#bm fic

[sapphosapiens]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

My first Brilliant Minds fic is live, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I’ve never written anything on this scale, and this is the first time I’ve ever completed a large creative project. Thank you for all of the encouragement friends!! <3

[rowenasamuel]

Last Line Tag

Rules: Post the last sentence you wrote and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence.

tagged by @actuallylorelaigilmore (i’m fairly certain a Long Time Ago but i just found it in my likes rip)! this is from a previously-abandoned norma/alex fic that i’ve since started working on again because i miss them.

Her husband snorts, fingers moving to rub the back of her neck lightly without saying a word.

i tag @mygalfriday, @professortennant, @revolutionsoftheheart, @hondagirll, @ussjellyfish and anyone else that wants to!!

[rowenasamuel]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Fandom: Bates Motel

Summary: “Everything’s gonna be fine, Norma,” Alex’s voice causes her to lift her head; she hadn’t even realized her shoulders had sunken. His hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing along the bone- she leaned into the touch, sighing softly.

“You’re gonna be a really good dad, you know,” she murmured, looking at him with big, wet blue eyes; his lips curled into a soft half-smile before he leaned forward.

Notes:  So I realize it has literally been three years since I updated this story, but I found my notes for how I wanted to end it, and I've recently been in a Norma/Alex spiral, so I thought- why not finish it?

[bestillmyslashyheart]

1x09 Coda

(on ao3 but locked for users)

Josh hesitated before he pressed call. He’d received confirmation that the phone had been delivered to Oliver but he hadn’t heard from the man since. Josh was hoping it was just because he didn’t know what to do with the thing and not that he was mad that Josh had sent it. 

He shouldn’t have worried. The smile was audible in Oliver’s voice when he answered. “Hi, I was hoping you’d call.”

Josh smiled reflexively. “Well, now that I can actually get a hold of you, how could I not?”

Oliver laughed. “The phone tag was getting a little old,” he agreed. “It’s good to hear your voice. How-how’s the conference?”

“Terrible,” Josh chuckled. “I, uh, I miss the hospital.” Truthfully, he’d been looking forward to the conference. It was a good chance to connect with his peers and discuss new techniques as well as just a good time, usually. But when he’d agreed to go, he hadn’t anticipated starting something with Oliver just weeks beforehand. 

Oliver coughed awkwardly and Josh could just picture the blush rising on his cheeks. “You’ve been missed at the hospital.”

Josh smiled and leaned his head back against the headrest. “What have you been up to? How’s your patient? The painter?”

“He’s good!” Oliver effused. “I’m actually at his gallery right now, he’s having a showing of the new paintings he’s been working on. They’re brilliant. He-” he huffed lightly, “apparently he painted me actually. I’m not sure I understand it but the interns seemed to be enjoying it last I saw them.”

“Oh?” Josh was intrigued. “You should send me a photo of it.” There was a long pause on the other end and Josh grinned. “Have one of the interns show you how.”

“Why does a phone need to be a camera too?” Oliver complained lightly. “Is it not enough that it makes calls and sends texts?”

“Oh does it send texts?” Josh questioned. “I assumed that feature must be broken since I haven’t heard from you.”

There was another suspicious pause. “Is this a good time to admit that I have literally never used a cell phone?”

Josh barked out a laugh. “I guess I’ll just have to show you how.”

“I could probably use a few lessons,” Oliver agreed. “How much longer is your conference for?”

“Ended an hour ago. I’m on my way back to the city right now.”

“Oh? Are you heading straight home? I’m sure you’re tired.”

Josh smirked. “Actually I was calling to see if you were home tonight but I understand you’re busy with the showing.”

“It won’t last too much longer, I don’t think. I’ll probably leave here in the next half hour or so. Be home in about an hour from now.”

Josh glanced down at his gps. “I’m a little over an hour from your place.” Yes, he’d put Oliver’s address in instead of his own. Sue him.

“Meet you there.”

—

Oliver had only just walked in the house and was starting to take off his jacket when there was a knock on the door. He tugged the jacket back up and spun on his heel. Two steps had him at the front door and he yanked it open to reveal Josh. 

“Hi,” he breathed.

Josh smiled and stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind him. “Hi.” He slid his hands around Oliver’s waist and kissed him. He started to pull back after a brief moment, likely intending it to be a simple peck hello, but Oliver looped his hands around his neck and held him in place. He let him go only after a much longer kiss.

