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#we're already friendly at work but easier to talk to someone when you're both not busy on the opposite side of the store with customers
neverendingford · 5 months
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#so I have officially been to a club/bar now#tag talk#it was a country bar which was actually cool cause they played like. actual old country none of the post-9/11 shit#except everything else about it was ugh awful. music too loud drinks FUCKING EXPENSIVE holy shit stay home and drink instead pleaseeee#it was a work thing but none of my coworkers I'm friends with actually knew what they were doing so while I wasn't actual awkward they were#and the thing about social interaction is that if no one knows what they're doing it's not very fun#I grabbed someone and started a pool game because the table was open and both of us were absolute garbage at the game#but I was laughing about it and they were like... apologetic about being bad?? d#I did have the classic experience though where your friends disappear and you end up alone because you don't know where they went#all in all an interesting experience but not one I'm eager to repeat.#I did get invited to someone's Christmas Eve Party though which is cool and they gave me their number to make sure I have the info#so probably worth going just for that I think. got their phone number so we can communicate so that's like. successful social connection.#we're already friendly at work but easier to talk to someone when you're both not busy on the opposite side of the store with customers#anyway. who tf out going to clubs. awful environment.#I was like.. twenty percent of the way to being comfortable going out and dancing but hard to just swallow your hesitation#and a) alcohol as liquid courage is hmm not ideal and b) it was expensive anyway#oh well. it'll take more time to come out of my shell and I'd literally never been to a bar/club before in my life.#so I'll have some patience with myself and not be annoyed with how I could have done better or been more confident.#literally totally new environment. also... country music was nice but not a group of people I could really be comfortable around yaknow?#Lotta old white straight couples dancing the country two-step so I didn't really feel like I fit in.#anyway. interesting experience. neat to have. if I ever have a reason to go to a bar again I'll know more about what to expect#also... no one carded me. no one asked for ID? aren't they supposed to#oh wait. comment about the yodeling cause it was actual old country but they didn't do the voice register changes for it#I was like WAIT ARE THEY GONNA YODEL FOR REAL??? but then he didn't he just jumped intervals without shifting voice.#was a little disappointing but maybe a lot to expect from a random stage show at a bar.#wait wait I'm also proud of myself because the bartender asked open or closed and my mind scrambled for half a second to figure it out#but then I realized it meant open tab or closed tab like ordering more drinks and then paying at the end and so obviously closed#cause I ain't buying more than the one drink holy fuck it was so expensive also they mix them way stronger than I like#I like my drink weak ass and pathetic. alcohol is like spice I like a little to taste but not a lot. complimentary not overpowering#I drank it and then remembered I never ate lunch so I was like fuck and immediately went and ate something (work party so free food)
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joaquinwhorres · 3 years
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gazes (joaquín torres x reader)
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SUMMARY ››››› It's become increasingly apparent to Sam and Bucky that you and Joaquin cannot take your eyes off each other. Unfortunately for them, you two have decided to be Professionals and that means keeping your eyes, hands, and lips to yourselves. No matter how difficult it is.
WORD COUNT ››››› 3,716
WARNINGS ››››› sexy times implied
A/N ››››› Ok so these headcanons y'all have been sending me are incredible. I read these two back to back and I just had to write something connecting them.
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The kid had no tact.
Sam wasn't exactly sure why he expected more from the guy who'd led into his theory that Steve was on the moon by referencing vague internet rumors, but even despite that, he'd assumed Joaquin possessed some sense of subtlety.
Instead he was over at the leg press trying and failing not to stare at Y/N as she bent over at the middle to help Bucky push deeper into the stretch.
"You know she could hit you with a harassment claim for staring at her like that."
Joaquin jumped, the weights dropping suddenly with a loud clang. Across the gym, Bucky laughed as Y/N whipped around to face the two men. "Everything ok?" Her voice sounded genuinely concerned, and Sam couldn't help but smirk as Joaquin turned towards her, giving a little wave.
"Foot slipped," he answered, and she nodded, turning back to Bucky quickly.
"Foot slipped," Sam mocked.
"Dude, you scared the shit out of me."
"If you paid half the amount of attention you give to Y/N to your surroundings, you'd have known I'd been standing here for three minutes."
Joaquin gave a defensive scoff. "I wasn't staring at her--I was just--" he stopped, searching for an excuse, and Sam raised his eyebrows.
When it was clear Joaquin couldn't find a convincing enough lie to end the sentence, Sam shook his head. "You know, if you talk to her, she might actually let you take her out."
"I talk to her," Joaquin protested.
Sam shook his head, uncrossing his arms. "No, I mean talk to her. Chat her up. You've gotta have some game, right?"
"I've got game..." His sentence trailed off as he turned to look in her direction, finding her standing over Bucky's feet with her hands on her hips. "But like, we're co-workers, you know? I don't want to make things awkward around the gym or the compound or anything."
"Joaquin," Sam said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You're already making things awkward."
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"He's staring at your ass again."
"And you're trying to get out of stretching again," you quipped, moving Bucky's leg closer to his chest. The super soldier tilted his head as if to acknowledge the legitimacy of your accusation.
"Doesn't change the fact that I think you're about to give him a heart attack."
"I highly doubt he's worried in the slightest about my ass. He's probably zoned out."
"He's definitely focused in...on--"
"On my ass," you finished, shaking your head. You might have given Bucky's claim a little more credence if it weren't for the fact that Joaquin Torres had been anything but the consummate professional towards you. He was friendly and upbeat and welcoming, and one of the few genuinely good guys you'd ever had the pleasure of working with.
You'd never caught him staring once, and it's not like the boy was exactly known for subtlety. Last time Bucky had asked him to cover for him so you couldn't come down and teach him the right way to train his body, he'd told you that Bucky had left the compound to get you a thank you gift for all of your hard work. All while staring at the gym door.
The heavy sound of weights falling against each other echoed throughout the gym, and you spun around to face the sound. Sam hovered over Joaquin's shoulder, the latter no longer working the leg press but instead looking as if he'd just received the scare of his life.
Bucky broke into laughter, and you smacked at his leg.
"Everything ok?" you called out, and Joaquin smiled, giving a sheepish little wave at you. "Foot slipped."
"It's a good thing he wasn't at the bench press. You might have killed him."
Your head snapped back to Bucky who was giving you a shit eating grin.
"You're an asshole."
"I'm right."
"Do you think if I ask nicely Wakanda will take you back?"
"So you know I'm right."
You chanced a glance back at Joaquin who was still talking to Sam before turning back around and placing your hands on your hips. "I'm calling Ayo."
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You were running early.
Not to any event in particular, but just for the general course of your day. It was rare for you to wake up to your first alarm so completely refreshed, and with a fully awake brain, you found it much easier to navigate the morning. You were able to get dressed without crawling back in bed for a few more minutes, and didn't have to battle with sleepy indecision when choosing what you wanted to eat for breakfast.
One thing after another just continued to roll your way, leading you to the gym much earlier than usual.
And that's where the luck stopped.
Or maybe it didn't stop. But it definitely took a turn. Because while you fully expected someone else to be in the gym already, you hadn't expected just one person to be in the gym. And even if you had, you wouldn't have guessed that that one person would be Joaquin. And if, for some reason, you'd had the foresight to sense that, you definitely never would have pictured him to be running on the treadmill shirtless.
You stopped in your tracks, eyes falling to the bouncing dog tags on his chest and then lower to the well defined abs you'd somehow never seen before.
