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taaroko · 3 years

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Kid Loki fic: Love Is a Dagger

Loki spoilers through episode five!

Summary: Loki and Sylvie have made it past Alioth thanks to Old Loki's sacrifice. Three more people Kid Loki has lost, but he's pretty much used to it by now.

Between "I killed Thor," Old Loki fulfilling his glorious purpose, Lokigator being the absolute goodest boy, and that glimpse we got of Mjolnir and Throg, "Journey into Mystery" left me feeling very inspired. I hope you like it!

Word count: 1131 Characters: Kid Loki, Lokigator, Throg

(Here’s the Ao3 link, or you can read it here.)

Loki should have helped them. He should’ve gone back when the old man did, but he was too afraid. He’d been running from Alioth for what felt like half his life—just the sort of existence he deserved after what he’d done.

“Hah! You fell for it! ...Thor? Thor! Stop it! The dagger was only a joke! Brother, get up!”

His throat grew tight and he scrubbed the back of a hand over his eyes. He bent down and picked up the battered helmet that was all that remained of the old man. Alligator Loki let out a wailing growl.

“I know,” said Loki. “I’m going to miss him too.” He’d met dozens of versions of himself down here, and he would be happy if he never saw most of them again, but the old man had been a friend. They’d looked after each other, and he didn’t treat Loki like a helpless child. The two new ones hadn’t been so bad either. He hoped they succeeded, wherever they were now.

“Come on. We shouldn’t stay here in the open.”

He got an inquisitive growl in reply.

“If they haven’t already killed each other, yeah.” He wasn’t deeply attached to the bunker where they’d been staying, but it was as decent a place as any to stay safe from Alioth. They could at least check to see whether the other Lokis were still there. Maybe set a trap in case they tried to come back.

They trudged across the fields of detritus. Alligator Loki got tired of walking before long and let Loki carry him. Loki didn’t mind. A lot of new things had fallen here since the last time he’d been out this way. He decided to have a look in case he could use any of it, which would give the other Lokis time to finish each other off if they were still fighting.

He found a functioning vehicle that looked like it could handle rough terrain pretty well and some interesting circuitry he might be able to rig to explode. Alligator Loki found an entire refrigerator full of meat that was still edible. Loki shrugged and heaved it onto his shoulder to load into the back of the vehicle. Once it was secure, he was about to ask if they should call it a day when he heard a quiet sound nearby. Like muffled croaking and something tinkling against glass. Alligator Loki looked up from the pieces of meat he’d been making short work of, a bit of one still dangling from the side of his mouth.

“I’m not sure,” said Loki. He held a finger to his lips, ducked down low, and conjured a dagger. They approached the source of the sounds slowly. Nothing jumped out at them to attack, and the sounds led them to a small ridge of rubbish. Loki looked at Alligator Loki, who nodded his big snout. Loki braced himself, then leapt out from behind the ridge.

There was nobody there. He frowned and looked down. His eyes widened and the dagger vanished from his hand. “Mjolnir?” he said. He had only seen the warhammer once before, when Father had shown him and Thor the relics in the Vault. According to stories he’d heard from other Lokis, the hammer was meant to be Thor’s, if he lived long enough to wield it.

Loki wished he hadn’t come this way. He could handle the endless copies of himself, but a Thor? He’d sooner let Alioth catch him than face one.

“Brother, please wake up! I didn’t mean it I swear!”

“Let’s get out of here.”

Alligator Loki didn’t move. He made an odd chirruping sound and bumped a glass jar with his nose. This resulted in a series of frantic croaks and ribbets. Curiosity overcoming his desire to leave, Loki grabbed the jar. Inside was a frog dressed in a winged helmet and full armor. Royal Asgardian armor.

He froze while the frog continued to beat webbed fists against the glass. Alligator Loki swiped at Loki’s foot and yipped impatiently. Heart pounding, Loki twisted the lid off the jar and reached in to scoop out the angry frog. The moment his fingers touched the slimy skin, he received a moderate zap of electricity—bad enough to be slightly painful but nowhere near enough to do real damage. “Hey!” he protested. The frog hopped out of the jar and landed on Mjolnir, still croaking angrily and stamping his webbed feet.

Alligator Loki lost what remained of his patience and bit Loki lightly on the leg. It was obvious what he wanted. Loki shouldn’t do it. He should run straight for the new vehicle and get as far away as he could. The ache in his chest wouldn’t let him. He raised a hand and felt for the enchantment around the frog. It wasn’t a spell he’d ever personally cast, but shapeshifting was easy, and apparently doing it to someone else wasn’t that much different. It took him a few minutes to study the spell. He found the loose threads of seidr in it and pulled. Green light engulfed the frog, and then a blond adolescent boy was standing in front of him.

“It’s about time you undid your stupid spell!” he shouted, his face bright red. “Were you really that jealous Father gave me Mjolnir that you had to ruin—” He broke off. “Are you crying, Loki?”

Tears were indeed pouring down Loki’s face. He fell to the ground and pulled his knees tight to his chest. “I’m sorry, Thor,” he said, his voice cracking horribly. “I’m so sorry.” Why was he being so stupid? It wasn’t even his Thor!

“I’m very glad you’re sorry for turning me into a frog,” said Thor, “but Loki, what’s going on? Why do you look two hundred years younger than you did this morning? Where are we? Why’s there a little alligator in a horned helmet hugging my leg?”

Loki wiped his eyes and accepted the hand Thor was holding out, letting himself get pulled to his feet. He stared up at Thor’s earnest, confused face. He was at least a foot taller than the Thor Loki remembered, and his hands and feet were far too big for the rest of him, but he was looking at him just the same as he always had. Suddenly it didn’t matter to Loki that this wasn’t his Thor. (And judging from the way Alligator Loki’s mouth was hanging open in a silly grin, it didn’t matter to him either.) “I can explain everything,” he said, “but it’s going to take a while and we need to get somewhere safe first.”

Thor bent to pick up Mjolnir (the weight of it made him sway a little; he obviously wasn’t used to it yet) and beamed at Loki. “Lead the way, Brother.”

I can't believe I made myself cry writing about a character who's only had ten minutes of screentime. I love this show.

This is most likely staying a one-shot, since I'm already 200K+ words deep into my other alternate timeline Brodinsons fic and it does not need competition for my creative energy, but it miiiiight end up being a couple chapters longer, because there are one or two more things I'd like them to do, especially if the final episode doesn't do anything else with Kid Loki.

#kid loki #brodinsons #throg #lokigator #loki series #loki spoilers #loki #thor #loki fanfiction

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kyber-crystal · 4 years

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An Accidental Confession

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Words: ~3.1k

Summary: In which you decided to a record a message explaining your feelings for Steve in case you didn't make it out of your mission alive. You don’t have any intention of it actually being heard by him, but you have no other choice to face your fear when it’s accidentally broadcasted across the entire compound.

Warnings: none, this is pure fluff haha with hints of a cocky steve hehe.

A/N: Some dialogue credits go to Descendants of the Sun! (yes, this is a oneshot of a scene from it, bc I love that drama with my whole heart)

Tags: Dedicating this to @sylvie-writes because she’s an absolute SWEETHEART. I LOVE YOU BB. go follow her!

"Hey, Y/N, check this out!"

You glanced up from where you were furiously typing away at the computer to see Peter with a wide grin on his face. "Hm?"

"Look what I found! Mr. Stark's old speaker set!" The teenager went around to behind the table and rolled out the speaker in front of you. "It was a bit souped up, but all it really needed was some TLC and here it is, good as new!"

"Found this old thing while he was cleaning up," Tony explained, "you wanna hook your phone up and give it a go?"

"Uh...sure, why not," you shrugged, standing up and pushing your seat in, making your way over to the two of them. You took your phone out of your pocket and plugged it in.

"Check, one, two," Peter spoke into the small microphone. "Check one, two, three. Hey! It's working!"

You couldn't help but grin at his enthusiasm. "How old is this thing, anyway?"

"Older than me, that's for sure. Now play something!"

"Alright, alright. Let's see..." you scrolled through your playlists until you found the one you wanted, pressing 'play' and putting it on shuffle. "There."

"Fly Me To The Moon! May played it for me all the time when I was little," Peter exclaimed. "She always insisted I educate myself on older music. Now I'm glad she did."

Bucky and Sam stopped screaming at each other as they battled it out in Mario Kart, quieting down and humming to the beat as they held their controllers tightly. Wanda smiled to herself as she stirred the pot of soup on the stove, Bruce on the verge of falling asleep as he sipped his coffee at the kitchen island and read a news article on his phone. The energy within the compound seemed to lighten significantly as Frank Sinatra's soothing voice echoed off the walls.

You went out to the patio to relax, crossing your arms and closing your eyes as the sounds of chirping crickets and music mixed together in one soothing melody, the moonlight reflecting over the water. For a brief moment in time, you were at peace - and you relished in the temporary feeling of serenity. The 'city that never slept' was sleepy, for once. It wasn't all that late, but you were already beginning to succumb to fatigue's temptations.

But then, the song came to an end and switched off to something else.

"Hey, Steve. I hope this message never finds you because if it does...it means I'm most likely dead-" your all-too familiar voice came over the phone, thick with tears as you struggled to contain your sobs. "God, what am I even doing here? I have a gunshot wound that most likely pierced a vital organ so I'm just gonna bleed out here alone- why am I even doing this? I don't even know how much longer it'll be before you arrive with the evac team...so I just want to apologize in advance for not coming back to you like I promised. If I'd known I'd die in a foreign country, I would've lived a more carefree life instead of constantly worrying, like you always told me to just relax sometimes, I'm so, so sorry-"

Your eyes widened in realization and you rushed across the facility as fast as you could possibly go to the labs.

"Leaving words like this before dying is so uncultured- please, Steve...are you on your way? Please tell me you're on your way. If I'm really dying here I don't wanna die alone. Please hurry...I don't think I can last until you get here. Even so, you'll be the first to find me if I die, that is, if my corpse isn't dragged away or some shit like that - God, this hurts- I almost forgot how much it hurt to get shot...damn...I really underestimated the power of a bullet, huh?

Steve's bandaged fists fell to his sides, the punching bag swinging back and forth so wildly that it would've knocked him over if it weren't for his muscular figure. His brow furrowed in concern and he felt a small ache his chest upon hearing your voice crack - you never cried, and even if you did, which was extremely rare, you were good at hiding it from others.

But then a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips - you did ramble sometimes, and he found it rather adorable. It was, in fact, one of the main reasons why he admired you so much.

"FRIDAY? Where's the source of this audio?"

"It's playing from Mr. Stark's speaker in the lab, Captain," the AI responded.

"Thank you."

He unwrapped the tape from around his hands and exited the training facility, going into a light jog as he headed up to the lounge.

"If I knew that I'd die like this, then I would've told you my true feelings. That I'm in love with you and I really wished you'd kissed me when we were watching that movie together- it was Die Hard, wasn't it? I really wished you'd done something. We were sitting so close, and...I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was tempted to just run my hands through your hair and kiss you. And I almost did. I'm so in love with you, hopelessly in love with you...and if there's anything that scares me more than dying alone, it's probably thinking of a way to tell you, and the fear of being rejected by my best friend, my partner in crime-"

A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. You were in love with him? He felt his heartbeat pick up speed at the thought. He always held that small bit of hope in his heart that you'd feel the same way.

Just as Steve arrived at the labs, you came bursting through the doors with a look of sheer panic in your eyes, your face drained of all color. You quickly unplugged your phone from the speaker as he watched on in amusement.

"Want some, Mr. Stark?" Peter offered through a mouthful of popcorn, holding the bag out to his mentor. "Seems like we're in for a treat here."

"Where'd you get these, kid?" Tony questioned as he reached over and popped several kernels into his mouth. "Mm. Caramel, a classic."

"I always keep some with me. Never know when drama will break out."

Steve laughed and shook his head as you quickly turned around on your heel and sprinted out of the room. It was so unlike you to act like this - normally you were rather guarded and stoic. To see you as anything but was not only amusing, but adorable in his eyes - it was one of the many things he loved about you, in fact.

"Music...really changes a lot of things," Peter cleared his throat awkwardly.

The super-soldier cracked a smile. "I seem to be in the center of that change."

He said a few quick goodbyes went to find you, as Peter and Tony continued enjoying their popcorn together.

"Oh my god, I'm so stupid, oh my god, why did I even record that damn message," you muttered, finding yourself going back outside again. You needed to clear your head and get away from Steve. The secondhand embarrassment you just knew was waiting for you was almost too much to even think about - what would he think of you now? What would everyone else think of you?

Steve had beaten you to it and was already out there, leaning against the glass railing with his arms crossed over his chest, wearing an amused expression on his face.

"Oh my god! You scared me!" your voice heightened to a shriek. "What the hell, Rogers? How are you here? Why are you here?"

"I know you like the back of my hand, sweetheart," he chuckled lightly. "You always come out here whenever you're restless or stressed out. Figured you'd try to flee as soon as you heard," he gestured back inside, "all that."

"That was none of your business!" you squeaked. "It was a private message, not meant for you to actually hear! It wasn't for you!"

"Well, you did announce it, publicly," he defended himself, pushing himself away from the railing and raising his hands in surrender. "And it sounded like it was for me. You said my name."

"It wasn't for you!"

"Then why'd you say Steve?"

"It's a different Steve?"

"A different Steve with a stealth suit, Quinjet, and evac team?"

"Y-yeah! B-but it's really funny. Why are you listening to other people's recordings?'

"Like I said, doll," your face flushed at the nickname, "it was broadcasted publicly. I didn't listen, I heard."

"Because you heard it, you carelessly hear it all the way through?"

He smirked. "You know, you're really cute when you're upset." He smirked, taking several steps towards you. You instinctively stepped back. "But why are you running away? When you were about to die you wanted to confess." With each step he took, you took another backwards. "But since you lived, you changed your mind?"

"Confess? That wasn't a confession. That wasn't me."

"This cell phone is yours," he held up your hand that tightly gripped your phone.

"This isn't a phone- Y/N, what the hell are you saying? Stop talking," you cursed yourself under your breath.

"It's an honor knowing I'm in your will," he said kindly.

"If you know then that's enough," you exhaled, stepping around him to leave. Steve stopped you by placing a hand out in front, before moving it to grip your wrist. You felt your skin heat up rapidly under his touch.

You gasped. "Look! Thor set the toaster on fire!"

"I'm not fooled, sweetheart."

You moved to try and leave again, but he only tightened his grip. "Whether or not it was a confession, I'm going to listen to it, so let's not run away, shall we?"

You were silent for several moments before responding, swallowing hard. "Okay. I got it. I'll answer you so let go of me and let's talk. Really."

"Really, right?"

He obeyed, releasing his hand from your wrist. You quickly moved around him and ran back inside. Steve just laughed to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

"She finally did it," Sam nodded in approval as he and Bucky finished their Rainbow Road deathmatch. "Good game, man."

"Yeah, good game," they shook hands, "but if I'm being honest...I didn't expect things to go down like that. If anything, Steve seems like he'd be the first to confess. The way they're dancing around each other like oblivious monkeys...damn."

"Couldn't have described it better."

...

You flopped onto your bed, panting heavily as you stared up at the ceiling. Your heart was beating so fast that you felt like passing out. Maybe I'll just die like this and I won't ever have to confess for real, you thought. That sounds much better than death by blood loss from a gunshot wound.

"Hey, darling."

You sat up and let out a short scream as you saw Steve leaning against your doorframe, that damn smirk still on his face. "What the hell? You can't just ambush me like that! How long have you been standing there for?"

"Long enough," he chuckled, sliding his hands in his pockets and stepping inside. This time, you were too lazy to push him away, and just allowed him to sit down next to you at the edge of your bed. Steve propped his hand on his chin as he gazed at you, smiling.

You sighed and let your head fall into your hands. "This is all your fault."

"My fault?" Steve tilted his head in confusion. "How is this my fault?"

"Becau- never mind. I'm busy. I gotta go check up on the new lab I'm working on with Bruce."

You stood up abruptly, but he reached out and grabbed your wrist again. "I'm going to go to the labs, too. He asked me to help with a few things. I think you just found yourself an escort."

"I can go by myself, Rogers. I'm an adult," you gave him a pointed look.

"Ouch. That stung," he pretended to look hurt. "Last name calling? I thought we agreed on sappy pet names. And besides, you know what happened last time you went somewhere alone. You got shot."

"Whatever."

"Hold on," he tugged you back so that you had to sit down again. "Why do you keep running away from me? You confess your feelings in your will and then you run."

"It wasn't my will."

"You said you were scared to die alone."

"It wasn't me. Where is your bout of confidence even coming from?"

"I'm not asking how you feel about me at the moment. Don't feel bad that I found out how you feel about me. Because I'm in love with you too, and nothing can change the fact that I like you even more now."

You swallowed hard.

He smiled again. "And you look beautiful today, doll."

"Stop with the pet names," you mumbled. You couldn't stop the tremor in your tone as you spoke

"Hey hey hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Steve brought a hand up to your face, lightly skimming the tip of his thumb across your cheekbone to wipe away the tears that had fallen. "Hey. Tell me what's wrong, darling."

As soon as that last word left his lips, you lost it. A broken sob escaped from your mouth before you broke down, and he felt guilt settle in the pit of his stomach. Sure, he was lightly teasing you - but he didn't intend for his jabs to hurt you in any way. That was the last thing he wanted to do - to see you cry. He hated seeing you cry.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry," he whispered, carefully wrapping his arms around you and pulling you to him, rubbing circles onto your back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken the teasing so far. I'm so sorry, Y/N-"

It took nearly twenty minutes for your sniffles to die down and another ten for your crying to stop completely, but he patiently held you until you did. And when it finally stopped, it still took you several moments before you could bring yourself to meet his eyes.

"I look like a mess," you muttered, quickly ducking your head down to wipe at your nose. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this-"

"You look lovely, regardless," Steve murmured, kissing your forehead. "You'll always look beautiful in my eyes."

"You're such a sap," you mumbled, closing your eyes. "I hate you."

"You know you love me, Y/N."

"No I don't."

"That message told me otherwise. You sounded like you were pretty in love, judging by the desperate tone in your voice-"

"Shut up!"

"Make me," he challenged, a smirk appearing on his face.

You huffed and stood up, crossing your arms. "You're a pain in the ass, you know that, Rogers?"

"Watch your language-"

"Make me."

"Using my own words against me, are you?" Steve raised a brow as he stood up as well, walking towards you. You kept walking backwards until you felt your back hit the wall and internally panicked when you realized there was nowhere else to go.

"Shit," you whispered. "I'm not escaping this one, am I?"

"Not a chance," he chuckled wistfully. You felt your heart do somersaults and your stomach twist itself into knots as he met your eyes, a softened look to them that you'd never seen before - what was it? Just a few minutes earlier you'd find yourself squirming beneath his intense gaze but for some reason, you stayed put.

When his lips pressed against yours, you felt a crackle of electricity across your skin and the world fell away. It seemed as if time stopped and held its breath as it watched the two of you, his arm curving around your waist as his free hand rested at the back of your neck, pulling you flush against him. Though you were taken aback by the sudden gesture and terrified you wasted no time in reacting, sinking deeper into the kiss. You could feel him smile against your lips and fireworks exploded inside your chest - if there was a way to describe pure magic, this would definitely be it. And he felt it too - and he swore to himself that he'd never felt a bigger rush of adrenaline before until now.

You looked absolutely stunning to him in that moment as you pulled apart - with your half-closed eyes, reddened cheeks, and swollen lips - his doing, no doubt. Your gaze slipped down to his equally swollen lips and you felt your face flush at the sight. Steve was quick to catch what you were doing and pulled you back in for more.

This time, it wasn't as innocent and quick. It was more needy, passionate - months, no, years of pent-up frustration he didn't even know he had seeping into it. Years of not being able to tell you finally being poured out into one grand gesture - years of finally getting closure because he now knew the girl he'd loved for as long as he could remember felt the same way.

"Oh my fucking shit."

The two of you were practically gasping for air as you broke apart a second time to see a smug-looking Sam.

"You just- I didn't interrupted something between y'all, did I?" Sam cocked a brow. "Looked like you were this close to-"

"No," you exhaled, "we weren't."

"I'm a GENIUS for fixing that speaker! If I hadn't done so you guys never would've gotten together!" Peter squealed as he appeared by the Falcon's side. "I believe a thank you is in order!"

"I hope my timing isn't bad, but I have to ask," Steve cleared his throat and looked you straight in the eye. "that was a confession, right? And you didn't do it just because you felt compelled to. Be honest with me."

You let out a sigh of defeat. "Yeah...it was."

He broke into a gorgeous, million-dollar grin that made you weak at the knees. He leaned down, lips ghosting over yours as if he was going to kiss you again - but pulled back, much to your disappointment.

"I guess I'm the victor of this battle, huh," he whispered before releasing his hold on you and walking out, leaving you to stand there utterly shell-shocked and speechless as Peter and Sam began teasing you.

#avengers imagine #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers imagine #avengers x reader #captain america imagine #captain america x reader #marvel fic #avengers fanfiction #captain america one shot #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers one shot #captain america fanfiction #steve rogers fic #captain america fic #chris evans x reader #chris evans imagine #chris evans fic #chris evans one shot

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canonicallysoulmates · 3 years

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Here are my thoughts and opinions on the first season of Loki.

First of all, if you have not re-watched this season I highly recommend it. It’s only 6hrs, pick a day, get some snacks, binge the whole thing especially if you weren’t a big fan of it the first time around because re-watching it I noticed some things that I hadn’t before but I also found myself liking some things that I hadn’t the first time around. Which is why I recommend re-watching it, cause maybe it’ll be the same for y’all and you’ll find some new things to love, and end up enjoying some things you hadn’t before. It’s really a different experience to watch the whole thing together than when you watch week to week which makes sense cause MCU shows are meant to be movie-esque.

