#gen v self insert

[hyperfixatedimagines]

Double-Crossed Heart- Cate x f!Reader Ch 1

Summary: Cate betrayed you, betrayed your friends, but you couldn't help being pathetically in love with her.

A/N: Picking up from the start of season two. I’ll include references to events in season one including how you fit into them so hopefully it won’t be too hard to follow along. Please let me what you think!

A/N 2: I've revised this chapter so if you read the early version nothing major has been changed but it reads better to me.

It ate you up inside how much you missed her. 

Cate had lied, about everything and to everyone- including you. 

How stupid you were to think you were different, to think your friendship with her was different.

Now you were stuck in a prison for supes, and subjected to daily tests that felt more like torture than anything else.

You were so angry.

But your anger always lulled.

The truth was you wanted to forgive Cate.

Because even after everything she had done deep down all you wanted was for Cate to show up at your cell door, tell you she was sorry, and kiss you.

A stupid fantasy.

She would never kiss you.

Cate only saw you as a friend.

Maybe not even that.

Days had bled into nights and now time held no meaning for you.

Marie had escaped weeks ago. Andre had died a few days after that. 

And now no word about Jordan or Emma.

You were truly alone.

All you had to keep you from going crazy were your memories with Cate.

Not the memories of betrayal, but the soft ones. 

The ones where she laid next to you and told you all about her fucked up childhood.

The times she let herself be fully vulnerable and it felt like a side of her only you got to see.

Her best friend.

You always wanted to be more but Cate was the golden girl- of course she had to date the golden boy.

Luke was okay. The two of you were never close. 

You had never really fit into Cate’s friend group.

The only other one you actually liked talking to was Jordan. 

They were cool, when Andre and Luke weren’t around. 

Andre wasn’t so bad either but you could tell he also had feelings for Cate and your jealousy was almost too much when he was near her.

When you found out about Cate and Andre you drank yourself into oblivion. 

Thankfully Marie and Emma had found you, cleaned you up, and let you crash in their dorm.

They were younger than you, but you were their favorite RA. 

Well actually you were the only RA that wasn’t a total creep so you were sort of everyone’s favorite by default.

You avoided Cate, ignored her calls and texts, for days afterwards.

But of course you couldn’t hold a grudge against her for long. 

You had uncovered shady things going down at Godolkin alongside Marie and Emma and you needed to make sure Cate was okay.

And Cate had never led you to believe she felt anything other than friendship for you. You had no right to be jealous. No right to shut her out.

So you swallowed your hurt and told Cate you were just super sick with mono and didn’t want her to catch anything. 

-

Cate knew you were lying about having mono but she had missed you so much she didn’t care. 

She was just glad to have you by her side again.

You were the first friend she had made at Godolkin. 

The only one she wasn’t told to befriend. 

You were her choice.

The best choice she had ever made.

Everyone wanted something from Cate.

Some wanted her body, others wanted to use her powers for their own machinations. 

The first year of your friendship Cate kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. She waited for you to reveal your true intentions.

But that day never came.

And when Cate realized her feelings for you went past the platonic she immediately pushed those feelings deep inside her.

She couldn’t lose you.

You were the friend she’d always dreamed of. 

More importantly, there was no world in which Shetty would let Cate deviate from the plan. She had to be with Luke, not you.

So Cate would ignore the way her heart skipped a beat when she saw you smile. She would choke down the knot in her throat that formed whenever Jordan would flirt with you. 

Cate knew Jordan was joking, but still- she had to clench her teeth to keep herself composed.

Things got even more complicated when she and Andre started sleeping together.

At first it was just for fun, something to blow off some steam. Cate never meant to actually fall for the guy.

She thought she’d have fun with Andre and keep him at bay the way she did with Luke. 

But Andre had surprised her.

And soon she forgot all about the way her heart fluttered at the sound of your melodic laugh.

A phase, Cate rationalized.

But all those feelings came rushing back when Cate saw Homelander’s lasers fire towards you.

You stepped in front of Marie to protect her.

Cate cried out for Homelander to stop.

Your powers weren’t strong enough. He was going to kill you.

Your abilities were twofold, part shield part phaser.

No one knew the full extent of your powers. You refused to play ball for the university assessment team so you were relegated to the performing arts school and rated pretty low in the rankings.

Cate thought you were going to die. 

But your shield held.

Cate breathed a sigh of relief, even as the stump that used to be her arm bled out.

Her relief was short-lived.

You sided with Marie.

Cate tried to get you to see that she was right. She wanted to protect you.

But you didn’t spare Cate a glance as you willingly climbed into the back of the van that took everyone to Elmira.

She was sure she had lost you forever.

-

Bright flashlights lit up your dingy cell. A gruff voice yelled at you to stand up.

You did so.

The guards cuffed and dragged you out of the facility and into the back of a van. 

You didn’t fight back. There was no point in doing so.

They had already done their worst.

You landed on the floor of the van with a loud thud. 

Then you felt two sets of hands help you up.

When you opened your eyes you were relieved to see Jordan and Emma.

They helped you sit up.

You sat between them.

“Come here often?” You joked.

You got a half smile from Emma.

“You okay?” Jordan asked you. 

You nodded then let your head rest against the cold metal of the van.

Jordan continued. “Do you know where they’re taking us?”

You shook your head.

Jordan sighed. 

“This is it then? The end,” Emma asked, panic rising in her voice.

Jordan tried to calm her down. “No way.”

“You always have been a shitty liar,” Emma replied.

The three of you shared a somber laugh.

The rest of the trip was silent. 

Hours passed by and soon the warm streaks of dawn filtered through the narrow slits on the side of the van.

Then the van came to a stop.

You met Jordan’s gaze. 

They looked just as nervous as you felt. 

Emma stirred awake next to you.

Footsteps neared the outside of the van. 

The three of you braced yourself for whatever fresh hell awaited you.

“Stay behind me,” Jordan said.

The doors swung open.

Your stomach dropped.

An all too familiar blonde stood in front of you.

“Hey you guys,” a nervous Cate said with an awkward wave.

“What the fuck,” Emma whispered behind you.

Jordan looked back at you. 

You didn’t need to look at them to know they were studying your reaction.

In the days leading up to the fight at Godolkin your feelings for Cate had been revealed.

It was very much against your wishes but regardless, it was now known within your friend group that you were pathetically in love with Cate Dunlap.

So you tried your best to keep a neutral face as Cate welcomed the three of you back to school.

“Come on out, it’s okay,” Cate said with an encouraging wave.

Jordan and Emma slowly clambered out of the van but you didn’t move a muscle.

You didn’t want to get out. You kept staring at Cate.

You suddenly wanted to return to your cold, dark, dingy cell where you were subjected to weekly, oftentimes daily, torture.

Seeing Cate again hurt more.

Cate met your gaze. “Hi,” she said with a shy smile.

You hated that a small part of you wanted to jump into her arms.

Even after all she had done.

Even after all you had suffered because of her betrayal.

You still loved her.

Cate looked around the rest of the van. She furrowed her brow then turned back to Emma and Jordan.

”Where’s Andre?”

The color fell from your face. 

Both because Cate hadn’t spent more than a second looking at you before asking for her ex boyfriend and because of his untimely death.

You scooted out of the van then walked over to stand behind Emma and Jordan.

”Like you don’t Fucking know,” Emma spat. 

“I don’t understand,” Cate replied, her brow still furrowed.

“Why don’t you read my mind, cunt,” Jordan said. 

Cate looked into Jordan’s mind and within seconds her eyes started to water.

“I.. I didn’t know,” Cate whimpered. 

It took everything in you not to go to her and comfort her.

God you were so pathetic sometimes.

A plump woman rounded the corner and came into view. She clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. 

Then she introduced herself as Stacey, the new school’s new media rep.

She commended Cate for getting you all out just in time for move in day.

Jordan objected to returning to school. 

“So back in the van is it?” Stacey asked, then she asked if anyone needed to use the bathroom first. 

You and Emma shared a look. 

You knew whatever fresh hell awaited you all at God U was preferable to the daily torture you had come to know at Elmira.

So the three of you followed Stacey into the building behind you where guards unlocked your cuffs and the phase inhibitor was removed from around your neck.

You felt Cate’s gaze on you the whole time.

But you wouldn’t look at her.

You couldn’t.

-

Cate hadn’t expected a warm welcome; she wasn’t that delusional.

But she expected you would all be more grateful. 

She even dared hope you wouldn’t look at her with vitriol and loathing the way she knew Jordan and Emma would.

Cate also expected Andre to be among you. 

She swallowed the engorged knot that formed in her throat at the news of his death.

It was all too much to process in such a short time. 

Cate knew everyone had to be on stage for a press conference after getting changed.

So she pushed her own grief over Andre to the side and marched forwards. 

She watched you go through hair and makeup. 

Cate imagined the worst when it came to your time at Elmira. She wanted to get you out sooner but she had to bide her time and earn brownie points within Vought to do that.

It stung that you would never know how hard Cate worked to get you out. 

The fact that it wouldn’t make up for her being part of the reason you had gone to Elmira in the first place stung even worse.

So she’d try to be content with just knowing that you were safe, for now at least. 

-

You were given clean, normal, clothes then ushered into hair and makeup.

Stacey gave you a cellphone and told you to memorize as much of the preapproved speech as you could.

When the three of you were clean and presentable you were told to go onstage.

Jordan walked out first. 

Emma second.

Their parents were there.

Yours weren’t.

You would stand alone.

Still, you carried your head high as you made your way onto the stage.

But you weren’t alone for too long.

Cate walked across the stage and gave you a hug.

It was bittersweet.

You had longed to feel her embrace for months.

But this hug was simply for the viewers at home.

The flash of the cameras made your eyes hurt.

Cate pulled away and posed for the cameras.

Then everyone cleared the stage for you, Emma, and Jordan to take your seats.

You were thankful Jordan took the lead and read the script from the teleprompter.

Emma held your hand underneath the table and gave it a gentle squeeze.

At least you still had her.

The questions felt endless.

You didn’t even hear the first two but then you caught familiar names.

“Where’s Marie Moreau and Andre Anderson?” One reporter asked.

A wave of nausea crashed over you.

Stacey took the microphone from Jordan and ended the press conference.

You followed your friends off the stage.

Jordan marched towards Cate backstage. 

“Hey, seriously where’s Marie?”

Cate took a hit from her vape pen. “She broke out. That’s all I know.”

“That was months ago. Vought hasn’t found her yet?” Jordan asked.

Jordan’s composure started to falter.

You weren’t really in the mood for another round of endless arguing. You wanted to go to your dorm room and sleep peacefully for the first time in months. So you walked past them and towards the exit.

Emma turned towards you. “Where are you going?”

“Anywhere but here,” you answered mirthlessly.

You didn’t meet Cate’s gaze as you brushed past her.

“I got you out,” Cate shouted, her voice pleading. “I was going to get all of you out. If they had just waited. If Andre had just-”

A loud smack followed by a thud made you stop and turn around.

Cate was on the floor, her reddened cheek in her hand.

Anger burst inside you. 

You looked over at Jordan. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Then you shoved them aside to get closer to Cate.

Jordan scoffed. “Are you serious? You’re defending her?”

You clenched your jaw then turned back towards Jordan. “You didn’t have to punch her.”

Jordan didn’t hesitate to step towards you. “Why do you even care? Are you still in love with her even after she betrayed us and sent us to Elmira? Are you really so pathetic (y/n)?”

Your blood boiled.

Cate was the only one not aware of your school girl crush on her.

Jordan knew that.

You narrowed your eyes at Jordan. “You know just because half of you is a woman doesn’t mean you can just go around hitting us indiscriminately,” you replied thoughtlessly.

It was a low blow. An extremely low blow.

But you weren’t thinking straight. 

A look of betrayal flashed on Jordan’s face. 

Emma heaved a large sigh. “Not cool dude.”

Then Emma grabbed Jordan’s hand. “Come on,” she said and the two walked out.

You watched them leave then suddenly realized you were now alone with Cate.

You wanted to be anywhere but there.

You turned to face her but didn’t meet her gaze.

“You okay?”

Cate stood and wiped away a few stray tears. “You shouldn’t have said that to Jordan.”

“I know,” you whispered.

Would Cate acknowledge what Jordan said?

You eyed her wearily. 

Cate continued to avoid your gaze. 

Your heart sank.

Of course she wouldn’t.

She probably thought she was sparing you the embarrassment of unrequited feelings.

So you turned and started for the exit. 

Just before you opened the door you turned back to Cate.

She stared at you with a conflicted look on her face. 

“I’m not in love with you Cate. Jordan was just being a dick,” you said then walked out.

It wasn’t a convincing lie, you knew that, but still, you hoped it would provide an out for whatever guilt Jordan’s admission roused inside of Cate.

You skipped out on the new dean’s speech. 

Stacey wasn’t happy but you just kept walking and she didn’t send anyone after you so you figured it was fine.

Thankfully the school gave you your old room back.

And even better, it was just as you had left it.

You crashed onto the shitty twin mattress and closed your eyes. 

Seconds later you felt the hot sting of tears run down your cheeks.

Being back at Godolkin was somehow worse than being locked up in Elmira.

-

The new dean, Cipher, gave a rousing speech to the Godolkin students but Cate had not heard a word of it.

Jordan’s words rang in her ears.

You were in love with her.

Well- you were once in love with her.

You denied it but Cate knew you were just trying to save face. Jordan never lied.

Cate had always suspected it but she had long buried her feelings for you and there was no point in bringing up old feelings when nothing could be done about them.

But now there was no Shetty, no plan, no Luke…no Andre.

Cate swallowed the grief that snaked its way up her throat at the thought.

Things weren’t different, not really.

Even if Cate let those deep buried feelings rise, and even if you still had feelings for her, she knew you would never forgive the betrayal of your friends.

Maybe in time, if she kept you safe from Vought, you could forgive her and whatever feelings lingered could be enough.

Cate allowed herself a modicum of hope. 

She just had to keep you safe.

-

A few hours later Emma dragged you and Jordan into the same room and made you apologize to one another.

Jordan didn’t apologize for punching Cate. Instead they apologized for divulging your feelings for Cate.. 

“I wasn’t thinking. It was just too much all at once y’know,” Jordan explained.

You apologized for what you said. You knew it was a low blow and you said it because you were embarrassed you still cared about Cate.

Jordan accepted your apology. 

Then they debriefed you on the dean’s speech, and on the fact that the dean was someone they had both seen at Elmira.

“Great, not even a full day back at God U and we have a new crazy conspiracy,” you joked sardonically.

The three of you shared a small laugh.

-

How Emma and Jordan managed to drag you out to a stupid frat party, you weren’t sure, but the free flowing alcohol sure made a convincing reason to stay.

You weren’t sure who felt more pathetic, you or Jordan. The two of you were going toe to toe with tequila shots.

Then you saw Cate’s blonde hair pass by out of the corner of your eye.

Your feet moved before your mind realized they were taking you towards Cate. 

Cate walked into the study of the house. 

You entered shortly behind her.

She kept her back to you. 

You weren’t sure what you were expecting, or what you wanted to say to her.

“I thought of you every day,” Cate confessed, her back still to you.

Words you had longed to hear her say, but they felt so bittersweet now.

“I did too,” you said and downed the rest of the alcohol in your cup.

Cate whirled on her heels to face you. “You did?”

You nodded. 

A small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. “So you don’t hate me?”

You sighed. “Try as I might, I can't seem to do that.”  Then you walked towards the loveseat in the room and sat down. “But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what you did.”

Cate’s smile faded. “Right.”

You looked down at your hands, your palms started to sweat. 

Cate nervously edged closer to you. 