It felt like you'd seen just about every man in this compound shirtless. At some point, they all seemed to strip in the gym or during one of your group training classes you ran for those who weren't field agents. Bucky was shirtless half the time you worked together. It was so normal, you hardly even blinked an eye anymore. Seeing Sam without a shirt was more rare and quite the sight, but it'd never caught your breath quite like seeing Joaquin. Joaquin, who had never so much as worn a tank top in the gym, Joaquin.
And now here he was, chest bare and heaving, feet pounding rhythmically against the treadmill, hair still messy from his pillow and sweat. Your brain couldn't seem to function correctly, offering you images of the sight before you, only closer. Much closer. Hovering inches over your stretched out body as the headboard behind you rammed into the wall with the force of each thrust--
"Hey," Joaquin greeted, noticing you standing off to the side. You blinked, heat rushing to your face as he turned the treadmill down to a more leisurely pace. "Something wrong with my form?"
It was tempting to lie and offer to "help him fix it." Or to be completely honest and tell him you'd never seen a human form as perfect as his.
But neither of those responses were professional or even appropriate, and you needed this job.
You swallowed, shaking your head. "No, I was just wondering why you were wearing those," you said, gesturing to his dog tags, and allowing your eyes to fall to his chest once more. You followed a bead of sweat as it rolled down his body, heading to the waistband of his shorts. Joaquin reached to touch his tags, causing them to jingle together once more and pull your attention up to him.
"It's hard to let them go," he smiled, ruefully, hitting the button so the belt slowed even more. "I'd say it's a habit, putting them on, but at this point they're just like a part of me."
You nodded, wishing you'd taken this conversation anywhere but to the idea of dog tags and what they stood for. It wasn't so much a mood killer but a guilt inducer because instead of you feeling embarrassed and somber, all you wanted to do was grab them and pull him closer to you.
He must have read the conflict on your face because he gave a crooked smile. "Yeah, sorry, it's kinda morbid."
"No," you shook your head, clearing it of the daydream induced fog. "I probably shouldn't have asked."
"No, nah, it's cool," his smile grew into grin, as the belt came to a stop. He leaned his forearms against the console, staring at you as if waiting for you to continue the conversation. Which you were not equipped to do with a smiling and shirtless and sweaty Joaquin Torres right before you.
"Well, thanks for being cool about it," you said with a nod.
My God, something was wrong with you. They were just abs. And sure, maybe the abs belonged to the man who not only found the time to moonlight as a superhero but star in your increasingly dirty dreams of late, but it was just a body party that you'd seen a million times.
But never on Joaquin.
You blamed everything your brain was doing to you on Bucky and all of his stupid comments about Joaquin's supposed fixation on your ass. You wondered what he would say if he could see you now. "And I thought I was half machine. I could practically see your brain short circuiting." or "If that's what you're like when you see him half-naked, how are you ever going to--"
"Yeah, of course," Joaquin said, still smiling, his eyes lifting up over your shoulder as the other door to the gym opened and Sam came in. "Hey," he greeted with a jerk of his chin.
"Hey," Sam said, drawing closer, his eyes on you. You forced a smile on to your own face, and lifted a hand, not trusting anything that was coming out of your mouth.
"You're here early," the other man said, stepping onto the treadmill next to Joaquin's, and putting his water bottle down next to the machine.
Both of them were looking at you now, and it's not like you could handle staying in this gym any longer. "I came down looking for my water bottle. I think I left it here yesterday."
Sam raised his eyebrows glancing around the gym, and Joaquin stepped down off of the machine. "Do you want help looking for it?" he asked, and your whole body seemed to tense up at the idea, your brain transporting you to a future scenario where the two of you wandered around the room, Joaquin next to you or behind you, so close you could feel the heat radiating off of him, all the while searching for a water bottle that was sitting on your dresser.
"No." Your voice came out too high, but you tried to play it off, shaking your head. "I've already interrupted your workout enough. It's either by the weights or not in here."
"Alright," he nodded. "If you need any help looking around the compound though, let me know."
"Thanks," you said. And then you gave another stupid wave and beelined it for the weight racks because you had to get out of here.
You made a show of looking next to each section of weights, even bending over to check underneath of them as if it could have been knocked under somewhere. After you felt an appropriate amount of time had passed to be convincing, you straightened up, empty handed. You turned back to Joaquin and Sam, both watching you rather than continuing their workouts as you might have hoped.
"Not here," you called back with a shrug and then left the gym and headed straight up to your shower.
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He was nothing if not predictable.
The minute Y/N bent over to check behind the weight rack, his eyes were glued to her. Or perhaps more accurately, the bright teal spandex shorts she wore. As she pulled herself back up from searching for her water bottle and turned to them, Joaquin quickly looked to Sam as if the two had been talking the whole time and then "casually" returned to her.
"Not here!" she said, shrugging and then walking out of the gym, her footsteps quick and purposeful as she left through the door Sam had just entered by.
"So, what'd I interrupt?"
Joaquin looked up at Sam as if remembering he was there. "What?"
"You know, when the two of you were sitting by this machine making eyes at each other? Did you actually say anything to her or….?"
Joaquin shook his head. "No, she just came in and, uh, we chatted for a second, and then…" he trailed off, as if not fully remembering any of the past ten, twenty, however many minutes.
"You just chatted," Sam repeated, the disbelief on his face edging into his voice.
"Yeah," Joaquin nodded.
"Anywhere in this chat you finally ask her out?"
"Nah, it didn't feel right."
"It didn't--she was practically taking off the other half of your clothes with her eyes," Sam sputtered, gesturing to Joaquin's shorts.
The kid laughed and shook his head as if Sam didn't know what he was talking about. Joaquin moved to exit the gym as well. "I'll see you later, man," he said, leaving a very exasperated Sam behind.
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Bucky Barnes was a motherfucking liar.
"Let's grab a drink on Friday," he said.
"Consider it me making it up to you for being such a pain in your ass," he said.
"I'll buy," he said.
Mothefucker.
This wasn't just you and your favorite co-worker getting a drink. This was a goddamn set up. Because one hour and three mojitos into the night, Sam and Joaquin walked in the front door.
"I fucking hate you," you said, glaring up at his stupid smug face.
"Well, what a surprise, he grinned, as you shook a finger up at him.
"I told you in confidence I'm a flirty drunk."
He snorted, giving you a look out the side of his eyes. "You told me you were a flirty drunk after you sent me several highly inappropriate drunk text messages about what you wanted to do to a certain Lieutenant, who," the self-satisfied smile was back on Bucky's face. "Is making his way over to us right now."
"When I get home, I swear to God, I'm buying you a ticket to Wakanda."
Bucky quirked an eyebrow. "You're not going to do it now?"
"I didn't bring my credit card because you said you were paying," you huffed.
Before Bucky could respond, Sam and Joaquin were next to the two of you, greeting Bucky with hand slaps and one armed hugs. Sam came around and wrapped an arm around you first before sliding into the seat next to Bucky, and Joaquin came forward, giving you a quick hug.
Which was a first.
More than the feeling of his back underneath your palm, or the way he seemed to emanate warmth, you were done in by how absolutely incredible he smelled. But before you could fully identify whether it was his shampoo, a cologne, or just him, he pulled away and took the only other available seat near the group--the one next to you.
"I see you started without us," Sam said, raising his eyebrows at the assortment of glasses that sat before you. Most of them were Bucky's as he downed beers faster than should have been humanly possible.
