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yall-batman-fanfic · 3 days ago

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A Promise Across Time | Bruce Wayne/Batman x Magician!Reader (Part 1/3)

Synopsis: Bruce remembers the first date he had with Vivian and the time he truly felt alive again.

Bruce messed up. While it wasn't entirely his fault, he felt guilty to have seen Vivian all dressed up that night and ready to meet him inside the restaurant only for him to apologize and take a raincheck on their date. Their first date. She tried to be understanding by giving a smile and reassuring him that “these things happen” but he could see that she was looking forward to their dinner. He was too.

After their brief partnership in taking down Deacon Blackfire, Bruce wanted to get to know the Symbologist and Witch-out-of-practice a little more. She was intriguing, insightful, and sincere. Vivian did tell him that she didn't like politics, hence her preference to work in academia to get away from corporate politics. Despite her work dealing with symbols and icons, and many layers of research in sociology, history, geology, and philosophy, she prefered that people talked without the double meaning. That they stay true to their word. To be kind to one another. To tell it to her face than have someone stab her in the back.

But it can't be helped. People are people. So she just went to a place that has that kind of decency. Or at least have a bit more decency than in a corporate office.

It took him a while to find time to reach out to her again. He did try to call her hotel after that night but it was her father who answered and dropped the phone on him. Bruce was a bit surprised. No one really drops the phone on Bruce Wayne. Batman, sure. But Bruce Wayne? It was rare.

With everything going on with his day job and night job, Bruce decided to just approach her again once he's finished the Firefly case with Batman and some meetings with the board in Wayne Enterprise as Bruce Wayne. For Vivian, he waited until her family had gone back to Liverpool. He had a feeling that her father would slam the door at his face if he came to their hotel.

So, here he was now, entering Gotham University years after graduating. Walking down its familiar halls, Bruce recalled his undergraduate years there before continuing his studies at Yale where he got his degree in law. He was mostly familiar with the campus grounds of the Criminology, Information Technology, and Engineering campuses as he took those understudies when he was twenty-one. He remembered running through these halls with Harvey Dent, both young and full of themselves.

There were still happy times, he thought as he remembered his best friend. But it was mostly overshadowed by the bad memories. The struggle he went through.

Bruce rarely entered the Classics Campus where the literature and history majors were. Sure he would visit the library there and go to some classes in that building, but he can't say he knew the layout like the palm of his hand. So, as he entered the large and classical looking building with its pillars and statues, he had to ask his way around. Specifically to where Professor Vivian Pryor was at his hour.

Maybe surprising her at her place of work wasn't such a good idea. He forgot, Vivian was a professor, she'll be moving around than staying in one place.

A couple of students he asked were in shock that he was there and stammered in giving directions,” Bruce – Mr. Wayne – Mr. Billionaire Bruce Wayne,” the student said when he approached them, “Professor Pryor's — uh — it's around 2PM now, and it's a Friday… I think she'll be at 304, the Symposium.”

“Symposium?” Bruce said.

“Right, sorry, just a campus joke – Elliot's Hall.”

“Thanks.”

He found classroom 304 easily as it was the first room he saw upon taking the final step at the stairs, and just in time the students were exiting the classroom. Some paused as they saw him and then moved along when Bruce greeted them and asked if Vivian Pryor was still inside. They said yes and he went.

The amphitheater-styled room was empty, save for the red-haired woman packing her things at the center stage. Her hair was styled to a bun this time, a bit out of place now since it was the afternoon, her clothes were similar to the one she wore in her first book launch – the tweed high-waisted pants, a white button-shirt, boots, and a coat which she was just about to wear until she saw him approaching her.

“Bruce Wayne,” she said, quite surprised to see him there.

“Professor Pryor,” Bruce smiled and held out the small bouquet he brought. “I hope you're not busy.”

Vivian thanked him for the flowers. “Why?”

“I was wondering if we can talk? We didn't really get the chance to since I canceled our date at the last minute.”

“It was an emergency. Things happen,” Vivian shrugged. “Don't tell me that's been bothering you all this time.”

“It has.”

Vivian hid her blush in the flowers. “That must have been awful for you. You could have called or dropped by if it bothered you so much. I wouldn't mind… but I understand you're busy so I just thought it'd be best not to bother you too much.”

“I did, actually called and dropped by the hotel you and your family were staying at… but your father wasn't too happy about it.”

“What?” Vivian raised a brow at him.

“He never told you, didn't he?”Oops.

“That son of a – sorry, grandma but your son is such a…” Vivian got her phone and typed furiously fast and hit sent. “He will not be doing that again. I am so sorry about that, Bruce. I hope this doesn't give you a bad impression on my family my dad is just –”

BING!

Vivian opened the chat – it was their family group chat – and typed a quick reply and turned the chat in silent mode, knowing it was going to be flooded with messages from her stepfather.

Turning to Bruce, who had an amused smile on his face, Vivian said, “Again, I am so sorry about that – just so we're clear, that wasn't me telling my dad to slam the door or drop the phone, he did it. If you called, I would have answered the phone.”

“It's fine. I’m glad you're not mad at me for that night.”

“Bruce, shit happens,” she sighed, he was surprised with her language, “While it was a little shitty that I got dressed up only to spend my night drinking beer in the nearest bar that night, you had an emergency. It happens, and I'm sure it will happen again along the road. You can't beat yourself over a date that didn't go as planned.”

“Well, I promise that this time it won't. Maybe we can have another try? This Friday, afterwork. I'll pick you up at your hotel.”

“And where will we go?”

Bruce sighed. “You know, I've been asking the same thing myself. I was thinking of the museum tour but then I'm sure you’ve memorized Gotham Museum by now.”

“I work there, Bruce. Part-time,” she grinned.

“So, I was thinking something different for the both of us. So we'd be at par with the experience.”

“And what do you think that would be?”

“There's a nice restaurant not far, it's new, and it's got music. Not too loud that we won't hear each other. And room to dance.”

“I didn't know Bruce Wayne could dance.”

“I don't. Do you?”

“Not particularly… alright, Friday. My last class is at four. You can pick me up at five – to give the lady a little time to prepare?”

“Your hotel then?”

“Here is fine. My students are making signs over your shoulder that they'd be the one to help me prepare,” Vivian waved at the group who entered the room and had a large message on their pad saying: Makeover. Room 203.

Bruce chuckled at the sight of the girls, and turned to Vivian to say, “Here there. Tomorrow at five.”

“Something fancy or casual?”

“A little bit of both if you like. I guess I should get going, your class is here.”

“Yes, go. Before they take this as a sign it's free period… and Mr. Wayne.”

“Yes?”

Vivian held the flowers. “I appreciate the flowers, but it breaks my heart to see them wither at the end of the day.”

“No flowers then. Chocolates?”

“A girl's best friend.”

“Coffee?”

“Now you're speaking my language.”

“I'll take note. See you tomorrow, Vivian.”

“You too.”

As Bruce climbed the steps, he passed by the giggling students and said out loud for Vivian to hear, teasingly, “I'll leave her in your hands. Make sure she's free tomorrow and ready.”

“You got it, Mr. Wayne,” one of them giggled.

As soon as Bruce closed the door behind him, he heard teasing and squeals from the students and Vivian telling them, “At least have the decency to wait for him to leave the freaking door before doing that. Jesus. Come on, I taught you better, didn't I?”

Bruce smiled as he heard the laughter in the room.

On the day of their date, Bruce made sure to finish all his work in Wayne Enterprise before 3 PM, and went to make sure Gotham wasn't on fire before making a quick change in the office bathroom, which caught the attention of Lucius Fox and asked, “Off to a date, Mr. Wayne?”

“I am,” he said as he tried to fix his tie. Today it just wasn't working with him.

Seeing his struggle, Lucius Fox chuckled and offered to fix it for him, and he let the man. “And who is this lovely lady you're getting all dressed up for today, Mr. Wayne? If it's alright to ask.”

Bruce smiled. “Professor Vivian Pryor.”

“Ah, the author. She's a lovely woman. Going dancing, I see?”

“What made you think so?”

“Your shoes.”

“Alfred picked them for me today. I told him that I was heading to the Black Bird tonight with Vivian.”

“Leave it to Alfred to give you a good suit and shoes for a night of dancing,” Lucius laughed and finished his work and pressed down Bruce's suit. “I think that would be enough to sweep her off her feet.”

Bruce laughed. “Thanks, Lucius.”

“Have fun, Mr. Wayne!”

Driving to Gotham University, Bruce waited for Vivian at the Classics Campus in his pressed suit, heavy coat, and a box of chocolates he thought he'd like. He was a bit early – ten minutes early – but he didn't wait too long because Vivian came out with some of her colleagues who kept gushing over her dress.

And they had more than one reason to.

As Vivian went down, Bruce paused as he took in the sight of her. Her red locks placed in a coiffer with a pearl accessory to keep it up, she wore a bit of makeup that stands out for the evening, and an emerald dress with a square neckline that gives enough skin for anyone to want more, the bodice hugged her body perfectly with a good emphasis on her chest while still being modest, and a skirt made off soft and flowing material that made it look like she was walking underwater.

“Bruce!” Vivian smiled as soon as she saw him and ran towards his direction to get away from her teasing colleagues “Don't you look handsome. Are those dance shoes? And you said you don't dance.”

“Alfred picked them out for the day,” Bruce shrugged. “I didn't even know I had them. You look stunning, Vivian.”

A blush crept up her cheeks and Vivian looked away to hide it but he saw. It was adorable.

“You said dancing, so I picked something that looks like it's for dancing… actually, it was my neighbor in the hotel that picked it. He's this fashion designer in Gotham for an event and he gave me this for the night.”

“Well, I guess we're definitely dancing tonight. Also,” Bruce held the chocolates out. “Chocolates as promised, but Alfred said it's important to give a lady flowers on a date, so,” he opened the box and showed the flower-shaped chocolates.

Vivian chuckled and said, “smart. You found a loophole with my no-flowers rule.”

“Shall we?” He offered his arm to her.

“Yes, we shall,” Vivian turned to her friends and called for her colleagues and students, who stayed longer to see her be picked up by her – in their words – “knight in shining armor”, to get her things that they kept hostage so she could show off her dress. “This doesn't exempt you from tomorrow's test. Got it?” Vivian told the students as she joined Bruce.

“Boo!” Her students teased.

“Don't worry, I'll try to get her forget about the test tomorrow,” Bruce joked.

“You do that, Mr. Wayne. You'll be saving our asses from another essay!”

“Thanks for taking care of her for me!”

“Have fun, Vivian!” Her colleagues called out.

Heading to the parking lot, Vivian was in shock to find the expensive looking car parked between two economy-sedans, one of which was owned by her colleague, Justin Kirk, who was about to leave for home and only waved at her goodnight without his usual smile. As she entered the car, Vivian took a breath.

“A manual,” Vivian commended him.

“If you're going to drive a really fast car, you should drive it right,” he smirked.

She smirked. “If you're going to drive a really fast car, you shouldn't drive it in Gotham, Mr. Wayne. Else you'll find yourself getting troubles. This beast is made for speed not everyday traffic.”

“Good thing we'll be driving on a road that lets me drive fast then,” Bruce left the parking space.

“I thought we were going dancing in Black Bird?” Vivian asked.

“We are. Just not in Gotham City. The Black Bird at the outskirts has a good view.”

Long Island. He was taking her to Long Island.

“I can't believe you're actually taking me outside of Gotham City for our first date,” Vivian chuckled.

“I gotta make it up to you for cancelling. Besides, you'll see why the original Black Bird is way better than the branch in Gotham. I love Gotham but I think you'll like this place more than the one in Founder's Island.”

“And I thought we're both trying something new tonight.”

“We are. I don't usually dance. But with you, I'll give it a shot.”

The drive to Long Island was quick and fast. Bruce made sure to show her that the car wasn't just for show, that he can really drive it, and the entire time he would see at the corner of his eye the smile on her face. She also liked when he drifted the car. Not a flinch, just her smile reaching her ears. He could only imagine the look on her face if she rode the Batmobile during a chase. She'd love that he bet.