Now, I’ve spoken pretty positively about this show almost on the daily so let’s switch it up and start with the negatives aka the things that I personally didn’t like because while I enjoyed a lot of this show there are things I wasn’t a fan of and things that did irk me a lot; the first thing is very much a pet peeve: the title sequence, I’ve mentioned it before in passing but it reminds me too much of Gravity Falls and Bill Cipher, I gave it 6 episodes, 12 if you count the re-watches, and I just don’t like it at all, I get what they were going for but I don’t think it fits the show and I’m hoping they change it for s2.

But that’s a small thing, I can deal with that, the two (technically three) big things I didn’t like - and I think this is why episode 1 is my least favorite and to me the weakest of the season - is the way the show completely ignores Odin’s abuse and the effect that had on Loki, and the way he’s written in the first three episodes. I will go into detail.

I have no shame in admitting that I am pretty forgiving when it comes to this show and its flaws but the one thing I cannot forgive is how it not only ignores Odin’s abusive behavior but tries to paint him as a loving father and like Loki was the one in the wrong using the most insulting way possible which is that scene in Ragnarok where Odin tells his sons he loves them as if an ‘I love you’ undid years of abuse and bad parenting; it shouldn’t surprise me that they did this because the mcu does have a history and a pattern of being abuse apologists like portraying Thanos killing Gamora to get the soul stone as him loving her, or completely ignoring the horrible father that Howard Stark was. But it still really pisses me off that this show in which a big theme is exploring Loki psychologically and emotionally doesn’t even make mention of what a horrible father Odin was! And it tries to make it seem that just because Loki heard his father say a version of him that he loves him, that Loki suddenly thinks of him as a loving parent (referring to that line in episode 5 where he’s talking to Sylvie and says he has betrayed everyone who has loved him and mentions his asshole of a father instead of his mother!). I didn’t need them to go into details about this, but I did want them to call abuse abuse, and acknowledge Odin was a bad father. To me this is the biggest sin so far of this series. It doesn’t surprise me but it does disappoint me.

Connected to this, and in episode 1 we stay, is the “psychological exploration” of this character. I know after episode 1 a lot of fans were all “omg Loki finally got some therapy 😭” and then there’s me in the corner, shaking my head and saying no he didn’t, not at all, not even close. There was no therapy. And there was zero character exploration. I like Mobius but he is no Linda Martin.

All that happened was Loki being shown the consequences of his actions and being directly asked multiple times if he likes hurting people which of course he doesn’t, that’s not therapy at no point did Loki’s trauma get addressed, at no point did Loki get walked through that stuff or asked why he is how he is or what happened to change him from someone who was just mischievous to someone who caused harm.

Sorry to burst y’alls bubble but Loki did not get therapy in episode 1. Change Mobius lines about how Loki is just meant to cause pain and suffering and death for “imagined slights” and you’d have pretty much the same as every other MCU movie. At most what he got was an intervention to help him realize he didn’t want to be a bad person. Intervention and therapy are not the same thing.

And again, not surprised. If the mcu doesn’t properly explore their main, multiple movie having characters trauma and issues why were we expecting them to do it with Loki? Gotta keep those expectations in check. And in part I understand that the writers had a limited amount of time and they wanted to jump right into things but if they were gonna have only one episode with an emphasis on this they could have done a much better job while still jumping into the main story and moving on to character growth. To me this is the second biggest sin. And why episode 1 is ultimately my least favorite.

Last but not least, and something I can be more lenient and forgiving about but I still don’t like is the way Loki was written in the first three episodes. The way he was written was more comical to the point of borderline clown-ish sometimes which doesn’t match his personality at all, and don’t get me wrong there are times when it works but for the most part it just comes across as weird, like the writers were trying too hard to be funny and lighthearted at some points and it just doesn’t work, it ends up with him being a joke.

I’ll use a scene that I absolutely adore as a small example: Loki singing in episode 3. It’s one of my favorite scenes of the season, absolutely live for it, it lives in my head rent free in the VIP section but it’s a very flawed scene because Loki would never. Getting drunk on a mission is what Thor would do, not Loki, that is Thor through and through so as much as I love that scene, it is a flawed, ooc Loki scene.

The good thing is the show does improve in how it writes him in the last three eps, they stop trying so hard with the comedy, he’s more serious, more badass, he still has funny moments for example his reaction to Alligator Loki was hilarious but it’s more natural and fitting. So hopefully, in season 2 it will be the same writing team, and there will be more consistency and he’ll be written less comically and more badass.

Moving on to the positives, there are a lot of things I thoroughly enjoyed, starting with having Loki back on my screen and the center of attention- my baby, my darling, my love 💚 I’m so glad that he (and Tom!) is finally getting the attention, and love, and praise, and recognition that he has been deserving of all these years!

It gave me some of my favorite Loki scenes like I mentioned Loki singing it may be a flawed scene but I loved it nonetheless, it had some really cool fight scenes especially towards the end, it gave Loki a friend! A real friend! My baby is all grown up! 😭💚

The cinematography was beautiful, like you can say a lot about this show but you cannot deny that visually it is stunning and the directing was amazing. The soundtrack was pretty good too, I mean c’mon, ‘I need a Hero’? Iconic.

This show gave us Alligator Loki! How can one not love that! It kick started what looks to be the coolest aspect of Phase 4, it gave us bi, genderfluid Loki (which also brought out some of the ugliest sides of this fandom but this ain’t the time or place for that conversation 🙃), it gave me a new favorite character in Sylvie absolutely love her 💛

It gave me hope that the sun will shine again on Thor and Loki! That they’ll cross paths once again at some point and be reunited! And when they are, we better get that hug!

It gave me my new OTP in the form of Loki x Sylvie, they have great chemistry, and they’re super cute together, and they’re so good for one another and I just love them so much; I know it’s a “controversial” ship but I hope they stick to it and we get more of them in s2 because they are the best couple Marvel has ever given us they are passionate and cute and angsty, and they have the foundation for the most epic love story.

In conclusion, was Loki season 1 perfect? Was it everything I wanted? Nope. But ultimately, it gave me more that I enjoyed than not- also, I can tell this was something that was done with a lot of love and joy and effort put into it which as someone who has loved a show where the writer’s room noticeably didn’t give a rat’s ass, I can appreciate a lot.

Overall I’m very happy with the first season; I love this show, flaws and all, and I can’t wait for s2!

#loki #loki series #loki s1 #loki on disney+#loki series critical #anti odin #my opinion #mine #non spn

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procrastinatorimagines · 4 years

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Could Have Been More Part 3

Fandom: Chicago PD / One Chicago

Series: Could Have Been More

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 (Final)

Character/s: Hank Voight x Reader

Warning/s: mentions of death/murder

Word Count: 1,545

Summary: Y/N blames herself for a killer now loose in Chicago and Hank does his best to comfort her

The body count had been 10. 10 people were dead, all because you’d meddled with something that was none of your business. Bangers, an officer had told you, part of the same gang as the first victim and his girlfriend, the dead waitress. Apparently the manager, Strauss, had been using his cafe as a front to move product, and now he was cleaning house.

You’d basically put yourself on autopilot after that, double checking patients and talking to officers, but it all sounded so far away, like you were listening to everything at a distance. No, like you were underwater, that would explain why you were finding it so hard to breath anyway.

After you’d gone to Med Kev and Adam had met you outside, explaining to Sylvie that there would be another paramedic to fill in for you for the rest of shift, and until this case was over. Sylvie was shocked and concerned, but Kev had told her he couldn’t get into it with her right now but that everything was going to be okay. You’d nodded along numbly and Slyvie had tried to protest, but in the end she had been called to a fire with the rest of 51 and she’d reluctantly left, giving your hand a squeeze as she did.

“Voight filled us in mostly, we’re going to take you straight home now, someone’ll pick your stuff up from 51,” Kev explained, looking at you sympathetically.

“And don’t worry, we’ll be outside all night keeping an eye on you,” Adam patted you on the shoulder and gestured for you to follow them to the car, your mind still racing as your body started to move in their direction.

You figured by everything, well, that’s exactly what they meant. Voight may have been secretive, but he’d never miss out information if it put the unit or anyone else in danger. And right now the person in danger was you, and so in order to keep you safe, they needed to know the whole story.

The drive was mostly quiet, save for Adam and Kev attempting to start conversations with you, but your mind kept going back to the bodies, and your argument with Hank at the firehouse.

“It’s going to be okay Y/N,” Adam tried to reassure you as you reached your house, two uniforms going in to do a sweep before they let you enter.

“I should have just left it alone,” you replied, heading into the front room and sitting down on the couch, head in hands.

“This isn’t on you, this is on Strauss, and we’re going to catch him,” Kev told you.

“And how many more people is he going to kill first?” You asked, exhausted from the stress of today even though your mind was doing everything but shut off. “I just- I think I just need some sleep.”

“Okay, we’ll let you get some rest, let us know if you need anything, we’ll be just outside,” Adam reminded you, looking like he wanted to say more but not knowing where to start. He’d be blaming himself too, and he knew it.

It was getting pretty late, so you figured you’d try and eat something and then get some sleep, but by the time you’d struggled to get some pasta down and gotten ready for bed, you’d just ended up lying there, mind racing, unable to do anything but think about what had happened. Your eyes were so tired you could hardly keep them open, but your mind hadn’t gotten the memo.

Was this on you? Would those people still have been alive right now? You tossed and turned until your sheets were too tangled for you to move properly and then threw them off. Did they really think you were going to be a target? This was ridiculous, you should have left well enough alone, trusted Hank to have plan like he always seemed to, and none of this would be happening. Strauss would be behind bars... You didn’t care if they’d had gang ties or not, people were people, and no one deserved to die like that.

With a large sigh you got out of bed and looked at your phone, texts from your friends checking in and asking what the hell was going on, but nothing from Hank. You didn’t know why, you were probably the last person he wanted to see, but you really needed him right now. Getting dressed again you thought about how much you just needed someone to talk to, and as much as the others probably wouldn’t believe it, Hank was actually pretty easy to talk to once you got to know him.

So you grabbed your shoes and coat and headed out the house, Adam rolling down his window when he saw you approaching.

“Everything okay?” He asked, looking up and down the street to make sure it was clear.

“Yeah... I just-” You stumbled.

“Can’t sleep?” Kev asked and you nodded, crossing your arms over yourself to try and stop the chill.

“You mind er...” You clicked your tongue and thought about how you could ask them this. They knew, but it was different saying it out loud. Adam looked at you expectantly, waiting for you to continue. “Couldn’t drive me to Voight’s could you?” You got out and they both shared a look as Kev shrugged.

“Guess it’s not like you wouldn’t be safe,” he said, gesturing for you to get in the back, which you did with thanks.

“You sure?” Adam double checked as you buckled in.

“Yeah... yeah I’m sure,” you told them and they shared another look. You guessed they probably still didn’t know quite what to say about the two of you, and you didn’t blame them, 51 had certainly been shocked and they hadn’t found out with the added layer of a murder investigation. But they took you anyway, probably realising that Hank Voight’s house was actually the safest place you could be. So they drove you there, glancing in the mirror every now and then to check if you were alright.

“Do you... need us to wait outside?” Kev asked carefully as you pulled up outside Hank’s. It felt strange not having to sneak around to get there anymore, but it also felt slightly freeing that it was all out in the open, despite the circumstances.

You shook your head and got out, “I’ll be alright, see you guys tomorrow, thanks for the lift,” you replied and they said goodnight, waiting as you headed up the path to the door and knocked.

Hank didn’t look too surprised to see you, but he did cast a conscious glance behind you to where you heard Kev and Adam start to drive off. “Sorry, I know it’s late,” you apologised, realising that this may have been a bad idea.

“It’s okay, come on in,” he said, standing aside so you could enter. You put your coat where you always did and turned back to face Hank as he continued, “are you alright?”

“Not really,” you told him honestly, “can’t really sleep, I guess I just keep going over what happened-”

“It’s not on you, Y/N,” Hank tried, putting his hands on your shoulders, “you didn’t make Strauss kill those people.”

“He wouldn’t have had the chance if I’d have just-” Your voice broke a little, the guilt feeling too overwhelming for you to finish that sentence. Hank pulled you in for a hug and you buried your head in his shoulder.

“You’ve got a good heart Y/N, it’s what I’ve always loved about you, you always try to do the right thing,” he stroked your hair to comfort you, stepping back quickly after a few seconds, as if only just remembering that he shouldn’t be getting that close to you anymore.

“Hank-” you started but he cleared his throat, putting a boundary between the two of you as he led you into the front room to sit down.

“His place was empty when we raided it Y/N, and his bank account had been cleared days before you called your friend,” Hank explained, cautiously putting his hand on yours as he spoke. “This isn’t on you.” You let the words sink in, knowing Hank wouldn’t lie to you about something like this, even to make you feel better.

“What do I do now?” You asked quietly, giving in and leaning your head on Hank’s shoulder. He tensed a little but didn’t pull away again, missing you as much as you missed him.

“Keep moving forward, we’ll catch this guy Y/N,” he answered after some silence. “You can stay here if you want? I can... make up the spare room.”

“Thank you,” you said, feeling a little better, and safer, already.

“We can talk more in the morning,” you lifted up your head to look at him, so many things left unsaid written all over his usually unreadable face as he spoke, not really wanting you to sleep apart but knowing it was for the best.

“Okay,” was all you said, wanting to say more too, not wanting him to let go of your hand as he slipped away upstairs to make you a bed, and certain not knowing what the morning would bring.

#hank voight #chicago pd #one chicago #hank voight imagine #chicago pd imagine #hank voight imagines #chicago pd imagines #hank voight one shot #chicago pd one shot #one chicago imagine #one chicago imagines #one chicago one shot #could have been more

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notallthosewho-wanderarelost · 3 years

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Real quick scattering of thoughts on Loki 1x02 and x03 before I watch the newest episode. I watched them pretty much at the same time so it’s a two-for-one post. Here be spoilers for episode 3! On mobile so no cut again, sorry.

Spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned.

Okay. In no particular order but attempting to start with ep 2 first:

Loki trying to get info on the Timekeepers and the TVA in ep 2 and being blocked by the most bored archive librarian ever was hilarious. The whole sequence of him trying to get her attention only for her to completely ignore him until he rang the bell was creepy but so funny.

Loki’s reaction to getting the details on Ragnarok made me so sad. :( Same, Loki. SAME. I’m also still gutted Asgard was destroyed and I refuse to even watch the movie ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But him going to look at that in the first place made me wonder if maybe in the back of his mind Loki’s coming up with a plan to save Asgard? (Or at least, one version of Asgard in the multiverse.) I would love that. I want Asgard back in general and was hoping for Thor 4, but having Loki be the one to save Asgard would be SO fitting. He may be adopted but he’s still an Asgardian at heart, truly. Having Loki be the one to save Asgard would be a great way to show him finally acknowledging that and have all the Asgardians acknowledge it too.

We have an official population for MCU Asgard! 9719 people. That fits. It’s about twice the size of a pretty small suburban town. Asgard is SMALL. It just doesn’t have the space for a lot of people. It’s still a city, but Asgard the Realm has other things on it besides just the city, so it can’t have a huge population.

I wonder what the official population of New Asgard is when we see it in Endgame? And how many Asgardians come back post-Blip? This would really all depend on how many people made it through Hela’s rule and onto the ship during Ragnarok- and then half of them would’ve been killed by Thanos in the beginning of Infinity War. Would half of the remainder have been Snapped away at the end of IW, or would Thanos leave them out since he already halved their population? File under questions Marvel will probably never answer. Also file under “Thanos continues to be really bad at math.” (Should probably go look at the New Asgard sign again to check, but I don’t think it listed population.)

Loki annoying Mobius by messing with his salad was great. Loki annoying Mobius in general was great.

Loki letting the goats free in Pompeii made me think he might have a liking for goats, which means I now have a headcanon that Loki was friends with Thor’s goats as a kid and would sometimes let them loose to get their assistance with pranks. Thank you show, for cute kid Loki headcanons.

Tom Hiddleston probably had a BLAST yelling at people in Latin in character as Loki, and good for him!

Sylvie’s entrance sequence at the beginning of the episode with the fight scene vs the TVA set to “I Need a Hero” was amazing. I haven’t seen Shrek in a while but this might just reach the same levels of A+ “I Need A Hero” song usage as the Shrek sequence.

Speaking of the beginning of the episode, the Ren Faire setting was SO good. Great way to get laughs, and it made me want to go to a Ren Faire again.

The Roxxcart setting for the big encounter later in the episode made me flash back on all the times Roxxon’s appeared in the MCU. Two main thoughts: 1. I so want a Jane!Thor movie where the main villain is Dario Agger, evil Roxxon CEO and Minotaur. Preferably working with a better version of Malekith (from another universe probably) like in comics, because as much as I love Thor 2 my one complaint is that their version of Malekith was SO LAME. Especially compared to comics!Malekith. Plus an Agger + Malekith teamup would mean both the Nine Realms AND Earth are in danger, by definition. Thor 5 please, Marvel. 2. I really, really miss Cloak and Dagger and that show deserved so much better.

(Our) Loki’s perpetual insistence that he’s better and that the plot (pun intended) is about him is both funny and also a little sad- because he knows, or at least thinks, that if he stops insisting those things, everyone will stop paying any attention to him whatsoever. And he needs attention.

Poor Mobius probably felt so betrayed at the end of this episode. :(

Onward to episode 3!

This was by far my favorite episode so far. I LOVE Sylvie. I love her and Loki’s dynamic. I love that we get Loki talking to someone he considers an equal about some very personal things, and that Sylvie does the same thing with him. They understand each other in a way nobody else has. Because they’re the same person, sort of. I’ve taken to calling them “alternate reality twins” and that’s what I’ll keep calling them unless told otherwise.

They also annoy each other in a way nobody else can. And it’s hilarious. They look equally annoyed at the other not falling for their tricks and equally annoyed at needing the other’s help before they really start to bond and I LOVE ALL OF IT. I also feel like they adopt each other a lot quicker than either would be willing to admit, and then they’re annoyed at that! Loki yelling “you’re so weird!” at Sylvie made me go “OH they’re bickering like siblings!!!” and that was pretty early on! I’m an only child but that had peak sibling energy to me. Even them trying to trick and outdo each other had sibling energy most of the time.

Their earlier fight when they first get to Lamentis, before they realize where they are, had some VERY quality quips and also really had me wondering who would win in a fight between the two of them. Sylvie seems to have more physical strength, and she’s got a sword instead of daggers so longer reach, but Loki has skill and he has tricks. I think with his skill at magic (he can TELEPORT?! Probably only a few feet and probably limited by where he can see but that’s SO COOL!!! I don’t think we knew he could do that?!) Loki would likely run rings around Sylvie IF there were no people around for her to enchant. And assuming that she wasn’t able to set any traps beforehand, because Sylvie has proven well able to set traps to take down people who should be at a major advantage against her. Otherwise, I think Sylvie would win. She seems to have better physical training than our Loki, and if there were any people around for her to enchant he’d have to contend with them too. And if Sylvie could lay traps ahead of time, then it could go either way (you never can tell with a Loki, much less two) but I think Loki would probably lose. Loki is just as tricky as she is but that seems to be something she’s had a lot of practice in. Loki is more about confusing opponents with illusions and duplicates and talking his way around people. Sylvie sets traps instead, and is more comfortable/better at using brute physical force.

Speaking of enchanting, me while watching episode 2: “Hey, these mind controlling powers remind me of Enchantress’ powers!”

Sylvie in episode 3: calls her powers “enchanting”

Me: “OH.”

So Sylvie seems to be a composite of 3 characters. 1. Lady Loki, as in Loki when identifying as female. (There’s also that time from before they said Loki was genderfluid and a shapeshifter and back when Loki was still evil when he possessed Sif’s body and went by Lady Loki, but we don’t talk about that.) 2. Amora the Enchantress, a major Thor character/villain who uses magic to “enchant” people into doing what she wants-yes this is definitely a cringey “magically enchants people into loving her, consent-issues-out-the-wazoo” evil seductress stereotype in old comics, but it’s gotten better recently. And 3. Sylvie Lushton, the much lesser-known second Enchantress, who was a regular teenage human girl when after a Ragnarok (don’t remember which one, there have been multiple but this would’ve been early 2000s) Loki for shits and giggles decided to make her think she was Amora and give her the powers to match. She was on the Dark Reign-era (aka when Norman Osborn was in charge of SHIELD and the Avengers) version of the Young Avengers, the Young Masters of Evil, and that’s where I know her from. She’s a great character- she genuinely wants to do good and help people, but her brain is a bit messed up by the number Loki did on it, so she gets confused. I believe she’s currently in comic book limbo after Amora found out about her a while back, got pissed at her for stealing her name and her whole Thing, and tossed her somewhere dangerous on the World Tree while saying something about how if she can survive it then she’ll prove she deserves the name Enchantress. She sadly hasn’t been seen since as far as I know.

So each of those characters have similar characteristics with Loki’s Sylvie. Sylvie 1. Is a Loki who is female (Lady Loki), 2. Was presumably raised on Asgard and uses her magic to “enchant” people via a form of mind control into doing what she wants (Amora the Enchantress), 3. Is named Sylvie (Sylvie Lushton, Encanhtress II). Also worth noting that both Amora and Sylvie Lushton have blond hair, and so does the MCU’s Sylvie. All three characters also have green colored magic!

May turn the above bullets into their own post just for informational purposes. Also, when we said we wanted Enchantress in the MCU, this is not what we meant. Stop with the Monkey’s Paw-style wish granting, Marvel! (Looking at you, X-Men comics’ response to us wanting more Wanda.)

Anyway. Will round off with my favorite thing: everything on the train. Everything on the train was WONDERFUL.

