#<- is basically EXACTLY what happened to me last summer with me resigning a crush of two years that I finally realized would only
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twinklingwatermellon · 1 year ago
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liliah39 · 6 years ago
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Bliss: (Freddie Mercury X Male! Reader Oneshot)
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Word Count: 3.2 K
Warnings: None! Just loads of fluff!
Plot: You and Brian are best friends, he knows about your sexuality, but doesn’t know about yours and Freddie’s feelings for each other. It comes a time when you and Freddie are ready to be open with your relationship. How will Brian take it?
A/N: This is a HalloQueen Event Gift for @rushingheadlong​ !! Surprise! I’m your Secret Santa! Thank you for hosting it @dtfrogertaylor​ ! I hope you enjoy it darling! I did my best! It was so nice talking to you and getting to know you! Please keep in touch darling! I think I feel more comfortable writing male reader after this, so I might be able to do a Brian one if you want one! Just leave me a request for a oneshot in my asks! (Also plz excuse typos) -C
October 1976:
With the autumn leaves changing color, a new chill was in the air, confirming that fall was upon you. You hurriedly zipped up your coat as you ran inside the recording studio with coffees for Brian and his band mates, eager to see Freddie. 
You and Brian were best friends, and always had been since you were little. You grew up as neighbors, and basically were never apart. He got you fascinated with the stars due to his own obsession, making stargazing in one of your backyards in the summer your favorite pastimes, and sometimes you’d stargaze  in your snowsuits in the winter if you were feeling risky. Of course the two of you did other things too, running, hide and seek, pretending you were pirates sailing the seven seas; a typical thing for young boys to do, but as you grew together your interests changed. It went from pirates to The Beatles as the sixties rolled in, each of you getting the extremely unfortunate bowl cut and doing your best to form a band. You were never as musically talented as Brian was, but you could manage on bass, and were able to have a garage band with him and a couple of other boys from school for a couple years before Brian’s talent had surpassed all of you. Although, no matter how your interests changed, the two of you always found time to look at the stars. 
Now you were both just out of your first four years of college, still living in an apartment together and trying to figure out the next step in your lives. Brian opted to put his schooling on hold for a while to pursue his band Queen, which seemed to be going surprisingly well, however you decided to get your PhD in Astrophysics, the field both you and Brian decided to go to school for together. Even still, the two of you told each other everything concerning your lives; it’s like you were each the brother that the other never had. 
Brian was the first to know about your sexuality, and took it extremely well. Said it never bothered him, that he’d love you and your were still his best mate either way. He said in some way he always knew, but was just happy that you were in tune with yourself enough to be able to find someone you truly loved. He always told you about his new girlfriends he’d meet, but they’d never last long. However, there was one thing you didn’t think you could tell Brian. You didn’t know how. 
You were in love with his other best friend.
His best friend that hadn’t come out yet. 
His best friend that was Freddie Fucking Mercury. 
You took a deep breath as you walked in the door to the studio, remembering how your feelings for Freddie had budded all those years ago. 
~~~~~Flashback to 1974~~~~~
Brian introduced the two of you when he had started talking to Brian at Smile gigs. Freddie was so insistent about being in a band with Brian and Roger that he went to all of Smile’s performances. You were usually at them too unless you had a test the next day, always wanting to be supportive of your best friend. You and Freddie hung out together throughout the Smile gigs constantly, always singing, dancing, or getting drinks at the bar. His beauty seemed ethereal; an extremely attractive, dark haired man with an attitude that could kill. It was then that you not only realized you liked men. 
You loved him. 
After Tim left and Queen formed, you were at all the performances, hungry to watch Freddie parading across the stage in your solitary confinement of your love for him. You kept your feelings to yourself for years, unable to admit them and lose your friendship with Freddie. Besides, he was dating Mary. There was no use in making a fool of yourself.  Although, one day after Queen played at The Rainbow in 1974, about a week after Freddie had broken up with Mary for what he said were “personal complications, he stopped you and asked if you wanted to go get a drink, like the old days when they were playing local bars every night.
“I’d love to Fred, really, but you know, Brian’s not 100% yet. I know he’s back and playing, but he’s only been out of the hospital for a month. I should go home and make sure he’s okay. Sorry, mate.” you solemnly admitted. 
Freddie nodded his head understandably, although you couldn’t help but notice a look of sadness and disappointment in his eyes. “Of course, I understand, Y/N. Next time, Darling.” He winked, stuttering through his words as if nervous to talk to you. 
That’s odd, you thought, as Freddie opened the door to his dressing room and quietly shut it behind him. You walked next door to Brian’s dressing room, knocking to announce your entrance before walking in to see him putting his guitar in its case. 
“Hey Bri,” you said, trying to be cheerful, “how’re you feeling?” 
“Alright, Y/N. Really, I’m okay. Quite tired, but I’m alright. Just need to go home and rest.” He smiled. 
“You sure?”
“I’m sure,” he laughed, “you’re always so worried about me.” 
“Well that’s ‘cuz I wouldn’t know what to do without you, Brian. We’ve been inseparable for how long now? It’d be like taking away my other half if something happened to you.” You laughed. 
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense, I’d be the same way if I was in your shoes.” He laughed. “You’ve been so helpful in the last couple of months while I’ve been going through all this, Y/N, and I’m completely capable of taking care of myself now. I just played two nights of concerts. I’m okay, Y/N. Go out. Have some fun. I’m worried about you. You haven’t done anything except for take care of me for ages. As your best friend, I’m telling you you need to go out and have some fun.”
He could see the hesitant look on your face. You were worried about him. 
“As your best friend I command that you get your life back.” Brian joked, making both of you laugh. 
“Alright, alright.” You resigned. “You’ve been very active for a couple days, so I won’t do anything for tonight, but I’ll go out soon, I promise.” 
