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2seokfan · 4 years

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Scarlet & Hazel | Ch. 1

pairings: hoseok x reader x yoongi

genre: fluff, very light angst, smut (future)

word count: 3.6k

chapters: ch.1, ch.2, ch.3, ch.4

summary:

Just cause you’re living paycheck to paycheck in a tiny apartment even after graduating college doesn’t mean you’re not happy. So what if your best friend is working her dream job making close to six figures every year? So what if she’s in a loving, committed relationship with her perfect boyfriend that you’re 99% sure is going to propose to her sometime next year? It doesn’t matter that your idea of a perfect relationship is a $9.99 bottle of wine on Friday nights while you binge watch Netflix specials.

Ok so maybe you’re a teensy bit miserable. Maybe you have no idea what you’re doing with your life. Maybe all you need to do is accidentally cross paths with two hybrids who will drastically change that.

Meet “Scarlet” and “Hazel”, two of the most gorgeous hybrid men you have ever laid eyes on. With their help, you learn that life is an adventure, a rollercoaster with ups and downs, and you were too preoccupied with yourself to climb out of your own predicament. And hey, you’re not much of a romantic, but with these two, you just might change your mind.

note: Hi! This is my first fic ever! I don’t even know if anyone’s gonna read this but I’ve had this idea in my head for awhile so fuck it.

You kicked off your shoes and threw your purse on the couch.

“God my back hurts!”

Honestly with the amount of random bodily aches you experience on a daily business you could pass for being 70 years old. But this time you knew where the pain stemmed from. You just had to fall asleep awkwardly after a night on your phone. And of course today was a work day and you slept past all THREE of your alarms. But you know that feeling when you sleep for a suspiciously long amount of time and something doesn’t feel right? That’s the sixth sense that saved your ass this morning because your internal body clock was like sweetie I think you’re late.

You only had time to slap on some makeup, hoping it looked semi decent, and throw your greasy hair into a messy, but passable bun because no one wants to see an ugly receptionist. You had to skip your morning Starbucks drive-through routine because you’re about to be LATE, late so you grab your keys and start your car, booking it to work.

You work at a private hybrid clinic which pays a little better than most but that means you also have to deal with a lot of attitude from rich “owners” (you hate that word). And you sat weirdly at work today so that did nOThing to help your back pain. Also how come everybody decided to book an appointment today?? It’s Friday for god's sake why does everyone and their mothers decide it’s time to call the clinic and book a checkup. They get so mad at you when you say this whole month is filled. You can’t change the schedule though?? The calendar’s filled lady either get over it and settle for next month or fuck off (of course you don’t say that out loud cause you’ll get fired). Also someone yelled at you today because they didn’t like the magazine choices in the waiting room.

Anyways your day sucked and you couldn’t be happier being back in your tiny apartment to binge watch netflix stand-up comedies until you collapse. Well you say it’s your apartment but you actually have a roommate. She’s nothing like you though, she’s the epitome of responsibility. You agreed to live with her even though you met her through Craigslist because once you met her in person you deemed her genuine enough, and also found out she’s hardly ever at the apartment but she still pays rent on time?! You really hit the jackpot with her honestly. Cause you can be a little bit messy sometimes but even when she is home she never complains. The only negative side of having her as a roommate is that you never really had time to bond with her cause she’s so busy and over your league that even after a year you two still aren’t anything more than friendly acquaintances.

Alright time to get out of your work clothes and into nothing but your favorite oversized t-shirt with no pants on because that is what you deem home-appropriate attire. But before you turn on netflix your tummy is making “feed me” noises so it’s time to check the fridge. Damn no leftovers. Time to crack open one of those Trader Joe’s frozen meals you have stacked in the freezer. You blindly pick a box. Guess you’re having vegan tikka masala tonight. Not gonna lie though those frozen meals are actually not half bad. Or maybe you’ve been away from good home cooking for so long you’ve become desensitized? Who cares, you’re hungry. Also it’s Friday, so no harm in cracking open a bottle of wine right?

When you’re all settled on the couch with your favorite plush blanket on your legs, a random comedian on tv, and a full tummy, your mind drifts away. It’s Saturday tomorrow and you have the weekends off. Maybe you should do something fun for yourself to make up for the crap you had to deal with today. You text your best friend Karli. You know she’s awake since it’s only 10pm.

You: Hey girl wanna go to the beach or smth tmrw?? <3

Karli: Yaaas ok I don’t work!! What time?

You: and we can walk around all the fancy stores and get coffee from that place we love.

You: hmmm how bout meet there @11??

Karli: Sounds good sweetie want me to pick you up?

You: no its ok ill meet u there i need to buy groceries after

Karli: Kk love ya see you then!!!

You: love ya! night bby

Karli knows that when you say “go to the beach” you really mean walk along the beach and the nearby stores because it’s early June and prime tourist season. That means the sand is packed with people and their kids and the water’s probably filled with pee so you’re not really down for that. Also the expensive shops near the beach are so cute and you love walking around window shopping, pretending like you can actually afford any of the items on display.

The wine is now getting to you cause before you know it you find your eyelids getting heavy. You muster up your last ounce of strength to turn off the tv and force yourself out of the couch cause your poor back doesn’t need another excuse to keep hurting. As much as you don’t want to wash your face and brush your teeth, you have to because you don’t want makeup on your pillowcase tonight. And when you finally crawl into bed you knock out instantly.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

“Oh fuck…”

You forgot that drunk you last night set an alarm today for 9am. Thank you drunk Y/N.

Why 9am? Because you need to shower and get ready, plus the beach you’re going to is near the north part of the city, which is also the expensive part of the city, meaning it’s a LONG ways from where you live. But the stores are aesthetically pleasing and it contains both you and Karli’s favorite coffee shop so you’re willing to make the 25 minute drive. Karli doesn’t have to worry though because she lives a lot closer than you do. Girl has got her shit together. Honestly you’re just glad she decided to move back after graduate school cause the long distance friend thing sucks balls.

You hop in the shower and rinse yourself awake. The weather is perfect, warm but not too hot. Unlike many people who prefer to dress up for a nice outing, you’re just the opposite. You’ve been forced to dress in nice business attire with a full face of makeup all week. Hell no are you dressing up on your days off too. It’s a sweatpants and tank top kinda day so that’s exactly what you wear. Ever since college you’ve spoiled yourself into only wearing comfy clothes whenever you have the chance and it’s become a minor problem in your life. You have some perfectly nice jeans in the closet but you haven’t worn them in forever. And you’re not gonna wear them today either. And makeup? Who needs makeup? You’ll just go barefaced since you have no one to impress. Actually just kidding maybe a little concealer just to cover up a few rough spots but that’s IT. You’re still a little self conscious and you know you have to work on that but not today.

It’s now 10:15. You grab your purse from the couch, slip on your favorite pair of slides and head to your car. You’re the kind of person who absolutely needs music when you drive so you quickly start blasting your favorite playlist. Before you know it, you’re pulling up to the beach area. Parking is hard to find on the weekend but your lucky ass managed to squeeze into a street parking spot right as someone pulls out. You lock your car and make the trek to Cozy Coffeehouse, your favorite coffee shop hands down.

Karli is already here and she’s hopping up and down, waving at you. She looks super cute today in her little black dress and fishnets. She’s had the same taste since high school and you’re glad that even a Master’s degree hasn’t stopped her from dressing all punk on her days off. You jog over and give her a quick hug.

“Hey girl look at you!! You’re so cute!” You take in her makeup and you swear if she didn’t go the corporate route she definitely should have been a makeup artist. Her eyeshadow is amazing and you’ll never ever have the blending talent that she has, nor could you ever get your eyeliner to look that sharp.

“Aw thanks! You look comfy though I’m kinda jealous now maybe I should’ve dressed down.”

“No I love your outfits! Besides, someone has to look nice in this relationship.”

You link arms and march into the cafe. It’s located near the fancy designer stores on a large hill overlooking the beach. When you step inside the whole atmosphere screams ‘cozy’, fitting its name perfectly. The interior is littered with mismatched sofas and armchairs but it somehow still looks aesthetically pleasing. Soft piano jazz is playing through speakers and when you step inside the delicious scent of freshly ground coffee beans immediately invades your nostrils.

You glance at their pastry display first. Today must be your lucky day because they have tiramisu and you absolutely love tiramisu but it’s usually sold out. No way in hell are you letting this chance slide, fuck breakfast norms you’re definitely getting a bite of that. Unfortunately you’re not a fan of sugary treats on top of sugary drinks so to balance things out you choose to order their house brew.

After you two order, you find a spot in one of the plush armchairs near the window and sit. You really are lucky today since window seats are usually taken. But not this time! You guys get to enjoy the gorgeous scenery displayed before you. The sun is bright, people are laying on the beach tanning, and kids are splashing each other with water. For the first time in awhile, you feel content with life, if only for a bit.

Before long your orders are called out and you stand up to retrieve them. Once you’re settled, you break into conversation with Karli, eager to catch up on everything that happened since you two last spoke face-to-face. You talk about work, Karli’s boyfriend Sunny, that new pizza place that opened up near your apartment that actually has really shitty pizza.

“Like seriously how do you fuck up pizza that badly?” you exclaim in between generous bites of tiramisu.

“No I get you,” Karli responds, slurping her iced mocha frappuchino, “everybody knows what pizza is supposed to taste like, I mean it’s gotta take talent to actually fuck it up to the level you’re describing girl.”

“Exactly!!” You wave your arms in the air, wanting to physically demonstrate your frustration at the situation and your passion for good pizza.

“Anyways…” Karli gently sets her drink down and takes on a more serious tone. “How are you though, honestly.”

“Hmm, me?” You swallow your last bite of tiramisu, “I’m doing good. Works ok, life’s ok. You know. Everything’s… ok.”

“I get that everything’s ‘ok’ but you know I want you to be more than ok. I want you to be happy”

You see the genuine concern in her eyes. Bless this girl for being so soft-hearted.

She continues, “And when was the last time you dated? Like, what, 2 years ago??”

Of course she has to mention dating. Karli has always been a romantic. You? Not so much. Your brain tended to err on the logical, practical side, which is not always a good idea since it keeps you away from many potential relationships.

“I date!” You scoff, but you’re not convincing anybody, least of all yourself.

“Oh really?” Her eyes widen in mock surprise, “Tinder one night stands don’t count babe. You know what I mean.”

“Well you didn’t specify…” You mumble, trying to come up with any excuse to defend your pride. You know she’s just being a good friend and that she’s asking because she cares about you, so you don’t let her questions irritate you.

“Sweetie I’m not trying to make you feel bad and I’m sorry if it comes across that way. It’s just… you mean a lot to me and you’re my bestie and I just want to see you be happy.” She takes your hand from across the table and looks you in the eyes. “We don’t get to see each other as much as we used to, so when I do I want to check in on how you’re doing.”

Then she averts her eyes, which you find highly suspicious. “Also I may or may not have found someone who I KNOW will be a perfect match for you.”

“AHA I KNEW you were leading up to something!”

“Wait but hear me out. He’s an accountant and at first I was like hmmm is he too boring for Y/N? But then I realized I was judging him by his job and that’s not cool so I talked to him and he’s, like, actually super cute and super sweet and I think you two will get along so well!” She’s speaking very fast at this point, trying to squeeze out as much information as possible before you can interject. Then she finishes with one of her signature Karli smiles, big and wide and all teeth and she knows you can’t say no to that face.

“Dammit. Fine.” You lost this round. “Alright if he wants to meet up I won’t say no. How bout that?”

“Gee that’s so thoughtful of you Y/N.” Her tone is sarcastic but she’s still smiling so you know she means no harm.

After another half hour of conversation, locked in a heated debate about food again (this time she’s defending her stance that pineapple belongs on pizza), Karli’s phone rings. The sound scares the poor girl half to death, and watching her jump a mile from her couch had you snorting into your coffee mid drink.

She looks at the caller ID, muttering under her breath, “It’s Saturday what do they want?” then glances up with a sad little pout, “Sorry Y/N it’s work gimme a sec…”

From what you can hear on her side of the conversation, something has come up and she has to head to the office right away.

“Ok I’ll be there in fifteen,” she hangs up and gives an exaggerated “Ughhhhh”. She takes one large gulp, finishing the last of her ultra sweet, ultra whipped frappuccino. “It’s like they can’t do anything when I’m not there.” She looks especially apologetic when her eyes land back on you, “I’m so sorry I have to cut this short…”

“Hey it’s ok! Duty calls ya know,” you give her a reassuring grin, hoping it passes for a smile instead of a grimace. You were really hoping to hang out today.

“No it’s not ok. We didn’t even get to walk around today! And I know how much you like to do that.” She stands up, slipping her purse onto her shoulder, “so next time I’ll plan a day where I guarantee I won’t get interrupted. It’s the least I can do.”

“Mk sounds good babe,” you give her a big hug, “Go get ‘em tiger!”

After she exits the cafe you finish the last bit of your coffee and glance out the window, staring at the people on the beach. Wow it’s really crowded down there today. You zone in on two kids attempting to build a sandcastle, but it’s too close to the water so the waves flatten it in two seconds. But it seems they didn’t learn their lesson because they keep rebuilding the castle in the same spot. Just move it further up little dudes.

