I am historically quite bad at longfic. But for the one person who requested this: we're giving it a go! Expansion of this
Ghostxfem reader. No warnings this chapter.
PROLOGUE:
Ella the Enchantress had nails like ambergris and a cunt like a steel trap, with a personality to match.
Feared for her tempestuous nature and reviled for a demonstrable lack of empathy, enlisting the assistance of this witch-cum-altruist was an exercise in self-flagellation.
Ella enjoyed attention.
Her preferences varied with the weather, but speculation had it that her skills as a seductress far outstripped her talent with magic. A modern medusa, the wrong look could chain a petitioner to her, life and limb, for as long as she so pleased.
The right look was frequently difficult to come by - Ella wasn't always naked, but she was never far away.
Not that they'd regret looking, necessarily. She was certainly skilled. But she left marks, had a way of destroying livelihoods and relationships.
Her real name was Sally, and she was technically a sorceress.
A relationship with her would be akin to juggling a live grenade, and that would be stupid.
Ghost isn't stupid.
He just likes living on the edge. And sex.
For all her failings as a member of civilized society, Ella was hot. The aforementioned cunt didn't hurt, either.
Bit of a vindictive bitch, though.
"Y'know where the door is. Y'can let yourself out."
Ghost is brave for a man with all his softest bits hanging out.
Then again, the soft bits were always her favorite part of him - it certainly wasn't his personality or emotional fluency.
At least he knows what to do with his dick.
Sally storms through the apartment in a manner more literal than metaphorical, fuming with hot embarassment and anger, as she stomps her legs into the suggestion of a dress she was wearing when she'd seduced him.
Ghost doesn't notice. He's already dismissed her, rolled back over to her side of the bed and buried his face in the pillow instead of her lap.
That rat bastard. How dare he!
She's Sally Le Fucking Fay, great-great-great-great-great...great step-granddaughter of Morgen le Fay, and she cannot believe she made the mistake of handing her self-worth to a man.
No - that she can believe.
What she can't believe is that Ghost of all people would so callously reject her charm. He was an unlovable bastard, with no family and no prospects, and she had lowered herself to take him into her willing bosom.
And he had still turned her away.
She seethes the whole way home, ignoring the way her anger makes her magic flare around her. The scum of the night scramble out of her way, keen to avoid a gale that rips lids from trash cans and sends them careening into the nearest stationary object.
Sally has care to spare for one thing and one thing only. Usually it's herself. But tonight, it's going to be retribution.
Big hard man. Ha.
She'll show him.
Ghost peeks out from under his arm when he finally feels the front door shake the foundation - he's not entirely convinced she won't come back, and he's not as fearless as he'd like to pretend.
His room is a mess. Even more-so than after a normal night of athletics. Ella had imposed herself upon him for a week, and he'd tried every trick in the book to get her to leave.
He'd even turned down sex. Twice.
He'd seen it on the horizon, but he'd really thought the sorceress would take it better. It was part of the agreement - no feelings, blah blah blah, not ready for anything else.
She didn't want a man to cramp her witchy vibes, and he didn't want someone asking more of him than he was ready to give.
And then she'd decided they were "the perfect match" and they were "fated for each other", like characters in some cutesy Disney tale, and not who they really were -
A morally grey sorceress with reality debt, and an emotionally constipated weapon of destruction.
He'd had to pull out the big guns: alas, "it's over" didn't go over too well.
She'd nearly destroyed his room - it had rained, and if she wasn't so mad he'd have been worried about her flooding the basement. As it was, she'd steamed him like a shellfish.
He slips out of bed and sneaks over to the door, an intruder in his own home, afraid to summon her by accident. He'd kill for a good night's sleep, without hands crawling down his pants, but the climate in his room is unbearable.
The couch is good enough.
If he makes it through the week without hellfire raining down on him - literally - he's going to take a break from women.
rereading The Prologue bc it’s so juicy. I love how Shane punches the mattress as he comes bc it feels so good to be fucked by Ilya Rozanov but also bc he’s getting fucked by Ilya Rozanov. gotta love the desperation
Summary: When what was originally a planned, normal, and routine playdate for Maverick and Sarah, turns into Naomi playing Cupid for you and Travis.
Pairing: Travis Meacham x fem!reader
Word count: 3.5k
Warnings: None, (that I can think of!)
