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Technicolor Beat- Part Five

A Soulmate AU

Disclaimer: This features an original character by me @animalkingdom-anonymous and all plotlines are original content. Gifs and photos are not mine unless stated otherwise.

Subject: J X Indigo (OC)

“What if soulmates were real? What if there was someone out there for everyone? What if they were halfway around the world? What if they were a mere three miles up the coast?”

You know how you have those moments that change your life forever? Those small, seemingly insignificant flashes that end up burning so bright? When a baby is born, when someone dies, that time you got caught cheating on your SAT'S. The kind of moment that makes you question everything, your decisions leading to something that should have been as simple as a grandmother surprising her grandson, but instead it's something else entirely.

This was one of those moments

I felt it as soon as the words left her mouth. Something was wrapping around me, sinking into me, weighing me down. It felt as though someone had wrapped me so tightly in a blanket that I couldn't free myself.

It was J.

Something possessive was streaking through him and it was heavy. He was uncomfortable, caught off guard, the urge to protect me overpowering his senses.

J didn't like surprises and, quite frankly, neither did I. Especially when that surprise came in the form of a five foot three platinum blonde with dead eyes and a stiff upper lip.

Smurf was hard looking, the energy in the room shifting as soon as she spoke. It was very clear she was the alpha, the boys were her pack, and I was an outsider that J wanted to stay far, far away.

But it was a little too late for that.

“My boys.” She cooed, her words sugary sweet as poor Craig walked up to her with open arms and a dopey smile.

She’s his fucking mom. Relax.

I watches, my mouth open as he pulled back, Smurf cupping his face and planting a kiss right on his mouth.

Did she just do what I think she just did? My body was stiff with tension, my spine ramrod straight as each of the boys greeted her. I watched the way J's shoulders tensed as she ran her skinny fingers over them. The smile on his beautiful face was forced, I could feel it, and as she leaned in, her lips briefly touching his, I was disgusted.

Not with J, but with the woman who ran the Cody clan. It was very clear that she was a manipulator, something I was familiar with. Smurf Cody was a user, and I didn't need to have a conversation with her in order to know that.

“Look at your hair.” She laughed and ran her fingers through Deran's hair. It used to be long, I saw a photo of him when I was snooping through the house.

His jaw was clenched as he blinked at her. “You're out.”

Smurf patted him on the chest, smiling like a cat who ate the canary. “Aren't you excited? Finally back in my beautiful- who's this?” Her cold eyes met mine and I forced myself to stay calm.

She doesn’t know me, she doesn’t know a thing about me. “My name's Indigo.”

J stepped in front of me, putting himself between me and his grandmother. “Indigo's my girlfriend.”

She looked between us for a moment and I wondered what she was thinking. Was that anger I saw in her eyes? Emptiness? There was something there, I just couldn't place it. “Indigo. That’s an interesting name.” Smurf quickly moved on. “And where is Pope?”

He must have slipped out without her noticing, because I hadn’t seen him leave either.

“Don’t know. Doing whatever Pope does.” Deran’s answer was calculated as he regarded his mother with an intense stare.

She looked around slowly and her smile was so cold it sent a chill through me. She was a bad woman, worse than any I’d ever met, including my own mother. Smurf’s petite body floated through the living room and into the kitchen, disappearing without another word to me. Deran and Craig followed close behind, seemingly in a daze.

Then it was the two of us again.

Tension and frustration and fear were flying off J in waves. He was an absolute mess on the inside, his heart pounding so hard I swore I could feel it in my own chest. But no matter how hard it beat, no matter how much I worried about him, I couldn’t forgive him for what he’d done to me. To us. I could deal with a lot, but I couldn’t deal with this.

He turned slowly, his jaw clenched so hard I was scared he’d break a tooth. His nostrils flared slightly and he closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply before opening them and flashing those blue-green oceans at me. “Listen to me. Just this one time. Please. Smurf getting out was not part of my plan. This changes a lot of shit for me and- and a lot of shit for us.”

“J, there is no-”

He held up a finger. “Don’t. Don’t do that. I know you’re pissed, you have every right to be. I get it, Indigo. But I need some time to figure things out, and while I do that I need you to stay.”

I was already shaking my head, preparing to laugh in his face when he bustled me down the hallway, crowding me and forcing me to back up. “Cut it out. I’m not staying.”

“Please.”

The word made me stop. Maybe it was the way he said, so full of distress, or maybe it was the desperation I could feel flowing through his veins. But I stopped, and I listened.

“If I were you I wouldn’t want to be around me either. I don’t deserve any leniency with you, Indigo, and I sure as shit don’t deserve you. But I’m asking you, please, just stay one more night, let me figure this out, and I’ll take you home tomorrow.”

We squared off for a moment. There was a huge part of me that wanted to say no. I wanted to be spiteful and selfish and cruel. I wanted to hurt J the way he’d hurt me because I was so fucking tired of being the one who always got hurt. The one who always got the shit end of things. Terrible parents, a trashed apartment, a soulmate who just so happened to be part of some type of criminal underworld. J was right, he didn’t deserve any leniency.

But there was another part of me, a miniscule part, that ached with him. I understood that desperation, feeling like you suddenly had no control over your life anymore. I’d experienced it with my parents and now he was experiencing it with Smurf. Everything was out of control, spinning, and he was asking me to stay. Was it a control thing for him? Did he like knowing I was under his roof and in his room? Probably.

But I was willing to bend. For J. For a little while.

I stabbed a finger at his chest and he backed up a step. “I’ll stay. Tonight. And that’s it. You bring me home tomorrow and you leave me alone. Okay? I don’t know what this is, J. I don’t know who the fuck your family is. But I know who I am, and I know I can’t deal with this.”

He nodded slowly, solemnly, as if moving too quickly would scare me into wanting to leave all over again. “You can stay in my room. I have to… go see Smurf and hang out for a bit. I’ll come get you for dinner?” I appreciated the way he phrased it as a question, but I knew I’d be attending family dinner whether I liked it or not.

I didn’t answer him as I turned on my heel and stormed back to my- his- room. Closing the door behind me, I twisted the lock and knew he heard it click. Releasing the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, I sunk down down against the door, my hands shaking as everything began to sink in. I felt overwhelmed, my heart pounding as a panic attack loomed.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I took slow, deep breaths for ten seconds.

It didn’t work.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I took slow, deep breaths for ten seconds.

It didn’t fucking work.

My hand pressed roughly against my chest as I pulled my knees up, resting my forehead on them. My temples throbbed and my body ached, I felt like I was dying. This was all too much, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. I always thought I’d meet my soulmate and it would be great and we’d be like two puzzle pieces.

I was wrong.

This was pain. This was ugly.

This was the Cody life.

******

There was a soft knock on my door at ten after six. The early evening sun was casting shadows across the walls and I stared blankly at them. I’d been locked in J’s room for hours laying on his bed, laying on the floor, trying to breathe through my mouth because whenever I breathed through my nose I could smell him and it killed me.

I could have sworn I heard him outside the door at one point, probably about an hour ago. I wondered if he would knock but it stayed quiet. Eventually, the footsteps retreated down the hallway and I was, once again, left alone with my own haunting thoughts.

I dragged myself out of bed as J knocked again. Glancing in the mirror, I rubbed my hands across my face, swiping my fingers under my puffy, you’ve-definitely-been-crying eyes. Jesus, I looked a mess. I quickly shook my head, fluffing out my tangled brown tresses before making my way over to the door and pulling it open, jumping as I realized it wasn’t J on the other side.

“Pope?”

“Dinner’s ready.” His response was deadpan. He wore a black denim jacket and his hands were shoved in his pockets. He was staring at my face, unblinking, and I was ready to crawl out of my skin.

“Why are you staring at me?” I asked, fidgeting with my fingers and looking over his shoulder, finding the hallway empty.

“Did J hurt you?”

I jerked my head back as though I’d been slapped. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve been crying. Unless you’re high, but you’re not.” His tone held a note of finality.

I raised my eyebrows, somewhat amused. “How do you know I’m not high?”

He shrugged and it was the most human I’d ever seen him look. “You don’t smoke in the house.”

Okay, so maybe he’s a little fucking creepy, I mused silently and slid past him into the hall. He trailed behind me a bit, looking as uncomfortable as I felt. “Did you see your mom?”

“I saw Smurf.”

He said it as though the woman was two different people. Shit, maybe she was.

“You don’t seem too excited.”

“Neither do you.”

I was about to respond when J suddenly turned the corner, nearly slamming into me. He froze instantly when he saw Pope walking next to me, his eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”

Pope kept walking, brushing past him and responding without turning back. “I was letting her know dinner was ready since you hadn’t.”

My eyes widened slightly and I had to bite back a smug smirk at Pope’s snarky remark.

He turned to face me again and reached out, his fingertips skimming my shoulder. “You feeling okay?”

I stepped back, out of his reach. “I’m fine.”

J dropped his hand, taking the hint. “We’re eating outside.” He waited for me to walk ahead of him, following close behind me as we stepped onto the patio.

Everyone was already seated at the table, Smurf at the head of it with a satisfied smirk on her face. Pope sat next to her, staring down at his meatloaf as J and I sat down.

“This looks delicious.” I said politely as I eyed the food on the table. Fresh rolls, meatloaf, salad. It really did look great and, truth be told, I was starving. But who’s to say this woman didn’t put rat poison in it? Don’t be a bitch.“Thank you for letting me stay for dinner.”

“Of course, baby. Any friend of J’s is a friend of mine.”

J’s anger spiked and I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat as I reached for the beer Craig already opened for me.

I was relatively quiet while we ate, observing Smurf and her behavior towards each of the boys. Deran and J were the most standoffish, both of them sitting the farthest away from the matriarch of the family while Craig and Pope sat the closest. I couldn’t help but notice that she coddled Pope the most, treating him as if he were a toddler rather than the oldest of the Cody men. She always called him by his full name, Andrew, and she was constantly reaching out to touch him, gliding her fingers over his arm or through his hair, blatantly ignoring the way he tensed up whenever she got too close.

Craig was just… completely oblivious to everything, shoveling meatloaf and beer into his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.

Smurf laughed at him and reached out, pinching his cheek lightly. “Don’t get too full, baby. I’ve got a pie on the kitchen.”

Craig’s eyes nearly rolled back in his head. “Damn, Smurf, I missed your cooking.”

She smiled in response before turning those cold, shark eyes on me. “What about you, Indiana? Everything taste alright?”

J’s tempers flared and there was a ball of heat in my chest. “It’s Indigo, actually. The food’s great, thank you.”

“Tell me about yourself.” She leaned her elbows on the table, giving me her full attention. “I’m always interested in the girls J brings home.”

It was a dig at me, that much I knew. I wasn’t an idiot, knew she was trying to test me and psych me out. But I had to admit I was curious. How many girls had J brought home in his time here? Hell, I didn’t even know how many girlfriends he’d had in his life. Nicky was an obvious one, but clearly that ended badly and, surprisingly, she wasn’t having dinner with us tonight.

“I’m not too special.” I responded with a hollow laugh. “I’m twenty three, I work in a cafe, born and raised in Southern California.”

She nodded her head, the look on her face saying she was completely invested in every word I was saying. “What did you say your last name was?”

I didn’t. “It’s Parrish. Indigo Parrish.”

“It’s a beautiful name. Very unique.”

I smiled my thanks, getting ready to ask her a question when she opened her mouth again.

“So, Indigo, do you believe in soulmates?”

J’s tension maxed out and it felt like there was a weight crushing my lungs. Was that how he translated his fear, by turning it into anger? But I could feel him next to me as he bounced his knee, unable to sit still has his grandmother grilled me like a detective in an interrogation room. I was still angry about what J had done but that didn’t mean I cared about him any less, even if I wanted to pretend that I did. So, making sure my face stayed neutral, I reached my hand under the table and placed it on his knee, squeezing softly before answering Smurf.

“No, I think it’s all bullshit. Soulmates aren’t real.”

J’s hand covered mine, his fingers wrapping around the side of my hand and squeezing as he released some of the tension that was built up so high inside him.

Everyone at the table was staring at Smurf, waiting for a response. Well, everyone except Deran, who was staring right at me with his eyes narrowed. What the fuck was that? I wondered to myself when he finally looked away.

Smurf was quiet for a minute, unblinking, before finally leaning back in her chair with a satisfied smirk on her face. “I think I’m going to like having you around. You’re good for my J.”

I felt uneasy, my appetite suddenly gone. I didn’t like the way she said it, like it was a threat. It was then that I realized how careful I would have to be around the leader of the pack. She would be watching me. Shit, she already was.

