#sorry about the excessive tagging my tagging system is out of control and also a mess
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gay on gay violence
#our flag means death#izzy hands#stede bonnet#stizzy#ofmd#bears stuff#video#sorry about the excessive tagging my tagging system is out of control and also a mess
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Crystal Clear
A/N: Here’s some fluff, friends to lovers I’ve had going on while I work on something bigger :))
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“Y/N,” a strange man calls my name. I look him up and down but I don’t think I know him.
“Who’s asking?”
“Y/N, it’s me? Harry.”
“Oh,” I laugh and greet him how I would have if I’d recognized him under all those layers, in a great big hug. “Your disguise is brilliant!”
“It’s not a disguise,” he says into his coat. “It’s bloody cold here.”
“Coldest day so far,” I accept the hot chocolate from the vendor and ask him for another, Harry could use one, poor thing. His plans this week were changed last minute, and since he was in New York City where his best childhood friend lived, he decided to actually hang out with me. Ever since he got famous, it was hard to catch time with him.
“Did the cold freeze all the English out of you? You’re not even wearing mittens,” Harry accepts his own cup from the vendor.
“I’m got them in my pocket,” I point to the bulge on the side of my coat as we step aside and make our way deeper into the winter festival that was at Bryant Park. “Don’t insult me, I can still make a better cup of tea than you ever could.”
“There she is,” I hear the smile in Harry’s voice more than I see it. It truly was ridiculous--not only was he wearing the thickest parka I’d ever seen, he also had on a beanie and a scarf, as well as knit gloves that held tightly to his hot chocolate.
“I’m always here, you’re just too busy to see me.”
“Not this again,” he groans. I was always giving him grief every time he touched down to NYC but didn’t pop by for a visit. I knew he had a hectic schedule, and even though I wasn’t that bothered I still liked to tease him.
“It’s true, you come to the city so often but I see you once a year. And maybe again when I’m in London if I get lucky.”
“I’m busy Y/N, I talk to you all the time!”
“I know,” I elbow him. “I just like to rile you up.”
“Well now that you’ve got that out of your system,” he tugs my hat over my eyes. “Where are we going next?”
I push it back up, “I thought we could just wander the shops, then get on the skating rink if you’re not frozen to death.”
“Alright I’ve got to pick some gifts up anyway let’s see what’s here.”
We make a good team as we visit stands selling ornaments and kitschy decor, handmade gifts, and hot cider. We sift through exactly what we might want, or what the other’s looking for. And with the light dusting of snow coming down, and the bright lights strung around the Park, it was like walking in a Christmas movie.
“Look at this,” I point ahead. We’d nearly visited all the stands and holiday shops but a festive psychic advertises their services in a small glass booth. “Should we?”
“It’s a waste of money,” Harry scoffs. “She’s just going to read your body language.”
“She might be the real deal-”
“You can’t be serious-”
“C’mon!” I tug his gloves hand and it takes a few but he stumbles towards me. It’s slightly warmer inside and I notice the space heater running in the corner. “At least it’s warm” I whisper to Harry.
“You really want to do this?” He asks one last time.
“It’s just $10-”
“$20 for the two,” the woman almost shifts out of the wall and I hide my jump with a laugh. There’s a curtain behind her, I realize, she must have stepped out.
“It’s just me,” I clarify.
She eyes Harry and Harry eyes her back. “You look familiar.”
“Just have that face,” he shrugs, burrowing into his scarf. “I’m just here to watch.”
She stares at him a moment longer before settling at the small table. I flash Harry a smile before sitting down myself, setting my bags onto the floor.
“Palm reading, cards, what will it be dear?” The psychic asks. I remember the sign out front said cards would be more than having my palm read so I opt for the cheaper option.
“Hm,” she says thoughtfully as she traces the lines on my palm. I wriggle my eyebrows at Harry and he rolls his eyes, but he stays watching her like a hawk. It was cute how overprotective he got sometimes. The psychic glances up to catch him watching her, she then glances at me and tilts her head.
“I see longevity, in life and love, a few bumps but you’re a strong persistent woman.”
Harry grumbles behind me and I resist the urge to say something to him.
“I see success after hard, hard work. But a big success that will change the course of your career.”
“Wow, how soon?” I ask.
“Mmm, after a big milestone. Turning 30?” she continues to examine my hand. “I see a second life later in life, with kids...just one no maybe two children.”
“How about her love life?” Harry asks. “Her last love s’not too nice.”
“Seriously Harry?” I turn to glare this time. He’s grinning with flushed cheeks, knowing it was a sore spot he liked to say i told you so to. It was true, he had told me so about my 3 year relationship but I’d ignored him.
“Your love life,’ the woman speaks up. “Shows me two great loves. One cuts short, the other is as long as your life line.”
“Ooh,” I lean in, interested. “I think I know about the one that was cut short. Tell me about the second!”
“This second...” she traces my palm and I feel a tingle. “This second love is very close, a bit rocky but it will last.”
“A bit rocky?”
“Hm,” she chews her bottom lip. “Time, distance...it will make it rocky. But it lasts.”
“So how close is close?” I ask eagerly.
“Close,” she says with a smile that tells me I wasn’t getting anything else out of her.
“That’s a bit vague isn’t it?” Harry pipes up from the back.
“The future isn’t always crystal clear,” she says without looking up at him.
“Lay off,” I scold him.
“It’s okay, I get nonbelievers all the time.” She laughs. “That will be $10 dear.” When I hand her the bill she stops me as she takes it. “A little free advice?”
“Sure.” I pick up the bags I placed on the floor earlier.
"Don’t be so focused on the life you want that you don’t see the life you have around you.”
“I’ve actually told her that before,” Harry decides we want more of his unsolicited opinions. “Maybe there is something true to all of this.”
“Thanks,” I pocket her words for later. Harry was right, he’d said something along those lines to me before, especially when it came to giving up control and going with the flow on trips and events with him. I always declined his offers, we lived a modest life growing up and accepting these gifts from him always felt so excessive. I wanted to make my own way in the world, but Harry always had something to say. “And sorry for his attitude, he’s not always this rude.”
“Yeah,” Harry shifts forward. “I didn’t mean anything by it, I’m a lot nicer usually.”
“I know,” she smiles.
“She’s psychic,” I remind him.
“I’m also online,” she laughs. “Can I get a picture?”
Harry eyes me, before going in for a selfie with her. I know he usually didn’t mind getting asked in smaller settings but he’d admitted it was something he was still getting used to. It had been a couple years since he became so famous, in such a short amount of time I went from being able to go down to a local pub with my best friend to schedules and security details and a whole other list of complications. Sometimes I hated it, mostly I was happy for him.
“Another day, another fan.” I tell Harry after we walk away from the psychic and he flips me off. “Should we get something to eat and get out of the cold?”
“God yes,” Harry shivers. “Can we just go to yours?”
“Let’s go,” I loop my arm through Harry’s.
Harry wants instant warmth so he hails a cab and we pick up takeout once we reach my neighbourhood. Harry had been here a few times, my roommate had gotten used to the fact that I was best friends with him, and sometimes he preferred to stay here when he wanted to be anonymous. Paparazzi sometimes crowded outside his hotel when word leaked he was there.
We eat ourselves into a food coma and Harry decides to stay the night, not wanting to face the cold again. Since our living room couch sprained his neck the only time he’d slept there, he usually crashed in my bed. His head barely hits the pillow before he’s snoring, I guess the jet lag finally caught up.
***
I jerk out of sleep, a crashing noise followed by swearing catches my attention.
“I think your roommate dropped something,” I hear from beside me. I turn my face to get a facefull of Harry’s thigh tattoos.
“Y’think?” I croak and shift backwards to see his face. He’s sitting up in bed and scrolling through his phone.
“Guess which psychic is officially internet-famous?” Harry asks dryly.
“Hm?” I’m still calming my heart from waking up so suddenly so it takes a moment to register Harry’s words. “What?”
He shoves his phone in my face, the selfie he took with the psychic yesterday is posted on social media with over half a million likes. He swipes away and a lot of his tag is filled with news outlets and fan accounts spamming the picture. He pulls it back to read a heading: “Harry Styles visits Psychic for ideas on his next album. There’s also Harry Styles rumored to be connected to the Occult...I don’t know what that means. Psychic tells all on Harry Styles reading.”
“How did that picture circulate?” I rub my eyes and sit up beside him. “And where is all of this coming from?”
“She has a Twitter, and she posted the picture.” He shows me, it’s there with the caption A handsome face showed up to my booth at the Bryant Park Market tonight. Get your future told, 5pm to 9pm 7 days a week.
I can’t help but laugh, she was a business woman and she really took the opportunity to sell her service.
“It’s not funny Y/N,” Harry looks furious so I cover my mouth and squint at his screen as he scrolls. A ton of people are responding asking about his future or what he came there for. Amongst them, she responds to only one person: His love life was involved.
My jaw drops, “That’s such a lie! She read me my love life, and life lines!”
“I told you she was a fraud,” Harry jerks the phone back to him.
“She lied for sales, but doesn’t mean she didn’t tell the truth yesterday.”
“If she lied about this she lied about it all and you wasted $10. She only talked about your love life, not mine...”
I remember her words, my second love was very close...could she have meant...
I glance at Harry and he seemed to have followed the same train of thought because we lock eyes, his probably just as wide as mine.
“D’you think?” he says just as I say “Was she...?”
We immediately burst out laughing as the tension comes to a head and bubbles over in a safe trickle.
“Is that what she was trying to say?” I say when I’ve finally caught my breath, my stomach hurt from laughing this hard.
“I guess when she said close she meant close,” Harry’s flat on his back from laughing. “Quite literal.”
“And you were calling her out on being so vague.”
“I’ve got to give it to her,” he shuts his phone off and throws it onto the covers between us, releasing the annoyance. “She’s a good businesswoman.”
“I was thinking the same thing but I thought you might kill me if I said that,” I admit.
We lay on the rumpled covers in silence, I think about everything else she said. The potential of it all is tarnished by the idea of Harry being my second love, for life. It was so ridiculous, unless by love she meant the way I love him now. As my best friend. Our lives were so different, there was no way it could ever work. Not to mention...he was my best friend since forever.
“Have you ever thought about it?” Harry asks out of the blue.
“Thought about what?” I prop myself on my elbow.
“Us, like...the way she predicted?”
“Together together?” I can’t help but laugh. “No never, you’re my best friend!” I recognize the flash of hurt so I backtrack a little. “No offense Harry, I love you but could you imagine?”
“I have,” he says it so quietly as I lay back down. “What?” I ask. He shrugs, “I’m surprised you haven’t. We’ve been friends since...we were 7. You’re saying you never thought about it?”
“No,” I shake my head. “Actually I haven’t. When...what did you think about?”
“I dunno,” he fiddles with his rings. “Like for school dances, when I didn’t have a date I thought about asking you as more than a friend...thought about where that could lead. Or every time you had your heart broke. I wanted to take the pain away and just show you what you deserved.”
“Harry I...” it was sweet, what he was saying. But he never gave a single clue about it the entire time we grew up. He was always chasing girls who looked nothing like me, so I always thought that’s what his type was. Never did I think about anything more with him.
“Not-not recently though,” he forces a laugh. “Just when we were kids.”
“That’s sweet Harry. I had no idea.”
He shrugs, and sits up.
“No seriously I...that’s so sweet. But just so you know, you have shown me what a good man can be. Just by being the best friend ever.”
“Aw,” he swipes my cheek as he gets up. “That’s cute. I don’t know if I’ve done such a good job when you’ve only dated knobs.”
I could recognize his defense mechanism--turning it into a big joke. But he leaves the room before I can call him out and I’m left sitting in the mess of what he’d just told me. It’s not that it was awkward or a bad thing, but suddenly it felt tense and the tension triggered an anxious feeling in my chest.
I decide to get out of my room and find my roommate cleaning up the remains of her broken mug. I offer to clean the spill as she dresses to go out for her run. Helping her distracts me, and when I hear Harry leave the bathroom I lock myself in, and try some breathing exercises to clear the anxiety creeping up. When I realize I was trying to avoid Harry, I scold myself. This was ridiculous and funny! Harry wanted to ask me out when we were kids, it was cute, and that was it. The psychic was a fake anyway, nothing she said meant anything.
I head back to my room where Harry’s made the bed. I change into trousers and my favourite fisherman sweater, and find him having coffee at our small kitchen table with his phone on speaker as he talks to someone. His legs barely fit underneath, so they’re sprawled to the side. He’s still shirtless, and my attention snags on his torso.
I shake myself out of my thoughts as I bump into the kitchen island, and glance up to see that although he was talking to the person on the phone, his eyes had been on me...while my eyes were on his abs. Oh god, I cringe. I try to act casual, mouthing if he wanted breakfast but he shakes his head and points to the call he’s having.
I make myself a toast and try to ignore what just happened but it only adds to the tension from this morning. When he gets off his call he brings his cup up to the sink.
“I think I need another cup.”
“Be my guest,” I move aside. “You sure you don’t want breakfast?”
“Are you going to feed me avocado flax seed quinoa toast?” he teases.
“There’s no quinoa.” I correct, crossing my arms. “But...yes.”
“I’ll take this banana,” he holds the lone banana on the counter. “I’ve got to be in East Harlem by noon, that’s what the call was about.”
“Aw,” I hated saying goodbye. “Are you busy the rest of your stay?”
“I can make it back here,” he says.
“Do whatever you need to do,” I say. “I’m used to being discarded after you hang out with me in the city.”
“I don’t do that!” he reaches behind me to slot his cup in and set the machine to grind his beans. I can smell my shampoo on him, he must’ve showered. “If you want me back, you can just say that.”
The morning sunlight streaming through the kitchen window leaves no room for shadows; the shift in the mood is clear as the daylight streaming in. Or maybe I was reading too much into his words.
“I always want you back,” I look up to his height now that he’s standing so close, and the kitchen tightens further.
We’re stuck in a tableau; with my back against the fridge looking up at him as he gazes down with a curious expression. My mind grows blank the longer I stare. No one says a word, the sound of beans grinding the only noise in the kitchen.
My best friend in the whole world looks torn standing in front of me like this, and as my senses slowly rush back I realize that even if my expression doesn’t show it...I was torn. Because out of nowhere, all I can think about are all the questions I ever shoved away in the dark: what would it feel like if I kissed him right now? And what would have happened to us if he had asked me out to our school dance? Would we still be best friends? Would we have cut each other out? How many universes were we still good together like this? How many universes were we good together as more than this?
An urge to touch his face, make sure this was real, takes over me. But as soon as my fingers brush his cheek he snaps out of his trance and stumbles back like I’d burned him.
He forces a laugh. “I really do need that coffee.”
“Right,” I turn to the machine to put the grinds into their slot but I yank too hard and the freshly ground coffee flies out towards me. “Shit!”