A/N: I hope you all enjoy chapter one of Only In My Mind! I love this chapter, and can't wait to get deeper into the plot and other things! I am over on twitter as "soteacake", if you wanna follow me there too! (No pressure of course!) Please let me know what you think, or if I missed anything! :]
Only In My Mind Masterlist
Masterlist
Chapter One
The sun was bright, some would say too bright, on this warm spring day in Atchison. As the wind barely blows through your hair, you look down at the playground from the grassy, green, hill you were nestled on, in the shade of an oak tree. Maverick, your Maverick, was shuffling around in the woodchips, going from stacking them on the playground equipment, to drawing lines in them with his feet. He loved the playground, he always had, but there was something about today that seemed different.
It felt like the air had shifted, as if the world was spinning in a different direction. Yet, this feeling wasn’t just for Maverick, who was waiting obviously anxiously, for his friend Sarah. Even with Sarah being three years older than Maverick, they always got along great. Sarah loved having someone to play tag with, and swing on the swings. Where you found solace in her mom, Naomi, who was always there when you needed her most. With the way the wind blew, and the leaves rustling in the branches above, something was different for you as well. As if the universe had shifted into a new timeline. Looking down at the clovers beside you and the blanket, running your fingers through them lightly. It isn’t long before you feel a presence beside you, Naomi smiling at you while Sarah runs past, heading for Maverick on the playground.
“I have someone you should meet,” Naomi began, leaving no room for hello’s, watching Sarah immediately run towards the playground with an added chuckle. As she settles beside you on the spread out pastel, plaid, blanket, smiling mischievously. “I really think you would like him.” she continues.
This isn’t the first, nor the last time, that Naomi would try and set you up with someone. You sigh as you playfully, though subtly real, roll your eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you Naomi, no.” You reply with a shake of your head.
“Whaaat,” she begins with an exaggeration. “You have to get out there again! You haven’t dated anybody since Ethan and that was two years ago!” Naomi continues, picking at the strings on the edge of the pale blanket.
“I don’t need to date,” you reply with a grumble. “I am fine by myself you know, we both know that. I went on a handful of dates with Ethan and that was all I needed to know I can do this, alone.”
Before you can add on to your words, Maverick and Sarah are running up to you both. Wanting a snack from the wooden, woven, picnic basket between you and Naomi. Each of you chuckle, digging them out a squeeze fruit pouch, and hand it to them. Then before you know it, the two are gone as fast as they arrive.
“As I was saying, no,” you chirp, looking at Naomi this time. “I really can’t fathom bringing someone into Maverick’s life all over again. They always come in and just let him down, and let me down.” Sighing once more, you pick up the kids trash and place it within the picnic basket to deal with later.
“Naomi, we both know the last time I brought someone into Mav’s life that they hurt him. I had to sleep in his bed for three weeks because he couldn’t understand why nobody wanted to be his dad,” you continue your thought, already feeling the tears well up behind your eyes. “I would rather take care of him myself, where I can keep him safe and watch over him. Let him know that I am the only parental love he needs, because I refuse to watch him have those nightmares again, to wake up screaming due to another dream about abandonment.” you continue as your fingers glide along the grass beside you.
“I get that hun, I do. Sarah has had the same nightmares. Yet, I promise you, this one is different.” Naomi coaxes, patting your knee gentle but firm to try and pull you from your own mind. “I wouldn’t say you need to meet him if I hadn’t put him through the ringer first.”
You chuckle softly, rolling your eyes once more. “Fine.. who?” you ask, like the breath had been stolen from your lungs.
“Travis Meacham.” she says with a casual smirk, watching intently for your reaction. “I know him very well, I promise I’m not throwing you to the wolves. He passes the Naomi tests, and has officially been placed in phase two: meeting you.”
Your brows furrow, a habit you picked up a long time ago when you are thinking. “Travis Meacham?” you say, testing his name with your tongue. You hum faintly, as if in concentration for a few moments. “What is he like?” you add.
“He is sweet, kind, he’s a rambler, and the purest soul I know,” Naomi chuckles softly, shifting in her spot to face you more than just sitting beside you. “I promise you, there is nothing to be scared of here. He is truly so sweet and gentle, his heart is always in the right place. You should just give him a chance.”
