#i’m so crazy invested in this fic. someone left a comment on one chapter like ‘this is like a third podcast to me’ and literally yeah. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ourstarscollided · 3 years

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jatp fanworks appreciation - day 1 (writers)

motivation - so in true me fashion and my aversion to brevity, i've made three (3) posts (see also artists, gifs/edits) to celebrate the wonderful people in this fandom who have made my jatp tumblr experience what it is; a community of people who simply shout into the void about their love of a ghost band and their fearless female leader. i've enjoyed simply being on the sidelines admiring everyone's love for the show, but i thought this would be a good time to really show my appreciation for all these wonderful people, because if i've learned anything from this pandemic, it's that there is NEVER a wrong time to tell someone that they are simply ✨the best✨.

disclaimer: i don't interact with most of these people personally and i simply absorb their content from afar and scream about how wonderful they are in the tags.

This list kind of became a fic rec, so if you're looking for some wonderful fics to read (or reread), I've also included my favs from the author here as well.

Okay this is gonna get a little long so please bear with me. But I just wanted to preamble this by saying that the fanfiction written by the jatp fandom is what resparked my love for reading fiction after about 3-4 years of not reading for leisure (be an adult they said. it'll be fun they said.). So I'm really grateful for that? I don't interact with a lot of people, just because it makes me a little anxious, but I will constantly yell about your content in the tags as if I were on a set of bleachers with a megaphone.

I also know there are so many wonderful fic writers out there (on Tumblr and not on Tumblr) that make amazing pieces of work, and this is just a tiny peek into that, and is not at all conclusive.

Without further ado here are some writers who live rent free in my head, in alphabetical order, so feel free to just skip to your name to avoid my rambling:

@bluefirewrites -> your Merry Ex-Mas fic had me on the edge of my seat every single time you updated. I am so in love with how you wrote the characters into this and at how many words you churned out for this fic. This was filled with so much adventure, and it was really welcome during a time when the world wasn't allowed to travel. And I simply love all the other drabbles and fics you write, but I especially enjoy the hilarity of Ray Molina, Crime Scene Photographer and Matchmaker.

@captainkippen -> I'm pretty sure Love Drunk was one of the first fics I ever read in this fandom. Your stories and your writing feel so goddamn real and I find myself so immersed in the worlds that you've created. I have reread most of your jatp fics and I still manage to find myself stupidly grinning at my phone each time. Your stories flow so easily and are such perfect characterizations of the characters we know from the show, but elevated to fit into your verse. I cannot say enough how wonderful your writing is and how talented you are!! (also a slight nudge that I am still very much following along with The Key and the Crown and I hope you continue it!)

@catty-words -> Your???? Exhaustive??? Music??? Lists???? The amount of work and dedication and microanalyzing that you put into pulling out every detail from each scene is so admirable. You not only manage to find the details, but you also give us EVIDENCE via your intricately selected gifs. You could've just put the video of the performance, but no, you take your time to find that specific 1 second shot to emphasize your point. And your little fics that you sometimes throw out into the world? They're so beautiful, and so fun to read and I enjoy them so much! (I am STILL screaming about this band's a snack) Thank you for validating my yelling in the tags, and for feeding my hyperfixation to this show. (I'm sad these lists are ending soon, but it's about the journey ya know?)

@lydias--stiles -> I don't even know what to say here because I've yelled so much about your fics that I feel like there's really nothing else to yell. Your Road Trip AU was also one of the first ones I read in this fandom, and really just made me go absolutely feral. Pretty sure I absorbed the rest of your fics in an ungodly amount of time and I just simply think you are incredibly skilled and talented. Every time you post a new fic I always wonder what it's like to be in your head because the ideas you come up with are so unique and so well thought out. Thank you for all the art you create for this show, I will constantly be in awe of you. (Special shoutout to the 5+1 fic that became a 31 chapter monster)

@pearlcaddy -> This list would not be complete if I didn't mention you. First of all, thank you for suggesting this wonderful week, it has been so lovely to see so much love being spread around today. Secondly, I never thought I'd find myself reading a Buffy or a Wizarding World crossover fic, considering I know nothing about those two things. And yet I found myself on various nights after work at 3 in the morning just silently screaming and/or crying into my phone. Your writing is so insane. Your world building is so insane. Your banter/dialogue is insane. The way you capture the love between Julie/Luke in different universes is so perfect. Thank you for gifting us these beautiful pieces of art, and I hope you know that you have at least made one person (me) a very happy reader. I also really admire your dedication to "this will only be a oneshot", only to write like 4 other POVs for it. (Special shoutout to 100 Bad Days)

@ruzek-halstead -> Literally every single fic you have written lives rent free in my head. The way you've managed to build this universe of different Julies and Lukes, and each one still captures the essence of them is astounding. You've extended their characters beyond what we know from the show and I am just in awe of everything you write. Please know that dead of night is both triggering to me and yet the most hilarious thing I have read. (Special shoutout to the Fake Dating Christmas AU and of course the Cinderella Story AU)

@serendipitee -> Your stories and your writing are absolutely magical. I think Write It Down was one of the first multi-chapter fics that I followed super closely and whenever you updated, I would literally drop what I was doing and read it instantly. You have such a way of building the plot and the characters for all of your fics and drabbles, and making the reader just want more. Please know that I am so obsessed with Oh, She Waltzed With the Dead and I cannot wait to see where you take the story!

@sunsetcurbed -> I have no words for your writing. I am simply in awe every time I read something from you. The way you've got down Alex and Willie's voice to a tee is so crazy good. You write their characters and their stories with such grace and care, especially with how you approach the topic of mental health. Thank you for all the research you do and for also writing in your own experiences. I literally binged the Princes Diaries AU during work and lost a good half day to it, and I regret nothing because that fic left me in SHAMBLES. I secretly adore the way you say you're going to keep a fic short, and end up writing an insane amount of words for it. (I have not yet left my obligated long-ass comment on Chapter 4 of the College AU yet because I am still processing the fate/destiny concept.)

@tangledstarlight -> Gahh. Rosie. Please. This is going to sound a little repetitive considering I just screamed at you last night, but now I guess I will just have to publicly confess my adoration for you!!! Thank you for being my first online friend in a very long time, and for putting up with me yelling at you about everything (and also nothing at the same time). I can't believe all it took was one message about your Royals AU for you to post it, but I will gladly take that credit any day. You are so so so incredibly talented with your writing, and your ability to transport me to another world while I read your fics is unparalleled. I adore the way you can come up with a new story to write every day, and then proceed to throw it into your pot of other WIPs. I am so so so so lucky to have gotten to know you and am incredibly grateful that I now have someone to cry about everything with 🧡 (If you read anything from Rosie, you need to read her Seasons/Long Distance Juke "friendship" fic and the Reggie x Photography oneshot that made me bawl my eyes out.)

@thedeathdeelers -> No thoughts. Just soulmates. Jk jk, you know I love your Reggie x Ray x Carlos fics, and I will scream in the tags about it until the day I get more of those fics from you. This is lowkey a threat, but wrapped in kindness. You are so wonderful to see on my dash (albeit scary at times because of the sheer amount of headcanons and theories running through your head), but you radiate such positive energy that it's impossible to not want to jump in and scream about soulmates with you.

Some special mentions to fics that also live rent free in my head:

@sunsetsandcurves wrote a Willex Cruise Ship AU inspired by a Simple Plan song and it’s something I never knew I needed until I read it.

@phantom-curve wrote a Juke fic based off of Coney Island and I would just like to say, yes, it did shatter me. (Here’s the fluff sequel that makes up for it though)

@unsaidjulie wrote the Juke dog fic of my dreams and I simply cannot express how much I want the Molina’s to have a dog now.

@pawprinterfanfic managed to get me incredibly invested in a Star Wars AU even though I know absolutely nothing about Star Wars. I just know that I would die for two (2) space boys.

@sanssssastark your Later universe made me realize that I do very much want there to be more mature content for this fandom (and you constantly deliver).

@theobligatedklutz wrote a Tangled Willex AU that makes me screech every time there’s an update. Just read it.

@alexthedrummerboy your talent knows no bounds when it comes to your Social Media AU. Also she’s written ORIGINAL songs for Alex and Willie?!?!?!

@gennified has this really wonderful modern take on pride and prejudice for Willex and I’m so obsessed with how much miscommunication there is.

@bananaleaves okay, I just found your Tumblr today, and I know you don’t know me in any capacity, but allow me to scream about THIS FIC RIGHT HERE. If anyone in this fandom is to read ANYTHING, it’s this fic. This was one of the best things I’ve read in a long time and absolutely wrecked me. Please just read this.

This turned out WAY longer than it was supposed to, and I’m SO SORRY. (I also tried to make sure I got everyone’s pronouns right, so PLEASE let me know if they’re wrong!) A final sincere thank you to everyone in this fandom who writes. Your talent knows no bounds. Gonna stop talking now before this becomes an essay....

#jatp fanworks appreciation week #fic rec #if i realize that i've missed someone i'm gonna bite the bullet and send an ask to you okay. i will not let my anxiety STOP ME FROM #YELLING HOW MUCH I LOVE PEOPLE'S WRITING!!#idk what else to tag this other than i genuinely think this show saved my mental health and so have all the fic writers.#gonna post this now before i chicken out oky aklfwjepofae #motivation monday

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magniloquent-raven · 3 years

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Fic Writer Questions

i was tagged by @cherry-toxic and @gideongrace ty both 💕🥰💕

How many works do you have on AO3?

which is a relatively small number but sometimes im still like, holy shit i finished 15 whole fics lmao

What's your total AO3 word count?

68,299 (time to post a 701 word fic and then never post again i guess)

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

well this is about to get mildly embarrassing lmfao. ive only got harry potter & stranger things fics on my ao3 and tumblr but if you want a full list, as a teenager i posted a shitty borderlands self-insert fic on quizilla, and hiccup/jack frost fic on ff.net.

and if u count fics that never got finished or published anywhere i dabbled in teen wolf, supernatural, dragon age, star wars, left 4 dead 2, skyrim, good omens, the mcu, buffy, wynonna earp, plus like, general disney/dreamworks crossover fic. and i started writing shameless fics recently, we'll see if i actually finish any. aaaand...i think that's it?

so...15?

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Wait for you, Burn for You

2. Find Our Way

3. Something to Hold

4. Room for One More Troubled Soul

5. Don't Know What I'm Gonna Do (About This Feeling Inside)

all harringrove fics except #4, which is probably only on the list because it's been on ao3 the longest lol

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

oh god, i used to. i did when i was starting out, but then i just. i get self-conscious about what to actually say & leave shit to sit for too long. and suddenly ive got like 100 comments i havent replied to and i want to respond to them so bad but ive left them so long i feel weird about it now and it's a problem 😥

i want to start responding to them again, and every time i get a new one i tell myself im gonna but i never do cuz im fuckin awkward lmao

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

i......don't really do angsty endings. like, most of my fics end with smooches and/or love confessions lmao, i don't like leaving things off sad, even if it starts depressing as hell.

maybe this one? it still ends soft but without resolving the thing billy was angsting about, so.

Do you write crossovers? If so what's the craziest one you've ever written?

hahahhha.............i don't really do them anymore, but i already said i was into the whole animation movie crossover thing, so. yeah, i did lol. it was when i was in high school so of course i did one that was like, every disney character ever and they're going to school together. which really isn't that crazy a concept, but it was a lot of movies to write in so maybe that counts

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

nahh, not rly. i don't get around enough to attract anti attention lol, tho i did get one of those "👎" comments when someone was going around doing that, which lbr, is so low effort it barely counts 😂

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

yea sometimes. i do get the occasional horny idea lmao. mostly "what if touch-starved character + tenderness" or someone having lots of feelings while they're fucking. someone is usually billy lbr. i've also got a couple "what if someone got tied up and treated right" ideas but i don't think i've actually published any of those lmao

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

don't think so?

Have you ever had a fic translated?

i have not

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

yea, kinda! a collab with a friend of mine for fun

What's your all time favourite ship?

i...don't know? i get emotionally invested in characters more than the relationships themselves lol. i don't even know what ship i've been invested in for a long time, most of the shit i shipped as a kid i don't give a fuck about anymore lol.

except fuffy, actually. i've always shipped buffy/faith

and if we wanna go with fandom i've actively stuck with the longest it'd be harringrove. cuz ive been here and writing shit for yall for over a year now when i usually would've cycled thru a couple fixations by now lol

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

that's a mean question lmao how dare you. i honestly don't know, i have a lot of wips and i want to finish all of them. i know i won't but there isn't one specifically that seems less likely than the others so idk

What are your writing strengths?

uhhhhh.....i mean i've been told that my characterization is good? like, ppl being able to picture the actual characters when they're reading n stuff, so that's nice. and i could write introspection forever, u don't even know man, i get in the zone. i love getting in a character's head and picking apart their emotional state

What are your writing weaknesses?

writing dialogue really trips me up because i get picky about word choice lmao. i can be writing uninterrupted for twenty minutes cuz it's all a character's inner monologue but the second they gotta speak out loud im sittin there like ok what words sound natural and how much would they be willing to say etc. etc. suddenly it's an hour later and i've written three lines of dialogue. plus i tend to edit as i go so i'm always stopping and going back and rewriting stuff instead of just finishing the damn story

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

no thoughts head empty

lmao for real tho idk? i mean there's that one trope, when someone says nice stuff in a language the other person doesn't speak because they're pining and not sure if they're allowed to say it outright, that shit's cute. im sure all the google translated dialogue has been annoyin as shit for native speakers lmfao but yeah

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

probably harry potter but i literally have no idea. i started writing fic in my early teens and that time of my life is a big fuckin blur lmao

What's your favourite fic you've written?

ngl i think my fav fic is one of the multi-chapter wips i haven't published lmao

BUT. if i gotta pick something yall have read, this one. just a lil guy. plant dad billy and domesticity. it's cute and i like it. maybe also this fic that i wrote for valentine's day. i wrote basically the whole thing in one day and i was really proud of myself lmao, and i just really like headcanoning backstory for billy & that fic is rly just about him growing up, so

tagging @rvspberryjvm @wingedbears @paperbodiesamongthestars @platypan

if yall wanna! 💕

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eleanorbloom · 3 years

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Special Thanks (When You're Ready Edition)

I cannot end this series without thanking each and every one of you for your support. All the things Elle and Bryce said in the toast, make them mine too. Thank you for your support in all these months. Whether it was reading, commenting, reblogging, inspiring me, helping me find the motivation to write, etc. And above all, thank you for your patience. Patience for all the time it took me to finish this series and patience for all the mistakes I made.

