Team road trip!!!! This one took a bit sorry non. Not feeling the most humorous right now but this really helped me get out of that actually so thank you!! Might turn this into a whole thing lol its so fun to think about. Also bullying soap is fun pffft
Continues under the cut :O
The van rattled as it hit another pothole, and Soap groaned, his head thunking against the window. “I’m tellin’ you, Cap, this van’s older than you are. Feels like it’s falling apart beneath us.”
Price shot him a glare from the driver’s seat. “The van’s fine. It’s you lot that are the problem.”
Gaz, squashed in the middle of the back seat between Soap and Ghost, leaned forward. “No offence, Captain, but who decided you’d be the driver? I thought Nik was supposed to do it.”
“Nik’s not here, is he?” Price grumbled, gripping the wheel a little tighter as he overtook a tractor. “And I don’t trust any of you muppets behind the wheel.”
“Oi!” Soap protested, elbowing Gaz for emphasis. “I’ve got a clean driving record!”
Ghost’s voice rumbled from the far end of the seat. “That’s because your car’s been in the shop for six months. Doesn’t count if you’re not driving.”
Soap turned, affronted. “Oh, right, and you’re Mr. Perfect on the road, are you? Bet you drive like a granddad.”
“I drive carefully,” Ghost replied, his tone deadpan. “Which is why I’ve still got my car.”
Gaz snorted, leaning back with a smirk. “Face it, Suds. If Ghost drives like a granddad, what does that make you? A learner?”
Before Soap could retort, the radio crackled to life as Price fiddled with the dial. “Let’s have some music,” he muttered, clearly done with the bickering.
Soap brightened immediately. “Good idea! Let me pick—”
“No,” Price said firmly, cutting him off.
Soap huffed. “What d’you mean ‘no’? I’ve got great taste!”
“That’s why you’re not touching it,” Price shot back, settling on a station playing old rock hits.
“Oh, brilliant,” Soap said sarcastically, slumping in his seat. “The greatest hits of 1975. What’s next, a lecture on your glory days?”
Gaz laughed, earning him a light thump on the shoulder from Price. “This is proper music, lads. Not like the rubbish you listen to.”
Ghost leaned his head against the window, his mask hiding what could have been either amusement or resignation. “It’s fine. At least it’s not Soap singing.”
“I’ll have you know,” Soap declared, sitting up straighter, “I’ve got the voice of an angel.”
“An angel that’s been gargling gravel,” Gaz quipped.
The van erupted into laughter, even Price cracking a smile. Soap scowled at them all, muttering something about “no appreciation for talent” as the van hit another bump.
“Right,” Price said, his voice loud enough to cut through the noise. “If I hear one more word about my driving or my music, you can all get out and walk.”
There was a beat of silence before Soap leaned forward. “Can I at least pick the snacks when we stop?”
“Not a chance,” Ghost said immediately, to which Gaz added, “Last time you picked, we ended up with nothing but fizzy sweets and crisps.”
“Perfect road trip food!” Soap argued.
“For a twelve-year-old,” Ghost muttered, earning another round of snickers.
Price sighed, shaking his head as the bickering started up again. “Next time,” he muttered under his breath, “I’m taking Nik. At least he doesn’t talk my bloody ear off.”
But as he glanced in the rear-view mirror at the team—Soap gesturing wildly, Gaz trying not to laugh, and Ghost silently staring out the window like he wasn’t secretly entertained—he found himself smiling.
Chaos or not, it wouldn’t be the same without them.
"Cruella... Dear... Would you mind just-URP-St-Stopping for... A moment.." Car sick Hook xD
"Now? We've Still got an hour to go!" She's taking him out to see Hell Hall, the slight chill of early autumn seemingly making it a good day for a drive into the country. Of course Cruella fails to realize that no day is a good day for a passenger of hers. When she pulls off to the side of the road it's just as sharp, probably not helping his situation any.
Introducing: Our Lives Illuminated, a new WIP (I must be crazy?)
Modern AU // Jamie x Claire
Synopsis: Claire is finally going to find out who her birth mother is. Her best friend, Jamie, supportive as ever, agrees to spend a summer traveling across the U.S. with Claire in hopes of meeting this elusive woman. It’s the road trip of a lifetime, and it’ll leave them both changed in ways they couldn't have imagined.
Chapter One - now up over at AO3! >>>
-----------
This story was inspired party by Simon and Garfunkel's song 'America'. It's always been a favorite of mine, and I was always itching to write a story around it. It's a song about a couple hitchhiking, then riding a bus across America, and it has always inspired in me a need to create. You can listen to it here. Lyrics only here.
The title was taken from this Henry Miller quote:
Real Love is never perplexed, never qualifies, never rejects, never demands.
It replenishes, by grace of restoring unlimited circulation.
It burns, because it knows the true meaning of sacrifice. It is life Illuminated.
------------
December.
The month usually reserved for twinkle lights, ugly sweaters, and copious amounts of food and drink, this December was turning out to be a rather uncomfortable one.
Claire sat in her flat - well, her and her roommate Jamie's flat - staring at the manila envelope that had come in the mail earlier in the week. Her classes finally over for the day, she'd decided to sit down, have a glass of liquid courage in the form of some of Jamie's whisky, and finally look at the documents she'd requested months ago.