Nodding along, you listen to the man’s description, as you try and imagine his image in your mind. “What does he look like?” you add, letting your eye drift closed to fully try and put an image together.
“Travis is about six feet tall, just short about two inches. He has blonde dyed hair, though his roots have grown quite far out. Oddly enough he has kind of like, triangle sideburns, a silver hoop in his left earlobe, which both help frame a tattoo on his neck which says howdy. He also has a tattoo on his right forearm of a snake, none of these tattoos make him look intimidating though. His thick-like eyebrows frame his big brown eyes.” Naomi goes on and on, describing Travis perfectly in your opinion, as you are able to paint a beautiful image of him in your mind.
Humming, you let your eyes drift back open as you shove your lips to the side of your face in a pursed motion. “I mean, he doesn’t sound horrible I suppose..” you begin with a glance away from Naomi and towards the kids on the playground. Where you keep your gaze on them for a few, long, silent, minutes, before you take a deep breath to speak again. “Fine, you can give him my number, but if he hurts me or Mav, you’re in trouble missy.” you chirp playfully, wanting to cover the possibility of hurt, the uncertainty and worry lacing your voice, as you try and speak about his new man.
“Don’t worry, he wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone someone I, or he, cares about.” Naomi says with a smile again, happily satisfied as she instantly pulls out her phone. “I’m gonna send it to him right now,” she adds. After unlocking her phone and pressing a few buttons, “There, done!”
You chuckle as your gaze finds Maverick and Sarah once more, watching as they chase one another around the playground. It was almost instantly when you felt your phone buzz in your pocket, pulling it out with careful fingers to lift it up for it to unlock. With your eyes locking onto the new message:
Unknown Number:
Hey, it’s Travis! Travis Meacham, Naomi gave me your number! I hope that is okay, if it’s not I’m sorry, I can delete it! If you don’t want me to have it of course then please just let me know or like you could block me even. I understand!
“A yapper indeed,” you scoff playfully as you send a message back, a smile already spreading itself across your lips.
You:
Hi! Obviously it was okay, or I would’ve told Naomi no haha. I promise you’re okay, hopefully we can get to know each other better as time goes on :)
“I told you, he loves to talk,” Naomi chirps, reading your typed message over your shoulder, eagerly wanting to know how this little Cupid matchmaking was going to go. “I think you two are going to get along just fine honestly. Even if you just listen while he talks, I promise you that he would never hurt you or Mav. He truly is the sweetest soul I know, ”
Nodding, you slide your phone back into your pocket where it buzzes once more. You choose to ignore the sensation this time, wanting to focus on this current moment. Maverick scurries up to you from the playground once more, handing you a particularly funny shaped woodchip. According to him, and mentioning something about wanting to take it home before scurrying back to the swings.
“Well if he is so sweet, I’m surprised you aren’t the one all over him,” you reply back with a glance in Naomi’s direction. Playfully, you reach over and poke her forearm, wiggling your eyebrows as if trying to insinuate something.
“Maybe he just isn’t my type? Have you ever thought of that?” Naomi asks as she lightly swats your hand away, smiling at you again. You couldn’t tell based on her motions or words, but there was something deeper she hadn’t told you, and clearly wasn’t planning on telling you.
“Well that is surprising,” you start, though not with an ill tone. “You’re always the one looking for and going after a relationship. Whatever happened to that?”
Naomi shrugs, “I don’t know, I’ve just decided to wait until the love falls into my lap, “ she speaks. “I don’t always want to be the one chasing it, it should chase me if you know what I mean.”
You nod instantly, understanding her better than anyone else, you always had. You both sit there in silence for many moments before devolving into some pointless conversation. As the hours pass, the time when you are together flying by with ease, the sun begins to set against the horizon. Each of you decide it is time to get your baby’s home, as you clean up your area and prepare for the treks back home. With Maverick and Sarah saying their goodbyes, you and Naomi do the same.
It took you about 45 minutes to make it home, but when you do, Maverick is instantly scurrying from his car seat the second you get him unbuckled. He’s taking his little legs as fast as they can go, and into the house from the garage. Chuckling quietly you gather the picnic basket and blanket from earlier and bring them into the mud room from the cold garage. Locking the car with the key fob, and closing the garage door with the switch on the wall you lovingly roll your eyes as Maverick is sitting on the floor trying to get his shoes untied.