As you all know, English is not my first language, this was my first fic writing in a second language and was such a challenge. So thank you for giving me the opportunity despite the mess the first chapters were. Hopefully, and with a lot of practice, my English started improving hehe

Your support meant the world to me. As much as I loved writing this series, because it was a way to explore and understand my own feelings (because I, as Eleanor, was trapped between Ethan and Bryce), I cannot lie there were times where I wanted to drop everything and stop complicating my life with this. But thanks to your support and motivation I kept going until I finished this. This is such an accomplishment for me, you have no idea 😭

When I started preparing this post, I looked for the original doc where I saved the first ideas for that fic, and I found out it was in May. So I've been working on this project for a year!!!

And how did I come up with this? Actually, from another fic idea lol Mid April I started indulging the idea of writing my first fanfic because, oh, woow, I was obsessedwith Ethan and my love for him had reached that point where I wanted to write. So I started writing a fic where Bryce helped Eleanor to make Ethan jealous by spending a lot of time together and sharing pics on Instagram (all that after Eleanor helped him create his Instagram account in the Gwyneth chapter). But, wow, I had the brilliant idea of writing something like, "Hope he realizes what he's missing because I know I can win your heart if I put my mind on it". And, oh, damn, I felt SO SO SO BAD FOR BRYCE. Because that line implied he had feelings for Eleanor (which I hadn't considered at that moment, that line simply flowed with me) and honestly I just couldn't resist it. I couldn't resist that he had to see the woman he had feelings for, being in love with someone who wasn't valuing her at that moment. So then I had the idea of writing a fic where Bryce proposed to her to win her heart at night in a nice surrounding after a cute date, and BUM that's how When You're Ready was born. Of course, I never finished that jealous fic because I became too invested in WYR and when I tried, I wasn't as interested in Ethan as before. So, yeah, from an Ethan fic, when I wasn't even in love with Bryce, just a bit torn, I ended up writing this series. But I knew from the start Bryce would be endgame because that boy deserves the world, and because I was tired that MC in most of the fics out there, they ended up choosing Ethan instead of Bryce. I just couldn't do it! Though I NEVER imagined I would end up this in love with him 🥺🥺🥺Maybe it was meant to be, just like Eleanor wondered, that I would fall in love with Bryce. This is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time 🥰

Well, now I want to give some special thanks, to some people that have been incredibly important in this process.

First, to Kao, one of the first people that read my fic and that stayed till the end with me. I always say this, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart: Thank you for your constant support and always taking the time to leave a comment, even in moments when it was hard for you. I know it was especially difficult in some moments when there was huge Ethan content and all you wanted was Eleanor to choose Bryce 😂 So thank you for sticking with my story!!! I know I kinda broke your heart a couple of times, so, I'm sorry and I hope the ending was cute enough to mend it 😅

Dom! You've been since the beginning with me too! Thank you for giving me the chance despite the mess those first chapters were, and sharing your own feelings about it, since you have feelings for both of them and you could understand the conflict very deeply. And thank you for inspiring me with your works to write all the Ethan angst. FATL was a huge source to write the saddest moments with Ethan 😟

Rome, my darling, your comments always make me laugh and cry, they’re so funny and expressive, but also so emotional, like, sometimes I feel like you’re reading something else but not my works, how they made you feel that way?? Thank you for your support and hype. For including my babies in your big project Baking Love, and simply for being there for me 😊 I love youuu!!

Conch! Thank you for all your support since the moment you started reading my series, for all the hype, inspo and just being my friend! Your support has been so important for me in all this process! I love you 3000 ❤️

Kaly! You joined just recently, well, like a-couple-of-months-ago recently, but I wanna thank you for your support since then and for sharing your insights and support with me! Knowing you wanna keep reading about my babies makes me soooo happy. I hope I can keep indulging you with that 😊

Petra, my darling, thanks for your support and all the effort you put into writing your comments since you joined me on this crazy ride. Thanks for supporting me with every idea and reading my little 'behind the scenes' while I was rereading WYR. It makes me so happy you sided with Bryce even if you're crazy in love with Ethan 😂 I think I did my work well hahaha

Nikka 💖 if you read this, know that I'll be forever thankful for your support and the massive comments you left, and all the emotions you poured in every chapter. Honestly, your words were such a light in the darkest moments of my writing process, and I'll always remember you fondly for that. Thank you for your kindness and love ❤️

Ruby ❤️ your support in the first half of the series will always mean the world to me ❤️ Thank you for giving me the chance and supporting all my works 😊(And sorry for breaking your heart ☹️) Your writing was such a huge inspiration to me!!

And well, thanks to whoever liked, commented, and reblogged my works. And all the silent readers too! Hope you enjoyed this series and you're free to leave messages or anons to share your thoughts if you still wanna remain as a silent reader hahaha I just want to know what are your thoughts now that we have reached the end.

I know this was long, but having your support during this long process means too much to not express my gratitude with a super cheesy and sappy post (Eleanor obviously got that from me, I think there's no surprise there 😂)

Sending each and every one of you a big hug (if you like hugs, lol) and my eternal gratitude for all the support given ❤️

Dani.

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perseusjackson-jasongrace · 3 years

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Empires on the Horizon XIV

Jason is a CEO: Part XIV

masterlist for other parts, more jercy, bad headcanons, and an abundance of crackships

SURPRISE!!! i finally got my laptop back and thankfully they didn’t have to wipe anything so i still had all my work! Between you and me i was more worried about all my fanfics than my uni work...... But I’ve learned my lesson. Do everything on google docs now!! Anyway this is a Percy POV and i hope you enjoy because i’ve missed this little universe more than you could possibly know and we’re finally (only fourteen chapters later) getting to the jercy part of this fic?! LOL it’s been wild.

i know i’m releasing a ton of fanfics at the moment so i hope you guys don’t feel overwhelmed. You know i adore your comments and thoughts but please don’t feel pressured to read all the fics i’m posting. I’ve just had a lot of time in the last weeks so it’s been easier to create. Please take care of yourself, i love you very much and i hope you have a magical holiday season!

Percy Jackson stretched his legs out in front of him and draped a blanket over them. There were few things he indulged in, but a good plane seat was one of them. He was spoilt for it but having the space to lay his unreasonably tall body down for eight hours seemed like a worthy investment. The announcements that continuously filtered through the crackly speakers were background noise as the bustle of people getting to their seats flowed throughout the cabins. He stared out his little window at the neon-jacketed guides and airport officials directing people to wherever they needed to be. He loved watching people just do things. There was something calming about knowing others weren’t interested in him in any way. That people got on with their lives despite the turmoil nobody knew about.

A flight attendant stopped next to him with a polite smile, “Champagne sir?”

“No thank you, a water please. Too early for alcohol.” He grimaced.

Mirth danced in her eyes as she glanced up at the rest of the passengers, some dangling flutes between their fingers. “Absolutely sir, anything else?”

He shook his head, before leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes. His pre-flight ritual, which consisted of him snuggling as comfortably as possible it his seat and trying to fall asleep, was already behind. The presence of a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed CEO taking up the scattered pieces of his mind. It was crazy to think they had met almost a year ago, crazier still to think that about how much they had changed in that time. Percy at least felt like a completely different person to the one who had stepped off a plane from Hawaii all those months ago and attended his alma mater’s dinner. Although the university had surprised them with plaques honouring their contributions, it was seeing Jason Grace, learning about him that felt like the real reward. Hell, he was only half joking when he said he’d marry the guy the next Tuesday.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts. We will be taking off shortly. In the meantime please turn your attention to the screens in front of you for a video detailing the safety measures you will need to know while aboard this flight.”

He blinked back into the world and turned half his attention to the screen and the other half to locating the blonde he couldn’t seem to keep away from. He knew the safety briefings by heart, but he always felt bad for not paying attention. Someone worked hard to make those. He didn’t spot Jason in the two minutes the video played and then it was too late because the plane gave a low rumble and suddenly, they were lurching into motion. His heart climbed to his throat and he gripped his fingers underneath the blanket.

“Okay Percy,” He mouthed to himself, “You can do this. It’s at most fifteen minutes of instability and then you’ll be up in the air and you won’t even feel it.”

“Just fifteen minutes.” He kept repeating, taking deep shaky breaths. “Fifteen minutes.”

The plane jaggered down the runway, slow enough that he could still read the road signs indicating altitudes and compass directions and all sorts of fun information he didn’t care about. He felt the huge machine turn into the long stretch of tar that led them to the sky and his stomach clenched painfully. This was always the worst part. Take off. It felt like his entire body flew off with the plane while he stuck to the ground, superglue cementing him to the floor with no escape. He didn’t feel free. He felt torn.

The plane gave a horrible lurch and then it was screaming down the runway, grass and yellow lines blurring past them. They were going so fast he’s sure they’d break the sound barrier. He squeezed his eyes shut. Knuckles white as he twisted his hands together. The plan flew down the road and into the sky. His whole body felt suspended in space. He wanted to come down. He didn’t want to be here. Even with his eyes closed he could feel how high they were. He hated it.

Slowly, the plane started to level out until he felt his body realign: feet under him, hands beside him, head above him. He opened his eyes, spots dancing in his vision as they got used to the light once more. The seatbelt sign dinged above him, and a series of clicks followed. People got up to use the bathroom and grab things from the overhead compartments. He wasn’t going to get up until he was out of this plane. So he shoved his headphones over his ears and pressed play.

I will always love you how I do

Let go of a prayer for you

Just a sweet word

He gazed out the window, clouds close enough to whisper to, and his lips pulled up in a soft smile. The sky was beautiful. It just sucked that they had to get into a death trap to get to it. With his ocean eyes pinned to the balls of cotton hanging in the blue expanse his mind drifted. Reyna. He blinked. It was almost shameful how little he had thought of her since their breakup considering their year together. She had taught him tai quan do and baked him blueberry tarts. They had escaped to a little bubble in the forest and watched the leaves turn brown as they tumbled in bed. He knew she tapped her right foot when she was annoyed but her left fingers danced when she was excited. He knew she liked her eggs fried hard because she didn’t have time for sloppy yolk, but she liked them scrambled soft because it meant a richer croissant. But despite this she did not light his soul on fire. And he did not light hers either. They were merely striking matches without wood to burn. He heaved a sigh as he watched the threads of his relationship flutter before his eyes and fell asleep to them disappearing in gold strands leaking into the clouds. He succumbed to the bright sun and the soft warmth of memories and he didn’t wake until a loud announcement gave the signal that they were landing.

It was over so fast he didn’t have time to panic and he was grateful. Finally he was collecting his bags and walking out. A driver with his surname scribbled on a plaque stood front and center and with a quick flash of his ID and a hello they were piling into the car. He didn’t get a chance to see the blonde beauty, but the island was small and time was a plenty. They would find each other again.

“To the hotel sir?”

“Yes Luca, and then please stick around for half an hour. It’s just a quick freshen before I go to work. We have a lab meeting.”

The man nodded and then focused on the busy Italian streets they were navigating. He took in the colours and sounds as they whizzed by. It felt like a different universe. People were loud and excited and full of life and the little markets seemed to pull energy from the sun and direct it into joy. He wanted to tell Luca, to pull over, screw work, and take in the beauty of this little section of the world. But his phone buzzed in his pocket and he knew with a disappointed sinking in his chest that adventure would have to wait.

“Hello Percy,” Rachel Elizabeth Dare bubbled, ‘I assume you’ve arrived?”

“Yes Rach,” He sighed but amusement caught between his lips, “Have you got news for me?”

“No,” She sounded suspicious, “Why would I have news for you?”

“Because you only track my exact times when you want something but you’re too scared to ask me so you wait till I’m halfway across the country before asking.” He wanted to laugh as she made an indignant sound.

“Okay fine,’ She grumbled, “I wanted to know if I could close up the scuba for the weekend. I met a girl and i wanted to go out on Friday night with her.”

He couldn’t hold in his laugh any longer, “Of course you can Rachel. But I’m curious to know…” He trailed off.

“Ugh you are impossible.” He could imagine her eye roll so vividly. “It’s Clarisse. The principal from your old school.”

“Well, well, well,” He grinned, “I better be getting premium seats to the wedding.”

“Why does everything always end in weddings for you?” She groaned.

“Scuse me for wanting a happily ever after.” He scrunched his face, “Oh and guess who’s here?”

“Is this a good guess or a bad one?”

“Good.” He smiled, “Very good.”

She gasped, speaker crackling at his ear, “Tell me!”

“Jason Grace.”

“What?” She squealed, “Are you guys going to have hot rebound sex and then realise you like each other more than just casual fuck-buddies and end up getting married and adopting like six children?”

He burst with amusement, “Slow down there Rach. I know I throw around the marriage idea, but kids seem like a big commitment.”

“You right,” She said decidedly, “Kids are a lot of effort. Just get married then. But no eloping!” He pictured the crease in her freckled brows. “I want to be a bridesmaid.”

“Can’t promise anything,” He giggled.

“Perseus Jackson!” She scolded.

“Oof the full name.”

“I will tell your mother and she will kick your ass.”

“Okay, okay,” He laughed, “No eloping. I have to go. But remember to take the keys for the scuba with you. We do not need the fire department breaking the door again.”

She grumbled about hating him and then blew him a kiss and ended the call. With a smile still playing on his lips he thanked Luca and rushed into the hotel. Thankfully the check in was painless and fast and he was stumbling into his room in no time. He barely had time to appreciate the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows and the ocean view it laid out before him. He promised himself he would take the time when he got back.

