Candy Bar Crunch #17, Chocolate #2, Strawberry #8 and #26, Strawberry Banana #2, #28 and #12
Author: askingxalice
Title: Teenagers
Summary: There’s supposed to be love between siblings?
Story: Second Genesis
Timeline: May 2032 - Faith is 16, Penn is 19.
Challenge: Strawberry Banana #2 (inside joke), Chocolate #2 (rivalry),
Word Count: 153
Rating: PG-13
“What goddamn bastard took the last fucking root beer!?”
Penn didn’t bother answering the question. He had lived with (and tolerated) Faith since he was three years old, and he knew that when she yelled something up the stairs loud enough for the neighbors to hear, it was usually a completely rhetorical question. Instead, he turned to throw the soda can into the recycling bin next to his computer desk. Barely a moment later, footsteps pounded up the stairs.
“PENN!” Faith slammed the bedroom door open so hard that it bounced off the wall, and Penn had a moment of amusement as the doorknob nearly caught her in the stomach on the rebound. “Why’d you steal the last root beer?”
“...Because you’re adopted.”
“Well, your mom, assface.” She stepped forward and swiped the near empty pack of cigarettes from the edge of his computer desk. “Just for that, I’m stealing your fucking c-sticks.”
Author: askingxalice
Title: Lost Horizons
Summary: Zachery isn’t exactly jealous of his brother. Not exactly.
Story: Phase
Timeline: September 2011 - Zachery is 29.
Challenge:Strawberry #8 (signpost), Strawberry Banana #28 (procrastination)
Topping:Rainbow Sprinkles
Extra: Banana
Word Count: 385
Rating: G
It’s not that Zachery disagreed with the choices his brother had made. If he saw any use for relationships and marriages and children, he would have been in the same boat. Maybe not as far up river, since he really doubted he would have knocked his wife up as soon as they were married, but that’s really not his place to judge, is it?
Much, at least. Damian is still his twin, after all, so he does have some small right to judge the way things have happened.
Then again, Damian seemed to get what little social grace their parents had passed onto them, so it wasn’t very surprising when Damian (finally) noticed Sunset. Zachery, on the other hand, had gotten the brains in the family. (Sunset had often brought this up in quite a few arguments when Damian had said or done something extremely daft. It amused him to no end.) So while Damian went right ahead with growing into the ‘family man’ role, Zachery had slowly become ‘that weird man who lives in the basement that we might as well call Uncle’.
It was highly doubtful Uncle Zach would ever follow in his brother’s footsteps. Relationship? Possibly. Marriage? Maybe. Kids? Well, that would completely depend on if the mother was someone worth procreating with. So, he’d put up with Sunset’s subtle hints about a few of her coworkers being single, until he decided if he even wanted to bother with trying it or not. Until then, he’d just have to try and get used to dealing with the one mother and kid he already had in his life.
The kid that apparently insisted on taping crayon colored signs to his door. He was convinced that Damian was putting her up to that, though his brother could have least made sure Julia spelled and wrote her letters correctly. Honestly, it was like they wanted her to grow up with a half assed education. Still, he peeled the piece of paper off the door, careful not to tear it where the tape was stubborn. Once he was safely in his room and away from prying eyes, the sign was tucked away in the folder that not even his brother knew about, the one that held all of the other mementos Julia had drawn him.
Author: askingxalice
Title: Stranger in a Strange Land
Summary: How Oz and Jakob ‘met’.
Story: Phase
Timeline: March 2002 - Oz and Jakob are 16.
Challenge: Strawberry #26 (rug), Strawberry Banana #12 (backrub), Candy Bar Crunch #17 (out of my hair)
Topping: Whipped cream
Word Count: 1,341
Rating: PG-13
The first few moments after waking were groggy. As Jakob rolled over, his stomach twisted and he stilled for fear of upsetting it. The vague headache that had formed behind his eyes made him reluctant to open them, but he did as his stomach seemed to calm. Immediately, he knew something was off and wondered why he hadn’t noticed before. His bed at home was not this big, nor was it near this well-furnished and comfortable. And even in his own bed, he usually didn’t wake up completely naked.
Trying to fight down a bit of panic, Jakob quickly remembered the previous night’s events. He had gone to a party, though it wasn’t exactly a willing attendance. He knew well enough how out of control one of Oz Delaney’s parties could get - the boy had been rumored to say that he didn’t give a shite what was damaged, as long as the main structure of the house was still standing once his parents came home from where ever they had travelled. Jakob couldn’t remember meeting the host, though he had spotted a few times as the party continued. Really, he had only meant to stay as long as was polite before leaving, but he must have had too much to drink... After a certain point in time, he didn’t even remember anything.
