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waywardodysseys · 4 years

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Round One - Oneshot

Pairing: Pedro Pascal x female reader

Warnings: SMUT, blow job, unprotected sex (wrap it up), cussing, some roughness

Requested?: Yes from this ask - pedro pascal or maybe javier peña reacting to a petite reader in lingerie (i'm 4'10 and i haven't found any fics were the reader is short and i just want to b raw dogg'd by pedro/javier me being short) as for the lingerie- w/ pedro maybe its a photoshoot you're asked to do and he joins too and he fucks you in the middle of the photoshoot, if w/ javi maybe you send him photos while he's at work and he's all riled up especially becuz u work w/ him?? (you send the photos while ur in the restroom)

Author’s note: didn’t expect to end this the way I did so there might be a second part; enjoy!

~ ~ ~

“That’s it sweetheart,” the photographer says in his English accent, “work it for me.”

You’re under bright lights inside of a studio doing a lingerie photoshoot for a new company – Cherry Blossom.

You give your best sexy smiles, poses, pouts. The fan next to the camera is blowing lightly making your Y/H/C hair move in the hot air of the studio. You know it’s for the photos but the air the fan is blowing is also helping you keep cool.

“Alright, love,” the photographer says. “Take a break. Mister Pascal should be joining us soon.”

The lights are dimmed, and your assistant is standing off to the side, holding out a robe.

You step into the robe and cover yourself.

“Mister Pascal?” You ask your assistant Kat. She’s taller than your 4’10” frame by a few inches.

She swallows, “uh yes. Pedro Pascal. You know, from The Mandalorian. Plays Maxwell Lord in the Wonder Woman 1984 movie. The company reached out to him about being in the photoshoot. He said yes,” your assistant glances at you, “I thought you knew.”

You glance at her. “No, I didn’t know.”

Kat smiles kindly, “isn’t he one of your crushes? When Cosmo asked you about your celebrity crushes?”

You take a sip of bottled water as a rush of heat floods your body. Yes, Pedro Pascal was one of your top three celebrity crushes. The other two didn’t matter because your eyes moved to the front of the studio where Pedro was walking in with a small group of people.

“Ah, Pedro!” The photographer howls. “You made it.”

You watch as the photographer and Pedro shake hands.

You take in Pedro’s disheveled brown hair, his dark brown eyes. The way his eyes smile when Pedro smiles widely.

You inwardly moan and think, why the fuck we have to meet at a lingerie shoot?

You look over at your assistant. She’s taking in the tall man as well.

“Kat?”

“Huh?” She asks, her focus remaining on the movie star.

“Kat!?”

Kat looks at you. “Sorry. It’s just in person,” she shrugs, “you know I still get star struck when meeting other celebrities.”

You laugh lightly, “yes, don’t I know it.”

“Did you want something?” Kat asks with a raised eyebrow.

“I want to go to my changing room.”

“Right,” Kat says as she follows you down a hallway and to the last door on the left.

Once inside the room you sit and fan yourself with some paper scattered on the vanity. You’re hot, not only because of the lights and modeling but because Pedro is here. In person. And you must do a lingerie photoshoot with him.

You bite your lip. You were already turned on he was there but having to take photos with him? Well, that was going to be a whole another story…

Minutes later there’s a light knock on the door.

Kat opens it slowly, “hi.”

“Hi,” Pedro’s voice carries into the room. “I’m Pedro. I was wondering if Y/N is in here. I was told this is her dressing room. I want to introduce myself to her.”

“Hold on,” Kat says before closing the door and finding your eyes in the mirror above the vanity.

You swallow and look at her in the mirror. You nod.

Kat opens the door again, “come in.”

“Thank you,” Pedro says as he walks into the room.

You turn in your chair and watch as Pedro walks into the room. You swallow. Him getting closer to you is sending more heatwaves through your body.

He holds his hand out and smiles, “Hi Y/N. I’m Pedro.”

You take his hand – it’s strong, his grasp is firm. You clear your throat before saying, “hi Pedro, I’m Y/N.”

“I hope it’s okay I came to say hi before we get started. I just don’t want it to be uncomfortable or anything.”

You shrug and smile. “It’s okay.”

You look down and realize your still holding onto his hand. You let go, already missing the warmth his hand provided in yours.

You eye Kat behind you smiling and motioning for you to keep talking.

“How are things?” You ask.

How are things?, you think as you frown.

What a great question, your mind hisses in sarcasm.

Pedro laughs, “things are good. Not your first photoshoot?”

You smile and stand. You realize Pedro Pascal stands nearly a foot taller than you. You look up into those smiling deep brown eyes of his.

“No,” you laugh. “You?”

Pedro looks down at you, looks into your Y/E/C eyes. “No but first lingerie. When my manager told me about it, I was a little hesitant but then he mentioned your name and I became curious and said yes.”

There’s a quick and loud knock on the door.

Kat opens the door.

“New outfit miss Y/L/N needs to wear for the next set.” The woman in the hallway says as she hands Kat a black garment bag.

“Okay,” Kat states as she walks over to the other side of the room and hangs the garment bag.

You and Pedro have had your eyes on each other the whole time.

Pedro breaks the stare and walks to the door. He turns and looks at you. “See you out there Y/N.”

Pedro closes the door behind him.

You release the breath you had been holding in.

Kat opens the garment bag. “Oh my.”

You walk over to the bag and see what you are to wear. “Are you fucking kidding me? I have to wear that in front of him?”

Kat laughs, “well at least it won’t be as bad as your how are things question.”

You sigh heavily, “shut up Kat! I was fucking nervous!”

You mumble, “I am fucking nervous.”

Kat looks at you, “come on. Let’s get this on you.”

-------

Ten minutes later after your makeup is refreshed, you step back into the studio.

“Ready Y/N?” The photographer asks.

You nod.

“Alright, mister Pascal,” the photographer motions to Pedro who was standing off to the side.

Pedro is wearing a cotton white button down top, which is unbuttoned and revealing his chest and soft stomach. He’s wearing dark denim blue jeans as well.

You swallow and bite your lip. You’re nervous and don’t want to take off your robe but you know you have too.

The photographer places Pedro in the middle of the set. “We’ll do a few pictures of Pedro sitting and Y/N on his lap and then we’ll move to the both of you standing.”

Pedro nods and looks at you. He winks playfully.

What the…what?, your mind thinks.

Kat stands in front of you, “you ready?”

You swallow and nod. Your hands untie the robe.

You walk pass Kat and over to Pedro in a sheer cherry red mesh gown with a rhinestone embellished strappy neckline. The open back is strappy as well and the thong you are wearing is strappy too.

Straps everywhere!, was your first thought inside your dressing room.

“I bet you some money Pedro’s going to get a hard on,” Kat had told you when you walked out from behind the divider.

“Shut up Kat! I don’t need that thought in my head!” You had hissed back at her.

Kat had just laughed and helped placed your robe on.

Now you swallow as you approach Pedro who’s looking at you with his deep brown eyes. They’re serious now, not smiling like earlier.

You look down at his thighs, they look good enough to ride.

He opens his legs further and holds out a hand.

Your hand is faintly shaky, but you take it and he guides you in-between his legs. His eyes on you as you sit on one leg.

“You’re beautiful,” Pedro whispers against your ear.

You smile, “thanks.”

“Nervous?” Pedro asks as he traces a hand down your bare leg.

“Yes,” you hiss.

Pedro laughs deeply in his chest but only you hear it. “Don’t be.”

“Okay you two,” the photographer says after stepping away. “Let’s pose for the camera.”

The photographer begins snapping pictures and telling you two to look at each other, then telling you two to hold each other close.

With every action your heart beats loudly and quickly inside your chest. Heat is spread throughout your body, flooding your core. Pedro was making you horny and in the middle of a photoshoot, no less!

His hands on your bare skin, his mustache against your neck. His hands roaming your body send goosebumps all over your flesh.

God, you think, we should fuck and get this over with!

Time ticks by slowly as the photographer captures a few more snaps of you two sitting. He then asks you two to stand.

You face Pedro and are eye level with his chest. Your fingers itch out to touch it. You want to know how soft it is, how warm it is. You want to know how it would feel against your body.

Pedro palms your cheek and brings lifts your face up. Your eyes meet his and you swallow. You lick your lips.

Pedro runs his thumb over your lips. They’re soft just like he thought they’d be. He wonders if they’re just as kissable.

You hear a moan escape from Pedro. You look down and noticed his jeans are a little fuller.

Pedro leans down as his hand runs through your hair. “You’re making me hard Y/N. When I knew it was you doing this photoshoot I had to do because you’re one of my celebrity crushes too.”

“Pedro,” your voice is a whisper, and it’s infused with lust.

“Just turned on as I am?” He asks lightly.

“Yes,” you whisper.

“How about we ask for a break and I take you in your dressing room?”

You gulp. Did Pedro Pascal just ask for a quickie in your dressing room?

Pedro stands straight, “I need a break. If that’s okay?”

The photographer looks between the two of you and shrugs, “yeah that’s fine. Take about 30 minutes?”

Pedro nods then winks down at you.

You watch him walk away as Kat steps up behind you with your robe.

You look back at Kat. “Keep guard at my door.”

Kat grimaces at you, “I am not listening to you two have sex. Lock the door.”

You shove away the robe and walk down the hallway towards your dressing room. Once inside and you’ve closed the door, making sure to lock it, Pedro turns you around presses you against the door.

“I’ve never been more turned on in my life then looking at you in this,” Pedro says as his fingers reach under the straps of your thong.

“Pedro,” you moan.

Pedro leans down and presses his mouth against yours. Your lips are just as kissable as he thought they’d be. His tongue moves across your lips and as you let him in, he pulls you closer to him.

Your hands run up and down his chest. You moan as you finally touch the warm, soft skin.

You run hands down over his chest, his soft stomach. You stop once you reach his jeans, but you muster up courage and begin unbuttoning and unzipping them. You push them down along with his underwear and reveal his hardening cock.

Your hand strokes him from the tip down to the base. You stroke up his cock and swirl your thumb around the tip.

“Fuck Y/N,” Pedro hisses against your mouth.

You stand on tip toe as you kiss Pedro along his jawline, feeling the light fuzz which covers the bone. You move down his long neck and begin kissing and licking your way down his chest and stomach. You return to your full height once your midway in-between his chest and stomach.

You lower yourself to your knees and moan as you look at Pedro’s cock. It’s above average, bigger than some of the cocks you have had but Pedro’s – his is the biggest one you’ve seen.

Without a second thought, you engulf his cock with your mouth, your tongue swirling around his entire length as you take him fully into your mouth, deepthroating him.

“Fuck!” Pedro hisses as your warm mouth and throat take his cock deep. He can’t wait to feel his cock inside your pussy.

You reach up and squeeze his balls lightly then tightly.

“Fu—fuck!” Pedro growls. “I can’t wait any longer. I need to be inside you.”

Pedro grabs you by your arm and pulls you to your feet. He walks you backwards to the vanity and turns you around.

You are looking at each other in the mirror as he moves his hands down slowly, wraps his fingers under your strappy thong and pulls them down.

“Bend over baby,” Pedro growls.

You bend over, placing your hands on the vanity. You moan as Pedro strokes your cock along your ass and finds your slick pussy. He begins sinking into slowly.

“Fuck,” Pedro moans. “Just as hot, wet, and tight as I imagined.”

You grab onto the vanity as you feel Pedro’s cock fill your pussy. You clench your slick walls around him as he reaches the deepest depth of your pussy.

“Pedro, please,” you whisper.

Pedro grabs your hips as he begins thrusting in and out slowly, when his orgasm begins building his thrusts become quicker and rougher.

Your own orgasm begins cresting inside of you. You don’t mind the roughness, the quickest of his thrusts. You’re enjoying this as much as he is.

Pedro moves one hand down to your ass and squeezes it lightly, then squeezes it tightly.

“Fuck,” Pedro moans as he squeezes your ass, and thrusts in and out of you.

You reach down and find your clit hiding in your folds, you rub it lightly and moan loudly.

“Fuck Pedro!”

He finds your eyes in the mirror. “Oh, yes, baby,” Pedro pants, “touch yourself for me.”

You begin circling your clit as your orgasm reaches the edge.

You moan lowly as your orgasm crashes inside you. You place your one hand back on the vanity. Your orgasm almost made you collapse. It’s been one of the best, no it was the best orgasm you’ve ever experienced.

“Pedro, fu—fuck!” You pant as he still thrusts his hard cock into your pussy.

Pedro feels your pussy clench against his cock. He moans loudly at feeling of your pussy milking his cock with your orgasm. The sensation of your tightness and wetness milking his cock, sends his own orgasm into overdrive.

Pedro moans loudly as he thrusts roughly into your pussy, his stomach slapping your ass as his hands grasp tightly onto your hips.

“Fuck Y/N!”

You moan as you feel Pedro cum inside of you, your fingers still grasping the vanity tightly.

Pedro thrusts become slower and he finally withdraws from your heat.