When you didn’t move away Cate closed the distance between you and sat down next to you on the loveseat.

Then you both sat in silence for a few minutes. 

It wasn’t entirely awful. 

But of course it didn’t last. 

Sam marched into the room demanding to know what had happened to Andre.

Cate jumped out of her seat and tried to placate him. 

It didn’t work.

So of course she took her glove off and ordered him to feel nothing. 

Bile rose in your throat. 

Nothing had changed. You were reminded of that.

You stood and walked out of the room. 

Cate called out for you but you didn’t stop. 

-

Emma got a lead on where Marie was.

So the three of you piled into the backseat of an uber to Marie’s last known sighting.

Later, the uber dropped the three of you off at a convenience store.

Emma drilled the cashier for answers. 

“Isn’t that her out there?” The cashier said and pointed towards the exit.

Sure enough, Marie was outside the store.

Emma dashed out of the store. “Marie,” she yelled. 

You and Jordan followed after her.

Marie turned around, shocked. “Shit, you saw the video.”

“Uh, yeah. There’s blood everywhere are you okay,” Emma asked. 

Jordan and Marie exchanged a tense look. 

One you knew all too well. 

“I have to go,” Marie said.

Jordan huffed. “Of course.”

An argument between them ensued. 

It ended when Jordan dropped the news of Andre’s death.

Tears welled in Marie’s eyes.

Jordan continued, explaining in detail the events that led to Andre’s death.

“He was trying to be you,” Jordan said.

Your stomach twisted in knots reliving the events in your mind’s eye.

“No, he was trying to be Andre,” came a familiar voice.

Your gaze shot up. 

Cate walked towards your group. 

“Oh what the shit,” Emma cursed. 

Cate met your gaze but quickly turned her attention back to Marie. 

Marie turned to Jordan. 

“You fucking brought her?” 

“Uh uh,” Jordan replied. 

Then Emma, Marie, and Jordan all turned to you. 

You quickly realized why. 

“Fuck you guys. I’m pissed at her too,” you shot back, knowing you couldn’t blame them for accurately assessing you as the weak link when it came to Cate.

Cate took another step towards your group, bringing everyone’s attention back to her.

“Look, all I want is for all of us to be safe. That’s all I ever wanted,” Cate began, placing her hands up placatingly. 

Then her gaze landed back onto you. 

“I can’t lose anyone else,” Cate continued, her eyes softening as she gazed at you. 

You felt your friends’ gaze on you, watching how you would react. 

So you turned your head away from Cate and crossed your arms against your chest. 

“Fuck you,” Marie replied. “You’re the reason this all happened.”

“I just wanted to protect you,” Cate reiterated.

Marie rolled her eyes.

“Marie, you have to come back to school,” Cate continued.

“No fucking way,” Marie replied. 

“Please believe me, you are safer there. We all are,” Cate argued. 

Then she stepped towards your group. 

The others took a step back but you didn’t.

Cate took this as a sign to continue. She took another step towards you. 

You didn’t move away but your gaze remained firmly on the ground. 

“(y/n), you know deep down all I want is to keep the people I care about safe. Please get her to see that,” Cate said.

Jordan scoffed behind you. 

Emma sighed. “(y/n) come on, don’t tell me you’re falling for this.”

You snapped your head towards them. 

“Can you guys fucking stop- stop acting like I’m stupid just because I have feelings for her.” 

The words left your lips before you realized what you had said. 

You saw everyone’s brows rise, including Cate’s.

So you cleared your throat. “I mean- because you guys think I have feelings for her.”

Your face warmed under everyone’s gaze.

You knew none of them would buy it but Emma gave you an apologetic look. 

Jordan’s face remained skeptical. 

Marie’s eyes softened. “(y/n), we don’t think you’re stupid,” Marie said then met Jordan’s gaze.

Jordan nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Cate fixed her gaze back onto Marie. 

Her eyes narrowed. 

“Wait…You saw Starlight?”

Marie’s face hardened. She swallowed hard. 

“What’s Odessa?” Cate asked. 

You turned back to Cate, disgusted. 

“You’re using your powers on her?”

This Cate really was unrecognizable to you.

So why was it so hard for you to separate her from the sleepy Cate that cupped your face in the small hours of dawn to tell you how beautiful you were and how glad she was to know you. 

The Cate whose touch you’d never recoil from.

“What is she talking about?” Jordan asked Marie hesitantly.

“You have to tell Vought,” Cate continued. 

“Cate,” Marie shouted.

“If they find out you spoke to Starlight and didn’t tell them-,” Cate rambled.

“Cate-,” Marie interjected.

“You don’t know what they’ll do,” Cate continued, alarm laced in her voice.

“I’m begging you,” Marie pleaded.

Cate started to spiral. She shook her head softly. 

You’d seen her go into panic attacks before. You wanted to reach out to comfort her, it took everything in you not to.

“I’ve seen it firsthand. They won’t just kill you. They’ll torture you. However long it takes. I know, I’ve done it for them,” Cate blurted out.

You dropped your arms from your chest. 

“Torture?” You asked, taken aback.

Cate didn’t look away from Marie but you saw her cheeks redden in embarrassment. 

Marie shook her head softly. “I can’t.”

“What do you mean you’ve done it for them?” You asked Cate pointedly. 

Cate refused to meet your gaze. “I’m sorry,” she said, then stepped towards Marie. “It’s for your own good.”

She raised her ungloved hand towards Marie. 

Jordan instinctively raised their hands, and sent Cate backwards into the brick wall behind her.

Sparks flew as Cate collided with the fusebox on the wall.

“Oh! Oh my god,” Emma exclaimed.

The four of you stared down at Cate on the ground. 

“Really Jordan?,” you said before you rushed to Cate’s side. 

Jordan’s hands remained raised defensively. “I didn’t mean to,” they said.

You knelt down beside Cate. Blood was gushing out from behind her head. 

You looked up at Marie for help. 

She joined you at Cate’s side. 

Then she brought her hands above Cate.

Cate’s eyes met yours. She couldn’t move.

You saw the fear in her eyes. It broke your heart.

Marie’s hands hovered over Cate but nothing happened.

You started to panic. 

“Why isn’t it working,” Jordan asked, now just as panicked as you were.

Anger shot up inside you. 

You turned around and stood up. 

“Because you broke her fucking skull you asshole,” you said as you apporached them.

Jordan started to back away from you, sensing a fight coming.

“Stop.” 

Cate’s voice was thin, garbled from the blood pouring out of her mouth. 

You balled your fists then returned to Cate’s side. 

“Can’t you do anything Marie?” You pleaded.

Marie shook her head. “I don’t know (y/n). The blood keeps spilling out. I-”

You met Marie’s gaze. You could see she was just as panicked. 

“I need to put pressure on it,” she said, then reached out towards Cate. 

Jordan rushed to stop Marie. “Wait!”

You furrowed your brow and looked up at Jordan. 

Jordan looked at Marie. “You can’t let her touch you.” Then they turned to you. “Or you.”

Your stomach sank as you realized.

They were going to let Cate die.

“I don’t care,” you said and shoved Marie to the side. 

Then you cupped Cate’s head gently and tried to put pressure on her headwound.

“(y/n), don’t be stupid,” Emma called out from behind. 

You didn’t respond. 

You looked down at Cate.

Whose eyes looked up at you with fear and regret. 

“You’re gonna be okay,” you lied, tears clouding your vision.

Marie stood and walked away.

Jordan followed.

Emma walked up to you. “(y/n) we have to go.”

You shook your head, tears streaming down the sides of your face. 

Emma gripped your shoulders. “We can’t help her. (y/n) don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not leaving her,” you shouted. 

Emma sighed then looked up at Jordan. 

“Jordan, help me,” she called out as she tried to pull you away from Cate.

Jordan turned back toward you. They shook their head. “She’s made her choice Emma.”

Emma scoffed. “Seriously?”

Then Emma crouched down beside you. “Look at me,” she ordered. 

You did.

“Last chance (y/n). Her or us?” Emma asked solemnly. 

Tears continued streaming down your cheeks. “Sorry Emma,” you whispered.

Emma nodded slowly. “Okay,” she said, then stood and followed Marie and Jordan. 

You brought your gaze back down to Cate. 

“It’s gonna be okay,” you reiterated. 

Cate’s eyes softened. She choked up more blood. 

Panic overwhelmed you. 

You looked around. “Help,” you shouted. “Help!”

“(y/n),” Cate choked out. 

You looked back down at her. “Don’t try to speak Cate that’ll make it worse.”

Cate closed her eyes and choked up more blood before she continued. 

“You have to go.” 

“No,” you replied between sobs.

More blood seeped out of Cate’s skull. It felt hot on your hands. 

“They’ll hurt you,” Cate said.

She didn’t need to say who they were.

Vought.

“I’m not leaving you. You’re not going to die,” you said, your throat tight with tears.

“Please,” Cate replied, her voice thinner and weaker. 

You shook your head. 

Cate weakly brought her ungloved hand to your cheek. 

Your eyes flashed down to hers, realizing what she was about to do. 

“Don’t,” you begged. 

“I’m sorry,” she replied. 

Then she rubbed her thumb against your cheek. 

“Run to Marie and do as she says,” Cate commanded. 

Fresh tears stung your eyes.

Cate had never used her powers on you. 

One last line she had never crossed, until now.

You didn’t know what to expect. 

You certainly didn’t expect it to hurt.

Not physically.

But mentally.

Your mind didn’t want to comply. It wanted to fight back.

But Cate’s power was stronger.

You pulled away from Cate, stood, then ran after Marie and the rest of your friends. 

Tears continued to flow down your face.

You wanted to look back, but you were no longer in control of your body. 

Another betrayal.

And this was worse because she forced you to betray her too.

The second you made it to the laundromat your friends had ducked into you fell to your knees and sobbed. 

You let out a shrieking cry.

You should have fought back. 

Your will should have been stronger. 

You left the love of your life to die in a random parking lot in some suburb in New Jersey.

Nothing super about that.

[hyperfixatedimagines]

Double-Crossed Heart- Cate x f!Reader Ch 2.

A/N: Here's chapter 2. Let me know your thoughts and if you'd like me to continue!

All you could do was sob and stare at your blood soaked hands. 

You couldn’t move.

You didn’t want to move.

Marie, Jordan, and Emma eyed you cautiously. 

“(y/n),” Emma said as she approached you. “What happened?”

You didn’t reply.

Emma looked down at your clothes covered in Cate’s blood then around the laundromat. 

She grabbed a few pieces of clothing from unattended carts.

Then she knelt down in front of you.

“You need to change. We can’t show up back on campus with you covered in blood,” she explained.

You made no effort to move.

Emma sighed then looked up at Jordan. 

“Help me,” she said as she stood and walked behind you. 

She and Jordan carried you over to the sink in the laundromat to clean the blood off your hands. 

You didn’t fight them but you didn’t help. 

You were a limp ragdoll in their hands.

Frozen by guilt and embarrassment.

You should’ve tried harder.

You shouldn’t have left her.

Marie helped Emma get you into the clean clothes and discarded the bloodied ones. Then Jordan sat you down in a nearby chair and turned back to Marie and Emma. 

“What are we going to do?” Marie asked.

“I have an idea,” Emma replied then took her phone out.

You stared down at your hands, once soaked in Cate’s blood now just red from your friends scrubbing them clean.

-

Your friends argued, but you weren’t listening enough to make out what about.

You were still numb.

Once they wrapped up recording Marie’s return to social media Emma ordered an Uber back to God U.

When it arrived you, Emma, and Marie piled into the backseat while Jordan awkwardly sat in the passenger seat.

After a few minutes of silence Marie turned to you. 

“You made the right choice (y/n). We couldn’t help her.”

“She pushed me,” you confessed.

Marie’s gaze softened. She put an arm around you. 

“Oh (y/n),” she whispered, then brought you closer to her.

Fresh tears spilled forth and you buried your face in Marie’s shoulder.

The rest of the ride was quiet. Just your sobs breaking the silence. 

-

You heard the good news the next morning while waiting for your friends at the student cafe.

Cate was alive. 

In critical condition at the hospital but she was alive.

Your friends were less enthused at the news but you didn’t care.

“I need to go see her,” you said and started to pull away from your friends. 

Jordan pulled you back towards them. 

“That’s a mistake,” they said.

You tried to move but Jordan’s grip on your shoulder was firm.

“In the spirit of nonjudgemental brainstorming,” Emma started, “and don’t freak out (y/n) because I know how you feel about her but what if we finished the job,” Emma concluded and mimicked slitting her throat.

Your jaw dropped. “Seriously?”

“Emma, we are not going to track Cate down just to do murder on purpose this time,” Marie whispered angrily.

You nodded vigorously in agreement. 

“Obviously murder is bad,” Emma replied. “Though it would save our asses.”

She purposely avoided looking in your direction.

Marie sighed. “Besides, I’m like 99% sure Cipher knows the truth already.”

Jordan furrowed their brow. “Then why aren’t we dead or back at Elmira already?”

“No clue,” Marie replied. 

“Maybe Cipher isn’t sure and Cate didn’t sell you all out,” you interjected, knowing how naive you sounded. 

Your friends turned to face you. 

“You seriously believe that?” Jordan asked.

“Moreover, you’re not including yourself in who she would sell out?” Emma questioned.

“Well I wasn’t an intentional accessory to manslaughter,” you replied defensively. “I was forced to flee the scene if we remember correctly.”

Emma threw you a disappointed look.

Jordan shook their head. “Whatever. We should run while we still can.”

“Or, we look into whatever Odessa is like Starlight said,” Emma countered. 

Jordan and Emma proceeded to argue over looking into whatever Odessa was.

After a few minutes of arguing they both turned to Marie for direction. 

Marie remained silent. 

“Oh, you’re all fucking crazy,” Jordan said then walked away.

Marie and Emma began to form a plan while you excused yourself.

Marie grabbed your hand as you turned to leave.

“Wait,” she said.

You turned back to face her. “What?”

Marie turned to Emma and Emma nodded. 

“Are you going to find Cate?” Marie asked.

You feigned ignorance. “No, why would I do that?”

Emma crossed her arms against her chest. “Because you were literally going to do that before Jordan stopped you.”

“Exactly and now I know why that would be a bad idea so I’m not,” you lied.

You tried to keep your face neutral in hopes Marie would buy it.

You knew Emma wouldn’t but hopefully Marie would.

“I really hope you’re telling the truth (y/n),” Marie said with a sigh.

“Just don’t fuck us over like Cate did,” Emma interjected.

Marie let go of your hand. 

“I’d never,” you replied then turned to leave.

Neither of them stopped you so you returned to your dorm room to research all the surrounding hospitals. 

You had to go see her.

And you wouldn’t betray your friends in the process….at least you wouldn’t purposely do so.

-

After scouring through racist and anti-human subreddits you managed to find out the hospital where Cate was being held.

You didn’t have any money for the bus or an uber so you had no choice but to hoof it.

It was quite a few miles away so you’d miss most of your classes but you didn’t intend to go to whatever hero optimization class was. The class was listed under the crimefighting school which you weren’t enrolled in so you figured it was an administrative error anyways.

After about an hour on foot you made it to the hospital. 

You snuck your way up to the floor that had the most security. 

You knew you were in the right place when you saw Sam in the hallway.

He was storming out, upset.

That didn’t bode well, but thankfully he didn’t seem to notice you so you continued.

Then you saw Cipher walk into one of the rooms.

You figured that’s where Cate was.

Suddenly the reality of how stupid the choice to see her set in.

Your feet didn’t move any closer.

You weren’t sure what to do.

Then your phone pinged.

You took it out of your pocket and saw the notification. 

A text from Emma. 

