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#oh shit dennis sorry i was throwing up a little bit earlier
headgehug · 2 years
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jumping from the fire emblem three houses fandom where I was coerced into reading heartbreaking heartwarming angst with a happy ending trope fics to sunny where idc about the Big Ship and live here just for the rat man is like. where is my 50k hanahaki disease charlie kelly reader fic. you want ME to write that?? an angel has not yet done it??
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hmslusitania · 3 years
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Prompt: AU to 2.01. during the workout scene Eddie brings up Abby and Buck feels hurt and betrayed that Chim would share his private life with basically a stranger. When Chim says Eddie’s cool Buck says he can be wary of the new guy who gets so comfortable right off the bat when Buck himself got hazed like crazy as a probie. When Chim says Abby’s not a big deal Buck turns to Eddie and asks if he found his abandonment amusing. Eddie feels horrible and Chim finally understands his screw up. Buddie
Hi Anon! I’m not 100% sure this will satisfy your prompt, for which I apologise. That said, in a longer fic I’m currently working on, this scene gets examined hardcore from both Buck and Eddie’s POV and I hope to post that fic soon, so if this does not quite do it, hopefully that will. All that said, I do hope you enjoy this:
--
The kid is like a brother to him, but good god. It’s only Eddie’s second shift and they haven’t even all clocked in yet, and Buck is already being a dick. Chimney sighs – on the inside – and keeps buttoning his shirt while Buck slams locker doors and Eddie just tries to change.
When Buck finally stomps out of the locker room, Eddie takes a second and then turns to Chim.
“So, is it just me, or…”
“Try not to take it personally,” Chim recommends. He likes Eddie, has liked him since they met. It’s nice to have another medic on the shift, even if Eddie isn’t certified as a paramedic like him and Hen. Bobby’s and Buck’s EMT certification is great and useful but sometimes that little bit of extra medical knowledge comes in handy.
“So he’s just a dick to everyone?” Eddie asks.
Chim sighs. “Nah,” he says. “He’s just – look, the kid’s got a heart of gold, he really does, and most of the time he’s the sweetest guy you’ll meet, like a giant 6’2 golden retriever, but his first serious girlfriend just dumped him and then ghosted him, and he’s been a bit…in a bad mood.”
Although, now that he thinks about it, Buck’s straight up denial about Abby having dumped him has kept his mood afloat well enough. Up until Eddie showed up at the 118. But Chimney can’t fathom how the two would be related.
Eddie nods like that makes sense and they continue getting ready for their shift.
Chimney does his best to stay out of Buck’s way for most of the morning. It’s only by coincidence he finds himself in the gym at the same time as Buck and Eddie. Buck, clearly trying to comfort himself with the hot firefighter calendar, starts taking selfies over by the bench press.
Chimney does not know why Eddie decides to start something.
“You’re in the wrong light, man,” Eddie says. Chim frowns. Light? For a selfie?
“Some of us don’t need lighting to look good,” Buck shoots back.
Chim glances at Buck, but he’s distracted by himself.
“Hey, Eddie? What did you mean by the wrong light?” Chim asks.
Eddie explains about warm side lighting as opposed to flat blue light, and shows off the pictures his niece had taken for him. Chimney doubts that most of the effect is just because of lighting. As he’d pointed out on Eddie’s first shift, that is a beautiful man.
Still, having well done photos can’t hurt.
“You think she’d be willing to take my pictures for me? I’m told I photograph like an Asian Fabio,” Chim says, which gets him a laugh from Eddie.
“Sure she would,” he says.
And then, of course, Hurricane Buck.
“You shouldn’t get his hopes up,” he says to Eddie, all glower. “No offence, Chim.”
Chimney isn’t sure how he’s supposed to take that as anything but offensive. But—
He’s got a heart of gold, Chim reminds himself. He’s got a goddamn heart of gold.
“None taken,” he says, heading back to his bench dips. “Evan.”
He gets maybe two reps in before he hears Eddie say, “Okay, man, what’s your problem?”
Chimney winces and looks over to see Buck getting up in Eddie’s face.
“Okay, you,” Buck says. Chimney frowns. Eddie? It really is personal? “You’re my problem. Your comfort level. You’re – you’re not supposed to just walk in here like you’ve been here for years. There’s supposed to be a getting-to-know-you period. You’re meant to respect your elders.”
That’s what Buck is pissed about?
“You’re not his elder, Buck,” Chim points out. As he says it, he realises he doesn’t actually know how old Eddie is. He’s been assuming due to his work history that he’s on the other side of thirty from Buck, but he doesn’t actually know.
“Look,” Eddie says. He sounds calm and rational, in complete contrast to Buck’s anger and irritation, which Chim takes as a good sign. “I in no way meant to, uh, be too familiar or step on anybody’s toes. I know you’re going through some personal stuff right now.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Chimney can see Buck flinch.
“What personal stuff?” he asks.
Whoops.
“I know your girlfriend recently broke up with you and you’re coming to terms with that,” Eddie says.
“No, I’m not,” Buck says. Which, points for honesty, Chim thinks. “And she didn’t break up with me. Who told you that?”
When they both turn to look at him, Chim tries to melt into his exercise equipment.
“I’m just saying, I hear you’re a good guy, and I’m sorry you’re going through pain but you don’t need to take it out on me,” Eddie says.
“I’m not in pain,” Buck snaps, wounded.
Chim doesn’t mean to heave a dramatic sigh, but it happens. Buck rounds on him.
“And why are you telling all of my personal shit to strangers?” Buck asks.
Chim winces. There are a lot of reasons – Eddie asked; Eddie is already a clear part of the team, not a stranger; because Chimney’s worried about him and gossip is how they deal with things at the 118; but he doesn’t think Buck’s in a mood to accept any of those.
“I asked if you were pissed at me or something else,” Eddie says. “And I’m sorry about your girlfriend, man, I know what it’s like to have someone you thought loved you disappear on you in the dead of night.”
Chimney stops doing his dips and turns to scan Eddie, concerned. But Eddie’s just looking at Buck.
“She didn’t – I drove her to the airport,” Buck says.
He sounds so damn small and vulnerable that despite how much of a dick he’s been recently, Chim kind of wants to just hug him. He’s spent so much of the past four months since Abby left acting like he was completely fine most of the time, and so they hadn’t really…
Well, they hadn’t been there for him. Bobby’s got his reasons, Chim knows, since Hen’s almost certainly right about the secret Bobby-Athena relationship going on in the background. But Chim and Hen could’ve done better.
“Look, man, all I can tell you is that staying in denial isn’t gonna help,” Eddie says. “You’re still gonna get the divorce papers in the mail eventually.”
“We weren’t—” Buck starts and Chimney almost jumps into the conversation to make sure Buck isn’t actually that stupid. “Oh.”
“Truce?” Eddie asks, taking off one of his boxing gloves and holding his hand out in Buck’s direction.
Buck swallows and, after a long, awkward moment, takes Eddie’s hand. “You’re still a probie.”
“I promise you, there is no worse hazing you can do to me than the guys in Afghanistan already did,” Eddie says.
Chimney wonders if he feels like eating those words later that night when Eddie and Buck get into an ambulance with a live grenade. Chim and Hen aren’t on the call with them, since they were already doing a transport from the previous call, but when they all get back to the station, something has clearly shifted between Buck and Eddie.
“You two idiots got in an ambulance with a live grenade?” Hen demands, hands on her hips. Chim has seen her deploy this expression at Denny before. It usually gets her immediate apologies and chagrin.
“Eddie was an army medic,” Buck says. “We were totally safe.”
“Until the ambulance exploded,” Eddie points out.
“Yeah, but we weren’t in it anymore,” Buck says, knocking his shoulder into Eddie’s while they sit at the kitchen counter together. Hen shakes her head slowly, like she can’t believe what she’s hearing. “And besides! We saved the patient.”
“Which is what matters,” Eddie adds.
Hen throws her hands up, exasperated. “I’m so glad there are two of you now.”
She stalks off and Chim watches while Buck and Eddie exchange bright smiles. Chim couldn’t say for sure, but he thinks the last time Buck smiled like that, he was talking to Abby. Which is certainly a development Chim didn’t see coming.
He finds Buck later in the bunks.
“Hey,” he says, knocking on Buck’s partition. Buck isn’t asleep, he’s just scrolling through his phone. “Got a sec?”
“Sure,” Buck says, sitting up and dropping his phone into his lap.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Chim says. “Telling Eddie about Abby, I mean. I don’t think any of us really realised how much you’re still hurting over that.”
“I’m fine,” Buck says. It’s too quick, and just a bit too sharp to be genuine.
Chim just waits.
“I’m – I’ve – I’ve been single for four months, haven’t I?” Buck asks quietly.
“Yeah,” Chim says, because Eddie had pointed out, denial just hurts more.
“Great,” Buck says. He clears his throat a couple times like he’s trying to get rid of a blockage. Chimney takes that as an opportunity to clap him on the shoulder.
“You’ve still got your family,” Chim says. “By which I mean the 118, because as far as you’ve said, you may as well have sprung out of the ground fully formed.”
Buck snorts. “I’ve got a sister,” he says, which is the first biological family member Chimney has ever heard Buck mention. “Maddie. She’s actually sleeping on my couch right now.”
“God, a female Buck,” Chim says. “I can’t even imagine how terrifying that must be.”
Buck scoffs and elbows him. “She’s not like me at all. You might even like her. She’s basically the best person ever, just a heart of pure gold.”
Chimney doesn’t quite trust Buck’s judgement when it comes to his sister, but if he’s right, well…
“Certain shitty comments you’ve made recently aside, that sounds exactly like you, Buckaroo,” Chim says.
“Thanks, Chim,” Buck says and sounds like he means it. “And I’m sorry for being a dick.”
Chim nods and claps him on the shoulder again before turning to head back to his own bunk.
“Hey, Chim?”
Chimney pauses.
“Do you think Eddie’s—”
Chimney waits, but all Buck says is “never mind.”
Their next call isn’t until morning when they find a group of idiots who have cemented their friend’s head into a microwave. When the kid falls into a pool, Buck jumps in to save him without hesitation and Eddie is only a split second behind him.
Chim doesn’t think about it until they’re all back at the station and changing out for the end of shift, but he thinks that this particular level of drift compatibility between Buck and Eddie might be a bit of a dangerous thing.
When they’re all back in civvies, Eddie says goodbye to everyone and starts to leave, only for Buck to follow him out, calling, “Hey! Eddie! There’s a really great brunch place down the street if you want to grab something, maybe?”
Chim and Hen watch them go, and wait until they’ve both driven off – together, even if in separate vehicles – before commenting.
“They’re gonna give us all heart attacks, aren’t they,” Hen says, resigned.
“Oh yeah,” Chim agrees.
“At least Buck seems happier?” Hen asks.
“Small victories,” Chim replies. “I’ll see you on Thursday.”
“See you then,” she says, going back to cleaning her locker.
Chimney only makes it as far as the parking lot before he’s stopped dead in his tracks by a breathtakingly beautiful woman. He’s never been a poetry kind of guy, but he’s pretty sure he could wax poetic about the bright stars in her eyes for several days if pressed. It doesn’t hurt that she’s holding a large Tupperware of baked goods.
“How can I help?” Chim asks, swallowing his gum. There’s nowhere to spit it out and no way to do that in front of a pretty girl that doesn’t look tacky.
“I was actually looking for Evan Buckley,” she says. “I wanted to surprise him. He said he was having a kind of intense shift.”
Chimney feels an instant spike of envy, and then realises who she is.
“You must be Buck’s sister,” he says.
“I am,” she agrees. “Maddie Kendall. Well, Buckley, again, I guess.”
“I’m Chimney,” he says, offering her his hand to shake.
She balances the container of baked goods on one forearm and shakes his hand. “It’s nice to put a face to a name. Buck says you’re one of the best guys at the station.”
Chimney can’t help but smile at that. “That’s funny, I was just saying the same thing about him.”
Maddie laughs and Chimney is struck by the desire to make her laugh always.
He stands there, grinning at her like an idiot, for much longer than he should until Maddie finally says, “So, where would I find him?”
“Oh! Sorry! You just missed him,” Chimney says. “He already left for a brunch date with the probie.”
Maddie’s eyebrows lift, delighted. “A date?”
Chim shrugs. “I’m not sure either of them knows that part, but definitely.”
“How about I put these down somewhere and you tell me absolutely everything,” Maddie suggests, holding up the box of muffins.
“I don’t know if I should,” Chim says, showing her up the stairs to the loft where D shift are working on the coffee maker. “I kinda got in trouble for telling people things about him recently.”
“Mm, big sister’s prerogative,” Maddie says, happily accepting the cup of coffee Chimney offers her.
“Okay, but if he yells at me again, I’m blaming you,” Chimney says. He takes one of the muffins from the now open container and groans. So not only is she gorgeous and the best person ever by Buck’s estimation, she can also cook and she thinks Chimney is funny. “These are amazing.”
“Thank you,” Maddie says. “And I’m sure we can work something out about Buck re blame. So long as you dish.”
Chimney grins. “Deal.”
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chancelloramidala · 3 years
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Staring at the Sun ➤ Evan Buckley
Chapter Three: Why Heart? Why?
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Karen was in the kitchen doing the dishes when Hen came in grabbing a bottle of wine from the case and two glasses. “Hey, baby, who’s here?”
Hen shot her wife an exasperated look. “My co-worker, Marceline.” then she eyed the case of alcohol they had and debated if they would need something stronger.
“Oh, the brooder?” Karen raised a brow as she finally turned the water off after cleaning to soap suds off of the plates, recalling how her wife had gone on long tangents multiple times about the mysterious Marceline Pierce who held everyone at arm’s length.
“Yeah,” Hen chuckled before picking up a bottle of whiskey. Might as well go all in. “She ran here, I didn’t even know she knew where we lived.”
Karen shrugged with a small amused smile on her lips. “Maybe she just needs a friend right now. You go on now, I’ll put Denny to bed.” 
Hen smiled at Karen’s generosity. “Thanks, babe,” she walked over and gave her wife a quick peck on the lips before heading off towards the living room.
Marceline sat in one of the comfy chairs and hugged one of the throw pillows to her chest. She took in the living room she was in, focusing mainly on the pictures that littering the walls of Hen and her wife, Karen, and their son Denny. They looked like a happy family in her own opinion as a thought popped into her head, You’re disturbing their family time together, Marceline. Her head shot up when she heard Hen come in, carrying two bottles of alcohol and some glasses.
“Hey, um, sorry for intruding on you like this… I know you’re probably busy and shit,” Marceline fiddled with the frills on one side of the pillow she was hugging, feeling selfish for coming here in the first place.
“Pfft,” Hen shook her head as she walked over, laying the bottle of red wine and whiskey onto the coffee table before finally taking a seat across from her on the couch. “It’s fine, we already finished dinner and just cleaning up. It was just a little surprising but, I don’t mind, Marceline, really.” she gave the other woman a small smile that softened into a grin. “Plus, I didn’t really know what to expect so I brought both red and whiskey, take your pick.”
Marceline eyed Hen for a moment before slowly reaching for the whiskey and pouring herself a nice, long glass of amber liquid. Hen’s eyes widened at that, knowing very well that whiskey was strong as hell, and once she took a long sip, deciding that Marceline was spending the night here.
“Okay, so,” Marceline made a face after downing a whole glass of whiskey, the liquid burning her throat before staring at Hen. “I’m just going to put it all out there, um,” her eyes darted away from Hen’s nervously as she picked at her nails. “You were right earlier… about how I had an opinion on Buck and Abby… ‘cos like… I have a lot of opinions about them. Not necessarily… good ones… and um, the reason for my negative opinions is because, um,” she took in a deep breath before pressing her eyes shut. “I’m kind of... in love with Buck.”
So… that was not at all what Hen was expecting Marceline to tell her. Honestly, she was expecting some dark and mysterious from the other woman’s past that would explain her closed-off nature but… this was more than enough to suffice. 
But another unexpected thing just happened before Hen’s eyes: Marceline silently crying into a pillow she was hugging.
“Oh, honey,” Hen said softly and reached for a box of tissues nearby. “It’s okay, I’m glad you told me. Thank you for trusting me with that, I’m… honored.”
Marceline took a few tissues from the box Hen inched towards her and blew her nose. “I just,” she hiccuped for a moment and swallowed more of her pride. “I’m angry with myself for loving him because he’s taken now and I waited too long to tell him and it took me getting shot to realize that.” she huffed out as she let go of the pillow and started to dig her fingernails into her palm to prevent her from lashing out. “And I’m angry that he’s happy with Abby because I’m so fucking jealous of her.
“I want to be the one with Buck but I’m not. I’m just his emotionally distant co-worker who took two bullets for him. And I already told Nic this, all of it. She’s heard it from the start and I feel like I’m annoying her with my shit, especially my shit about Buck because she has her own shit to deal with and Gemma who is an absolute angel and now I’m probably annoying you with my shit because you have a wife and a kid and--”
“Alright, I’m going to have to stop you there, Marceline,” Hen put her hands up to try and stop her from rambling as she got up from her spot on the couch to sit on the chair next to her. But upon doing so, she saw Marceline wince back and held her hands up to cover to face… oh dear. She quickly lowered her hands onto her lap. “You’re not annoying me with your shit. I’m glad you want to talk to me about your shit, I really am. And I highly doubt Nic is annoyed about hearing you talk too. You just want to be heard, and I’m willing to listen to you.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered out like a child who was being scolded.