You whimper as he withdraws. You know you want his cock again. You turn around and face him.

Pedro pulls his jeans and underwear up, stuffing his pussy juiced covered soft cock into his underwear.

You realize your thong is around your knees and pull it up. Not caring his cum is running down your leg. You’ll have time to clean up in the private bathroom in your dressing room.

Pedro leans down and kisses your mouth. “I want a round two. Later. Tonight.”

You kiss him back then pull away. “Yes. Round Two. Tonight.”

Pedro walks away.

At the door, he unlocks it then turns to look at you. He winks. “See you back out there.”

You forgot you need to finish the photoshoot.

At least you won’t be nervous, but you are going to be impatiently waiting for it to be over because round two with Pedro Pascal couldn’t come soon enough.

Tags: @pascalisthepunkest, @kaelyn-lobrutto24, @knight-of-heart44, @mandadl0rian, @jokersdoll, @longitud-de-onda

#round one oneshot #oneshot #pedro pascal #pedro pascal smut #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal x you #anon request #smut

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dreamcatcherfication · 4 years

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The Queens of London Part 5 - I Can’t Breathe and I Can’t Smile

This chapter is... disappointing. I really wanted to get it out today, but I couldn’t find the will to write it. I hope it’s still good and you all still enjoy it, but there’s a lot less effort behind it than previous ones. Don’t worry! The plot hasn’t changed and everything’s already planned out, but this chapter was just harder to write than the rest. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Sorry for any spelling/grammatical errors, it’s raining and I’m the itsy bitsy spider.

Writing Masterpost

If you want to send a request or a prompt, my inbox is always open! I publish a story at 8:00 AM PST everyday, so I’m always in need of new ideas (now featuring random asks). If you want to be tagged in my works, just let me know and I’ll be sure to tag you!

Prompts | More Prompts | The Trifecta of Prompts | Original Prompts

Trigger Warnings: Allusions to sexual abuse, unwanted sexual advances, almost having an anxiety attack

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

It was the night of the party and Kat would be lying if she said she was prepared. All the other queens and ladies were cool and collected, but she could feel all her internal anxieties coming to the surface. Kat didn’t know what she was doing, she had never been to an actual party (unless you counted failed high school Halloween bashes). This was a huge leap Kat was taking with tons of risks, and it was finally setting in how hopelessly unprepared she was.

Standing in front of her mirror, the mix of guilt Kat was feeling about her suit didn’t help to quell her anxiety. It fit perfectly and was absolutely stunning on her, but it was also the most expensive thing she had ever worn. Kat felt dirty with the suit on. It was meant for Katherine Brandon, not Katherine Howard. But she was about to go through with this insane plot to infiltrate Henry’s party and there was no backing out.

There was a knock at her door. “Coming!” Kat called, flexing her fingers. On the other side of the door was Anne, the only person who actually knew where Kat lived. She had agreed to pick her up and take her to Henry’s party so no one would suspect anything from Kat.

Anne had a small bag slung across her chest, her dress just as dazzling as Kat remembered. The bar owner was on her phone, casually texting someone. She glanced up when Kat opened the door and grinned. “Talking with Maggie about tonight,” she explained when Kat’s eyes landed on the phone. “She and the other ladies are going to be in contact with Cathy the whole time, in case something goes wrong.”

“You mean in case I fail,” Kat mumbled, her breathing picking up slightly.

Putting away her phone, Anne wrapped an arm around Kat. “No Kat, don’t think like that. You’re perfectly capable of doing your job. You’re small and basically invisible, you’ll get it done. I have faith in you.”

Kat couldn’t help but feel like that faith was misplaced, but she gave Anne a forced smile and kept her mouth shut. Anne led Kat to her fancy car, some brand Kat couldn’t even identify, and slid into the driver’s seat. “When we get there, everyone’s going to meet before we split up. You get in and out as quickly as you can, okay?”

“Okay,” Kat nodded, staring straight ahead.

“Kat,” Anne leaned towards her cousin, making Kat look her in the eyes. “Promise me that you’ll stay safe. Promise.”

Shivering at Anne’s low tone, Kat set her face. “I promise.”

Satisfied with Kat’s answer, Anne put the car into drive. The two cousins were silent during the entire ride, both of them too nervous to speak. There was a lot weighing on tonight and they were acutely aware of that.

Henry’s house wasn’t just some house, it was a mansion, Kat noted. One of the biggest ones she had seen. It reminded her of a castle, if she was being honest, with its high walls and intimidating gates. Her task of finding his office seemed ten times more daunting even before stepping inside the palace. “Boleyn! Kat!” A voice called out from behind them when they stepped out of the car.

Anna was leaning against the gate, her hands in her suit pockets. The suit was red with black highlights down the side. She had high heels that made her seem like a giant and a thin top beneath her blazer. Kat wasn’t sure if Anna was competing to see who would get more attention between her and Anne, but that’s what it seemed like with the extreme effort she clearly put into both of the outfits. “Anna,” Kat’s cousin acknowledged, “Where are the others?”

“Right here,” Jane answered, walking up with Cathy at her side. Just like Anna, Cathy was breathtaking in her suit. The blue complimented her skin like no other color, and it made her curly hair stand out even more. Kat simply couldn’t understand how Anna and Bessie had been able to come up with these outfits.

From the other side of the street, Aragon walked over to the group, her dress sashaying behind her. “Now that we’re all here,” Aragon started, “we can go over last minute details.”

“Yes,” Cathy reached her hand into the center of the queens and opened it, revealing a small earpiece. “Maria got me an earpiece so I could talk with the ladies. There’s only one, so come to me if you need help. If something goes wrong, don’t hesitate to call for help, you are not at this alone,” she spoke the last part while looking directly at Kat. The others pretended like they didn’t notice, but it was clear they had.

Furrowing her eyebrows with determination, Kat stepped forward. “Do we have any idea where his office is? His palace is gigantic, I won’t be able to find it without direction.”

Jane answered her. “It’s in the west wing. Second floor, third room. It has a golden handle.” At the strange faces of the others, she explained, “He and I have a good relationship, remember? I’ve been to his home more than once.”

Accepting the explanation, Aragon broke from the group. “Jane, Anna, and I will go in together. You three,” she addressed Anne, Kat, and Cathy, “will wait before coming in at different times.”

“You got it. Now shoo, be Aragone,” Anne smirked. Jane laughed at the pun while Aragon shot Anne a threatening glare. With that, the three women entered the gates, disappearing to the party.

Glancing at Kat out of the corner of her eye, Anne tried to be discreet with watching her cousin. It wasn’t working, and Kat knew what she was doing, but neither of them said anything. “Kat,” Cathy ran a hand through her hair, “I want you to come to me immediately if something happens.”

“Why?” It wasn’t that Cathy was cold towards her, she just wasn’t the most open of the other queens. Kat didn’t really expect Cathy to offer herself as a person to seek out.

“I have the earpiece to the other ladies, and we both have similar jobs. You’re putting yourself in a lot of danger, and I’m thankful that you’re willing to do that. But if you need to get away quickly, I’m your best bet,” Cathy stated. “And I’ll help you, no questions asked.”

Suddenly feeling the effects of her nerves returning, Kat awkwardly swallowed. “Yeah, will do. Um, let’s go inside now.”

Kat had no idea how she had managed to escape from the prying eyes of models and politicians all situated in the main hall. The palace was even bigger on the inside than Kat imagined, and she was having trouble navigating around. There were so many different sets of stairs that she wasn’t sure if she was on the second floor or the eighth. Regardless, Kat walked along the quiet hall, counting doors.

For an overcrowded party, no one seemed to be wandering around the palace but her. Everyone was in the same room, and the hall Kat traversed was completely deserted. Stopping in front of the third door, Kat stared at the golden handles. This was it. This had to be it, right? Reaching her hand out, Kat turned the knob and closed her eyes,

“Excuse me darling, what are you doing all the way out here?” Jumping back, Kat scrambled away from the door. She put on a fake beam and turned to face the man who called out to her. He was tall and had a scruffy beard, his body so big he seemed to take up the entire hallway. This was Henry Tudor, Kat was sure of it. She had seen a few photos of him before, but they were all far more flattering than this version of him.

“Uh, I uh, I was looking for the bathroom,” Kat giggled, pretending to be tipsy. “I kept walking and I thought this was it!”

Noticing Kat’s vulnerable state, Henry started taking steps closer. “Well dear,” he lowered his voice, “I could show you the bathroom if you like.”

Fear trickled down Kat’s spine like a spider crawling over her skin. “N-no thank you! I should be back to the party.”

Henry blocked her way, his teeth flashing dangerously. “But you should use the bathroom if you need it,” he pushed, trapping Kat.

“It was all in my head,” Kat pretended to laugh as if she was drunk, praying it would convince Henry. “I just want to go back to the party now.”

“Well let me escort you,” Henry put his arm on Kat’s shoulder.

She froze, remembering the times Francis had done the same to her. The times that the men before him had - “Henry, what are you doing?” A familiar voice asked. Jane was standing behind Henry, her arms crossed and an unimpressed eyebrow raised. “This poor girl’s trying to get back to the party, let her go.”

Glaring at Jane, Henry released his hold on Kat, allowing her to scamper off. As Kat passed Jane, the woman offered her a short wink that Henry wouldn’t notice. As she left the hallway, Aragon passed Kat. One look at the girl and Aragon was marching down the hall to help Jane. She called behind her “Go find Cathy, get ready to leave. If Henry saw you and Jane together, he’s going to put the pieces together. Now go.”

Moving faster, Kat reentered the main hall. Swiveling her head back and forth, she pushed through throngs of people in search of Cathy. It was happening so quickly, she realized. Henry finding her before she even had the chance to investigate. Jane finding her and Aragon sending her to Cathy. It felt like they had only just gotten here and Kat had already ruined it.

With so many people around her, Kat started to shrink into herself. Too many people, too many people, why were they all in the same room? She couldn’t see Anne, she couldn’t see Cathy, Jane and Aragon were with Henry, Anna was probably off having a great time. Kat almost ran directly into a wall as she emerged from the mosh pit of people. Steadying herself, Kat breathed in heavily, her chest tightening like a rope was tied around it.

“Kat?” Cathy noticed her from beside a table filled with champagne. The writer had a notebook in her hand, but she slid it into her jacket as she approached Kat. “Hey, Kat, breath with me,” she whispered, grabbing the girl’s hands. Kat did as she was told, breathing in unison with Cathy’s controlled breaths. Once Kat’s breathing was stable, Cathy put a finger to her earpiece. “Yes, Kat’s here. Something must’ve gone wrong.”

“I’m sorry,” Kat whispered, “I’m so so sorry, this is all my fault.”

“Hey,” Cathy assured her, “This whole thing was a huge risk, and it’s not your fault something went wrong. We’ll have other opportunities. For now, we need to leave before Henry starts to figure things out. He’s smarter than he looks Kat,” she commented, pushing Kat around the wall of people.

They emerged at the front door, quickly leaving the confused waiters behind as they tried to offer bottles of alcohol. “Where are the others?” Kat asked Cathy.

“Anne’s in the thick of it, there’s no way of getting to her until she decides to leave,” Cathy explained. “I’ll shoot her a text and she’ll join us afterwards. Cleves was on standby to be our driver, and she should be waiting for us if the ladies managed to contact her. The ladies are at the theatre, so we’ll join them.”

True to Cathy’s words, Anna was waiting in her car. “I can’t believe you made me leave so early when everyone’s eyes were on me,” Anna complained without any real frustration. “Get in, we should leave now,” she spoke seriously. “The ladies said they’d get Aragon, Jane, and Anne to the theatre as quickly as possible, but their covers aren’t blown yet.” Cathy got in the passenger seat while Kat climbed into the back.

Covering her face with her hands, Kat did her best to quiet her breathing. She had messed this up for them. They had been planning this for so long and she had messed it up right off the bat. She should’ve known better than to try and get involved with them. She was only a burden on them, a hindrance.

She didn’t belong with the queens.

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Tag List:

@radcowboyalmondtree @boleynhowards @annabanana2401 @babeebobo @dont-lose-your-queerhead @everything-insanity @mindless-pidgeon @i-wanna-dance-and-sing-six @thedemidisaster

#six the musical fanfiction #six the musical fanfic #six the musical fic #six fanfiction #six fanfic #sixfic #The Queens of London #part five #spy au #its not a great installment but i tried #look at the trigger warnings please #its not that bad #but i feel like i should put it in the tags

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1dffexchange · 5 years

Photo

Great Unexpectations

To: Inm @in-madhouses

From: E @unofficialxstyles

Summary: Alana Bosworth thinks Dickens is overrated. That and the fact that there was no such thing as too much coffee.

Niall Horan begs to differ.

A tale of two different people, one coffeeshop and a how things never go the way we expect them to.

There probably was no such thing as too much coffee.

Sure, everyone talked about the effects of overdosing on caffeine-among which was infertility, by the way, but nobody actually cared. Coffee was a nectar of the Gods.

