in case it was your imagination but he grabs your hand, it feels just like his. “ you good, YN? You look like you're about to cry” you stepped back away from Erik and wiped a stray tear away. “Yeah, let's go eat.” you smile up at him.

See I know my destination, I'm just not there

#black panther #erik killmonger #erik killmonger x reader #n'jadaka udaku

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raging-violets · 5 years

Note

‘what keeps you up at night?’ for whoever you want!

Chicago PD: ‘what keeps you up at night?’ / Soft AngstStarters

#11. “what keeps you up at night?”

Everyone in the office wondered why Greg Gerwitz went by thenickname “Mouse” – accepted as ridiculous by the man himself – and why Jaywould always just smile whenever asked about it. It was obvious no one wouldget anything out of him. There was some sort of agreement between them: Jaydidn’t explain where “Mouse’s” nickname came from, and in return, Mouse didn’ttell any stories about his friend that anyone in the bullpen could use againsthim.

Still, everyone was curious. Rhuben most of all.

She hadn’t been in the Intelligence Unit that long - almost twoyears - but had everyone down pat.

Antonio, she knew best. Once she joined the unit, she wasimmediately assigned to be his partner. Their big age gap wasn’t an issue. Hewas a good cop, and a great teacher to learn from. They had each other’s backson duty and off. He was the one she went to when she needed life advice andinformation on how to navigate the district’s personnel (more specificallySargeant Platt), and he came to her when he was having some problems connectingwith his kids and whenever needed a second opinion on how to go about stressfulcases.

You never, under any circumstances, crossed Sargeant Voight,whether you accepted his actions or not. He was the boss and you did what hesaid, exactly as he said. Even if it meant bending the rules here and there.And the use of violence.

Olinsky was like Voight; he knew when to toe the line, whento step over it, and how to bring himself, and everyone around him back overit. But he was quieter force. Whenever he spoke you listened. He was a masterat undercover work, and knew how to read people, so Rhuben often wondered ifshe was really getting to know him. Maybe she never would, he was Voight’sright hand after all.

Erin was a bit harder to figure out. She clearly was greatpolice; how could she not be with Voight to guide her through life? Barelyanything they faced fazed her, but she was known to show a softer side to herwhenever kids were in trouble or young girls were in over their heads. It washarder to figure out which side of her you were going to get. They weren’t bestfriends (that role was reserved for Sheldon Jin, may he rest in peace), workedtogether, and had a civil understanding with each other that due to theirpasts, they knew that life couldn’t be fair. And it could be hard unless youknew how to traverse it.

Jay wasn’t afraid to ask Voight the questions others weretoo afraid to ask (Rhuben knew she was terrified to do so), and he was greatwith a gun. With a past in the military, how could you not be? It had to be whyhe had such a confidence in himself and his work and was often the one ininterrogation rooms. And he was undoubtedly physically fit, and proficient inclose combat. All attractive qualities, if Rhuben were being honest, and thingsshe instantly noticed about him. While unaware of her unrequited crush (or hewas just being polite), a snarky barb here, and a teasing comment there betweenthem wasn’t unheard of. Nor was a friendly bet regarding the status of the lovelives of a certain officer and patrolwoman.

She and Adam were the youngest in the Intelligence Unit, sothey clicked instantly. And he instantly got on her nerves in a little brotherkind of way, always knowing how to push her buttons just so far. Adam was moreimpulsive, often needing Kevin – who was recently pulled up into Intelligence –to pull him back and explain to him why what he did was wrong. While his impulsivenesswas also what impressed everyone, his naiveté and bravado aren’t a greatcombination on the other hand.

Kevin was the calm, cool, and collected one. He barely everraised his voice, but you knew whenever he was pissed off. Known for awesomeparties, Kevin was a real people person, knowing how to talk to anybody andeverybody. He took pride in his work, wanting to be a good role model to hislittle brother and sister. He had a big heart, and he used his big heart everyday in his job, wanting to give all the youths in the area the chance to growup and chase their dreams unscathed.

Watch anyone enough and you got a general idea of how theywere as a person, or their tell when something was bothering them, or how badthey were at keeping their feelings for other workers a secret. Mouse wasdifferent. He didn’t bring any attention to himself, mostly sticking to hisoffice, and waiting for people to come to him for updates in a case. Yet, hecould, and would, always chime in whenever Jay brought up a solution he hadexperienced overseas while in the military, backing him up on whatever idea hehad.