“Were you asked to do something tonight?” Brian pried. 
“Well…” You hesitantly started. “I was. But I turned it down. More worried about you.” You admitted. 
“Y/N,” Brian said, hands on his hips. “Go do something. Go out. Who asked you?”
“Freddie.” You admitted. “He wanted to go get drinks.”
“Go with him,” he urged. “Find yourself a guy. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you back at home later.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Thanks mate.” You smiled, turning around and exiting his dressing room, knocking on Freddie’s which was next door. “Fred?” You called. 
After a couple of minutes, the door blew open, “Hello, Darling.” He smiled. “Come in,” he said, turning around and closing the door behind the two of you. “Couldn’t resist my offer?” He teased. 
“I guess not.” You laughed. “Brian said he’ll be fine, and I haven’t gotten out in a while, so I figured I’d get a couple drinks. I miss talking to you.” You said earnestly, putting a hand on Freddie’s shoulder as you spoke. 
“Wonderful!” He exclaimed. “Then just give me a moment to get dressed and we’ll be on your way.” 
~~~~ 
He brought you to a bar called Blessing’s Tavern that was just down the road, the two of you laughing the entire way. Over a couple of shots and far too many beers, the two of you caught up on life from the last couple of months, hearing about the recording process of the new Sheer Heart Attack album which you missed out on because of Brian’s hospitalization. After his story was over, there was an uncomfortable silence between the two of you. Something you each wanted to bring up, but resisted. 
You couldn’t help it anymore. 
“So, how are you doing, Fred? The whole thing with Mary?” 
“Oh I’m just fine, Darling.” He assured you. “We’re still close friends. I’m the one who pulled the trigger; it was my choice. Thanks for asking though.”
“I know, but any break up is difficult no matter what way it happens or what side of it you’re on. I’m here if you need me.” You assured with a smile, patting him on the shoulder. 
“Thank you.” He smiled. “I’m really fine. I guess you could say I just came to terms with myself. Who I am, you know?” 
You nodded. You definitely knew. That’s exactly what you said when you came out. It made you confused. Did Freddie realize he had feelings for guys, and that’s why he broke up with Mary? 
You stayed silent for a while, a million thoughts rushing through your head as you contemplated what his previous sentence possibly could have meant. 
You couldn’t speak. 
You couldn’t do anything. 
Is it possible he likes me to?
Just then, he was the one to break the silence. “I see you looking at me.” 
“W-what? Well I’m sitting right next to you, Fred. Course I’m looking at you.” 
“No, Darling. I mean when I’m on stage.” 
“Well yeah, that too?” 
“Jesus, Y/N. You haven’t figured it out yet?” 
“Figured what out?” 
“Oh don’t act so oblivious. I see that you feel the same way. I broke up with Mary because I wasn’t happy with the lie I was living, I’m not straight. And if I’m right, you aren’t either.” he retorted. 
Silence. 
You’d never told anyone else other than Brian, let alone your other best friend AND your crush. 
“Am I right?” He asked. 
You nodded. “But don’t tell the others. Brian’s the only one who knows.” 
“Oh I’d never,” he admitted. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone either. You’re the first person I’ve told.” 
“Why me, Freddie? Why tell me first?”
“Because I figured you were going through the same thing, and because well, I like you. Figured I’d just be straight forward about it, you know?” 
You nodded. “Wait, you like me?” 
“Yeah, Love. Quite a bit, actually. Didn’t make me break up with my girlfriend for nothing.” He laughed. 
“Wow.” You said, truly astonished. 
“What? I’m sorry, Y/N. Do you not feel the same way? God this is why I didn’t want to do this, I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.” 
You laughed at the irony. “Actually, quite the opposite. You were spot on. Spot on to the point I’ve been into you for the last four years and never said anything because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. What are the odds?” You laughed. 
“Oh thank god.” He said, clearly relieved, and pulling you in for an embrace. “You have no idea how hard that was.” 
“Oh believe me, I do.” You laughed. 
“Well then, we must celebrate! I’d like champagne!” He screamed to the bartender who was at the other end of the bar, making you laugh at his brutal honesty. 
~~~~End Flashback~~~~
You stepped into the boys’ room to be greeted with smiles, hellos, and many thanks for bringing much needed coffee. Freddie stopped playing piano to come over and pull you into a tight embrace, kissing your cheek after making sure no one would notice. 
The two of you had been seeing each other privately ever since your feelings were confessed all those years ago, yet had done an excellent job of hiding it. The other three members didn’t even know, not even Brian. 
“I like your shirt, Fred.” You smiled, making him blush. 
“Why thank you, Darling!” he winked, knowing it was one of your favorites whenever you spent the night at his place. The other three noticed the odd encounter yet said nothing of it, assuming it was just a typical conversation between two friends. 
On a break, you hopped onto the piano bench next to Freddie, trying your best to make what you were saying look like a casual conversation. 
“Love,” You started, “can we go to the park after? I’ve got to talk to you about something.” 
“ ‘Course. Say no more.” He smiled. “You’ll drive me, won’t you?” 
“I always do.” You smiled in a sing song voice. 
~~~~ 
The two of you sang along to the radio in the short, fifteen minute car ride to a solitary end of the park, walking hand in hand to a bench in the middle of a path, the bench you and Freddie had specifically named yours, in a comfortable silence. You observed the way the sunlight hit his perfectly chilled face, jet black hair waving in the autumn wind. 
“You’re so beautiful, Freddie.” You softly admitted as he pressed a kiss to your lips. 
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” He said as the two of you sat on your bench together, his arm around your shoulder. “You wanted to talk?”
“Yup.” You laughed. “God, why are you always so to the point?” You teased at him.