Smurf suddenly clapped her hands together and poor Pope flinched, immediately shaking his head after as his cheeks turned a deep shade of scarlet. J told me to stay away from Pope, made his oldest uncle out to be some vicious psychopath. Maybe he was. But more than that, Pope seemed broken. Sad. Alone.

There was more to him. I could feel it.

“Throw a big party tonight, my babies. Let’s celebrate my newfound freedom.”

Craig’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “Really?”

Her smile was saccharine sweet. “Of course. Bring Renn, invite your surf buddies.” She turned to Deran. “What about your friend from the surf shop? Adrian? You should have him come by.”

His eyes narrowed slightly and the look on his face was tense. I didn’t know Deran very well, the blonde Cody seemed extremely standoffish. But based on his posture and the way he regarded his mother, I’d say he was feeling just as uneasy as J.

What was it about Smurf that left everyone on edge? I didn’t understand it, but I wanted to.

I was quiet throughout the rest of dinner, removing my hand from J’s knee as soon as the focus was off the two of us. I didn’t want to touch him or talk to him, could barely even look at him even though I could feel his eyes on me almost the entire time.

Everything moved quickly after dinner wrapped up. Smurf disappeared into the kitchen to do the dishes and Craig’s friends, Nicky included, were already walking through the garage with kegs and bongs and red solo cups. The mood was clearly supposed to be celebratory but all I felt was an immense sadness settle in my stomach like an anchor.

Maybe because I didn’t know J as well as I thought I did.

Maybe because I didn’t really know him at all.

The party kicked off quickly and before long the house was packed, people pouring in and out of the sliding glass door off the kitchen, music blaring loud even though there wasn’t a speaker in sight. Pope had long since disappeared into the house and, although he sort of freaked me out, it would have been nice to see a familiar face among a sea of drunken strangers.

I noticed Deran standing with a guy in the kitchen. He had dark hair, was built like a surfer. I noticed he had a nice, somewhat crooked smile, and he leaned in closer to Deran to hear him better.

They must be close, I thought to myself. Their body language was comfortable, they were laughing. It was a drastic change from Deran’s normal expression.

I could hearCraig but I couldn’t actually see him. He was hooting and hollering somewhere, laughing, probably surrounded by bikini clad women. He was a right fucking mess, but there was something oddly endearing about Craig Cody.

I sipped my beer from the corner of the patio, not speaking and not being spoken to. I wasn’t in the mood to party, missed my stupid, cramped, ghetto fabulous apartment. And, if I was being completely honest with myself, I was completely broken hearted over J. Just this morning I was telling him how much I trusted him, how I was trying. I’d opened up about everything and he kept a major part of his life from me.

I trusted him.

He broke that.

Feeling overwhelmed, I stepped back into the shadows a bit more and cracked the garage door, slipping inside and closing it behind me, welcoming the silence that greeted me. It completely blocked out the noise of the party right outside and I found myself wandering around the room, my mind drifting to what kind of weapons were hidden in there with me. Guns? Machetes? Fucking grenades?

Fine, maybe I was bitter and maybe I felt jaded, but who wouldn’t? Being so candid with J about my life, about ME, felt like a slap in the face when he’d been keeping so much from me. Maybe it wasn’t so much the fact that he was a criminal, it was the fact that he was so secretive about it. He purposely kept it from me and that hurt worse than any crime did. For all I knew he was a killer, a bank robber, something else entirely.

The door opened and I swung around to find J stepping into the garage, closing and locking the door behind him. He regarded me seriously, his mouth pulled in a thin line. “Can we talk?”

Even though he didn’t deserve my honesty I gave it to him anyway. “I’m not in the mood.”

“I wasn’t in the mood for you to go through my shit.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t in the mood to find out the love of my life is a fucking criminal.”

J was leaned against a counter on the far side of the wall and I felt his nerves rise as I spoke. “Am I the love of your life?”

I narrowed my eyes, still standing as far away as I possibly could. “Believe me, I’m not fucking happy about it.”

To my complete surprise, J cracked a smile. Well, actually he cracked a smile and then had the audacity to laugh. He crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head for a moment as his smile faded. Soon enough, he was regarding me seriously once again, his eyes dark. “Just… let me explain, okay? Let me tell you the truth, the full truth, and if you still want to leave after I promise I will leave you alone and I will never bother you again.”

For whatever reason, I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t say anything, silently giving him the greenlight to speak his truth.

“My mom was a junkie for as long as I can remember. We moved around a lot, got evicted a lot. Whenever it was really bad, when shit really hit the fan, I would wish she would just die to put both of us out of our misery. Fucked up, right? I was barely a teenager and wishing my mom was dead. And then she was.”

“I was sixteen when she overdosed on our couch. I was sitting right fucking next to her watching tv while the EMT’s worked on her, and I thought she’d be fine. It wasn’t the first time it happened and I didn’t think it would be the last time, but she was sitting there dead right next to me and that was it. No goodbye, no grand gesture. One minute she was there and the next she was just… gone.”

My heart ached, panged in a way that physically hurt. J knew it, too. I watched silently as he pressed a hand to his chest, feeling what I was feeling. I tried to feel him, tried to feel anything, but it was as though he was completely shutdown. I couldn’t feel anything because there was nothing to feel. It was a coping mechanism, a way to deal with his shitty childhood, but that emptiness scared the hell out of me. He felt cold, J felt like an empty house that was abandoned except for some stray furniture and tobacco stained walls.

J cleared his throat before he continued. “I hadn’t seen Smurf since I was little. I didn’t remember her face, or the sound of her voice. But I remembered her hands. Is that weird? It probably is, but that’s what I remembered about her. Her hands are freezing, they’re so cold it’s like they freeze you and burn you all at once. But that’s Smurf, she’s a fucking storm. Unpredictable. Cold. Hot. Too much.”

“I didn’t have anyone else to go to. Nicky’s parents weren’t gonna let me crash and I sure as fuck wasn’t going into the system. Smurf, my uncles, they were all I had left. And they didn’t hide shit from me. Right away they let me know the shit they did and the choice was mine. I was in, or I was out, but it was my decision to make.”

“I’m saying this to you because I want you to know that no one forced me into this life, Indigo. I had the option of going into some shitty group home and trying to live a normal life, or I could stay with my biological family. I chose to stay, I chose to do all this illegal shit. But not because it’s the fucking life that I wanted.”

“But I couldn’t go into the system because I didn’t know where I’d end up. And I knew as long as I was in Oceanside I was close to you. I didn’t know where you were, or who you were, but I knew you were close, and if DCF pulled me out I was scared I’d never find you again. I was empty enough, Indigo, but no matter how empty I was you were still there. Every step of the way. You were the one constant I had and I wouldn’t let that get ripped away. I knew if I stayed long enough, if I worked quietly with my family, I’d find you. Or you’d find me. But I wasn’t leaving without you, I couldn’t.”

My heart caught in my throat at his confession. What was I supposed to say? All at once he wasn’t shut down anymore and a wave of emotions cascaded over me. It was fear, J’s fear. He was afraid of losing me, of finally being honest and watching me walk away. My lungs burned with the force of his fear and I was having a hard time breathing, leaning back against the white BMW that was parked in the garage.

“Are you okay?” He stepped forward, gripping my shoulders with his hands. “Is it too much? Do you need me to stop?”

I was already shaking my head. “I’m fine, I’m… this is just a lot to take in. I never would have would have asked you stay for me. You know that. I… I-”

“I know.” J cupped my cheeks, our eyes meeting. “I know. But I made a vow to myself that I won’t leave without you. I’m keeping that promise.”

“I have money, a lot of money. A few different bank accounts, stashed away, no one knows. The jobs I pull- the jobs my family pulls- are risky. But the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward, and I have quite a few rewards saved up. Almost enough for me and you to pack up and get the fuck out of here. I just… I need to do this last job. Smurf getting out changes things, but it doesn’t change my endgame. You are my endgame, Indigo.”

Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. I felt so mixed up. I was angry, I was sad, I was hurt. I ached for the little boy who had his childhood stolen. J was finally being honest with me and it was exactly what I wanted, but I didn’t know where to go from there.

“J, how do I know this is it? How do I know you aren’t lying to me? How do I know these aren’t empty promises? You have to understand that I have no idea where the fuck my head is at, let alone yours.”

He was nodding, agreeing with me as he took a step forward. Reaching out, I let him take my hand, his calloused fingertips sliding over my knuckles as he pressed my palm against his chest. Lowering his face, he made sure we were eye to eye before he spoke. “You know I’m not lying. You can feel it. You know me, Indie. You know me better than anyone else, you will always know me better than anyone else, and you know I’m telling you the truth.”

There was raw emotion in his voice, of course I knew he was telling the truth. His heart beat almost violently under my palm and he was anxious enough that he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. J, finally, was telling me the whole truth.

“Please don’t leave me.”

It was barely audible, but I still heard it. The plea from the broken boy who thought I was going to leave him. It was decision time, but fate had already made the decision for me.

“I just confessed you’re the love of my life, J. Wherever you go, I go. But can you honestly look me in the eyes and promise me this is the last job?”

He was charging at me like a man on fire, pulling me against him and wrapping his arms around me so tight I couldn’t breathe. His face was buried in my neck, hot breath fanning across my skin as relief flooded his veins, extinguishing the blazing fear that had been running rampant only moments before. “I promise. I fucking promise you.” He grabbed my face, gripping hard enough that I was at least a little nervous he’d break my jaw. “I promise you right here, right now, this is the last job, Indigo. And then it’s just me and you. The two of us.”

“Don’t let me down, Cody.”

“I swear.”

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Animal Kingdom

Andrew “Pope” Cody

Just got back into Animal Kingdom after watching The Pitt and I forgot how much of a psycho Pope was.

———-

There was something about Andrew Cody.

Interns aren’t allowed to treat patients — they observe, report, and run everything by their attending. Communication is permitted, but only within boundaries. No diagnoses. No attachments.

But Andrew Cody was different.

He was serving six years for burglary. A little high for that kind of charge, you thought, but nothing in his file suggested anything out of the ordinary. Still, the moment you stepped into the room with him, something felt wrong — deeply, viscerally wrong. The kind of wrong that makes the hairs on your arms rise and your breath catch in your throat.

He radiated an aura — not of violence, not exactly — but of something dangerous. Unnatural. He never spoke. Just stared. Always straight at you. Not hostile, just… focused. Emotionless. You never understood why he was so heavily sedated until the one time you were left alone with him.

And he kept staring.

You broke the silence. You spoke. You didn’t even realize you had until he responded. That day was the first time you heard his voice. And from that moment, something began — a strange, quiet rapport.

Over the next year and a half, you didn’t learn much. His file said he had a family. He seemed close to his mother. But there was something off whenever you brought her up — the way he looked at you, the tightness around his eyes, the silence that followed. He didn’t need to speak. You could feel it. Whatever was there wasn’t right.

Still, he tolerated you. That much was clear.

One long weekend, you were off. When you returned, his knuckles were bloodied and raw. You learned he’d spent a week in solitary. When someone finally got him to speak, he’d said only one thing:

“I don’t like it when she is not here.”

There was something terribly sad about Andrew Cody. Something broken. But also something innocent. Naive. The first time you accidentally touched his arm, he flinched and froze — like no one had ever touched him with care before. After that, he shut down. It took nearly a month to get a word out of him again.

Andrew — or “Pope,” as he was sometimes called — was strange. Deeply strange. And it all seemed to circle back to his family. To his mother.

But what could you do? You were just an intern.

After two years and three months, your we’re done. What they let them do in the prison was too much for you.

On your last day, you sat with him one final time. You urged him to apply for parole again. He promised you he would. You asked him not to go back to his family. Not to tell them where he was going if he got out. You wanted him to start fresh. To disappear. He didn’t reply.

He just stared.

What could you do, really? You were just a 25-year-old girl, trying to make sense of things far beyond your training. And maybe, somewhere deep down, you realized this wasn’t the job you wanted after all.

You thought that final session would be the last time you’d ever see him.

You were wrong.

Because somewhere between your questions and his silences, between the brief moments of trust and the hours of staring — you became something else to him.

You became his anchor.

You became his escape plan.

You became his obsession.

And the second he walked out of that facility…

he was already looking for you.

—

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Baby Cody pt. 2

pt. 1

Pairing: Baz Blackwell x OC, Pope Cody x OC, Craig Cody x OC, Deran Cody x OC, J Cody x OC (Platonical)

Warnings;swearing

The next morning after J’s arrival, I was in the kitchen with Smurf, helping her to make breakfast while Deran and Baz were discussing somethin about a new work, sudenly J entered the kitchen, yawning.