And sometimes, Alana Bosworth did think she was God.

Or at the very least maybe a distant, distant, distant relative of the heavenly being.

Afterall, she was able to (read: nearly) finish a ten thousand word assignment in one sitting a day before the submission deadline. If that was not a testament to her powers then perhaps, drinking a total of no less than six cups of coffee was.

Still, as Alana threw her body against the smooth wooden counter that overlooked a quiet, deserted street, she could not help but to second guess her coffee addiction. She hated to admit it but six cups did seem like a bit much.

So she did what any sane person would do in her shoes-she reached for her phone and punched in some numbers. The person on the other end of the line picked up after three rings, specifically, but what was supposed to be cordial greeting was instead replaced with muffled screaming and a loud thud.

Ouch.

“Henry…Henry I told you…no, no,” the voice at the other end of the line sounded distressed but Alana merely waited it out. “Honey, please. Okay, okay, fine, eat the cake,” There was another muffled scream, random shuffling and then, at long last, a proper, “Hello,”

“Hello to you, too, Kat,” Alana responded brightly, adjusting herself so that she was seated upright once more.

“Alan? Hi,” came the response. Unlike before, Katherine Bosworth-Ferguson sounded a little more excited this time. “How are you? You haven’t called in like two weeks. Mum was getting worried, you know. She keeps thinking you’re passed out drunk in a London pub or something and one of these days she’d be getting a call to let her know that you’re dead,”

Alana cringed.

First of all, pubs were never her thing.

Second of all, she did wish her mother had more faith in her.

“You guys actually give me far less credit than I deserve, Kat. You know I could bust ass if need be,” Alana replied, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture. There came a sound at the other end of the line once more, a little croak that indicated Kat already had a counter argument fully ready to launch but Alana quickly cut her off. There were more pressing matters at hand.

“Hey, listen I know it’s late I was just calling to see if you maybe knew how much coffee is like too much coffee? As in a lethal amount?” Alana questioned.

Three beats of silence passed.

Birds chirped.

Henry dropped his fork on his now empty chocolate cake plate.

“You….called me….to…ask about…coffee,”

“I’m figuring if there’s anyone who’d know about such things, it’d be a nurse and you’re a nurse so,”

“Exactly what time is it there,”

The question prompted Alana to glance at the watch she had on. “A little after 12.....oh,” The redhead sheepishly smiled, even though her older sister could not witness her slight embarrassment. “It’s early there,”

If eyerolls could be heard, she was pretty sure she heard Katherine’s tumble to the back of her head.

“You should be going to sleep,” was all Katherine said.

The screaming resumed.

“Listen, Alana, I would love to catch up but Henry is now covered in chocolate cake and heaven knows what else so I should really go. Henry…Henry no,” Once again, Katherine sounded livid. “But to quickly answer your question, caffeine has side effects so don’t drink too much of it. It does increase memory, though so if you’re into entering the spelling bee or something, coffee is your best bet. Text me…later, or call me at a better time…maybe text before you do…I have to go. Henryyyyyy,”

With that, the line went dead.

Sisters before misters, they always said.

Unless of course one had a sister with a robust three year old keen on destroying everything he touches.

Then maybe it was time to get a mister.

Or maybe not. Those were always a problem, too.

Knowing she’d get nowhere that night with her burning questions about coffee, Alana pursed her lips, threw her phone into her bag and then resumed her position slumped against the counter. She closed her eyes for all of seven seconds.

“Uhm, miss,”

Good things never did last, of course.

Alana opened one eye and was met with a tall, blonde man looking at her with an odd mixture of curiosity, politeness and a hint of irritation.

She opened the other eye and sat up. He pointed at the clock on the wall.

“We’re closed. We actually closed fifteen minutes ago and….you have to go,” his accent was think but his tone, albeit a little understandably impatient, was apologetic.

Alana nodded her head in understanding and stood up, mumbling her own apology. “Didn’t see the time. Life gets like that when you have to finish a damn assignment on three hours of sleep after finishing one the day before. Life sucks and especially so before Christmas break,”

Alana began packing her bag, throwing a stack of notes and her laptop into her carry on before stacking four empty coffee cups neatly and handing it over to the barista. She knew he was the barista because he was a familiar face-he had been making her coffee over the last year with no less enthusiasm than an energizer bunny each time.

He did not prepare her coffee consistently, of course, but he was there often enough to know her coffee order before she even got a word out and to sometimes use his staff discount.

When the weather was extra nice, they’d even engage in small talk.

His name was Niall.

“Tell me about it,” Niall replied cordially. “I’m this close to being dead but you know…extra cash always helps; especially around Christmas. And they say a bachelor’s will get you far in life….They never mentioned the need to get through this phase, first,”

Alana snorted, then nodded in understanding. “Yeah. Bachelor’s? More like Bache’s gonna kill me,”

Niall, much to his credit, had the courtesy to chuckle lightly at what Alana already knew was a failed attempt at a joke. He held the coffee cups in a silent gesture of goodbye.

“I… should go clean up. Goodnight,”

“Goodnight,”

She watched Niall disappear behind the double doors that led to the kitchen before heaving a sigh. The young woman grabbed her coat and began her trek back to her dorm room-just two blocks down from Barney’s Coffee & Cakes.

Replaying the few words that she and Niall had exchanged earlier, the reminder of Christmas approaching made her smile in nostalgia. With the most awaited holiday just two weeks away, despite her excitement of spending it abroad for the first time in her life, she did at times wish she had chosen to spend it with her family. She could already picture Katherine, Joshua and Henry taking a photos with the Christmas tree at her parent’s house, her father in his ugly Christmas sweater insisting everyone taste the turkey he’d already perfected the recipe for and just staying up with her mother on Christmas night, talking about all the things they were thankful for in the last year.

The mental image made her miss her family a little bit more but she comforted herself with the fact that she was about to experience something different, this time with friends she had made over the last year, which made the anxiety dissipate a little.

By the time she had reached her front door and turned the key into the lock, Alana was, once again, affirmed over the decision of staying in London for Christmas instead of heading back to Los Angeles a week early.

That is, until she opened the door to a sight straight out a porn production.

“Holy Jesus,”

The curse that left Alana’s mouth broke the obvious sex laden trance two of her friends were in and they immediately broke apart while having the decency to actually look guilty. She rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in the air, making her way towards the kitchen.

“I thought you weren’t coming home,” It was Soo Young-Soo to everyone else-who spoke first. She got up from her position on the sofa and trotted towards Alana. The latter thanked the heavens Soo still had her t-shirt on.

“And what gave you the idea?” Alana poured herself a glass of water.

“I don’t know. You might have decided that someone at the coffeeshop was worth getting laid with. You spend like…all your time there,” Soo commented, positioning herself next to Alana against the kitchen counter.

“Not all-”

“All,” Zayn, Soo’s boyfriend, volunteered. Upon careful inspection when her attention was turned to him, she noted that he too was still fully clad. “Would it kill you to live a little, Alan?”

“I only go there when I need to complete an assignment,”

“That doesn’t mean being there all the time?” Soo poked Alana’s arm, earning a protest from the latter. “Honestly, Alan….you’re beautiful and you’re funny sometimes. Talk to people. So what if you don’t meet deadlines? Not making it for one assignment wouldn’t kill your grades,”

Alana offered Soo a stare that could rival Medusa’s.

“You forget that I’m here on exchange and my grades do matter because my records are going to be sent back to UCLA and I want to graduate when I get back or my year in London will come to moot,”

“Your year in London is already moot,” Zayn argues. “You came to London a boring bug and you’re leaving London…a boring bug,”

She loved Zayn-adored him, really-but sometimes, he had the emotional quotient of a pig.

In an attempt to defend herself and to prove a point of sorts, Alana crossed the space between them and smacked Zayn squarely on the head. There were times where she hated his truthful and wise moments-even if they were….truthful and wise.

“I’m not boring. I party with you guys,” Alana defended herself.

Zayn chortled.

Soo grunted in apparent disagreement.

Alana looked between them both.

“Look, Alan, there’s nothing wrong with being a homebody and considering game night a party but really, let loose a little,” Zayn advised. “Like Soo said…you’re young and beautiful. And maybe call yourself Lana instead of Alan,”

“What’s wrong with Alan? I like Alan and everyone calls me that,” Alana scrunched her face up. “It’s much more unique than an Alana being called Lana,”

Logic, duh.

“Yeah,” Zayn stifled a yawn. “But being an Alan won’t get you laid as often,”

“You’re very misogynistic you know. You’re lucky I love you or I’d have put a lock on our door a long time ago,”

This time, Soo laughed from where she was in the kitchen and Alana cracked a smile.

Of all the things that had happened in the last year-which really was not much- she was most thankful for having Soo as a roommate and then, by default, meeting and becoming friends with Zayn. Unlike her, they were both students with King’s College and were her first friends. It was Soo who brought her on a ‘Locals Only London’ tour on her first week here and Zayn who invited her to his birthday party-where she met a few other friends she had grown to appreciate.

In turn, it was one of her outer circle of friends who had introduced her to Barney’s-which quickly became her sanctuary. It was less popular than the other coffeeshops in the area because it was a little rundown-with some scratched out tables and rickety chairs-but somehow, Alana thought those very features held true the coffeeshop aesthetics and were ones that made the place all the more cosy.

Plus, Zayn and Soo did occasionally get up to no good in the room so to Barney’s was a quick escape plan.

“Life’s not all about getting laid though is it,” Alana finally replied, sitting herself proper next to Zayn. Soo soon joined her other side. “Anyway, getting laid thoughts aside…are we still doing the Christmas gift exchange thing with Harry and Jen?”

It was the highlight of Alana’s Christmas abroad.

At the mention of this, surprisingly, the previously playful air around them tensed a little and Alana did not miss the look Soo and Zayn shared. Instantly, it sent warning bells ringing in her head. When they had talked about Christmas plans a month ago, it was Soo who suggested they had a small gathering in a nearby bar-just having drinks and hosting a gift exchange. Alana had jumped on the idea, thinking it was a perfect way to celebrate the holiday.

“About that….” Soo broke the silence, biting her lip as if not liking her next words, either. “Zayn’s parents invited us down to Braford for the holidays and we…kinda agreed. It was totally last minute, we didn’t know,”

“Harry and Jen will still be here,” Zayn offered.

Alana felt her heart clench but she quickly gathered herself and smiled. Holidays were family time, too, and she could not be selfish about things like these. Besides, Zayn and Soo had done so much for her-she could not expect them to stay back against their will, too.

“I’m not as close to them but…it’s okay. We’ll manage. You guys go, have fun,” Alana assured them. “Say hi to your siblings for me, Zayn. Would love to meet them someday,”

Zayn ruffled the top of her head.

“Will do, Lana,”

Alana groaned. “It’s Alan,”

Soo hugged them both.

---

Christmas eve in London was like one of those postcards on a window display one saw whilst walking along the streets heading to the Tower Bridge. It was snowing lightly, bright lights lit up the street and there were muffled noises of celebration going around campus. Alana jammed her hands inside her pockets, soaking in the sights as she headed to Barney’s. It was two hours till Christmas and she did not feel like spending Christmas eve alone so she had decided to head to her favourite hangout instead.

Soo and Zayn had left for Bradford three days before. An unusually teary Soo apologised profusely for pulling out the plug on their holiday plans and it took a firm hearted Zayn to pull her away and multiple assurances from Alana that they’d see each other before Alana went back to the States before Soo would let her go. Alana gave them both their little gifts-a bottle of Soju and pair of concert tickets for Soo and a thrifted leather jacket for Zayn which proclaimed his undying love for Guns and Roses, embroidered at the back-before bidding temporary goodbye.

That Christmas eve, Harry, Jen and her had met up at the pub as planned, sharing a few drinks before doing the exchange. At Harry’s invitation to attend a Christmas eve countdown party afterwards, Alana had decline, using the excuse that she was a little bit tired. In truth, however, Alana had no interest in spending time with people she barely knew.

She was certain she would have listed the benefits of coffee to an unsuspecting stranger and branded herself a weirdo for life and she would very much like her Christmas eve to be pleasant.

Even if Jen did stay true to her teasing promises and gave Alana an ugly sweater for Christmas.

Finally arriving at Barney’s, Alana was unsurprised to find that it was even emptier than it was before. Despite the wooden walls being decorated with proclamations of a “Merry Christmas” and a few miserable Christmas cards, Alana doubted anyone would want to ring in Christmas drinking coffee. The young woman walked up to the counter, ordered herself a latte then sat herself by the usual spot, by the window, as she awaited for her coffee to cool down.

As she stared out the window and watched people heading towards their Christmas plans, Alana could not help but to admit that she’d miss Barney’s as much as she’d miss Soo and Zayn. Barney’s had seen her through late nights, early mornings and days where she just needed to treasure her aloneness. Somehow, the wooden walls has seen her grow over the last year-the unusually quiet girl had taken a leap of faith, going to another country for an entire year, alone, merely to pursue the unknown. It was a walking cliché but hell, it was Christmas eve.