Emma

Why does your location show you at a hospital???? And why is your location even on??

Then another one came through. This one from Marie.

Marie

We need you on campus. Get back ASAP.

You pocketed your phone and turned around. 

You felt like a coward, but that feeling wasn’t new to you anymore.

-

The flashing from the ring lights on everyone’s phones made the pounding in Cate’s head worse.

She exited the SUV and managed to get through the large crowd of students thanks to Stacey clearing a path.

Stacey rattled off various updates for Cate but she wasn’t listening.

Cate had come to realize the only thing she could hear was the pounding in her head.

The only thoughts she heard were her own.

Ice settled in Cate’s veins.

She was broken.

And it was all their fault.

Marie. Emma. Jordan.

They had left her for dead. 

Cate cashed out all her goodwill points with Vought to get Emma and Jordan out and they hadn’t been the slightest bit grateful.

She should’ve told Cipher the truth and had them all sent back to Elmira.

But Cate couldn’t take them down without taking (y/n) along with them.

Even if she explained that (y/n) tried to help her, Cate knew (y/n) wouldn’t let her friends suffer alone.

If Cate forced her (y/n) would choose Marie and her friends over Cate, again.

So Cate would have to figure out how to get back at them without (y/n) getting in the crosshairs.

Stacey continued to talk Cate’s ear off.

Then, as if the universe hadn’t already made her suffer enough, Cate and Stacey came upon Marie, Emma, and Jordan leaving the building nearby. 

Cate noticed (y/n) wasn’t with them. She wondered why.

Maybe Stacey hadn’t noticed them. 

Cate tried to steer Stacey in the opposite direction but it was too late. 

Stacey called out to the three friends.

“Wow, a reunion. Heart emoji, crying emoji,” Stacey said as Marie, Emma, and Jordan neared. “Isn’t it wonderful to have Cate back after having Marie back? I’m in the presence of so much greatness I can’t stand it,” she continued.

Cate stared directly at Marie.

She couldn’t believe how little Marie had done to help her. Marie didn’t even really try.

Marie held Cate’s gaze, daring her to reveal the truth.

Cate wanted to scoff.

“Cate, how are you?” Marie asked with fake concern.

Cate narrowed her eyes at Marie.

“It’s so terrible what happened, but at least the perpetrators were brought to justice,” Stacey replied.

“Yeah, they were fucking animals,” Cate added, making sure to make eye contact with all three of them.

“I’m certain (y/n) will be happy to know you’re back,” Marie vollied back.

Cate bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself composed.

“I’m taking Cate to class but hey you’re all in hero optimization so we can all go together,” Stacey stated.

Emma piped up. “I’m actually not in that weird gladiator murder class but like you guys enjoy.” 

Emma waved to her friends then walked off in the opposite direction.

Jordan cleared their throat.  “(y/n) is also in hero optimization.”

Cate turned to look at Jordan. 

Stacey clapped her hands together. “Wonderful, let’s all get going.”

Then as Stacey led the group to the right building, nerves slowly built up inside of Cate.

She knew (y/n) would be upset. 

Cate had never used her powers on (y/n). 

And Cate knew (y/n) had already felt so betrayed by her so Cate was well aware that using her powers on (y/n) would be yet another strike against her.

Cate worried the plan to revive her friendship with (y/n) was now completely hopeless.

She had no choice but to go to class and see for herself. 

The pounding in Cate’s head worsened at the thought.

-

You slept right through your alarms so Marie texted you to just meet her and Jordan outside of hero optimization class. 

You made sure to get there early in case you couldn’t find it since you’d ditched the class the day before.

A text notification bubble popped up on your phone.

It was from Emma.

Emma

Heads up, Cate is back and heading your way with Marie and Jordan. Don’t be stupid.

Your heart jumped into your throat.

Cate was coming?

You looked up from your phone and looked around the quad.

Then you saw her.

She was being led by Stacey, and sure enough Marie and Jordan were just a few steps behind.

Your heartbeat rang in your ears. 

Cate looked okay. She was walking alright and didn’t look overly hurt.

Maybe Jordan’s push wasn’t as bad as it had looked.

Stacey neared you, the group just behind her.

She smiled saccharinely at you. “Good to see you’re actually in class today (y/n).”

You smiled halfheartedly in return. 

“The crimefighter school isn’t like the performing arts school (y/n), you can’t just skip it and make a few posts on social media to make up for it,” Stacey lectured.

Your smile tightened. “Thank you Stacey.”

“Thank the dean. He chose to switch over during your re-enrollment,” Stacey explained then she turned to Cate and informed her Vought’s special gift would be waiting for her back in her dorm room.

Cate nodded and Stacey waved goodbye to everyone as she walked away.

You looked at Cate.

Cate looked anywhere but towards you.

Marie looked between you and Cate, gauging your reaction.

Jordan shook their head and sighed. 

“Screw this,” they said and walked up to the door behind you.

Marie followed then stopped in the doorway. She turned back towards you.

“You coming?”

You looked at Marie then back at Cate.

Cate finally looked up at you. 

You noticed her nibble at her bottom lip nervously.

You softened.

Then you turned back towards Marie.

“I’ll catch up with you inside,” you replied.

Marie looked over at Cate then back at you.

“You sure,” she asked, one brow raised.

You nodded. 

Marie sighed then followed Jordan into the building.

It was just you and Cate now.

Your palms started to sweat.

You weren’t sure what to say.

And Cate didn’t say anything either.

Finally,  you cleared your throat and looked down at your shoes.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” you said.

Cate crossed her arms against her chest.

“No thanks to your friends but I’m alive,” she replied.

You looked up at her with a frown. “Cate-,” you chastised.

“Is what I said a lie?” Cate asked.

It was clear to you that Cate was angry and resentful. 

She wasn’t the only one who had cause to be.

But you weren’t in the mood to argue so you just sighed aloud.

“We should head in,” you said then turned towards the door.

Cate reached out towards you. 

“(y/n) wait I-,” Cate said.

Thoughtlessly, you jumped away from her touch.

Cate’s hand dropped back to her side.

You froze when you realized what you had done. 

“I see,” Cate whispered.

You met her gaze.

A mistake.

You saw the heartbreak in Cate’s eyes.

Since the day you two had met you had trusted Cate implicitly, never fearing her touch.

Cate cleared her throat then walked past you.

She walked into the building without sparing a second look back at you.

You sighed and gritted your teeth as you followed.

-

You realized your previous decision to skip hero optimization was the right one.

The class was insane.

It was basically a hero fight club.

Cipher instructed Marie and another girl named Fiona to fight until one became incapacitated and pushed the bright red button at the other end of the room.

You worried for Marie but quickly zoned out of the fight below you.

Those not fighting stood on the balcony that overlooked the main fighting area below.

Your eyes drifted over to where Cate stood, far away from you at the other end of the balcony. 

Guilt gnawed at you. 

You shouldn’t have jumped like that. You knew how sensitive Cate was about touch.

But it was involuntary. You hadn’t consciously done it.

It was Cate’s fault, you reasoned. If she hadn’t used her powers on you that night you wouldn’t have reacted that way.

At least that’s what you wanted to believe.

Deep down you knew that while you were pissed at Cate for using her powers on you, you were more upset that she hadn’t let you help her.

You had almost lost her and you couldn’t forgive yourself for not being stronger than Cate’s manipulation.

A loud buzzing sound shook you from your thoughts.

The fight was over.

That was quick, you thought, then you realized you had been lost in thought for quite some time.

Cipher walked through the large, metal, doors of the exit as they opened.

“Well done Marie. We have work to do. Fiona, disappointing, see yourself out,” he said.

The girl Marie had defeated walked away in an angry huff.

Cipher stood next to Marie and addressed the rest of the class.

“Here in this class we have some of the most powerful superheroes ever to walk these halls. It really boggles the mind, and yet, Cate Dunlap…welcome back by the way..was overrun by a mere handful of  Starlighter thugs. “

Your eyes met Jordan’s to exchange an awkward look.  

Cipher continued, “Not all of us are bulletproof. Supes are outnumbered what? Ten million to one worldwide? If humans ever get their shit together and organize against us, let’s face it, we’re fucked.”

Jordan had joked to you the night prior that the class was weird but they failed to mention the dean was literally prepping you and your fellow classmates for some imagined war against humankind. 

Sure, that kind of rhetoric was what Vought pedaled these days but still, it seemed so extreme to you. 

And you guessed the rest of the class felt the same, none of them reacted positively to Cipher’s speech.

“Okay. Think about that until the next time we’re together. Class dismissed,” Cipher concluded.

Students started to shuffle out of class.

Cipher turned to Marie and asked her to stay back a few minutes. 

You turned back to look at Jordan who was already exchanging worried glances with Marie.

Marie gave Jordan a reassuring nod so Jordan walked out of class alongside you.

You and Jordan stopped at the entrance of the building to wait for Marie.

You noticed Cate lingered by the class’ entrance.

You wondered if your friendship with Cate could still be salvaged.

You had both hurt each other, she moreso since you ended up at Elmira, but there was hurt on both sides nonetheless.

Cate looked away from the entrance and noticed you staring at her.

She walked up to you and Jordan.

Jordan looked between the two of you then excused themself.

“You told me you couldn’t hate me even if you tried. Is that still true?” Cate asked.

You turned the question over in your head.

Then you nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Cate’s shoulders relaxed. “Good,” she replied.

Your guilt started to creep on you so you had to ask.

“Do you hate me?”

Cate smiled ruefully. “Of course not (y/n).”

Her smile faded when she noticed Marie walk past the both of you and up to Jordan nearby.

“Them on the other hand,” Cate continued.

Marie and Jordan exchanged a quick look before Marie turned to you.

“You okay?”

You nodded. 

Marie didn’t acknowledge Cate’s presence next to you. She simply smiled and cocked her head to the side. 

“Then let’s go, we should talk.”

You didn’t move. 

“I think I should walk Cate back to her room,” you declared.

Both Marie and Cate looked at you with brows raised.

“You do?” Marie replied.

“Just in case she pops a stitch or something…,” you said then trailed off when you realized that was not a convincing reason for walking the woman who had sold you and your friends out back to her room.

Cate smiled to herself.

Marie frowned then shook her head. 

“Okay, work out whatever you need to then come find us. Got it?”

You nodded. “Got it.”

Marie turned back to Jordan and they walked away together.

You couldn’t meet Cate’s gaze but felt her staring.

“Chivalrous as always (y/n),” Cate said, her voice lightly teasing.

Your cheeks warmed.

“Uhm, yeah, let’s- let’s go,” you stuttered.

Then you lead the way back to Cate’s dorm room.

-

The walk back to her dorm room was quiet.

Cate was caught off guard by your offer to walk her back to her room, but she took it as a good sign.

You didn’t totally hate her.

She watched you out of the corner of her eye.

You were so quiet but the wrinkles in your forehead let Cate know you were thinking hard about something.

Was it about her?

She desperately wanted to know what you were thinking.

But even if her powers weren’t haywire she wouldn’t ever use her powers on you ever again.

Cate didn’t want to ruin whatever goodwill you felt towards her.

-

After a few minutes you arrived at Cate's room. 

Cate unlocked the door then looked over at you.

“This is me,” she said awkwardly.

“Yup,” you replied, also awkwardly.

You didn’t move to leave and Cate didn’t move to walk into her room. 

You both waited for the other to do or say something.

Then Cate sighed and opened the door.

She walked in then turned back to you. 

 “Do you want to come in?”

You nodded then followed into the room after her.

Cate closed the door after you walked in.

You noticed a large box on Cate’s bed. 

Courtesy of Vought, the card on it read.

Cate followed your gaze and quickly moved the box to the side.

Then she sat down on her bed and looked up at you expectantly.

You debated sitting next to her on the bed but decided against it and sat down in the loveseat next to her vanity.

“So..,” Cate began.

Your words came out of you like vomit. “Are you going to tell Vought the truth?”

Cate rose from her bed and sat down on the stool in front of her vanity. 

She took her beanie off to reveal the large white bandage on her scalp.

You wanted to look away but didn’t let yourself. 

You knew that would make Cate feel worse.

“Cate,” you prompted.

But Cate didn’t respond. 

Instead she carefully removed the bandage. 

You choked down a gasp when you saw the metal staples keeping her scalp together.

Cate met your gaze. “I couldn’t think of a reason not to tell them the truth when I woke up and saw myself in a mirror.”

Her eyes started to water but she blinked the tears away and continued. “I wanted to make Jordan, Marie, and Emma pay for doing this to me…but I couldn’t hurt them without hurting you too.”

You softened your gaze. “Cate…”

Tears pooled in Cate’s eyes again, and this time she didn’t blink them away. 

“I just want my best friend back,” Cate confessed.

“Oh Cate,” you said as you leaned towards Cate.

You placed your hand atop hers.

“I’m still here.”

Cate shook her head softly. “You’ll always pick them over me.” 

Then Cate met your gaze. 

“Over us,” she added. 

You furrowed your brow. “But I chose you that night Cate,” you said and pulled your hand away from her. “I chose you knowing it might lead me straight to Elmira, and you overrode that choice. You sent me away.”

Cate looked away from you and wiped tears from her cheeks. 

“I wanted to protect you,” she replied.

Your stomach sank. 

You figured as much.

“Cate you know Vought can’t be trusted. Please stop siding with them. I know our friends will forgive you…in time.”

Cate turned back to look at you. “I can’t do that.”

“Please Cate, for me,” you pleaded.

Cate’s eyes continued to water. “I’m sorry (y/n).”

You opened your mouth to reply but Cate’s phone rang.

You looked down at it and read the dean’s name.

Cate quickly grabbed her phone and silenced it.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and cleared her throat. 

“You should go,” she told you.

You sighed. “Fine,” you said, then stood and crossed the room.

You stopped at the door and turned back to look at her. 

Cate slipped the beanie back onto her head and schooled her features in the mirror.

You shook your head and turned back towards the door. 

You walked out.

It was hopeless. 

-

You laid down on Emma’s bed and closed your eyes while Marie and Jordan updated you both.

Apparently Jordan and Marie were now scheduled for some UFC style fight for the top spot in the ranking.

You’d always thought the ranking system was stupid.

You weren’t even sure what you were ranked as. Defensive powers like yours never ranked well and phasing drained your energy faster than your shield powers did so you rarely used it.

Marie explained that Cipher knew they all knew about Odessa, and that Marie was indeed Odessa.

Emma pointed a finger at Jordan and Marie. 

“I am not going back to Elmira. I swear to God you two.”

Jordan turned to Emma.

“No one is going back.”

Emma didn’t buy it. She turned to Marie.  “If Cipher knows you’re Odessa why would he risk hurting you? Aren’t you important?”

Marie shrugged. 

“I don’t know what I am to him. He was there when I was born. Other than that, who knows.”

Emma sighed and plopped down onto the couch beside her.

“So every time Cipher wants you to do something he’s just gonna pull the Elmira card,” Emma declared, starting to spiral,  “This is never going to fucking stop.”

Marie turned to look at you. “There is one thing we can try.”

Emma followed Marie’s gaze over to you.

You realized they had stopped talking so you opened your eyes and saw them all staring at you.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“We need to get Cate to push him,” Marie stated matter of factly.

You furrowed your brow. “Seriously?”

Emma shook her head vigorously. “Absolutely not, fuck that.”

Jordan turned to Marie. “Push him to do what?”

“Stop the fight and maybe get into his head and figure out what the fuck he wants,” Marie explained.

Jordan wasn’t buying it. So Marie turned to Emma.  

“I mean think about it. We don’t know shit about him. What his powers are, what the fuck he knows about Odessa. Cate’s the only one who might be able to help.”                                                   

Jordan crossed their arms against their chest. “But she’s on his side.”

