anchor-bird-94

you're my first heartache i guess (inspired by rivers and roads by @cvldbones!!)

@kingdonmicrofic | july 26 | prompt: whimsy | 429 words

Now

“Poor Langdon, having to get ready with a group of girls. Is that why he’s been hiding?”

Yolanda cackled at Samira’s words as she adjusted the straps of her silver dress. “No, it’s good for him. He was so grumpy for so long.” She grinned at Mel. Yolanda kind of confused her, but she obviously cared about Frank, and she was happy they were friends. “He needed some joy and whimsy in his life.”

“So did Mel,” Samira added. She pinned another curl to the back of her head, winking at Mel.

day twenty-five: overwhelm, 499 words @kingdonmicrofic

Frank is the only one who notices when she leaves the bar, so he makes up an excuse about needing air and follows her.

She’s leaning against the building, right near the window, and she lets out a breath when she sees him, mumbling something he doesn’t hear.

“You OK?”

“No.”

That worries him, expecting her to pretend she’s fine even though he knows when she’s upset, so he gets closer, standing right in front of her.

“What’s wrong? Do you need to go home? I can drive you,” he says. “I don’t really want to be here anyway, I like it better when it’s just us.”

She takes a breath and says, “I think we need a bit of space.”

He puts a hand on his chest over his heart, and jokingly says, “Are you breaking up with me?”

She doesn’t laugh, though, not getting the joke or not thinking he’s funny.

“We should focus on work because you’re going to be an attending and I’m starting my last year of residency. It’ll be easier if we don’t have to make time for each other outside of the hospital.“

“Mel, what’s going on?”

He knows that it’s hard for her to let someone in, but he thought he was different.

“It’s too much, you’re always there, even when you shouldn’t be. It’s confusing, you overwhelm me and I can’t fucking take it.”

He flinches at her tone, chest tight with unease, scared that she knows he’s into her.

“Oh, sorry, I just — I’ll do whatever you want, you deserve that. But I’ll always be here for you, whenever you need it.”

“Do you not realize what you’re doing? God, Frank,” she says, hands clenching. “You’re somebody else’s husband.”

It’s like being struck by lightning.

“So, that’s what this is really about?”

Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out, and that’s all he needs to know.

“What if I wasn’t somebody’s husband?”

She gasps, and he steps closer, says, “I’ll leave her tomorrow, and be there to pay attention to you, love you, take care of you. That’s what you want, right?”

He’s in her orbit now, or maybe she’s caught in his, it’s hard to tell.

She puts her hands on his chest, gripping his shirt, and he holds onto her hips, pulling her closer.

“Frank,” she whispers.

He dips his head down slowly, and she looks up at him, eyes wide, but he doesn’t kiss her, moving at the last moment to press his lips to the corner of her mouth, then along her jawline.

She’s breathing heavy, chest brushing against his body, and he smirks, kissing just below her ear.

“Does this overwhelm you, too?”

“Yes,” she whispers. “Frank, please.”

And then he kisses her, brushing his lips against hers as they stand on the sidewalk, their coworkers too drunk to notice that they’re gone.

For all my flaws, paranoia, and insecurities

I’ve made mistakes, and made some choices that’s hard to deny

After the storm…

@kingdonmicrofic | 500 words | Rated T for implied sexual content | Read on ao3 | Previous installments here

“Mel, honey, we’re here.”

Frank gently roused his sleeping wife in the passenger seat. Though she’d gotten her energy back in the second trimester, Mel hadn’t slept well last night, nervous about the anatomy scan. 

Luckily, baby passed with flying colors, no follow-up required.

As a result, Frank wasn’t particularly surprised Mel conked out an hour into the drive, potential concerns now behind them.

Mel groaned, rubbing her eyes beneath her glasses.

“C’mon baby, I already checked us in and got the bags inside.”

Yawning, her eyes half-closed, Mel let Frank lead her inside.

Once Mel was settled, he took stock of their accommodations.

Tailor’s Cottage was the perfect choice- spacious with two floors, it featured a king-sized bed, wood-burning fireplace, and jetted tub. Plus, it was separate from the main inn, affording the privacy they’d be requiring. 

The babymoon was something Frank was excited for. Time to connect, just the two of them. He and Abby hadn’t taken one. No time during medical school, and definitely not during residency. 

Mel and Frank researched extensively before deciding. When Frank saw the event scheduled for their weekend, it felt serendipitous. As soon as he showed Mel, she immediately said, “book it”.