Minus the guns being fired at them or the RPG, which he encountered last week with Penguin's men trying to shake Batman off their tail.

The Black Bird at Long Island was at the outskirts, atop a cliff that connects down to the white beach. From where they sat at the covered balcony, Vivian could still see the lights coming from Gotham City, and a bit of smog that covered its skies.

“You're right, this does have a better view,” she told Bruce. “And has good music too.”

“Glad you like it.”

Their food came not long after they finished their wine. It was good food, probably the best she tasted from a restaurant. She shouldn't be surprised since the Black Bird had a michelin star. She ordered an Alfredo, and for a moment she remembered her time eating at one of the restaurants in Rome when she had her semester there.

They talked about a lot of things as they ate. About their work, and then their studies, which they were invested in learning about from one another. She was surprised when he mentioned he had degrees in Criminal Science, Forensic Sciences, Computer Sciences, Chemistry and Engineering by the time he was twenty-one. But she remembered his little secret, and her little secret, and thought that it made sense for Batman to have those under his belt. Still, considering he still didn't know that she knew he was Batman, the fact he had five degrees under his belt by twenty-one, along with a degree in law from Yale was impressive.

At twenty-one she was still in uni, going though classes, writing papers, doing her reading for tomorrow's lecture during her part-time jobs. Once, during a slow night, she gave a lecture on Dante's Divine Comedy to a homeless man who asked for a cup of coffee. It was the most philosophical conversation she had since then. She wondered where the old man was now.

When their desserts came, Vivian ordered an Affogato, the band started to play more upbeat music, encouraging people to come up and dance. From their place, Vivian and Bruce watched as some of the guests got up and danced to the upbeat, dance music from the sixties.

“So, are we going to just sit here and watch them or are you going to use those dance shoes that your butler prepared for tonight?” Vivian said.

Bruce got up from his seat and held out his hand to her. “Don't hit me if I step on your foot.”

“Don't worry, Mr. Wayne, we'll take things slow,” Vivian took his hand and led him to where the others were.

When Bruce was about to put his hand on her waist to do some ballroom dance he's done in galas, Vivian removed his hand and told him, “This is jazz and blues, Bruce.”

“I told you, I'm not much of a dancer.”

“Just follow my lead,” Vivian grinned and circled him with his hand still holding hers, when she pulled out, Bruce instinctively pulled her back in and kept the rhythm.

“And you said you don't dance,” he whispered to her ear.

“I might have gone to clubs like this back in Liverpool and learned a thing or two,” she got out of his chest and led them through the dance. Her dress danced the entire time, giving an illusion of the music flowing through them in each twirl and step. Bruce held her hand the entire time and his smile never faltered, and to surprise her he even dipped her back a little and pulled down her hair to add more flare to her get up as she danced.

By the end of the second song, the two left the Black Bird, with Bruce paying for their dinner, but instead of head home, they went down to the white beach. Wearing her coat and holding her shoes, Vivian relished the feeling of sand burying her feet as they walked and the smell of the ocean.

“You lied,” said Bruce.

“About that?”

“About dancing. We weren't par in this date.”

“I really don't dance, you know.”

“Those moves says differently.”

“I'm telling you, that was just me fooling around,” Vivian laughed. “You weren't bad yourself. I'm sure if you brought me to those fancy places that has ballroom dances I'd be the one following your lead.”

“Naturally, I was raised by a butler,” it was supposed to be a joke but Vivian looked at him with a sad gaze, but she smiled nonetheless.

“Alfred raised a gentleman,” Vivian squeezed his hand. “He raised a good man.”

“He was always generous and said it was my parents who raised me. They did for a time until they were no longer there. He was the one who taught me all of this – how to talk, how to act, how to dress up, manners, how to dance, and how to woo a woman.”

“Well, he did a good job.”

“What about you? Who taught you how to dance?” He had a guess it was her stepfather.

“It was my mom who would bring me to those jazz clubs,” Vivian began. “I know, I was too young to be in those places but she just had to. You see, there was a father-daughter dance in my old school. I didn't go because I didn't really have a dad, and I actually hid the poster from my school diary then so she wouldn't find out. She's been working more shifts that time and I knew she was tired. But some nosy neighbor asked if I was sick since I wasn't in the dance last night.”

“She found out.”

“Yup. What she did was, she got me to wear this old sixties dress she found in the thrift shop. The both of us did. It was a matching set, and we took a bus to some jazz club. She was friends with the security there and she knew the band playing. She told them: “my daughter missed her father-daughter dance, and I want to take her to one”. They played this jazz and blues song and we danced. Then, Adam came and he danced with me too. In fact, all of the ladies and gentlemen there danced with me.”

“I'm glad you have that memory of her. That you still remember the happy times and not just…”

He had slipped. Vivian Pryor hasn't told Bruce Wayne about her mother. She told Batman that time they were in the crypts. But she brushed it off so easily and said, “I try to remember more of the happy things that happened now. For a time all of those happy things were gone and what I remember of my mother was finding her on that pavement, dead. But I learned that there are also happy memories that I can look back to. It was a tragedy what happened but my mom's life wasn't one. She made sure to remind us that she lived happily.

“One moment does not define a person's life. It's the journey they made, the memories they leave with those who mourn their passing. And to have someone to mourn you means you have lived life as it is meant to be.”

Bruce stopped in his tracks, pulling her to a halt as well. “Where did you read that from?”

“I didn't,” she grinned. “I thought it myself. Right now.”

“No. You can't just say something so deep just out of the blue,” he laughed.

“I swear! I didn't read it from somewhere.”

“I guess you really are an author.”

“An academic author.”

Looking into the darkness of the sea, Bruce sighed. “To have someone to mourn your passing… a haunting thought if you ask me.”

“You think no one will mourn you?”

“When my parents died Gotham mourned them, but there was only a handful of us who truly grieved. A handful of us who Thomas and Martha Wayne meant to. A friend, family, a son… most of those people are gone now.”

“I would grieve,” Vivian said.

“We barely know it each other.”

“I know but… don't take this the wrong way but I'm more sensitive to life around me than most people,” Vivian chose her words carefully. “It's like… it's like let's say the sea. Whenever it comes to the beach it leaves a mark on the sand. Give it a couple of decades or centuries and it can form something with it. I'm the surface of this sand or that cliff, and each person is an ocean who makes their mark and I feel everything them and everything about them…

“So, when the ocean suddenly disappears or dries up, I would know and it would hurt me more sometimes than it should.”

Because she was a witch. Because her magic makes her sensitive to life around her.

“It's one of the reasons when my pet bunny died I cried for weeks,” Vivian attempted to joke but when she saw Bruce's gaze on her she fell silent because he was loss for words. “We might have just met now, but you've helped me so much for the past few weeks.” As Bruce Wayne and Batman. “And after this night, I will grieve your loss. And I would mourn Gotham for the person they lost. The man who has a vision and has been fighting to save it.”

It was only then she realized how close they were. That he held her waist while still holding her hand, that he leaned down close and that she was whispering the last few sentences as he looked at her closely.

“Do you have rules against kissing on first dates?” Bruce teased.

Vivian shook her head, “Not tonight,” she pulled him down and kissed him.

Bruce wrapped his arms around her to pull her up. Her lips were soft and had the taste of the Affogato from earlier, and the way she pressed her tongue against his had him hold her tighter and wanting more. That's when he had her wrap her legs around him so he could kiss her properly, and to hold her entirely. At some point, they fell on the sand with Vivian straddling him and their lips still moving with one another.

Before it could escalate, Vivian pulled away. “But I do have one on sleeping with anyone on the first date.”

Bruce chuckled. “Understandable… you have a way with words, Professor.”

“Thank the dozens of philosophers whose works I've read for years now.”

Bruce reached up and brushed back a lock of red hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek. “Thank you for tonight.”

“I should be thanking you, Bruce. You know how to sweep a girl off her feet.”

He shook his head and cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, nuzzling into his palm. “Thank you… I haven't had this kind of conversation for a long time now. Where I'm not guarded… where I can relax and talk to someone who actually listens… and who is not my butler.”

Vivian smiled and leaned down to kiss his lips again. “Anytime.”

“So, are you free again this Friday?”

Vivian laughed, “we haven't even finished this date.”

“Well, I want to see you again.”

“You know where I'm temporarily staying until my real estate agent finalizes the papers for my new condo. And if you ever need a listening friend, you can always call, and I'll always answer. Unless I have class.”

“As much as I want to get you access to Wayne Tower, I want this to be something between us for a while. Something they won't publicize in Gotham.”

“Understandable. I'll tell everyone it was just one date then.”

“But I hope you're free next Friday or maybe tomorrow.”

“I'm needed at the museum tomorrow. Next Friday. I'll make sure to clear my schedule for that.”

“And Vivian?”

“Yes, Bruce?”

“I will also grieve if you were to disappear.”

Vivian smiled. “Then I promise that I won't disappear… as long as you promise too.”

He knew it was foolish to make such a promise but Bruce said, “I will.”

~*~

Standing before Superman and Wonder Woman, Vivian felt her whole world crumbling after hearing what they said. Everything just felt numb after hearing them say to her, “Batman's gone, Vivian. We're so sorry.” And all they could give her was his cape and how it happened. All she heard was Bruce was gone and it was because of Darkseid.

“No,” Vivian spoke for the first time since Superman and Wonder Woman gave the news. “No, no, no, no!” Vivian cried and broke down. Alfred was quick to catch her and Damian ran to her side as she cried. “No, no, no! He can't,” Vivian clutched his cape and cowl trying to use as an anchor point to find him. Her magic flowed around her along with the Phoenix's magical energy.

“Viv,” Tim tried to console her but Vivian sobbed, her magic no longer glowing around her and a painful cry came from the woman.

“I can't feel him… I can't –” she cried. “I can't feel you…”

Seeing her inconsolable state, Damian faced Superman and Wonder Woman, and told them, “You've done enough.”

“Damian,” Dick chastised him. “It's not their –”

“A Kryptonian and an Amazon, Grayson,” Damian glared at him. “Father was a man… look at her, Dick.”

Dick did and saw Vivian crying on Alfred’s shoulder, still clutching on Bruce's cape and cowl, then to Damian and saw the tears building in his eyes. “Yeah, I think it's best you give us time,” he told the two heroes.

After Dick walked out the two heroes, he returned to the living room where Vivian still held onto the cape as she cried and grieved for the loss of her husband, and tried over and over to look for him. To feel his presence again but to avail.

“I can't feel him, Alfred,” she cried. “I can't feel Bruce.”

~*~

Pulled through the time stream and thrown to different times, Bruce woke in a convent bed with the sound of a voice calling his name, “Bruce!” Getting up, he reached for the candle on his bedside and lit a fire to bring light to his dark home.

“Quoth who?”

Silence.

Sighing, he placed back the candle on the best beside him where he saw the picture he drew of the red haired woman he kept seeing in his dreams. Her red hair, he painted it using red clay he found in the ground, and he kept an ample supply of the red clay in his current place of refuge to continue to paint the woman's portraits that slowly became clearer as days passed. It started from glimpses of her hair, then her brown eyes, her face was blurry at first but then her face would start to form.

The wind blew into his home and with it the scent of the ocean and the voice, “Bruce!”

“Vivian,” He spoke the name.

“Who is Vivian?” A nun came to his chambers. He was given his own quarters to keep him from those with fever and other ailments. “Finally recovering your memories, stranger?” Her Irish accent was strong.

“I cannot say for certain,” Bruce muttered.

“And this Vivian, whose name you speak of? Might she be the woman you have been painting day and night?”

“I do not know, Sister.”

The nun looked at him for a moment and said, “Pray, stranger. Pray that you remember so you may return to her whole.”

Bruce looked at the cross that hung on the wall across his bed then again to the portrait of the woman he drew. He chose to take her portrait and pray to her instead. Pray that he may remember and learn who it was that calls for his name “Bruce.”

Yes. His name. He remembers his name.

“My name, Sister,” he spoke before the nun left. “I remember the name given to me but not the name of thy kin.”

“And what is it?”

“Bruce.”

The nun smiled. “Well, good night, Mr. Bruce.”