“Because things can be so drawn out sometimes, Dear! When some conversations are heavier or more uncomfortable, I just want to get it over with. No need to dwell on them.” He huffed, the temperament of a princess, making his shirt extremely fitting. 
“Alright, alright.” You laughed. “I think it’s time, Freddie.” 
“Time for what?” his face grew worried. “Please don’t say you’re leaving me.”
“Oh god no,” you smiled. “I’ll never leave you, Baby.”
He pressed a soft kiss to your lips in relief. “Then time for what, Y/N.” 
“Time we tell them. Our friends. Our family. Brian especially. We’ve gotta come out. Say we’re together. Not to the public, because you know they won’t understand, but our friends have to know. They deserve to know.” 
He nodded, taking in all you just said. 
“And especially Brian, Freddie. Brian’s got to know. He’s my bloody roommate and best friend for crying out loud. I hate lying to him, sneaking out at night to come see you. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep hurting him blindly.” 
“I understand.” Freddie smiled. “I’m just nervous. They know about you, I just haven’t manned up enough to tell them yet. What if they kick me out?” 
“They won’t kick you out, Love.” You laughed. “I think they already have their suspicions, to be honest. Brian asked me the other day if you were gay. Said I didn’t know of course. He said it’d just make sense to him if you were from your stage costumes and such.” 
“Oh. That’s a good thing, right?” He asked. 
“Yes, Love. A good thing.”  You assured him. 
“What is they don’t think that me coming out is a good move for the band? What if they kick me out?” He worried. 
“Freddie. They’re your  best friends. They’re not going to kick you out. And like I said, just to our friends, not the whole world yet. Okay?” 
“Okay.” He smiled. “Please don’t think my insecurities have anything to do with you, Darling. I was actually thinking today about how nice it would have been to just be us at rehearsal instead of this facade, you know?” He smiled. 
“It’ll all be okay soon, my Love.” You assured him. “I promise.” 
~~~~~
The two of you decided to tell Brian first. It only seemed right to you; you knew that if he was in your position he’d do the same thing. You picked Freddie up at his house, pressing your lips to his as he got in the car. 
“I love your jacket, Fred!” You smiled. “Trying to dress for the occasion, are you?” 
“ ‘Course.” He smiled. “I always do!” 
“Must be new, right?”
“Yes, good job at noticing, Darling. I’ve got the best boyfriend in the world.” he smiled. 
“So do I.” 
~~~~
When arriving at your apartment, everything was extremely normal, the three of you just sitting in the living room laughing as you listened to a Beatles record. After a short while, you could tell it was time to just admit the true reason you were there. Freddie said he left telling Brian up to you seeing as the  two of you were incredibly close. 
“Brian.” 
He heard the tone in your voice change, his head snapping up. 
“Can we talk to you?”
“Course, everything alright?” 
“Yeah yeah, it’s just-  Well remember a couple 
years ago when I told you about me, and how I felt? My sexuality and all?”
“Yeah?” He said curiously. 
“Well, um I’ve found someone.” You smiled. 
“Really?! That’s great, Y/N. Who is it? When can I meet him?” 
“Well you already have.” You smiled, taking Freddie’s hand in yours. 
“You see, Freddie has expressed that he feels the same way I do, and we got to talking and doing more together over the last year or so, really acting like we’ve been together in the last six months or so, and we just decided it was time to say how we’ve been feeling, wanted to tell you first.” 
“Really?” Brian smiled. 
“Really.” Freddie confirmed. 
“Guys!” Brian said, leaping up and engulfing the two of you in his huge arms, “Really?! This couldn’t be any better!”
You and Freddie looked at each other smiling with a quick peck on the lips. 
You knew this was the start of something wonderful.
~~~~~
Roger and John took the news just as well, acting as if nothing had changed. It gave you and Freddie each such a weight off of your backs to know the two of you had the support of your wonderful friends behind you. 
You moved in with Freddie a couple months later, not expecting to have cried as much when you left your apartment with Brian, but the two of you were crying like little girls. Freddie said it was almost like watching twins be separated after being together for 24 years, however, the separation was healthy for the two of you and improved your relationship drastically. It also allowed you to mature as a person as well. 
You made it to everyone of Queen’s concerts, taking breaks from school and work to go on tour with them, and you honestly had never been happier in your life. You got to spend each night watching your boyfriend and best friends who had turned into your family perform. You got to see your best friend flourish as a guitarist little by little each and every day, and you got to watch the love of your life, Freddie, parade around stage each night looking ethereal in his flowy white shirts and tight, sexy leather ensembles as he serenaded you, telling you each night that he sang each song for you and only you. It was bliss. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Ah!!! That’s it! I really hope you like it, I put so much work into it! Happy Halloween to you all!! Also, sorry it took so long, I had to carve pumpkins!
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popunktomlinson · 5 years ago
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this is just the mess of all the fics that i read between december ‘19 and may ‘20 for my own reference but if you want to check any out there are stars next to my favorites! this is mostly drarry with some larry, scorbus, and one (1) wolfstar pairing.
Larry:
Missed Connection - kingsofeverything (3k)
Harry is absolutely clueless when it comes to figuring out if other guys are into him, so he enlists his friend Niall to assist. That may or may not be a mistake.
Like Candy In My Veins - littlelouishiccups (85k)
“Um…” Harry said slowly after a moment. “Okay. That’s… this is… Let me get this straight.” He lifted up a hand and swallowed. “You told your family that you have a boyfriend… and my name was the first one you thought of?”
(Basically the A/B/O, enemies to lovers, fake relationship, Christmas AU that nobody asked for.)
Forget the Silent Nights - LadyLondonderry (45k)
The last Christmas with the seven of them in that broken old house on Redwood all together was probably one of the most memorable holidays each of them had, what with the wedding and the the snowstorm and the raccoons in their attic…
And the baby they stole, of course.