“You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for,” the older woman gently admonished before slowly reaching forward to put her hand over Marceline’s. 
She gave Hen a tiny smile as she squeezed her hand. “Thanks,”
Hen smiled softly. “Of course, but let’s start opening this wine, hm? Then we can talk about our boy Buck and how stupid he is. How about that?”
Marceline let a small laugh escape her lips. “Sure, that sounds fun. It’s better than moping alone. And hey, Karen can join us if she’d want and we can just shit on men because Buck lumps into the men category.”
Hen’s smile only grew at this and clapped her hands together. “Yes, this what we need. Okay, I’ll go get Karen who’s probably listening in from the kitchen if I’m going, to be honest, I’m sorry, she’s a little noisy,”
“I am not!” a voice indigently yelled from the kitchen.
“I rest my case.” Hen gestured to the kitchen doors before laughing softly. “Baby, come out here. Oh- wait! Bring some ice cream. We’re going full-on girl’s night right now.”
Karen then appeared with a few pints of ice cream and yet another bottle of wine and a big smile on her face. “Hi, I’m Karen, Hen’s wife. Sorry for eavesdropping earlier, but nothing ever interesting happens at our house at this time.”
Marceline grinned and waved a hand at Karen. “It’s okay, my emotional turmoil can be very entertaining. Nic would agree with you. And hello Karen, I’m Marceline, a co-worker of Hen’s, very nice to meet you.”
“Alright, enough with formalities.” Hen waved her hands around as she took a pint of rocky road ice cream and a spoon. “Let’s start shitting on men,”
“Okay, bet,” Marceline grinned as she got her own spoon and leaned forward to get a scoop of the rocky road ice cream from Hen’s pint. “Doesn’t it bother you when men…”
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In comparison to how Marceline has been feeling for the last couple of weeks, her mood has been significantly lighter for the past couple of days. Finally telling someone other than Nic about her feelings was good, and Hen was a great listener and advice giver. Plus, Karen seemed to take a quick liking to her and invited her over to dinner on Friday so that was great.
And today? Well, it’s going well so far. Marceline ran around the block early in the morning before taking Nic and Gemma to work and school. But no, not on her motorcycle as she’d prefer, but in Nic’s car since she had the day off. Before she had to pick up Gemma from school, she cleaned up around the apartment because yikes, it was a bit of a mess. Mostly due to Marceline, she’s a slob, which annoys the hell out of Nicolette, but yanno, doesn’t former girlfriend’s turned roommates and kind of co-parents have some things they don’t like about the other person?
So Marceline did the laundry, which included actually folding it, took the garbage out, and cleaned the bathroom just in time to pick up Gemma from school. Sadly, Nic had a late shift that would run till one a.m. and she said she would just take an Uber home.
And that meant that it was going to be a Marceline and Gemma day, which, in the six-year-old words were one of the best days ever. This was probably because Marceline was a bit more relaxed when it came to doing homework once they got home, but made sure to get it done before six, and allowed the young girl to eat ice cream as a snack.
She parked the car in one of the parking spots, before getting out and shutting the door. Marceline wore her red bomber jacket and blue-washed jeans, along with some black converses. She walked towards the back of the school, recalling how the pick-up was usually near the playground, and carefully weaved past other parents and children walking by.
“Auntie Marcel!” a high-pitched voice squeaked from the swings as Marceline walked closer to the playground.
The first responder grinned widely and jogged towards the swings. “There’s my little Gem!”
Gemma gave Marceline a big, toothy smile before jumping off the swings and running towards her. “Today was so cool, Marcel, I’m telling you. Science class was awesome, we made elephant toothpaste and I made mine purple!” she spat out facts about her day with so much enthusiasm that it was contagious.
“Whoa, really? That sounds pretty cool, Gem.” Marceline swiftly took the little girl’s sparkly pink backpack and put it over her shoulder as they walked towards Nic’s car. “Y’know, all I did was clean the apartment, nothing nearly as interesting as that.” she opened the backdoor for the six-year-old to get into and then placed her backpack on the floor.
Gemma giggled as she shook her head, getting into her booster seat and putting her seatbelt on all by herself. “That’s okay Auntie, we can have fun together. Maybe with… some ice cream?” she asked in her overtly sweet voice.
Marceline sighed and playfully rolled her two different colored eyes as she shut the backdoor and then sliding into her own seat. “I don’t know kiddo… your mom is kind of worried about your sugar intake lately.” she turned the key into the ignition as the car turned on and rumbled.
Gemma pouted, aghast at her Aunt’s reasoning. “But Mars! It’s our special ice cream trip, you always let me get ice cream right after school when you pick me up. It’s like-- tradition! Like how at Christmas we get a tree and put the decorations up together. You wouldn’t want Christmas without a tree, would you, Mars?”
She turned around in her seat and squinted at the six-year-old sitting behind her. “I feel like I’m being tricked. Did your mom put you up to this? Is she testing my boundaries as a guardian?”
“No! I just want my strawberry cheesecake ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and for us to sit under the tree while you drink your cookies and cream milkshake.” Gemma said in her matter-of-fact adult voice before continuing, “And then you help me climb the tree, sometimes you climb it with me, or wait at the bottom.”
Marceline was touched by how Gemma seemed to enjoy her time with Marceline, even if the time they spent together was limited at best. Not that she didn’t want to spend time with the little pipsqueak, but she tended to keep herself busy when she had days off. She’d leave the apartment, go to the bar, make out with someone at the bar and maybe go home with them. She’s already spent so much time bothering the Bishop girls for the past seven years with her existence and didn’t want to keep doing it on her days off.
“Fine, we’ll go, but--!”
“--Ha, butt,”
“We will go get ice cream, but you gotta super duper pinky promise me that you won’t tell your mom about it.” Marceline wagged her finger at the young girl before putting out her pinky finger. “We got a deal, munchkin?”
Gemma quickly nodded as she giggled softly. “Okay, Mars. We got a deal.” then she raised her little pinky finger and leaned forward in her seat before wrapping it around Marceline’s finger.
And then they were off to the ice cream shop jamming out to One Direction (along with some of the bandmate’s separate singles), a current favorite of the six-year-olds. After belting to Kiwi, they finally arrived at their destination. Gemma was so excited that she practically jumped out of the car before Marceline could even park.
When they walked up to the counter, Marceline sent the familiar teenage boy at the cash register a small smile. “Hey, Jerome,”
Jerome smiled back at her and leaned over the counter, displaying his freshly painted manicure that contrasted against his dark complexion. “Marcel! It’s so good to see you and this little gremlin,” he shot Gemma a playful grin as she stuck her tongue out at him. He laughed at the kid and started typing into the register, “You’re getting your usual, right? A medium strawberry shortcake in a dish with a cone on the side and rainbow sprinkles on top, and cookies and cream milkshake with whipped cream?” he shot off in his usual cheery voice.
“You know us too well, Jer,” Marceline grinned and nodded as she took out her wallet and handing him her card. After he took her card and swiped it, she took a good look at the teen in front of her while Gemma went off towards their usual picnic table under the big orange tree with Marceline’s phone to play some games while the adults talked, “So, how’s school going? Still thinking about going to NYU?”
He let out a loud groan and rolled his eyes dramatically, “Girl, I don’t know what I want to do with my life anymore, let me tell you.” But before he could continue, he shot of the order to his co-worker, Samantha who got to work on them and turned back around. “School is a pain in my behind as of late. I’m stressed out over this huge math test because I’m actually shit at math... and I still have to bust my ass at this job to save up for a place because I can’t keep staying at Alex’s house even though her parents say it’s fine.”
Marceline nodded carefully, hearing the clear annoyance and stress coming off of the eighteen-year-old. He had recently come out as transgender to his family, which immediately got him kicked out with nothing but the clothes on his back. Marceline had known Jerome before he came out through working at the ice cream shop throughout his high school years and became fast friends to the point where Marceline had gifted Jerome his first proper binder.
“Damn, I’m sorry to hear that, Jer.”
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault.”
“I know, but are you sure I can’t do anything to help? You know Nic is more than willing to let you stay on our couch for a bit. She loves you too.”
All Marceline wanted to do was wrap Jerome in bubble wrap and keep him safe from the world, but knew that realistically, she can’t.
Jerome shrugged his shoulders before handing their order to them. “It’s alright, I’ll figure something out.” 
She raised a skeptical brow at him. “Okay, but you have my number. Call me if you need anything, seriously.” She slowly took the tray from him.
“Will do, Marcel,” Jerome smiled lightly before blowing a kiss to her.
Marceline pretended to catch the kiss and chuckled softly as she turned around to walk over to Gemma. The six-year-old instantly put her phone down when Marceline slid next to her and gave her a big toothy smile. “Yay, ice cream time!” 
Gemma proceeded to inhale her entire ice cream while Marceline sat close by, idly sipping her milkshake and scrolling mindlessly on her phone. Gemma then launched into a long story about how her adventures at recess and how Lucas Mullens got gum stuck in his hair. Marceline, ever-so enthralled by an enchanting tale told by a child, nodded carefully as she diligently listened along and saved her questions till the end (by Gemma’s request of course).
Then it was Marceline’s turn to share a story, but this time from work. She decided on a lighter tale to tell the six-year-old when her team was on a call about a lady who had a snake wrapped around her throat. Gemma was instantly hooked, staring at her co-parent with big brown eyes filled with wonder. But she was saddened when she was told that the snake died by decapitation due to an impulsive Buck, deeming her co-worker “a menace” to all snakes.
Marceline tried to keep a straight face.
“What do you mean Buck cut the snake’s head off? It’s still a living thing, it didn’t need to die,” Gemma pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m telling you, Auntie Mars, he’s a menace. I learned that in school today.”
“Oh you did, did you?” she grinned and nudged the little girl with her elbow.
“Mars?” an all-too-familiar voice said behind her.
Marceline whipped her head around for the source of the voice, praying that her ears had betrayed her. But when her brown and green eyes landed on him, she wanted to turn to dust on the spot. “Buck, hey,” she plastered a fake smile, raising her hand to wave at him as her eyes also caught the redhead standing beside him. 
Buck walked towards them, causing Marceline to stand up and quickly run a hand through her hair because there was no way in hell she was prepared for this. 
“Didn’t expect to see you guys here,” she said, nodding her head amicably in Abby’s direction.
“Ah, well, I’m taking Buck out for the afternoon,” Abby said with a soft smile as she looked at the man beside her.
“And I was craving ice cream,” Buck added as he looped an arm around his girlfriend’s waist.
Marceline did her very best to make sure her eyes wouldn’t twitch. “That’s great, I’d recommend the milkshakes,”
Then there was a tug on her elbow, causing Marceline to look away from the lovesick couple before her and the little girl next to her. “Who are they?” Gemma whispered a little too loud, causing both Buck and Abby to grin. But before Marceline could properly respond, Gemma gasped and pointed at Buck, “Mars, he’s like a giraffe!”
If she was looking at a mirror, Marceline knew that her face would be bright red with utter embarrassment. “Gemma- oh my god,” she facepalmed and sighed, not even daring to look in their direction because what the fuck. “This is my co-worker Buck, the giraffe, and Abby, the giraffe’s girlfriend. Buck, Abby, this is Gemma, Nic’s daughter, and a public menace.”
“Hi,” Buck and Abby waved at Gemma with gleaming smiles.
Gemma gave Marceline an odd look. “What? Buck’s tall, like a giraffe. That’s why I called him a giraffe- wait,” the six-year-old halted before turning to look directly at Buck with her eyes turning to slits. “You’re the one who cut that snake’s head off in the story my Auntie was telling me!”
Abby stifled her laughter as Marceline wished that the ground beneath her would swallow her whole.
Buck, to his credit, laughed and nodded his head, “Yeah, uh, that wasn’t my finest moment at the LAFD, but I do regret that.”
Clearly, he was alluding to what happened right after that call and how he slept with the caller and got caught by Bobby. That was a mess.
Gemma eyed Buck. “You’re lucky you’re a giraffe,” and sad that in the most serious tone Marceline has ever heard a six-year-old use.
Again, laughter erupted. And, again, Marceline wanted to disappear at the sight of Buck and Abby being so happy together.
God, feelings fucking suck.
@skyslowalking​ & @beelarson​ once again, this is for you
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aliciameade · 4 years
Text
Tailor-Made
Title: Tailor-Made Author: aliciameade Rating: *** M *** Pairing: Stephanie Smothers/Emily Nelson Summary: Emily wears her suits like armor and they fit like a glove. Stephanie admires her ability to pull off the style so effortlessly and knows she could never do the same.
Emily disagrees.
Set somewhere in the first-half of “Baby.”
Also on AO3
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Perfect lines. 
That’s what Stephanie sees as she watches Emily tug at the waist of her blazer after shrugging it on. She’s had the pleasure of watching Emily dress many times over the past several weeks, almost always as a result of Stephanie undressing her first. She finds it almost as sensual as the preceding acts of lust they share because, despite the three-piece suits and pinstripes that Emily dons like armor, Stephanie knows what lies beneath, both figuratively and literally.
“How do you do that?” she asks from where she sits on the ottoman in Emily’s massive closet.
Emily meets her eyes in the mirror she’s facing and a smile touches her lips. “Do what?”
Stephanie herself has yet to get dressed; her skirt, sweater, and bra are still on the floor in the adjacent bedroom but she’s borrowed one of Emily’s many silk robes. Emily needs to get to the office; it’s late morning following their impromptu tryst. Emily had called Stephanie and told her to meet her at her house in ten minutes and to leave her underwear at home.
Stephanie hadn’t known where Sean was or when he would be back, but Emily’s initial vigor upon her arrival and discovery of Stephanie waiting for her (dressed, but sans underwear, as instructed) and how it gave way after Stephanie’s first quick orgasm to an hour of unhurried lovemaking told her Sean’s absence had been unexpected and could be for an extended period of time.  
“How do you look so good in that suit?”
“Baby,” Emily says with a smirk as she adjusts her pocket square, “I don’t look good in the suit; I make the suit look good.”
There’s not much Stephanie can say to that. She swallows thickly, arousal spiking again despite the three releases she was just given and she knows Emily can read it on her by the way her eyes burn into Stephanie’s through the mirror. “Yes, you do,” she says, having to clear her throat to get the words out.
She finishes checking her appearance and turns, taking slow, measured steps toward Stephanie, one hand in the pocket of her slacks until she stops in front of Stephanie.
Stephanie wets her lips and struggles to maintain composure. “It’s so unfair.”
“Why is that?” Emily asks and Stephanie watches as she brings her leg up to prop a gleaming black and white loafer next to Stephanie’s hip on the edge of the ottoman. As she leans down, she licks her thumb and Stephanie braces herself for whatever’s about to happen, but all Emily does is rub at what must be a spot of dirt on her shoe.
“Because,” Stephanie says after taking a shaky breath; if she leaned forward, her face could be between Emily’s legs...again. “I could never look that good in a suit.”
Emily regards her for a moment, then puts her foot back on the floor. “I’ll text you later.”
It’s a jarring, kind of cold response given the electricity that was flowing between them but she’s starting to learn to not take Emily’s bluntness too personally. She’s also learning there’s value in bluntness of her own. “I’m so wet, Em,” she says as she uncrosses her legs and lets the robe slip off her thighs.
There’s value in it because Emily never expects it and it shows in brief surprise that crosses her features before she once again appears stoic but Stephanie already knows she has her.
“One more,” Emily says, predictably, and drops to her knees in front of Stephanie, a sight she will never, ever tire of.
The impeccably tailored blazer gets tossed onto the ottoman next to Stephanie and she watches as Emily undoes the cufflink on her right wrist that she fastened just minutes earlier to neatly roll back her sleeve.
Stephanie parts her legs and leans back, though props herself up. She’s realized she’s going to get to watch Emily fuck her in the mirror and feels herself grow even wetter at the thought. “Just one?” she says, breath already quickening.
Emily’s quick, fingers sinking into Stephanie before she expected them to, and Stephanie’s moan is maybe a little pathetic with how needy it sounds.
“Just one,” Emily confirms, fingers setting a hard, quick pace fucking Stephanie before she ducks her head down to suck on her clit.
She’s already seconds from coming. “We’ll see,” she breathes before throwing her head back to groan as her orgasm rushes through her.
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
It isn’t just one.
It’s two.
Three, if you count the one Emily gives herself standing in front of Stephanie while Stephanie watches.
Four, if you count the one Stephanie gives herself while watching Emily.
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
Emily texts her later as she said she would.
306 Broadway, 8:00. Sean will watch Miles.
Stephanie resists immediately Googling what the location is, but she knows it’s somewhere downtown. There’s no information beyond the location and time but Stephanie can fill in the blanks. Meet Emily there.
Stephanie’s filled with excited anticipation as she always is when she knows she is about to see Emily, but it’s heightened this evening with the element of mystery that’s been added.
“You look nice, Mom,” Miles says when she exits the bathroom after finishing her hair and makeup.
“Thank you, Smooch,” she says with a smile and a ruffling of his curls. She hasn’t done much, really. Just a bit more mascara and eyeliner and some lipstick, but she knows it makes a noticeable difference, especially when paired with the light pink dress she’s wearing. She feels kind of like she’s about to go on a date; she wouldn’t mind it if that’s what it was. “Are you ready to go to Nicky’s for a bit?”
