I fought for you, didn’t I?

@khvleeesi​

--- the doctor hadn’t spoken about ADAM to many people. ELENA included. the younger male was a large part of a chapter of his life that he seldom returned to. in part, it was because he didn’t know how to return to those times. he’d changed so much since then, and as a result, it often felt pointless to resurrect memories that he’d long since dealt with. or had BURIED. he sometimes wondered what ELENA would think of the man. or of the fact that he’d been attracted to him, at least for a short while. before he’d been transported to another land. unable to investigate what could’ve been. needless to say, lawrence was beyond happy NOW. he was beyond happy with her. and as a result, he’d put most of these matters to bed. now, he missed his DAUGHTER most of all. but so long as DIANA and adam were s a f e, wherever in the world the pair might be, then that was all that mattered to him. the blonde-headed male darkened in the RED color of his complexion once he heard lucifer’s prod. “please,” he dismissed sheepishly, as if what the devil was proposing was preposterous. dr. gordon had not considered SEX with the man explicitly. but at the same time, he had not neglected to notice how handsome he was. it still bothered him, to some extent, finding another man attractive. chalk that up to years of engrained homophobia and a personal insecurity of his own. “you would’ve learned of my baggage and headed right out the door,” he suggested, managing a weak grin in his friend’s direction. “so it’s best that nothing did happen.” plus, ELENA was much more his type. nodding, lawrence asked carefully-- with genuine CARE in his eyes-- “why do you think that you weren’t able to say those three words back?” everyone had their reasons. it could be a frightening thing-- to be vulnerable to another. to admit their LOVE for them. but once lawrence heard THAT name.... once it returned, in a new world, to grip him... a cold shiver seized his spine, and for the briefest of moments, the man visibly shook. “amanda?” he began, shaking his head slightly. “you said her name is amanda YOUNG, right?” it could’ve been a common name, right? it wasn’t like her name was crystal rivers, or something unique like that. “what’s she....” lawrence swallowed at the thick lump that was forming in his throat. “what’s she like?” he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. but he needed to hear something that would confirm or refute this growing FEAR of his. 

Lindsey Perez (Saw)

--- “you’re right. it isn’t your fault that i was born with impeccable recipes in my brain and a sharpened spatula in my hand,” lawrence said teasingly, his mouth producing the famous, lopsided smirk of his, that he knew ELENA loved. the man laughed easily at his girlfriend’s hesitation to identify the mystery meat that she’d torched. “maybe it doesn’t matter, dear,” the man said more kindly this time. “is this how the lessons with your knight friend go, out of curiosity?” the doctor had yet to meet the infamous SER JORAH, but he sounded like he was a good man. after all, elena kept good company, and she selected her friends carefully. “do you miss LINDSEY being around?” he asked her then, not wanting to open any wounds or breach any painful subjects, but they hadn’t discussed their unexpected change in location to the fullest extent yet. it seemed to be worth talking about, even if the transition was not entirely bumpy. HI YOU. this greeting of elena’s never failed to warm up his heart. only she could have such an effect on him. she made him feel loved. she made him feel agile and younger and HAPPY. she could only bring out the very best in a man who had not so long ago thought that his good days were behind him. that things could only become WORSE with the passage of time. “that was for smoking up my kitchen,” he said teasingly, leaning down once more to offer her lips are more tender peck. “no, but really. it was for being such a wonderful girlfriend. you never fail to amaze me, my sweet.” chuckling slightly, lawrence shook his head. “no, love, i think it’s safe to say that your burnt chicken strips must meet the trash.” he was quite looking forward to a restful night, spent dining and chatting with his partner. “and wine sounds lovely. what do we have around? barefoot? yellow tail?” whatever SHE preferred, the man was happy with. 