"Hard drinker, huh Y/N," Joaquin teased, shooting you a smile.
"Pfft," you dismissed. "Only three are mine."
"Three?" Sam asked, leaning forward to better look at you. "How long have you been here?"
"An hour," you said, completely unnecessarily leaning forward too.
Bucky shrugged. "I got the time wrong."
"Guess we better catch up then," Joaquin said, and you sank back into your chair, narrowing your eyes at him in challenge.
"If you can."
They did.
You were outpaced fairly quickly against the two soldiers and one super soldier. The rum-induced fuzziness around the edges of your brain was compounded by having Joaquin so close to you. At some point he'd pulled his chair a bit closer to yours so that he could better hear the conversation, and you don't remember when it happened, but his arm had also slid around the back of your chair. To your relief neither Bucky nor Sam seemed to acknowledge this. In fact, Bucky was positively quiet and normal all things considered. Everything was going better than you could have expected.
Until the music kicked up.
Sam was the first to be dragged onto the dance floor. He was Captain America. Of course he'd been targeted by the stunning girl in the red dress who'd only had to come up and ask "Does Captain America dance?" to succeed in pulling him off to the dance floor.
Bucky was next. Although he wasn't tugged onto the dance floor by his hand the way Sam was. It was the sight of the person in the tight black number that did him in, luring him away to the dance as if drawn by a magnet.
And then it was you and Joaquin, sitting at the bar. Alone. Together.
You looked up from your drink, pushing the straw down into the ice to stir up the clinking sounds, and he took a swig of his beer before putting the bottle back down on the bar.
"Alright, let's dance," he said, nodding with his head towards the crowd, and you let out a disbelieving snort.
"I don't know how to dance. I mean, I can dance," you attempted to clarify, although you had a feeling words were failing you at the moment. "But that's real dancing, and I can't do that."
"I guess you're lucky you have a really good teacher asking you to dance then," Joaquin grinned, holding out a hand. You looked down at his open palm, hesitating only for a second before you slid your hand into his and jumped down from your chair.
He led you out through the moving bodies expertly, dodging couples who were clearly more into the dancing than each other and couples where the complete opposite was true. The small bit of space he found you was closer to the center of the dance floor than you'd usually feel comfortable with, but when he turned towards you with that look on his face, any of your residual anxiety had vanished.
"Ok, come close," he said, and you took a small step closer to him, causing him to laugh. "Closer." He gestured, and you moved forward some more, Joaquin's hands finding their way to your hips and pulling you even closer. His hands rose, one finding its way to your mid-back, pushing your elbow up to rest on his, as the other took your hand and placed it over shoulder.
"This ok?" he asked, eyebrows raised, and you nodded, trying to keep your attention on him, his instructions and his words, and not the way that you could feel just about every part of him from the way he was angled against you. His right side was flush against your left, and his knee pushed between yours.
"Just follow me," he said, his head bent close to yours. Before you could even respond, he started to move, pulling you along with him through the dance. It was smooth and rolling and you'd never seen a guy able to roll his hips like Joaquin. He seemed to know exactly how to guide you, moving his body to push and pull yours along whenever you hesitated or felt lost, coaxing waves and movements out of you that you didn't know you could do. Each success was met with a small word of praise and a brilliant smile, as his hands shifted to hold you closer, and you wrapped your own hand around his neck to better feel and predict his movements.
It felt as if a fog had rolled in over the dancefloor, obstructing all else from view so it was just you and Joaquin, eyes locked to each other as you moved together, occupying the same space.
The song faded into the next one, and Joaquin stopped. You went to move backwards, to give him space and have him move on as many other of the more skilled dancing couples seemed to do, switching partners amongst each other. But he kept you close to him, hand sliding down to your waist.
"Now you can really dance," he teased, his eyes shining as they stared into yours.
"Only with you." It was supposed to be a self-deprecating joke, but it came out too quiet and earnest. Joaquin licked his lips, and your eyes followed the gesture, flickering between his mouth and his eyes.
You don't remember making the decision. You only remember, moving even further into his arms, and pushing yourself up to reach his lips with your own. He bent down to meet you, pulling you even closer and pressing his hard body into yours. His lips moved as slowly and sensually as his hips had, drawing you in and guiding you through a careful rhythm that promised much, much more.
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Sam sat with Bucky at the bar. Joaquin and Y/N had disappeared somewhere amongst the dance floor, hidden amongst the crowd.
"You think it worked?" Bucky asked, raising an eyebrow at Sam.
"If it didn't we're screwed," Sam shook his head, taking a swig from his drink.
As if on cue, the two emerged from the swaying bodies, hand in hand, sweaty and much happier than they had been when Sam had left them at the bar.
"We're gonna head back to the compound," Joaquin said with practiced casualness.
"Yeah?" Bucky asked, and Sam swore there was mischief literally glinting in his eyes.
"Yeah," Joaquin nodded too fast and too many times. "Yeah, Y/N forgot about something there…"
"What'd you forget?" Bucky asked, turning to Y/N with a wolfish smile.
"Nothing. We're going to have sex," Y/N said, flatly, causing Sam to nearly spit out his drink. "And if you say one more word, I know a pilot who will fly you to Wakanda himself. No ticket needed."
Bucky mimicked zippering his lips into a smug look, and she rolled her eyes before tugging Joaquin out of the bar by his hand. And he followed. Eyes glued to her ass.
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iamknicole · 3 years
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Familiar Face (2)
SVU Fic
Olivia sat at her desk responding to a text she'd gotten from Elliot. Over the past two weeks the two had begun catching up when work didn't interfere. It felt like old times but so much better than eleven years ago.
"Knock, knock."
Looking up from her phone, Olivia pulled her glasses off and squinted as she got up. "I'm sorry. Can I help you?"
"Sorry for just walking in, I had been knocking for a few minutes and you didn't answer. I'm Bianca Barnes but everyone calls me Peach."
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At a loss for words, Olivia stared at the woman looking back at her. "Okay and you're here because?"
"Deputy Chief Garland didn't tell you I was coming? I'm your new detective."
Olivia offered her a smile, "No, he didn't but I'm glad you're here. We've been short a detective. Where did you transfer from, Bianca?"
"Please call me Peach. My mama is the only one who calls me by my first name. But I just came from homicide and before that vice. Now I'm here."
"Are you sure special victims is where you want to be? Sounds like you might be more comfortable in violent crimes. The captain and I are friends, I can get you over there." Olivia suggested.
Peach shook her head smiling. "Nope, this is where I wanna be. One of my old partners is actually over in violent crimes, he just transferred there last week."
Olivia nodded blowing out some air. "Well then welcome to special victims. Let's go introduce you to everybody." Peach followed her out of the office to the squad room still smiling. She waited for Olivia to gather their attention. "Alright so we're no longer down a detective. This is Detective Bianca Parks."
"Hey, yall. Yall can just call me Peach. Everybody does."
"Sorry, I forgot," Olivia chuckled, "Peach, this is Detective Rollins and Officer Tamin but everyone calls her Kat. And that's Sargeant Fin Tuttuola but we just call him Fin."
Peach waved, "I know Kat already. But nice to meet you all."
Olivia looked between the women. "How do you two know each other?"
Kat spoke up smiling, "She moved up here when we were in high school I was her first friend. We lived in the same building."
"Yeah and we were in vice together for a little while," Peach added.
"Okay then well you have a familiar face and you won't mind being partners," Olivia said with a small smile, "Fin, it's your lucky day. You get your partner back."