A flush of shame went through him, and he sat up as quickly as he rebelling body would allow. His gaze cast around the room, surprised to find that it didn’t look to be any sort of guest room. It actually looked lived in, and somewhat messily at that. The other side of the bed was tousled as well, and Jakob felt a small bit of shame recede as he found it was still warm. Well... If whoever it was stayed the night, then it must have at least been a little more than sex. He could hope, after all.
After another moment of making sure his insides would stay where they were if he moved around, Jakob stood and began to pick his clothes off of the many rugs that lay around the room. Personal taste, or just a dislike for how cold the hardwood floors were in the morning? He’d probably never find out. Quickly, he dressed before making his way out of the bedroom where he hoped he would have enough luck to leave without anyone noticing. Of course, his luck wasn’t good enough to allow such things.
Peeking into each room as he passed, Jakob quickly got the feeling that there was more to this extravagant house than he had first thought. So far, he had come across a rather ornate bathroom, a small study/office, a room that he could only describe as a foyer, and... a kitchen? Well, it was somewhat small, considering the rest of the house, but still top of the line. It was like a private little house on one floor. How odd...
“I never would have pictured you as a snoop.”
Jakob jumped as the words reached him, and quickly turned to find aforementioned Oz Delaney tucked into what could only be called a breakfast nook, dressed in only a pair of jeans and a nearly finished apple in one hand. “I was, just, um... looking for the front door.” Jakob squeaked, his mortification quickly rising. Oh, God, please don’t let him have had a one night stand with Oz Delaney, of all people. There’d be no hushing that up.
“That would be downstairs. Considering the stairs were two doors before this, I can’t imagine you didn’t see them.” Oz answered, his eyes sparkling with amusement and mischief. “Coffee should be done soon, if you want any before you head out. Feel free to take a seat.”
After a long moment without Jakob moving or making a sound, Oz sighed. “Right, then.” He walked past the shocked blonde to throw his apple core into the garbage and leaned against one of the kitchen counters. “Might as well starting asking questions, once you find your voice.”
That took a moment more, though Jakob did take a few steps into the kitchen in that small amount of time. “So what, um... happened? I was pretty drunk, so I don’t exactly remember... Do you...”
“Fuck if I know. I’ve got a feeling I was just as wasted as you were. I don’t even remember starting anything. I just saw you as you came in, and that was the last I remember of you until this morning. Considering how drunk we both were, I’m surprised we even remember each other’s name.”
Jakob had a feeling that he should find that offensive for some reason, but Oz’s matter of fact tone kept the words from having any sting. “Well... how can we even be sure that we - did anything?” He asked, still rather mortified to even be in this situation.
Oz shot him a look that plainly said that Jakob couldn’t possibly be serious before he answered. “Do you honestly think you’d wake up naked in my bedroom, in my personal suite after a night where we were both completely kaylied without us having sex? Doubt we were giving each other backrubs all night long.” He dryly remarked, pouring two cups of coffee as it finished dripping. One was pushed towards Jakob, along with two small containers of cream and sugar “Besides, I saw you wince a bit when you walked in, before you noticed I was here. Sorry about that. I tend to get a bit rougher than I should when I’m not completely sober.”
Jakob blushed so brightly and rapidly that he nearly felt lightheaded with it, and couldn’t bring himself to look at Oz, much less answer him for a few moments. He wasn’t exactly going to deny what Oz said, though he certainly wasn’t about to admit to the small aches and pains that made themselves present with each step... or the deeply satisfied feeling that Jakob knew would have only come from one thing. Silently, he reached out to accept the cup of coffee and prepared it how he liked with a shaky hand.
Silently and intently, Oz watched him throughout this, his own coffee yet to be touched. As Jakob finally looked back at him, Oz offered a smile that he hoped would at least calm the other male down, if only a little bit. “Look, I’m not about to go spreading anything around if the other party doesn’t want it known. If you want it to have never happened, then it never happened. We’ll just say you got drunk and passed out in one of the guest rooms. How’s that sound?”
“Alright... I guess. I don’t know.” Jakob shrugged, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t really - I’m not a one night stand kind of guy. I mean - I’ve never just had sex with anyone before, and then left it at just that.”
“...So, you want to start dating?”
“No! I mean... I don’t know.” Slumping into one of the chairs surrounding the island, Jakob ignored his coffee, face buried in his hands. His next words were muffled. “It’s not like I’m the kind of guy most people would want to date, anyway. Especially guys like you.”
There was a silence before footsteps approached him, and Jakob was shocked to feel a hand lightly thread through his hair and (as gently as it could be done) pull his head away from his hands. Before he could completely register the fact that Oz Delaney (Perhaps, one day, he should stop thinking of him with his first and last name.) was fisting a hand in his hair, Jakob was shocked to his core as he was kissed with such a passion that it made his head spin.
He fell back in his seat panting once Oz released him, and he could only stare in a wide-eyed daze.