You find yourself lost in thought again. Just because Karli’s suddenly busy doesn’t mean you don’t still have a whole day to yourself. You can walk around on your own. Also why not treat yourself to another drink? A fun one this time from their specials menu.

Ten minutes later you find yourself wandering around the various shops, hot hazelnut latte in hand, gazing at display after display of designer clothes and bags. Look, you may not be a huge fashion person, or have any expendable cash, but a girl can still appreciate art, especially when it’s laid out so nicely in front of you.

Speaking of art, there’s an art gallery coming up that you absolutely love. You’ve always been too afraid to go inside because you’re the type of person who feels obligated to buy something if you enter a local store and you DEFinitely can’t afford anything there. So you opt to loiter outside, like some creep, looking a little too long at the featured art through the window. This time it’s an Impressionist style painting of a ship on hazy waters with a sunset in the background. You’re no artist but you can appreciate good quality work when you see it. The piece is mesmerizing and serene, transfixing you to the spot. Before you know it, you’ve been staring for 15 whole minutes.

While admiring the artist’s use of color on the display piece, you overhear a lady raising her voice not too far away, snapping you out of your trance. It sounds like drama, so being the nosy bitch that you are, you’re definitely gonna check it out, if only to satisfy your curiosity.

“What do you mean ‘no’?! You’ll be perfect for each other!! Where’s your owner I bet he’ll listen!” At this point the lady’s voice is sounding downright aggressive.

As you shuffle closer to the scene of the noise, you spot a middle-aged, blonde lady pointing her finger at two hybrid men, almost jabbing one of them in the chest with her sharp, ruby nails. Behind her stands a gorgeous female arctic fox hybrid who clearly belongs to her as she pats her owner’s shoulders, trying to calm her down.

“I’m sorry miss but we just aren’t interested.” The taller of the two hybrids with orange hair speaks up, gently pushing the lady’s hands away. “Please leave us alone.” He’s being surprisingly calm, even after getting yelled at in public.

“Yeah lady get out of our faces,” the other white and grey haired hybrid is definitely more agitated, crossing his arms as he huffs in annoyance. You don’t blame him since the blonde lady is being ridiculously rude.

You can’t really make out the two males’ faces, since they’re turned away from you, but they are obviously hybrids. Both having incredibly bushy, soft-looking tails and tall, pointy ears sticking out of their heads.

Even if you can’t see their expressions, you can tell they’re uncomfortable with the harassment. Since you’re still somewhat unaware of the context, you stay out of the argument but decide to keep an eye on the situation in case the lady steps out of line. You’re just slightly around the corner, able to stay a safe distance away so that no one, especially the lady, can catch you eavesdropping. Pretending to admire the Gucci purses displayed in front of the shop you’re now standing at, and almost choking at the price, you cautiously side-eye blondie as she refuses to back down from the hybrid boys.

“Listen here you rude little pets, I’m not leaving you alone until I see your owner. My Sylvia here,” she gestures to the fox hybrid behind her, “would make a perfect partner for you.” She pokes the orange haired hybrid again, “I’ve been searching so long for her to find a mate and I’m not giving you up! Now where the hell is your owner!”

What the fuck?! How dare this lady talk to them like that? And in public no less! You now know exactly why she’s yelling at them. Working at a private hybrid clinic has opened your eyes to the harsh world of hybrids, and their selfish, rich owners. It’s not uncommon for owners to negotiate with each other and breed their hybrids. If two pretty hybrids mate, their children can be sold for loads of money. It's cruel and disgusting, with many of the children sold off before they can even get to know their parents. You’re all too familiar with this tradition, often catching owners in the waiting room of your clinic discussing in whispers about buying and selling hybrid children as if they’re livestock.

“Hey what the fuck did you call us?!” The white and grey hybrid is now also raising his voice. “Listen you wrinkly bi…!” He is quickly silenced by the orange hybrid, who abruptly clamps his hand over his buddy’s mouth.

Orange hair clears his throat. “What he means is, we don’t appreciate the tone you’re using with us. Please leave us alone ma’am. We’ll be on our way. Goodbye.” They attempt to brush past her.

“Hey hold on a minute! I’m not done with you!!” This lady even has the balls to grab onto orange hair’s arm. “I demand to speak to your owner!” Then some sort of realization dawns upon her because her eyes go wide, then quickly narrow. “And where are your collars? Aren’t owned hybrids supposed to have collars on? You know I just might have to call Hybrid Services.”

You can see the boys visibly tense at her words as she sports a satisfied smirk. Poor Sylvia is now gently tugging on her shirt. “Please calm down, miss…” she says desperately trying to remedy the situation.

Before you know it, and without any plan of action, you round the corner and march up to the boys, standing defensively in front of them.

“Um…” You gulp, then clear your throat, speaking in what you hope is a more confident tone. “Sorry I took so long guys! You wouldn’t believe the line at the coffee shop!”

#bts fic #bts hybrid au #hoseok fanfic #yoongi fanfic #bts smut #bts fluff #bts fanfction #hybrid hoseok #hybrid yoongi #bts hybrid fic

130 notes · View notes

barrybluejeansandbestjeanist · 4 years

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Notes on the Artemis Fowl movie by yours truly.

Bear in mind I wrote these while watching the movie. There’s a lot of them.

1. If you think the police and/or reporters would ever be anywhere near fowl manor you’re wrong.

2. Mulch isn’t bad so far but he’d never be caught by police.

3. Is our first introduction to Artemis him running? I think not thank you very much.

4. Plus it looks like he’s going to do some water sport. Also wrong.

5. Surfing!!??!!?

6. Artemis doesn’t have even close to the coordination to do that.

7. I don’t even think he knows how to swim.

8. He doesn’t love Ireland.

9. Of course he doesn’t love school! Have you seen his teachers’ remarks on him? They aren’t nice.

10. It was a boys-only school but that’s definitely one of the smaller offenses.

11. He did do the chess thing if I recall correctly.

12. Same for the opera house.

13. He didn’t clone a goat or name anything Bruce.

14. Unusual is an understatement.

15. Dr. Po?!

16. Fake chair! Yeah!

17. That exchange from the Arctic incident wasn’t a bad choice to include. Too early though I think. We’ll see how the rest of the movie goes.

18. He’s got blue eyes. At least there’s that.

19. He doesn’t have a biography!

20. His mom isn’t dead! Disney is just scared of showing mental illness.

21. If you think Angelina Fowl can’t control Artemis you’re wrong. She calls him Arty for god’s sake. He loves his mom.

22. Mysterious absences my ass. He’s the one that should be presumed dead.

23. “This is a sensitive area doctor” sure.

24. Fake chair ftw.

25. The burden of his father’s name?! He’s proud of that name.

26. This scene wasn’t so bad. We’ll see how the rest of the movie fairs.

27. Who does he think he is? He Artemis freaking Fowl!

28. Skateboarding! I’m about to have an aneurysm.

29. Also, why is he wearing jeans? Get this man a suit!

30. He did not like being at home with his dad. Not in the first book anyway. His parent being out of the way allowed him to do what he did.

31. His dad’s actor looks good for the part.

32. His father is a criminal. World-famous. He did not just deal with antiques and rarities.

33. His dad also didn’t care for fairytales.

34. Music’s nice I guess.

35. Why is arty wearing a hoodie?! He would never!

36. Artemis was not taught about fairies. He discovered them himself with basically no help.

37. So much physical contact between Artemis sr. and jr. No.

38. His dad did not believe in any such legends.

39. They shared only a passion for crime and that didn’t even last.

40. He wasn’t determined about any such thing. See point 36.

41. He wasn’t preparing Artemis for anything like that.

42. Fairy stones? What are those?

43. There was no peace made between humans and fairies.

44. Tuatha De Danaan? What is that?

45. Artemis would want to get to the point I guess.

46. His work was not coming to an end. What is going on? Can we meet Holly soon?

47. I’m ten minutes in and suffering.

48. Artemis wasn’t really one to smile unless things were going his way.

49. You are a child! You are still a kid! You’re like a literal baby still!

50. The whole point of him being 12 in the books was that he could still believe in magic as well as science. Wtf is going on?

51. I do know the Hill of Tara.

52. I take issue with “all I really want is to believe in you” but I don’t have time to get into it here.

53. He’s still wearing a hoodie. >:(

54. Hugging his dad. No.

55. I will accept the helicopter on the front lawn if only because it seems one thing that could’ve happened in the books.

56. Where are the Butlers? Why are neither of the fowls being guarded? I need more Juliet and Butler in this movie NOW.

57. And Holly.

58. Pretty sure they don’t have a lighthouse. Also, pretty sure fowl manor wasn’t next to the ocean.

59. Might’ve been near a Forrest. I don’t quite remember.

60. Legos?! LEGOS?!??!!

61. Also, star wars? I don’t think Artemis has ever seen a sci-fi movie. He’s too busy making them a reality.

62. Artemis would also not sleep with a book.

63. Why did Butler’s name in the subtitles appear as Domovoi? You know there’s a whole thing about his name and why Arty doesn’t know it right?

64. So his dad disappeared. Not bad. A little late but okay.

65. Everyone has already aired their grievances about Butlers actor so I shall refrain from doing so as well. I’ll just say one word and leave it at that. Eurasian.

66. Also, fowl manor doesn’t look bad. I can accept this house.

67. No no no. No one should be calling him Domovoi. Only Butler.

68. Also, that isn’t the training he had.

69. He is the butler though? I mean. Only sort of but like. ???

70. No. You could not call him Dom or Domovoi.

71. Very large man in a suit is slightly acceptable.

72. He could totally snap you in half but not without good reason. Come on, guys. He’s a nice guy. Scary, but nice.

73. Like, the dude cooks and gardens and whatnot. How is that not nice?

74. Also, I’m still hung up on the goat thing. Like I don’t deny that he could clone a goat but why on earth would he name it Bruce. Is it a Batman reference or something? I don’t understand this movie.

75. World wide manhunt? Pardon my doubt.

76. Superyacht? Owl star?

77. I get it. It’s a stupid pun.

78. I guess the South China Sea is close enough to Russia.

79. Again. Not an antiquities dealer.

80. Robberies? He ran a criminal empire!

81. Not sure how one would go about stealing the Rosetta Stone or why but sure.

82. I’ve never even heard of Boru’s Harp.

83. Nor the book of kells.

84. Why are you calling Butler Dom???

85. Yes! He is a criminal mastermind! Thank you for slightly acknowledging that!

86. Also, Artemis is not that rash.

87. He’s your dad and a criminal.

88. Why must Disney do this to my boy? He was an incredible character, smart, cunning, and a criminal and now he’s just a sort of smart kid. Lame.

89. I swear if this “raspy voice” is opal I will be so disappointed.

90. What is this? Artemis is supposed to be kidnapping fairies, not the other way around!

91. What is this Aculos and why should I care about it?

92. Also, why isn’t it Christmas? You could at least set it in winter. For crying out loud.

93. That isn’t word for word Artemis. I know you can remember it exactly.

94. I’m starting to think Orion is better than this fool.

95. Why is he wearing a hoodie?!??!???!

96. Just going to have a secret basement full of whatever secret stuff shoved in there because of course.

97. Also. As if butler would know about any of this.

98. Bunch of bottles of water. Okay.

99. ‘Cause Artemis Sr. totally knew about the fairies.

100. This is a stupid basement.

101. I’m so done with this.

102. Ah yes! An important journal! Predictable.

103. Stupid poem. Stupid way of finding the journal.

104. That was opal I see. I’m dying.

105. Beechwood. Isn’t that guy related to Holly or something? Also, not from the books.

106. Yes, Arty fairies exist. Surprising no one.

107. I like how they made the city look I suppose. And they kept the name the same. Of course, it must be noted that not all fairies live in haven. There are other cities.

108. Why is holly a baby? She shouldn’t look like a child. Also, tons of people have already spoken on holly’s appearance as well so I won’t say anymore.

109. Koboi mentioned. It was totally opal.

110. The fairies don’t look bad either. Though I don’t know if the little things are supposed to be goblins or what?

111. I guess not. These goblins also seem way too smart.

112. “You and I would make a great team” foreshadowing.

113. I do think mulch being taller is kinda funny.

114. Briar Cudgeon looks about how I expected. Do you think he’ll get his face melted?

115. Opal and Cudgeon working together. Unsurprising if a bit early.

116. You spy or you die. The CIA’s motto.

117. L.E.P. Recon. Nice.

118. I’m also not going to address the changing of roots gender and the fact that Holly is supposed to be the first female officer because again, many people have spoken at length about that. Still upset though.