The nun left the room and Bruce continued to look at the woman with red hair along with the image of the bat below. In a whisper, he repeated her name again and again. He came to this town with no name and no memory but an image of a woman with red hair.

“Do not… grieve, my Vivian,” he spoke in a whisper, the words coming from his heart. “I shall find you.”

#batman #batman x reader #bruce wayne #dc fanfic #dc universe #fanfic #batman fanfiction

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lotstradamus · 6 months ago

Note

inspired by the manchester anon haha but do you have any tips and suggestions for visiting leeds? 🩷

I've lived here for 2 years now (!!!) but somehow I still don't really know my way around and just go to the same 5 places and use google maps to get anywhere else. it's sad. but here's some shit I love:

Grindhouse - cheap drinks, loads and loads of seats, never too full, music a reasonable volume, and they project 80s movies on the back wall. we once sat in here for 2 hours cos Stand By Me was on. one time we watched the bar staff earnestly tell a group of women on a hen do that the bar was closed and they weren't serving any more drinks, at 7:45pm. 10/10.

Rudy's - only 9 cities* in this fair nation have a Rudy's, so I'm going to keep reccing it for everyone else. perfect Neapolitan pizza. *Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Nottingham, Durham, London, York, Liverpool - if you live in one of these places and haven't been to Rudy's yet, sort it out.

Neon Cactus - go here on a Wednesday and order wings, and you'll get half price margs. lots of great Mexican scran. don't take anyone too picky or over 50, because the price for the great food and vibes is that at least one thing you order will be incorrect. but roll with it. half price margs, man.

Empire Cafe - book in advance if you want to sample the delights of Empire Cafe, cos there's like 6 tables max. everything is seasonal, changes on the daily, and is insanely delicious. if you want to experience heaven, order the steak and chips with salsa verde. there is NOTHING like it.

Stuzzi - another seasonal, small plate sort of place, but Italian. amazing food and a gorgeous restaurant. go with a big group and order one of everything.

Eat Your Greens - ANOTHER seasonal restaurant! this one is farm-to-fork and organic. I can’t speak to the quality as I haven’t actually been, but I am a frequenter of their GREENGROCER, which is MEGA. last time I think I left with natty wine, pâté, some insane tinned fish, a jar of harissa and a bag of sunset potatoes. if you like food, go here.

SARTO - fresh, handmade pasta and picky bits. another great place to go with a group and order all the starters. I had a celeriac pasta there last year that I think about on a fairly regular basis; I picked it cos it was the weirdest sounding thing on the menu and it was fucking mouthwatering. good quality and good people! and it's next door to The Wardrobe, so perfect for a pre-gig tea.

Santiago Bar - like Grindhouse (alternative, casual) but the music is louder and you'll find yourself doing tequila shots at 1am and screaming along to, like, Don Broco. it's the best.

Blue Collar Boys - as a rule I hate 'vintage' clothes shops (overpriced, ugly, everything is XXS), but this place seems to specialise solely in American t-shirts and sweatshirts from the 90s in exactly my size, and everything is £10. this is amazing and a huge bargain if you find something like vintage Wranglers and a Playboy bomber jacket (£20, my wife) but not so amazing or a bargain if you find 3 t-shirts with holes in (£30, me). we've never been without finding shit we love. they only open on random weekends, and they always seem to have more stuff than they could possibly ever sell. it's a freaky vintage alternate universe.

The Corn Exchange - a big gorgeous ol' building full of little businesses. vintage, handmade, tattoos, coffee, jewellery, independent brands, yarn, shoes, a barbers, a bookshop, they've got it all. very easy to spend £100 and 6 hours. every so often they have a market on the bottom floor. perfect tiny representation of Leeds: quirky, independent, delicious, cool.

Silver's Deli - this is a 9-minute train ride away in Bramley (my ends!) but has become THEE buzzy foodie spot recently. go on a sunny saturday morning (cos you will probably have to sit outside) and order the everything sandwich. thank me later. if they have scotch eggs or sausage rolls on, I beseech you, order both. and if you want the sunday special prepare to get there at 11 and fight.

Against the Grain - if you've come to Bramley for Silver's, you may as well trundle 10 minutes up the road and visit the best bar in Leeds. cosy, casual, full of locals, hidden in Swinnow Mills. it's a sit-around-and-chat-to-people sort of place, with bonus charcuterie boards AND a pizza van on weekends. we are here A LOT, because Gray's Salon and Rose and Thorn Tattoo are both in the Mill, and we give them all our money. oh! and dog friendly. sooo many dogs.

Project House/Galleria - if you've gotten the train out to Bramley for Silver's and ATG, jump on the 72 back to town and get off at Project House to eat MORE food. Galleria is a great place to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Project House has EVERYTHING (depending on the day). yoga! gigs! vintage fairs! a bi-annual tattoo convention meets makers market with food vendors called Hand of Glory! check what's on and head on down to support local!

Kirkstall Bridge Inn - another one local(ish) to me, but worth travelling out of town for; a PROPER pub (i.e. no tv, no sports, no shite) that does roasts upstairs and lets dogs in downstairs. outdoor seating right by the canal, and every so often they put something on and the car park turns into a tiny festival. Kirkstallpalooza is a highlight. great place to finish a nice canal walk (who am I?!).

tl;dr sorry that this is obnoxiously long, I love Leeds

#BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH #answered #oh let’s add Belgrave to this too. great pizza and vibes

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football-and-fanfics · 1 year ago

Text

Sick - Trent Alexander-Arnold & Dominik Szoboszlai

Who: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai Request: puhleaeaease write a sickfic with Dom and TAA?! 😍🤩 I love these two & their weird bromance thingy 😁 ur the best! Requested by: anonymous Warnings: mentions of being sick

The sixth day of Liverpool's two week training camp in Austria was about to start. The team gathered in their hotel's restaurant for breakfast, but there was one very significant absentee.

"Wheres Trent?" Dominik was the first to notice the Scouser's unusual absence. Since he had been named vice-captain, Trent always was among the first to arrive for any team activity. But now he was nowhere to be seen, while even the most notorious latecomers were already present.

Andy, sitting at the same table as Dominik, looked around. "Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him yet." "That’s not like him at all." Dominik shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat. An uneasy feeling was creeping up on him somehow. He had absolutely no reason to, but there was a gut-feeling not to trust this situation.

As if their conversation had been overheard, Virgil suddenly appeared behind Andy, holding up his phone and looking equally worried. "Have any of you seen Trent today?" The Dutchman asked, sounding serious. "No one’s seen him yet, and he’s not answering his phone either." "That’s it." Dominik threw his napkin onto the table and resolutely got to his feet. "I’m checking his room. I’ve got a bad feeling about this."

With Virgil and Andy close behind him, Dominik hurried up to the floor of Trent’s room. "Trent!" Dominik pounded his fist on the door. "Trent, if you’re there, open up!" Dominik shared a concerned look with Andy and Virgil as he listened for sounds from inside the room. He was just about to slam his fist into the door some more, when he heard the weakest voice from inside.

"On my way… no need to kick the door down…"

The hotel room door finally opened up to a completely dark room. Trent stood in the door opening, clearly still in his nightwear, and looking absolutely miserable. "Are you okay?" Dominik immediately asked, although Trent swaying visibly on his feet should already answer his question. "Sick…" Trent’s voice sounded uncharacteristically lifeless and raspy.

Dominik was glad they had located Trent, but the state in which they found him was definitely cause for concern. "Can I come in?" Dominik asked. "Sure." Trent shrugged minutely, already turning around to go back to bed.

Before he stepped in, Dominik shared another look with Andy and Virgil. Given Trent’s current condition he didn’t think it wise for all three of them to go in. His two teammates understood wordlessly. "We’ll go inform the gaffer," Andy said, before he and Virgil left.

Dominik silently closed the door behind him. "Can I turn on a light?" "Yes." Came a muffled reply. Dominik switched on a small light. He found Trent lying on his front on the bed, looking very much out of it. "What’s wrong?" He sat himself down on the edge of the bed, looking down at his vice-captain’s sweat-covered shoulders. "Just… sick," Trent mumbled, "my head’s killing me, and I’m pretty sure I’m running a fever." Dominik shortly held the back of his hand to Trent’s neck, feeling the heat radiating off the skin. "You are most definitely running a fever."

Dominik strode over to the bathroom to run a wash cloth under the cold tap, which he then gently placed across Trent’s neck. Trent groaned a soft word of thanks in reply.

"I’m going to get you some aspirin," Dominik announced, "and maybe it’s best if I stay here today, too." The fact that Trent did not protest to that in any way, was all the confirmation Dominik needed to indeed watch over his friend all day.

---

For most of the day, Dominik sat in the sitting area of the room, reading a book or watching something on his phone, while Trent slept. Occasionally Dominik would check up on his friend, but could only conclude that Trent was sound asleep.

Halfway through the afternoon came the first signs of life from Trent again. He groaned softly a few times, before slowly rolling himself onto his back. He still felt rather feverish, but at least his headache was a lot less. A slight movement to the left side of the room made him look, and he found Dominik sitting there.

"You really did stay." Trent’s voice sounded somewhat raspy from not being used for a while. Dominik startled slightly, but he quickly recollected himself. "Of course I did." Trent propped himself up on his elbows. "You didn’t have to do that." "You didn’t see yourself this morning." Dominik chuckled wryly. "No way we were going to leave you alone, mate." Trent frowned. "We?" "Yeah, the whole team’s been worried about you." Dominik answered, "but, more importantly, are you feeling any better?" "A little," Trent mumbled, "I’m not rid of it yet, though."

Dominik slowly rose to his feet, walking the few paces that separated him and Trent. "May I?" He asked. Trent nodded, even though he didn’t know what his teammate was asking permission for. Without any further advance notice, Dominik held the back of his hand against Trent’s neck, just like he had done that morning. "You feel less warm," Dominik concluded, "but still a bit feverish I imagine." "Yeah." Trent lay back again.

Dominik watched as Trent made himself comfortable again, ready to sleep off the rest of the flu or whatever this was. "Are you staying?" Trent mumbled. "Would you want me to?" Dominik asked. There was a short moment of silence before Trent answered. "If you don’t mind."

Dominik chuckled softly and sat back in the armchair he had occupied for most of the day so far. "Don’t worry, I’ll be staying right here."

Tags: @stonesyyyy, @footballffbarbiex, @football1921, @laurasstufff1, @ella33

Request an imagine | Add me to the tags list Trent Alexander-Arnold masterlist | General masterlist

#trent alexander arnold #dominik szoboszlai #trent alexander arnold imagine #dominik szoboszlai imagine #trent alexander arnold blurb #dominik szoboszlai blurb #trent alexander arnold fanfic #dominik szoboszlai fanfic #football imagine #football blurb #football fanfic #football fanfiction #footballer imagine #footballer blurb #footballer fanfic #footballer fanfiction #footballandfanficstrentaa #footballandfanficsdominikszoboszlai

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percervall · 11 months ago

Note

Ms Mar, my favourite list-maker, would love to know your thoughts about a liverpool Secret Santa exchange, since all we got for a Christmas video on best present was kinda boring lol.

who would get who, and what would they gift each other? 🤭

Okay, after messaging @curiousthyme to brainstorm we quickly discovered that this was accidentally sent on anon. oopsies 🤭 So thank you Ives for this brilliant ask!