“What happ-” Harry takes one look at what’s happened and turns away, his shoulders shaking.
“I can see you right in front of me laughing!” I shout. “Help me!”
“It’s all over you Y/N,” he turns around, tears in his eyes. “Give me this, I’ll put it far away from you.” He takes the remaining grinds and sets it down. I brush away what’s closest to my eyes so I can see and try to shake it off my sweater but they stick to the fibers of the knit.
“Great,” I grumble. “This is dry clean only.”
“It’s in your hair,” he runs his fingers through the strands that hang over my shoulder. I shake my head to dislodge the grinds; his fingers brush my neck away and tucks my hair behind my ear. “Uhm, that should be most of it.”
“It’s not out of this sweater,” I pout. “Screw dry clean, why did I think I could buy dry cleaning clothes?”
“I can drop it off on the way out today?” he offers.
“That means you’re coming back to drop it off to me?!” I ask hopefully.
His expression softens, “Y/N I’m coming back to your flat. I promise.”
“He promises!” I shout. Even though things were a bit awkward this morning, I got to spend more time with my hard-to-catch best friend and for that I was over the moon.
“We could also try to vacuum the sweater?” Harry suggests.
“So you don’t have to come back with dry clean?” I tease. “I’m not letting you get out of your promise, let me give it to you before you change your mind.” I tug my top off and ball it up, shoving it in his hands. It falls to the floor when he doesn’t hold it.
“Hello?” I look up and he’s a deer in the headlights. “Harry...”
“I can’t do this right now,” he takes a step back. I get the sweater from the ground and hold it out to him again.
“Do you want to wipe the kitchen floor with the sweater too? Take it!” I sigh. “Harry are you really acting so chaste about seeing a girl in her bra?”
“It’s-” he decides to stop mid-word. “You’re not just any girl Y/N, I’ve already made it clear.”
Now it’s my turn to stare--he hadn’t made it clear. “You said you only felt something when you were younger...”
“And you believed me?”
I realize I didn’t, but I wanted to believe him so I hadn’t questioned it. “Well it’s not the first time you’ve seen me in a bra. Can you take the damn sweater?”
“Yeah I can I’m just...” he seems to calm down a bit, enough to step towards me and take it. “I didn’t have to face this conflicted feeling in me if I didn’t see you often. I can just be the best friend. But now, with the whole psychic thing and you in--like this in your kitchen and I--I’m remembering how much I just want to...”
“Kiss me,” I say.
“Yeah...” he looks away.
“No, I’m telling you to kiss me.” I clarify. His expression would’ve made me laugh if my heart wasn’t beating so fast. I couldn’t believe I was being this impulsive.
“Really? You’re not just saying that cuz of this morning?”
“Fine,” I step out of his reach and cross my arms to hide my shaking hands. “If you don’t want to kiss me-”
He pulls me back too quickly and I bump into his chest. “I never said that.” He says in a tone I’d never heard from him before, it’s serious and sexy and it sends tingles through my body. I press myself up against him and he finally, finally, kisses me. Every bit of tension and anxiety the day had built up releases in the single moment his lips cover mine.
How had I waited this long?
The kiss is gentle, delicate like he’s still not entirely sure I want the same thing he does. I show him I do by using my tongue to open his mouth slowly and the hesitation disappears immediately. We’re a fighter jet taking off from there; I don’t know where I end and where he begins as he walks me to the kitchen island and lifts me onto it, our limbs tangling together, His hands roam down the side of my body, but he stays in the safe zones until I unclasp my bra.
“Oh hell no,” my roommate’s voice interrupts us from behind. I hold my bra close and turn. She stands at the entryway, shaking her head. “Not here. Not on our kitchen island. You two have a room literally 10 feet away...”
“Oops,” I say quietly which seems to set Harry off. My roommate is still shaking her head but I see the smile on her face. I’d caught her hooking up on multiple occasions so it wasn’t anything new. But I didn’t do this often. I jump down, apologizing to her. “Harry’s going to clean the coffee off the floor...I-I’ll find a shirt.”
“Mhm,” she closes her bedroom door and I look over at Harry who’s crouching on the floor in tears.
“This is all your fault!” I whisper but he tugs me down to where he is and holds my face as he kisses me.
“I know you two aren’t behind the island,” my roommate’s voice comes out again. I stay there as her footsteps move to the bathroom and the door closes behind her.
“I hate you,” I skirt out of his reach, and rush to my room yelling another sorry as I head back and find a top. Harry appears in my room as I put it on.
“I guess that was a good time for her to walk in on before it got too far?” he still has a stupid grin on his face.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” my cheeks were burning and even more so that Harry was elated.
“I’ve actually got to head out now.”
I pout but he kisses my pout instead. He promises he’ll be back in the evening and I let him go with one more kiss, my mind catching up with everything that just happened.
Oh my god.
***
It’s nearly 8 by the time I’m done running all my errands--taking holidays off for work was usually a good decision for me. I had a big family and picking up all the holiday bits before I flew back home was always a big job. I take an Uber home, I couldn’t handle a 40 minutes trip back home carrying everything home on the subway.
I call out to my roommate when I get in but she doesn’t respond. I check her door and it’s open and dark, the bathroom is also empty. She must have evening plans.
I open my door to a surprise. Harry is sprawled on my bed. He jerks awake when I settle my bags down.
“Y/N?” he squints as I turn the light on.
“How did you get in here?” I shrug my coat off.
“Y’roommate let me in before she left,” he rubs his eyes. “Didn’t mean to fall asleep...I had a whole thing planned.”
I’d gone over the whole morning during my errands, surprised and excited and nervous about this new step for us. But I continued to think about what the psychic said, our love lines extended alongside my life line. Even though there wasn’t much comfort or trust in a psychic who used a photo opp as a marketing opp, what she said had come true. And I put my faith in that, calming my nerves about this new step potentially ruining our friendship forever.
“Was that okay?” Harry sits up. “She didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Oh no that’s fine,” I unwrap my scarf and stand at the foot of my bed. “I really wasn’t sure if you were coming back.”
“Of course I would,” he reaches for my hand. “I wouldn’t leave you after this morning, I’m not that flighty.”
“Well we never really got to talk about it,” I say as I sit down. I’d texted him during the day but it never showed he read it, I wasn’t sure how to read into that; finding him passed out on my room meant he was probably on the go all day.
“Are you okay with this?” he says with such concern, I nearly tear up. This was making me way too emotional.
“I am,” I smile at my best friend in the whole world. “I just don’t want to go too fast.”
“We won’t,” he promises as he holds his arms out. I lean in towards his solid chest and he wraps his arms around me. I feel his breath on my cheek, then his lips in my hair. “I’m yours for eternity Y/N, we can take it as slow or fast as you want.”
It was a good thing to say, and I believe him entirely.
We eventually untangle ourselves to get food in us, and even though things are different, they’re also not. We still pick out the same parts of our food to give the other person, we still talk the same shit and laugh at the same jokes. But his hands grasps mine and his thumb brushes over my knuckles absentmindedly. His eyes stay steady on me as I talk like I’m someone new he’s exploring. We kiss after dinner, but we also load the dishwasher and laugh about the one time I’d managed to burn soup from a can. Eventually we end in my bedroom, where we lay together, our conversation growing quieter by the minute, the space between us growing smaller.
And even though we’d slept like this a hundred times before, it’s different now. I can feel it in every atom of my being, I was his and he was mine. And I don’t know how long it’s been like this for it to feel so easy, but accepting it was a no brainer, like accepting the sky was blue or the sun was hot. I remember the advice the psychic gave, I was following it: living the life I had around me even though it wasn’t the life I thought I would have.
There were a million things Harry and I had to figure out to make this work--I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But I did know that it was right, it was true, and it was going to be forever.
The future may not be crystal clear, but my future with this man was.
#harry styles#harry styles fic#harry styles x reader#harry styles fanfic#harry styles fluff#harry styles imagine#fic#writingsfromhome#friends to lovers#standalone#holiday fic#ignore any grammar or errors pls ty
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For the prompt thing: Andrew/Neil, trope: sickness/injury, location: violently orange yacht. Have fun! Thanks =)
Ooh definitely!
Since no AU was specified I made it kinda intentionally ambiguous.
Also, so you know, I 100% sat down to write this as a cutesy seasick/comfort w/teasing sorta fic. Then, idk, i got a lil bloodthirsty. Just a little bit, though.
Warning for mentions of blood.
---
"Are you really going to hide down here for the whole time?" Kevin's voice was both tired and annoyed, and just for that Andrew didn't even bother to acknowledge his presence, let alone his words.
Instead, he pointedly turned the page in his book as if there was no one about to bother him at all. They had been out on the water for a whole six hours. Andrew had watched the shoreline get smaller and smaller as they pulled away and when it was just a fine sketch of a line along the horizon he'd gone investigating. Which was how he'd found this hidden little nook in the storage hull or whatever the big room of supplies was in the belly of the boat.
The monstrosity was technically a yacht. Which, by definition, is a pleasure liner - a boat intended for entertainment. This "yacht" was big enough to not only carry but fully house and supply a contingent of college athletes. It was suspiciously fortified and had enough supplies stockpiled away that Andrew was beginning to wonder if he hadn't been kidnapped because it seemed just a little bit excessive for a "weekend away".
Personally, he didn't think his problems were going to go away or even be at all eased by an attempted escape via ugly boat. But he wasn't the only one with those problems. He wasn't the only one hurting. And after almost a year... well, he would grudgingly tag along, but he didn't have to participate.
The damn thing was also the most grotesque shade of claw-your-eyes-out dayglow orange that Andrew had ever seen. Which honestly was one of the reasons he'd already gone inside, as of by hiding in the deepest, darkest corner of the vessel he'd save himself a migraine.
"And Andrew? The Lady Fox has luxury suites for each of us. You can't even hide in your room? You choose to come... here?" Out of the corner of his eye, Andrew saw Kevin give his choice of hideaways a disparaging look.
Without taking his eyes from the page, Andrew lifted one hand and offered Kevin his one-fingered opinion.
The next thing he heard was Kevin's annoyed scoff, followed by his retreating footsteps. Satisfied, Andrew snuggled down a little bit deeper into the conveniently-placed hammock he'd found already strung up when he initially explored the place. The book he was reading had a bit of a slow start, but at least three of the side-characters were interesting enough to carry him through until the plot picked up.
Except, he only got two more pages along when he heard a sudden and quite ominous thump that was accompanied by a muffled groan. The book in his hand was instantly replaced with one of the knives he kept tucked in the armbands he was never without. Some people might call Andrew paranoid for bringing weapons onto a boat where he was surrounded only by close friends and family, with a literal ocean between them and harm. Those people would probably be dead right now, gutted in their sleep by a murderous stowaway. Or maybe that thump was one of his family, being murdered by the murderous stowaway.
Maybe it was Kevin.
That thought put a spike of fear in his heart, but right in its wake came a surge of deep rage.
No. He would not allow it. He had already lost... Enough had happened. He refused to let Kevin be hurt as well.
Andrew got out of the hammock as soundlessly and gracefully as possible, searching the shadows of the only half-lit cavernous space as he inched toward the source of the sound. He kept the blade poised to attack with one hand and pulled out his cell phone with the other. Two thumb-swipes later the had the flashlight enabled.
It wasn't Kevin. Nope. Definitely not Kevin.
Not-Kevin was crumpled in a heap in front of a stack of supply crates that it looked like he'd rolled off of, thus causing the thump Andrew had heard. The groan of pain, however, was clearly not from the fall. Or, well, not just from the fall.
"Who are you?" Andrew demanded, shining the light right on the person's face. They looked like a guy, probably. Short-ish hair and made up of more angles than curves - though it was really hard to tell more than that because the blood-soaked clothes were a little bit distracting.
The injured man(?) on the floor let out a choked, broken sound that Andrew belatedly realized was a laugh. It was so rasped and mangled, he'd almost thought the stowaway was about to launch into their death-throes. Judging by the bloodstains and way the person shook and swayed precariously while trying to push up to their hands and knees, that actually might not have been that far off a guess.
Then the stowaway, the person, the man, said, "Nothing."
Andrew froze. "What did you say?"
"You asked who I was," the man said, and Andrew was sure it was a man now. Moreover, the rough edges around his voice may have been tight with pain and possibly disuse, but even without Andrew's near-perfect memory he would have knows the sharp slashes of that voice anywhere.
The man looked up and in the white glow of Andrew's phone light there was no mistaking how immeasurably blue his eyes were. Like the sky painted from an artist's favorite memory. Like the hint of eternity in a crystal sphere.
Neil smiled. His face was dotted with dried blood and marked with new scars, but the expression still somehow turned the whole world on its head to make it a softer, warmer, safer place.
Andrew wasn't sure what hit the ground first, his phone, his knife, or his knees as he skidded to the floor beside Neil, reaching for him. "Neil... Neil. Fuck. The blood. It's yours? FUCK!" He was babbling, but his own voice was distant to his ears as he touched Neil for the first time in almost a year, as he gathered him close and searched for the source of all that blood.
Shaky hands reached for him and Andrew didn't even think about batting them away. He leaned into their touch even as he turned his face toward the stairs and raised his voice to a shout: "KEVIN! AARON! SOMEONE! NOW!"
"H-hey now, Andrew. Andrew, shh, it's okay. I'm okay, it's okay. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to be away this long."
"Shut up with your fucking 'sorry's Neil, I don't want your fucking 'sorry' - I want you here and alive and not dying in my goddamn arms I am NOT doing this with you, do you hear me junkie?"
Andrew felt like his entire system was in overdrive, his mind moving too fast and his nerve ending firing off in matching cylinders. They looked for Neil for months. And when they finally got a breakthrough via that fucking miserable twat Jean Moreau, it was only to find out that Neil was likely dead.
Those hands cupped his face, and even though they trembled against his cheeks he still touched Andrew like he was holding something incredibly precious. Something that needed care and protection lest it drop or be crushed.
"I promise, Drew. I did not drag myself halfway back around the world just to die in your arms."
"Do not even attempt to give me that, Neil. That is exactly the kind of dramatic shit you would do."
"Nah," Neil protested with a rough laugh. "Definitely more Aaron's thing. He's such a petty bitch."
"Fuck you," Andrew spat out, but a bubble of what might have bene a laugh caught in his chest. There were running footsteps coming their way, thundering down the steps and into the room.
"Andrew?! Andrew what-- oh my God. Oh my God. AARON GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!" Kevin was still shouting as he came to land beside the two of them, and Andrew almost pulled another knife and stabbed him in the fucking eye as he reached for Neil.
In fact, he didn't even realize he had drawn a knife until Kevin jerked back so suddenly he fell on his ass.
"Jesus! Andrew it's just me. He is covered in blood he needs a hospital!"