119. Kelp and Verbil are around I see.

120. What is the Aculos? Like I get that it’s a weapon by why should I care?

121. Also, I think Root should be smoking.

122. Holly’s father? Why should he matter or even be a part of this?

123. They kept Holly 84. Good.

124. Reinforcements? Juliet?!!!!

125. She’s 12? She’s supposed to be sixteen! No!

126. Niece!!!! She’s supposed to be his sister.

127. Also, screw Disney for changing the fairy alphabet so we can’t read it.

128. Artemis should be able to decode it though. He’s not much of a genius, is he?

129. Foals needs a tinfoil hat and should look way way nerdier.

130. Troll! Time! Yeah!

131. Yeah! Lava chutes!

132. Foaly’s CGI is a little wonky but whatever.

133. So that’s why Holly’s father is important. Stupid.

134. The executors. You mean the council.

135. Don’t just fly over the surface unshielded, you dolt!

136. Butler your camouflage sucks ass.

137. Butler wouldn’t complain.

138. Butler’s eyes are freaking me out. No one’s eyes look like that.

139. The LEP helmets are stupid looking.

140. That isn’t what a troll looks like. Stop it, Disney.

141. Time Stop. Not a time freeze.

142. The magic looks cool.

143. That’s not how a time stop works. But at least it looks cool.

144. I suppose I can accept that’s how they do mind wipes.

145. “This is a strange wedding” is the best joke so far.

146. Why are none of the fairies shielded?

147. Holly has such boring motivation.

148. You shouldn’t just read your dad’s journal Arty. It’s rude.

149. I’m so over arty’s dad already knowing about the fairies as well as this beechwood fellow.

150. Why does this Aculos exist? If it’s so dangerous, why not get rid of it?

151. Opal Koboi. Finally.

152. Like Arty would ever dress like that. He’d still be wearing a suit and be spotless.

153. “They’re real.” No kidding!

154. Fox!

155. I’m surprised they included trying and succeeding to shoot holly.

156. Kinda wish they’d kept the bury an acorn to get magic thing but small fish and all.

157. Now it’s starting to remind me of the real Artemis Fowl story.

158. Cudgeon is slimy and annoying and I’m here for it.

159. That’s a shitty looking cage.

160. “Not happy” I wonder why?

161. Reflective glasses! Yes! Give me the fowl crew in cringey reflective sunglasses.

162. The Mesmer is done nicely. Love Juliet’s glasses.

163. A flannel and reflective sunglasses. That classic Artemis fowl look.

164. So he did decode their language.

165. The acting isn’t terrible.

166. Most humans are afraid of gluten how do you think they’d handle goblins is a good line.

167. Again. Not how time stops work but okay.

168. So let me get this right. Instead of the fairy bible which Artemis poisoned a fairy to get they just replaced it with his dad‘s journal. great.

169. Don’t give Artemis a weapon! He’s gonna cut his own arm off!

170. The time freeze does look cool though.

171. I can appreciate them gathering on the beach. That’s kinda cool.

172. Finally a suit! Get this kid properly clothed!

173. Though that tie is a little sus. Why’s it so skinny?

174. That fight scene wasn’t too bad. Again Arty is definitely not supposed to be good at anything physical but it’s whatever.

175. Flair for the dramatic? This is hardly as dramatic as the book.

176. I hate opal’s voice.

177. Waged war on your people? That was 10,000 years ago!

178. Opal’s motives are also super boring.

179. I’m sad we don’t get to see arty practicing his evil smile in the mirror.

180. In one of those pots. From under the rainbow. Fun.

181. Glad they kept the whole while I’m alive stipulation.

182. Glad to see the goblins still have fire powers.

183. These goblins really shouldn’t be so smart.

184. I hope we get to see mulch unhinge his jaw soon.

185. I do like mulch.

186. This heart to heart is stupid. Artemis wouldn’t trust holly just like that me thinks.

187. I like that mulch is up on all the human pop culture. I do wish he’d make a Gordon Ramsey reference though since he likes him.

188. Mulch not wanting to be tall is excellent character motivation though.

189. Now this is the heart to heart I needed.

190. Is he gonna unhinge his jaw?! I’ve been waiting for this the whole time!

191. Yeah!!!!!!

192. Eat that dirt!

193. Mulch!

194. “What would your parents be?”

195. A really really big dwarf.

196. Sick safe. Nothing mulch can’t handle.

197. That definitely isn’t what I expected from mulch’s hair but that’s okay.

198. Yeah! Holly punched Artemis! Now there just needs to be a lollipop remark.

199. Is that the Aculos? It looks stupid.

200. Also, I do appreciate the inclusion of the iris cam.

201. Opal, you’re so boring.

202. Cudgeon is taking over. Kinda wish it was of his own will because that’s more interesting but whatever.

203. Troll time part two. I doubt butler is going to almost die fighting it. Maybe he’ll wear a suit of armor though. That’d be cool.

204. How is it we’re an hour in and only just now get a d’arvit? Surely many other scenes warranted that.

205. I do like that mulch pickpocketed butler.

206. Don’t just stand in front of the door when A Troll is about to be sent in!

207. The wings do look really cool though.

208. Also, Juliet really shouldn’t be trying to fight a troll.

209. I mean. None of them should but you know.

210. Mulch eating the Aculos is very in character. I’m glad Artemis’s bedroom is being destroyed. It was terrible.

211. While I don’t care for the way the troll looks (Far too human, not enough claws and venom) the amount of destruction it’s causing is appropriate I feel.

212. I guess that’s how the fight can go.

213. Also, Juliet is so smart and strong yet she can’t pull herself over a ledge? Pathetic.

214. Don’t move butler to a completely different room! He’s got a back injury! You probably just made it worse!

215. Butler isn’t going to die. This is stupid.

216. Trouble doing the lords work.

217. I told you butler would be fine.

218. One of the times Butler would nearly die. If we’re following the books then more should follow.

219. Also what is this room they’re in?

220. Butler would not be ashamed to cry.

221. I’m living for everyone’s reactions to where mulch stored the Aculos.

222. I like the way it looks when they get grabbed by the time stop.

223. She’s gonna save Artemis. Obviously.

224. I like the way it looked when the time stop broke.

225. “Breaking every rule in the book” we haven’t even seen your book! Just his dad’s stupid journal.

226. He and holly should not be friends yet. He kidnapped her!

227. Ooh, forever friends how sweet! Get fucked. Both of you.

228. Now are we in Russia?

229. Opal annoys me so much.

230. So are you trying to tell me that this Aculos is the movie’s version of the book? Holly’s saying that poem.

231. This isn’t how magic is supposed to work.

232. >:(

233. I will admit it looked cool. Begrudgingly.

234. Your dad isn’t dead.

235. He’s in the secret basement that still exists for some reason.

236. Also, I didn’t note this before, but I doubt Arty ever called his dad, dad.

237. Opal is thwarted.

238. Why she so ugly looking? Pretty sure she was supposed to be pretty.

239. This is so stupid.

240. Opals accomplices, you mean those two dunderheads she had helping her?

241. How are there still fifteen minutes of this torture left?!

242. Again. Butler would not be ashamed to cry.

243. Just wait until Artemis gets magic of his own.

244. I’m so tired. It’s 12:14 at night and I just want this torture to end. Please god just let the credits roll already!

245. And now they’re famous. Whoop de do. Just tell us how mulch gets captured and escapes and end the movie. That’s all I ask.

246. You know he hasn’t been referred to as Artemis Fowl the Second throughout this whole disaster. What a slight to him.

247. Ray bans.

248. Oh yeah. Brag to opal. Great idea.

249. Criminal mastermind. Juvenile Genius. Same difference.

250. Why is his tie so skinny?

251. Is he gonna fly the helicopter?! Finally something in character!

252. Now just let mulch escape and finish this godforsaken nightmare!

253. Fowls? Protecting us? Pardon me while I laugh.

254. They do the unhinging of mulch’s jaw nicely.

255. And now they mission impossible him out of there. Perfect.

256. I’m dying. Let it be over. Please.

257. No more!

258. Fly off into the sunset. Of course.

259. Thank god! Credits! I’m free!

260. And another thing! They didn’t have the follow-up scene with Dr. Po! That would’ve been a way better ending! And you can’t just have one scene without the other!

#artemis fowl #artemis fowl movie #artemis fowl the second #artemis fowl the movie #hate

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pockpop · 6 years

Text

the loved and the damned part one | seo changbin

➵ summary: you cough up flowers for a boy who already is in love with someone else and you have to decide whether the pain of his unrequited love is worth it.

➵ genre: angst, fluff, college au, 1990’s era, tattooed!changbin, hanahaki disease

➵ requested: yeeet

sept.30.2018 | 11:26pm

masterlist

••

part one | part two

it was 1997, the year of notorious b.i.g’s death and the year I was still twenty years out of style. it was also the year when I first encountered the mess and rollercoaster that is seo changbin.

like the clutz that I am, I dropped my cassette player on the sidewalk and just as I was reaching for it, the inked up pretty boy ran over it with his skateboard.

“murderer!” I yelled as I bent down to retrieve my now dented in cassette player.I heard the scratch of his wheels against the pavement, stopping only a few meters from me.

“we are three years from the turn of the century and you still have a cassette player?” he asked walking to me and when he reached for it, I yanked it away.

“it has aesthetic value thank you very much!” I respond, obviously salty. his hand was still outstretched as if frozen, tilting his head at me with amusement.

“so the black girl in bell bottom jeans from the 70s, with poetic justice braids, and a cassette player is talking about aesthetics? do you know what time period we are in?” I frowned taking off my backpack to stuff my cassette inside of it but he stopped me.

“okay I’m sorry, look I can get you another one. my family collects things like this, plus they aren’t that expensive nowadays,” his brown eyes sizing me up and down, i noticed that in the sunlight there was a flicker of gold in them.

“but mine was given to me by my grandma dude, it’s a classic, there’s no way you can find the same one,” I pouted a bit, scrunching my nose at the damage. the skater boy grinned at me and took a step back. “I told you I got you. what’s your name?”

“y/n, y/l/n,”

“oh I’m-“

you held up a hand to cut him off,”changbin seo, yes everyone knows you vice president of the fraternity, a frat that all have a bad habit of yelling at early hours of the evening in the dorms for their auditory pleasure.”

changbin chuckled, eyes glimmering now, biting his lip slightly.”okay miss sassy pants, I’ll find you again. it shouldn’t be that hard.” he responded, pointing to your pants again before he took off on his skateboard, not even glancing back.

of course it wasn’t hard to find me on campus. I was one of the few people of color on campus and i dressed like i were from a different decade. groaning, I stuffed the broken cassette player in my backpack and rushed off to the art department building, hoping that I wasn’t too late for class.

••

and changbin kept his promise. the next time i saw him, it was at a frat party that weekend. my roommate, and best friend,maya was going through yet another break up and i was playing the role of keeping her from doing something dumb.

so far, it wasn’t going well as she was in the center of the living room drunk off her ass and rapping to a ‘hypnotize’ by biggie as if it was her damn anthem.

I really was considering taking her back to the dorms and let her cry her anger out there, the brown liquor in my cup wasn’t doing anything to me and I was exhausted. but then, I saw changbin across the room.

he was standing at the bottom of the stairs, talking to the president of the frat, chris bang, and another frat boy hyunjin hwang. changbin didn’t look too happy and by the shape of his lips, I could see he was cursing. just as I was looking away, we met eyes and he stopped cursing for a second. then he whispered something to chris before he was making his way over to me.

“damnit,” I cursed under my breath, I began looking for maya but she was being crowded by more and more people, they were cheering her on and giving her the attention she craved. her brown skin glistened under the fluorescent lights and I really didn’t want to end her good night.

“you obviously look like you don’t want to be here.” his voice was loud over the music and I leaned away from how close he was.

“just watching over a friend,” I replied, nodding over to maya, changbin barely even glanced her way, as if he already knew who I was talking about. “hey I got the cassette. I mean, if you still want it.”

“you offered it didn’t you?” I questioned and changbin grinned before turning on his heel to lead the way.

his room was at the end of the hall, away from the loud music and yelling of drunk people. inside, it was pretty neat, a high stack of CDs by his window and a wall full of sketches and unfinished canvas’ on the other side of the room.

“you’re a art major?” I asked as he walked to his closet, he hummed,” yeah. I’m thinking of being a tattoo artist or something if the producing thing doesn’t work out.”

“ah, a man with a back up plan,” I said, suddenly uncomfortable when I realized we were in his room, by ourselves, with the door closed. he found what he was looking for and turned around, giving me a clear view of his outfit. he was wearing all black, a muscle tee that perfectly showed off his intricate tattoo designs and sweats, timberland’s completing the look.

he looked good and i didn’t like that i hadn’t stopped staring until he stopped a mere few steps from me.

in his hand was a cassette player that exactly resembled the one my grandma gave me. but it was empty of the scratches and little dents, empty of the memories. he even had a brand new pair of earphones attached to it. “I put a tape of my favorite songs inside so you can think of me, and also to get you modernized.”

I smiled shaking my head,”to always carry with me the memory of that day, why thanks seo.” changbin let out a breathless laugh as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. “chill with the sass huh,”

“sorry, no can do.” I sat down on his bed and set my drink beside me on the floor, changbin stood there awkwardly as I took out the tape to see the songs.

“you put all night long on here?! who would’ve known you had a good taste in music!” I basically screetched as I continued to look at the list of songs, shocked at his music taste.

“well I do have a minor in music appreciation, y/l/n.” I looked up at him to see him smiling shyly.

“noted,”I responded as I put the tape back in. I then took a huge swig of my drink before putting a earphone in my ear then patted beside me. “sit seo, you look a bit sad, listen to music with me.”

changbin eyed me weirdly for a moment but eventually he sat beside me and then I put a earphone in his ear and I pressed play, letting lionel richie’s voice soothe us.

it was weird at first to be sitting there with changbin, who I barely knew, but it was only after the song when he turned to me.