“Hi,” he said again, smiling. 

“How was the showing?”

“It was great. My patient is doing so well. He’ll never regain his color vision but the way he’s adapting and the new art he’s produced in just the last few weeks is incredible. Oh!” He let go of Josh to dig his hand in his pocket and pull out his phone. “Van took a photo of the painting for me.” He stared at the dark screen for a moment before just handing it to Josh who took it with a wide grin. “You can text it to yourself.”

Josh laughed. “How about I show you how it’s done?” Slowly, Josh unlocked the phone and found the photo Van had taken and sent it to himself, narrating his actions as he went. Oliver dutifully paid attention as he worked even if his attention strayed more than once to focus on Josh’s hands. The phone that had looked large in Oliver’s own grip almost looked small in Josh’s. When he was finished, Josh handed the phone back. “And now you know how to send me photos. Anytime you want.” His lips quirked up in a smirk and Josh raised his eyebrows.

“What kinds of photos are you expecting me to send Dr. Nichols?”

Josh shrugged innocently. “Whatever you want. Whenever you want.”

“Uh huh,” Oliver nodded slowly, glancing around him. “And if I wanted to send you a picture of my fern?”

“I’d love to see it,” he accepted readily. “Honestly, I would just love to hear from you. Hear what’s on your mind.”

That was good, especially since Oliver didn’t particularly enjoy photos of himself. The mirror was hard enough sometimes.

He dropped the phone back into his jacket pocket, happy to let that topic of conversation go for now. “Did you stop on the way here?” He asked. “Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?”

Josh’s eyes raked over him slowly. “I could eat.” His hands found their way back to Oliver’s waist, this time sliding up and inside his jacket. Oliver already knew from past experience that if he wasn’t careful his jacket was about to end up on the floor. Rather than let it suffer that indignity he slipped it off his shoulders and hung it up on its hook by the door, all without leaving Josh’s grasp. 

“Anything in particular you’re in the mood for?” He let his own gaze rove over Josh’s form. 

“Mhmm,” Josh hummed in answer, slowly pushing Oliver backwards towards the stairs. “Food later, though.”

Oliver could hardly argue with that. 

[bestillmyslashyheart]

1x08 Coda

(on ao3 but locked for users)

Oliver approached the front door apprehensively. It was late and he never enjoyed unannounced guests. Especially not when he already had company over. Still, whoever it was had knocked twice and rang the doorbell twice more, so he slowly eased the door open. When he saw who was on the other side, he yanked it open all the way.

“Carol? Is something wrong? Are you okay?” It was nearing midnight, after all, and Carol never came over so late. 

She smiled wryly. “Everything’s fine. Can I come in?” She started across the threshold before he could respond and Oliver stepped back to let her in. They paused in the entrance hall, Carol looking around with a sad smile when she saw the remaining medical equipment they’d used for Roman’s care. 

“Carol?”

She blinked as if coming back to herself and turned back towards him. “I got so distracted earlier when you stopped by my office that I completely forgot I had a bone to pick with you.”

Oliver raised his eyebrows. “Did I do something?”

“Mhmm,” she smirked. “I believe his name is Josh Nichols?”

Oliver felt his face flush involuntarily. “I, um. How-”

She snorted and moved to take off her coat. “You two are not subtle. I clocked you two immediately just from the way you looked at each other but then the hospital rumor mill started telling stories about you two having lunch in your office? And an elevator ride?” She hung the coat up. Oliver couldn’t manage a response. “And then, just as a cherry on top, you had a big emotional talk about dating in the middle of the nurse’s station,” she reminded him. “Nurses talk, Oliver.” She kept a straight face for a moment longer before smiling gently at him. “I take it it’s going well?”

“Uh, ye-”

“Who was at the door?” Josh picked the worst, or maybe best, moment to stride into the hall from where he’d been waiting in the kitchen. He froze when he spotted Carol. “Carol. Hi.” 

Carol’s smile widened into a full blown grin. “Hi Josh.” She raked her eyes over him. “I can see I interrupted.” Josh looked down at himself and hurriedly started redoing the buttons on his shirt. A small part of Oliver was sad to see it but the larger part of him was happy to have one less thing be awkward about this encounter.

“Um, yes,” Oliver agreed, sidling over to stand between the two. “Things are going well.” He answered her last question.