"It's mostly not mine," Neil chimed in as Andrew struggled to rein in the half-crazed beast that had taken over the arm not holding Neil. The monster inside him was in fits, and its growl was rumbling in Andrew's throat - kept in check only by the slow stroking of Neil's fingers down his jaw.
"Mostly not yours," Kevin echoed, and even through the haze of Andrew's protective rage, he could hear how dumbfounded the other man was.
"Mhm. And I stitched myself up already."
"Stitched yourself up," said Kevin. Then he looked toward the stairs and bellowed: "AARON!"
Neil sighed and the exasperation in that sound was so fucking familiar that it knocked the beast far enough off its temper for Andrew to take control again. He took a slow breath, then another. When Neil looked up at him again, Andrew asked, "Why? How?"
Neil grimaced. The expression must have been painful, Andrew realized as he watched him - because now that he was really looking he could tell that those new scars on his face were less 'scars' and more 'barely healed torture wounds'.
All Neil said was, "It's a long story."
As Aaron finally came half-falling down the steps on wobbly sea-legs, Andrew decided he would leave it be - for now.
The important thing was that Neil was here, Neil was alive, and nothing - fucking nothing - was going to take him away again.
#asks#AFTG prompts#aftg fanfic#aftg ficlet#andreil#reunion fic#mentions of blood#andrew minyard#neil josten#i have no idea what happened dont ask me lol#ask neil - hes the troublemaker#protective andrew minyard#hurt neil josten
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Wtfock Fanfic Recommends
Hey there Fockers (see what I did 🙊)
I am doing this genre first because haters are gonna hate and I just want to dispel all the negative connotations now and sage all the bad vibes out of the tag because god knows we need to sage our household aka the wtfock/wtfam tag. Be gone, bad spirits (and before I get hate I am not talking about those critiquing the poor behavior of the tag am talking about those throwing around the “f” word when it’s not even the right word to use in this context). If you want to find out what is the right word please read this insanely articulate post from Skamsnake about the creative process around explicit fic writing.
Okay, take a seat and let's get lost in the sauce.
Let’s chit chat about some real shit. Those damn written words that are keeping us hydrated during the Wtfock drought.
**Update: Going forward I will be rating my reviews via the MPA(USA) filming rating system out. However please take in mind I am no expert and culture matters. I may be being overly cautious but the genre that follows is rated NC-17 in its entirety. **
Fanfic Genre: Erotica/New Adult fiction
Tagged under Explicit in Ao3 (or known by its street name: smut)
Fic count AOT (as of today): 62
Genre Definition (provided by wikipedia): Fiction similar to YA that can be published and marketed as adult—a sort of an 'older YA' or 'new adult. New adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices.
This tag barely makes it out of the 20’s without these next four writers so we need to put some respect on their names and spotlight their “best of”.
Skamtrash/ @vearthling (14 MotherFing fics)
Your catalog is so damn extensive its hard to choose but I have to go with my personal fav because am a sucker for an aged up celebrity rock star Sander falling in love with a dark hair boy amongst the crowd. We got plot, romance, a hot and steamy recording session. It's fluffy smut but also kinda of romantic. This one is my personal fav.
Ok and since the crowd has clearly spoken on Ao3 if you want something that puts the E in explicit and has 10k hits, check out this fic. I actually like this work too mainly because it has a pretty endearing follow-up with Milan and Jens/Aaron just embarrassing Robbe after a not so discreet quickie session during the Wtfock Xmas party.
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JesseLBlack (Double digit Spanish fic Queen)
I am so excited to shout out this dark horse. She is such a machine and an absolutely amazing writer even though all her work is in Spanish. I just want people to appreciate her contributions. If you can read spanish and enjoy a good sneaking around session while the parents are at home this is the one for you.
Also I have no idea how this woman found my kink but she did and that's good punctuation especially in Spanish. Like just stop it, my eyes can’t take seeing so many virgulilla used properly in written form. I felt attacked.
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Zaddy Skam/ @zaddyskam
If you haven’t connected the dots yet Zaddy is our long time Anonymous contributor to the Ao3 tag. This fic selection may seem like a random choice but I enjoy Zaddy first fic the most Woensdag 16:36.
If you’re a sucker for an in canon fic that creates a little more narrative and fills in the gaps to the original story then this is the fic for you. Plus I like that it's not super smutty mainly because it shows control and range. Its easy to reach for the usual tropes in explicit fics but this fic really turns this genre on its head with suggestive erotica then presenting the actual act itself. Its just really well crafted and also gives an option to those who want a little erotica but don’t want to dive deep into the pool.
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SkamSnake/ @skamsnake (A legend amongst legends and one half of what inspired the infamous Dinsdag 14:17)
I mean what can be said when the actual wtfock writers are adopting your own ideas into their content. You gotta be doing something right. Here is it what I believe is one half of what I feel inspired parts of Dinsdag 14:17.
FYI: Snakes Omega fic counts under the ABO tag and will be discussed when I get to adoptive “world” fics.
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Tokyometropolis/ @luludemauryyy (The other half of what inspired the infamous Dinsdag 14:17)
Video phone is almost eerie to read now having seen Dinsdag 14:17 & Dinsdag 23:12. They are parts of video phone that I literally feel were ripped out of the fic and put onto screen even some dialogue quirks are recognizable. Its a huge testament to the skill of this fic. Also, I truly believe the 2nd chapter of this fic is some of this writer's best fic writing. I see a ton of rhythm and play with cadence and that angsty tonality. I can’t rave enough about video phone chapter 2 its so well thought out. Give it a read and let me know what you think wtfock borrowed out of this fic for the big screen.
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Midsummernightoddity
I mean is it smut? or is it just excessive fluff while making love? I think the latter. If you want gooey I mean chocolate syrup style love making gooey this is your baby. It’s Robbe’s first time and it’s wrapped up in a ton of emotions. I enjoyed it and definitely made me get a little teary it was so damn sweet. If you love, love, then this is your fic.
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IcedWhiteMocha
They gave us one fic and one fic only but damn they did give us a good one. Are you a slave to in-canon writing? Ever wonder what happened in that 3 hour time slot in the infamous hotel from when Sander and Robbe entered the hotel room till the shower scene, well this fic will fill in all the blanks.
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Shout Outs (IMO)
Two strangers at a party catching one another’s gaze from across the room:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22383466/chapters/53478205 by fockinglevendcliche/ @fockinglevendcliche
Tales from Quarantine: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24022276 by UndercoverTimeagent
Announcement: We need more zoenne erotica someone write some please!
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Special thanks and acknowledgments to Hollyster, Sassywarlock29, sote faen, angelboygabriel and joshlerbitches. Also if anyone reads russian please send me a couple of words on this fic. If I missed anyone am sorry and up next I think I will do “worlds” fics so HP, ABO,Magic,time travel etc etc or I will do one shot enemies to lovers (chaptered Enemies to lovers will be its own thing). Let me know what tag you want more information on.
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FOUR SEASONS OF K: “MATSUYOI”
Translation: Naru-kun
Raws: Ridia
Kokujoji Daikaku is debating policies in a separate house in the suburbs of Tokyo in preparation for the upcoming summit of developed countries. This meeting held in this separate house, commonly known as "O yashiki mairi" (Visiting the mansion), is a custom even before the Mihashira Tower was built in the city center. It was a serious event that mimicked his career goal.
Today, cars with dignitaries enter and leave the vast facilities, displaying the power of the "Golden King" that keeps Japan in check. When the deliberation reaches its final stage, the number of visitors decreases and the length of stay increases. Starting with Prime Minister Samukawa Kanichi, who was elected as president since yesterday, everyone has been waiting for the "Gozen" ruling, which is simple on the back.
That is what it is.
++++++++++
The facility was located in a depression in the Nishiyama area, approximately 3 kilometers after passing through a secret underground passage from another house. Although it is a mediocre distribution warehouse on the outside, the interior of a large building is hollow.
To be precise, it was a cavity to store a huge structure.
Dozens of people are moving around it.
"Checklist, Hitomaru-san, completed."
"Check, it's fine. Written by Hitomaru.”
"Someone received an oil leak tag... Should I replace the pipe?"
Busy and smart, some open the hatch and push half the body in, some guide and drive the vehicle.
"Well, well."
"Is this the last container brought in from the underpass?"
"Oh, a few tons of luggage, young people are depressed."
The appearance of their position was uniformly legitimate and strange. They all wear a golden mask that mimics a rabbit, in addition to the mechanic's tie (in view of work efficiency, the eyes of the mask are larger than usual, the city is shorter, the overall impression was closer of a demon than of a rabbit.).
There are two things this scene shows.
One is that all the people who work are members of the clan that belong to the Golden clan "Tokijikuin", commonly known as "rabbits". The second is that their work is extremely confidential.
In other words, with the exception of dozens of people here, without exception of anyone...
Everything was to hide the existence of "it" that fills the hangar.
Suddenly, a young person working on it looks at him and breathes admiration.
"Adjustment."
"Let's do it today simply by organizing the containers. This time I'm mainly using electrical equipment, so be careful... what's happen?"
Another person who came up with the drawing, the old "rabbit", addressed his coworkers. During this secret work, the pieces of the "King" whose names and individual pieces have been sealed become the key to the world.
"Oh, sorry. I was a little surprised."
The young "rabbit" ignored the sight in front of him again.
Elderly "rabbits" also look him in the eye in some way.
"You are new to regular inspection and maintenance. Even after going through the 'Tengoku' (Sky] air supply team, a moored ship of the same type would be quite powerful."
"Yes... was this the problem of the second ship "Meifu"(Underworld)?"
They admire it. The stiff "Meifu" airship, which has a unique silhouette connecting fan-shaped air sacs, shines within the hangar, supported by a myriad of steel frames that can be seen as nets or ships. It was the natural pressure exerted by mass and volume that is overwhelming to the viewer, even with the exception of being built as an aerial gunship from the German Third Reich.
"It's amazing, but... the problems of "Tengoku" (which continues to fly without landing on the ground) and "Meifu" (which continues to maintain immediate takeoff) is... unnatural. It is a must.''
"Perhaps, but it is more than the subject's reason for talking about the fundamentals of the main mission. There is no need to convince or empathize unless requested. We just constantly carry out the assigned task."
"Confirmed. For the moment, let's try to organize the containers constantly.''
"I like it."
With a smile, the two "rabbits" returned to work.
++++++++++
The "rabbits" who finished the day's work at midnight arrived for late dinner on the rooftop of the warehouse.
“Like the reputation of clans gathered by talented people, the taste of bribery is also like origami."
"After all, sushi rice is good."
"I'll order another cup of miso soup."
"Don't stay too long, it will hamper tomorrow's work."
Beneath the skylight, which releases the smell of cooking and steam, even the elite who stretch their backs normally, cannot hide the atmosphere that stands out due to the special missions of the men's camp.
A little far from that innocent bustle, in the upper exhaust pipe, there was a figure of the "Golden King" Kokujoji Daikaku. A large old man who sits with scarlet hair on his knees and dropped knees reminds him of a piece of Yamato painting, combined with the rocking personality. It seems that the outfit is worn on the go, even after rolling up the sleeves and even the machine oil tinting was like the color to decorate the image.
The impressive still image,
"I have a set, my lord."
The voice of an old "rabbit" finally moves.
"Hm."
Kokujoji received a framed and tendered set (which, by convention, was an aluminum tray). He puts that on his lap, brings the palms of his hands together, and immediately grabs the rice into his mouth.
"It's good."
When he looks deep into the "rabbit" in the face, he lowers his head.
The special day of the "Golden King", who could not do it in normal times, had close contact with the clan member and even shared small tasks, it was already ending.
This will continue for the next two days.
Use as much human power as possible and pay close attention to confidentiality, periodic inspection of "Tokijikuin" and maintenance of the special mission "Meifu". People who are not directly involved in these tasks are also busy.
"What's going on in the mansion?"
When Daikaku asked him, the old "rabbit", who was given responsibility for others, responds with a bow.
"Ah. The Prime Minister has finished coordination within the ruling party and is in talks with the Under Secretary. It will be full tomorrow, and I think there will be a prospect there. If he can return at noon the day after tomorrow."
"Ok, this work will be done by tomorrow. Let's leave the rest to the scene."
After passing a bit of unfortunate bitterness, Kokujoji asks again.
"So for the outside..."
"That…"
Once again, the old "rabbit" looks at the large skylights lined up behind the ceiling and beyond.
Under the glowing starry sky, the shadows of the mountains spread out black against the background of the night.
“The whole situation is the same as at the time of the preliminary survey. "None" for general public entry, accidents and mishaps, aircraft intrusion, transmission and reception of various radio waves.”
"Hmm... is it the same for the mansion?"
After contemplation, Kokujoji reminded himself.
The old "rabbit" is also clearly returned.
"Ah. If there are people involved, we will investigate it more carefully. We will review it."
"The one who wants to hide is the 'Green King'. I have to do it in excess."
The figure of a boy with a lightning bolt vividly revives in Kokujoji's mind. A few years ago, Nagare Hisui decidedly challenged the strongest "King", the "Golden King".
The old "rabbit", as a vassal that allowed the Lord's attack, makes a voice of indignation.
"It seems that the modern 'Green King' has adopted a slim and broad method of spreading branches and leaves... as long as there are people, he will accelerate the chance that his eyes and hands will grow."
"Hm."
The Kokujoji figure laughed loudly.
"So until you create an opportunity to get closer to people, socially and physically. You can't even notice the existence of things. This is the difference between power, strength, and experience."
The signal that a subject was caught and smiled behind the mask is perceived.
"Due to the precaution of cases where the first "Green King" hijacked the power line and communication lines, inspection and maintenance were put into the current system, but as a result, this concealment method seems to be applicable to the current generation."
"Social / physical isolation?"
"Right."
The Kokujoji figure looks towards the airship for insulation, which is hidden in the isolated facility.
After the end of the war, the "Meifu" problem, which had been requisitioned in the United States of America, was recovered early in case the "Tengoku" problem went wrong. At the time, he had no other idea... No, he hadn't even thought about it, but in recent years, as a "king" who controls destiny, he feels that "when something goes wrong" really means a big, heavy shadow.
"Even if you refuse because it's useless and look away because you don't like it, something inevitable comes along."
A little overwhelmed, like a slight fever, the voice is heard.
"This "Meifu" problem is for the occasion. In case "that man" who is lost in a sad world notices it and takes off, or leaves.”
"......"
The old "rabbit" did not respond, and kept it in the least.
++++++++++
When the meal is over,
"What time is the right... everyone is going to have a moonlight gift?"
Kokujoji gets up and starts walking towards the skylight.
The "rabbits" and others who were concerned also knelt before the person in question.
The "Golden King" continued without paying attention to the state of the subjects and the paths created during that time.