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
It continues to be a surreal experience every time she does to Emily and Sean’s home, even more so when Emily isn’t there. To have to speak to Sean, to thank him for babysitting her son while she goes to have what is surely a sexual rendezvous with his wife is not something she particularly enjoys.
(The speaking to Sean part, not the sexual rendezvous.)
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
306 Broadway, Stephanie discovers as she parks along the curb, is a nondescript building. It lacks signage and the windows it has have their curtains drawn for the evening.
Emily’s Porsche is there, though, already parked in front of Stephanie’s Suburu, so she knows she’s in the right place.
She checks her appearance in the rear-view mirror once more before she hops out of the car to cross the sidewalk. She’s unsure if she should knock or ring the buzzer (once she notices there’s a buzzer), but the door opens before she decides to do either.
“You’re late,” Emily flatly.
“No, I’m…” Stephanie checks her watch: 8:01 PM. “I’m...one minute late,” she agrees. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not,” Emily says sharply and Stephanie realizes what she’s said; it’s still a habit she’s trying to break. “Well, come in,” she continues as she steps aside to let Stephanie pass.
Stephanie’s brain is still trying to catch up with things: the mysterious location, Emily’s cool greeting, and her appearance (unbuttoned blazer and semi-casual end-of-workday appearance) while she takes in the room she’s stepped into.
It’s a warehouse of sorts, though not cold and gray. It’s lined with racks upon racks of clothing, all of it appearing to be high-end. There are a lot of sequins and sparkles, bright colors and deep, dark tones, dresses, tuxes, and suits.
“This is Dennis’s storage facility,” Emily says as though reading Stephanie’s mind. “Clothes from old photoshoots, fashion shows. Shit like that.”
“Wow,” Stephanie says, still taking it all in as she falls in step next to Emily who’s leading her further and further into the storage facility. “Why are we here, though, if I may ask?”
Emily glances at her and Stephanie can tell she’s trying to hide a smile. “This is Pierre,” Emily says with a nod ahead of them and Stephanie shifts her attention.
There’s a very well-dressed man waiting for them in an open area surrounded by mirrors a few small sofas, benches, dress mannequins, and tables covered with fabrics, scissors, and more of the like. 
“Pierre is my bespoke tailor,” she continues as they arrive in his area. “This is Stephanie,” she says as an introduction and Stephanie isn’t sure if she should stride forward and shake his hand or not. They are still an awkwardly far distance apart.
She settles on a wave. “Hello.”
“Pleased to meet you,” he replies; he carries a faint French accent, as though he perhaps spent the first 10-15 years of his life in the country before relocating to the U.S.
“Pierre is going to fit you.”
Stephanie looks up at her, still a bit confused, and furrows her brow.
“For a suit, baby,” she clarifies. She seems to notice the pet name slipped out when it shouldn’t have but when Stephanie looks back, blushing, to Pierre, he’s still just wearing a polite smile.
The numbers finally spring to life in her head, quickly adding up a massive price tag “Oh, no, I couldn’t—”
“Yes, you can,” Emily says curtly before swatting Stephanie’s rear end to make her yelp and hop forward. 
It gets her walking forward and she whips her head around to glare at Emily who is now smiling at her in a way that manages to ease all of Stephanie’s concerns.
“Hello,” she says again after stopping a few feet in front of Pierre.
He only nods and she watches his eyes roam her body; it feels invasive though oddly not violating. “What a figure,” he says to himself after a few seconds.
“I know, right?” Emily’s voice is behind Stephanie and she looks over Pierre’s shoulder to see her approaching and then taking a seat on a couch to Stephanie’s left. “Make her stop traffic.”
There’s a measuring tape draped around his shoulders that Stephanie notices once he starts sliding it off and into his hands. “It will be my pleasure.”
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
“Now, Ms. Nelson gave me your initial sizes in advance,” he says as he turns toward a rack full of pants, shirts, and jackets on hangers, “so let’s find pieces that you like and then we will get started.”
She wonders, for a moment as she follows him to the options, how Emily had that information to provide. Until she realizes that Emily has had ample opportunities to look at the tags and sizes in Stephanie’s clothing. To look in her closet, if she was so inclined. To map her body with her hands.
She realizes he’s waiting for her to make selections and almost apologizes for her mind wandering, stopping short of it when she feels Emily’s presence behind her.
“This one,” Emily’s smooth voice says as a white blouse passes by Stephanie to Pierre. “Both of these,” followed by two jackets. “And these,” and two pairs of pants.
“Very well,” Pierre says with a smile and Stephanie realizes all of the decisions have been made for her. “I have a dressing area just over here for privacy, if you’d follow me.”
There’s a hand at Stephanie’s back and she melts into it for a second before following him to a cream-colored curtain hanging along the rear wall that gives way to the largest dressing room Stephanie’s ever seen. The selected pieces are hung on an empty rack and Pierre excuses himself, leaving Stephanie alone in the room.
She isn’t surprised when Emily joins her and draws the curtain behind them. She’s equally unsurprised when Emily reaches for the zipper on the back of her dress to draw it down. She watches Emily lean down the mirror and feels her warm, soft lips in the back of her neck she’s exposed by lifting Stephanie’s hair out of the way.
It makes her shiver and she tries not to let her instantaneous arousal be too obvious even as Emily’s hands ease the dress down her arms until Stephanie’s stepping out of it. She watches Emily hang it on a spare hanger and return with the white blouse. Stephanie can already tell it’s been pressed crisp, the lines in the sleeves sharp.
“This is going to be too expensive, Em,” she says as she slips her arms into those crisp sleeves while Emily helps.
Emily just shushes her and watches over Stephanie’s shoulder while she buttons the shirt, stopping a few from the top as Emily’s hands start fiddling with the collar, then smooths her hands over Stephanie’s shoulders.
She’s handed a pair of dark charcoal gray pants and steps into them; by now she knows how this is going and just holds her hands up and out of the way while Emily tucks her shirt in, hands warm and sure as they smooth the rich fabric down Stephanie’s waist to her hips and the tops of her thighs where the shirt ends. For as long as Emily’s hands are down the front and back of Stephanie’s pants making her heart race, they withdraw before bringing her any relief.
The jacket follows and she shrugs into it while Emily smooths its lines and tugs at the cuffs and flaps, evaluating things with a keen eye in the mirror.
It’s a strange transformation, Stephanie thinks as Emily slips her hair out from where it’s caught beneath the jacket’s collar, to see herself dressed this way. She’s compelled to straighten her spine (not that she would ever slouch!) and stand taller, to hold her head higher.
“Perfect,” Emily says, voice in her ear as she reaches around Stephanie’s waist to button the jacket for her.
She finally steps in front of Stephanie, then, turning to work more with her collar until it sits how Emily deems is correct. Emily’s focus is intense and it only raises Stephanie’s blood pressure further. Having Emily’s hands on her so much, gliding over her arms, down her torso (she knows Emily didn’t have to move that slowly over her breasts), her hips, her backside, all under the guise of deciding if the chosen pieces were good starting points for tailoring makes her head spin a bit.
“Pierre,” Emily calls, “would you mind running to the office? We need that savoy blue tie they were working on today.”
Stephanie’s heart, already beating at a clip, starts to race.
“Of course,” comes the reply followed by the jingle of keys. “I’ll lock up behind me; shouldn’t be too long.”
“Take your time,” Emily replies, though her voice has dropped considerably in volume as her eyes hold Stephanie’s.
Stephanie parts her lips to question the obvious but Emily’s mouth is on hers before she can ask.
Yes, they really are going to do this year, is the answer she feels as Emily’s tongue slips into her mouth.
“You look amazing,” Emily breathes before kissing Stephanie harder.
She holds tight to Emily’s shoulders to keep her footing. Emily’s hands are everywhere. They follow the same paths they had been so recently, but now they are heavy and greedy, grabbing and pulling at her.
As abruptly as Emily had grabbed her, she retreats, taking a few long steps backward while she unbuttons her own blouse, shucking it and her jacket in one move. There’s a chaise lounge in the corner that she’s heading toward and Stephanie follows, hands moving to shed her own clothing.
“Leave it on,” Emily says...or commands. Or...requests?
She’s staring at Stephanie so hotly she’s not sure she won’t be set on fire as a result.
“Leave it on and fuck me.”
The confidence and power that had been simmering from the way Emily regarded her in the expensive suit rush through her like a drug as she quickens her steps to catch up, hands immediately moving to Emily’s pants to undo them.
“This is a turn-on for you?” she asks; it’s rhetorical but Emily nods anyway as Stephanie pushes her slacks over her hips to fall to the floor.
Neither bothers to deal with Emily’s shoes or get the pants off her completely; Stephanie just puts a hand in the center of her chest and pushes to watch Emily willingly drop onto the lounge behind her and lean back. Her thighs fall open and it takes Stephanie no time at all to make her decision.
She falls to her knees and runs her hands up Emily’s legs until she reaches the heat between them. Together, her thumbs draw a line down the front of her underwear, a black thong that is already soaked. It prompts a whine from Emily and Stephanie glances up to find her, eyes wild and face flushed, staring intently at her.
She thinks back to that morning and all the previous times Emily in her impeccable suits and what it did to Stephanie to watch her shed the pieces, or adjust them to be more forgiving so she could fuck Stephanie more freely.
It’s with that in mind that she keeps her eyes locked on Emily’s as she withdraws her hands so she can move them to the collar of her shirt and unbutton it where it sits tightly against her throat. There’s a flash of hunger in Emily’s eyes and she unbuttons a second, then a third button, and a fourth until Stephanie knows her cleavage should be visible.
Then her hands are back on Emily, once again running up her thighs. She leans down to let her mouth follow, dropping kisses along the way until her fingers are curling into the scrap of ruined fabric to move it out of her way.
She touches Emily first with her tongue and watches as she slumps further into the lounge.
Her own arousal is maddening, pounding in her ears and between her legs.
She works to hold her composure, though. She wants to maintain the calm power of control Emily seems to so easily wield over Stephanie when their roles are reversed. She teases her, though doesn’t withhold too much, tongue never leaving the wet, swollen flesh that Emily is offering to her more and more desperately as her hips tilt and lift.
She grows hot in the clothing; none of it is particularly breathable, but Emily’s apparent inability to look away pushes such a basic discomfort far to the back of her mind.
Sometimes, and Stephanie hates to admit it, she lets herself think that maybe Emily doesn’t think about her when they have sex. It’s entirely possible she fantasizes about another person; Stephanie would have no way of knowing.
Except now: right now, Emily is consuming Stephanie’s presence as much as Stephanie is consuming her body, the connection between them right now more than that of Stephanie’s tongue. Deeper than Stephanie’s tongue even as it reaches inside Emily before being replaced by her fingers as it moves back to her clit.
“Don’t stop,” Emily breathes; she’s anything but quiet but they are alone. Stephanie would never want to silence her anyway. Emily coming undone, unrestrained (well, mentally), and uncaring is a sound that rings a bell deep within Stephanie’s chest.
Of course, she has no intention of stopping. Not while Emily is dripping off her fingers nor while her clit is so swollen she cannot possibly resist capturing it between her lips to suck on it while her tongue continues to work it in her mouth.
Emily’s hands are dug into the chaise; they anchor her while her hips thrust, as Stephanie’s own buck with need, both growing wilder and losing their rhythm until it’s a mad, untamed race to a finish that soaks Stephanie’s hand and makes her groan into Emily as orgasm overtakes both of them.
“Fuck,” Emily says after a few minutes of labored breathing.
Stephanie’s barely moved, Emily’s thigh serving as a pillow while they recover. “Mhm,” she hums in agreement while she gathers herself until she can lift her head.
“Fuck,” Emily repeats, this time as a breathy laugh. She reaches, arm appearing heavy, for her own jacket where it landed on the chaise and fumbles around until she’s tossing the pocket square Stephanie had watched her fold and place that morning down toward her. “You’re a mess.”
It takes her a moment to realize what she means, then both notices and blushes. Raw lust now fading, what they just did starts to let her self-consciousness back in, though she manages not to apologize.
She realizes as she uses the colorful square of fabric to wipe Emily’s arousal first off her face and chin, then off her hand, she doesn’t have anything to apologize for. No one has been offended. In fact, Emily’s watching her like she just gave her the world.
“I guess that means you like the suit?” she says, the realization giving her renewed confidence after a brief moment of faltering.
“I love it,” Emily says, back arching in a stretch that makes her spine pop a few times. “Now take it off.”
“Take it off?” Stephanie looks down at herself and frowns.
“I’m not going to have Pierre tailor that one; it smells like sex.”
That makes Stephanie blush despite the confidence but she does laugh. “Oh, my God.”
“Put on the other suit I brought you. There’s a vest with it. And clean that snatch up; I know you’re a mess and he’s going to be face to face with it.”
“What?!”
“He has to be to tailor the pants, baby,” Emily says, brain function and motor control almost back at one hundred percent. “You’ll be wearing the pants,” she adds.
“Oh, thank God,” Stephanie exhales in relief.
Emily laughs but it doesn’t feel as though she’s mocking Stephanie’s ignorance; rather, she seems to be delighted by it. “Now, hurry up.”
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
Stephanie hasn’t been as physically close to a man as she is with Pierre in a very long time. Her discomfort must be noticeable because Emily’s wearing a very amused look when she turns to look at her while he crouches in front of her, running the tape along her inseam. She’s also highly paranoid as she is wearing no underwear (they were completely ruined) he is spending far too much time inches away from her personal area.
She feels a bit like a rag doll the way he positions and measures her, and it’s a relief when he indicates he’s finished. It was a lot of focused attention on her but, she realizes, the constant discomfort did help move her mind away from replaying the vision of Emily asking Stephanie to fuck her.
The suit, this one black, is covered in chalk marks and pins and she knows Emily’s hands aren’t going to be roaming it any time soon.
“You can change,” Pierre says when he’s finished his work. 
“Wait,” Emily says, pushing away from where she’d been leaning against a table, watching his work. There’s a strip of blue fabric in her hand and she takes Pierre’s place in front of Stephanie.
She notices Pierre makes himself scarce, back turned as he busies himself with transferring the notes he’s taken into a computer.
“I need to see if I was right,” Emily says as she slips the necktie around Stephanie’s shoulders.
Emily’s cheeks still hold a faint blush from their recent activity and it warms Stephanie. Neither of them speaks while Emily works on the tie, flipping it under her collar and tying it with easy expertise despite doing it backward. She tucks it until Stephanie’s vest once it’s tied and then tugs on the knot, wiggling it until she deems it correct.
She takes a few steps back to survey the work that’s been done, both her own and Pierre’s, and nods. “I was right. It matches your eyes perfectly.” She smiles.
Stephanie blushes so hard she wishes she could hide but Emily’s smile, both soft and the tiniest bit sensual, stops her from running.
“This is perfect, Pierre, thank you,” Emily says to break the moment. “I’ll help you change; it’s a bitch getting out of these things when they’re full of pins.”
Emily follows her into the changing room and Stephanie’s hit with a maddening dose of deja vu. She expects Emily to initiate something once again but instead, she undresses Stephanie with attentive care until the pieces are hung to be customized.
She helps Stephanie back into her dress with equal care and, once she’s zipped, leans down to draw Stephanie into a slow, soft kiss that makes her sigh from how good it is.
Emily withdraws, hand still framing Stephanie’s face, and she draws her thumb across her lips in a gesture of gentle intimacy and whispers, “You’re going to stop traffic.”
The End
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elusive---ivory · 4 years
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Circus Act - 15
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Y'all ALREADY KNOW!!!!! PART 15!!!
Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Sandy couldn't help but feel a slight pain in her chest. Perhaps, second-guessing herself and her relationship with Arthur. The fact that see could see a different person in Arthur's eyes gave her chills. Of course, she adored him. Arthur was all she had.
She bit her lip, unlocking her apartment door. To her surprise, Des was already in the apartment, sitting on the couch.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sandy sneered. She see a reason for Des to even be here.
"Sandy. I was wondering where you were. I've been expecting your apology for quite some time now." Des's smile was so smug, it was unbelievable.
"I don't have shit to say to you." Sandy hissed, throwing her car keys on the kitchen counter.
"Come on. It was one time, besides you've obviously moved on. Kinda, geez, you've downgraded." Des commented, looking at a picture of Sandy and Arthur. She continued, "I understand that the gala was a disaster. I mean, how else would I expect you to act. You're insane, Sandy."
Sandy couldn't stand more of this. Des was so snarky, so fucking rude. She grabbed a small knife and hid it behind her back.
"I had to protect him, Sandy. I was sure that you of all people would understand, but clearly you don't." Des huffed. "But, I tried. I tried to be apart of your life. Dennis was way out of your league anyway. I don't get it."
"You're right." Sandy said, blankly. "I didn't need Dennis."
"That's right. See? You're getting it." Des smiled, walking into the kitchen.
"Yeah, I am. You were right all along, Des. I can't believe I didn't see it sooner." Sandy smiled, pulling Des into a tight hug.
Des smiled nervously, trying to push Sandy away. "Yeah? So you forgive me?"
"Yeah, I forgive you, Des." Sandy proceeded to stab Des in the back with the knife. Des slowly felt to the ground with an emotionless shock on her face. Sandy continued stabbing the already deceased woman that laid there on her kitchen floor.
The blood stained her dress as Sandy looked at herself in the mirror. Her glasses laid in front of her, broken. She had accidentally threw them off her face.