“Don’t underestimate yourself, Heiderich.” Oz only grinned, before turning to head towards the refrigerator. “So. How’s pancakes sound?”
Title: Teenagers
Summary: There’s supposed to be love between siblings?
Story: Second Genesis
Timeline: May 2032 - Faith is 16, Penn is 19.
Challenge: Strawberry Banana #2 (inside joke), Chocolate #2 (rivalry),
Word Count: 153
Rating: PG-13
“What goddamn bastard took the last fucking root beer!?”
Penn didn’t bother answering the question. He had lived with (and tolerated) Faith since he was three years old, and he knew that when she yelled something up the stairs loud enough for the neighbors to hear, it was usually a completely rhetorical question. Instead, he turned to throw the soda can into the recycling bin next to his computer desk. Barely a moment later, footsteps pounded up the stairs.
“PENN!” Faith slammed the bedroom door open so hard that it bounced off the wall, and Penn had a moment of amusement as the doorknob nearly caught her in the stomach on the rebound. “Why’d you steal the last root beer?”
“...Because you’re adopted.”
“Well, your mom, assface.” She stepped forward and swiped the near empty pack of cigarettes from the edge of his computer desk. “Just for that, I’m stealing your fucking c-sticks.”
Author: askingxalice
Title: Lost Horizons
Summary: Zachery isn’t exactly jealous of his brother. Not exactly.
Story: Phase
Timeline: September 2011 - Zachery is 29.
Challenge:Strawberry #8 (signpost), Strawberry Banana #28 (procrastination)
Topping:Rainbow Sprinkles
Extra: Banana
Word Count: 385
Rating: G
It’s not that Zachery disagreed with the choices his brother had made. If he saw any use for relationships and marriages and children, he would have been in the same boat. Maybe not as far up river, since he really doubted he would have knocked his wife up as soon as they were married, but that’s really not his place to judge, is it?
Much, at least. Damian is still his twin, after all, so he does have some small right to judge the way things have happened.
Then again, Damian seemed to get what little social grace their parents had passed onto them, so it wasn’t very surprising when Damian (finally) noticed Sunset. Zachery, on the other hand, had gotten the brains in the family. (Sunset had often brought this up in quite a few arguments when Damian had said or done something extremely daft. It amused him to no end.) So while Damian went right ahead with growing into the ‘family man’ role, Zachery had slowly become ‘that weird man who lives in the basement that we might as well call Uncle’.
It was highly doubtful Uncle Zach would ever follow in his brother’s footsteps. Relationship? Possibly. Marriage? Maybe. Kids? Well, that would completely depend on if the mother was someone worth procreating with. So, he’d put up with Sunset’s subtle hints about a few of her coworkers being single, until he decided if he even wanted to bother with trying it or not. Until then, he’d just have to try and get used to dealing with the one mother and kid he already had in his life.
The kid that apparently insisted on taping crayon colored signs to his door. He was convinced that Damian was putting her up to that, though his brother could have least made sure Julia spelled and wrote her letters correctly. Honestly, it was like they wanted her to grow up with a half assed education. Still, he peeled the piece of paper off the door, careful not to tear it where the tape was stubborn. Once he was safely in his room and away from prying eyes, the sign was tucked away in the folder that not even his brother knew about, the one that held all of the other mementos Julia had drawn him.
Author: askingxalice
Title: Stranger in a Strange Land
Summary: How Oz and Jakob ‘met’.
Story: Phase
Timeline: March 2002 - Oz and Jakob are 16.
Challenge: Strawberry #26 (rug), Strawberry Banana #12 (backrub), Candy Bar Crunch #17 (out of my hair)
Topping: Whipped cream
Word Count: 1,341
Rating: PG-13
The first few moments after waking were groggy. As Jakob rolled over, his stomach twisted and he stilled for fear of upsetting it. The vague headache that had formed behind his eyes made him reluctant to open them, but he did as his stomach seemed to calm. Immediately, he knew something was off and wondered why he hadn’t noticed before. His bed at home was not this big, nor was it near this well-furnished and comfortable. And even in his own bed, he usually didn’t wake up completely naked.
Trying to fight down a bit of panic, Jakob quickly remembered the previous night’s events. He had gone to a party, though it wasn’t exactly a willing attendance. He knew well enough how out of control one of Oz Delaney’s parties could get - the boy had been rumored to say that he didn’t give a shite what was damaged, as long as the main structure of the house was still standing once his parents came home from where ever they had travelled. Jakob couldn’t remember meeting the host, though he had spotted a few times as the party continued. Really, he had only meant to stay as long as was polite before leaving, but he must have had too much to drink... After a certain point in time, he didn’t even remember anything.
A flush of shame went through him, and he sat up as quickly as he rebelling body would allow. His gaze cast around the room, surprised to find that it didn’t look to be any sort of guest room. It actually looked lived in, and somewhat messily at that. The other side of the bed was tousled as well, and Jakob felt a small bit of shame recede as he found it was still warm. Well... If whoever it was stayed the night, then it must have at least been a little more than sex. He could hope, after all.