The boys stopped talking.

-Good morning, J- I gave him a smile - I hope you slept well, honey-

-Hey! You never hope for us to sleep well- argued Deran, I rolled my eyes and kept doing my breakfast. Smurf started to talk to J but I din’t payed attention to what they were saying.

-HEY!- a scream startled me- WHAT DID I SAY?- It was Craig from the stairs, naked, I rolled my eyes again, this time annoyed, we weren’t in good terms right now, he kept screaming and complaining about the noise the juice extractor was making.

-Just do it already, dude...- said Baz, Craig was furiosly asking for a hammer to, I suppose, destroy the machine- Can’t you smash it on the floor?- suggested Baz, I tried to supress a laugh but I couldn’t making Craig’s eyes focus on me.

-What are you fucking laughing about? eh?- he said without moving his yes from me.

-Oh! Shut the fuck up, don’t you fucking talk to me If you don’t want this knife up your ass, jerk- I threatened him

-DON’T THINK THAT I WON’T DO IT- He was starting to give me a headache.

-Do it!- exclaimed Smurf - You bought it anyways-

-No, I didn’t-

-Actually, yes, you did- I said rubbing my temples.

-You always forget my birthday-explained Smurf- So I bought it for you and I gave it to me. I loved it, honey and I still do love it- Craig calmed down, and started to pace in his place with the juice extractor covering his junk, his eyes were traveling back to me, realizing how ridiculous he looked.

-Don’t fucking look at me-I said while cutting some more vegetables, without even looking at him, he placed the juice extractor in the kitchen island again.

-Give me a kiss- Smurf demanded him, and he did as told- Are your friends going to stay for breakfast?- she asked, he looked panicked and his eyes found mine.

-I already know, fuckhead- I gripped the edge of the island so tight that my knuckles turned white- You weren’t exactly quiet- they were all silent.

Smurf started to talk to J but I zoned out until they were talking about going to the beach.

I grabbed my things for the beach and got in Deran’s truck, along with J, then Craig appeared in his motorbike and offered J a ride, but he declined

-What about you, princess?- Craig refered to me, I stucked my middle finger out for him, he snickered and started to drive.

We were behind him, Deran had one hand on the wheel and other on the inside of my thigh while driving.

When we arrived in the beach they went to surf while I layed in a towel on the sand and prayed for them to not get in trouble.

I don’t know how many hours passed when they got out of the water but they rushed me and that’s how I knew they were planing something and it wasn’t good.

I got in the truck while they were doing their bussiness, we stood there for some time like waiting for something, while they were drinking some beers, started to eat chips from a bag.

Some other surfers got in a van in front of us.

-Hey asshole! -one of the surfers started to walk in our direction, this wasn’t going to end well- Did you slash our straps?- he asked furiosly, getting closer to us,he kept yelling things to J and Craig but suddenly J pointed at them with a gun, I could see fear in the surfers faces, and they started to back up and run to their van, the drove fast out of the beach leaving their surfboards behind.

-Hey! We got new surfboards!- exclaimed Craig to Deran

-I want to go home, now!- I demanded

Back at home there was a party, I got in a lounge chair beside Cath, Smurf and Lena, the boys were in the roof, Baz included, and they were jumping to the pool from there, all except J, but the boys, being their asshole selfs made him jump while everyone encouraged him.

And he did, just because Craig pushed him, this family didn’t know about boundaries.

After the party died down, I took a shower, put on a sundress and stayed barefoot, I wanted to talk to J, so i walked to the room were he was staying but I found the surprise of Pope hugging Smurf, while J was in the door just looking at them, I felt my heart starting to beat faster and my breath got erratic.

-Pope...- I whispered but he heard me, and his eyes found me quickly while releasing himself from Smurf’s hug

-Honey...- He used my nickname, I missed his voice so much, I ran to him, he opened his arms and bended a little his knees for me to hug him, I placed my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, he placed his hands on the back of my thighs, making me jump and place my legs around his waist, when we pulled apart I placed my forehead with his, trying to calm down my brething- I missed you so fucking much, babygirl-

-I missed you too, Pope-

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i live for pope x reader / pope x oc where not only is she not afraid of him but she’s very no nonsense and won’t let anyone scare her away. and she stands up for him when he’s being ordered around or manipulated or when the other cody’s are talking down to him. like the vibes are like that line in avatar the last airbender where mai says she loves zuko more than she fears azula

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if you never left.

Pairing: Andrew "Pope" Cody x Female!Reader Summary: 1995 Oceanside, California Senior year, fun and exciting- right? 18 years old and nothing can dampen your year- right? Except you've had a cute, dimply, curly haired shadow since freshman year. Cute and cocky and an ego that hasn't been flushed out by his circumstances yet. Andrew has loved you since he was 14. He knows the world is cruel and he tries to remain normal because the only thing that keeps him going right now is you. You love to hate him. You love to play hard to get but he is relentless. And the world is cruel but it can't be that cruel- right? Warnings: 18+ MDNI. Young/18 year olds in love, smut, violence, angst, no happy ending because this is Pope. More warnings to come once posted.

Coming soon? To be posted? Idk the first chapter is almost done.

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Lost Boys Part 1

Pope Cody x OC x Baz Blackwell

A/N: I have been completely overtaken by this show. Apologies ahead of time. Please comment and reblog <3

grief, drinking, drugs, canon typical violence, slow burn, potential love triangle, heavily inspired by canon but not completely accurate

The box was small. Unmarked. Did she expect it to be bigger? Smaller? What size box do you imagine your mother’s ashes in?

It rested it her hands as she leaned against the pier railing. The sky was beginning to fill with a warm glow, the sun peaking out after a long rest. It would be warmed today, sweltering hot actually. Her mother would approve.

Natalia had been doing that ever since the small box was slid to her across the hotel counter, thinking of all the strong opinions her mom would have even over the smallest things.

The hotel room didn’t provide a coffee pot.

That woman’s highlights are grown out.

And the screeching her mother would have done at Richard shipping his dead wife’s ashes across the country instead of hand delivering her to her daughter—

“Can I get you a refill?”

Nat looked up, softening her brows she realized were intensely furrowed. She stopped chewing on the tiny, red straw and plopped it back it the now empty glass. After a quick nod, the bartender swiped it. He was good looking, albeit a young for her taste. Blonde, troubled blue eyes. One of those surfer types that filled this area.

“You good?” He asked with the club soda gun in his hand.

“Yeah,” she nodded instinctively. “Thanks.”

He nodded. He stayed close, wiping down glasses. 4pm on a Thursday wasn’t exactly rush hour.

“You live around here?” He asked.

“Just moved back. Jesus, what's that face?"

"Sorry," he mumbled. He continued to wipe the same glass over and over, going over something in his head before finally admitting, “You just don’t look like a local.”

Her eyebrow quirked up. “Oh? And what do I look like?”

He eyed her outfit. He didn’t pretend to know shit about women’s fashion but she looked more put together than anyone else on the Strand, especially his patrons. Nice black blouse, jeans, heeled boots. The sunglasses that were placed too carelessly on his bar. She dressed comfortable but expensive. Her hair cascaded perfectly.

“Just not someone who would drink at a shit hole like this.”

“Better hope your boss doesn’t hear that.”

“Good thing I am the boss.”

She hid her smile into her glass. “You’ve owned it for long?”

“Nah, just about a month. Hoping to clean it up a bit.”

“Already looks a hell of a lot cleaner than I remember it being,” she complimented. “Still great tequila, though.”

“Don’t fix what ain’t broken.”

There was a lull as Natalia ripped at the skin around her thumb and glanced around at the bar. She overheard some people at the beach talking about The Drop, figured she had no where else in mind to go. Her intrigue increased even further when she arrived and recognized the dive bar. Occasionally stumbling in here at 3am, just looking for somewhere that was open. Flirting with the old men that used to be its normal clientele so she didn’t have to pay.

"Hey, do you know anyone who's hiring?"

"Maybe. What do you do?"

Nat huffed, the images of extravagant parties, other people’s jewelry, and paintings that people would buy for $100,000 just so they could sell it for double, triple.

"I was, uh, in finance. But I'm actually looking for something completely different. Anything low key. Just until I can get my bearings again and find something more permanent."

"You ever work in a bar?"

She blinked up at the blond. "What, like, here?"

"That a problem?" he shrugged.

"Um-"

"Yo! Deran! What the hell, man?"

The man that hurled himself in the bar came in shouting and red in the face, making Natalia jump. Broad shouldered, as tall as the doorway. He leaned his large hands on the bar.

"Jesus, Craig. You can't just-"

"I was waiting for you for over an hour-"

"I'm busy."

Natalia peered over her glass, watching the verbal tennis match. The tall one finally took her in. His eyes widened slightly as he took a deep breath, running his hand over the back of his head.

"Oh, shit. Hey," he said, reaching out his hand. "Craig."

The taste of tequila in Natalia's mouth suddenly turned into stomach bile as she met his eyes. Her tight smile remained unfaltering as she stared up at the baby blues. Alarm signals crawled up her skin, suffocating her.

A flash, the beard was gone. The hair was shorter. The blue eyes remained. He still towered over her when he was barely a teenager. Craig.

The image broke when Craig looked away to Deran, whose voice was nothing but fuzz now.

Deran. Craig.

Somewhere her brain told her that she could be wrong. But the coincidence was too strong. How soon before another brother comes through that door?

Natalia barely remembers sliding off the bar stool or reaching for her wallet. She was eerily still as she placed cash on the counter, grossly overpaying for two tequila sodas. The two men were still bickering when she settled her sunglasses on her nose. The calm, closed lip smile stayed. Practiced.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew she would see the Cody’s. She had been running different scenarios through her head over and over. She was working a plan. It was going to be on her terms. Whatever God was up above was laughing at her, but at least they gave her some grace. It was the two youngest brothers, the ones that wouldn’t recognize her. But the other two—

It wasn't until Natalia’s fingers reached for the door did Deran's voice become clear in her ears again.

"Hey, did you want the job or not?"

The bar entrance swung in silence.

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sugar on the rim | stripper!honey summary: pope didn't really want to go to a strip club for his birthday, but maybe it's not so bad when he receives a private dance by the headliner, Honey.

T-Shirt | 18+ chapter summary: It wasn't until last week that he realized that Honey dressed in themes differently from the other girls. She didn't wear traditional lace and bodysuits. Her attire was almost theatrical - an experience. A part of him tried not to feel jealous at the thought of other men getting such an experience.

warnings: smut, mentions of assault (man grabs dancer), fighting notes: hi guys, somehow my writing inspiration returned after watching the pitt and I decided to rewatch animal kingdom. This character was originally for a jax teller story, but writing her with pope became easier! I also am not the best smut writer, and I was hesitant to include it in this, but it flowed better with it. i do for sure have two more little blurbs/one-shots, but I have gotten really attached to this iteration of this honey that there will probably be more. additionally, I have more versions of honey planned that I hope my inspiration stays for me to write. i also want to give a shout out to @girthgrudgefear as their small piece of pope x stripper!reader gave me the push to fully go through with fleshing this out more and to post this.

WESTERN

Like most jobs, there were the pluses and minuses. Stripping isn’t something Honey is ashamed of. Stripping is the one way for her to remain close to one of her loves in life, which was dancing. Dancing is her one escape in the world ever since she was little. Despite what most would think, there isn’t any cattiness backstage amongst the girls and the bartenders, bouncers, and owner ensured they were safe and cared for. Most girls wanted to come in, do a shift, and go home. The girls are trying to pay their way to college and pay bills.

Being one of the older dancers, Honey is almost a mother figure to them as she would help them navigate the world of college, loans, and being a young woman.

Besides, dancing keeps her in shape as well.

One of the job's minuses is the specific clientele.

98% of their clientele are men, and 2% are women.

Men could be grabby, rude, and over all assholes. Not all of them, but most.

The women for Honey were always her favorite to dance for, especially at parties. The women are there for a good time, and their joy is infectious. It always felt more fun dancing for women, especially when they would try to join her in dances.

Yet, most of the time, Honey dances for men who thought she owed them or was something to be bought.

So tonight, she isn’t particularly looking forward to the private party she and a few other girls are booked for, especially when she knows that her fellow dancers have offered things off the menu. Honey doesn’t judge; she just cautions them to be safe and not to serve everyone.