In true teacher fashion, I used a name picker wheel to link players and then went from there. Some of them were just too good, honestly this wheel is a Liverpool girly

Putting them all under a read more because it's a long list

Lexi → Virgil - a personalised maté set, similarly to the one he gifted Ibou (whom I have seem to forgotten to include in this 😭 my poor petit)

Virgil → Alisson - a gift card for a spa day (+ a "we're sorry for fucking up so much" card signed by all our defenders)

Alisson → Wataru - a gift card for a local Japanese restaurant, for Endo to enjoy with his partner on a double date with Ali and his wife

Wataru → Pep - a new set of whiteboard markers and magnets shaped like football kit for all his tactical planning sessions

Pep → Cody - (like I said, this wheel was just being so kind to us) Pep would give him a Christmas ornament shaped like a Bossche bol (shout out to the 2 Dutchies who follow me and know what this is) to remind him of home

Cody → Lucho - seeing as Luis' partner is about to give birth to their second child, a mobile to hang over the cot. Maybe even Liverpool themed with tiny felt jerseys 🥰

Lucho → Joe - Joey would get a picture frame key chain so he can take his family with him wherever he goes

Joe → Ryan - A Scouse dictionary and an FC24 game but with Ryan's face photoshopped onto every player on the cover 🤭

Ryan → Joël - New shower curtains with Virg's face all over them to push the bromance agenda, and a friends mug

Joël → Darwin - A DVD set for friends to help him with his English and a little pin that says "chaos demon"

Darwin → Mo - A t-shirt with Darwin's cutie lil face as he says "thank you for support" + that photo in a frame. You know the one, where Darwin became Mo's bodyguard/sleep paralysis demon

Mo → Kostas - Some weights and a DVD on how to get abs + a t-shirt with a photo of Mo's abs printed on it in the meantime

Kostas → Thiago - (I told you the wheel is a Liverpool girly) Maui and Fuerte in cuddly toy form for their the new baby + a donation to Thiago's charity

Thiago → Domi - a beard care set, like one of those high end ones, and the game werewolves (iykyk)

Domi → Trent - (y'all, we were YELLING) a chain necklace "because that's what the girls like" + Hungarian schnapps/pálinka + a temporary tattoo of the CL trophy because his mum said no to the real one 🤭

Trent → Andy - (SCREAM) a BFF necklace, a Dua Lipa album, and his fave biscuits

Andy → Klopp - Andy would give Klopp the Scotsman treatment: full kilt + a set of bagpipes (bonus: Kloppo promising to wear the full get up when they win the league)

Klopp → Diogo - An annotated copy of Cruyff's book about football because Jots wants to go into coaching after his playing career

Diogo → Lexi - a personalised gaming chair with a maté holder, and a personalised game controller

This was so much fun, thanks babe!!

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ts1m1kas · 9 months ago

Text

Original Ask: this time its based in liverpool, our scottish gremlin being set up to go on dates by james milner ( cause of course its milly ) and he hates all of them until one night, his date doesn't show up ( or so he thinks ) so he goes to a bar to drink when he spots the reader who unknowingly is his date, it turns out the reader had been caught up with something that she forgot the date 🫢 (@findingnemosworld)

Word Count: 596 words

(author's note: nemo never fails to send the best requests ever !! i know robbo isn't everyone's cup of tea, but i love writing for him 🫶)

It was well-known that Andy and James were good friends. Throughout their years at Liverpool, they had gotten very close, which resulted in them telling each other everything. So, when Andrew came to James and told him he was struggling in the dating scene, he was eager to help the Scotsman find the love of his life.

However, date after date had gone by, and none of the women had made Andy feel special. He had started to lose hope in ever finding someone when he got a text from James;

‘Get ready, found you another bachelorette ;)’��

Andy pulled on a nicer outfit, checked his hair, and sprayed some cologne onto his neck. Once he was happy with his appearance, he checked his phone again to find the details of his date. Setting off to the restaurant, the nerves began to hit.

Andrew had sat at the table alone for 25 minutes before he decided he’d been stood up. Standing up and tucking the chair back under the table, he headed towards the door.

“Hi there should be a table under Robertson? I know I’m quite late, I hope he’s still here.”

At the mention of his last name, he looked up and walked in the direction of the young woman.

“She’s with me.” Andy said, nodding at the waiter.

“Thank goodness, I didn’t want you to think I had stood you up.”

“No worries, shall we go sit down?”

She nodded at the suggestion and followed him back to the table that Andrew had previously been sitting at.

“Again, I’m so sorry I’m late, the traffic in my area was so bad.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was out of your hands. You’re here now. That's all that matters.”

“I love your accent. Are you Scottish?”

“Yeah, born and raised. Only moved down here for work, what about you?”

“I’ve lived in Liverpool my whole life. I currently work in a café. My dream is to work in football media or journalism, though.”

“I could probably put in a good word for you.”

All of a sudden, it dawned on her. “Oh my goodness. You’re Andy Robertson. As in the Liverpool footballer”

Andrew laughed. “That’s my name, don’t wear it out. Speaking of names, you haven’t told me yours.”

“I’m Y/N. Y/N L/N to be more specific. Sorry, I just can’t believe I’m on a date with Andy Robertson.”

He smiled, “I’m really nothing special, just a regular man.”

“But you are, though. You’re so talented. And funny. And very handsome.”

“You’re not too bad yourself, lass.”

Y/N face flushed pink at his words, and the conversation continued. The pair flirted back and forth while getting to know one another. Drinks kept flowing, and before they both knew it, the sky outside was dark, and it was time to call it a night.

The pair exchanged numbers with the promise of meeting up again soon. Feeling bold, Y/N leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to Andrew’s lips. He kissed back, the contact soft and barely there.

When they parted, they split ways, both walking home with a smile. When Andy got home, he pulled up James’ number and shot him a quick text:

‘You picked a good one mate, think she’s the one.’

He turned his phone off and got into bed with a smile, his heart filled with optimism for the first time in months. Y/N, in her own home, unknowingly mirrored these movements, the same feeling of optimism enveloping her as she drifted off to sleep.

#andy robertson x reader #andy robertson #andrew robertson x reader #andrew robertson #football #fanfiction #fanfic #hot footballers #request #liverpool football club #lfc #🧡#by ts1m1kas #andy robertson imagine #andy robertson blurb #andrew robertson imagine #andrew robertson blurb

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jsprnt · 10 months ago

Text

Healing Hearts PT. 18 | Virgil van Dijk

Would a fresh start bring you more than just a new job?

A/N: I’m back! Still a little sick but we push through. Life’s been hectic lately with uni applications and exams. Even so we’re almost reaching the end of the story. 😭 please don’t forget to leave a note <3

WC: 3.405

Summary: Y/N L/N is a very skilled and praised physiotherapist. A certain event pushing her for a fresh start, as a physiotherapist for Liverpool FC. One question always being in the back of her mind: Will she be able to let go of her past and allow herself to experience new things?

"I'm sorry mom, it hasn't been that long even. So I wanted to keep it private, but you know how it unfolded."

I hear her sigh, accompanied by the sound of the TV in the background.

"y/n, we are your parents. Couldn't you have said a single thing?"

"I wanted to but the way you've been adamant on me getting back with that piece of shit. I didn't think you'd even be happy with it." I try to reason, nervously chewing on my bottom lip.

"No, we would be happy."

"What do you mean? You've been talking my ear off about him when you call, even in my dreams! You show up and scold me about it, in my dreams mom."

"Look I said all of that, and I realize maybe I shouldn't have. Just thought that would be the best for everyone!"

"Everyone mom? Really? You don't even know some of the things that happened in between us!"

I hear her sigh again, hearing footsteps, assuming she's walking around the house.

"I'm just disappointed to hear that my daughter is dating someone from my friends, and not my own daughter."

"If I told you last time I was home. You and dad would be fine with it?"

"Yes.”

"You're being serious?" I ask, confused by her change of opinion.

"Obviously, your dad has been bragging about you since he heard it."

I raise my brow in curiosity, sitting up from the sofa.

"What do you mean?"

"He's been getting calls left and right. His friends asking about you and your- boyfriend."

"Oh- what is he saying?"

"He cuts them off when they ask about your boyfriend. Ignores the questions and changes the topic to how good of a physiotherapist you are."

“Mom, you don’t have to pretend-”

"Of course not! He hasn't stopped talking about you."

This gives me a great feeling of relief, like huge weight was lifted off my chest.

"So, what I'm getting is. You both aren't mad about me dating someone else? Just mad I didn't tell you?"

I hear her hum, and a smile forms on my face.

"You won't bring up my ex or anything?"

"That's in the past now."

"Promise? You won’t mix him with any of our business anymore?”

"You have my word on this. I promise."

"Grandma! Are you in the back!" Virgil shouts as we enter the familiar restaurant, shoving the spare key into his pocket. The place silent apart from the ticking clock on the wall.

"She must be, let's go and look." I say, dragging Virgil further inside the place.

"Grandma?" I call out, opening the door to the kitchen.

"You're here just in time. Take one!" She exclaims, walking towards us with a platter of sugar cookies.

"These smell amazing. Just a second, let us wash our hands." I reply, walking over to the sink, smelling the sweetness of the cookies.

"Come on now hurry." She urges, finally handing one to Virgil and me.

We thank her, popping the buttery goodness into our mouths.

"I need the recipe, please.” I mumble, covering my full mouth with my hand.

I hear chuckle as she goes to put the platter down, turning towards me.

"I will teach you of course." She smiles, taking her apron off.

"When is the delivery coming? Eleven again?" Virgil chimes in, taking off his jacket.

"Yes, let's have some coffee together until then."

I go to take off my own jacket, hanging it up on the coat rack before returning.

"I'll make the coffee!" I announce, fixing my sweater.

I walk up to the coffee machine, grabbing the bag of roasted coffee beans from the cabinet and filling up the machine with it.

"Grandma what do you want to drink?"

"A cappuccino for me."

I hum, grabbing a mug from the cabinet and filling the milk compartment with fresh milk. Clicking the right button, I watch the foamy milk mix with the black coffee.

I suddenly feel strong arms wrap around me from behind, looking back to see Virgil. His chin resting on my shoulder.

"What do you want to drink?" I ask, returning to grab another mug.

"Cappuccino for me as well." He says, and I go to push the button. Hearing the machine start grinding the beans as I adjust the strength of the coffee aroma.

I turn in his hold, looking at him as I lean against the counter. His hand coming up to my cheek.

"What?" I ask, seeing his eyes roam over my face. His thumb rubbing on my cheekbone.

"Just taking in your face before I have to leave you for a while."

"Oh come on. You'll be fine, you act like we won’t see each other for a month." I tease, laughing at him.

The coffee machine beeping brings my attention back to preparing the coffee, making me turn away.

"Here, I'll make mine now." I say, looking around to see grandma not in the kitchen anymore.

"Where did she go?" I ask, pressing the latte macchiato button.

"I'll go look." He says, leaving the kitchen.

I hear a grunt a couple of minutes later, watching Virgil walk into the kitchen with a huge bag of flour in his arms.

"Delivery is here already?"

"Yeah, came a little early this time."

"Well should I help you?" I say, stepping towards the door as I watch him leave.

"No, it's fine just have coffee with grandma until I'm done."

"Are you sure?" I press on, following him.

He turns around, hands on my back as he leans in to peck my forehead. Lips touching my skin with upmost tenderness.

"I'm sure, go ahead." He murmurs.

I nod, watching him walk away as I return to kitchen. Placing all three cups of coffee on the tray, grabbing a generous plate of cookies as I walk into the dinner area.

"I've prepared the coffee!" I beam, placing the tray in front of grandma. I watch her smile, pearly dentures showing as she thanks me.

I hear her chuckle, before she looks around.

"Where did Virgil go?”

"Oh he's still bringing in the flour, he'll be here in a minute."

I take a sip of the warm coffee, it's warming me up since the weather was getting colder and colder in Liverpool.

"How have you two been? No trouble in paradise?”

"We've been amazing. Just both focused on working hard."

"That's good, but you should enjoy your youth. That's what my late husband and I did as well."

"Well will of course. It's just that Virgil is leaving for his international duty in a couple days."

"Right I've heard about that on TV. Are you going with him?" She asks, taking a sip of her cappuccino.

"Not this time, you know we have some injuries. Need to focus on my job and support him from here this time.” I smile.

"Right establishing a career is very important for a young woman like you."

"That's right- oh there he is." I smile, seeing Virgil finally walk in, sitting down as I put his mug in front of him.

"Thank you. What are you two gossiping about? Me?" He asks, smug smile on his lips as he takes a sip of his coffee, his left hand coming to rest on mine.

"You wish." grandma jokes, and I laugh watching Virgil's face twist in confusion.

"Right, you wish." I tease, laughing again.

"Nice first half guys!" She exclaims, high-fiving the tired players as they pile into the changing room at half time.