You titled your head to the side. “Ehh, not totally.”

Marie nodded. “Right, remember we caught him yelling at her,” she said and nudged Jordan. “Maybe she’s not as far up his ass as we thought.”

“She fucking lives there Marie. She’s got a butthole timeshare,” Emma exclaimed.

You turned to look at Emma. “Emma, come on.”

Emma stared at you blankly. “You come on (y/n). You know you have a blindspot when it comes to her.”

Jordan turned it over in their head. “She might just sell us out again.”

“Which is a hundred percent something she would do,” Emma agreed.

Irritation started to build inside you. 

You knew how Emma felt about Cate. Emma had always made it very known, but you were growing tired of Emma digging on her.

“You’re all seemingly forgetting that she stayed quiet on who the real perpetrators of her almost death were,” you said, bringing everyone’ s attention back to you.

Emma waved her hand over you dismissively. 

“Because you would end up at Elmira again and she seems to actually feel guilty you were there.”

“Yeah it’s more so her crush on you and less that she has our back,” Jordan added nonchalantly.

Crush?

You blinked hard, not believing what your ears had heard. 

“Her crush on me?”

Jordan met your gaze. “Dude you seriously don’t know?”

You shook your head vigorously. “How would I have known that Jordan??”

Jordan sighed. “She told me freshman year but then she and Luke got together and it got kinda complicated for her. I guess I thought you had figured it out. She’s always looking at you like a lovestruck puppy.”

You laid back down on Emma’s bed and stared at the ceiling. 

You didn’t know what to say.

Was it too late?

Of course it was too late.

Too much had happened for you to run into Cate’s arms and kiss her.

So you remained quiet while your friends exchanged awkward glances.

“My point is I don’t think she’s with him and the enemy of my enemy,” Marie began before trailing off.

“Is extra enemy, fuck her forever,” Emma added.

You lifted your head and turned towards Emma with a tired look on your face.

Emma noticed your look. 

“I said what I said. I know you love her or whatever but seriously-”

Your face warmed. 

“I’m not in love with her.” 

Jordan furrowed their brow.

“You’re not?”

You sat up and started to stutter.  “I mean I-It’s so complicated- I just..”

Emma turned towards Marie. “This is a bad idea.”

Marie shrugged. 

“It’s a desperate idea but it’s the only one I can think of. Unless either of you have a better one?”

Emma and Jordan didn’t respond.

Marie looked over to you.

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know. Cate’s pretty pissed at you guys.”

Marie nodded slowly. “But not at you right?”

“Right…,” you replied hesitantly.

“So maybe if you brought up the idea to her she wouldn’t hate it.”

You grimaced. “I don’t know Marie. My last conversation with her didn’t exactly end on the best of terms.”

“I’ll go with you but I still think she’d be more open if it came from you.”

You sighed then nodded. “Okay.”

So you, Jordan, and Marie all walked over to Cate’s room.

Emma refused to join you.

She didn’t want to deal with Cate more than she had to.

You knocked on Cate’s door then stepped aside.

Cate opened the door and noticed Marie and Jordan first.

Her eyes widened in panic. “Look, they made me say that shit for Truthbomb,” she explained hurriedly.

Jordan crossed their arms against their chest and scoffed.

“Yeah, like you didn’t have a choice.”

“Jordan, you tried to kill me and then you bragged about it in front of the entire school,” Cate replied defensively.

Jordan huffed. 

“I didn’t fucking-”

Marie put her hand on Jordan’s arm then turned towards Cate. 

“Can we all just calm down for one second?”

“No,” Cate answered quickly.

Marie turned to you for help. 

Cate followed Marie’s gaze and noticed you standing off to the side. Her eyes softened instantly. 

“Hey.”

You felt more word vomit start to build inside you. You needed to know if what Jordan said was true. You needed to know if you still had a chance. You needed to know if all those times you thought you’d almost kissed Cate were real.

But your friends needed you too.

So you swallowed the word vomit and remained silent.

“Cate, I think we’re all on the same side here,” Marie continued.

Cate tore her gaze from you and scoffed at Marie.

“Bullshit.”

“I think you hate Cipher as much as we do,” Marie replied.

Cate didn’t disagree, she eyed Marie cautiously. 

Emboldened by Cate’s lack of rebuke Marie continued. 

“So let’s do something about it.”

Cate’s eyes narrowed.  “What makes you think I won’t go to cipher right now and tell him what you’re up to?”

“Because I’m asking you not to,” you replied. 

Cate’s gaze landed back on you. 

“Just hear them out,” you added.

Cate sighed then turned back to Marie, not as on guard as before.

“If you don’t like it, we never have to talk to each other again,” Marie finished.

“Fine,” Cate replied.

She stepped aside and held the door open while you, Marie, and Jordan walked in.

Marie and Jordan sat down on the loveseat in front of the dorm’s window.

Cate sat down on her bed.

You could sit down on the stool in front of the vanity, next to the loveseat, or you could sit down next to Cate on her bed.

Each choice signaling your true allegiance.

You were probably overthinking it, but you thought it best to sit on the floor in between them.

Marie began to explain her plan to Cate.

Once again you were barely paying attention, too busy looking at Cate and remembering what Jordan had said.

Could Cate really have felt the same as you all this time?

Jordan wasn’t a liar. Even when they tried they usually couldn’t keep the lie going for long. 

Like Emma said, Jordan sucked at lying.

The possibility that Cate had fallen for you too brought a memory to the forefront of your mind.

It happened freshman year. Just a few months into the semester.

You were still getting to know Cate’s friend group and ended up at a TGI Friday’s with them on a saturday night.

Thanks to Cate’s powers you had all managed to get drunk as skunks.

The place was closing and everyone was planning on where to go next.

But Cate was way past drunk. She couldn’t even stand without someone propping her up.

Luke offered to take Cate back to the dorms, but you didn’t like the idea of him being alone with Cate in her condition.

It was before Cate and Luke started dating, and sure Luke was nice but even nice guys were still guys.

You told them you’d take her home but Luke insisted you not cut your night short. After all, Luke reasoned, you were getting along great with Jordan and Andre.

Jordan and Andre agreed. They thought you were funny and wanted to hang out some more.

But you didn’t want to leave Cate.

Thankfully Cate was lucid enough to tell Luke to fuck off. Her words were slurred but she made it clear she wanted you to take her home.

So Andre and Jordan took Luke to another bar and you took Cate back to her room.

You made sure to gently set Cate on her bed. 

She immediately fell onto her back and let out a pleased hum.

You took off her heels and helped her underneath her covers.

Then you grabbed a water bottle from Cate’s minifridge and placed it next to her bed.

“Night Cate,” you said then turned to leave.

But Cate reached out to stop you.

“Nooo, stay with me (y/n),” she whined.

You looked back at Cate.

She looked up at you through half lidded eyes and a dazed smile.

“Pretty pleaseee,” she continued.

You sighed. 

“Fine, but just for a bit.”

Cate let out another please hum then made room for you on her bed.

You sat down on the edge of the bed, tense.

Cate pawed at your arm. 

“Come on (y/n). Lay down,” Cate mewled.

“I shouldn’t,” you replied, your palms wet with sweat.

“Are you scared?” Cate teased.

“Of what? You?” You replied, humoring your drunk friend.

Cate let out a laugh. “I’m very scary. I can make you do anything I want.”

You rolled your eyes. “Okay.”

Cate tugged at your sleeve. “Come on (y/n), lay down.”

Another sigh.

“Fine.”

Cate lifted the comforter but you grabbed it and put it back down. 

Then you laid down facing Cate, on top of the covers.

Cate let out another laugh. 

“How chivalrous,” she teased.

Your cheeks warmed under her gaze.

Then you were both quiet.

In the silence you realized just how close your face was to Cate’s.

You swallowed hard when you felt the heat of her breath on your lips.

Every part of you wanted to close the gap between you and kiss her.

You had spent every day since the start of freshman year dreaming of kissing Cate Dunlap.

Cate brought her finger up to your face and traced small circles on your cheek. 

Then she wandered down to your lips.

She smiled.

You didn’t dare move.

Your gaze met hers.

The sound of your heart thrashing in your chest reverberated in your ears.

“You’ve got great lips (y/n),” Cate whispered.

Cate’s finger hooked under your chin.

She leaned towards you.

This was it.

You closed your eyes and waited to feel her lips against your own. 

But that moment never came.

Instead you heard Cate curse under her breath and jump out of her bed.

You opened your eyes and sat up to find Cate bent over her trash can, vomiting her guts out.

You frowned but swallowed your disappointment.

Then you stood and held Cate’s hair away from her face while she continued to throw up.

After going to your room for an electrolyte drink you tucked Cate back into bed and watched as she drifted off into sleep.

You knew she wouldn’t remember anything the next day.

Maybe it was for the best.

Cate’s voice cut through your reverie and brought you back to the present.

“I’ve never seen his powers, one of the creepier things about him,” she explained to Marie and Jordan.

Marie furrowed her brow. “You haven’t read his mind?”

Cate shook her head. “I can’t.”

 “Why not? You only mind-rape your friends?” Jordan asked flatly.

Marie threw Jordan an exasperated look. “Dude,” she chided.

Cate shook the insult off and continued. “I’ve tried a million times but I can’t get in and he won’t let me close enough to push him.”

“Oh, so this is pointless. We can’t do shit,” Jordan concluded mockingly.

Cate mindlessly played with the hem of her sleeve. “Maybe we can find some dirt on him and force him to stop the fight.

“What do you mean?” Marie asked, intrigued.

“He’s hiding something,” Cate replied.

Jordan furrowed their brow and sat up in their seat.

Cate continued. “In his house, he’s got security outside, and this big, weird looking door inside. It wasn’t there when Shetty lived there. There’s like, this humming coming from inside, like a machine.”

“What is it?” Marie prodded.

“I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s important to him, and he doesn’t want anyone to see it,” Cate explained.

Marie nodded slowly. “We need to get into that house.”

Jordan gave Marie a tired look. “You know how dead we’ll be if he catches us?”

Marie turned to Jordan and placed a reassuring hand on their arm. “He won’t. He’ll be with me.”

Jordan didn’t follow. 

So Marie explained. “He wanted to train me.”

Marie turned to Cate. “It’ll give you plenty of time.”

Jordan protested. “No way.” Then they leaned closer to Marie and whispered, “Look, you don’t know what he’ll do to you.”

Marie smiled softly at Jordan’s concern.  

“Cipher doesn’t want to hurt me. He wants you to do that.”

Jordan leaned back in their seat and shrugged in defeat. 

Marie turned to you and Cate. “So we’re in agreement?”

Cate nodded.

Then Marie and Cate both looked at you.

You sighed. “It’s the only plan we have so I guess so.”

Marie and Jordan walked out of Cate’s room and started to talk amongst themselves. 

Cate fell into step next to you. 

“When this is all over do you think we could talk?” She asked hesitantly. 

You nodded then sped up to catch up to Jordan and Marie.

You didn’t trust yourself to not ask about what Jordan had told you, and now was definitely not that time for that conversation.

When you all reached the courtyard you went your separate ways. 

You, Cate, and Jordan made your way towards the dean’s house.

From behind bushes across the street the three of you watched and waited for Cipher to leave.

Jordan got tired of waiting so they walked to a nearby bench and pulled out their cellphone.

They got a notification then played a video. It was a promotional video for their big fight with Marie.

When it finished Cate turned around and faced Jordan.

“Holy shit you shot a commercial for them?”

Jordan shook their head. “They fucking deep faked us.”

You made your way over to Jordan and looked over their shoulder as they swiped through the comment section. 

“Jesus,” you said quietly.

Cate took a step closer. “Are you reading the comments? Don’t do that, it's brutal. After the flip trailer came out people said the worst things.”

Jordan scoffed. 

“Oh look, here's one. Cat’s right Jordan’s is a lying piece of shit,” Jordan recited.

Cate closed her eyes and sighed.

“How many times do I have to apologize to you?”

You remained silent, knowing they had to work this out between themselves. 

Jordan put their phone away and looked up at Cate.

“How about fucking once.”

Cate met Jordan’s gaze.

“Jordan I’m sorry. I really am, you don’t deserve this. Kinda like how I didn’t deserve a murder attempt.”

Jordan slightly pursed their lips. “That’s debatable.”

“Dude,” you interjected.

Jordan looked back at you. “What?”

Cate shook her head softly and walked back towards the hedge facing Cipher’s home.

Jordan turned back to Cate, and stood from the bench.

“I should’ve known to steer clear of you since freshman year when you fucked that TA with hooves,” Jordan spat.

You winced at the memory. Out of all the guys Cate had slept with that TA had been the worst.

Cate scoffed. 

“We’re going that far back? I can recall someone chugging a bottle of rum and four dicks in the bathroom of a TGI Fridays.”

That memory was even worse. You didn’t think it was possible but somehow Jordan had done it.

A small smile spread across Jordan’s face. 

“Those dicks belonged to the same guy and he was hot.”

You furrowed your brows. That’s not how you remembered the guy.

“Didn’t he have a cell phone attached to his belt?” You recalled.

Jordan and Cate both turned to you and let out a laugh.

The moment of brevity gave you hope that perhaps Cate could mend things with Jordan.

That hope was short-lived.

Jordan’s smile faded. They turned to face Cate, who they now stood next to.

“I think I might be mad at you forever. I hate that,” Jordan confessed.

Cate nodded somberly. “Me too.”

Then Cate turned towards the hedge. 

“It was good what you said about Andre and I’m glad you told the truth about him too,” Cate said with a forlorn look on her face.

Jordan turned their attention back on Cipher’s house and the subject of their complicated friendship was dropped.

Your stomach sank.

You knew Jordan could hold a grudge but maybe if Cate could help put Cipher away then they could forgive Cate.

You wanted things to go back to the way they were before. Things weren’t perfect but you hated seeing Cate so unhappy.

“Cipher’s on the move. Okay so just push this guy and we’re in,” Jordan commanded.

You rushed to where they stood and watched as Cipher got on a small bike and pedaled away.

The three of you waited until he was out of sight to leave your hiding place.

You crossed the road and walked up to the security guard in front of Cipher’s home.

Cate waved hello to the security guard and put on her most dazzling smile.

“I was here the other day visiting the dean and I left something inside so you’re going to have to let us in.”

The security guard remained at his post, uncharmed by Cate.

Out of the corner of your eye you noticed Jordan’s shoulders tense up, as if expecting a fight.

“Sorry, no visitors,” the security guard replied.

Cate sighed then stepped closer to the security guard.

“Okay uh, I’m going to need you to uh-,” Cate began then touched the top of the security guard’s hand with her own. “Give us your keys and then fuck off and forget you ever saw us.”

The security guard smiled. “Sure, you got it.”

Cate stepped back and looked over at you and Jordan. “Easy.”

You watched as the security guard turned away from the three of you, unzipped his pants, and began thrusting his penis into the nearby guard gnome.

Jordan’s brow furrowed.

“What is he doing?”

Cate turned back around to face the body guard. She let out an awkward laugh. “He’s fucking a garden gnome.”

“Yeah but why,” you asked.

Cate looked over at you and Jordan. She sighed.

“Okay look my powers haven’t exactly been consistent lately.”

Jordan’s face dropped. 

You sighed and stepped towards the security guard. 

“You owe me,” you said to Cate as you walked past her.

Then you squatted down until you were eye level with the guard’s ass cheeks. You face curled in disgust but you stuck your hand out in between the guard’s legs.

You felt the ring of keys and yanked it off the guard’s belt.

Then you stood up and faced your friends. 