Quickly he hopped into the shower cursing when he realised he’d forgotten to take his socks off. With a horrified shudder he peeled them off and chucked them into the laundry basket, thankful it gets emptied every day. The water beat against his back, fogging up the glass and calming the racing in his veins. He gave himself the luxury of one extra minute to just take a deep breath and screw his head back onto his shoulders and then he jumped out and shoved on a pair of black slacks and a white button down. He didn’t bother to do the top few buttons, figuring he’d have time in the car. Instead he fastened a watch to his wrists, rolled up the sleeves till they sat at his forearms– any attempt to bear the Italian heat– and then he slid his feet into a pair of sleek ankle boots and mussed his damp curls. With half a moments glance at the mirror to make sure his face didn’t have patches of sun-cream and his collar was straight he grabbed his briefcase and walked out.

Glancing at his watch distractedly he rounded the corner, only to bump right into a hard chest.

“Oh,” He frowned, stepping back into a door. “Jason.”

“Hey,” The blonde smiled, “What a coincidence?” He laughed.

“You’re staying here?” It was really starting to feel like the universe was trying to tell him something.

‘Yep,” He gave a shy smile, blue gaze bright. “Guess you’re going to see a lot more of me then you expected huh?”

“I think you may be at more of a disadvantage than me.”

Jason looked at him, eyes dragging from his face down his body and eventually dropping to his shoes. Percy gave an involuntary shiver as the blonde tracked the same slow pace back up. “I think this could be very advantageous.”

“If you don’t stop staring at me like that I’m going to be very late for my meeting.”

He laughed, the previous sultriness giving away to a sparkle and flashing white teeth, “See you around Jackson.” He started walking away.

“Wait!” Percy called, “Date? Tonight? We can explore the city together?”

Jason smiled as bright as diamonds, “Sounds fun. Meet you in the bar at?”

He realised their time depended on when his meeting finished and suddenly, he wanted to cancel the whole thing and start now. ‘Seven thirty?”

“See you there. And have a good meeting.”

The blonde walked away, and Percy felt this time like he was floating away while his body remained superglued to the floor. He wanted to live in this feeling. Because this did not feel like being torn apart. This felt like coming home.

The elevator dinged down the passage and he crashed back to reality. With a string of curse words he raced for it and jumped in just as the doors began to close.

The meeting and subsequent lab tour felt endless and he concentrated on little less than half of what was being said, his mind more interested on the things waiting for him at the hotel, the person. But eventually it was over and him and Luca were cruising towards the Casa de Vita.

“Anything else you need sir?” His driver looked at him from the rear-view mirror as they turned into the hotel road.

“Recommend any good places for a first date?”

“Already met a lady sir?” Luca’s dark eyebrows almost touched his hairline in surprise.

“A man actually.”

The Italian chuckled, nodding his head as if in on some invisible joke, “The Tesora. It is just down the path and near the ocean.”

“Thank you Luca, have a goodnight.”

“And you sir.” Luca winked before peeling out of the entrance and fading into the setting sun.

Percy strolled to his room with a smile on his face, lost in a world full of possibilities. It was unsurprising then that he didn’t see the extra bag against the wall, or the shoes neatly placed by the door that weren’t his.

He took off his watch and undid the few buttons on his shirt, head lost to the glimmer of the ocean. He let his shirt fall open as he slipped off his shoes and walked towards the windows. The view really was spectacular. No matter how much he travelled it always blew his mind the places that existed, that he had yet to learn of. It was irresistible. It was perfect. It didn’t fail to cross his mind that the ocean was the exact same colour as a certain pair of gorgeous blue eyes. He blinked the image away, turning around, and his gaze landed on that exact aquamarine gaze.

“Jason?” He gasped, clutching his chest in surprise. “What are you doing in my room?”

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

Tags (if you want to be added/taken off the tag list just let me know. All my channels of communication are open):

@lesbian-peanuts

@leydiangelo

@queen-of-demons-and-hell

@msdrpreist

@sparkythunderstorm

@nishlicious-01

@lucyisblue

@pjo-hp-things

#empires on the horizon #part 14 #jercy #jason is a ceo #jason grace #percy jackson #baby fanfic #baby fanfic series #pjssg fanfic #pjssg series #pjjg fanfic #pjjg series #jason #grace #percy #jackson

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seriouslyhooked · 4 years

Text

The Same Soul (Part 6)

Available on FF Here and AO3 Here. Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5.

Our world AU where Emma and Killian knew each other as teenagers. Killian was sent to spend a summer with family in America. He met foster kid Emma while there. They fell in love but then he was forced back home and she couldn’t take the memories so she ran away, trying her best to move on from the dreams they’d always hoped for. A chance meeting brings them back together years later, and this time nothing and no one will keep them apart. Rated M.

A/N: Hey all! So after a few months away from this fic, I am back and more ready than ever to tell this story. I love a fic that takes place in both the present and the past. It’s a really fun thing for me and I hope you all feel it adds some good context and dynamic to this AU overall. In this chapter we are back in the past, during the summer that Killian and Emma first met, and it’s been about a month since their first date. It’s a fluffy chapter to be sure, but there’s some moments that might have just a touch of angst. And that’s all I should say, don’t want to spoil too much. Anyway, hope you enjoy and thanks so much for reading!

(Past)

Today is going to be a really good day.

It was the first coherent thought that crossed through Emma’s mind this morning as she woke with the sun, stretching her still sleepy limbs across the softness of her mattress. She was thrilled at the prospect of today, and grateful to have a totally free and clear Saturday. Because there was no camp on the weekends, Emma was left to her own devices, and, as with most other free days that she’d had here this summer, she was going to spend that time with someone she now couldn’t imagine not being in her life.

Even the thought of seeing Killian sent a rush of warmth through her, and Emma knew if she looked in a mirror right now her cheeks would be flushed a noticeable shade of pink. She never blushed before, schooling herself to keep all of her feelings as contained as possible, but it was unavoidable with Killian. He just got to her in a way no one else ever had. He was charming, yes, and he was also crazy cute, so much so that he distracted her both when they were together and apart, but he was also thoughtful and attentive and patient in a way that let Emma know that he cared for her while also giving her breathing room to be whoever she wanted to be. Emma craved that specific blend of connection and freedom after years of being on her own, and she didn’t know how the hell he managed to understand her so well, but she’d started thinking of Killian as the ‘Emma whisperer’ in her secret musings these past few weeks.

For all her life, or at least as long as she could remember, Emma had been called closed off. The case workers assigned to monitor her and the people at the homes she stayed in said good things about her independence and self-reliance, but at the end of the day it was her guarded nature that people commented on most. That was purposeful, a defense against heartbreak that Emma learned long ago. If she kept people at a distance, and managed all of her expectations, she wouldn’t grow attached and wouldn’t feel disappointment. This made the way things were now so foreign to her. Emma had never woken up each day looking forward to the present. All her life she had been stuck, caught up in the flow of the small but unsteady existence she led. She had nowhere to belong and no one to belong to, and being so unmoored made it that much harder to invest in the good things in life. But this summer that was all beginning to change.

Part of it was this place, this corner of the world that was so serene and green and lively. It was so much quieter than the city she had always known, but no less alive. The woods out here were teeming with life, with birds and bugs and all sorts of creatures Emma felt like she’d never quite get used to seeing and she loved it. Every day was new, but it also felt routine. That was something Emma never really had, and so it calmed her, just as much as her nearly day trips to the coastline did. Watching the waves come in and out and hearing them lapping on the shore helped her center herself, and getting lost on the well trod paths out in the woods somehow made her feel more found than she ever had. She felt safe in this magical location, but so much of that sense safety also came from Killian.

It was hard to put into words why that was. There were so many little things, so many actions tied up in words and moments she would cherish forever, but it had been about month since she met him, and Emma swore each day her walls crumbled just a little bit more. There was so much between them now, and no one in the world knew her like Killian did. She had shared her thoughts, her dreams, and her hopes, and that was a huge thing for her because sometimes, in her darkest moments, she wondered if those wishes were worth having. Life had been hard, but this summer was a lesson in the goodness that could exist too, and when she thought of goodness Emma’s mind always started and stopped with Killian. She saw his smile, she heard his laugh, she felt the press of his lips on hers and the warmth of his hands on her body, and she replayed the quiet but bold affirmations he gave to her every day.

‘You steal my breath away, love.’

‘You make me hope, Emma. You make me feel that anything is possible.’

‘There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you.’

Those were just a few of the unimaginable things he’d said to her over the past few weeks, and somehow she believed him every time. The ability she had to sniff out a lie had never been triggered with Killian. He was honorable and honest, earnest and sincere, and while that was amazing and miraculous, it was also still an incredibly scary thing for Emma to know and accept.

Because right now, as good as things were and as happy as she was, there was a risk. This could all go sideways at any moment. This summer was eventually going to end. She was going to leave this magical place, and this boy who she loved was going to leave too.

“Love?” Emma said the word aloud, rocked into a state of shock that she’d so freely used a word she never shared with another living soul. She had never loved anyone before, but there it was: she loved Killian.

But that was crazy! Loving him was crazy, and yet she did, and she didn’t want to fight it. It was hard to tell if she even could. Nothing had worked against him when it came to her defenses. One by one he brought them down just by being himself, and the feeling when he did made it all seem worth it. If today was the last day she ever had with Killian, it might just kill her, but she couldn’t seem to run preemptively. She had to see him, had to soak this all in as much as she could.

Still, as she got ready for the morning ahead, Emma knew that there was one thing that scared her most when it came to Killian and it was simple even in its abundant complexity: where as Killian had been completely forthcoming, telling her everything about his life, from his derelict Dad to the passing of his mother, she had held back. She had given him so much more than she ever had to anyone else, but the most important part of all, the part about her being abandoned and never finding anyone who wanted her all this time, that was still a secret. He didn’t know she was in foster care, he just knew she was on scholarship. He asked about her family a few times and she diverted, but that was weeks ago. He respected her not wanting to discuss it, but what would he say when he knew? Would he still look at her like she was some kind of perfect person? Or would he see that she was ordinary, or worse that she wasn’t worth loving after all?

The tolling of the clock on the mantel told her that she had no more time to dwell in these awful what-ifs, because Killian was supposed to be here now. Since he had never ever been late in all their time knowing each other, Emma knew he’d already be waiting for her at the gate, and when she grabbed her bag and locked the door behind her, she turned to find she was exactly right. But still, even if they’d shared weeks of similar moments, she was still struck breathless by the sight of him, and the world seemed to spin just a little more than usual as she made her way towards him.

“Emma,” he said in greeting, his eyes filled with both relief and appreciation as she meandered towards him.

No sooner was she through the gate than his hands were on her, pulling her close with a speed that made her gasp. He smiled at her, running one hand along her cheek as the other held her hip. Then he dipped his lips to hers, kissing her with in a slow and sensual way that made her want more, while still being appropriate enough for this not so private place.

“I missed you, love,” he said when he pulled back, the truth in his eyes shining just as bright as the cerulean flecks in his ocean blue gaze.

“You just saw me last night,” Emma quipped, though her heart was pounding in elated satisfaction.

“Aye, but it makes no difference. You know I hate to leave you. Nothing feels right again until we are together.”

“Well lucky for you we have all day,” Emma said and Killian agreed he was a lucky man before kissing her again. This time though, their stolen moment was interrupted by a low whine coming from below, and Emma laughed as she pulled back, crouching low to greet the other favorite companion she’d met this summer.

“I’m not the only one who missed you,” Killian said as Emma loved on Missy with her usual vigor. She loved this dog so much, almost as much as Killian seemed to, and hearing she was missed not just by Killian but by Missy as well made Emma feel so special.

“I missed you both too,” Emma whispered as she stood up, ducking her head so Killian wouldn’t see her eyes which were threatening to water in the face of all this affection. But he waited her out, taking her hand and running his thumb back and forth along her skin absentmindedly.

“It won’t always be like this, Emma.”

Hearing that made her stomach cramp up in actual pain. It hurt to realize that Killian saw the end of this too. When summer came she’d miss him even more, but when Killian tilted her face up to his she was confused. Because he didn’t look sad – he looked determined.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that someday soon there will come a day when we don’t need to be parted. Not for a single night.”

Emma didn’t even know how to respond to that. She wanted it, but she also knew how far away that day must be. Here he was saying it would be soon, but they were still so young. They couldn’t make decisions about their life like that until they were of age, and though Killian was older, he had a few months left before he hit eighteen. But even with all that, the look in his eyes gave Emma no choice but to hope. He had that expression again, the one that said he’d stop at nothing to see a good thing come to pass, and everything she knew about Killian told Emma that where he had a will he would always make a way. Instead of responding to him directly, she pressed another swift kiss to his lips and smiled, watching as the action calmed him down and melted away some of the harshness of before.

“So, what are we doing today?” she asked, after pulling back and taking his hand once more.

“Nice try, love, but you know it’s not that simple,” Killian teased. His propensity for surprising her had only continued as the summer went on and Emma groaned, though it was mostly for show.

“You’re lucky I always bring everything just in case.”

Emma stopped short after her unanticipated confession, hoping that Killian wouldn’t realize how true that was. She essentially had everything that mattered to her in this bag right now. That’s how few belongings she really cared about. There were clothes and such at her living quarters, but the few items she truly valued went with her wherever she went just in case. She’d never had to run before, but she was always prepared, even now.

“You all right, Emma?” Killian asked and Emma nodded, regrouping and doing her best to immerse herself back in the day with Killian.

He made it as easy as possible to do so, bringing her to one of her favorite places in the area – the beach. Once there they walked along the coast, passing dozens of other people, some with their families, and some with friends, until finally they were at her favorite spot – a sandy patch nestled between rock-lined coves that Killian had brought her to a few weeks ago.

“I still can’t believe no one knows about this place,” Emma said, shaking her head in awe as she helped Killian spread out the blanket he’d brought for the two of them to use.

When that was done, she reached for her shirt, stripping it away and shedding her shorts leaving her in only her bathing suit, and she didn’t think much of it. She was so comfortable with Killian at this point and they’d done this a number of times. She didn’t think of it as anything more than an innocent act, but when she looked back over at him, surprised at his silence, she realized how much she effected him. The look in his eyes was a cross between ravenous and bewitched and it made her feel immensely powerful. She could have chosen to wilt under his appraisal or feel embarrassed, but how could she when he was so obvious? He was clearly very pleased with what he saw, and that was only fair seeing as how in a few short moments, he’d lose his shirt and she’d feel the same way.