It was the last match before international break, this one being against Brentford. The first half being full of controversial decisions made by the referee and multiple checks for VAR. Liverpool still had the upper hand, with one goal a little before half time scored by Mo.

As Darwin walks past, she makes sure to pat his back, a smile in motivation thrown his way. The Uruguayan had already scored two amazing goals, though unfortunately both were annulled after VAR checks. He did have an assist underneath his belt, which hopefully cheered his mood up a bit.

She makes eye contact with Virgil as he throws her on of his cheeky winks, a smile forming on her lips as she follows the guys inside the changing room. Making sure to check on Diogo first since he'd gotten knocked down pretty badly.

They already had some injuries on the squad, with international break coming up they needed to be extra cautious. After full confirmation of no injuries, she leaves the changing room a couple minutes before halftime ends.

She goes to grab a cup of coffee, before heading back into the medical room. Watching the second half of the game with much anticipation. The next few 45 minutes going by fast as Liverpool wins with a 3-0. Confirming her belief that this season could definitely be Liverpool's if all matches went this well.

y/n immediately zips her jacket up, grabbing the empty disposable cup as she throws into the recycling bin. Making her way towards the pitch as she hears the full time whistle.

Stepping onto the grass, she turns giving her coworkers a high five in celebration. Then making her way towards the bench to congratulate and compliment the players.

She watches the players hug each other, Klopp walking away to celebrate the win as a smile forms on her face. Happy the last game ended on a positive note.

She observes the celebration for a second, ready to walk back inside, but a phone is abruptly shoved in her face as she moves to the side.

It shocks her into freezing up, eyes widening in before registering the string of questions coming out of the man's mouth, back-to-back.

"Are you really dating Van Dijk?"

"On your second gold digging mission aren't ya?"

"Women like you are the problem!"

The last sentence he says brings her back to reality. Wondering where the hell security even was, or why no else had noticed this maniac yelling at her and recording her yet.

She looks back at the man again, as he keeps repeating 'fucking gold digger'.

The words hit a nerve, making her blood boil. A feeling of defensiveness brews in her, folding her arms as she looks at the man skeptically.

"Why do you give a fuck?" She questions, fear of threat thrown away as she’s getting pissed off.

"What?" The man replies, flustered as he raises his brows.

"Why do you care? I mean, don't think there's anything to dig here." She repeats, motioning to him, ducking when he suddenly tries to grab her.

She presses her lips together, having difficulty biting back a laugh at the comical anger on the man's face. Stepping back as she finally sees security grabbing the feral man, watching him get escorted off the pitch with struggle.

A hand coming up to her shoulder, makes her head turn in curiosity. “You okay?" She hears Dr. Woods say, his hand comforting as she nods.

"I'm fine, just your usual pitch invader." She shakes it off.

Because a normal one goes up to staff instead of the field full of world-famous players.

"Then let's go inside." He suggests, and she agrees in an instant. The both of them walking inside through the tunnel.

She goes to grab her belongings immediately, saying goodbye to the players who would be leaving for international duty. Warmly hugging some of them, eyes catching her boyfriend still doing interviews as she makes her way into the garage.

She throws her stuff into the backseat haphazardly as she steps into her car, grabbing onto the wheel as she rests her forehead onto it, sighing. The initial shock, anger and humor she found in the situation wearing off.

Sitting up straight she tries to remove it from her memories, tapping her fingers onto the steering wheel as she waits for her boyfriend. Spotting him walk through the doors minutes later.

"You look tired. Not happy we won?" He teases, shutting the door. Leaning in to press a kiss against her forehead.

"Of course I'm happy." She mumbles, putting her seatbelt on. Glancing at him for a moment, noticing the curious look in his eyes, but choosing to ignore it.

She shifts a little, waving at the staff outside for a second, then starting the car. Driving out of the parking garage.

"You okay?" He asks, noticing her silence and the fact that she hadn't turned on a song like usual.

"I'm fine, something silly just happened. That's all." She breathes out, focusing on driving.

He doesn't believe she's totally fine, deciding to ask about it later and not when she's driving.

"You packed everything right?" She asks, watching her lover sit on the floor next to his suitcases.

"Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out how to style these jeans." He replies, holding them up.

She hums, walking away for a minute, grabbing some items out of his closet before throwing them onto the bed.

"These would work. What do you think?" She asks, grabbing the jeans and placing them next to different sweaters.

He gets up, going to stand next to her as he ponders over the options.

"These are all nice." He adds, hand on his chin.

"I think this sweater and T-shirt combo is the best. Especially for the weather." She says, looking at him. "-and with those new LV sneakers you just got!"

He smiles at her, wrapping his arms around her back, pulling her in closely.

"That's perfect." He mumbles, leaving kisses on the side of her head.

"Being all lovey dovey suddenly?"

"Going to miss you."

She doesn't reply, pressing her face into his chest, soft sigh leaving her lips. He only pulls her closer, hand resting on the small of her back.

"We have to finish packing soon. It's getting late." She mutters pulling away and glancing at the clock.

"Just let me hold you for a moment." He whispers, pulling her back in. Wrapping his strong arms around her tightly.

The couple is wrapped in between the gray sheets of the bed, the autumn sun casting minimal sunlight into the room. Bodies entangled, still basking in the silence of the morning. Before a universally hated alarm sound blasts through the room, making the couple groan in annoyance.

"Babe, turn it off." She complains, snuggling further into the sheets. Clutching the thick blanket closer as she hides her head underneath her pillow.

Not getting a response by the athlete, she nudges him with her knee, enough to not hurt, and harsh enough to wake him up. The annoying alarm still all but stopped.

"What?" He questions, voice raspy as he opens his eyes.

"Alarm." She mutters, face squished into the mattress. Feeling him shift, as the sound finally gets cut off.

"Come here." He mumbles, grabbing her naked shoulder and pulling her into his bare chest. A soft smile on his face as he strokes patterns on her back.

"What time is it?" She asks, wrapping her own arms around him lazily.

"Little past eight." He replies, leaving kisses on her shoulder.

"Let's just sleep more, I'm tired."

He chuckles deeply, smug smile on his face.

"Bet you are."

He receives a light punch to his hard stomach, fake groan leaving his lips as he watches her amused through his squinted eyes.

"Quiet please." She mumbles, laying her head back on his chest.

"Alright I'm sorry." He hums, running his hand down her back again, resting it on the small of her back.

"Let me ask you something first." He whispers, watching her raise her head.

"I've heard what happened yesterday. Why didn't you tell me everything?"

"What do you mean?"

"About the guys who harassed you on the pitch. Security reached out to me yesterday."

"It's nothing."

"No, how you feel is important to me. Did he hurt you?" He asks, holding her chin up.

"He tried to insult me, then he went on this rant about all women being gold diggers or whatever."

She notices his jaw clench, his hold on her chin leaving as he strokes her cheek.

"I'm sorry for not being there."

"It fine, we're even since I insulted him back. There's probably a funny video of it floating around the internet, he was recording until security took him." She chuckles, imagining how dumb the video would look.

"He was recording that?" He asks, removing a fallen eyelash from her cheek.

"Yeah, with his phone."

"I'll make sure it gets deleted." He promises, leaning in to kiss her. Pressing his plump lips against hers.

"No, more speaking. Just let me sleep now hm?" She urges, pulling the blanket up. Wanting to stop talking about the incident.

"Anything you want my love."

She brings in the groceries, two heavy bags on each hand as tries to unlock the front door of her boyfriend home. He'd insisted she'd stay at his place while he was gone, since his place was safer and had better security.

Washing her hands and taking of her coat, she takes the TV remote. Shuffling her playlist, landing on ‘Sidewalks’ by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar. Going back into the kitchen to organize the groceries.

The vibrations of her phone stops her from moving, smile forming on her lips as she hears Siri announce the caller ID. Going the dry her hands quickly before picking up.

"Can you see me?" She asks, leaning in after resting her phone against the empty fruit basket.

"I can. How's my girl doing?" He asks, laying comfortably in his hotel room bed.

"Went grocery shopping." She replies, grabbing the remote to lower the volume of the music.

"Think I called at the perfect moment." He teases, voice deep as he looks at her through the screen.

"Yeah, if you think putting groceries away is sexy." She laughs, leaning her body against the counter.

"If it's you thats difficult to deny."

"Enough trying to virtually get in my pants. Where are you? Gibraltar?" She asks, putting a bottle of juice into the fridge. Starting to organize the vegetables and fruits into containers.

"No, Portugal. Stadium in Gibraltar is getting fixed."

"Really? Are you done training? Back in your hotel room?" She asks, popping a washed grape into her mouth.

"Yeah, captains have their own hotel room remember?" He replies, sensual undertone peeking through his already amorous tone.

"Oh really? Didn’t know that-" she begins, confusion on her face as she hears the doorbell ring.

“Who’s that?” She asks, suddenly on high alert. No one had visited since Virgil had left, unless it was a package she was aware of.

The break-in had only affected her in one way, and that was being home alone. It wasn’t to the point of paranoia, security cameras definitely helping a lot. But a little sound here and there definitely had her on high alert at times.

Noticing the sternness in her expression he calls out to her, taking her attention away from the door.

“It’s fine, just something I ordered. Go check it out.” He reassures, calming her down.

She grabs the phone, holding it in her hand as she opens the front door. A delivery man standing there with a bouquet- or more like box of roses.

“y/n l/n?” He says, extending the bouquet.

“That’s me, thank you.” She replies, grabbing the flowers, shutting the door when he leaves.

She walks to the sofa propping the phone up as she looks at him while taking the card from in between the flowers.

“I miss you so much. Enjoy these flowers. I’ll be back soon, baby.”

- V

Looking up at her phone, seeing her boyfriend smile makes her smile as well. Heart tingling from kindness of the gesture.

“This is so sweet..” she exclaims, looking back at the arrangement of roses, baby’s breaths mixed in between.

She hears him chuckle from over the phone.

“I’m glad you like it love. I missed you.” He replies, watching her expression intensely.

Grabbing the phone off the the coffee table she lays down on the sofa, looking at him.

“Then you better win tomorrow’s match. I want to see you as fast as possible.”

#virgil van dijk fanfiction #virgilvandijkimagines #virgil van dijk #virgilvandijk #vandijk #liverpoolfc #football #football fanfic #football imagines #liverpoolimagines #liverpool fanfic #virgil van dijk x reader #virgil x reader #footballer x reader

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safisdesserts · 2 years ago

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One of our most unique and flavorful options is the Amsterdam waffle. This waffle is topped with a layer of Maltesers and Ferrero Rocher, making for a crunchy and decadent treat. The waffle is also topped with Oreo cookie crumbs and Cadbury Flake for an added layer of texture and flavour. To finish it off, the Amsterdam waffle is drizzled with a warm Nutella sauce, adding an extra level of richness to this medley of flavours that’s unlike anything you’ve tried before. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, this waffle is sure to satisfy your cravings. No one does it better than Safi’s Desserts.

#coffee and dessertinliverpool #dessert cakes #dessertporn #desserts #waffles #strawbana waffle #best restaurants in liverpool #best restaurants in liverpool england #10 best restaurants liverpool

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exploreliverpool · 7 months ago

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Explore Liverpool: Five-Star Hotels and Top Holiday Destinations in Liverpool

Liverpool, the vibrant and cultural city located in North West England, is known for its rich history, lively atmosphere, and iconic landmarks. It’s no surprise that this city has become a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. From its famous football clubs to its magnificent architecture, there’s something for everyone to explore in Liverpool. If you’re planning a trip to this charming city, here’s a guide to the best five-star hotels and top holiday destinations that Liverpool has to offer.

Five-Star Hotels: Indulge in luxury and comfort at one of the top Five Star Hotels In Liverpool. The city is home to some of the most elegant and exclusive hotels, offering world-class amenities and impeccable service. The Titanic Hotel, located in a historic warehouse on the waterfront, boasts spacious, stylish rooms with scenic views of the River Mersey. Another top pick is the 30 James Street Hotel, a former headquarters of the White Star Line shipping company, which offers luxurious suites and a rooftop bar with stunning views of the city.