Rhuben knew he and Jay were in the same unit together, andthat he had been medically discharged, but not much else. But the man she hadmet in the back of Jay’s car while working on a case, Mouse the C.I. wasdifferent than the man working with the CPD, Mouse the IT guy, now. One guy hadstolen her French fries out of the carton, and the other had “given them back”by way of somehow hacking her phone to actually place a picture on her SD card.

His skills were equally impressive, yet terrifying if theywere being used against you.

But why the heck was he called Mouse? Was it because he wasso timid? That he was so shy, he barely looked you in the eye without some sortof apologetic smile? That he was so stealthy, you wouldn’t realize he was thereuntil he started talking, often being tripped up over his own words? Eventuallyshe would figure it out.

She had even told him as such. He just looked his bemusedself, but there was a hint of a challenge in there somewhere. His eyebrows shotup, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he gave a slight lift of his shouldersbefore going back to work.

Still, there was something about him that drew her attentionto him Something else. He wasn’t hard tolook at. The scruffy look was good for him. But, when he started putting someeffort into his appearance, he looked even better. Blue and green were twocolors that complimented him well.

You’re a detective,Rhuben reminded herself, noticing thingsabout people is in her job description, general appearance and clothingincluded. So were routines, andMouse, she recognized, had an affinity to spending time watching video feeds oftraffic. So much so, in fact, that she was unsurprised to find that imageprojected on his screens when she went into his office in search of a C.I.file.

Rhuben stepped past his desk and over to the shelves filledwith boxes upon boxes of paper. She scanned over the labels on the front of theboxes, glancing out of the side of her eye to the man lounged in his chair. Hisgaze was transfixed to the multiple-monitor set up he had. Unblinking. Finallylocating the file she was looking for, she stepped back over to his desk.Still, he didn’t realize that she was there.

“Can I ask you a question, mate?” Rhuben asked to Mouse’sback.

For a moment he didn’t react. Then he started, and swiveledhis chair around to face her, blue eyes wide in their usual startled look.“Huh?” he asked. Then he lifted a hand and adjusted his shirt collar,scratching at the back of his neck. “Me? Oh. Oh! Yeah, of course you mean me.”If possible, his eyes widened a little further. “What’s, uh, what’s up?”

“Why do you watch that?” she asked.

Mouse indicated the monitors behind him with his thumb. Heglanced back over his shoulder as if checking to se if it was still there. “This?”His hands went to the beanie on his head and he adjusted it to cover more ofhis hair. “It, uh, relaxes me, I guess.” His lips parted in a soft laugh.“Safer than, uh, doing so while driving.”

“I’ll bet,” Averey replied. Using her free hand, she tuckedher black hair back behind her ear. “What about it is relaxing?”

Mouse turned back towards the computers. His chest swelledas he took in a deep breath of air, nostrils flaring when he released itthrough his nose. Then, he turned his chair back towards her. “There’s just,too much silence.” He said it as more of a question. “You know? Too many, uh,it’s just too much time.” His eyes suddenly turned downwards. “A lot can, uh,happen in…” His fingers started twitching in his lap. “The sounds…”

Rhuben watched as his eyes became unfocused, staring througheverything and anything in front of him. His right knee started bouncing,sending vibrations through the floor. Mouse rolled his head on his neck,lifting his hands up to adjust and readjust the maroon beanie on his head. “It—it’s…”

Silence stretched between the two of them until Rhuben saidquietly, “Mouse?”

“Hm?” Mouse blinked, his eyes flickering back up towardsher. Slowly, very slowly, he settled back in his seat. “Sorry?”

“No worries, yeah?” Averey waved her hand in the air. “Youdon’t have to explain anything to me.” Mouse’s eyebrows angled towards each other.“I didn’t mean to…” Trigger you? Make youuncomfortable? “Yeah, sorry.” Mouse’s face turned a bright red. Maybe sheshould have just stayed silent, acted like nothing happened.

“No, it’s,” Mouse said quietly, “you’re fine.” For afraction of a second, he made a face at what he said. “I mean, you’re…it’s ok. Ican talk about it, um, sometimes.” A fleeting smile crossed his face and heslowly nodded. “I’ve been getting help. It’s, uh, thank you, I guess, for beingpatient, I guess?”

Rhuben blinked in surprise. “Ah, no problems, mate.”

“When I do that,” he let out a short, embarrassed laugh, “alot of people, kind of, just leave.” He started twisting his fingers together.He ran one over each finger nail before pressing down on the knuckle of hisring finger, splaying his other fingers. “So, um, thanks.” He gave Rhuben a doublethumbs up and a bright smile, earning a laugh from her.