Loki telling Sylvie about Frigga and how she taught him magic and then demonstrating the fireworks made me tear up. 🥺 Right in the feels. I miss Frigga a lot. I miss Asgard/the old Thor franchise in general a lot, but this is about Frigga. She was AMAZING and I miss her. Forever love the detail that Tom and Rene came up with the idea on the set of Thor 1 that Frigga is the one who taught Loki magic and fighting and how that informed their characters’ dynamic to the point of it being canonically discussed later. There’s a great Thor 2 deleted scene where Frigga talks to Thor about this exact thing. Frigga is such a fave of mine.

Sylvie telling Loki about her own past in turn made me very curious what her life was like and what the differences are. She seemed to have had a really hard time of it as a kid and I just want to hug her. (I also want to hug Loki, but that isn’t news.) Loki has had a very tough time, but really only after finding out he was adopted. He doesn’t appear to have had many friends on Asgard before (though I headcanon that he was friends with Lorelai before her exile, and since it’s my headcanon I imagine a similar situation with Amora, if not quite as close a friendship because comics Loki gets along better with Lorelai than her sister) but he at least had a family who loved him and who he loved, and a status as a prince that would’ve given him a good life and protection. Sylvie doesn’t seem to have had any of that as a kid. :(

“Surely there were some would-be princesses? Or perhaps a prince?” CANONICALLY BISEXUAL LOKI YES! YES.

Comics Loki is canonically both bisexual and genderfluid! Explicitly discussed on page, multiple times, and expounded on by writers too. (One of the most heartwarming Odin moments for me- yes, Odin does have heartwarming moments!- is when he’s telling his kids he loves them and he says something to the effect of “my son, my daughter, my child who is both.” The latter is Loki, the former are Thor and Angela. I might still be bitter over MCU Hela taking Angela’s place in the family sorry not sorry. This was in Original Sin: Thor and Loki, for anyone wondering.) I tend to default to he/him pronouns when talking about Loki because Loki tends to be male more in appearances, and also partly because it’s what I’m used to, but when Loki is clearly female I’ll of course switch to she/her. I have seen people use they/them pronouns for Loki too. I don’t think Marvel has ever said what pronouns Loki prefers though.

Speaking of which: I realize the “Sex: fluid” on Loki’s info card in episode 1 was probably foreshadowing Sylvie, but I kind of want to also read it as a nod to Loki being genderfluid. (Loki is also a shapeshifter, so gender would = sex in this case.) Whether it would be a nod to specifically comics Loki or also to MCU Loki is anyone’s guess as of now. We’ll find out I guess, or if it turns out to be strictly headcanon than it’s whatever floats your boat. :)

Back to the train scene!! Sylvie loudly protesting that she can’t sleep near people she doesn’t trust and then promptly falling asleep across from Loki a few minutes later made me emotional. ALTERNATE REALITY TWINS. Also VERY much a parallel to Loki falling asleep across from Mobius last episode.

Loki realizing that Asgard was really his home and his family really was his family only to also realize that he’ll never see either again and deciding to handle this by getting ABSOLUTELY DRUNK is SO ASGARDIAN OF HIM. I cannot. He even did the “Another!” *smashes glass* thing just to bring the point home.

Oh gosh, LOKI SINGING IN ASGARDIAN. FEEEEEEELS. I know, it’s actually Norwegian. I wonder a bit why they didn’t use Icelandic instead? Anyway, this was lovely and I love that going by the translation it’s a song of longing to go home, and it mentions Idunn’s apples of immortality. Apparently the full version of the song is going to be on the soundtrack and I’m so excited for that.

Loki’s metaphor of “love is a dagger” was actually quite good, he and Sylvie just lost the thread of it right at the end there. I wrote about this in tags somewhere, I’ll copy it in here later.

Edit: here’s an edited version of what I wrote on this post: This was a great metaphor until it got away from him. So close to the point (heh) and then they veered right away. Let me finish this for them: “Love is a dagger. It’s a weapon for far away and up close. You can see yourself in it. It’s beautiful. You have to give it to the right person.” So what this scene tells us about Loki is that he’s been hurt by love because it hasn’t been real. Or hasn’t felt real to him. Maybe he’s given it to the wrong people, or maybe he couldn’t tell who the right people were. (And if this is in reference to his family then I think he’s still too close to the revelation of his identity to be able to think clearly about the situation. Because his family DID love him! Even Odin. He just lost sight of that with everything happening.) Love is also about trust. And Loki doesn’t trust easily.

I really love this quote and this scene. Kinda want to do a “Love is a dagger” graphic of i ever have time.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if Loki and Sylvie come back to this conversation and come to a more satisfying conclusion. I hope that happens actually.

Sylvie using her headpiece against an opponent in the train fight instantly made me think of Wonder Woman. A+. Also, I haven’t mentioned yet but I love the fact that Sylvie’s headpiece looks exactly like God(dess) of Stories Loki’s from Agent of Asgard. Loki’s Ragnarok headpiece definitely had big AoA Loki vibes, but Sylvie’s headpiece is much closer- mostly it’s smaller, which is very Agent of Asgard Loki in general, but the one horn being cut off is specifically a God(dess) of Stories Loki thing and I love that they pulled from that.

Loki throwing the dagger and missing because he’s drunk was hilarious. Not good for Sylvie, but hilarious to watch. Don’t fight while drunk, Loki. Also, he threw “love” at Sylvie and I laughed when I realized that.

I didn’t realize until I saw a parallel gifset of it why Loki carefully going up to Sylvie after her scream felt so familiar- it’s just like how he went up to Thor after Thor overturned the table in Thor 1. The CONTINUINTY!! Absolutely amazing.

While trying to save the Ark Loki was probably thinking a lot about what he saw in the TVA clips of his own people trying to escape Asgard during Ragnarok and that hits kind of hard.

Loki apparently using telekinesis to stop the column from falling on him and Sylvie threw me off a lot until I saw another gifset that included the moment in Thor 2 (trailers only, I think) when he finds out Frigga is dead and all the furniture close to him breaks and flies away from him. The pose was even the same as when he stopped the column. I think he can sort of... push things away from him? (Almost like a Force Push 🤔) He seems to need to stop and tense up his arms while he does it though. And it doesn’t have the green effect the rest of his magic does, which is odd.

Speaking of Loki’s powers, I’ve said this in tags for sure but I’m so happy they’re FINALLY letting Loki hit people with green magic bolts. He does tend to prefer more subtle uses of magic, but I still can’t believe it took over 4 movies for that to happen. It’s kind of a no-brainer magic attack- probably exactly why Loki prefers other things- but you’d think he would’ve done it at least once after 4 movies.

I saw a post point out that by the end of the episode, Sylvie has lost both her headpiece and her cloak/robe thing, which makes me wonder if she’s going to get a new outfit by the end of the show. Or at least different accessories. I’m also curious if she’s going to take up the Enchantress moniker by the end of the show.

Finishing this with theme analysis and theory time:

The revelation that TVA agents used to be variants and were somehow reprogrammed makes so much sense. There’s something immediately shifty about the idea of 3 Time Keepers dictating the fate of everyone in infinite multiverses, and this just solidifies the hint that the Time Keepers are going to be the overall Big Bads. Which makes sense, narratively! But this shifts the TVA agents from villains to victims. Mobius gets to stay sympathetic and so does Sylvie, AND once the TVA agents find out about their origins it puts the same choice onto them that Loki has. They all have a choice now about who they’re going to be. They’re not who they thought they were, but are they going to let themselves be defined by what other people (here, the Time Keepers) think they should be, or are they going to be who they want to be.

This is exactly what Loki: Agent of Asgard is about, by the way. And I know I said in the last post that Loki’s greatest villain is himself, but I’m going to amend that because I didn’t say it quite right. Loki’s greatest villain is his evil self. Loki the god of evil, the Loki that is the villain. Loki (and all the other Asgardians) in Agent of Asgard is genuinely a god, and AoA tells us that gods are defined by belief- they are what people believe them to be. That’s how they exist. So because so many people believe Loki is an evil villain, the universe tries to twist him to fit that role. The plot of AoA is Loki trying to avoid that fate, to be better, be who he wants to be. It’s a meta story. It’s Loki trying to break free of the narrative he’s been part of up until that point. And eventually he manages to break the fourth wall itself and take control of his own narrative by becoming the god of stories. He controls his own story and it no longer matters what other people think he is, only what he thinks of himself. Nobody else gets to change or define him.

AoA’s villain is a future version of Loki that does go back to being evil. He’s basically the cosmic force- destiny, the narrative itself, etc- that’s trying to fit Loki into the “evil” box personified. Loki is seemingly taking that idea and subbing in a different personification for that same idea of lack of choice: the Time Keepers. We know from the Miss Minutes short in episode 1 that the Time Keepers want one timeline. We don’t know if that’s actually to prevent a multiversal war like the short suggests or if that’s just propaganda. When Loki tries to find out more about the war or about the beginning or end of time in episode 2, he can’t access those documents. Something doesn’t seem right there.

Edit: Also, in episode 2 Loki compares the TVA to Asgard by saying both the TVA agents and Asgardians are equally stupid. The reveal of who the TVA agents are adds a new dimension to that comparison. They both see themselves as guardians of the world around them, special, but really they’re no more special than the people they’re fighting to protect. Or in other words, they’re only as “special” (“heroic,” really) as they make themselves.

Also an edit: damn I just realized the continued stupidity of R*gnarok having Fenris and Odin in the same movie and Odin dies but get killed by Fenris. Asgardians have a saying about watching for wolves’ teeth.

I’ve seen the theory around that Sylvie might be a former TVA agent (which seems to be backed up by the midseason trailer I very belatedly saw, oh my GOD TINY SYLVIE!!!!! But also oh no tiny Sylvie at the TVA :() and I really like that. It makes sense. Maybe she went rogue because she realized the TVA is preventing people from choosing for themselves. Maybe she even knows what it is the Time Keepers actually want. Or maybe she’s doing this just for herself because she didn’t enjoy being brainwashed by the TVA and she doesn’t like being told who to be! That is after all part of “what makes a Loki a Loki,” even if she doesn’t use that name anymore.

I’m also wondering (hoping?) if maybe her being a former TVA agent could explain why she’s a mashup of different characters, instead of it just being Marvel mashing characters together because they can. This is mostly wild speculation, but could the TVA possibly have put multiple people’s timelines/memories inside her head? What if she’s in universe an amalgamation of a Loki, an Amora, and/or a Sylvie?

We’ve had some clips of what looks like a Thor 1 era Loki in front of the throne on Asgard- which looks different to me; maybe Loki redecorated? We’ve also gotten a shot of Loki in front of a ruined NYC skyline, including Avengers Tower. Maybe we’ll get an episode where Loki wins and we’ll see different timelines where he wins in different ways, until he realizes that this isn’t actually what he wants?

Whoops this got long??? Thanks for reading if you read this far!

#long post #loki spoilers #loki 1x03 #loki 1x02 #loki series #meta #a rare text post appears #my stuff

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thinkinem · 3 years

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seeing discussion of lgbtq+ representation in one chicago on the dash so I’m taking this as my opportunity to float my overindulgent head canon* that Matt Casey is one superbly repressed queer.

*this quickly got out of hand and is likely well into au territory, but if I have to think about-- it as incoherent as it is--then you do too!

The reason he botched his moment with Sylvie so hard was that when things slowed down and Sylvie asked her Gabby question, Matt got majorly overwhelmed by the reality that he was about to jump into another relationship with a woman that already has all these ideas about who he is as a man and as a boyfriend.

Usually he can ignore the dull feeling of disconnect that always comes when he’s first intimate with a woman. But dammit, he really thought Sylvie could be The One. He really thought this time those feelings of affection and aesthetic appreciation that he could conjure when he pressed himself to meant something. He was so sure that he was going to feel that spark people write songs about with Sylvie. That it was going to redeem him for all the ways he couldn’t be enough for Gabby, for all the times he looked Hallie in the face and wasn’t truthful.

But that spark, swoop, tingle, whatever it’s supposed to be, it isn’t there. Sure, he’s got the motions down, a smooth execution of the classic moves, and he likes feeling strong and needed and scooping Sylvie up without hesitation does that for him. But it’s not the aha moment he was expecting. The moments they’d shared over the past two years, the little glimpses of a future with this woman in his arms turn stale just like they always do when he goes to seal the deal.

When Sylvie pulls back, Matt’s heart stops. He’s sure this is it, that if anyone is going to finally see through him it’s going to be Sylvie Brett. And in a lot of ways he’s relieved. Sylvie is a safe space, a trusted confidante, he knows she won’t mock or laugh. But also the idea of putting words to the way he feels scares the life out of him, to say it out loud would make his Otherness too real. (Even when he and Kelly were in the middle of whatever it was they had, Matt could never fully admit to it out loud, not even just as a whisper in the dark to the man that had already seen all of him and stayed close anyway).

But Sylvie doesn’t see through him. Or she thinks she does, but really she couldn’t be farther from the truth. So when she asks if he’d go with Gabby, it feels easiest to say he doesn’t know.

But his “I don’t know” was less about going with Gabby as an individual, and more about the idea of committing himself to another/any woman again. The divorce gutted him. It forced up a lot of thoughts and feelings that he was relying on that relationship to keep a lid on. But also, it felt a lot like checking off a task from a to do list: he did his due diligence as a man to have a wife and attempt a classic version of a family just like he was always expected to do (and in a lot of ways it felt like a big fuck you to his father and every one of his sneering insults).

The thing is, Matt knows in his bones that he wants someone like Sylvie Brett by his side for the rest of his life; she’s amazing, loyal, funny, understanding, everything he’d want in a partner. But in that moment Matt decides he cannot go down this road again. Sylvie is all those wonderful things and more, and she deserves a guy who wants all of her, not just the idea of her.

For a moment he thinks it’s going to work out. He gets out the cliched “it’s complicated” and is almost ready to do it, ready to own who he is right there. But the words get a little stuck and then Sylvie is filling in the blanks with all the wrong colors (and, Jesus, isn’t that familiar). Then the next thing he knows, he’s breaking Sylvie Brett’s heart exactly the way he vowed to never do. The moment is quick and messy and feels terrifyingly unsalvageable, but it’s happening, then it happened, and there’s nothing he can do about it. (He sleeps with Sydney because that’s what he does when a relationship ends: he sleeps with a stranger, always female, and does everything opposite what he did in the relationship, just to double test the theory that it really is something in him and not just around him. Sydney: sexy and funny and charming; The Theory: confirmed)

And suddenly Matt is exhausted. He’s got decades of built up secret and accumulated grief on his shoulders and he can’t move with it all weighing him down. So he just sort of stops fighting it. He puts up the token efforts with Sylvie, tells her he doesn’t regret it, that she’s still very important to him, then lets her walk away when she informs him that it can never happen again, that he is a man still in love with his ex wife. On net, she’s actually kinda half right, and he lets himself have a quiet, sardonic chuckle at that.

Matt’s got the job, his rank, his men, the city. They’re more than enough to live for, to love, to give his all. They’ve got expectations of him too, and they’re ones he can meet with an ease that doesn’t exist anywhere else in his life.

Five weeks after Matt decides he’s really only meant to be Captain Casey, he wakes up on Christie’s couch with the mother of all hangovers. He gets a solid five minutes of laying awake, nauseous and self-loathing before his older sister comes in with a steaming cup of coffee and smile more gentle than he’s ever seen her wear. She digs her hand into his shoulder and tells him about coming home from her freshman year of college for Thanksgiving.

She tells him about letting herself be dragged back to the high school stadium by friends she hadn’t quite lost touch with yet for the annual cross-town rival Turkey Bowl football game. She tells him about not watching a single moment of the game, about missing the moment when Star Quarterback John Murphy’s collar bone snapped. She tells him about becoming the most committed high school football fan in the five minutes after the ATs got John Murphy off the field, and the coach decided that what the hell, they’d finish the game anyway, that scrawny freshman Matt Casey would finally get some playing time after a whole season of sitting the bench. She tells him about flying off her seat, about going hoarse the next day from telling everyone in the stadium “that was my brother, Matt Casey, the kid who made the final point, that’s my brother.”

Matt, sitting up now, gives Christie a soft smile and mumbles that it was fluke really, that he didn’t see a second of playing time again until his junior year, that he was always more of a hockey guy. Christie reaches across him again digging her nails into his shoulders, says with the mean kind of love only older sisters are capable of, “Matthew Michael, you are not a fluke.”

A week after Matt pulls himself off Christie’s couch Sylvie tells him she is done needing space, that she misses her friend. He’s grateful for that and does his best to not be annoyed when she starts looking surprised that he isn’t ‘fighting’ for her or doing whatever charming manly bullshit he would’ve done even just a few months ago. But Matt is done fighting for things he doesn’t really want, is done fighting himself at every turn and is ready to start fighting for himself. He isn’t a fluke and one of these days he’s going to prove it.

In fact, he proves it when he goes to dinner at Stella and Kelly’s new place on a warm fall night just under a year since he was standing in the hallway of Sylvie’s apartment exhausted of himself. It’s him, Stella and Kelly of course, Sylvie but not her boyfriend, and Sam Kidd, Stella’s older brother who just moved to Chicago and is “desperate enough for friends that I’m hanging around my baby sister, I know it’s--ow, Steve, don’t hit me!”

Sam Kidd is funny and charming and tells terrific stories about a precocious preteen Stella. And after dinner when he and Matt end up alone in the kitchen having volunteered for clean up duty, Sam puts a firm hand on Matt’s shoulder and says he appreciates how Matt has looked out for his baby sister these past years, that he was skeptical of the stories Stella told him about her Captain right up until he shook Matt’s hand earlier that night. Sam readily agrees when Matt insists that Stella has never needed any looking after but his hand lingers in an appreciative squeeze on his shoulder anyway.

They walk down the block toward their cars together after seeing Sylvie safely to her Uber. When they get to Sam’s sleek black sports car (he’s in marketing and apparently very good at it), Matt is less surprised than he thought he would be when Sam crowds him against the passenger side door and sweetly asks “would it be alright if I kissed you?” (Matt says yes, to the kiss and a date, as well as a second date and third one too).

They don’t make a big announcement or anything, but they also don’t hide it. When Stella and Kelly get married in the Spring, Sam pulls Matt out onto the dance floor and holds him close right in front of everyone. For the first time in his life, Matt doesn’t mind the attention a single bit because he’s finally where he fits.

When Matt is all danced out, and Sam is cutting in to dance with his sister, Matt finds himself in the little anteroom straightening out gift bags and taking a moment to feel quietly pleased with himself. Sylvie comes in then, eyes shining to compliment the new ring on her left hand. For a moment Matt worries she’s upset with him, but then her face breaks into a soft grin and he barely catches her “oh, Matt” before he’s catching her. When they pull away from each other Matt gives her a grin of his own, one that he hopes says I’m sorry I hurt you, I’m sorry it all got so messy but I can’t be sorry for who I am. Sylvie must understand him because she’s still grinning as she says, “you’re happy.” It’s not a question, but Matt nods anyway because finally, after years and years, it’s fully and all the way true. He’s happy.

#matt casey #sylvie brett #christie casey jordan #chicago fire #chicago fire fic #chicago fire headcanons #if i was any good at this I would've included a casey/severide moment as well #but im not so i didn't #i have it in my head tho #also stella telling a very good joke about the two of them being so codependent that they had to fall in love with people from the same fam #also i feel like sylvie isn't very flushed out in this but like it's about matt so...#she's an ally #i want that clear #sylvie is 100% team matt living his truth etc #also definitely fast friends with Sam #he calls her in a panic one day bc matt came home with his arm all bandaged and unconcerned #but sam IS concerned bc ANY amount of skin melting is too much skin melting dont come at me with a degree system matt

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lifeofroos · 3 years

Text

A/N: It’s not an AU in the sense that Loki has been training to be a skater all his life. It is an AU in the sense that Loki and Mobius are dating and Loki has a sibling relationship with Sylvie (Like it should have been).

AO3 - KoFi

Bohemian Rhapsody, or: Mischief on ice

‘Loki, are you sure…’

Sylvie slammed her hand over Mobius’ mouth. ‘Skate!’

Mobius janked her hand away. ‘I didn’t say he shouldn’t…’

‘But you meant it. Now hush, let him show us what he can do.’

Loki heard his people yell from the side of the skating rink, but he hardly processed what they were saying. He was too absorbed into his routine.

‘He never told me he could figure skate,’ Mobius whispered to Sylvie. ‘I didn’t think he’d be so good at it.’

‘I said hush. And he isn’t that good.’ She almost took a step back when Loki landed a magnificent jump with a lot of spins that she didn’t know the name of. ‘... or perhaps he is. I thought he was joking about landing a spot in the competition and we would get to see him fall flat on his face.’

When he looked over for a second, Loki could see his friends were surprised. Hilarious - and exactly why he hadn’t told them about his placement before. It was way funnier to suddenly drop the news on them.

After he finished his routine, he slided to the side. ‘And?’

Mobius slowly nodded. ‘That went really well. Which makes sense, if you really got qualified.’

Loki nodded. ‘And you haven’t even heard my music yet!’ He dug an old ipod out of his pocket (‘He was skating with that? He could have fell and broken it!’) and handed it to Mobius. ‘It is already connected to the speakers. You only have to press play.’

‘I know how this works…’ Loki didn’t hear what else Mobius had to say. He skated to the middle of the rink. The Agent sighed and pressed a button.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy... Sylvie raised her eyebrows. Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality,... ‘He is skating to this?’

Wrong song! Next piece!’ Loki yelled.

It took a second before Mobius had found the right button. The next song on the list was ‘Autumn,’ from Vivaldi’s four seasons.

Sylvie also had a comment ready for this piece: ‘It’s so light.’

Mobius shook his head. ‘It starts out light, the way autumn does. The closer we get to winter, the heavier it becomes.’