“Need help Mav?” you ask him sweetly, already preparing to sit the items down onto the bench beside the garage door.
“No, I’m a big boy.” he replies back firmly, turning his back to you, as he successfully knots his laces together with a whine.
“So.. no help at all?” you add, raising your eyebrows. Slowly making your way towards the kitchen with the items still in hand, after his refusal.
“Mommy help..” Maverick sighs like the five-year-old he is. You smile gently as you sit the basket and blanket onto the kitchen counter with a soft thud. Instantly returning to the mud room where Maverick was residing for now, and crouching down to his level.
“See, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask for help,” you speak gently, taking your fingernails and gently pulling at the white laces until they are plucked free. Sliding off his shoes one by one and placing them in their basket, Maverick chirps a quick thank you before heading upstairs. He already knew it was time to start getting ready for bed.
After reentering the kitchen, sliding off your own shoes in the mudroom before you do. You begin putting away the leftover snacks from the basket, in their rightful place, and throwing away the trash. You sit the blanket into the laundry room, and then head upstairs to find Maverick. Like the easily distractable five-year-old he is, you find him playing with an old box of toy trains in his closet instead of getting his pajamas.
Walking over to his dresser, you begin pulling out everything he would need after his bath. “Dinos or kites?” you ask him over your shoulder, always wanting him to help in different ways with his routine.
“Kites!” he chirps instantly, putting the trains away, realizing he was supposed to be getting ready for bed. He races you to the hall bathroom, without letting you know you’re even racing of course. Turning on the water himself so it can begin warming up. Soon you join him, placing the pajamas on the counter near the sink.
“I’m just down the hall if you need me, okay?” you coax to him, knowing he had been working really hard lately on taking a bath by himself. All you see is him nodding before he plugs the tub. You leave into the hallway, making sure the door is cracked behind you. As you return down the hall towards the stairs, you pull your phone from your pocket, remembering it buzzed while you were at the park.
Unknown Number:
I can't wait to get to know you too! Is there anything you would like to know about me? I’m an open book. Actually, I love to read. Reading is something that calms me, it was one of my favorite ways to pass the time in prison. Anywho, that is all besides the point. Would you be so kind as to allow me to put a face to the name, and allow me to take you on a date sometime?
Unknown Number:
Wait, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you off, I really am a nice guy I swear. I would never ever ever ever ever ever even hurt a fly. The prison thing wasn’t because I hurt someone, oh fuck no of course not! I can’t expect you to know that know if you’ve never met me. I shouldn’t have just jumped right into that detail.
Unknown Number:
I’m not stupid, but I mean, I can be sometimes. Even if I act stupid sometimes, IQ wise, like intelligence and knowledge I really am not stupid I swear to you I’m not stupid. Sometimes I just make odd and off decisions and I am so sorry. I am so sorry for cursing too, I've been working on that. Please give me another chance, I never wanted to push you away like this before I even got to know you. I wanted to get to know you so badly and I already blew it, I am so so so so so sorry.
You let your brows furrow as you read the thread of messages, mentally acknowledging that Naomi was right.. This guy really did love to talk, and didn’t seem to know when to stop. Though that wasn’t a bad thing, just a quirk or feature of him to notice. With ease you add a new contact, wanting your phone to actually start telling you who was messaging you. Instantly you add Travis into your phone.
You:
Travis, please don’t be so hard on yourself! I was just hanging out with Naomi, and then got busy! I would love to go out with you sometime!
It felt as if almost instantly your phone was lighting up with a response, before the device could even leave your hand. You could tell Travis had been waiting on you to text, anxiously worrying on his own end that he had messed this all up already.
Travis Meacham:
Fantastic! I am truly honored you agreed, thank you! How about this weekend? Does that work for you?
Realistically, this weekend? It didn’t work for you. There was never anyone to watch Maverick on the weekends. The most you could normally do without him was go to the store while he was at school. You frown, a soft sigh falling from your mouth. You didn’t want to tell Travis about Maverick yet, you wanted that to be a face to face conversation, it always went better that way.
You:
I’m so sorry, but this weekend actually doesn’t work for me. I can’t do weekends :(
Your hands shake slightly as you look down at the screen, watching it flash back and forth briefly with the infamous typing bubble, the three dots rippling constantly. As you watch the bubbles go from present to gone, the message bubble disappears for multiple minutes. You listen closely, making sure Maverick is alright while taking his bath, coincidentally you hear the water begin to drain from the tub. Before you can chirp anything out to him, your phone flashes again with a new message.