The old "rabbit", who follows a few steps, cannot point to the Lord.
(Tonight, is it the Matsuyoi?)
The so-called famous mid-autumn moon, the full moon on the night of the 15th of the lunar calendar, is tomorrow.
Today was the day before, the 14th, the night waiting for the next "Matsuyoi".
Work should continue tomorrow. It shouldn't be tomorrow night though, but it's not weird or messy. Against the backdrop of the spinning "rabbits", Kokujoji opened the skylight wide.
The autumn night breeze blows and invites his heart.
And so,
"Raise your face and look at the moon."
They, who had received the life of Kokujoji, and who freely obeyed, saw.
Like a silver rabbit playing in a wave of gold, an airship crosses the ghostly moon.
The airship had exactly the same shape as the "Meifu" that they had been maintaining until the beginning. It is like the "Tengoku" in which Adolf K. Weissmann, the first king of the world, the Silver King, sits.
The "rabbit" and other people were fascinated by the dream scene.
Only one, the old "rabbit" behind him, coughed.
"With the power of fate, it would be nice to use this level of entertainment.''
Daikaku Kokujoji, the "Golden King" who looked up at the sky, laughed mischievously.
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Live Furious, Die Fast [c.h]
a/n: i wrote this because of @c-dizzle-swizzlex and @twoamhood so it’s dedicated to them. It’s pretty much modeled after the first movie with a bit of inspo from the others too, but like i said, i tweaked it to make it click better as i saw fit. There are also a lot of weird cuts in the movie and i couldn't include every scene so just bear with me. If you haven't seen the movie, the premise is that the boys are street racers who are running an illegal operation on the side. Enjoy! (this is still in the era of black haired cal) also, huge thanks to @calumh-excess who was crucial in the final stages of the writing process!
word count: around 8k
warnings: violence?
summary: If you haven't seen the movie, the premise is that the boys are street racers who are running an illegal operation on the side
Just for reference this is what car they all drive:
Luke: baby blue Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Ashton: cherry red 2019 ford mustang with a one cylinder nitro motor
Michael: purple honda civic with a V8 cylinder motor and green flames
Calum: jet black 1965 ford mustang GT with a two cylinder nitro system
______________________________________________________________________
Boys were dumbasses. Calum knew this mainly because he was one. Still, it didn’t change the fact that, at their core, all boys were dumbasses. This was all Cal could think as he watched one of his closest mates offer up his pink slip over a goddamn race. Dumbass. Maybe Ash was one of the best racers in L.A. but there was no reason to take that risk unless absolutely necessary. Still, it was fun to see Ash pretend that his car wasn’t as fast as it actually was. Michael had done a hell of a job with the designs for the restoration, so, aside from Cal’s own car, it was probably one of the fastest ones in L.A.. Cal was grinning, but he hand his hand over his face to keep up his stoic appearance. While Cal may not have been able to stop this madness, there was no way in Hell he’d approve of it. Still, the adrenaline from the race was a hell of a rush. Especially as Ash hit the nitro and visibly made the other racer eat his dust. He won by quite a bit, too. Cal already knew that he and the boys would have a hot meal after turning the car. Usually they just sold the cars back to their original owners, which was convenient as fuck.
“Do you have to give them so much hope?” Cal reached into his pocket and drew out another cigarette and his lighter. He lit up and took a deep inhale. This “team” as they called themselves would be the death of him.
“Aw, c’mon mate. You know it’s more fun that way.” Ash giggled and checked out his new set of wheels.
“Alright, alright.” Cal took another drag of the cig. Being the leader of this rag tag group had its perks and its downfalls, one of them being trying to control all these asshats. “You’ve had your fun. Ditch the car and we’ll rollout.”
Ash chuckled again and waved Jake, the original owner of the car, over. It was a quick deal, ten gs for his car back. Jake knew how they rolled and was prepared to give the cash over without an issue. It was simple, just a standard Friday night. That is, until the cops showed.
“Everybody clear out!” Cal shouted over the madness at the first whisper of a siren. The more people that were in jail, the less money he made off them. So yeah, it was in his best interest to keep them out. Cal watched for a few seconds as everyone bolted to their cars and peeled off the street they had been using as a track. As soon as Cal saw Ash was in his car and heading, Cal hopped in his own ride and floored it. The cops were on his ass. Mainly because he had waited so long for everyone else to clear out. It took him a hot minute to lose the majority of them, so once he narrowed it down to only three sets of red and blue lights, he was ready to be done with them. He took two hard lefts, letting his car drift, but not too hard. He made sure to keep his car hugging the curb. One of the cops drifted too hard, practically wrapping his car around the telephone pole on the corner. Cal hoped the cop inside was okay, but it was still one less cop on his ass. Cal then drifted into another hard right and then another left as soon as he had cleared the curb, steering his car into an empty storage locker. He whipped the door open and slammed the locker door shut before the cops even rounded the first corner. He stopped for a minute and caught his breath before pulling his leather jacket back on and hoofing it back onto the street. He barely made it two hundred feet before a rather late cop came sloppily around the corner. Cal knew he was in for a shitstorm when the cop made quick work of a three point turn and headed back in Cal’s direction.
“Hey, Hood. Stop right where you are. Face to the Pavement.” The megaphone crackled over the cop’s loudspeakers. Cal just thought ‘fuck it’ and sprinted for the nearest alleyway. It was probably a lost cause, though. The alley wasn’t even a dead end, and Cal knew these idiots would chase him to the ends of the Earth. So when cherry red Nissan 370Z pulled up next to him, he didn’t hesitate to hop in. Maybe it was a little stupid and a lot reckless, but the only thing he could think of was staying out of jail. He didn’t bother to look at whoever had picked him up, instead training his concentration on the sirens getting louder and louder behind them. Whoever was driving him was having none of it, taking a wide drift out of the alley. The cop behind them tried to follow suit, but was instead hit by an oncoming car.
As they sped off, two more cops approach from the opposite direction. They tried to form a roadblock with their cars, but Cal’s driver knew what they were doing. The two of them were pushed and pulled by the momentum of the car as it swerved to avoid the obstacles in the road. The cops took too long to right their vehicles, so by the time they did, Calum and his mystery driver were already long gone. The road they had taken spilled out onto the highway where Cal finally got a good look at his supposed savior. To his somewhat surprise, it was a girl, and not even the kind he was used to. Most of the chicks he hung with were either blondes or brunettes, with tube tops and tight leather skirts that barely covered anything. This girls, she didn’t appear to be that kind of person. She looked more… clean cut. A typical upper class girl if he had to guess. Long and perky honey blonde hair and yellow green eyes? Just screamed cheerleader, especially with the ski-jump nose, high cheekbones and cream-like complexion. She certainly didn’t look like a racer. But when she opened her mouth, boy did she talk like one.
“So what’re you doin’ on this half of town?” She kept her eyes trained on the road, only acknowledging through her words. Her voice, though, was so unforgettable to Cal. Husky and low, the kind that you got from smoking a few cigarettes each day.
“Dunno. Guess I got lost.” Cal didn’t know this girl, didn’t know who the hell she associated with. While Cal may not have had outright enemies, he certainly had a list of people that didn’t like him, and vice versa. It was better to be wary than the say the wrong thing to the wrong person.
“Hmm. Well, buddy, you picked the wrong place to get lost. This place gets ravaged by Johnny Tran and his gang quite a bit. You’re not safe alone out here.” This time, she spared a couple glances in Cal’s direction. They drove on for a few minutes with only the sounds of the tires treading over the concrete. They were alone on the road for quite a few miles.
Before Cal knew what was happening, a set of eight motorcycles was flainking the car. His mystery driver noticed what Cal was gaping at through her rearview mirror, muttering a small ‘shit’ under her breath. She started to accelerate, but before she could enact whatever plan she was forming in her head, one of the cyclist pulled up next to her window.
“Follow us.” The cyclist was shouting to be heard over the wind, but Cal could very clearly see the muzzle pointing right at the blonde. When he turned, he saw a twin muzzle pointing at him, too. He saw the girl’s knuckles whiten on the wheel, her nails digging into the leather. Together, with the motorcycles, they flew down the highway, on the way to god-knows-where. The blonde-haired beauty sitting next to him furrowed her brow, but Cal could someow sense that this wasn’t the only thing that was eating away at her. He studied her face, trying to decide if it was worth trying to talk to her. Before he could make up his mind, she skidded to a stop in the courtyard of a rundown chinese restaurant. When she stepped out of the car, Cal couldn’t help but notice that she was packing. She placed her hand on the door and slammed it hard, the bang echoing through the courtyard. Cal followed suit, closing the door softer than his driver but still firm. He leaned his back on the car and lit up a smoke. He was tense, but he made sure to look at ease. There was no way in hell he was going to be intimidated by anyone. Their escort circled them, prevent any sort of escape or shit. Whatever. Cal was sure to appear unbothered by any of this shit, even when Johnny Tran and his cousin Chase came speeding around the corner.
“Well, well, Hood. I think you’re a little lost.” Tran unhooked his leg for the seat and then proceeded to lean back against it, taking the girl who had ridden behind him under his arm.
“Hood wasn’t driving. Sorry though, I, uh, guess I lost my map.” Before Cal could open his mouth, his driver snapped back at Tran, her voice just dripping with sarcasm and venom. Cal felt his eyebrows tug up a little. This girl had some heat in her veins. He’d have to learn her name at some point.
“I don’t think I was speaking to you, Turell. And until I do, you had better keep you damn mouth shut.” Tran physically didn’t seem angry, but Cal could tell by Tran’s tone of voice that he was. What about this girl was making his blood boil the way it so clearly was? Every step Tran took was ripe with tension. At least now he was able to put a name to her face. Turell. He’d have Michael run a records check later. She might could be of use to him in the future. With the way she drove, there were quite a few possibilities.
“You need something Tran?” For the first time since their arrival, Cal opened his mouth. He blew the smoke out of his lungs and snubbed the cigarette out under his boot. Cal lazily brought his eyes up to meet Tran’s and cocked his head at an angle.
“Nice car you got here, Hood.” Tran strolled around the perimeter of the car, taking in every detail. “Whatta think, Chase?”
“Nice Car indeed.” Chase shrugged the machine gun he was holding up higher into his arms, making sure it was clear to the duo that he and Tran could and would use it. Tran seemed finished with the interaction. He slung his leg back over the bike and motioned for everyone to wheel out behind him. They sped off, and just as Cal and Turell were about to get back in, they heard the all too familiar high-pitched whine of motorcycles once again. Tran and Chase rounded the corner once more, but this time, instead of stopping to chat, they both brought out heavy weight machine guns. They covered Turell’s car in a smattering of bullets, shattering the glass, deflating the tires, damaging the motor. It happened in a matter of seconds, Tran and Chase gone as fast as they came. Turell just sighed and started examining the car before a look of pure fear crossed her face.
“NOS!” She screamed, immediately turning and sprinting away from the car. Cal mutter a fuck before following suit. At the last second, they dove for it, both of them hitting the dirt as the car went up in flames behind them. Turell groaned and flipped over on her back, staring at the broken wreckage of her car.
“Thanks.” Cal stood up and offered her a hand, which she ignored.
“What for?” She sounded more tired than angry, which, for some odd reason, was a relief to Cal. He could put his finger on why, but he really just didn't want to be the cause of this girl’s anger.
“Everything, I guess.” Cal watched the girl brush herself off, not even bothering to go back to inspect the wreckage of her former car. He guessed there was nothing inside she need to keep. Or rather, nothing that could have survived. “I owe you one.”
“You owe me a ten second car.” She raised her eyebrows and pointed a finger at him. The way she said it was like it was a fact, not even up for debate.
Cal chuckled, brushing off her comment. They’d work something out later, but right now, they had to focus on getting back to town.
“So what did Tran want with you anyways, Hood?” She procured a cell phone from the pocket of her leather jacket and proceeded to hold it up, desperately trying to get a shred of a signal.
“I could ask you the same question, Turell.” Cal just shoved his fists as deep into the pockets of his jacket as they could go. It was a long story, and if presented with the option, Cal almost always chose to keep his mouth shut.
“AJ.” While AJ wasn’t ashamed to admit that the way Hood said her name was kinda sexy, she just wasn’t used to the idea of someone calling her ‘Turell’. She wasn’t a huge fan of her last name.
“Calum.” Cal offered his hand to her, a symbol of their acquaintance ship. They continued on in companionable silence for a while, only having miniscule conversations every once in awhile. After a solid five miles, they came across a point where AJ finally got service. She eagerly called a cab, saving them from the remaining fourteen miles on their feet. Cal just old the cabbie his address, not paying mind to the other occupant of the cab. He figured he’d pay for it, though. To somewhat make up for it.
Cal could hear the bass booming and shaking the walls of the house from two streets away. As soon a he got home, he was knocking heads together. Worthless dumbasses. He lumbered up to the porch before turning back and seeing AJ already halfway down the block, heading in what he assumed was the direction of her house. He thought for a moment before deciding that he did trust her, at least somewhat. Enough to invite her inside, he supposed.
“Turell! Want a beer?” Cal’s voice was rough against the mostly quiet street, but he could barely hear himself think over the bass of the house. He knew that, for whatever reason, he wanted her around.
AJ turned at the sound of his voice, a small smile playing on her lips. She didn’t say anything but she did turn and start walking back towards the house. Towards Cal’s house. Together they stepped inside, her smaller frame hidden by his large one. As soon as he came into their line of sight, both Ashton and Luke jumped up from where they were sitting.
“Cal, uh hey bud!” Ashton had a beer in his hand, slurring his words a little. “We were just about to go lookin’ for you!”
“Oh, shut up.” Cal sneered at the curly haired brunette standing before him with a beer in his hand. It was nice to know that while Cal had been chased by the cops, threatened by Tran, and on an involuntary ten mile hike, the boys had been nice and comfortable back at the house enjoying beers.
Cal walked back to the doorway where AJ was standing, but not before noticing Michael trying to get in a girl’s pants in the middle of the Living room.
“Oy. Turbo. Take it upstairs. You can’t paint a car without sanding it down first.” Cal shook his head as he picked his way through the drunk bodies. These boys would be the death of him. It was then he noticed Lindy. She was the final member of their little group, not counting Mali. Lindy had always been around as far as Cal could remember, but recently she had changed in ways that Cal wasn’t a fan of. To Cal, if you wanted others to respect you, you had to respect yourself first. Lindy had basically sold her body and while Cal believed that it wasn’t his place to tell her what to do with her body, he also wasn't going to take any part in that mess. Lindy, however, seemed to have her focus on something else. Or, rather, someone else.
“Why’d you bring that skank here?” Lindy was seething. She was leaning up against the door frame, arms crossed over her chest.