Point. Drop. Call. - 4ureyesonly28 (2k)
Teenagers get bored on a hot summer day and decide to play a little game…Whoever loses has to call their crush, no matter who or where they are.
Drarry:
Written on the Heart - who_la_hoop (114k)
When he’s hit by an illegal love-spell though, Harry finds he has more to worry about than whether or not Blaise Zabini actually wants to be his friend. For if everyone affected has been blessed – or cursed, by the look on Malfoy’s face – with a magical tattoo revealing the name of their soulmate, what does it mean that Harry’s skin remains completely bare?
hello goodbye (’twas nice to know you) - tamerofdarkstars (5k)
Draco Malfoy thinks he might know whose thoughts are scrawling themselves on his skin, but that's crazy. Impossible, even. It has to be a mistake.
Self-indulgent soulmate AU where the thoughts of your soulmate inscribe themselves on your skin in a shifting magic tattoo
Hope Springs Eternal (But Love Springs in the Forrest, Unannounced) - lettered (12k)
Draco falls into a love spring. Harry saves him! And now they’re bonded for life. Draco is horrified. Harry thinks it’s kind of neat.
The Lesbian Muffin Debacle - abusing_sarcasm (7k)
Pansy and Ginny have a muffin-induced potions accident and Draco and Harry are stuck watching their love life from the sidelines - quite literally. Fortunately, they're able to give each other a hand.
✨The Owl Who Came for Christmas - dracogotgame (18k)
Draco has a debt to pay off, no matter what Potter thinks. And he has a Very Good Idea to go along with it. Things don't go as planned.
Strange Bathfellows - bixgirl1 (28k)
It started with a bath. Or a potions accident. Or maybe it started before that, but who can tell anymore.
Featuring: Uncomfortable wanking, more comfortable wanking, mutual wanking, bath sharing, inappropriate betting, secret shagging, those secrets at Hogwarts that everyone knows, and oblivious Harry who knows one thing: he's falling in love.
Something I Don’t Want to Stop - lq_traintracks (16k)
It's Harry and Draco's eighth year, the Houses have been all but demolished in favor of unity, and they're being forced to room together. How ever will they cope?
Psuedo - dysonrules (24k)
Draco runs into an interesting man during a drunken night out. Pansy slips the man Draco's address, not realising that he is actually Harry Potter in disguise.
Things get a bit out of hand after that.
Two Truths and all those Hidden Lies - keyflight790 (8k)
It didn’t matter whether Draco knew about the Polyjuice or not; nor did it matter what face Harry deigned to hide behind in the club. Draco could spot Potter a mile away.
The Other Side to Draco Malfoy - makingitwork (20k)
Draco Malfoy's best friend is Theodore Nott, the only person he trusts. So The Golden Trio decide to make Harry use Polyjuice Potion to see what Draco knows about the war.
The only problem is, while pretending to be Theodore Nott, Harry discovers another side to Draco. A better, lonelier side.
Right Hand Red - lq_traintracks (73k)
Harry felt Malfoy's breath on his lips as they came together over the bottle, hands firmly planted on the floor as though they each needed their familiar soil, refusing to cross into enemy territory.
Except that Malfoy no longer felt like his enemy.
Malfoy felt inevitable.
Good to Me (And I’d Be So Good to You) - AWickedMemory (9k)
Everyone returns to Hogwarts after the war, but nothing is quite the same. Harry's groupies are creepier than ever, Ron and Hermione are snogging all over the place, and the once-proud Draco is shuffling around like a kicked puppy. But that's okay: Harry's got a plan.
Good Company - Greenflares (8k)
With Hermione and Ron always together, Harry's return to Hogwarts to complete his education isn't exactly fun. Somehow, it's his unlikely friendship with Malfoy that keeps him sane.
The Lip-Lock Jinx - Casis Luna (20k)
The Lip-Lock Jinx, a jinx that renders the victim mute that can only be undone in two ways: if the caster reverses the spell on the victim, or if the victim serves the purpose of the jinx and kisses the person that they desire. It’s just Harry’s luck that he gets jinxed by Ginny Weasley and he’s in love with Draco Malfoy.
Like Diamonds We Are Cut With Our Own Dust - raitala (11k)
Draco has borne the mark of the Dark Lord for over ten years. It is familiar to him, but he pays the price for it every day, and Harry has noticed.
Burning the Ground - lq_traintracks (10k)
"Strap him down," someone said, and Harry felt the rage thicken inside him -- the viscous fear.
Magical bindings pulled taut around his wrists . . . He felt a wand touch his arm and then a sharp bite as something punctured the skin, and a sweet, cool tonic rushed his veins.
His breathing slowed. His eyelids drooped. The ceiling went grey and dark. And then he heard a woman's voice sigh, "Someone, get Healer Malfoy."
✨Turn - Saras_Girl (307k)
One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.
Around You Moves -ignatiustrout (30k)
Harry knew Draco was gay when he invited him to move in. He’s never had a problem with this. So why does he feel so weird about Draco bringing men home all of a sudden?
Who Else But You - jeni_andtheafterthought (6k)
Draco loses his soulmate before he understands what that means. Then, it happens again. Quite the anomaly, Draco is encouraged to keep a journal following the experience. Finding his soulmate, solving the mystery surrounding his soulmate bond may be more than he bargained for.
you’ve got the antidote for me - Kanadakicksass (21k)
When Harry Potter unintentionally severs their soulbond before it can fully form, Draco Malfoy resigns himself to a slow death and decides not to burden Harry with a soulmate he's made it very clear he doesn't want.
✨Grounds For Divorce - Tepre (122k)
Malfoy finds a coin. Harry finds a letter.
A story about histories, a story about families. A story about a lemon tree somewhere in Upper Egypt.