“could you... help me with something?”

“sure dude, since the best song has ended.”

“I’m having relationship issues. i don’t know if it’s the alcohol courage but I need a girl’s opinion.”

“I don’t know how much help I can be,but I’ll listen?”

changbin slowly slid the earphone from his ear and ran his fingers through his silky, jet black locks before he spoke.

“we met at a art exhibit actually. ironic? baby doll eyes, brown skinned and absolutely gorgeous in every way, she definitely looked like a art piece ya know? and she had tattoos just like me and I was feeling her vibe.”

I took a swig of my drink,knowing i was in for a story.”we didn’t have as much in common as I thought we would but she’s exciting and racing and she pulls me out of my comfort zone in ways no one ever really has. but we fight over everything, every single thing and I just don’t find it entertaining. it’s tiring and stressful and now we are fighting again just because I told her I wanted to leave college and become a tattoo artist.”

“why is she angry about that?”

“because it’s not a real career in her eyes. I write music and compose songs, she says that’s what I should stick to. but in my eyes, I don’t need college to write music or be a tattoo artist, so why am I paying thousands of dollars just for a teacher to teach me something I already know?”

I hummed as the sad boy ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, shaking his head as he did.“I love her so much but she’s killing me I swear.”

I thought over what to say for a moment,”well in this life, you can’t make decisions for other people. It’s your life so you must do what you want because you are living for you, not them. if she can’t support you, then why be in a relationship that’s obviously not benefiting you and making you happy?”

changbin kissed his teeth and set his head against one of the posters of his bed.”because I love her.”

“if you really loved her, you would’ve have already made the decision to drop out.”

“how did you know that?”

“so you did?”

he laughed and shrugged,”you are good. but I’ve talked to my counselor and she just wants me to give her the word.”

“changbin, if you and this girl were meant to be, then you shall be. but if this is really what you want to do, she will either have to just get over it or leave you. this relationship is becoming toxic and although I don’t know her side, it’s obvious the communication between the two of you is messed up.”

“oh yeah, it is, but yeah you’re right.. damn you are so right.” changbin looked at you in a amusement.”thank you for talking with me. I hope this wasn’t too awkward for you,” he coins but you just waved him off and put the earphone back in his ear.

“you just sat here and listened to this whole ass song with me, it was the least I could do.”

changbin bumped his shoulder with mine and allowed me to play the next song.

and that’s truly the first night seo changbin ever made me feel something, I wasn’t sure what, but I liked it, just a bit.

••

when I saw changbin again after that party, it was tuesday, taco tuesday as we all called it and he was with the tattooed beauty. a worldwide gorgeous girl no doubt but a girl that every guy I ever liked went for.

I was just going to pass him and act like we didn’t know each other to not be awkward but then he looked right at me, even with his arm around her shoulders and smiled at me. she barely noticed and they went on their merry way down the hall.

he never actually stopped for conversations and sometimes I’d catch him in the art studios in his own world and not know whether to speak or not. was changbin my friend? I wasn’t sure.

however, one sunny afternoon, he caught me sitting on the lawn and sat down beside me with a groan.

“y/l/n, why every time I see you, you’re alone? got a thing against people or somethin’?”

“im not much a entertainer. if it isn’t obvious,” the brown eyed boy snorted as he leaned on his elbow, stretching out on the grass comfortably.

“whatever you say y/l/n. maya tells me differently.” I rolled my eyes,”maya is full of shit, so stop listening to her okay? anyway, what do you want seo? where’s the tattooed beauty?”

changbin shrugged his shoulders,”we’re on a break so who knows and who cares?”

“wait, are you still leaving?”

changbin sighed glancing around,”hmm, no, I’m thinking of just finishing out the year.”

I nodded,not going to push it to know why. I wasn’t sure why but a little happiness exploded in my gut at the thought of him sticking around a bit longer.

but our conversations grew from there. we talked about music and art, his family and their antique shop that he adored. he had a bad habit of clowning my ‘out of date’ fashion but eventually it was just compliments that always happened to make my day.

I liked changbin seo, he was nice company and he had a big heart.

but it was soon after finally admitting that to myself did the feeling appear. like a pile of bricks were being rooted into my stomach and I was sure I just had a stomach virus or something.

but boy was I wrong.

“maybe you should go to bed early tonight, the art project can wait.” changbin complained through the phone and I rolled my eyes, rubbing my stomach. the phone was balanced between my cheek and shoulder as my other hand was doing the finishing touches on this sketch for a family portrait. I eyed the grins I drew of my parents but the sad eyes they carried and smiled at how perfectly I caught them.

“only losers do that.” I replied and changbin let out a heartfelt laugh,”you bum, seriously I will drag you to the hospital myself if you don’t go and see if it’s serious.”

“changbin I’m sure-“ I stopped abruptly when I felt something rising in my throat.

I didn’t even hang up the phone as I dropped it by the canvas and ran to my bathroom, sliding across the floor and barely getting my throw up in the toilet.

I gripped the sides of the toilet tightly as the contents of my stomach emptied into the bowl. it was so painful that my eyes swelled up with tears and my throat felt raw.

when I was just heaving, I looked into the toilet and was confused by the sea of calla lilies that decorated the toilet bowl and seat. “what the fuck?” I murmured as I picked up one of them and examined it. quickly I stuffed the ones on the seat into the toilet and flushed it.

did I just throw up flowers? I was so confused that I had almost forgot changbin was still on the phone.

when I returned, he was rapping along to some song.

“changbin, not today with those lame ass raps,” i rasped and he chuckled,”I’m hoping that you threw up as a reason you just abandoned your sentence,” I rubbed my forehead, picking at the fabric of my hair wrap.

“um yeah, yeah I did.”

“and do you feel better?” i bit my lip still feeling the rock hard feeling in my stomach.

“oh yeah, I feel better. look i’ll call you tomorrow okay?”

“yeah sure, night puff head.”

I smiled rolling my eyes at his stupid nickname for me.”

“night binnie.”

as I hung up, I heard maya enter the bathroom and she started giggling.she peaked her head out of the bathroom door and smiled at me.

“dude I don’t know what this means but there’s a calla lily in our toilet, is that a sign for something? like good luck?”

I looked away shaking my head,”I have no idea. that’s really weird.”

“right?! maybe it’s a sign that I should call ryan, maybe he wants to get back together.”

distracted, I just went back to sketching, rubbing my throat absentmindedly.

“yeah..maybe so.”

••

#stray kids #poc kpop #stray kids imagines #stray kids scenarios #seo changbin #seo changbin imagines #seo changbin scenarios #poc stray kids #hanahaki disease #1997

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wftc141 · 6 years

Text

Blake Belladonna-Zwei

The first feeling I woke up to was strange. It felt like something was smearing me with something wet, possibly something dirty. I opened my eyes, slowly, to notice Zwei licking me for who knows how long. The puppy was quite excited if you ask me.

“I'm up, I'm up.” I muttered.

As I lifted myself up, Zwei already jumped off the bed. I started to wonder the time. Hopefully not in the middle of the night. I looked at my alarm clock and to be honest, I was amazed. 6:24 in the morning. Zwei woke me up earlier than the time I set. Usually, I wake up half past seven but I guess the dog was eager to start his first day as a pet.

I got out of bed and stretched. It felt like a normal day. The strangest feeling was that I wasn’t sad anymore. I felt peace and happiness. The same feeling I had with Yang except she’s not here with me anymore but this dog saved me from my sorrow.

I quickly did my morning routine and replaced my sleepwear with my black faded jeans and a grey Adidas shirt with green stripes on the shoulder. I fed Zwei with some cereal since I didn’t have any dog food. I went outside, expecting another newspaper in front of the door. As I bent down to pick up the newspaper, Zwei suddenly bolted past me and ran out of the house.

“Hey-” I called before I realized what he was doing. “Oh…”

He sat on the grass and let out a large dump. I wasn’t able to see how big it was but that had to be cleaned up before someone makes a complaint about a huge shit. After having a shower, I ripped off a page off a notebook and wrote down a list of things to buy. After I finished writing, I looked down and checked.

Milk, cookies, dog food and a long ass list of things I can’t remember.

A few minutes later, I took my black blouson and gloves before tying my hair into a ponytail. I took Zwei with me so I won’t have a small dog become lonely. Plus, he’ll probably beg me to come with me. I opened the garage and took Yang’s motorbike, a Bumblebee 2000. She had always loved this motorbike and the paint job, oh boy. She would talk about it for decades. I opened the tail bag and took out a gold and matte black helmet before putting Zwei in it. After putting the helmet on, I revved the bike and drove out of the garage. The sound was golden and beautiful, reminding me of the ride with Yang at the sunset. As I drove through the streets, I noticed Zwei from the side mirror sticking his tongue out through the strong wind before barking. I chuckled underneath the helmet and headed for the shops.

After an hour of shopping, I made a stop at a gas station to refill my bike. As I refueled the bike, I heard loud hip hop blaring from the speakers. I lifted my head to notice a green Ford sedan heading to the gas station before stopping behind me. I ignored the noise and continued filling up the bike. Zwei peeked out of the bag and stared at the group behind me. The music stopped playing shortly. I decided to turn around and glance at them for a while.

I noticed a group of three men and a woman with green hair and dark skin. One of the men went into the shop while the other guy refilled the car. I didn’t notice the last one since I looked away quickly. I knew people like them would start something I don’t want to get involved.

I could hear them speak Russian with one of them mentioning something in Japanese. Still, I didn’t make a single contact until I heard footsteps coming my way. I turned towards the voice and saw a silver-haired man in a grey leather hoodie with a fully buttoned up shirt and grey jeans. He took a cigarette out of his mouth and blew a line of smoke.

“Nice ride.” The man said.

“Thanks.” I replied, without looking at him.

He stared at the bike and whistled. The guy slapped the front of the bike like a drum. “Bumblebee 2000, huh? She a 70?”

“69.”

From the sounds of it, he sounded astounded. “Beautiful. How much?”

I wasn’t listening when he said that so I turned to him.

“I'm sorry?” I asked.

“The bike. How much is it?” He said, a bit louder.

It sounded like he wanted to buy my bike. I felt a bit baffled with that question. “She's not for sale.”

He didn’t respond afterwards so he walked away, finishing off his smoke as his friends filled theirs. After I finished pumping, I got onto the bike, eager to leave this place. As I slipped my helmet on, the man came back again and petted Zwei who was peeking out of the bag this whole time.

“Aww, cute little doggy.” He said. “Love dogs, ya know.”

I didn’t mind him touching Zwei. However, I felt something was off with that guy.

“Должно быть, хорошая сука, которая подчиняется. (Must be a good bitch that obeys.)” He suddenly said in Russian.

I was shocked. How dare him? Zwei is just a dog and he has the nerve to say something unjust about him? I remained calm despite anger fueling in me.

“Он не сука. (He's no one's bitch.)”

The guy stared at me, surprised I speak the same language. He was about to lunge at me before a voice called.

“Привет! (Hey!)”

He turned around and the green haired woman approached him. She wore a different outfit, compared to that guy trying to be a ghetto, trash gangbanger for a music video.

“Поехали. Мы уходим. (Let's go. We’re leaving.)” The woman demanded, grabbing his arm and pulling him away.

“Позвольте мне просто разобраться с этой сукой. Кем она себя возомнила? (Let me just deal with this bitch. Who does she think she is?)” That silver haired guy said. I could ask the same to him.

“Я сказал, что мы уезжаем! (I said we’re leaving!)”

She shoved the guy away and back to the car. I noticed him scowl at me before walking back to the car. The woman came up to me with a smile.

“My apologies,” she said in English. “Have a good day, ma’am.”

I didn’t respond. She eventually went back to their car. I could hear some argument from the car before loud hip hop concealed it. It was time I left.

I was awoken by loud noises. I lifted myself up and looked around. All I heard was crickets from outside but the loud noise was stirring over it. I noticed something strange. Normally Zwei would be sleeping on the bed but for some reason, he was nowhere to be seen. However, I did hear him bark repeatedly from downstairs.

“What is it now?” I murmured.

I got out the bed and walked through the dark house. As I made my way downstairs, Zwei’s barks become more louder than what I heard.

“Zwei?” I called. “Stop hiding, Zwei.”

I made my way to the living room where it was completely dark and empty. I flicked on the lights, beaming the whole room. I eventually caught a glimpse of Zwei, hiding underneath the dinner table. He was still barking like crazy as if he saw another dog.

“There you are!” I said, approaching him. His barking became even faster and aggressive. “What’re you doing here? You almost gave me a-“

Suddenly, I was smashed in the back of my head. I fell over, onto the wooden floor as pieces of wood sprinkled behind me. I heard Zwei whimpering and glass smashing.

“Найдите ключи. (Find the keys.)” I heard someone ordered.

I tried crawling out of the living room and I saw three hooded men in black, rummaging through my kitchen. I noticed Zwei charge at one of them. My vision blurred as I heard growling and sounds of struggling.