Best Holiday Destinations in Liverpool: Once you’ve settled into your five-star accommodation, it’s time to explore the city. Liverpool has a plethora of attractions and activities to keep you busy throughout your holiday. One of the must-visit places is the Albert Dock, a vibrant waterfront complex that houses museums, art galleries, restaurants, and bars. Take a stroll along the dock and soak in the beautiful views of the harbor.

For football fanatics, a trip to Anfield Stadium, the home of Liverpool Football Club, is a must. You can take a tour of the stadium and even visit the club’s museum to learn about its rich history. Another popular destination is The Beatles Story, a museum dedicated to the iconic band that originated from Liverpool. Here, you can immerse yourself in the world of The Beatles and learn about their rise to fame.

Liverpool Sightseeing: No trip to Liverpool is complete without seeing some of its famous landmarks. The Liver Building, with its iconic clock towers, is a symbol of the city and a popular spot for tourists to take photos. The Royal Liver Building 360 Tour offers a unique experience to explore inside the building and up to the clock tower for incredible panoramic views of Liverpool.

Liverpool is a city that has so much to offer, from luxurious five-star hotels to top holiday destinations and iconic landmarks. With something for everyone, this city is the perfect choice for your next holiday. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore Liverpool – a city filled with beauty, history and unforgettable experiences. For more info give us a call at (7560) 853-2537 or visit us at:- www.explore-liverpool.com!

#Liverpool News #Best Restaurant Bars In Liverpool #Best Holiday Destinations in Liverpool #Famous Places In Liverpool #Liverpool Visitors Guide #Places To Eat Late In Liverpool #Liverpool Attractions & Places To Visit #10 Top Hotels In Liverpool

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thisismysecondrodeo · 1 year ago

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Wrapped around your finger (Ted x Rebecca, Fluff, 2K) Prompt from @lilacmermaid25: "Keeley and Rebecca convince Roy and Ted and Beard to let them paint their nails." Didn't take much convincing One-shot.

If our love don't last, you can take all our photographs (Ted x Rebecca, Fluff, 4K) Rebecca sees a picture of a Young Ted and needs Keeley's help to say something about it. In chapter 2, Ted sees a picture of Young Rebecca. Just fluffy lil' hijinks.

You only have to love one (Ted x Roy, Angst, 5K) Roy and Ted are commiserating over the people they're missing. But imagine what's possible when they stop looking for other people and start looking for each other. One-shot.

Give the drummer some (Ted x Rebecca & Coach Beard x Sassy, Fluff, 4K) Sassy reveals that Rebecca has a thing for drummers Beard reveals that Ted used to be a drummer Schemes and fluff ensue

Have you seen Ted? (Ted x Rebecca, Humor/Crack, 1K) I just really wanted to use the "Ted Lasso's Canonically Huge Dick" tag and this...this is what happened. Journalists get a hold of a dick pic and sources say it belongs to "someone affiliated with AFC Richmond." Obviously, Keeley and Rebecca have to get to the bottom of it. One-shot.

Further from the truth (Ted x Rebecca, Angst, 2K) Everyone assumes Henry is well-adjusted and enough like his father that meeting Rebecca will be a piece of cake...until it's not. In fact, Henry being excited to meet Rebecca couldn't be further from the truth. One-shot.

Leave the door open (Ted x Rebecca, Coming Out, 3K) Rebecca is building a relationship with the team so she's happy to leave her door open to any and all players who want to talk...And it turns out Colin has something very important to say. or, Colin comes out to Rebecca and ONLY Rebecca. One-shot.

It only makes sense (Ted x Rebecca x Roy, Poly Romance, 11K) Ted goes on mental health leave which causes an issue with his immigration paperwork...and the easiest solution is to marry Roy? Somehow it only makes sense.

Under New Management (Ted x Rebecca, Baker/Chef AU, 2K) Prompt from @lilacmermaid25: An AU where Rebecca is a chef and Ted is a baker, and they eventually open a restaurant together.

Jake and Lainey (Ted x Rebecca, Fluff, 1K) Ted finds out Rebecca's favorite rom-com is Sleeping with Other People and he does NOT approve. This is better if you've seen Sleeping with Other People but I think it still works if you haven't

I Owe You One (Ted x Trent, Romance, 10K) A chance encounter between Ted and Trent turns into a series of favors between them and what is a series of favors if not just an extended courtship?

Make Rebecca Gay Again (Rebecca x Reader, Smut, 5K) Rebecca DOES sleep with a waiter in Liverpool…but this time it's you (fem!Reader). Canon Divergent 1 x 07 - Make Rebecca Great Again where “Making Rebecca Great Again” means reminding Rebecca Welton that she is, in fact, not straight.

Uncle Roy Said (Ted x Roy, Romance, 6K) Uncle Roy says a lot of things and Phoebe has a tendency to repeat them. Especially to Ted. And especially when those things are ABOUT Ted.

Three's Company (Ted x Roy x Reader, Smut, 5K) It's not YOUR fault that you didn't follow sports, so how were you supposed to know that the guy you'd casually been sleeping with was Roy Kent? And that the guy you'd had a meet-cute with at the local coffee shop was Ted Lasso?

Bicurious Not Judgemental (Ted x Coach Beard, AU, 1K) Ted is more than happy to be his best friend's bridesmaid, even if that means going to the local male strip club, Man City…

#writing #fanfiction #fanfiction masterlist #ted lasso #ted lasso fanfic #ao3 #ted lasso fanfiction #ted x rebecca #ted x roy #ted x reader

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surprisinglyokay · 1 year ago

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Having recently read a fanfic in which Sherlock and John catch trains to various parts of southern England exclusively from London’s Waterloo station, even when this is not the usual/logical route, I’d like to share this for writers who might not be familiar with the whole business of trains in/to/from London.

Let’s start with the history of how and when rail services came to London. This article explains how and why we have so many terminal stations (short version: because when they were built, the railway companies were privately owned and all needed their own terminus in London).

The main terminal stations are Waterloo (south), Paddington (west), Euston (north-west), King’s Cross (north-east), St Pancras (East Midlands and Eurostar), Liverpool Street (east), Fenchurch Street (south-east) and Victoria (south). There are others (see the article linked above and my husband’s comment below).

As we know, within London and the suburbs, these termini are linked by the London Underground (aka The Tube) network. There is also the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) - a driverless system - and other overground rail services. Here is a map of it all from Transport of London (TfL). Baker Street is served by five tube lines: Bakerloo (brown), Metropolitan (maroon), Jubilee (silver), Circle (yellow), and Hammersmith & City (pink). It’s also only a five-minute walk from Marylebone (the nearest terminal) which itself is just behind the Landmark hotel, which we know as the exterior for The Restaurant Scene.

Aside: I think Sherlock is unlikely to catch a bus unless directly related to a case - they’re just too slow for him. But you can find bus maps and all kinds of other TfL mappy delights here.

If you have characters using public transport in the UK, your best bets for accurate research are:

Google Maps (in public transport mode)

National Rail (see the page footer for all the useful stuff)

Transport for London

All these also have apps available.

I’m happy to do Sherlockian Britpicking (my day job is copy-editing) if that’s helpful for you.

If you want to go the full Howard Shilcott, I still very much enjoy reading the rail enthusiasts’ forums posts about the myriad tube-related continuity errors in TEH. I’ll let you Google those for yourself. 😉

———

Ran this past my husband (who is totally the full Howard Shilcott) and he made a few corrections (and a lot of faces!) before I posted: he wishes it to be known that he ‘remains unhappy about [my summary of] Fenchurch Street’ and thinks I should add Charing Cross to the list so people know how to get to Kent. So that’s all clear then. 😂

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sortofanobsession · 1 year ago

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Roy/Jaime with Keeley friendship: Established Roy/Jaime. Jaime goes to Manchester to see his mum and is going to take the train back. A horrific train accident happens and Jaime's name was on the passenger list. Everyone thinks Jaime is dead, Roy is beside himself. Jaime is in fact alive and on different train, totally oblivious. He comes home late and decides not to wake a sleeping Roy, just climbs in with him. Imagine Roy's shock when he wakes up to his very much not dead boyfriend in his arms

A/N: I liiiiiive for this type of request. This is similar to a buddie one I did a long time ago but different enough that I had soooo much fun writing it. I'm still new to writing this group but I'm doing my best. Please remember that I am a lowly Midwestern American gal that has never left the States (though my sister did just get back from Scotland). So if their are typos or errors I apologize. Not beta read.

Enjoy

Ao3

Ted Lasso Masterlist

Paring: Roy Kent/Jamie Tartt, Roy & Keeley (platonic), Jamie & Keeley (Platonic), the afc Richmond himbos being themselves.

Word Count: 5k+

Content warning: train wreck, mentions of death, grief and loss, angst (happy ending), mentions of abuse, mentions of paranoia, mentions of head trauma, mentions of alcohol abuse, self-deprecation, self-destruction tendencies. Swearing, lots of swearing (can't believe I forgot that warning in a Roy Kent fic...)

Dead Phones and Train Wrecks

Jamie Tartt had always wanted his mother to be proud of him. Roy Kent had told him he'd never know if she was unless he got over the bullshit his dad did and went to see her. And as usual for Jamie, Roy was mostly right. So Jamie had gone to Manchester the week before training started for the new season. It would have been better if Roy had come with him, but someone had to look after Phoebe, and he needed to prepare for the new season. Roy had said that they would go earlier in the off-season next time. And that was enough to get Jamie to not put it off any longer. And he had a good week, despite having a few awkward run-ins with former Man City teammates and the occasional disgruntled fan. He didn’t care much about those. He was just glad they managed to avoid his dad. That was usually easy by avoiding the pubs and not eating at the same place regularly. It was annoying to have to keep such a paranoid schedule, but Jamie just told his mum it was because of the paparazzi. She didn't need to know that was only part of it. They just enjoyed trying new places, and thankfully, no one gave them too much trouble.

Jamie had decided at the last minute to take his mother to a restaurant in Liverpool she loved but rarely went to. His dad had never wanted to go that far when they were still a family, and Jamie hadn't had time once he got picked up for training. It was an underrated and easily overlooked cafe she would visit with her family when she was young. So Jamie had decided to have one last meal with his mum before he headed back to Richmond. Another new memory his dad couldn't taint or take from them. One for just Jamie and his mum as they try to fix their relationship.

The one thing Jamie didn’t account for was losing his charger and his phone dying. He didn’t think too much of it because Roy already knew he was going to be taking the train back and he didn't need to pick him up. And it would be late by the time he got in. Roy had to be at training the next day. Jamie did too, but if Jamie was tired, he could manage. He'd played in far worse conditions, thanks to his old man. Roy was grumpy on a good day. A bad day? Well, Jamie wouldn't be the reason the team ran laps til they puked, this time at least. Making sure Roy got sleep was a big part of that. So he told Roy over and over that he'd be fine. Jamie could survive having a dead phone for a few hours if he had to. He would be bored out of his mind, but he would suffer through it if it meant he could see Roy at the end of the day. He could catch a train after dinner and be home in a few hours. Roy wouldn’t get too mad, he hoped. He said goodbye to his mum outside the Lime Street station, got a new ticket, and managed to make the 7:30 train to London. He’d probably have to catch a cab or train home from there since his phone would be useless, and uber was not an option.

Roy couldn't breathe. He just alternates between staring at the news story on the TV and his phone. The train Jamie was taking home from Manchester was now a derailed heap of twisted metal and flames. He'd talked to Jamie just a few hours ago. But now he wasn't answering. No texts. No calls.

Roy had thought the day he'd retired from football had been the worst day of his life. But he'd give up his career, really anything and everything, to just go back a few hours and hear anything but that fucking voicemail message when he called Jamie's number. He looks at the headline again. The story updates, and the casualties number just keeps going up. Fuck. This cannot be how it ends. This can't be how Jamie Tartt’s story ends.