He was right. The closer they got to the end of ‘Autumn,’ the heavier the music got. Loki’s jumps became more difficult as well. He finished with a spinning move, before getting into his final pose, low to the ice.

Mobius clapped. ‘Well done!’

Sylvie pursed her lips. ‘Well…’

Loki skated to the side of the ring. ‘What’s the matter, Sylvie?’

‘I think you could improve.’

‘How would you know?’

‘We are one and the same, Loki.’

‘Step onto the ice and do a triple axel.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it. Can I see a copy of your routine?’

Loki stepped out of the rink. ‘Sure. See what you can change. Then you can come along to Brazil as my coach.’

‘I love the implication that you don’t even have a coach.’

‘I don’t.’

Mobius sighed and handed Loki back the ipod. ‘Good luck, then…’

Loki leaned over and kissed him on the mouth. ‘You’re coming too. I’ve got to pack now. See you tomorrow!’

‘What are you looking at?’

Sylvie scanned the gate. ‘I want to see if there are any more skaters here. I checked the site last evening…’

‘She means 3 A.M.’

‘Shut up, Mobius. You got yourself into a pretty high-end skating competition.’

‘It’s called a preliminary round to the world championships.’

‘But for someone who was unknown before!’

‘Loki… how did you even do that?’

Loki slowly shook his head. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’ He took a look around the gate. ‘That guy over there. He skates, too. I do not see more of them right now.’

Sylvie intently stared at the other skater. The young man didn’t even seem to notice.

‘Loki, I looked through your routine…’ Sylvie leaned over Mobius and put a sheet of paper onto Loki’s little table.

‘Don’t wake Mobius.’

Sylvie glanced at the agent. ‘He’s probably pretending. Anyway, I added a jump here, and I took a rotation away there. I think that will add more… drama. More suspense.’

‘I am sure of it.’

‘I know you are. Now show me the kür you actually wanted to skate, instead of this.’

Loki raised his eyebrows. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You aren’t going to actually skate this. You already showed me and Mobius this routine twice.’

‘You know me too well.’

‘Go figure. Now hand it over.’

‘Did you see his kür?’

Sylvie nodded. ‘Yes. I tried to tell him what worked and what didn’t, but I have no idea if he actually listened to me. He might have decided on a whole new choreography, even.’

Mobius sighed. ‘Sounds like our Loki.’

Loki, who was just done with his warm-up round, skated to the middle of the rink. He winked at Mobius, who in his turn looked at the guy manning the music. They had given him the old Ipod, which seemed to be enough.

The song that began to play was, again, Bohemian Rhapsody. Mobius sighed. ‘You can skip it…’

‘WAIT! DON’T SKIP!’ Loki yelled from the ice.

‘DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!’ Sylvie yelled even louder.

The soundman gave Mobius a confused look.

The agent thought for a moment. ‘...Let it play,’ he told the soundman. ‘From the top.’

When he walked back to Sylvie, she gave Mobius a look as if this was the worst betrayal she had ever faced. ‘How dare you-’

‘Just let him do it.’

‘He can’t fool around-’

‘It’s one of the things you Loki’s do best. Give it a chance, Sylvie.’

Just like the classical piece, the Bohemian Rhapsody started with light music and ended with a beat that went well with higher jumps. If you paid attention, you saw the the only changes Loki made to the routine were a few rotations and a lap around the skating rink at the end, which went well with the final twenty seconds of the Bohemian Rhapsody.

‘Sylvie, why so quiet?’ the god asked, while he stepped out of the ring.

‘...it was remarkably good. It looked like your Autumn routine.’

‘If the grand coach says it’s good, it’s good!’

‘But you are not doing this during the competition! That’s too risky!’

Mobius laid a hand on his shoulder before Loki could reply. ‘Well trained, Loki. What if we get something to eat, now?’

‘But not too much! Then he can’t jump anymore!’

‘We are gods!’

‘As if I care!’

Mobius sighed and ushered them away from the skating rink. ‘We’ll get some light salads,’ he shushed. ‘Delicious and healthy.’

‘I think I could do Bohemian Rhapsody. There are no rules against it.’

Mobius turned around. ‘I was asleep.’

‘And I wasn’t. It felt good to skate to Bohemian Rhapsody, even better than it felt to skate to Autumn. I already thought it was boring, Vivaldi’s Autumn…’

Mobius sighed and pulled Loki into a cuddle. ‘We can think about it tomorrow, or any of the other three days we’ve got before the competition after. You should rest now, otherwise you won’t have the energy to skate anymore.’

‘I just…’

Mobius gave him a peck on the lips. ‘Sh.’

After one last eyeroll, Loki obliged.

‘Morning!’

‘Morning.’

‘Did you sleep well?’

‘Yes?’ Loki looked up at Mobius, as if he would have a different answer.

Sylvie nodded. ‘Keep that up. You need lots of energy to keep skating.’

‘I already told him.’

‘Well, I am saying it again. Wait a second!’ Sylvie darted back into her hotel room, which was next to that of Mobius and Loki. ‘I’ve got information on the other skaters,’ she yelled from inside. With a stack of papers, she came back out. ‘We can study it during breakfast. I found out how many points each skater will probably get, based on what I saw of their routine yesterday and in the competitions before this one. Believe it or not, Loki, but you actually have a bit of a chance.’

Loki looked up at Mobius. Nope, the agent looked just as confused as he felt.

‘...thanks, Sylvie.’

She looked at him with stars in her eyes. ‘I want you to do the best you can.’

‘That being said,’ mobius cut in. ‘Did you sleep at all last night?’

‘Of course! With one eye! Now let us go downstairs!’

‘You’ll need your sleep too, you know…’

‘Tsk! I can sleep when I am dead. I’ve got enemies to study now.’

‘Mobius!’

‘Hmpf?’

‘It’s seven A.M. Let’s go on a morning walk!’

‘Sylvie won’t like that…’

The god tutted. ‘Mobius, Mobius. Yesterday, I sabotaged dear Sylvie’s alarm. That will be good for her, she barely slept the last couple of days. Believe me when I say she’ll sleep till 2 P.M., late enough for us to be back and have lunch before she wakes up.’

Mobius opened one of his eyes. Damn it, he wouldn’t be able to sleep now anyway. Slowly, he got up. ‘A short walk, then.’

There was a park near the hotel they stayed at. A very nice park, even. Loki hooked his arm through Mobius’s. ‘Hear, it’s the birds singing.’

Mobius closed his eyes. ‘I never imagined you would like the sound of singing birds.’

‘I think most people do. On Asgard, they also sing, you know. It’s nearly universal.’

Mobius nodded. ‘Ah-ha.’

Loki took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t really want to talk about the skating competition right now, but…’

‘Say what you want. Get it out of your system.’

‘Sylvie takes this very seriously. On one hand, I appreciate that, because I would love to win. On the other hand… I sort of got into this for the hell of it.’

‘I figured as much. Now you are torn between winning the gold medal and getting your fun. Because there is no way you are going to continue to the real world championship.’

‘I mean, I am not sure yet.’

‘I am for you.’

Loki sighed. ‘You’re probably right.’

‘I am not entirely foolproof, of course.’ Mobius stopped walking and pulled Loki into a hug. ‘Anyway will be fine. It’ll be fine.’

‘It’ll be fine,’ Loki repeated. He took a deep breath. ‘Because most things turn out fine.’

‘Exactly.’ Mobius kissed his forehead. ‘Now let’s go find a bakery. We should eat before Sylvie decides you aren’t doing that as well as you should.’

‘Loki?’

‘Hm?’

Sylvie held up his ipod. ‘This still plays Bohemian Rhapsody before it plays Autumn. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to sneak Bohemian Rhapsody into your actual performance.’

‘Who knows.’

Sylvie raised her chin. ‘I am going to delete it.’

Loki jumped up and snatched the Ipod out of her hands. ‘I don’t think so! I paid for that song!’

Sylvie rolled her eyes. ‘At least put the songs in the right order!’

‘Okay, okay,’ Loki lied. ‘I’ll delete it.’

With a few easy buttons, he had deleted Vivaldi and changed the name of Bohemian Rhapsody into Autumn. Sylvie, wrapped up in her routines and scores, seemed to already have forgotten about it. Keyword seemed.

Loki slid the ipod into his jacket. He would give it to Mobius. Sylvie wouldn’t try to search him in his sleep, but there was no certainty that she would grant Loki the same rest.

‘Competitions shouldn’t be in the morning,’ Sylvie complained.

Mobius patted her on the back. ‘Perhaps you’ll learn now that you, too, need sleep. This competition has been draining for all of us, not just Loki.’

Sylvie grunted, unwilling to agree. ‘Let’s just go to the rink already. He needs to stretch and we need to make sure the costume doesn’t tear at the last minute.’

The costume didn’t tear at the last minute. It looked wonderful. Black, with illuminating green streaks. ‘Like Autumn,’ as Sylvie said.

There were already a few people at the skating rink when Mobius, Loki and Sylvie got there. Other skaters and their coaches and loved ones, all fussing about.

Sylvie took a deep breath. ‘Loki, I hope you enjoy this, okay? You worked hard the last few days, and I can only imagine what the months before that were like.’

Loki almost felt guilty that he was going to skate to the Bohemian Rhapsody. Almost. ‘Thanks, Sylvie. I’ll skate my hardest. I had a great coach, after all.’ He meant it. He even used some of the tips she had given him.

Sylvie quickly shook her head. ‘Enough of this. Come, stretch. You need to be warm.’

‘Loki Laufeyson: Third slot,’ the voice-over yelled. Loki nodded. He liked that he wouldn’t be the first, but that he didn’t have to wait so long that he got anxious, either.

The man that did have to go first was a popular figure, you could hear it by the reaction of the audience as he took the ice. The blond man blew a kiss at the audience and a destructive look at his opponents as he skated to the middle. His music and routine began seconds after.

‘The swan lake? This man really is creative, is he?’ Loki scoffed. Sylvie snickered at first, but her look got more serious as she saw how the man skated. ‘Creative or not, he’s good, Loki. You’ll have to watch out.’

‘Watch out for what? That his score will be higher? I’d like to see him try.’

Yet, Loki had to agree the man was really good. He landed a couple of difficult jumps with no trouble. He turned back to Sylvie. ‘What’s your analysis?’

‘His choreography isn’t strong enough,’ she mumbled. ‘The jumps are strong, but he has no flair, no story. You’re better in that regard.’ Loki nodded.

Mobius stared at the two loki’s. Up until a week ago, he had heard neither of them say a word about figure skating. Now they talked about it as if they had done it their entire lives. He shouldn’t be surprised, he knew that. But that was easier said than done.

While the second guy was doing his kür, they were too nervous to say much, except for some light encouragement.

Right before the second guy left the ice, Loki pressed a kiss onto Mobius’ lips. ‘I am going to do it.’

‘Thought so. Go get ‘em.’

Loki nodded with a smile. Sylvie silently ushered him to the opening.

As he skated onto the ice, Loki felt a familair calmness come over him. He did a small lap before taking the middle.

‘Forgive me, Sylvie,’ he mumbled, as he waited for the music to start.

Is this the real life? With a start he realised his plan had worked. A second too late, he began his routine, but it didn’t matter. He forgot the world around him as he did what he had done over and over again the past few months. Light as a feather, he skipped over the ice, making jump after jump and gracious move after gracious move.

‘IDIOT! BASTARD! DO YOU THINK I AM DOING THIS FOR FUN?’

Mobius laid a hand on Sylvie’s shoulder. ‘Come on, Sylvie, he is doing his best…’

‘He told me he had deleted the Bohemian Rhapsody! Well, apparently not!’

‘Didn’t you check?’

‘He guarded that ipod with his life. I wanted to check last night, but then it wasn’t in the right spot.’

She could see the gears turning in Mobius' head. ‘That might be because it was still in my pocket,’ he confessed. ‘Which… that little sneak. He really lied to us over a skating performance.’

‘Wanna punch him once he is done?’

‘I won’t hold you back, Sylvie.’

With a feeling of euphoria, Loki finished his last jump perfectly. He managed to do his pirouette routine without mistakes and stopped after his lap through the rink.

The first thing he saw when he landed back onto earth was Sylvie and Mobius looking like they could destroy him on the spot. Now, he could either flee and escape their anger for a moment, or he could hear his score.

After a moments’ hesitation, he shrugged and skated over to his friends. He could always run after he had heard how he did.

They gave him death glares all the way to the bench where he’d hear his score. Loki tried to pretend he didn’t see it.

They sat down, Loki in the middle, Sylvie on the right and Mobius on his left. The previous anger was gone as they all waited with great anticipation.

His score appeared. 181.25, which for now put him at the very top of the list.

He jumped up with joy. ‘You sonofabitch…’ Sylvie whispered, with a wide smile.

Mobius kissed Loki on the cheek. ‘Let’s give way to the others now,’ he whispered after that. ‘It’s not like you’ve won yet.’ Loki nodded. He decided that for now, he didn’t have to run.

The other routines went by in a blur. Sylvie sometimes made a quip about one of them, when the skaters did something exceptionally good or bad.

Only the moments were the other skaters received their scores were clear. Time after time, they scored just below Loki, with the exception of a young skater from Italy, who got a 185. Sylvie shrugged. ‘I guess that’s deserved. That’s the guy from the airport I believe.’

Once it was clear he would stay in second place, Loki hugged both of his friends at the same time. ‘Thanks.’

‘Never pull such a stunt ever again.’

‘I can’t promise anything.’ He let go of Mobius for a moment to hug Sylvie, then let go of her so he could kiss Mobius. He took a deep breath and skated onto the ice again.

Somewhere behind the rink, Mobius and Sylvie were standing, he knew as he stood on the block. And they were proud of him, he was sure of that.

‘You’re crazy…’

‘It’s okay. Sylvie can do it too.’

Sylvie was indeed gracefully gliding over the ice. She might not have the same skill as Loki, but she could at least keep herself standing. Mobius didn’t have the illusion he could do so.

‘Come, I’ll help you,’ Loki said, trying to copy Mobius’ soft tone.

Mobius stuck out his hands. Loki took them and guided him onto the ice.

‘It’s slippery.’

‘Of course it is. Relax.’

Relax? ‘Oh god…’ Heavily leaning on Loki, Mobius let himself be guided over the ice. He heard Sylvie whistle. ‘Don’t taunt me, please.’

‘You just need to fall once, then it’ll be okay.’

‘Come on… Ah!’

He fell down onto the ice and Loki fell with him. Or, no. ‘You pulled us down.’

‘As Sylvie said: You need to fall once, then it’ll be okay. Because you’ll be less afraid.’

‘How does that work?’

Loki leaned over and kissed him. ‘It just does.’

Mobius chuckled, even though he didn’t really want to. ‘If you’ll help me up, I can try again.’

‘Very well.’ Loki helped him back onto his skates. To his surprise, Mobius realised he really was less afraid.

‘Thanks.’

‘The boyfriend of a silver medal skater can’t be unable to skate.’

‘Of course not.’ He took a stride forward. Then another, and another, until he could do it without help. ‘Next year, I am defeating you.’

Loki laughed. ‘I am already looking forward to it.

A/N: Now, I am not going to pretend I know anything about figure skating...

Fast forward a year and Mobius realises he should not have said that because Loki took it to heart.

Tagging: @lokis-right-nut @deanmekel

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sylvies-chen · 3 years

Text

song lyric request (from dm’s)

// Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you, baby

If I ain't got you, baby

Some people want diamond rings

Some just want everything

But everything means nothing

If I ain't got you, yeah //

Sylvie doesn’t know what to think when she’s called into Boden’s office so late.

She’s just about to enter the locker room when Cruz tells her Boden wants to see her, so she doesn’t bother to go to her locker and heads straight for his office. When she gets there, she sees Boden, a pensive look on his face, with Hank Voight leaning on the edge of his desk, which is just. The last thing Sylvie expects to see. Mackey’s sitting in the char next to him, twiddling her thumbs.

“You asked for me, Chief?��

“Yes. Please, come in.” He gestures at the chair next to Mackey’s and Sylvie takes her spot, takes a deep breath to make her less nervous about whatever the hell this is.

“Sergeant Hank Voight has a proposition to make.”

“Sylvie, I was just explaining to Gianna Mackey over here how we need someone to go undercover.”

“Undercover?”

“Yes. We found a large supply of medical equipment belonging to one of the ambos of a firehouse in a rougher neighbourhood,” Voight begins to explain. “We suspect the supplies are being sold on the black market by one of the paramedics that work there. We don’t want to make any noise, so we need a paramedic to go undercover in their firehouse and see for themselves what’s happening there. Just for a week.”

“And… you want me to do that?”

“I’m from that neighbourhood,” Mackey shakes her head solemnly. “It’s tight knit in that place. They’d know who I was.”

“Which leaves you.”

“Now, as I told Sergeant Voight, I refuse to make this obligatory. So if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to,” Boden reassures her.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Voight warns. “But you will not be in any danger. Whoever’s doing this doesn’t know we’ve caught on, and we’ll be doing surveillance outside that firehouse 24/7. You’ll be completely safe, I’ll make sure of that, Sylvie.”

Sylvie thinks it over for a moment. It’s not like whoever’s selling their ambulance’s supplies are actually going to be dangerous. They’re not thugs or gang bangers or anything like that. Sylvie just has to ask around about it, be sneaky. Which, if years of gossip have taught her anything, it’s that she can do that.

So, she agrees to do it. “Okay, I’m in. Where are you sending me to?”

+++++

“Hey.”

She’s so distraught by thoughts of her new mission that she almost doesn’t notice when Matt greets her in the locker room, a soft smile on his face. She’s closing her locker, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she sees him and blinks, surprised. “Hi,” she smiles back.

“You seem off, is everything ok?”

“Yeah, yeah it’s fine.” She shakes her head, snaps herself out of it and brushes it off. But then, she’s looking at him, his longing, soft gaze unwavering, and just. She’s really going to miss Matt. It’s only a week, but it already feels like forever. Leaving this place is going to be hard, but leaving Matt? That just feels impossible.

He glances over at her locker, still half opened. “Why’s your locker cleaned out?” He laughs weakly but finds it more worrying than funny. She takes a deep breath, prepares herself to tell him.

“I’m leaving. Temporarily, I mean. Boden will explain everything, but… yeah. I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?” His brows are furrowed into his eyelids, concern still fixed into his expression.

She ignores his questions, looks him in the eyes, and feels her heart hurt. She doesn’t know what’s going to happen on this undercover mission. It’s an unpredictable predicament she’s in now. But she does know that she’d beat herself up if something happens to her and she never got the chance to tell Matt about whatever it is she feels for him. She’s standing there, her expression pained and longing, and replies, “I love you, Matt.” She walks out of the locker room before he can reply, leaving him in there, stunned.

She hadn’t expected that from herself, really. She’s known about her feelings for Matt for a while now, but love is a strong word. A word she hadn’t intended to blurt out, to use so casually. Yet as she walks to her car, she can’t think of any word that feels more right than that. Even if he doesn’t feel the same way, she knows she meant it.

Then she realizes she won’t know for a week because she left him there, alone, and just. Way to go Sylvie, she thinks. You just blabbered like an idiot and then left him there.

Shit.

+++++

The week at the new firehouse goes by at an astronomically slow pace. She figures out who’s selling the supplies illegally, which wasn’t too hard considering the guy’s partner loved to gossip and had at least eight different instances where he snuck off during a shift while supplies coincidentally went missing. Honestly, it’s a miracle that this guy didn’t get caught sooner than he did because Sylvie thinks he might possibly be the stupidest criminal ever. The only hard part, as Voight told her, was getting evidence and getting him to surrender quietly. Because of that, and much to Sylvie’s dismay, her assignment gets extended by another week.

She hasn’t responded to Casey’s calls all week. She isn’t supposed to give away any connections she might have to 51, so she hardly takes her phone out during her assignment. Whatever. She can’t bear to talk to him anyway. It’s too complicated now. She feels guilty for dropping such a huge bomb on him and then just leaving like that. It felt right in the moment, but now she just feels shitty about it. She misses Matt. She misses all of the guys at the firehouse, really, but mostly Matt. She’s practically jumping with excitement when her two weeks are finally over.

And then the nerves hit.

Like, ok. Yeah. Going back to the firehouse is going to be amazing. Everyone she loves is there. But Matt? That’s a whole other story. She doesn’t know how he’ll react, but she checks her phone and finally sees the voicemails he left her.

Matt (1 voice message): Can we talk? Please?

Matt (1 voice message): When are you getting back? I thought you were only supposed to be gone for a week. I miss you.

Matt (1 voice message): Chief just filled me in on what’s going on. Undercover?!

Matt (1 voice message): Just… be safe, please. I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you. I miss you.

… I love you.

He loves her back.

And he says it over the damn phone? Okay. So maybe Matt is even dumber than she is. And maybe Sylvie loves it anyway. The nerves in her body build up as she leaves the apron of the firehouse, eager to get back to 51 now more than ever.

Voight had made her stay until the end of the shift, so she doesn’t get back to the firehouse until it’s dark out. Everyone in the common room and at the Squad table are thrilled to see her, and she gives hugs to Stella and Mackey before going back to the bunk room, finds herself looking for Matt. The bunk room is pretty empty, the dim lamps acting as the only sources of light. It gives the whole room a warm glow as she walks over to Matt’s quarters, peers at him staring at his phone despairingly while lying down on the bed in his office. His eyes look worn out and tired.

She walks in, sees his eyes go from tired to shocked. He’s confused as she stands there for a beat, doesn’t say a word. Then, she moves abruptly towards his bed, lies down next to him and cuddles her back into him slowly and gently. She can tell he’s still stunned and confused, but doesn’t mind. He shifts to make more room for her, wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her in close. The bunk is small and narrow, and his body is pressed against hers to give her more room on it. Her breathing feels shaky and heavy. They’ve never done this before.