Shortly, I heard a loud bang. I was tired and unable to get up. My vision was almost half closed and through that vision, I noticed one of them approach me. I turned and reached for the broken bat in front of me, only for the man to step on my foot. I cried, almost feeling like my hand was going to snap. He took the bat away and the next thing I knew, I was facing the ceiling. The man bent down and took his mask off. I watched in horror as I stared at the man from the gas station.

“Вы должны продать велосипед. (You shoulda sold the bike.)” he said before a fist charged at my face.

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troey-jibiani · 7 years

Link

10,388 words of me trying to fit as many headcanons in one fic as humanly possible. Polyfrogs Soulmates (AU where you have the first words your soulmate says to you on your body somewhere)!

Chris knows when he’s very young that he’ll have to leave home eventually. He loves his family, he loves his home, and he loves the Sharks, but his words seem to imply that his soulmate will meet him somewhere that isn’t California.

Not that that’s a bad thing. Chris has always been and will always be excited to go new places, try new things, and meet new people.

He’ll miss his parents, he’ll miss his little sister, and he’ll miss their dog, but getting a soulmate out of it sounds like a very fair tradeoff to him. Plus, his soulmate might even be from California, as well! They just meet somewhere else. Like at college. One look at the hockey team, and Chris chooses Samwell. It was destiny, after his parents met there, and he skated for the first time there. He hopes his soulmate picks Samwell too.

Since Will’s words showed up, he’s had his college decided for him. His backwards, homophobic grandparents had turned their noses up at the word ‘Samwell’ on his skin. His parents had said ‘Liam, that’s a good school. Don’t know how we’re going to afford it.’ And with that, he started researching. Academic scholarships. Sports scholarships. Scholarships for volunteer community outreach hours. Scholarships for kids from low income areas. Scholarships for LGBT youth and allies.

Will manages to get all the scholarships he could. He works like crazy and saves every penny. He plays hockey like his life depends on it.

When he gets to Samwell, he feels like it’s well earned, like he deserves to be there. He was worried it would feel like an obligation, because of his words, but it doesn’t. It feels like he belongs there, and he clawed his way to this school and this hockey team.

Caitlin’s not enthusiastic about her words. You wouldn’t be either, if they basically said that your soulmate was going to physically hurt you.

So far, three people have said things that were pretty close, but not one of them has been exact, and she didn’t say their words back. She looks at colleges and sees that one in four students at Samwell meet their soulmate there. It’s a no brainer. She’ll go to Samwell, get injured, and bam. Soulmate.

It doesn’t hurt that they’ve got a killer volleyball team.

Derek’s words scare him. He’s scared that his soulmate won’t be mutual, somehow. He knows that’s not a thing, and yet deep down in his soul he still feels it. So he works on feeling nothing, for a while. Really though. Someone telling him that they’ve already heard their words isn’t encouraging.

He gets through high school on his fake chill and determination. When it comes time to pick a school for after that, Samwell is at the top of his list. LGBT friendly, good hockey team, great English program.

He parents are proud of his choice. His mom’s an alum, as are many of her business partners. They’ve all talked the school up to her, so of course she’s ecstatic about her son going there.

He’s not sure about the whole ‘one in four’ thing, though. He doesn’t want to meet a soulmate who’s already taken.

He goes anyway.

At freshman orientation, a group of people from the SMH take over as tour guides for Will and a few other guys. There’s a tiny blond that he and a few other guys mistake as a manager, the actual manager, and a man with a ‘70s porno-stache. From the rink, they take them to the team’s house–no, Haus.

There still aren’t any final decisions made, but at least some of the guys in this group will be this year’s freshmen on the hockey team, which he has been told by a very large man with glasses are called ‘frogs.’

Speaking of that very large man, his words are proudly on display on his arm, ‘Bro, are you as stoked as I am to be d-man partners?’ and a guy walking next to him has a matching ‘Hell yeah, bro!’

Will smiles. They met on the ice. Maybe his soulmate plays hockey too?

He falls in line next to a dude with eyebrows for miles and decked out head to toe in Sharks memorabilia. His eyes are dark but somehow also wide and bright, and he’s got a permanent smile on his face. At Faber, he had pressed his face to the glass.

“I’m guessing you’re from California?” Will says as a means of breaking the ice.

The boy stills, looks at Will, and smiles wider. “Chyeah! Aren’t you just super excited to be at Samwell?”

Will stops dead in his tracks. “Dude,” he whispers, pulling at the bottom of his shirt with one hand and the waistband of his jeans with the other to expose the words on his hip.

“Oh! Oh my gosh I–mine are on the bottom of my foot, hang on,” the guy babbles, hopping up and down and pulling at his shoe. He’s not paying much attention, and bumps into the most hipster human being Will has ever laid eyes on.

Hipster dude topples over. He doesn’t seem mad, though. He takes in Will’s soulmates appearance and laughs. “I’m guessing you’re from California?” He looks at Will, who’s scowling. “Chyeah. Aren’t you just super excited to be at Samwell?”

Will and his soulmate both go slack jawed. “You’re not the first person to say that to me today,” they say at the same time.

“Fuck,” hipster dude gasps. Will thinks he’s going to pass out. “What the fuck.”

“Hey! Quit lagging behind!” one of the guys from the team barks. Will thinks he remembers the guy being introduced as captain.

“Sorry!” Will’s first soulmate apologizes immediately. “We said each other’s words so I was kind of freaking out! I’ve heard of multiple soulmates before, I mean, I have two dads and a mom, so obviously I’ve heard of it. I just didn’t think it would happen to me!! Oh gosh, I didn’t even ask you guys what your names are! My name is Chris.”

“I’m Will,” he says, extending a hand to help up hipster dude.

“Derek,” hipster dude mumbles. “What the fuck?”

“I know man, I’m just as confused as you are,” Will assures him.

The ridiculously huge guy and his soulmate bound over to the three befuddled soulmates. “Dudes! Congratulations! Me and my bro Ransom here met at our first practice. The coaches and our boy Jack had paired us up and we were both super stoked,” he says.

“Yeah bro. It was ‘swawesome. Holster cried,” the other guy, Ransom(?), tells them.

“Wow! Has anyone else on the team met their soulmate like that?” Chris asks.

“Well that senior bro with the majestic flo and ‘stache combo’s soulmate is our fearless manager Lardo. And our frog year two dudes met mid game, one from our team and one from the opposing team. It was sweet. Like, modern Romeo and Juliet,” Holster, apparently, recounts.

The little dude that Will had mistakenly assumed was the manager approached them. “Hey, y’all. I know I introduced myself earlier, but my name’s Eric. The boys all call me Bitty, though. What are y’all’s favorite pies? I want to make something to celebrate meeting your soulmates!”

“Bits is the best baker alive,” Holster informs them. “It’s just not fair to be so talented. Amazing baker, amazing dancer, and the fastest forward alive? Unfair.”

Will feels a Spongebob reference in here somewhere.

“If I’m lucky, Mr. Talent will rub his tentacles on me,” Derek says, just as Chris says “The Krusty Krabs is unfair! Mr. Krabs is in there! Standing at the concession! Plotting his oppression!”

Ok, so there were two Spongebob references there.

Bitty and Holster both look absolutely mortified at Derek. “It’s from that episode of Spongebob where Squidward teaches an art class?” he says weakly.

Shit. Will is totally in love with these nerds.

The three of them sit down in Chris’s dorm to talk things out. They need to get to know each other, and they need to figure out if they’re platonic or romantic soulmates.

“This is crazy,” Will blurts out, sitting on the edge of Chris’s bed. Chris takes the desk chair, and Derek sprawls out on the floor. Will offers him the bed, but he mumbles something about aesthetic. “I’m not the only one who thinks that, right?”

“Yeah. I didn’t see this coming,” Derek agrees. Is voice is smooth, level. He’s Chris’s polar opposite in that respect, Chris thinks. He knows he’s excitable and loud sometimes. Will seems like he’s probably a little less than mellow, too.

“How can you be so calm about this?” Will asks, brow furrowed. Uh oh. Chris knows angry when he sees it.

“Dude, chill,” Derek dismisses, and oooooh no.

“What the fuck man, don’t tell me to chill,” Will hisses. “This is a weird situation and I don’t think it’s normal to be chill right now.”

“Hey, hey, guys. Will, you’re right. This is different. Not everyone comes from my type of family, so I understand this being weird for you. But! People all express their emotions differently. Some people don’t get as excited as others. We really just need to talk things out, ok?” Chris intervenes.

“Whatever,” Will huffs, crossing his arms across his chest and rolling his eyes. “So is it platonic or romantic? I know what I feel, from meeting you guys, but I can’t really…like, decide for you?”

“Oh! That’s right!” Chris says. “I know we just met but I really like you guys and I could totally see us in a relationship some day but right now we can just be friends? If that’s ok with you.”

Will frowns, but doesn’t protest. “That’s chill,” Derek says. Chris hopes that’s a good thing? It’s hard to tell with Derek.

“Um. Ok,” Will mumbles. Is this not what he wanted?

“Why are you so weird about this? Do you have a problem with your soulmates being dudes?” Derek accuses.

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” Will spits. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Typical,” Derek says, shaking his head. “You’re just another privileged white kid who’s too good for–”

“Privileged? Privileged? My family is low income, I’m the first kid to go to college in four generations just because of my stupid words that you just had to say. I’ve spent years of my life working my ass off on a stupid lobster boat–hell, the jeans you’re wearing cost more than my entire closet. Fucking privilege? Really?”

Oh boy.

He’s changed his mind. Will does not, will not, cannot ever love Derek Nurse. Yeah, he’s literally the most attractive being on the planet, and he was kind of cute earlier, but holy shit, he’s pretentious. And demeaning. And a giant bag of dicks.

“Yo, Poindexter, chill,” he says, and oh man does Will just want to kiss punch that stupid look off his face.

“What does that even MEAN?” Will asks.

“You don’t have to deflect like this. I get it. Obviously you’re uncomfortable with having dudes as your soulmates and the possibility of it turning romantic,” Derek persists.

“Oh my GOD you could not be more wrong,” Will groans. “Just because you’re a douche doesn’t mean I’m a homophobe.”

“Guys!” Chris interjects, “I don’t think it’s a good idea to make assumptions about people you just met. Why don’t we try talking about ourselves? You know, a better introduction so that we can get to know each other better and understand where each one of us is coming from? I can go first!”

Will doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t feel like he has to, and Derek doesn’t say anything either.

“Ok! So! I said before that I have two dads and a mom. I also have an amazing little sister! And I’m from San Francisco. My mom is Chinese and that’s a big part of our lives but I don’t know like, more than two words in Chinese. But I want to take classes!!! Oh, and speaking of classes, I love computers and I want to take programming classes here at Samwell. I like cats and dogs, and I want my braces off, they drive me crazy. And my favorite team is the Sharks, if you couldn’t tell. But you probably could!”

Will looks at Derek, and then at Chris. “I’ll go next? Uh. I’m from Maine. I’ve had to work a lot. My uncle has a lobster boat so I’ve spent a lot of time doing that, and my other uncle is a repairman so during the school year I used go to his shop after school and help. So I can fix a lot of things. Oh, and Chris, we’re probably going to take a lot of classes together.”

“Do I have to?” Derek mumbles. Chris gives him a sharp glance.

“I’m from Manhattan. Both of my parents work a lot, so when I was little I spent a lot of time with a nanny. She’s like, an extra mom to me. I went to Andover, uh, I actually know one of the seniors from there. His name’s…well, you met him on the tour. People usually call him Shitty. I didn’t really have a lot of friends there? But Shits is cool. I was born on Valentine’s Day, so I get I tons of chocolate on my birthday.”

You’re rich enough to go to Andover and I’m privileged? Will desperately wants to say it out loud, but he holds it in for fear of upsetting Chris. He still thinks that he could fall in love with Chris so easily, that he practically already has.

Why did the universe have to stick him with Derek Nurse, too?

Who knows. Maybe he and Chris are romantic soulmates and Derek is going to be their awkward third wheel platonic soulmate. Or maybe Chris and Will are romantic, and Chris and Derek are romantic, but Will and Derek aren’t.

It’s well into November when Shitty decides that they’re going to have a race. A piggyback race? Chris (he’s Chowder now!!!!) is still confused about it. He jumps on Dex’s back anyway, leaving Bitty to be Nursey’s piggyback-passenger.

Shitty is officiating, not participating. Dex is pulling them into the lead, and Chowder’s sure his enthusiastic cheering helps. Somehow. Maybe it’s a soulmate thing?

The tiny kiss he’d pressed to Dex’s neck right before they started probably helped too.

But Chowder distracted him too much, and they ended up crashing into half the women’s volleyball team. Chris landed in a pile of leaves–on top of one of the girls.

“Oh my gosh!! Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!! Are you ok??? I’m so sorry!!!!”

As Chris scrambled off the volleyball player, she stared up at him dumbly. Oh no! Had she hit her head on the ground? Had Chowder gIVEN THE POOR GIRL A HEAD INJURY?

“I’m guessing you’re from California?” she manages to say.

Dex freezes next to Chowder. He had been brushing leaves off himself, but he he’d gone paler than usual. “What? Did I say something? Oh, were those your words?”

“Yeah! But really, are you ok? You didn’t hit your head, did you?” Chris asks. “Oh! This is one of my other soulmates, Dex! And my name is Chris, but everybody calls me Chowder!”