Fin smiled proudly, "I like you already, Peach."
When Olivia went back to her office, Kat showed her friend to her desk and sat on the edge of it. The two of them talked until Rollins cleared her throat.
"What's up, Amanda?" Kat asked laughing.
"You're hogging the newbie, maybe me and Fin wanna get to know her too."
Kat put her hands up still laughing. "My bad, go head. Ask away."
"Why the name Peach?" Fin asked when Amanda didn't say anything. "Where'd that come from?"
"I moved up here from Georgia when I was teenager, had much more of an accent than I do now so everybody stated calling me that," she shrugged.
"That and she can put anybody on their ass within five seconds if they mess with her," Kat added ignoring her friend's playfully stare.
Amanda chuckled, "As little and cute as you are, you don't look like you'd hurt a fly, newbie."
Peach shrugged, "Yeah a lot of people think that until they put their hands on me. Just because I'm little don't undestimate me."
"Always the little ones you gotta look out for," Fin joked, "What part of Georgia are you from? Rollins is from Georgia too."
"Oh that's the accent I hear," she laughed, "I knew it was southern but I didn't think it was Georgia. I'm from Savannah. What part are you from, Amanda?"
"Cummings. A lot of people don't know where it is so it's just easier to say Atlanta."
Peach gave her a friendly smile, "I know exactly where that is. Might as well say it's Atlanta, it's like thirty minutes from it."
While they continued to talk and get to know their new detective, Olivia sat on the phone with Elliot. He called her discuss dinner plans, trying to figure out what Noah would like so he could make reservations.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you but did you get a new detective last week?" Olivia asked holding the phone to her ear and looking out her window at her detectives.
"I did. How'd you know?"
"Well I got a new detective today, I offered to get her in with you cause I thought she'd be a better fit there and she declined. She mentioned that an old partner transferred there."
Elliott chuckled. "And you wanna know who it is or you wanna know what I think about them? Is that it?"
"You know me so well. Both."
"His name is Amaro, Nick Amaro. He's a good guy, got a bit of a temper from what I glanced at in his jacket," Elliot explained with a hint of laughter, "But I like em. Reminds me of myself. Smart too."
"Amaro?"
"Yeah, Amaro. What's wrong?"
"This is how I know you didn't read his jacket," she laughed, "He was here a year or so ago. He was my partner after you."
"Did you like him?"
"Yeah, he's good at his job. He just let's his temper get ahead of him sometimes."
"I'll keep that in mind. So Italian tonight?"
Olivia started to answer but there was a knock at the door followed by Rollins poking her head in the door. "Yeah, Amanda?"
"Got a call from Mercy, they need us. Me and Fin can take it."
"Hold on, El," Olivia said into the phone, "Ummm, no. Let Kat and Peach take this one. You need to finish that paperwork, remember?"
Rollins nodded bowing out of the office going back to the desks, sitting back down at hers. "Alright newbie, you're up. Cap said for you and Kat to take this one."
"No problem with me. Let's go, Kat," Peach said enthusiastically getting up and putting her peacoat on, "Oh and Amanda?"
"Yeah?"
"Its Peach, not newbie." She corrected with a smile then followed Kat out.
The partners rode and talked on their way to the hospital. When they got inside, to the correct floor they went up to the nurses station. Both flashed their badges.
"Got a call. You guys need svu?" Kat asked politely.
The nurse nodded then came around the desk. "Some girls came in here with their friend a little while ago, said the girl passed out after complaining about abdominal pain."
"You suspect abuse?"
The nurse flagged the doctor down that was passing by, "She can explain it to you."
The doctor came over shaking their hands. "Dr. Barnes. I did an exam on her, her name is Alexandra James, she's 14. I found scarring, some old some new. And she was almost 12 weeks pregnant. The pain she was having was a miscarriage. There were traces of misoprostol in her blood. I talked to her friends, they're 14 and act like they have no idea what's going on. But they did say she hadn't taken any medicine at all."
"But you think otherwise? Isn't that a miscarriage drug?" Peach asked writing in her small notepad.
"Yes, it is. They're off. She should be awake now if you wanna talk to her," Dr. Barnes suggested, "Her friends are in with her. Waiting on her parents.
The detectives followed the doctor to the girl's room. The friends were huddled around her bed talking in hushed voices.
Dr. Barnes cleared her throat, "Girls, there are some detectives that want to speak with you."
"Girls, I'm Kat from special victims, why don't you three come with me to waiting room so we can talk? Give your friend some privacy."
Once they left the room, Peach pulled a chair up to the side of her bed a warm smile on her face. "Your name is Alexandra, right?"
The young girl nodded.
"My name is Peach, I'm a detective from special victims. I want you to tell me what you remember leading up to walking up here."
She said quietly before recounting her leaving her friend's house to go to the park, getting ice cream, walking back to her friends house but that was it.
"Did you eat anything else today? Something that might have tasted funny?"
She shrugged, "Nothing tasted funny. We had some pizza earlier, that was it besides breakfast at home this morning."
Peach nodded giving her full attention to the young girl. "And where did the pizza come from?"
"My friend, Whitney, her older brother, Stevie, works at a pizza place and he brought it for us."
"Okay. Did you know you were pregnant, Alexandria?"
She looked horrified, "No...I wasn't."
"You were almost 12 weeks, that's where the pain you were having came from. You had a miscarriage, if you didn't take it then someone have you drugs to bring it on. They found it on your lab work." Peach paused to search her face for a reaction. "When the doctor examined you, she said there was some scarring. So whoever the father was, has been around for a little while."
Alexandra turned away from her in the hospital bed. "I don't wanna talk about this. I want you to leave."
"I'm here to help you, sweetheart. To get whoever it is that's doing this to you to stop and put them in jail."
"Please just go," she cried.
Peach stood from her chair and slid one of Kat's cards onto the stand beside her hospital bed after she wrote her number on the back. "Listen, I'm gonna go but I left my number beside your bed. If you wanna talk, you call me. Doesn't matter what you wanna talk about or the time. Call me."
She waited a few minutes before leaving the room in search of her partner. She stopped Kat talking to, who she assumed to be the parents, and went to stand beside her, listening to them. Kat gave them her card before they walked away.
"Get anywhere with Alexandra?" Kat asked softly.
"Whoever it is, she knows them and she's terrified of them. What about you?"
"The doctor was right, something isn't right about the friends. I don't know what but they're hiding something."
"And the parents?"
Kat whistled, "Pissed is an understatement. Especially the dad. They wanted to know who but of course, we don't have that. Have their address so we could come talk to her again when she gets out."
"Well while we wait, let's go do some digging."
"Where to?"
"The pizza place the friend's brother works at."
-------
Olivia left the office early leaving Fin in charge so she could pick Noah up and meet Elliot for dinner. When they got to the restaurant, Elliot was already at the table waiting for them. He stood to get them.
"Hey, Liv. Noah," he smiled, "Thought you two stood me up."
"Mom had to go back home and change her shoes." Noah explained hugging the older man.
Elliot chuckled a little and helped Olivia into her seat before sitting back down. "Well I'm just glad you're here. How was your day, Liv?"
"It wasn't as hectic as its been since we're not short handed anymore. Yours," she asked looking over the menu.
"It was alright. We're all still getting used to each other but no fighting or yelling so I'm happy."
Olivia glanced up at him briefly a smile on her face, "And Amaro?"