After another moment of making sure his insides would stay where they were if he moved around, Jakob stood and began to pick his clothes off of the many rugs that lay around the room. Personal taste, or just a dislike for how cold the hardwood floors were in the morning? He’d probably never find out. Quickly, he dressed before making his way out of the bedroom where he hoped he would have enough luck to leave without anyone noticing. Of course, his luck wasn’t good enough to allow such things.
Peeking into each room as he passed, Jakob quickly got the feeling that there was more to this extravagant house than he had first thought. So far, he had come across a rather ornate bathroom, a small study/office, a room that he could only describe as a foyer, and... a kitchen? Well, it was somewhat small, considering the rest of the house, but still top of the line. It was like a private little house on one floor. How odd...
“I never would have pictured you as a snoop.”
Jakob jumped as the words reached him, and quickly turned to find aforementioned Oz Delaney tucked into what could only be called a breakfast nook, dressed in only a pair of jeans and a nearly finished apple in one hand. “I was, just, um... looking for the front door.” Jakob squeaked, his mortification quickly rising. Oh, God, please don’t let him have had a one night stand with Oz Delaney, of all people. There’d be no hushing that up.
“That would be downstairs. Considering the stairs were two doors before this, I can’t imagine you didn’t see them.” Oz answered, his eyes sparkling with amusement and mischief. “Coffee should be done soon, if you want any before you head out. Feel free to take a seat.”
After a long moment without Jakob moving or making a sound, Oz sighed. “Right, then.” He walked past the shocked blonde to throw his apple core into the garbage and leaned against one of the kitchen counters. “Might as well starting asking questions, once you find your voice.”
That took a moment more, though Jakob did take a few steps into the kitchen in that small amount of time. “So what, um... happened? I was pretty drunk, so I don’t exactly remember... Do you...”
“Fuck if I know. I’ve got a feeling I was just as wasted as you were. I don’t even remember starting anything. I just saw you as you came in, and that was the last I remember of you until this morning. Considering how drunk we both were, I’m surprised we even remember each other’s name.”
Jakob had a feeling that he should find that offensive for some reason, but Oz’s matter of fact tone kept the words from having any sting. “Well... how can we even be sure that we - did anything?” He asked, still rather mortified to even be in this situation.
Oz shot him a look that plainly said that Jakob couldn’t possibly be serious before he answered. “Do you honestly think you’d wake up naked in my bedroom, in my personal suite after a night where we were both completely kaylied without us having sex? Doubt we were giving each other backrubs all night long.” He dryly remarked, pouring two cups of coffee as it finished dripping. One was pushed towards Jakob, along with two small containers of cream and sugar “Besides, I saw you wince a bit when you walked in, before you noticed I was here. Sorry about that. I tend to get a bit rougher than I should when I’m not completely sober.”
Jakob blushed so brightly and rapidly that he nearly felt lightheaded with it, and couldn’t bring himself to look at Oz, much less answer him for a few moments. He wasn’t exactly going to deny what Oz said, though he certainly wasn’t about to admit to the small aches and pains that made themselves present with each step... or the deeply satisfied feeling that Jakob knew would have only come from one thing. Silently, he reached out to accept the cup of coffee and prepared it how he liked with a shaky hand.
Silently and intently, Oz watched him throughout this, his own coffee yet to be touched. As Jakob finally looked back at him, Oz offered a smile that he hoped would at least calm the other male down, if only a little bit. “Look, I’m not about to go spreading anything around if the other party doesn’t want it known. If you want it to have never happened, then it never happened. We’ll just say you got drunk and passed out in one of the guest rooms. How’s that sound?”
“Alright... I guess. I don’t know.” Jakob shrugged, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t really - I’m not a one night stand kind of guy. I mean - I’ve never just had sex with anyone before, and then left it at just that.”
“...So, you want to start dating?”
“No! I mean... I don’t know.” Slumping into one of the chairs surrounding the island, Jakob ignored his coffee, face buried in his hands. His next words were muffled. “It’s not like I’m the kind of guy most people would want to date, anyway. Especially guys like you.”
There was a silence before footsteps approached him, and Jakob was shocked to feel a hand lightly thread through his hair and (as gently as it could be done) pull his head away from his hands. Before he could completely register the fact that Oz Delaney (Perhaps, one day, he should stop thinking of him with his first and last name.) was fisting a hand in his hair, Jakob was shocked to his core as he was kissed with such a passion that it made his head spin.
He fell back in his seat panting once Oz released him, and he could only stare in a wide-eyed daze.
“Don’t underestimate yourself, Heiderich.” Oz only grinned, before turning to head towards the refrigerator. “So. How’s pancakes sound?”