Travis Meacham:
Is it because of Maverick? I know about your son, but not in a creepy way. Naomi told me about him, she mentioned you two met in a single parenting group. You don’t have to worry about him, or me suddenly becoming disinterested because you have a child. What day works best for you?
You hum softly, pleased, at his text. Typing quickly, so you are able to go tuck Maverick into bed for the night, you respond.
You:
Oh… I didn’t know you knew about him.. Friday? Friday works for me, late morning maybe? Maverick gets out of school at 2:30!
Before you could sit around too long and wait for the reply, you toss your phone onto the comforter next to you and stand from the bed with a stretch. After going through the normal nighttime routine with Maverick, reading him two and a half bedtime stories before he falls asleep. His current favorites were Goodnight Moon and If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. Giving him one more kiss upon his forehead, and making sure he was as snug as a bug in a rug. You check the hall bathroom once more, making sure Maverick’s bath toys were put away, the towel he uses placed in the hamper, and the water all drained from the tub. Once you were satisfied with the state of the bathroom, you decide it is time for you to head to bed yourself.
Quietly you return to your own bedroom, taking a pair of pajamas you pull from your own dresser and head to the bathroom. Once you shower, and change clothes, you walk back into your bedroom with a toss of your dirty laundry into the hamper in the corner. Adjusting your comforter, and turning off your light, you pick up your phone from where it was discarded onto the silky surface from before. The screen brightens as you lift up the handheld device, some feature your phone added with its most recent update. Upon the screen a new message had found its home.
Travis Meacham:
That works perfectly fine with me! I can meet you around 11 a.m. or so at the Tulip Farm just outside of town! I can send you the address closer to time, so you don’t have to worry about losing it!
A few minutes had passed between the previous message, and the next. Which upon reading, made your weak smile widen into a larger one. A faint blush taints your cheeks, it was such a simple gesture, yet the intimacy of it had been something you longed and had craved for, for so long.
Travis Meacham:
I’m assuming you’re asleep, and that’s alright! Even if you aren’t, there is never any pressure to message me back! Goodnight, I hope you sleep well! I can’t wait to properly meet you later this week :)
For the first time in months, maybe even years, you feel genuine happiness wash over you. Something was screaming to you that this was different, this man was different, he had to be. There was already a feeling of care buried within his actions, even just over text. The new use of a smiley face, a trait you had done since the beginning of time, erupting something new from Travis, showing he was noticing even the smallest and minutest details about you. Most people glanced over you all together, let alone take the time to notice the smaller things you do.
Even though each of you were only words on a screen to the other as of right now. You could tell, he already cared about you. There was something about that realization which made you realize, that there was a flaring up in the heat of your heart, and what was once deeply hidden in the caverns of your chest, you think you may care about him too. With that widened smile still plastered to your face, you plug your phone into the charger. Telling yourself you will answer the text in the morning, you drift to sleep happy. With a warmth spreading in your chest, and with those butterflies, who you thought would never leave their cocoon, fluttering within you.
Saturday, 11 Spring, the day of Junior Triathlon Regionals 🌸
As the venue draws closer, Nareya's getting one last pep talk in from her parents as she gets her mind set towards Regionals.
In an alternate universe, there were these very powerful beings, called the Makers. One of the younger Makers created a universe, only one, which was known by many names but for now, this story will refer to it as “Mundus One” (Translation: World One) which is inhabited by "originals", this will make sense later.
Now, this Maker created everything in this universe, excluding Earth, plus the humans; meaning us and he loved the humans and their imagination. He wanted to use these ideas from the humans and make them their own thing, their own universes. This would create the “Miraculorum multiplex” (Translation: Multiple miracles - Multiverse of Wonders; this term will be used the most), we know most of these universes that had been created like the MCU, Star Wars, DC, and many more. “Mundus One” is, in fact, the origin of everything, and should anything happen to it could be the end.
As per usual, the Multiverse is in danger. However, this danger made sure that itself was so hidden, our Maker couldn’t have predicted what’s to come. Until it was too late.
Far from “Mundus One”, this danger has finally come to light in one of the universes, and it only got worse when the Mad Scientist got involved.