"Pretty good. I can tell he's spent time with you in interrogation."
"He stealing my moves? Is that what you're saying?" She laughed.
Elliot laughed nodding his head. "That's exactly what I'm saying. But it's not a bad thing. He got the confession. How's your new detective?"
"Good to hear. Peach is good. She's probably the shortest detective I've ever seen and so bubbly. I wasn't sure how she'd fit so I called her previous commanding officers."
"And? What'd they say?"
"Gave her nothing but praise. Apparently she's very good at her job."
"Well that's a good thing then, you don't have anything to worry about." Elliot assured her. "See something that looks good, Noah?"
Noah nodded, "Yeah, I wanna get spaghetti with meatballs."
"Sounds good. Think I'm gonna get a ribye with some fettuccine alfredo on the side."
Noah nodded and turned to his mom, "What are you gonna get?"
"Hmmm...I am gonna get," she paused hearing her phone ring, "Looks like I'm getting my phone. One second, promise it won't take long." Getting her phone from her pocket, she saw it was Carisi and answered. "Yes, Carisi?"
"Sorry to bother you, Captain but Rollins never brought the paperwork and I need it for arraignment in the morning. I can't get ahold of her."
"Just go by the squad. She's probably still working on it and turned off her phone."
"Alright, headed there now."
"Okay and call me back if she's not there, Carisi." After hanging up her phone and putting it into her purse, she looked up to find both males staring at her. "I put it away. No more interruptions."
"Promise?" Noah asked.
"Promise, buddy."
Elliot smiled watching them. "Hey, why don't you go see if you can find us a waitress, buddy. I think we're ready."
Noah made sure it was okay with his mom then got up from the table in search of a waitress. Elliot stared intently at Olivia, a small smile on her face making her laugh nervously.
"Why are you staring at me, El?"
"How old did you say he was again?"
"He's ten."
"And adopted is it?"
Olivia nodded slowly, "Yeah, I've told you the story."
Elliot glanced to see Noah still looking around. "You told me the wrong story, you told me the story you told everyone else."
Olivia frowned, "I don't understand what you're getting at."
"He's coming now but you know what I'm talking about and we'll talk about it later."
Sitting back in her seat, Olivia's mind wondered through many thoughts and all the scenarios she had run in her head over the years. She wasn't sure if she was ready to bring that all out.
-----
Carisi walked into the precinct frowning and looking around. "Rollins, where is she?"
Peach looked up from her computer and got up smiling. She walked around her desk to approach him. "She's not here. Tell me what you need and maybe I can help you."
Carisi stared down at the little woman in front of him, "Uuuh ... you are?"
Peach held out her hand, "Detective Barnes but call me Peach. You?"
Carisi shook her hand managing a small smile through his frustration. "The new detective I take it, nice to meet you. Dominic Carisi, ADA. Call me Sonny."
"Okay so what do you need, Sonny?"
"I need the paperwork Rollins was supposed to finish but she's not here so," he explained throwing his hands up.
Peach went over to Rollins' desks and opened a few drawers, "Umm she mentioned leaving it in one of these drawers before she rushed out. Just gotta find the right one."
Carisi nodded going to lean against Fin's empty desk watching her. "Where's Fin and Kat?"
"Fin is gone for the day, he got bored. And Kat has a date so I volunteered to stay till 8." Peach explained still bent over looking in the drawers.
"Sounds like Fin. You close to getting outta here then?"
"Yep, I am," Peach stood up straight with the file in her hand, "Found it! Here you go."
Carisi met her halfway, letting out a sigh of relief. "I could kiss you, thank you. You just saved my ass in court."
Peach laughed, "Nicest new yorker I've ever met. I think a hug would suffice."
Carisi laughed looking down at her. "I take that as a compliment. How are you getting home?"
"Subway then I'm gonna walk the rest of the way. I didn't drive today, didn't expect to be out this late."
"Well since you helped me out, I'll help you out," Carisi smiled, "Come on, I'll take you home."
Peach shook her head going back to her desk. "You don't have to do that, I'm fine with the subway and walking."
"I can't in good conscience let you do that, it's late and dark. I don't mind. Come on."
"Really, Sonny, you don't have to. I'm fine."
Carisi stared at her smiling. "You're not gonna win this, I argue for a living. Grab your stuff and come on."
Laughing softly, Peach pulled her peacoat on then grabbed her purse and hat from her desk drawer. "Fine, fine, I'll let you take me home but before you do, I have a question."
"Okay, shoot."
"Its not cause I'm short and you think I can't protect myself. Right?"
"Right. It wouldn't matter if you were 6 feet tall, you're still a woman. I couldn't sleep knowing I let you go out there by yourself when I could've taken you home. That's it."
Nodding, Peach followed him out and they made small talk and she told him where she lived. As they were riding in his SUV, his phone rung and Rollins name popped up on his radio screen.
"Now she calls," he complained answering the phone, "Yeah, Rollins?"
"Hey, sorry I missed your call. What's up?"
"What's up?" He repeated sarcastically, "Did you forget about the paperwork i needed from you?"
"Oh shoot, Carisi. I'm sorry. But I did finish it, it's in my desk, I'll bring it in the morning."
"No need, Rollins. I've got it."
Rollins let out a sigh of relief, "Oh thank God. I'm sorry you had to go all the way to the precinct and then go through my junk drawers."
"No need for that, I didn't look for it. Peach got it for me."
"Oh well good then. You got plans tonight?"
Carisi looked over at Peach, who smiled at him, then back to the road. "Kinda yeah. What do you need?"
"Just wanted to see if you wanted to come over and make dinner for the girls."
"Nah, not tonight, Amanda. It would be close to ten by the time I got there."
She hummed in response. "What are you doing?"
"Giving Peach a ride home then I don't know but either way it would still be too late."
"Oh ... okay then. Get newbie home safe and call me out something when you get home, Carisi."
Hurrying to hang the phone up, he glanced over at Peach again. "You're not smiling anymore."
"Nope, I'm not."
"Why's that?"
"I told her earlier to stop calling me newbie and she's still doing it. Are you and her together? She didn't sound too happy about you taking me home."
He shook his head a small frown on his face. "No, never. She can't cook and she doesn't like to be there alone."
Peach nodded, "From the south and can't cook, that's a shame. What are your plans for tonight anyway?"
"Go through some paperwork, have some dinner and a beer. That's about it. You?'
"Depends on how Kat's date goes. If it goes good then catch up on my shows over dinner, if it goes bad then dinner and annoy her."
Thirty minutes later, Carisi pulled up to her building then killed his engine and took his seat belt off.
"Where you going?" She asked laughing.
"I'm walking you up. Come on."
"You don't have to do that, Sonny. This was enough."
"Aren't you southerners all about hospitality? Let me do this."
Peach laughed, "Fine. Since you're being hospitable come on and open my door."
"Yes ma'am," he chuckled getting out going to her side, open her door and helped her out, "After you."
6 notes · View notes
dorkzilla-exe · 4 years
Text
Zim, Dib, and Seven Smeets
A ZaDr series: Ep 1, Hatching Day
Dib: Zim, will you come down.
Zim: *sitting on top of the fridge* DO NOT DISTURB ME WHILE I'M IN MY PANIC SPOT!
Dib: Im just-
Zim: *crying* DIBBERSON, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE!
Dib: you said that an hour ago, I've got everything set up for the celebration, so at least be down before 3, ok?