“Cat got your tongue, Jones?” Emma teased and she heard a low rumbling sound that she might have mistaken for Missy if it wasn’t heard a time or two before. No, that was all Killian, losing his head again and letting some sort of primal side take over. It thrilled her to know how much he wanted her, and this back and forth was intoxicating to her. It turned out Emma liked a bit of a chase, and with that in mind she smiled widely at him before sprinting at the water, knowing he was half a second from pulling her close.

Hearing his curses and the sound of him trying to get rid of his own clothes was hard over her laughter, but Emma was now attuned to these moments that she’d play back later like her favorite song. She made it to the water’s edge, delighting in the cold ocean as it counteracted the heat of the sun and her exertion, but then she was caught, with Killian’s arms wrapping around her as he carried her further into the water. She screamed, but in a playful way, and then they were submerged together underneath the ocean swell, bobbing underneath the waves until they came back up again and she splashed him in foe offense.

“Killian!”

“What? We needed to cool off, love. If we didn’t we’d run the very real risk of being charged with public indecency.”

“Is that right?” Emma asked as Killian caught her again in the water. Being like this she let her legs wrap around him as he held her. She wouldn’t go so far in real life, but here it just felt right. It was a tease of what could be, and as she felt his hard body underneath her she squirmed a bit, making him groan again.

“Have I ever told you how tempting you are, Swan?”

“Only like every day,” she replied, biting her lip to keep back a smirk and getting exactly what she wanted in return – another heated kiss. And damn was it hot, even with the water around them, Emma was burning up, taking it just to the edge with Killian and wishing so badly that they could go even further. So far they hadn’t, choosing to be much slower in their physical intimacy while they truly got to know one another, but Emma was finding more and more each day how impatient she was. She didn’t like the waiting, and if Killian weren’t so steadfast in taking things slow… well, she didn’t really know where they’d be right now.

“God, you undo me,” he said resting his forehead against hers, his breath coming out in harsh pants that mirrored hers. She sighed at his words, closing her eyes and taking it all in. She wanted to keep this moment forever, just like all the others, and she was almost afraid to open her eyes again, thinking maybe this was all just some crazy beautiful dream.

Yet as the day went on, there was more and more proof that this wasn’t a dream. This was really her life, and Emma was happier than she’d ever been before. Their time on the beach evolved into a picnic in the cove, and then a long walk with Missy through town. They got ice cream, they watched the ships come in and out of port, and they talked with each other about anything and everything. As the sun set, they enjoyed the natural beauty, watching the sky change and the fading light bid goodbye to a nearly perfect day. It made Emma worry that they’d soon be saying goodbye to each other as well, but Killian had other plans. Down for anything herself, Emma followed him back through town not so far from where she was staying. Before they got there, though, Killian stopped at a giant estate Emma had seen before and recognized as his Uncle’s. She felt her heart catch – she’d never been to his Uncle’s place before. Was this some sort of meeting she didn’t know about? She wasn’t dressed for this, or ready, but before she could truly panic Killian kissed her hand in a knowing and gentle manner.

“Don’t worry, love. We’re not going inside tonight. My plans are of a more outdoor nature.”

Emma expelled a breath, glad for that fact but then her mind wandered to how gorgeous this place was. As spectacular as the main estate was of her benefactress, this house was just as palatial but in a different way. It was less manicured and groomed. The flowers here were less cultivated and more organic, honoring the true beauty of the world around them. Emma still couldn’t fathom why anyone needed a house so large, but as they went behind the house, Emma’s breath caught again.

“Oh my god,” she said, the words carrying on the wind as she took in the sight before her. For there was a path lit up in the night by tasteful, gilded lanterns leading deep into the woods.

“I wish I could take the credit for these, but my it’s all my Uncle’s doing.”

“He must be a real romantic,” Emma said, and Killian looked thoughtful.

“Perhaps. If he is, he’s sadly unmatched now.”

“He could still find someone,” Emma said, suddenly hoping for happiness for a man she’d never even met.

“I hope he will,” Killian said. “But trust me, Swan, this isn’t what I brought you here to see.”

Emma couldn’t imagine what could be better than this, and the whole way out into the woods she found herself wondering where they could be going. The golden glow around them as the twilight darkened towards full blown night was so surreal and almost otherworldly. She could hardly fathom where it would lead, until they came to a large clearing. She waited for something, not really understanding what the end game was here and just when she was about to ask why they had come here she spotted the first blip at the corner of her eye.

“Fireflies,” she whispered, not realizing if she spoke aloud the thought that crossed her mind.

For nearly seventeen years Emma wondered what fireflies really looked like. Would they embody the magic that stories and movies seemed to make of them? It was somewhat suspect to her, until now, when she could feel the anticipation and the instant satisfaction of seeing one and then another and then another. This clearing, for whatever reason, was filled with them and it seemed Killian had timed this exactly right for them to take in the show.

“Now some might say that this is the best seat in the house. They don’t seem to go very far into the trees, so you can see them all just fine right here.” Killian murmured the words as if speaking too loudly might scare away these new little beings.

“But what if…” Emma trailed off, not wanting to ask for more when he’d already given her so much. Yet again Killian’s thoughtfulness was gifting her with an impossibly wonderful experience, and to make a suggestion right now just felt ungrateful.

“What if we wanted to be in the thick of it?” Killian asked, reading her mind and Emma nodded quickly prompting a smile from Killian. “Well, I came prepared for that.”

Emma tore her attention between the continuing lights around them and Killian rummaging through his backpack, but when he produced two flashlights covered in blue tissue paper she was surprised. “It’s an old trick my brother learned when we were kids. Fireflies are drawn to the color blue. It attracts them, like moths to a flame.”

“I can relate,” Emma said, thinking of Killian’s eyes but covering her mouth in horror as she realized she said that aloud. “Pretend I didn’t say that.”

“Not likely, Swan,” Killian replied, pulling her closer and kissing her sweetly before handing her her flashlight. “Now come on, we’ve only got a little while with them. Let’s make the most of it.”

Emma was glad for his request because he ended up being oh so right. The lightening bugs were breathtaking and astounding, spiraling through the meadow in entrancing little swirls, some of them even landing on her and Killian. He was right about the lights. They seemed to love it, and Emma adored the sensation of being surrounded by them all. Everywhere she looked there were golden blips, sparkles in the night that pulsed in perfect harmony with the rest of this wooded grove. She instantly knew that stories couldn’t do this justice. One had to experience this, they had to feel the summer heat turning to a nighttime cool, smell that woodsy smell of fresh earth and green leaves, and hear the gentle buzzing of these tiny beetles in flight. Only though first hand experience could someone understand the real beauty behind this and appreciate what a strange and amazing occurrence this was in nature. It made Emma believe in something else, something divine, because such a perfect moment couldn’t be an accident. It had to be fate.

They stayed out there, for how long Emma couldn’t be sure, but in that time she let her guard down completely, even more than she usually would. Killian always made her feel older, like a woman or an adult, but right now this was a space where they could be a bit more childlike. She never had this as a little kid and she loved it, and Killian seemed to love her love. They laughed together, running around at different moments, taking in the ebb and flow of these little lightening bugs with the help of their flashlights. Sometimes they landed on her, lighting up her sun-tanned skin in this almost ethereal way, other times they lit up Killian, illuminating his expression which was already so bright and happy, making Emma’s palpable joy climb even higher. But eventually, their private little light show ended. Perfect moments had to come to a close, and one by one the bugs flew off, leaving Emma and Killian out there alone under the pale moonlight, lying out under the ever brightening stars.

“God that was… I don’t even have words.”

“So you liked it then?” Killian asked, as if it wasn’t a given that this was one of the single best moments of her life.

“I’ve never been so happy,” she confessed, looking over to Killian and wondering if it was okay to say that. Did she seem weird or desperate? It only took one moment to know he didn’t see her that way.

“There’s something I have to tell you, Emma. Something I’ve been wanting to say for a long time.” She could hear her heart beating in her chest, pounding in anticipation until he said three words she wanted to hear more than any other. “I love you.”

Emma let those three little words wash over her, seeping into her very being like water to a rose. The elation at knowing that this incredible human being could feel for her what she felt for him was sensational. In the magic of the moonlight, lit up as she was from such a perfect day, Emma finally knew what it was to belong and to feel at home. Killian had made all of these beautiful moments possible in her life. He made ordinary things feel extraordinary and exceptional. He looked out for her, applauded her, cheered her on ,and believed in her. He made time for her and he listened to her, reassuring her at every impasse that she was smart and fun and worth being around. He showed her every single day since the first day they met that she was important to him, and right now, when he told her he loved her she knew that he meant it. In a bond forged in honesty and truthfulness, this was somehow the truest thing he’d ever said to her, and it brought happy tears to her eyes. She wanted this so much – wanted him more than anything else in the world – but he didn’t really know her, and realizing that she now had to come clean broke her heart.

“I know you think that, but you wouldn’t say that if you knew everything,” Emma said, sitting up and hiding her face as her knees automatically came in, curling her up into a fearful stance. But before she could retreat too far into herself, she felt his hand on her, a gentle reminder of his devotion.

“Emma, I promise you there is nothing to know that would change how I feel. I love you. Don’t ever doubt that. Whatever you think there is still left to tell me, I swear on everything it won’t change my love.”

“But it will!” She cried out, her tears no streaming as her throat closed from the pain of it all. “You don’t get it. You can’t love me because no one ever has. I have no parents, no family. They gave me up. They didn’t want me.”

“Emma,” Killian whispered, but she couldn’t let him reassure her. She appreciated that his hands stayed on her but she had to get this out.

“I don’t know what happened to them. I was found as a newborn and no one could figure out where I came from so I went into the system and I never left. When I was little I liked to think that they still wanted me. Maybe they’d come back. Maybe they were sorry for leaving me. But whatever kept them from keeping me it doesn’t matter. The end result is the same. I went into the system and no one ever wanted me. I was never good enough. I never fit. I don’t belong.”

“That’s not true, Emma. You do belong. You belong right here with me.”

“How do you know that? How are you sure?”

“Because there’s nothing in my life that means as much as you. No one who makes me feel so much, who makes me want again. You are this rare and impossible treasure, like an angel from a dream and yet you’re real. And it doesn’t matter to me where you come from, it only matters because it made you Emma, the girl I love, the only one I ever will.”

“I love you too,” Emma confessed, “But I’m scared. I’ve never loved anyone. I don’t know how – I -,”

Her worries were pushed aside as Killian brought her close, kissing her apprehension away and trying to show her the intensity of his feelings. His faith in this was so strong and so reassuring, it was impossible to deny him. His love was still so strong even though he knew. She had told him her last terrible secret – she’d shared just how lost and lonely she really was – and here he stayed, claiming her, wanting her, loving her.

“I thought I was broken, Emma,” he said as they came apart, but just barely, clinging to each other with all this heavy emotion swirling around. “When my Mum died I thought I was mostly gone with her. I didn’t think I’d ever be happy again, I felt like nothing mattered anymore, and then I met you and I realized that even in darkness there is light. You saved me, Emma. You made me whole, putting back pieces I never had, even when she was here. And you did it with your smile and your wit. You did it with the look you get when you know you’re right, and the way you always want to help anybody in any way that you can. I hadn’t even known you a day and I knew I’d never be the same, and that I want you forever. I didn’t get a chance to say it before, but I feel as you do. Today was the happiest I’ve ever been and it’s all because of you. Because you love me, and because, even if you’re afraid, I know that love isn’t going anywhere.”

“I might mess this up,” Emma admitted, knowing that anything was possible with something so new and foreign to her.

“You couldn’t even if you tried, love. Something this right is fated to happen. You can’t run away from destiny. You can’t muck it up. It follows you, and you, Emma Swan, are my destiny.”

How could she compete with words like that when they spoke to exactly how she felt? Emma didn’t know, so she followed her instincts, pulling him close and spending the rest of the few precious hours they had left before her curfew reveling in this new state they were in. Love had been here for some time, but to have it shared like this, spoken aloud and agreed to so clearly was indescribable. She still was afraid, she still was unsure, but that wasn’t going to hold her back. Whatever she didn’t know she would learn, and whatever obstacles may come, she knew Killian would be there for her every step of the way. She just had to keep fighting and keep choosing this new life, two things she planned to do as long as she had her soul mate by her side.

Post-Note: Hey all, so I know that I have done the firefly thing before, but for me personally it’s one of the highlights of every summer. I genuinely love seeing the fireflies. I loved catching them as a kid, I love watching them with my family, and I think sharing that magic with someone you love is just about the sweetest thing you can do. I wanted Killian to share that with Emma, and I think that having written so many stories, it’s okay if there’s some overlap. I mean as the self-dubbed queen of fluff, I have recycled a trope or two before already… Anyway, next chapter is going to also be partially in the past and as you might have guessed it will be from Killian’s POV. That being said, it’s a very heavy chapter but I will not leave you guys in pain or suspense. There’s nothing I hate more than leaving a story in a precarious place, especially emotionally, trust that I will make it right even if I break our hearts just a little bit in the process. As always, I thank you all so much for reading. I hope you’ve enjoyed, and I would love to hear what you think!

#captain swan #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #captain swan fluff #cs fic #cs #cs au #cs fluff #cs ff #captain swan au #emma swan #killian jones #the whole storybrooke gang #ouat au #cs high school au #CS modern AU #the same soul #the same soul 6

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smoaking-greenarrow · 6 years

Text

Olicity Fanfic Review #5

Summer Flame

by @mindramblingsfics

Rating: Mature // Warnings: N/A // Chapters: 3/? // Words: 16893

Summary: Looking for an escape, Oliver and Felicity meet one summer. The days were filled with infectious fun while exploring the other's body and mind. When the time came to part, they agreed to just let it be a summer of passion and nothing more. Five years later, they meet again and learn that summer can't be easily forgotten.