She eyes Dex as she stands. “Wow. You’ve got more than one soulmate? That’s pretty rare. Caitlin Farmer. People usually just call me Farmer,” she introduces herself.

“Yeah!! Our other soulmate was the one we were racing!! He’s right over–hey, where did Nursey and Bitty go? Shitty, have you seen Nursey?”

Shitty jogs over to the three of them. “One of the girls may have a concussion so Nursey offered to help Bitty get her to the student medical center. If it’s bad, they might take her off campus to the hospital.”

“Wait your name is Shitty?” Farmer questions. “Hockey players are something else. Not that that’s a bad thing! I uh, I just. Wow. This isn’t really what I expected meeting my soulmate to be, you know?”

“You’re not the first soulmate I’ve fallen on!” Chris laughs. “When I met Dex, I got super excited and tried to take off my shoe to show him my words on the bottom of my foot, but I ended up falling on Nursey! And then he said my words too, and Dex’s! And we said his.”

“Ok but at least you didn’t spill booze on your soulmate while half naked,” Shitty inputs. Farmer looks mortified. “Sophomore year was a dark time.”

Chris had heard the story before. A friend of a friend had invited Lardo to the first kegester of the semester, and by the end she walked out manager of the SMH and covered in tub juice. The ‘dark time’ Shitty is referring to is a time when he didn’t get completely naked at parties. Which isn’t such a terrible thing if you ask literally anyone else.

Shitty displays his words proudly by pulling up his shirt. ‘What the fuck WHAT THE FUCK’ lays across his chest in pretty, curly script.

“That must have been fun for your parents to explain to you when it showed up,” Farmer snorts. An alarm buzzes on her phone. “Shit. I’ve got class–I want to meet up with you later? Maybe Annie’s? Both of you. And bring your other soulmate too?”

Chris nods. “I’ll let him know to meet us there! Actually, me and Dex have class together right now!”

“Cool,” Farmer grins, leans forward and presses a kiss to Chris’s cheek, and rushes off to her lecture.

Derek’s phone buzzes in the waiting room at the medical center.

Hey so something really amazing happened today!! I want to tell you in person, can you meet me and Dex at Annie’s?

“All right, April. Your head’s fine. Just a little bump, and I know it shook you up, but you’re good to go. Come back if you have a headache tomorrow.”

Nursey lets Chowder know he’ll be there and stands to walk out with the volleyball player they’d injured. Bitty smiles at her and chatters away, and Nursey nods like he’s listening, but he’s a million miles away. Whatever Chowder wanted to tell him had to be important for him to want to do it in person.

He stays in his head for a while, so that’s probably why he trips on the way into Annie’s later. He flails, tries to catch himself, but ultimately ends up knocking into a girl who’s in line.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. Are you ok? I’m so sorry,” Nursey apologizes.

The girl pales, and then laughs. “You’re not the first person to say that to me today.”

“What the fuck,” Derek stutters (whoa deja vu), “I just–did I just say–and you said–but that means that–”

And then Dex is there, chirpy grin plastered across his face. “Yo, chill, Nurse,” he says smugly. “This is Chowder’s big news. He met yet another soulmate.”

Chowder bounces over to them as well. “Which is totally ‘swawesome! I wasn’t expecting you and Farmer to be soulmates too!! Wow, I guess it’s just Dex who’s not Farmer’s soulmate, then. But that’s ok! Maybe Dex has another soulmate too!! But if he doesn’t that’s ok too because he already has you and me and that’s already more than most people have.”

Something is different though. It’s different, when Derek sees this girl. It’s like there’s a big sign above her head that says ‘shaped like a friend.’ He feels like he could spend his life with her, but he doesn’t want to date her. Which is a lot different than how he feels when he sees Dex and Chowder.

“Cool,” Derek manages.

Farmer learns very quickly that she and Nursey are platonic soulmates (they tried making out once and it was kind of hilarious). They have an easy connection, and they both love Chowder to death, but they don’t love each other the way they love Chowder.

Gosh, she loves Chowder. Chris Chow is pretty much everything she’s ever wanted. He’s sweet, he’s caring, and he’s athletic. Caitlin, a Jock™, can’t date non-jocks. It just wouldn’t work.

Derek Nurse is everything she could want in a best friend. Super chill, super thoughtful, and perfectly capable of sitting in silence while scrolling on their respective phones. He even lets her put winged eyeliner on him! After which he takes the eyeliner and tells her to hold still, and gives her the prettiest cat eye she’s ever seen in three seconds flat. She’s in friend love with him for sure when that happens.

She likes Dex too. He’s a bit more on the sensitive side. All three of her boys are, but not in the same way.

Chowder’s an emotional guy. He shows all of his feelings with equal intensity. Nursey’s all about internalizing and repressing. He vents through poetry, of course, though Farmer thinks that might not be enough. They both have defense mechanisms, that she picks up easily; Chris acts super innocent, angelic, and happy to throw people off the trail, and Derek shows no emotion so that people think they can’t hurt him.

Dex, though. At first, Caitlin thinks, he seems to have anger issues. After only a few weeks of knowing him, however, she has him pegged. Dex is a hurt-first-so-I-don’t-get-hurt kind of guy.

If he strikes first, he gets the upper hand. If he strikes first, he can save himself the trouble of getting too close. If he strikes first, he won’t have to deal with his feelings for Nursey.

Yeah, Caitlin can see that, too. They’re soulmates, they obviously love each other. When she asks Chris about it, he tells her that the first day they met they started fighting and never stopped. When she points out their defense mechanisms, Chris wholeheartedly agrees. When she asks what they should do, he insists that they work it out on their own. He tells her he tried to talk to Bitty (who’s like a mother to the four of them) about it but it just made things worse.

Farmer wants all her boys to be happy, but decides to leave it up to Dex and Nursey to work things out.

He kisses Chowder. He kissses Chowder, in Chowder’s dorm, and Chowder kisses back.

Dex couldn’t be more ecstatic.

The day they met Farmer, Chris had been giving him signals. They flirted like crazy, there was that tiny peck on the back of the neck Chowder had given him, and Chowder picking him first for the race. After they crashed into Cait, however, it had all been kind of pushed back. Dex felt like he needed to get Chowder’s attention.

Maybe kissing him isn’t the best way, but it works. Chris pulls back with stars in his eyes (which isn’t that abnormal) and a flushed face, so Dex is counting it as a win.

“Oh,” Chris says quietly. “Um, did that really happen?”

Dex snorts. “I can do it again if you need proof,” he offers. “It happened.”

“Wow. Uh, yeah, I’d like for it to happen again. I was starting to think maybe you wanted to just stay friends? But you got kind of flirty and then stopped, so I didn’t know what to think. Caitlin’s going to be so happy, oh, wait until she finds out! She’s been so worried that you weren’t happy, she keeps–”

And Dex kisses him again. And again. And again.

“Wait, what was that about Farmer worrying about me?”

Chowder frowns. Dex is pretty sure it’s just because he’s not kissing him anymore. “She says you pick fights on purpose to keep certain people at arm’s length, and it’s been keeping you from being happy.”

Now Dex is frowning too. “I don’t–” Chowder gives him a very pointed look. “Ok, maybe I do. Look, if this is about Nurse, it’s not happening. We don’t understand each other, and we never will. We come from places that are too different.”

“But you’re soulmates! Doesn’t that mean anything?” Chris asks.

“It does. And I’ll try to be around him for your sake. It just doesn’t seem to be enough,” Dex tells him.

“I think you guys would get along a lot better if you–both of you–would try. Some people have to wait a long time for their soulmate, and most people only have one. Don’t you think you should be happy about meeting us so early in our lives?” Chowder implores. He’s so earnest, it’s hard for Dex to disagree with him.

“Can you tell him that? He acts like he doesn’t give a shit about anything. Maybe if he actually cared about me I would be nice,” Dex laughs hollowly.

“Dex, you know that’s just how Nursey is. He wants to make people think he doesn’t care so no one can touch him.”

“He should be able to talk to his soulmates! Like, open up or something! If he would just tell me about himself instead of saying what he thinks he knows about me, things would be easier,” Dex huffs. He’s bordering on angry, and he knows he needs to control himself, but it’s getting tough. “I’d be willing to listen, too. God, C, it’s ridiculous. I don’t want to hear him say I somehow have it better than him, I want him to tell me what’s wrong.”

Chowder is…shook. Dex shifts in his spot on Chris’s bed uncomfortably, but Chowder brings their foreheads together and smiles softly.

“Dex, that’s actually really sweet. You care about Nursey more than you let people see, huh?” he whispers. “Maybe we can get Nursey to be more comfortable with us so he’ll open up, ok?”

I love you, Dex thinks. I love you, I love how much you love him, and I think I love him too. “How?” is what he actually says.

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll think of something! And I know Caitlin can help. She and Nursey get along really well, I mean obviously, they’re soulmates too. But their bond is platonic. Anyway! She talks to him all the time! I think they’re at Annie’s together right now. Oh my god Dex we have homework we’re supposed to be studying!!!”

Dex looks down at the laptops they were ignoring. “Oh, yeah. Homework.”

Farmer plays with the little liftable flap on the lid to her chai latte. She takes a sip; it always throws her off just a little bit that something can taste the way that flowers smell. Derek is sitting across from her with his ultra-complicated, ultra-pretentious drink that she couldn’t remember if she tried, looking down at his phone for a second.

“Have I ever told you how my parents met?” she asks, out of nowhere, just because she can.

“No, but it can’t be worse than you and me or you and Chris,” Nursey says. “I bet your dad didn’t mow down your mom in a coffee shop.”

She barks out at short laugh. “Oh, no. My dad was working at this little grocery store, and he’s stocking a shelf when this girl runs up to him and yells ‘WHERE’S THE BATHROOM?’ And he forgets that those are his words, so he just says ‘Near the frozen food section.’ And she yells thanks and keeps running. He had to chase her down in the parking lot.”

“Ok, so that’s less than romantic,” Nursey agrees. “My parents had like, this beautiful fairytale meeting.”

Caitlin waits for him to say more. “My mom never really put much thought into soulmates. She didn’t want someone that was perfect for her, she wanted to build a relationship over time on her own terms. She met my dad in college and he had the same view, so they started dating. They moved to New York together, which was fine, until she was pregnant and he met his soulmate and decided to leave.

“So now she’s alone in Manhattan and pregnant with that asshole’s kid. She was walking out of her apartment building to go to a job interview–with a company she’s now the CEO of, by the way–when she walks right into this other lady. It’s snowing, and she’s super pregnant, and he didn’t even think about how it wasn’t really her fault because the lady was on the phone. She starts apologizing, tells her ‘I wasn’t watching where I was going, I’m so sorry.’ And the lady cups her face and says ‘I’ve finally found you, habibi.’ I’ve heard the story a thousand times. Oh, and then I was born at some point in there.”

Farmer’s floored. She’s never heard Derek talk about his dad before, so hearing it now is jarring. He seems to hate him. Derek’s not one for showing a lot of emotion. This is news.

“That’s really sweet,” Farmer tells him. “And your mom, she believes in soulmates now?”

“After she met Mama, she knew that their bond was worth so much more than anything she could have had with my dad,” Nursey explains. “I was kind of worried my soulmate wouldn’t want me, based off of my words. Mama said you never know, but I’m still not sure that any of this is real.”

Whoa. Get Derek Nurse to talk about his moms and suddenly he’s an open book. Farmer needs to remember this for later.

“It’s real. I promise. But I’m pretty sure we’d still be friends even if we didn’t have a soulbond,” she assures him. “I’m in friend love with you.”

“Aw, I very platonically love you too,” Derek snorts.

“Ok enough mushy shit, I need your help on this stupid essay. I’m not doing so great in my Brit Lit class. I thought it would be easy, reading books I had to read in high school, but I literally can’t stand Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff is a big bag of dicks.”

When their break for the holidays comes, Chowder and Farmer both go home. They live in California (in different cities, but they’re about and hour and a half away from each other). They’ll be able to meet each other’s family this year. Dex doesn’t go home until New Year’s Eve because he’s afraid of talking to unnamed family members that are visiting for Christmas about his soulmates. Derek doesn’t ask who.

Derek himself doesn’t go home because there won’t be anyone there. His parents are in…he doesn’t actually remember where they went this year. And there’s no way in in hell he’s going to see his dad.

The rest of the SMH are gone as well. Jack’s in Montreal, Bitty’s in Madison, Shitty’s only in Boston but he’s still not at the Haus. Lardo went with him, of course, and Ransom and Holster are spending Chanukah with Holster’s family and Christmas with Ransom’s. Even Ollie and Wicks are gone. A few guys on the team who don’t live in the Haus and don’t really hang out with the guys are staying, but since they don’t interact with the team much, Derek won’t be seeing them anyway.

Bitty offers to let Nursey and Dex stay in the Haus while everyone is gone. He says that there’s plenty of food in the fridge, and that both Jack and Shitty have said they could use their rooms in addition to Bitty’s, so no one has to sleep on the Couch.

For some reason, probably because he’s an idiot, Nursey agrees. He says he and Dex can dig out Christmas decorations from the basement and celebrate since no one else is there to celebrate with them.