Symbiosis - fireflavored (20k)
sym·bi·o·sis (sĩm'bē-ō'sĩs) n. Biology A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but does not necessarily, benefit each member.
Through The Looking Glass and What Draco Found There - magpie_fngrl (17k)
Draco discovers the Mirror of Erised is a portal and he enters an alternate reality where your deepest desires come true. Or how Draco found himself in the world of his dreams and Potter had to come and ruin it.
Bond - AnnaFugazzi (173k)
I started to write this before HBP came out, and crossed my fingers that HBP wouldn't make it totally non-canon. No such luck, I'm afraid. This, therefore, is an AU story, where (SPOILER) still teaches (SPOILER), (SPOILER) didn't try to (SPOILER), (SPOILER) didn't succeed in (SPOILER), (SPOILER) never dated (SPOILER), and most importantly, (MAJOR ENDING SPOILERS) never happened.
Two Wands Make a Right - dannyfranx (21k)
Harry's wand is playing up and Hermione thinks she knows the answer, but why does she have to be right all the time, why does Draco Malfoy have to be so god damn difficult and why is he wearing his tie backwards?
Running on Air - eleventy7 (75k)
Draco Malfoy has been missing for three years. Harry is assigned the cold case and finds himself slowly falling in love with the memories he collects.
You Send Me (Honest You Do) - firethesound (37k)
As far as potion accidents go in general, and deaging incidents go in particular, Draco knew this could have been so much worse. Harry only lost about ten years, and all his memories are still intact. But the sight of him looking as if he’s stepped straight out of Draco’s Hogwarts memories has dredged up a whole mess of complicated feelings Draco thought he’d buried years ago, and Draco really doesn’t know what to do with any of it.
✨What We Pretend We Can’t See - gyzym (131k) ✨
Seven years out from the war, Harry learns the hard truth of old history: it’s never quite as far behind you as you thought.
Eternity - TheFiestyRogue (1k)
On one's 21st birthday, one's soul mark is burnt into one's skin. It could be anything; a name, a number, a symbol.
Technicolor Beat - fortunate_cookie (5k)
"H-Harry, you..I don’t-understand...", the blonde said breathlessly looking to the equally as breathless Gryffindor.
"Yeah. I...yeah...", Harry replied intelligently.
or the one where harry and draco are soulmates and there's a chase involved.
such a softer sin - therewascourfeyrac (16k)
After Draco meets Harry Potter, he's left with two tattoos, one on each wrist. One for a soul mate, one for his enemy. He's never known any one else who has the same name on both wrists.
Just The Two Of Us - Hekatee, Pierian (3k)
Harry finally meets his soulmate. Except his soulmate has been given a heavy dose of morphine and has no idea that his drugged-up rambling includes the words that change Harry's life forever.
Timer - JulietsEmoPhase (2k)
“If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know?” Of course, Harry had to miss the moment his clock ran out.
Two Weeks - shiftylinguini (22k)
If Harry had to guess which out of he or his Auror Partner, and tentative new friend, Draco Malfoy, would turn out to have Veela ancestry, his answer would be: neither, because that is ridiculous. Finding out the answer is actually him, and that his Veela heritage is wreaking havoc on his ability to work, sleep, and above all be in the same room as Malfoy, is a surprise to say the least. But this is fine. Harry’s been through worse, and he can just sit this one out, regardless of how much his body is screaming for the one person he doesn’t want to ask for help. Can’t he?
A Convenient Impracticality - firethesound (39k)
Somehow Harry ends up agreeing to a fake relationship with his ex-nemesis-turned-friendly-acquaintance-with-benefits, except for some reason it involves an awful lot of actual dating and, sadly, not much sex. Confused? Harry is too, but when has anything with Draco Malfoy ever been as straightforward as it seems?
Precious Memories - ravenclawsquill (18k)
When Harry’s Pensieve breaks with a very important memory trapped inside, he has no choice but to hire an expert to repair it. Then Draco Malfoy steps out of his Floo, and Harry isn’t sure what to expect. He certainly isn’t anticipating tea, biscuits and gold-rimmed glasses.
Helix - Saras_Girl (93k)
Seven months after the end of the war, Harry is feeling lost. Fortunately, he is about to be offered an unexpected and sparkling chance to find himself again.
Temptation on the Warfront - alizarincrimson (180k)
Draco Malfoy is forced into hiding with the Golden Trio and dragged into their search for horcruxes. What ensues is a journey of redemption, unexpected friendships and an unwanted, turbulent romance with Harry Potter. Warnings for swearing, sexual content, and dark themes.
Scorbus:
re-read:
The Unicorn Incident - who_la_hoop (18k)
Growing up is hard to do, especially in the shadow of your father's reputation. Scorpius Malfoy has a tough time keeping his resolution to be the best Slytherin he can be when schoolboy games, unicorns, incompetent friends and a beloved enemy all conspire to teach him something different – and rather wonderful – about himself.
Scorpius Malfoy’s Future Wife - josephinestone (2k)
Albus Potter and Rose Weasley's parents have a bet on who Scorpius Malfoy is going to marry. If it's Lily, they will be just like Ginny and Harry; If it is Rose, they'll be just like Ron and Hermione. Harry witnesses the answer.
Never Trust A Slytherin - who_la_hoop (12k)
Al grinned. It would be the crowning glory of his final year – the one thing that would prove, once and for all, that he was not his dad in any way, shape or form. He would seduce a Slytherin – the son of his father's great enemy – and prove to Scorpius Malfoy his perfect trust in him. How hard could it be?
Wolfstar:
The Electric Fizzing Prick Pistols, or Whatever - whitmans_kiss (4k)
Everyone is born with Words on their arm that connect them to their Soulmate. James finds his, Sirius had everything figured out back in First Year, Peter doesn’t talk to girls anyway, and Remus thinks he’d very much just like to put his earmuffs back on and disappear.