Zim: wait, you did the decorating? You did EVERYTHING?! ON YOUR OWN?!
Dib: *smiles sinisterly* yes, yes I did, all on my own, probably made some mistakes in color arrangement-
Zim: LET ME SEE! YOU BETTER NOT HAVE MESSED ANYTHING UP!! *jumps down from the fridge and scurries into the living room*
Dib: works every time...
Zim: Dib, you didn't actually mess any of the decorations!?
Dib: I studied hard when you were decorating for Gaz's birthday, so I applied your decoration tactics to this room and... well... ta-daa!
Zim: you really are amazing, Dib. You know that, right?
Dib: I got the hint the day you gave me a ring-pop and asked for my hand in marriage.
Zim: I swear I didn't know it was candy, the person who sold it to me said it was worth 5,000$ and would sell it to me for 4,900...
Dib: I really didn't care about being proposed to with a candy ring, a ring is a ring to me, wether it's candy or not. Although, it is very concerning how someone managed to sell you a ring-pop for that much.
Zim: don't remind me...
Dib: would you believe me when I say I still have it?
Zim: no, I actually wouldn't.
Dib: well I do, I had it dipped in resin so it wouldn't deteriorate.
Zim: wow, how have I not noticed it?
Dib: remember that box I where keep stuff like pendants and pins? That's where the ring is.
Zim: that's sweet.
Dib: wait a minute, I just remembered we've got one more thing to do...
Zim: The Smeet's play-pen! We've gotta decorate that! Get the streamers! I've got some decorating to do!
[About an hour later]
Dib: alright, living room decorated, snacks and cake ready, little gift bags customized for every guest, flowers and other table decorations, and Zim's in the play-pen with the eggs. We are ready for the guests to arrive and it isn't even-
[Knocking from the front door]
Dib: right on cue, must be dad cause he's been early to ever other party. *answers the door* hey- uh...
Tallest Red: hello there, you must be Dib
Tallest Purple: How has Zim been? We haven't heard too much from him since he layed the eggs.
Dib: uhhhh... Hi I'm Dib Membrane, Zim's husband. Zim's been doing wonderfully, aside from the random anxiety attacks and his weekends of depression. Please come in! We have plenty of Irken friendly food and drinks ready, but remember to save some for the other guests. You two apparently aren't the only alien guests on our list.
Tallest Red: Thank you Mr. Membrane, we appreciate your hospitality. *enters with Tallest Purple*
Zim: My Tallest! I didn't expect you to be here until 10 minutes later.
Tallest Purple: see, I told you we were too early!
Tallest Red: EUGH, we could've brought the little ones Paks...
Dib: actually, we already thought of that. My Dad works at Membrane labs and designed him "Membrane Paks". They are designed to make it easier for them to identify us in a crowd, immediately begin healing if injured, ward off any diseases and illnesses, higher pain tolerance, and give them a longer life.
Zim: the only major differences are the Designs and application process. Instead of implanting electonics in abruptly, we will apply them more delicately, carefully and less painfully.
Tallest Red: hmm, I see, it would also be much easier to identify them if they ever decided to work for the Irken Empire.
Zim: i mean, you're not wrong. But I also invited here to ask for permission to retire.
Tallest Purple: retire?
Tallest Red: eumm... sure? Why not?
[1 hour later]
Dib: Dad, Gaz, the tallest, Skoodge, Tak, Tenn, Keef, Z, Zita, Clembrane, Prisinor 777 and his kids.
Dib: that seems to be about everyone, all we're missing are-
Anne: *annoyingly beating on Dib's Door* DIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIBDIB!
Dib: Anne and Flish...
Dib: *opens the door, making Anne fall into the house*
Anne: Crikey, you've grown! You're 'bout as tall as Flishey now!
Flish: howdy, Dib. Sorry we couldn't make it to yer wedding last year.
Dib: it's ok, come on in you two.
Tallest Purple: oh yeah... we banished HER here too...
Tallest Red: I feel like Zim isn't our biggest concern anymore.
Anne: My Tallest! It's been YEARS! how've ya been!
Tallest Purple: good~
Anne: *gasp* OH MY GOSH! The eggs! Aw, they're absolutely precious! Zim, you oughta call yourself lucky! 'Lotta Irkens can't lay eggs y'know.
Zim: eheh, I know. Which is why I didn't fully expect it.
Dib: you should've seen him, he cried his eyes out the whole time and more.
Flish: Heha! sounds like Zim a'right. But don'cha get all concerned and stuff. It's completely normal to cry during egg laying. Er, from what I've heard at least.
Dib: it's official, everyone's here.
Tallest Purple: great!... Now what?
Dib: Um, we talk.
Tallest Purple: sounds boring.
Gaz: I have Videogames.
Tallest Purple: Ooo, sounds intriguing! What do you do?
Professor Membrane: son, may I speak with you for a moment?
Dib: sure.
Professor Membrane: let's go into the other room, ok.
Dib: *nods and walks into the bedroom*
Professor Membrane: something is wrong and I can tell.
Dib: *walks over to the bad, grabs a pillow, and screams in it*
Professor Membrane: I know your stressed, but everything will be just fine. I'm sure you and Zim will be great-
Dib: But what if we arent?! I work weekends at a coffee shop and Zim works at a clothing store in a mall. We can't provide for SEVEN babies! It took a lot of saving to get this party set up! I rarely get any tips and the one tip I got last weekend was from Gaz and it was a penny.
Professor Membrane: Ok, now that's just sad.
Dib: I don't know what to do! It's hard for me to get a different job, a barista was the closest I could do because I apparently make really good lattes. *sob*
Professor Membrane: have you ever considered working with me in the labs? You already know everyone there and know the place well. Plus, I could adjust your schedule so you don't have to come every day and you get paid just for being there.
Dib: you'd do that for me?
Professor Membrane: of course! You really do need the money, I could have you work as a lab assistant, but that's a little dangerous. I could put you in the mailing room? Or-
Dib: what about food service? I can cook, I can make coffee, tea, and plenty of different desserts.
Professor Membrane: that's a wonderful idea! I could make you work down at the cafeteria so your talent isn't wasted on Lattes!
Dib: Consider me hired! Ill be there tomorrow evening-
Professor Membrane: no no, you should stay home for a few days.
Dib: but dad, I-
Professor Membrane: Dibberson, I know you want to help out as soon as you can, but right now, Zim and your children need you here. Besides, it's hard to bond with a child while you're away, right?
Dib: I guess it is.
Anne: *Bursts through the door* Dib! It's about to happen! One of the eggs moved!
Dib: bwha?! Already?! I didn't think it would be this early! *runs to the living room*
Zim: Dib! There you are! Hurry over here, you don't want to miss this!
Dib: *looks over the pen* which one moved?
Zim: This one right here. *puts egg in lap*
Dib: When will they-
Zim: any moment now...
Dib: *puts hand on egg, feeling for any movement*
Zim: Dib, can I admit something before they hatch?
Dib: go ahead.
Zim: I knew about the eggs since the first day they began developing.
Dib: wanna know something? The 4 months before I helped you with the eggs, I was suspicious that you might've been pregnant. I was kinda right.
Zim: yes, yes you were. AH! DIB, IT'S HATCHING!
Dib: *removes hand, watching both the eggs hatch and his family grow before his eyes*
Zim: thank you, Dib
Dib: hm?
Zim: thank you for everything. I'll love you forever and on.
Dib: *pure panic* wait, you dont die after the eggs hatch, do you?