“You’re such a goober,” she said. Mouse was stuck somewherebetween laughing with her and confused. “Don’t worry, yeah, it’s a good thing.”

“Oh, ok.” He settledback in his seat. “Cool.”

“You said you’ve been getting help?”

Mouse pulled his mouth to one side. “Therapy,” he admitted.He waited for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly. Almost as if he was daring herto make a comment about it. Little did he know that she understood. Therapy wasa regularly scheduled appearance for her since she was about eighteen yearsold. When he didn’t get the answer he was expecting, he continued on. “Yeah, Iwasn’t into it at first but…” He swallowed. “What keeps you up at night?”

“Sorry?” Rhuben asked, startled by the sudden topic change.

“That’s what I have to answer for homework. ‘What keeps youup at night?’”

Cheeks puffing as she expelled a breath of air, Rhuben setthe files in her hands down, leaning her weight on the counter. “Right,” shesaid, “that’s a loaded question. Reckon, I can’t just say ‘everything’?” Mouseshook his head back and forth, pulling the corners of his lips down. “Failing.”Mouse’s eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t say a word. “You?”

Making a pbbbt soundwith his mouth, Mouse smiled and said, “Everything.” Rhuben chuckled. Thevacant look started appearing in his eyes again. Not so distant, but stillthere in the corner as his mind drifted. “You know I thank God every day thatboth Jay and I made it back. That we made it out of that humvee.” His voicelowered, a gravelly tone coming to his voice, his word started blendingtogether. “And I was so glad to know that, because I don’t know how I wouldhave started my life over without him. I mean, I wasn’t doing so hot before,but he always helped me out when I needed it, you know?”

“But I wonder about the others. I’ve never stopped wonderingwhat happened to my friends. How did they fair? What are they doing now? Where are they now? Once I was discharged,that was it. I was cut off from everything I knew, and they expect me to justgo back to my normal life?” Mouse got up from his seat and started to pace.Rhuben watched him, pulling her lower lip into her mouth. “They expect me toact like I never went through, what I went through with them? I just, I had toknow, you know? I needed to know what happened with them. No one would tell me.”He kicked at his chair, sending it into the wall.

Mouse didn’t know what to do with his hands. His fingerswere twitching. He shoved his hands into his pockets. Removed them. Shook his hands.Placed them on his hips. Paced. Bit down on a thumbnail.

“That’s why you got busted for hacking into DoD satellite,”Rhuben said with a gasp. “You just wanted to know what happened to yourfriends.” Mouse continued to pace. “Oh, mate.”

“Maybe I could hear some news,” Mouse was more talking tohimself, yet was still answering her question, “maybe they would say somethingabout them. I just had to check. I ha-I had to. I just needed to know. I neverexpected I could actually do it. I was always good with computers. One day Iwas just tired. I was just, so tired of it. I managed to get in, and I did itagain, and I did it again, and the next thing I know, my door was busted down, andI was being charged as a felon.”

“I don’t…” Rhuben wetted her lips, and tried again, “I don’tknow what to say.” She made a face. “Other than, ‘that sucks’, I mean.”

Mouse let out an odd laugh. “Yeah, it does,” he agreed. Hecleared his throat, nodding his head towards the files in her hands. “I shouldlet you get that back upstairs.”

“Yeah, reckon I should go,” Rhuben said. “I told Antonio Iwouldn’t be long.” She tapped the folder in her hands against the counter andturned to leave.

“Hey.”

Rhuben turned back towards Mouse. “Yeah?”

“Just, um,” the embarrassed flush returned to Mouse’s face,making his blue eyes stand out even more, “thanks for listening.”

“Yeah, mate, for sure.” Giving Mouse one las smile, Rhubenturned on her heels and headed out of his office.

Maybe it’s short for Mighty Mouse, she thought to herself.

He may not have flight, but hedid have some semblance of invulnerability, and he was certainly showing a lotof strength. Two out of three wasn’t bad.

A/N: I’ve been talking for a long time about writing a CPD fic that would crossover with Riley’s CF fic. Figured I’d take this chance to do something with it. I always wondered what it was that would prompt Mouse to hack the Department of Defense satellite and mayyyybe this makes sense?

Plus, I’ve been binge re-watching both shows and I just love Mouse so much!

-Rhuben

[ Soft Angst Starters ]

#whindsor #prompt #chicago pd #greg gerwitz #rhuben jackson #cpd #mouse #authored by: rhuben #answered ask #thanks for sending this in

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