Heaving out a breath, Alana pulled her knees up to her chest and took out the book she had been attempting to read over the last week. One of her classmates, while in conversation about the best literary classics of all times, found herself in genuine disbelief when she realised that Alana had not yet read Great Expectations. Alana had defended herself, letting her classmate know she had attempted it before but just never properly understood it and had given up. She was presented the book a day later by the very same classmate with the promise that she would read it over the Christmas break.

Her second attempt, so far, was a failure. She was at page twenty seven when she closed the book, pushing it across the table in mild frustration.

“Not a fan of Dickens?”

It was Niall.

Alana looked up to find him looking at her in ill-disguised amusement.

“I just don’t think it’s as much a classic as its touted to be. Or maybe I just don’t understand it,”

“You think Great Expectations is sub-par?” Niall had the audacity to look surprised now. He perched his bucket of collected mugs against his hips, eyebrows raised.

Alana made a face, then chuckled.

“Wait here,”

Before Alana could protest or question the semi-stranger before her, Niall disappeared behind the double doors. When he re-emerged, he spoke in hushed tones to the other barista, gesturing towards her. With a firm nod from the other, Niall undid his apron and quickly joined Alana, sitting across from her.

He would have been skiving had it not been for the fact that the only customer was her.

“Care to tell me what this is about?” Alana’s asked. She leaned back in her chair, then folded her arms across her chest.

“I’m here to tell you what you missed out with Dickens,”

Niall’s grin was smug.

“Right…because what I really need on Christmas eve is a lecture about the great Charles Dickens,” Alana mocked, looking pointedly towards the book.

Niall seemed to contemplate his response and in those moments, Alana dared a glance at him. Only then did she fully register that his eyes were a deep blue and that he had a slightly dented chin. His hair, while mostly blonde, had highlights of auburn in them.

Strange how she had seen him throughout the year and only then noticed the most obvious details.

“About that…why are you here on Christmas eve?” Niall’s sudden change in topic caught Alana off guard, causing her to frown. Her response prompted Niall to shoot his arms up in defence and after laughing lightly, added. “I mean, I’m sure you have better Christmas plans than coming here to get drunk on coffee,”

“I don’t get drunk on coffee,”

“Well, with a six cup black coffee record, you might as well have,”

“I’ve had ten once back home,”

“And….where is home?”

The question, although catching Alana off guard, caused her to grin. “Smooth one-if that’s your way of finding out where I live,” Alana pursed her lips, reaching for her coffee. “Home is Los Angeles. Only here for exchange…which officially ends in a week,”

Sometimes, when Alana got nervous, she tended to give more than she cared to admit.

“That’s…pretty far from here. No plans tonight?”

Alana shook her head no, then added. “My grand total of two friends decided to love it up back in his hometown so I’m left with a barely friends Christmas secret Santa thing and Dickens in a coffeeshop,”

Yup, she was definitely nervous.

Instead of appearing sorry for her, however, Niall shrugged.

“Sounds a whole lot better than working on Christmas eve,” his voice was laced with an undertone of sadness and that alone, somehow, made Alana sit up a little bit straighter.

“Well, you have your barista buddy if it counts for anything…and an equally lonely customer,”

As if to proof a point, Alana raised her cup in a quiet toast before sipping her drink.

“Jack’s about to knock off; he has a party to get to…but you’re more than welcomed to stay,” Niall stood up then and jammed his hands into his pockets. “I uh…better go clean up. We close at twelve so don’t make me chase you out…again,”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Alana joked.

“Hopefully it wouldn’t be the last, either,”

The laughter that escaped Alana’s lips carried through the now empty space, She chose to sit back and do nothing for a while, watching as mere minutes later, Jack emerged from behind the counter, waving at Niall as he approached the front door. He noticed Alana during these moments and with an enthusiastic “Merry Christmas”, was on his way.

Perhaps, in all of England, her Christmas was the most boring.

In the two hours that followed, Alana alternated between attempting Dickens and checking her phone-though she spent more time doing the second. The group chats she was in were filled with Christmas greetings and updates, the most active being one of her family and her close friends back home. Both groups seemed to be preparing for Christmas in full swing. Her father was roasting the turkey, as usual, and her friends were already calling dibs on what they’d be bringing to the party at Carlos’. Alana felt a pang of sadness wash over her but as quickly as it came, she halted her thoughts by reaching for Dickens, focusing now on Pip and his journey on Christmas eve.

Perhaps, in some greater metaphor of sorts, Dickens on Christmas did seem appropriate.

“Looks like I am going to chase you out,” Niall’s sudden interruption brought her out of her semi-reverie in nineteenth century England.

“Is it twelve already?” Alana looked at the clock to find that they were exactly five minutes away.

“Not yet but I wanna wish you Merry Christmas instead of chasing you out right at midnight. That would be very Fairy Godmother of me,”

“Indeed,” was all Alana said before standing up, packing her bag and then swinging it over her shoulder.

“Did you get anywhere with Dickens?”

“First base, if I’m lucky. But I think it’s more of a cordial friendship at this point,” When the response was met with a puzzled look from Niall, Alana giggled. “We’re at page forty and I am still not impressed,”

Niall did the unthinkable then.

“Come over to my place then…tomorrow…not tonight…because I have to clean up and it’s…not appropriate, anyway,”

Alana blinked.

Twice.

In slow motion.

“I mean…if you want to. I did a review on Dickens last semester and maybe it’d be easier for you to understand and appreciate it and also….I kinda don’t want to spend Christmas alone,”

As if to confirm her suspicion, Alana asked. “You’re asking me out?”

“No…yes…I mean…we’ve known each other almost the year right so that makes us friends and we’re just…hanging out on Christmas and I have gingerbread cookies and we could talk Dickens or not and you can say no-”

The rest of Niall’s words blurred into the background and in its place was Zayn’s voice telling her she needed to live a little and live a life outside Barney’s that was less calculated. Leaps of faith were never her thing but perhaps, there was no harm in this one-especially since she knew deep down, she had nothing to lose. It was a tiny gathering between friends and if she had to put it in her own words and her own terms, it was kind of like a Christmas study date.

“-and of course I have boardgames and-”

“Okay,” Alana answered at last. “I’m pretty sure we’d get nowhere with Dickens but I do love gingerbread cookies,”

Niall held in his response for a moment after the agreement was forged, unable to belief that his spontaneous idea of asking a fellow lone soul to spend Christmas together would bear fruit.

“Yeah…yeah okay,” Niall finally found his words but unconsciously scratched the back of his neck in sudden shyness. “I’ll go get my phone and then text you my address,”

While Niall went to get his phone, Alana quickly reached for hers and with rapid speed and an equally quick heart rate, ignored the multiple texts she received to send a message to Soo.

“Got asked out on an almost date for Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and Z!!!!!!!!! xxxxxx”

Just as she hit send, Niall emerged once more and handed his phone to her so she could type in her number. A knowing smile formed on her lips, however, when the name space was filled with the name “Karen”.

“Uhmm…my name is actually Alan. Short for Alana. Alana Bosworth,”

Niall looked puzzled. “What do you mean….?”

“I mean….” Alana paused and licked her lips, unable to hold in a laugh that eventually escaped her lips. She held his phone up. “I mean my name is Alana not Karen. You might have misheard me saying Alan…everyone calls me Alan…. and assumed my name was Karen and wrote it down by mistake. You’ve been writing it wrong the whole year,”

It was Niall’s turn to blink twice. In slow motion.

“What do you mean I’ve been writing your name wrong for a year?” Niall turned pale, his eyes reflecting obvious embarrassment. “Why have you never corrected me?”

“Because,” Alana was laughing without inhibitions now and gave herself a few moments to gather herself. “….Because you only asked once and I thought I could correct you the next time I saw you but you never asked for my name again so I’m….Karen,”

Niall ran a hand through his hair, opening his mouth as if to say something before quickly deciding against it. “You mean I’ve mistaken you for a Karen the whole year,”

Alana nodded in mock seriousness, the nudged her new friend. “It’s okay…no big,”

Typing her phone number in then, she gave herself a missed call before handing the phone back to Niall who looked a little less shocked than he was before but still clearly beating himself up over getting someone else’s name wrong for a whole year.

“Relax, Niall. It’s okay, really. At least now you know, right?” Alana assured him. “Text me your address tomorrow and we’ll meet up,”

Niall nodded his head robotically.

“Okay,” Alana was still amused as she backed away and towards the door. “Goodnight, Niall…and Merry Christmas,”

“Good….goodnight, Kar….Alan. See you tomorrow. Merry Christmas,”

Niall blew out a breath of utter shock as he watched Alana leave. When he finally fully recovered, he dialled a number on the phone. The other person picked up almost instantly.

“Hey…yeah buddy…Merry Christmas to you too. Listen, you wouldn’t belief what happened, Zayn….”

#1dff #exchanges

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idealisticrealism · 7 years

Text

Blindspot 2x12 recap

(Aka the one where Roman gets to go on an outing, the show rights a bunch of wrongs, and Weller develops new fantasies regarding Jane and motorbikes)

So this is the first episode I’ve been able to/have chosen to watch live since seeing the pilot at Comic Con-- thanks to the triple miracles of live online streaming, a deserted office in a currently unused part of the hospital, and a rare patient-free afternoon-- and man am I so glad I did. Lbr I rode the high from this ep for the rest of the damn day (okay, week) lol.

Which, naturally, means that there is a ridiculous amount of flailing waiting below the cut. Enjoy.

So Weller seems to be regretting his boss-role rn as he is badgered by an assistant lol-- one named either Brianna or Rihanna (seriously Weller you need to enunciate more clearly sometimes), which is a fact that apparently either Weller briefly forgot, or Sully did, since there was just a fraction of a pause before he said her name haha. And okay Weller I know you are sad about the whole bye-bye baby thing (goddammit now I have Bay City Rollers in my head), but seriously, someone in your position should NOT be signing anything without reading it first! Like, who is this ‘new analyst’, who is being tested for drugs, who is getting security credentials for the deputies committee, and exactly what's in the departmental budget?? What if the ‘budget’ you just signed cuts all the funding to the Sandstorm taskforce? Or if any of the security passes you just approved are going to Sandstorm moles?? Dude. As a sidenote, though, I like Weller's signature, and it entertains me because its style is literally exactly the same as Sully's signature. Which is hardly surprising, obviously, but cute all the same. Man we really need them to get a new Assistant Director though-- Weller never seems happy behind a desk, as demonstrated by the fact he literally ran when he got the message from Patterson lol. The boy needs to be out in the field, needs to be running free with a gun in his hand and his wifey beside him, saving the world

Loolllll I love Zapata teasing Reade about his hookup last night. He tries to act all affronted and reminds her that the girl has a name, only for it to immediately backfire when she challenges him to tell her what it is because he doesn't know either. Oh, you really backed yourself right into that corner, buddy. And then in very sibling-esque fashion he's just like 'argh I don’t have a comeback to that so just leave me alone alright' lol. And omg speaking of siblings, Jane is proudly telling everyone how Roman solved the leopard tattoo, while Patterson mutters little corrections from the background, a tiny bit put out that Roman is getting all the credit for her discovery and analysis. Shhh, it's okay, baby. They all know you're the smartest one in the room, not to mention that you've cracked like 90% of the tattoos. Let Jane have her moment of being a doting big sister haha. But anyhow Patterson still has the kicker-- not only does the tattoo point to the biker gang (okay so we call them 'bikies' in Australia, so you have no idea how hard I have to concentrate to type ‘biker gang’ each time) but anyway it actually revolved around a government agent that was running guns over the border for them, and he was already caught just before the tattooing happened, which could be why Sandstorm scrapped the leopard tattoo. Jane is all for using the photo of the biker girl to help jog Roman's memory, whereas Nas (and her pet shrink) are against triggering any more memories on the belief that it will also trigger his 'antisocial behaviour'. Hey does anyone remember that scene in the movie iRobot, where Will Smith sneezes and apologises for being allergic to bullshit? I wanna put him in a room with Nas and her shrink and watch him dissolve into a marathon of constant sneezing fits every time either of them opens their mouth. But hey, maybe they're actually totally right, like remember how Jane's memory of shooting a nun made her go on a killing spree in every church she could find? Oh, wait...

But anyhow, thankfully Weller is seeing a bit more sense this week, and immediately backs up his wifey, leading he, Nas and Jane to stand in the next room and watch as the shrink prompts Roman with the photo. I have to say, using the motorbike sounds was a good move, and clearly it worked. I'm excited to see him having real memories of his adult life, especially ones that could give us more clues to Sandstorm’s plans. And in the memory, Kat's teasing concern about him driving over potholes definitely implies that he's transporting explosives. But then again, this is Sandstorm, and they collect explosives like birds collect shiny things, so it’s hardly a revelation. And ughhh Weller and Jane share a meaningful look (with Nas again forgotten in the background, my second-favourite way for her to be, the first being absent altogether) and then Roman looks to Jane, who gives him an approving smile and a nod and my baBY SmiLES baCK and ugh just look at this puppy. Look at him. He's adorable and we need to keep him, even if he used to bite people and chew everything and pee on the rug. We'll train him up and he will be a Good Boy, I swear.