Sandy started to laugh. Why was she laughing? She had just murdered someone that had been so close to her for years. Sandy didn't know either.
But, she felt happy. Like a weight was lifted off her shoulders.
She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. 'Who am I?' Sandy thought to herself. She smiled to herself. She knew exactly who she was.
She stepped into the shower, feeling all the blood drip down her skin.
She then remembered. The Murray Franklin show. Sandy raced to her bedroom and turned on the television.
Arthur sat in the backstage dressing in full suit and makeup, chuckling to himself of the chaos that was displayed on the news.
He knew he caused it. He caused all of it. Arthur inhaled the smoke from his cigarette, as a gentle tear fell, dripping from the blue triangle that was painted just below his eye.
'You look ravishing.' Sandy told him in his head. He imagined her right next to him, and knowing she'd be watching him on television made him feel proud. This made him smile.
He imagined Sandy's hands on his suit, gazing up at him with her big eyes. He sat in a red chair next to a mirror, with writing in lipstick, saying "PUT ON A HAPPY FACE".
Murray Franklin then walked onto Arthur's dressing room.
"Murray." Arthur gasped. It was all unreal to him.
"Hey, it's Mr. Franklin to you, pal." Murray's manager said, rudely.
"Come on, Gene. That's all bullshit." Murray said, brushing him off.
"Thank you, Murray. I feel like I know you. I've been watching your show forever." Arthur said, remaining his composure.
"Thank you," Murray said, "So, what's with the make up? Are you part of the protest?"
"Oh no, Murray," Arthur shook his head, "I don't believe in that. I don't believe in anything."
"I just thought it would be good for my act." Arthur smiled.
"For your act? Didn't you hear? Some clown got killed-" Gene was cut off by Murray, brushing him off again.
"He's heard." Murray said.
"No, I haven't heard." Arthur intervened.
Gene sighed, frustrated. "This is what I'm telling you. The audience is gonna go crazy if you put this guy onstage. This good for a bit, but not a whole segment."
"Gene, it's gonna work. It's gonna work." Murray reassured.
Arthur started feeling gitty. "Thank you, Murray." He said, chuckling a bit.
"Got a few rules though. No cursing, no off-color material." Murray said, just before leaving the room. "Good luck."
"Wait, Murray. One small thing?" Arthur stopped him. "When you bring me out, could you introduce me as Joker?"
"Why not just use your real name?" Gene commented.
"That's what you called me on the show. A joker." Arthur said, ignoring Gene. "You remember?"
Murray looked confused for a second, turning towards Gene. "Did I?"
Gene shrugged. "I don't know."
"Well, if you say so, kid. Joker it is. I like it. It's good." Murray said, walking out the dressing room door.
Arthur smiled. "Thanks, Murray."
Once everyone left, Arthur was alone with himself. The excitement and build up in him grew. He took out a small box from out of his pocket.
A small ring sat in the velvet cushion. He smirked at it. Arthur put the small box away. He leaned back in the chair, taking out his pistol. The tip touched the bottom of his chin. Arthur felt at peace for just one moment.
It was time for Arthur to go onstage. He stood just behind the curtains, hearing the audience laugh at him. Arthur stared intently at the small crease of light, peering through the blue and gold curtains. Time seemed frozen. Everything seemed still. There seemed to be no one besides him and his cigarette.
Then, the music began to start.
Back in her apartment, Sandy was growing impatient for Arthur to show. She sat through each commercial, waiting for his segment.
Sandy sat on her bed intently staring at the television, with a cigarette lit in her shaking hand. Blood was trailed down the hall and into her bedroom. She had to get rid of Des somehow. Why not stuff her in the closet? That's where she belonged, right? Sandy's little joke made her giggle.
Beside her was one of the many clown masks the protesters were handing out. She took a drag of the cigarette.
Arthur's segment began. Sandy glared at the people who laughed at him.
It made her furious. She held onto the cigarette tightly, nearly breaking it.
"So, you might've seen that clip of our next guest. Now, before he comes out, I just wanted to say that we're all heartbroken about what's going on in the city tonight, but this is how he wanted to come out. I honestly believe we could all use a good laugh. So, please welcome Joker." Murray announced.
Sandy's eyes brighten as Arthur was introduced onstage. She smiled widely, seeing him twirl around onstage. She was greatly shocked, when Arthur kissed Dr. Sally. Sandy smirked. 'That son of a bitch.' She thought.
She burned out her cigarette, and continued to pay attention to the show.
"Are you alright, Doctor?" Murray said, on the television.
Arthur was mesmerized by the florescent lights, the audience and the stage. It was almost exactly perfect.
Murray raised an eyebrow. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah", Arthur nodded, "this is exactly how I imagined it."
"Well, that makes one of us." Murray shrugged.
The audience roared and applauded.
"So, can you tell us about this look?" Murray asked. "When we talked earlier, you mentioned that this look was not a political statement."
"That's right, Murray. I'm not political." Arthur chuckled. "I'm just trying to make people laugh." He said, in somewhat funny voice.
The audience stayed silent.
"And how that going for ya?" Murray commented.
And, of course, the audience laughed.
Arthur laughed, mocking the audience.
"So, do you got anyone watching here tonight? Any family members?" Murray asked.
Arthur stated quit for a second, still smiling. "I don't have anyone. Just my Sandy. Hi, honey." Arthur waved at the camera.
The audience awed, slightly.
"How do does Sandy feel about your career in comedy?" Murray asked.
"She loves it. She says I'm the funniest guy in Gotham." Arthur flaunted.
Murray laughed. "Okay."
The audience began to roar again.
Arthur began to look fed up.
"Well, surely, you have a joke for us tonight." Murray suggested.
The audience began applauding.
"Yeah?" Arthur chuckled. "Okay." He got out his journal.
Murray began to laugh at it. "He's got a book. A book of jokes."
Arthur stared at the page silently. The air seemed still.
While Sandy was watching, she could feel his discomfort. She wanted to hold Arthur in her arms, but he was all the way in downtown Gotham.
She grew furious.
"Take your time, you've got all night." Murray commented.
Arthur smirked. "Okay, I've got one. Knock, knock."
"And you had to look that up." Murray laughed.
The audience continued to laugh and praise Murray for his jokes.
"I wanna get it right." Arthur said, softly. "Knock, knock." He repeated.
"Who's there?" Murray replied.
Arthur began chuckling, slightly. "It's the police, ma'am. Your son's been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead."
The audience booed him.
"No, no, no. We don't joke about that." Dr. Sally scolded.
Sandy glared at the television, gritting her teeth. Her hands were balled into fists.
"Yeah, that's not funny, Arthur. That's not the kind of humor we do on this show." Murray said.
Arthur giggled nervously. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It just. It's been a rough couple of weeks, Murray."
"Ever since I," Arthur paused for a second, staring at the camera, "ever since I killed those three Wallstreet guys."
The audience gasped, and whispers scattered across the floor.
"Okay, I'm waiting for the punchline." Murray said.
"There is no punchline. It's not a joke." Arthur confessed.
The audience gasps grew louder, along with a few people telling him to get off the stage.
Sandy's anger shifted. 'What the hell is he doing?' Sandy thought to herself.
"You're serious aren't you? You're saying you killed those three young men?" Murray asked.
"Mmhmm." Arthur mumbled, confirming it to be true.
"And why should we believe you?" Murray asked, again.
"I've got nothing left to lose. Nothing can hurt me anymore." Arthur said, blankly.
'Nothing?' Sandy thought. She felt the anxiety build up in her chest.
Arthur began to chuckle. "My life is nothing, but a comedy."
The audience booed some more.
"So let me get this straight. You think that killing those guys is funny?" Murray asked, in shock.
"I do, and I'm tired of pretending it's not. Comedy is subjective, Murray, isn't that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much, you decide what's right or wrong. Just like how you decide what's funny, or not." Arthur said.
Murray looked at him confused. "I think I might understand that you did this to start a movement. To become a symbol?"
"Come on, Murray. Do I look like the kind of clown to start a movement?" Arthur turned towards the audience. "I killed those guys because they were awful. Dennis was awful. Everybody is awful these days. It's enough to make anyone crazy." Arthur said, glaring at the audience.
"So, your crazy? That's your excuse for killing three young men?" Murray began getting upset.
"No. They couldn't carry a tune to save their lives." Arthur laughed.
Sandy couldn't see Arthur, anymore. The man onstage was someone new. Someone she had met. A charming devil in a red suit. She had to do something.
The audience booed Arthur some more.
He groaned. "Ugh, why is everybody so upset about these guys? If it was me dying on the sidewalk, you'd walk all over me. I pass you every day, and you don't notice me, but these guys, because Thomas Wayne, cried about them on tv."
"So, you have a problem with Thomas Wayne?" Murray questioned.
"Yes, I do. Have you seen what it's like out there, Murray? Do you ever leave the studio? Everybody just YELLS and SCREAMS at each other. Nobody's CIVIL ANYMORE. Nobody thinks what it's like to be the other guy. You think men like Thomas Wayne, ever think about what it's like to be a guy like me? To be somebody, but themselves. They DON'T. They think that we'll just sit HERE and TAKE IT, like good little boys, and we WON'T WEREWOLF, and GO WILD."
Through the television screen Sandy could feel Arthur choking back tears. She placed her hand over her mouth. She bit it, just slightly, so that she couldn't cry.
"Are you finished?" Murray cut Arthur off. "There's so much self pity, Arthur. Not everyone, and I'll say this, not everyone is awful. This Sandy, you were saying earlier. Surely, she's not awful."
Arthur glared at Murray. "You're awful, Murray."
"Me, I'm awful? How am I awful?" Murray said, defensive.
"Playing my video. Inviting me on the show. You just wanted to make fun of me." Arthur said. His voice was low, like the rage seeping in his eyes.
"You're just like the rest of them." Arthur continued.
"You don't know the first thing about me, pal. Look at what you did. What it lead to. There are riots out there. Two policemen are in critical condition because of what you did. And you're laughing." Murray said.
Arthur began laughing. "I know. How about another joke, Murray?"
"No, I think we've had enough of your jokes." Murray turned over to his manager, Gene, telling him to call the police.
"What do you get when you cross a mental ill loner with a society that ABANDONS him and treats him like TRASH? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU GET. YOU GET WHAT YOU FUCKING DESERVE." Arthur blinked as he shot Murray Franklin in the head.
The audience began screaming, and running out of the studio.
Sandy gasped, collapsing to the ground. What she had witnessed was the beginning of something much larger than her and Arthur.
Taglist: @princessgeekface, @jokerflecker, @gloomyladyy, @memory-mortis, @joker-flecked-me, @mr--clown
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Text
7 Free day [Songs]
F!ve Christmasses
<*buckle up*>
A Christmas that never was
A - Another Christmas, Another empty house, Another reason,There is no Santa Claus, May all your Christmasses be white,Though mine are blue, It's just another Christmas without you
Buck took another swig from his glass that matched his eyes. Not that he could notice that with how watery they were now.
Who was he to ask them to stay though?
The music station he'd landed on was ironically perfect for how he felt but horrible at the same time.
What was he supposed to have told them even if he did? 'Take me with you'?
Buck looked at a picture of Christopher and Eddie from when they went to the zoo together a while back.
A ding interrupted the song as he saw Eddie had sent a message to everyone. It was a picture of Christopher smiling on his back holding a snowball. How cute?
A drop of water fell upon his screen and for a second Buck thought it was his A.C. until he realized no it was him.
Where did the empty hole in his chest come from?
It was just another couple of days then things would go back to normal. Right?
Maddie and Chimney were on their honeymoon. Hen and Karen had their new child who was warming to them and Denny. Bobby and Athena had May back with them and Harry and were celebrating Michael's recovery.
When would he finally be able to do something about his feeling?
Buck took the bottle and before he could have a second thought downed the half that was left, straight into the sink. He wouldn't put Bobby through seeing him like this, had to stop it now before. Just before.
He grabbed some water and began his trek up the stairs letting the darkness claim the lower floor.
Sip after slow sip Buck got his eye's clearer. He sent a "hope you're having fun, give my little bud a hug for me please" before silencing his phone.
Feeling emotional drained even when he'd done was nothing but sit around and cry for a bit Buck settled into bed. His comforter welcomed him not like a warm hug but as a hollow one.
12:01 am. The clock read. "Merry Christmas." He whispered to no one.
In the morning he'd be fine. He'd shower get to work and go to the party he'd been invited to later. Alone.
But for now he just needed to sleep. To forget about how miserable he felt for a couple of hours.
It wasn't anyone's fault.
Why did they have to leave?
He missed them so much. Did they miss him too? He wished they'd come back as his thoughts drifted into sleep.
A Christmas that was meant to be
β - Feeling Christmas all around, And I'm trying to play it cool, but it's hard to focus when I see you walking around the room, let it snow, it's blasting now, but I won't get in the mood, I'm avoiding every mistletoe until in know, it's true love that he thinks of, so next Christmas, I'm not all alone, boy
"Where did all the mistletoe go?" Chimney asked Hen as they walked upstairs.
Buck was sitting with Eddie. This two day Christmas was looking to be a dull one.
No very close or exciting calls but they weren't complaining on this Christmas eve. They'd be home for a bit tomorrow but back in later on in the day.
"Yeah. I noticed that too. Did Bobby tell you anything about it?" Eddie asked looking back at Buck.
"Huh? No. Maybe we lost a few last year or they were getting old and falling apart." Buck shrugged while sipping some hot chocolate Bobby made earlier.
They wouldn't find where Buck had stashed them. Well not till after Boxing day and it'd be too late by then. No kiss grenades this holiday season.
Eddie got up to get himself a cup as Buck's eyes never left him. Hen and Chim may have seen him but they didn't say anything though however painful it was to watch.
"So buck, you coming with Maddie and me for Christmas or ya got other plans?" Chim asked from hiding his hand of cards from Hen.
"Yeah. Probably party hop. Think Eddie's gonna have his abuela over and said I was welcome to swing by. How 'bout y'all Hen?"
"We're going to Athena's to drop off some gifts and visit for a bit then it's a movie marathon while watching Denny play with the new stuff he gets this year."
Eddie came back to sit by Buck taking a good warm gulp.
"Mhm. It's no Abuela hot chocolate but Bobby made it pretty good." He hummed sitting closer as they watched a rerun on t.v..
The alarm blared as Bobby came out of his office.
"Snow machine buried a guy who was drunk on the job. We're closest, let's go."
Buck didn't plan for the others finding the mistletoe hidden under spare heat blankets in the storeroom when they got back.
"Weren't you the last one on cleanup duty?" Hen said looking at him from over the box.
"Oh! That's where they were. I must have came to get something and forgot. Good thing too with all the cold and flu going around really." Buck looked anywhere but at the team as Bobby took the box and placed it in his arms.
"Well it's a good thing we found them before Christmas was over huh? Why don't you go finishing hanging them like I told you to before and I'll get started on dinner." His words left no room for protest even if buck never would anyways.
When he was done putting up the box Eddie laughed at him. "What's so funny?" Buck had to ask.
"This your way of telling people to kiss your ass?" Eddie asked pointing behind Buck.
He felt the mistletoe he'd forgotten in his back pocket. "No. I'm just distracted I guess" buck shook his head.
"You feeling okay?" Eddie asked coming over to feel his forehead.
"Don't dad me. I won't hear the end of it from Bobby." He joked.
"Can't wait to be off so we can relax with mi Abuela and Christopher tomorrow man."
"Well we've only got a couple hours. With any luck we'll be out before the next big call."
As fate would have it buck jinxed them with a house fire from someone deep frying their turkey in the middle of their dinner at the firehouse."I'm sorry." Buck said as they were on their way.
"Not your fault the universe likes picking the worst time Buck." With the fire out they were able to go home.
Buck went to his and picked up some clothes before going to spend the night at Eddie's to Chris's surprise. It was a good Christmas.
"Mistletoe Buck" Christopher shouted as he came back with popcorn before they opened a gift at midnight.
Buck froze as Eddie kissed his cheek then continued into the living room.
He winked at buck but before he could ask they were fully into opening all their gifts except the ones that Abuela would be bringing over. Buck had to ask him later if that was a one time thing.
A Christmas that almost wasn't
− · − ·  / I'll find my way back home, And light up every tree, We will hang our stockings for you and one for me, 'Cause Santa called me to make sure I'm prepared, He said "Pack your bags and tell them You'll be there",
Buck could put up with anything for them, he would put up with everything for them. Once he was done he'd be coming home.
His dad's passing right now was like one final act of spite against them. Buck didn't care about their inheritance, or the house, or the cars. But responsibility fell on him with mom gone and Maddie in her current state.
At least one of them had to come and with Maddie pregnant he'd bit the bullet. He always would.
Their dad wasn't some monster, more so a ghost before he was even dead. Buck barely remembered much of the time they spent together.
He'd been here since the beginning of December. One week became two and a half and he was getting desperate. With the funeral already long passed and only the house left he was glad they'd been understanding of Maddie skyping for the reading the will.
It was lucky someone already wanted the house and the cars weren't something he'd wanted buck to have anyways.
Now all he had to do was get to the airport for the first flight from Hershey to Los Angeles.
A snowstorm chose two days before Christmas to stop Buck's in his tracks. He stayed at the airport praying that he'd make it home but doubtful with what the news said.