“Got em.”

Jordan grabbed the keys from you as he angrily walked past you.

Cate didn’t meet your gaze and followed Jordan inside.

You sighed. 

They were definitely back at square one.

Once inside Jordan pulled Cate aside.

“You should’ve said something,” Jordan whispered.

“Jordan, this is all because YOU bashed my brain in,” Cate reasoned.

While they argued you stepped towards the vault shaped door in the house.

“Your powers aren’t working right you fucking say something. That dude could’ve fucked us,” Jordan reprimanded.

“Well he didn’t. He’s rearranging a gnome's guts right now,” Cate replied.

“Whatever,” Jordan said and released the tension from their shoulders.

“Uh guys,” you called out when you realized the vault was locked.

Jordan and Cate caught up to you.

Jordan used one of the guard’s keys and it unlocked the door.

Then they pried it open just enough for the three of you to walk inside.

The room was bare except for a record player that played a very old sounding song, some bookshelves, a newly made hospital bed, and a large silver hyperbaric chamber.

Jordan and Cate exchanged uneasy looks.

You unconsciously stepped towards the hyperbaric chamber.

Then Cate reached out and grabbed your hand. 

“Wait,” she whispered.

You stopped and waited for them to match your pace.

Jordan was the first to see into the chamber.

Then you and Cate peered inside.

It was a man. A horribly burnt man.

You turned to Jordan who brought out their phone and took a picture.

When the camera shutter sounded out the man’s eyes flashed open.

The monitor that tracked his heart rate started to speed up and go off.

“Shit, let’s go,” Cate said in a panic then turned around.

She pulled on your hand to follow her.

Then the three of you dashed out of the house, across the street, and didn’t stop running until you reached the campus square.

-

The three of you decided to wait in Jordan’s room for Marie to return. 

Emma joined the three of you not long after you got back to campus.

“So we’re working with murdering, lying, traitorous whores now… fantastic,” Emma quipped when she walked into the room and noticed Cate sitting next to you.

“It’s temporary,” Jordan replied.

Emma shrugged as she made her way towards the desk chair next to Jordan’s bed. 

“Oh no it’s cool. I’ve seen the movies,” Emma said and crossed a leg over the other to rest her hands on her knees.

You took a deep breath, not wanting to let Emma’s comments about Cate get to you.

“Every team needs a psycho who eventually sells them out and ruins everything for everyone,” Emma finished with a sarcastic smile.

You clenched your jaw to stop yourself from talking. You knew if you did it wouldn’t be nice.

Cate gave your hand a gentle squeeze.

You realized she hadn’t let go of your hand since you had left Cipher’s house.

Butterflies danced in your stomach at the realization.

You turned to look at Cate.

She spared you a shy smile.

The snap of Emma’s fingers pulled both of your gazes back to her.

She pointed at the cans of popclaw on the coffee table in front of you and Cate then snapped her fingers once more.

Cate sighed and let go of your hand. She grabbed one of the drinks then stood up.

Indignation shot up inside you. 

You stood and put a hand in front of Cate to stop her.

Then you turned back towards Emma. 

“She’s not your servant.”

Emma met your gaze. “(y/n), I love you, you’re really cool but your allegiance to double-crossing sluts is really starting to get on my nerves.”

“I could say the same about your misogynistic remarks regarding Cate,” you sneered.

“Ha,” Emma replied mockingly. “So you’re okay with Cate murdering and torturing people but you draw the line at me calling her a whore? Great.”

Emma shook her head and got up to leave.

Jordan got off their bed and stopped Emma.

Then they turned their gaze towards you.

“Both of you just calm down okay?”

Emma sat back down.

You nodded and returned to your seat.

Cate walked past you to hand Emma a popclaw.

Emma looked down at Cate’s outstretched hand.

“I asked for a pamplemousse, bitch.”

You shot out of your seat. “Emma!”

“Fine,” Emma replied and grabbed the drink from Cate.

Cate turned back around towards you and placed a calming hand to your chest.

“It’s okay (y/n),” she said, “Emma is still hurt from what I did. I get it.”

Emma titled her head to the side after taking a sip of her popclaw.

“Don’t think you do.”

You looked back at Emma. “She’s trying,” you pleaded.

Everyone’s attention shifted when Jordan’s door opened.

Marie walked in and stopped when she realized everyone’s attention was on her.

“Hey guys, are we good?”

Jordan turned towards you and Cate.

“Are we?”

You nodded then sat back down.

Cate returned to her seat beside you.

Cate’s fingers threaded around your own.

You suppressed a smile at the touch.

Marie turned to Jordan. “So what’d we get?”

“Show her,” Cate chimed excitedly.

Jordan pulled out their cell phone then handed it to Marie.

Marie furrowed her brow. “Uhh, what am I looking at here?”

“Cipher has a super old dude in a hyperbaric chamber in his house,” Jordan explained.

Marie looked up at Jordan. “Holy shit. Who is it?”

Jordan shrugged. 

Then Marie turned to look at you and Cate.

“They don’t know, but they found a giant nutsack in a can and we’re supposed to be super psyched,” Emma interjected dismissively. 

You rolled your eyes, fighting the urge to continue arguing with Emma.

“Well, I also have news,” Marie stated, bringing everyone’s attention back to her. “Cipher isn’t a supe.”

Everyone’s face curled up in confusion. 

“Um, what are you talking about?” Cate asked.

Marie stepped closer to the group. “We don’t know what his powers are because he doesn’t have any. He’s human.”

Your brow remained furrowed.  “That doesn’t make any sense.”

Marie’s excitement grew. “There’s no V in his system. I can sense it.” She turned to Cate with a small smile.  “So you can get up close to him and push him to do whatever we want him to do.”

Cate tensed next to you and pulled her hand away from yours. 

“I can’t. My powers don’t work like that anymore,” she confessed.

Jordan nodded. “Unless you want him to make sweet, sweet, love to his stapler, in which case she’s your gal.”

“Uhm what are you talking about?” Marie asked with a puzzled look on her face.

Cate let out a sigh. “Well, ever since-,” she said then mimicked Jordan’s push that led to her injury, “I’m broken.”

You thoughtlessly put your hand on Cate’s thigh. 

“Not broken, just out of commission for the time being,” you told her.

Cate met your gaze, her eyes softened. 

“Thanks (y/n).”

Emma cleared her throat.

You all turned to look at her. 

She stood from her seat.  “Why the fuck are you even here if your powers don’t work?”

You clenched your jaw again but it didn’t stop your frustration from taking over. You stood up and faced Emma directly.  

“Oh my god Emma. You are not the only one that was in Elmira getting tortured daily. Everyone else has put their personal feelings about Cate aside because we realize we need to work together to figure this guy out. So just cut it out.”

Emma looked taken aback by your rant. She sat down and took another drink from her pop claw.

You let out a breath then did the same.

Marie cleared her throat to direct the attention back to her. 

“So they’re gone forever?”

“No, I’m gonna figure out a way to fix it, I just-,” Cate replied halfheartedly.

Cate’s phone lit up with a notification. 

You peered down and read it was a text from Cipher.

Cate unlocked her phone and sighed. “Oh no.”

Jordan leaned forward. “What?”

You looked up from Cate’s phone and at Jordan. 

“It’s from Cipher.”

Cate read the text aloud. “We live in a world of cameras, moron. I saw you. Unacceptable. We need to meet. Now.”

Jordan cursed under their breath.

Marie nodded slowly. “Meet him.”

Cate furrowed her brow. “Are you insane? He’ll kill me.”

Out of the corner of your eye you noticed a smirk spread across Emma’s face. Then she opened her mouth to speak.

You didn’t wait to find out what new quip she would say. You held up a finger to silence her.

“Don’t,” you warned.

Emma rolled her eyes and downed the rest of her popclaw.

Marie turned to Cate. “He doesn’t have any powers! Just meet him somewhere public.”

“At the fight?” Jordan mused.

Marie nodded. “That’s perfect, but wear a wire.”

“Wear a wire? This isn’t some old cop show. I mean this isn’t the..,” Jordan ranted.

“The wire?” Emma chimed.

Jordan and Emma exchanged a small smile.

“Then use your phone and get him to admit he’s human. Come on, a human dean at an all supe school?” Marie urged.

Everyone else quietly considered Marie’s words.

Marie stepped closer to Cate. “You said he was hiding something. This is it, this is the thing.”

Cate bit the inside of her cheek nervously.  “Marie, he’s- he’s already beyond suspicious of me. If I start asking questions about that, he’s gonna know. Plus, I’ll be searched even before I get near Cipher.”

You nodded. “There’s no way she’ll be able to set up a camera.”

Emma came alive in her seat. “I can do it,” she exclaimed.

Marie furrowed her brow. “How?”

“I have a crew,” Emma said with a smile. 

Then she turned to look at Cate.

“You get him to talk. I’ll handle the rest.”

Jordan and Marie nodded in agreement then turned to you and Cate.

You looked over at Cate. 

She sighed then nodded.

“I’ll go with Cate and watch her back,” you said nonchalantly. 

You knew it made no sense but you wanted to feel included.

Marie, Jordan, and Emma exchanged an awkward look. 

They knew it also made no sense.

Cate gave your hand a squeeze. “I appreciate that (y/n) but Cipher won’t let you in.”

“But I-,” you began to protest.

“I’ll be okay,” Cate reassured you.

You sighed in defeat then agreed not to interfere with the plan they laid out.

After the plan was agreed everyone went their separate ways. 

You felt Cate’s hand slip out of yours and looked up to see her going the opposite way as you.

Then you remembered what Cate had said earlier.

“Wait,” you called out and Cate turned towards you. “Didn’t you want to talk?”

Cate nodded. “But only if you’re up for it.”

“Your place or mine?” You asked.

“My room is closer,” Cate replied.

You nodded and followed her back to her room.

-

Neither of you knew what to say. 

So you remained in awkward silence in Cate’s room. 

You sat on Cate’s loveseat and crossed your legs.

“So…what did you want to talk about?”

Cate looked down at her floor and took a steadying breath. 

“Well, I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry and that you were right. About everything.”

Then Cate met your gaze. 

“I choose you.”

Firecrackers lit up inside you hearing those words come out of Cate’s mouth. 

Words you had longed to hear.

You couldn’t contain the smile that spread across your lips. 

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Cate got up from her bed and walked over to the couch to sit next to you.

You shifted in your seat to face her.

“And I wanted to thank you for sticking up for me back there,” Cate said with a soft smile.

Your cheeks warmed under her gaze. “It’s nothing.”

Cate reached out and put her hand on your knee. “I know they all still hate me so it means a lot that you’re willing to stick up for me against them.”

You shook your head gently.  “I just hate when Emma and Jordan take it too far.”

Cate caressed your knee with her thumb. 

Your gaze shot down when you realized it. 

“Well, I wanted to thank you,” Cate whispered.

You looked back up at her and realized she was much closer than she had been a second ago.

Cate met your gaze then brought hers down to your lips. 

You swallowed hard. 

Cate began to lean in closer and closer towards you. 

You couldn’t move.

This was it.

The moment you had waited years for.

You were going to kiss Cate Dunlap.

But you panicked.

You jumped out of your seat and walked to the center of Cate’s room. 

Cate braced herself with her arm then looked over at you, confused.

You cleared your throat, trying to calm your nerves.

“Jordan- they,” you swallowed hard.

If you were going to kiss Cate you needed to know the truth.

“Jordan told me something the other day and I need you to tell me the truth.”

Cate furrowed her brow. “Okay.”

“100% honest Cate,” you reiterated.

Cate stood up and nodded. “What did Jordan say?”

You tried to take a steadying breath but holding Cate’s gaze was too much. So you closed your eyes.

“Jordan said you had a crush on me, that you told them freshman year,” you said hurriedly, not wanting to chicken out.

Then you waited for Cate’s reply, your eyes still closed.

“Oh..,” was all Cate said.

You opened your eyes to find it was not Cate who couldn’t meet your gaze.

“Is it true?”

Cate’s face reddened. 

“Yeah.”

You felt your legs start to shake so you walked back to Cate’s bed and sat down.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” 

Cate finally met your gaze. 

“Because I didn’t want to lose my best friend.”

You frowned. “Oh Cate.”

Cate shook her head then stood up. “You don’t understand, things were already so complicated with Luke, and Shetty had me keep so many secrets I just-,” Cate rambled as she closed the distance between you. She stopped in front of her bed. “It wouldn’t have mattered if I did anyways.”

You stood back up. “That’s not true,” you countered.

Cate let out an exasperated breath. “(y/n) even if I had told you and you felt the same we couldn’t have been together. Shetty had a plan that I couldn’t stray from.”

Tears welled in your eyes, starting to blur your vision. 

Cate softened and reached out to touch you.

But you turned away from her and blinked the tears away.

Cate once again closed the distance between the two of you. She placed her hand on your hip and her chin on your shoulder. 

“The only way we could’ve been together was if I had kept you a secret…and you are worth so much more than that, especially to me,” she said, the heat of her voice tickling your ear.

You closed your eyes and leaned back into Cate’s touch.

“And now?”

Cate let out a sarcastic huff. “Now, it looks like you would have to keep me a secret from our friends. I can’t ask you to do that.”

You opened your eyes and turned around to face Cate. 

Cate’s grip never left your side.

You cupped Cate’s face in your hand and gently stroked her cheek. Then you met her gaze.

“I would never keep you a secret. I’ve loved you since the day I met you, Cate Dunlap, and I’d gladly shout my love for you from the rooftops,” you proclaimed.

Cate smiled but it didn’t last. 

“Are you sure? I’ve done some horrible things (y/n).”

You shrugged. “I don’t care what you’ve done Cate. Maybe that makes me worse,” you joked.

Cate's smile returned. “Then kiss me already.”

You mirrored her smile then leaned in to press your lips against hers.

The kiss started out shy.

You were so nervous.

But then Cate pulled you closer to her and deepened the kiss.

You smiled into the kiss.

Then as the kiss went on the hunger inside you grew.

Your hands fell from Cate’s face and wrapped around her shoulders  instead.

Cate staggered backwards towards her bed, pulling you along with her, until the back of her legs hit the edge of her bed. 

She pulled away just in time to catch herself from falling.

Then she looked back over to you and laughed awkwardly.

You mirrored it and shyly looked down at the floor. 

Cate hooked her finger underneath your chin and brought your gaze back up to her.

She went in for another kiss.

This one did not start shy.

Cate wrapped her arms around your shoulders and tugged you closer as she sat onto her bed. 

You put your arms out and steadied yourself.

Then Cate surprised you by breaking the kiss and flipping you over onto her bed.

She didn’t hesitate to straddle you the second your back hit the mattress.

You didn’t have time to think before her lips were back on yours.

Cate’s kiss was hungry and unyielding. 

She pawed at your jacket and lifted your shirt up to slide her hand underneath.

As good as everything felt, your better sense prevailed. 

You pulled away from her and grabbed her hand. 

“Hold on,” you said breathlessly. 

Cate pulled her hand away and ran it through her hair.

“What’s wrong?”

You smiled up at her. “I’ve dreamt about this moment for years Cate but…,” you began but trailed off at the sight of Cate above you.

Her lips were red and swollen from kissing you.

Her eyes held a hunger that made the growing heat between your thighs throb with excitement.

Her chest heaved from exertion. 

“You don’t want me?” Cate asked worriedly. 

You hesitated to answer so she got off of you and stood up. 

You sat up. “It’s not that, Cate. I want you, I just…want to do things the right way.”

Cate met your gaze with a furrowed brow.

“I want to court you before we go all the way,” you admitted.

“Court me?” Cate teased.

Her smile returned and she closed the gap between you. 