Hook: Honestly, I was hooked as soon as I read the summary. Add in the fact that Oliver is a soldier and Felicity has a surprise reminder of their summer together, and this story is everything I didn’t know I wanted. They meet at a bar and the connection is instant. Those stories always hook me. As much as I love a good slow burn, I think I’m an even bigger fan of the idea of these two people meeting and just knowing that something is special. Neither of them have any qualms over spending more time together. Those scenes and the thoughts that Oliver and Felicity have about each other are extremely well written and adorable, which pulled me in right away and made me want to read more.

Why you should read it: I’m sure more avid readers can point to good examples, but I haven’t found many stories that use flashbacks that I thoroughly enjoy. The narrative jumps between the summer when Oliver met Felicity in Ivy Town, and the present day when they’re both living in Starling. The flashbacks are entertaining and fun (ps hot damn, @mindramblingsfics) while the present day scenes pack the emotional punch. The shifts are easy to follow and you can see the differences in our couple from when they were young and as you watch them struggle with their current situations. You’ll get invested in both the flashbacks and the present!

Best Character Interaction: John Diggle/Oliver Queen. Their friendship is so sweet in this story. Oliver trusts him and confides in him more than anyone.

MVP: Felicity Smoak. We all know Felicity is one tough badass, but she’s strong in a different way in Summer Flame, yet it’s still so Felicity.

Favorite Moment: This is actually a really tough one. All of the flashbacks are so fluffy and enjoyable to read! From their first meeting, to their day binge watching Netflix, to a breakfast date, to grocery shopping, it’s all good. Good stuff. Good flashbacks.

Favorite Line:

"That's complete bullshit. You don't have to take life so serious every waking moment. It's good to relax from time to time and escape."

"Are we each other's escape?" Suaveness clouded his voice as he titled his head down to her.

Felicity gave a shrug in response. She turned her body into his brushing up against him. "Maybe," she whispered.

Music Vibe: Kids in Love // Mayday Parade

I can’t promise that the categories will be the same for all of these little reviews, but I’ll try to keep them consistent! I want to contribute to this crazy phenomenon happening where writers aren’t getting the recognition they deserve. Fanfic authors spend a lot of time and effort on their stories. We get excited as we write, anticipating how people will react. We hit the refresh button waiting to see if anyone has left a comment. When you show enthusiasm for a story, we feel inspired to keep writing it.

Leave comments on fics you read, tell writers what you liked about it, ask questions if you’re curious about plot, give them your theories. Just show them that you’re paying attention and you hope they keep going!

There’s only three main points for these reviews:

1. Reblog the posts! Let your followers who may not follow the authors have a chance to see the review and decide if they want to read the story. They may not see it otherwise, and reblogs never hurt. Even if you’ve already read the fic, you don’t have time to read it, etc. Reblogging exposes more people to more awesome fanfics! Push the button. Do it.

2. Reblog and share the fic/give feedback. If you find a story that you love because of these posts, please make sure to reblog the fic itself if the writer has posted it on tumblr, leave a comment if you read it on AO3, give kudos, share it with your friends, your mom, your dog, whoever you feel should also be reading it!

3. Send me recommendations. I want to focus my time on fics that we feel deserve more attention. I started by looking at the number of comments to help narrow things down but it wasn’t really working, so I’m just going to choose fics that I feel deserve more recognition. That being said, I don’t see everything. And it would mean a lot to know if someone else wants me to read something/do a review for a certain story. Please feel free to send recommendations to my inbox or message me (even if it’s your own work)! Of course I’ll be looking for fics myself too, but there are plenty of authors who deserve a little more love, so hit me up fam. Length and word count don’t matter!

Okay, thems the rules.

Please also note that the reviews are MY (smoaking-greenarrow) opinions and interpretations as a reader, not the writer’s intentions or meaning (such as the song choice being my own whim and not influential to the stories in any way). So really I’m just strapping myself in and going on a fanfiction joyride.

#fanfic author appreciation #olicity fanfic reviews #olicity #olicity fanfiction #oliver queen #felicity smoak #smoaking-greenarrow reviews

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artificialqueens · 6 years

Text

Pick Up Pick Up (Courtney x Valentina) - Stephanie/Veronica

A/N: Hi all! This is another entry for the fic challenge, taken from Chapters 3 and 4 of Undone (and some sneak peaks from Chapter 5), with some “bonus content” from Valentina’s POV.

Summary: When Courtney picked up Valentina at the club, she was not prepared for Valentina’s Feelings.

From Steph: Can we all just take a second and realize how crazy this bitch Valentina is. I hope you love this as much as I love it.

From V: As always, undying gratitude to our beta readers, @theofficialcunt , @willamdelrio , @artificial-jazz , @collidinggalaxiesofstars

VALENTINA: Hola! It’s me, Valentina. I had fun this weekend. This may sound crazy but I think I left a hair clip at your place. I know it’s dumb but I’m kind of attached to it. It has red roses on it. 🌹🌹🌹I’m sorry to be a pain. Lol

COURTNEY: It’s no problem, I’ll look when I get home.

VALENTINA: OMG thank you so much.

COURTNEY: NP. I hope I find it. It’ll give me an excuse to see you again.

VALENTINA: Well, if you happen to be free, my friend Enrique is having a party on Friday. You wanna be my date? 🌹

COURTNEY: Can I get back to you later in the week? We usually do night shoots on Fridays.

VALENTINA: I’m sorry, lol, I didn’t mean to be so pushy

COURTNEY: You’re not! I just don’t know what time we’re gonna wrap. I might have to roll in late looking a bit rough…

VALENTINA: Lol you’ll look gorgeous. I can’t wait. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

***

“Girl, can you please calm down? You’re doing that manic thing and it’s just a lot, this early in the morning,” Aja complains, slipping on her headset.

“I know, I’m sorry, I just…I can’t help it.” Valentina tries to hide her radiant smile, but it’s useless. She’s glowing with light and love, bursting with happiness, and she wants to tell everyone.

“I know, but for some of us, it’s Monday, and that’s like, shitty, so…please. Take a Xanax or smoke a bowl or like…I dunno, read something about homeless puppies.” Aja turns to her computer, pretending not to notice Valentina still peering over the top of her cubicle. She takes a long sip of her coffee, answering an email from her boss, and then slowly turns back around, sighing. “Fine. Tell me about this girl.”

Valentina squeals happily, prancing over to her cubicle and sitting down on the rolling file cabinet, beaming.

“Okay, so, her name is Courtney and she’s beautiful and caring and perfect and I think I’m in love.”

Aja bursts out laughing.

“I’m serious! You weren’t there. When she kissed me, it was like time stopped,” Valentina says, eyes shimmering. “I can still feel her skin against mine when I close my eyes.”

“Do you want some privacy?” Aja asks, one eyebrow raised.

“Don’t be jealous,” Valentina smirks.

“Ha! Unlikely.”

After a pause, Valentina adds, “I’ve seen her around. I know she’s a little bit of a player. But…this was different. The way she held me, you don’t understand. Nobody has ever made me feel that way. It was like…she really saw me, and…and besides, she already said that she wants to see me again. So, that’s not some casual thing, right?”

“No,” Aja says, sorting through a pile of receipts. “It sounds like she’s totally on the same page. I mean from what I know about lesbians, ‘I want to see you again’ pretty much means ‘bring a UHaul with your stuff and let’s get a cat,’ right?”

“Is it weird that I started a wedding board on pinterest?”

“For you? No, that’s not weird at all.” Aja rolls her eyes again, going back to her computer.

Valentina lets out a giddy laugh as James pops his head over the cubicle.

“You know what you should do?”

“Jesus!” Aja jumps, startled.

“Sorry girl. But, you know what you should do?” James asks earnestly.

“What?” Valentina asks, happy for someone else to be invested in her budding romance.

“Change your relationship status on Facebook,” he says, clapping his hands.

“Really?”

“Yes! It’ll be so funny, she’ll think it’s adorable.”

“So funny,” Aja echoes sarcastically, snickering.

A slow smile spreads across Valentina’s face at the thought of everyone knowing about Courtney. It would be pretty adorable. And what’s the harm? They’re well on their way to a relationship anyway, what’s the problem with announcing it a little early? Worst case scenario, if Courtney thought it was too soon, she’d take it down, but it would give her the opportunity to confess that she could really see a future together. And someday, it would be a cute story they’d tell. She giggles, excitement bubbling up inside as she walks back to her desk.

***

“Courtney!” Adore bursts into the wardrobe trailer. “Holy shit, girl, tell me you did not sleep with that crazy bitch Valentina this weekend!”

Courtney and Bianca both turn to Adore slowly.

“Uhhh…I could tell you that, but it would be a lie.”

“Dude, what the fuck? Why would you do that?”

“Um, because she was beautiful, and…willing. And, I’m single. I dunno. It’s not like I’m marrying her, calm down.”

“Have you not heard Shea’s stories about that girl?” Adore sighs.

“…No?” Courtney ventures.

“She’s fucking nuts, bro. She used to text her 50 times a day and like, even called her office and once she-”

“Adore, you know how dramatic Shea is. She seemed like a very nice girl. We had a good time. She even made me breakfast.”

“At your house or her house?” Adore asks, crossing her arms.

“My house, why?”

“Lock your doors at night, is all I have to say.”

“Thanks for your concern,” Courtney laughs.

Adore shakes her head, exiting the trailer.

“So apparently you got laid this weekend?” Bianca says lightly. She zips up her dress, trying not to stare at the deep scratch marks covering her back and shoulders.

“Yeah,” Courtney answers casually, looking at Bianca’s face in the mirror. For some reason, she’s not sure how much she wants to elaborate about her rendezvous with the beautiful Latina girl who’d caught her eye at Roosterfish. Her glittering eyes, ruby lips and deep curves. The way, in a certain light, her lovely face looked a little familiar, the way holding her close satisfied a particular ache. So she flips it around with a coy, “You?”

“No comment.” Bianca smirks at her.

“That good, huh?” Courtney chuckles.

“Shut the fuck up,” Bianca laughs, shaking her head. “You rude bitch.”

Courtney giggles while Bianca pins the straps of her dress. “Well, mine was delightful. Don’t believe Adore’s hysterics. She was…something else. Body to die for. Gorgeous smile. I spotted her across the dance floor and just…” Courtney tongue pops.

“That easy, huh?”

“Like candy from a baby,” Courtney smirks, winking at Bianca in the mirror.

Bianca clears her throat, shaking her head slightly. A notification goes off on Courtney’s phone and she looks down, frowning slightly.

“Huh.”

“What?”

“Um, it’s just…I got a Facebook notification. It’s kind of…strange.”

“Be a little more cryptic, it’s not like I’m working,” Bianca says, rolling her eyes.

“Sorry.” Courtney holds up her phone to show Bianca the screen.

Valentina Leyva tagged you in her life event: In a Relationship with Courtney Hamilton.

Bianca raises her eyebrows. “Uhhh. When did you meet her?”

Courtney puts down the phone. “Saturday.”

Bianca whistles. “You forgot to give the baby her candy back.”

“…fuck.”

“And…it sounds like you owe Adore an apology.”

Courtney groans.

COURTNEY: Um. I’m not sure exactly how to say this sensitively…

VALENTINA: Ok i’m a little scared lol

COURTNEY: Yeah, uh…what’s with the Facebook thing?

VALENTINA: OHHHH! Hahaha omg sorry, that’s just me and my friends messing around. We thought it was funny. 🌹

COURTNEY: I’m probably just missing the joke

VALENTINA: Like, he said it would be cute lol

COURTNEY: It’s not

VALENTINA: Ok i said sorry, you don’t have to get weird about it, wtf

COURTNEY: I’m going to respectfully disengage from this conversation. Have a nice day!

VALENTINA: YOU are gonna “disengage”

VALENTINA: What does that even mean?

***

“James!” Valentina cries, as Courtney’s phone clicks over to voicemail for the second time. She drops it onto her desk, shaking slightly.

“What’s wrong, muffin?”

“I…I…I think I fucked up.”

“What do you mean?”

“She didn’t think that Facebook thing was funny-”

“There’s a shock,” Aja mutters.

“And then I kind of freaked out and I think I pissed her off and now she’s not answering my calls and what if she doesn’t give me another chance, James, what am I gonna do?!” Valentina’s voice breaks into a sob, as James runs around the bullpen to awkwardly hug her around the waist.

“Val, honey, this is why you shouldn’t get so invested after one damn night with someone!” Aja lectures, throwing her hands up in the air.

Valentina turns to her, tears streaking down her face. “You’re the one who said she was on the same page! And the thing about the UHaul!”

“That was a joke,” Aja laughs.

“Way to pick your moments, Aja,” James says.

“And you! This is your fault!” Valentina exclaims, shoving James away.

“I’m sorry, I really thought it was-”

“Shut up!” Valentina cries, covering her face and collapsing into her chair.

James looks over at Aja with a worried look. Aja shakes her head, mouthing “DRAMA” back at him.

***

VALENTINA: Why aren’t you answering my calls???

VALENTINA: Oh I see how it is

VALENTINA: CUNT 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: Courtney, you’re being stupid, I just want to talk.

VALENTINA: I still want you to come Friday.

VALENTINA: We can work this out, okay? I don’t understand why you are being so mean. You said you wanted to see me again…

VALENTINA: PICK UP PICK UP PICK UP PICK UP

COURTNEY: Please stop calling.

VALENTINA: UR A BITCH

VALENTINA: PLEASE PICK UP

VALENTINA: Please Courtney

***

Looking back, there were red flags. First of all, there was the whole doe-eyed innocent act. “This is my first time here,” Valentina had said, when Courtney knew for a fact that she’d been coming to that club for over a year. Shea knew her somehow - through work or something. Shea also didn’t like her for some reason. But then again, Shea didn’t like a lot of people, so Courtney wasn’t about to hold that against her.

But in retrospect…it may have been a good idea to ask Shea what her deal was. Just like, a refresher on why she hated the kid. Because maybe then Courtney would have been able to avoid the whole drama.

Of course, she didn’t do that. Because it was late and Courtney was bored and there was something about her eyes, and her smile, the curve of her cheek, that captivated Courtney. In a certain light, she almost looked like…well, of course, Courtney knew who she looked like; there was no use dwelling in it.

