not kelly clarkson

The Pitt, Mel King/Frank Langdon, Part 1/6, The Hunger Games AU, for Day 6 of @kingdonweek. Rated T. Banner by @pansiesandposies

After all, everyone knew that Melissa King shouldn’t have been the winner. She was no prize.

The Pitt, Mel King/Frank Langdon, Part 2/6, The Hunger Games AU. Rated T. Banner by @pansiesandposies

Mel frowned, taking the paper. She unfolded it and read, in an unfamiliar scrawl: 

Frank Langdon of District 4 would like to discuss a potential alliance, on behalf of Tribute Nico Diomedes, with Tribute Bronwyn Forster of District 7, with their Mentor. 

@thepittmonth: Week 2  relationships, friendships, and dynamics

Who is a writer, gif maker, artist, editor, meta writer, meme maker, or just fan you’ve been loving lately? Let’s shout them out!

There have been so many amazing additions to the Kingdon fandom over the last year.

I’ve absolutely adored @audreyvoilax art!

@kmsk8r has such lovely fics!

@stickwithme1 along with being incredibly talented you are SUCH a wonderful fandom cheerleader. The comments you leave on fics are always so kind and thoughtful, it genuinely has moved me to tears

@manmahal your fics are always so beautiful and well thought out! You are such an amazing author and I’m constantly amazed at your kindness!!

@smolfangirl I have to tag you in all of these always because you are one of the best fandom friends I’ve ever had! I’m constantly amazed by your creativity and way with words, everything I’ve read from you has made me so emotional in the best way. You’ve also been such a wonderful cheerleader to me even when I come to you with the most out of pocket ideas you’ve ever heard of 😭 you’re the best and I can’t put into words how much I appreciate you!

@melheartsfrank you deserve all the love for starting this! You are so kind and creative and beyond funny. I am so grateful to share a community with someone like you!

@mayfvlds trinity!!! your amazing edits always make my day and i totally don't watch them on repeat everytime i see them on tiktok (i do, they're just THAT good)

@scarletjohansson dee!! you are so kind and sweet and i love our conversations. your gifs make me happy when i see them on my dash!

-

“... And lastly I would like to thank my girlfriend, Mel.”

At the sound of her name, Mel sat up straighter in her seat. 

Frank looked down at the paper in his hands. What a relief it was when she saw that they weren’t trembling. “You know, more than anyone, that it’s been a hard couple years for me. A really hard couple of years. But, in some ways, it’s also been easy. Finding someone who sees through all my bullshit and who knows me in ways that I don’t even know myself… What a blessing. Man, what a blessing.”

Tears sprung to her eyes, but instead of reaching up to wipe them away, she kept her hands folded over her heart. 

“You’ve taught me how to be a better doctor, a better father. A better man. You’ve made me believe in myself again after a lot of setbacks, and even though I know that I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that, I promise I will spend the rest of our lives trying to.” He raised the paper in his hand towards her like he was making a toast. “So thank you, Mel. For being you. And for making me a hell of a Ninja Turtles costume.”

The few people who were sober enough to listen to his speech clapped as he strode through the living room to where Mel was perched on the edge of Garcia’s couch. After flopping down onto the cushion beside her, he pressed the Best Costume award into her hands. “You did all the work,” he explained in response to her questioning look. “Besides, from here on out, my wins are your wins. Alright?”

kingdon - maybe i'm just selfish, maybe i can fight it

“The thing is,” Frank clears his throat, “I’m not great at speeches but…” he clears his throat, fidgeting on his feet, trying to rub the embarrassment out of his neck. “I don’t know, I feel like I have to get this out because if I don’t, I will explode and— fuck, I don’t want to keep this inside anymore because every time I see you, I’m really scared that I’m on the verge of having a heart attack. 

“I know it doesn’t make any sense, because medically speaking, I— well, fuck, that’s not the point. The point is that — I love you. I like you?” he huffs out his breath, running his hand through his hair. He washed it two hours ago in preparation for this but he’s sure that he’s touched it so many times since then that it’s already greasy and gross. “I like you — and we’re friends and I don’t want to jeopardize that because that’s one of the most important things in my life, but I can’t keep pretending like this isn’t happening. Because I like you. As more than just a friend.” 

He stares at the person in front of him, wide, glassy-eyed and a half-open mouth. “Fucking idiot,” he mutters under his breath at his own reflection. “You can’t even say that shit to yourself, how are you gonna tell Mel? Oh, Mel, I love you so much. Can you please take this drug addict who has gotten divorced three minutes ago with two kids under seven as your boyfriend because he’d very much like to kiss you and spend the rest of his life with you if that’s not too much trouble? No worries if not, though, because best friend forever, right?” he scoffs at his own reflection who is looking perturbed and disturbed all at the same time. He barely resists the urge to punch himself in the face. “Fuck.” He drops his head against the mirror of the bathroom, willing the glass to cool him down, tugging at the stupid tie he put on as a pathetic attempt to make this dinner look more like a date.

“Um…” He jumps up at the sound — definitely a woman. Definitely… Mel. “Frank?” 

“Shit,” he very nearly jumps out of his own skin. “How long have you been here?” 

“You took so long, I was worried something had happened,” she says, looking like she might throw up — flushed and wide-eyed. 

“How much of that did you hear?” he reiterates the question. 

“Enough?” she squeaks out. “All of it?”

“Fucking hell,” he mutters, shaking his head. “That is not how I wanted you to hear it, Mel, I—”

“I love you, too,” she rushes out the words, interrupting him before he can go on.

“What?” Blood freezes in his veins.

“I love you, too,” she repeats again, “so — don’t take it back.”

Like he ever could. Like he’d ever want to. “Say it again.”