You looked up at her and placed your hands on her hips. 

“Yes, I want to take you out on a proper date and spoil you.”

Cate cupped your cheek with her hand. “Forever gallant, my (y/n),” she cooed.

You let out a laugh. “It’s corny, I know.”

Cate shook her head. “No, it’s cute.”

Then Cate bent down and placed a gentle kiss on your lips. 

“We can still make out though right?” She asked.

You nodded vigorously. “Absolutely.”

Cate smirked then pushed you onto your back. 

“Good,” she replied as she climbed on top of you.

You smiled against her kiss.

It was just as you had wished.

-

You stood in the empty hall beside Cate, thumbing the loose thread on your sleeve.

“You sure you don’t want me to try to sneak in?”

Cate met your gaze and smiled softly. “I’ll be okay.”

You frowned and opened your mouth to argue but Cate shushed you with her finger on your lips.

“Kiss for luck,” she demanded.

And you were more than happy to oblige.

Cate’s finger fell from your lips. 

You pulled her close and kissed her.

Cate hummed happily against you.

You smiled as you pulled away.

“Good luck,” you told her then handed her bag to her.

Cate gave your cheek a quick pinch before turning around and walking away.

You watched her walk off and round the corner, a sinking feeling pooling in your stomach.

You hated the plan.

You hated being so far from Cate.

What if she needed you?

Sure Cipher didn’t have powers but Cate didn’t either, not really.

But you trusted your friends. 

So you took a deep breath then walked down to the arena.

You searched for a seat close enough to the fighting ring that also gave you a decent view into the dean’s private viewing box.

A few minutes after you found your seat the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers, introducing Jordan.

The crowd around you let out aggressive boo’s.

Jordan walked into the arena and looked around the place.

Their gaze met yours and you gave them a sympathetic look. 

Then the announcer introduced Marie.

The crowd went wild with cheers.

Marie entered the ring.

The referee started the fight.

Nerves ate at you on the inside.

Regardless of Cate’s success you still had to watch as two of your friends fought each other.

To your surprise Marie didn’t start to fight. She gave Jordan a searing kiss.

The crowd booed.

Marie pulled away with a smile but quickly dropped it.

Jordan’s fist collided with Marie’s face.

You winced.

Marie called out to Jordan but you couldn’t make out what she said, or what Jordan said in response. 

You got out of your seat and tried to get closer but security stopped you. 

Jordan continued to punch and throw Marie across the ring.

You turned away, you couldn’t keep watching. 

But then the crowd gasped.

So you turned back around. 

Jordan was in the air, levitating above Marie.

“Oh shit,” you cursed under your breath. 

You watched as Marie turned to look towards the dean’s private viewing box. 

You followed her gaze. 

Cipher waved. 

You couldn’t see Cate.

Your stomach sank. 

Something was wrong.

You turned back to Marie. 

She dropped her hands and within an instant Jordan fell onto the mat.

You turned back towards the dean viewing box. 

Cipher was gone.

Something was very wrong.

You raced up the stairs towards the exit. 

You had to find Cate.

[hyperfixatedimagines]

When Love isn't Enough-Marie x f!Reader

Summary: Marie is on the run from Vought. You're their number one star. Star crossed lovers gifted a small reprieve from the chaos of their lives.

A/N: Just a little drabble that came into mind. I wanted to write something for Marie, and will maybe do a longer one in the future. Please share your thoughts!

The warmth and spice of Marie's lotion filled (y/n)'s nose. She would commit the scent to memory then make sure to buy it so she'd always tap into the memory of the moment.

"I don't want to be their poster girl anymore," (y/n) murmured into Marie's shoulder.

Marie drew lazy circles on (y/n)'s lower back. She let her head rest against (y/n)'s.

"Then don't be. Stay here, with me," Marie said, her voice thick with nerves.

(y/n) sighed then pulled away from Marie.

The cold air that replaced (y/n)'s warmth left goosebumps on Marie's exposed collarbone.

"I'm in too deep Marie," (y/n) confessed.

She met Marie's gaze then softened. (y/n) raised her hand to cup Marie's cheek.

Marie leaned into the touch and closed her eyes.

"Besides," (y/n) continued with a sigh, "this is the only way I can keep you safe."

Marie opened her eyes and frowned.

"We can keep each other safe."

Marie brought (y/n)'s hand into her own.

"Stay, and we will keep each other safe," Marie repeated, knowing her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Tears welled in (y/n)'s eyes.

She wanted nothing more than to stay by Marie's side for the rest of her life. To go into hiding with the rest of their friends and take down Vought.

But that wasn't her path.

Sage read (y/n) into her greater plan. The plan to free the world, and the plan to burn it all down. Sage oscillated between extremes, but (y/n) trusted her.

The smartest human in the world had to be smart enough to know burning it all down would leave the world in a worse situation.

At least that's what (y/n) told herself as she posed for endless cameras, appeared on whatever Vought podcast, tv show, movie, or talk show Sage told her to.

Sage promised Marie and their friends would be safe. They just had to stay out of Sage's way.

A tear fell down (y/n)'s cheek.

(y/n) pulled her hand away from Marie's.

She wiped the tear from her cheek and cleared her throat.

"I should go. The guards no doubt have noticed I've spent too long in this dressing room. They'll be busting down the doors soon."

Marie's frown deepened. She put her hands atop (y/n)'s knees.

"I love you (y/n). Please...please don't do this," Marie begged.

Guilty knots formed in (y/n)'s throat. There was so much she wanted to tell Marie. And even more she couldn't ever say.

So she swallowed hard and told Marie the only thing she could.

It was also the only thing that truly mattered.

(y/n) hooked her finger under Marie's chin and brought Marie's gaze up to her own.

"I love you too Marie Moreau. So much more than I thought myself capable of."

This time the tear fell down Marie's cheek.

It trailed all the way down Marie's face and met (y/n)'s finger under Marie's chin.

Marie's brows knit together in frustration.

"Then why won't you stay?"

(y/n) sighed. "One day you'll understand."

Then she pulled away from Marie and walked towards the door of the fitting room.

Marie stood and caught (y/n) by the wrist.

(y/n) turned back to look at Marie.

"Please don't make this harder for me," (y/n) whispered, her voice pleading and raw.

Marie pulled (y/n) towards her until their noses almost touched.

"This isn't easy for me either."

Marie searched (y/n)'s face for any signs of doubt. Any sign that (y/n) could be moved to stay.

But Marie found none.

Marie let go of (y/n)'s wrist.

(y/n) wiped more tears from her eyes then straightened her back.

She was resolute.

Marie's shoulders sagged.

"Make sure to stay here for a few more minutes, then keep your hood up and stay out of the camera's sight," (y/n) warned.

Marie nodded slowly. "I know."

(y/n) clenched her jaw then turned back towards the door. She palmed the door knob and started to open the door then stopped. She looked back at Marie one more time.

(y/n) wasn't sure when she would be able to see Marie again.

The final stages of Sage's plan were in place and she was ready to act. (y/n) knew she wouldn't be able to get away for weeks, maybe months.

So she let go of the door, crossed the distance between them, wrapped her arms around Marie's shoulders and kissed her.

Marie didn't hesitate to kiss (y/n) back, her lips pliant and warm.

Marie's hands settled on (y/n)'s hips.

(y/n)'s fingers dug into Marie's hair, being gentle enough not to tug at Marie's locs.

They savored the taste of one another, both knowing tomorrow was not promised for either of them.

Growing footsteps pulled the pair apart.

(y/n) hurried to the door and walked out without sparing Marie a second glance.

The door shut behind her with a soft click.

Marie sank onto the bench inside the dressing room.

(y/n) was gone.

And something deep in Marie's gut told her it would be for good this time.

Tears formed but Marie would not let them fall.

She couldn't keep crying for (y/n).

Marie had begged (y/n) to choose her, and still (y/n) chose the double edged sword of Vaught's protection.

(y/n) rushed out of the dressing room and ran head first into her appointment Vought guards.

They stepped back.

(y/n) swallowed her guilt and pain.

"Watch where you two idiots are going," she spat then pushed past them.

She fell back into the mask that was Vaught's poster girl for superhero youth as she emerged into the store and met a crowd of adoring fans.

(y/n) signed autographs and took pictures then excused herself.

She walked back to the Vought SUV and slid into the back seat. Her guards got in and started the car.

As the SUV sped away (y/n) stared longingly out the window, and for a split second she swore she caught sight of Marie.

But she quickly realized it wasn't Marie.

(y/n) wondered if she would spend the rest of her life hoping to see flashes of her lover in the faces of strangers.

[hyperfixatedimagines]

Double-Crossed Heart Ch3 (Cate x f!Reader)

Summary: Cate's been taken and your whole world feels like it's falling apart. You can't lose her so soon after finally knowing how she truly feels about you.

A/N: I already had this chapter 70% of the way done so I buckled down and finished it. I hope you all enjoy. I will finish, there's just one chapter left but I can't promise when.

The beat of your heart boomed in your ears. You felt like a trapped animal, desperate. 

You ran to the dean’s private viewing box only to find it empty. 

Your stomach sank.

You turned around and raced down the hall. 

“Cate!”

Nothing.

You turned the corner and down another set of halls. 

They couldn’t have disappeared that fast.

Nothing, again.

You stopped and tried to steady your heartbeat. 

Running around the endless maze of halls would waste time.

You took a deep breath. 

The ringing in your ears settled. 

That’s when you heard it. 

Muffed screams. 

You ran towards it. 

Down the stairs and towards the sound.

You followed it all the way down to the loading docks.

Then you saw them.

A couple of Vought goons holding Cate captive.

You raced forward but they were too far away.

They were already loading Cate into the back of a van.

“Cate,” you called out.

The Vought guards stopped and turned around. 

Cate looked up and met your gaze.

Her eyes were filled with fear. 

You needed to save her.

But your feet weren’t fast enough.

The guards threw Cate into the back of the van then got in themselves. They closed the back of the doors and the van sped off.

You watched as the van drove away. The name on the side of the van made the blood in your veins freeze.

Elmira Detention Facility.

You swallowed hard. 

Cate was gone.

You had to go save her.

So you ran back inside the building and towards the locker rooms.

You knew that’s where they would take Jordan and Marie after the fight.

A crowd of press gathered in front of the locker room doors. 

You pushed your way through and burst inside the room.

Jordan’s head whirled towards you, shifting into their male form at the sound of the doors crashing open. 

“They took Cate,” you shouted. 

Marie walked up to you and put a hand on your arm. 

“We know (y/n),” she soothed.

Jordan shifted back into their female form and sighed. “Cipher told us.”

You walked towards the lockers and slammed your palm against them. 

Then you pressed your forehead against the cool metal. 

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes. 

You couldn’t stop them. You couldn’t save her.

For a second time.

Your vision started to blur.

-

Cate wondered if this is how you felt when you were taken to Elmira.

If the dank, dark, van jostled you as the driver carelessly sped down the road. 

If you were just as scared as she was. 

The van came to a screeching halt. 

Then the guards that sat in the back with her opened the doors and got out. 

Then they ordered Cate to do the same.

Afterwards they walked Cate into the imposing building and guided her into a cold room with fluorescent lights overhead. 

Cate felt a shiver go down her spine.

The guard shoved Cate in front of a white background and before Cate realized the flash of a camera went off. 

Then the same guard hauled her in front of a table and removed her handcuffs. 

Another guard ordered her to strip down completely.

“Can you at least turn around?” Cate asked, trying to maintain some form of dignity. 

The guard in front of her scoffed. 

“Shut the fuck up and strip down,” he barked.

Shame washed over Cate. 

As Cate began to remove her clothes she realized you probably had to do the exact same thing when you were brought to Elmira. 

The universe had a sick sense of irony.

After she was naked she covered her chest with her hand.

One of the guards removed her prosthetic arm and another her wig.

Cate wasn’t sure if she was more upset or more embarrassed.

A faint electrical buzzing turned Cate’s head.

A different guard approached her with a power dampening collar.

Panic shot up inside of Cate.

She ducked away from the guard’s grasp then put her hand on his face.

“Kill the others then yourself,” she ordered. 

But of course her powers were broken.

So instead of killing the other guards he turned his taser onto himself and fell to the ground.

The other guard ran to help the fallen one.

Cate took her chance and rushed towards the exit. 

It was pointless. 

More guards entered the room, cornered Cate, and put the dampening collar on her.

Before Cate could protest she was shocked and her vision went dark.

-

Catatonic for a second time.

This time you laid on the spare bed in Emma’s dorm room. 

Your mind raced with horrible images of Cate in Elmira. You could only imagine the worst.

You needed to go and save her. 

But you couldn’t do it alone, that much you knew.

Would your friends join you?

They still hated Cate so much.

Your stomach twisted in knots. 

Emma busied herself on the other side of the room with bottles of alcohol.

“There’s an old tradition dating back to my cousin Eli’s Transformers themed bar mitzvah to help get through times like these,” Emma said as she grabbed one of the bottles of tequila and opened it.

She poured the clear liquid into four shot glasses then turned around to face Jordan, who sat on Emma’s bed, and Marie, who sat at Emma’s desk.

“And that tradition my friends is to get mind numbingly shit faced,” Emma continued. 

She handed Jordan a shot.

Jordan took it and clinked their glass against Emma’s.

Then they both downed their shots. 

Emma turned towards Marie.

“You don’t wanna pour one out for Miss Cate?”

Marie turned back to the notepad on Emma’s desk and resumed writing something down.

“No,” Marie responded, annoyed.

Emma set a shot glass onto the desk then turned towards you. 

“I know you won’t take it but you look like you need it the most,” Emma said as they approached you.

You looked over at Emma and didn’t respond.

Emma sighed then turned back towards Jordan, who accepted a second shot. 

Marie sighed aloud then turned back around. “Guys this is seriously fucked.”

“Karma’s a bitch,” Emma quipped then downed another shot.

Jordan did the same.

Emma turned to look at you. “You’re not gonna yell at me?”

“It would be pointless,” you replied dryly as you continued to stare at the ceiling.

“We can’t leave her there,” Marie continued. 

You shot up and met Marie’s gaze.

“You mean that?”

Marie softened. 

“She might not even be there,” Emma interjected. 

You rolled your eyes and laid back down, hopes dashed.

“Cipher could be lying,” Emma added then downed a third shot of tequila.

“I watched them take her away Emma,” you confessed. “I couldn’t save her.”

Emma softened then sighed and turned back to Marie. “Then it’s definitely a trap. Cipher wants us to try and rescue her so he can fuck us over again.”

“She stuck her neck out for us,” Marie reasoned. “And now she’s paying the price.”

Emma scoffed. “Cate is the reason we got locked up in the first place.”

“And we know better than anyone what a nightmare it is,” Marie countered.

You sat up again and turned to Emma and Jordan. “I can’t leave her there, alone. At least we had each other.”

Jordan sighed. “There’s a reason Marie didn’t come back to rescue us. It’s a suicide mission.”

“I regretted it every day that I left you all behind,” Marie replied.

Emma continued to drink. 

“We have to get her out because it’s the right thing to do.” Marie stood and walked towards Jordan.  “I get it if you don’t want to do this.”

Jordan swallowed hard. “Because I’m so weak?”

Marie shook her head. “No, I didn’t say that.”

Jordan scowled. “Cipher did.”

Marie lowered her voice.  “I can’t even begin to understand what he did to you, but it’s okay if you need-.”

Jordan hopped off the bed and cleared their throat. “I don’t need shit. Fuck him. Let’s get her.”

Emma looked around the room in disbelief. “What is wrong with you all? Why in the fuck would we go back to that hell hole?”