There was no denying how beautiful she was. How her bright smile practically glowed. On the dance floor, she melted into Courtney’s arms, gazing at her with those big amber eyes, lapping up the attention like a greedy little baby. And when Adore waltzed over to slur goodnight, kissing Courtney full on the mouth and squeezing her ass, Courtney felt nails digging into her waist, eyes flashing with a jealous rage. Another red flag that Courtney ignored. Some girls didn’t like it when the women they were with kissed their friends on the lips. That was fair, right?

When Courtney suggested heading to her place, she’d practically swooned right there on the dance floor. They’d walked the three minutes to Courtney’s house, Valentina’s soft hand tucked in hers, Courtney’s arm around her waist, making sure she didn’t trip in her staggering heels - impractical for this neighborhood, but Courtney couldn’t deny how sexy her legs looked.

Once inside, Courtney realized that she had a real live pillow princess on her hands. But, one thing that Courtney never lacked in bed was generosity. So she worked slow and gentle…stripping off her dress, her bra…worshipping every inch of her smooth, golden brown skin, until she was writhing and begging. And then she peeled off her soaking wet panties and began to lick her softly, hands holding her trembling thighs, tongue swirling and stroking and dancing over her, sucking on her clit. Valentina’s breathing grew ragged and she began to whimper, and Courtney increased the pressure, stroking her thighs.

Her first orgasm was breathy, airy, almost restrained. Courtney pressed a soft tongue against her core, patient. Knowing that soon enough, she’d be doing much better. When her panting began to slow down, Courtney swirled her tongue faster, sliding a finger inside her easily, curling it forward, eliciting a low moan.

Courtney stroked her from the inside, bringing her to the brink, then withdrawing her hand. Valentina whined, clawing at the covers as Courtney licked up her torso, sucking on her nipples, biting gently at her collarbone, kissing her neck up to her pulse point. She threaded her hands into her dark hair and kissed her deeply, grinding her down into the mattress, nuzzling against her face, feeling her flushed cheeks, lifting her head to look into her dazed, hooded eyes, dilated pupils dark with lust.

From the way she squeezed her eyes shut, arching up, muscles tense, Courtney could tell she was on the brink again. This time she sounded slightly more desperate, nails digging into Courtney’s waist. Courtney reached down to help her along, toying with her clit, then pressing the heel of her hand against her while one finger worked inside. Valentina cried out, gasping, her grip on Courtney’s waist like a vice.

Courtney held her, kissing her sweaty temples while she caught her breath.

Valentina’s eyes fluttered, gazing up at Courtney lovingly, and Courtney grinned. “Got anymore in you, baby?”

“I…oh god…”

Courtney laughed, stroking her thigh. “Your decision. I can call it a night if you want. But if you’re up for more…”

“Don’t stop,” she whispered hoarsely.

Smirking, Courtney tilted her chin up to look into her hooded eyes. “How adventurous are you feeling?” She reached behind her, pulling open a drawer of the nightstand, and took out the strap-on, letting it dangle from her fingers by the harness.

Valentina’s chest heaved. She reached a hand up to touch Courtney’s cheek, nodding.

“I’m afraid I need some actual verbal consent here, love.”

Valentina flashed her Miss America smile. “Yes. Yes please.”

Courtney smiled back, turning to slip into the harness, adjusting the straps, covering the whole thing with lube. When she turned back, Valentina was sprawled out on the bed, legs spread, giving her best Playboy pose.

“Okay,” she said in a sultry voice, lashes fluttering. “I’m ready.”

A laugh escaped Courtney’s lips. “Baby…” she kissed Valentina gently on the mouth, hands sliding around her waist. “I’m not just gonna jam it inside you straight off…”

Valentina giggled nervously. “Right.”

“Just relax…” Courtney continued to kiss her until she was breathless, working her way down her body until she was quivering, begging for it. Courtney blew softly on her as she writhed and arched, clawing at Courtney’s hair.

“Please, please, please…” she whined.

Courtney held down her hips, hovering over her, pressing the tip of the dildo against her, teasing, tits brushing against her lightly as she rolled her body forward.

A pitiful moan escaped from Valentina’s lips as she tried in vain to tangle her legs around Courtney’s.

“Are you ready, baby?”

“Yes!”

Courtney pushed slowly inside her, sliding her hands around to her ass, holding her close as she sucked gentle kisses into her neck. She rocked her hips, slowly at first, and then speeding up gradually, tongue gently massaging hers, kisses wet and deep.

Valentina began to whimper, nails raking Courtney’s back, digging into her shoulders. Her legs were wrapped tightly around Courtney’s narrow hips, arching up to meet every thrust, clit grinding against Courtney’s, skin burning hot.

Courtney moved a hand to her breast, pinching a nipple between her fingers. A moan escaped her lips as she clawed deeper into Courtney’s skin.

And then she came, moaning until her throat was hoarse and raw, until her body was limp as a rag doll.

Courtney gathered her into her arms, kissing her over and over.

“Was that good, my love?” she murmured, stroking her sticky thighs.

Valentina had snuggled blissfully against her, nodding, drifting off into a contented sleep.

In the morning, Valentina ran her fingers lazily through Courtney’s hair and told her in a breathy whisper that she wanted to cook her breakfast. Courtney kissed her eyelids, told her that wasn’t necessary, but she insisted.

So, dressed in an oversized shirt that was a wrap gift on one of Courtney’s old shows, she bustled around the kitchen trying to make sense of the vegan ingredients on hand while Courtney boiled water for tea and explained what tempeh was.

Afterwards, before she called an uber to head back to her place in Mar Vista, Courtney pushed her onto the sofa and gave her one more orgasm for the road. She was just trying to be a good host. The last red flag was the look of pure, head over heels puppy love that she gave her before shutting the car door, like Courtney was the center of the fucking universe.

#oops

***

VALENTINA: I’M CALLING YOU AGAIN, PICK UP!!!

VALENTINA: Courtneyyyy!! Picckkkk uppp!!!!

***

Valentina sits in front of her mirror, eyes dull with tears. Her phone screen has a crack across the front from when she’d thrown it against the wall yesterday. She closes her eyes, wishing the same things that she had since that awful Monday when her world had come crashing down.

I wish that she would talk to me

I wish that she would love me.

If she can’t love me, then I wish I could forget all of it…the way she looks, the way she smiles, the way she touched me, the way I felt in her arms…every second I spent with her. Please make me forget.

She covers her face, tears leaking through her hands, sobbing quietly until she’s gasping for breath. When she opens her eyes, she hates the reflection that looks back at her in the mirror. She glances down at her phone, fingers itching. She knows she shouldn’t, but she can’t stop herself.

***

VALENTINA: Why are you ignoring me???

VALENTINA: Who the fuck do you think you are?

VALENTINA: Some washed up nobody, working as a fucking extra

VALENTINA: YOU WISH YOU COULD GET SOMEONE LIKE ME

VALENTINA: Please, please answer! 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: You rude bitch

VALENTINA: You’re all I think about. I don’t understand why you’re ignoring me. I’ve never felt this way before, about anyone. I know you felt the same way - why won’t you just talk to me? 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

COURTNEY: Please listen to me. I am not interested. I’m not going to respond again. You need to stop.

***

Courtney sighs, drumming her fork nervously on the table. Valentina has been calling all week with increasing frequency. She flips her phone over so that she doesn’t have to see it lighting up with her name anymore.

“I’m telling you, block her number,” Adore says, turning her hat around. Today it says “FUCK OFF.”

“That’s really extreme. I told her to stop. Now I’m just gonna ignore her; she’ll get bored.”

Bianca shakes her head.

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Joan Jett over here. Block her crazy ass before she boils a rabbit.” She takes a bite of lasagna.

“That’s funny,” Adore laughs, mouth full. “She’s funny.”

“I told you,” Courtney says.

“I guess you do have more to offer than your tits,” Adore says. “Cheers.” She holds up her plastic cup.

“Forget it, I don’t agree with anything she says, ever,” Bianca says, rolling her eyes. “Go with your instincts.”

Courtney laughs.

“Thanks, you’re both very helpful.”

***

VALENTINA: I don’t understand why you’re doing this 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: I thought you liked me

VALENTINA: This isn’t fair!!! 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

VALENTINA: Tell me what you want from me

VALENTINA: How can you be so heartless???

VALENTINA: 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

***

Wondering how it ends with Valentina? Chapter 5 of “Undone” will be posted in full soon! XOXO

#veronica #stephanie #courtney x valentina #fic challenge #lesbian au #Smut #fluff #angst #courtney act #valentina #adore delano #bianca del rio #Aja #rpdr fanfiction #rare pair

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emmilynestill · 7 years

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There's no maybe about it. You DID handle this wrong. You acted like judge, jury & executioner based on a few anon comments. The fact is I find you & your group of "friends" to not be nice either. You team up and act all holier than thou & I find it unapproachable. You're mean girls, just like you're saying about others. No one can comment badly on your fics otherwise you make posts & then your friends gang up on everyone. Quite frankly, you're all as bad as one another.

This is respectful critic and how I handled it:

Lizzie on Chapter 5Mon 04 Sep 2017 07:01PM EDT

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I have some issues with Felicity's part. I don't think she's to blame for Billy's death at all. The guy is a cop and was doing his job. He chose to be out there. He would've been out there even if he wasn't dating Felicity. I think it's pretty unfair to place that blame on her too. That left a very bitter taste reading that part. You don't cut her a break very often, do you?

I liked everything else, though I also don't think William would call Oliver dad yet. Seems forced and not natural at this point in time. He barely knows him.

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Emmilyne on Chapter 5Mon 04 Sep 2017 07:13PM EDT

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Felicity absolutely is not to blame for Billy's death in any way. She wasn't to blame for Havenrock or the breakup or much of anythig really...but that doesn;t mean SHE doesn't feel guilt. SHE doesn't feel regret. I don't write omnitiant pov. I write limited third person. These are Felicity's thoughts and she regrets. Thats cannon. She feels guilty for things she couldn;t control, because thats what heroes do.

I cut would happily cut Felicity a break. But the Felicity I write...no, she doesn't cut herself a break very often.

As for William calling Oliver 'dad' it is weird. i have a very specific reason he does this and it isn't all that healthy. In short, my William hero worships Oliver. He is the fantasy every young father-less child has and Willaim jumps at it, thee way Harry Potter never hesitated to call James 'dad (even though James was dead).

But Thank you for your comments. i do respect and am greatful for the feedback.

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Lizzie on Chapter 5Tue 05 Sep 2017 05:07AM EDT

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I'm very surprised you feel that way because it doesn't come across in this fic or some of your others. I just thought you blamed Felicity for most things tbh. But I still disagree. Felicity doesn't dwell on things, especially not to this extent. She's literally beating herself up for every little thing and that wouldn't happen particularly at a time when her brain would be focused on other things - mainly getting the team to safety. She'd be focused with that specific goal in mind. Idk, it feels very much like you're working out your frustrations or anger on show Felicity in your fic and it's pretty uncomfortable to read at times, imo.

As for William, I stand by what I said. Him calling him dad just wouldn't happen. They're strangers. And I do side eye the fact that you have Felicity tearing herself down in the same fic you have someone worshipping Oliver's feet. The unbalance is very apparent, imo.

Emmilyne on Chapter 5Wed 06 Sep 2017 03:41PM EDT

I guess we have to disagree then. It seems like we disagree on how we interpret cannon.

This is bullying and my and my friends responces:

Brue on Chapter 5Tue 05 Sep 2017 09:43PM EDT

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Please stop writing Olicity fics. You are not a Felicity fan. Blaming Felicity for everything and then having her called herself a slut suggests that you are clearly not. I find it absolutely revolting the way you write her. She deserves respect. You might as well start writing loliver fics since they're lacking trash writers on the other side. Or you can just write yourself into fics since you probably dreamt about sucking off oliver many times.

PS: Felicity Smoak is ten times the woman you'll ever be. And yes I know she's only a fictional character but maybe you should look up to her on how to respect yourself & other women whether they be fictional or real instead of degrading her to a slut.

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Ireland1733 on Chapter 5Tue 05 Sep 2017 10:21PM EDT

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There is no reason for the hatred and vitriol for someone who willing spends their free time, investing in their passion for writing and sharing it. If you disagree, STOP reading. I have this huge issue with people saying things for no other reason than to hurt someone else. The author is a Olicity fan. She is smart, funny, compassionate and gives so much attention to detail. I find her Felicity to be real. Her reactions and her inner musings honest insight. Your comment is demeaning and mean and truly deserves no response, but Emmilyne does deserve to be defended . She is an Arrow Fan. An Olicity Fan. An Oliver Fan & A Felicity Fan. It's her story, her concept, her take on characters and I know it all comes from her heart & soul

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Brue on Chapter 5Wed 06 Sep 2017 12:34PM EDT

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This is not an honest insight into Felicity so you can get the fuck outta here with honest insight and the real Felicity. The real Felicity would never degrade herself to a slut. Thank you though for explaining how her being a compassionate fan means it's okay for her to trash Felicity in her fic. Some real fan she is.

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Emmilyne on Chapter 5Wed 06 Sep 2017 12:46PM EDT

That was not what I said when I used the word "slut" which I deleted within an hour of posting btw. Have you read that or anything? Are you just following the directions of your crazy troll leader? Or are you a lone nasty troll trying to make me think there are more than one of you out there? Please, get some help.

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robininthelabyrinth · 7 years

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Fic: Trouble on the Way - Chapter 4/4 (Ao3 link) Fandom: The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (total AU) Pairing: Mick Rory/Leonard Snart Series: Sequel to Bad Moon Rising Warning: explicit adult content

Summary: It occurs to Len that maybe he’s been willfully ignoring reality when it came to Mick’s new condition. Oh, sure, he’d done the basic research, the public stuff, but he’d been so determined not to make Mick feel like any more of a freak than he already did that he’d perhaps skimped a little on some of the details that were turning out to be more relevant than he’d originally thought.

Time to fix that.