She is familiar with the party for which she was booked. The Codys are as infamous as the beaches in Oceanside. Honey was fortunate enough that she had been growing up just a little out of the age range of the boys’ social groups; out of all of them, she is more familiar with Craig due to his presence in the club, and he used to mess around with a few of her friends.

They were more into surfing, and she lived at a dance studio. So her interactions with the Codys were few and between.

Though it is one of the brothers’ birthdays, Andrew, or Pope, as he went by, she heard Pepper and Jasmine talking amongst themselves about one of the brothers specifically requesting girls who offered more.

Honey is confused about how she landed in the middle of all this. However, the Codys had money, and even her boss isn’t ignorant that one of the brothers, Craig, was a frequent high-paying customer, and he wanted the best.

She assumes this was why she is alone in a room with Andrew Cody.

One thing she learned and honed in on as a dancer was to dissociate. It was easy to get lost in the music as she undulated her hips. And even though most girls found it a bit tacky, Honey made sure to have theme nights for herself. And tonight happened to be her Western theme. Besides being a headliner, she needed to give people reasons for coming back. She needs to provide these men with fantasies, as that is why they are here. They want to escape and feel powerful.

And Honey finds it’s not hard most days as she gets plenty of offers from men wanting her to be their mistress, who will put her up in her place in the more exclusive areas of The Strand and Oceanside overall.

Yet, tonight, she thinks her little outfit isn’t catching the eye of her customer. She has a bedazzled bra and ass-less chaps, yet for the sake of earning more tips, she has on a pair of black bikini briefs that she only untied at the end of private performances, and only for her loyal, high-paying customers.

While dancing, it is essential to make eye contact, yet in dim lighting, it is easy to look over men’s shoulders and give the illusion of empty smiles.

Yet, this customer sat stone-faced in his seat as his hands clutched the armrests. She wasn’t even sure if he was enjoying the dance, even as she undid her bra. Usually, that gets her a reaction; he does nothing except stare.

However, as she moves from the stage to his lap, she assumes he is enjoying it, if what she feels beneath her is any indication.

When the 30 minutes are up, he stuffs her hand with cash and politely waits for her to redress herself before they leave the room.

He is her easiest customer for the night.

CHEERLEADER

Honey doesn’t think about the Codys, or Pope, specifically, for the rest of the week, despite the enormous tip that Pope had given her. Instead, she focused on her routine for Sunday for her headliner performance. And it was the week her two longest customers, Mr. Briggs and Steven Carmichael, were making their routine visit.

Mr. Briggs is an elderly investor, entrepreneur, and businessman who owns things in and out of Oceanside. He is old enough to be her father, and she is sure his youngest daughter is her age or younger. She knows he is married to a highly conservative Christian woman, who is highly involved in a local church. When Mr. Briggs comes to the club, it’s always through a special access door that leads to one of the private suites for privacy.

Since she showed up at the club at 23, he has requested Honey.

He is nice despite consistently trying to pay her for things off the menu or, worse, constantly offering her his home to be the weekend lover. She doesn't want to call him sweet, as a man like him has to be ruthless in business. Yet, she knows to be sweet and seductive with him, as one night with him, she makes her rent payment for the month.

Steve Carmichael is a retired pro-surfer. Now, he has his merchandise line associated with surfing and sponsors local talent. He is single, but she is under no illusion that in all the places he owns a home, a girl is waiting in an empty house like the one he consistently tries to place her in.

Although Honey blames herself for being young and naive and allowing him to be the only customer she ever slept with.

Yet, she may have another regular customer.

It’s late on Thursday night when she spots him. He looks awkward and out of place in his button-up. His eyes glance around the dancers. She watches as a few dancers try to approach him, but he rebuffs them. She shakes her head in amusement as she approaches him. His eyes lock on her, and he trails down her body over her outfit, which was that of a cheerleader, as she walks to him.

She throws him a coy smile. “Want a dance?”

He nods awkwardly before she leads him to a private room, nodding towards Cliff, who keeps guard of the area.

She gently guides Pope to a chair. “So that you know, this is only a dance.”

He nods in compliance before she begins moving to the song playing. This time, she doesn’t fake eye contact with him as she moves around. She notices his eyes can't seem to stay focused on her face. In fact, he seems entranced by her belly ring.

Despite his being here, he still seems stiff.

While she cages his lap with her legs, she grabs his hands and places them on her hips. He looks up at her, alarmed, but she gives him a bemused smile. She leans down next to his ear, “Relax.”

It takes a few minutes, but he does. She smiles at him genuinely as she continues her routine, and not once does he move his hand from anywhere other than her hips.

POISON IVY

“Do you always dress in theme?”

Honey looks at Pope inquisitively. She believes these were the first words he had ever said to her. She shuts the door to the private room and twirls in her costume for show.

She is wearing a red wig in a half-updo with two buns on top. Her outfit is a one-piece monokini with a scrunch-butt bikini bottom. The bundle of leaves mixed with rhinestones is strategically placed to cover her breasts.

She smiles at Pope underneath her eyelashes as she leans up to his ear and grazes the spot on his stomach above the lines of his jeans with her nails. “Do you like it?”

She thinks it is adorable watching the tip of his ears turn red. “It’s nice,” he settles on.

She laughs as she removes her elbow-length fishnet gloves and stuffs them in his front pocket.

“Just nice?” She teases.

Pope doesn't reply, but she can see the flush building in his cheeks.

He is turning out to be her favorite customer.

NURSE

Pope didn’t expect to become a regular at a strip club. He hadn't been thrilled when his brothers added that as a stop in his birthday celebration, and even worse when Baz announced he got him a private dance with the headliner, Honey.

He didn't know what to expect when entering the private room. Craig had already moaned about him getting to have a private dance with Honey. Apparently, Honey wasn't cheap, and Craig never had the cash for barely 15 minutes with her.

Pope swears he remembers Craig coming to him with a busted nose when he was 16 from a girl named Honey.

Pope didn't get to ponder those thoughts as he watched Honey come out in a lasso and assless chaps, fake guns in holsters to her sides.

He had watched in a trance as she controlled her lasso and the way she moved her hips. The way her gold dripping honeycomb belly ring glinted under the club’s light. Worse, the feeling of her pert ass grinding on him and the smell of something sweet like marshmallows, vanilla, and caramel infiltrated his senses long after the dance.

Yet, he noticed she didn't dance like she was scared of him or that she was dancing for a Cody. He felt normal just being a customer. Even with his brothers, they walked around on eggshells. In that room with Honey, he was just another customer.

He thought that would be the last time he would see Honey.

After another night of no sleep and another re-run of Planet Earth, he had idle time.

He had made his way to the strip club before his mind caught up.

He tried not to feel disappointed that he couldn't spot her. A part of him felt foolish for having hope. Yet, he spotted a figure approaching him in a skimpy cheerleader outfit. She seemed happy to see him.

He followed her silently into a private room and recalled the look she threw at him and her words, indicating that she only danced. He had nodded, as he did not argue, and he would never push for more despite knowing a few girls offered.

Despite the warning, she did place his hands on her hips. He could still feel her heat and the smoothness of her skin. The smell of her perfume infiltrated his senses. He recalled her sweet smile and the way it reached her eyes. He can't remember the last time someone smiled at him.

Returning home, he fell asleep easily that night.

It wasn't until last week that he realized Honey was dressed in themes. She didn't wear traditional lace and bodysuits.

Her attire was almost theatrical - an experience. A part of him tried not to feel jealous at the thought of other men getting such an experience.

He had to admit her poison ivy costume was his favorite. She gave Uma Thurman a run for her money. He recalled the bikini bottoms he itched to pull and wondered if she would let him. He knew that she would never let him touch her in that way. Yet, the fantasy of her and her sweet smile fueled him to feel longing, the craving of a soft touch. The way she sometimes giggled at him despite his lack of words in his responses was enough to forget the demons perched on his shoulders.

Instead, he had pulled the green fishnet gloves out of his pockets, inhaling deeply for traces of marshmallows, vanilla, and caramel, and held them tight in his fist while he worked to find release.

Walking into the strip club, he is curious about her outfit tonight.

. . .

Tonight is a night of hell for Honey.

Most would think it’s common for men to get quite grabby, but it's not. Sure, they had assholes every night, but most strip clubs have their regulars who respect the rules and look out for the girls. It’s typically any out-of-towners, or fresh 18-year-olds, and drunk college boys that get a little too hands-on.

Tonight is one of those nights, especially since some surfing events are happening. Everyone is on edge, especially regarding a table filled with some Portuguese surfers. Cole, their bouncer, had walked over to them several times, especially as one seemed to be getting rough with Jasmine.

Honey typically had no problem taking over a rough table on such nights. She had done it for the green girls, who didn't know how to regain control.

Yet, she feels she might have gotten a little over her head with these guys.

At most, on the floor, Honey only goes topless. It is for private dances with loyal, high-paying customers that she ever went full nude. Yet, this table did not seem to understand the word no as the men kept tugging on the strings of her bottom despite the clear no-touching signs.

She would usually redirect with a laugh and a quip, so that the men usually knew they were reaching their limit. After all, men loved to test boundaries.

Yet, the man kept persisting with his friends, egging him on.

“Sir, I think it's time for you and your friends to take your party elsewhere if you can't respect the club rules, " she tells the group. At this point, she knows Cole needs to escort them out.

Yet, in her move of walking away, she makes a fatal mistake of turning her back. The man grabs her roughly, causing her to cry out in shock at the pain of his grip.

She goes to scream for Cole, but she is ripped out of the man's grip. She is in a stupor as the Portuguese man is thrown on the floor.

It takes her a while to recognize the bulky form of Pope.

Cole is trying to intervene as Pope continues to punch the man. The club is silent as they watch Pope beat this man to death.

Cole and Cliff finally manage to pull Pope from the man. Pope is heaving in anger. She can hear her boss telling everyone the show is over as he works to try to get the club to focus on the drinks and the dancers. Honey follows Pope, who is taken outside by Cole.

Cole frowns at her following them.

“I'll be okay,” she answers his silent question. Yet, she knows Cole is still waiting on the other side of the door for her to walk back to him.

Pope is silent and staring at the moon.

She isn't sure what to say. She has seen her fair share of violence. She isn't queasy or revolted. It is just the intensity she had seen from him. And she is familiar with the Codys, particularly Pope, who is known for violence.

“I'm sorry you had to see that.” He tells her without turning to look at her.

Honey licks her lips and folds her arms around her chest. “Can you give me a ride home?” she asks gently.

She is unsure if he even hears her, but he nods.

She holds out her hand for him. He looks so confused at her, but he does grab it as she leads him back inside. She doesn’t bother changing into her sweats and tank top and just switches her platform stilettos into her slip-on Converses and slides on her jacket.

She follows Pope silently to his truck and thanks him quietly as he opens the door to let her in.

The ride is quiet, and she is unsure what to say, so she is silent as Pope drives her to her place. She lives in a small two-bedroom house on the Strand. It was a bit pricey, but it is her home since she returned to Oceanside.

Pope pulls up in front of her place. She notices that he is clutching the steering wheel hard, and in the light of the moon, she can see the blood on his knuckles.

“Come inside?”

He looks at her with wide eyes as if he is shocked she would ask that.

“Please.”

She almost misses his nod, but he opens his door and escorts her to her door. She wonders if she is making a mistake.

Sure, she is aware of the Codys, but she doesn't know them. And most would think her crazy, out of all the brothers, she would have Pope in her home.

She directs him to sit on her green velvet couch before she escapes to her bathroom for her first aid kit.

Returning to the living room, Pope looks stiff and out of place. Reminiscent of how he was during their first dance.

“Let me look at your hand.”

Pope seems to realize that his knuckles are bloody as he looks at them and flexes them. “You don’t have too…”

“I want to,” she tells him as she settles in front of him between his thighs. “Besides, it would be a shame for my outfit to go to waste.”

Pope’s eyes zone in on her outfit for tonight, which was that of a sexy nurse. The skirt is barely existent, and her top was of a pleather material that made her modest breasts look like a C cup.

She notices his eyes are stuck on the zipper, threatening to burst.

He doesn’t fight her as she begins to clean his hands gently.

“Are you okay?” She asks him. She looks up to find him already staring at her. She feels her cheeks become warm.

“This is nothing,” he replies quietly. “Are you?”

“Not my first bar fight, slugger,” she replies, almost laughing at his sour look.

She finishes wrapping his hand and kisses his bruised knuckles. She can tell he is uncertain, and being in an unfamiliar place probably makes him more anxious.

“Thank you.” He tells her as he gently flexes her hand.