“I’m sorry for leaving like that,” she mumbles softly, sweetly. She’ll probably be making up for it for the rest of her life, but it’s a start.

“It’s okay,” he whispers back reassuringly, trying to soothe her. She feels his breath tickle her cheek, his chin snuggled in the crook of her neck. “I’m just glad you’re alright. I was worried about you,” he mumbles after pausing briefly, like he’s confessing something.

“I know. I got your voicemails.” She thinks back to the messages he’d left her, of how adorably nervous he had sounded, and smiles to herself.

“Oh.” He knows she’s heard him say it back then. She feels his cheeks get hot against her neck.

“I missed you.” Her voice is small and quiet. They’ve said all the words that they needed to say. Now, she just sits there, cuddled into him, and lets the warmth of his embrace make her brain all fuzzy and warm, the small lamp in his desk sending the same dim glow throughout the room.

Sylvie lets herself relax for a moment, feeling the rising and falling of his chest against her back as he breathes. Then, she turns her body around, shifting in the small bed to face him. There’s practically no space to spread out so her face ends up inches from his, which is why she had turned around in the first place. His eyes glance at her lips, and hers do the same for his before she closes the small gap and presses her lips against his. The kiss is soft, gentle but hungry. Her lips catch more of his bottom lip than of his top, but he pushes back and moves to match hers.

After what feels like an eternity of what Sylvie thinks is the most perfect moment ever, they pull away. Her forehead is against his, their noses grazing against each other tenderly as they revel in the moment.

It’s all Sylvie needs, all she ever wants with him. The rest doesn’t matter, as long as he’s there. They stare into each other’s eyes while smiling contentedly in total silence.

There’s no need to say anything else just yet. All of the words have been said.

#chicago fire #brettsey #sylvie brett #matt casey #song lyric requests #this is a long one and I wasn't super sure how to end it but gosh it's so smol and soft #abby writes

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holidaywishes · 3 years

Text

Embers XV

Chapter XV: the (non) moment

Summary of series: Katie moves from Peachtree, Georgia, to L.A. with her son, Alex to start fresh after the death of her husband. When she meets Evan Buckley, a young firefighter, she falls fast but will her son be so quick to accept Evan into his life?

Summary of chapter: Alex hosts a sleepover with mediocre results; Katie fields insults from the PTA moms

Warning: some angst, some fluff but that’s about it

Author’s Note: I was going to stop this series at fifteen chapters but it felt weird but going up to 20 felt like too many -- so the compromise is 18 chapters. So, in the next little bit, I’ll be posting these last three chapters. I’m so excited that the show is back and that we get to learn a bit more about Evan and his family -- hopefully, that means I’ll have some more inspiration when it comes to writing. Hope you all enjoy this short chapter! Stay golden <3

masterlist

the other masterlist

Katie’s P.O.V

You felt like a chicken with its head cut off as you ran around your house trying to get ready for when Alex’s classmates showed up. They were dropped off by the dozen, accompanied by mile long lists from their mothers; who upon seeing you and Marie were the only adults around were hesitant to leave.

“Your kids will be fine!” Marie exclaimed

“And who are you?” one of the moms asked snidely

“Marie,” she replied, “I work with Katie”

“I see...” the mom sneered, “and do you know anything about taking care of children?”

“I have my babysitting license!” Marie teased, “or at least I did when I was in high school. I took care of my baby cousins all the time and they’re doing great”

“Alright, Marie...” you interjected before things got too out of control, “why don’t you go help mom in the kitchen, mmkay?” She nodded in response before glaring at the pack of moms who had been interrogating her, “I promise, ladies, we’re going to have a lot of fun tonight. Plus, if anything happens, Evan will be here” you smiled as you directed their eyes to your boyfriend who was busy trying to figure out to set up a board game

“Maybe we should just stay a while?” one said

“Just to make sure?” another added

“I don’t think that’s necessary...” you tried but it was clear to you they weren’t going to leave, even when they saw Eddie come in with Christopher. You took a deep breath before heading over to check on Evan and help get all the kids settled, “they’re staying...” you whispered to Evan, nodding in the PTA moms direction

“Don’t worry,” he smiled, “I’ll be here. Everything will be fine.” He kissed your cheek and you smiled in return; After a few games, and realizing that it was still too early to call it a night, you decided it was time to have a bit of a dance party, putting on your most kid friendly playlist. It didn’t take much for the kids to get excited and start to wear themselves out but when Alex and Christopher tried to coax you and Marie to dance, you looked over at the moms; sighing deeply as they glared at you

“Hey!” Marie whispered with a smile, “dance with your son. Don’t pay attention to them”

“Fine” you laughed, taking your sons hand and twirling him around to start before the four of you began to bounce to the music, laughing at how much fun the two boys were having but you couldn’t ignore the whispers from the PTA moms

“What’s she trying to prove?”

“I bet she does this when we’re not around”

“It’s not appropriate”

“Especially around the single dads...”

“I think she acts cheap”

“I think she’s a bad role model for our children”

You couldn’t tell if they knew you could hear them or believed that they were whispering quietly but you took a deep breath before you walked past them and into the kitchen to check on the food, “how’s everything going mom?” you asked, Evan coming up behind you and wrapping his arms around your waist

“Good, I was just about to bring everything out” she smiled, handing some plates to Marie and Eddie

“I need to talk to you...” Evan whispered

“What’s up?”

“I have to go in to work” he winced

“What? No!” you whined

“I know, I’m sorry...” he sighed, “they needed someone to fill in and Eddie already said he took the day off.”

“Alright...” you groaned, rubbing his arms before wrapping your arms around his waist, “if you have to, you have to. We’ll be fine here.”

“You sure?” he asked

“Yeah!” you replied, “Eddie’s here to help out because I’m sure Marie will leave soon”

“Okay,” he said with a closed smile, “I’m sorry. I love you and I’ll see you tomorrow.” You pecked his lips and sent him on his way before finding the kids in front of the TV; you sat down on the couch watching them eat the food your mom had cooked while the PTA crowd silently judged. As the kids settled down, the moms decided to head out but not before giving you a few last words

“Katie...” one started, placing a hand on your shoulder, “don’t feel like you can’t call us if things get out of control”

“Thank you, Sylvie,” you smiled politely, “but I’ll be fine. The kids are great. No trouble at all”

“All she means,” another interjected, “is we know sleepovers can be a lot. Especially when kids have so many different needs or restrictions”

“I know,” you kept your fake smile plastered on your face as the women in front of you tried to undermine you, “but, trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

“We just don’t want you to be in over your head, you know?” another added

“Why would she be in over her head?” Eddie asked, seemingly coming to your rescue, and you noticed the moms perk up at his appearance

“Oh Eddie!” they all cooed

“There’s just a lot of kids for one person” Sylvie continued

“Well,” Eddie smiled, “she’s not just one person. I’m here. Her mom is here. Marie is here”

“Actually, no,” Marie said quietly as she tried to sneak away, “Marie won’t be here. But that doesn’t mean Katie is alone. Plus, the kids really like her so I know she’d be fine even if it was just her”

“Bye, Marie” you smiled, hugging your friend before turning back to the group in front of you

“Look, we love that our kids love you. They relate more to you than to us because of your age,” Sylvie admitted, “but after what happened to you and Alex... we’re just nervous leaving them here.” Your eyes grew wide at her confession, slowly taking in that this is how they felt, when you felt Eddie’s hand on your back

“I understand,” you finally said, “but I can promise that won’t happen again.”

“And that wasn’t her fault” Eddie added, rubbing your back to comfort you and it seemed like they didn’t want to argue with him so they walked away.

“Thank you, Eddie,” you smiled, turning on your heels to walk back into the house, “they’ve never liked me”

“Their just threatened by you”

“Oh I’m so sure” you laughed, sitting beside your son to watch whatever was on the screen. After a while, the kids had fallen asleep in their sleeping bags and you were left with Eddie while your mom slept in your room; the two of you jumping up from where you were when you heard a noise in the yard

“Stay here” Eddie insisted

“What?!” you exclaimed

“Stay with the kids” he repeated and you fell back to where the kids were but you couldn’t help feeling your heartbeat faster with each second that Eddie wasn’t coming back. When you heard a bang outside you ran to the door, coming face to face with your boyfriends best friend, “everything okay?” he asked, probably noticing your shallow breathing

“Sorry...” you replied, forcing yourself to pull your eyes away from his, “I just.. heard something and I was worried.”

“I just knocked over the trash can,” he confessed, “there was nobody out there. I didn’t see anyone hurt either, so the noise must have just been the wind.”

“Okay,” you said with a smile, “that’s good then.”

Eddie’s P.O.V

You weren’t sure what the moment meant, if it even was a moment, but Katie was sure to dismiss it all and you tried to do the same; but it was something that kept running through your mind

“Katie?” you whispered

“Mhmm” she hummed, playing with Alex’s hair as she started to fall asleep

“Should we talk about what happened?”

“What do you mean? The trash can?”

“No...” you sighed, “the... moment”

“Moment?” she questioned, peering over the arm of the couch to you, “what moment?”

“At the door, with the eye contact”

“Eddie...” she whispered, “there was no moment”

“I’m not trying to make it into something,” you added, “I just thought we should talk about it.. in case it came up again”

“Okay,” she said, dropping her eyes and you could tell she was thinking about something, “I was worried about you, I told you that. After I heard the noise.. I’m just a little skittish still you know? I wanted to make sure you were okay. That’s all. When I saw you at the door, I was relieved that you were alright.”

“Okay” you added

“I didn’t mean to make it seem like there was something else...” she continued

“I know you love Buck,” you said quietly, so to not wake up the kids, “and I know that we don’t have those feelings for each other...”

“But you wanted to address it and I appreciate that,” she smiled, “you’re a good friend, Eddie, to me and to Evan. I respect everything you do for me and Alex, I mean you saved my life...”

“I did my job”

“You saved my life,” she repeated, “and I couldn’t let you get hurt, I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt trying to save me again.”

“So the moment was a non moment?” you asked with a smile

“Exactly.” She smiled once more before leaning her head back against the arm of the couch. You woke up the next morning shortly before everyone else and quietly tried to clean up because you knew the moms would be coming to pick up the kids soon but not before they all came screaming into the kitchen as Katie groggily followed in with Christopher by her side

“You know what, Chris?” she said with a smile, “you’re my favourite.”

“Thanks” he smiled, leading you to reflect that same smile on your face. When the doorbell rang, signalling the moms arrival, you and Katie went in to say goodbye to all the kids; but when none of them even acknowledged Katie, you rolled your eyes

“What?” she scoffed

“They could’ve at least thanked you or said goodbye or something...”

“Eddie...” she laughed, “it’s fine. We survived the sleepover. Everything was good. They don’t like me, I don’t really care. What I care about is that the kids had a good time and I would say they did.” You agreed with a nod and started to pack up Chris’ bag so the two of you could get going. You were glad you had brought up the “non moment,” even if it was a little bit awkward, but now you had to wonder -- do you tell Evan or do you keep it between you and Katie?

#9-1-1 #9-1-1 on fox #9-1-1 fic #9-1-1 imagine #9-1-1 series #Embers #tag list #taglist #Embers tag list #Embers taglist #Evan Buckley #Evan Buck Buckley #masterlist #the other masterlist #Eddie Diaz

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alittlextrathatway · 4 years

Note

places list 3

A/N: these places prompts are different. I like them!

Next up: 3) the kitchen

You can find more information about the Brettsey prompt game here.

——————————

“You know you really didn’t have to do this for me, Sylvie. Both of you have done so much already.”

“Oh, please, Mr. Larson, it’s my pleasure. You’ve been in that hotel so long, and you deserve a nice dinner to celebrate you and Dusty coming back home,” Sylvie assures the elderly man as she walks him to the edge of the open kitchen. “Now, go take it easy. I’ve got this totally under control.”

Matt watches in amusement as Mr. Larson dutifully heads toward the living room and takes a seat in his recliner. The adoring smile Larson tosses at Sylvie as he leaves is no surprise to anyone. The old man dotes on Sylvie as if she were his own daughter. Casey can understand why. There’s no one more giving or caring than Sylvie Brett. She deserves to be universally admired for her ability to bring out the best in almost anyone.

“The renovations look great, Casey,” Brett says idly as she checks whatever dish she’s preparing in the oven. He was too busy watching her try to charm Larson out of the room to pay attention to what she brought over. “The upstairs looks good as new.”

He tips his beer bottle at her and then shrugs dismissively. “Surprisingly, the fire didn’t do too much damage. Just had to make sure the floors and the walls would hold up. I really didn’t do a lot.”

She scoffs with a dry grin. “Right. Sure you didn’t. You know, you brush off every compliment I give you? You can take credit for things when you do something exceptional. You know that, right?”

He chuckles and shrugs again. “All the credit I need is in the paycheck.”

Her eyes narrow on him as she closes the oven and then she steps into his space, speaking up quietly. “But you don’t always charge what you should. I know what the insurance gave him and I have a rough idea of how much the work you did should cost. You definitely cut him a break.”

He shakes his head, clearing his throat before knowingly fibbing. “The price I gave him was competitive. If I gave him a deal it wasn’t a huge one.”

Liar. He’s a liar. No way he could charge Mr. Larson what he should have given the fact that the insurance company screwed him over and gave him as little as they possibly could for the repairs. Matt wasn’t one to do shotty work just to fit a budget, especially not in the aftermath of fire damage. If that meant a little of the cost came out of his own pocket – well…so be it.

Sylvie smiles warmly at him, causing something in his stomach to flip once or twice, and then squeezes his arm. “You’re too good, Matt Casey. Please never change.”

He releases a breath he didn’t know he was holding as soon as her hand leaves his arm. What was that about? He’s not a teenage idiot with a crush so why does he act like one every time Sylvie innocently touches him?

“You should go sit, too,” Sylvie encourages. “I’m just going to make a salad while the pies bake. I’ve got this.”

“You sure?” He asks. “I could help you with the salad if you…”

“No, it’s fine. I’m sure. Go sit. I bet Mr. Larson and Dusty would love the company,” she insists as her hands find his shoulders to gently guide him, backwards, out of the kitchen.

“Okay, alright,” he replies with a soft laugh as he holds one hand up in surrender. “I’m going.”

He’s still chuckling to himself when he takes a seat on the end of the couch closest to Mr. Larson’s recliner.

“Banished you too, huh?” Mr. Larson asks with a knowing grin.

“It appears so,” Matt replies, placing his half empty beer on a coaster on the side table.

“Gail used to do the same thing to me,” Larson admits with a fond grin. “She used to tell me I was a distraction. I’m sure it’s the same for a young couple like yourselves.”

Matt nearly distractedly nods in agreement until Larson’s words actually hit him. He pauses and then shakes his head. “Oh no, we’re not–Brett and I aren’t–that is to say, Sylvie and I are friends.”

Mr. Larson laughs and looks completely unconvinced. “For now. But I see how the two of you look at each other. Trust me, I’m old. I have insight and wisdom you don’t yet.”

Dusty hops up on to the couch and then sits on Matt’s lap. Maybe he’s losing his mind but the look on Dusty’s face seems to indicate agreement with his owner.

“And if you ask me, I don’t think you could find a better match than her, Mattew,” Mr. Larson tells him. “Or her a better partner than you. Good people deserve other good people, that’s what Gail used to say. She was right, as she so often was.”

Can he help it if his eyes drift to Brett as she’s chopping vegetables for the salad? It’s Larson’s fault. He kept talking about her.

“You should tell her,” Mr. Larson advises. “Tell her how you feel, and don’t tell me you don’t feel anything. I may have readers stashed away in every corner of the house but I’m not blind.”

“I–I don’t know,” Matt admits quietly. “We’ve known each other for a long time now and she was best friends with my ex-wife. Even dated my ex’s brother–”

“Doesn’t matter,” Mr. Larson interrupts. “You’ve only got a limited amount of time on this earth so when you find something truly good you need to grab ahold of it.” He meets Matt’s eyes before he continues and Matt can see the unshed tears lingering in them despite the kind smile on his face. He knows the other man is thinking of his late wife and Casey’s heart goes out to him. “You never know how long you’ll have to enjoy it.”

That last sentence stabs right through Casey’s heart. The man in front of him is proof enough but he also forces Matt to think back on the friends and family he’s already lost and all the things he should have said to them but didn’t. The ways he took them for granted. The ways he’s taking Brett for granted right now. He keeps acting as though she’ll always be there even though he knows that’s not true, especially after she left with the Chaplain last year. The idea that she could leave or he could lose her isn’t an unfamiliar one.

Yet, here he is trying to deny something that he knows he feels. There’s a reason he acts like a teenage idiot with a crush anytime Brett touches him. Maybe he’s not a teenager, but he’s definitely an idiot with a crush. She impresses him every day – leaves him in awe more often than not – with her big heart, brave spirit, and quick thinking. With what they see every day, it would be easy to become jaded and cynical but she hasn’t. He hopes she never will.

Suddenly, he feels the need to tell her this. Maybe not the part about the crush but at least that he–

“Excuse me,” Casey says to Mr. Larson as he hands the old man his cat and stands up.

“Take your time,” Mr. Larson replies with a chuckle as he and Dusty share a look. Matt could be losing it, but once again he gets the feeling the cat is just as amused by all this as his owner.

Matt clears his throat to alert Sylvie to his presence as he enters the kitchen.

“Twenty more minutes,” she tells him. “Then we can eat and the salad’s done so I guess I am too.”

“Great,” he says with a nod. “So that means we have time to talk?”

“Oh,” Sylvie says in surprise. “Sure, yes. Of course.”

“You, um, called me too good earlier,” he begins.

“Yes, I did,” Sylvie says with a tiny questioning smile.

“Well, I didn’t respond and I should have. I should have told you that you’re ‘too good’ too and that I’m very glad that hasn’t changed since you came to Chicago because it easily could have. Or about how I think you make everyone you know, and even people you don’t, a better person because of that goodness. You give a lot of yourself to other people and I just want to make sure you know someone sees that and appreciates it.” The longer he talked, the faster he talked. By the end he sounded as though he were in a rambling rush. Last time he’d been this open with her, he’d had time to consider his words carefully, but this time he’s winging it and it shows.

Nervous rambling or not, Sylvie blushes and smiles bashfully at him.

“I, um–” She pauses and presses a hand to her lips, covering up a bright toothy smile and then tries to discreetly swipe that hand under her watery eyes. “Thank you, Matt. That means more than you know. But really,” she demures. “I’m just…treating people how I want to be treated. That’s all.”

He gives her a fond smile but an exasperated stare. “What was that you said to me earlier? You can take credit for things when you do something exceptional?”

“Turns out I’m not so good at that either,” she tells him with a watery chuckle.

He laughs and then surprises himself by take her hand in his as they stand across from each other in the kitchen. “Maybe we should make a deal then? You accept the compliments people give me and I’ll accept the compliments people give you. Sound good?”

She squeezes his hand and laughs with him. “Deal. I think I can handle that.”

It wasn’t the feelings he knew Larson wanted him to confess, but it was something. He didn’t want to take Sylvie for granted but he didn’t want to rush either. They can move forward one step at a time. Eventually, he’ll be brave enough to tell her what he wants, but for now standing in the kitchen holding her hand is all the progress he needs.

#prompt game #chicagosfincst #brettsey #brett x casey #chicago fire #fanfic #Sylvie Brett x Matt Casey #my fic #angellwings writes

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general-du-vallon · 6 years

Text

post Death of a Hero, because because. I did already write an episode tag to this but i have deleted every instance of that in a fit of pique so let’s forget that. I can write as many as i like, anyway.

“Well, I’m going to go and find my wife to kiss her again,” d’Artagnan says, getting up and looking a bit awkwardly between Porthos and Treville.

“I have duty,” Treville says, short and sharp, and he gets up too, leading d’Artagnan out.

Porthos looks around the empty office, thinks about Athos off with Sylvie, Aramis off meeting the queen in secret (as he surely is right now), d’Artagnan in the arms of his wife, and laughs. That hurts so he stops and turns back to the window. He breathes as deeply as he can for a while, then shakes the bitterness off and goes to find Hannah. She’s been here since about the same time as d’Artagnan showed up, stitching them up, giving them salves, looking after them. Some friend of Constance’s. Porthos hasn’t seen her since they came back from the front, he goes to knock on her door and is surprised to find it answered by a very small child, and surprised again when a slim lad with one arm comes to lift the child onto a hip. Porthos peers over the man’s shoulder.

“Um, is Hannah…?” Porthos asks, uncertain all of a sudden. He hasn’t been hurt since returning, or not more than a scrape or bruise that Aramis or Athos hasn’t taken care of. He went to d’Artagnan with a cut once and only once: d’Artagnan’s solution was to punch Porthos in the shoulder and cheerfully suggest he use a smelly pot of something orange that was apparently a recipe of his mother’s.

“Oh, you’re from the garrison,” the man says. “I’ll get Hannah.”

Porthos waits, having not been invited in. Hannah comes out a few minutes later and smiles seeing him.

“Monsieur du Vallon,” she says, drying her hands on an apron. “My husband said it was someone from the garrison, can I help?”

“No, I’m sorry, I thought you were still…” Porthos trails off. Husband. That means the kid’s probably hers, too. He definitely should have found out who runs things around here before barging in on someone.

“I’m still working, if that’s what you mean, Constance usually comes and knocks when I’m needed, so I can spend time with Claude and Esther. Are you injured?”

“A broken rib, I think,” Porthos says. “I wanted someone to check my back and make sure I’ve not missed something.”

“Come on in. Usually we’d go to the sickroom, but as it’s you,” Hannah says.