“Because the ‘skank’ kept me out of prison.” Cal could hear his voice rising as he spoke to her. He needed to walk away, fast, before he lost his temper. “That your beer?”
“Yeah, that’s my beer.” Lindy cocked her head at Cal, seemingly confused. Cal said nothing, instead just grabbing her beer and walking back to where AJ was standing.
“Here. You can have any beer you want, as long as it’s a Budweiser.” AJ smiled back and him and took the bottle from his hand. She then proceeded to make direct eye contact with Lindy as she wiped the mouth of the bottle for a solid minute with her shirt. Cal honestly thought it was pretty funny. Lindy looked like she was about to explode, but AJ was entirely unbohered, instead taking a long pull of the beer.
“Hey, do you have a bathroom I can use?” She turned to Cal with a slight smirk on her face. Her voice was soft, but Cal had no trouble hearing it over the bass. It had presence, an air of respect surrounding it.
“Upstairs. Second door on the left.” AJ turned and retreated up the staircase, Calum watching the whole time she was in view. Cal felt that there was a difference between her and the girls he was usually around, something about the way she carried herself. He found the respect she had for herself, the take no one’s shit attitude endearing. The way girls around here threw themselves at him, well, that just wasn't his vibe. But AJ, it seemed that all she wanted was her car back, nothing more. Cal respected her for that. So much so that he decided it would be a good idea to bring her to his sacred space the next day: his garage.
…
AJ had no idea what she was getting herself into. Hanging around with Calum Hood and his gang was no walk in the park. Especially with their rivalry with Tran’s gang. Tran had the numbers, but Calum Hood was a very cunning man. Still, it was inconvienet as fuck to keep getting kidnapped by Tran’s motorcycle gang, which was exactly what was happening right now. Although, now when the muzzle of the gun was shoved in her face, she sighed instead of getting all worked up. She found it worked better that way. They led her back to the same dumbass chinese place, and once again, AJ stepped out of the car that Hood had let her borrow and slammed the door.
“Were the guns really necessary this time?” AJ walked over to Tran who in turned opened his arms to her.
“Little sister. How nice to see you again.” Tran engulfed her in a hug, but AJ just sighed. She and Tran weren’t technically related, but they were pretty close. Tran had sort of taken her under his wing when she was younger, and they had remained close over the years.
“Hello, big brother. Please tell me your goons all had their weapons on safety.” AJ smirked at Tran, knowing full and well they didn’t. But she was still going to give him shit about it.
“Of course. Anything to report?” Tran really didn’t waste any time getting to the point. AJ didn’t either though, so she didn’t blame him for not making small talk.
“I think I’m in. Hood is practically wrapped around my finger. Although, was it really necessary to trash my car like that?” AJ was still sort of pissed about that. The Nissan that her brother had so ceremoniously trashed had been her first car, the one she and Johnny had practically built form the ground up.
“Hey. I promised I would make it up to you.” AJ knew that Johnny always kept his promises, but she was still a little pissed. Whatever he had for her had better be good.
“Remember. I need to know not only who, but how.” Johnny took her by the shoulders and looked directly into her eyes, gravely serious.
“I understand. If anyone knows, then it’ll be Hood. He has a hand in everything in the world.” AJ just rolled her eyes. How the hell was she supposed to be gathering intel if he checked up on her every second of every day. She just turned and walked back to her car. It was typical for him to worry about her, but it was still annoying as fuck. She just sped off, back to Hood’s garage. He said he had something to show her, and while AJ may not have known what the hell he was talking about, she had some hope that it was relevant to her conversation with he brother. Much to her disdain, Hood had other plans.
“Here you go.” Hood led her over to a beat up and burnt car. A true junker. AJ wasn’t even sure she could salvage it for parts.
“The fuck is this Hood?” AJ crossed her arms and smirked at Cal, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“This is the car.” Cal spread his arms and continued to smile. “You know, the one I owe you.”
“I asked for a ten second car, not a ten hour car.” AJ rolled her lips into her mouth, still not sure where Cal was going with this.
“Listen. You put about ten grand in and a few hours of work and this car will decimate.” Cal snapped his fingers and a pasty blonde man came over and put a set of plans into Cal’s open and awaiting palm.
“We’ll see.” AJ walked in a slow circle around the car, taking in every detail of it. The body may have been rough, but the car itself was the sickest thing she had ever seen. A 1969 chevy grand sport convertible. AJ’s dream car. Hood had no way of knowing that, but it was still a pretty fucking sweet moment for her.
“You can work on it here. If you can’t find the right tool in this garage, you don’t belong under the hood of a car.” Cal smiled at her one more time and then turned and walked back to his own car, eternally tinkering under the hood. AJ just smiled and lifted up the hood of the car. When she did, she let out a small whistle. Hood was right. This car would be killer, if they could fix it up that was.
“Hey. I’m Michael.” The same man who had given Cal the plans approached AJ and introduced himself.
“AJ.” AJ shook his hand, but her gazed remain on the car. She was trying to figure out all the schematics of the car, what color of paint, where the nitro can would go, how to reduce the maximum amount of weight while keeping the car functional.
“I have some plans drawn up if you wanna take a look.” Michael cleaned the grease off his hands with a rag and jerked his head in the direction he started walking. AJ followed him, but was still thinking about that damn car. It would be perfect when she was finished. Absolutely perfect.
“Here.” Michael led her over to a computer and typed in a line of code. Some blueprints popped up a few seconds later, for her car only better. There was an amped up version of her engine, a detailed list of every part they would need, even how many horsepower the car would have when they were done.
“Holy shit, man. You should have gone to MIT or some shit.” AJ was in awe. She had wanted to go to college, but life doesn't always work out the way you wanted. AJ both understood and respected that.
“Nah. I wanted to stay here, with my brothers. It’s the only life I’ve ever known, but it’s the only life I’d want to live.” Michael grinned softly at her, vulnerable but completely at ease. He used two fingers and pushed his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose. AJ smiled back at him, happy to be a part of their small but loyal group.
…
AJ wasn’t quite sure how she had ended up here. At a barbeque. With Calum Hood and his entire gang. But the food smelled delicious, so who was she to complain? They were waiting to eat til Lindy got here with the rolls and extra beer, but AJ didn’t mind, instead enjoying a casual conversation with Cal. Without realizing it, they slipped from casually talking, to kind of flirting in a way. Neither of them realized it, but Ashton and Luke watched them closely. They had never seen Cal this happy before, but it was a nice change of pace for him. It was peaceful for a few moments, Michael lost in a book, Ash and Luke appreciating Cal’s smile, and Cal and AJ lost in their own little world. It was nice, until they heard the roar of an engine approaching. Lindy.
“Lindy. Come help me with the rest of the chicken.” Cal welcomed Lindy, with a gracious smile and a nod of his head. Lindy, however, was in no mood for niceties.
“No, it looks like you have all the help you need there, Cal.” With that, Lindy threw the beer and rolls to Ash and Luke. She then climbed back into her car and sped off, back down the street.
“Her loss. The chicken is fucking amazing.” AJ snorted, brushing off Lindy’s downright rude behavior.
“You’ve eaten?” Cal looked back at AJ, an expression of disbelief on his face. He was dumbfounded at the fact that he had been standing there the entire time, laughing and talking to her, and yet AJ still managed to steal a piece of chicken and eat it. He was really more impressed than anything else.
“Uh, no?” AJ looked at him sheepishly, answering timidly. They all knew it was a lie, but it was worth a shot to try.
“Yeah, whatever. Let’s all of us eat.” Cal stated loudly, putting extra stress on the word all. Everyone help to gather the food together and set it up nicely on the table. It was like a typical american barbeque with family and friends. Not once had she ever felt anything even remotely like this with Johnny and Chase. This closeness. This type of family. It was utterly new and fragile, and it made AJ’s heart break a little knowing it would all be over so soon. The rest of the lunch went by smoothly, just so utterly comfortable. It was an easy transition from the soft lunch, to all of them munching on popcorn and watching some awful movie on TV. They were all a tangle of limbs, spilling of the couch and onto the floor. AJ was sandwiched between Cal and Luke, Luke’s long legs slung over her own and trapping her in. Still, she wouldn't have wanted to get up anyways. Which is why she had such a difficult time getting up to leave.
“AJ. Hey. What do you say we take the grand sport out for a test drive tomorrow? You know, before the big desert races?” Cal was still seated on the couch, only now he had a fast asleep luke completely slumped onto his lap.
“Sure thing. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And with that, AJ slipped out the door heading back to her apartment.
Cal smiled to himself, knowing no one else had shared that moment with him and AJ. While he was more than excited for her to be able to race the car, he was still somewhat disappointed that he wouldn’t be working on the car with her everyday for hours on end. Still, he was confident that they had made enough of an imprint on her for her to still come around. Although, Cal felt that she deserved a medal for putting up with them. Between Lindy’s bullshit and the boys’ dumbassery, AJ was a whole different type of person. The type that Cal, for whatever, found himself falling in love with. He knew it was a cliche, but Cal was more than ready to be the first to say that AJ was different from other girls. Cal didn’t care about the cliche though. He believed that when you were in love with someone, that someone truly is different from all other people. That person is so different because they’re yours. And no one could truly replace them.
…
Cal and AJ met the next day at the garage. Cal hadn’t let AJ see the final results, not the paint job nor the interior and chrome detailing. So the big reveal was a sight to behold.
“You ready?” Cal smirked, thumb hovering over the button on the garage door opener. It was exciting, both of them feeling the adrenaline flowing through their veins. AJ was practically bouncing up and down, and Cal was eating up the elated expression written all over her face. It was a new sensation for him, this feeling of pure love. Sure the boys were his life, but it was nice to have something for him for once. Just his.
“Born ready, Hood.” AJ was in trouble. Everything with this fucking mission had gone so wrong, so so fast. Mainly because she had fallen for Calum fucking Hood so hard so fast. She had, like an idiot, fallen in love with her brother’s worst rival. Damn.
So Calum clicked the button and watched as AJ lit up. She gasped loudly and ran over to the car, actually hugging it. Cal couldn’t blame her though, the car was a beauty. Jet black with a multi finish chrome. An all leather interior and completely black as well. The team had even installed blue led lights in the wheel houses.
“Let’s take her out for a spin, eh?” Cal was more than ready to get behind the wheel, really see how fast she could go. But before he could react, AJ snathed the keys out of his hand and jumped into the driver's seat, forgoing the door altogether. Cal rolled his lips into his mouth, but he was smiling so hard. AJ drove like someone was after her, taking every turn or corner as a drift, screeching to a stop at every light. They continued like that for a while, retreating further and further out of town. Eventually they pulled up at a spotlight right next to a Ferrari of some sorts.
“Nice car.” AJ called out to the man across the lanes of traffic. “What’s the retail on one of those?”
“More than you can afford, sweetheart.” Stuck up bigot.
“Smoke him.” Cal muttered under his breath to AJ, ready to make this idiot with a stick up his ass eat their dust. Which is exactly what happened. As soon as the light turned green, AJ floored it. There were a few cars in front of her, but AJ had no restraints keeping her from swerving into the oncoming traffic lanes. They smoke that asshole by miles, watching him fade to a mere speck in their rearview mirrors. It was something else, honestly. Eventually they pulled into a small but packed seafood restaurant. The two of them got a table on the back patio. They had an amazing view of the ocean and could feel the cool sea breeze hitting them every so often.
“This is dumb.” AJ just blurted it out, completely unprovoked. Cal looked up in surprise, a shrimp tail hanging out from between his lips.
“What?” Cal finished chewing and swallowing before asking his question. What did she mean, this is dumb? Being with him? Racing? He hoped not.
“Just, this!” AJ knew she wasn’t articulating what she really wanted to say, but it was hard to put her pent up feelings into words.
“Keep talking like that, and you’re gonna lose your meal ticket?” Cal knew he was just pretending to brush it off, but if AJ actually meant that she thought being with him was dumb, he was going to break.
“First, I don’t need you to pay for me. Second, I just need you to stop lying to me. I want in. On whatever you’re running, I want in.” AJ relaxed against the booth seat she was sitting in, almost breathless. It felt weird, knowing she was getting this info only to feed it back to her brother. Only to use it against him.
“I’ll tell you what. We’ll see how you do at the desert races this weekend, then we’ll talk.
Cal slipped her a piece of paper out of his shirt pocket, sliding it across the table to her. Her fingers brushed his as she picked it up and looked at the address, her touch sending tingles down his spine. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
…
Tomorrow came too soon. Today was the day when she would know. If it was Hood and his gang, then her source of happiness for the past few days would al disappear. She had a strong sense of loyalty, but and issue presented itself with that. Should she be loyal to Tran, her brother, or Cal, her love? It was a difficult decision, but she knew she would face a great loss either way. She had to focus up, get her head in the game. This was a problem for later. Right now, there was two grand on the line and her reputation. She didn’t come to lose. And the idiot she was up against? A fucking ameatuer. Used his Nos within the first twenty seconds. AJ knew she had it won. She even smiled sweetly and waved as the idiot she was racing at her dust.
It was as she was finishing up her race that Tran pulled her aside to talk, still on a high from the win.
“Any new intel?” Johnny kept his grip tight on her arm, too tight for her comfort.
“No. I find out today.” AJ forcibly pulled her arm out of his vice grip. When she saw the bruises already forming on her arm, it was then she knew. Tran had never actually seen her as a sister. Merely an opportunity. A broken little girl who could be manipulated for his needs. All the times he had sacrificed her for the profit, all the bruises and broken bones she had endured. Just a means of infiltrating other gang. She was sick of being lied to, sick of being used. So she made up her mind. Her loyalty lied with Cal. Cal alone. She turned and stalked away from Johnny with no other word, merely retreating to the trailer that Cal had brought out from the group. The sun had already set, signaling the end of the races, so she was hoping to catch him. They had quite a bit to discuss. While she was sick of people lying to her, she was also sick of lying to the people she cared about. She stepped into the trailer, but before she could call out his name, she heard arguing outside the trailer. Loudly. She approached the window, staying behind the curtain, but still able to hear every word.
“You shouldn’t do this Cal. It’s not safe anymore.” Lindy was yelling at Cal, and she was starting to cause a scene. She was even tearing up a little.
“This is the last one. Chill out. We’ll be back soon.” Cal didn’t make any move to comfort her, instead just turning and walking away.
This was it. AJ could feel it, from the context to the raw tension in the air. However, contrary to what she had told Cal yesterday, she didn’t want in. She wanted them to stop. After growing closer to them, she feared for their safety more than anything. AJ had pulled off a few stunts like this with Johnny, so she knew first hand how dangerous they truly were. Now that the truckers knew they were coming, she was sure they would be arming themselves against the gang. She immediately ran out of the trailer and sprinted over to Lindy.