He eyed one of the cleaning staff messing with a Christmas tree as he was throwing away his water.
"Come on. Please. Why do you do this every year?" The young guy had muttered as he tried turning it on again.
"Need some help?" Buck asked coming over.
"No. Sorry sir. The tree's just being finicky." He checked the plugs but it wasn't working.
"Have you seen if any of the bulbs are loose?" Buck asked whilst looking at it.
"What?!"
"If people touch it while walking by they could have messed up a bulb. All it takes is one sometimes to mess up a whole string of lights."
Buck helped him look as within a minute bits were back alight. "Holy shit. Sorry I didn't mean to say that. You know your stuff mister."
Buck laughed. He couldn't be more than a couple years older than this guy.
"Yeah. We used to have people decorate our house a lot. You pick up on things even if it's just watching people work." With that Buck moved back to his seat.
He looked at his phone to see a new message. It was a picture of Christopher standing next to a hanging shelf on the wall where their stockings were. His was on the other side of Chris's opposite Eddie.
"We miss you. Can't wait for you to get back. Christopher says to make sure to tell you we love you." Buck reads as he holds his phone closer to his chest as if it's the last source of warmth in a frozen land.
"Just my luck. Snowstorm. I'll tell you as soon as we're about to leave. I'm coming back, one way or another."
Buck fell asleep somehow in those chairs after securing his bag and phone.
He woke to a person dressed as Santa shaking his shoulder. "What?" He said groggy.
"Shh." They covered their lips and beckoned Buck to follow. Buck's body was on autopilot as he followed.
Santa silently pointing at a single present under the tree. Buck hesitated to pick it up and read his name.
As Santa urged him to open it with a wave of his hand, Buck did so.
It was a little ceramic firefighter figurine that looked like him. The kind you put in a little village on a table.
Buck looked up from his hand but Santa was gone. The next thing he noticed was waking up to people talking.
"Flight 811 now boarding." Buck jumped up too quickly as he moved to get in line. With the snowstorm subsiding even for a while he hoped they'd make it out.
He felt around for the figurine but it wasn't anywhere as he looked to where he was seated.
After texting Eddie that he'd had the weirdest dream but he had to turn off his phone soon for the flight the plane took off.
Buck made it home for Christmas eve with a few hours left to spare.
He got to the house just before 11 to Eddie already opening the door pulling him inside for a kiss.
"God I missed you."
"I missed you too. Both of you."
"Christopher's asleep. Take a shower and let's sleep. He's gonna love seeing you in the morning Buck." Eddie brought his bag over to their room as Buck hopped in the shower.
Buck was already asleep in the bed once he'd dried off in only his towel.
Eddie shook his head getting boxer briefs on him so Christopher wouldn't be seeing him naked in the morning. In their rush he couldn't ask Buck about his dream but it didn't sound bad so it could wait.
Christopher was shaking buck awake shouting you're finally back it's Christmas it's Christmas buck! It was the best way to wake up.
"Presents!" Christopher said only for Eddie to correct him.
"Breakfast first?" He said.
"Breakfast can wait. I want to see Christopher open my gift. How about only one then a breakfast break. I'll start it while you and your dad pick one each." Buck suggested kissing both of them as he got up to start.
Christopher opened a new video game as Eddie picked a dress shirt wrapped around a new thermos. Buck was given a present as he placed the food on the table. Inside was a new wallet with a gift card for one of their favorite restaurants in it.
After they quickly finished their eggs Buck went to check his stocking and froze when he looked down at the same figurine from his dream.
"Hmm. That's cute. Hey look Christopher we got our own too." Eddie said beside buck pulling their stockings to spill them out.
"I had a dream about this?"
"Your psychic?" Eddie joked.
"I dreamed Santa gave me this at the airport but I lost it." Buck said still staring at it with wonder.
"Santa brought you back just like I asked him Buck."Christopher said hugging him.
"Aww. You know I'd come back Christopher. Even if it was late I'd come back for you two." Buck said looking up at Eddie.
A knock at the door had Eddie moving to let their guests in.
A Christmas that could be
Д - singing to the deer in the sky, singing as they jingle, jingle, jingle tonight, singing to the moon, set it free, you're the angel on the top of my tree, singing to the spirit above, sing your heart out with all of your love, Santa's coming for us,
Eddie watched as the Christmas lights danced on Buck's face while they wheeled into the park set up.
"So a Santa Claus went dark side and now we've got a Krampus slasher on the loose?" Buck asked Cap while they drew closer to the crowd.
"No. The police have a very naughty Santa. We've got a stabbing victim and some decorations that have become a hazard so we need to clear them as much we can to prevent more injuries." Bobby said coming to a stop with the mess in view. Chimney and Hen pulled up beside them as they hopped out.
Eddie saw why there was a problem with finding the Santa it was like a mini convention. It unsettled him that whoever it was could possibly get away with it.
Hen was treating the stabbing victim while Chimney looked to see if any other bystanders were hurt.
"Buck, Eddie, we're getting this metal reindeer off her. Ma'am stay still until its completely off and we have you looked at. It doesn't seem you were cut too bad but you should still let us treat you. 1. 2. 3." Bobby ordered as they lifted the heavy lawn ornament.
"I'm fine that fucking reindeer isn't gonna kill me."
"I'm glad to hear you're still in high spirits miss but please let us have a look at you."
Chimney came over to check her after putting a neck brace.
"So these things were stacked?" Eddie asked as he and Buck moved the deer away from it being in the way or people touching it.
"Has to be some funky welding sculpture. Must have broken off when they bumped it too hard while evil Santa ran for it." Buck surmised.
"Alright! Santa's who have given statements and shown I.D. you are free to go. If you have any information on the assailant please call the department." Athena shouted before she came over.
"Hi Athena. Did they give a disruption." Bobby asked as she hugged him before pulling away.
"Caucasian male, thirty to forty but he'd got a forearm tattoo of a rabbit and a birthmark on his neck so that's something." Athena gestured.
"Hopefully y'all find him before he hurts someone else." Buck said.
"You know it. Strangest thing is no one in the crowd saw where he ran to. They were too shocked trying to help the victim which while making it harder is worth it since one of them was pre-med and helped as much as they could."
Buck moved with Eddie to try getting more of the heavy decorations further from the walking path that they'd been shoved into.
After they pushed the original reindeer sculpture and some other large decorations Buck heard Eddie before he felt himself being punched in the back of his head. "Ow! What the fuck?"
In the next few seconds things moved too fast. Buck whirled around to defend himself.
Eddie ran back closer from where he'd been going to regroup waiting for buck to catch up.
The anti Santa was suddenly there and pissed off. Buck got a good right hook in before there was suddenly blood.
Everyone froze or at least buck did as he took in what he saw. Eddie was finally over and checking buck before turning to the bad Santa.
A metal angel tree topper had fallen and lodged into his arm with its trumpet?
"Don't pull it out! You need to get to a hospital then you're under arrest." Eddie told him while his anger seemed to deflate.
Buck looked past Eddie's shielding him with his body while rubbing his head.
"You're under arrest. We're gonna get you treated and booked sir." Athena said coming over as the Santa gave up.
With him in cuffs and his arm wrapped until he'd gets to the hospital in a second ambulance things were finally calm again.
"Buck keep the ice. Chimney says you don't have a concussion but you feel the slightest bit bad I expect to be told." Bobby said while they packed up what little gear they used.
"Hey Eddie. Santa Claus is coming to Ow!" Buck said inside the truck earning a shake of Eddie's head while Bobby radioed that was a strike for Buck having a concussion earning a groan of I can't make bad jokes?
Eddie wanted to hit him for joking but that would contradict his desire of wanting to see buck hurt. "He was in the box. Guy must be a contortionist." Eddie told buck which only earned a shocked gasp from buck and a quiet no way.
Once they were back in the station he was watching Buck like a hawk along with Bobby as they waited for Hen and Chim.
"You know the last time someone looked at me that hard we had sex" buck joked trying to lighten the mood.
"Like you could handle me, especially right now." Eddie scoffed.
"I don't have a concussion! And I can handle a lot of things, you'd be surprised. Haven't gotten any complaints yet." Buck puffed his chest and wiggled an eyebrow.
"I'm not looking for a one night stand though buck." Eddie regretted how that sounded.
"Who said it's gotta be one. I may not be buck 1.0 but I've got his experience. Just don't go for random hookups anymore." Buck came over.
"Are you just asking me out because you got hit in the head?" Eddie turned to look buck in the eye.
"Maybe that punch was the kick in my ass i needed to finally ask you what I've been too scared to."
"Ask me later, after you're all good. If you still feel like it."
"I will. I'll ask you a million times if I have to. I'm serious. I've been thinking about us for a while I just didn't want to risk anything"
"Good. I look forward to you asking me out at the Christmas party Bobby's hosting with Athena."
With that they went back to sitting around waiting for the next call. Hen and chimney joined as Bobby finished their late lunch.
Buck wasn't lying. He'd ask Eddie again tomorrow and have Hen say he didn't have a concussion too.
But for now he was content to sit here together. At least it was out in the open now and there was hope.
How Christmas should be
5 - I found, what I was looking for, a love that's meant for me, a heart that's mine completely, knocked me right off my feet, and this year I will fall, with no worries at all, 'Cause you are near and everything's clear, you're all I need, underneath the tree
Buck felt electrified like a living Christmas light. Today was the day he'd finally put it out there. He thought Eddie felt something too and it felt right.
Once they were off he'd confess that he'd slowly been falling deeper and deeper in love with his best friend. He had to find out if they could be more.
Their shift had been long with only one major call of kids breaking a fire hydrant and causing havoc with multiple injuries but not too bad that anyone would need to be hospitalized.
As buck was getting ready for the shift to end and to tell Eddie about them the alarm blared.
The shift in temperature had caused the ground to unsettle and a couple to slide off a cliff.
They'd gotten the first woman up but her girlfriend was further down.
Buck repelled lower to get her as Eddie was set to descend with the other girl safe above now.
Buck got a harness on her and they began pulling her up along side him when a large rock fell towards them.
Before buck could think of anything else he moved to shield her and took a hit to his helmet.
Eddie screamed his name as they continued to pull her up.
Buck looked to be okay as he followed behind her being taken into Eddie's guidance.
Once they were topside Eddie was asking if buck was okay while Bobby and hen took the other girl.
"I'm fine dude. My helmet took the most of-"
Before buck could finish he was tumbling. He didn't know if it was his adrenaline leaving him or his injury finally feeling so painful but he felt as Eddie got him before he could full hit the ground.
With his helmet off they could see the lump forming.
"Damn it. Thank God you're off the blood thinners finally." He couldn't tell who said it but guessed it was Eddie.
"We'll take him in ourselves. Hen, the girls are good right?" Bobby said as they moved him over to the ambo.
"They only had a few minor scrapes. Chim and I got him. You two can follow." They were at the hospital in a blur. So much for today being the day. His plan was ruined.
"It's just a mild concussion. You'll be fine. Stay with us Buck" chimney said besides him on the way.
"It's ruined."
"What's ruined?"
"I was gonna tell Eddie"
"Tell him what? You've still got time, "
"That I-"
"Buck. BUCK open your eyes! buck buddy no, stay awake man."
He woke to Maddie sitting next to him on her phone as the tv was quiet.
"Good. You're awake." She said looking over. "You gave us a little scare."
"What time is it?"
"It's 10 thirty. You've been in here for a good two hours. Doctor says you'll be fine but don't want you pushing yourself too soon."
"I'm ruining Christmas"
"No. Christmas is fine. You might be out if your next results are good. Even if you did have to stay here, it's not a problem for us to visit you here or wait a couple days for you to get out." Maddie put a comforting hand on him.
"Is Eddie okay?"
"Why wouldn't he be? He's safe at home with Christopher. Its a little late to visit but if we're still here he said he'd stop by tomorrow. You aren't in pain and you're talking fine. Hopefully those are good enough signs towards you getting out."
The doctor explained more. Buck could leave now but they would suggest he stay. However if he's careful and being watched by others she felt he would be fine.
With Buck signed out Maddie and him got to her place where Chimney was waiting with a late dinner. "Dude I'm starving." Buck said smelling the food.
"You're always hungry Buck. Figures with how big you are your body needs the extra energy" chimney said as buck looked over to see his bag and gifts from his place in the living room.
"I got your stuff from work then wrung by yours after. You'll get to do what you said tomorrow after you rest." Chimney said knowing smirk on his face.
"What did buck say earlier?"
"Nothing mads."
"That he-"
"I had a concussion! Wasn't I a patient? Isn't this a breach of trust or something?"
"He might have said he needed to tell Eddie something." Chimney said earning an exaggerated face.
"Is that why you asked if he was okay at the hospital?"
"There's no breach of trust if you brought it up to her buck. And from what we've seen, concussion or not you two are obvious to everyone but yourselves."
"You really do have a boy crush."
"Stop calling it that. Sure Eddie's attractive, and. I may like him more than a friend should." Buck quieted at the end.
"Don't tell him this but I've caught him checking you out before." Chimney said.
"What?"
"Maybe it's not so one sided Buck. Just talk to him." Maddie looked at him with understand.
After that awkward but supportive dinner and some good sleep they were up and ready for the get together with the others.
Everyone promised to open their gifts together before some of them had duty later in the day.
Buck took a gulp of eggnog as he waited for a chance to talk to Eddie face to face.
He came in with Christopher and they helped get the gifts from Eddie's truck.
Once the kids were gleefully playing with their newest toys buck took the chance.
"Can I talk to you outside for a second?"
"Sure buck. Let me get my jacket."
So they took to the front as the kids were in the back and in Harry's room.
"Yesterday I was planning to tell you something important."
"Hen might have told me."
"What?"
"She just said we needed to talk. You said so in the ambulance before we had to leave you to finish our shift then it was too late to take Christopher for only a half hour before he needed to be in bed."
"Yeah. That's okay. It would have been nice but I still got to see him and give him my gift today." Buck said. "But about that. I know we're friends. I know I might come off as straight but I-."
"You're not the only one."
Buck continued on needed to get this out before realizing what Eddie said.
"I've been into guys before, I just haven't been into many, not as quickly as I was into you. I want that for us. I know that it might be hard but I feel like we could have something."
"I think. No. I know I'm in love with you. I'm willing to try this but I don't want to lose you." Eddie said pulling buck closer.
"You won't. I'll always be here. Its where I want to be with you. I love you two, both of you."
"We need to talk about other things. I have to tell you stuff you deserve to know and the truth."
"I'm here. Whenever you're ready. Now or tomorrow but soon if it's important. As long as we're in this together we've got as much time as you need."
Buck finally did something he'd been thinking about doing for a while. He kissed Eddie the way he wanted. The way he deserved to be kissed. They stayed there with their foreheads connected breathing as the cold air blew.
"I can't believe they knew about us wanting this." Buck admitted still holding Eddie thinking about going back in.
"I can. We see the others every day and if I look back it's been like this for a while. I felt like this."
"Let's go inside. The kids are probably already back in. I want to play with Chris's new jeep. He said he loved it because it looks like mine."
Eddie grabbed Buck's hand and led him in. They were joined at the hip like usual the rest of the afternoon. Christopher was as happy as could be and they were too.
Buck felt like this was what he'd been looking for for so long. They'd work together to make this relationship last. He was in it and he knew Eddie was too. "You feeling good Buck?" Athena asked sitting next to him.
"Better than I've ever been." Buck told her with a smile and he meant it. "Merry Christmas Athena"
"Merry Christmas Buck." She hugged him as Christopher came over with his new drone.
"Cool bud. But you know your not supposed to play with it in doors right?"
"I know buck. Thank you for the jeep."
"Sure thing superman." Buck scooted over for Christopher to sit between Eddie and him. He felt warmth fill him as Eddie and him listened to what Harry and Denny showed Christopher and played with him earlier.
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newcaptainofsquad9 · 5 years
Text
Oh my God, we’re roommates!~ Kate x fem reader (Tanner Hall)~College AU- Part 2
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Here’s Part 1: https://newcaptainofsquad9.tumblr.com/post/185364926637/oh-my-god-were-roommates-kate-x-fem-reader
Pairing: Kate x reader
Summary: You and Kate go out for the night, and you can’t help but think of it as an informal date. Kate teases you like hell while getting to know you a little better than you did back in Tanner Hall. You both ended up at a party thrown by Dave and his acapella group.
Word Count: 1, 644
Writer’s Note: The long await second chapter is here guys, gals and my non binary friends! Again, tell me how you’re liking the series so far. Honestly I think it’s not that good, cuz I had to write something or this wouldn’t have happened so early so yeah here it is.
______________________________________________________________
I can’t help but stare as Kate whips her blonde curls around, singing rather greatly to Ariana Grande. The moment her eyes landed back on me, I quickly avoided contact. I need to be more discreet about it. If I’m not gonna tell her about my feelings, then I shouldn’t make it obvious. Kate chuckles as she turns the car onto a nearby Denny’s parking lot. 
“Y/N, wanna know something?” she asks cheekily. 
“W-What?” 
Kate’s grin widens and she leans closer while putting a hand over the back of my seat while backing into an available spot. I readjust against my seat-belt, it abruptly feelings a little tight against my chest. Could she park a bit faster? Once the car comes to a stop I reach for the belt, only for Kate to take my hand.
“Wait, I didn’t get to tell you,” Kate says lowly.
“Ok,” I chuckle and play along, “what?”