The envelope sat on the aged brown coffee table, the TV humming in the background, though Claire had no idea what was on. She'd grabbed the remote and hit the power button purely out of habit. The sofa was soft under her bare legs - she'd stripped down to a night shirt and silk pajama shorts after returning home, eager to get comfortable. Bras were a bitch, and so were pants. She knew she wasn't going anywhere, dinner having been delivered and eaten. So, she sat, sipping the whisky, the liquid burning her throat as she contemplated her options.
for the record i think you should write the fic ab the road trip and tag me but it’s cool if you don’t :) haha
Your wish is my command @buckleysjareau!
Hen, Eddie, and Buck’s 20-hour road trip to Texas in the fire truck during the crossover:
“You sure you’re gonna be alright, stuck in the truck for twenty hours with those two?” Chim jerked his head toward the outgoing engine. Eddie and Buck were propped against the side of the newly cleaned, gleaming truck, heads bent over Eddie’s phone. Buck made a happy noise about something and Eddie laughed, nudging him with his shoulder.
Hen huffed out a breath, watching the two with a small smile one her face. “Buck bought all sorts of junk food for the ride, but Eddie told me he’d help me control the man-child’s intake so he doesn’t get too roudy.”
Chim snorted. “Good luck to you both.”
Hen nodded and slung her bag over her shoulder. “Let’s get going, kids!” She opened the driver’s door and threw her duffle onto the second seat. Behind her she heard grunting as Buck and Eddie got into the back, taking their duffels with them. “We’re burning daylight!”
Bobby approached and stepped up to the cabin before she could close the door and leaned his head in. He had already formally briefed them on the situation, and Hen raised her eyebrows at him in anticipation. “Good luck guys. Make us proud down there.”
“It’s my home turf, Cap, we go this.” Eddie called from the backseat and Buck nodded distractedly, trying to work his seatbelt into the buckle while vibrating with excitement.
Bobby nodded in that reassuring, firm way of his and clapped Hen on the shoulder before stepping away and closing the door on them. Accompanied by the waves and catcalls from the rest of the crew on duty, the truck drove out of the 118 firehouse, honking one last time before turning down the street, destination: Texas.
***
“This can’t be happening!” Buck’s hands were arm-deep in his duffle, shuffling through frantically. Next to him was a small pile of clothes and personal items, all rudely vacated in a rush. “I could’ve sworn I brought Sour Patch Kids! I showed them to you, Eddie, remember?”
Hen heard Eddie’s snort from next to Buck. “I guess you must’ve left them back at the station.”
“Oh.” Buck’s voice sounded entirely too woebegone to be talking about candy. “I was looking forward to those, I haven’t had them in ages, gotta stay fit you know? But then we had this road trip together, and they were on sale...” He drifted off and started packing his things back into his bag, oozing sadness.
Stay strong, Eddie! Hen cheered him on silently from the driver’s seat. She’d been on the receiving end of Buck’s sad face before and it was hard to resist for her. For Eddie it would be even worse, but she was confident that he--
“Hey, so... I’m sorry about the Sour Patch Kids, but I may have found you those peanut butter cups you like. The Trader Joe’s ones?” Hen sighed in defeat as she heard Eddie shuffle in his bag before producing the package. He didn’t even have to search that long. Bastard had those ready and waiting!
“Eddie!” Buck couldn’t have sounded happier if Eddie had just offered him a new car. “Oh, wow, I haven’t had these in forever! I could kiss you right now!”
Hen sighed. It was gonna be a long ride.
***
“Hen?” Hen jolted awake at Eddie’s voice. Buck had taken over from Hen at the wheel, but had asked that Eddie take over when he began to crash from his sugar high. Buck’s exhaustion must’ve rubbed off on her as soon as she sat in the back with him, she didn’t remember falling asleep.
“You awake?”
“Hmm, yeah.” She mumbled, moving her arm up to stretch. She accidentally nudged Buck, who mumbled in his sleep and curled further into the turnout coat he was using as a blanket. His head was turned at a ridiculous angle, propped against the window in a way that looked less than ideal.
She turned back toward Eddie, who was watching Buck, a soft smile on his face.
“You want me to take over, Eddie?”
Eddie nodded. “I’d appreciate that. I could use some shut-eye.” He jerked his head toward the driver’s seat. “The stop has a Starbucks, so I got you a coffee.”
“Thanks.” Yawning, Hen climbed down from the back. “You want to wake Buck before he gets a crick in his neck and has to face a Texas forest fire with his head on sideways?”
“Nah,” Eddie huffed a laugh and climbed into the back. “Let’s let him sleep a bit more.”
Hen shrugged and climbed aboard, settling herself into the driver’s seat and inhaling the heavenly smell of caffeine. She adjusted the seat, pulling it forward and slightly down again to suit her height before reaching for the Joe and having a sip. “Hmmm. Hey, you got some more suga--” She stopped speaking as her eyes took in the arrangement behind her.
Eddie was leaned back, his feet propped on the seat in front of them. He’d rearranged Buck so Buck’s head rested comfortably on Eddie’s shoulder, and Buck was snuggled into his side, his nose half-buried in Eddie’s neck, face relaxed and serene, his long body draped in both his own turnout coat and Eddie’s. Eddie was in his department sweatshirt, eyes already closed, a small smile on his face.
Hen huffed out a quiet laugh, before reaching for her phone to snap a photo for their friends back home. Then she quietly opened her door to where the lights in the dark beckoned her to the Starbucks and extra sugar packets. “I’ll be right back.”
