I'll try to keep it updated as much as possible, but I tend to post on AO3 first, so don't be afraid to check it out !
There will be AU's, pre-movie & post-movie fics, drabbles and maybe some series.
Requests are opened and welcomed !
Used to it
Being Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's daughter was not an easy life.
Don't mess with the Storm
Sometimes, Cyclone could live up to his call sign. Especially when it concerned you, his youngest daughter, his little Storm.
Perseus and Andromeda
Javy's not a big fan of night clubs but someone turns his evening for the better.
Evil Twin
Who would have guessed that sweet and discreet Bob had a twin sister who was his opposite ?
Not the Dagger Squad, that's for sure.
Ink and Smoke
Reuben’s wife wants to play matchmakers with Bob. It usually fails until the whole squad has a tattoo appointment.
Perseus and Andromeda | Javy "Coyote" Machado x Reader
Summary : Javy's not a big fan of night clubs, and yet he agreed to accompany his cousin for her birthday. When all seems too much for him, someone turns his evening for the better.
TW : mention of alcohol, slight panic attack, fluff
Length : 3223 words
AN : That man doesn't have enough works about him.
EDIT - I changed the part of the text where you appear from the third person to the second person because it seemed more immersive and consistent with my other writing ! Enjoy !
I'll maybe turn this one into a series, who knows.
posted on AO3 October 13, 2023 - edited August 18, 2025
Javy has never been the type to go clubbing or partying too much, despite what everyone seemed to think. He much preferred a quiet evening with his buddies over a few beers and pizzas, watching a game or a good action movie. The comfort of his home was something he always yearned for when he was out for more than a few hours. Especially since he was permanently stationed in San Diego, his apartment was truly a home, not just a house. He had even adopted a cat from a shelter; an old one named Gizmo.
His friends, especially Jake, never seemed to understand why he didn't like to stay out late, even on weekends. He didn’t have a girlfriend, he was barely thirty, and his outgoing personality seemed to categorize him as someone who liked to go out and seduce, like his friend Jake. Sure, he liked to flirt and go out once in a while, but he liked the coziness of his own home even more. The only ones in the squadron who seemed to understand and who did not tease him about it were Bob, because of his more reserved and introverted nature, and Bradley, who always claimed he was getting too old to go out every weekend.
And yet here he was, in the middle of a nightclub.
Under pressure from his aunt, he had no choice but to be a chaperone for his little cousin Ava, who was celebrating her twenty-fifth birthday. She decided to visit him at the last minute and celebrate with her friends in a well renowned club. Ava was sweet, but also a real party girl. She loved to go out, dance and drink the night away. The last time she dragged Javy to a party, he remembered waking up with the worst headache of his life, so he promised himself not to let her make him drink. Also, as Javy didn't want to be alone with his cousin and her three best friends, he managed to bring Jake, Rebeun and Mickey with him. Unfortunately for him, the three boys enjoyed the party with the girls, leaving him alone with his drink at the bar.
For what seemed like the hundredth time, he looked down at his phone to check the time. Not even ten minutes had passed since he had last checked. The music was way too loud, the lights were starting to hurt his eyes, but he had to stay at least four hours, if not five, knowing Ava. He loved her for sure, but being here was torture for him. He sighed again and ordered a soda to the bartender, keeping an eye on his baby cousin and her friends.
The atmosphere of nightclubs always made him feel that nothing was real, that everything was fogged in a cloud of alcohol, sweat and uncomfortable heat. He was not uncomfortable per se, but he was not in his element either ; so, he always preferred to stay at the bar, like a ship anchored in a harbor. But tonight Ava seemed to have decided he wasn't going to stand by and watch. It was all right if he didn't drink, but she wasn't going to let him stand by the bar like some kind of security guard.
"Come on Javy, it's my birthday," she whined, "just one dance, please!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him - with great difficulty - to the dance floor.
"Yeah Coyote, loosen up a little," Mickey encouraged with a big grin as he danced with one of Ava's friends who giggled in his arms. The taller man groaned, not very comfortable in the crowd Ava had pushed him into. He sighed as she used her puppy dog eyes to get him to dance with her.
"Just one dance, Ava. Just. One." He reminded her, holding up a finger. She chuckled as she nodded, a mischievous look in her eyes. Javy sighed and started to dance with her and the others, Jake encouraging him with Reuben. One dance became two, then three, then four... until he lost count. He was kind of stuck in the middle of the dance floor anyway.
As the minutes and hours passed, Javy had this strange feeling, as if between dream and reality, this gray area where everything seemed unreal and suspended. He knew the music was still loud around him, but he could barely hear it. He felt like he was in absorbent cotton, like after a flight with a high G-force. It wasn't a pleasant or unpleasant sensation, just strange, as if time was passing in a different way. He looked around to spot his friends in the crowd; Mickey was still with Ava's friend, Jake was flirting with an unknown blonde, and Reuben was dancing with Ava and her other friends. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and Ava waved and smiled at Javy, gesturing for him to join her. He shook his head and mouthed that he was going back to the bar. Ava pouted, but then shrugged her shoulders with a grin, already happy to have trapped him into dancing with them for almost two hours.
He closed his eyes for a moment to ground himself, but it didn't seem to work. He needed to get some air, to breathe. But every time he tried to take a few steps, he was blocked. So he stayed a little longer with his friends and Ava. The young woman seemed to be having the time of her life, dancing with her friends and then with Jake or Reuben, strangers or Javy. It reassured him to see her so happy and still in full possession of her senses.
But a feeling of anxiety slowly crept over him. He hated being stuck between so many strangers. His impression of being in cotton was replaced by a feeling of hypersensitivity to the sounds, heat and movements around him. Fatigue didn't help him control the situation. He tried again to make his way through the drunken, dancing crowd. He forced his way through, his eyes fixed on the door to the smoking area. He didn't smoke, but it was the only way to get in and out quickly and safely. He moved forward one by one, apologizing as he went, slipping between people as best he could, avoiding the sticky couples, his gaze always straight ahead. He moved faster and faster as he reached the end of the crowd. When he finally reached the door, it swung open in front of him, stopping him dead in his tracks.
There you were, as surprised as him. He didn’t know you but your face was familiar.
Javy's ears were ringing and he couldn't hear anything coherent between the music, his own brain telling him to hurry. You seemed to be talking to him but he couldn’t hear a thing. His own breathing seemed far too loud, and he could even hear his heart beating in his ears. Your eyes were filled with concern as you recognized Javy's anxious, almost panicked look. And when you gently grabbed his forearm, everything in the pilot's mind seemed to calm down.
"Are you okay?" you asked. You almost whispered, trying to be as soft and reassuring as you could, and Javy as listened to you everything seemed to fade away behind him. He blinked a few times before answering.
"Y-Yeah... I, uh, I just need some air, I think..." he stuttered a little. You nodded and let him through the door. You joined him on the small bench. Javy was surprised that there was no one in this smoking area, but it was kind of relieving. He took a moment to simply breathe. He had experienced a panic attack in the past, but he didn't think he could have one just by coming to a club.
"So... what's your name?" you asked softly, looking at the stars above the two of you.
"Javy... you?"
You smiled at him as you gave him your name and turned to him, "are you feeling better Javy?"
"Yeah," he nodded and sighed, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me..."
"Don't be, it happens. I've seen a lot of customers get anxious when they spend too much time in crowds," you handed him a small bottle of water from your purse, "I think you should drink some water."
He took the bottle and looked at you suspiciously, "Are you trying to drug me?" he teased, feeling himself blush at the pretty laugh you let out.
"Believe me, pretty boy, if I wanted to drug you, I would have put it in your soda earlier," you winked at him.
And it clicked in Javy's head, "You're the bartender. We're not in the smoking area," he pointed at you and then at the door, realizing the situation.
"I am and we're not. We're in the staff area," you chuckled, "that's why I asked if you were lost."
"I... I didn't quite hear you," Javy admitted with a bashful smile as he stood up, "Maybe I should let you enjoy your break ?" he gestured toward the door and you shrugged.
"You can stay a while to relax if you want, my shift just ended, I can tell my boss you're a friend. I'm sure you'll be more comfortable here than in the smoking area," you smiled kindly, "it's up to you."
Javy looked at you and pondered his options.
He could go to the smoking corner and choke on the smoke, or he could stay here, with you. He could go back to a tiny room that would surely be crowded with people, or he could stay here with the cute barmaid.
His choice was quickly made.
"Okay, I'll stay here, but only because you didn't poison my drinks," he smiled and was rewarded with another pretty laugh. He wanted to hear it over and over again. It was like a melody, a soothing one. Javy had had his fair share of dates and flings, but none had made him feel like this. It was weird, but not in a bad way. He wanted to know everything about you, from the most insignificant thing to your biggest milestone, from your favorite color to your entire childhood. When your eyes met his, he felt like a teenager again. He cleared his throat and smiled.
"So you work here?" he asked, immediately cursing himself in his head for asking such a stupid question.
"Yes I do, but it's only temporary, at least I hope so," you smiled at him, "And what do you do, pretty boy?"
"I'm a naval aviator, ma'am," he smiled at the chuckle you let out as he mockingly saluted you. You were so pretty when you laughed; your eyes were sparkling, your cheeks were rosy, and your nose wrinkled in such a cute way. Javy felt his heart skip a beat when you looked back at him with such a soft and adorable grin.
"So you're one of those handsome flyboys... What's it like? I mean, flying so high and so fast?" you asked, your curiosity piqued.
Javy smiled and sat down next to you, his eyes drifting to the starry sky. As he explained what his job was like, you continued to question him with sincere interest. He always answered as best he could without being too technical. After that, you talked about everything and got to know each other. Javy was proud and happy when he could make you laugh. A silly anecdote about a locker room accident between him and Jake made you laugh so much that you had to grab this forearm to keep from falling over. He felt goosebumps run up his arm and down his back. He didn't want you to let go and you didn't. You gently hooked your arm into his and rested your head on his shoulder. You didn’t know why but you felt confident and secure enough with him to do it.
Everything seemed so simple and easy with you, so crystal clear. There was no awkwardness between you two, as if you had known each other for a long time.
It was like meeting a long lost friend, someone you could trust under any circumstances even though you didn’t talk much.
You talked about everything. Javy learned that you loved San Diego, but that your job wasn't fulfilling despite the decent pay, that you rented an old apartment from an unpleasant old man, that you loved admiring the stars but had never really taken the time to learn the constellations. You thought you’d bored him but when he told you what little he knew, including the story of Perseus and Andromeda - the story of a hero who flew to save a beautiful princess - all your doubts disappeared. His eyes were shining with passion and he was eager to share some of his knowledge with you.
"I could fly and save you from your landlord, just as Perseus saved Andromeda," he teased, and you laughed and shook your head.
"Sounds like an interesting prospect. But just so you know, I'm not a princess in distress either, dear Perseus," you winked at him with a playful smile, your fingers brushing gently along his forearm in lazy circles.
"I never said you were, Andromeda wasn't really in control of her life. You seem to be a strong, independent woman," he winked back, "But if the myth is true, I personally think that Andromeda's beauty wouldn't stand a chance against you," he added, smiling as you blushed and giggled to hide your embarrassment. It was your turn to feel like a highschooler.
"You're being a little too flattering, Perseus..." you whispered. Javy leaned closer and tucked a lock of hair behind your ear.
"Just telling the truth, Andromeda," he smiled at you, making you blush more. You were feeling butterflies in your stomach and it took you a little moment to find something to reply.
"And if anything, I was the one who saved you tonight, I should be Perseus in this story," you teased, and he laughed.
"Touché."
The evening had taken a rather pleasant turn for Javy. He had almost forgotten about Ava and the others. Only when he felt his phone vibrate did he realize what time it was; the nightclub was about to close and he'd just spent two hours with you. Noticing the time on his phone, you swore and sighed. It was nearly three in the morning.
"The club is closing... we have to be discreet on our way back in, the lights all must be on," you said as you stood up and slid your hand into Javy's, "You'll have to follow me very closely flyboy," you smiled and the young man blushed. He nodded with an equally wide smile and squeezed your hand slightly, "Lead the way, Andromeda."
You chuckled and headed for the door. You checked carefully to make sure the way was clear and then quickly pulled Javy inside with you. You looked back at him over your shoulder and you started giggling like kids who didn't get caught stealing candy from the pantry. You didn’t know what came over you but you felt so light and at ease.
The two of you slipped through the crowd toward the exit, staying close together. Javy looked around for his cousin and the others outside. He spotted them near their cars, Ava waving at him. Then he looked at you, your hands still in each other's, fingers intertwined. He didn't want to let you go, but he had to get back. And he didn't want to burden you with Jake and Ava's comments or Reuben and Mickey's knowing looks.
To his surprise, you spoke first, facing him. You were searching for your words, a little flustered.
"I uh… I had a really good time with you... and... uh… I was wondering... I was wondering if..."
Javy couldn't help but smile a little as you fought down your embarrassment to ask him your question. He ran his free hand over your cheek, lifting your face a little to plant his eyes in yours. Your cheeks were burning, heart racing.
"If your question is whether we can meet again, the answer is yes, Andromeda," he winked at you and you smiled adorably before handing him your phone so he could punch in his number. Javy laughed a little as you saved it under "Flyboy/Perseus". You sent him a short text message so he had your number too and he saved it as "Savior/Andromeda". It made you laugh and Javy felt his heart flutter. He couldn't wait to ask you out on a real date. So he did.
"So... are you working tomorrow night?"
"No, actually I'm not working until Tuesday," you smiled, "Why?"
"Great. I'll pick you up at 8:00, I know a place where we can do better stargazing than the staff area at the back of the club. I'll bring some food too."
You were surprised, in a good way. You giggled and nodded, your eyes sparkling with excitement, "Sounds lovely, I'll text you my address."
Behind you, Javy could hear his friends and cousin getting a little impatient. He turned his head a little to see what they wanted; while Jake gave him both thumbs up, Ava gestured for him to hurry up; she probably had an after party planned at the Airbnb where she was staying. You followed his gaze and blushed a bit more when you saw all those eyes on them.
"I… think they're waiting for you," you chuckled and squeezed his hand.
"I think they can wait a few more seconds," he muttered, catching your chin and tilting your head a little to make you look up at him. You were so close that his breath made your skin tingle. You bit her lip, blushing even more when his eyes flickered between yours and your lips. You gathered all your courage and rose on your tippy toes, closing the distance between the two of you a little more, and Javy kissed you gently.
And it was as if the world disappeared.