So with this fresh intel, the team reconvenes in the meeting room, and tbh despite Weller being the one standing at the end of the table, Jane is totally the one running this show, and he's literally just watching her in rapt attention haha. And as she poses the theory that the tattoo was removed by Sandstorm because it might link too closely back to them, everyone actually listens, with not even a skeptical glance from Reade of a snarky comment from Zapata. Jane might not be entirely forgiven yet, but she's finally no longer a scapegoat, and I LOVE IT. And you know who has noticed this change too? Nas. She's definitely seeing the old team start to knit back together, and in particular the old partnership reforming between Weller and Jane, and she knows it doesn't bode well for her. Damn straight, lady. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. (Or, as you do with everything else, just pretend to and then lie about it). But anyway here comes the real kicker of the ep-- the biker gang is notorious for never snitching, which means they need someone on the inside, and I love how straightforward and 'in the box' the team's thinking can sometimes be, because the moment Jane suggests sending Roman in, they're all like "whaaaaaaa????" as if that option had never even had the possibility of occurring to them. Like yes, fair enough he's kinda a 'prisoner of war' at the moment, but he's also their only current choice, so...? But ugh, I love that even though Weller is taken aback by her suggestion, he lets her make her case, his eyes never leaving hers even for a second. (Be still my bruised little shipper heart.) And then they seemingly get the shrink to come in to give her opinion, and I like that Weller is now sitting down at the table rather than standing like before, as if putting them all on even ground. Everyone gets a chance to have input. And then ugh: "He's a terrorist"//"So was I". Wow, Jane, that's a big statement. Just look at my baby taking responsibility for what her past self has done, even if she is now a completely different person and would never do the things Remi did. And lil Patterson next to her raises the point that they didn't know that she was a terrorist, and I love that after she says this, she keeps her eyes locked with Jane's even as Nas is saying her piece (lbr Nas isn't worth her attention anyway) but ugh I just love how expressive that look is? Is she thinking about Borden, and how they never knew HE was a terrorist? Or is it a look of apology, like 'I'm sorry we considered you a terrorist for a while', or both, or...? Honestly I really want to see more of the relationship between these two, especially if it involves seeing Jane supporting Patterson in her grief/betrayal over Borden. But anyway Nas raises the point that they know nothing about Roman's past interactions with the gang, so they'd essentially be going in there blind, and the shrink chimes in that in that setting he might suddenly lash out and become violent. God, she sounds like a broken record. And then when Jane says she can keep him in line because of their relationship, the shrink insists (after spending literally like 15 mins total with him) that he is completely incapable of love or human connection and therefore Jane won't be able to handle him. Geeeezzzz, lady, if anyone with any psych training overheard you spouting this crap, you'd probably get deregistered. Psychology might not be an ‘exact’ science but that still doesn't mean you can just make up whatever shit you want!!! Ugh. But anyway, what's this???? My son has finally found both his common sense and his spine, and firmly states that they need to do whatever it takes to stop Phase 2, and that includes taking this chance on Roman. Which basically just translates to "I trust my wifey so now you all better as well". Nas looks understandably bummed at this, because clearly she's watching the tight leash she had on Weller fray and snap, and she knows she'll never reel him back in again. Whereas my precious Jane can barely believe her ears-- she's so used to all her ideas and suggestions being ignored or smacked down, and her feelings disregarded, but not anymore. All that's changing now that Weller's head has been freed from his ass, and I absolutely love the resigned looks from all the others like 'oh we're back to this then, the Weller and Jane show" lol (but for real hallelujah)

Nawww Roman, so desperate to get out but then asking uncertainly if she's sure that letting him out is actually a good idea. And ugh she's so supportive and encouraging and assures him that she trusts him when he's worried that he'll hurt people. See that concern for the well-being of others?? That alone literally DISQUALIFIES him for a diagnosis of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Ugh. I literally want to find the biggest psych textbook I can find, open it to the page on APD, and then throw it at the shrink's face. But anyway omg-- this moment in the bullpen. I can’t. The team’s all right there; Patterson slowly pacing with an ‘I don't know if this is a good ideaaaa...’ expression on her face, Reade with his hand shoved in his pockets and a ‘This is totally a bad idea’ expression (and Zapata doing pretty much the same, except with arms crossed), and Nas standing off to the side fidgeting with her phone and looking vaguely guilty. Although lbr that's probably just her shadiness manifesting physically, so meh. But then there's freakin' Weller standing there in his nice suit looking like he's doing a practice run for when he's at the altar and Roman walks Jane down the aisle toward him. I literally cannot deal rn. And ugh then Jane gently guides Roman through the bullpen, reassuring him that though he may not have many supporters among the FBI right now, she will always support him. And lbr she knows what it's like to walk through this bullpen and have everyone eyeing you with dislike and distrust. But she was able to rise above it and earn her place back, and Roman will earn his. But aaaahhhhh Weller greets him by name and thanks (!!) him for helping them and ugh I'm really emotional about it. Though lbr he's gotta be on his best behaviour, I mean this is his future brother-in-law, after all. Patterson follows his polite lead, though is clearly uncomfortable. But I'm actually impressed with how the team rallies, putting aside their discomfort and getting down to business. (Gotta defeat those Huns). But come on, guys, don't give those looks when he mentions a gun. Literally anyone would be wanting to know if they're going to have any protection when walking in to a possible deathtrap. Of course, Jane smoothly handles the situation, throwing a brief look of gratitude at Weller as she leads Roman out to get some clothes. A look which Nas definitely doesn't miss, nor does she miss the way Weller himself watches the siblings walk away....

Speaking of this brother-sister team, damn are they looking both badass and fine as they walk into the bar. And ugh Jane is so supportive of him. Which is kinda the opposite of Remi, apparently, who is being pretty damn harsh to him in this memory while she unpacks a whole heap of C4. (Good thing New Roman knows that Jane was wiped too, and is nothing like his sister used to be!). But oh boy, this memory has just taught us that Roman and Kat were a lot more than strangers. Which is kinda sweet, but definitely not good for them right now. His "We have a problem" is so cute haha. And then Kat (who is stunning, by the way, good taste Roman) comes over and punches him in the face. And well, at least we know he doesn't immediately flip into violent mode when attacked? Also tbh he's actually doing a really good job at being out in the field, reading the situation and thinking on his feet just like Jane does. I feel so proud. And now they've managed to score a meeting with the big boss-- who we know is Bad and Dangerous bc he's beating the crap out of some guy the moment we meet him. Also Jane said earlier she'd have a gun on her but the dudes didn't say anything when they searched her-- did they just take it, or did she not have one? Idk I'm just curious. But ugh then my babies cleverly construct a story using just enough truth to be believable, giving an excuse for both his absence and any future 'unusual' behaviour. Then they broker a deal where if the bikers set up a sale and draw Shepherd out, the gang will get to keep both the money and the fancy explosives that Shepherd apparently wants. And ugh I'm so proud of my baby Roman, bluffing that he knows where to get the explosives and agreeing to the bikers coming along to steal it. My puppy is doing so well. And then just to remind us again how Scary this biker dude is, he shoots the unconscious form of the dude he's been beating. Better keep working on those poker faces, guys, because I saw the utter empathy from both of you just then ugh

Back at the lab, the team is chastising Roman for doing things the way he did, and while I'm kinda like ‘leave him alone guys he did his best’, I do appreciate that one of their main arguments is that he could have gotten Jane killed. Because they CARE. They don't want to see anything happen to her because she's one of them and I'm so emotional about it. Anyway Zapata raises a very good point, one that I've been waiting for someone to mention-- basically that Shepherd herself probably won't show for the sale anyway, but Weller points out that capturing any Sandstorm operative would be a huge help to them. I like that Roman is kind of excluded from that category, and I know it's pretty much only bc he has no memories of it, but still. And then Patterson makes it clear that the only way to get this military-grade explosive is to steal it, and Nas is all ‘meh so they'll steal it’ and walks out to start some shady dealings, and pretty much everyone stares after her like she's just grown another head. Are you really surprised, guys?? Nas doesn't exactly give a shit about doing things by the rules... rules other than her own, anyway. And then Patterson and Zapata are all 'we can't give real explosives to a biker gang and a terrorist group' but Weller knows Jane's right when she says they’ll test whatever they do get and won’t react well to fakes, so they need to use the real stuff.

Reade admits to Zapata about Freddy's ex and how both of them were feeling guilty, and as usual she immediately defends what he did and tries to convince him to let it go, bc she knows that if he’s not careful, he'll let his guilt grow into a self-destructiveness that could have huge consequences. And speaking of that kind of guilt, Patterson approaches Nas about wanting to be present for the Sandstorm trap, and her guilt over Borden and ughhhh my baby is hurting so much (damn you Borden!!!) but it's interesting how her words kind of describe the S1 Weller/Jane situation a tiny bit (Weller's feelings for Jane clouding his judgement, blinding him to reality, and vice versa) and apparently also describe Nas's experience at the NSA. So the Sandstorm mole in her department was her lover? Interesting. I wonder if the shrink worked with her there too, and that's how she got her injury? But anyway yaaaasss Patterson getting (rightfully) angry at Nas for being blind to Borden's betrayal bc she was too busy spying on the rest of them-- finally someone calls her on it! You go, Patterson.

Oooooh I am so here for Weller calling Jane aside, his hand lingering unnecessarily at her back as he draws her away from Roman, the sad-hearteyes fixed on her as he tells her to be careful, not to let her guard down around Roman. And then ugh "I know you want Roman to be something different, but you have to treat him like any dangerous asset, the same way I treated you when I found out who you were". Ugh, I love the implication here that he didn't really want to treat her like he did, but treated her how he felt he had to. (After she came back, I mean. That night he arrested her he wasn't really thinking through his actions at all). And then ugh she calls him Kurt and insists that Roman wouldn't hurt her and that he is capable of love and I love how balanced their exchanges are now? They're totally on the same level, no bitterness or pain between them. Just two people who know each other as well as they know themselves. And aaahhh Weller is honest about his concerns that Roman is manipulating her and manipulated Kat, too, the way ‘she manipulated Jeffrey Cantor’, aka using his feelings for her to get what she wanted. I LOVE that he knows that wasn't the case with him. Everything between them was real, he knows that now. But ugh I love the look Roman throws at Weller as he and Jane get in the elevator. Lbr, he knows Weller is in love with her-- he doesn't need his memories to know that, not when it’s written all over Weller’s face.

Nawww Roman telling the bikers the plan and answering all their questions so confidently and ugh I am so proud of my lil puppy. Also lol I love the fact that Mr Scary Biker Man is scared of Shepherd. And then aaahhh they all head off and Kat rides with Roman, and "How come you never came back for me?"//"You ever came looking". Damn, boy, you're smooth! Also uh oh she just gave him a gun, hope he won't need to use it... but duuuuude this whole bike-to-truck thing is crazy! How did he know he'd even be able to do that??? I can't believe he didn't lose his balance and splat on the road lol. And then omg the drivers are Weller and Reade????? Oh geeeezzzzz this can't go well. Jane doesn't look surprised at all to see them, though, so I'm guessing it was part of the plan? And so the bikers now have the explosives, but in a shocking-- lbr not all that shocking-- twist, Roman now has to kill Weller and Reade. Sigh guys, are you really telling me you didn't think this miiiight happen if you were witnesses to this whole thing? The two of them look shocked, but that just might be their acting (nice work boys) whereas Jane's pokerface definitely slips into genuine fear for them both, before she quickly covers and tries to talk the bikers out of it without making it too obvious that she's trying to protect them. But my puppy Roman knows that if he doesn't kill them, the bikers will kill all four of them, so he takes a chance, the only one that will ensure his sister survives and hopefully that he and Weller and Reade do as well. I'd like to think that he noticed their puffy-looking jackets and realised that they had vests on underneath, but maybe it was just a solid guess. And ugh I just want to hug my baby Jane, because while she doesn't make a sound I can practically see the anguished scream echoing behind her eyes as the two of them fall to the ground. In that moment, she thinks she's lost both the man she loves and a man who's like family to her, plus she thinks that it's her fault and that she was wrong about Roman, and is now still in danger of losing her own life, and on top of that, will be shunned by the rest of her FBI family. Basically, if that moment had been real, Jane would have literally just lost everything. Ugh, can we give her a hug yet? She's still staring at Weller's body when Roman grabs her and pulls her away, and I bet he didn't miss the way she flinched when he touched her. Ugh my baby, it's all okay, he would never hurt your family unless he had no choice, he's just doing what he has to do to protect you! Ngl tho, when he first shot them I was like WHAT!?!?? and then my immediate thought was ‘maybe blanks??’ and then I was like wait no that's not possible bc it was a real gun and then honestly my brain was still freaking out by the time they started picking themselves off the floor and then I was finally like ohhhh rigggghhttt, vests exist haha. I love Reade's "He knew we were wearing vests, right??" Yeah just go with that, Reade, because that's probably the more comforting option. Oooooohh but now Jane is super pissed at Roman, but she can't deny the sense in his words when he said that it was better to risk shooting them in the vest than hesitating too long and having all four of them get shot in the head. Apparently their little ruse worked, too, because the bikers have set up a meeting with Shepherd for later that night. Kat pulls Roman away for a second, and ugh he's sweet with her and honestly even though I'm super hopeful (aka trash) for Roman/Zapata, I'm really kinda shipping these two rn. Like they clearly really cared about each other?? I love seeing more Roman backstory. I wonder what happened that morning that he was supposed to come meet her? Did Remi stop him, or Shepherd?