Kate’s voice grows low all a sudden, her eyes lower too. 
“You make me feel like God is a woman, you know that?” she asks.
My face grows hot, I try to slink away, but Kate pulls me closer and leans in. She pecks me on the cheek and giggles. 
“God, your face, “ she giggles.
“Why do you always play around like that?”
Kate says something but its muffled because I shut the car door on her. I start toward the diner. She’s at my heels in a moment.
“Y/N!”
I turn toward Kate. I wasn’t expecting an attentive gaze and an arched brow. 
“You all right?” 
I nearly lose it at her sincerity. She may have irritated me, but I don’t want her to stay like that. I’d rather her tease the hell out of me for the rest of my life than to see her down like this. 
“Yeah, I’m good it’s just–”
I pause and remember how intimate she seemed with Dave. We weren’t super close at Tanner Hall, I never heard anything about her liking other women or a hint at bisexuality or pansexuality. I’m not even going to try to ask her about my feelings, don’t want to ruin our relationship since we’re going to be living together for the next four months. 
“Y/N?” 
I blink and Kate’s hand brushes down my arm. It makes me bristle, in a good way. 
“Uh, let’s get pancakes, yeah?” I say and head to the door.
Kate and I both order two completely different dishes. I stick with a Denny’s staple: grand slam with two fluffy pancakes, bacon, eggs and grits. Kate ops for fish and chips, slathering her fries in ketchup and mayo. A disgusting combo if you ask me. 
“Why are you looking at me like that Y/N?” she asks obnoxiously.
She picks up a drenched fry and pops it into her mouth slowly. 
“Mmh, if you want one, all you have to do is ask,” Kate purrs. 
I shake my head before returning my gaze to the half eaten pancakes on my plate. Kate’s eyes are back on me as she whisks around the pieces of cod on her own. 
“What are you studying, Y/N?” she asks.
I sigh. Finally, a real question. 
“English,” I say, “taking a few creative writing classes as a minor.”
Kate perks up. 
“I’m an English major too!” she adds. 
I nearly choke on my bacon as she says that. 
“R–really?”
“Uh, yeah,” Kate declares, “Y/N, I may have teased Mr. Middlewood a lot, but I payed attention. Literature is so fascinating.”
“Have you taken American Lit yet?” I ask.
Kate shakes her head. 
“Nope, I have it ten a.m. Monday. What about you?”
“I have it Tuesday and Thursday, “ I say. 
Kate’s gaze goes down to my plate. 
“That’s a shame, we could have sat beside each other, pass notes and what not,” she says with a pout. 
“I mean, we can still study together,” I let out. 
I immediately regret it as Kate’s eyes flicker back to me as she bites her lip.
“Yeah? We could pull an all nighter some time, could be fun,” she suggests. 
I pick up a piece of my pancake with my fork and Kate reaches for a smaller piece left by it, eating it swiftly as our eyes meet again. 
“You have your fries, why don’t you eat them?”
Kate shrugs at my question.
“Maybe I just want to eat yours,” she says. 
God, I don’t know if I’ll survive this semester.
We get back to campus prior to nightfall. Kate raved the entire ride back about a small party Dave and the acapella group were throwing. I didn’t even know the school had an acapella group.
“Not really sure about this Kate,” I say, “how long have you known this Dave guy?”
Kate grins as she parks her car. 
“A few years, and Y/N there’s nothing to worry about. Not like they’re frats or sororities,” Kate says. 
“I’m still not sure Kate,” I whisper. 
Kate pouts.
“Why not? It’ll be fun. C’mon Y/N! Please,” Kate urges with a tug at my hand. 
I try to pull away, but her grip is tight. Her saddened face appears again and I can’t help but sigh in defeat.
“Promise you won’t leave me--alone?” I ask.
Kate narrows her eyes at me. 
“Never roomie. Plus, I’m your ride back to our apartment,” she says in a matter of fact tone. 
“That means you have to stay sober,” I declare. 
Kate rolls her eyes. 
“Fine, as long as you have fun. Doesn’t mean you can’t take a few drinks too,” she jokes with a quick smile. 
I roll my eyes this time and open the door. 
“Let’s just get this over with.”
...
Dave’s apartment is filled with lots of preppy looking kids, most of them talking in their own circles. Some say ‘hey’ to Kate and I but that’s mostly it. I let Kate lead me around with her hand encircled around my own. One girl stops us in our tracks, giving Kate and I a nasty glare. 
“You two don’t look acapella material, not even musical theater majors either,” she snarks. 
Kate lets go of my hand and crosses her arms, she gives the girl a hard look. 
“Does that matter?” she asks.
The girl lifts her head, as if trying to intimate Kate. 
“This is a party for majors and acapella club members only,” she growls. 
I put a hand on Kate’s shoulder, this girl looks like trouble. 
“Kate,” I warn, “let’s just leave.”
Kate rests a hand on my wrist. 
“No, Y/N. Let me handle this,” Kate returns her attention to the girl, “we were invited.”
“By who?” The girl asks. 
“Kate! Hey!”
Kate smirks as the girl and I turn to Dave. He holds his arms out with a toothy grin. Kate giggles as she rushes toward him, meeting him in an embrace similar to the one earlier. I glance down at my shoes as the girl seethes. 
“You know this girl Dave?” she asks. 
Dave nods as Kate wiggles her eyebrows at me while her arms snake their way around the back of Dave’s neck. God, I can’t take this shit right now. I stalk over to the kitchen where there’s a group around the punch bowl. I don’t need punch right now, something a bit stronger. My eyes go back to Kate, she’s still busy flirting with Dave and I need to sink my sorrows into something. Honestly, just half a cup. Maybe two. I’m not that much of a light weight. No matter what Rob and Jane say.
...
I don’t even remember the words to Imagine Dragon’s Thunder, but here I am flailing my arms around like an idiot.
“Thunder! Thunder! Lightnin and t-the--thunder!” I shout.
Most of the acapella people join in with twisted grins, egging me on and it works. 
“Yeah!” I shout into the mic, “Kate’s totally missing out!” 
There’s a whoo and a line of snickers. 
“Y/N!” 
I turn when I hear my name. Kate emerges from the line of aca-people with a frown. Why? She wanted me to have fun. 
“Yo, Kate! Come up, I’d love for a duet!” I shout through a fit of giggles.       
The aca crowd cheers and Kate purses her lips. 
“Y/N, not like this, “ Kate says, “how many drinks have you had?”
“I had two full solo cups--I think,” I reply.
Kate sighs.
“No wonder you didn’t want to drink--you’re a light weight,” Kate says as she takes a step toward me, “c’mon we’re going home.”
“Ah, man! Thought you wanted to have fun! I’m having fun!” I explain. 
Kate places an arm around my waist and my chest feels hotter than it ever has before. Something’s coming up too. 
“K-Kate!” 
She looks to me and my warning isn’t enough as I puke on her shirt. I’m never drinking again.
...
“I’m sorry,” I groan.
Kate helps with my shoes, they come off easily. 
“Y/N, it’s cool, it happens. Lay back and drink this water, ok?” 
She hands me the bottle with a tender glare. I take it and she walks away, slipping off her shirt. At this point, I still have some composure and cover my eyes. 
“I’m such an idiot, God I shouldn’t have drunk any in the first place,” I muffle into my hands, “all to impress someone who doesn’t even like me back.” 
“Hmm?” 
I remove my hands and there’s Kate, leaning over my bed and hovering over me with a very revealing tank top. 
“Kate?”
“Who’d you want to impress Y/N?” she asks again. 
“I-I-”
“You can tell me anything, you know that, right?” she whispers. 
Her hazel eyes darken and I open my mouth to tell her, but no words come out. It’s a short breath as I lean up, my mouth meeting Kate’s in a kiss.
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lesbianfreyja · 5 years
Note
wait I didn’t scroll far enough....41 and/or 61 too 👀
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and 2 more 41s requested by anons!!! endless 41s!!!!!! so, by popular demand:
41. I’m not drunk enough for this.
+ 61. I told you not to fall in love with me.
-
Mac kicked his feet at himunder the table. Dennis trapped one of Mac’s wandering ankles between both hisown. Mac twisted it around unsuccessfully for a minute before yanking it free,glowering fiercely.
“Time to behave, you stupidasshole,” Dennis muttered, under the guise of a very bright smile. “This iswhat we’ve been training for. Don’t ruin it with a hissy fit.”
“I’m not having a — I don’thave fits, Dennis,” said Mac, frowninginto his coffee. “I’m just pissed off that they don’t have blueberry pancakes.They said they got their fruits fresh every morning on the website!”
“Well, tough titties,” saidDennis. “Life isn’t always like it says on the internet, okay? Now behave. Yourpouting is ruining our whole married vibe that we’re trying to put out there.You’re gonna blow this for us, and then we don’t have anything else to do for twomore hours.”
“Why did Dee have to meet withthose surrogate bitches in the afternoon?”
Mac stabbed at thecomplimentary granola and yogurt with the business end of his spoon. Dennis hadpreviously not been aware that somebody could eat breakfast with this level ofsulk, but then he had never met someone stupid enough to say no when Mac askedfor blueberry pancakes.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s good practice,”said Dennis airily. “Now we have some extra time to get into our roles, right?”
He waved his napkin out as heunwrapped his utensils and smoothed it over his lap. Mac had his crumpled inhis fist, although he was still using his arm to wipe off his face anyway wheneverthe outside of his mouth got stained with coffee. In an effort to keep itoccupied so as to force him to use the napkin, Dennis reached out and took Mac’sfree hand firmly over the table. He smiled a bit softly, squeezing his hand. Macrolled his eyes.
“I’m not drunk enough for this,”he mumbled. Looking around, he flagged down their waiter and ordered a shot ofKahlua for his coffee.
“Jesus Christ, you are bad at this,” said Dennis after their waiter walkedaway.
“What?” said Mac. “You loveKahlua in your coffee.”
“Yes, I do,” Dennis agreed. “But I don’t really take Vic and Hugh for themorning drinker types, do you?”
“Oh, right.” Mac frowned into hisblack coffee. “Sorry, Dennis.”
Dennis rolled his eyes.
“How many times do I have totell you?” he asked, squeezing Mac’s hand again for emphasis. “The whole pointof this is to settle into our personas, Vic.I’d appreciate it if you would call me by my correct name.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry, Hugh.”
Dennis sighed and broke into someof the toast on his plate. It was crazy how much better he was at acting thanMac, but at least now he was trying. He let go of Mac’s hand to reach for aknife.
“Can you pass me the butter?”
“Sure thing, babe.”
Dennis started to mumble his thanks,then did a double-take. Mac was grinning at him across the table, and after asecond Dennis’s hackles went back down and he reluctantly smiled.
“That’s more like it,” hemurmured, spreading the butter out on his toast.
Mac was still smiling goofilyat him, no matter how much Dennis snapped at him to stop, when the waiter returnedwith the Kahlua. Even though he gave Mac shit for it earlier, spiked coffee didsound good. He grabbed it off the table before Mac could make a move for it, thenpoured a generous amount into both of their cups.
“What are you doing?” asked Mac,but he didn’t sound angry with him for having the bottle snatched away from hiscontrol, just surprised. He leaned back in his seat to avoid the splash zone.
“Treating my husband tobreakfast,” said Dennis lightly. He kept his eyes trained on the Kahlua as heset it back down on a flat surface, but pink was rising in his cheeks and hecould feel Mac’s widened eyes on him. Dennis looked up — bravely, he felt, andwith a stoic face to boot. “I believe this is how Hugh Honey acts when he’s outwith his, uh—”
“Trophy husband,” Mac supplied.Dennis flushed but couldn’t stop himself from smiling a little.
“Right,” mumbled Dennis,ducking his head back down.
He didn’t usually like coffeethis strong, but he had the urge to chug it all back at once. The cup wasmostly empty when the waiter finally came by with their food, and he declined arefill. When he next looked up, Mac was already wolfing down his (tragicallyplain) pancakes with alarming and unattractive speed; Dennis sniffed and pokedhis fork around his scrambled eggs, looking around for Tabasco to steal from anearby table.
“Can I have a bite of that?”Mac asked as soon as he’d doused it, and his fork prodded its way into Dennis’sview. He looked up to see Mac watching him with an open expression and hashbrown in his teeth.
“No way,” said Dennis, edging Mac’sfork out of the way with his own. “After you had a meltdown over blueberriesearlier and called me a stupid bitch for wanting eggs?”
“Aw, come on,” said Mac. “Hugh wouldtotally give me some eggs, bro.”
Dennis’s eyes narrowed as theystared each other down across the table. With a sigh, Dennis stopped blockinghim and pushed his plate over.
“Goddamn it,” he sighed. “That’sa good point.”
“Ha!” said Mac, stabbing whatappeared to be half the plate onto his tines and shoving it all in his puffycheeks. “This is exactly what you were talking about, I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“You remember, Hugh?” he asked,looking up at him. His eyes were wide and bright, sparking; Dennis felt heatcrawl across the back of his neck, and he was glad he was wearing a polo shirtto cover it up. He kept his face impassive, but Mac was leaning forward eagerlyanyway. “It’s like you said on our first date. When you finally wore me downafter asking for, like, months.”
Dennis arched an eyebrow,amused.
“Is that what happened?” he askedmildly.
“Oh yeah, bro! Of course youwere putting the moves on me. But you’re kinda charming, so eventually I saidyes.” Mac rolled his eyes. “Back then you were just a lonely billionaire with adream, but I was the working classguy with the background in real estate helping you get your business off theground. You were, like, immediately hittingon me, dude. Just like always. So anyway, finally I went out with you, and I wasannoyed because of how much walkingthere turned out to be in golf! And you said—”
When Dennis was a junior incollege, Mac came up to visit for a weekend. For once, he’d been without Charlie,who had had plans — or maybe he’d been sleeping, or too stoned to show up, or justhadn’t felt like it. Dennis couldn’t remember anymore; it hadn’t beenimportant, even at the time. Mac had shown up at his door with some prettypotent LSD, and they’d trekked into the woods off-campus while it melted ontheir tongue until it kicked in, and they’d spent hours getting lost out there.
Mac was still antsy when they startedcoming down, and they cleaned up and ordered food, but he didn’t want to staycooped up any later than it took to down a  big order of wings. Dennis drove them to afair a little ways out of town, and they spent hours riding everything there,in between sneaking into the drinks tent to get wasted; Dennis threw up on thetilt-a-whirl, and Mac had to spend the last of his pocket money on ginger ale. Whenthey were sitting on a park bench, waiting for Dennis’s stomach to settle, Mac gotfrustrated and he asked, “You know you’re a real fucking expensive date, huh?”and he didn’t mean it that way but Dennis was still feeling a little off-kilterfrom the LSD and the beer and he smirked up at Mac and said—
“I told you not to fall in lovewith me,” Dennis murmured. It came a little bit mechanically. He coughed. “Vic.”
His throat felt closed up, andhe couldn’t even bring himself to get angry at Mac for throwing in details oftheir fake marriage that they hadn’t previously agreed on. Hugh and Vic’s firstdate was supposed to have been to a wine tasting in Napa Valley. He was alittle surprised, that was all, that Mac remembered something that had happenedthat long ago on a day where he hadn’t been sober. And that maybe he thoughtabout the same way that Dennis did.
Dennis swallowed, pushing thatthought away, but he looked at him with his lips parted. Mac was fixated on hisbrunch again, though, and not paying him any mind; but a small smile was stillplaying on his lips.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” said Mac,digging back into his food.
Something was glowing rose-goldin Dennis’s chest as he stilled. He just watched Mac eat for a long moment,barely reacting to the sticky mess he was making or what he was talking about. Atsome point, Mac glanced up with his mouth still full and caught him in the act.Dennis bit his lip, and Mac only missed a beat before he kicked Dennis in theankle again.
“Get eating,” he instructed. “We’veonly got two hours to make it downtown and we still have to catch a bus.”
Mac understood him most of thetime, fundamentally. He knew what not to mention and when to divert a conversation.Maybe it was just his bossiness flaring up in him, wanting the attention and todomineer the conversation, but whatever it was Dennis felt grateful.
Hiding his own warm smile — strangeand terrifying and also the most natural and familiar thing in the world — Denniswent back to his brunch.
56 notes · View notes
macdentrash · 6 years
Note
(as I already said; i Love your writtings so much and i'm so thankful for this, bless you)Prompt: The gang go camping, and obviously Mac and Den have to share the same tent
I love this prompt so I got a little carried away, thanks for submitting…
Read on ao3 here
“Camping is so fun man, I hope I can catch a squirrel!” Charlie says excitedly as he hops into the back of the Range Rover.
“Charlie, squirrels are way too fast for you to catch and what would you even do with it if you caught one?” Dee asks, climbing in next to Charlie in the back seat.
“I would totally keep it as a pet! We could keep it in the bar and he could be our… whats the word… our… mascot dude!” Charlie replies, lost in excitement.
“What the fuck are you guys talking about?” Dennis asks as he gets into the drivers seat. Mac just looks at them strangely as he slides into the passengers side.
“Charlie wants to catch a squirrel during the camping trip and bring it back to Paddys… it’s a whole thing, please don’t get him started again” Dee sighs, feigning annoyance.
“It would be really cool though!” Charlie says, he bounces his knees in anticipation because he’s nervous to be leaving Philly.