Your free hand slid down his neck and his down your waist. You were the sweetest thing he had ever tasted in his life, your lips so soft against his. You felt like flying, the warmth from his body enveloping you.
When you parted, you could hear Ava and the others cheering for them and you snorted a little.
"Okay Perseus, I think your friends are getting a little too excited for you here."
"You think?" he grinned, "In my opinion, they're jealous."
He kissed you again and felt your smile against his lips. But he really had to go.
"See you tomorrow Andromeda, be safe on your way home," he whispered to you, smiling. You nodded and gently pulled away. "Be safe too, Perseus," you smiled before walking to your own car, waving to him and his friend behind him. Javy watched you go and finally joined his group with a light step and a throbbing heart. After all, it hadn't been such a terrible evening, and the comforts of home seemed almost bland. There was only one thing he could wait for: the next evening.
Your relationship with Bradley is new. Really new. Like, 'haven't let him smell your morning breath yet' new. But when he gets a call telling him that his mom is dying, you find yourself driving him to San Diego in the middle of the night, preparing to meet his entire extended family during the worst period of their lives. Nick and Carole live AU.
Warnings: discussions of cancer, parental death, it's very sad but also quite sweet
This fic is for the @elixirfromthestars cinema challenge! I've taken inspiration mainly from About Time (2013) - but also Elizabethtown (2005). I think they both have such beautiful depictions of grief and love persevering, so I've tried to channel that a little! Songs that offered some inspiration: Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga, Orpheus by Sara Bareilles, Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves + 🍟 for realising they're in love!
Come by the fire // Lay down your head // My love I see you're growing tired // So set the bad day by the bed // And rest a while
You consider yourself an expert on looks. First looks, last looks, and all the ones in between. They made up a relationship. Stolen glances full of longing when the other isn’t looking, anger burning during a fight when you don’t recognise the person across from you.
Whoever said the eyes were a window into the soul had it right.
First looks were easy. Almost all of them were entirely inconsequential, not meant to be remembered. The very act of remembering the first moment you lock eyes with someone was special. A sign, that for better or worse, they were going to become an important part of your life.
Your first look with Bradley had been outside a church, when your friend Hannah had married Bob Floyd. You'd been fixing your heel, having twisted the strap as you got out of the car, and looked up to find his eyes locked on you. His lips had been parted ever so slightly, shoulders broad as he stands in a perfectly tailored suit. You'd known Bob was in the Navy - you just hadn't realised his friends would look like that.
Polite smiles and introductions are exchanged before you find yourself walking down the aisle, arm laced through his.
He was a retired pilot, you learned at the party afterwards. He'd retired and moved to Los Angeles with the intention of settling down and having kids, before his girlfriend had left him for her boss. He was an instructor now, teaching the next generation to fly.
“God, I'm so sorry, you definitely don't want to be hearing about this right now-”
“No, no don't worry, it's totally okay - my last boyfriend left me for his highschool sweetheart. So I guess neither of us are really good at this.”
You don't know why you're telling him that. It was something you were normally embarrassed about, instead opting to just shrug and go ‘it wasn't meant to be’. But something about Bradley made you think he'd understand.
"He's an idiot," Bradley replies.
"Maybe I'm a complete and utter nightmare. Maybe it was totally deserved."
"I find that hard to believe." He's leaning in, and the scent of his cologne fills your atmosphere.
You smile, resting your chin on the palm of your hand. "You don't even know me."
"I'm hoping that's going to change."
You'd danced and laughed, trading stories and swapping anecdotes as the night went on, totally oblivious to the knowing looks passed between Hannah and Bob. It was no mistake that the two of you had been paired up to walk together. Everything was working out exactly as they expected it to.
The night had ended out on the patio, his jacket draped over your shoulders and his lips on yours.
Most of the sex you'd had in your life wasn't as personal as that single kiss.
Last looks were trickier. Harder to predict and pin down. There were last looks you were grateful to get - ex-friends and boyfriends who’d long overstayed their welcome in your life. Others were more painful, and left you longing for a ‘what-if’ that was never meant to be. Some, much like firsts, went by totally unnoticed, with neither of you realising that this was the end.
It was a strange understanding, the knowledge shared between two people that they would never see the other again.
You hoped your last look with Bradley wouldn't come for decades.
It’s midnight when he gets the call. You’re curled into him, arm draped over his stomach, his nose nestled in your hair. Only in his late thirties has Bradley been able to admit that often he much prefers quiet nights in with wine and a book to bustling bars and crowds.
You're more than happy to oblige, finding yourself spending more nights than not in his arms. It felt right, and natural, even though you'd only been together for a few months. A couple of your friends were less convinced.
“You’re moving too fast-”
“You’ll be sick of him before the year’s out-”
But things were good. You didn't believe in following a set schedule just because other people thought they knew how your relationship should work. You were happy, and you assumed Bradley felt the same. He’d never given any indication otherwise, even being the one to initiate a lot of the evolution of the relationship.
You’re in that sweet spot of being near enough sleep to be totally and utterly relaxed, while also still being able to enjoy the feeling of Bradley pressed up against you.
The staying over had been a new development, within the last week, when he’d make the excellent point that if you stayed over instead of driving home, you’d be doing your part to save the planet. You'd lower your carbon emissions, his place was closer to your work, and he'd already cleared out some closet space for you. The logic was unflappable.
“Mav? What’s wrong?” His voice is raspy, and he sits up, duvet pooling at his waist. “No, you didn’t wake me, it’s okay.”
The voice on the other end of the line speaks for a couple of seconds, and Bradley’s shoulders tense. It’s bad news. The kind that often precedes last looks. Your heart sinks slightly.
“How is she now?” Bradley replies, glancing over at you.
“Yeah, I can come. No, it's okay, I'll come now - should be there in a couple of hours.” A second. “I will. See you soon.”
“What's wrong?” You sit up, hand resting on his forearm.
“My mom. The cancer's spread. She was in the hospital today, just got home. Dad didn't want to worry me… but Mav thinks I should go home. Be there. He thinks it'll be a few weeks now. If we're lucky.” His voice wavers ever so slightly, but does not break.
“Oh Bradley,” You whisper. “I'm so sorry.” You'd known his mom had cancer, but you hadn't realised how severe it was. How little time she had.
“I-I need to go to San Diego,” He says, getting to his feet unsteadily. His hands are shaking, and he’s three shades paler than usual. “I’ll leave a key for you. Stay as long as you want.”
“Baby, it’s a three hour drive. You can’t do that in this state,” You murmur softly, moving to your knees as you watch him start to throw clothes into a duffel bag. “Let me take you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that-” He begins, but you cut him off.
“You aren’t. I’m offering. Just focus on packing, I'll grab some food and get the car ready.”
You can tell he wants to protest, tell you to go back to bed, but the worry wins out, and he just nods. Wordlessly, you get dressed, and head out to the car. When Bradley emerges ten minutes later, his eyes are red-rimmed and puffy. You don’t know what to say, don’t know if there’s anything to say, so you just reach out, hand cupping his cheek gently. He lets out a shaky breath, eyes closing as he leans into your touch.
He’d known this would come eventually. He just hadn’t thought it would be so sudden. At her last check-up the doctors had said she was doing as well as could be expected. They thought she might have a couple of years left, if she continued on like the way she was going.
A couple of years was good. Bradley could make that work. Maybe settle down, give her a grandchild, and show her that he was happy. That it was okay for her to go. That he’d be alright without her.
He couldn’t do any of that in a few weeks.
The drive is made in near silence. Bradley stares out the window, wringing his hands together nervously as he occasionally offers commentary on the places you pass. The roads are desolate, and you’re turning onto Bradley’s parent’s road just before three.
You hadn’t thought this far ahead. Pulling up to your boyfriend’s childhood home in the middle of the night to see his dying mom wasn’t exactly how you imagined the first meeting going. The last thing they need right now is to meet a new girlfriend, a total stranger. Bradley potentially hasn’t even told them about you yet.
“I-I should probably get going-”
“You’re not staying?” His head snaps to yours, deep brown eyes furrowed as he frowns. “It's 3am, you can't drive back on no sleep.”
“I don’t want to impose,” You reply, twisting a ring round your finger. The last thing you want to do is make this about you. “Or add any stress, or anything. Your parents probably only want family around.”
“Honey, if my mom knew I let you drive me all the way here, and then let you turn around and head straight back in the middle of the night, she’d murder me before I even got my coat off.” Despite your nerves, despite everything, you let out a small laugh. “I’d really like you to stay. Please.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” Whatever’s waiting for him inside, he’d rather face it with you.
“I didn't bring anything.”
“We can make do. I’ll buy whatever you need. Are you okay for work?”
You wave him off. “I have time off I can use. Don't worry.”
He nods, and grabs his bag from the back as you get out. He laces his fingers through yours, and takes a look up at the house that had been his home for eighteen years. There’s a light on downstairs, someone’s still awake.
Squeezing your hand, he begins the walk up the path, knocking lightly. It takes a second before it swings open, before revealing who you assume is Bradley’s dad.
They look so alike it’s almost uncanny. The man standing before you is like looking at Bradley in twenty-five years. Hair slightly thinner, a few more wrinkles, they could almost be brothers.
“Bradley,” Nick murmurs, pulling him in for a tight hug. “You should’ve waited until the morning.”
“Wanted to be with you guys,” Bradley mumbles, before pulling back slightly. “How is she?”
“Alright, all things considered. It’s spread to her lymph nodes. There’s nothing more they can do, therapy-wise. She’s sleeping now. You can go up in the morning.” He finally registers your presence behind Bradley, and straightens up. “You must be the girlfriend.” His eyes are soft, and he reaches out to pull you in for your own hug.
You tell him your name, as Bradley ushers you both inside, shutting the door behind you. “I’m so sorry about your wife, Mr Bradshaw.”
“Please, call me Nick,” He insists. He leads you both inside to the living room, where another man sits.
“Mav,” Bradley greets, as he stands. He introduces you to his godfather, and the two of you take a seat.
“How was the drive?” Maverick asks you.
“It was fine - roads were quiet.” You fight off a yawn, turning your head to look out the window.
“You’re tired,” Bradley says, voice quiet. “We can go to bed.”
You shake your head. “I’m okay,” You insist. Seeing the unconvinced expression on his face, you smile. “Promise.”
Bradley returns to his conversation with Nick and Maverick, and you try your best to stay awake, offering comments occasionally. You learn that Maverick and his wife live next door, and that Carole’s family all live nearby. Bradley has two cousins, Grace and John, who he grew up with. Grace has a toddler named Sophia, while John is getting married next year. Soon, you find your head leaning against Bradley’s shoulder, and he just feels so warm, and your eyes are so heavy-
“Your girl’s exhausted, Bradley,” Nick says softly. “Get some sleep.”
“I’m fine,” You mumble, but you know you’re not fooling anyone. It’s almost four now. You considered two a late night.
“It might be a little tight, but you can stay in your old room,” Nick says, and Bradley nods as he guides you to your feet. Maverick says his goodbyes, before heading next door.
“You’ll wake me when she’s up?”
Nick nods. “Yeah, of course. Now, go before she passes out.” You send him a tired smile, and follow Bradley down the hall.
Bradley’s childhood bedroom is exactly what you would’ve expected from him. Covered head to toe in plane posters, with sporting trophies lining every surface.
Football, baseball, basketball, track, he was apparently good at everything.
“My god, you were a try-hard,” You murmur, gesturing at the pile of medals hanging from the back of the door.
“I liked to win,” He shrugs, dropping his bag by the wardrobe. “You want a shirt to sleep in?”
You nod, and he tosses you an old Top Gun one. He pulls on a pair of sweatpants, and you both crawl into bed.
He insists the bed’s a double, but with the way you’re lying chest to chest just to stay on, you’re not convinced. It doesn’t really matter. You could be sleeping on the world’s largest bed, and would still find a way to be as close to Bradley as possible.
Don't stop // Trying to find me here amidst the chaos // Though I know it's blinding // There's a way out // Say out loud // We will not give up on love now
The next morning you meet Maverick's wife Penny, and his stepdaughter Amelia. Bradley and Nick are up in the master bedroom catching up - it had been a while since Bradley had been home.
They’re up for about an hour, while you get to know the Mitchells, before Bradley appears in the living room. “She wants to meet you.”
“Are you- are you sure?”
“Very sure. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.” As if he can sense the nerves, he holds out a hand for you to take. He knows this must be weird for you. Going from meeting no one to his entire family in the span of twenty-four hours. But he’s glad you’re here. He has a feeling he’s going to be with you for a long time, and if now is the only time that he gets to be with you and his mom, he’ll take what he can get.
If you hadn’t known Carole Bradshaw was sick, you’re not sure you would’ve guessed. Yes, she looks tired, and yes, the bags under her eyes are probably bigger than usual, but her smile is wide and her eyes bright.
“You’re even prettier than he said you were.”
You’re positive this isn’t true. You’re wearing the jeans you had on yesterday, with one of Bradley’s shirts, and you must’ve gotten a maximum of five hours sleep last night. Pretty is not the word you’d use. Heat rises to your cheeks, as Bradley guides you to the chair beside her bed.
“It’s really lovely to meet you, Mrs Bradshaw-”
“Carole! Call me Carole, please.”
“Carole,” You repeat. You’re desperate for her to like you. The idea that you could be with Bradley for the rest of your life, and the only impression his mother has of you is when you’re running on little sleep with greasy hair is not appealing. “I really like your son.”
She laughs. “I really like him too. And he likes you. Wouldn’t shut up about you the last time he called.”
You glance at Bradley, who’s begun to look very embarrassed. “That’s an exaggeration-”
“It is not! He’s very enamoured with you, sweetheart.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“So, what do you do? He got so carried away on the phone, he didn’t tell me the basics. Just how pretty you were, and how he can't believe you'd go out with him-”
"Okay, mom, that's enough," Bradley interjects, as Carole grins.
"Just letting the girl know what she's in for!"
“I work in publishing.”
“You’re a reader?”
“As much as I can.”
“You’ll need to give me some recommendations then. I’ve been getting more reading done recently than the rest of my life combined.”
“I think I can do that.”
***
That afternoon, the extended family come round. You take it all in your stride, diligently answering questions and re-filling drinks. Sophia, his cousin’s daughter, takes a particular liking to you, opting to sit on your knee while the grownups chat.
“What do you think?” Bradley asks Nick, eyes trained on you as you crouch down to chat to little Sophia, smiling widely as she shows off her teddy bear.