They’re back at the FBI now and tbh I’m bummed that we didn’t get to see the scene where Jane and Roman arrive and see Weller and Reade alive and (mostly) unharmed. Is someone gonna fic it, or?? (Please don’t make me do it lol). But anyway aww Jane takes Roman back to his cell, and she knows that he remembered something, and oohhh there's a little bit of tension between them bc he's still got the memory of Remi's treatment of him in his head, plus he feels like the team is still viewing him as the enemy. "You still trust me, right?" Ugh. I really hope he believes that she's being honest when she says yes...

Lol Weller sitting at his desk in a shirt with two bulletholes in it. And ugh Jane watches him through the glass for a second and it's clear she's so guilty that he got hurt and worried that he'll be angry at her or Roman for it and ughhh she's so apologetic as she comes in and then ugh "I'm so thankful that you’re both okay-- when he shot you, I thought--" SHE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD. SHE THOUGHT SHE'D JUST LOST THE MAN SHE LOVES. HELP ME. But thankfully he instantly assures her that Roman made the right call, and that must also be a relief, knowing that her brother wasn't going to face a lynchmob for kinda gambling with their lives. But ugh then the ever-perceptive Jane (who also is just very attuned to Weller, lbr) asks if something else is going on, bc she can tell there's something upsetting him. And for a moment he brushes it off just like he would have earlier this season, and in that time she's learned to obey the dismissal when it's given, so she’s about to leave but then (hallelujah) Weller gives in and confides in her like he used to, admitting that Allie's moving to Colorado. And ughhhh you can see the instant panic and distress in Jane's eyes as she stumbles through asking him whether he's going too, because no no no no please no-- and then ugh the way she lets out a tiny relieved breath when he says he's staying. She was seriously terrified for a second there that he was going to leave and she'd never see him again. And then as he admits that his place sudenly feels really empty now that there's not gonna be a baby in it, the Jane hearteyes come out, and ugh honestly I think I love them even more than the Weller hearteyes. They're very different, more of a 'I know you will never be mine but I love you with everything that I am and I always will and I would sell my soul in a heartbeat if it meant you would be happy'. UGHHHH SHE JUST LOVES HIM SO MUCH. SO FREAKIN MUUUUUCHHHHH. And she's halfway through saying something sweet and genuine to comfort him and suddenly Zapata's interrupting (what, were Patterson and Nas too busy to perform their usual interrupting duties???) and so now the Feels wil have to wait bc the sting is onnn

Is it just me or is Weller looking very tense?? You know, almost like the woman he loves is walking straight into a potentially deadly situation?? Oh wait... But lol lbr he'd be in there in a heartbeat if there was any sign of anything going wrong. You can bet that he placed himself and Reade-- aka the two big tough men-- at the position closest to be able to get in there and provide help quickly, while Nas and Zapata are sentries around the back or whatever. I'm pleased that there has been very little Nas/Weller teaming up lately, and this time there's not even the potential explanation of Zapata and Reade avoiding each other to account for this split, bc they're all cool now. Maybe it’s because the use that Weller and Nas had for each other has passed... But anyway oh boy, this deserted bar is not a good sign for the amnesiac siblings. And Kat looks piiiissed, even more so when she raises a gun. Ooooh boy the jig really is up. Kat knows Roman's off, apparently because he didn't want to shoot the guys earlier, and because he held her hand. Idk about you, lady, but that kinda seems like an improvement overall?? And Jane agrees: "He's different now, ever since he got shot. He's better." Ugh but that little look Roman gives her when she says it-- I mean, it's kind of praise but also not? Like a 'yay she likes who I am but wow how little did she think of me before?' kinda thing? And then Roman spills the beans about the FBI while Jane is there beside him like 'oh shit', and meanwhile outside Nas is saying they need to go in now-- but Weller (rightly) waves her off without even a moment's pause because "Jane knows what she's doing". Hell yeah, look at all that beautiful support from hubby. And lol devil lady don't think I didn't see that expression on your face. Your witchy words used to have power over Weller, but not anymore. Jane is his talisman, and his love for her not only makes him better in every way, it makes him immune to you as well. To quote King Theoden: You have no power here! lol. But anyway as we're watching the inexorable crumbling of one pairing (I refuse to say 'ship' in regards to them bc imo they don’t qualify) we’re watching another one teeter on the edge-- Roman is all puppy-eyed and spouting ‘I love yous’ and Kat is wavering in her determination to kill them, and Jane is basically in the background trying to be as unobtrusive as possible bc she knows even one wrong look could get them both shot and god I hope she’s picturing Weller in that moment and hoping that she’ll one day get to tell him how she feels and then the scene switches to the other room and BAM there's the gunshots and lol I love all the biker dudes just chillin' and sipping their beer. And then aaaaaah Kat comes out and turns on her own gang for Roman and ughhhhhh I feel like this means things are about to go really badly for her. Ugh, the poor girl. Seems like this show really has a theme about suffering for the ones we love. Anyway lol at the mayhem twins being sprawled over various bits of furniture, like good work guys you're so convincing haha. And then omg they're fighting the guys (lucky only two came in) and I don't think I appreciated this the first time round (literally how do you people deal with watching live?? And only once?? I'm constantly pausing and rewinding when I watch) but anyway Jane pulls a flag off the wall and then uses it as a weapon against her opponent??? Like damn, that was badass. And then Kat literally kills a guy that she's probably known for years to prevent him from going in to join the fight??? Dude. Of course Weller sees the gunfire from outside and is immediately into his MUST SAVE WIFEY mode. Have to say though, said wifey is doing just fine at taking care of herself-- and of her brother-- given that she literally just smashed a chair over a guy to protect an incapacitated Roman. PROTECTIVE SIBLINGS UGHHHHH. But nooooo Kat's been shot (told you she would suffer for loooovee) and Roman doesn’t even notice the presence of the final shooter as he runs to her side-- but thankfully bro-in-law is not about to let anything happen to his wifey's favourite brother, and bursts in and takes the guy out before he can shoot Roman. Jane's in the room seconds later, locking eyes with hubby over the barrels of their guns (well, at least they've got protection for all that intense eye-sexing) and ugh my baby Roman is reassuring Kat and idc if he feels like a fraud, I'm glad she died believing he loved her. And tbh I don't think he was as unaffected as his abrupt turnaround made him seem. I like that he immediately hands off his gun to Weller, and Weller just accepts his determination to get the job done and rolls with it while Jane is still mentally (or rather, emotionally) catching up. Ugh, this trio is going to be the death of me, I just know it.

As they race to the meet point, the invaluable Patterson gives Weller the lowdown while Jane stares at Roman, and then as soon as there's a quiet moment, she checks if he's okay-- with Weller intently listening in. Honestly no one can see how much Jane cares about Roman without instantly becoming a little bit more smitten with her, so it must wreak havoc on Weller’s already Jane-owned heart lol. Roman then mentions his need to ask Shepherd why she erased his memory, leading to some intense Jeller eye contact in the rear-view. I love that it's not like a guilty glance between co-conspirators; it's more her saying 'I hate that I did this thing and I can't get through it without your support' and him being like 'I know you did this thing because I asked you to and I promise I won't let you carry the weight alone'. Literally no one can convince me it was otherwise lol. Anyway the whole FBI team arrives at the meet point-- SWAT guys and all-- but do we all notice who is front and center, making the calls? Weller... and Jane. Zapata, Reade, and Nas are all a couple of steps back, and the Mere Mortals are even further behind them. And then when everyone fans out, Nas is with Jeller, but still stuck behind as they move together, side by side. As they flank the door, they realise simultaneously that it hasn't been opened in years, and then-- dun dun dun-- they discover that they're too late and Sandstorm has already been and gone, taking the explosive and leaving all the dead bikers. If this ain’t a ‘well, shit’ moment, idk what is lol

Back at the lab, the team is not having a happy time, but I am very much enjoying watching frustrated Weller in his bullet-riddled shirt (dear god please keep the shirt for posterity reasons. Bring it out on holidays/family occasions when you and Roman are arguing about which football team is better or something and be all like "Remember when you shot me?? You don't get to have an opinion!" lol) I mean idk, I'm just really attached to this shirt. I'm sentimental about things like that... bullet riddled shirts, Jane-sized duffelbags, etc... But anyway, damn, Jane is leaning against some pillar thing and even in her dejected state she still looks damn good. Though I do prefer her more natural look, she has really been rocking the dark lipstick and all-black/leather outfit. Damn. But anyhow now the team is debating how Sandstorm could be staying one step ahead of them, and lol literally everyone in the team gets to have input (Patterson's being particularly sad, about how she sweeps for bugs every morning and that maybe there's another mole in the NYO) and then it finally gets to Nas' turn and Weller just totally cuts her off before she even gets three words out. Heheheh that's right, Lady Wormtongue doesn't deserve to have an opinion. And then when she eventually gets to speak-- telling them all that they'll get the explosives back and somehow find Sandstorm, she gets nothing but chilly silence haha. Yaaaassss team. FREEZE HER OUT. DO IT.

Oooooh Mr Grumpy has headed to his office for some Serious Brooding Time (there's even teeth-gnashing and furniture-abusing involved) and we all cross our fingers, hoping for Jane to appear and soothe him as only she can... aaaand instead Nas appears. Boooooo. We’re treated to some insincere apologies and a flimsy explanation of them clouding each others' judgement, and lol I love that she thinks he used the HMX as bait bc she asked him to. Oh, honey, I thought you were supposed to be perceptive??? Literally everyone could see he did that for Jane, just as he let Roman out in the field for Jane. He's back on Jane's side now, and let’s be real now, you know it. Which means you know that being in a relationship* (*term used very lightly) with him is no longer of use to you, because it is no longer an effective means of controlling him. Don't even try to deny that you created this entanglement solely to prevent him getting re-involved with Jane (and also probably to get some good sex out of the deal, lbr here) and now that it is completely failing in its original purpose, you're cutting ties. That's just smart resources management, and you’re nothing if not methodical. But oh man I’m getting a good chuckle out of the line "we have feelings for each other, of course we do". Mmmmm-hmmm. That was so convincing. But loooollll Weller's like 'So that's it then' and literally does nothing to fight it, doesn't offer up any argument, actually almost looks pleased?? Lbr I would have rathered Weller be the one to break things off but this way works for me just fine, bc it's clear that he broke things off emotionally (if they ever even existed emotionally) quite some time ago...