A/N: Will only make sense if you’ve read the first one in the series, as it follows straight on it, but I think the first one is one of my best standalones, so I’m making this a sequel instead

An executive decision was made that (in the spirit of the first one) this series is going to be like a minimum of 70% kinky smut, because we can always use more of that in this fandom, so, uh, mind the full set of warnings on Ao3.

———————————————————————————–

Len slouches back against the wall of the bar, hand wrapped around a pint of beer. He's feeling pretty good, all things considered. Sure, the place is loud, rowdy, and smells bad, but the beer is surprisingly decent and the air isn't too smoky. He's found himself a nice corner where he can have his back safely to the wall and he’s all wrapped up in his parka and two layers beneath it, just as he likes it.

Both layers are actually Mick's, actually. Len would've had to be blind to miss how Mick kept sniffing at Len and smiling, especially when Len's in bed or sitting by Mick, not to mention his appreciative comments the day before about Len answering the door for him, so Len had made the obvious calculation and grabbed a button-down Mick had worn a few days ago and dug up an old sweater of Mick’s to go on top of it.

It’d been very successful.

He smirks, remembering how Mick's jaw dropped in a very satisfactory manner when Len strolled out wearing that get up and announced that they were going out to get a drink.

"You've got no fear, do you?" Mick said, shaking his head, getting up and heading towards Len. “Crazy bastard – it’s only the day after the moon –”

"You know you want to go," Len purred in response. "Wanna show me off, don't you?"

Mick groaned and dropped to his knees, crawling forward. "You drive me nuts, Snart," he growled.

Len gulped, watching Mick crawl to him. "Now, Mick," he half-heartedly protested. "We're meant to be heading out."

"Oh, we'll go out," Mick said, running his hands up Len's legs. "We'll go out all right. But I ain't gonna show you off; I don't need to. You're gonna show yourself off, aren't you? Control freak."

Len shrugs. He's a bit of a control freak, it's true.

Mick laughed. "I bet you will," he says fondly. "You're my prize, best in the box." He ducked his head, nuzzling Len's inseam, working his way up Len's inner thigh. "My partner," he rumbled. "Len..."

"I guess we can take a little extra time before going," Len conceded.

"Stick 'em up," Mick said. "And keep 'em there."

Len laced his fingers together behind his head.

"Good."

Mick's fingers made quick work of Len's jeans, popping open the button and unzipping, pulling Len out. He rubbed his cheek against Len’s cock, smirking as Len groaned, and then, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Len’s, Mick leaned down, forgoing any delicacy to wrap his lips around Len’s cock.

“Fuck,” Len croaked.

Mick hummed happily and just went for it. No neatness, no tricks, no subtlety, just Mick doing his goddamn best to drive Len insane.

Len’s knuckles went white keeping his hands behind his head. Turns out years of being able to hold that pose while being searched by angrily policemen who kept smacking at him with batons to try to lure him out of position so they’d have an excuse to beat an allegedly hostile suspect down is absolutely useless when it comes to resisting an amorous werewolf with a wicked sense of humor.

The worst part, of course, is that every time Len’s fingers so much as slipped even slightly out of position, Mick stopped until Len got them back into place.

The challenge somehow made it all the better.

Goddamn Mick. And he says Len's a control freak.

Of course, once Len was done, Mick had gotten all revved up, and well, Len firmly believes in the equality and reciprocity aspects of a good partnership.

Suffice it to say that it'd taken them a good extra hour to get out of the house.

Clearly the answer to Len’s introversion and dislike of loud, rowdy gatherings is to get him into an appropriately mellow post-orgasm-and-brief-nap languor. Len smiles at the memory and shifts a little in his chair. Time to change the direction of his thoughts or else he’d start having trouble sitting still.

Though the idea of pulling Mick into the bathroom for a quickie is intensely appealing...

A trail of iridescent bubbles float into Len’s face, forcing him to wave them off and glare at the offending nereid, who blushes and looks away.

On second thought, maybe this isn’t the right bar to be having quickies in. It's a super bar, which meant that the whole variety of supernatural creatures in Central was on display: wolves and vamps and dryads and selkies, everyone and everything.

No lightning spirits, but Len’s not surprised; the Flash had left a garbled voicemail on Len’s phone saying something about gorillas which Len isn’t touching with a ten-foot pole. Why the Flash is dealing with a zoo problem, Len doesn’t know and doesn’t want to know.

He suspects it’s because the Flash has been particularly protective - read: absurdly over-invested in everything - of Central City ever since his battle royale with that other lightning spirit had spurred on a large black whirling cyclone over the city, destroying large swathes of it. Some people had called it a black hole, which was just frankly ridiculous.

Magic is magic, but you get that close to a black hole, nothing’s going to help you, in Len’s view.

“What’re you thinking?” Mick asks, draining his own beer.

“…nothing much,” Len replies, his mind having wandered off into thinking about how some supernaturals didn’t seem to need to breath the way humans did and wondering about whether supernaturals could travel in space and maybe-not-maybe imagining him and Mick in dashing sci-fi uniforms pirating the galaxy.

“I don’t want to know?”

“No.”

Not until Len has a chance to visit a costume store, anyway.

“Want another drink?”

Len looks down at his still half-filled beer. “You want to start a fight,” he predicts.

Mick beams.

Len shakes his head and slides his beer over to Mick. “Finish that, then get me another,” he orders. “Oh, and tell the bartender I want some fries.”

“Fries it is,” Mick says, finishing Len’s beer in a few swallows. “Oh, and some of those cheese things.”

“Can’t go wrong with cheese,” Len agrees, then watches appreciatively as Mick heads over to the bar. He can’t help but feel a slight frisson of excitement; he’s always enjoyed watching Mick fight when there’s nothing else at stake – a nice bar fight’s always been his favorite part of going out to bars at all – and Mick’s clearly feeling it tonight, smug and satisfied after the moon going so damn well. It’s going to be beautiful.

Sure enough, Mick makes it to the bar, puts in his order, and starts getting into some shit with one of the tough guys hanging out there, some guy in a leather jacket that doesn’t make him look nearly as tough as he thinks it does.

Of course, with Mick, it’s even odds if that’s going to end up in a fight or in Mick finding a new friend, because Mick does that. He’s ridiculously good with people, even if he doesn’t think that he is; it’s all a matter of putting him in the right context.

"Heeeeeeeey," someone says not too far away from Len.

Len tries not to roll his eyes. C'mon, man, at least give her a pick-up line to go with that.

"Hey? I mean, excuse me?"

It takes that long for Len to realize that the person being so badly approached is him.

He turns his head slowly, disbelievingly.

"You're a college student," Len says flatly.

"...I'm into older guys?" the kid tries. He's brunette, short, kinda twink-y. He's got a hearing aid, and his clothing practically screams rich boy. "And I actually graduated early, so..."

"No. Just - no."

"If you'd give me a chance, I could show you -"

Len holds up a hand and, when that doesn't work, pins the kid with a look that cuts him off mid-sentence. "Kid," he says, because he remembers being young and dumb. "Just stop the embarrassment now and move on. For both our sakes."

"But -"

Len's eyes narrow. "Kid, do you know the phrase 'no means no'?"

"...yes?"

"I'm saying no. Now leave before I make my ‘no’ even more clear - and in case that was too subtle, I mean 'before I break your bones'."

The kid slinks away, though not without some sincerely longing looks back at Len.

Len shakes his head in amusement. Guess there's always one. Len knows he's pretty hot, he uses it often enough in trapping marks, but he's not sure how Mick hanging all over him earlier hadn't been clear enough. Hope springs eternal, he supposes.

That first kid was funny.

The next four people who sidle over to hit on him are not.

"You're popular," the stormster who's been sitting a few seats down the bar comments.

"You noticed," Len says dryly.

"That last woman was pretty smoking. Just saying."

"I'm taken," Len says, trying to see where Mick had gotten to - ah, the pool tables, showing some rube what's what. Good man. Fight must've gotten derailed.

"You're Cold, aren't you?" the stormster asks.

Len actually looks at him for that one. "That's me," he says, eyes narrowing until a name pops into his head. "Mardon, is it?"

"Yeah."

"Did you actually try to tsunami the city?"

"Not my finest moment," Mardon concedes, coughing a little in embarrassment. "Anniversary of my little brother's death."

"Tough. My sympathies."

"Thanks."

"Try it again and I'll ice your balls off."

"I have no doubt," Mardon says, wincing. "And you’re not the only one to make his feelings on the subject known. Say, you planning anything coming up? I'm not short or anything, nothing desperate, but, well, ever since the Flash came around, it’s been harder to find good jobs..."

"I might," Len allows. "Why you asking me?"

"You're one of the few people with a good record of pulling shit off against the Scarlet Sparkplug. Figure I'll get in with someone who knows what they're going."

Len hums thoughtfully, thinking about it. On one hand, a supernatural crew would be pretty cool, and Mick never said that their pack had to be wolf-only. On the other hand – tsunami.

“If it changes anything, I’ve hooked up with a wolf myself recently,” Mardon offers. “He’s got some banshee blood, good with electronics, sonic stuff.” He winces a little. "Pretty sure he tried to hit on you earlier, but he's normally better than that."

"Gimme your contact info," Len says. "I'll consider it."

Weather manipulation - you could do a lot with that. Sure, Mardon was clearly more emotional, but if Len could manage Mick, he could easily manage Mardon. Bringing along a tech guy would be good, too, especially if Mick was looking for more wolves. That would also add a new element to Len’s battles against the Flash, which could be interesting…

“Hey, pretty. This seat taken?”

“Yes,” Len says without looking. “Buzz off.”

A heavy hand falls down on Len’s shoulder and spins him around with inhuman force. The guy in front of him is a giant – not literally, since Len supposes it's possible those also exist, but he's a head taller than Len, and Len's not a short man. Even without that, the man has supernatural strength, and Len of course does not. This is a rather unfair match.

Len's favorite type.

"That wasn't very nice, pretty boy," the wolf - and it is a wolf, like Mick, practically half shifted given how goddamn hairy he is, or maybe he just looks like that normally - says, growling out his words.

Len is unimpressed.

The wolf mistakes Len's disdain for fear, or something of the sort, as he then grins, over-long tongue lapping out to lick his lips. "So," he rasps, running the thumb of the hand still clapped onto Len's shoulder along Len's neck, "how you plan to make it up to me?"

Len is deeply unimpressed.

Still, Mick likes this bar. Len will try the diplomatic approach.

"You came up to me," he says flatly. "You asked a question, you got an answer. Now if you know what's good for you, you'll do what I told you the first time and buzz off."

Len never said his diplomatic approach was particularly diplomatic.

The wolf laughs nastily. "I don't think so," he says, still going for the raspy voice. "I think -"

"I don't have any Tylenol on me," Len interjects. "But there's a drugstore down the way."

The wolf blinks, off his stride. "What?"

"For that cold of yours," Len says helpfully. "You keep doing this thing with your voice." He coughs as demonstration.

Mardon sniggers into his drink. He's not the only one.

The wolf's eyes narrow and he tries to rally. "You won't be laughing long," he says, low and threatening. "Not after I drag you down and fuck you right here on the floor, fill you up like a bitch like you needs -"

"As if I'd sleep with anybody so crass as to be half-shifted in a super bar before the fighting's even started," Len says, because his patience for being hit on has gone down to basically nothing, and his patience for threats was never all too great to start with. "And even if I was so stupid, I feel like the bartender might object."

"No one'll object once you're moaning beneath me," the wolf says confidently.

"I won't be," Len says. "Last chance to buzz off before I put you in your place."

The wolf laughs nastily. "You're expecting your dumb brute wolf of a partner to come rescue you? Well, I don't think -"

"You don't think," Len says, his voice cold, because being rude to Len in an attempt to start a fight is entirely understandable, but insulting Mick is just uncalled for. "And you clearly don't listen either, since I said I would put you in your place."

"You?" the wolf scoffs. "What could you do to me?"

"Well," Len drawls, "you're a big strong werewolf, stronger and faster than I'll ever be, and little old me's got nothing -"

The wolf smirks and tries to speak.

"- except a gun aimed at your hip and loaded with amped up silver rounds, of course."

The wolf straights up immediately, his eyes dropping down to Len’s lap where, indeed, Len has pulled out his regular-style gun - more subtle than the cold gun, luckily - and is aiming it at the wolf with all appearances of casualness.

Len’s an adrenaline junkie, not stupid. Why in the world would he go to a supernatural bar, filled to the brim with creatures that prey on mankind, in order to start a bar fight and not bring a weapon specifically tailored for the supernatural?

"I'd shoot you before you got a step closer," Len says meditatively. "Since wolves aren't anywhere near faster than guns, I’d hit you, too. And while you'd stagger back, trying to rip it out of your flesh - you'd succeed, of course, this bar's got a no-killing-whatever-reason banning rule - I'd pull out my cold gun, which can freeze lightning in its tracks, and I'd see you well you fare for a month or two re-growing that foot of yours from frostbite."

The wolf is gaping at him. Len lets his eyes flicker across the room, taking its measure - they have an audience, but they mostly seem neutral or in Len's favor, good, and then adds, "But I'm not going to do that."

"You're...not?" the wolf says, clearly puzzled. Possibly a little hopeful that it meant that Len was softening to his beyond-terrible approach, because he clearly doesn't have any intelligence whatsoever.

"No," Len says, and leans back onto the bar. "See, my 'wolf of a partner', as you call him, has been wanting to get into a fight since we arrived, and -" here Len smirks "-he's coming up right behind you."

The wolf spins around just in time for a few hundred pounds of enraged Mick Rory to hit him dead on.

There's roars and shouting all around as they roll away from Len and into the middle of the crowd, spectators rushing in to watch and cheer.

Len leans back triumphantly and gestures to the bartender with the hand that isn't holding the gun - he doesn't lie about guns unless he has to. "Another beer," he says to the amused looking djinn-of-many-bodies' closest incarnation. "And I believe my partner put in an order for fries and those cheese things?"

"Coming right up," the bartender replies, shaking his head in amusement.

"Thanks, Damian."

"It's only going to make it worse, you know," Damian tells him before disappearing, likely to join up with the version of him that works in the kitchen.