Porthos follows her into the little house, just a few rooms, a garret really. She’s got it beautifully set up, all the things neatly sewn, everything bright and fresh and clean. He nearly falls asleep as she’s examining him but Esther comes in and distracts him. He lets her assuage her curiosity about many things. Like his beard, and his bright buttons, and the coins she finds in his boot, and is gloves. She’s not in the slightest shy but she isn’t much of a talker. Hannah’s husband comes and stands in the doorway and watches over the child, and in his attentive focus Porthos recognises him as one of the sharp shooters Porthos worked with at the front, two years ago, back at Alsace. They barely worked together for more than a few days, Porthos doesn’t refresh his memory: Lachy took out a man about to shoot Porthos, that day. He’d then got them both captured by the Spanish yelling when a ball hit him. Not that Porthos had blamed him. The wound had festered, locked in the prison there, Porthos had done his best but had been watching over a dead man until Athos and d’Artagnan hatched their foolhardy plan. Hannah must have seen to him when he returned home. But no, because Esther’s coming on three or four, surely. Porthos’s idle wondering comes to an end as Hannah decides that, as he suspected, it’s just a broken rib. Or two, according to her. And extensive bruising.

“I’ve taken my time cleaning these cuts and grazes so they don’t infect,” she tells him, following him out.

“I’m glad you’ve found some family,” Porthos blurts, squinting at the sun.

“Hm,” Hannah says, hands on her hips. “He’s a good man.”

“I know,” Porthos says. “He saved my life two years ago. He’s a damned good shot.”

Hannah smiles, a little shy, a little uncertain. Porthos wonders if she loves Lachy. He doesn’t ask, Lachy comes out and Hannah turns, and he doesn’t need to ask. Porthos heads for his rooms, then changes tack and goes to Athos’s instead, lying face down on the bed. Athos is with Sylvie, he won’t be back for hours. Days, even. His bed is nicer than Porthos’s. He’s about to drift off when the latch lifts, sending a spike of adrenaline through him. He recognises Athos before he does anything like skewer the intruder.

“Nearly killed you, startling me like that,” Porthos mumbles, ignoring the fact that he’s still face first in Athos’s pillow, belt and jacket and weapons discarded somewhere near the door.

“I would have knocked,” Athos says, sarcastically.

“Next time,” Porthos says, ignoring the sarcasm.

He doesn’t ask about Sylvie. He can guess, he’s seen Athos with relationships before. Not necessarily romantic relationships, but relationships. He remembers, early on, Athos trying at least ten times to break away from Porthos, to persuade Porthos he wasn’t worth being friends with, wasn’t worth trusting. Wasn’t worth loving. Couldn’t love Porthos in return. Athos fits himself into the small space Porthos isn’t draped over, groans, fits his arms around Porthos in a way that doesn’t hurt, shoves and cajoles until Porthos isn’t lying on his broken ribs, and then subsides, still grumbling, against Porthos’s shoulder.

“I hurt,” Porthos says.

“Me too,” Athos says, fervent.

“Today was not a good day.”

“We didn’t die, that’s something,” Athos says.

“I lost a good barrel of wine, that’s almost as bad,” Porthos says. Athos chuckles, scratching his fingers lightly against Porthos’s chest. “I suppose living is more important than wine."

“What will I do with you?” Athos says, softly, catching something in Porthos’s tone.

“More what I’m going to do with myself, now you have all found other family,” Porthos says.

“Mm-hmm,” Athos says, unimpressed by Porthos’s misery.

“What?”

“Well, what shall I say to you?” Athos says. “I could tell you that you’ll always have a place, with any of us. That we share whatever we have, as always. That… you’re the truest friend I’ve ever had, the best man I’ve ever met, you have never wavered. I have no intention of losing that. Or of losing this.”

“Sylvie’s not as patient as I am,” Porthos says, into the pillow, face pressed there to keep from laughing or crying. Or both. “Lose her if you don’t get it together.”

“I can’t. I put her in danger. My job doesn’t allow me-”

“Uh-uh,” Porthos says. “Not my problem.”

“Then leave it,” Athos says. Porthos grumbles, but that’s fair so he does it wordlessly. “Broken ribs?”

“Just one,” Porthos lies. “The same as always breaks.”

“You could stop barrelling into fights,” Athos says.

“You could stop nagging,” Porthos says, but without any heat.

“I was so surprised when I realised I loved you,” Athos says. “I can’t believe how much I do, it’s ridiculous.”

“Love isn’t kind,” Porthos says.

“Then I promise besides,” Athos says, stubbornly. “Promise you’ll be my family until the day we die. I couldn’t throw you off now if I tried.”

“Yeah, you’re a weakling. I’m too big,” Porthos says, leaning back into Athos. Athos hisses so Porthos quickly removes his weight. “Especially now. Useless, now.”

Athos huffs but doesn’t refute any of that. Porthos smiles happily and goes to sleep. d'Artagnan was right: he does have good friends. He mightn’t have a wife and child yet, or any of the things d’Artagnan was dreamy over, but he has plenty of his own. Maybe Sylvie will be just patient enough and she’ll give up her sedition and have many many children who Porthos can dote on. Porthos hums, pleased with that idea. Athos probably likes Sylvie’s sedition. Probably wants to join her. Cause mischief, like Aramis. Porthos can’t exactly blame them, war tears a country apart and makes orphans and refugees, plenty there to fight over. Plenty of places that things could be done better. Porthos sighs, the gauzy image of Sylvie and Athos and himself raising many many little Athoses dispersing.

“What now?” Athos sighs. “Are we never going to sleep, Porthos? Today has been trying.”

“At least we’re not dead,” Porthos says. “I was just thinking. Serving my country, long and well. I’ve one good, right, Athos? In the world?”

“You’ve done wonderfully,” Athos says, dry and irritable but no less genuine for that. Porthos nods and settles down again. “I admire the way you move through the world, my friend. Please get some rest.”

“Let you get rest you mean,” Porthos says. “Up all hours doing who knows what.”

Athos huffs again, tightens his arms just enough to hurt for a moment then relaxes, kissing Porthos’s shoulder. Porthos shifts and settles again, eyes heavy, gritty with dust and exhaustion. Today really was not a good day. He had thought that he might never have a child, might never meet the woman he is going to marry, might never have a family. And then, underneath, he’d been afraid. So very, very afraid. Because a trap set for them, for him and d’Artagnan and Aramis, meant danger for Athos. And Athos was alone and vulnerable, unfocussed. But Athos had come and hauled him out and held him for a moment, and now Porthos rests in his arms. So very much to lose, but so very much to come home to as well. So very much to life for and fight for.

#fic #General Porthos du Vallon #porthos #death of a hero #portos/athos

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multi-goodness · 7 years

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Happy Ending

I meant to get this done last night but I was so exhausted. I wasn’t even sure what direction I wanted to take with this story so you may notice that lmao. Anyway, enjoy!

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

“Sylvie, come to Molly’s and just drink your thoughts away.” Gabby insisted through the phone.

“I don’t feel like coming out tonight, at least not yet. I feel so humiliated. I went through years making sure every guy I went on a date with was single.” Sylvie sighed as she looked down at the carton of ice cream on her lap. She moved the spoon into her mouth and took a bite.

“So, it happened. You get back up, dust yourself off and move on.” Gabby said as she poured a drink for Mouch.

“I know. I’ll try to stop by later, okay?” Sylvie said and hung up the phone, causing Gabby to sigh.

She wanted so badly to stop by and check on Sylvie but knew she couldn’t get Herrmann to handle the bar on his own.

“What’s got you making that face?” Antonio asked as he sat down across from his sister.

“Nothing, just tired.” She lied, knowing Antonio was the last person Sylvie wanted to know about her awful humiliation.

“I hear that.” Antonio said. “Give me a beer.”

Gabby walked away to retrieved him a beer and a few seconds later, she returned placing it down in front of him. “How’s Eva?” She asked.

“She’s good, just busy writing her college essay. She amazes me.” He replied with a smile.

“I’ll have to stop by and spend time with her one of these days.” Gabby said, wanting to ease her way into what she wanted to talk about, or rather who she wanted to talk about.

“She would love that.” Antonio said as he took a sip from the beer.

“Keeping it easy tonight, huh?” Gabby asked, arching her eyebrows at his beer.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Eva’s been--uh, every night when I come home, she’s been waiting for me. I don’t want to come home drunk and she thinks I rather go out and drink than spend time with her.” He explained. Although it was the truth, there was also another reason. A reason he couldn’t admit to himself right now, much less admit it to his sister.

“I have to say though, it makes me feel better knowing that someone is watching out for you.” She confessed.

He shrugged his shoulders once again, letting the silence take over them.

“So, um, how’s the single life treating you?” She asked softly. “I’m sure now that everyone knows you’re available again, they can’t keep their hands off you.” Gabby felt like that was the only way to get his attention.

Antonio gave her a puzzled look. “They?” He repeated. “Who is they?” He shook his head, he knew his sister well enough to know what she meant. “If you want to know if I’m seeing anyone, my answer is no. Could have just asked, you know?”

Gabby shrugged her shoulders. “You might tell me everything but due to the circumstances this time, I’m not sure.”

“Well, you can relax, I’m not dating anyone. I tried with Sylvie, it failed miserably. I don’t want to do that again.” He felt like if it couldn’t work with Sylvie, why else would it work with anyone else?

“You know I just want you to be happy.” Gabby said as she poured herself a shot. “Sylvie’s getting back in the dating world, you should too.” There, she thought, what she was dying to him since he sat down was finally out in the open.

As soon as Antonio heard Sylvie was moving on from him, his jaws clenched. He obviously wasn’t happy with the news but what could he do? She wasn’t his anymore. She was free whatever she wanted, and that meant dating other people. After a few seconds, he unclenched his jaw, visibly relaxing.

“I’m happy for her.” He said, wishing he had a strong drink in front of him now.

“Which is all you can allow yourself to say.” She pointed you. She placed the shot glass down on the bar counter top as she leaned forward. “So, you’ll be okay if she gets serious with this guy? If she falls in love with him?” She questioned accusingly. “I should also mention he’s a doctor.” Gabby knew she was playing an evil game with him, but she was also tiring of seeing Sylvie hurt, she deserved better and knew Antonio could give her better.

Antonio glared at her, his anger and jealous shining through his eyes, but he tried to downplayed it. Because the truth was, his life was still a mess, even so more now that he went back to intelligence and he was dealing with issues with Voight. “If you want me to say I still have feelings for Sylvie, I do and I’m not denying that. But if this doctor can make her happier than I did and put her first, who am I to get in the way of that? She deserves to be happy.”

“Yeah, well, she was happy.” Gabby admitted.

“Was?” He asked. “What does that mean?”

Sometimes Gabby wished she could knock some sense into Antonio, especially when it came to his feelings. He obviously still wanted Sylvie, but because he felt like he had too many baggage, he let Sylvie go.

“We um, stopped at Lakeshore where he worked, and that was when Sylvie found out,” Gabby looked at Antonio to see his reaction, but she continued anyway. Hopefully he wouldn’t track down this doctor himself and kick his ass. At this point, Antonio was bound to do anything. “that he was....married.”

Antonio looked at his sister, his nostril flaring with anger. “Wait, what, married?” It wasn’t a question, but more like a question in disbelief. He knew guys like this existed but could never understand why.

She nodded her head as she finally lifted the shot glass toward her lips and downed it. “She was of course angry, you know first hand that she’s sweet but get on her bad side---”

“And you’ll see a different side of Sylvie that not many people know.” He finished her sentence.

“Yeah, so, anyway I dragged her out of there because we were still on shift. As much as I wanted to kick his ass for her, I knew it wasn’t the time nor the place.”

“When did this happen?” He asked.

“A few days ago.” Gabby sighed. “And now she’s swore off guys. I don’t blame her. Once this happens, you kind of don’t have hope that the next guy you meet will be any different.”

Antonio nodded his head, deep in thought. He wanted Sylvie to be happy so why was he so jealous that some other guy made her happy? It may have not lasted long but it made him jealous that even for one night, her mind wasn’t on him, as selfish as that sounded.

“Look, she’ll probably hate me for telling you because you are her ex-boyfriend, so if you talk to her, don’t let her know you know.”

Antonio broke out of his thoughts and he looked at Gabby. “I won’t. We haven’t talked really since our break up, and I doubt she wants to see me now.”

“I know what you’re thinking and what you’re going through.” Gabby began. “When me and Matt were on a break and he was seeing someone else, I was jealous. I didn’t let it show but I was. It didn’t last long but at least Sylvie didn’t sleep with him.” She said, trying to comfort him.

“Like I said earlier, Sylvie is free to do whatever she wants.” He reminded Gabby.

“She is.” She agreed. “And so are you. But you’re not.” She pointed out. “Why is that?”

He shrugged his shoulders as he stood up. “I told you already. I couldn’t make it work with Sylvie, so I don’t think I can make it work with anyone else.” He said as he reached in his pocket for money.

“That’s an excuse and we both know it.” She looked at Antonio. “As much as you want Sylvie to be happy, I want you to be happy too. And I have never seen you as happy as you were with Sylvie. Not even with Laura you were that happy.”

He placed a few bills on the bar and he shrugged his shoulders. “Some people don’t get happy endings and maybe I’m one of those people. But I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Antonio?” Gabby asked as he walked away just as Matt was walking over to Gabby.

“Everything okay?” He asked Gabby as he sat down where Antonio was sitting minutes prior.

“I sure hope so.” Maybe she pushed it too much with Antonio. Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut, but Gabby wasn’t known for keeping her mouth shut, that was for sure.

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

After moping on the sofa for a few hours, Sylvie decided going out would make her feel better. It just had to.

As she putting makeup on her face, the last thing she had to do before she left her apartment, she heard a knock on the door. “Give me a minute!” She called out, knowing whoever it was, couldn’t hear it.

But she refused to answer the door with half makeup on. A few minutes later, she finally finished, not being one to overdo it with makeup anyway.

Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked over to the door. “I swear Cruz or Otis, if you guys forgot your key again---” She yelled as she opened the door, her eyes surprised to see standing on the other side of the door.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to show up unannounced.” Antonio apologized as he looked at Sylvie.

“No, it’s okay. I wasn’t busy.” Sylvie said, wishing that she could sounded more happy but she was still pretty bummed out, although it had nothing to do with Antonio showing up at her door.

“Were you, um, going out?” He asked. His thoughts went back to what Gabby said and he wondered if she forgave that doctor and agreed to go on a date and hear his side of things. Knowing Sylvie, she didn’t give him much of a chance to explain.

“I was just going to Molly’s.” She admitted. “But I can spare a few minutes. Come in.”

Antonio walked inside and he shut the door behind him.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but what are you doing here?”

“I---,” Antonio remembered that he promised Gabby he wouldn’t say anything about what she told him. “I’m not sure. It was a rough day and I guess---I just wanted to see you, see how you were doing.” He admitted.

“You want a drink?” She asked.

He nodded his head. “Sure.” He walked over to her kitchen counter as Sylvie walked over to the refrigerator. “What sucks about breaking up isn’t so much the break up itself but also losing that friendship too.”

“It does.” She took a deep breath as she walked over to Antonio and handed him a beer.

“Rough day?” He asked, wondering if she’d tell him about the douchebag doctor.

Sylvie nodded her head. “Rough week.” She confessed as she took a swig of her beer. “And it had nothing to do with my job.”

“Anything I can help with?” He asked softly, hoping he wasn’t overstepping.

“No.” She shook her head. “Maybe if you weren’t my ex, you could.”

He nodded his head. “I can understand that.” He walked over closer to her. “But maybe we should get over that awkward point in our break up and start working towards a friendship?” He suggested. “I mean, you are my sister’s partner and friend after all, we’re bound to run into each other....and even know each other’s business.”

“Gabby told you.” She laughed uncomfortably. “I’m gonna kill her, I am so gonna kill her.”

“Don’t. If she did it to gossip then I wouldn’t stop you, but she was concerned for you.” He pointed out.

“I know and I am grateful she’s my friend. But this sort of thing isn’t something you want your ex-boyfriend to know.” She reminded him. “Besides, it puts you in an awkward position. I know it would for me knowing that you are trying to move on.”

“You know I want you to be happy.” He said as he placed his beer down, he didn’t come over here to drink, he came over here to make sure she was okay. Even if Gabby told him she was, he had to see for himself.

“I want you to be happy too..” She said, her voice trailing off.

“But?” He questioned, knowing it sounded like a but in there too.

“But it would also drive me crazy knowing you tried to move on. It would drive me crazy knowing that you were giving your attention to someone else.”

“That’s because you didn’t end it, I did. Well, it felt like a mutual agreement. But you know what I mean.”

Sylvie placed her beer down next to his and she placed her hand on her face. “I just feel so stupid. It was like every time I tried moving on after you, I choose the wrong guys. First I was trying to marry a guy to give him a green card and now this doctor was married.” She sighed as she started pacing back and forth, clearly still upset. “I feel like a fool. Aren’t you supposed to pick up on something like this? Isn’t there something in your brain that says ‘This guy is married, run away.’”

“I don’t think so.” He replied. “Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we ignore the red flags.”

“I think I’m more upset that this had to happen in front of Gabby, my ex-boyfriend’s sister. She may be my closest friend, but I should have known she would have told you.”

“I think Gabby had more of an agenda than just letting me know.” He pointed out.

“Maybe.” She agreed.

Antonio took a deep breath. “I just came here to see if you’re okay. Not that it’s any of my business but...”

“That’s sweet.” Sylvie said, meaning it. “I’m fine. I think it was just shocking, embarrassing, and just proves that I’m not a good judge of character.”

“Are any of us, really?” He questioned. “Some people can have us fooled and sadly there are a bunch of cheaters out there that are good at lying. Probably because they get so used to it, it’s a way of life for them now.”

“I don’t think that’s it though.” She admitted. “Yeah, he may have been a good lying maybe. But I think I was just trying to move on so badly that I didn’t stop and think of some signs.” Sylvie said as she walked over to the sofa and sat down.

“Or maybe you were using him.”

“I---I wasn’t!” Sylvie said defensively.

Antonio walked over to Sylvie and sat down next to her. “It wasn’t that long ago when we were dating that you told me you learned your lesson about dating guys that you met on ambo calls, did you not?”

“Well, yeah. But I was also in a better state of mind then too.” She pointed out. “I was in a relationship with you.”

“I’m just saying, it seems to me you were either looking at him as a rebound, which is perfectly normal, or you were waiting for something to happen.”

“I can admit, he did seem too good to be true and usually when that happens, I question it. Yet this time I didn’t. I think I was also tired of looking at what could go wrong and think about what could go right.” She looked over at him. “So, you’re saying you didn’t try to move on?”

He shook his head. “No. And now with Eva living with me, I doubt I’d try now.”

“She is?” She asked. “What happened?”

“She was having a tough time living with her mother. And she asked to live with me, which of course she didn’t need to. I love having her there. It can get challenging with my work schedule but it’s nice to come home seeing her there.”

“I bet it is.” Sylvie smiled softly.

“Anyway. I guess I should leave now so you can head over to Molly’s before it’s too late.” He stood up from the sofa and looked at her. “Are you sure you’re gonna be okay?”

“I am, thank you.” Sylvie promised as she stood up with him. “But um, are you sure you came over here to make sure I was okay?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Make sure you aren’t giving up on guys for good.” He gave her a small smile.

“Did Gabby have to tell you everything?” She asked, frustrated.

“She meant well.”

“I know.” She agreed. “So, are you telling me that you weren’t jealous? Even just a little bit?” She asked softly as she walked behind him to the door.

As they reached the door, he turned around and faced her. “Does it matter?” He asked, searching her eyes.

She shrugged her shoulders. “I know I would be jealous if you were trying to move on from me.”

“Maybe I was jealous but after finding out what he did to you--”

“It makes you feel better?” She interrupted him.

“Better?” He echoed. “No way in hell would it make me feel better knowing that you got hurt. That wasn’t what I was trying to say.”

Sylvie stood there, urging him to continue what he was saying.

“I was going to say after finding out what he did to you, it makes me want to go over to the hospital he works out at and kick his ass in front of everyone, and then tell his wife what kind of person he is.” Antonio said, his anger returning. Since he came to Sylvie’s, he was able to keep his emotions in check but he was starting to lose control again.

“How would you even know where---” Sylvie shook her head. “I don’t even know what I’m saying.”

Antonio smiled, shrugging his shoulders. “So, you’re saying that if the roles were reversed and I went out with someone else, you would get jealous?” He asked, remembering what she said earlier.

“Well, yeah. We never broke up because the feelings weren’t there.” She pointed out. “I’m actually surprised that you aren’t dating anyone.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Why do you say that?” He asked. “Before you, my last relationship was with Laura and that ended years ago.”

“Just because you don’t want to date anyone doesn’t mean no one is interested. I mean, have you looked at yourself?” At her words, Sylvie’s face began to heat up.

Antonio chuckled and he shrugged his shoulders. He closed the distance between them and whispered in her ear. “I guess that’s because I’m still not over you.”

“Antonio.” Sylvie said breathlessly.

He shook his head. “Not like this, Sylvie. Not like this.” The last thing he wanted to do was even talk about their feelings about each other when she’s still feeling hurt and humiliated.

She nodded her head. “Okay.” She tilted her head to the side as she thought about something. “You were right about something though.”

“Yeah?” He asked, wondering about what.

“I think I keep choosing these asshole guys because they are the opposite of you. And maybe I think that’s a good thing, but it isn’t. Because even through all of your baggage, namely your ex-wife, you’re still the best guy I know. You’re loyal, honest, and would never do anything to purposely hurt me or anyone else. If I’m being totally honest now, I think I needed to go on a date with that guy and find out he was married that way so I know the only guy in the world for me is you.” She admitted, biting down on her bottom lip.

Antonio processed everything she said and he nodded his head. “I understand what you’re saying, I do, and if I’m being honest too, I know you’re the one for me. But I don’t want to rush it this time. I came here tonight to make sure you’re okay. And you are.” He smiled softly. “But you still need time to get over what you went through and I’m giving you space to do that.”