Aaaaand speaking of nonsensical and emotionless pairings, Reade-- who just happens to have his damn fine chest on display at this moment-- has an unexpected visitor. Freddy's ex (do we have a name for her yet? Calling her Freddy's ex makes me uncomfortable) comes in, while valiantly keeping her eyes up top. Well, mostly. Dw girl, no one is perfect. But anyhow as she cries about being afraid Freddy is dead and having contributed to it, Reade tells half-truths and tries to assuage his own guilt by reassuring her. Following which she becomes VERY concerned with the state of his chest, fussing over bruises that tbh could just be very determined hickeys. But then she touches the ~bare chest~ and seals the Coital Prophecy-- you know, the one where two characters (generally) of opposite genders, regardless of actual connection to one another, become powerless to resist getting it on after one of them touches the other in an area usually covered by clothes? But well, there's just no going back now, because he basically told her ‘you're not a nuisance’ and we all know that's actually code for ‘why aren't we already naked’. But for real dude, I hope you washed your sheets after last night's romp with bar girl... and don't forget that little talk we had about protection! Safety first!!! (please I can’t handle any more baby drama)

Thankfully the next scene is already 50000000x more enjoyable, and so far all it involves is Jane standing in a doorway. I am very supportive of this, and of literally anything she does. And then ugh she goes and joins Roman on the floor, and he instantly admits that he lied to Kat about being in love with her, and seems dejected at the thought that he might never have really felt anything for her and asks what's wrong with him. Oh, honey. A person without empathy or emotions would never even think to ask those questions in the first place, or be worried about the answers. And Jane, speaking from experience, tells him that feelings can't just appear like memories; they have to develop. And may I just send a big kudos to whichever brilliant person in the sound-editing department put a tiny snippet of the Jeller theme in there at that moment?? Bless you, you subtle geniuses. This conversation also says a lot about her relationship with the team vs her 'relationship' with Oscar (which I still believe was devoid of any feelings other than Jane needing to get comfort from SOMEWHERE while also needing to get info out of Oscar. Two birds, one stone, so they say). But oh man am I so relieved that Roman actually tells her that Remi was the reason he and Kat were separated, because it gives her a chance to show that she's not like Remi-- she doesn't want the same things for him that Remi did, and she is constantly trying to make up for the things that Remi is responsible for. Much like he will have to make up for what Old Roman did. And then ughhhhh she tells him not to stay fixated on who he was, but to try to embrace who he is now-- and ugh it literally seems like she's telling him what she wishes she could go back and tell herself the night she met Oscar. Chasing the past nearly cost her her future, and now that she's getting another chance at it, she's not going to let anything stop her. And ugh she promises to get him out and tells him she really believes he loved Kat and ughhh my babies I love you both so much

Damn, dark-side Borden is still pressing my buttons. I can’t help it! But anyway I’m intrigued by this increasing screen-time for this Parker guy-- who tells Borden he's there to see this country burn, aka just basically regurgitating Sandstorm's tagline-- it makes me wonder if he's actually not all he seems? Maybe he has managed to infiltrate Sandstorm (anyone notice that their name shortens to SS??) in a way Jane wasn't able to, and is secretly working against them. Either way, I'm intrigued to see what his future role will be. I'm also appreciative that he and Borden are filling in the scenes that would otherwise require Shepherd in them. Any ep that I don’t have to look at her face is a good one imo

AaaaaaaahhhhhHHHHH. I'd already seen the spoiler pics before watching this ep; had already been waiting all episode for Jane to show up at Weller's door. But for a moment when he opens it, I’m still struggling to believe it’s really happening. Jeller. Happily hanging out, alone, after work hours. Oh how I have missed this dynamic. But lbr even before we see Jane's face, we know it's her at the door, because his eyes go from surprise to HEARTS HEARTS HEARTS in like 0.00001 of a second lol. And Jane's leaning there, looking all casual, acting like her heart isn't racing and stomach isn't swirling with butterflies over the fact that it's been a long time since they had this kind of interaction and she can't be sure she's allowed to step into this territory (both figurative and literal) again and ugh just think how much guts it would have to take to reach out like this when he'd rejected her or frozen her out so many times since she'd been back?? But lbr she's always been pretty in tune with this thing between then and she can tell, now, that it's different again, that it's back to how it used to be. Or maybe even better than it was then, because there's no 'Taylor' in her that's making the focus of his affections unclear. And of course, the Assistant Director of the Jane Fanclub (the director being me, obviously) would never dream of turning her away, not anymore or ever again, and he's showering her with those heart eyes while she shyly finishes her sentence from their conversation hours ago-- because she's precious and adorable and wants to support him and reassure him ughhhh-- and then ugh in literally one of the bravest acts we've seen her do (and lbr ‘Brave’ is practically Jane's middle name) she brings him his favourite beers-- which she would have OBVIOUSLY have had to go out and buy for THIS VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE, since it's not like New Yorkers have Pennsylvanian beer just lying around-- and ughhhh this is the best olive branch (slash date-invitation??) ever and oh man I seriously need to know how long she's had those beers and how long she's been wanting to do this and aaaaahhhhh Weller must be like 'thank GOD that foolishness with Nas is over' (I know we are) and ughhh he invites her right in and omg they're finally getting to have those 'drinks' they owed each other (technically didn't he owe her? Like you said last season, you’re racking up the debt, buddy). But aaahhhhh someone save me bc they both look so HAPPY and relaxed but also a little excited and Jane's hearteyes are killing me because legit I have never seen anyone be such a literal manifestation of 'to gaze adoringly'?? I feel like she's been suppressing these heart eyes as best she could during this last two weeks since she got back from Sandstorm-- since Weller realised what a jackass he'd been and started showing her that he really does care about her-- and she just can't hold them back anymore and ugh it's so beautiful. And then ugh my big silly baby totally overplays his 'bullet wounds' (too bad he didn't have his shirt unbuttoned like Reade, eh??) leading to some sweet little flirty banter and ughhhhhh now it's his turn to gaze adoringly as she asks him to give Roman a window or let him go for a walk or something, and lbr if he could, he would do literally anything she asked just because he wants to make her happyyyyyy. I'm so glad our big stupid son finally made it back to this point. And ughhh I am so upset at these two idiots and the way they're smiling at each other all goofily while they drink their dumb beer and then OMG SHE SEES THE FILES THAT SANDSTORM HAS ON WELLER. FINALLY. I think we've literally all been yelling "WHY AREN'T YOU SHOWING THIS SHIT TO JANE?????" ever since he found out about its existence. And then they move over to the table together and she gets adorably excited to see his yearbook thing (this literally feels like looking at your boyfriend's baby photos lol) and within two seconds she has found him. Because of course she has, she's been seeing that face in both her waking life and dreams ever since she came out of the bag (and apparently long before that, in her previous life), so of course she'd know him anywhere. He’s her person. And ugh he jokes that he could have gone pro with ball and she actually giggles and then gazes up at him as he talks about the game, the heart eyes so intense that she's practically glowing with it (you know that fuzzy glow around the sun on really hot days? Yeah, picture that) and then she looks back down at the page and BAM. Shepherd is in the crowd. And Weller REMEMBERS her. And just like that, the connection between these two has given them a HUGE break in their fight against Sandstorm. (Which lbr we all knew was going to happen and was exactly why the writers never had Jane look at this stuff before now.) Also don't even get me started on the fact that he and Jane achieved together in moments what he and Nas hadn't been able to do in weeks. Symbolism, much???????

But anyway that's pretty much all the rambling I have for today because all the rest is just incoherent screaming about having my show and beloved characters back lol so see you next time for more Jeller perfection aaaahhhhhh

#Blindspot #Jeller #Blindspot recap #this episode!!!!!!#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#I am overwhelmed

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derekswhore · 4 years

Text

RUSSIAN ROULETTE CHAPTER FIVE.

chapters zero, one, two, three, four

original episode

Kit was starting to get confused. She'd met a girl, her name was Alena. Ever since she met this girl, her regular outings with Derek had become more scarce. Kit hated that. His flirtatious personality had faded when he was around Kit.

But what was worse was that he was doing this after they slept together.

What had she done to make him act like that?

Being pulled from her thoughts as she dried her hair, she sighed softly when Aleksander knocked on the door. "What?!" Kit shouted.

"I thought you were going out with Morgan?" Aleksander questioned. Kit bit her lip, looking down.

"Not today. He had to cancel," Kit sighed.

"Like he did last week? And the week before?" Aleksander asked.

"Just drop it, Alek," Kit sighed, "besides, I'm meeting someone else this morning."

"Loren or Alena?"

Kit furrowed her eyebrows and got dressed quickly, not even bothering to straighten her extremely ( and painfully ) curly hair. "How did you know about Loren?" She asked as she walked out of the bathroom.

"He called me too," Aleksander said, "the Academy— they're targeting us. And they won't stop until they kill us or we break."

"What about— what about Maxim? Have you heard from him?" Kit asked.

"Unfortunately, no," Aleksander said, "I haven't heard from him, his kids, or Eliza. Hopefully, if they've received the photos, they've gone into hiding."

"Maxim is smarter than that," Kit said, "he wouldn't just go into hiding, Alek."

"I'm well aware, Kit," Aleksander sighed. His phone rang and Kit looked at him as he answered. "Loren?"

"Aren't you supposed to reply with hello?" Loren asked on the other end. Kit let out a shaky breath and smiled slightly, "listen, I know you two are in a good place now, but we're in trouble. And so is your family and the BAU. And Max."

"Max received photos?" Kit asked, her breath catching in her throat.

"Yes. We've been using the code we made up to conversate in chatrooms that bounce between China, Japan, South Korea, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Russia, and the United States," Loren said.

"Eight countries? Damn," Kit mumbled.

"My point is, it's not safe for us to meet," Loren said, "go to work. I'll call with updates."

Kit and Aleksander sighed. "Fine," they said, "bye." They hung up.

"Let's get going."

"Hey, Kit, someone sent another package to you," Spencer said, nodding to the envelope on her desk. Kit glanced at Aleksander, who had the same thing.

She opened it slowly, flipping through it. It was the threats she'd gotten before, but they were getting much worse.

What really made Kit freeze up was when she saw photos of her and Derek on the night they slept together. They were standing in the window, things just starting to get heated. The words "slut," and "whore," were written across the pictures, making her want to get sick.

"Alek," Kit said, running over to him, "there— there are pictures of me and Derek." He flipped through the photos.

"You and Morgan—" Aleksander started quietly, before raising his voice, "slept together?!"

"Aleksander, I'm a grown woman—" Kit started.

"And my twin sister. You'll never be grown to me," Aleksander said, "we need to tell Hotch. Whoever's doing this has involved the team."

Kit nodded and grabbed Aleksander's arm, pulling him towards Hotch's office. They knocked and Hotch let them in immediately. "Hotch… these came today," Kit said, placing them on Hotch's desk.

He flipped through them carefully. "You've been getting stalked?" Hotch asked.

"Yeah, but I wasn't worried until whoever's doing this involved Derek," Kit said.

"Understandable. Any idea who would've done this?" Hotch asked.

"No, that's the worst part," Kit said softly, "a contact of mine told me it was the Academy— but they aren't the type to do that. They're controlling, sure, but once you're out, you're out. Unless…"

"Unless they absolutely need us. The people who received the photos all had high rankings," Aleksander said, "Kit and I was 550 and 551. Loren and Maxim are 552 and 553."

"I need Loren and Maxim's full names and I also need to know the last time you saw them," Hotch said.

"Loren and Maxim Latimoff. They have an older sister, Liv. Um, the last I saw Maxim was when we were sixteen and... Loren when we were nineteen," Kit said.

"Where are they now?" Hotch asked.

"Loren is here. Maxim, last I knew, lives in Oxfordshire, England," Kit said softly.

"I'll get the team to the conference room."

"Yes, sir."

"Today, Kit and Aleksander received photos from their old workplace in Vladivostok, Russia," Hotch said. He was quickly interrupted, a man walking into the round table room with two envelopes.

"Kit and Aleksander Egorova?" He asked, giving it to them, "these are for you."

Opening it quickly, Kit froze up when she saw photos of her, Aleksander, and their family playing soccer in their backyard.

"What is it?" Spencer asked.

"They're… they're photos of me playing football— sorry, soccer," Kit said, "the last time I played soccer, I was seven."

"Whoever's doing this has been stalking you since you were a little, Kit Kat," Derek said.

"Yeah, I know," Kit snapped, moving away from him as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Aleksander raised an eyebrow.

"I want all right, since we don't have much to work off of, it'd be safest for everyone to stay here," Hotch said.

Kit sighed and glanced at Aleksander. "We should have Garcia try and trace the address on the envelopes," JJ said.

Hotch looked at Kit and Aleksander. "Go," he said. Kit and Aleksander stood up quickly, going to find Garcia.

"Hello," Garcia said once they entered her office.

Kit put the envelopes down in front of her. "Can you find out where these came from?" She asked.

"They have addresses on them?" Garcia asked.

"Yeah."

"Then don't you worry, my beautiful Russian doll, I will have the location in no time," Garcia replied.

Kit smiled. "Thanks, Garcia."

"Don't worry about it, doll."

"If Kit and Aleksander are in immediate danger, wouldn't it be safer to have them put in witness protection?" JJ asked.

"We're not going into witness protection," Kit and Aleksander said immediately. Everyone gave them a look, obviously alarmed from them talking at the same time, "it's a twin thing…"

"All right then," Derek said, "did you two travel as kids?"

"Yeah, a lot. Why?" Kit asked.

"Do you think, maybe, the unsub followed you around?" Derek asked.

"My parents would notice," Kit said, shaking her head, "especially if we went to places with a lot of space and nothing blocking the way. Like my grandparent's farm in England or my aunt's home in Romania."

"You have relatives all over, huh?" Derek asked.

"Uh— yeah, I do," Kit answered biting her lip, "one place our unsub might have caught me was—" she flipped through the photos, "Disney world."

"The Academy's been stalking us since we were kids, we were the best targets for them," Aleksander said.

"I found the warehouse!" Garcia yelled as she ran into the round table room, "it's an old abandoned IKEA warehouse."

Kit and Aleksander glanced at each other and sighed, running past Garcia and out of the room quickly. Hotch looked at Derek and Maribelle. "Follow them, the rest of us will catch up," he said. Derek and Maribelle ran after them.

Kit and Aleksander had just missed their unsub when they got to the warehouse. He was on a bike. "Damnit!" Kit yelled, "we'll never catch up with him." She glanced around, catching sight of a bike across the street, "unless…"

"Kit, you don't have any protective gear," Aleksander sighed, "if you crash—" he was cut off by Kit running across the street.