“Where are they going?” She grabbed Lindy by the shoulders and spun her around, looking directly into her eyes. It was clear from her conversation with Cal that Lindy was the only other person who understood the gravity of the situation.
“Get off of me, Turell. Or, should I say, Tran?” Lindy looked at AJ with fire in her eyes. AJ started chewing on her bottom lip. Shit. This isn’t what she needed right now, especially if she wanted to save the boys she had so come to love.
“Listen. It’s not what it seems. I get that you hate me, and that you don’t trust me, but right now, I’m your only shot at saving those boys. And if you love them as much as I do, then you’ll get in the car with me.” AJ removed her hands from Lindy’s shoulders, completely grave. There was too much at stake for games or jealousy. Lindy seemed to understand that, though, Together, she and AJ ran to the grand sport. They climbed in, and AJ had the pedal almost through the baseboard of the car before she was even full seated. Lindy gave her some quick directions to a shipment about forty minutes from their location, and all AJ could do was speed in that direction with her knuckles white on the steering wheel. She just hoped she got there in time.
…
This was the third truck that they had raided, and so far, Cal was hoping that it would go like the first two. But, as he learned the hard way, hopes didn’t get people very far in life. Everything had gone wrong as soon as Luke had made the jump from Cal’s car to the grill plate of the target truck. It was Ashton who had first noticed the gun, radioing it over to the others so they could abort. Sadly, it was too late to warn Luke so the blond had made the jump anyways. Cal watched as Luke realized what the driver was holding, watched as he panicked and tried to hide to avoid the spray of bullets from the buck shot. Cal muttered out a string of curse words, knowing he was powerless to stop this mess from happening. Luke was flopping around trying to find a foothold, spiraling around to the passengers side of the door.
That would have been fine if not for the fact that the wire he had used as a grounding system got tangled around his arm, bloodying it. Cal and Ash pulled onto either side of the truck and Michael took point, each of them shouting into the radio, desperately searching for a way to rescue their friend. It was then Cal noticed the jet black grand sport approaching behind them at a high rate of speed. He was so busy focusing on AJ and Lindy approaching in the rearview mirror that he failed to notice the 18-wheeler slamming into his side before it was too late. Cal felt the collision in his bones, rolling the car three times into the desert brush and ditch. His ears were ringing and everything was hurting, but he still remained focused on Luke. He heard a faint crackling diluted by the ringing in his ears, heard Ash’s voice broadcast over the radio that he was turning back for Cal. Cal wanted to respond, tell him to remain focused on Luke, but for some reason he couldn’t move his arms. He was tired, though. So tired. It was right as Ash was pulling him out of the wreckage that Cal let himself slip into the darkness.
…
This was bad. This was so, so bad. Lindy and AJ pulled up along the truck just in time to see one of the cars get smashed by it and go rolling into the ditch. The next thing they saw was Luke’s lifeless body swinging from the passenger’s side door. They both gasped and Lindy burst into tears, but AJ’s grip on the wheel just tightened. She was more determined than ever to save her friends. AJ pulled up as close as she could she could to Luke, which was sort of difficult considering the fact that the truck was swerving all over the road.
“Lindy, take the wheel!” That was all the warning that AJ gave Lindy before standing. Lindy, despite protesting, promptly slid over, taking the wheel and keeping pressure on the pedal.
AJ watched for a second to ensure her timing was just right before making the jump. It sort of felt like she was moving in slow motion while she was in the air. So much could go wrong so fast, and yet she would do nothing different even if he had the chance. AJ slammed into the passenger side door, scrambling for a foothold. This was not how she was going to die. After she felt as stable as possible while hanging onto the door of an 18-wheeler going 70 down the highway, she got to work on helping Luke.
“Luke. Hey, bud listen you gotta focus up for a second.” AJ was worried. The wire had cut him pretty deep in some places, and everything was slick with copious amounts of blood. “Luke. Put your arm around me, okay?”
Luke did as he was told despite only being half conscious. Lindy seemed to understand what was going on because she pulled that car as close as she could get it. AJ knew a chance when she saw it, so she took it quickly and without hesitation. She pushed both Luke and herself off of the turck and into the car, trying to use what little momentum she had. They made it back safely into AJ’s car, and Lindy slammed on the brakes, peeling back to check on Cal. Michael had somehow seen the entire thing, so he too circled back. As soon as they got to the wreckage, AJ knew it was bad. She had managed to fasten a makeshift tourniquet for Luke, but she knew that if they didn’t get him medical attention soon, things would not end well for curly haired angel.
“Listen. Get Michael and Ashton and get Luke to a hospital. Now. I’ll get Cal.” Lindy still seemed wary of her, but AJ knew that Lindy trusted her. After seeing her jump to and from a moving vehicle for someone AJ had known mere weeks, Lindy had to trust her. AJ watched as the second girl sprinted off and got Ash and Michael. They were off in Michael’s car before AJ had even picked her way down to the wreckage. When she did, she breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he was bloodied and bruised, but Cal was alive. That was all she needed. Him being conscious was just a bonus.
“Hey, Hood.” AJ was gravely worried, but she was also grinning from ear to ear. Cal was alive. He was okay.
“Hey yourself, Turell. You gonna get me out of here or what?” Cal grunted, obviously in pain, but there were underlying tones of softness in his voice. A certain softness that was reserved only for her. It took them a few minutes, but eventually AJ got Calum out of the trashed car and into her own. He was bleeding in various spots and his left arm was clutching his right shoulder, but he was okay. He had assured AJ of that numerous times. Instead of going to the hospital like AJ wanted and Cal absolutely did not, AJ drove them swiftly back the her apartment. Johnny didn’t know about and it had its own private garage, so they were safe there. Cal was in a lot of pain even though he refused to admit it, so much so that AJ was pretty much carrying him upstairs to her apartment. As soon as she could, AJ lowered Calum onto the bed, as gently as she could of course, and ran to the bathroom to get the first aid kit she kept there. She went back to the bed only to find Cal in the exact same position that she had left him in. AJ started to take his jacket and shirt off, with minimal assistance from Calum himself.
“Slow down there girlie. At least let me take you on a date first.” Cal was starting to slur his words a little, but AJ knew it was because of the deliria from the pain.
She worked a little faster, climbing on the bed and straddling his hips so she could see what she was doing better. The work was meticulous, pulling tiny beads of glass from under his skin, stitching the larger gashes, and cleaning and bandaging all of them thoroughly. Cal just grunted here and there, not fully aware of what was happening. AJ thought it was probably better that way. She didn’t quite know what to do with his shoulder, though. From the way it was hanging, it was probably dislocated. Johnny had done that once and it had popped back in naturally over the span of about a week. AJ just decided to put it in a sling, ice it, and hope for the best. By the time she was finished, Cal had long since faded off and the clock was approaching 4am. Her concentration had kept her from being too tired, but now that it was broken her vision was starting to blur. She decided to take five on the bed to rest a little before packing it up and moving to the couch. Just five minutes.
…
taglist: @marshmallowtraver @daniellesimagines @lmao5sosimagines @shawnhockey5s0s
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ONITC (TRR AU) Part 12: Aftermath
Catch up: One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven
After that fun diversion in the last chapter, Leo’s here to deliver some new information that brings some ugliness to the surface for Liam and forces him to tell Olivia a painful secret. Warning: this is kind of dark and deals with PTSD, panic attacks, and violence. Also some rough language as is the case with everything I write ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tags:@theroyalweisme@pbchoicesobsessed@smritysriv@thatcatlady0716@jayjay879@hellospunkiebrewster@mfackenthal@madaraism @boneandfur @pens-girl-87 @butindeed @jamielea81 @bobasheebaby@starstruckzonkoperatorbat@drakelover78@notoriouscs @sir-wigglesworth @simplyaiden-blog @jlouise88 @hopefulmoonobject
"Liam!" Leo called through the door as he knocked incessantly. "Where is everybody? The door is locked. You're starting to freak me out."
"Everything is fine, Leo. I'll be right out." Liam didn't seem concerned in the slightest with the intrusion.
Riley and Drake pulled the bedspread up to their chins, the embarrassment of being caught in bed with the king and queen-to-be making them want to hide and disappear. Olivia calmly pulled on the simple dress Liam had brought for her, while he dug through his bag for a fresh undershirt and some shorts. He answered the door still looking disheveled and flushed.
"Jesus, Liam, they said I was the playboy."
He waved off the comment and went back out to the living room to talk, Olivia in tow. Riley and Drake quietly moved to sit on the ground by the door, secretly listening in.
"What's going on, Leo? It's late, we should all be getting some rest."
Leo snorted with laughter. "Right. I'm sure it was very restful in there." His smile faded as he sat down and gestured for Liam and Olivia to do the same. "We got a call from the palace. I told them you would call back in the morning, but they insisted it was urgent enough to wake you."
Liam's brow furrowed. "Hopefully this is positive. They must have new information about the attack."
Leo leaned in towards Liam, a sympathetic look on his face. "Liam...they do. Everybody does." He pulled out a tablet and handed it to him. A paused video was on the screen, showing a man in the same body armor and mask that the attackers at the wedding had worn. Liam glanced at Olivia. Her fury was written all over her face.
"How dare these cowards address us when they won't even show..."
"...Liam, you need to tell her." Leo looked at his brother pleadingly. Liam was startled.
"Tell her what?"
"Don't play dumb. She needs to hear it from you first."
"Excuse me?" Olivia tried to cover her panic with anger, but it was starting to slip. She squeezed Liam's hand, trying to slow her breath. "What do I need to hear?"
Liam sighed, his sad gaze moving from Leo to Olivia and then back again. "I didn't know you knew. Father didn't tell me until he was on his deathbed."
Leo nodded. "I knew. He didn't want to tell you because he worried it would hurt you. He did have a heart, after all."
"What are you two talking about?" Olivia's face was going red with frustration. Liam held her hand and ran his thumb over her wrist, struggling to meet her eyes. "Does this have something to do with my parents? Are these...are these the same people who killed them?" Liam winced at her words.
"My love...your parents were killed by the King's Guard. They were the attackers, back then. They made an attempt on our lives."
Olivia went pale as she jerked her hand away from Liam's. She stared at him, speechless, for a long moment, before shoving him hard in the chest. "What the fuck!" she yelled, before standing up and storming towards the door.
"Olivia!" Leo called, wincing when she looked back at him with disdain. "...Sorry, Your Grace. But please...it's not safe to leave the house. You can have my room if you'd like to be alone." She glared back in his direction before heading to his room and slamming the door behind her.
Liam let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "I have to go speak to her." He stood to leave but Leo held up a hand, motioning for him to stay.
"Let her have a minute. You didn't exactly cushion the blow there."
"Oh, have you finally decided to come home and take control after all?" Liam's carefully controlled anger was bubbling to the surface, and he found himself wanting to pick a fight. Leo winced.
"I'm not trying to tell the king what to do. I'm trying to offer support and advice to my brother." He left his chair and plopped himself down on the couch next to Liam instead, taking Olivia's place. "You can go after her if you need to, but I wouldn't. Give her some time to process before you try to talk to her or she's just going to lash out. You know it's true."
He nodded and buried his face in his hands. "I should have told her sooner. I don't know when I had planned to. What was I thinking?"
Leo patted his back affectionately. "I don't think there ever would have been a good time. But it's better coming from you than from these motherfuckers." He grabbed the tablet off the coffee table and held it out to Liam again. "You need to watch this."
His finger hovering over the play button, Liam took a deep breath and looked back to his brother. "Leo...did I make the wrong choice? Would I have avoided all this if I'd just chosen Madeleine and listened to Father's warnings about Olivia?"
"Liam..." Leo paused and chuckled. "I mean, you're asking the guy who completely bailed on crown and country to escape marriage to Madeleine." Liam chuckled, but his heart wasn't in it. "Seriously, you absolutely did the right thing. They're using the Nevrakis family history to create cracks in your public appearance, that's all. They would find cracks no matter who you married, or they'd just lie. They tried to kill you, Liam. Not her. This isn't about the Nevrakis family. This is an attempted coup." He stood up and pointed again at the tablet. "Watch the video. I'll go talk to Olivia."
Alone in the living room, he hit PLAY.
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Citizens of Cordonia, the time has come to say good-bye to this backwards and corrupt system of government. To toss aside the old nobility that is sucking this country dry and leaving us weak and powerless on the world stage.
Today we stood up against the extravagant display of wealth and excess that was to be the royal wedding. Your king, an inexperienced young man left to rule after the rightful heir tossed his country aside for his own selfish pursuits, marrying an orphan duchess, the very daughter of the traitors that attempted to seize control of the government for their own selfish needs just two decades ago. Is there no one left for the king to marry who doesn't have a history of violence against the crown? This family is a laughing stock around the world, and we will not have Cordonia become a joke!
The royal guard murdered several of our brave freedom fighters today. No lives were lost on their side. We are not interested in harming the public. The Cordonian people are safe, but King Liam, mark my words: we will not stop until you are out of Cordonia, one way or another.
-----------
Liam didn't realize until he tried to set the tablet down that his hands were shaking.
One way or another.
The fear he'd been pushing down, down, down inside him since he'd heard that first shot at the wedding...since earlier...since the assassination attempt seven years ago...since he lost his mother as a boy...it all erupted in him at once. He tried to stand but his legs weren't steady enough to hold him and he fell back into the couch. He clutched at his chest...he couldn't breathe. The room was spinning...the walls were closing in.
"Liam!"
Drake bent over him, concern all over his face. He sat next to him on the couch and wrapped him in his arms to steady him. "Shhhh, shhhhh," he stroked his hair affectionately, desperate to calm him, trying not to let his own panic show. "You're OK. You're OK. I've got you. Breathe. Breathe with me."
He wiped the sweat from Liam's forehead with his thumb as he took deep, slow breaths against him. He felt his breath slow and and sync with his own, but it was soon interrupted by sobs. Drake held him, rocking softly, his heart breaking as Liam's tears soaked through his flimsy undershirt and onto his skin.
"Drake," he croaked, tears still streaming down his face, "I have to leave."
"No, you don't need to leave. Here is where you're safe. Here with all of us."
He shook his head, pushing Drake away. "No, I need to leave. I...I never asked for any of this, and everyone is always trying to take it from me." His fists balled at his sides and his face went dark. "They can have it! I'll just go live a normal life somewhere and no one will ever have to try to kill me again."
Drake grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to look him in the eye. "Liam, listen to me. Absolutely. Fucking. Not."
Liam stared at him, stunned. "Don't I have that right? I wasn't aware I was a prisoner of the royal court." He spat out the words angrily, immediately regretting it, knowing Drake was the last person he should be pushing away. "Isn't this what you always wanted? A normal life without all the courtly bullshit?"