“I’ll see you next week?” she asks, leading him to her door. He nods before making his way to his truck. She laughs as he doesn’t pull away from her house until she closes the door and is safe inside.

PLAYBOY BUNNY

“It’s a little on the nose, don’t you think?”

Honey, who has found her home on Pope’s lap, leans back in and raises an eyebrow at him. She is surprised when she feels his hand squeeze the fluffy cotton tail of her costume. His healing hands trail to the front of her strapless corset teddy. They look better than they did last week.

Her hands trail up from his broad shoulders into his growing hair. She thinks she can distinguish little curls forming in his dark hair. She had been eager to see him since last week. It didn't help that the days were slower, as if the universe knew her feelings for Pope.

She knows her tips were shit for the night as she barely worked the floor waiting for him to stroll through at 1 AM, an hour before closing. He had barely made it in before she was dragging him to a private room.

She leans down to his ear, “Like you didn’t have a favorite playmate?”

He doesn’t give her a verbal response, but his hands tighten around her waist, especially as she grinds purposefully on him. It’s not the little teasing moves she makes on the customers. This is purposeful in movement. It’s meant to elicit a response. She wants his response.

At this point, Honey has concluded that Pope isn’t a regular customer. He intrigues her, and he is probably the only customer who has. She wants to know what's hidden beneath his guarded stares and the stories of his rough hands and scars.

She can feel him beneath her, and she is sure a wet spot is forming between the two of them. His eyes trail over her form. She can see his want more clearly than any other night she has been on his lap. “I don’t recall you being a centerfold.”

She wraps her arms around his neck, the air between them thick and heavy. “Take me home tonight?”

. . .

It's under an hour that Pope has Honey naked in bed with his head buried between her thighs. Her clothes are scattered across the floor of her bedroom. Honey only managed to get his shirt off and jeans undone before he gently threw her on her bed.

“Andrew,” she keens as he drags the flat of his tongue across her folds, fingers tightening on his growing hair. Her thighs are trembling with the promise of release as she arches her back.

“Look at me,” he commands once he realizes her eyes are shut.

Honey obliges with no complaints even if it's a struggle as he closes his lips around her clit.

“Fuck,” Honey moans as he sucks gently. “Oh, fuck, I'm gonna-”

Honey's back arches off the bed as she gushes against his mouth. Yet, before she can come down from the aftershock, she feels two of his thick fingers breaching her entrance and his lips closing around her clit again.

She gasps as she protests, “It's too much.”

Pope's fingers are steadily pumping in and out. “You can give me another one.”

Honey is breathless as she whines and withers before him. Her body tightens again with the promise of release. However, Pope's thick fingers vanish and she feels her pussy flutter around nothing.

“Andrew!” Honey's eyes snap open as she finds him standing at the edge of her bed. Admiring her slick form. She can see her release on his lips. His hair is mussed from her fingers.

“Are you sure you want this?” He asks gravely. A part of her is in disbelief that he would ask her that after he was just buried between her thighs. Yet, as she catches her breath, she feels the question is filled with a heavier meaning than just sleeping with him for the night.

“I want this,” Honey replies without hesitation.

He doesn't second-guess himself, or her, as he removes his pants with his boxers in one move. She swallows as she sees his length, stiff and aching, as he places a condom on.

She is sure he is the biggest she has had based on girth alone.

He crawls over her slowly, hesitantly. Honey can't help but kiss his nose and nibble at his lips when he reaches her face. He pulls her into a deeper kiss as she spreads her legs wider, as she feels him heavy against her thighs.

He pulls back and looks into her eyes. “It's been a while for me.” He says shyly.

She smiles softly, “Me too.”

Honey had been sure that he would have entered her in one sharp thrust. Yet, she is taken back as he sinks into her slowly until he is buried fully inside her. She can feel him trembling. She sighs as her body adjusts to him.

“You okay?” He whispers as he kisses her neck.

Honey nods as she takes a breath. “Please move,” she begs.

He doesn't need to be directed twice as he begins a steady pace that has Honey sighing as her head falls back against her pillow. She brings her legs up higher, and she groans as she slips deeper into her.

“Oh fuck,” she whimpers when his fingers begin rubbing circles on her swollen clit.

Pope continues to push into her slowly, deeply. Honey winds her arms around his neck and pulls him into a kiss as her fingers tangle in his curls. Yet, she needs more.

Suddenly Honey nudges him on his back and in one swift motion she sinks back down on his cock.

“Fuck,” Pope groans as he nudges a spot deep inside that her her squeezing around him. “I'm not gonna-”

“Let go,” Honey whispers as she brings him into a messy kiss as she grinds down on him.

Pope sits up and delivers a sharp thrust. His arms wrap around her tightly as his thrusts turn brutal. Honey's nails dig into his shoulders as she clenches around him abruptly, which triggers Pope's release as he fills his condom. She laments the use of the condom.

She finds herself being turned to lie on her back. She shivers as Pope gently removes himself.

“Sorry,” he says as she hisses at the feeling of the emptiness.

She watches as he removes his condom and throws it in her wastebasket. She lets out a startled yelp when he picks her up bridal style.

“What are you doing?!”

“You need to piss. Don't want you to get a UTI.”

Honey thinks she is going to fall in love with this man.

CIVILIAN

Honey wakes up feeling completely rested, but sore. She moans slightly as her body slowly returns to consciousness despite her wanting to stay asleep. However, she remembers why her body feels so sore, especially as she feels the weight and warmth of a person wrapped around her. Or more particularly a hand underneath the shirt she is wearing, gripping her tit.

A grin takes over her features, and she thinks about last night with Pope. Pope had taken her a second time after she had made a late-night snack. To say it was intense would be an understatement. She knows she will walk funny and must take it easy when dancing.

She grabs his hand and presses a kiss to his fingers, and she is startled when she feels it flex.

“How you feeling?” His voice is rough from sleep.

She turns to face him, a smile on her lips. “Good. How are you?”

“Best sleep I’ve gotten in a while.” He admits.

Honey almost preens at his words. She knows he has just been released from prison, and his mom's place is too crowded from the little they speak. She can only imagine how that messed up his sleep cycle.

She pushes him to lie flat, which he does with no resistance, and she straddles him.

She giggles as his eyes focus on her breasts that are conveniently covered by the opening of his button-up shirt.

In her haste to remove his clothes, she had broken the buttons with a promise to mend them.

His hands grip her thighs, and his thumb rubs circles on the flesh, causing her to shiver. It's quiet between them, and she knows there is no going back. He isn't just a customer anymore.

“You know, I think this is my favorite outfit,” he tells her. There is a vulnerability in his eyes.

She smiles at him and rubs soothing circles on his chest. She can fill his heart pounding, “I think it’s mine too.”

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they’re the brother duo that TV never knew it needed—

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emile ⚡️

emile is my animal kingdom oc …. gotta put myself in everything lmfao

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i don’t mean this in a rude way, but i’m just wondering why your Pope fics are tagged x reader when they seem more like OC fics?

Not rude at all! I can see exactly what you’re saying, so I’ll just give my reasoning: In the WEA series, Hawk is still considered the f!reader -that was my intention, anyway. I only gave her a nickname because I initially wrote the prologue from a second perspective and it just didn’t work with the flow of how I wanted everything to play out because it felt very clunky and the nickname made the reader more integrated into the Cody/Blackwell family -it gave her a history with them that was more fleshed out.

I’ve left anything physical about her up to personal interpretation (to treat her as an oc or the reader) and only gave a tiny bit of background that you’d usually see with a reader insert that drops you into the story of why they’re in the universe to begin with.

I also didn’t intend for this story to go more than five or so chapters and it kind of spiraled into a monster and Hawk has taken on more of an OC role as time has gone on.

Going forward I will be more mindful of how this universe gets tagged because I know it can be very annoying to have OCs in the x reader tag, but again, this is a little bit of a hybrid situation.

I do appreciate you reaching out about it!

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☆ revamping my film sideblog to post my fanfiction :) i originally posted on ao3 (with the same username) but thought i should expand my audience.

i’m a slow writer but feel free to send ideas or prompts or if you just want to chat!

masterlist

a little bit more about me:

- i’m in my 20s, neutral terms only, and i love ER!

- i primarily engage with media by selfshipping so my blog and writing will be centred around that (x reader only, no OC or canonxcanon)

- i always write a gender neutral reader (catering to myself here) but usually this just means excluding any gendered terms and a rare use of referring to reader with pronouns

- i love john carter and will mostly write for him (really into thinking about him in Various Situations, so feel free to chat with me about that :p)

- the pitt: mel king, trinity santos, dennis whitaker, jack abbot, and michael robinavitch

- pope cody from animal kingdom tv show

- (new) and debra morgan from dexter <3

- i WON’T write: pregnancy, super sub reader (ok with doing light dom/sub with sub reader), degradation

- i am into some ‘weird’ sexual things so feel free to send me your wild smut thoughts, i don’t feel like listing all of my deepest darkest secrets here but at worst i’ll answer your ask saying i’m not comfortable with it

- really just excited to have a space to talk about my x reader wips because ao3 isnt exactly good for random posts <3

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

if you ever want to further support my work, here is a link to my kofi for tips :)

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Animal Kingdom

Andrew Pope Cody

Thank you all for reading the preview! I didn’t expect such a positive reaction to my writing. Your likes and comments have truly inspired me — I already have two more parts planned. Feel free to share your thoughts, whether good or bad. I always appreciate honest feedback.

We’ll be seeing more of the Cody family soon, but I wanted to give you some background on Pope and my character first.

Chapter 1

The Revival

—

When she was five, she witnessed something she’d only later come to recognize as bipolar disorder in her mother.

Her mother didn’t believe in medication. Said it made her too foggy, too far from herself. So she replaced prescriptions with “the good drugs.” And from then on, her daughter saw things no child should ever see — things done to her mother, things done by her mother.

By the age of ten, she was the unofficial head of the household. She cleaned, cooked, kept the apartment running. She stole — not because she liked it, but because it was the only way to survive. She lifted money from the men her mother brought home. Took soap, toothpaste, and pads from school. Stole lunches from bigger kids. She was a pro.

She loved her mother. Deeply. Enough to make sure she ate, drank water, showered. Enough to keep watch when her mother’s “friends” were over. She loved her even when she didn’t understand her — especially then. That’s where her obsession with psychology began.

She had seen people overdose. Seen how depression and addiction twisted people until they became unrecognizable. She didn’t judge. She watched. She asked questions. She wanted to understand. Needed to understand.

Her schoolwork improved. She started talking to the men who didn’t make her stomach twist. She made them feel seen. Safe. And in return, they opened up. She never gave advice. She just listened. By sixteen, she had done more emotional labor than most people do in a lifetime.

She read psych books from the library and used the tools they taught. Guided conversations, helped others find their own answers. She helped build relationships, and quietly helped end toxic ones, too.

They cried in front of her. Sat with her in silence. Let their rage unravel in the safety of her presence. And when her mother spiraled — manic or depressed — they were there. They helped her study. Helped her apply to university. Helped her celebrate when she got into med school on a partial scholarship.

And they were there when her mother overdosed.

In the quietest, darkest part of her chest, she was relieved.

She left. She studied. She was great at it — not just because she was smart, but because she understood. She could see pain before it was spoken. And she was determined to help fix both mind and body. That’s what led to her final rotation, at Folsom State Prison — and to the man who would change her completely.

⸻

Her first day at Folsom, she knew: this was not where she wanted to be.

Her attending was kind — as kind as one can be after decades in a place like this. He laid out the rules, the code, the expectations. Who to trust. What not to wear. How to walk, how to speak. He gave her a list of patients, diagnoses, medication routines.

That’s when she saw his name.

Andrew David Cody.

A massive dose of Thorazine. Enough to sedate rage. She didn’t meet the inmates until two weeks in.

And the moment she saw his eyes — dark, empty, emotionless — she should have known it wouldn’t end well.

⸻

There’s something to be said about leaving employment to return to school.

After her residency, she realized she didn’t want to be a prison psychiatrist. Not because she couldn’t handle it — but because she had no real power to help. She thought of a pair of eyes — dark, sad, and unblinking — and knew that wasn’t enough.

So she returned. Started a certificate in criminology, hoping to understand them better. But maybe it was something simpler than that: maybe she just didn’t want to grow up. Not yet.

Maybe she should work at a hospital in California. Maybe she should leave the country. Or maybe… maybe she should go back to her mother’s apartment. Let herself rot quietly, the way her mother had.

But then, walking out of class one evening, she saw him.

Not saw — felt.

A presence.

Straight-backed. Arms at his sides. Short sleeved shirt buttoned to the top like a priest.