“I like her more than you already,” Nick quips, throwing him a grin. Seeing Bradley’s obvious relief, he claps a hand on his son’s shoulder. “She’s great. Really. Way out of your league.”
Bradley snorts. “Believe me, I know.”
“Your mom likes her too. Spent more time talking about her to Mary this afternoon than anything else.”
“Yeah?”
Nick drops his voice to a near-whisper. “I know the circumstances aren’t ideal, but you bringing her here has really made your mother so happy. All she’s ever wanted was for you to find someone - and she won’t get to meet her grandkids, but I think meeting their mother will let her go with a bit of clarity.”
Bradley almost chokes on his drink. Sure, these might have been three of the best months of his life. But it was still far too early to even consider marriage and kids. The last thing he wanted to do was scare you off. Not when things had been going so well. “It’s only been three months-”
“So? Who cares if you met her yesterday, or ten years ago? She wouldn't have driven you a hundred and fifty miles in the middle of the night if she wasn't committed to this thing. Your mother and I were engaged by six months, married by eight.”
He looks back at you. In such a short space of time, you'd become his whole life. On the occasions you had to sleep at your own place, due to early meetings or that time you were dog-sitting, he felt your absence like a gaping hole in his chest. You were the last thing he thought about every night, and his first thought in the morning. “I really like her,” He admits finally.
Nick Bradshaw just smiles. “We can tell.”
Don't you turn like Orpheus // Just stay here // Hold me in the dark and when the day appears // We'll say // We did not give up on love today
You manage a couple of hours of downtime before trying to make yourself useful again. You weren’t the world’s best cook - you certainly weren’t better than Bradley, but you could make a mean lasagna. And you figure the last thing the Bradshaws needed to be thinking about right now was food. So, you enlist Penny, and send Maverick out to get the extra ingredients you need.
“We can just order in, it’s no big deal,” Bradley insists, watching as you and Penny bustle about the kitchen.
“That’ll cost an absolute fortune. We’ve got it covered, right Penny?”
Penny nods, and ushers Bradley towards the door. “We’ll be done in an hour. Set the table for us, will you?”
Spirits are cheerful, despite the overhang of dread. Cousins are playing, Bradley’s serving drinks, Carole and Penny are gossiping, and you’ve found yourself beside Nick. He’s easy to talk to, and is like Bradley in so many ways it’s almost scary. He’s already broken into the baby pictures, showing you various embarrassing Bradley phases over the years.
His cowboy phase at three. His emo phase at eleven. His surfer dude phase at sixteen.
“Later on, I may tell you about Bradley's many failings as a man and as a table tennis player. But, firstly I'd like to say the one big thing - that I've only loved three men in my life. My dad was a frosty prick so that only leaves dear Maverick, Elvis Presley- obviously - and that man there.”
Across the room, Bradley’s giving Sophia a piggy-back, while simultaneously juggling four empty glasses that need cleaned up.
“He’s a good guy,” You agree, eyes soft as you watch him. “I’m really lucky.”
“I’m glad you two found each other. He struggles to let people in sometimes.”
You’d never experienced that with Bradley. From the very first meeting, it felt like you both just understood each other, in a way you’d never felt before. You told him things at Bob’s wedding that it would take you months to work up to with other people. Upon seeing your confusion, Nick laughs softly.
“Good to see he isn’t like that with you.”
Eventually, Carole begins to get tired, and everyone starts to filter out, leaving just Nick, Bradley, and you. You try to start cleaning up, but Nick and Bradley manage to distract you with a game of Monopoly at Carole’s bedside. She dominates, getting hotels on Park Lane and Mayfair that bankrup the rest of you, before you and Bradley give her some peace to get some sleep.
When Bradley emerges from his shower, you aren’t in his room. Frowning, he combs the upstairs. Nothing. Then he hears humming from the kitchen. Inside, you’re tackling the mountain of plates from lunch earlier, having barely made a dent.
“Honey, you don’t have to do that,” Bradley says, and you jump at the disturbance.
“You scared me,” You breathe, before turning back to the dishes. “And it’s fine - I just want to help.”
“I can do it in the morning,” He insists, moving behind you to rest his chin on your shoulder and wrap his arms around your waist. “You already made dinner. It’s too much.”
“You shouldn’t have to worry about dishes, or washing, or cooking right now. Let me take care of you.”
“At least let me help.”
You think for a second, before conceding. “Fine. You can dry.”
It takes another hour, but the by the end, you’re giggling like children as you flick suds of soap at him, before trying to duck out of his arms as he tickles you mercilessly.
Upstairs, Carole and Nick smile to themselves when they hear the “Bradley don’t!” mere seconds before another fit of laughter erupts.
"He's going to be okay," Carole murmurs, resting her head on her husband's shoulder, eyes misty.
By the time you’re ready to go to bed, Bradley’s in need of another shower, hair sticking to his forehead as his shorts drip water onto the floor.
***
“I’ll be back tonight,” You promise, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “But I really need my laptop to work from home.”
Bradley understood. He did. You were already doing far too much, arranging your work so that you could stay in San Diego with him for the time being. And yet, the idea of you being gone for even a day created a pit at the very bottom of his stomach. “Drive safe, okay? And call me when you get home. And then call me again before you leave.”
“I will.” In normal circumstances you’d laugh at his over-protectiveness, but you know he’s just worried. It’s been a hard two weeks.
Carole has had a string of bad days - bad days that are slowly beginning to outnumber the good. It won’t be too long now. Carole knows this, you know it, Nick knows it. You’re not sure Bradley’s come to terms with it yet.
You’re sitting with her that night, while the guys make dinner. You’d been covering it, but Carole had insisted they stop letting you do all the work around the house. So you’re cross-legged on a chair beside her bed, looking at some more pictures from Bradley’s childhood.
“You know, he’s never brought a girl home before,” Carole tells you, as soon as the door clicks shut behind Bradley. He’d popped up with drinks. “Not even Taylor. They were together four years, and we met her once at a wedding.”
“It’s just because I drove him here,” You reason, but Carole shakes her head.
“It’s different with you.” She goes to speak again, before breaking off in a coughing fit. You grab the glass on her bedside, passing it over. “Thanks, sweetheart. And thank you for being here.”
“It’s no problem, really. I’d do anything for him.”
“I know. And I’m glad it’s you. I was so worried about leaving him. He’s always been sensitive. I think you’ll make it a little easier on him.”
You don't know what to say, voice catching in your throat. Instead, you reach out and take her hand.
***
“Please Nick, I'm not dead yet. Penny can come. It’ll be fine.” Carole rolls her eyes, and you know Nick isn't winning this one.
It was the latest argument. Nick and Carole had decided to renew their vows at the Hard Deck, just for closest friends and family. The guys had their suits, but you, Carole and Penny didn't have a dress. Carole wanted to go shopping, Nick thought it was a bad idea. The final compromise was going to one shop, and making Carole stay off her feet as much as possible.
You knew despite Carole's insistence that she was happy with whatever, that you didn’t want to make her walk far. So you set up shop in a local store, Carole and Penny each picking their own dress first.
You try a couple on, eventually landing on a pale yellow maxi dress, patterned with flowers. Just as you’re about to get changed back into your clothes, Carole appears in the dressing room.
“If this is weird and inappropriate, please tell me,” Carole insists, as she steps towards you with a dress bag. “But uh- I never got to have a daughter. Nick and I, we tried for a while to give Bradley a sibling, but it never worked out.” She clears her throat, voice thick as she continues. “And I always hoped that I’d be able to go dress-shopping with whoever Bradley chose to marry. I know that the two of you haven’t been together long, but-but…”
She trails off, and you nod, eyes shining. “I would really love to have you as a mother-in-law,” You whisper.
You step out of the dressing room, breath bated as you look in the mirror. The dress is gorgeous, hugging your curves in all the right places, the cut making you look taller than you are. You’ve never worn a wedding dress before. You're not sure if it's bad luck to wear one without being engaged, but this feels right. It's a moment you'll never get to share with Carole, even if you do marry Bradley one day.
She’s wiping her eyes before she even sees you. “Oh honey, you look stunning,” She breathes. "You'll make a beautiful bride someday."
The tears are streaming freely now, and you hug her tightly. "I wish I'd met him earlier."
"Me too," She whispers. "But it's okay. When it happens, it'll be wonderful. Because you both love each other, and that's all that matters."
I'll show you good // Restore your faith // I'll try and somehow make a meaning of the poison in this place // Convince you love, don't breathe it in // You were written in the stars that we are swimming in
The ceremony's beautiful. If you and Bradley can have half the relationship his parents share, you'll be doing a whole lot better than most people.
Maverick officiates, and Bradley is designated ring-bearer, despite his protests.
"Why can't Amelia do it? Or Sophia? The literal child?"
"It's funnier making you do it-"
“Time for pictures!” Penny announces, grabbing her camera from the counter. “Bradshaw family up first!”
You smile as Bradley fakes a dramatic sigh, pressing a kiss to your hairline as he passes. Nick and Bradley stand on either side of Carole, arms wrapped round her waist as they lean in. You zone out slightly, snapping back to reality when you hear Carole calling your name. “Wait! That’s not everyone!”
If you weren’t already close to tears, this'll do it. “Oh, no-” You begin, but she’s already cutting you off.
“You’ll be family soon enough, sweetheart,” She calls, gesturing forwards. You glance at Bradley, nod wanting to overstep, and get to your feet when he nods. You know the rule for partners - unless it’s serious, they don’t get in the family photos.
Bradley reaches out, looping his arm round you to pull you in tightly.
Penny takes pictures of every possible configuration of people. You and Bradley, Nick and Maverick, Carole and Sophia, before getting one of the bartenders to get a group shot.
Nick captures one single photo the whole night. You and Carole in the corner of one of the booths, eyes crinkled as you laugh together. He saves it for later. Figures it could make a good wedding present down the line.
***
“Listen, if what my mom said was too much, I totally get that,” Bradley murmurs into your ear as you sway gently in time to Bruce Springsteen’s I’m On Fire wafting from the jukebox. “She gets ahead of herself at the best of times, nevermind… nevermind now.”
Carole Bradshaw will never get to meet her grandchildren. If you and Bradley get married, she won’t be at the wedding. If, god forbid, you aren’t it for him, she’ll never know his wife. She won’t get to see him turn forty, or celebrate her fortieth wedding anniversary. It’s an awful finality that he can’t allow himself to think about too much.
“It wasn’t too much,” You reply, voice soft. “I love your family.”
“I love you.”
It slips out before he can even register what he's saying. Truthfully, he's known he loved you since you dropped everything to be with him here. But thinking and saying are very different things.
Your reply is instantaneous. “I love you too.” You don't need to think about it. Because you do. You love Bradley Bradshaw in a big and scary way.
You love how he spends his Saturdays giving free lessons to people who can't afford it, simply because he thinks everyone should have a chance to learn.
You love that when the anniversary of your grandma's death had come round last month, he'd turned up on your doorstep with flowers and chocolates before his shift, even though his work was at the opposite end of the city from your house.
You love the fact that he talks in his sleep - mostly about aircrafts and flying, a language you don't understand at all. Mumbling about F-18s and Mach numbers as his arms tighten around you.
You love that underneath the tough exterior, he’s the softest man you've ever met. That even though the idea terrifies him, you know he'll be a wonderful father one day.
You love him. You think that maybe you've loved him since the moment you saw him.
“You don't have to say it just because my mom's dying.”
“I'm not. I'd say it even if your dad was hideous and your mom hated me, and they were all massive Republicans. I love you.”
***
“They look like you guys,” Maverick muses, as you and Bradley move round the dance floor, totally engrossed in each other.
“I hope you mean that as a compliment,” Nick replies, raising an eyebrow as he takes his wife's hand.
“Of course it's a compliment,” Maverick scoffs. “You guys found your person younger than most, and still managed to make it work. Took me fifty years to get my act together.”
“Bradley’s nearly forty, he wasn’t far behind you,” Nick snorts, and Carole swats at him.
“That wasn’t his fault! He was ready to settle down, and Taylor pulled the rug out from under him.”
“It worked out for the best. He looks happier now than he ever did with Taylor.”
"You both better get absolutely hammered at their wedding for me."
"I think we can handle that," Maverick assures her, grinning. "The boys can do Great Balls of Fire in your honour."
"She'll be heading straight for a divorce if you do that," Carole laughs.
That was the last good day. It was like she'd said her goodbyes, made her peace with leaving. She knew that everyone would be okay, eventually. She's admitted to the hospital on Monday with chest pain, and dies on Thursday.
She goes holding Bradley's hand, while Nick sits on her other side. For all intents and purposes, it is a peaceful death.
It has no name // No guarantee // It's just the promise of a day // I know that some may never see // But that's enough // If the bottom drops out // I hope my love was someone else's solid ground
Nick Bradshaw stands alone at the entrance to the church, greeting every single guest by name. Even when they get well into the hundreds, he treats their grief with a delicacy you'd never expect from a new widower.
You don’t think you’d be able to harness that amount of grace if you were in his position. You stand with Bradley, hand clutched tightly in his. His eyes are fixed firmly on the coffin, only pulling them away to acknowledge the mourners who approach him.
It feels like the entire city of San Diego has come out to mourn Carole Bradshaw. The church is filled to the brim, with people spilling onto the street outside. You’re not sure you’ve ever seen such an outpouring of love for one person.
You manage to hold it together until the opening chords of Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down ring out. Bradley’s arm snakes round your waist, and a choked sob escapes as he buries his face in your hair.
“I know, baby, I’m sorry,” You cry, pulling him in tighter.
Nick knew his wife better than anybody in the world - she wouldn't have wanted everyone to be miserable. She wanted her funeral to be a celebration of life, not death.
So his eulogy is full of their best moments - from embarrassing to heartfelt. When she went into labour with Bradley while Nick was in the air, and Maverick had to be sent to get him down. Nick arrived at the hospital as Bradley was crowning. It had taken him a while to make it up to her for that one.
When she almost got them all arrested in Italy by driving on the wrong side of the road.
Their first wedding - when she'd been an hour late to her own reception because she overslept.
Her love for really awful karaoke. Her love for her family, friends, husband, son.
Carole Bradshaw lived a good life. And that was nothing to be sad about.
“How are you handling this so well?” Bradley asks his dad, as the three of you walk towards the car to head to the reception.
“I'm not - not really. I’m fucking furious, and so uninterested in a life without your mother. But I also know she'd punch me for even thinking that.”
For the first time in a long time, Bradley laughs. “She’d tell you to grow up and get on with it.”