“Yeah, great Charlie. Mac pop in my Steve Winwood mix would you?” Dennis asks, he gives Mac a warm smile.
“Sure Den, but can we listen to my Creed mix later? I worked really hard on it” Mac asks, giving Dennis his puppy dog eyes.
Dennis hesitates like he’s about to say something negative but he looks into Mac’s eyes and decides differently.
“Yeah Mac, sure why not?” Dennis squeezes Mac’s arm lightly before pushing the car into drive, pulling away from Paddys.
Mac grins at Dennis and hurriedly plays Dennis’ favorite Steve Winwood mix.
******
Dennis pulls up to the campsite and throws the car into park.
“Oh my good God Deandra, we all know that you have to pee please shut up about it!” Dennis hisses at Dee.
“I’m sorry that I have a small bladder Dennis! I can’t help it, now please excuse me if I could so generously get your permission!” Dee screams back, practically hurling herself out of the Range Rover on the way to pee in the woods.
Charlie hops out after Dee, running towards the lake excitedly, stripping off his shirt as he goes.
“Charlie where are you going?” Mac calls after Charlie as he rushes towards the water at full speed.
“I’m going to see if there’s any water squirrels man, don’t wait up!” Charlie yells back, waving behind him as he continues to barrel towards the body of water.
“What’s he talking about, water squirrels?” Mac asks Dennis, confused.
“Who the hell knows? You know Charlie” Dennis says, chuckling a bit under his breath.
“Well anyways, forget him man, I brought something just for us and this seems as good a time as any” Mac grins at Dennis as he pulls out a fat blunt he had rolled that morning before he woke Dennis up.
“Nice! Where do you wanna smoke it? I’m kind of dying to get out of this car man” Dennis asks as he swings a long leg out of the Range Rover.
Mac opens his door and hops out excitedly. “Wherever you want I guess! I know there’s some trails around, we could go walk around in nature for once in our lives” Mac says, he walks up to Dennis and their arms brush as they start walking towards the line of trees that are slightly ahead.
Dennis throws an arm around Mac’s shoulder casually as they walk.
“Thanks for bringing that, I really need to chill after being in the car with squirrel boy and the bird for so long” Dennis gives Mac a smile. He had decided earlier to be unusually nice to Mac on this trip, he wanted them to enjoy themselves because they so rarely got to escape Philly and the bar, and plus on their last road trip they’d been separated almost the entire time.
“No problem, I figured you’d be stressed from them being annoying. It’s all in the forethought dude!” Mac says, he grins up at Dennis as they enter into the forest.
“God the air is different around here, not so smoggy. I feel like it’s actually pure?” Mac says, glancing around at the unadulterated natural landscape around them. It’s strange to see trees instead of the concrete and buildings that usually surround them.
“Yeah yeah totally man, it’s kind of weird how you don’t notice the toxic air until you’re out somewhere like this” Dennis says, he walks over to a large log that’s a little further into the woods and settles down onto it. It’s as good a place to smoke a blunt as any.
“Totally…” Mac trails off as he sits down on the log next to Dennis. Mac scoots until their thighs touch as he pulls the blunt out from behind his ear and lights it.
Dennis looks over at Mac as Mac closes his eyes and takes a deep hit on the blunt. Dennis doesn’t think that Mac realizes how good he always looks, Dennis spends countless hours trying to maintain a youthful beauty that’s impossible to hold onto forever but Mac just rolls out of bed looking like that. Dennis didn’t get how that was fair.
Mac flicks his eyes over at Dennis as he passes the blunt over. He looks like he may about to say something but doesn’t, he seems… hesitant.
“I’m really glad we came out here” Dennis says, filling the silence, “I think it’ll be good for us to get some fresh air and just be away from all the stressful shit. Too bad Frank got stuck in that coil again, it’d be good for his old mushy brain to get out of the city” Dennis laughs, imagining Frank stuck in that coil back in Philly.
Mac laughs and Dennis feels his chest warm, he loves making Mac laugh when they’re all alone. It’s a sound just for him to enjoy.
“Yeah, I mean look at Charlie. The kid thinks that there are water squirrels? He needs to gain a few brain cells back after drinking paint and huffing chemicals in the basement all the time” Mac says, chuckling.
The blunt dwindles down to nothing as they sit close together, laughing and staring at each other just a little bit too long.
Dennis lets his hand settle on his thigh in a way that a couple of his fingers touch Mac’s leg.
Mac glances down but doesn’t say anything, after a few beats he lets his hand drop too. Now both their legs and hands are touching and Mac knows that’s not something you do with your totally platonic bro, but he’s also known for a long time that how he feels for Dennis isn’t totally based on friendship alone because they’re way too wrapped up in each other for it to be a normal friendship. He lets their hands brush anyway and just looks at Dennis, Dennis is probably the prettiest person alive, Mac thinks to himself.
Dennis stands up hastily and nods his head back towards the way they came.
“We should probably go make sure Charlie didn’t drown himself. Does that guy even know how to swim?” Dennis asks Mac, smiling at him and reaching a hand down to help him up.
“Yeah he totally does, we learned together in elementary school. He totally sucked at first but he got it eventually” Mac says, laughing at the memory.
Dennis laughs but he feels a little sad at the comment. Something in his chest always deflates a little when he’s reminded that Mac and Charlie were best friends first, they’d helped each other through some truly shitty childhoods and had memories together that Dennis could never be apart of. He wishes they’d been around to help him as a kid, he’d always been picked on for being small and it’d have been nice to have Mac and Charlie around.
Just as these thoughts start to bring his mood down, he feels Mac’s warm arm brush against his and their hands touch every now and then as they walk. Dennis glances over at Mac and Mac stares back with what Dennis swears is adoration.
Dennis smiles a little to himself. Maybe Mac and Charlie were best friends first but they’d all found each other eventually, Mac had found him and Dennis got to share an apartment with him. Dennis looks at Mac in a way that could be called love sick as they step out of the trees and into the sunlight. Mac’s hair, free of gel thank God, bounces as he walks and Dennis’ heart swells. Dennis realizes that he is totally fucked and he lets his hand brush Mac’s again, he allows it to linger there and Mac doesn’t pull away.
“Hey boners! Oh shit did you smoke weed without us? I can totally smell it” Dee says, mad that she was left out.
“You snooze you lose Dee and lets be honest, you always lose” Dennis throws back snidely.
Mac laughs. “Like we would have shared with you even if you were around. I rolled that for me and Dennis, not you, bird” Mac says, Dennis laughs and points at Dee.“You are a bird” Dennis laughs. This comment is especially funny to him after that large blunt they’d just sucked down and he keeps giggling long after is appropriate.
“Aw, did you roll it for just you and Dennis? That is SO gay” Dee laughs.
Dennis freezes. He so doesn’t need Mac to go on an anti gay rampage right now, things were so good between them and it would totally kill his buzz if Mac started to rage about the Bible.
Mac just rolls his eyes at Dee and grabs Dennis by the hand, pulling him away.
“Oh whatever Dee, you’re just jealous” Mac laughs and him and Dennis walk down towards the lake hand in hand.
Mac drops Dennis’ hand when they get close enough to see Charlie on the beach. Mac races up to Charlie and Dennis follows behind at a slower pace, still missing Mac’s hand in his a little bit.
“Look what I found, I think it’s the remnants of some kind of eight legged water squirrel! We have to bring this discovery back with us to Philly, I think it could be important” Charlie says, filled to the brim with excitement.
“I hate to burst your bubble man but that is a dead crab” Mac says poking at the remnants of the skeleton.
“I don’t know man, I think it’s most definitely a water squirrel” Charlie says in a dubious tone.
“That is a skeleton! A skeleton that clearly has pincers, that my man, is a crab” Dennis says leaning down to eye level with the other two men.
Dee comes up and peers down at them. “What are you guys looking at?” She asks, squinting her eyes in the light.
“Water squirrel” Charlie says at the same time Mac and Dennis say “dead crab”.
“Oookay, I’m not gonna ask. Can we set up the camping shit before it gets dark? We’re going to be way too lazy to do it later” Dee says.
“That sounds practical Dee” Dennis says, standing up to his full height.
They all discard the crab, though Charlie does give the decaying creature a longing look as they walk back up towards the Range Rover.
Dennis pops the back open and starts unloading everything.
“Is anyone gonna help me?” Dennis asks and Mac steps up beside him to start pitching in. Charlie and Dee soon start helping as well, though maybe not as enthusiastically.
******
The sun sets over the lake and the gang give a joint sigh as they lean back in the chairs they brought and sip their beers.
Charlie gets up and starts gathering dry leaves and kindling to start a fire in the pit that they had set the chairs up around.
“Well I don’t know about you guys but I’m dying to have a s’more!” Mac says excitedly hopping up from his seat between Dennis and Dee and walking over to the cardboard box they were keeping the food in.
Dennis rolls his eyes as Mac leaves his side.
“Of course you are dude, you have such a sweet tooth” Dennis tells him fondly.
“Whatever dude, irrelevant” Mac says and gives him a slightly pouty look, Dennis just glances down at his lip as it juts down and he doesn’t even think about what it would feel like to bite down on it or kiss the lips that were always going a mile a minute. He totally doesn’t think about that, not even once.
Dennis gets up and makes his way over next to Mac, almost like he’s pulled there by some unknowable force.
“I’ll have a s’more too. The only time I can stand them is on camping trips so I might as well indulge it” Dennis says and bumps his shoulder against Mac’s softly.
“Make me one too losers, I’m getting a little bit too buzzed to get up” Dee says, laying her head back to stare up at the wide open sky.
“I’ll make you one Dee” Charlie says as he trudges back over to them with his arms laden with sticks he’d obviously just gathered from the woods.
“Thanks Charlie” Dee says and gives him a sweet smile that makes her nickname fit for once.
Dennis glances at Mac, wordlessly asking “what’s that about?” but he decides not to say anything, they really are all enjoying each other’s company for once.
Charlie makes a fire and Mac, Dennis and he quickly start making s’mores. Mac and Dennis settle back into their seats and laugh while they eat. Charlie makes two s’mores and gives Dee a warm smile when he hands her one.
They all chew their food and stare around themselves. After they’re done eating they crack open some more beers and sit around shooting the shit for a couple of hours.
After Mac had to run after Charlie to stop him from trying to chase after a creature in the dark, they all decide its time for bed. They’re all thankful that they had the foresight to set up their tents and sleeping bags earlier, they were all way too buzzed and sleepy to do it now.
Dennis had made sure that him and Mac shared the same tent, mumbling something about how they were roommates so they were more used to sleeping by each other.
Dee crawls into her and Charlie’s tent and Charlie follows soon after.
Mac turns to Dennis, his hair messy and eyes sleepy.
Mac yawns “It’s late, you wanna go to bed Den?” he asks.
Dennis’ chest warms at the nickname coming out in Mac’s tired voice and also at the fact that Mac was asking him, like he would stay up with Dennis all night if that’s what he wanted.
“Sure baby boy, let’s go to bed” Dennis says and grabs Mac’s hand to help him up from his chair.
Mac smiles wildly and allows Dennis to haul him up.
Dennis takes his hand from Mac’s when Mac stands and moves it to his lower back, guiding him with a light hand towards their tent.
Mac climbs in first and immediately snuggles up in his sleeping bag, the night has grown chilly fairly quickly and all he has on is a sleeveless t-shirt.
Dennis settles into his sleeping bag. He notices that him and Mac are in very close proximity. Mac had set up the sleeping bags, Dennis wonders if their closeness is intentional.
Dennis lays there for awhile, trying to sleep but something (or someone) is keeping him from falling asleep completely.
Dennis opens his eyes and glances over at Mac. Mac has his eyelids slid shut and he looks completely at peace. Dennis let’s himself drink in Mac’s features and thinks to himself how ridiculous he is, for Christ’s sake he sees Mac everyday and lives with him but somehow Mac’s face still surprises him. Mac’s hair falls over his eyes and his lips are puckered out, soft.
Dennis slides up in his sleeping bag a bit and he tentatively reaches his hand out to gently remove Mac’s hair from his forehead.
Mac’s nose crinkles up and his eyes flutter open, Dennis slowly retracts his hand.
“Den, what are you still doing up?” Mac asks sleepily.
Dennis is too tired and caught up in the scene set out before him to lie.“Lookin at you” Dennis replies and give Mac a lukewarm smile.
Mac smiles so brightly that the Sun should be ashamed of itself.
“That’s really sweet Dennis. But you see me everyday, you should know what I look like by now” Mac says, his eyes are fully open now and he rolls his body towards Dennis’ almost imperceptibly.
“Yeah yeah, I know that. I just can’t help it. And I’ve been thinking about something, I’m really sorry Mac�� Dennis says. He reaches his hand back over to Mac again but this time he grabs the other mans hand and gently rolls his thumb in circles against the skin there.
Mac lets his hand be held and stares at Dennis with big eyes.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about” Mac says softly and he rubs his own thumb against Dennis’.
“Yeah, I do… do you remember all the times you’ve told me that you love me? Well I’m really really sorry for never saying it back. I was just scared I guess? But I want you to know that I do love you and I honestly couldn’t do any of this shit without you” Dennis says in one long stream, not pausing to breathe in his nervousness. Dennis averts his eyes, a little bit scared of Mac’s reaction.
Mac doesn’t say anything, he just sits for a moment with wide eyes staring at Dennis’ profile.
Dennis still doesn’t look at Mac, slightly embarrassed at letting down his normal “emotionless shell” and his own earnestness. Mac takes his hand from Dennis’ and Dennis shrinks down even further but Mac just takes his hand and places a finger under Dennis’ chin until Dennis chances a glance back over at him.
“Den, I always knew you did, I didn’t doubt it. You tell me everyday by the way you look at me when you think I can’t see you, you tell me by staying. But that doesn’t make it less nice to hear” Mac says softly. He lets his fingers graze Dennis’ jawline and he moves his body so their sides touch and their faces get closer together.
Dennis eyes haven’t left Mac’s face since he started speaking. Mac is looking down at him with joy pooled in his dark brown eyes and Dennis, never one for impulse control, can’t help himself. Dennis allows his hand to brush a stray hair out of Mac’s face, he then winds his graceful fingers into Mac’s hair. Mac leans in on bated breath and Dennis uses his hand to pull Mac’s face to his, he kisses him tentatively.
The seemingly innocent kiss turns into their mouths deepening against each other and hands roaming. Dennis cradles Mac’s face in his hands and holds him there, trying to tell him with physicality all of the things he’s always been too scared to say.
After a long time of them holding each other, kissing, touching and whispering sweet little things to each other, Mac pulls away lightly and kisses Dennis’ forehead.
Mac looks at Dennis hazily and gives him a big, lazy smile when Dennis wraps an arm over Mac’s sleeping bag to pull him closer.
“Mm cold Den, why didn’t I bring a sweater?” Mac says lazily, running a light finger over the dip of Dennis’ Cupid’s bow and giving him a soft kiss.
“I didn’t either, we didn’t know it’d get this cold, but I might have an idea” Dennis says softly and he unzips his sleeping bag while quirking an eyebrow at Mac.
Mac smiles and hastily crawls out of his sleeping bag and into Dennis’ arms. Dennis closes the sleeping bag, it was roomier than he had previously calculated and wraps both arms around Mac’s torso, pulling him close.
Dennis looks at Mac staring up at him and leans down to run his tongue over Mac’s bottom lip, he soon bites it lightly just as he had (not) thought about earlier around the campfire. Mac responds eagerly and lets Dennis kiss him deeply.
Soon they both grow sleepy and Mac falls asleep with his head on Dennis’ chest and Dennis soon follows after bringing Mac’s hand to his mouth (fingers still intertwined even though Mac has conked out) and running small kisses where their fingers meet. They sleep comfortably into the mid morning, enveloped in each others warmth.
******
Dee wakes up first in the morning, banging around and trying her best to make instant coffee over the fire that she restarts.
Dennis wakes up to her ruckus. He looks down at Mac, still sleeping on his chest, and he smiles. Dennis nudges Mac with his nose until he wakes up, giving Dennis a warm smile as he’s brought back to consciousness.
“Morning Den!” Mac says softly and he gives him the smallest kiss they had shared yet, just a very light brushing of lips.
Dennis ruffles Mac’s hair and kisses his forehead.
“The bird woke me up” Dennis laughs and Mac giggles afterwards.
“Well we should probably get up, lots to do before we can start driving home” Mac says and smiles at Dennis as he gets up and starts heading out of the tent.
“Yeah, we still have to pack up all that shit huh? Please make sure Charlie doesn’t bring back any crab skeletons or any skeletons for that matter” Dennis laughs.
“Oh and Dennis?” Mac turns around before he leaves the tent completely.
“Yeah Mac?” Dennis asks.
“I love you too” he says softly and they both grin.******Mac and Dennis stay even closer to each other than usual (which is ridiculous as they are usually touching in some capacity anyways) the whole day as the gang walks around the woods and goes swimming in the lake.
Around mid afternoon they all pack everything back into the Range Rover and point the car back towards Philly, Dennis lets Mac choose the music all the way home.