Bitty, of course, is over the moon at the suggestion. He pulls out the decorations early and shows them everything they have, and since Bitty is so excited, Dex has to agree to staying in the Haus with Nursey. He feels a little guilty about it, like he trapped Dex here with him.

After everyone else is gone, Dex gets to work. He starts with lights, stringing them on the roof almost completely by himself–all Nursey has to do is hold the ladder.

After the roof is done, they put out the inflatable Santa that Ransom and Holster had bought one year, despite Holster not celebrating Christmas. There’s a hole in it that Dex ends up covering in red duct tape. There’s also a set of light up reindeer that someone (Lardo) has tediously replaced every single bulb on so that they’re rainbow colors instead of their original white. Dex isn’t sure about putting them out but Derek begs, and he’s not Chowder or Bitty but Dex still couldn’t say no.

Inside, they put on Mariah Carey, make some hot chocolate, and set up the four foot, white artificial tree. The decorations are mostly blue, silver, and gold, courtesy of Shitty insisting that it can’t be a Christmas Tree but instead a ‘non-denominational holiday tree.’ There’s a Star of David for the top, and dreidel shaped ornaments, along with gaudy tinsel and some handmade paper decorations. Each one has a name on it, made by hockey players past and present.

There’s a set of reindeer that are cut outs of different sized hands, with Johnson, Cohen, Berger, and Marsh written on them. There are trees made of popsicle sticks and sequins with Einhardt, Wagner, Ransom, Holster, and B. S. Knight on their short popsicle trunks.

Nursey’s favorites are stocking shaped cut outs that have been decorated with crayon, made by Bitty, Wicks, Ollie, Shitty, Ransom and Holster (yes, they shared a paper stocking ornament), Lardo, and Jack. It’s the only thing on the tree that Jack had a hand in, and he likes the colors Bitty chose.

“We need to make something to put on here,” he says to Dex as he winds a string of blue lights around the middle section of the tree. “Everybody else has something on here. It’s too bad Chowder’s not here to make something, too.”

“What do you have in mind?” Dex asks, completely calm and reasonable. Which is…nice. Derek thinks he likes trying to get along with Dex.

“Maybe we could do pipe cleaner candy canes? We could put beads on them, and tags with our names. They probably have everything we’d need at Walmart,” Derek suggests.

“How are we going to get there? It’s not like the Murder Stop n Shop, it’s not walking distance,” Dex questions. It’s not hostile, like it could be, but Derek treads lightly anyway.

“I have a car. My parents bought it for my eighteenth birthday, to bring with me to school. I don’t usually drive it because there’s no reason to, but we could get to town and back,” he says.

“Your parents just bought you a car?” Dex asks, like it’s a foreign concept, and Nursey can feel that they’re on the verge of a fight.

“It’s nothing special. It’s used, and didn’t even have FM radio when they bought it. They put in a new radio though. They knew I wouldn’t really want some brand new sports car,” he tells Dex.

“God, if they bought you a car for your birthday, what was Christmas like?”

Derek stills. He doesn’t think that Dex wants to hear him complain about how he never celebrated Christmas as a child.

“They didn’t. We never really did Christmas. My mama is Muslim, and Mom was never religious. My dad celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa, and he sends me something small. I got presents from friends, and a couple teachers. But we didn’t ever have a tree or decorate at all.”

Dex frowns. “No wonder you’re so terrible at putting lights on a tree,” he says, seriously.

“I thought I was doing a pretty good job!” Derek protests. He’s gotten down to the bottom layer, and it looks pretty good to him. Dex grins. “That was a chirp. Damn it. I fell for that!”

“Is that why you want to make ornaments? Because you never got to as a kid?” Dex asks softly. It catches Nursey off guard, because Dex doesn’t do soft. He’s all sharp edges and harsh words.

“I guess. But that’s super depressing and shit. What was December like in your family?” Derek very obviously diverts.

“Well, I’m one of seven, so Christmas was definitely something. My oldest brother, Jeremy, was married with kids by the time I was born, so it’s always been the seven kids, Jer’s wife, and my nieces and nephews. And there are seven of them, too,” Dex recounts. He’s got a small smile on his face. “My parents are fosters, so I was adopted when I was twelve. My sister Shannon was too. We’re twins. But anyway, Jeremy and Matt are biological siblings, and so are Lonnie and Kayleigh, but Linda was an only child.

“Anyway, everyone always got socks, underwear, apples, oranges, and candy in their stocking. And Jeremy and his wife, Dove, always got everyone really great presents. Everybody got one thing from our parents and one thing from Jeremy, and then eventually one thing from Matt, and one thing from Linda. I guess if I go next year I’ll have to get everyone something too.”

“That’s a lot of presents to have to find,” Derek says dumbly.

“Yeah, but it’s pretty easy. I mean, Jeremy and Dove get like, candles and shit, Matt likes football so he’s easy, Linda will love you forever if you get her something for her cats, and Lonnie’s obsessed with Gerard Way so just get her something from Hot Topic and you’re done. Kay’s a little harder, since she’s not sure if she’s done with Barbies yet or not, but she likes Nintendo games.”

“It sounds like you’ve helped your parents with Christmas shopping a lot.”

Dex nods. “No one else wanted to drive an hour to the mall. And those are my dad’s exact words, by the way, about Jer and Dove. Candles and shit.”

Satisfied with the lights, Derek sits down and grabs a mug of cocoa off the coffee table that he’s pretty sure is his. “So are all of your siblings adopted?”

“Yeah,” Dex says, sitting next to him. He picks up the mug that Derek didn’t, so it was probably the right one. “Kay doesn’t know it yet, but they’re surprising her with the papers Christmas Day. And a 3DS. Lonnie overheard Dad on the phone with the lawyer so she already knows.”

“That’s sweet. Are we going to put the ornaments on or wait until we have all of them?” Derek asks. “You know, if we’re going to make something.”

“I guess we can run to Walmart and then finish the tree later.”

They walk to the dorms, where Nursey’s car is parked, and Dex is only a little pissed off.

“Nurse. That’s not a used car, that’s a fucking vintage car. There’s a difference,” he growls. It’s a VW Type 1, with the semi-automatic stamp and everything. “What year is it?”

“’69,” Nursey mumbles.

Unbelievable. This car is beautiful. Dex is jealous. He and Shannon share a beat up old pickup truck back home, and Nurse has this beautiful little bug. “You’re so ridiculous.”

“Can we just go to Walmart?” he whines. “And maybe not make a big deal out my car?”

Will considers his options. They’re getting along well, which is something they don’t do, and Nursey was opening up to him, which is something else that doesn’t normally happen. So he can be a whiny bitch and mess this up, or he can drop the whole car thing and continue getting along with someone who’s supposed to be his soulmate.

“So are we making red and white candy canes or can we do different colors?”

(When the SMH return to the Haus in January, there are matching blue and purple candy canes hanging on the branches of the tree.)

Summer of 2015 is hard. Dex goes home to Main, Nursey is in Manhattan, Farmer’s in Sacramento, and Chris is stuck in San Francisco alone.

So, he’s not aaaall alone. His mom is here, his dad and his baba are here, and his sister, May (and the dog). Her soulmark has just appeared, and she’s so excited. And Chris is…jealous. She gets to anticipate finding her soulmate, and that could happen at any time, while Chris’s soulmates are all so far away. It’s dumb, he knows, but he can’t help it. She doesn’t have to experience this awful pull, this feeling deep inside that wants him somewhere else.

He ignores it as much as he can. He puts on a big smile and tells his family about how much he loves his soulmates and how he can’t wait for them to meet Dex and Nursey.

They already met Farmer over Christmas, of course. And she’s going to hang out with him as much as possible over the summer.

It’s just not the same without Dex and Nursey. Chowder and Dex have been officially dating for seven months; he and Nursey have yet to DTR. He feels like he should have said something at some point in the school year. He doesn’t know why he didn’t, but here he is. Moping about it. He misses them both like crazy, Nursey doesn’t know how he feels, and he’s moody.

The four of them have a regular Skype call once a week, at five in Chowder’s time zone. And they have a group chat that’s mostly memes.

Sometimes, Farmer comes to Chowder’s house for their call. She sits next to him and holds his hand, and tells him it’s alright to miss people and to let others know how you feel. He laughs. He says he’s not Nursey, he’s not repressing things. Then his computer screen lights up and he hits accept, and that’s that. She’ll have to say something about it later.

He kind of is repressing things though? He tries not to think about it too much.

The summer feels too long for Chris. California isn’t home anymore. Home is wherever he can be that Farmer, Nursey, and Dex can also be. He just wants to go home.

When they finally come back, for their first semester as sophomores, things have shifted. Jack and Shitty are gone, Bitty’s different, and there are new Frogs–they’re getting called Tadpoles–who are learning the strange ways of the SMH. Ransom, Holster, and Lardo will graduate this year. Things are tense.

It’s not too far into the year when Derek shows up for breakfast at the Haus and something feels even more off.

When he gets there, Jack and Shitty are both there. Everyone in the Haus is awake, and in the kitchen. Dex is there already, hair ruffled and looking like he just woke up.

Oh. He must have spent the night with Chowder.

He doesn’t dwell on why that hurts. Instead, he looks Dex over again. He’s wearing a blue shirt that fits a lot better than some of his clothes have in the past. He looks…happy, maybe actually almost calm for once.

Chowder comes up behind him and buries his face in Dex’s shoulder, and Dex leans into it. They sit at the table together, waiting patiently for breakfast and holding hands under the table.

Derek balances himself on the door way and stays there until there’s food.

Ransom and Holster are talking animatedly at the table about something. It’s hard to tell what it is, and way too early for that much enthusiasm about anything. He could see that kind of energy from Chowder first thing in the morning, but not Ransom and Holster.

Shitty and Lardo are hovering near the fridge. They also seem to be talking about whatever it is that has the co captains so awake, but they’re much more low key about it.

Jack is helping Bitty with pancakes, which is definitely new. He knows Jack and Bitty took some weird food history class together and made pie for a project, but Derek hasn’t personally seen Jack do anything in the kitchen, like, ever. If Jack and Bitty are maybe a little closer together than normal, he doesn’t notice.

Except he does. Did they hook up or something? It’s chill. He won’t say anything. But he can definitely see that something has shifted.

“Chowder, Dex, Nursey,” Bitty addresses them, “could you boys all go to the living room after breakfast? I’ve got something I want to talk to you about.”

Shit. Is this another attempt to get him and Dex to play nice? He thought they were doing pretty well this year, he thought maybe things might actually work out between them. But obviously either Chowder or Dex himself went to Bitty about it so they weren’t doing as well as he thought.

Derek eats uncharacteristically fast. He knows Chowder and Dex are looking at him, but he wants to get this over with.

“Jacky, Jacky boy, Jacques, it has been too long my bro, fucking light of my life,” Shitty suddenly exclaims, launching himself at Jack’s back.

“Shits, we got brunch together yesterday and slept in the same Haus last night,” Jack deadpans, but he smiles after a moment and relaxes into Shitty. “Yeah, I know, buddy.”

Shitty kisses Jack’s cheek. “I fucking love you man. I can’t stand being so far apart all the time.”

Jack reaches back to put his hand on Shitty’s shoulder as Shitty wraps his arms around Jack’s waist. “You can come visit as much as you want. And actually bring your homework with you.”

“I feel like this should be a fine? But Jack and Shitty aren’t dating?” Holster stage-whispers.

“Bro we’re fucking soulmates leave us alone,” Shitty yells, a bit too close to Jack’s ear.

“What??????”

“BRO WAIT WHAT?”

“BRO WHAT THE FUCK BRO WE LIVED WITH YOU DUDES FOR TWO YEARS AND DIDN’T KNOW THAT?”

Lardo looks at Ransom and Holster skeptically. “You didn’t know? Come on, Shitty slept in Jack’s bed. Naked. With Jack in it.”

“Oh my gosh!! Are you guys platonic?? I mean, I think you are since you’re not dating or anything but I don’t know you could be dating and like we just didn’t know,” Chowder babbles, “Or like maybe you’re not dating because Shitty’s not into heteronormative labels on relationships. I know he’s said that a lot. And like, that’s what he says about Lardo, and–”

“Actually, boys, Jack’s soulmates are what we wanted to talk to you about,” Bitty interrupts.

Derek’s confused. Beyond confused, actually. Jack and Shitty are soulmates? Which means that Shitty also has multiple soulmates like him, Dex, Chowder, and Farmer? And Bitty just said ‘Jack’s soulmates’ so Jack has more than one soulmate too?

“Go on, living room,” Bitty commands.

Derek fumbles his way to the couch and sits in the middle. Chowder sits a respectable distance away from him, but Dex sits reeeeally close. Like, their arms are pressed together close. Bitty and Jack stand in front of them, also really close.

“Jack and I are dating. We’re soulmates,” Bitty says.

“Wow, ok,” Dex says more calmly than Derek would have expected.

“Oh. Cool,” Derek says, just as Chowder jumps, gripping the couch and smacking Derek in the process.

“YOU AND JACK?!!” he gasps. “BITTY, OHMYGOSH. CONGRATULATIONS? HOW LONG?? OH GOD YOU GUYS NEVER DID ANYTHING IN MY ROOM DID YOU?? THAT’D BE LIKE MY PARENTS HA–I’m not going to finish that sentence because it’s gross but GUYS!!!”