He took his time before responding. "No. What I wanted was to stay with you, for times like this when people try to break you. You're the strongest person I know, but it scares me how much you absorb and repress. It always comes out, eventually." He paused, nervous that he'd set him off and drive him away. "I stayed with you because you are important. It does have to be you, Liam. It was always you that was meant for this. You can't leave Cordonia in the hands of the maniacs that shot up your wedding. What kind of option is that?"
Liam's face softened as he leaned on Drake's shoulder once again with a sigh. "I know. But I don't want to be the king of a country that doesn't want me. I don't need power or money...I just want to serve the people, and it feels like I'm failing miserably."
"I don't have the answers, Liam. But we'll figure this out. You have plenty of allies back at the palace who will help you through this. Tonight...you just need to rest."
Liam half-mumbled an answer as he stretched himself out, lying with his feet hanging over the arm of the couch and his head resting in Drake's lap, and finally allowed himself to relax and go to sleep.
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Memoirs of a Mercy Main
CHAPTER 7: RETRIBUTION
“Heroes never die... for a price.”
I'd spent the last few months playing single player games, or more accurately, figuring out how to play online multiplayer games alone. The enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto Online for PS4 had replaced Overwatch as my present addiction, and I had even gone so far as to join a crew on Reddit to ensure that I could play the game without the interference of other players. I was quickly consumed by the need to grind away at exciting crimes creatively made tedious by the developers at Rockstar. It killed time, and was far more relaxing than getting pounced on by Winstons or given countless fidget-spinner suppositories by Genji. It was also lonely.
As likable as I've been told I am by those whom have tolerated my existence the longest, I don't make friends easily. Unless approached by others I will make no effort to engage people in conversation, either in person or in fictional worlds such as San Andreas. Throughout my life my best friends have always been the ones that discovered me on accident. That hadn't happened in quite some time. Without an abundance of affordable recreational options in the vicinity of my home town it was unlikely I would be able, or willing, to venture into the real world to expose myself to opportunities for lasting friendships my best option was the internet.
I'd grown complacent in my criminal ways in Grand Theft Auto. I didn't talk to anyone because there had been nothing to necessitate the interaction beyond, “I'm sorry, Boss. I thought I was meant to fly the military cargo plane full of knock off purses and televisions,” or, “Please stop bombing me in your military aircraft. My scientists need this tank in order to research tiger stripes.” Most of the people in the friendly crew I'd registered with seemed keen on keeping largely to themselves, so I began playing Overwatch with slightly more regularity than I had, specifically to re-learn the art of communication. Since the pool of players who use voice chat in the standard Quick Play and Arcade modes can be pretty slim, I opted for the Competitive route.
Games were hit and miss as usual. When my teams lost they lost hard. When my teams won we won by the skin of our teeth in overtime. It's hard to tell how much I'm contributing at any given time considering my specialties are healing and providing barriers as tanks, so I'm rarely in the kill feed that everyone gauges their own self-worth off of. No one votes for the player with the most objective time when MVP nominees appear at the end of a match, and only occasionally does the healer get votes if their team mates are the empathetic sort who understand how much work it is to be baby-sitter-in-chief.
While I tried to measure my personal victories by how many games I enjoyed playing rather than by wins and losses, the two were not mutually exclusive. That was not to say that wins and losses impacted my enjoyment, but that my enjoyment impacted my wins and losses. As expected, the games with tired, grouchy, or arrogant team mates went poorly, and the games where people were playing for fun went well. With each match players came and went. While the competition itself was fulfilling and contained some of the best matches I'd ever had the pleasure of participating in, it was still a lot of work, and a lot of stress. Too much to risk playing further.
Both my wife and I had grandparents in and out of the hospital. The constant reminder of looming mortality lead to further developments in a long period of insomnia and depression. Death and I have always had an unhealthy relationship. Years of excessive flight or flight response triggers have rendered me critically opposed to living life to the fullest if it means bringing me even an inch closer to my inevitable demise, ironically leaving me prone to levels of despair and grief that my doctor has warned me repeatedly will cause heart problems to manifest much earlier than they aught to. The game I was playing as an outlet in order to reach out to the world to let it know that I was here, and that I was bored and lonely, was not succeeding in giving me the connection I sought. Worse still, in the back of my mind I knew that playing in my condition would lead to further problems. The only thing worse than being criticized for not bringing your A-game when you were was being criticized for not bringing your A-game when you knew damn well you were struggling to keep up a Z. I needed something to change. I needed a break.
Thankfully, one year after my official foray into the realm of Overwatch, the “Uprising” event returned. This time called “Overwatch Archives,” it contained a new story called “Retribution” in addition to the “Uprising” campaign that had lured me into the game to begin with. In it the secret shadow organization within Overwatch, questionably called Blackwatch, seeks vengeance for their fallen comrades in an international kerfuffle that eventually results in the fall of Overwatch. It features three attackers, one support, waves of AI controlled enemies, and no objectives other than kill or be killed.
It was a breath of fresh air.
For nostalgia sake I leapt into Uprising head on and felt right at home. After a year of playing, not only was I more competent, but I was also being matched up with team mates who had also been playing the game for as long as I had, if not longer. Rather than a rag-tag band of level 5 players who didn't even know what button got them out of a crouching position, we were a force to be reckoned with. Retribution was no different. Players whom had honed their skills in countless deathmatches needn't worry about the level of teamwork demanded of standard or even Uprising modes.
What was more was the fact that this was the first time I had been able to play the campaign with friends. My real life best friend, the best man from my wedding, was playing Uprising for the first time and caught on quick. My former Competitive partner also returned from retirement to participate in the cooperative event. It may have been the first time I'd played a full afternoon with him without hearing a peep of negativity. Predictable enemies who staggered when shot rather than rush us down, and attacked indiscriminately instead of focusing on one particular player, fell before us in droves. There was no stress. No angst. No grief. Just a blissful mayhem that wasn't even completely there in the Halloween “Junkenstein's Revenge” event.
When all was said and done, I had more fun playing Overwatch on April 10th, 2018 than I had in any given month playing the same game. Overwatch had been many things for me in the last year: a sport, an addiction, an outlet, a source of marital strife, a community, a place of grief, and a place of triumph. Blizzard had diligently attempted to improve the game's many flaws regarding the playerbase by introducing a report system and an “avoid as player” function. Brigitte, the latest hero added to the game, was an aggressive brawler that passively healed while doing damage. That meant aggressive players who wished to rack up kills with the new character could still fulfill her intended support functions without specifically concentrating on it.
Despite the changes, it's still Overwatch: an online competitive team-based shooter. As great as it is, as closely as the developers watch and listen to the community around it in order to improve upon it, it can never be more than that. What makes Overwatch so special, for better or worse, are the people who play it. The communities built around it. Overwatch may bring out the absolute worst and best in people, but it cannot change the people who play it. That's up to them.
The return of the Archives event proved to me that I don't need adversity or challenges to make life worth living. I have plenty of those. I can work on personal improvement every day for the rest of my life and still be right where I started since life will always find new ways to sucker punch me. What's more, I should not allow my self-worth should to be determined by others, as their experiences, views, and priorities will always be different from my own. At this point in my life all I need are people to enjoy it with. People I can support and are willing to show support in return, in game and out. To everyone else I offer a few simple words of advice that will make their gaming experience far more enjoyable:
Play Nice. Play Fair.
(… and nerf Bastion.)
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#Mercy Main Memoirs#Overwatch#Blizzard#gaming#video games#Overwatch Archives#Overwatch Uprising#Overwatch Retribution#I need healing#Mercy Main#Support Main#Mercy Main Problems#Seriously bastion's weak point needs to take triple damage in turret formation
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10 Common Misconceptions about Garage Door Repair
Having a garage door is both a privilege and a right for many homeowners. The doors are the first thing that people notice about your home. Keeping it working and in good condition is very essential. It gives aesthetic value to your homes. It can be a great feeling to hear compliments about how pleasing is your home. But the most important benefits of these garage doors are privacy and security for the family. But in most cases, it is also the most taken for granted and overlooked part of the home. It is not something you think much about as long as you can see it is working. If something goes wrong, it is the only time you will notice its existence.
Many homeowners opt to do the repairs themselves to save some money even when they are not sure what to do. While you may ask Google or watch a YouTube video on how to fix the issue, this Do-It-Yourself method won’t apply if you are having issues with your garage door. Sometimes, trying to repair the door yourself can be a very dangerous thing to do. There is almost no other way but to call for professional help.
Before you attempt to put out your ladder or screwdriver and perform a DIY repair, here are the 10 common misconceptions about garage door repair you need to be aware of:
Repairs Are Easy To Do
It is one of the most common misconceptions about garage door repair. Many homeowners think that a garage door problem can be easily fixed using a DIY approach. Garage doors are very heavy and complicated, it involves a lot of components including rollers and hinges, cables, a wall switch, a screw or chain-drive motor, remote controls, and a magic eye.
It can be easier if you only need to paint the door or clean the roller tracks, however, other tasks can be more complicated and will need to be serviced by a professional garage door repair technician.
A Slow Garage Door Means Everything is Alright Just It Got Older
This is another misconception. A garage door that is becoming slower than usual is something you need to keep an eye on. It is often a warning sign that it will soon fail. It could result in garage doors falling and a garage door falling on you can result in serious injury and harm.
You Just Need to Cut the Power to Stay Safe
It is said that a broken garage door has caused many injuries and accidents than any other item in a home. Cutting the power off by switching the circuit breaker may protect you from electric shock, but it won’t guarantee to protect you from the weight of the door or injury from a broken spring, cable, roller or hinge. An injury or accident can be very expensive.
You Just Have to Replace Springs When They Are Broken
Garage door springs will show signs of wear in the long run. They do age with the door. When you notice that one of your garage door springs was broken and the other one appears to be fine, you should always choose to replace them both. A garage door running with one new and one old will most likely operate unevenly. The old one will be going to have more stress due to wear and will break sooner. It will lead to another door failure and even bigger problems.
A broken garage door spring will make a loud noise if it snaps. Do not try to open it. This can be very dangerous because there might still be tension left in the spring. Call a garage door repair company immediately and schedule an inspection and repair service.
A Noisy Garage Door is Normal
No, it isn't! While garage doors are supposed to make a bit of noise when opening and closing, it is never normal to be excessively loud and noisy. When it starts producing unprecedented noises, you can try to fix it by cleaning any dirt off of it. You can put out and climb your ladder and clean the tracks, but if the noise is still there, it might be a sign that something is not working properly. Pay attention to these warning signs.
Professional Repairs Are Too Expensive
Most common garage door repairs are:
Broken cables
Sticking rollers
The door closes and reopens
The opener runs but the door doesn’t move
The door opens but won’t close
The door sticks or stops
The remote opener doesn’t work
Broken springs
Nothing in life is free and hiring a professional technician will come with a hefty price tag, but it will surely be worth it. Since most garage doors have several components and moving parts, it will be best handled by a professional to inspect and resolve the issue. If you try to fix your garage door, you could end up costing a lot more money if something ended up wrong. Besides, nothing is as expensive as a trip to the ER.
Garage Door Repair Companies Are Scammers
“How much am I going to pay for the repair?”
“Do you charge on an hourly basis?”
“How will I know if your technician will do a good job?”
Yes, that’s good! It is a crucial time for you to ask questions.
Not all companies are going to scam you. Reputable companies will offer competitive prices with quality service to their clients. All you have to do is a little research, check out the company’s BBB ratings, testimonials, or give them a call and inquire about the cost. This way you can choose the best repair company that will fit your needs and budget. Some local garage door repair companies offer special discounts for new customers, so it may save you a lot more money than you think.
No One Will Fix My Door, They Just Want To Sell New Doors
A professional and well-respected garage door repair company understands that a repair is more affordable than purchasing a new one. They know that a good door should last for a decade, or maybe even a lifetime. Selling a new door right away is not how they would want to build reputations. They will always give you the best quality service that you need because you can be a great ambassador for them. But if your garage door is beyond repair, it is not always a bad idea to listen to the experts. They will guide and help you in any way they can.
Garage Doors Do Not Need Maintenance
Every garage door is different and has its unique characteristics. They come in various styles, forms, and colors. Some types of garage doors are:
Roll-up garage doors
Sectional garage doors
Slide to the side garage doors
Side-Hinged garage doors
Tilt-Up/Up and over canopy garage doors
Tilt-Up/Up and over retractable garage doors
Every door operates differently, too. Garage door repair companies have trained specialists that will cater to the client’s needs. The entire garage door system is a very complicated and confusing matter for many people. Just like any other element of your home, it needs regular checking and maintenance. It will run better and will last longer and will surely save you money in the long run.
Repair Warranties are Gimmick
Some manufacturers offer “Lifetime warranties”, but what the clients do not know is it means they will only cover the parts, not labor. That is a gimmick. Repair warranties that cover both parts and labor are given by dependable Garage Door Company to guarantee the quality of the door they installed on your home and ensure that it will get repaired without costing you a lot of money. It is worth exactly what they say. Warranties usually last for about 2 years, you should remember how long the warranties applied on your door.
You would not want inconvenience and headaches in your home, especially if it will compromise your family’s privacy and safety.
Every garage door problem has a proper solution. It is very important to do your research. Many of these misconceptions about garage door repairs can be avoided if you go online and start doing some research. It can be a recommended repair company by someone you know or a repair company you found online. It will be a big help for you to look for other options. When you find a potential company that can do the repairs for you, look for reviews and starts asking questions.
Better be safe than sorry. Protect your home and family. Leave these repairs to the professionals.
Our professional technicians are well-trained and experts in their field and with years of experience under their belts.
If you are from Long Beach or Westminster, California, and are having problems with your garage door, do not hesitate to call us. We will gladly assist you.