And eyes — hawk-like, locked on her.

Andrew Cody.

But this time, for the first time since he’d been released, there was something new in his gaze.

A flicker of light in all that darkness.

⸻

There was something to say about the first time she saw him in months —it wasn’t fear that struck her. It was relief. A twisted kind of happiness.

Not about how he found her. Not how he knew where to look.

But because he was out. He had made parole.

Her first instinct, naive as it was, hoped he hadn’t gone back.

Not to that house. Not to her.

That maybe he’d gotten his own place, finally freed himself from the grip of that obsessive, broken mother — and the suffocating loyalty to his family.

But no.

She knew better.

Of course he hadn’t. They were the only thing he had ever known.

Letting go of them would be like letting go of oxygen.

She understood.

The only reason she ever left was because her mother was six feet under. These thoughts flickered and died the moment she saw him — standing there awkwardly, stiff as ever, eyes locked on her like always.

She moved toward him, not quite running, but not walking either.

Stopped just short of touching distance.

“Andrew!” she breathed. “You… you did it. Oh my God, I’m so happy for you. I knew you could do it.”

He didn’t say a word.

Just stared. But she saw it — the barest twitch of his mouth, a subtle lift of his brow.

He was happy to see her.

“How are you feeling? Have you seen your brothers?” she asked gently.

He replied, voice low. “Yes.”

She didn’t ask about his mother. She didn’t want to know. Didn’t want to open that door. Not yet.

So she reached for the first thing that surfaced — something safer.

“The fountain… did Baz ever finish it?” Her voice came out too light, too casual — even she could hear it.

But it was the only thing she could grab. He had once told her Baz promised to finish it while he was gone.

A flicker again — this time annoyance. A tilt of the head, the slightest grimace.

“No. I’m making it.”

So he was back there.

“Ah,” she said softly. “Well… I’m not really surprised. From what you told me about Baz…”

(From what your eyes told me. From what your silences said.)

“But it’s good, right? Keeps you busy. Keeps your mind quiet.”

He didn’t respond. Just stared.

“Right. Sorry… are you hungry? Want to grab something to eat?”

“I thought you were done with school,” he said.

“Yeah. I was. I don’t know —” she gave a nervous laugh, tugged at her sleeve, “—I guess I’m just not ready for the real world yet.”

He looked at her for a long moment. “I understand.”

“I know you do, Andrew,” she said gently. “Let’s go. There’s this Mexican place nearby — it’s amazing.”

She reached out instinctively, about to touch his arm — but paused.

He was watching her hand. Not with fear. Not quite with hope. Just a quiet, unreadable stillness. Like he wanted it more than anything but wouldn’t let himself show it.

There was something in his eyes — not pleading, but almost… waiting. The kind of stillness a child holds when something precious is near, afraid to move and scare it off.

She hesitated, her fingers curling slightly.

She knew how vulnerable he was in that moment. Knew what it meant — what it would mean — to touch him here, like this. There was desire under it, yes, but not sexual. Not yet. It felt more like comforting a child after a nightmare.

So she moved slowly.

When she finally took his hand, his fingers didn’t flinch. Didn’t tighten. Just rested there — solid, warm, resigned.

But he didn’t pull away.

And that was everything.

She led him forward, her grip light, his steps heavier — like he was trying not to fall into her.

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𝕌ℙ𝔻𝔸𝕋𝔼

Hey, hi. I am so sorry that I haven't been posting on here that much. Currently right now I am a year 12 student and i and towards the end of my last year of high school. Along with that comes with mountains of homework, long hours of studying etc. Reason number 2 my lovely grandfather is now in hospice care due to his physical and mental health, he is a cancer survivor but he is only getting the worst of it now as he is getting older.

along with that my own mental health is something that I need to loom after as well, i love and appreciate all of the love and care for my work that i have already posted on this account. i know it is shitty that i do not post every single day like i said i would but it’s just hard for me at the moment, my head is in not in the right place at all. I have everything lined up ready to be typed and published but i guess i just need that spike or source of energy to publish i guess. things will go back to normal i promise. but whilst there is nothing being published leave me some requests in my inbox.

I just want to say thank you for your patience, i love and appreciate you all ❤❤

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Give in To Me: An Andrew "Pope" Cody Au Ch. 1

Pairing: High School!Andrew "Pope" Cody x Original Female Character

Words: 2587

Summary: Andrew gains a new friend and Tatiana gains a new crush.

gifs via: @dcminions @richardcameron

Tatiana listened as her best friend vented about her weekend as they made their way to their seats. Mr. Clark served as both their homeroom teacher and their first period U.S. history teacher.

“Hold on ladies, I did some rearranging, Farrah you’ll be switching seats with Andrew.”

“What?! He barely even shows up to school.”

“Well when he does he’s sitting with Tatiana.”

Farrah and Tatiana shared a look that meant ‘we’ll debrief later’ before sitting separately.

As the clock ticked closer to the start of class and the other students began filing in, Tatiana settled on putting her backpack on the empty seat next to her.

Tatiana was killing time flipping through a magazine when suddenly a shadow was looming over her.

“Your bag’s in my seat”

“Oh, sorry Andrew.” she placed the magazine in carefully trying not to damage the paper before hastily moving the bag to rest by her feet.

He continued glaring at her for a moment for taking his spot beside her. Mr. Clark dimmed the lights to play a video tape and through the entire video she could feel his eyes burning into her, studying her profile. She had heard many things about Andrew Cody through the years, and none of them were good. And now she was stuck with him for an indeterminate amount of time. It wasn’t the first time one of her teacher’s had assigned her to corral one of the rowdier boys in her class and it was unlikely to be the last. She was well familiar with the song and dance. From what she knew about Andrew he wasn’t the run of the mill school bully or class clown. He was worse in a way because he was unpredictable. He rarely attended class, either because he was suspended or playing hooky, and when he did he had a hair-trigger for a temper. Worst of all he was quiet, too quiet where you never quite knew what he was thinking or what bothered him. Tatiana just kept her eyes fixed straight ahead deciding it was best to pretend he wasn’t there.

Mr. Clark flipped the lights back on without warning and was met with groans and students rubbing their eyes. He ignored their protests and passed out worksheets with questions about the video. Tatiana began filling in the answers but paused when she felt the warmth of Andrew’s body heat as he leaned in closer to her.

“I need a pencil.” he said more like a command than a request.

Tatiana wasted no time in fishing one out of her pencil case and handing it to him. She doubted anyone would ever believe her if she mentioned it, but she swore she saw him smirk at the oversized rubber smiley face pencil topper when he took it. It was the first time she really looked at him and she couldn’t help but admire his freckled skin and his dimples that flashed briefly. She also noticed he had the prettiest hazel eyes. She must’ve been looking a little too long because his brows furrowed and his signature scowl appeared.

“What” he bit harshly

“Nothing sorry” she muttered in response.

Tatiana was less than focused for the remainder of class. She wasn’t sure what to make of the boy next to her. Being in close proximity with him made the stories that followed his name harder to believe. Not impossible or improbable, it was just hard to see him as scary. Intense sure but he seemed somewhat harmless, for lack of a better word.

“Alright, who wants to roll the TV back down to the library?” Mr Clark asked before sitting on the edge of his desk. “No volunteers? You get to leave class five minutes early”

Tatiana’s hand shot up. She really didn’t want to return it; she just needed air and some space.

“Okay it’s heavy so you’ll need a partner…” Farrah began rapidly shoving her things into her book bag eager to be reunited with her friend. “Miss Evans settle down, Mr. Cody will be accompanying Tatiana”

Once again Farrah shot Tatiana a look. Andrew silently and unceremoniously rose from his seat and the duo made their way down the hall.

Her escape plan backfired so Tatiana decided to attempt plan b, making small talk. However, Andrew didn’t seem like he’d be particularly interested in shooting the breeze about the weather, or homework, or gossip about their teachers, or really anything she could think of.

“Thanks… for the pencil” he said, voice a little less gruff than the first time she heard him speak

“You’re welcome… um do you prefer to be called Andrew or is Andy okay? Or maybe Drew”

He stopped in his tracks, hand steadying the TV cart from rolling. Once again glaring down at Tatiana “Andy is fine” he continued just looking at her, reading her.

Tatiana wasn’t sure what to do or say so she tried extending the olive branch a little further by offering up her nickname “you can call me Tati if you want, all my friends do.”

“Are we friends now?” he asked with a glint of humor in his voice

“We can be…” she mumbled. Once again faltering under his gaze, she found herself staring down at their feet.

Tatiana didn’t move a muscle until she heard the squeaky wheels of the cart rolling. Once they completed their task they went their separate ways.

Tatiana practically sprinted back down the hall needing to find Farrah before the bell rang.

“My poor baby,” Farrah sighed, pulling her into a hug.

“Why is it always me? How come they never stick you on babysitting duty” Tati pouted.

“One, I'm smart enough not to sit in the front of class all the time. And two, you’re too nice to complain.”

“Shut up” she rolled her eyes knowing it was the truth

“Shut up” Farrah parroted back in a mocking tone

Tatiana had a free period whilst her friends had other classes so she used the time to study. But during lunch they fell into their usual gossip, the day beginning to feel more normal. The cafeteria food was gross as usual, but they were rejuvenated from their time together.

Tati and Farrah walked into their chemistry class arms linked and smiles wide.

“Okay kiddos,” Miss Nelson clapped, getting the students’ attention. “It's a new marking period. Which means new seats and new lab partners.” Tatiana and Farrah wiped fake tears from their eyes and sniffled as they unlinked arms and found new seats. “Girls save the dramatics, you'll see each other later.”

“Teachers pet” Farrah snided, sticking her tongue out at her best friend who of course chose the lab table closest to the front.

Tatiana stuck her tongue out in response and started getting her belongings out of her book bag. She saw a familiar pair of shoes in front of her bag. She followed the legs up to be greeted by Andrew Cody in front of her for the second time that day.

“Is anyone sitting with you yet”

“Nope,” she patted the stool next to her “all yours”

Their science teacher got on with the lesson and before she knew it Tatiana felt someone tapping her with the end of their pencil. She reached back to take the note as subtly as possible.

“again??? are you kidding me” was scribbled in glittery blue ink with her best friend’s familiar handwriting.

Tatiana looked a few rows back to Farrah who was making a face that was a combination of disgust and disbelief.

Tati mouthed “it’s fine” before resuming her notes.

Miss Nelson was a little wacky, sort of like if you combined Bill Nye and Miss Frizzle, and she somehow made even the most complicated parts of the subject seem simple so her class never dragged on like the other periods.

“Alright I want last week’s homework before you leave and then you are free to go.”

Farrah made her way to the teacher’s desk and dropped her paper in the bin. She waited just outside the door expecting Tatiana to be on her heels as usual. Instead, she saw Tatiana get up to leave before being stopped by Andrew grabbing her wrist. They spoke for a moment before Tatiana finally left.

Farrah watched Andrew as he followed, of course not producing any homework. She waited until he was a distance away before speaking.

“So what’d he say? Did he like steal your lunch money? Or ask you to do his homework or something?”

“Nothing he was chill, he just was giving me my pencil back from earlier.”

“He was chill, what is he your new best friend or something? Are you two gonna go jump some nerds together later?”

“RE-LAX. Andy’s not that bad”

Farrah held the back of her hand against Tatiana’s forehead “ANDY?!?! Not that bad?! Are you getting a fever or just going insane”

“Fay, stop, he's not bothering me, it's fine.”

Farrah huffed and shook her head “Whatever Tati, your funeral”

“My funeral?”

“Yup.”

“Well tell my parents to bury me in those earrings I’m never giving back to you then.”

The rest of the week continued that way. Tatiana attempting to befriend Andrew and him barely humoring any conversation.

By Friday Tatiana was starting to take notice that he was strangely truant and punctual. From what she heard you were lucky to see Andrew Cody at school for more than five days in a month let alone in a row. Frankly she wasn’t sure how he wasn’t expelled. So Tatiana and Farrah were gobsmacked to walk into class and find him at his desk before any of the other students, hands folded and sitting straight as a board. His eyes were locked on Tati from the moment she was in the door frame until the moment she sat down. He said nothing to her, nor did he return her smile, he just watched her. Watched her as her conversation fizzled out and she pulled out one of her magazines and waited for the class to start.

“Why do you always read that crap?”

“Pardon” she squeaked

“10 ways to get him to notice you. Does he love you? Find out for sure. 1000 ways to make a man crazy” he listed deadpan.

She giggled in response “I know the headlines are goofy. But honestly I just buy these for the beauty tips.”