His phone rings in his hand, and his eyes snap to the screen with hope. Hope that is shattered when it's not Jamie calling. It was Ted. He doesn't have it in him to answer. He doesn't think even Ted Lasso's trademark optimism can help here. He can't let that damn yankee give him hope. Because Jamie had a recognizable fucking face. If he had been among the group they had rescued, that would have been news. Every news site was all over this story. Especially after someone at the train station had leaked that Jamie Tartt had been on the passenger list. Roy's phone kept going off with alerts and messages. But they were not from the one person he needed them to be. He looks up at the TV. The news just kept repeating the same thing. Casualties are high. First responders are searching, but it's a grim and solemn site. Thoughts and prayers. They just keep saying that their hearts go out to the families and friends. And that makes Roy want to scream. He wants to hit something until his knuckles bleed or his bones break. To feel something other than the pain in his chest and the ice-cold grip of fear on his heart.

His doorbell being rung, followed by knocking, finally drew his attention away from his TV and phone.

“Fuck off!” He growled when he threw the door open.

“I would if you’d have answered your phone,” Keeley says. She isn’t mad that he spoke to her like that. Roy was usually abrasive, but she knew right now he was the human equivalent of a live wire in water. ”Be glad it’s me and not everyone else.”

“Right now is-” Roy starts, but she stops him.

“I know,” she says, her tone sad.

Roy doesn’t have the energy to fight her, so he lets her in and returns to his living room. She follows him.

“Oh babe,” she says as she takes in the state of the room. The lamp that sat on the table was in pieces across the room. A few other things were not where they used to be and were probably among the other shards of ceramic and glass around the room. The one thing that was moved but wasn’t broken was a framed photo that usually was on a shelf. It was laying on the sofa next to Roy’s phone. It was a photo Phoebe had framed for Jamie’s birthday. It was of Roy and Jamie at one of Phoebe’s matches they’d been able to make. Phoebe got red carded and both men for sticking up for a teammate that had been fouled. Roy had been proud. Jamie had told her he’d do the same. Her teacher had texted Roy the picture with a reminder they were not supposed to encourage getting tossed from the game. Roy hadn’t cared. Sticking up for her team was more important than how many minutes she’d missed. Jamie had kept the photo for his lock screen for a while before it was gifted to him. Keeley set the photo on the table. It would crush Roy if anything happened to it now. Roy was never great at handling his emotions, especially the more painful ones. She glances at the news coverage. She grabs the remote and lowers the volume but leaves it on. She knew he would lose his shit if she turned it off. She didn’t want to make this harder than it already was, but she couldn’t just let him brood and spiral until he a broken shell of the man he was. Jamie had always brought so much out of Roy. For better or worse, Jamie had always made Roy feel, even when he didn't want to.

“When did you last hear from him?” She asks. He grunts as he picks up his phone.

She bites back a sigh. “He texted me last night, but I haven't heard from him today, have you?” she tried again.

Roy rubs his eyes but knows she will get it out of him eventually.

“He was at lunch. Fucking prick…” Keeley didn’t miss the way his voice broke as he said it. His fists clenched and opened repeatedly as he continued. “Lost his charger and didn’t know if his battery would last, but he’d try and stay off of it. Told him to get a new one. He said he’d be with his mum, so it wasn’t like he’d actually need to be on it. I told him that was stupid. That he was being stupid. Keeley, one of the last things I said to him-I didn’t mean to-he…”

“I know,” she puts a hand on his arm. “I’m sure he knew that you didn’t mean it.”

“Doesn’t matter if he did or didn’t. He’s dead.”

“We don’t know for sure that he-”

“LOOK AT IT!” Roy shouts as he points at the TV. “IT’S A FUCKING NIGHTMARE!”

“I know, but we don’t know anything yet, Roy. He could be fine, he-”

“If he was unharmed, he’d help. That’s just the shit he does now. Wants to help. And that would be on the news. He’s Jamie Fucking Tartt.” Roy sat down like it was taking all his energy to just exist. “If he’s injured, someone would have called, some hospital. And that would be news. The only other option is that he’s still in there. In that…fuck.” He pushes his palms against his eyes. His head hurt, and his eyes ached. Part of him just wanted to lie down or pass out. Maybe when he woke up, it would all just have been a fucking nightmare. Jamie would text him and say he was fine, and Roy would drive to wherever Jamie was and never let him go anywhere without him. But the more realistic and cynical part of Roy Kent knew this was real. There was no waking up from this hell.

“Okay,” Keeley says. She knew he had a point, but she just couldn’t let herself think that yet. If she did, she would lose it. Jamie was her friend. Roy was her friend. She needed to focus on keeping Roy at some sort of functioning baseline. Roy’s phone lit up. Ted was calling again. Roy just groaned and shoved it away. Keeley picked up.

“Hey, Ted,” She says as she goes into the kitchen. She’d make some tea. That will at least be something she can do to help.

“Keeley? You with Roy?” Ted asks.

“Yeah,” she answers.

“How is he doin'?” Ted asks. “Need one of us to come over? Because we can-”

“It’s not good,” she admits. “He just keeps checking the news. He’s already assuming the worst.”

“Maybe I should-”

“You just deal with the team, training starts tomorrow, and since they all are back, I'm sure they know. Colin and Isaac have already been texting me. You handle that. I’ll deal with Roy Kent.”

“Oh, okay,” Ted seems a bit hurt.

“I know you want to help, but I don’t think he wants anyone to see him like this. Not even me, but Jamie…I’m sure the team is struggling too. You focus on them. Leave this to me for now.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll see if any of Rebecca’s connections or Trent’s buddies know anything they aren’t sharing yet.”

“That would be great. I'll let him know someone is at least trying to do something."

"We're all trying. Let him know he's not alone."

"I will. Thanks, Ted.”

“Call me or Beard if you guys need anything or if you hear anything. If he…they’ll find him.”

She finishes making the tea as she ends the call. She pulls her own phone out and tells the team she is with Roy and that she’ll keep them in the loop. Text her, not him.

She hands Roy a mug that he takes almost on reflexes alone it seems.

“Ted says to call if you need anything,” she tells him. She sets his phone down on the seat beside him. “And I told the team I was here and to text me. Should give your phone a bit of rest.”

Roy grunts, eyes barely leaving the TV.

“Ted’s going to see if Rebecca and Trent can get any information that they might not be releasing publicly.” That had Roy’s attention snapping to her.

“Do you think they’d be able to find out if…”

“No guarantees, but I’m sure they’ll try if they haven’t reached out already. Have you talked to Jamie’s mum?”

“I can’t…not yet. I-”

“You don’t have the answers she’ll want. I get it, babe.” She sets to clean up the broken lamp and other debris.

“You don’t have to-” Roy starts, but she stops him.

“You drink your tea, I’ll do this, and then we get some food.”

“Not hungry,” Roy grunts.

“Still need to eat,” she says as she tosses some bigger pieces in a bin bag. Roy doesn’t say anything. It’s only after she finishes cleaning up that he thanks her. She waves it off.

An hour or later, Keeley almost called Beard for backup. The passenger list had been leaked before Keeley had even come over. So Keeley hadn't been surprised to find James Tartt Sr. making the whole damn thing about him. How his son had lost his way, and it's a tragedy that he'd never make a comeback. The audacity of that man to talk like that. It made it seem like Jamie was confirmed dead, but Keeley knew better than trust anything that came out of that man's mouth. He was an abusive and manipulative bastard. Roy had been enraged, and it had taken nearly 20 minutes to calm him enough to make a few phone calls. Rebecca was already looking into what could be done about Tartt Sr. Trent hadn't any new information, but he would make sure the reputable press knew the man was a pathetic old sod that knew nothing about Jamie.

“Jamie might be fit as fuck, but even he can’t survive that,” Roy says nodding at the screen when she came back into the living room. She looks over to see what is surely helicopter or drone footage of the charred carriages of the wreck. She sits beside him and nods.

“All we can do is wait,” she admits and settles in to wait with him.

Roy kicks Keeley out when it gets late, and it’s clear there isn’t anything new being reported. She only goes because he says he is going to turn in for the night. He gives in and crawls into bed. He pulls Jamie’s pillow closer, and the normally comforting scent of Jamie has fresh tears and sorrow rising in his chest, making it hard to breathe. Roy falls asleep from exhaustion on Jamie’s side of the bed.

Jamie was completely knackered by the time he reached London. People were saying the entire rail system seemed to be a fucking mess because of one train derailing. Jamie cursed himself for not having a working phone to look into it himself. Roy was right. It was stupid to have let it die. Jamie’d actually resorted to reading a book his mum gave him out of boredom on the train. The train got in over an hour later than normal, so he caught the first cab and would just pay the stupid fare. He just wanted to go home. See Roy and sleep in his own bed. He isn’t surprised the lights are all off by the time he lets himself into their flat. With practiced ease, he navigates the familiar layout. Leaves his shoes by the door after locking up. Silently making his way through the quiet hall to his room. He grins as he carefully sets his stuff inside the room. The lights from the street gave the room enough light to see Roy fast asleep on Jamie’s side of the bed. It makes Jamie’s chest feel warm and fuzzy. They were used to spending all day, every day together. They live together. They work together. Jamie is still shocked Roy hadn’t gotten annoyed with having him around 24/7. That Roy hadn’t gotten tired of Jamie’s shit and sent him packing. And here the man was, sleeping on Jamie's side of the bed, using his pillow like he really, truly, missed Jamie. He doesn’t have the heart to wake Roy now. And he’s honestly too fucking tired to chat. Jamie just quickly changes and carefully crawls into bed. Feels weird to be on Roy’s side, but he’s just happy to be home and in his own bed with Roy.

Roy was sure he had lost his mind when he woke up to the warmth and weight of an arm across his torso and legs tangled with his. His heart was pounding. What the fuck had he done? Had he gotten into the liquor before he went to bed and called someone? Had he gone out because being in their shared flat was excruciating, knowing Jamie would never walk through the door again? Was he that fucked in the head that he would do something this fucking heartless before even getting any confirmation, any closure? Roy was a fucking prick, and he couldn't even remember doing it. He just remembers going to bed and missing Jamie. But someone was here now and in their bed. It pains him to think of anyone else in his and Jamie’s bed. He just wants Jamie. He takes a shaky breath. He was almost afraid to open his eyes. The weight seemed so familiar. When he inhaled, he nearly choked. That scent was so very much the scent of home. Like Jamie fucking Tartt. And it broke his heart because there was no way this was Jamie. But part of him wanted to enjoy the insanity of the moment. Embrace the delusion his brain created at the idea of Jamie being alive and wrapped up in bed with Roy like he never left. Like he never went to Manchester. A sob caught in Roy's throat as he buried his face in his bedmate's neck. But the part that loved Jamie enough to still see this as a betrayal won out, and Roy couldn't stand it. He opened his eyes and was about to pull away and cuss out whoever it was when his world ground to a halt for the second time in less than a day. He'd recognize that fucking gorgeous face anywhere. That little scar on his brow and those perfect fucking lips. It didn't just look and feel like the familiar presence of Jamie Tartt. It was him. Either Roy had cracked up, and he was having the most vivid hallucination ever, or by some miracle, Jamie was right fucking here. Roy couldn't hold back the sheer amazement any more than he could hold back from touching Jamie. He needed to know this was real. That this wasn't a dream. He hadn't done something stupid and gotten himself brain-damaged. Fuck. Please let this be real. He carded his fingers through Jamie's hair. Brushed his fingers over Jamie's cheekbone and jaw. He gripped Jamie's face and placed a hesitant kiss on his lips. It all felt so impossible, but here he was. He could feel Jamie's muscles move as he stirred. Roy can't keep in the happy sob that rips its way from his chest as Jamie's eyes blink open. Fuck, those eyes were often his undoing, but this time Roy would happily get lost in them for eternity if it meant he got to keep Jamie with him.

Jamie wakes up with a hum as he feels fingers in his hair and featherweight touches to his face. Then a barely there kiss Jamie could have easily just dreamt of. It was gone so fast. He smiles as he blinks his eyes open and sees Roy looking at him like he'd never looked at him before. Like Jamie was some sort of fragile masterpiece or rare treasure. But something in that look had alarms going off in Jamie's head, and at first, he isn't sure why. He gets a good look at his boyfriend and can't even process the number of emotions Roy seems to be struggling with. But he knows one thing for sure. He had missed that man more than he thought he could for being gone for just a week.