--- “well, i am not as antiquated as many of the so-called professionals here,” dr. gordon responded politely, and with a co-occurring rise and fall of his shoulders. prior to his ordeal with the JIGSAW KILLER, he had been rather rigid in his disposition, and unwavering in his view of the world. he’d judged others’ acceptable and normal relationships while he maintained his own which SHOULD have been judged. not to mention, it had shocked him to his core, once he’d realized that what he felt for ADAM STANHEIGHT was not perfectly platonic. in fact, he knew for a fact that he’d been attracted-- sexually and romantically-- to the younger man. he hadn’t known what to do with this reality, and it didn’t matter much now. but it remained to be a TRUTH of his life, and it was one that he’d shared with lucifer in the past, too. “and you knew about ADAM as it is.” lawrence’s blue eyes lit up happily once lucifer mentioned that his romantic interest was THE ONE. it was a sweet sentiment for any man to speak, but for the devil? well, she must have been one special person for him to be speaking of her in this way. “i’m happy for you, luce. that’s fantastic.” LOVE was a beautiful thing, the oncologist thought. the world needed more of it. “i would have been surprised if a well-behaved lady became your spouse of choice,” the doctor teased good-naturedly. “but regardless, you’ve got to tell me all about her. don’t leave a single detail unspoken.” as a PROD, lawrence shrugged his shoulders, and asked, “i’m not sure. how much do you PAY?” before he said afterwards, “of course, my friend. i’m happy to help. although i’m sure you’re being hard on yourself. you won’t RUIN things.” 

--- it was bizarre, how amanda could operate as both totally expert and inexpert when it came to RELATIONSHIPS. on the one hand, she understood others to an extent that few others could. she didn’t know if she’d been gifted a suspicious mind at birth, or if hers had been honed over years of trauma, but either way, she was able to scrutinize people to an impressive degree, based on this unique quality of hers. she was able to assess their fears and insecurities. hopes and dreams. strengths and weaknesses. all with very little previous information. but on the other hand, she had little background experience when it came to functional, healthy relationships. the woman had no blueprint for how parents were supposed to love their children. she struggled to understand what romance and friendship should manifest into. hell, even casual connections, she had a hard time deciphering. how to trust doctors, how to thank the mailman. but with LUCIFER, things fell into place rather naturally. she did not have to will herself to understand him, because so much of what made him HIM was what made her HER. she did not peer into the eyes of a stranger when their dark orbs connected. instead, she was returning to a familiar place. to a HOME. to someone whom she could trust with all that she was. biting at his bottom lip slightly, amanda smirked as she disconnected their mouths, and stared back up at him. it was tempting, to get lost into the less socially appropriate acts of the night, which she anticipated might come along on this night. but he’d booked out an entire restaurant for her! the least that she could do was to enjoy the evening over some dinner and wine. not to mention, she rather craved to do so. “you’re right about that. i am quite edible.” his words might be forward for some, but not to her. she was accustomed to far raunchier in general, and with him? she only hoped to hear more of his profanities. she wanted to taste them on his tongue each night, because otherwise, she may feel deprived. “but i’ll be dining on YOU before you get to dine on ME.” he didn’t get to win all of the time. and torturing him sounded absolutely delightful, in her mind. “you read my mind,” amanda agreed, her pace already headed in the direction of the bar. “did you have to KILL anyone to make this magical evening happen?” the woman asked, having a feeling that she may be speaking to some of his thoughts. after all, the pair was so similar that she was often able to do this with impressive accuracy. “because if you killed them without me, i may feel a little bit HURT.” with a large bottle of scotch and another of vodka, amanda returned to where lucifer was seated at their table, and she flashed him another one of her famous smiles. “these will make the night even better,” she suggested, mirroring how he crossed his legs in a similar manner with her own. “soooo...” she mused, a playful look betwixt her expression then. “what are we to talk about, LUCI?” 