Len's not entirely sure what he means, but Mardon's nodding along. "Good luck," Mardon says before Len can think of a way to react. "I'll look you up in a few days for that job - if I can get past the line at your door, that is!" He roars with laughter.

Len dearly wants to ask what the hell Mardon thinks he's talking about, but he doesn't because Mardon wants to work with him, and that means maintaining an air of competence even when faced with unexpected insinuations of knowledge.

Mardon drains his drink and salutes Len before heading out the door. Len nods at him, then starts brainstorming what it could possibly mean.

Presumably Mardon's talking about all the people hitting on Len. Maybe the sorceress' malediction backfired off of Mick and onto Len in reverse, making him irresistibly attractive to people instead of making Mick irresistibly attracted to them? But if so, how could Mardon tell? He didn't seem affected.

Was there some sort of guidebook supernaturals got when they turned? Because damnit, Len needs one of those.

"Pardon me," a chirpy voice says. "I don't mean to interrupt, but that was a most impressive display."

You've got to be kidding. Not another one already.

Shit, if it’s related to the malediction, Len'd better take this to STAR Labs sooner rather than later, embarrassing as it might be.

He turns to tell the guy what's what, then stares. "Do you have a death wish?" he asks Mr. Beige-and-Pastels from the day before. "First you come to my door, now you come up to me in a bar? You stalking me or something? Because I will put an end to that, you hear me-"

"I am sorry about yesterday," the guy interrupts apologetically. He still sounds chirpy and cheerful. Len didn’t even know you could sound apologetic and chirpy at the same time. "It was the moon, and I wasn't thinking clearly."

Len would hurt him right now if he wasn't so obviously oblivious. And almost professionally good-natured sounding. He's got to be in some sort of sales position; no one naturally has that type of smooth yet bland cheeriness. Oddly familiar, actually.

"Don't see how that's my problem," Len points out.

"I understand entirely, and it's my fault for burdening you at that time -" Well, an apology is always appreciated, Len supposes. "-but I was hoping that we could start again fresh, on a better foot."

People actually say that in real life? Len had thought it was just sitcoms.

Also...

"You remember that I pulled a gun on you, right?" Len asks skeptically. "I don't see why you're so hot and bothered to be making my acquaintance despite that."

"No, no, it was perfectly understandable! You were defending your home base from intruders."

Supernaturals support 'stand your ground' laws; Len is not even a little surprised. Territorial bastards, the whole lot of them - though he guesses it helps to have rapid healing abilities when it comes to forgiving people for being trigger-happy. You forgive a lot more if you’re not dead.

"Uh-huh," Len says, crossing his arms and giving the guy a skeptical look, hoping to convey that this conversation was going nowhere.

Though this guy did keep reminding him of someone he swears he's met before.

The guy coughs a bit. "Yes, well," he says. "That's in the past now. I was just hoping to introduce myself, properly this time - my name is Dan, and I -"

Wait.

Wait a goddamn second.

"Hotline Dan?" Len asks, because that voice is goddamn unmistakable now that the guy’s not high up on moon-day hormones. "What the fuck?"

The guy - Dan, freaking family-friendly telemarketer hotline Dan - looks just as taken aback as Len.

“You’ve called the supernatural assistance line?” he asks, blinking. “Well, that’s forward-thinking of you.”

“We talked literally the day before yesterday! You hung up on me!”

“I did?”

Len resists the temptation to say 'Yes! You did!' because he has the feeling that they'd just end up going in circles. "I asked some questions about sexual practices and new mates," he says, pinning hotline Dan with a glare. "You called me a pervert and told me to get stuffed."

Dan blinks rapidly. "I - uh - I mean – well, regardless, it seems to have gone very well for you, I'd say?"

Len's jaw drops a little. This guy is an idiot. He's not actually trying to say –

"After all, you and your mate have certainly had a very fruitful and enjoyable full moon, it appears,” Dan says, trying on an ingratiating smile.

Yes. He's actually trying to comment on Mick and Len's sex life. In public.

Len wonders for a wild moment if him killing the guy would qualify for the Darwin Awards. Surely this counts as an intentional attempt to remove yourself from the gene pool..?

"It's quite obvious he's, ah, treating you well," Dan adds, clearly totally misinterpreting Len's expression and deciding to dig that hole of his a few feet deeper. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea, we can all smell how thorough he was -"

"I showered twice," Len says, vaguely horrified. It’s not that he cares that people know – he’d be wearing a turtleneck if that were the case, because his neck currently resembles a goddamn disaster zone for how many hickies Mick worked long and hard on – but…seriously?

Dan coughs. "Well, it's your first moon," he offers. "After a few, when the mating bond settles down, your scents will merge and it will be less obvious. Well, that or -"

"What's this about the mating thing not having settled?" Len asks, interrupting. He doesn't like the sound of that. He’d thought things were settled – he and Mick were going to keep being excessively co-dependent partners, as Lisa likes to say, except with the addition of regular sex, backrubs and pancakes. Mick's not going with any goddamn pack. "I thought - what more does there need to be?"

Dan blinks. "You don't know?"

"No, I don't know, that's why I'm asking," Len says. Years of keeping his temper in the face of aggravation are the only reason he’s not ripping off Dan’s head right now. "You're the hotline guy, so talk."

“Huh, I would have thought you would,” Dan says, and seems uninterested in continuing.

Okay, that’s it.

“Well, I don’t, so why don’t you tell me?” Len snarls, catching Dan's arm and reeling him in closer. His answers are right in front of him and guess what, hotline Dan? You can't hang up on a guy in person.

"...you're very attractive when you do that," Dan croaks.

"Seriously?!"

"It's not my fault! Mates are measured on a certain scale of desirability and you - well, you're very desirable."

Len scoffs. He knows he's hot; he doesn't need fluffing up. But after the first glance, most people figured out that he was a notorious violent criminal-slash-supervillain and dropped it. The guns and his general misanthropy usually helped with that. "Yeah, to a very specific audience."

"No, generally!" Dan insists, looking surprised. "You must know - to a wolf, you're really something very special."

Len rolls his eyes. Very special, his ass, what sort of pick up line –

"Wait," he says, suspicion rising up in his mind. "Has everybody who's been hitting on me been a wolf?"

"Well, I'd imagine so," Dan says. "You're in competition."

"I'm in what?!"

"A pack is judged by the strength of the wolf and the will of the mate," Dan says. Len vaguely recalls him saying something like that on the phone, but it hadn't seemed all that important, more metaphorical than anything else, really.

He'd forgotten that to supernaturals, metaphor often was reality.

"There are a number of established packs in the city," Dan is continuing. "Most wolves are involved in them because of the social instinct, the need to be a part of something, and because the competition between packs is pretty fierce, and violent."

"No shit," Len says. "They're beating out the gangs for the most territorial scuffles this year."

Not to mention the Families themselves, which is pretty impressive. Len never thought he'd see the day when there was any organizations more persnickety about maintaining territory lines than the goddamn Families.

Of course, the fact that the relevant organizations are werewolf packs goes a long way to redeeming it in Len's mind.

The police's as well, since unlike the gangs or the Families, the wolf packs generally fight with tooth and claw, not guns, and had a lot less collateral damage as a result. Really, as long as you didn't run straight into a wolf brawl you could walk down the street across from one without fearing for your life.

Scared the rubes, though. Central City homeowners wondering how to deal, please press one.

"Well, that's the danger in starting a new pack, you see," Dan says. He's incredibly earnest. Almost painfully so. "A new pack with no members starts at the bottom - unless they can find a mate that's strong and proud and willful. That'll give them a leg up."

"You're joking," Len says, unable to resist his skepticism. "Finding a girlfriend - or a boyfriend, or a non-binaryfriend, whatever - is no substitute for strength in numbers."

Dan shrugs. "For wolves, it is," he says. "That's why you're so desirable. You're strong and your will is -" His eyes drift a little closed. "It's really something..."

"You are being used as an information source," Len says. "Nothing more. Stop hitting on me."

"You can’t hold me responsible! You took on another wolf!" Dan protests. "Several, even! By yourself!"

"Not in an actual fight,” Len points out, even though he’s got the feeling this argument is well and thoroughly lost.

"Physical strength is only half the story," Dan says dismissively. "The will is what's important - you defended yourself, your homestead, you stood steadfastly by your mate -"

"We've been partners thirty years," Len says. "Well before the werewolf crap. Of course I'm standing by him."

"Most wolves don't have that. It's why he was able to claim you as a mate - a declaration that he's starting a new pack, a brazen challenge to the rest of the wolves in the city, to the established order."

Brazen challenge to the establishment. Yeah, that sounded like Mick.

"And, naturally, the competitive instinct of the remaining wolves gets fueled by that, and everyone simply had to go see you and judge you, to see what sort of pack is being formed."

Len sighs. He remembers Mick said something about showing off Len. He'd thought Mick meant more in the strutting about and preening about getting laid on the regular going forward sense, which he supposes this is just a more elaborate version of.

“And then, of course, you reacted so excellently – it was clear to all who looked that any wolf that won you for their own would be able to form a strong pack, and thus the competition began.”

“Competition for me,” Len says flatly.

“It’s traditional,” Dan says.

“For me. Because they want – what? To date me for independence and pack-power? Everyone wants a new pack?”

“Well,” Dan says, flushing a little, “if you were to mate with someone who was already in an established pack, your power would be added to that pack’s power, and therefore there would be a readjustment of the power dynamics regardless…”

“Now you’re definitely fucking with me,” Len says. “You can’t expect me to believe the power dynamics in Central City get reshuffled every time a wolf gets laid.”

“No, no! Just mates. Mates are – it’s different.”

“So why’s the competition for me?” Len asks suspiciously. “Wouldn’t getting Mick to join a pack work just as well?”

“It would,” Dan says. “Though if a wolf has claimed a mate – it’s quite rare, actually, the commitment involved on both sides is immense and necessarily mutual, far more like a marriage than a relationship –”

Len got werewolf-married because of a sex spell?

He’s never telling Lisa.

She’ll die laughing and then resurrect herself just to make sure he never lives it down.

Not that he objects to being married to Mick – they’re already married for tax and testifying purposes, after all, and now they get to add sex to the mix, so no harm, no foul – but still. Something that should’ve probably been mentioned.

Though in fairness, Mick was somewhat distracted at the time...

“– and of course assuming the mate is considered widely desirable, the likelihood of a wolf in the midst of competitive fever, with his focus fixed on pleasing and winning his mate, showing off that he’s the best, would agree to join a pack at that time…”

“Not high,” Len says. “Good.”

“I don’t suppose you would be amenable to meeting a few –”

Len gives Dan a Look.

“…I suppose not.”

“No. Now, one thing I still don’t get. How does dating someone – fine, marrying someone – make you more powerful?”

“It doesn’t,” Dan says. “But if a mate is filled with magical strength -"

"I don't have magic," Len objects. He's one of the few of the Flash's enemies that doesn't, in fact; it's well known.

"But a wolf does," Dan says. "And it would be reflected in the strength of your character. Not in terms of your virtues as regular civilization would have it," he adds hastily, foreseeing Len's obvious retort. "But in what wolves see as attractive. Your sharp mind, your observant eyes, your ruthlessness, your violence, your protective instinct, your loyalty, your wariness -"

"My paranoia is a selling point now?"

"We're wolves," Dan points out. "We may be men, too, but some of our instincts still harken back to the forest."

"But real wolves don't kill or be killed," Len insists, recalling some of those goddamn Animal Planet/Discovery Channel documentaries Mick's gotten into. "Their structure allows for -"

"That's 'cause we're not real wolves," Mick says, panting a little from exertion, sweating, but grinning broadly. He's clearly the victor - Len can see the other wolf limping away, scowling and nursing his well-deserved injuries. "We’re men, too, and mankind’s the most vicious, territorial bastard species on the planet. What're you talking about?"

"The fact that I'm apparently the newest hot girl in school," Len says dryly.

Mick loops an arm over Len’s shoulder. “That you are,” he says, grinning with a bit of teeth at Dan, who skitters a step or two backwards in a way that even Len can tell is respectful and please-don’t-rip-my-head-off-for-flirting-with-your-mate. “My hot girl. Or guy. Or neither. However you’re feeling today.”

“And all this apparently has some sort of impact on pack politics in Central,” Len says pointedly.

“We’re going to have the best pack,” Mick says happily, totally missing Len’s attempt to flag to him that maybe they should have talked about this. “Relax, Snart; it’s me beating up people who hit on you. You like watching that anyway.”

“Point,” Len concedes. He does like watching that. Mick in action in Len’s defense has always had appeal – almost a feudal sort of feeling, a man fighting in your name and for your (mostly non-existent) honor.

Yeah, that wasn’t so bad. Len could live with that, a few fights by Mick, giving them time to collect the best pack in the city – like Len would accept anything less than the best –

Though Len’s not getting caught flat-footed again. He and Mick are going to be having a long chat about what to expect next, and Mick’s not getting out of it with pancakes this time.

Actually, now that Len thinks about it –

“Say,” he says. “How long is this whole competition thing going to last, anyway? Till the next moon?”

“Oh, no,” Dan says. “A season or two, at least.”

“Half a year?”

Dan nods happily. “Yes, of course,” he says. “Possibly up to a year. Or until you get pregnant, of course, that would quite settle the issue.”

Len snorts. “Not sure if the competition’s starting to get to your head, but I’m still a guy.”

“And we’re wolves,” Dan says, sounding puzzled. “Supernatural biology utilizes a magical capacity for childbirth in order to enable pregnant individuals to continue fighting without significant impairment; any supernatural being, regardless of gender, is capable of impregnating any other being, regardless of gender.”

"Well, that seems like something that ought to be on the hotline before getting hung up on -" Len starts to say, snide and insulting, before it hits him.

Specifically, the very hot but – he’d assumed – theoretical dirty talk Mick had been pouring into his ear the last few days.

Dirty talk that accompanied the also very hot but very unprotected sex they've been having.

“Mick!"

"What? What'd I do?"

Len groans. This is going to take a while.

#dccoldwave #my fic #mick rory #leonard snart #bad moon rising #werewolves

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