Marie turned back to Emma.  “Trap or not, if we get word that Cate died in there and we did nothing, are you going to be able to live with that?”

“Yes,” Emma replied. Then she sighed. “No. Fuck. Fuck. I’m in.”

You swung your legs off the bed and stood. “Really?” You asked Emma, not wanting to get your hopes up just yet.

Emma nodded. “Yeah, you’d be insufferable if she died,” she muttered. 

You half smiled. “Thank you,” you said to all of your friends. 

“So, what the fuck do we do,” Emma asked after downing a final shot of tequila.

Marie grabbed the paper she was scribbling on. It was the basic layout of the Elmira prison building they were held in. Marie put it up on Emma’s corkboard and circled her previous cell. 

“My cell was here, corner block. That guard that always smelled like chocolate was taking me to solitary here,” Marie said then pointed to another section on the drawing.

Emma stepped closer to Marie. “Hershey Harry? I remember him. He kinda disappeared around the same time as you…,” Emma trailed off.

Marie cleared her throat and continued, “I found an air duct pointing up and just fucking booked it.”

Jordan furrowed their brow at the crude map hung in front of them. “Even if we find a way in, and find Cate, there’s no way we can get out the same way. Guards will be all over us.”

You nodded. “More guards, reinforced doors, all that shit doubled after Marie escaped so we don’t even know what they did after we were transferred.”

Emma chewed on the end of a pen. “So if we’re actually going to pull this off and let me be very clear this plan is crazy and I hate it," Emma trailed off and drew a heart on the map where Andre died. “But I love you guys more so we’re gonna need help from someone really strong and crazy.”

You turned to Emma. “Sam?”

Emma nodded. “I’ll give him a call.”

Then you all agreed to pack up some things before leaving. You would all meet up and head out in Jordan’s car.

So off you went to pack your bag.

-

You didn’t pack much, just a change of clothes, and some extra underwear. Just to be on the safe side.

Then you headed out towards where Jordan had parked their car. 

Marie and Jordan were already there, talking about the big elephant in the room by the looks of it.

You cleared your throat as you approached.

They whirled around towards you. 

“You all set,” Jordan asked.

You nodded. 

Jordan took your bag and threw it into the trunk.

Emma jogged up to the car. “Bad news. Sam isn’t coming.”

Jordan sighed. “Fuck.”

“Look, I didn’t have you guys last time. We can do this,” Marie reassured the group.

“Together,” you added. 

Marie turned to you and held your hand. She gave it a squeeze. 

“Eaxactly,” Marie replied.

Jordan rolled their eyes. “This is insane.”

Mare’s gaze drifted back toward Jordan. 

“As much as I wanted to deny it, Cipher is right. I am stronger than I’ve ever been. I can feel it. When you- when he was attacking me I felt I could’ve destroyed the whole arena.”

Emma and Jordan shared an uneasy look.

Now it was you who gave Marie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’re going to pull it off.”

Emma threw her bag into the trunk and Jordan promptly closed it.

Marie let go of your hand and walked over to the passenger side of the car. 

“Emma,” someone called out.

Everyone looked over to see a tall, blond guy jogging up towards Emma.

Jordan tensed.

Emma put a hand on Jordan’s arm. “It’s Greg, he’s fine.”

Jordan relaxed.

Emma walked over to Greg. 

You walked over to Jordan. 

“Who’s he?”

Jordan shrugged. “I dunno.”

After a quick exchange Emma and Greg stared into each other’s eyes. It looked like they were going to kiss before Emma stepped back and said goodbye to Greg.

Then Emma jogged back to the car. 

You raised your brows at her. 

Jordan opened the car door for Emma.

“Well well well,” they teased.

Emma slid past you into the backseat. 

“Shut up,” Emma grumbled. 

You slid in next to her and Jordan shut the door before circling back to the driver’s seat.

Marie sat in the passenger seat.

“Let’s go rescue this bitch,” Emma quipped.

You turned to her with a frown. “Emma,” you chided.

Emma smiled then ripped open a pack of licorice and took one in her mouth.

-

The drive to Elmira was long and mostly quiet. It was pitch black when you arrived.

Jordan parked the car a ways out and you all walked the rest of the way. 

When you all reached the barbed wire fence surrounding Elmira, Jordan threw a blanket over the barbed wire and knelt down to help Marie and Emma over the fence. 

You took a deep breath then closed your eyes. 

A faint buzzing in your ears let you know you were phasing.

You stepped forward and through the fence. 

“Show off,” Emma muttered. 

You let go of the breath you were holding and reality came back into view.

You smiled at Emma and waited for the rest of your friends to make it over the fence.

Then you all rushed to the side of the building.

Marie turned to you. “Can you phase through?”

You put your hand up to the concrete wall and closed your eyes. 

“It’s too thick,” you responded.

You opened your eyes and turned back to Marie. 

“Sorry,” you added.

“It’s okay,” Marie replied.

“Looks like we’re going for a climb,” Emma interjected.

Jordan once again got on their knees and helped everyone with a push.

After scaling the wall you ran towards the air duct on the roof. 

Jordan caught up shortly after and ripped the cover off the duct.

Marie’s face dropped. “What the fuck?”

Your stomach twisted in knots. “It was filled in.”

Emma panicked. “Trap trap! I fucking told you it was a trap.”

The sound of a small thud pulled your attention to the side. 

An aluminum canister rolled next to you.

Smoke began to pour out of it.

“Fuck, hold your breath,” Jordan yelled. 

But it was too late. 

Smoke filled your lungs and soon everything went black.

-

You woke up, vision still hazy, to the sound of your body being dragged by two guards. 

They pulled you by the arms then pushed you into an empty cell. 

You fell to the ground, the cold floor shook the remaining sedative out of your system.

The cell door shut and the mechanical whirring of the locks fell into place.

“Home fucked home,” you heard a familiar voice say.

You rushed to the window in the cell door. 

It was Emma.

Her cell was in the center of the hall, with floor to ceiling windows- zero privacy. 

The same cell she had been locked up in the first time.

You looked around and realized they had thrown you into the same cell as well.

“Emma?”

Your eyes flashed back towards the hall. 

“Cate,” you called out. 

Cate stood on the other side of the hall, in her own cell. 

Cate’s eyes met yours. “(y/n)?”

Emma looked between you and Cate then let out a sarcastic huff. “Oh my god, this is so fucked up.”

Then Emma turned back to look at Cate. “You look like a weird barbie.”

Even from across the hall you could see the blush taint Cate’s pale cheeks. Then she turned the side of her with the exposed scalp away. 

“Cipher ordered them to grab the both of you too?” Cate asked.

You bit your lip. “Not exactly.”

Emma gestured wildly. “This is your rescue.”

Cate’s gaze met your own. She softened.

“You came to rescue me?”

The edge of your mouth quirked upwards. “Of course I did…” Then you smiled sheepishly at her. “Though, it’s not going well at the moment.”

Emma flopped onto the thin foam mattress in her cell. “It was stupid. Now we’re all here, one big happy fucked up family.”

Cate furrowed her brows. “Everyone? Marie and Jordan too?”

You nodded. “Yeah, we all got caught together.”

Cate’s brows shot up. “Wow…” 

She slowly slid down the door until she was on the ground. She looked over at Emma.

“I can’t believe after everything you would join a rescue attempt for me Emma,” Cate said.

Emma shrugged. “I didn’t do it for you,” she answered, then looked over at you.

A pang of guilt throbbed at your side. 

If you had just done this on your own Emma wouldn’t have been brought to the place she hated the most.

“Not that any of it matters, cause we’re all going to die here,” Emma finished with a sigh.

You looked back over at Emma. “No we are not. I promise you Emma.”

Emma didn’t meet your gaze. 

“Still, thank you Emma,” Cate said before turning her gaze back onto you. “You shouldn’t have come. Now you’re stuck in here too.”

You softened. “I wasn’t just going to stand around and leave you here.”

An errant tear streamed down Cate’s cheek. 

You tapped the steel door in front of you. 

Maybe this time you’d be able to phase through. 

You took a deep breath and held your hand against the door.

After a few seconds the atoms in your hand started to phase.

“You couldn’t phase out the last hundred times you tried (y/n), don’t think tonight will be any different,” Emma negged as she tossed and turned on the foam mattress. 

You rolled your eyes. 

But your hand couldn’t pass through the steel door. 

You sighed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence Emma.”

Then you turned towards the concrete walls of your cell.

You were never able to get very far. The walls were thick, thicker than the one on the outside of the building, and you couldn’t hold your breath for that long.

Reminders of your last stay in Elmira flashed in your mind as you approached the wall.

Your tests always focused on your phasing ability. 

It didn’t surprise you.

Everyone had always encouraged you to develop those powers. They were flashier than your shield powers, so you would have a better chance of making it big with them.

But you hated phasing.

It was energy intensive. 

You could only phase as long as you held your breath and you could never hold it for longer than 90 seconds. 

In Elmira you learned that releasing small amounts of breath while phasing inside something caused you an immense amount of pain.

Guards would bring you into a large room, empty except a large slab of concrete placed vertically in the center of the room. It was thicker than anything you had phased through before. 

The guards would instruct you to phase through it. 

You always let them know you couldn’t. It was too thick. You couldn’t hold your breath long enough to get through. 

The guards would repeat their order and shock you if you didn’t comply.

You never managed to make it through to the other side. 

Somewhere around the middle, from what you overheard others say as you were never fully certain of your surroundings when you phased, you would start to release small amounts of breath. 

Pain surged all over, radiating from who knows where. 

You couldn’t feel your body, but as your phasing atoms slowed into solid states the pressure of the concrete radiated an intense pain all over you.

At first you always attempted to turn back, go out the way you had come in, but you quickly learned that guards would place a sheet of steel to block your exit.

The one material you couldn’t even come close to phasing through was steel.

The only way out was through the other side.

But you couldn’t do it. 

So you would stay in between, in unending amounts of pain, until a booming voice came over the speakers in the room to instruct the guards to remove the steel slab. 

Now you knew that booming voice was Cipher’s. 

Every session would end with you passing out and falling out of the concrete. You would awake in your cell, sore all over and with lingering pain in your lungs.

You stared at the wall, beads of cold sweat collecting on your brow. 

You knew the walls of your cell were thicker than the test slab of concrete. 

You swallowed hard. 

You needed to do this. You needed to get through to the walls in the hall and find a way to free your friends. 

It was up to you.

So you swallowed hard then took in a large swell of breath.

You put your palms up to the wall and soon you started to phase. 

Your palms disappeared into the wall and soon you were up to your elbows in the wall.

You closed your eyes as you prepared to submerge yourself but stopped when you heard a familiar sound.

It was Emma.

You immediately pulled out of the wall and ran towards the door. 

She had her head over the bucket guards placed in her cell. 

She was puking.

You opened your mouth to speak but Cate was already in the middle of comforting Emma. 

Elmira had a way of exacerbating Emma’s eating disorder. 

Cate held Emma’s gaze. 

“We are going to get out of here,” Cate said, determined.

Emma scoffed. 

“Who’s going to save us Cate?”

“We’re going to save ourselves,” you answered. 

Emma turned over to look at you. 

Her eyes looked so desperate

“I promise,” you whispered.

Emma turned back to the bucket in her arms. 

You looked over at Cate. 

She sighed then walked towards the back of her cell, out of view.

You turned back to the nearest wall of your cell. 

You took a deep breath then closed your eyes. 

The familiar feeling of your body beginning to phase washed over you as you walked into the wall.

-

Cate waited with baited breath as the guard banged on the cell door, calling out to her.

“What’s wrong with her? She’s bleeding,” Cate heard the guard say to someone, probably Emma.

“Who knows,” Emma replied, uninterested.

Cate’s lungs burned harder the longer she held her breath. 

But the guard had to believe she was passed out.

Thankfully, he did. 

The guard stepped into Cate’s cell and knelt down beside Cate’s limp body. 

In the blink of an eye Cate sat up and touched the guard’s neck.

She ordered him to give her the keys then kill himself.

The guard stood and used his taser on himself.

“Oh shit,” Emma gasped.

Cate rushed to the guard and took the keys from him. 

She took off the power damper collar she had tampered with the hurried to Emma’s cell to unlock it.

-

You were deep in the wall, concrete all around you.

Faint screams and sounds filtered through. 

Were your friends in trouble?

You focused and tried to find the quickest way out of the wall, your lungs already screaming for air.

It was all for nothing. You couldn’t make out any direction. 

Until you heard Cate’s voice call out to you.

“(y/n)? Where did she go?”

Then Emma’s.

“Holy fuck, she’s in the walls.”

You hurried towards their voices before you got any more lightheaded.

You burst out of the wall in the hallway and crashed onto the floor.

Emma and Cate ran out of your cell. 

Cate knelt down beside you.

“Are you okay?”

Your chest heaved as you gasped for air.

You couldn’t speak so you just nodded. 

Then it dawned on you, they were out of their cells. 

You furrowed your brows. 

“How?”

Emma turned to Cate. Cate smiled at you sheepishly.

“So I almost just died for no reason?”

Cate let out a small laugh then swung your arm over her shoulder. She and Emma helped you stand, your legs still a bit weak.

After you were upright Emma let go and took the guard’s keys from Cate. She ran down the hall and through another door, searching for Marie and Jordan’s cells.

You and Cate hobbled behind Emma the fastest you could given how much phasing had drained you. 

Eventually, Emma found the rest of their friends. She opened Marie’s cell first. Marie ran out in disbelief. 

“You got out? How?”

Emma moved to unlock Marie’s collar. 

“It was all Cate.”

You regained the strength in your legs and let go of Cate. 

“I almost had it,” you interjected. 

Cate threaded her fingers through yours. 

“Sorry I beat you to the punch babe.”

Your ears perked up at the pet name. You met Cate’s gaze.

“Babe?”

Emma cleared her throat as she ran to Jordan’s cell to unlock it.

“Now is so not the time you two,” she chided.

Once Jordan was out they looked around the hall, confused.

“This doesn’t make any sense.”

Emma tried to get Jordan to stay still to remove his collar but he fidgeted impatiently. 

Jordan turned to Cate. 

“You guys got out, ran here,and no guards, no alarms no nothing?”

Reality dawned on Cate. She frowned.

“They want us to escape.”

Emma finally unlocked the collar, it fell to Jordan’s feet.

“They want us to try,” Marie corrected.

“Like Andre,” you added somberly.

Marie shook her head then turned to Emma. 

“We don’t have a choice. Let’s slip up, you guys go, I'll get Annabeth.”

You turned to Jordan with a furrowed brow. “Annabeth?”

Marie took the guard’s keys from Emma.

Jordan grabbed Marie by the elbow to stop her from running off. 

“You’re not doing this alone, nobody left behind this time.”

Marie opened her mouth to argue but was interrupted by the prison’s alarm system.

Everyone started to run, following wherever Marie led.

Annabeth’s cell was in the adjoining section and after Jordan broke into the guard station to unlock the door the group was able to find her.

Unfortunately they were too late.

Marie unlocked the cell to find Annabeth on the ground in a pool of blood.

You winced and Cate buried her face in your shoulder.

Marie knelt down beside her sister. 

“Guys, we have to go,” Emma said in a panic.

You nodded.

But a searing pain stabbed your brain and you felt blood come out of your nose.

You looked around and realized it was happening to all your friends. 

Everyone fell to their knees in pain. 

Then as soon as it had started, it ended. 

Annabeth’s eyes flashed open. She gasped for breath as she sat up.

Everyone else managed to stand. 

The prison’s alarms grew louder.

“They’re coming,” Jordan warned.

You pulled Cate towards the exit. “We have to go now,” you shouted.