--- what was his life like before all of this? “’tis a difficult feat-- to put my life into words,” jorah admitted, a sheepish smile taking to his face and turning his handsome features. he’d been told by many that AGE suited him, but their opinions mattered not to him. only DANY’S conceptions did. “it was arduous. it tested the core of everyone’s strength. it tested the extent of men and women’s COURAGE.” it was a painful concession to make, but most people failed to hold up under the severities of his previous universe. “kingdoms warred against one another. rulers vied for recognized leadership positions.” shaking his head, the knight continued. “bastards were born aplenty, most of them thrown into the sea or left to fend for themselves. if one was not born rich or managed to acquire power, then they were left at the mercy of whomever was above them.” did elena truly wish to hear all of this? jorah caught himself wondering. “i was afforded many privileges. i was born into a respected house. i was anointed by a KING, and i became a knight.” he paused, wetting his lips slightly before he continued. “but through my own mistakes, i brought shame onto my house. i was disgraced by my father, and exiled, forced to leave my country. AWAY from what had been my home-- it was called BEAR ISLAND-- i met my beloved.” the older male chuckled to himself slightly. “forgive me for speaking so much, elena. if i am to speak another word of what my life was, you may think of me as MAD.” not to mention, he would much prefer to hear about HER life. “what of you, my lady? you had mentioned mystic falls to me once and briefly. but i would enjoy to hear more about your life. your family. your HOME.” he nodded his confirmation that he’d been a soldier. “aye, i was. i believe that i always will be. i aimed to forever serve the rightful QUEEN. i lived and i DIED for her.” he’d do it all again in a heartbeat, too. “did you live in a time and context of warfare as well, my friend?” ser jorah asked then, his blue eyes filling with concern for the woman beside him. had she lost people? had she lost herself? “i have become happy in our new place,” he shared with elena contently. “...and i always intended to be a GOOD man. i do hope that i have been successful.” he hadn’t always been. he’d made mistakes. HORRIBLE ones, at that. “gardening would be splendid,” jorah replied, the brightness filling his eyes immediately. “daenerys does love her lemon trees.” his silver-haired beloved adored flowers, too. “of burning the place down, NO,” ser jorah replied with a grin, before he added, “of tasting your cooking? indeed!” an easy laugh left his mouth then, as the man looked at his friend. he was JOKING. how perverse! he’d never been able to joke freely in his old world. what a welcome change all of this was. 

--- “i know that you’d have my back anywhere, daryl.” maggie wanted the firmness of her assertion to be known to her companion. at the start of the END, maggie had not believed in the dead revving back into life. and after the apocalypse both persisted and worsened, she began to believe in less and less. what little she did retain her faith in was challenged after countless tragedies and traumas, but the survivor was grateful that she had a reliable number of family members who helped to keep her optimistic. DARYL was certainly one of them. plus, she could also count on him not to patronize her. and not to give her false hope where hope was often lost. she’d loved RICK deeply. she’d admired him, and she’d learn many of her admirable leadership qualities from the man. but at the wrong times, he often wore his rose-colored glasses. as did GLENN, for that matter. “hey,” maggie continued dismissively, but her tone remained WARM. “be gentle with yourself,” she said then, often not realizing that the words of her blonde-headed sister were pulling from her lips. “you’ve got a handsome smile.” there were several attractive qualities that daryl possessed, in maggie’s mind. besides the clear integrity of his character, as well as his other compelling personality traits, the male was broad-shouldered. he was strong. he possessed handsome features, and yes-- a glowing smile, when he rarely elected to show it off to the world. or rather, to maggie and her son. “i’m already always smilin’ ‘cause of you, dixon,” maggie continued, good humor and happiness swimming in her brightening eyes as she spoke. “i mentioned the WEED ‘cause it’s n e w.” of course, she was teasing. she hadn’t smoked weed since high school. not that she wasn’t tempted to numb out from time to time. and she had been, over the years. maggie’s grin softened, but did not disappear, as the mood shifted, and she unknowingly began to rub the back of his forearm with one of her thumbs, once contact had been made between their skins. at his word-- YOU-- maggie felt her heart leap into her throat. this was a long time coming, she thought to herself. how long had she hoped that he would speak of what she knew was there? there would be time for the processing of more complex emotions and ideas. but now, all maggie wanted was this confirmation. this MUTUAL confirmation. both members of the pair deserved that much, and then some, too. “i’ve been thinkin’ about you, and about US, too,” she decided to respond. there were a thousand of things that maggie could have elected to say. but these words felt the safest. she knew that he would not run away, or be overly frightened, by a confession that he’d shared himself. “in fact, i’ve been thinkin’ about us for some time now.” brown hues connected with brown hues. maggie had nerves, but they did not flash across her expression. “does that frighten you?”