“And so that’s what I’m going to do. I’m gonna mope for a couple of weeks, and then I’m getting a dog. And I’m gonna call it Goose.”
“You’re naming the dog after yourself?”
“Hey, your mother was the brains of the relationship, not me.”
***
“Can we- can we go for a drive?” Bradley asks the next day, and you nod.
“Of course.”
The drive doesn’t take long. A couple of miles up the coast, before he’s pulling into a lookout spot. It’s incredible, the view over the ocean. “My mom used to bring me here, to watch my dad fly,” Bradley murmurs, as he leads you over to the railing. He gestures out towards the island in the distance. “He was based there for a while. So was I, when I served.”
There aren’t any planes out today, but the sky is the bluest blue you’ve ever seen, not a cloud in sight. Bradley has to think that somehow, his mom is here, watching over you both.
“I think I've been asleep most of my life,” He admits.
“Me too.”
“I don't want that anymore. Being scared, of not taking any risks. I don't want to have any regrets."
"We've got time," You murmur. "We're still in our thirties. Basically teenagers. Your twenties are just a practice run, anyway. I've heard that being in your forties is where it's at."
"Yeah," He replies softly. "We've got time."
His mom's ring nearly burns a hole in his pocket.
“Not for today, not for tomorrow, but soon, okay?” She'd whispered, slipping it into his hand, smiling softly as her breathing grew laboured.
“Yeah, mom. Soon.”
a/n - thank you so much for reading!! I really love this one-shot, and I've never written Carole and Nick before. Thank you to Mel for hosting the challenge, I had a lot of fun taking inspiration from the movies!
𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝘿𝙖𝙬𝙣 - Robert "Bob" Floyd ( A Quiet Place AU)
Pairing: Robert "Bob" Floyd x AFAB OC/ Camille
SUMMARY: It was a simple trip, go back into the city and get supplie's. Stay quiet to keep the monsters at bay, and get what they needed, both of them had stuck together since day one of the new world, swearing to not leave each other till the end. Those who dare to mess with either of them will learn the hard way.
Tags: Post apocalyptic setting, Established relationships, mentions of blood and wounds, revenge, bob basically going through it (Sorry), death, kidnapping, implied pregnancy, soft fluff, men being pervy (Srry) angst, implied m3rder, torture, swearing, self defense killing. Use of ASL
A/N SORRY FOR THIS ONE, I dont actually like this ending, im also dedicating this to mamachasemayehm, im so sorry for all that has happened to you I wish you all the best ❤️
WORD COUNT: 9,824
⏁⏁⏁
THE EDGE OF the wave’s crashed at the end’s of her feet. The sun setting painted the sky in a range of pink, orange and blue, she smiled looking up at the cloud’s, sighing in content. She counted herself lucky to be someone that was living in safety miles away from the city.
She wasn't even sure how dangerous the city is, she knows the monster’s that hunt by sound, that are the cause of the destruction she has witnessed. They were scary, they ruled the world. Only good thing about this new world was that she had him
She dug her bare feet into the sand, the soft damp texture between her toes. She held her knees to her chest, her ebony hair held in a tight ponytail with strands of hair loose around her face.
“Hey.” A soft deep voice spoke up, she looked over her shoulder. She gave a small wave at him turning back to the water. His shadow cast onto the sand next to her, he sighs as he take’s the same position as her.
“How are you feeling?” He asked her, she shrugged in response. “Better I think.” She admits, he nodded his head, the sun reflecting off his glasses.
“Do you wanna go to infirmary?” Bob ask’s her, she shakes her head. “No it’s just food not agreeing with me.” She reassured him.
“Are you sure? We don't have to do this trip if you aren't feeling it.” He tells her, the same sweet nature he had kept since the day they met. A smile creeped onto her face as she couldn't help herself.
“We can always make Rooster do the trip.” He suggests to her, she smirks, shaking her head.
“You know you don't have to call him that anymore.” She mentions, he shrugged.
“Force of habit.” He says simply, she tap’s the damp sand. “I’m gonna be okay, and not to sound cocky but.”
“We are better at supply trip’s than Bradshaw.” Cami say’s with a smug smile, he shook his head.
“Oh so you can call him that but I can't call him Rooster?” He point’s out, and she shrugged again. “Well yeah.” She says with an obvious tone.
He playfully rolls his eyes. “Oh.” She perk’s up.
“Do you have your knife on you?” She wonder’s, his brows furrowed in confusion at her question.
“Why?” He asks simply.
“I wanna show you something.” She tells him, he reached around in his jean pockets, pulling out his tanto point knife, the deep oak wood glistening in the sunlight that shone on the beach. She took it from him standing up.
“Okay I wanna teach you this.” Cami told him, he raised a brow. “You need to know this, if someone catches you off guard.” She flip’s the blade around in her hand, catching it with one hand.
“Are you sure this is safe?” He ask’s her, she shakes her head.
“No but I don't think you'll get hurt.” She assure’s him, she extends her hand pulling up onto his feet. She stands next to the water, twirling the knife in one hand.
“Alright, I'm a bad guy with a knife. I run at you, what do you do?” She asks him. He stammered for an answer.
“Run the other way.” He answered unsure.
“No.well yes, but not in this situation.” Cami tells him, she shakes her head.
“I corner you, what do you do?” She questions, he smirks looking her up and down.
“Well if you corner me, I think you have an idea what would happen.” He teases her with a soft smile. Her face grew red, she shook her head.
“I…I'll stop that.” She say's trying hide her smile. “Okay I'm sorry.” He laughs, she steps closer than him.
“You get cornered, someone swings at you.” She speaks slowly as she lifts up the blade. She takes his right wrist, bringing it to her’s.
“You grab my wrist, tight like this and you.” She instructs him, turning around with a knife in her hand now aimed at her face. Her back pressed against his chest, warming him from the heat of her body.
“They're gonna try and fight back against you, if that happens and you're against the wall.” She continued as she pressed further against him, his heart raced. “You use it.”
“The wall is your friend, hold yourself as tight as you can to it, and then use your free hand.” Cami order’s, she shovels herself off him.
“And you stab them.” She explains, “You understand?” She asks him.
“Alright now you try.” Cami tells him, his brow’s furrowed. “Are you serious?” He ask’s her, she nods her head.
“Yes, I want to make sure you know this.” She says, he looked down at the knife in her hand. She drops it, noticing his stare’s.
“We can do it without the knife.” She assure him.
He shakes his shoulders, loosening himself up. She swing’s at him, he grunts as he grabs her wrist. Copying the same move, her back pressed hard against him as he held her wrist with both of his hands.
“Like this?” He ask’s her, she smirks looking down at his arm’s, the veins popping with how tight he holds her.
“More or less.” She answered. “You forgot one thing though.” She points out, his brows furrowed.
“What? What did I do wr-” She sweep’s his leg’s out from under him, he grunts as he falls onto the sand.
He coughs as he looks up at the pink and blue sky. She gets on top of his hip’s, holding both of his wrists, smirking with victory. He groans as he blinks, bit’s of sand on the lens of his glasses blocking his vision.
“You didn't plant your feet.” Cami whispered, he shakes his head, the world spinning around him as he collects himself.
“Oh.” He groans. She removes her hand’s from his wrist, his arm’s laying out in a t-pose. She sits up, her leg’s still stradling him as the sun illuminated her shadow on the sand.
“Are you okay?” She wonder’s with a soft chuckle, he groaned in response.
“Super.” He grit’s at him, she shakes her head at his sarcasm.
“I'm sorry I just like seeing you this way.” Cami told him, he smirked with his brow raised.
“On my back? He wonders.
“Maybe.” She says, she leaned forward caressing his cheek as she brought her lip’s to his, smiling into the kiss as his hands gently held her waist. She inhaled pulling away, her knees digging into the sand.
“If my head wasnt spinning this would be pretty nice.” He comment’s, she smile’s shaking her head, removing herself from him, extending her hand for him to take. Both of them get to their feet turning around walking back.
⏁⏁⏁
SHE HOLDS her jacket close to herself, winter was bitterly ending and she could feel its effects as they both walked down the desolate street of what used to be San Diego. Her body covered in chill’s as she desperately tried to keep her warm on the inside, she didn't want to admit to Bob. She was tired, not exhausted.
Both of them had left at sunrise for the island, they knew it was gonna take a day or two to get what they needed for the couple hundred people on the island. There was already so much pressure on them she didn't want him to worry about her.
A tap on her shoulders makes her turn her head. Bob pushed up his glasses showing her the pocket map of San Diego, showing her the key for the next place for them to raid.
“How far is that?” Cami asked him, both of them already knew Sign Language before the world ended, she had taken deaf education at her college and taught kids. Him on the other hand learned it just because he wanted to.
“Just up the corner.” He tells her, she nods her head. “How are you feeling?” He ask’s her, she shakes her head.
“Cold. But I’ll be fine.” She sign’s, he nods his head. “If you want to stop, take a minute we can.” He tells her, she shakes her head.
“I'm fine, we have to do this.” She says, determination in her eye’s. He furrowed confused on why she was so set on getting supply’s.
“Where else do we have to go?” She changes the subject.
He sighed looking up at the cloudy skies, hoping it was going to rain so they could whisper to each other. “Pharmacy.” He signs.
“Excellent, what do we need?” She wonder’s, he pulls out a small notepad from his backpack. He was better prepared than her. “Find painkillers, needles and bandages.”
“And condoms apparently.” He smirks, hiding his laugh with a soft smile. She shook her head at their grocery list.
“Stolen again?” Cami ask’s, he shrugs.
“It wasn't me.” He clarifies, she raises a brow. “I didn't think it was.” She signed, his lips parted in o shape.
“There's nothing you wanna tell the class, Bob?” She teases him, he playfully roll’s his blue eyes.
“Shut up.” He signs.
It was pure luck that she found him. Both of them met right at the start of day one, she was supposed to be meeting a guy for a date. He was there as well, she didn't think someone quite like him would be at a restaurant as nice as the one she was at. They both started up a conversation with each other, then everything went down.
One of the alien’s had crashed through the window of the restaurant, he had shielded her from the glass, and she had distracted them when they had to run away from the sound seeking creature’s. Both of them agreed to stick together, having been that way for the last two years.
They stop in front of a small pharmacy, its sign swinging gently in the wind, the window to the door broken as bit’s and pieces of the building hang out. She wondered what it may have been like for locals to have a pharmacy around the corner pharmacy.
“Do you want me to get you something? Do you need anything?” Bob wonder’s, she shakes her hand.
“Just get what we need, I'll be okay.” Cami reasure’s him, she appreciated his concern but it was starting to feel smothering.
She carefully step’s over the glass, being sure to not step on anything.
She looked at the broken sign on the ground, while Bob grabbed pill bottle’s carefully. She was on a mission for something of her own. She felt in her stomach what felt like a cramp, she hoped that it was that so her hunt for feminine products would soon be over.
Cami avoided the small mirror’s,her hair was greasy it almost made her happy no one but him could see her. She checked the scattered shelves, a neon pink package with the word’s, Tampax made her smile, happily snatching it up. Stuffing it away in her bag.
Her brown eyes stop on a bright blue box, the world's First Response in bold font. She looked over the shelves grabbing it, shoving it down her bag. She touches her braid nervously looking around her.
He turned around the corner, a white pill bottle in his hand and a water bottle in the other.
“What is that?” She asks him. He turned the bottle around showing her the label, Advil. She nod’s her head, he takes out two, handing them to her.
“Got what you need?” Cami asks him, downing the small red pills with water. He shakes his head.
“I need to look in the back.” He tells her.
“Insulin and needles aren't usually kept in the front.” She reminds him. She shivers, holding her arm’s close to herself, walking past the counter.
A Hand written sign with the word’s, ‘Back in Five minute’s’ The irony behind it.
Her tom lightly taps the floor. She had to trade out her sneakers for lightweight footwear, she was lucky enough to not have to be barefoot in this world. She couldn't imagine how it would be for someone living in their new world with no shoe’s.
She was very privileged to be on the island; a year ago she and Bob had been hunkering down in a beach house when they heard the song. “Beyond the Sea” playing on their radio, Bob was able to trace the signal of the radio tower to a distant island. The wind outside howled loudly.
He looks at the shelves for the medical supplies. Looking between the shelves watching the dark haired woman, her hair done in a single braid, the rest of her hair tucked away in a gray beanie.
He stop's in his trail, feeling a thick liquid beneath the sole’s of his feet, he slowly looked down, a pool of red, he covered his mouth as his heart fell to his stomach.
His hand shake’s as he follows the blood trail, the white tile on the pharmacy coated in a thick line of brown and red. His eyes widened as he looked down, a man with green eyes stared at him lifeless, holding his side as it leaked out onto the floor. The gash was deep, not from the talon’s of the creature’s.
He looked closer at the deceased man, Bob could see several wound’s to man’s torso. His chest rose up and down as tears came to his eyes.
He gasped as he feel’s an arm around his shoulders, Cami looked at him fearfully.
“What is it?” She asked him, he pointed at the wall. Her heart skipped a beat as goosebumps flooded her body. She gagged holding her mouth as a queasy feeling overcame her suddenly, she turned on her feet walking out the opened alley door.
She emptied the contents of her stomach onto the wet concrete, she coughed as she kept reacting,he held her braid away from her face as she finished. Cami groaned softly, wiping her mouth leaning on the wall.
“I'm okay.” Cami reassures him. Her brows furrowed as she tapped him on the arm, pointing down the alley.
Both of them look at each other then at the dumpster where a man with blonde hair in a mullet, holding a bowie knife coated in fresh blood that dripped onto the ground. He slowly looked up at the couple.
Bob holds out his hand up in surrender, holding his arm to shield Cami from the possible threat. His lip quivered as his eyes stared at them widened, his breath shaky.
The both of them could understand clearly what had happened. The man looked to the sky, inhaling deeply. Bob shake’s his head pleading with him silently, Cami stood up grabbing his hand with a tight grip. Their breathing shaky with fear.
He looked at them one last time, determination fiery in his eyes. He opened his mouth a scream of agony, echoing off the city wall’s and back to them.
Cami take’s Bob’s hand as they both sprint away. Their heart’s pounding as blood rushes from their heads, quickly and desperate to get far as they could from the inevitable. Bob gasps as he slip’s on a puddle collapsing to the ground, scrambling to get to his feet.
Cami huff’s as she puts all of her weight on him, holding his mouth to keep quiet. His blue eye’s shadow over with tears as they are forced to listen to the inhumane crie’s filling the air. Glasse’s shatter’s once more as the hears the final blow from the creature.