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itscooltobefanficy · 8 years ago
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Clarence Hall- Germination (2)
Summary:  Y/N has hit a dead-end in her life. Desperate to get away from her controlling mother, she takes a job as a nanny, working at an English country house caring for the Countess’ six foster children- alongside Steve Rogers and James Barnes. As the weeks pass, Y/N realises she’s beginning to find her place, and even happiness, in the chaos and laughter of Clarence Hall: but that summer something happens that turns all of their lives upside down.
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Pairing: Bucky X Reader (Female pronouns)
Chapter 2/?: Germination
Word count: 3146
Warnings: None!
This is what I call a *nothing* chapter when I’m being harsh, because it’s basically scene-setting and character-building and all that jazz. Part and parcel of a long story. Love to all <3
~
Dinner is a loud, cheerful affair, that involves a lot requests to pass the serving spoon and don’t knock over the salt cellar, and no the dogs have their own food they don’t need any of yours. Besides a few random questions from the children, you’re allowed to sit quietly and adjust to the atmosphere. It’s a world away from silent, stilted meals of home.
After enforcing dishwashing duty (with a surprisingly low level of complaining), everyone troops through to what might once have been a drawing room, but the cavernous space is now kitted out as a playroom. You are careful to avoid treading on the Lego pieces that litter the carpet, and smile to see the stack of mattresses and covered furniture in the far corner that probably functions as a den. Maud takes what is clearly her customary seat on a throne-like armchair by the back window, and her charges scurry back and forth with schoolbooks, Meccano pieces and enormous dogs in tow. A comfortable routine unfurls in front of you. Somebody turns on what sounds like the Cars soundtrack. You end up pressganged into helping Nat with partial fractions, which, thankfully, isn’t beyond your scope (she giggles when you grumblingly wish for your algebraic calculator, which would solve this stupid problem in about 0.02 seconds). Sam starts practicing backflips. Bruce sits on the floor, enthralled by a book that’s half the size of him, detailing the creatures of the Amazon rainforest. Teacup potters around before flopping by your feet, apparently realising you’re a soft touch when it comes to belly rubs. You slide off your chair, sink your fingers into her wiry coat, and oblige.
By the time nine o clock rolls around, you’re covered in cream-coloured dog hair and feeling, to your own surprise, fairly relaxed. Steve climbs up from where he’s being swallowed by a squashy beanbag and blows a piercing whistle. Everyone stops what they’re doing- apart from the dogs, who leap to their feet and trot over to him.
“Bed, gang! School tomorrow. Everyone have their work done?”
There’s a chorus of yeses, and there’s a general rustle as six kids get to their feet and start trickling out of the room. It takes some persuasion to get Bruce to relinquish his book, but eventually he acquiesces. Maud coughs, delicately.
“I shall retire, too. Thank you for your work today.” She eases to her feet and smiles as Steve presses a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning.”You watch her shuffle out of the room. There’s a moment of silence.
“Congratulations,” Bucky says, swinging upright and grinning at you, “You made it through your first day.”
You sigh, and nearly smile. “I did.”
The music changes: soft trumpets, the swinging beat of jazz. You tick your head to where Steve stands by the speakers, and he shrugs. “Nicer ambience.”
Bucky snorts. “For the tidying?”
“No.” Steve flops back onto the beanbag with the air of a man who won’t be moved for anything, except possibly an earthquake, “For the sophisticated adult conversation we’re about to have.”
That makes Bucky scoff; he turns to you, eyebrows raised. “You hear that?! As if we don’t have sophisticated conversations.”
You raise your hands to ward off an argument. “This isn’t a debate I’m about to walk into.”
“See?” Steve wags a finger at you, “That’s a mature viewpoint. Not- ow!” Bucky’s lobbed a cushion at him, and it hits him squarely in the face. Steve wrestles the cushion away and pulls a stern face. “Go ahead and prove my point, why don’t you?”
Still laughing, Bucky drops onto the big grey sofa and pats the space beside him. “Whatever, spoilsport. Come on up, then, Y/N. If we’re going to be having sophisticated conversations, we should all be on the same level.”
You get to your feet as Steve gestures indignantly to himself (the beanbag puts him only a few inches off the floor). Bucky just smirks. “That’s what you get for taking the moral high ground so often. Need to keep you lower, so you’re on a par with us mortals.”
Steve rolls his eyes, but gives up protesting. You sit gingerly on the edge of the sofa, then realise that you can pull your legs up without anyone telling you not to, so you curl up in a ball and rest your chin on your knees. It might not be the most comfortable position, but rebellion is sweeter than any ache in your spine.
“So…” Bucky gestures with his hand, clearly biting back a grin, “Anyone actually got any sophisticated topics of conversation?”
You shift a little to lean against the cushions and shrug. Steve shoots a glare at Bucky and clears his throat, but doesn’t say anything.
“Suppose we could get the backstory stuff out of the way,” Bucky says, easily, “Though I’m not sure it counts as sophisticated.”
“Don’t let Peg hear you say that,” Steve warns, idly, and Bucky’s eyes widen in agreement.
“Peg?” You ask. Steve eyes you for a moment, then shares a fleeting look with Bucky, who scrutinises you in turn. Then he pulls a face.
“Might as well tell her now. She’ll find out you’re a sexual deviant soon enough.”
Steve looks carefully around for errant children, then flashes the finger. “You’re not funny, Buck. Not funny at all. OK,” He turns back to you, “I’m in a polyamorous relationship with two women, Peggy and Angie.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” Bucky asks, bluntly.You blink, staring at the pair of them. Of all the things you’d expected him to say…“Like- a triad?” You ask, carefully. This is all a bit outside your experience (besides that joke about the knight and polyarmoury, which you still find hilarious) and you don’t want to be disrespectful. Your question seems to have sent the right signals, though- Steve visibly relaxes.
