Images for my part of the #omgcpbigbang with @alocalband !! (At least, if I have all my notes right. I’m…pretty tired.) Go read their fic! I will link it soon, after I see it posted and get a connection. I’m traveling a lot today.
Eric’s mark settles on his first day at Samwell. In his excitement, he doesn’t even notice until he gets back to the dorms late at night. He freezes when he sees it, heart hammering in his chest as he takes in the sight of that still, clear mark on his skin.
He’s been waiting for this day, like all people do. For years, he has been watching his mark shift and change, willing it to settle down with every new person he met. But even so, he just didn’t expect it to happen now – day one of college and he’s already met his soulmate. Eric swoons, falls down on his bed and studies the Soulmark on his wrist.
It doesn’t give much away – it’s a one in simple, clean lines like something he might find on the back of an athlete’s jersey. It makes something in his chest hurt when he thinks about the hockey team he’s about to join and all the other athletes he’s met today (maybe, he thinks, just maybe). Of all the things he’s imagined his mark may settle as, it’s far from anything he’s ever dreamed of.
Summary: Confidant, mentor, friend, brother/sister – some text conversations between Jack and Lardo. Also on AO3…
For @jack-manpain-zimmermann who submitted this prompt: Surprise confidant and mentor to Lardo: Jack. Lardo texts him that she needs a “boost”. These are sessions where Jack puts on his captain voice but as a way to help Lardo out of her Creative Person apathy toward life when it creeps up on her… Everyone else thinks it’s weird but that’s just their friendship.
(That I’m sure probably already exists somewhere, but it’s still a fun idea.)
Jack and Bitty meet a few years later, in whatever setting. Jack is being his awarkdly-flirty NHL self, and says something to the effect of “I’d really like to take you skating, and you don’t have to worry if you’ve never skated before, I’m really good with beginners, I help coach kids classes all the time.”
And Bitty cannot possibly pass up an opportunity to be King Troll, so he plays it cool and agrees.
They go skating, and Bitty shows up with his figure skates, telling Jack he borrowed skates from a friend, and Jack’s a little confused because they fit Suspiciously Well for borrowed skates, but Bitty does a convincing Bambi on Ice impression, so he quickly forgets about it.
20 minutes later, after lots of handholding and leaning his entire body up against Jack (he’s sweet and warm and snuggly, ok?), Bitty finally goes, “Ok, I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna make a full lap without needing help or falling!” Jack is a little worried, but he encourages Bitty anyway.
And Bitty just… takes off.
Two laps of the rink, back to back jumps, and a fancy spin later, Bitty stops a few feet from Jack, who is staring in slack-jawed awe at this little spitfire.
Bitty smiles sweetly, and reaches out to touch the tip of Jack’s nose with one finger. “Tag, you’re it!” And then he takes off again. Jack can’t do anything but laugh and try to catch him.
Once Bitty is laughing hard enough to slow down and let Jack catch up, Jack wraps him up in a hug, and stutters through trying to ask, “Where did you… How… What was that?!?”
“Did I forget to mention I’ve been skating since I was 7? I’ve got a couple figure skating medals, but I switched to hockey in the middle of high school and played all through college, so if you wanna break out a couple sticks, I can grab my hockey skates too. Might be fun! Oooh! Or I could teach you a spin if you want?”
And that is the story of how Jack fell in love with his sweet southern troll.
Summary: What a treat to be allowed into his world; to see all of the private idiosyncrasies, all the quirks and special things that make a person who they are. Bitty learns a little bit more of Jack’s home life and the little things that make Jack, Jack. Set in August, after Madison. Also on AO3…
“Who shall say I am not the happy genius of my household?” – Danse Russe, William Carlos Williams
“I’m so glad you’re here, Bits,” Jack said the second they walked into the apartment.
Jack closed the door and looked at Bitty with shyness brimming in his eyes as he gingerly stroked Bitty’s forearm. Bitty dropped his bag and launched himself into Jack’s arms, as Jack laughed and pressed a million kisses onto his lips.
+++
Bitty stretched out on the bed and emitted a bone-deep sigh. He couldn’t recall when he’d ever felt that relaxed or fulfilled. Had he ever? Jack certainly did his part to help. Lord.
Jack entered the bedroom, shower-fresh and damp, in nothing but pajama pants and towel dried his hair. He looked at Bitty with a glowing smile and sat on the bed next to him. He leaned down and kissed him gently on the lips–his eyes fluttered shut as he did. Goodness, how Bitty loved him.
“You can put your toothbrush in the holder, and I’ll bring you a couple towels fresh from the dryer. They should still be warm when you finish.”
“You just did laundry?” Bitty asked as he sat up in the bed.
“What? Oh, no. I just like to throw my towels in the dryer before I shower so they’re nice and warm when I get out.”
“Oh, okay. That’s a good idea, honey,” Bitty said with a tiny smile as he got out bed.
theproblemwithstardust 