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fanfic-scribbles · 6 years
Text
20. Costumes
A/N: Sooo…maybe this is the beginning of a bunch of connected drabbles because when I was absently planning out what I might be able to do for the prompts I got a little story thread going. Ahead: some angst, some drama, and eventually some well-earned fluff. Also, I hope you like this one, but if not then stay tuned, I will do better. No joke I tried to write this two other times. I think I threw out about 2k words before I even wrote this beast >.>; Also also: thanks to the lovely people enjoying this/reblogging/liking/commenting. I’m still getting the hang of messaging on Tumblr but I’ll try to reply when/if I can. Writing these every day takes a large chunk of my time, so please forgive my lack of social graces <3
Words: 1758
Warnings: Crowley crushing on Reader. Use of a princess nickname but in a way that doesn’t necessarily denote the reader’s gender. (I hope. I’m trying real hard and will continue to do so.) Pining for Cas and mentions thereof but no actual Cas (gasp).
  “Phantom of the Opera” has lied to you.
So has “Labyrinth.”
Masquerade parties are dull as shit.
Case in point: you have found, through the under-appreciated art (Dean) of eavesdropping that this party is at least a third, if not half, attended by supernatural creatures, while the remainder are trust-fund (figurative) zombies. This should be an interesting fact, maybe a little anxiety-making, but you’re so fucking bored that you almost wish a vamp would jump you. At least then you’d get to do something other than itch under your mask, but no.
Your eyes skim over the crowd. You see Dean charming the hell out of two young socialites and the top of Sam’s head, but not who he’s talking to. You sit at a tall table and absently swirl the wine in your glass. It’s probably fine but at a party with such mixed clientele, you don’t tend to take chances with food and drink. Especially considering the people currently throwing the party…
“It is covered by angel warding,” Cas said.
“But this guy’s house is where those things came from?” Dean said, looking at the map.
“Did you not hear what I just said?” Cas was edging toward anger.
“That just means we need to check it out even more,” Dean said. “Rich asshole collecting monsters? Why?”
“Private zoo, apparently,” Sam cut in, tapping away on his laptop. “Charlie hacked into his emails, financial records…she’s still sifting through the info but get this: Hugo and Alex Ellison are brothers, inherited a fortune and are basically socialites. They throw parties and show off their money.”
Hugo and Alex haven’t been apart all night. They have a little posse up on a dais and they seem too concerned with their immediate little world to care about the party at large. Unfortunately, security is fairly tight so you also can’t get close enough to see what kind of monsters they are, or if they’re witches. Maybe demons. Because rando rich dudes don’t know the kind of things that make Cas sulk and pace outside.
You puff out some air. Can’t get to the high and mighty revelers, can’t go check a few of the ‘pets’ they brought along, can’t shoot silver into that handsy fucking dog that walked by you earlier. This is turning out to be a total waste of time and you’re about ready to throw in the towel and make a break for it.
You rest your elbow on the table and your head in the palm of your hand. You wish Cas could be here. Not really for protection, because you can handle yourself, but you think he would have looked good. Uncomfortable, but good. A nice fitted suit and bright blue eyes piercing out of an old, ornate mask. You smile at the thought.
Though, hell, even if you couldn’t have Cas looking all dapper, Gabriel would have been nice to have around. Say what you will about him, the guy knows how to make his own fun. Instead, you’re sitting at a table with a very drunk, pretty young redhead who looks like she’s either going to make an important existential observation or get sick all over the table. Both seem pretty repugnant to you right now but at least if she throws up you don’t have to fake politeness to excuse yourself.
“Hey…heeeeeey.” She smiles like she’s only just realized you’re there and you fake a smile back. “Have you seen the ami-al- the an-i-m-a-l-sss?” She giggles. “They’re wild.”
“I’ve heard about them.” Apparently some people –mostly drunk humans, and pretty boys and girls at that– have been chosen to go see the small selection the Ellisons have brought to the event. You’ve been hearing all sorts of animal parts and have sort of tuned it out.
“I only got to see, like, two before I got tossed out.” She pouts and holds up her silver bracelet. “I accidently…well, “accidentally” fell into that cutie Hugo. He fuh-reaked. How was I supposed to know he’s deathly allergic to silver?!”
Hugo is possibly a shifter. That’s interesting, and more than you’ve gotten otherwise. Huh. Satisfied with that tidbit, you smile politely and eye the crowd again for Sam and Dean. This might be enough to get you out of here.
“Hey.” She leans in closer and licks her lips as she eyes you. “What’d’you say we go slip off these masks…and maybe a little bit more?”
“No thank you,” you say and slide out of your seat. The woman, though, has a strong grip on your hand. Too strong, in your opinion, for someone who looks drunk enough to be a floppy noodle. She keeps her hand on yours and comes around the table to sidle up next to you. “Come on, Hunter,” she whispers and flashes her fangs at you. “We could have some fun, and you smell delectable…”
“Oh sweetheart, don’t lose your head,” you say with the sweetest smile you can muster. She snarls. “No sense of humor. Sorry, but that’s why it won't work out between us.”
She grips your hand tighter. “Eating the human guests is strongly discouraged but I bet I wouldn’t be–”
“Oh, hello Love.”
Can this night get worse? you ask yourself and for once you aren’t worried about jinxing yourself. The Monster Zoo somehow getting loose and running amok would actually improve things, in your opinion. You look at Crowley and his bodyguards but your exasperation only serves to make him smile wider. Of course.
“I’m sorry, love, but we’re busy,” Vampirella says.
“I wasn’t talking to you, leech,” Crowley says and looks at her with derision. He flits his hand. “Shoo.”
She growls, but leaves in a huff. You rub your now-sore hand but Crowley quickly steals it and purrs your name before pressing a kiss to it. “I always knew you’d clean up nicely.”
You always tried to be cordial in your dealings with the King of Hell but right now his flirtations are even more annoying than usual. “Crowley.”
“And what is my favorite little hunter doing in a place like this?” Crowley says and takes a seat next to you. You remain standing and keep skimming for Sam or Dean because fuck where are they?
“Just enjoying the atmosphere. And you?”
“Oh, accepting an invitation from a friend. Mingling. Networking. Saving a hunter from a vampire.” He smiles smugly at you. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
You narrow your eyes. “I can handle a–”
“My love I know you can, however, half the crowd is some form of “monster” themselves and the other half hasn’t even had a papercut.” Crowley sips his wine. “All of them are decidedly not on your side should you come back covered in blood.”
You roll your eyes. He has a point. Damn it. “Then thanks. For saving my outfit,” you grumble.
“You’re welcome. You do look quite fetching in it. Now, since you and I are both here and bored out of our respective skulls, fancy a dance?”
“Actually, I was just about to leave. Nice seeing you,” you say as you finally see Sam and Dean. Just as you take a step though you see that they’re being cornered by intimidating guys in suits. Who may or may not be human. Though…why go human when you can get stupidly strong demons or vampires to do the job for you? Your stomach drops.
“Moose and Squirrel have done it again, have they?” Crowley puts an arm around your waist. “You know…I could get them out of here.”
You glance at him. “In exchange for?”
“Oh, I love it when you get right to business,” Crowley says and overacts a shudder. Ew. “I’ll get your boys and you out. In exchange, you will be my date for the remainder of this dreadful party.”
The suited men (or somethings) are trying to drag Sam and Dean away. “For the rest of the party I will be your date. In return Sam, Dean, and I leave here, alive, our souls intact.”
“Let’s seal the deal then,” Crowley says. You try not to think too hard about it when you…ergh…kiss Crowley. It’s just business, it’s just business and God damn it Dean and Sam Winchester you two fucking owe me.
You pull away (and look away from Crowley’s self-satisfaction) and in the next second you’re in between the guards and Sam and Dean.
“Crowley?” Dean says and Sam hisses your name. You sigh and turn to them while Crowley schmoozes with the guards.
“I have to stay for a little while, but you two are leaving,” you whisper.
“The hell you are!” Dean says.
“Well, sort of. It is part of the deal she made to clean up your little mess,” Crowley says and wraps his arm back around you. “You can go hang out at Denny’s with your giraffe as far as I care. Your partner will be out at midnight.”
“Not a fucking ch–” Dean disappears mid-rant, as does Sam, and you jolt. The teleportation thing is something you never get used to.
“They’re with dear Castiel. Shall we have that dance now?” Crowley says and lifts a hand. You brace yourself for the next few hours, and accept it.
The party picks up a little bit and Crowley seems to enjoy having you on his arm, which is a weird thing that you can’t quite figure out, but you go along with it because that’s the deal. He also doesn’t seem to mind you’re otherwise crappy company, and you try to tune out when he talks about souls and deals, though he doesn’t make any while you’re around. You’re grateful for that, because you don’t want to make him get pissed and void the deal.
You’re feeling fairly tired by the last dance but all you can think of is getting home and crawling into bed. And of Cas. Crowley leads the dancing and you wonder what it would be like to dance with Cas. You’d have to figure out how to teach him but this seems easy enough. Cas in his suit and mask, holding your hand. Cas moving with you, moving closer to you…
“Such a shame, Cinderella; your carriage is about to be a pumpkin,” Crowley murmurs and kisses you, deeply. There’s no deal, no joke, and just as suddenly as it starts it stops and you find yourself outside on the street in a lightly drizzling rain, your flimsy coat over your shoulders, wondering what the fuck just happened.
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sdhs-connormurphy · 7 years
Text
Therapy Session 2
(Long self-para under the cut. TW for therapy and general anger management talk)
Connor couldn’t concentrate the whole week. All he kept thinking about was therapy group, and those men, and how comfortable he felt with all of them despite only knowing them for an hour. The week flew by in a blur. Not much had changed anyhow. Mom and Dad still yelled, Zoe still tried too hard, teachers still kept an eye on him, and the other kids at school still avoided him. The only thing that really stood out was Connor convincing Zoe to forge Mom and Dad’s signatures taking a lot less convincing than he expected.
As quick as it had gone, Thursday came again. Connor bussed himself out to Clemens Community Centre with his folder in hand. He waved to Anna and found Peggy at the door to the therapy room.
“Hey Connor, how are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine Peggy. Thanks,” Connor smiled as he grabbed the consent form out of his folder. “Here’s my form.”
Peggy smiled in return and ushered him into the room, where he took his usual seat in between her and Jacob. He was greeted with a few waves and hellos. Connor smiled back.
“Hello gentlemen, welcome back. I’m glad to see that you’ve all returned and handed in your consent forms. How is everyone feeling?”
Connor bit his lip and looked around the room. Everyone else seemed to be just as uncomfortable as he was. Russell shifted in his chair, Carlos wasn’t looking anyone in the eye, Thad glanced around the group to see who would speak first. Jacob raised a hand non-committedly. “I got mad at a co-worker. Almost got myself fired like an idiot.”
Immediately, the tension in the room released.
“I got mad at my wife.”
“My girlfriend and I had another fight.”
“I fought with my parents, again,” Connor added.
Peggy nodded. “Thank you for being honest. Jacob, you said you got mad at a co-worker?”
“Yeah. He didn’t get any of his shit handed in on time, so I went off on him. We needed that for a presentation tomorrow, now everything’s behind. I yelled at him, the boss was walking by, almost got my ass fired.”
Connor shivered. That sounded like every group project he had ever been a part of in his life.
“What about that made you angry?”
“I already said, we needed his numbers for the presentation, now we don’t have it, so we aren’t ready. I hate it when people don’t do what they’re supposed to.”
“Me too,” Dennis added. “I hate it when I ask someone to do something, and they don’t. I might as well have just done it myself and saved my breath.”
“Exactly!” Jacob cut back in. “And I just got so mad—“
“Where did you feel that anger?” Peggy asked.
“Sorry?”
“When your co-worker told you he didn’t get his part of the presentation done, and you were getting angry, where did you feel the anger start?”
Jacob looked around to the group. Connor shrugged. He had no idea what Peggy meant by her question. Nobody else seemed to know either.
“Did you feel it in your chest? Your stomach?”
“My head,” Jacob answered. “Felt like my brain started boiling and I had to let it out.”
Peggy nodded. “Okay. So when you feel angry, Jacob, you feel it in your head. What about everyone else? Connor, when you fight with your parents or your sister, where do you feel the anger?”
“My hands,” Connor answered without giving it a second thought. “I feel like I have to throw something, or pull out my hair, or…” Hit your fucking sister. Your best friend since she was born. The only person you would ever consider dying for. “…yeah.” He looked down at his feet.
Peggy looked at him with soft, understanding eyes. “Thank you, Connor.” She posed the question to the rest of the group, but Connor only half listened. He couldn’t stop staring at his hands: the lines and curves of his palms, his nails, the nail polish, the ridges of his knuckles. He also couldn’t stop thinking about what Jacob had told him the week earlier. What other terrible things would he do?
He noticed Peggy stand and to the easel and pad of paper. He looked over as she wrote ‘Signs of Anger’ on the first sheet. “Okay, so what I’m hearing is that a lot of you notice similar things when you get angry. Jacob, you mentioned feeling like your brain’s boiling, and Thad, you mentioned feeling like you’re going to throw up.” She wrote those on the board. “Who else?”
“I need to stand up, I need to move. I’ve just got too much energy to know what to do with,” Connor spoke up. Peggy wrote it down.
“I can’t control how loud I am,” Russell added. “Everyone thinks I’m yelling at them, which makes me madder. More yelling, more anger, and it all just comes out.”
“I’m the opposite, I go quiet,” Thad replied.
Peggy nodded. “That’s a good point, not all these signs are the same for everyone. Once you know your own anger signs, you can start taking steps toward managing it more effectively.
“I don’t want to just manage my anger though,” Carlos piped up. Connor looked over, startled, he had almost forgotten that the other man was there. “I want to stop being angry. Every day I fight with my wife, and I can see my daughter get so scared of me when we start yelling. I don’t want my little girl to be scared of me anymore.”
Peggy nodded and looked as if she was about to respond, but Robert began speaking instead. “You can’t stop being angry though. Anger is a normal thing. Have you seen Inside Out?” Carlos nodded. “My son loves that movie, but the whole point is that we need all those emotions, cause they’re all important. Feeling anger is okay, but we can’t let it control us, you know?” Robert stopped and looked over the group sheepishly. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
“You don’t need to apologize here, Robert. This is a space to share our feelings. How do you feel about what Robert said, Carlos?” Connor looked over at Carlos, prepared to leap out of the way if a fight broke out.
“It sounds all well and good, but when I realize my daughter’s been hiding under her bed for the past hour it isn’t that comforting,” Carlos replied. Dennis, Thad, and Russell nodded. “I just want to know why I get so damn mad all the time.”
“Me too,” Connor murmured. He understood what both men meant. “I hate being angry.”
Peggy nodded. “Yes, sometimes anger can be very harmful. But it can be helpful too, with limits.”
“I know,” Carlos replied. “If people never got angry nothing would change. I know all that stuff. But my problem isn’t that I get angry, my problem is that I always seem to blow past anger limits and hurt people I don’t want to hurt.”
The group fell silent. Connor looked down at his hands again. He knew that feeling all too well.
“Carlos, it sounds like you feel like your anger seems to sneak up on you,” Peggy said, breaking the silence. Carlos nodded. “Do other people feel that way?”
Connor nodded and murmured, “Yeah.” All the time. “It’s like a switch flips. In school we learned about the way the brain works when its threatened. They called it the Fight or Flight response. And I couldn’t help but laugh. The Fight response, that’s all me.”
The group laughed and voiced their agreement. Peggy smiled. “Do you feel like that’s always the best response?”
“Hell no!” Connor shook his head. “I’d love to just be able to walk away whenever something makes me mad. But if it’s like, in school or something, I can’t.”
“What do you usually do in that situation?”
Connor shrugged. “Just hold it in, I guess. I don’t know, I should probably learn some kind of deep breathing exercise or something.”
Peggy smiled. “That’s a perfect segue into what I wanted to talk about in our last forty-five minutes.” She grabbed some worksheets out of her folder and handed them out to the group. “This therapy is meant to help you discover the roots of your anger and how to best manage it. But until then, as you mentioned Connor, I wanted to teach you all some quick ways to keep your anger under control. These aren’t be-all-end-all magic solutions, but they are designed to help you in the moment. First, we have heart-belly breathing…”
Peggy led them through heart-belly breathing, then down the list of relaxation techniques. None of them particularly struck Connor as more helpful than any of the others, except for one. Imagery. Peggy instructed them to close their eyes and imagine that they were in their favorite place, a place that made them feel calm. Connor immediately found himself thinking of the orchard where his family would hunt Easter eggs in the spring, picnic in the summer, and apple-pick in the fall. He felt the wind whistle through his hair and the trees and his toes. He smelled the fresh life around him. The warmth of the sun settled in his heart. He felt…calm. So unbelievably calm.
He opened his eyes and saw the other men around him. Some seemed lost in a similar state of bliss. Peggy murmured, “I will control my anger. My anger will not control me.”
“I will control my anger. My anger will not control me,” the group repeated their mantra.
Peggy thanked them and Connor stuck around after all the other men left.
“Did you want to speak with me about something, Connor?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I was just wondering, Peggy, you mentioned leaving the situation? But a lot of times I find myself getting angry at school, and I can’t leave without my teachers noticing. Is it…well, would you be able to write me a note to give to my teachers? So I can prove it?”
“Of course. Is it okay if I give it to you next week?”
Connor scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah.”
“Is it really?” Peggy raised an eyebrow.
Connor laughed. “Yes, really. I’ll see you next week.”
“See you next week.”
Connor smiled and dashed out of the room, barely making the bus in time. He settled into his seat and texted Zoe.
‘Hey, Zoe? Do you want to go to the orchard this weekend?’
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