⏁⏁⏁
THE FIRE CRACKLED and popped, the rain outside patterned away heavily on the roof of the abandoned home. Photos had since fallen off the wall, notebook paper with crayola drawing turning yellow, sometimes she would look at home’s like this and wonder what it may have been like. Were they a big happy family that celebrated holidays with each other each year or was it a happy facade that hid away at the crack’s of the broken family.
Bob look’s up from his book, neither of them were really speaking with each other. She didn't have much to say, her mind kept slinking back to the day’s events. She hadn't realized how bad things were in the city, how naive the both of them were.
He takes a seat next to her on her sleeping bag on the floor. She held her knees against her chest as thunder rumbled outside. He leaned over to his bag, pulling out a small blue ipod with a spongebob sticker on it.
He pulled out the wired headphones, untangling them. “You brought that with you?” She asked him, he nodded.
“Why wouldn't I?” He whisper’s, her lip’s form a thin line.
“I just thought that it was too precious to bring with you.” Cami points out, the light from the fireplace illuminated his shadow onto the ceiling fan.
“I didn't really bring it for myself.” He tells her. Thunder rumbled outside as he handed it over to her, she licked her lip playing with the button’s.
“I know you like music to calm down.” He says, the screen lit up with a click of her thumb, she sighed sadly. He had found it during the first few weeks of the apocalypse, hunkering down in an electronics store in downtown San Diego. Most of the music left on the device being from 70’s to 2000’s,
She clicks recently played songs. Hovering over the button. She wiped her face, her body felt fatigued.
“I’m so tired.” She mumbled touching her braid, his brow furrowed in concern. “What is going on with you?” Bob wonders.
“It's nothing, it's just ..been a long day, and you know it.” Cami dismissed. He bit his lip, she was downplaying her own problem and he wished that she wasn't. He didn't care much about how much they were able to pack away, he just wanted her to feel better.
“Yeah I get that but you have been this way the last few days.” He point’s out, she shakes her head.
“It’s not a big deal, I’ll be fine tomorrow.” Cami reasure’s. His gaze on her softened, the light of the fire reflected onto her face. “I just don't.” He stuttered.
“I don't want to see you get hurt.” He admitted, his deep voice cracking at the end. Her eyes darted as she looked at him “Cause what If I end up like that guy in the alley?” He wonder’s.
“You're not..you won't.” Cami shake’s her head, her voice smooth. she brings her hand’s to his cheek gently caressing him.
“I don't want to.. I don't want to have to do what he did.” Bob says softly, she brings her lip’s to his forehead, holding him closely as he wraps his arms around her shoulders holding her closely, the warmth of the fire radiating from the couple.
“You won't ever have to do that.” She whispered in his ear. “I promise.” Her voice silky virated against him. He sighed into her shoulder, her hand’s trailed from his face to his shoulders holding him close, inhaling his scent of cypress.
Still embracing they lay next to each other, with a free hand he grabs the ipod, his finger’s untangling the white wire’s. Placing one of the earbuds in her over-covered ear, clicking on the center button starting the music.
The soft guitar of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon play’s in her ear. Camile sighed in content, letting herself succumb to the fatigue that flooded her. The rain outside continued heavily, he kept her close, feeling her heart steadying as she fell asleep.
⏁⏁⏁
THE FIRE died as the night went on, his broken watch showing the time, 12:09AM. He couldn't bring himself to sleep, no matter how much he shut his eyes he kept seeing the man in the alley. The way his hands shook as he stared at the both of them, it was haunting to him how the man simply let himself die, not being able to live with what he had done.
The rain had stopped, which did not settle his nerve’s knowing that it set him up for more danger. Behind him he can hear his girlfriend shuffle in her sleeping bag, on her lip’s a soft smile laid, dreaming about anywhere but where they were.
During the day, he saw the color in her face slowly become sickly pale, draining the russet color from her. The bead of sweat she wiped away, saying she was just hot from the sun, he knew was a lie. He wanted to help, and she was too stubborn to admit she needed it, he sighed leaning over to his bag pulling out his notebook ripping out a spare sheet. Writing with his pen,
“I'll be back, went to get more meds 4 u.” Doodling a smile with glasses, he smirked to himself at his own cheesiness. He set it down on his pillow in her peripheral sight, he hoped she didn't wake up early, he leaned over kissing her on the forehead.
He wanted to reassure her he would be back, but he couldn't talk. He picked up the messenger bag with cans they had collected, tip toeing on the floor before getting out the front door. He walked through the vacant neighborhood passing by the overturned cars and abandoned bicycle’s.
He had witnessed the horror of day one of their new normal. The way the creature’s moved at the slightest sound, the clicking that came from their flower petal head’s that he had only caught glimpse of.
This world was dangerous, scary and depressing. It would be much more difficult to do it alone, it scared him what may have happened if he had chosen not to be in that restaurant that day, would he be dead like everyone else?
He stepped inside the pharmacy, being only a five minute walk must have been a godsend to the people. He avoided the glass on the floor, the backdoor lightly swinged as the wind outside howled.
He looked at the blue signs that hung above the isle’s, flu and cold. His finger’s trailed on the cool metal as he read each box and bottle. He wasn't sure on which one would be the most effective, beginning to grab any that said Extra on them.
A snap pulled him out of his focus, his heart dropped to his stomach at the sudden sound. He patted his side for his knife, it hidden away in his sheath. His initials etched into the brown leather, cami had taken the time to stitch in a feather for him.
He rounded the corner of the isle’s. Scanning over the label of a bottle, Maybe it’s allergies and she is just— He gasped as a cloth clasped down over his mouth, muffling his pant’s of terror, he desperately reached for his knife, his arms held behind his back.
He grunted, thrashing back and forth trying to get out. His eyes darted back and forth, two men with their mouths covered by bandana’s. Other two stood off their faces covered as they stared at him down. He groaned as his face met the wet pavement of the street.
On his lower back, he can feel a weight pressed deep. One of the men scoffed, looking him up down, predator and prey. He bends down, his dirty fingernails caressing his cheeks. He snatched the man’s bifocal glasses off his face, his vision blurring instantly.
“Where do you think he came from?” A bald man wearing a blue bandana signed. The other two shrug in response.
“Might be hunkering down in those old suburbs.” Red bandana signs. They take Bob’s messenger bag, searching its contents as he trashed it against his captor’s. Setting down the can’s and pil’s softly on the ground.
“You think he is alone?” Yellow bandana asked, Blue shrugged. “You don't see anyone else do ya?” He point’s out.
“We gonna take him to an auction?” Yellow wonder’s, Red’s knee pressed further into the man’s back, he bit down as the sharp pain shot through his body.
“I doubt he even make it to the stage.” Red sneared, smirking with venom. A light metal clicking makes Bob perk up, bit’s of cement stuck to his cheek’s. Blue’s eyes widen as he read the lettering engraved into the dog tags.
“Check it out, military.” He signs, Bob could make out some of their motion’s even without his glasses. His heart pounded in his ears as he listens to them toss his dog tag’s to each other.
“What kind of name is BOB?” Red signed to blue, he shrugged with his sinister smirk. Red’s dirty nail’s dangled the medallion against his cheek.
“Ronan said any military we take for question.” Yellow points out, blue and red look up at each other. “Looks like we will have some fun tonight boy’s.”
Bob grunted, thrashing as he was forced back up. These men were not friendly, and he was sure that these people were a part of the group that Fanboy and Rooster had warned them about. The radical’s who were desperate for blood.
⏁⏁⏁
HER BROWN EYES fluttered open. She turned over, the lack of a shadow casting from the dying fire confused her. The red plaid sleeping bag remained unpaid and a single notebook paper.
“I'll be back, went to get more meds 4 u.” Cami’s heart pounded, he went off on his own- she think’s. She groaned, getting to her feet, holding her head as she collected her thought’s. Maybe he went far and he was just taking time to avoid making a sound.
She looked down at her wrist, her neon pink wrist watch with the cracked glass, the time reading; 12: 20AM. She hoped that he hadn't been gone for long and he was coming back soon. Her bare feet slapped against the tile as she walked across the floor, she hoped that she didn't step on the loose tile.
She walked up the stairs, looking down the empty hallway. Lifeless with the paint slowly peeling away, picture’s overturned or broken. It was sad, a family torn from the world so quickly. It reminded her where she had grown up with her parents till she was fourteen, going to live with her uncle Curtis on his ranch outside San Diego.
She used to have a big family till her parents had passed away, her grandparents had long left her, and her only relative left was her doom’s day prepping uncle. He taught everything that he thought she should know. She used to think he was crazy and did too many hallucinogens as a teenager. To be fair to him now, she bet he was laughing when the alien’s showed up.
Cami stepped inside a pink bedroom, a small twin size bed in the corner with unmade quilt sheets. The toy’s scattered on the floor, and clothes thrown around, her tinkerbell blanket acting as a makeshift curtain, it reminded her of her own childhood bedroom.
CLING!
She flinched getting on the floor, her heart pounded at the sudden noise. She covers her mouth leaning against the wall, listening for what may have caused the disruption. There is no one here, only two things could be responsible for the sound.
The monster’s who hunted anything that disturbed their perfect world, she had been careful had they could have heard her, unless it was the other thing. People, and not good one’s. She pushed back the strand’s of loose hair, peeking over the window seal.
In the street’s, two dark sholleute’s illuminated from the cloudy moon. Her stare fell to their hand’s, crossbow. Same ones that used to fire arrows on two survivors of the island, at least that’s what she had heard.
What do they want? She thinks in a panic. Their light’s shined in each direction of the neighborhood, entering each house briefly looking around and it wouldn't be long before they would be looking in her house.
Where’s Bob when you need him, she thinks. She inhaled deeply as she began to devise a plan, she had no reason to harm them they haven't done anything to her…yet. She moved away from the window, looking around for an object.
If she could distract them it could give her time to hide, or fight. In the corner, a red and blue rubber ball, Perfect, She thinks, she tiptoed across the pink carpet picking up the ball clutching it to herself.
Her feet padded heavily against the wood as she got to the master bedroom, she kneed the bed as she opened the window creaking with the crank turning. She looked at the neighboring house, a tree with its leaves slowly growing back,
Cami grunted as she threw it at the branches, it snapped bouncing between each other getting stuck. Both men look between each other, looking for the noise. She didn't spare any time rushing downstairs, she picked up her backpack as she watched them.
Blue bandana walked around the front of the house, his grip on the trigger of his crossbow never leaving. She furrowed her brows as a glist from his pocket shone in her eye’s from the moonlight. She squinted her eye’s, her heart racing.
A silver and gold tinted bifocals laid in his pocket, a scratch in the corner of the glass. This wasn't just any run of the mill glasses, it was the one of the man she loved. Her blood boiled in anger pulling on the handle of her ebony knife.
Red bandana’s heavy boot’s scruff against the tiled floor, his flashlight shining in each room. His partner with his blue bandana, follow’s right behind him. In the living room by the fireplace, that remained with ember’s, laid two sleeping bags unmade.
He turned around. “Someone else was with him.” Red pointed out, he nodded.
“Where do you think they went?” Blue ask’s, his partner shrugs with his light. “Might have skipped out, trouble in paradise?” He joked.
“You check the bags, I'll go look outside.” Red order’s him, blue mock salutes him with two fingers, Red step’s through the broken sliding door on the wood patio. In the center of the green backyard amongst the overturned swing set, a dirty pool with leaves floating on the top, green and brown coloring the water.
His nose turned up in disgust, he can only imagine the feel of the water. He shines his light in the corner, looking around for signs of life, though he was pretty sure no one was in the house, does not explain the tree sound.
Crack!
He turned on his heels, looking around as his heart pounded in fear. He aimed his crossbow at the roof of the house, the sound didn't return easing his nerve’s. He gasped as his body met the cold water that weighed him down.
He gasped for air as he broked for the surface. A figure blurred from the water, held him by the collar.
“Where is he?!” She demanded, he coughs up water.
“What?!” He ask’s, she grunt’s shoving him under, he gagged as he arose again. She holds up the bifocals’ to him. “The man, where is he?!”
Her teeth gritted staring at the man. “Tell me where you took him?!” Cami ordered.
“I dont know what the fuck your talking about!” He exclaims, she shakes her head shoving him over the edge of the deep end. He grunted as flayed around under the dirty water, he was forced back to the surface again.
“Where did you take him?” Cami demanded, her shoulder tense as her eye’s fired with anger. He shakes his head, faking confusion. She reached for her waist, grunting as she pulled out her knife, her blade grazing his cheek as he stared at her fearfully.
“You tell me where he is, or I'll cut your fucking throat.” She threatened with her eye’s dark, gripping the back of his head, pulling on his wet hair. He groaned as she drugged her blade across his cheek, blood dripping into the water.
“Steel plant.” He shiver’s out, her lip’s straightened. “Where?” Cami growled, her fingernail’s digging into his head.
“Ahhh…by the dock’s, they're keeping him there till Ronan decides what to….do.” He stammered, his eye clouding with tear’s
“Are you lying?!” She growled, her blade pushing further into his cheek, he moaned in pain shaking his head. “No no I swear.” He state’s in a whisper.
“Please..I have a wife, a baby…she is only two, you don't have to do this.” The man pleaded with her desperately, blood flowing down his face as he begged her with mumble’s of please’s, and prayed.
“You're wrong about that.” Cami whisper’s, his eyes widened, she shakes her head shoving him away from her. “Get the fuck out of here, and dont come back.” She ordered, he nodded his head.
He quickly got out of the dirty water, climbing over the edge and stumbling away from her. She touched her wet braid as her mind raced with tought’s, she almost killed a man. She swam to the edge of the pool lifting herself up.
With a grunt she is forced back into the water, she groans muffled as her body holds tight to the floor, she gasps as she breaks for air. Blue bandana gripped her ebony hair with an iron grip.
“Stupid bitch.” He whisper’s, she snapped away his wrist with her free hand, the other gripped the black handle plunging her blade deep into the man’s abdomen. A scream of anguish filled the air as did an inhumane roar.
Sounds of tree branches and wood snapping. Cami takes a deep breath looking at the roof, she grunts as she dives into the shallow end, pushing the man into the deep end. In the muffled brown water the sound of splashing and screech’s play to her.
She gasped for air, she held herself to the algae tiled end. The creature’s strong arm’s flung around in the water as it clung to the surface world, failing as its body slowly fell flat, floating dead.
Cami sighed in relief, her body shivering. In her other hand, glasses with water droplets thankfully not cracked, and on the other her bloody knife.