“Obviously.” She turned to grab the coat she’d just hung up. “I should get home.”

“You just got here.” Loath though he was to continue this awkward encounter, he didn’t want to rush her right back out the door when she’d driven all the way over here. 

“Mhmm,” she agreed, still smiling as she put her arms through the sleeves, “and now, I’m going home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Good night, Josh.”

“Good night, Carol.”

She waved at them again as she let herself out, both men staring after her. The house was silent in her wake for long enough that they heard her car start up and pull out of the driveway. 

“I suppose if we wanted to keep this a secret we could have been a bit more careful at work,” Josh offered.

Oliver turned to him with a frown. “Did you want to keep this a secret?” 

“No,” he responded immediately, coming to stand next to him. “But I do generally like to disclose my relationship status to my friends and colleagues on my own terms and not because I can’t seem to keep my hands to myself.” As if to demonstrate, one of his hands winded around Oliver’s waist and started tugging him closer gently. “Did you want to keep this a secret?”

Oliver shook his head. “It’s been a long time since I bothered to keep a secret from Carol and I don’t really care about anyone else’s opinion.”

“Good.” Josh leaned down to press a quick kiss on his lips but Oliver chased him when he started to pull back so that it lingered. “Now. Where were we?”

[bestillmyslashyheart]

1x07 Coda

(on ao3 but locked for users only)

Wolf, Oliver, stepped back and Josh grasped his elbows reflexively. The other man had a look of surprise etched on his face which Josh thought was a little unfair. He was the one who’d just been on the receiving end of a very surprising kiss, after all. 

“What-” Josh cut himself off when Oliver took another step back. Josh let him slip out of his grasp but didn’t lower his arms. Oliver’s hands still hung in the air from where he’d been holding Josh’s face just a moment ago.

“I didn’t-” Oliver started then stopped. “I didn’t think he was right?” It came out like a question.

Josh blinked in confusion. “What? Who was- what?”

“Roman,” Oliver answered. “He said you liked me. I didn’t think he was right.”

“...and yet you came over here and kissed me.” Josh was no less confused than he’d been two minutes before. He’d been standing in line for a bagel when he’d felt eyes on him and he’d turned to see Dr. Wolf across the street, watching him. 

“Uh, yeah,” Oliver blinked as if in surprise. “I did.” He lowered his hands that were still hovering in the air and started to take another step back. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.”

Oliver froze and stared. “You’re…not?”

Josh closed the gap Oliver had put between them. “Roman was right.” He hesitated a moment in case Oliver wanted to reply but when he stayed quiet, Josh ducked his head and kissed him. Immediately, he felt hands cradling his face again. This time, Josh didn’t settle for holding Oliver’s arms and let his hands slip around the other man’s waist to hold him close. 

Josh wasn’t sure how long they kissed for but it wasn’t until he heard someone call “hey Romeo, your bagel’s ready,” that he pulled back.

“That’s me,” he whispered between them. Oliver just stared at him but didn’t resist when Josh slipped out of his grasp to turn and grab his bagel from the vendor. The man chuckled but didn’t say anything as he handed it over before turning to the next customer. Josh had nearly forgotten about the dumb bagel by the time he made the few steps back to where Oliver hadn’t moved. His fingers twitched with the ache to touch him again but he held back. Oliver had tucked his hands back into his jacket and was watching him, eyes trained down at his hands. “Oliver?”

Oliver looked back at his face. Josh didn’t say anything more, though. “Are you busy?” He finally asked.

Josh shook his head. “Not even a little bit.” He’d just finished a 16 hour shift that had only been scheduled for 10 hours and he’d had plans to collapse onto his bed the second he got home but he was flexible.

“Want to come over?” 

Josh flicked his gaze over Oliver’s shoulder to where the man’s back sat parked across the street. “My car’s back at the hospital and I am not getting on that thing with you.” Oliver laughed but it was a little uneasy, like he wasn’t sure how to take that comment. “Meet you there?” Josh offered.

Oliver’s face instantly brightened. “Yeah. You know the way?”

“I remember,” Josh assured him. “Give me twenty minutes?” Oliver nodded and Josh couldn’t resist leaning forward for another quick kiss before he hurried away. Before he’d gotten to the end of the block, though, he looked over his shoulder and grinned when he found Oliver standing by his bike, watching him.