This found them, of course,  at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. But this was no ordinary weekend of merriment. Tomorrow at 11 am, they would experience Legends of the Sea!, one of the Faire’s themed weekends. 

Plus, if you book three nights, you get free Faire tickets!, Mel read on the website. That’s a great value, Frank!

Frank was a bit concerned about Mel in the late-August heat, especially since she’ll be wearing her usual outfit: long-sleeved blouse, floor-length skirt, and boots, not to mention the corset. He himself had a costume, pirate hat and everything, but he wasn’t almost 21 weeks pregnant, nor ran hot like Mel does. They’d packed plenty of supplies, but still.

Regardless, he climbed into bed, eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s adventure.

“Um, Frank, I think we have a slight problem.”

Already dressed, he entered the bedroom to find Mel frowning at herself in the mirror, her back to him.

“What’s wrong? Does it not fit? I thought the bump was manageable—”

“It’s not the bump,” Mel said, turning around, “it’s my chest!”

She was a sight to behold, her perfect, round breasts overflowing out the top of her blouse, sinfully pushed up due to her corset. His mouth dropped open. 

Do they really need to be exactly on time? 

“I can’t go looking like this! They’re—it’s too much! I’m a milkmaid, not a tavern wench!” She nervously bit her lower lip. 

“Mel, oh my god, you look amazing, baby. I mean, wow.”

She blushed, always so pretty. He slowly moved toward her, appraising her willingness for physical contact before pulling her body against his. 

“Besides,” he murmured, mouthing at her breasts, “a tavern wench would be on theme...”

She melted into him, concerns evaporating. “Oh, Captain…”

for @girldadlangdon (insp)

@kingdonmicrofic | july 25 | prompt: overwhelm | 481 words

Now

The gala was two weeks away, and Mel was feeling a little overwhelmed by the preparations. It was going to be a big night after all, for both her and Frank. They were going to submit their official paperwork to HR next week, and the gala was going to be their first event as a couple. It was a little scary, a little overwhelming, but in the best possible way. With Frank by her side, she knew that she could handle it.

“Hey,” Frank murmured to her at central. “What’s with the look? You okay?”

@kingdonmicrofic - july 24 - wc: 432 - cw: implied future sexual content

-

"This is it! Oh my gosh! Look, look! Ugh, you're not looking!"

And yes, Langdon should look at the television in front of him, but Mel's hands forcibly twisting his chin towards the screen is just a bit—okay, a lot—more interesting. Her fingers have become a lot more familiar with his body lately, whether she realizes what she’s doing to him or not. Yesterday he swore her pinky tapped his during rounds, and he’d felt the lingering warmth of it the rest of the day.

Then, earlier this morning, a reporter had interviewed her outside the hospital doors about the nursing shortage. A giddy smile had been plastered across her face ever since, and whenever their paths crossed, she found a chance to tell him about it, repeating the same details, but he didn't mind. For one, she was so cute when she went all starry-eyed, but she also grabbed his arm as she did it.

He finally got so worked up over it that his mouth got ahead of his brain and asked if she wanted someone to watch her “big premiere” with. And, God, her delighted laugh filled him with something embarrassingly arousing.

He hasn't been able to stop staring at her since she'd let him into her apartment. She's in danger of being kissed if she doesn't drop her hands soon—especially now that she seems to be using his jaw as part of a stim, running her fingers over his stubble as her gaze remains fixed on the screen. It feels very good.

"Oh my gosh! That's me!" she squeals as the segment begins, squeezing his face, and Langdon restrains himself because she deserves to watch what she's been waiting to watch all day without interruption.

His eyes flick between the Mel on screen and the Mel still stroking his jaw. The TV version recites exactly what Mel had told him she'd said—maybe, he's not really paying attention—and though it's only a ten second clip, it feels like she's been doing this to him forever.

When it concludes, she finally looks at him, and he smirks as she realizes her hand placement.

"Oh, um—I—I'm sorry."

"Don't be, superstar," he says, and she blushes so hard, so fucking adorably, that his hands cover hers, keeping her there.

She swallows, and then she rubs his face one more time while holding eye contact.

“You can touch other parts of me,” he whispers, voice cracking, “If it helps.”

Her fingers slide to his neck, and then to his chest.

Jagged vacance, thick with ice

But I could see for miles, miles, miles