Where are you? She thinks.
⏁⏁⏁
HIS BODY ACHED as he slowly regained his consciousness, he could make out very few things but he was sure he wasn't in the suburban home anymore. He groans opening his mouth, restricted to the feeling of cloth in his mouth and around his jaw. He grunted, against the cutting feeling against his wrist.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you.” A voice whispered to him, he panted looking up from his lap. A blurry figure sat away, two other men stood next to the man in the center, staring him down like prey.
“You know it’s one thing to trespass in our city.” The man start’s, looking between the two bandanas, “But to do it after that explosion two weeks ago is ballsy.” He state’s, Bob furrowed a brow.
He shakes his head grunting against the cloth. “Relax, we just wanna ask you some questions, and here we can see it’s all deep underground.”
“You know what else that means?.” He asked standing up, he placed a hand on the captive man’s shoulder, leaning forward whispering in his ears. “No one but me will hear you scream.”
His blue eyes widened in anger, he gritted his teeth struggling against the rope that dung into his wrist. The two men walk to the opposite side of him, one pulls the cloth away from his mouth.
“Who do you work for?” The man with his hair buzzing asks him, he shakes his head. “No one.” Bob answered truthfully, these men were not gonna know if he was lying or not.
“Now son, you and I both know that god frowns upon lying, and if you lie to me I will assure you that your end will not be quick.” His southern drawl deep at the end, his lip’s form a thin line.
“Where did you come from?” The man ask’s, Bob glared at him.
“Nowhere.” He says calmly, the man sadly smile’s. He shakes his head, biting his lip. The man swing’s his face punching him in the jaw. Bob groans, his hair is grabbed forcing him to look up.
He picks up a bag, removing the object’s from it. He set the can’s and medicine in front of him on an old tire. The man smirks, looking him up and down.
“Who is this for then?” He demanded, Bob shake’s his head. “No one.” He groaned as his hair was tugged on tightly.
“We provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, we shower those with the fruits of our labor.” He quotes, chuckling darkly.
“Certainly you werent gonna eat this can of peaches all on your own now were you?” His captor wondered. He rolled his eyes. “I like fruit.” Bob answered plainly.
“Sure you do, and I bet that these.” He says picking up the orange bottle of oxy. “Were just for fun.” He chuckle’s.
“Yes, I want to pop one, good for the nerve’s, or are you already on to something special? .” Bob remarked, the man scrunched his nose up.
“Your a pretty mouth fucker for being tired up.”
Bob smirked, in the back of his mind he was hoping that Cami had been smart and fled to the island. These men were more dangerous, and he couldn't imagine what they would do if they found her alone. The image’s flood his mind of her helplessly surrounded by men, the blood in him boiled in fury.
“We don't get many of you because well you.” He chuckled again, taunting him in a way.
“Now that.” He picked up a can of green beans, tossing it lightly.
He grunt smacks the end of it to his nose. He moaned as his world spun around, he panted as blood trickled onto the concrete floor.
“We can't have it.” He sneered.
“Tell me where you came, better be the fucking truth.” He ordered, he gripped his dirty blonde hair with an iron grip. Bob shake’s his head with wide eye’s.
“Nowhere I swear I'm all alone.” He pleaded.
“Now now Robert.” He spat out his name with venom. “We already said lying will get you nowhere.”
“I’m not lying.” Bob state’s, the man’s eyes flashed with anger as he once again swung at his face, he shook his head in disapproval.
“I know where you came from! And I know there are more of you, NOW tell me where your base is?!” He exclaimed, Bob licked his lip’s as he closed his mouth, copper filled his tongue as he stared in the green eye’s of his captor.
“Military took my wife, she left with one and you are military so FUCKING ANWSER ME!” He growled in his face, his nail’s digging into his cheeks as he forced him to look at him. He remained silent.
“Maybe some motivation will help.” He ask’s, he shoved the pilot away from him. He looked at the other men.
“Grab it.” He state’s.
“Yes Ronan.” One answer’s he glare’s at them. “What did i fucking say about calling me by my name!” He exclaimed.
“Sorry sir, here you go.” The bandana answers by handing him four polaroid photos. He smirked, holding one up to the tied up man. His heart raced as he recognized those picture’s imdeiatly.
“She’s pretty.” Ronan say’s. In the photo was his girlfriend, dressed in sleep short’s and his yellow San Diego shirt, grinning at the camera with her messy black hair unkempt. It was lazy morning for the both of them, he couldn't help but capture the moment.
“Bet you would do anything for her, and you seem like the type to never want to leave his wife’s side.” He summarizes, his glare deepened as his thumb caressed her face. A fury burned deep in him, almost possessive.
“I can respect that.” Ronan tell’s him, his heart pounded.
In this man he could see everything that this world had turned people into, the underbelly of humanity. He moved to another photo.
“Now that is sweet.” He comment’s, holding it up. She had taken it spur of the moment, she kissed him on the cheek and snapped the picture. “Now I bet she doesn't leave your side either.
“You know I think…that you didn't come alone.” Ronan taunted, his blue’s eyes widened at his word.
“Oh…she did, didn't she?” He covered his mouth in surprise. He pulled another photo out, the wolf whistled looking between the tied up man and the polaroid.
“Now this one.” He start’s. He moaned, licking his lips and taking his seat back. He turned the polaroid around for Bob to see. His heart skipped a beat, in the image was a private gag photo she gave him, for him only, it was never meant to be seen by anyone.
With the flash on, she had her shirt lifted with her bare breast exposed, winking at the as on hand covering her other bare chest. “I bet she feels really good.” He scoffed.
Bob shook with anger in his face. He blinked slowly as Ronan leaned forward to him. “Just between us.” He whispers.
“How does she feel?” He questions with a wide smirk.
Bob’s mouth widened as he spat dark red onto the man’s, he cackled as the man fell over onto the floor. He smirked with red blood coloring his teeth. “
How does that feel, huh?” He wiped his mouth on his jacket, spitting at the man again. His eye in fury looked at the captive man.
“I’m not fucking telling you anything.” He spoke up.
“Get him up,put him in the chamber.” Ronan ordered in fury.
The two men forced the blonde up from his chair dragging him into a no longer functioning furnace. Both men climb inside, forcing the pilot to the metal floor. Ronan towered over him, bending on his knees.
He cut’s Bob’s tape from his ankle, keeping his hand bound.
“See how you feel without a little bit of air.” He tells him.
“In the morning he is done.” Ronan says, walking out. His blue eyes looked at him fearfully. The two men exit, closing the steel door with the slam of the latch. He choked as he felt the oxygen leave the room almost instantly.
⏁⏁⏁
THE TWO MEN SMIRKED, both inhaling on the end’s of their cigarettes, the star’s began to fade away, dawn approaching in a short hour. Four men played guard to their prisoner as they waited for the boss to give an answer to what they would do with him. Two stayed outside while two more watched downstairs in the basement.
“How much did you win from that game?” Yellow bandana ask the man in black black, his brows furrowed as he thought.
“11 grand.” He signs, yellow nodded impressed with his partner. “Shit, wish I had that.” He says, from the shoot that led down to the basement, a man in a black baseball cap and purple bandana emerged.
“What are you doing?” Yellow asks him, he climbs over looking at the both of them. “Taking a piss.” He signed, they grimaced as they shook head’s at him.
“So how long did you stay there?” He asked his friend, and he shrugged. “About twenty years, then I left.” He answers.
“Damn man.”He sign’s off, a grunt in the distance catche’s their attention. They spun around to look at the other end of the factory. The other guard return’s, adjusting his hat.
“Get clogged up?” Black bandana signs, he looked up, flipping them the obscene gesture with his middle finger. They chuckled as they kept smoking.
Downstairs the guard climbed back down, his boot’s thumping heavily against the ground as his baggy jacket swung around. In the center of the basement, Bob remained tied to the chair he was in. His face littered with different blow and cut, his arm’s slumped down as he looked only at his feet.
“Damn that was quick.” Green bandana comments, he nodded in agreement as he circled the room looking at the prisoner. Green slumped against his chair, holding on to his crossbow.
“He ain't talking, guess we took it all out of him.” He commented, he looked at the stack of tires next to him, the polaroid photos still laying there. He smirked, reaching for them as he admired them.
“Fuck.” He grumbled with a lick of his lips, he looked at the battered man sitting across from him
“You know if we find your lady you mind if I have a spin with her?” He asks him.
“It’s cool if you do..but im keeping this photo right here.” He tells him holding up the nude photo of Cami, his stare staying on the ground.
“Hope you understand..I don't get much action these days if you know what I mean.” Green scoff’s.
“You don't but that’s alright.” He grumbled, the man looked down at the photograph again, his palm kneading the end of his pant’s.
“Damn.” He whispers. Green leaned over to purple, he stops as he looks at him. “Ever seen a rack like this?” He asks cackling, purple’s deep laugh’s slowly at his friend as he admires the photo.
He lunged forward, wrapping his arm under his windpipe, locking him in place as he gasped for air, clawing at purple’s arm’s as he desperately clung to air. His slowly closed shut as his body fell slump, unconscious. Bob furrowed his brow confused at his actions.
“Why did you do that?” He wonder’s, purple turned around marching over to him, unsheathing a knife from his waist, cutting through his ankle restraints. “Why are you helping me?” He wonders.
“Because who else loves you enough to come after you.” A female voice say’s, his heart flutters as he recognizes the deep brown eyes that looked up at him. He smiled warmly as she removed her bandana.
“Cami?” He breathed out. She caressed his cheek, running her thumb softly over the cut’s on his face.
“What did they do?” She asked in disbelief.
“They tried to break me.” He whisper’s out, she shakes her head getting up, she grunt’s cutting through the duct tape around his wrist. He groan at the pressure leaving his hand’s, and she walked around. He brought his hands to her cheek’s, cressing the scratches and cuts on her cheeks.
“Are you hurt?” He asked her, his thumb running over the dried brown stain on her cheek, she shook her head. “I'm fine.” Cami stated.
“Did they hurt you?” He asks again, she grabs his hand pulling them away from her. “No..save your voice, we don't have much time.” She tells him.
“What are you talking about?” He wonders, shaking his head confused. She looked down at the unconscious man, she walked over to him snatching his bandana off his face tossing it to her boyfriend.
“You put that on, his jacket should fit you.” She explains, she collected the thing’s removed from his sack, shoving the polaroid photos in the bottom. “You're gonna go upstairs, pretend to be him.” She order’s.
“Okay then what?” He ask’s her, she grunts as she takes off the heavy jacket from the bandit, tossing it back to him.
“He comes back down here, I will knock him out.” She explains. He hadn't seen her this way before, taking charge and so focused. It almost scared him, and helped him with how was feeling.
He wanted to tear these men apart for even daring to mess with them, for even thinking of touching her the way he does. She picked up the crossbow from the ground, reloading it, turning to look at him.
“When you get up there, knock out the last guard, we aren't too far from the boat and I already put our bag’s there.” Camiele quickly explained to him, he nodded his head compiling. He put his arm through the large jacket, wrapping the green bandana on his face.
“How did you find me?” He wonder’s, she turned on her heels. “What my uncle taught me.” She tells him blankly.
“I cant believe they fucking took you.” She grumbled, her shoulders tense as moved things around. His mouth parted at her fury.
“Did you kill them?” He asked her, and she stopped.
“Not me, the creature heard one when he tried to kill me.” She state’s, his heart pounded at her fast pace.
“It doesn't matter if we have to do this now or never.” She continued. He grabbed her hand as she walked by, she looked at him in his teary blue eyes as he stared at her. Without his glasses, he truly looked like a battered man with each bruise that was forming on his tan skin.
“You didn't leave.” He says, her gaze softened for a moment. “Never.” She whispered, she leaned forward on her tiptoes kissing his cheek. She pressed her forehead against his.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” She whispered, pulling away, he adjusted his cap on his head. He walked over to the ladder, turning to look at her. Good luck, she signed to him.
He takes a deep breath as he begins to climb to the hatch. He carefully pushed up the lid, setting it back up. His heart pounded in his ears as he swung his leg’s over the metal, he strided over to the two men chain smoking.
They laughed, turning to him. Yellow raised a brow at him. “Switched already?” He signed to him.
“Yeah, he’s in the chamber.” He signed in response. Black scoffed. “Being mouthy again?” He asks him.
“I ought to teach em something about respecting superior’s.” Black sneared, bob’s shoulders shook in anger, he cleared his throat.
“Well do it then.” He signed with a dark chuckle.
Black nodded his head, flicking his cigarette. He patted green on the shoulders as he paced over to the shoot. Bob leaned against the brick wall, looking out at the skyline as the sun had picked through the yellow and blue night.
Yellow tap’s the ground. “With all these people coming back, maybe we will find that place.” He tells him, he raised a brow. They kept asking about the island, mentioning something about a wife.
“I don't know I kind of like this.” Bob played along, yellow took a drag of his cancer stick blowing out smoke.
“What?” He asks him. He shrugged.
“Getting killer view’s like this.” He pointed out at the sky, Yellow turned his head, leaning out, he smirked under his facial covering. It looked like something witnessed in a painting, with each color perfectly chosen.
The man gagged as the windpipe was blocked, he clawed at the arm that choked him. Yellow grunt’s he elbowed the man behind him, Bob stumbled back, he panted holding his bruised rib.
Yellow’s eyes darkened, he tackled him onto the concrete. Bob huffed as he clawed at him with the strength he had left, the man on top of him growled as he wrapped his fingers around his throat, squeezing the air from his lungs.
Bob gagged as he scratched at his face, pushing his face cover off him. Yellow’s smiled looking down at him, he gasped as sharp pain was felt into his back, he turned over his shoulder seeing a woman with a dark braid.
He gripped the blade that stuck out his back, his eyes widened as he removed it from his back, hissing with his teeth as he held up the blood soaked metal to the rising sun. He grunts as he swung at the young woman.
She ducked, kicking him away from her. Yellow’s arm’s are restricted as he backs into a wall, into a person. Bob grunted as he pushed the blade away from himself, keeping his feet firmly placed on the ground, pressing deep against the brick as the man fought hard.
With his free hand he gripped the man’s hand, plunging the knife into his throat. The blood dripped down his mouth as he stumbled around, desperately stopping the blood that gushed out, finally collapsing to the ground with a gurgle.
Bob sighed in relief, turning around. His hand shaking as his heart pounded, he couldn't believe what he had done, he had killed a man. He didn't think he was actually capable of actually killing someone, much less stabbing one.