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Well, today was alright. Kinda crappy at some points, but not horrible. It all started of course with me wanting to be lazy, so when my alarm went off at 9:25 I half awake figured I could sleep till 10:10 if I ubered to the gyno instead of taking public transportation, so I set my alarm for 10:10- or at least I thought I did. Nope. I was still half asleep while setting it and accidentally set it for 11:10 instead. So it goes off then and I realize what happens, and that my gyno appointment is in 5 minutes. Fuck. So I call them and tell them I messed up my appointment and if they could get me in any other time today, and they said they could do 1 and I needed to get there so I said good I'll be there. The only issue was that I had a haircut appointment booked for 1, lol. So I got on the phone with ulta to try and reschedule that, but of course the lady that cuts my hair has a super busy schedule and I have a super busy schedule and it just wasn't gonna work, so the receptionist and I resolved she'd call me when she gets in and we'd figure it out. So I got ready and walked to the train, then once again managed to mess shit up. I looked up directions to the doctors office last night, I had been there before but I was trying a train route this time instead of a bus one. Only problem is I guess I looked at them too quickly and got off on totally the wrong stop, and instead of being a 10 minute walk from there to the doctor it was gonna be a 30 minute walk, and oh, my appointment was in 5 minutes (again). Fuck. It is really not my day with timing. So I hop on my Lyft app and get one pretty quickly, and only ended up being like 10 minutes left which was relieving. I had to wait a little bit, but the I got called back. Last time I was there for more birth control he made me promise I would come back for my annual in March cuz I was due for a Pap smear and everything, so here I was. Now, I'm sure I'm not alone in this feeling, but I do not like going to the gyno, even though I quite like my actual Doctor. He has a great bedside manner at least. I've had two Pap smears done before, and I remember them being painful, but HOLY SHIT it fucking hurt so bad I actually was saying ow out loud, something that I wasn't doing when they stuck a needle instead my forearm bone and were using it to shove my bones around in there. It was really, really bad. Thankfully it wasn't all that long, and from there it was just a quick pelvic exam and we were good. Ugh. Like I get why I have to go in, but it just sucks cuz like, I'm not having sex with anyone and the whole thing is just awkward. Oh well, at least it's done now. Set up the birth control to come through the mail system my insurance uses and I was good to go. The building is kind of a mish mosh of different things, there's doctors offices, apartments, coffee shops and even an ace hardware. I was kind of dawdling for a bit because I was looking for this chocolate I had tried from Walgreens a few weeks back and liked, and then was playing phone tag with my hair stylist haha by after a few times we got each other and tried every possible combination between our two schedules this week and it just could not work, and of course she's training all next week, so we ended up having to delay it until 2 weeks from now, which means my hair is gonna be even longer and unruly but I guess I'll just have to make do. Hopped on a bus back to school and went to the PAD office to try and get my crim pro reading done, which wasn't all that successful but I read the case briefs at least. I was nervous throughout class that she was gonna cold call me since I passed last week, but I don't think she actually cold called anyone today since she generally only does it if nobody volunteers, so that was good. I was probably tuned out for most of the class (kind of a habit at this point) and I commented thank you on everyone who wrote happy birthday to me on my Facebook wall, lol. We did get into an interesting convo about the adversarial-ness that should exist between two sides, should they be at each other's throats or is it better to be friends? So others were giving their opinion and I raise my hand and start saying how my dad knew a lawyer who filed an excessive force claim in every single case and it pissed off the ADA's so much and at the end of the day that's just gonna hurt your client if the other side has a grudge against you, and my prof was just like "finally someone said what I've been waiting for- it's not about how you feel, it's always about what's best for your client" so I felt a by accomplished with that. After class I went home and decided to turn on the flash, since I'm behind on all my superhero shows except legends this week. It was a decent episode, did feel like somewhat of a bottle episode to me, or at least a filler just to drag things out a bit before the epic final showdown. I did find the villain enticing though, and the actor played him to perfection. Still don't know how I feel about Cynthia and Cisco, or about how I feel about Cynthia's actions in this episode. Man, poor Joe. I felt so bad for him in this episode. His whole monologue talking about how he would stay up at night when she was a baby just to make sure she was still breathing because he was afraid if he wasn't there he'd stop- like, that hit me so hard because I can totally relate to that feeling with my sister. I've brought myself into full on hysterics on several occasions just on the thought that something might happen to her- I really cannot imagine what that must be like for him. So awful. Of course I think we'd have trouble giving much credit to anything the guy says, but that's a different story. The whole Julian/Caitlin plot was interesting, I'm glad they at least resolved some stuff between them. The whole surgery situation was all kinds of ridiculous, like I'm sorry that's just not physically possible haha not gonna happen. And then of course the ending scene, she was flat lining and I was like screaming at the tv JUST TAKE THE DAMN NECKLACE OFF ALREADY! I mean I knew she wasn't gonna be really dead, so they obviously had to fix that quickly which they did. Of course they were teasing killer frost all season and now it looks like we'll get her full blown. I'm like, excited to see the character but also sad for Caitlin because I love her character so much and I don't want this for her. Also, I've gotten so bad with tv character deaths. I'm literally at the point where I never believe they're happening. Like nope, they're not really dead, they'll be back, and the crazy part is most of the time I am right....(I maintain that I am 100% right about Snart on these grounds) but of course eventually there will be a real one and I'll be very pissed. While I was watching the flash my computer started to have some weird meltdown I couldn't figure out, so I got on the apple support website from my phone and was trying different stuff but nothing was working right, so I just gave up and made a Genius Bar appointment for after class on Friday since I'll be out and not have my laptop with me all day tomorrow, so it's not too bad of a waiting period, just annoying. But yeah, I'm not doing too great on the exhausted front this week, as you might've been able to tell by my morning actions described above, so in that note I am going to let my very eyelids close now and hopefully get some sleep (something short of 6 hours, unfortunately). Goodnight friends. Have a lovely rest of your week.
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Shopping Trip
After being given the potions and notepad I made my way out of the labs. As I was walking back to the portal my Abyscreen started to ring.
“Hey, Veronica! Good job!” It’s Gwyn. “The request has been marked as complete, thanks for dealing with Trem.”
“Wait does she not like you.”
“Kinda… Anyway, it has been brought to my attention that you’re somewhat low on supplies.”
“No, not really.”
“Oh? Then what do you have to heal yourself with? Do you have any anti-poison, smelling salts, food?”
“...fine, I’m low on supplies…”
“Ok, meet me outside the Hall, we’ll make our way to the commerce district.”
Suddenly a second voice cuts in. “Wait are you two going shopping without me?”
Gwyn sighs. “Nim you do realize that you’re a part of both of our screens right? Technically it’s not “without” you.”
“Still it’s not the same, I would love to go shopping in person with my favorite manager and trainee.”
“Fine… if you want you can tag along… but only if Veronica also agrees.”
“It’s fine.”
“Yay! I’ll meet the two of you in front of the hall.” Nim cuts out of the call.
“Sorry about that, Nim can be insistent sometimes. Anyway, you’re also short on cash so I’ll lend you some money.”
“...thanks for the reminder.”
…
Once I got back to the hall I popped into a restroom to change into my casual clothes. A pair of jeans and a hoodie, the only things I still have from home… I guess it should be somewhat somber, but eh, they are just things that haven’t been destroyed yet. Items are meant to be used if they break then they served their purpose. Still…
I step out of the restroom and into the plaza in front of the hall. Gwyn is standing next to a lamppost, he’s wearing a button-down shirt and pants. “Ah good, you’re here.”
Nim pops out of a nearby bush. “She’s here?! Yay!” She rushes at me but I sidestep and she faceplants on the ground. “Oh… boo...”
Gwyn walks over to her and pokes her. “Please control yourself, we are in public.” He turns to face me. “Anyway, now that you’re here I guess we can start or trip.”
There's a muffled “yay…” from the still face down Nim.
“So how do you guys get around?”
“Oh, we take the rail.” Gwyn gestures his head towards a larger building.
“Wait, rail? There’s a rail system here?!”
Nim pops up from the ground. “Oh yeah it’s fun you dummy, it connects most of the city! You haven’t been walking everywhere, right?”
“No?”
Gwyn looks concerned. “Wait how have you been getting around?”
“I’m not really sure what to call it but I kinda fly and/or jump using wind magic. Why?”
“I’m just making sure you aren’t doing anything illegal. You’re fine, just keep the property damage to a minimum.” Gwyn starts reaching into his pocket and grabs his card. “Anyway the rail is free as long as a person is an active member of Abysia. You’ll just need to scan your card.”
We enter the station and Gwyn and I scan our cards. Nim just jumps over the barrier.
“Nim please stop…” Gwyn seems more tired than anything at Nim’s antics.
“What am I going to do, arrest myself? :3”
“Wait is Nim law enforcement?”
Gwyn sighed. “Yeah, she’s in charge of enforcing the rules determined by a council of leaders from different guilds. She’s helped out by some managers like me and some smaller guilds.”
“How does she effectively do it, she seems too… jovial?”
Nim chimes in. “Oh give me more credit, Vevi, I can easily destroy any guild.”
“Wait, Vevi?”
Gwyn facepalms. “Yeah, she came up with that nickname for you.”
“Do you not like Vevi?” Nim seems almost sad.
“No it’s fine I just never had a nickname before…”
Nim seems to perk up and blush in response… wait can an AI blush?
The train arrives and we step inside. We are the only ones in the cabin and once the doors close Gwyn speaks up. “Say, Veronica, what did you do before you arrived here? Your file gives no clear homeworld.”
“Oh well, let’s see,” I think for a bit. “I got kicked out of my family because I “manifested the wrong powers or something” so I acted as a hunter until I messed something up and fell into a different world. I worked rescuing people there and exterminating threatening beasts. Got bored of that place and left for a different world. Rinse and repeat until I ended up here. Some worlds were better than others but I managed.” I look up and Gwyn is typing stuff down into his screen. “Wait are you writing this down!?”
“Yes because this is useful information. Anyway it makes sense why no homeworld was determined, you jumped through so many worlds you don’t have very much of a trace left of your homeworld. Do you happen to know its name?”
“No, sorry…”
Nim suddenly hugged me. “Don’t be sorry Vevi, you’ve had a rough time.”
“Eh honestly it’s fine, it was not bad.” I turn and look out the window. For some reason, in the distance there was a pillar of smoke. “Hey is that supposed to be there?”
Gwyn also looks out the window. “No? See if there’s anything on the screen.”
I pull out my screen… There are a few trending links… A sale… Some random pet video… Ah, here we go, a live stream. I open it. “...oh no.” The live stream shows a half-destroyed bar, and in front, Mila and Elias are arguing over something. The sound quality is bad but they probably got in a fight over drinking.
“Well, I guess I should deduct some money from their accounts…” Gwyn sighs heavily. “At least you haven’t destroyed anything yet…”
“Oh come on you two, at least we know they are exciting people to be around. :3”
Gwyn is just done now. “Nim, they just committed arson, aren’t you supposed to stop breaches?”
“Eh, but that’s not fun. :(“
The train slowly comes to a stop and Gwyn stands up. “This is our stop.”
We step out onto the platform and make our way out of the station. There’s a large collection of buildings. “Vevi, welcome to the commerce district.”
Gwyn starts explaining. “The commerce district is a collection of ‘malls’. Within each mall, there are independently run stores and stores run by guilds. The malls are broken up by purpose and there’s a tier system of sorts, Bronze, copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Each tier is more related to pricing, you can still find some decent stuff from lower tiers. We are making our way over to the silver adventurer mall. A guild by the name of the Gilded Roses sells the excess loot from their dives into the Dungeon and other locales.”
Nim seems excited. “Ooooo can we get crepes?!”
“Crepes? You guys have crepes?”
Gwyn pauses for a second. “Sure.”
…
It did not take long to get to the mall, it is fairly well decorated and there is a wide variety of different stalls peddling stuff like backpacks and anti-poison and other similar stuff. Eventually, we stop at a stall built into a wall. Gwyn steps up and rings a small bell on the counter.
There’s a small voice from the back. “One sec.” A small goblin walks up to the counter, he is oddly sleepy looking. “Oh hello Gwyn, oh and Nim is here too… Did I accidentally sell something illegal again?”
“No Steve, you’re fine.” Gwyn pulls out his screen. “We need to outfit a rookie, have anything on this list?”
Steve looks at the screen. “...I think so? Come on in to the back, I’ll check the stock.”
We walk into the stall and into a small sitting area. “What’s exactly on the list?”
“Oh, nothing special Vevi just a few items to make sure nothing bad happens.”
“Yeah, you already have weapons so you're fine on that front.” Gwyn thinks for a second. “Wait what do you fight in?”
Oop that an embarrassing question… “A tank top and shorts…”
“Heh?! 8/ That's so dangerous Vevi!!”
“I guess we need to get you some armor. Light, standard, or heavy?”
“Oh, I’m not bothered much by weight classes. I can’t wear sleeves in combat though it can interfere with the brands.”
Gwyn thinks for a second. “Eh, we’ll just get you whatever they have without sleeves.”
Steve pops over to where we are sitting carrying a bag. “Lucky you, I found everything. Five health potions and mana potions, three vials antivenom and pouches of smelling salts, ten rations, and a tent.”
Gwyn seems happy. “Thanks, Steve, do you have any vest or sleeveless armor?”
“...I’ll get my sister to check.” Steve turns around. “Clara?”
Another goblin pops her head out from behind the shelves. “Yeah?”
“This lass wants some armor.”
“What type?”
“Vest or sleeveless”
“Ok!” Clara disappears behind the shelves. She runs over with a stack of armor. “So what do you like?”
There's a few varieties of armor like a kevlar vest, a plate cuirass, a chainmail vest, a leather vest… “I’ll take the cuirass.”
“Good choice!” Clara grins, grabs the leftover armor, and disappears back into the back.
Steve waves to Clara. “Is that everything? I’ll send the charge to the administration.”
Gwyn stands and shakes his hand. “That’s all, thanks Steve.”
“So… Crepe time? :3”
…
After we left the stall we walked outside a bit till we got to a crepe stand.
“Gods, these crepes are great!” I am currently eating my third crepe.
“Oh definitely. :D” Nim on the other hand is on her fifth crepe.
“Eh, they are fine.” Gwyn is still eating his first one.
We are currently seated in a park with a nearby crepe stand. It's nice and peace-
“What do you mean we are on probation!” There’s a nearby group of what seems to be adventures arguing with a manager.
“You guys have received a number of complaints from a variety of source-”
One of the larger adventurers flips the table knocking the manager to the floor. “Oh well, I guess another complaint won’t hurt.”
I find myself rushing in between the manager and the adventurers. “Stop what you are doing!”
“Don’t interfere!” the largest one tries to throw a punch but it’s blocked by Gwyn holding a rapier.
“It is against the laws of Abysia to harm a manager.” Gwyn sweeps the adventurer to the floor and stabs the back of his leg.
A second adventure stands up. Just from her general air, she seems to be the leader. “Well if it isn’t one of the prissy ‘enforcers’ what is the robot bitch also here? Oh well, I’ll end all of you!” She pulls out a sword and starts rushing us, but suddenly she stops moving and I feel a flow of electrical mana coming from Nim. “Oh, Nimueh is here, how fun.”
Nim is full of malice. “Stand down…”
“Oh, what are you going to do, kill me.”
The flow of mana stops. “I’ll let you go but if you try to harm any of them I'll show you that there are fates worse than death…”
The adventure flashes a crazed smile. “Bet.” She takes a step forward and there’s an extreme flow of electrical mana almost as if-
There’s a horrifying cacophony of cracks and the adventurer crumbles to the ground. “Nim what did you do!?”
“Nothing major, I just forced electrical signals into her muscles that caused them to flex and fracture a fair majority of her bones.” She kicks the adventure. “Gwyn, call an enforcer and get them to pick these two up. Now, who wants more crepes!:3”
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