“You don’t need them” he said it more like he was pointing out the obvious than paying a compliment.

The bell sounding spared her from having to come up with a response.

She thought she was getting used to Andrew staring at her but she felt a heat that never left her face all class long.

“Don’t pack up yet we still have a few minutes,” Mr. Clark admonished, “as you know each semester there’s a research project. This term it will be a group project. Your seatmate will be your partner. If I see anything that indicates what’s turned in you will receive an F. Do I make myself clear?” Mr. Clark focused on Tatiana with the last sentence, he was giving her a warning.

“Yes Mr. Clark” the class groaned unanimously

“Good, I'll be assigning you topics next week. You may go” The kids scrambled wanting to be anywhere but stuck with the authoritarian for another second. “Tatiana, stay for a moment.”

“Just Tatiana,” he added, looking at Andrew and Farrah. They looked at each other awkwardly before leaving the room. Farrah was confused as to why Andrew seemed to be following her.

“Can I help you?” she eyed him suspiciously

“Tati’s locker is this way isn’t it”

“Yeah it’s next to mine…” she broke from his glare and began speeding up wanting to put some distance between them.

Meanwhile Tatiana was unsurprised by why Mr. Clark requested to speak with her. It started with the same you’re a good kid speech her teachers always gave when they were using her as a means to control their troublesome students.

“Listen Tatiana you’re a very smart girl. You have a bright future ahead of you. That Cody kid however, he probably doesn’t. He’s been behaving since I sat you two together but it won’t last. It never does with him. Don’t try to help him. Don’t try to save him. Just do your work. And if I catch you doing his I will fail you for my entire class do you understand?”

“Sir I don’t how see this is fair...”

“What, asking you not to participate in plagiarism?”

“That’s not what you’re asking me..”

“Then what am I asking for, you tell me.”

“I dunno… to”

“You dunno,” he interjected condescendingly.

“Mr. Clark I…” she stammered

“Listen if you can figure out what exactly you’re trying to say we can discuss it Monday. Have a good day” he gave her a disingenuous grin and gestured towards the door.

Tatiana sighed wearily, resigning to her fate. Her head was hung as she made her way to her locker only to find Andrew leaning against it waiting for her.

“What was that about?”

“Nothing”

“You’re not a good liar.” he replied simply. Before giving her room to switch out her books and binders.

“What days work best for you to work on the project?” she asked happy to have the metal door acting as a partition between them

“What do you mean?”

“Well I usually work after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and all day on the weekends. So Tuesday and Thursday are the best days for me but if that’s inconvenient for you we can figure something else out.” She took a deep breath before closing the locker and facing him, expecting him to be shooting daggers. Instead there was a softness in how he was looking at her, like he was surprised she was considering what he wanted.

“That’s fine”

“Tuesday and Thursday?”

He just nodded

“Okay we can meet in the library after last period, it stays open until 4:30. Oh but there’s no bus after…”

“That’s fine, I drive to school. I’ll drop you off at home.”

“That’s so sweet Andy, thank you” she put a hand on his shoulder but quickly removed it feeling his muscles tense, “I have to go but I’ll see you later in chemistry”

Tatiana recited the conversation to her friends during lunch.

“You’re gonna tell him where you live” Farrah asked in disbelief

“What he was being nice,”

“Yeah and I’m sure Hannibal Lecter seemed pretty cool before he started eating people” Fallon suggested

“Hey I thought you were the nice one”

“We take turns” the twins answered simultaneously

“Andrew is a twin too, right?” Tatiana asked

“Yeah Julia is his sister,” Fallon replied, pointing to a girl sitting near the exit, “she’s in a few of my classes. Barely shows up to school either and when she does she never talks.”

“She looks sweet,” Tatiana said, looking back at her one last time.

“Ugh, Fay’s right you need to be sent to the looney bin” Fallon growned

“Seriously you’re buggin’ why do you care so much about the Codys all of a sudden?” Farrah chimed in.

“Well Andrew’s not that bad so…”

“You don’t even know him,” Fallon sighed, “Look, all that stuff about him and his sister. They’re not rumors. It’s stuff people saw with their own eyes. We saw him beat someone up for looking at him too long freshman year. He’s bad news.”

“Nevermind”

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...Ready For It? - Andrew‘Pope’ Cody (Animal Kingdom)

GIF CREDIT: X

Author’s Note: So. Sometimes I like introducing my OCs... She’s the reader you’re used to. I just gave her her name back... So, without further ado, I would love to introduce you to Elaiyna. ❤

She was written for the show... And he’s distinctly based in the show. I did my best to change my original piece and give you some Movie!Andrew too. Because I like trying to write him like Ben... and also I like the mix...

Disclaimer: Animal Kingdom Characters/Plot not mine / Lyrics not mine - but my GOD do I love this song for Andrew!

Premise: After a potentially disastrous morning run in with a man who should be considered dangerous, Elaiyna soon realises that fate refuses to keep them separate... And that her thoughts are just as dangerous as he is...

Words:3023

Warnings: Questionable attempted uhh... theft? / Questionable feelings towards men who attempt... theft.

________

Knew he was a killer first time that I saw him Wonder how many girls he had loved and left haunted But if he's a ghost, then I can be a phantom Holdin' him for ransom Some, some boys are tryin' too hard He don't try at all, though I see nothing better, I keep him forever Like a vendetta-ta I-I-I see how this is gon' go Touch me and you'll never be alone I-Island breeze and lights down low No one has to know In the middle of the night, in my dreams You should see the things we do, baby In the middle of the night, in my dreams I know I'm gonna be with you So I take my time Are you ready for it? Knew I was a robber first time that he saw me Stealing hearts and running off and never saying sorry But if I'm a thief, then he can join the heist And we'll move to an island-and And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor Every love I’ve known in comparison is a failure I forget their names now, I'm so very tame now Never be the same now, now Baby, let the games begin Let the games begin Let the games begin... --- Elaiyna did as she did every other morning – walking from her silver Lamborghini Gallardo to the pay station for her office block. In the busy corporate building, her car wasn’t so out of the ordinary – lots of other high flyers decided to bring their expensive sports cars to work – it was just Elaiyna’s attracted attention because she did it all the time. Usually the other execs around did it for their weekend getaways – so they could drive too fast down the highway to the airport and drive right up to their private jet in style. Only, for the past week, she’d clearly been attracting the wrong king of attention, and it was making her nervous. Every time she’d gone up to pay for her ticket over the last four days there had always been a man watching her (seemingly inconspicuously) from the far wall. It wasn’t always the same guy – in fact every day it was someone new; she could tell that just by height and body type. Even if they did all insist in standing in the shadows in dark hoodies. It unnerved her slightly – Elaiyna could already tell they were watching HER specifically. They also weren’t supposed to have been spotted by her, but she was just too careful not to notice these things. (Also… when you had a brother in the police force… Who nagged her day in and day out about being careful…) This morning there was another one – she never knew where they came from or where they went. Only that they were there… and they hadn’t done anything to her. Yet. But it was only a matter of time. She was tense and, after a week, she’d had enough. Collecting her ticket Elaiyna sighed; “Look. Whatever you’re going to do, will you just do it already… 5 days you’ve been doing this and I refuse to believe you’re not all together…” she took another breath and turned around. To her surprise, staring at her across the lot was the same guy from the day previously. Dark hair, smart eyes, middle height, not unattractive. The youngest one she’d spotted looked no older than a teenager… and there was another that was much taller… But- “Oh. Did you run out of people? Either that or your rotation system has gone wrong. I thought for sure it was a different guy every day…” His head tilted; stance not giving off the same collected coolness his voice did, and it sent chills right through her. “True. This is the first time we’ve done something like this… I wanted to make sure we were being careful. Evidently I’m too late for that.” He pushed himself away from the wall and crossed to her, and for half a heartbeat Elaiyna thought he might follow up on her request. She tensed; pushing herself back into the machine. He stopped and hesitated at her motion, a respectful two foot gap between them. “This wasn’t my idea – and I don’t think it’s a particularly good one either… Much easier to hit a company than a single target. But no, overruled…” He was taller than her up close, but only by a few inches. His eyes gave away nothing – emotionless - and that sent another kind of shiver through her. No person she’d ever seen had eyes like that. Everything about him, from the way he held himself to the way he shifted, and way he spoke – told Elaiyna that he was calculating. Her eyes looked between his and a puzzled expression crossed her face; “Sorry… target?!” she thought she’d followed him correctly “…Why!? My car!?” “Car like that, you gotta have money…” “It’s about money?” The next look that crossed her face and her dark eyes he could associate with relief. “Yes…” he paused, “Though I could see why the presence of at least four males could make you think otherwise…” He took another step back, and then opted to continue his clarification; “I apologise… It never came up, but I’d never let it happen.” “Thanks!?!” Elaiyna offered, not quite sure what else to say. He shook his head; no problem… not worth thanking him. “So…uhm…” Her eyes flicked around the lot and back to his face as she stepped away from the ticket machine now digging uncomfortably into her back “…Now what? Do you take my money… my car… or-” It looked for a minute like he might laugh, but he didn’t; “No. Those idiots have turned this scouting into a mess... You’re too aware. Consider yourself, your car and your money safe. I’m calling it off. It’s too dangerous for you. It’s far too dangerous for us now. We’ll chalk it up as a loss.” He tilted his head at her again, an intrigued smile on his lips; “…That doesn’t happen often.” He took a few more steps back; “Congratulations…” before he turned and walked off, leaving her standing in the middle of the lot alone. And even though she was watching him, as they always did, he seemingly disappeared into nowhere. Elaiyna let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding and furrowed her eyebrows together. “…What-!?” *** “Oh my God…” It wasn’t as if Andrew had said it loud – it was the laugh in his voice that caught Baz’s attention. He hadn’t heard something like that from his best friend in a long while. “What’s up?” “Hang on…” Andrew pushed his chair back to leave “What!? Where are you going-!? Man- HEY!” He vaguely heard some of them call him back as he crossed the grass slope from the restaurant they were in and hopped onto the walkway. She was looking at her phone screen, exiting a restaurant across the walk from his. “Hey!” Elaiyna looked up at the sound of his voice, a voice she recognised but wasn’t sure she should be hearing every again. And of all the emotions that he read on her face when her eyes met his, fear wasn’t one of them. “Shoot-! Hey!” She stopped just short of him, and the smile on her face was genuine; then she laughed. And for a moment he was confused, because it felt like he should be in on the joke… but where was the joke? Why would she express happiness at seeing him? Heck, why had he walked over..? “-What? Stalking me here too now!?” “Uh… No. I’m just…. In that restaurant and saw you and…” Andrew gave a shrug “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” Was that it? He guessed so… “I’m fine…” Elaiyna still looked amused and that made him feel a little better “I wouldn’t have been, I guess. If you’d have pulled off your grand scheme.” She folded her arms. “Well. No hard feelings then.” “No! I didn’t mean it like that!” In the sunlight she looked so much better. Her hair was dark blonde and held a gentle curl, except in her fringe – which remained straight. Her eyes were brown, bright – and her personality was electric. It wouldn’t have surprised him if she was the kind of person that couldn’t sit still for too long. Even in heels she was shorter than him – and he wasn’t the tallest – it might not have been by much, but he’d take it. “And who’s that asshole?” She laughed again and turned as he indicated behind her; “He’s uh… he’s my fiancé.” “Fiancé!?” Andrew didn’t mean it to come out quite so surprised “Uh huh…” She turned back to him; “Why? Do I not look like the kind of girl that can hold down a man!?” “What. No, I just… didn’t notice.” And he noticed everything, Andrew was very careful like that and he’d told her such. But maybe he didn’t want to notice – he didn’t know which. Was that why it felt painful for her to even say the word? But he didn’t even know her name… “Look, I just wanted to check you were okay.” “I’m fine… I’m not driving to work in that car anymore, though! Just in case there are more people looking to do similar!” “That sounds like a good idea.” He gave a nod “I thought so.” “Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to your… Fiancé…” He said the word with distain as he glared into the back of the guy walking away. “Oh no, he’s actually leaving on a business trip.” “What!? And leaving you… Told you he was an asshole. I wouldn’t do that.” It came out before he knew he was saying it. But if Elaiyna registered it, she didn’t respond that way “Yeah…. I’ve done it enough…” she smiled again “That’s sweet. To ask if I’m okay, I mean… Thank you.” “Oh. Of course…” She smirked and turned on her heels “Maybe I’ll see you around, Andrew.” He froze. Andrew was going to respond with a similar statement, realised once more he didn’t know her name. AND he’d never told her his. “H-How’d you-!?” She stopped and turned, a teasing smile on her face; “You’re not the only one who can do research.” “…W…Well what’s your name!?” His voice wasn’t holding that collected calm pattern to it anymore, and Elaiyna had done that. She shook her head “Maybe you should have made that part of yours…” she took a breath “Orrrr… Maybe if I do see you around, you’ll find out then.” She walked a little further, then turned back to him again “I like it.” “What?” “Your name… Andrew. It suits you. It’s a nice name.” He watched her leave again, and realised to his horror that he was smiling after her. But with good reason; he’d never heard that before. *** Andrew couldn’t stop thinking about her, the girl who was supposed to be a target… the girl who’d told him she liked his name… the girl who was supposed to be marrying someone else. They were back on jobs since then, but he wanted to steer as clear as he could from the area he knew she worked in. Andrew could also take a good guess at where in the city she might spend her time. A woman with a car like that was clearly from a more affluent area… So he made sure to curb all of the boys within certain areas – Baz was the only one who noticed the pattern. If someone suggested somewhere outside of Andrew’s circle, he’d reign them back in – so Baz started suggesting places and watch Andrew turn and draw him back. If it was just outside the picture in his head that Baz was gathering, Andrew would deliberate on it for a little while – then either firmly say no or sigh gently and reluctantly agree. However, when Baz pressed for further information, because of course Andrew’s best friend knew something was up, all he got was an affronted man who was annoyed that Baz would have the nerve to question his methods. I thought we were a team-! Yeah… Pope, that’s my point! Are you kidding me-!? All I’m asking for is some trust. Trust? It's your silence I’m worried about, man. But that was just met with Andrew’s silent stare. But Baz knew behind that was the obvious; I know what I’m doing. Don’t question me. Elaiyna didn’t have nearly the same problem. But she had heeded his warning about her car – and only drove it around now if she needed to. She supposed that meant he was keeping her safe… And on occasion she would replay that conversation and smile. But the truth was, even though she could gather pieces of information on Andrew Cody, he was still a mystery to her. And a mystery she didn’t need to figure out. She already had Forde, and he was a good man. But every time she thought about him, she would catch herself smiling. And other people did too; “Thinking about the wedding?” “Huh?” far from it – actually thinking about the fact that tomorrow was the weekend, and you got to get the Gallardo out and didn’t have to worry about Cody safety. “You’re smiling – and like… that way-!” “Oh. Yeah…” and then Elaiyna would laugh, “…The wedding-!” And when she started noticing it, things only got worse. And before long she was sleeping with one man and dreaming about another entirely. It was those eyes of his… dangerous… but haunting, gorgeous… eyes she wanted on her… Eyes she shouldn’t want on her. She shouldn’t want him. Not like this… She shouldn’t even have been curious enough to have found his name. Let alone wonder what he would be like under her bedsheets… For the love of God, she had a ring on her finger…! The last thing in the world she should want was another man. Especially one she didn’t even know. *** Elaiyna didn’t exactly think that fate was conspiring against her. But she didn’t dare think it was trying to tell her something… Walking back to the office on one particular lunch break, when her group of work friends had gone to a gym class together Elaiyna had them all pause; “AH!” She halted and turned to the convenience store; “Hold on-! I forgot I needed something!” “To be honest, I could do with getting something myself…” that led to them all walking in – although Elaiyna promptly forgot what she was looking for. Oh my god… you’re… kidding. She shook her head with a gentle chuckle, and made her way cross the store to him. She couldn’t help but watch the way he walked, and concentrated on the aisles, running his eyes along the rows as he looked for the correct items. Andrew didn’t spot her watching him for a little while, which was unusual for someone who was always so alert. For someone so paranoid about his surroundings, the fact that feeling her watching him happened so late she was already talking to him, once again shocked Andrew into the realisation that Elaiyna made him feel safe. “…So, who is following who now?!” His eyes flicked straight to a voice he’d been longing to here for quite some time. If Elaiyna thought she could count the look on his Andrew’s face as a smile, she would. “…Is this even your part of town!? I wouldn’t assume you live here and you certainly don’t work over here!” “...Is it your part of town?” She didn’t give him the information that he might have been asking for; Elaiyna thought he might have been more of a mystery to her than she was to him. And she was curious. He tipped his head and his eyes narrowed, there was something calculating about that movement; “Oh, you want my address now!?” She gave a shrug, “No. I can get that the same way I got your name I’m sure.” “Heh...” He looked around the store for an indication that she could be alone, “And how did you do that, exactly?” “Women have to keep their secrets some times. Especially faced with such mysteries.” Her look was pointed. “Who, me?” he squinted “I’m the one that doesn’t know your name.” “Giving it to you seems a little… dangerous.” And there was something that flickered in his eyes that told her that was the right choice of words. But also made her heart skip, and she damned it for that. No doubt – Andrew Cody was dangerous. She couldn’t play a game here. It would end well for no one. Elaiyna continued to make small talk with him about literally nothing in particular. Something that would usually irk him, he had no time or prowess with the intricacies of how things worked at this point in friendships. If he could even call it that. But something about her was just so easy… And Andrew found himself answering her mundane questions just to keep her talking. To hear that voice for a little longer, the way she laughed, and watch the way she smiled when she talked, watched each little nuance of her features… To just feel safe, for a little bit longer. “Elaiyna!” A shout across the store made them both turn to a group of girls standing in the door way looking directly at them both. And then she answered; “I’ll just be a minute!!!” She didn’t quite catch Andrew’s smile of realisation; “Elaiyna...” he breathed it gently “that’s your name.” “Indeed it is, Andrew.” And he still liked the way she called him that. “...It’s a nice name. I like it.” Elaiyna realised straight away what he had done – that Andrew was repeating her sentiments for his own name. She couldn’t do anything but smile at that; “Well.” There was a hesitant pause, and the smile on her face turned teasing, as those playful brown eyes narrowed at him; “Now we know each other’s names... what is it next - phone numbers?” That wasn’t exactly what he was expecting, and his hesitation for once wasn’t caution, but for lack of knowing what to say next - “...I...” Elaiyna gave him a wink, not expecting him to just answer her. And by the type of man she presumed he was, also not expecting Andrew to pull out his phone and hand it over in enthusiastic agreement. Elaiyna also knew that she wouldn’t be able to hold off her friends, and eventually one would wander over and start asking questions that she didn’t want to answer. And Andrew wouldn’t like. “Guess we might just be destined to run into each other, Andrew... so… I’ll see you around...” This time when she put that edge on his voice his skin prickled, and Andrew’s heart leapt in worry. What was that-!? But he found himself responding anyway, “You too, Elaiyna.” She turns back with a giggle, and sweet smile “Well, I should have told you sooner...” and a gentle blush that he couldn’t fathom. Why give him something like that? Elaiyna was a woman with a fiancé, but she knew then exactly what Andrew Cody was doing to her, even if he couldn’t quite realise it himself - “I sure like how you say it...”