Cami’s breath shake’s as she extends her arm’s bringing him close. The morning cold shivered up and down her body, he placed his chin on her forehead as they held each other. Her brown eyes rolled into the back of her head as she began to feel faint. She fell forward into his chest, he grunted catching her with both of his arm’s as she laid limp against him.
⏁⏁⏁
DAWN HAD finally come, shining through the windows of the small home. On the plaid couch in front of the fireplace, Camile laid asleep, a fluffy blue blanket clutched against her body. She groaned, turning over as her brown eyes slowly fluttered open.
Her eye’s slowly adjusted to the bright light that shined. She recognised where she was, the familiar scent of cedarwood and bayberry filling her nose, bit’s of clothing on the floor and on the mantle photos from the world before. She was home.
She didn't have time to relax as her tongue watered with an awful taste, she clutched her mouth as she leaned over to the teal trash bin next to her, emptying the contents of her stomach into it, she gagged as the potent smell filled her nose.
She moaned in relief leaning back against the couch. The floorboard creaks making her perk up, she turned over looking in the kitchen arch way. There stood her boyfriend, wearing jeans and a dark green henley shirt, unbutton at the top.
“Are you okay?” Bob ask’s her, she nodded her head touching her forehead.
He walked over to her, a plate in hand as he sat on the coffee table. His face was cleaned up, the cut’s on his head covered with a small white bandage. A bruise painted his lip’s, his bifocal covered most of the damage done to his eyebrow.
“What happened?” Cami wonder’s, he sighed. “You passed out, and I had to drag you to the boat.” He explained plainly, he handed her a cup of water with two red tablets in his hand.
“You have been asleep since this morning, and I had you checked out at the infirmary, you weren't hurt.” Bob reassures her, his voice low and raspy, probably from the suffocation.
Cami groaned sitting up, her bare legs being met with the brisk and warm air of the small cottage. She looked down, she guessed that he had changed her clothes for her, graciously he kept her shirt on.
“What about you?” She wondered, he shrugged the question off. “Couple bruised ribs, busted lip and eye brow, fancy shiner growing on my forehead as for my eye’s.” He stop’s, her eye’s widened.
“What..what is it?!” Cami asked concern, his blue eyes met her dark eyes.
“I don't think I can see very well.” He tells her, his lip’s forming a mischievous smirk, she shook her head at his behavior.
“Not funny.” She scold’s him. He bit his lip shaking his head. “Couldn't resist.” He says.
She leaned forward, taking the drink from him, swallowing the water and pill’s. Slushed the water around in her mouth to get rid of the puke taste, spitting into the bin next to her. She groaned holding herself.
“Feels Like I was hit by a truck.” She joked to him, laughing weakly. Her hair had bit’s coming out, he knew not to touch her hair unless she allowed him to, she allowed her hair to grow long then ceremoniously she cut it when she knew it was time.
“Well I can imagine.” He says, she looked up at him.
“Bob..I’m sorry..I should have been on guard..you were just trying to help me and I just.” She stuttered out, he shook his head. He placed his hand on her’s. “Stop-it wasn't anyone’s fault, and definitely not yours, Cam.” He reassures her.
“We both knew they were in the city, and you got hurt trying to help me.” Cami countied, he shook his head. “I should have fu- I should have just stayed.” She mumbled.
“You didn't, and you didn't leave me behind either.” Bob reminds her, his voice soft with reassurance. “You fought like hell.”
“And would do the same for you in a heartbeat.” He state’s, her heart skipped a beat in her chest, her eye’s darting between his as she relaxed, his hand’s holding her own. She looked down.
“What is it?” He wonder’s, his calloused hand rubbed circle’s on her palm. She took a deep breath building up the courage in herself.
“Bob..I uh.” She stop’s. She inhaled again. “I think I’m pregnant.” She revealed, his lips parted as he stared at her.
His heart pounded as his mind began to flood with image’s as thing’s finally added up. Cami looked at his concern, the color left his face as he just stared up at her in shock and confusion.
“Are…are you sure?” He mumbled, she shrugged her shoulders unsure. “I think so, I mean look at the signs right?” She chuckled, he blinked, running his fingers through his hair.
“You're not..mad are you?” Camile asked, her heart dropped to her stomach at the thought of him leaving. He shook his head as his mouth began to form a smile. He placed his hand on her shoulders.
“No No I'm not mad, I could not be mad at that.” He gushed excited, he laughed as he brought her into a hug. He vibrated against his shoulder as he crushed her in a bear hugger.
Cami smiled against him as he slowly rocked her back and forth.
“Please tell me this is actually happening, please.” He pleaded with her, his hand shaking against her back. She chuckled, nodding into his shoulders.
“Cam, that's amazing.” He gushed.
“It’s all real I swear.” She gushed. He pulled away from her, wiping away the tears that stained his cheek. “Oh don't cry.”
“I’m not–I just can't help it.” Bob tell’s her, she shakes her head as she leaned forward, pulling by his cheek, inhaling deeply as she kissed him. His free hand caressed her waist, his thumb grazing over stomach. She pulled away as she embraced him once more, the sunlight illuminates their shadows onto the hardwood floor.
I will cry if this flops again, I know some of these don't make much sense but I don't care because it was fun as hell! @parksandsparks @icezansky @bobfloydssunnies
{All Dagger's included some of these smells are not bath and body works, some are small shops so please buy and support them since you all liked the last post here is part two enjoy}
𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲 "𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫" 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰- 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞
Like in my last post he honestly reminds me of these very specific smells from my childhood, I grew up around industrial type smells and my grandpa alway's smelt like Tobacco, and I feel like he maybe grew up around those smells too. This candle smells like,
Warm Tobacco and brushed suede aromatic greens, soft weathered woods, earthy patchouli and smoky leather. and is Described as your dad's old car, his cologne on bended into the leather
𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 "𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐧" 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧- 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐲
He remind's me of when you wake in the morning and there is a fresh pot of coffee, like the start to a new day and thing's are gonna be good and later into the day you need something to take the edge of, so you take a Whiskey. Also look at this man he is clearly a whiskey man. This candle smells like, bold Irish whiskey, splash of vanilla and a hint of coffee. and is described as your favorite morning pick-me-up with a touch of weekend spirit.
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚 "𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱" 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞- 𝐒𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞
So this one is based off my headcanon for her that she grew up in Arizona, like she grew up in one of those adobe clay home's like when you drive out in New Mexico, i've seen them before, she also reminds me of sunsets if you believe it. Patchouli flowers, pink pepper and exotic rosewood. and is described as a woodsy, warm desert escape.
𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 "𝐁𝐨𝐛" 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐝- 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 & 𝐎𝐮𝐝
Bob just reminds me of that after rain smell, like the sun has just come out, there is cloud's left behind and the ground is wet, if the sun catches it correctly it will flicker on the wall. Just that overall feeling if you understand. This candle smells like dark golden amber, fresh rainwater and oud wood. And is Described as the woodlands after a rainstorm.
𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 "𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐲" 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚- 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧
I have actually had the privilege to own this but it was a body wash, and when I tell you it's the most masculine and sweet smell I have ever smelt you wouldn't believe me. And you cannot not tell me that Mickey wouldn't take a girl night swimming as a surprise, well thats my headcanon. This candle smells like blue cypress, vetiver and coastal air. And Described as a cool, refreshing dip in the deep blue sea.
𝐑𝐮𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐧 "𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤" 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡- 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝
I remember smelling this candle in the store, and call me crazy but dosent he give you the vibe that his sheet's are black and that most of his closet are light or dark colored T-shirts. Like I can just imagine this smell in his clothe's. This candle smells like rich mahogany, black teakwood, dark oak and frosted lavender. and is described as borrowing their flannel for a hike in the woods. (come on even B&BW agrees with me)
𝐉𝐚𝐯𝐲 "𝐂𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐞" 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨- 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐞
Okay it's no secret that clearly this man looks great in a suit, and in his flight suit. I swear to it that he would have a rich type of cologne, like when he walks past you it hits you right in the face. Even when he leaves a room it linger around. This candle smells like White Teakwood, Oakmoss, Sage & Sparkling Bergamot. And described as Elegant and Stoic like a man ready for the evening suit and tie and all.
This might be better then the first post, like i put more detail into this post and please check out these smells and some of these are fairly cheap from these stores.
SO after my crappy week im gifting you all this gift! This was fun and kind of hard but what do you all think! HOW ABOUT A POSSIBLE PART 2 @icezansky told you not to give me ideas 🤭
Summary: Captain Jake "Hangman" Seresin had come close to swinging from the gallows more times than he would care to admit. He's stolen, cheated, even killed. The worst thing he's ever done? Broken the heart of a woman. Having broken the heart of the woman whom Davy Jones himself had fallen for six years ago, Jake is now cursed to live as something not dead, but not alive. He's doomed to live a half-life for the rest of his existence unless he manages to obtain the treasure Davy Jones deems most valuable. The problem? He has no idea what it is, and he only had seven years to obtain it.
Trigger Warning: Language, Big brother Bradley, Secrets, Feelings of betrayal, Abandonment issues from the reader, Reader says something she'll regret later, Allusions to prostitution and violent men, Magic, Curses, Supernatural is real, Reader cries, Feelings of helplessness, Pirate!Jake. I think that's it, but let me know if I missed anything!
Word Count: 4k
Series Masterlist || Moodboards || Playlist || Jake "Hangman" Seresin Tag List
“What do you mean you still haven’t eaten?”
Bradley winced at your tone, running a hand through his brown locks as he eyed you wearily. You had meant to drag him to the physician at the last port you had docked at, but the excitement from the day prior had wiped the issue completely from your brain. Who knew falling overboard could do that to a person?
Now here you were a week later, and it had finally dawned on you that you hadn’t seen your brother eat much more than an apple here and there. You had kept quiet the past two days, silently observing him, and here you sat in the galley, Bradley to your right with Mickey and Nat sat across from you. The rest of the crew milled about, and it wouldn’t be long before Bob and Reuben joined your little group for breakfast.
“It’s not that serious, Guppy,” he murmured, casting a weary look at the two sitting across from you. “I feel fine.”
“Bradley, you aren’t eating,” you scowled, turning your own gaze to your new friends. “Tell him he needs to go see a physician.”
The two shared a look before Mickey shook his head, putting his hands up in surrender while Nat sighed.
“Yeah, I’m definitely not getting in the middle of a sibling squabble,” she drawled, taking a bite of her apple. You rolled your eyes, turning back to look at the brunette beside you.
“As soon as we dock, I’m going to go find a physician,” you told him, pressing your lips into a firm line as you stared him down. Your father had always said that you get your temper and attitude from your mother.
“It’s like a miniature you running around everywhere, Pen!” He’d laugh, throwing his head back as you gave him the best scowl your six year old self could come up with. Your mother would roll her eyes, biting back a smile as she watched you glare at the older man.
“She’s going to strike fear into the heart of everyone who crosses her, mark my words!” He grinned, reaching out to gather you in his arms.
“Don’t give me that look,” you scowled as Bradley gave you a dubious look. “I mean it! We’re finding a physician the next time we dock.”
“Alright, fine,” he grumbled, moving to stand, holding up his hand when you made to say something else. “By all means, go find a physician, Guppy. In the meantime, I’m going to go get some work done on deck before we dock.”
“Javy said we should make landfall within the hour,” Nat provided, watching as the brunette rounded the table towards the stairs. You watched after him, chewing on your bottom lip in worry. Were you really in the wrong for worrying after him so? Surely not. Bradley had always been stubborn, ever since the two of you were children. If anything, he wasn’t worrying nearly enough about his current condition.
“He’s going to be okay, you know,” Nat said, reaching out to hold your hand in hers. She offered you a gentle smile as she squeezed it lightly. “Maybe you should give him some time?”
“I’ve given him plenty of time,” you mumbled, glaring half-heartedly at the stairs where Bradley had just disappeared. “He needs to see a physician if he’s not eating. It could be illness.”
“He seems fine to me,” Mickey offered with a shrug. “A physician would be a waste of time, anyway.”
“Why’s that?” You asked, brow furrowing at his words. Nat shot him a pointed look, and Mickey straightened up as if just realizing what it was that he said.
“Oh, I just mean,” he trailed off, looking at Nat for help. All she offered was an unimpressed glare as he fumbled for how to continue.
“I just mean,” he stammered, “that physicians never really know what they’re doing, right? I mean, they’ll prescribe plants and leeches and-”
“Mickey?” Nat interrupted, raising an eyebrow and resting her chin on her fist.
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
“Oh thank God,” Mickey mumbled, looking away and catching sight of Bob and Reuben making their way towards your table. Bob sat down next to you, bumping your shoulder with his in greeting as Mickey and Nat made room for Reuben on the other side.
“What are we talking about?” Bob asked, taking a bite of his oats.
“I’m going to go and find a physician for Bradley once we dock,” you told him. He paused, stiffening next to you for a moment before continuing with his food.
“What?” You asked, a tinge of annoyance evident in your town. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just chewing before swallowing.
“Is a physician really what he needs?” He asked carefully, glancing up at your friends on the other side of the table. You rolled your eyes fixing the bespectacled man with an annoyed look.
“Is there some sailor superstition about physicians being bad luck that I don’t know about?” You questioned, glancing around the table. Everyone refused to meet your eyes, and you felt another twinge of aggravation in your chest.
“No,” Bob replied, shaking his head, spoon clacking against the side of his bowl as he moved the oats around. “It’s just that they’re costly, you know? I’d hate for you to waste all that money only for there to be nothing wrong with him.”
“He’s not eating,” you replied dryly. “I think that’s plenty of cause to go and see a physician. I’ll deal with the cost when we get there.”
Shouting could be heard from on deck, and all of you glanced up at the sudden outcry.
“Sounds like we’ve reached land,” Reuben commented, focusing back on his plate.
“Perfect timing,” you chirped, already moving to stand. You cast a final smile to your friends, giving a small wave as you made your way towards the stairs. “I’ll see you all up there!”
It was still a few hours before anyone was allowed to leave the ship, Jake and Javy making sure that everyone had been inspected for signs of illness per the harbormaster’s orders. You kept silent about Bradley’s lack of appetite, certain that if it were contagious, then the others would be showing signs as well. Once the ship had been cleared and deemed healthy, you all set about preparing the ship to settle.
It was the late afternoon by the time you finished your tasks, and you set about trying to pin down Bradley.
“Have you seen him?” You asked Nat as you hung in the doorway to your shared cabin, having ran from the galley to the private quarters. She glanced up at you in the mirror, a quizzical look on her face as you fought to catch your breath.