Sylvie frowned. “But---”

“So how about I pick you up tomorrow night and we can discuss everything?” He suggested.

Sylvie grinned. “Sure.”

“Is 8:00 good?” He asked.

“It is.” She agreed.

“We’re going to do things right this time.” He promised as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Be careful going out tonight, okay?”

“I will.”

He opened the door and walked out.

#Brettonio #Sylvie Brett #Antonio Dawson #my fanfic

67 notes · View notes

hailey-halstead · 7 years

Text

Green Bean Casserole

let’s ignore the layout of Antonio’s apartment okay thanks😂😅 this is of course after the CF finale, and i will be writing a lot of fics related to this one. we don’t know if casey has died or not, but for these bunch of stories i have in mind, he does. it’s kind of the catapult that gets brettonio back together, and of course guilt and drama and many fic ideas would come with that!!! which means grieving gabby dawson:( of course i definitely want matt casey to live(and i one hundred percent think he does) but it makes out for good stories!!!! hope you enjoy!!! and i know justice is over but yeah whatever i started this immediately after the finale sooo it wasn’t canceled yet. i hope you all enjoy and i don’t own anything!!!! 💘💘💘💘

—————

Nagel tried to balance the green bean casserole in one hand and use the other to knock on Antonio’s apartment door. She felt slightly awkward about coming, but each time she thought about backing out, she thought of how she needs to support her partner. And although he wasn’t the one the casserole was mainly for, he was dealing with his sister’s life being completely flipped upside down.

The person who answered the door was neither of the Dawson siblings, or one of their parents. Instead it was a blonde haired woman, looking exhausted and frazzled. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Nagel’s food, however.

“Gabby loves green bean casserole.” The woman said with a smile, taking it from Nagel’s hands. Nagel wondered if that was it, she was handing over food and then leaving. She hadn’t exactly thought about what would happen after she gave the food away. But the woman opened the door wider, gesturing with her head for Nagel to come in. “Antonio would be glad to see you.” She said, surprising Nagel that she knew who she was. She had no clue who this woman was. “Oh, I’m sorry for not introducing myself, I guess I’ve been scatterbrained lately—”

“It’s fine, don’t apologize.” She must be a good friend of Gabby’s, and clearly was staying here to help. At least that’s what Nagel assumed by her wild hair and ratty sweatpants. She didn’t look like she was just visiting. “I understand.”

“Thanks.” The woman led her into the kitchen, seeming quite comfortable in Antonio’s apartment. She opened the fridge, which was stacked with food already. With some difficulty, the woman shoved the casserole into the fridge, somehow finding a place for it. “I’m Sylvie, though.” She stuck out a hand for Nagel to shake after she shut the refrigerator. “You’re Laura Nagel, right?”

“Right.” She responded slowly. Sylvie certainly knew a lot about her. “Nice to meet you.”

“Come on, Antonio is in the living room.” Sylvie left the room. Nagel quickly followed, not wanting to be left behind.

Antonio was on the couch, head in hands. Nagel was left speechless, she had never seen him so defeated before. Unlike herself who was unable to move, Sylvie approached Antonio. Her hand rested against his back, in an almost very intimate way. Nagel felt like she was intruding.

That’s when Antonio looked up, and his eyes first went to Nagel. “Hey,” He greeted, standing up and walking over towards her. “Thanks for stopping by.” He hugged her, an interaction not common between them. But it was right for the occasion, as Nagel wrapped her own arms around him.

“Of course.” She said, patting his back to show more comfort and support. When they separated, she informed him about the food she brought in the fridge.

“Gabby loves green bean casserole.” Antonio repeated the same thing Sylvie said earlier.

“Is she not here?” She had never met his sister, and while she never wanted to meet her under these circumstances, Nagel did want to extend her condolences.

At that question, Antonio and Sylvie looked at each other and grimaced. She probably shouldn’t have asked.

“She’s in Eva’s, I mean, her bedroom. Well, technically still Eva’s, but temporarily it’s Gabby’s.” Sylvie pointed to a closed room down the hall.

“How long has she been in there?”

“About an hour, I think?” Sylvie looked to Antonio for confirmation. He nodded. “She’s supposed to keep the door unlocked. We want to give her as much privacy as possible, but we have to take precautions.”

“Well, I can go, if you want—”

“No, no. It’s fine.” Antonio interrupted, shaking his head. “We both appreciate the company. It’s usually just us around here, and sometimes my mom, and it can get pretty boring at times.”

“Gee, thanks.” Sylvie sarcastically thanked him, bumping her hip against his. They exchanged smiles, longer than Nagel thought was necessary. It was clear there was something more than friendship between them.

“Do you live nearby?” Nagel couldn’t help but ask Sylvie. What? She was curious. Plus she was known for being blunt. So her asking an out there question wasn’t unusual. The relationship between Sylvie and Antonio seemed more than platonic, too.

“Um, like 20 minutes away. I’ve been, uh, crashing on the couch.” Sylvie was clearly not expecting the question, stuttering her way through her answer.

“Sleep on the couch my ass…” A voice slurred. All three of them turned to the sound, watching as a disheveled Gabby appeared out of the bedroom.

With a bottle of vodka. Well then. This first meeting with Gabby Dawson was going to be quite unfiltered. Her attention wasn’t on the new guest however, but on Antonio and Sylvie.

“Gabby—” Sylvie paid no attention to her friend’s snide comment, her eyes instead on the alcohol.

“Don’t Gabby me..” Gabby took an unbalanced step forward, thankfully placing the drink down on the counter she passed. Sylvie tried to help Gabby by grabbing onto her arm, but she was shrugged off.

That movement by Sylvie seemed to be the final trigger, as she then went off on a tangent. “I’m not stupid! I see you two…you sleeping together, hugging…kissing.” She pointed back and forth between the two, before directing her full attention on Sylvie. “You were always jealous of me. Saying you wanted your own Casey…..” Her voice wobbled slightly at the mention of her deceased husband, showing some sign of her real internal emotions. It was obvious she was taking her grief out on Sylvie.

Luckily Sylvie understood that, ignoring the hurtful words being thrown at her. “It’s not like that, Gabby.” She spoke softly, reaching out to grab Gabby’s hands.

Nagel couldn’t help but look at Antonio, wondering how he was taking all of this. He looked more emotionally affected than Sylvie. That was easy to see, with his clenched jaw and fidgeting hands. If Gabby kept up with her emotional outburst, her brother would surely intervene. What was holding him back with the hint of sadness in his eyes. He, like Sylvie, knew why she was reacting this way. But he wouldn’t be able to stand for it like his…..whatever Sylvie was to him. Thanks to Gabby’s drunken rant, Nagel now knows that they are really sleeping together.

“Why are you flinging your happiness in my face?” Gabby cried out, shooing Sylvie’s desperate hands away.

“I’m not—”

“You had to pick my brother, didn’t you? You couldn’t have been someone else’s whore—”

“Gabby!” Antonio’s voice was sharp, a warning. But intoxicated Gabby was unfazed.

“My husband is gone and you’re now trying to steal away Antonio from me. I’ve already lost so many people, Sylvie. Shay wouldn’t have done this to me.”

Nagel didn’t have a clue who Shay was, but Antonio and Sylvie both flinched at the mention.

At this point, she wouldn’t have been surprised if Sylvie left. But she stayed, looking even more determined than before. “Gabby….I’ll do anything for you.” She tried to talk sense into her friend, but as Nagel observed Gabby’s glazed eyes and swaying body, she wasn’t going to get any logic into her mind. Getting her back in bed was the best option.

“Bullshit….” Gabby slurred, before leaning over and throwing up all down Sylvie’s shirt.

Immediately the smell of vomit became prominent throughout the whole apartment. Everyone had barely any time to react before Gabby began to fall over. Sylvie, who was the closest, grabbed her first. But was clearly struggling to hold her up, as she was trying to avoid getting Gabby covered in the vomit.

Antonio took over. “Go get cleaned up.” He murmured to Sylvie, gesturing his chin to the direction of his bedroom. “We’ll handle this.”

We? Nagel thought of herself as a fearless woman, but she did not do vomit.

Antonio, who saw the disgust on her face, sighed. “I meant that you could help me get her situated. I don’t expect you to clean up my sister’s mess.”

Relieved, Nagel quickly stepped forward to help. She could handle helping Gabby get back into bed. But as they helped his sister into her room, Antonio leaned down to pick Gabby up entirely by himself when they were only feet away from the bed.

“Uh, okay.” Nagel watched carefully as Antonio lowered Gabby onto the mattress. It was important for her to make sure he didn’t somehow hurt himself—doing work without a partner would be a major pain in the ass. Plus, of course, she did care about the man. She would have to after spending hours upon hours with him five days a week. “Thought you wanted my help.” If didn’t need anything else, she should probably go. By this point she felt like she was intruding. Actually, when Gabby came stumbling out of her room was the moment she should have ran for it.

“We need to check her room for alcohol,” He said when he stepped back from the bed, looking around the room for bottles. “I thought Sylvie and I got all of it the other day,” He muttered, this time he was talking to himself so Nagel ignored him, looking into the closet.

She hit the jackpot. Right behind a layer of Antonio’s daughter’s clothes were bottles of alcohol in a plastic bag. They didn’t look like they were there for long. The receipt was inside the bag, which she decided to pull out. She was right with her suspicions, this was bought only yesterday.

“Dawson.” She called out softly to not wake his sister, but also still audible enough that he could hear. “Found it.”

The frown on his face grew deeper as he viewed the alcoholic beverages. He didn’t voice his feelings though, instead lowering down to pick the bag up.

“She’s not going to be happy to find that gone.” Nagel couldn’t help but comment. She took the bag when Antonio handed it to her though. Just because Gabby was going to be mad didn’t mean what Antonio was doing was wrong. Plus she was so hammered that Nagel was confident that she wouldn’t remember her being here. It would be Antonio and Sylvie that would have to deal with her. Nagel only wanted to be the person who dropped off food. Nothing more.

“Take it. Happy birthday.” Antonio said, shutting the cabinet door behind him.

A nice surprise, she had to admit. Antonio wasn’t the one to turn away alcohol normally, but this was certainly not a normal situation. She wasn’t going to complain about free alcohol, but couldn’t help but correct his statement. “My birthday is months away.”

“Early birthday present then,” Antonio shrugged, looking back at his sister before they left the room. She looked peaceful, even though she was anything but.

They were met with the sight of Sylvie, in a new shirt, one that looked familiar to Nagel. It was obvious that she had swiped the piece of clothing out of Antonio’s closet. She was down on her hands and knees, scrubbing the vomit out of the beige carpet.

“Sylvie, let me—” Antonio reached his hand out, eyeing the hand towel she was using. Scrunching up her nose, Nagel sidestepped out of the way. The mess seemed it was mostly cleaned up, making the help Antonio was offering to be useless, but the smell was still as strong as before. Another reason for her to make her exit.

She was right in her suspicion, as Sylvie got off of her knees, using her free hand to grab the cleaning supplies to her right. “I’m done already,” She said, taking a few steps backward before turning around to face the coffee table. “Don’t feel bad.”

For Antonio, that was probably an impossible task. But Nagel didn’t dare voice this aloud. After all, she wanted to get out of this mess as quickly as possible. She didn’t need to insert herself into a mindless conversation.

The scent of febreeze began to enter the room, taking over the vomit smell. After a few more sprays, Sylvie set down the bottle, turning back towards Antonio. She had a look in her eyes, one that was very familiar to Nagel. She had seen it multiple times from her ex husband before. It was the we need to talk look. Which was most likely about what had been said by intoxicated Gabby earlier.

This was the moment she had been waiting for. To make her leave.

“Well, I think I should….” She gestured to the door, taking a few steps backwards.

Luckily, Antonio didn’t argue. Since the incident, most of his energy had probably been drained from him anyways. When she saw him during work, he was the same Antonio. He put all his energy into work and Gabby, and when he didn’t have either, he faded. “I’ll see you on Monday.” He said, staying right besides Sylvie. “Thanks for the food.”

“Thanks for the alcohol.” She held up the bag. God knows she was going to need one of these tonight. She was surprised Antonio and Sylvie weren’t constantly drinking, this apartment was incredibly depressing.

But when Antonio took Sylvie’s hand into his, gripping it tightly, she realized they had another method of coping. Each other. Which she would originally assume that would be the reason they had started a relationship, but a blind man could see the love between them. It was almost nauseating, love was something she had shut herself off to after her divorce, but even she could acknowledge that they were sweet together.

Her internal musing was abruptly ended when arms wrapped around her, catching her off guard. The softness of the small body and flowery smell told her that it was Sylvie. Before she could even respond, the woman stepped back, ending the brief hug.

When she opened her mouth to speak, her voice was at a whisper. She didn’t want Antonio to hear. “Thank you for being there for him, at work.” She scooted closer, a good move on her part, as Antonio was a good listener. “It has been his escape these past for weeks and I know you have played a big part in that.” Sylvie reached out to grab Nagel’s hands, giving them a grateful squeeze. She resisted the urge to pull them away, she never was a fan of being touched, but allowed for it to continue for her partner’s……lover? girlfriend? She didn’t know exactly what they were. That curiosity was tucked into the back of her mind, planning to use it for small talk during the week. With everything that was going on with Antonio, she had to have something positive to discuss about with him.

“No problem.” She finally responded when she was able to find her words. Uncomfortable with being given credit, when all she had been doing was her job and bringing over food, she tried to lessen it. “You’ve been doing a lot, too. Being by his side. You can easily tell how much he cares about you.” The word love almost slipped through her teeth, but she was able to hold it back.

Sylvie gave a small smile at the compliment, but it was clear her mind was elsewhere now as her relationship with Antonio was brought up. “He’s an amazing guy.” She murmured, becoming quiet.

Something was up with her, but it wasn’t Nagel’s place to figure out why. She cleared her throat, hoping that would be enough to regain Sylvie’s attention. “It was nice meeting you.” She said once Sylvie’s eyes met hers again.

After an awkward wave to Antonio, Nagel forced herself to turn her back to them, heading towards the front door. She quickly opened and once through, closed it behind her. No reason to extend the cringeworthy goodbye. Especially when they were obviously wanting to have a conversation with only each other.

As she made her way through the apartment building, she tried to make herself optimistic after having the life sucked out of her at Antonio’s apartment. More like a cemetery, personally, to Nagel.

“Guess I’m having a party with myself tonight,” She muttered, watching the plastic bag swing back and forth.

No matter what, she knew she was going to have a better night than Gabby Dawson.

#my post #brettonio #brettonio fanfiction #brettonio ff #antonio #gabby #matt dies au #nagel #sylvie #green bean casserole

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jayne-hecate-writer · 5 years

Text

Where have I been of late?

Since about October 2018, I have been hibernating. Some things have happened, some nice and some not. More than anything though, I have been shut in doors, suffering as always with severe pain and hiding away from the dark cold days with my hot water bottle and a pile of pain killers that would make the average junkie jealous. In comedy terms, I am one CH short of being a heroin addict and if you don't know the units known as CH, then you should go and check them out. So with my usually enjoyable heroin addiction* starting to get boring, we hit March 2019...

With the beginning of April only days away, the days have got longer and the nights have got shorter, the weather is brighter and the sun has burned away the deep grey clouds. Basically, spring has hit us and with the increase in air temperature and pressure, my pain levels have retreated to the depths of my body. This is not to say that I am pain free, that is a dream that I know is no longer possible, but the levels are low enough to allow me to start living away from my hot water bottle for a few days at a time, although as I write this, I am perched on my hot water bottle once again.

Of course for us, spring means days on the motorbikes, or rather it used to means days on the motorbikes, for me it also means a constant yearning for the mountains, moors and wilderness of adventures past, the aching heart of an adventurer stuck in a mundane life, with only the occasional bit of respite.

My friend Ess was dating a boy and she really liked him, but as is often the way with this thing called life, Ess and the boy parted ways, which left her feeling a little sad and in need of a bit of cheering up Jayney style. At the same time, Darling wifey was having problems with her bike, the fabulous Noreen, or to you bikers out there, a Kawasaki ZRX1100. After a long cold winter of too few miles, it needed to blow the cobwebs out of the carbs and so wifey set about with a clean cloth, some clean plugs and some fresh petrol. Ess was on a day off and I suggested a little ride around the block on the back of Sylvie, my precious custom Suzuki SV650 while Wifey fixed her bike. Ess had never been on a motorbike before and the thought of doing so was intimidating. I promised not to go fast and promptly became a pre-teen girl and turned Ess into Biker Barbie, with my full leathers, spare helmet and a teeny little bit of encouragement.

Our first trip was a circle of our street at slightly less than twenty miles per hour... Well, I had promised not to go fast, hadn't I? It turns out that slightly less than twenty miles per hour is a bit dull for Ess, so we went a bit faster, or to be more accurate, slightly more than twenty miles per hour. Ess was captivated and when Wifey hit the starter on her bike and it sounded like it needed a quick run, That could only mean chip shops, beaches and a three mile ride along the coast. Ess clung on to me like a set of Mole grips to a cheap steel bolt, I thought that I would be crushed in her arms, but we did hit thirty miles per hour. After our chips and a chilly evening ride back to my hotwater bottle, Ess stated firmly that she was now a biker convert, zero to hero in three miles. We showed her some biker gear on line and she started looking at helmets, picking out some of the prettier and more feminine styles. You see Ess is not like me, not only does she have manners, she also likes pink things, she loves Unicorns in a gentle non Deadpool kind of way and she likes to look pretty.

For me, biker gear should be proof against dirty grit filled rain, it should cover enough of me to keep the unhygienic splats of crushed blue bottles hit at speed on the motorway away from my skin and it should look cool, all of which means black, with black highlights and black seams. Ess, liked the helmets that were decorated with flowers or pink flashes and which would really show up dead fly splats, road dirt and flicked up dog shit from the gutter. That is why I don't wear pink biker gear any more. We promised Ess that we would eventually take her over to the bike shop in Bristol so that she could have a look at helmets and clothing, but warned her not to buy too much gear before she really knew that she wanted to ride bikes. The following morning, Ess had made up her mind and was ready to go and told us so, so we loaded up the bikes and rode over to Bristol. One hundred and fifty pounds later, Ess looked great in her new pink and black helmet and gloves. That was two days ago, zero to hero in two days. Wifey has also been charged with finding Ess a bike that she can learn on, but while she waits for said bike to arrive on e-Bay, Ess is aching to get out and do the miles on the bitch seat.

I have not just been playing with bikes and bullying Ess into going for rides, in fact if I were to try that, I would be a splat on bedroom floor myself by now. Instead, last night I met up with my more cultured friends (more cultured means that we say cunt with a little more conviction) and we wandered over to Glastonbury to watch what I had been promised was a Folk-Punk gig... Oh yeah, I don't just do Black Metal and opera does I, after all I am cultured, in I!? The head line band was Ferocious Dog who sing socialist anthems about the Minors Strike and although they are not the sort of thing I usually get to see, I genuinely enjoyed their performance, even if the middle class, Glastonbury wannabe Crusties that arrived in their Marks and Sparks jeans, Edinburgh Woollen Mill jumpers and brand new Dr Marten's boots took over the (for want of a better description) Mosh pit... Now having been to several Death Metal and Black Metal gigs in my time, I am well versed in Mosh Pit etiquette and have been in several absolutely belting mosh pits. I have in my time seen limbs broken, hair torn out, teeth lost and skulls cracked, but the broken and the dying are always helped up from the floor and shoved in the waiting arms of paramedics. In contrast, this 'Mosh Pit' was sedately swaying in time while occasionally clapping in time and I was later informed that the dancing is usually considerably more hardcore. By this, they meant that the dancers form acrobatic human pyramids, basically they are architects who use people as building blocks in the construction of high rise blocks. It is all very twee, but I still enjoyed it and danced along when my pain levels allowed.

After my night out in Glastonbury, I was exhausted and I climbed into bed and pretty much passed out for five hours of blissful dream free sleep, finally waking up with a spine that felt broken and a head that could not turn left. But that is why we have hot baths and massage. I was able to soak it all away in the bath for an hour of hot water and occasional swearing, which was handy because Ess was demanding to go out on the bikes again... It was such a hardship.

Jan my co-writer and fellow biker arrived as I was packing Ess's spare kit into my tank bag and together with Wifey, the four of us got ready for an adventure that would take us to the bikes and a lunch date with the always fabulous leader of the ultra mega cool writing club. Jan was on the back of Wifey's bike and Ess climbed onto the back of me, for what was in effect, only her third ever ride, but as is often the case with these kind of things, she was full of enthusiasm and for the second time in twenty four hours, I was going back to Glastonbury, or at least close to it.

The ride across the Somerset levels is particularly beautiful, with the rolling hills of the Mendips in the distance and flat open pasture stretching out for miles in almost every direction. There was the occasional drainage ditch, filled with stagnant water and loads of pondweed. There were also the odd herds of cattle or flocks of sheep blinking in the fresh spring sunshine, so generally speaking it was just pure beauty as far as the eye could see, blighted by the occasional sewage pumping station.

Sadly I have to admit that our stop next to one of these pumping stations was necessitated by my need to curl up in a ball of pain and weeping due to the awful bumpiness of the roads almost jarring the bones out of my body. I was in pain from my toes to my ears and was thoroughly angry with myself for being broken and in pain, meaning that I could barely keep up with Carol. Ess was kind and gentle as she stood patiently waiting for me to stop swearing and hexing next to the bike and no doubt she was wondering how the fuck she was going to get home if I was too broken to ride? Thankfully, we were less than ten minutes away from our meeting with Head Honcho and I was able to scrape myself up from the gravel, where I had lay, screaming and kicking like a petulant child who says cunt far too much!