Something in Roy shutters when Jamie's eyes open. Jamie smiles at him, and Roy thinks his heart might explode. It's a sleepy smile that always does things to Roy. Fuck, he didn't think he'd ever see those eyes in person again. Never see that smile. And the combination now makes his stomach flip, and his heart soar. Between the warmth of Jamie's skin under Roy's hand and the fact that he could feel Jamie's breath on his wrist. It makes the air catch in Roy's lungs, and his hands shake. Jamie was there. He could feel tears falling for once, and he didn’t care if anyone saw. Jamie was home. He was alive. Roy hadn't lost him.

Jamie was starting to get worried. Roy hadn't said a single word yet. And Roy fucking Kent never cried, but there were tears now. He'd cried when he announced his retirement from football, but Jamie had never seen it happen again. Jamie cried on occasion, but not Roy Fucking Kent. What the fuck was going on? “What’s wro-” Jamie starts to ask but is cut off when Roy kisses him. It’s a desperate and needy kiss this time. It wasn't anything like the ghost of a kiss he'd gotten before he opened his eyes. It was dizzying. Part of Jamie doesn’t want to end, but most of his brain is still confused as fuck. Roy was literally shaking. He pulls away to look at him again.

“How the fuck-” Roy starts but stops when Jamie reaches up and brushes tears off Roy’s face. Roy resists the urge to close his eyes and melt into Jamie's touch.

“Rough night?” Jamie asks.

“You’re alive,” Roy says it like it is genuinely magic. His eyes shone with what would call joy, maybe shock. Though Jamie couldn’t figure out why he was so shocked.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Jamie grins. “I know I took a bit longer getting home, and you were out cold when I got in. I was knackered. Why would you think I wasn’t? I know my phone was dead, but not me.”

Roy grunts and sits up. He pulls the covers back to get a good look at his boyfriend. even moving his shirt out of the way to check for bruises or worse. Jamie just goes with it. He knows when Roy gets like this; there is no point in arguing. Roy could be a hell of a mother hen when he thinks someone he cares about is hurt or sick. Apparently, now was one of those times.

"Roy, why-" he starts to ask.

“Because your fucking train crashed!” Roy’s heart hammers in his chest as his hands move to check Jamie over again. Jamie is as solid as ever. Nothing seemed broken or even bruised as far as he could tell. He had to remind himself that Jamie was here and didn’t seem to have a scratch on him.

“We hit a few delays, but…” Jamie says. Roy can see the moment the gears seem to click, and Jamie realizes what happened. “Oh shit, the train from Piccadilly was the one that-okay now, that makes alotta-”

“Jamie,” Roy’s voice held more emotion than Jamie was used to as he grips the back of Jamie's neck, pulling him in until their foreheads touched. Whether it is to get Jamie to focus or to ground himself after thinking he'd lost Jamie, well, Jamie wasn't sure even Roy could answer that right now. But he didn't hate it. “What the fuck happened?” Roy finished saying.

“I went to dinner with my mum in Liverpool. Caught the train from Lime Street. Fuck, Roy, I’m sorry. I didn’t-”

Roy cut him off by hauling him into a bone-crushing hug. “Everyone thought you were dead,” Roy manages to say, "your fucking old man, he said you were…fuck, Jamie, I thought I lost you." But it’s mumbled by the fact he’d buried his face in Jamie’s neck. Jamie’s grip tightens at the mention of his father. Bunching the fabric of the shirt Roy hadn’t even taken off when he went to sleep. Jamie hadn’t noticed the night before but it had been one of his, not one of Roys.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Jamie apologizes, “My stupid phone-”

“Fuck,” Roy growls. “Never. Again.”

“What?” Jamie is confused by the swift change from having his arms full of a desperate boyfriend to an angry one.

“You’re never going anywhere without me again,” Roy grits out.

Jamie lets out a shocked laugh. “Well, that’s not very realistic. You can’t be with me every second of-” Roy kisses him again and again. And Jamie lets him.

“Fucking watch me,” Roy says when he finally pulls back but keeps Jamie tight against him like if he lets him go, he will disappear.

“I usually do. We have a mirror. You’re fucking fit, like have ya-” Jamie is cut off as Roy’s phone starts to ring. Roy growls at it. Jamie huffs a laugh and looks at it over Roy’s shoulder. “It’s Keeley.”

“She can fucking wait,” Roy says, pulling the younger man back down to him. Jamie hums as Roy removes Jamie’s shirt. And Jamie almost forgets about the phone call, almost. Because it rings again. Roy grumbles something about throwing the damn thing out the window. Jamie chuckles as it goes to voicemail.

“Ya know, if everyone thought me dead, then we should probably-” Jamie is cut off again when Roy moves and pins him against the mattress.

“She. Can. Wait.”

“Sure, yeah, she can wait,” Jamie grins as Roy’s mouth moves to his neck. The rest of the morning is spent with Roy proving to Jamie that he needs him more than Jamie ever thought possible. And Jamie couldn't help but fall even harder for the man he'd spent years looking up to.

The AFC Richmond locker room has an uneasy silence as Keeley walks in. Morning training had been a dismal affair. It was like there was a black hole in the lineup where Jamie Tartt should be. Roy had told Keeley to meet him there. She looks around the room. Everyone looks devastated. They all knew that Jamie’s train had derailed. They knew the crews were still working on recovering the dead. It broke Keeley’s heart all over again seeing Dani Rojas wipes away tears and trying to avoid looking at Jamie's name on his cubby. Rebecca and Higgins were talking to Ted, Beard, and Trent.

“Is this about losing Jamie?” Sam asks when he sees Keeley. It seems almost painful for him to ask. It’s like he avoided saying his best friend was dead.

“Yeah, did they find him?” Colin asks. Clearly, avoiding the words as well.

“Where’s Kent?” Rebecca asks as they all leave the office and join the locker room.

“Roy said he was on the way,” Keeley says, glancing at her phone to ensure she hadn’t missed an update. “And yeah, said he wasn’t going to repeat himself, so everyone better fucking be here.”

“Everyone’s here but him…and well…Tartt,” Isaac says. “Obviously.”

“Maybe we shoulda donnit in text,” Jamie says as Roy kills the engine. He looks over at the player’s entrance at the dog track. Nervous that everyone would be pissed they didn’t tell them sooner. Or that he was playing a trick on them or something.

“They wouldn’t have believed it, and it’s always better to do this type of thing in person. Although I wouldn’t mind keeping you to myself a bit longer,” Roy admits.

Jamie grins. “Later,” he assures. “Because I feel bad they still think me dead. And I just keep seein this mental image of Dani looking like a kicked puppy, and I can’t live with that.”

“Fine,” Roy grunts. “Let's go.”

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Is the first thing they hear when they walk into the locker room. Jamie flinches.

“Fuck off, Isaac," Roy glares. His hand goes to the back of Jamie’s neck to anchor him. It is silent for a moment before everyone seems to start asking questions at once. Some of them are not even in English. Jamie's eyes go wide for a second, but he shakes it off. These were his friends, and they clearly had been feeling his loss.

“Jamie?” Keeley asks, and despite the chaos of the room, including Roy shouting at everyone to give them a fucking minute and they’d get their answers, Jamie hears her. He goes over to her.

“I’m sorry, Keeley,” Jamie says. “I didn’t know. My phone was dead, an’ I-Oof-” She half lunges at him and hugs him before he can finish his apology.

“You scared me,” she says when she looks up at him.

“Didn’t mean ta,” Jamie insists.

A loud whistle has everyone wincing and covering their ears. Jamie covers one of Keeley’s ears and presses her against his shoulder to cover the other. She can’t help but smile to herself. Can't keep the tears of joy away, either. He always surprises her these days. And not just by not being dead. He was so kind. He was easily one of her best friends. The whistle is followed by silence.

“Fucking hell,” Roy glares at Rebecca. She had taken Ted's whistle and blown it.

She shrugs. “Worked, didn’t it?

“You alright, Jamie?” Ted asks him when Keeley nudges Jamie and Roy further into the room. She sits on the bench in Jamie’s spot.

“Yeah, Coach,” he nods.

“Now I know you all have questions,” Roy says. “And they can fucking wait. Just listen.” He looks over at Jamie. Jamie’s nervous, and his hands are in his pockets

Roy just nudges him on.

“So you all know I went to visit me mum, haven’t seen her in years. Roy had me plan the whole week, but well, since when have I ever followed directions for that long?” Jamie grinned, earning a few chuckles.

“Yeah, I was set to be on that train from Manchester. Was supposed to spend the whole time in Manchester, but the less time I spent anywhere near those Man City pricks, the better. Seen too many of em over the week. So I had taken me mum to a cafe in Liverpool she likes. I took a later train from there. My phone was dead-”

“Of course, it was,” Sam shakes his head. “How did you survive before coach?”

"Feigned indifference and being overly cocksure, that’s how," Keeley answers. "But he's better now."

Jamie grins at her before continuing. “Right, so the mess out of Manchester delayed the whole fucking system, but no one was sure what train was the one that caused it, so by the time I got in, it was late, and I just went to bed. Didn't bother checkin’ or wakin' anyone."

“Must have been one hell of a shock for you, Roy,” Ted comments. Roy just grunts.

Jamie nods. “Pretty sure he didn’t think I was real, but that didn’t last long.” Jamie laughed. “Think he felt more in less than a minute than he knew he could.”

“Fuck off,” Roy says, but any impact the words might have had were undercut by the fact his hand was on the small of Jamie’s back like he was afraid to not have a physical connection to the man he thought he had lost.

“You knew all morning and are only telling us now?” Jan asks.

“If I had my way, you’d still all be in the fucking dark," Roy admits. Still not happy to have to share Jamie's attention so soon. "Don’t owe you shit when I'm at home."

That got a number of negative reactions from the players.

“He doesn’t mean that,” Ted says in an attempt to calm them. Roy grunts. Ted continues, “I know we all feel lucky to have you back, Jamie. Fellas you can ask him all the questions you want after training. Yesterday was a dark day, but today is brighter. Suns out, let’s get out there and get the ball rollin’.”

The players complain, but they go. Most patting Jamie on the back or hugging him in Dani’s case. Jamie laughed and hugged him back.

“Take your time, but not too much time,” Ted told Jamie as he followed the team out.

“You good?” Roy asks Jamie.

"Yeah, coach," Jamie nods and grins.

“Sure you want to train today?” Roy questions.

“You going to be fine if I do? It's a big pitch, and you haven't let me outta your grip since you woke up.” Jamie counters. Roy was still coming to terms with the emotional whiplash of the past day, and Jamie knows it. They had called Jamie's mum and Roy's sister when things had settled. Phoebe had been devastated when she thought Jamie was gone. Jamie had spent a good ten minutes convincing her that he was fine and they'd come to see her in a couple of days. Roy had barely let Jamie out of his sight the whole time. Roy just rolls his eyes and leaves him to change. Although Roy kept glancing over at him as he did. Roy goes over to where Keeley is talking to Rebecca and Higgins about a press release letting the fans know Jamie is fine and a statement about the accident. Maybe even getting some pictures proving Jamie was back training with the team. Rebecca had approved the idea, and Keeley had already texted a photographer friend to come round.

“None of that thought and prayers bullshit,” Roy tells them. “Empty fucking words.”

“He has a point. Maybe do a donation to the families or the workers. Thoughts and prayers seemed meaningless when he’d nearly thrown his remote at the tv when they started reading tweets about it on the news. Would have needed a new one if I wasn’t there,” Keeley says.

Jamie chuckles as he laces his boots and checks his shin guards. “Didn’t save the lamp,” Jamie grins.

“You didn't give a shit about that lamp. Could have been your stupid rabbit sculpture. That thing is-” Roy starts to say but stops when Jamie stands up and walks over.

“Fuck off,” Jamie grins. “Going to train, or you joinin’ the PR team?”

“Fucking Prick,” Roy grunts but goes with Jamie to the door.

“You fuckin’ luv me,” Jamie smirks.

“I fucking do,” Roy easily agrees. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“Never,” Jamie gives him a kiss before they head out to join the team.

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