“Who?”
“Bradley, of course,” you chuckled, straightening up and stepping further into the room. “Who else would I be talking about?”
She hummed noncommittally, turning her focus back towards her bun.
“I haven’t seen him,” she responded finally. “But I haven’t seen the others either. Perhaps they’ve already gone ahead and gone out?”
Your lips pulled into a frown as you realized that, save for Bob just moments before, you hadn’t seen Mickey or Reuben either.
“He wouldn’t,” you growled, earning another look from the woman in front of you. Your jaw dropped in indignation. “That rat!”
“He’s your brother,” she shrugged, once again turning back to the mirror. You let out another growl, turning to stomp your way back onto the deck. The oaf you called a brother would have to come back to the ship at some point, and it was then that you would corner him.
Meanwhile, your boots stomped across the deck and towards the gangway, mind bound and determined to find a physician at this small port. The docks were already crowded in the late afternoon, and you found yourself having to push through throngs of people just to get into the streets themselves. You weren’t sure where you should be looking, but you were sure that a port town of this size had to have some kind of physician. All around you, merchants of all kind hollered to the passing travelers, some selling food, others selling trinkets.
“Fine wares for your misses, sir!”
“Fish for sale!”
“How’s about a shilling for an hour of your pleasure, mister?”
You shied away from the last one, not wishing to be caught up in that business. People did what they needed to survive, but you were weary of the men who tended to hang around those parts.
“Interested in apples, miss?”
You turned to find an older woman staring directly at you, knobbed fingers outstretched to offer you a bright, red apple. She was missing a few teeth, that you could see as she smiled up at you, her silver hair falling out of her bun in wisps.
“They’re just a three for a shilling,” she continued, waving it up at you. “Tha’s quite the bargain.”
“No,” you shook your head. “No, thank you. Would you happen to know where I can find a physician?”
“A physician?” She parroted, her arm dropping back to her side as she studied you. “Doesn’t look like anythin’s wrong with you.”
“It’s not for me,” you corrected her. “It’s for my brother. I think he might be sick since he hasn’t been eating.”
“Not eatin’, you say?” She hummed thoughtfully. “Was a boy back when I was a girl meself who stopped eatin’ one day, there was. Was fit as a fiddle and then just dropped dead one day, the poor lad.”
“Yes, well,” you swallowed thickly, feeling ice run up your spine at her words, “I’d like to keep that from happening to my brother, if you don’t mind. So, do you know of any physicians here in town?”
“Oh, aye, aye,” she nodded, her wayward strands of hair flying all over the place. “Physician’s just a few streets over, love. A fine man he is, too. Helped me sister when she was puking buckets a few years back. Set her right as rain he did.”
“You said he’s a few streets down?” You prodded.
“Aye, just three streets down and to the right from here. There’s a big ole sign out front, you can’t miss it,” she said, waving in the general direction of where you needed to head. You followed the gesture, looking back and nodding.
“Thank you,” you smiled, turning and making your way through the crowd once more. It took you all of fifteen minutes to find the building the old woman was talking about, a bright blue sign with the word “physician” painted in white letters hanging above the streets as you approached. Worming your way through, you finally managed to trudge your way through the door, slamming it closed behind you with a wince at the loud sound in the unusually quiet room.
It was your standard physician’s office, the wood floors creaking as you wandered further into the dimly lit room. The walls behind the counter were filled to the brim with different herbs and potions meant for treating different ailments. It wasn’t long before an older man walked out from the backroom, peering at you curiously from over the rim of his glasses.
“Might I help you with something, young lady?” he inquired, rubbing his hands clean with a cloth towel.
“Yes, actually,” you smiled, crossing the rest of the distance to stand just in front of him, only the counter separating the two of you. “I came because of my brother. He hasn’t been eating the last few weeks, and it has me worried.”
“Hasn’t been eating, hm?” He hummed, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. “Does he have any other symptoms?”
“Now that you mention it, no,” you frowned, suddenly finding it odd that the only thing physically wrong with Bradley was his apparent lack of an appetite. “He sleeps just fine, and he looks healthy as he usually does.”
“No fever?” He continued.
“No, nothing like that,” you assured him.
“Vomiting?”
You shook your head, earning another hum from the older man.
“And, uh,” he smiled, a gesture you were sure was meant to be comforting, “what is it your brother does for a living?”
“He’s a sailor.”
“A sailor,” he nodded, cocking his head to the side. “And why isn’t he here with you now?”
“He thinks he doesn’t need a physician,” you scowled, crossing your arms. “He was supposed to come with me, but snuck off before I could grab him.”
The physician chuckled at that, tossing the cloth onto the counter as he leaned against it.
“Well, unfortunately, there’s not much I can do about his situation without seeing him in person, miss. How long is he in town for?”
“We’re here for at least another day,” you told him, earning another nod.
“Bring him by tomorrow,” he instructed. “I’ll take a look at him before you two leave town.”
“Thank you,” you sighed, relief washing over you in waves. “I really appreciate this, you have no idea.”
“I’ll keep the shop open until sundown. After that, I make no promises.”
“We’ll be here!” You assured him, turning to leave, weary of the setting sun shining through the window. You waved at him from over your shoulder, offering one last smile as you exited the shop.
“Bradley,” you huffed, arms crossed and eyes narrowed at the taller brunette. The two of you were currently in another argument about going to the physician, your window before the shop closed rapidly waning as the sun sank lower and lower towards the horizon. You had tried to stay awake the night before, waiting for Bradley on deck before falling asleep on one of the dozen barrels scattered about. You had inexplicably woken up in your bed that morning, still dressed in the clothes from the day before. When you had entered the galley, he was still absent, the rest of your little friend group remaining tight lipped about where he might be. The rest of your day was spent meal prepping and taking inventory with Bob until finally, the man had run out of chores for you two to do. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he was keeping you busy on purpose.
You had sat perched in the same spot as the night before, eyes trained on the gangway until a familiar head of brown hair peeked over the deck. He spotted you right away, freezing in his tracks before making a beeline for the stairs leading below deck. You were hot on his heels, your temper surfacing as you finally cornered him.
“Guppy,” he replied cooly, refusing to meet your eye as he scanned the galley for help.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” you accused him, earning a scoff.
“Have not.”
“Have to.”
“Have not.”
“You have to, and don’t even try to deny it again,” you snapped, poking him in the chest. “We have precious little time to get to the physician before he closes up shop for the day. He was kind enough to keep it open as long as he is, now let’s go.”
“I’m not going,” he muttered. You froze, balking at his tone.
“What?”
“I’m not going, Guppy,” he repeated, still not meeting your gaze, golden eyes locked on something just past your shoulder. You let out a humorless chuckle, shaking your head in exasperation.
“Bradley-”
“I’m not going, and that’s final,” he growled. “Drop it.”
You stared at him for a long moment, your anger and sadness welling up all at once inside of you.
“You really want to leave me alone, don’t you?” You whispered. Bradley’s eyes snapped to you, still firm, but now with an edge of uncertainty to them. “First it was Papa, then Mama. I only had you, and now you’re determined to leave me too. You’d rather see me alone than go see the stupid physician, is that it?”
His face dropped into a look of horror, regret swirling in his eyes as he reached for you. “Guppy-”
You took a step back, feeling the hot, angry tears sting at your eyes. You fixed him with your meanest glare, cursing yourself when you felt your bottom lip begin to tremble.
“If you want to die so bad,” you sniffled, “then by all means, go ahead. Just leave me out of it.”
And with that, you turned on your heals and practically sprinted towards the stairs, the eyes of the rest of the crew fixed on you the entire way. You were vaguely aware of Bob’s concerned face peering at you from the kitchen, Mickey and Reuben seated not too far away. You passed Nat, ignoring her outstretched hands as you thundered past her and Javy up the stairs. The wind sent a chill down your heated face, only made worse when the tears finally began to fall. The sun was just above the horizon now, the sky painted in an array of pinks and oranges as it beckoned the night.
“Rough time?”
You jumped, spinning around to find Jake leaning against the railing on the far side of the ship. His golden blonde hair shimmered in the evening light. The sun kissed the horizon just passed his shoulder, creating a halo that glowed around him. If you didn’t already know him, you’d think he was an angel. He stares at you as if he could see into the very depths of your soul, his olive green eyes never wavering.
“What do you care?” You snapped, furiously rubbing at your eyes to rid them of any tears. Jake watched you intently, as if knowing that you would continue. “Bradley’s not eating.”
“Of course he’s not,” Jake replied, no hint of malice or sarcasm in his voice. Just a simple statement, but it made you tense up nonetheless.
“He hasn’t eaten in weeks,” you clarified, unsure if maybe he misunderstood you. He nodded, face unchanging.
“I know.”
“You know?” You asked incredulously. “You know, and you’ve done nothing about it?”
“There’s nothing to be done about it,” he shrugged, and you felt your whole body stiffen in anger.
“He needs a physician,” you snapped, fists clenched so hard at your sides, you thought you might draw blood with how your nails dug into your palms.
“A physician can’t cure what’s wrong with him, darlin’,” he drawled, as if explaining something so obvious. Your jaw ticked in annoyance.
“And what, pray tell, is wrong with my brother, captain?” You spat, the title earning a twitch from the blond’s lips.
“Do you believe in Davy Jones, Guppy?” he asked. That was unexpected. The change in conversation had your head jerking back, confusion stifling the anger momentarily.
“I believe he’s a scary story that parents tell their children to scare them into being good,” you responded, thinking back to the stories your own father would tell you. “He’s not real.”
Jake gave a humorless chuckle, closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh. He ran a hand through his golden locks, looking out over the side of the ship and to the sea. The sound of the gulls and the creak of the ship as it rocked in the waves were the only things to be heard before he spoke. “I can assure you, he’s real.”
“Stop teasing,” you snapped, crossing your arms and fixing him with a glare. He gave you a wry smile, a look of sadness barely discernable in his eyes as they swept over you.
“If only it were that,” he started. “I didn’t believe in curses until six years ago, if you can believe that.”
“And what happened six years ago to make you a believer?” you asked, rolling your eyes. You were in no mood to be mocked or played with, and this man was wasting your time with his nonsense. You glanced over his shoulder. If you could wrap this conversation up, perhaps you could somehow convince Bradley to go with you to get the care he needed.
Jake paused. “Six years ago, I met a woman. She was beautiful, sweet, caring. The kinds of things most men want in a woman.”
“And you don’t?” you questioned.
“Those are nice things to have,” he hummed thoughtfully, then he gave you a small smirk. “But I’ve always wanted a little more.”
You ignored the shiver that smirk sent through you. “So, I’m guessing you took this woman to bed?”
“I did,” Jake admitted, pursing his lips. “And then I left her. Only, I didn’t know that there was another man in love with her at the time.”
“And he beat you senseless?” You guessed, letting out a snort of derision.
“Haven’t you been paying attention, darlin’?” He chuckled. “That man was none other than Davy Jones himself. Risen from the deep to exact vengeance on little, old me.”
“Right,” you scoffed. Surely he couldn’t be expecting you to believe him? He was speaking of fairytales. “And what, pray tell, does this curse involve exactly?”
“I, and everyone in my crew, are destined to exist on this earth in limbo. Not alive, but not dead either. A half-life. We eat, but we are never full. Our food tasting like ash.” He stood up, walking slowly towards you as he continued talking. “We drink, but our thirst is never quenched. The finest wines leave our throat dry like the desert.”
He cupped your cheek, stroking it before resting his thumb on your bottom lip, and you willed yourself to stay focused on the conversation at hand, despite the warmth the seemingly innocent action sparked in you. “We can feel, but no touch leaves us satisfied. I and every other member of this crew have taken many women to bed, only to crave more and more as this insatiable need for contact drives us mad. I’ve not known relief from another person’s touch in over six years.”
“Must be lonely,” you said softly. A look of unadulterated despair ran across Jake’s face, and it was then that you knew in your heart that he was telling the truth. It was the look of a man with ghosts that followed him, taunting him into submission, and you sucked in a harsh breath as he stared at you. His eyes shone with unshed tears, his breaths coming in ragged for a moment before he was able to compose himself.
“It’s agony,” he admitted quietly, dropping his hand back to his side, almost reluctantly.
“Did Davy Jones give you a way to lift the curse?” you asked, a sense of urgency in your tone. If there was a way you could help Bradley and your new friends, you had to try.
Jake didn’t say anything for a moment. Then he sighed, “I have to find what he considers to be the greatest treasure of all.”
“And what is that?”
“He didn’t say,” Jake muttered, head hanging low.
Your brow furrowed. “But, how are you supposed to find it if you don’t even know what it is you’re looking for?”
“Isn’t that the point?” he snorted, a humorless smile etched onto his face as he looked back at you. A sense of dread filled you, and you did your best to push it to the side. Giving up was not an option, it never had been for you.
“Well, you have all the time in the world to find what it is you’re looking for,” you offered, giving him a soft smile. He shook his head, the wry smile finding a home on his face once more.
“Old Jonesy only gave me seven years to find it before the curse becomes permanent.”
“Seven years?” you exclaimed, ice drenching your bones. “But you said this happened six years ago!”
“I did,” he said softly, watching you put the pieces together.
“But, that means…” you trailed off, horror overtaking your senses. Jake nodded.
“I have less than one year left to find the treasure.”
A/N: This one goes out to all my Fool's Fare girlies who have been waiting patiently for two months now for an update and haven't complained once! Y'all are the real MVPs. If you haven't heard, I'm redoing my tag lists, so please be sure to sign up for this new one! As always, reblogs and comments are appreciated and encouraged! And don't ever hesitate to pop into my inbox to talk about my fics or anything else! You can also find my works on AO3 under the username sailor_aviator!
You know what I love what we got from TGM is the friendship between Lewis and Danny, like Danny is the clearly Extrovert to Lewis's introverted, and any content I get of this friendship I eat up, it seems genuinely pure 🫶🏻
As a single dad trying to start dating again, Bradley feels like he's constantly running in circles. Hiring a twenty-four year old student to babysit should have made things easier, but no matter how hard he fights it, you're too irresistible to stay away from. roosterforme masterlist
"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry OR it's 1776 and your lifelong love, Robert Floyd, is fighting for independence against the British. 🇺🇸 ✨ | (a Revolutionary War AU)
so, my WIPS are progressing well (even though I reread myself every two sentences) but I can proudly announce that Ink and Smoke and Don't mess with the Storm are getting a following part!