"How many times have I done this before?!" Kit yelled. She got to the bike and smirked, "what idiot leaves the keys in the ignition?"

Aleksander gave Kit a dirty look. "You can't just steal it," he said.

"Watch me," Kit replied, mounting the bike and starting it.

"Kit—" Aleksander started. But he was too late. Kit had sped off.

She was hot on the unsub's trail now. She sped up, going the fastest she could go, which was about 125 miles per hour. Finally having caught up to the unsub, Kit took a deep breath before throwing herself off the motorcycle. She hit the sidewalk and rolled, groaning slightly as she sat up.

She watched the bike she had been riding collide with the unsub's. The unsub, who hadn't been wearing a helmet, fell and hit his head on the curb.

"Yes!" She yelled, throwing her hands in the air as Aleksander, Maribelle, and Derek caught up to her in a car.

They got out quickly. "You look like hell," Maribelle noted.

Kit sighed. "I'm well aware," she said, standing up and dusting herself off. There was a small cut on her forehead, and her knees were scraped and bruised all to hell.

"Well, are you all right?" Derek asked.

"I'm fine," Kit nodded, "he's not, though."

Aleksander scoffed. "Yeah, he's dead," he said.

"Kit?" A voice asked. Loren.

"Loren," Kit said, "how'd you know we'd be here?"

"I've been following you," Loren said. Kit glanced at Aleksander, alarmed. "Nice job."

"What? With the unsub?" Kit asked.

"Yes. You're the old Kit I remember. She's coming back," Loren noted. Kit's eyes widened as she looked at the collision.

"Take it back," she said numbly.

"What?" Loren asked.

"Take… it… back," Kit repeated, "now."

"But I don't see anything wrong with what I said," Loren said.

"There's plenty wrong with what you just said," Kit said, "now take it back!" Loren walked closer to Kit.

"No," he said. Kit turned away for a second before punching Loren straight in the groin. Loren groaned, throwing a punch quickly. Kit grabbed his wrist and pulled herself up, wrapping her legs around his neck.

Maribelle smirked as Derek looked at Kit surprised while she got up. Aleksander gave her a proud look before walking away with Maribelle.

"What the hell was that?" Derek asked, walking closer to Kit.

"Something I learned when I was younger," Kit said, shrugging.

Derek gave her a small smile. "You know whoever owns that bike is gonna be really pissed, right?" He asked, putting an arm around Kit as they started walking.

"Oh, yeah," Kit nodded, "but they won't know it's me." Derek chuckled.

"Listen, Kit Kat, I'm sorry I've been avoiding you, it's just— I didn't want anything to be bad or awkward between us after… we—" he started.

"Slept together?"

"Yeah."

Kit nodded with a smile. "That's all right. Just… don't do it again."

Derek smiled as well. "I don't plan on it."

DAI SPEAKS howdyyyyyyyy

#criminal minds #spencer reid #derek morgan #aaron hotchner #david rossi #jennifer jareau #emily prentss #jason gideon

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giant-spider-boyfriend · 7 years

Text

A Little Personal

Jack was feeling the strain, he’d been at this job now for a Decade, it was getting time to hand this whole business off to younger members. Noticing grey in his hair, and lines on his face only made this more apparent every day. He dropped the papers on his desk, and decided to take a break, he’d earned it. After an allnighter and a desk nap he felt maybe some of these reports could wait. Not like they were going anywhere.

A hop and a skip and he’d ended up in the kitchen. Well more like break room, he glanced around the mostly empty room eyes settling on the rather bulky man hunched over a glass and a bottle. Whiskey? Looked like it, honestly it was only 1 in the afternoon. He furrowed his brow. George had never really been on any of his teams, Jack’d been Army, and George was a Seal. Completely different worlds honestly, he’d heard a few stories second hand about the man’s kill count...and not all of them were Omnics. War wasn’t limited to humans and machines, sometimes men had to duke it out with each other he guessed. If he recalled George was a bit older than him, not by too much. He only really knew the man by his code name, or rather...his other half. Hephaestus...and damned was that guy good at collateral damage. Lucky they only tended to drop him in places already mostly destroyed. What the hell, he might as well sit down with the man, no one should drink alone. Anyway they were both midwestern country kids, maybe that meant they had something in common there. As the commander sat down with his frankly molten microwave food tray George looked up and raised a brow. “Yello, commander;” he greeted with a brief sort of smile. “I think I’m off duty, but don’t tell anyone, call me Jack;” “All due respect, I dunno you well enough for Jack, hows about we go with Morrison, eh?” George replied, god that was thicker accent than the commander had expected. “I honestly forget for a moment where you came from, I betcha I could guess,” Jack mused giving the mush that was macaroni a try. Too hot, and kind of awful. “Oh I suppose,” George accepted. “Michigan, Upper Peninsula,” came the wager. “Alright, ya got me, guess I owe you somethin, eh?” the giant of a man reached into his pants pocket. “Hows about a penny? This ones real shiny.” “Where the hell did you get a penny in this day and age?” “Collect em, found a whole jar of em up north, when my mom passed on; she’d willed me the property,” he said and took a swig as Jack examined the coin.

Morrison watched as the glass drained, curious how much of the bottle had disappeared from this sitting. “No missions coming up?” Jack asked, he couldn’t recall if he’d put together any teams with George in them. “One, but it doesn’t matter how much I drink, don’t get drunk...at this point it’s more for the taste. I pretend it’s doing something,” mused the man. “Sides folks aren’t really sending me out, the big guys who ya want.” He poured a bit more into the glass and took a sip. “Well I mean…” “Look no need to tell me different, without the big guy I’m a washed up spec-ops nobody, with a bum leg and metal arm to boot,” George mused with a dry laugh. “I’m glad, being here anyway…” Jack raised a brow and stopped eating for a moment curiously expecting George to elaborate. Morrison was getting rather tired of being here if he was honest. Though he couldn’t bring himself to hand the reigns over and retire from it all. The big man seemed to pick up that Jack wanted further explanation. “Well, I woulda been out of the field for good; they discharged me with some damned purple heart, just like that...good bye. That mistake at the hospital saved my life, if I’m honest,” he said as he scratched the fuzz onf his chin. “I lost pretty much everything when I came home. Wasn’t really much left to live for.” The commander wasn’t sure what to say to that. “I’m...sorry to hear that…” He cleared his throat. “I...uh…” “You don’t have to apologize, had quite a few years to figure that all on my own,” George said holding up a big hand. It was weird to Jack, sure they’d both served, but from 18 through to now he’d never really known anything else. From what he knew of George’s past he’d lived more of a life than Morrison had. “I guess I just don’t know anything about that...I’ve only ever done...this I guess,” he said with a cough. He didn’t want anymore of this tasteless microwave dinner. George leaned back and cross his arms over his broad chest. Everything about the man had a largeness to it. He wasn’t quite as tall as Reinhardt, but seemed like he’d give him a run in the sheer bulk department. “Nobody’s every walkin the same road, Morrison; my father died in the line of duty, my uncle got off with a shattered hand; how it goes, y’know?” He shrugged.

Jack furrowed his brow and nodded slowly. “I...suppose.” He wasn’t sure what else to say to that, it was correct. Him and George walked vastly different paths, just odd to meet someone who seemed at peace with what might come. “You a religious man George?”

“God fearing, at the very least I like how the end works with the classic Christian bible…” there was a pause as he considered for a moment. “I wouldn’t exactly call myself a man of the church, just someone who’d like to believe, y’know?” “Yeah, my parents were the same way, you remind me of my dad…” Morrison mused. “Not that it’s a bad thing.”

George gave a dry laugh. “Maybe it’s cause I’m a father myself, always was a dream of mine, have kids, settle down...things didn’t work out exactly as I planned…” he said with a sigh as he fondled the glass a bit. He took a long swig, draining most of the glass before he set it back down. Seemed the subject was soar. He put his hand in his pocket again, pulling out a beat up leather wallet. He further dug in that and then place a pair of photos on the table. “I’ve got them backed up and saved to a few different places...so I never lose them, but I like having something to touch.” Morrison slid them over and examined them, a much younger George, with a pair of young children, one was just a baby. The other looked about 4. “Cute, what’re their names?” “My little girls named for her great aunt, Kathryn, and the other is named for my grandfather, Thomas. I’d call my girl Kitty Kat, and Thomas was always Tommy;” the man replied, a distant smile on his face, like he was recalling a better time. The way he talked about it made it sound like they weren’t around anymore. Jack didn’t want to assume anything. “Must be in their 20s now, you keep in touch?” he decided to hazard, that seemed safe, though the lack of pictures of them at an older age made him wonder. George’s brow knit into something like pain. “Naw, their mom took them away, had me sanctioned...said I uh...I’d hurt them. Guess it’s not hard to believe I could but...never. They were all that was left after I was discharged, I guess she didn’t really care for me when I was around all the time...I tried not to fight too much,” he murmured. “Just do what she said to, pretend everything was alright…” He cleared his throat. “Sorry this is a bit too personal, didn’t mean to ruin your lunch.” “Eh, not so hungry anyway,” Jack replied and tried to figure out something else to say, what did that pain feel like? He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to imagine. Never thought of having kids himself, though he supposed it’d happen...how old he was maybe it wouldn’t. “Sorry, George, I don’t know if I could even pretend to know what that’s like…” “No, don’t suppose you could, it was a long time ago, I was told I couldn’t see them and if I did while they were under legal age...then I’d be taken to jail,” George said and shrugged. “How it goes, her word against mine. I don’t blame the system for believing her. But then she took my kids to California, what was I supposed to do? I used my mom as a go between, she said she told them stories about me. Can’t imagine what she’s said, she just didn’t want them thinking I was some kind of monster…”

Jack nodded along, he wasn’t a therapist or a counselor and he should suggest George see one, but he supposed it was something of a man to man? He was the commander after all, he was basically sworn to confidentiality when it came to this kind of thing. “Well, never could keep in touch, but I marked every birthday; I liked to buy something, I wasn’t sure what they’d like when they got older, so I’d get a little of this little of that each time. Figure when I finally met them again they could pick and choose what they liked…” he smiled a bit at that. “Stupid…” The commander gave a snort and shook his head. “Nah, sounds nice; my weird aunt for 10 years straight gave me the same matchbox car, cause she knew I ‘liked race cars’ the last one I got at 25, already in the army, heading for the crisis and this little box shows up from crazy Aunt Harriot, and it’s the same damned car,” he explained and that got a chuckle out of George. “Middle of this war with omnics I get this damned package. I honestly started hollerin’ and almost crying. Nobody understood why it was so funny.” The man’s shoulders loosened up and he looked a bit more open than he had. “Reminds me of the care package I got from Uncle Todd, he’d sent a dime of Marijuana, and a travel bottle of shampoo. And that’s all that was in the package, now you might have thought I’d turn in the contraband and you’d be wrong;” George said looking around tapping his nose. “I tell you what after the 4th throat you start to lose an appetite, passed that around the tent, and I had 6 Seals asking whether it was Dawn or Dusk, because the fire was orange.” Jack looked aghast before he started chuckling along with George. “You didn’t…” “God as my witness, that’s the honest truth…” And Jack could do nothing but believe him. He felt so clean cut hearing that kind of story. “Best part was a tentful of Seals waking up naked because they thought that since it was dusk no one would see them drying their clothes.” “Why did they need to dry their clothes?” “They didn’t, but everyone started saying moist a lot…and I lose track of what happened after that.” Jack had his hand over his mouth as he laughed till his stomach hurt. “We should go out for drinks sometime George, I need to hear more about that…” he mused, happy to have diverted the man from his more painful past. “I can tell you more about weird Aunt Harriot.” “Love to hear about her, nothing like odd family from the Midwest…” “You’re damned right.”

There was a brief pause of quiet as their laughed burned out. Jack stood up and shook George’s hand which frankly seemed to engulf his. “Pleasure really meeting you George, good luck on your mission,” he mused.

“You too, Morrison, and thanks, I’m sure the big guy can handle it.”

“Take care of yourself, we’ll have to find time for drinks.”

“Free when you are, sir;”

And that was that, Jack left the man to the last of his bottle, and headed back for his desk. With all the resources at his disposal surely he could find a pair of civies. But...would that be the correct thing to do? He decided yes, it was. All the years George had given to this organization, he could give something back. Maybe when he arranged drinks, he’d arrange that. “Athena, George Pickford, we’ve got his file yeah?” “Of course, Commander, everything from his military service to his time at Overwatch.”

“I need you to look for a pair of names in our wider database, scan others if you can, Kathryn Pickford, Thomas Pickford;” “Right away, Commander;” Yeah that seemed the right thing to do indeed, Overwatch was about helping people, well this was him helping someone.

#Overwatch Fanfic #Soldier 76 #Overwatch #Jack Morrison #George Pickford #George #Fanfiction #OC

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