Zim: No, no I don't, but I'll love you longer than you'll ever know. And that's a promise.
From then and on, Zib and Dib lived a happy and eventful life with 7 beautiful Human-Irken Smeets.
The End
Zim: Or is it?
Dib: Not really, but for now, yes.
20 notes · View notes
ma-gic-gay · 3 years
Note
For some reason, Michael had been a lot more controlled lately.
He was hiding what he felt, never really showing emotion unless it was anxiety about Brook Lynn or happiness around Willow. Sometimes, of course, he'd show emotion but not normally.
The gym was the only place he really let out all his anger, as always, but lately he'd been punching the bag harder, working out more intensely. Maybe it was because he was trying to get into shape, but Michael was already in great shape. So maybe it had something to do with the fact him and Willow were getting an annulment and he hadn't done anything to try and stop it from happening. For God's sakes, he'd suggested it, thinking Willow needed to hear she had an option.
Dante was right. He is an idiot. Suggesting that him and his wife - the woman he's in love with - get an annulment may have been the stupidest thing he's ever done, and he killed someone, kept a kid away from his dad, and did a lot of other morally questionable things in his life.
Willow knew all of this and still spoke his praises. She still told him he was a good person, that he's different than he was when he kept his little sister from his dad, or killed Claudia. She thought he was amazing for changing his life around, told him she was a different person back then too. People evolve and grow, she said, and so whatever you've done in the past, it doesn't reflect on who you are now.
They met, and then he fell. It was slow, him falling for Willow. At first, it was just a friendly face at their support group. Eventually, though, it became more than just friendship. It became a marriage, a marriage built upon love for their son and keeping him safe, a marriage built upon truth and honesty in the face of dishonesty and lies that Sasha and Chase had told them. When they got married, that was their promise. No lies, never. Lies complicate everything too much, make it easier to fall into what Chase and Sasha did.
She was way, way out of his league and he knew it too. Willow was a genuinely good person, who had always been honest and kind. Not to mention, drop dead gorgeous. So that probably had something to do with the fact Michael was skirting around the one rule of their marriage and not telling her he loved her. But she hadn't asked, so technically he wasn't lying to her, just holding back the truth.
Thinking about he suggested the annulment, Michael punches the punching bag harder. All of his anger starts to leave as he punches harder and harder.
And then Chase and Sasha walk in the gym for their workouts, talking about something. The punches hit an abrupt stop when he notices them, but the anger that just left comes back tenfold. Sasha smiles at him, but there's something off about her in general. It's probably just the breakup.
"I just realized, I forgot my phone at the Metro Court. I'm gonna go back there," Sasha says, backing away.
When she leaves, Chase is still there. "It's been a while," he breaks the silence.
"Yeah, it has been," Michael agrees, frowning at him.
"If you want, I can come back later, or we can work out together," Chase offers.
Michael ponders the offer for a minute. He either gets a workout partner or ends up keeping someone from the gym. "Yeah, sure, we can workout together."
A few minutes into their workout, Chase brings up Willow. Before that, the conversation had been all about sports and stuff like that, easy conversation. "For whatever it's worth, Michael, Sasha and I never meant to hurt you or Willow."
"Well, you did. Regardless of intent, you both cheated on people you supposedly loved," Michael says, punching the mitts harder.
"I do love her, Michael, you've got to believe me on that," Chase tells him. "That's why Sasha and I didn't want to tell either of you, we didn't want to break your hearts."
"You don't love her if you can break her heart, Chase! If you could cheat on her, if you could want another woman, you don't love or deserve Willow. She loved you with every fiber of her being, and you broke that. You broke something precious," Michael says to him, feeling a sense of relief as the words leave his mouth. "And I know that will never happen again."
Chase looks confused. "Michael, I love her so much. It kills me to see that she's not with me, to know that I broke her heart and that she's moving on with you, who I considered to be my best friend."
Huh? They've only kissed once, and Michael doesn't think Chase knows about that. "What happens with Willow and I hasn't been your business for a long time and it still isn't, but I want you to elaborate."
"You- maybe it's her that's in love with you, I don't know, but I can tell one of you is in love with each other, at least," Chase says as his phone rings. He steps away to answer it.
It's possible Willow's in love with him too? Michael had been in his head so much, maybe he didn't see what was right in front of him.
"Look, I hate to put a stop to our workout, but I've got a work thing. I'll see you later maybe," Chase leaves the gym.
Jason walks in, confused by what's going on with his nephew. "Why do you have that look on your face, Michael? What happened? Is Willow alright, Wiley? Your mom?"
"Jason, everyone's fine. It's just something Chase said about Willow and I, that's all," Michael reassures him.
"You only get that look on your face when you noticed something great or terrible happened, so what great thing happened to you?" Jason asks.
Michael smiles, "Chase said that apparently Willow's in love with me."
Confused further, Jason asks, "Are him and Willow close enough where they talk about who they're in love with now? Because the last I knew, Chase was in love with Willow and she was in love with him and you two were getting an annulment and you were in love with Sasha."
"I can't believe I forgot to tell you! Sasha, she was great, but I'm not in love with her anymore. The longer I spend thinking about Sasha and I, we weren't going to last long term. As much as I loved her, and I did, I don't feel that anymore."
Smiling at his nephew, the assassin asks, "But you and Willow?"
"We're married. I'm married to a woman who is incredibly out of my league and adopting my son. I-I love my wife, Jason. I love Willow," Michael smiles.
Jason pulls him in for a hug, saying, "I think you two make a lovely pair, especially if she makes you this happy. You're smiling wider than you have since you won custody of Wiley. Do you want my advice?"
"I'd be dead if I didn't take your advice," Michael truthfully tells his uncle. "So yes, I'll take it."
"Tell her how you feel before the annulment, Michael, please. You do this thing, I do it too, where you wait to say what you feel or you don't say it because you're afraid of what you could do if you actually said what you feel. Let down your guard and tell Willow the entire truth, nothing left unsaid between you two," Jason advises his nephew.
"When do you think I should tell her? Should I set something up like a date thing or-" Michael starts, anxiety creeping up into his voice.
"I think you need to breathe deeply for a few minutes and be calm," Jason emphasizes his breathing, "but I also think you should just tell her. Don't stress out so much or overthink it, because overthinking messes things up. If you tell her, honestly, how you feel, let her respond, you'll be okay."
"And if she doesn't love me back?" Michael asks anxiously, starting to stutter.
"I doubt she doesn't love you, Michael," Jason tries to assure him, "but if she doesn't, we'll cross that bridge when we reach it, and you're getting an annulment anyways."
Michael breathes, letting his anxiety leave. "Alright. I'm gonna go get cleaned up, I'll tell her when I get home."
"I'll leave you to it," Jason says, leaving the gym as Michael showers.
Arriving at the Quartermaine mansion, Michael can tell something's up. Opening the door, he sees Chase. In his home. Talking to Willow, who Michael can tell isn't in the mood but is also intrigued.
Chase leans in to kiss her, their lips connecting briefly as the door closes behind Michael and he doesn't, turning his head abruptly. "Hi again," Chase says awkwardly.
Calming himself, Michael asks, "Why are you in my home kissing my wife?"
Willow walks over to her husband, glancing at Chase fleetingly. "I can explain," Chase stands, eyes following Willow.
"Then please explain what inspired you to come into my house, which is very out of your way, and kiss my wife. I'm sure it'll be enlightening," Michael responds.