---

@dennismitchell @happyskywhale @wltz-bby​ @3134045126​ #MendoTagSquad.

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Lost Boys Part 2

Pope Cody x OC x Baz Blackwell CW: grief, drinking, drugs, canon typical violence, slow burn, potential love triangle, heavily inspired by canon but not accurate Please comment and reblog <3

"So, Mrs. Du-"

"Ms," Natalia corrected. "And it's Reed."

"Oh, sorry. I thought you-"

"Widow," Natalia cut off the interviewer once again, making herself internally wince. She attempted to relax into her chair. The residual energy from last night's nightmare was making her off her game. She played it off with a sad smile, fiddling with her ring finger to feign nervousness.

The older woman, Connie, caught the movement immediately, her eyes growing sad. She lowered her reading glasses and nodded with understanding.

"I went back to my maiden name after my first husband. I understand the appeal of wanting to grasp onto normalcy."

Natalia remained quiet with a simple, polite smile.

The reading glasses went back up during the silence.

"So, then, Ms. Reed. Tell me something about yourself that's not on your resume."

Natalia's eyes squinted with a practiced glint in her eye. Her voice barely sounded like her own as she rambled on about going to museums and painting on weekends. The charming small talk was simply a game to her, an easy one.

"A move from New York is quite a big one," Connie commented. Natalia shrugged.

"Felt like coming back home was the right thing to do."

"And where are you living now exactly? You left that blank."

There was small pinch in Natalia's chest.

"I am still working on that. I am currently staying at hotel in Morro Hills."

"So, no permanent address then?"

Natalia responded with a headshake. She had the money, the resources. But anytime she found a place where they accepted her cash and didn't ask too many questions, the pen froze in her hand and the nightmares would get worse.

"Any friends or family that could be of help?"

"No, it's just me."

Connie gave a heavy sigh and removed her glasses once again. Natalia's heart sank as they settled on the table.

"Well, Ms. Reed you seem like a woman who appreciates directness so I am going to do just that. Your resume is quite skim-"

"I was an art dealer for over 5 years-"

"Yes, for your husband's private firm."

Nat began with a light chuckle, but was cut off by Connie raising her resume.

"With a very large gap before that. You have no experience, no permanent address. Ms. Reed, I feel for you. I really do. But perhaps you should take some time, gain some more experience, and then come back to see us."

Natalia felt her mouth fill with iron. The inside of her lip fitted between her teeth tightly, hidden behind a tight smile.

"Thank you for your time."

"Ms. Reed, your resume--"

"Keep it."

---

An idiot. A moron. A batshit, crazy woman.

All things applied to Natalia as she stood across the street from The Drop.

Cars whizzed past her, some honking as she stood next to the stop sign as they thought she was trying to cross. She had been trying to decide for the past 12 minutes.

Her phone buzzed in her tightly clutched hand for the third time today. Not a blocked number, but still a number she didn't recognize except for when they called her earlier this week. They had left a couple of voicemails but she listened to neither.

It had been a couple hours since she had stormed out of the office building.

No experience. Natalia scoffed.

Her heels clacked against the sidewalk, the sound a metronome to her racing thoughts.

How much experience did you need to be an office clerk?

Eventually the rhythmic clacking had slowed. Her feet were stinging. Surely there were blisters forming around her ankles. Not the shoes' fault. They weren't meant for the miles she stomped across town which landed her here, watching surfers casually file into the bar.

Nat doesn't remember when her body made the decision to arrive here, because it certainly wasn't her brain.

It was a magnet that finally pulled her across the street. A compass was leading to her something not unlike comfort. She had no home to go. The hotel would only greet her with suffocating anxiety.

Her skin itched in anticipation. The feeling, although not comfortable, was welcomed in comparison to what she had been feeling the past month. With each step, adrenaline fueled her and she grasped onto it like a lifeline. Anything other than dread, the ache of loneliness.

Seeing a Cody was the match she needed.

The dive bar was busier than it was a couple days ago, happy hour reaching it's peak. Nat slid in against the bar as a group of rowdy twenty year old's moved away. Deran was flighting about, alone behind the bar and practically throwing beers at customers. Nat watched him for a bit, trying to match him with the small child she used to know. The long blonde hair was still wild. His eyes were more sad, his shoulders heavier. A long sigh left him as he finally passed off the last drink, his eyes doing a double take when he met Nat's.

"I'm not sure if you remem--"

"Hey, you're back--"

Both of them chuckled, Deran's hand going to the back of his neck.

"What can I get you?"

"I was actually hoping to talk with you."

"Oh. Ok, sure," he responded with a hint of confusion.

Nat's phone began to vibrate across the bar top, the same number flashing across the screen. She quickly caught it, sending it to voicemail and making a mental note to block it later. Deran had taken the distraction to serve a couple that approached.

When he appeared again, he was pouring whiskey shots and leaning closer.

"Is it about the job? Because I had to fire my other guy and I could honestly use the help."

"Um, sort of. I have to tell you something first," Nat said, having to lean in to shout over the music and growing crowd. A large group all adorning sunburns burst the doors, laughing and calling out to friends.

"You got a record?"

"No, but--"

The phone buzzed again, making Nat groan aloud.

"Take it. I'm drowning a bit here. We'll talk later."

"Deran, wait-" but he was already on the other side of the bar.

Natalia huffed, the phone still buzzing until she forcefully brought it to her ear.

"What?"

"Hello, may I speak with Natalia Reed, please?"

"Who is this?" Natalia practically growled.

"My name is Morgan Wilson. I apologize for all of the calls, Miss Reed, but my client has been very eager to reach you."

"And who the hell is your client?"

"I represent Janine Cody, but I believe you know her, as most people do, as Smurf."

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