Emma followed while Jordan remained by Marie’s side as they waited for Annabeth to find the strength to stand. 

Once she did, everyone raced down the hall.

As you rounded the corner you saw a group of guards coming towards you.

They aimed their guns at you and your friends but Jordan rushed to the front and blasted them with their force fields.

You followed your friends down another series of halls and stopped when you noticed Annabeth stopped in front of a door. 

“This way,” she called out and ran through the door.

Everyone followed after.

It was a dead end.

“Fuck, back this way,” Jordan commanded.

But Annabeth didn’t move. 

“He’s almost here!”

Moments later a familiar face burst through the concrete wall. 

It was Sam. 

He looked at everyone with a wide smile. “Whoo! I thought it would be way harder to find you guys. I found a van but I don’t drive.”

“I got it!” Jordan said as they rushed past Sam and towards the aforementioned van. 

Everyone followed and climbed into the stolen van. Jordan hit the gas and steamrolled through the gates of Elmira.

-

After several hours of aimless driving the stolen van ran out of gas so you were all left to walk. You happened upon an empty building.

The team needed food, water, and a working bathroom. So you all ventured inside.

Emma dashed in search of a restroom while Sam wandered looking for food.

You followed everyone else into the children’s section of the library.

Cate wandered off while you looked around at the piles of half burnt books and empty shelves.

Then Cate pulled a box of clothes into the center of the room.

Annabeth was the first to approach the box and pick through the clothes.

Cate suggested everyone wear something from the box to look less conspicuous. 

She pulled out a muscle tank top. 

“You’ll look cute in this,” she said and handed it to you.

Your cheeks warmed under her gaze. You took the shirt and thanked her.

Cate grabbed a beanie, hoodie, and t-shirt then walked off towards the book shelves on the other side of the room. 

You followed but stopped and turned away from her when you noticed she started to undress.

“Seriously?” Cate asked with a small laugh. 

Your face warmed anew. “I’m being polite.”

After some light rustling Cate cleared her throat. “You can look now.”

You turned back around. 

Cate smiled sheepishly at you. 

“Cute,” you said and pulled the beanie down evenly. 

She smiled then looked at you expectantly. 

“Oh, right, my turn,” you said then waited for Cate to turn around.

Cate let out another small laugh but turned away.

“We’ve gotten dressed around each other before (y/n).”

You unzipped the orange jumpsuit and tied sleeves around your waist. Then you slid on the tank top.

“It’s different now,” you reasoned.

Cate turned her head slightly, to look at you through the corner of her gaze. 

You crossed your arms against your  chest. “You’re peeking?”

Cate blushed then turned away again. 

“It’s fine, I’m done anyways,” you said.

She turned towards you and walked up to place a kiss on your cheek. 

Then her brow furrowed. 

“Cate?” You asked.

But her gaze was no longer on you. 

You followed it to see Annabeth and Marie in a heated conversation. 

“You’re a precog,” Cate interjected.

You frowned. “Listening in to other people’s conversations isn’t polite.”

Cate’s gaze landed back on you. “I wasn’t.”

You heard angry footsteps slowly fade away. You turned around to see Marie alone by a book shelf.

You gave her a small smile. 

She shook her head and walked off. 

You turned back towards Cate. 

“You okay?” You asked her.

She nodded. “You?”

You shrugged. “It wasn’t as bad as the first time, oddly enough.”

Cate wandered through the empty shelves, you followed. 

You bit the inside of your cheek. 

“Soo..” You said then trailed off. 

Cate stopped and looked back at you. “Something on your mind?”

You nodded. 

She faced you, a small wrinkle in her forehead. “What is it?”

“Back in Elmira, when we were, you know, escaping and everything…”

“Yeah?”

Your face warmed anew. “You called me babe…you’ve never called me that before.”

“Oh,” Cate responded, a tingle of pink dotting her cheeks. 

A silent beat passed between the two of you. 

You and Cate barely had any time post love confessions to talk about what you two even were to each other. 

“Did I overstep?” Cate asked.

You shook your head. “No no, I…I liked it,” you replied with a sheepish smile.

Cate’s shoulders relaxed. She closed the distance between the two of you and placed a gentle kiss on your lips. 

“Good,” she murmured into the kiss.

Cate wrapped her arm around your shoulder and brought you closer against her. 

Your hands fell to her hips. 

She deepened the kiss and slipped her tongue into your mouth.

You savored the taste of her.

The moment was cut short by hurried footsteps. 

“Marie,” Jordan called out. 

You pulled away from Cate and turned towards Jordan.

Then you both followed them into the center of the library. 

Annabeth was on the ground, hyperventilating. 

You instantly knew she was having a panic attack. You’d had your fair share of them.

Thankfully Marie rushed in and helped calm her sister down. 

Afterwards Annabeth shot up and turned towards the door. 

“Move,” she shouted.

A whirring sounded before you saw an object coming towards everyone. 

Thankfully Jordan switched to their male form and blocked it. 

It fell to the floor and that’s when you got a good look at it.

Emma and Sam rushed in from behind you all.

“What the fuck was that?”

The object Jordan had blocked was a hammer. And that hammer belonged to only one person you knew of. 

Marie caught on as well. “It’s the stupid fucking viking. Get Annabeth somewhere safe.”

Emma grabbed Annabeth and led her to a small door that led to a private section of the library. You and Cate followed close behind. 

Once inside Annabeth turned to you, Emma, and Cate. 

“Aren’t you all supes? Can’t you do something?”

Cate sighed. “I can’t do shit,” she cursed then turned towards Emma. “Get gigantic and squash him.” 

Emma nodded quickly. “Right right.”

You watched Emma close her eyes and take a deep breath. She attempted to concentrate but the chaos just on the other side of the door only got louder.

“Fuck I’m too freaked out,” Emma said and opened her eyes. 

You wrapped your arm around Cate then reached out to Annabeth with the other. 

“Everyone hold hands.”

Annabeth furrowed her brow but did so and reached out to hold Emma’s hand. 

Then you focused on your breathing. 

Soon a faint shimmer enveloped your group, washing over each one. 

“What are you doing,” Annabeth questioned. 

“She had shielding powers,” Cate explained. 

Annabeth nodded but still seemed confused. 

“Basically I can create a force field to protect us but we all need to be connected to do so, ergo holding each other’s hands,” you said and held up the hand that was holding Annabeth’s. 

“Oh,” she replied. 

Emma’s head swiveled towards Cate. “Wait, say something nice about me. Maybe I can still get gigantic.”

Cate’s brows knit together. “Like what?”

Emma frowned. “Oh fuck you.”

The conversation ended as Sam crashed through the wall and bounced off of your shield onto a pile of debris. 

“Holy shit,” Emma shouted.

You lowered your shield and stood up. Cate followed behind you. 

No one rushed in behind Sam so you stepped out into the other room through the hole sam had made. 

“Guys, where’d the viking go?” Cate asked.

You turned back to them. “Coast is clear.”

Everyone stood and looked around. Sure enough the viking was gone.

Then you all heard commotion outside so you all rushed outside to see the viking get decapitated by a little girl with snakes coming out of her mouth. 

Your hand instinctively wrapped around Cate, and you raised your shield. 

The viking’s body hit the floor with a loud thud.

A man in sunglasses and a grey puffer vest walked up to Marie. He introduced himself as Stan Edgar.

“What the fuck is happening?” Emma interjected.

Jordan folded their arms against their chest. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Unfortunately, I’m out of business cards,” Stan Edgar replied. 

“He used to run Vought,” Cate explained. 

Stan’s lips straightened into a tight smile. “Yes I did, but it’s a volatile market so I’ve been pursuing other opportunities.”

Marie’s brow furrowed. “What do you want?”

“You. I believe we can help each other,” Stan explained. 

You lowered your shield but didn’t let go of Cat’s waist.

Marie made it clear to Stan that she would only go with him if everyone joined. Stan agreed and everyone piled into his black SUV.

You climbed into the very last row in the back and sat down beside Cate. She leaned her head on your shoulder. 

Her touch grounded you.

Stan informed everyone it would be a long drive.

You let your head rest against the seat and closed your eyes. The adrenaline of escaping Elmira and being on the run started to wear off, replaced by bone deep exhaustion. 

-

Hours later you stood in the back of an elevator with everyone else and watched as it descended deep, deep, underground. 

Stan explained he had a bunker built before they became a trend. 

Once the elevator stopped he pulled the metal gate back and let everyone walk into the bunker. 

You looked around as you walked in. 

It was chic as hell, clean, and with multiple floors from what you could see. You wondered how much you couldn’t see. 

Stan asked Zoe, the little girl with snakes in her mouth that took down a man twice her size, to show the group to the living quarters and showers. 

Zoe turned to you and your friends. “This way,” she said and started up the stairs. 

You nudged Cate’s shoulder. 

Cate looked over at you. “I’ll stay with them,” she said and nodded her head towards Marie and Jordan. 

“Okay,” you replied and followed behind Sam and Emma.

You weren’t sure why Cate wanted to stay behind but you were too tired to argue. 

-

One long, steaming hot shower later the tension in your muscles was gone and you felt rejuvenated. 

As you toweled off it finally clicked for you that you actually phased through layers and layers of concrete.

You’d never been able to do that before. 

Pride swelled inside you. 

But it was quickly replaced by anxiety. 

You were only able to phase through because you had been pushed to your limit by Cipher, and because you wanted to save your friends. 

You realized the precariousness of your situation. At any moment you and your friends could be captured, killed, or tortured. 

You’d lost Cate in a matter of minutes back at the fight, and then got her back just a few hours later.

Taking Cate out on a date and properly courting her was not a possibility, at least not any time soon. 

It upset you that you couldn’t take things slow like you wanted to but the possibility of losing Cate without giving all of yourself over to her upset you even more. 

So you changed back into your old clothes and stepped out of the bathroom. 

You wandered the halls until you found Zoe. 

You asked if her grandfather kept any alcohol in the bunker, and candles….or chocolate? 

Zoe was nervous and gave you a sideways glance. 

You explained you wanted to do something special for someone you loved.

She smiled and led you down more halls until you reached a storage room filled with rows and rows of food, drinks, dry goods, first aid, etc. 

You spotted a bottle of champagne and some emergency candles. 

Zoe brought you some matches then led you to a spare room. She told you she’d bring some glasses for the champagne. 

After she left you turned to the task at hand, making a room in an underground bunker (though it was a chic one) romantic enough for your first time with Cate.

No biggie.

You arranged the candles about the room, then lit them. They provided a warm glow. Then you fluffed the pillows on the bed.

A few minutes later Zoe returned with two champagne flutes. Of course a man like Stan Edgar would have fancy champagne flutes in his apocalypse bunker. 

You thanked Zoe. 

She looked around the room. 

“It’s cute,” she said.

You sighed. “Given the circumstances it’s not too bad.”

Then you asked Zoe for one last favor. You asked her to bring Cate to your room.

Zoe nodded and left to find Cate.

You thought about how to arrange the champagne. On the bed? No. On the nearby table?

So lost in your thoughts you didn’t hear Zoe return with Cate until they knocked on your door.

You turned just as the door to your room opened. 

Cate peeked her head inside. “Zoe said you wanted to see me?”

Then her eyes landed on the candles. 

“Come in,” you breathed and wiped the sweat off your palms on your orange jumpsuit pants.

Cate closed the door behind her as she entered. She looked around the candle lit room. 

“What is all this?”

You grabbed Cate’s hand, threaded your fingers through hers, and guided her onto the bed beside you. 

“In the shower I realized something, tomorrow is never promised for people like us,” you admitted.

Then you let go of Cate’s hand and moved to grab the Champagne bottle. 

Cate’s forehead wrinkled in surprise. “Where’d you find that?”

You smiled shyly. “I asked Zoe for some help.”

You uncorked the bottle then stood up to pour champagne into the two flutes Zoe had brought you. Then you took one and handed it to Cate.

“I don’t want to wait for a tomorrow that might never be so I thought, what better time than the present for our first date?”

Cate took it and smiled up at you. 

“(y/n) this is…”

You grabbed your own flute then sat back down next to her on the bed. “I know it’s not much but-”

“It’s perfect,” Cate interrupted. 

Then she clinked her flute against yours. “Cheers,” she toasted, then brought the flute to her lips.

Cate continued to look around the room. “This is really cute (y/n), thank you.”

An awkward silence descended between the two of you, again. You both sipped on the champagne in silence. 

Finally, you cleared your throat. 

“How are you feeling, now that we’ve had a moment to catch our breath,” you asked her. 

Cate set the empty glass on the floor next to her then turned to you. 

“I wasn’t in Elmira long. I’m okay for the most part. How are you? I know it couldn’t have been easy being back there.”

You downed the rest of your champagne and set it aside. 

“Elmira was the hardest for Emma I think. I just can’t believe I was able to phase through the walls.”

“It was pretty badass,” Cate replied. 

Your face warmed under her praise. “Thanks.” Then you grimaced. 

“What is it?”

“I hate that Cipher was right. I was so worried about you, and the others that I pushed myself to the very limit and did something I never thought I’d be able to.”

Cate was quiet for a moment then frowned. “I hate that I can’t be of more help.”

You reached over and placed your hand atop Cate’s. 

“We will find a way to heal you Cate, I swear it.”

Cate smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. 

“Could Marie fix my powers?” Cate wondered aloud. 

You furrowed your brow. “I don’t know…maybe?”

Cate bit her lower lip then sighed. “Even if she could, do you think she’d do it?”

You frowned. “I don’t think she trusts you, yet.”

“None of them do,” Cate said with a sigh.

You gave her hand a light squeeze. “You’ve done a lot of good. They’ll come around eventually.”

Cate met your gaze and softened. 

“I’m just thankful you never gave up on me.”

You cupped Cate’s face with your free hand.

“I know your heart Cate. You’re good,” you whispered. 

Cate held your gaze.

Your heart started to race. 

Would you ever get used to Cate looking at you like that?

Then, in an instant, Cate’s lips were against yours. 

Your hand fell from her face down to her thigh.

The kiss was hungry, needy, and soon it was not enough.

Cate pulled away and let her forehead rest against yours. 

“We should slow down,” she breathed.

Your chest heaved as you tried to catch your breath. “You sure?”

“You want to take things slow, remember?” Cate joked with a small smile.

You pulled away from Cate and met her gaze. “We don’t know what fresh hell awaits us tomorrow. I want to give all of myself to you, Cate Dunlap.”

Cate’s jaw dropped a bit but she quickly recovered and smiled. “Okay,” she whispered then pushed you back onto the bed with her hand.

You laid back and swallowed hard when Cate straddled you. 

A pulsating need began to grow between your legs. 

You bit down on your lip as Cate steadied herself on top of you.  

She leaned down and stopped short of your lips. 

“I love you (y/n),” she breathed with a wistful sigh.

“I love you more,” you replied then reached up and captured her lips with your own. 

Making love to Cate was definitely a dream you’d had quite a few times, but they all paled to the reality of feeling her naked body against your own. 

Your body dripped with sweat as the two of you continued your lovemaking well into the night. 

Neither could get enough of the other. 

Years of pent up desire released over the course of the night. 

After you were both thoroughly spent, Cate laid on your chest and you drew lazy circles on her back with your fingertips. 

Cate let out a happy hum.

You wanted to make the moment last forever. 

But of course it couldn’t. 

“We should get some sleep,” Cate mumbled, clearly halfway there already.

“We should,” you replied then slowly got out of bed. 

You blew out the candles then slid back into bed. 

You placed a goodnight kiss on Cate’s lips then turned on your side to sleep.

Whatever tomorrow brought you knew you’d face it with Cate at your side. You wouldn’t be parted from her ever again.