"I was just talking to her and realized that she loves me as much as I love her so I kissed her," Chase smiles, getting a pair of glares in return from the married couple, who don't seem to agree with what he said, especially Willow.
Michael looks at Willow, who looks visibly upset and anxious, as he says, "You tell me an hour ago you think she loves me, then you come to my house and kiss my wife, who you cheated on, by the way, and somehow think you're justified? Chase, you're playing mind games is all you're doing."
"When I said she loves you, I was wrong. I know, in my heart, that Willow and I will be together," Chase smiles again. "So I kissed her."
Anger takes over Michael as he fights for controlling it, suppressing it until he can get to the gym but he can't hold back anymore as he shouts, "Do you think, truly, that if she loved you she wouldn't tell you? You broke her heart, and yet you're justified in kissing her because you can rationalize anything, can't you, Detective?"
Willow looks at Michael, confused, as she's never seen him like this before. However, his rant continues. "When we found out you two had cheated on us, I told you that I wasn't going to let someone treat her like that ever again, and I'm still not. Everything I said to you that day was completely true, so leave my house before I do something you'll regret."
"What did I do here to make you so angry?" Chase asks calmly as Dante walks downstairs.
"You think this is just you kissing her, Chase? You broke everyone's heart, even your own, and now you're trying to escape taking any responsibility whatsoever for your actions by kissing my wife, because you can't move on!"
Dante tries to intervene, standing between the two as Michael still yells, "I can't believe you act like this now but an hour ago you were convinced that she loved me. Chase, I love Willow, and I'm her husband, so it's my job to make you realize that you need to get out of my house before I do something we'll both regret!"
Willow looks at Michael, pulling him out of his anger and into a soft face he makes around her. "You love me?" She asks, a small smile playing on her lips.
"This isn't how I intended to tell you, but yes, I love you, Willow. I had a speech to go with that too, but life doesn't always work out how it's planned," Michael says, smiling at her. "But if you don't feel that way back, then of course we'll just forge-"
She cuts off his anxious ramblings by kissing him, the pair melting into the kiss that felt perfectly right. When they pull apart, she smiles widely at him. "I love you back," as they kiss again.
"What the hell, Michael?" Chase asks, ruining the sweet moment for the two. "You're supposed to be my best friend."
"And you were supposed to leave my house," Michael's voice is at an icy level, one that could explode at any second if tempted to. "So leave before I have a guard throw you out."
Dante smiles at his little brother as he addresses Chase, "Leave dude. It's clear you're not getting her back."
"I can't believe this. Willow, you know that he's just your rebound. You don't love him, you're going to come back to me," Chase says.
Michael, unable to deal with this anymore, serves a strong right hook to Chase's head area. Jason taught him how to punch and how to take a punch when he was in high school, Michael's pretty good at it by now. "That was on purpose and assaulting a police officer!" Chase shouts at him. "You're under arrest for assaulting a police officer. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you."
"Chase, stop! Don't arrest him because you're mad at me," Willow pleads, looking upset. "Please."
Looking at Willow, Chase takes Michael and handcuffs him. "No."
The ride to the police station is absolutely silent, Michael angry and happy at the same time about Willow loving him back but him being arrested for punching Chase.
When he's being processed, Michael's allowed to make his two phone calls they allow and calls Willow. "Michael? Are you okay, did Chase hurt you? Have they detained you yet, or processed you fully?" She anxiously asks, sounding just like any wife would when her husband gets arrested. Michael can't help but chuckle quietly. "Why are you laughing?"
"Willow, I'm fine. I need to be bailed out, but I'm absolutely fine. No one hurt me and I'm being processed again but I'm not injured except for my ego. You sound so much like my mom everytime my dad or Jason gets arrested right now, it's funny."
"It's stressful having your husband in jail for punching a cop!" Willow laughs back. "How much is bail?"
"Bail is $1,000. I wanted to let you know I'm okay, but I'm gonna call Jason for bail money. He's been through this before and won't be as much of a stressed out mess as you," Michael tells her, smiling.
"I can handle bailing you out, but you're right, I'd be too stressed. I'll meet you at the station, though, and hopefully you'll be out as I'm there," Willow chuckles with her husband. "Alright, well I'm not gonna keep you any longer. Go call Jason."
"I love you," Michael smiles as a way to end the call.
"I love you too," Willow says as she hangs up the phone and he swears, he can hear her smile through the phone as he dials Jason.
"Jason Morgan," he answers the call.
"It's Michael. I'm at the station and need $1,000 for bail money because I punched Chase. Can you bail me out and not tell my mother?" Michael asks.
"Why the hell did you punch Chase?" Jason asks him.
"He kissed Willow and started saying she was in love with him, even after she said she's in love with me and we kissed again, twice," Michael smiles again, thinking about the kisses.
Jason sighs. "I'll be there in twenty minutes. Should I be expecting to see your wife there, pacing?"
"Probably not. She's going to be here, but I don't think she'll be here for a few minutes after I get bailed out. Are you telling my mother about this?" Michael asks again.
"I'm not dealing with Carly finding out you got arrested. You can."
"Thanks, Jason. I'll see you soon."
The twenty minutes pass and Chase continues booking him in, taking pleasure in it. It's sad how what was once a beautiful friendship is now so pathetic that he's booking him into a jail cell.
Bail is given, and Michael gets out roughly fourth minutes later, being uncuffed and getting his cell phone and wallet back. Willow isn't there yet, but Jason is and looks like he's trying not to laugh as he hugs his nephew. "Michael, your parents and I have always told you to follow the law. A part of the law is not punching police officers," he says in a fake stern voice. "You're so lucky that they didn't have to call Carly or she would've been down here raising hell and you'd be either let go free of all charges or she'd be in jail too by now."
"I know. Mom's not exactly silent about her beliefs," Michael smiles as their hug ends.
Willow runs into the station, clearly stressed but holding it together as she runs to him. "You're okay? Nothing happened? Did Chase drop the charges?"
Michael hugs his wife, glancing at Jason in his happy moment. "Willow, look at me. I'm fine. Nothing happened to me and Chase agreed to drop the charges because it's a first offense. All that's been injured is my ego."
Smiling at the sight in front of him, Jason says, "I think that it's safe to say this is a sign you're really married now, she's worried you got hurt in your short jail stay."
"Hey, we've been married for months!" Willow objects, chuckling as Dante walks in casually with Wiley in a stroller.
Dante greets the staff he knows and says to Wiley, "See Daddy? He did a bad thing to Chase and now he had to get bailed out. But it looks like him and Mommy are finally admitting they love each other, so something good happened."
"Uncle Dante is a little bit too excited to see me bailed out, isn't he, Wiley?" Michael asks, pulling apart from his hug with Willow to take his son from Dante.
"Yes, I am, little brother. If you weren't an idiot, we wouldn't be in this situation," Dante cheekily responds. "As cute as this moment is, I'm going to leave you two to it and go do something else. Jason, Carly needs us for something. I will be telling her that you got arrested, Michael."
Michael glares at his brother while he leaves the station. "Great, now my mother's going to be mad at me too."
"I'm not mad at you," Willow tells him, smiling. "I think he deserved it and abused his power. And I think Mr. Wiley agrees with me."
"I think Wiley would have to agree with me as well that he's got the greatest mommy in the entire universe," Michael smiles at her.
"Greatest parents," Willow corrects him, kissing him again. "You don't give yourself enough credit."
Their family leaves the station together, laughing.
aH
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