We parked by the pub front door, undressed from all of the fly corpse encrusted riding gear, slapped on our least 'dangerous biker' smiles and went inside, to be warmly greeted by the bar staff and a waiting Head Honcho. A table had been reserved for us in the dining room, next to a large window that allowed me to see the traffic outside and count an unusual number of Suzuki TL thousands that seemed to be flowing by. The food arrived and it was remarkably good, I even managed to squeeze in a dessert, which is unusual for me, but I did feel like a huge fat bitch afterwards and I really need to go back on my misery diet to loose the extra fifty tonnes I am now carrying on my hips! For anyone interested, I can highly recommend the Pipers Inn as both a beautiful place to sit and to enjoy a fabulous meal. I am sure that we will be back again, providing that they let us in and don't object to my casual strong swearing and awful wind!

With lunch sitting on my stomach like a concrete kebab, we propelled the bikes towards the Mendips and Cheddar Gorge. The scenery was spectacularly beautiful and as we began to climb the hills, Jan found an enormous pile of shit, reminiscent of the descriptions from our latest book.

Well, it would have been rude not to stop and Wifey needed a rest to take some photos. Cheddar Gorge is beautiful, it feels mountainous in stature as we entered the roadway to the bottom and the great limestone walls rose up around us. The road meandered, not always gently to the bottom and the village of Cheddar itself and I was forced to laugh at the newly placed signs warning people to stick to the speed limit of thirty miles per hour. I can only imagine that this is to speed up because they tend to crawl down the hill at about fifteen miles per hour at best, absorbed utterly in the beauty around them.

We stopped in the village of Cheddar for just long enough for a splash and dash... We also said hello to a few of the other bikers and Carol even spoke to the wife of a sadly passed friend whose funeral we had gone to a couple of years ago. It was all very nice and as usual for a sunny day, Cheddar was packed to capacity with grockles. As much as I wanted to ride somewhere else fabulous, my body was giving me the warning signs of exhaustion and my pain levels were rising, meaning that our next stop was home. We enjoyed in total a couple of hours of riding and for me this was enough of a adventure that I felt energised, reinvigorated and I am looking forwards to a summer of even more adventures. Which is sad because when I woke up this morning, knowing that his evening I must trudge over to Bristol once again, this time to see the mighty Akercocke play at the Thekla, I was utterly broken and beyond even shuffling around the flat. No Mosh Pit for me tonight then, just the usual gentle swaying as I stand there in my Marks and Sparks Death Metal shirt and shiny Dr Marten's boots!

With no particular order of preference, I would like to thank the following people for dragging me out of my fortress of solitude that is my duvet. Thank you to the staff of the Pipers Inn who made us all feel very welcome. A big thank you cuddle to Ginny Lego and the fabulous night time navigators who got us to Glastonbury for the first gig in scary dense fog. A big thank you to Head Honcho for her continued patience as we search out more obscure places to meet up for a chat. Love and thanks must go to Ess and Jan who barely moaned at all about my swearing, hexing and wind breaking. As always, a great big thank you to Darling Wifey who navigated me around the Mendips and the levels like a Sat Nav, but with a lot less of the “Turn around now you blithering idiot!” that I usually get!

* Please note: I am not currently using and nor have I ever used actual heroin, but for comedic purposes I have compared my medically proscribed codeine based pain killers with this tragic and illegal drug that has harmed so many people. The sad truth is that codeine is a nasty, addictive substance and it needs to be carefully monitored by your Doctor if used regularly.

#chronic pain #Glastonbury #motorcycles #sv650s #suzuki motorcycle #friendship #best friends #creative writing #pain killers #disability #Long term illness #depression #Live music #Ferocious Dog #Akercocke #Motorbikes

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brettonio-one-chicago · 7 years

Text

Treat You Better

A/N: This was an ANON prompt from a week or so back. Prompt #38- “That Can’t Be Legal”. Hope you enjoy my more comedic way of getting #Brettonio back together! Let me know what you think! Cheers, Nicole

It had been a few months since he’d made the most painful decision in his life. That decision haunted him daily. He wished he hadn’t sad those thing. He wished he hadn’t told her that she deserved better or that he couldn’t give her what she deserved, but part of him knew that it was at least a partial truth. He wanted to give her everything she deserved and more, but Laura had made that next to impossible. However, since he worked with lawyers on a daily basis now, he’d gotten advice on how to get more time with the kids. He’d spoken to them and at the next custody hearing, they’d tell the judge who they wanted to live with. He had told them either way, he’d be happy, but he wanted them to make the choice, not have a choice forced upon them.

Diego had asked one of the biggest questions. “Dad... if... once we do tell the judge and everything is sorted out, can you and Sylvie get back together... I miss hanging out with her.”

Antonio had explained that he could try, but he made no guarantees.

He sighed as he went through the pile of files that was on his desk. He needed her back. Gaby had told him that she’d been going out a couple times and that some guy had been picking her the after the last couple shifts. Antonio didn’t know why, but he was jealous. He wanted to be the one to pick her up. He wanted to be the one to wake up next to her in the morning. He wanted to be the one to give her his last name.

“What the hell are you mumbling about?” Lori Nagel asked, looking up from her own paperwork.

“What?” Antonio shook his head. “I wasn’t saying anything.”

“Uh huh... right.” Lori laughed. “You sounded like you were having a conversation between yourself and the devil and angel on your shoulders.”

“I was talking out loud?”

“Well, muttering... what’s going on with you?”

Antonio dropped the pen to his desk and leaned back in his chair. “I’m an idiot.”

“Okay, well... that doesn’t narrow anything down.” Lori laughed. She closed the file she was working on and walked to his desk. “How are you an idiot?”

“I let the best woman I could ever ask for walk out of my life... all because I couldn’t get my psychotic ex-wife to back off.”

“Antonio...” Lori treaded carefully. “Sylvie’s a big girl... she can handle herself.”

“I told her I couldn’t give her what she deserved... I... I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah... yeah, you are.”

Antonio looked up at his partner, dumbfounded. “You’re agreeing with me on this? Isn’t this where my partner is supposed to support me and talk me down from this nonsense?”

“I am not about to call this nonsense. You were an idiot... respectively... I’ve run into Sylvie a couple times... we frequent the same coffee shop... turns out she’s definitely not over you... but she’s trying to move on... and as a human being with two fucking eyes in my head, I can see that you two were meant to be together, therefore... you were the idiot. You should’ve fought for her. You should’ve put her first. This job isn’t going anywhere and from what I’ve seen of your kids, they’ll do anything just to spend time with you... they don’t want to see you miserable.” Antonio tried to interrupt her, but she put her hand up. “Uh uh... don’t you try to tell me you haven’t been miserable... you’ve changed since you ended it with her.”

“How so?”

“You come to work at the crack of dawn... you leave here at God knows what time... and that’s not counting the nights you sleep on that couch.”

“How?”

“The janitors told me... you gave one a heart attack a couple weeks back?”

“I thought they’d all gone home...”

“Antonio!” Lori exclaimed. “That’s not the point!” She groaned. “You can’t sleep here! You can’t live, eat and breathe this job... it’s not healthy.”

“I have no one... well... the kids... but Laura is...”

“This isn’t about her!” Lori wanted to throttle him. “This is about you and Sylvie... and the fact that you two NEED to get back together.”

“Lori...”

“No! I swear... You’re driving everyone batty.”

“Who’s everyone?”

“You don’t get it, do you? We, your friends, coworkers, family... we all can see how much Sylvie meant to you... and obviously still does... if she didn’t you wouldn’t get so defensive over this.”

Antonio groaned. “Okay... so what, I miss her... I hate myself for hurting her the way I did... I hate Laura even more for driving that wedge between us... and...” Antonio wiped the tear that was streaking down his cheek. “I loved her... I still love her.”

“Then do something about it!” Lori pounded his desk. “Seriously, do something.”

“What can I do?”

“Anything.” Lori sighed. “Call her, ask her to go for coffee to talk... hell, arrest her if you have to.”

“Arrest... Lori.”

“I’m serious... do something to fix this... so you can both be happy again.”

Antonio put his hands to his face. “Okay, I’ll try.”

“Thank God.” Lori smiled. “Now, hop to it... you’ve been putting in enough overtime, I don’t think Stone will object to you taking off early.”

Antonio nodded and grabbed his jacket. “Thanks.”

“Just fix this.” Lori shooed him out of the office. She closed the door behind him. “Gaby so owes me for this... I’ve never met a more stubborn person in my life.”

“Gaby.” Sylvie was trying to get her partner’s attention.

“Huh? Oh, yeah... what’s up?”

“Why is Antonio texting me now... three months after the fact?” She showed Gaby the message.

“So, he wants to go for coffee to talk... what’s wrong with that?” Gaby was hoping that Lori had finally gotten through to her pigheaded brother.

“Uh, let’s see... he broke me heart! I cried myself to sleep for weeks... I’m just starting to feel normal again.”

“Weren’t you the one to propose waiting to see if things settle and try again?” Gaby reminded Sylvie.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think he’d need 3 months!”

“You’ve met Laura...”

“The woman belongs in a looney bin.”

“Well, no shit, but she makes everyone’s life a living hell. Not just Antonio’s... she tries to stop my Ma from seeing the kids... from us being able to go to the kids’ school events and tournaments... she’s a bitch.”

“Well... fine... but I can’t just keep getting my hopes up on him... I can’t deal with that heartbreak, not again.”

“He’s not proposing, Brett... the man wants to talk to you.” Gaby sighed. “Give him a chance.”

“No.” Sylvie deleted the text. “Not happening. He wants to talk, he can come and get me.”

Gaby groaned internally. She knew that this was now a situation calling for desperate measures. “Okay, well... I have to do inventory... you can go take a break.”

“Hmm.” Sylvie nodded. “It’s my turn to cook... I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Once Gaby was out of sight, she texted Antonio. She was busy checking the oxygen tank when her cell began to vibrate. It was him. “Antonio.”

“What do you mean she won’t talk to me?”

“I mean she won’t meet you... she showed me the text and then deleted it... you got another plan?”

“Yeah, but you’re probably not going to like it.”

“Oh boy... do I want to know?”

“Lori suggested I have her arrested... she won’t have any choice but to talk to me.”

“Oh Christ... you’ve lost it.” Gaby wanted to smack her brother right at that moment. “Come here and talk to her.”

“Nope... desperate times... they generally call for desperate measures.”

“Including arresting the woman you want to be with?”

“If it means it’s the only way I can talk to her, yes.”

“Fine... exactly how are you gonna do this?”

“Call in a couple favours... just... go with it?”

Gaby groaned. “Fine... just don’t ruin either of your careers in the process.”

“I won’t.” Antonio sighed in relief. “Thanks, Gaby.”

“Yeah, well... thank me after the two of you have worked through whatever this is.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, ‘Tonio.” Gaby ended the call. She had no idea what Antonio had planned, but she would be much happier once Sylvie and Antonio were back together. As much as they both said they were okay, she knew damn well neither of them was.

“You got the plan?” Antonio asked Jay.

“Yeah... crazy as fuck, but sure... you made sure that Stone knows about this... so you don’t fry both your careers.”

“Everyone’s in on it... except her.”

“And you couldn’t just talk to her like a normal human being?”

Antonio glared at Jay. “I tried... she refused to listen.”

“You broke her heart.”

“I broke both our hearts... I hate myself... okay, but I can’t do this anymore... and according to Lori and Gaby... well... I’m miserable and making everyone else miserable in the process.”

“Probably very true.” Jay laughed. “Look, I get how great you two were, and how great you guys will be again, but... you have to make sure that Laura stays out of your relationship... that woman could poison any relationship... she doesn’t want you to be happy.”

“Oh, I get that... everyone has told me that.”

“Then listen to them... you should’ve...”

“I know that... trust me... I know what I should’ve done... what I should’ve said... but I fucked up and now I have to make it right.”

“Okay, bro... we’ll do it.” Jay turned to Rixton. “Let’s go.”

Rixton nodded and followed Jay to his car.

Antonio watched and once they left began pacing the bullpen of Intelligence. Voight watched him from the doorway. What Antonio was doing was not necessarily illegal, but it wasn’t legal either. He knew where Antonio was coming from. He’d been there himself once upon a time. He chuckled to himself and went back to the mountain of paperwork that covered his desk.

“So, what exactly are we doing again?” Rixton asked.

“We’re helping Antonio fix his love life.”

“Why?”

Jay sighed. “I owe him... a lot of people owe him.”

“So.”

“Kenny... just trust me... If I don’t fix this, I’ll face his wrath... his sister’s wrath... and his kids’... so trust me... last thing anyone needs is a family of really pissed off Dominicans.”

Kenny arched his eyebrows but said nothing. He wondered how Voight let this happen, but he was in no place to question anything.

They pulled up to the restaurant that they had pinged her phone to.

“Great.” Jay groaned. He could see Sylvie sitting at a table by the window with a guy. They were laughing. “Antonio’s gonna flip.”

“You gonna tell him.”

“I have to...” Jay groaned he took a picture and sent it to Antonio. “Let’s just get this done.”

They headed into the restaurant, badges and guns visible. They made their way to Sylvie’s table.

“Sylvie Brett.” Rixton said.

Sylvie looked up. “Jay... uh... what are you guys doing here?”

“Sylvie, can...” Jay cleared his throat. “Can you come with us, please?”

“Jay... what’s going on?” Sylvie put her wine down. “Seriously.”

Rixton, not knowing Sylvie, pulled his cuffs. “You can come with us, or you can make a scene...”

“What?!” Sylvie exclaimed. “No... not until someone explains to me what’s going on!”

“I’m... gonna go...” Sylvie’s date stood up and dropped some money on the table. “Bye.”

“What the?!” She turned back to Jay and Kenny. “Look what you’ve done.”

“Sylvie, please... don’t make this harder than it has to be.” Jay pleaded with her.

Sylvie stood up, tears brimming in her eyes. “Fine... just...”

Jay took her by the elbow and escorted her out of the restaurant. Kenny kept the cuffs in his pocket until they were outside.

“Sylvie Brett... you’re under arrest for theft of narcotics with intent to distribute and fraud.” Kenny said before reciting her Miranda rights, placing the cuffs on her wrists. “Do you understand these rights as they’ve been read to you.”

“Yes.” Sylvie’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Watch your head.” Jay said, putting her in the car. He closed the door and went around to the driver’s side. He pulled away from the curb. He hoped to hell that this plan worked.

“Hey, ‘Tonio... they’re pulling up.” Atwater told him, hanging up the phone. “Where you want her?”

Antonio looked at him. “Huh?”

“Interrogation... or the cage.”

“Ummm.”

“Put her in the cage for a bit... let her sweat it out... then bring her to interrogation.” Voight said.

Antonio spun around. “Voight?”

“Let her stew... let her think about who can get her out of this mess.” Voight patted his shoulder. “Trust me... she knows there’s only one person who can save her... once she realizes that you’re the only one, she’ll have to call you.”

“So, you want me to sit and wait?” Antonio asked.

“Yeah... don’t worry... we’re not gonna hurt her.” Voight smiled. “Make yourself comfy... be right back.” Voight headed down to the rollout.

Antonio turned to look at Burgess and Olinsky. “He’s not gonna beat it out of her, is he?”

“No... but he’s gonna help you get her back.”

Voight got down to the rollout and walked to the cage. He motioned to Jay and Rixton to leave. They headed upstairs.

Sylvie looked up. “Sergeant!” She wanted to get up but couldn’t because Jay had cuffed her to the rail. “This has to be a mistake.”

Voight crossed his arms. “Sorry, Sylvie... no mistakes.”

“But... I... I’m a paramedic! I don’t sell narcotics... I sure as hell don’t steal them off my rig.” She pleaded.

“Not what one of our busts told us... that and some of the bank information we’ve seen... it points to fraud... now... you can talk to me make this easier... you can sit here and stew...”

“But I didn’t do anything! Ask Chief Boden... Gaby... Matt... ask anyone from Med! I... I haven’t done anything.” She was sobbing.

“Okay... well... when you’re ready.” Voight left.

Sylvie sat sobbing. She was innocent, but no one believed her.

Meanwhile...

Gaby came running up the stairs into the Intelligence bullpen, Burgess on her heels.

“Gaby?” Antonio asked, getting up from his old desk. “What are you doing?”

“You arrested her?” Gaby hit his shoulder. “You really did?”

“Yeah... on a date...”

“For what?!”

Antonio groaned. “We made it seem like she was stealing narcotics from the ambo and selling them... look we aren’t ruining her career. We called the Ivory Tower... made it seem like training... Stone’s on it too... look... I need her to talk to me.”

“By getting... oh God.” Gaby leaned against the desk. “I quit. I honestly pray to God that she listens to you and you guys make up... I can’t take this shit anymore.”

“Let’s have some tea...” Burgess suggested.

Gaby nodded and followed Burgess to the kitchen.

“Yo! ‘Tonio, she’s wanting to talk... she’s asked specifically for you.” Kevin said. “Whatta ya want us to do?”

“Bring her to interrogation.” Antonio sighed. “I’ll go in once she’s settled.”

Ten minutes later, Antonio took a deep breath and walked to the interrogation room. He opened the door and stepped inside. “Sylvie.”

“Antonio! Please tell me that this is a huge mistake... that... that they’re wrong!”

Antonio had to keep his composure. He sat down in front of her. “From what they’re telling me, they’ve got the proof.”

Sylvie looked at him, betrayed. “Antonio... come on... you know... you know me!”

“I do... and I don’t think you’ve done anything like this... actually... I know you haven’t.”

Sylvie’s look changed from betrayal to confusion. “What?”

Antonio sighed. “I... I made this happen.”

“You framed me?”

“No... I called in favours... I needed to talk to you and you refused to take my calls or answer my texts... so I had them arrest you.”

“For false charges! That can’t be legal!”

“There’s been no official paperwork, and everyone was in on this...”

“Everyone?” Sylvie gasped. “My Chief... your sister... all of them?”

Antonio nodded. “Yes... look Sylvie... I... I needed to talk to you... but I didn’t know how.”

Sylvie was dumbfounded. “You had me arrested... in public... on a date.”

“I know, Jay told me. I also know that you’ve been going out... Gaby told me... but I...”

“You what?” Sylvie growled. “You’re jealous... because if I remember right, you came to my door to tell me you weren’t good enough for me. You shattered my heart and I can’t put the pieces back together. I can’t get my hopes up that you’ll come and... Why?! Why did you have to do this?!” She motioned to the cuffs.

Antonio reached into his pockets and pulled out the keys. He undid the cuffs. “Sylvie... I’m sorry I had to resort to this... but I needed to talk to you.”

“Why?” Sylvie rubbed her wrists. “Haven’t you given up on us?”

Antonio’s jaw dropped. “No! Hell, no, Sylvie! I regret everything I said that night. I regret thinking that I couldn’t give you what you deserve... that this was best for us.”

“You’ve got a funny way of showing it.” Sylvie snapped. “I’ve never been so hurt in my life.”

“I hurt too... not just because of what I said... but being away from you... knowing I’d hurt you... having Gaby yell at me... and everyone else. The kids haven’t let me hear the end of it... I... it was pointed out to me that I’ve been miserable since that night.”

“Oh.” Sylvie didn’t have a retort. She didn’t know how to react to this.

“Sylvie... I know I messed up... and I know there’s no way I can make it up to you.” Antonio reached across the table and wiped away her tears. “But... I can’t... I can’t stop thinking of you... about you... I can’t stop seeing you when I close my eyes... imagining your touch... I just can’t...”

“Antonio.” Sylvie whispered. “I cried myself to sleep for weeks... since that night... I prayed that you’d come back... that we’d get to do that check in... but you never came... you never called... nothing... until today... I thought you’d given up on us entirely.”

“I didn’t... but as I’ve been told... I’m a dumb man who doesn’t know how to express my feelings... I’ve told you I suck at apologizing... I just... I’m sorry.”

Sylvie looked down and tried to put all this together. “So... you... you haven’t moved on?”

“No... I either focus solely on work... or the kids... but the kids are still pissed at me for letting you go.”

“They... are?”

Antonio nodded. “Yeah... they’re going to be testifying at the next custody hearing to say who they want to live with. They also told me that I was happier with you than when I was with their mother... They want me happy again... I told them that I’d try.”

“Antonio, how can I know that you’re not just gonna panic again... bail on me... break my heart into a million little pieces... I can’t take that... not ever again.”

Antonio took her hands. “I won’t... I can promise you... I will treat you better... I’ll give you everything you deserve and more... I’m not running anymore... whatever we have to face, we’ll face it head on and together. I just need to know you’ll give me that second chance.”

Sylvie sniffled. “I want to, Antonio... I really do... I just... my heart...”

“Baby, I’m so sorry... I can never apologize enough for this and everything else. I just want you to be happy... I want to be happy with you... give you everything your heart desires. I want to have you in my life, Sylvie... for the long run... not just a short time... I... want a future with you, Sylvie Brett.”

“I want that too, Antonio... I do.”

“So, you’ll give me that second chance?”

Sylvie nodded. “I have to do one thing first.” She got up and went around the table. She wound up and slapped Antonio’s face. “That’s for getting me arrested, even if it wasn’t a legit one.”

Antonio’s hand went to his face. “I deserve that.”

Sylvie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Can you take me home then?”

“That I can.” Antonio kissed her back. “I’m still, so sorry.”

“Apology accepted.”

They froze as they heard a bunch of cheers and shouts coming from the other side of the two-way mirror.

Antonio laughed. “I guess we had an audience.”

“Take me home, or we’ll both be arrested for public indecency.”

A/N: Well... there you go! Hope you enjoy! More stories to come... just takes time. Cheers! Nicole

#brettonio #Antonio Dawson #Sylvie Brett #Chicago Fire #Chicago Justice #make-up #love #reunion #Brettonio4ever

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