“Yeah, exactly like that.”
Bucky just gives you an approving nod. Your curiosity waxes stronger in response, and you lean forward.
“So, Peggy’s one of your partners?”
“Yep. Angie’s the other.”
“They call each other girlfriend and boyfriend, in case you were nervous about using the term,” Bucky adds in, helpfully.
“And what do they do?” You ask.
“Angie works on the West End, in the costume department in one of the big theatres. Peg…”
“Peg does something very secret for Her Majesty’s government,” Bucky’s answer is punctuated with a wink, so you can’t be sure if he’s joking or not. Steve doesn’t contradict him, though.
“What about you? A hot physics partner waiting back home?” At your expression, Bucky shrugs. “I read your CV.”
For a moment, you think back on your degree: on coming home at seven each night, locking the door behind you, ignoring friend requests and messages for three miserable years- then you shake your head.
“No. No partner, physics or otherwise.”
No hint of the bitterness underlying your words seeps into your tone, and Bucky and Steve just nod their acceptance.
“Fair enough. The parents down in the village are fairly relaxed about it, though I’m sure it helps that Peg and Ang aren’t here a lot of the time.” Steve’s voice is resigned, and you frown sympathetically, distracted from your own unsatisfactory history.
“When are they next home?” Bucky asks, and Steve sends him an exasperated expression. Bucky heaves a sigh. “Look, I can tell you that Clint has shooting practice tomorrow, Sam and Rhodey are going to the playing field to have a kick about, and that Nat has a spelling test next week, but if I tried to fit any more schedules up here I would explode.”
Steve rolls his eyes. “Peg’s down this weekend. Angie can’t make it for at least another two weeks.”
“Shame.” Bucky yawns through the word. “They’re like fairy godmothers to the kids. One wave of a magic wand and all their problems disappear.”
“In a swirl of coding and face paint,” Steve says, idly, and although his voice is casual the sheer love behind his words is clear to hear. Your heart squeezes in- jealousy? Longing? You can’t be sure, and before you have time to ponder it, Bucky is getting to his feet.
“Call me a lightweight, but I’m going to bed. After I’ve put this godforsaken Lego away.”
You snort, and clamber up to help. “It’s the most painful thing in the universe. Scientifically proven.”
“Oh, is it?” Steve asks, teasing, and you nod, seriously.
“I did my dissertation on it, actually.”
Their laughter is soft and warm, and when you say goodnight, you can’t believe how normal you feel.You should have known it couldn’t last.
~~
That first night, you hardly sleep. The bed is too hard; the covers too heavy; the curtains too thin. The night is clear and verging on cold, the way an English spring often lapses back into sudden chill, and moonlight seeps in through the window to bleach out the room. Fairy-light, Aunt Liv used to call it. It’s been years since you’ve thought about that.
The dream, your usual dream, leaves you shaking and sweating and verging on crying out. You stifle any sounds behind your hand and switch on the light sitting awake until the dawn steals across the sky, and it’s safe to get up.
When everyone else is up, a military operation swings into action. You smile around your yawns, jamming slices of bread into the toaster as Sam scampers around the kitchen wearing a fuzzy lavender cardigan and Clint plays a game with Nat that seems to involve a lot of toes being crushed by the wheelchair tracks. Your nightmare is swiftly washed away by sleepy, childish voices and the smell of breakfast.
“Sam, you look great, but that’s not permitted under uniform rules,” Bucky says, amiably, then sticks his head around the kitchen door, “Tony! Ten minutes until lift-off!”
Steve and Bruce are attacking Hrothgar’s coat with a dog brush, an indignity the hound bears with an appropriate expression of long-suffering. Rhodey is tearing through the shoe rack, brandishing one trainer and muttering threats under his breath. The rest of the pack snuffle around the table, hunting for crusts.
“Y/N, can you grab Hulk’s harness?” Steve asks.
“It’s on the drawers in my room,” Bruce adds, helpfully.
“And knock on Tony’s door when you’re down there,” Bucky tells you, “Kid’s probably trying to hack the Pentagon as we speak.”
You disregard Bucky’s assertion (after all, Tony is twelve years old), but nod and step outside.
You find the dog harness easily enough- pausing to throw a selection of dirty clothes into the laundry hamper- and rap your knuckles on Tony’s door. “Tony! Five-minute warning!”
“Just a second,” Comes the reply. You give him thirty before knocking again.
“I think Bucky said something to the effect of hacking can wait until this evening,” You call, and there’s a scuffling noise.
A head of dark hair appears around the door, and brown eyes give you an exasperated expression. “Fine. But if you’re going to stay, you’ve got to start calling the dads by their proper names.” He bustles past you, schoolbag swinging.
“What did he mean?” You ask, when the hordes have stampeded out of the door and begun their walk to school, “Your proper names?”
Bucky groans into his mug of tea; Steve snickers.
“You can take this one, Stevie,” Bucky grumbles, and Steve claps him consolingly on the shoulder.
“Every summer, we have a proper holiday for the kids,” He explains, “Pitch the tents at the bottom of the garden, cook over a fire, all that. Last year, somebody-”
“Clint,” Bucky interjects, darkly.
“- Decided to hold a vote over who was the coolest dad out of the two of us. And, due to-”
“Blatant favouritism-”
“My natural charisma and charm, I won. Which means that I am officially known as Rad Dad.”
Steve sounds so satisfied with this that you burst out laughing.
“You think that’s funny?” Bucky sounds like he’s trying to be very serious, but is very tempted to start giggling, too, “They decided that my appropriate title was Granddad.”
The three of you dissolve into laughter.