Dex smiles fondly. “I’m sure they didn’t bone in your room, Chow. But somebody else did.”

“Dex! Dooooon’t!!!” Chowder whines. “Jack and Bitty are right there!!”

“I thought having multiple soulmates was supposed to be super uncommon,” Derek says. He doesn’t want to dwell on Chowder and Dex flirting in front of him.

“It is, but Samwell just seems to be a place where lots of people do,” Bitty responds.

Shitty appears then. “Actually, I have a theory that everyone in the world has three potential soulmates, but most people only meet one of them. Example, Jack, Nursey, and Chowder all have three soulmates, but Lardo, Ransom, Holster, and Bitty only have one so far, and Dex and I both have two.”

Derek chooses to ignore that Jack has three soulmates. If he doesn’t want to talk about the third one, no one should pressure him to do so.

“That’s so cool!! Shitty, you should write about that or something!!! After you finish school though, because I know you have a lot of work right now,” Chowder tells Shitty with as much enthusiasm as he does everything else.

“Maybe I will, bro.”

So Dex has a problem.

He and Nursey are getting closer, and maybe a little more understanding after spending Christmas together, but it’s just not enough for him. He wants to fall into Chowder’s bed at night and Nursey be there too. He wants the four of them, the boys and Farmer, to all go to Annie’s together instead of him and Chris going and Nurse and Farmer going separately.

He wants to introduce Nursey as ‘my boyfriend, Derek,’ to his parents on Family Weekend. Which is rapidly approaching, so it doesn’t seem like that’ll happen.

He tells Chowder, because he and Chowder actually communicate unlike some people. That’s his biggest problem with Nurse, communication. He and Chowder have the Healthiest Communication. Farmer and Chowder do too. Hell, Dex and Farmer understand each other and talk regularly, and they’re not even soulmates!

He’s running out of ideas, so he decides he’s just going to confront Nursey and hope for the best.

He waits until he knows Nursey doesn’t have class and isn’t with Farmer and goes to his favorite tree. It’s where Nurse goes to clear his head. He says there’s something about sitting on the ground that helps him breathe better, and just think. It’s so fucking pretentious to Dex, but he knows it’s where Nurse will be.

He’s writing furiously in a leather bound notebook when Dex gets there. “Yo, Dexy,” Nursey says without looking up. “Something you need?”

Dex huffs out a short breath. “I’m going to talk and you’re going to listen, alright Nurse?”

Nursey doesn’t say anything, so he continues. “We don’t get along the best, but we’re fucking soulmates. I care about you, ok? And like, I know I don’t get pretty much your entire life, and you don’t get mine, but I’m kind of tired of the back and forth shit. I want to talk shit out. I want to know why you’re the way you are, and I want you to get why I’m the way am.

“I feel like we got a little closer to that last year over Christmas? But it’s not enough. I don’t just want to be civil, I want to actually be close. Like, not friends close. I know you think I’m having some sort of weird internalized homophobia gay crisis thing, but I’m really not. I mean, like, you’ve seen me with Chris. No gay crisis happening here.”

“I think I get it,” Nursey mumbles. He closes his book and looks up at Dex. “Like, I accused you of being super privileged. And that just fucked everything up between us. I get it, I grew up with certain privileges that you didn’t because my parents have money, but you have privileges too.”

“I’ve looked up a little bit about that? Like, microaggression and shit,” Dex tells him, voice small.

“That's…actually kind of cool that you did that?” Nursey stands up. “We can like, talk about it some if you want.”

“Yeah, ok. What else have you had to deal with?”

“Blatant racism, for one. Not like, ‘oh what are you??’ but like being treated as less than, at school, out walking in my home town, and especially playing hockey. I don’t need twenty billion dumb ass hockey players to tell me that black people don’t usually play hockey. I know.

“And there’s Islamophobia even though Mama’s not even really religious. People see a woman with a Hijab and go ‘she’s oppressed and I feel the need to tell her that!’ even though it’s her choice, and they don’t care that there’s a kid with her, they just start screaming. I’ve gotten death threats, and, Jesus, one time, I left the house in a skirt and then regretted everything I did that day.”

“Wait, are you like…trans? Nonbinary?”

“Yeah. Nonbinary. Transphobia fucking sucks, too.”

Dex hums. “Yeah, I know.” Nursey looks at him funny; he feels like this is it, it’s now or never. “I’m trans.”

“Oh, dude, I had no clue. Uh, thank you for trusting me with this moment? And like, me too? But I’m not like–I mean, I’m nonbinary so I’m trans but I guess not in the same way? If that makes sense?”

“You’re floundering, Nurse. You sound like me,” Dex laughs. “I get it. And nonbinary is still trans.”

(In the words of B. Shitty Knight, “Fuck anyone who says genderfluid people, agender people, and enby people aren’t part of the trans community. Fuck ‘em.”)

Dex thinks about the GoFundMe his parents set up for his mastectomy. About telling his parents he was changing his name to theirs but keeping his last name. About his grandparents on his bio dad’s side just fucking off and out of his life when they found out. Sure, he and Nurse obviously had very different experiences with being trans, but this was one way they could relate, for once.

“What, uh, pronouns, do you prefer?”

“He/him is fine. Are your parents supportive?” Nursey asks.

“Oh yeah. My dad cried when I changed my name. By the way, my parents are coming for Family Weekend. My name is William, and so’s my dad’s, so in my family, he’s Will and I’m Liam.”

“So I’m meeting your parents?”

“If you want to,” Dex sputters. “You don’t have to, but it’d be cool if you did.”

Nursey plants a hand down on Dex’s shoulder. “That’s fine, Poindexter.”

“Dad hasn’t said anything about it yet but I think they’re bringing at least one of my sisters. They want to surprise me.”

“Do they know about me and Chris?”

“They do. I have family I don’t want to tell, but it’s not my parents or any siblings,” Dex assures him. “I was hoping I could introduce you as my boyfriend and not my soulmate that I’m super awkward around.”

“That’s chill,” Derek says and then immediately looks like he wants to take it back. “I mean yes. Good. I would also like to be your boyfriend when I meet your parents.”

Dex likes the sound of that. Maybe he doesn’t have a problem after all.

Farmer’s a little caught off guard when she gets to Annie’s for her and Derek’s weekly coffee date and Chris and Dex are there too.

“Did something happen that you guys want to tell me? Does Chowder have another dumb hockey boyfriend?” she asks when she sits down (next to Chowder, across from Nursey). Derek already has her chai latte, and slides it across the table to her.

“No, I just thought it would be nice to all go out together,” Derek explains. “Although. C, do you want another dumb hockey boyfriend? Because, like, I’d be down. We are soulmates.”

Farmer tries not to grin too big. She knows Chris has been waiting MONTHS for Derek to make a move.

Chowder, on the other hand, beams. “Yes! That! Is great! I want to date you!”

“Damn. Christopher Chow has mad game,” Farmer drawls. “Two boyfriends and a girlfriend? How’d you do it?”

Chowder turns red. “Well, you would think the braces would get in my way, but I’m pretty good at eati–”

“Stop talking now you’re ruining the sweet innocent image I have of you in my head,” Derek cuts off. “You can’t just say shit like that.”

“Chill, Nurse,” Dex says.

“Yeah, Nurse. Chill. Chowder’s a big boy, he can have sex if he wants,” Farmer agrees.

Derek looks distressed. “Don’t tell Bitty. It would break his heart. Chowder is his precious angelic son who can do no wrong.”

This? This is fucking nice. All her boys are happy, and Farmer’s happy too. “So, anybody’s parents coming for Family Weekend?”

“Mine are,” Dex says.

“Mine said maybe next year,” Derek sighs.

“Jack and Bitty will be here, does that count?” Chowder asks.

“Yes babe, Jack and Bitty count,” Farmer laughs. “Do I get to meet the Poindexter’s?”

“I’m. Um. My last name is Poindexter but my parents are Shepherds,” Dex corrects. “I kept my biological parents’ last name. I wanted a piece of them to hold onto. My sister did too. Keep their last name, I mean. But yeah you can meet my parents too. Chowder and Nursey are going to.”

“When are they getting here?” she asks, trying not to dwell on something that’s making Dex feel awkward.

“Tomorrow, actually. They’re staying in a hotel not that far from campus.”

“Didn’t you say you thought they might bring a sister or two?” Derek inputs.

Dex nods. “I think it’ll be Shannon.”

“That’s your twin sister right? Do you guys look super alike?” Chowder inquires.

“If you’re asking if her ears are as big as mine, yes,” Dex replies.

“No! That’s not what I meant at all! I guess your ears are pretty big but that’s not a big deal!! You’re cute. I like your ears.”

Derek reaches across and ruffles Chris’s hair. “C, chill. Dexy’s just chirping you.”

Yeah. They’re all happy.

They play against Colgate and kick ass. Dex is in amazing mood when they come out of the locker room, Chowder notices. They meet up with Farmer, and start walking toward Jerry’s. They’re celebrating their win with Dex’s parents, over greasy diner food.

They’re a block away when someone yells “Liam!” and Dex’s eyes light up.

He runs, past Farmer and Chowder who had been slightly in front of them, and jumps into the arms of a middle aged Black man. “Pop!”

There’s a slightly older white man with the man Dex is hugging, who has dark hair streaked with gray.

“Jerome. Don’t keep Liam all to yourself,” the older man chastises, trying to pry Dex off of the man who’s name is apparently Jerome.

“Sorry Dad,” Dex laugh-cries. “I’m just really happy to see you guys.” He unlatches himself from Jerome and hugs the one he called dad.

There’s a girl running up behind them; she’s literally Dex with longer hair. “Hey, I know we’re being super dramatic and extra, but some of us are wearing heels and can’t move as fast,” she huffs. This must be Shannon, Chowder thinks.

“Shan!” Dex gasps, throwing himself at her.

“Hey Liam,” Shannon says softly. “I missed you. I know it’s just been since the summer, but I hate when you’re not at home.”

“Um,” Nursey coughs.

“Oh! Right!” Dex untangles himself from his sister and turns around. “Dad, Pop, Shannon, these are my soulmates, Chris Chow and Derek Nurse, and their soulmate Caitlin Farmer. I’m dating Chowder and Nursey. And Chowder’s dating Farmer, but Nursey’s not.”

Chowder’s a more than a little surprised. When Dex has talked about his parents, he never mentioned that he had two dads.

“Nice to meet you, kids. You can call me Will,” Dex’s dad say, extending a hand first to Nursey, then Chowder, and then Farmer.

“And I’m Jerome,” Dex’s other Dad tacks on. “Liam talks about you all a lot.”

“Pop,” Dex groans. Chowder thinks it’s sweet that Dex talks about him, and he already likes both of Dex’s dads. It’s going to be confusing calling Dex’s dad Will, though.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have any baby pictures. Those are all with Liam’s grandma on his mom’s side,” Will tells them. “We do have some awkward middle school photos.”

“Please tell me Dex was emo,” Nursey asks, grinning. They all turn and continue on to Jerry’s.

“Well–”

“DAD NO!” Dex shrieks. Looks like Nursey hit a nerve? He’s really good at doing that to Dex.

Once they reach the restaurant, the conversation has moved to how the four of them met. Dex’s dads both think it’s hilarious that Chowder and Nursey just kept falling on and knocking over soulmates.

“How did you two meet?” Farmer asks.

Jerome smiles. “We played hockey together.”

“Honey. You’re leaving out almost everything good about the story,” Will protests. “Ok. So, Jerome got picked on by some of the older boys on the team, and I waited until the locker room was almost empty and sat down next to him and said ‘Hey man, those guys are all douche bags.’”

“I was so amazed that he had just said my words that I looked up and blurted out the first thing that came to my mind,” Jerome continues.

Will lifts up his arm and shows them inside of his forearm. ‘You have really pretty eyes,’ is what his skin says. “It was sweet.”

“It was stupid,” Jerome argues. “Can you believe that? I just met the love of my life and all I could think of was that his eyes were pretty.”

This reminds Chowder of something, but he’s not sure what.

“Babe, it’s not stupid. I like that you like my eyes. It’s better than you having to be stuck with douche bag on your body for your entire life,” Will counters.

“Here we go,” Dex and Shannon say at the same time.

“Yeah but that’s meaningful? You were trying to comfort me?”

Will frowns. “Babe, it’s meaningful that you thought my eyes were pretty.”

“I still think they’re pretty!”

“You don’t say it,” he mumbles.

“Chill? I don’t have to say it. It’s right there on your arm.”

Oh. Chowder knows what this reminds him of now. It’s kind of adorable, though. Dex is just like his dad, and Nursey is scarily similar to Dex’s pop.

“Wow Dex, this is really weird,” Nursey points out. “It’s like looking into the future.”

“What’s weird? What do you mean?” Dex fires back waaay too quickly and way too angrily.

Chowder and Farmer lock eyes. “Here we go.”

#nurseydex #polyfrogs #charmer #william poindexter #derek nurse #chris chow #caitlin farmer #eric bittle #jack zimmermann #b shitty knight #ransom and holster #lardo duan #dex's dads #my lobster son

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