“I’m dreading getting assigned a nickname now,” You say, when you can breathe again. “Rad dad, Granddad and…”
“Don’t even try to predict it,” Bucky says. “It’s one of those things that happens horrifyingly quickly and it’s utterly irreversible.”
“Like kids in general,” Steve adds, wryly, and the two of them laugh.
“How did you end up here?” You ask, suddenly curious. They exchange a look.
“I advertised,” Maud’s voice answers, as the kitchen door opens and the dogs leap into a frenzy, “And Steven replied. James joined him some months afterwards.” The old lady gives you a pleasant smile. “They proved to be somewhat indispensable.”
“Always nice to hear such glowing praise this early in the morning,” Bucky grins, “Tea, Maud?”
“You know that I appreciate your courtesy in asking,” She says, in a dignified voice, “But the answer is always yes, James.”
James? You frown, and make a mental note to ask about it later, as Bucky gets up to fill the kettle.
Later, however, has to wait. Over the next few hours, there’s more laundry than an army would generate to put through the rickety washing machine; then there are bathrooms to clean, towels to peg on the line, dogs to let out and gather back in again. Steve fires up an alarmingly ancient-looking vacuum cleaner, which sends all of the dogs scurrying into the boot room, and the three of you move through the house together, brandishing dusters to flick over the reams of furniture. There’s a fridge to inventory, and lunch to cobble together from the remnants left inside- and straight afterwards, Steve says something about guttering and a stepladder.
“Need any help?” You ask, but they shake their heads in tandem.“We’ll be fine. You could get out in the garden, if you like?” Bucky offers. “There’s a trunk full of coats and jumpers in the boot room.”
You nod, and get up from the table, excitement starting to cautiously bubble in your chest. “Any idea where the gardening supplies are?”
“I keep the basics in the shed behind the privet hedge,” Steve answers, and you thank him and head into the boot room. No time to waste. There’s a garden out there crying for attention.
You dig through the gigantic carved chest in the boot room until you find an extraordinarily hideous yellow jumper and a lumpy woollen hat; both are pulled on, along with your cracked pair of wellingtons. Then you open the back door and go in search of the shed.
The beds on the back patio bear the full brunt of your first attentions. They are choked with straggling weeds and the remnants of long-dead roots, the soil crumbling and moist as you wrench the gnarled remains from the depths. A light drizzle begins to fall; you hunch your shoulders and carry on. Your muscles begin to feel it, slowly but surely. Your back starts to throb. You don’t stop. That’s part of the joy of it, paying the tax of exacting transformation. After two hours, you have a mound of debris, dirt showered everywhere, and three flowerbeds bare and empty, ready to receive whatever you should choose to plant.
There are five more to go, but still. Progress.
~~
Before dinner, the illusion of peaceable companionship between the six pre-teenagers is thoroughly shattered. They bicker and snap at one another, the fracas ebbing and flowing as Bucky and Steve are constantly forced to step in. Only Rhodey seems above it all, frowning at the grain of the table as the arguments fizzle across his head. You can empathise.
“Hey,” Steve nudges your shoulder, then raises his voice, “Seeing as Rhodey is the only one who’s not making a solitary hut on the slopes of Kilimanjaro look appealing right now, he can take Y/N down to the vegetable stall and find something to cook. The rest of you-”
“Sit down and shut up!” Bucky roars. You jump; but the kids all immediately assume expressions of amused contrition. Then they do as he says.
“I’ll see you suckers later,” Rhodey smirks, then gets up from the table as a wave of protest rises up from his siblings.
“Don’t antagonise them,” Steve tuts.
Rhodey takes a jam jar out from behind the mug tree and takes out a handful of change, rolling his eyes dramatically. “Fine. Come on, then.”
You pull on your shoes and follow him out.
The sky is still grey, but the rain has finally moved on, and although the wind is cold it’s not bone-chilling. Rhodey walks along with his hands in his pockets, a smug grin still hanging around his face.
“Grandad’s not that scary, you know,” He says, when you’re clear of the straggling pine trees and heading down the drive, “He’s just got the loudest voice.”
A smile twitches at the edge of your mouth. “He need to use it a lot?”
Rhodey frowns, thinking about it. Then another grin pushes out, a little kid grin, full of mischief and possibility. “Nah. We’re all perfect.”
Laughter bursts out of you; nervous laughter, tight with the newness of it all, but Rhodey doesn’t seem to notice. You walk down to the village together, through the narrow streets lined with big houses, until you find Rosemary’s vegetable stall, which is just a trestle table strewn with trays and dirt. Rosemary herself is sat in a deckchair, wrapped in a coat with a terrier on her knees, and she smiles when she sees Rhodey drawing closer.
“Hello!” The terrier jumps down to come and enthusiastically sniff Rhodey’s trainers.
“Hey, Rosemary,” Rhodey gestures to you as he draws up to the table, “This is Y/N. She’s helping up at the house.”
She gets up to shake your hand. “Nice to meet you.”
You return the gesture, feeling the dry skin, the cracks. Gardener’s hands. If you looked, there’d be grime around her cuticles.
“What are you growing?” You ask her, reflexively, and her eyes light up.
In the end, you only leave to walk back home because Rhodey’s getting impatient and your watch is ticking closer to dinner time. Your head buzzes with ideas.
“Rhodey,” You ask, as you pass between the gates, heading back up the drive, “Where’s the nearest gardening centre?”
Rhodey just rolls his eyes. “I can see why Aunt Maud likes you.”
You smile. “I like her, too.”
He casts you a look, then, testing for a lie. When he doesn’t find one, he nods. All that’s left is for the two of you to savour the last few minutes of silence, before the back door opens to admit you into the house once more.
AN: I start work next Tuesday (!!!!!!!) so writing will take even more of a back seat :’( Love to all (again) <3
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