#Black Box Car Finance

[williamcareys]

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[bunnys-kisses]

sibling situation

simon 'ghost' riley

cw: smut & plot, mactavish!reader, size kink/difference, missionary sex, unprotected sex, marriage & babies (at the end), romance, simon's found family

this rabbit runs on reblogs & comments! feed the rabbit!

simon knew that johnny had a sister. you had been brought up in conversation tons of times. after the death of your parents, you and johnny were really all each other had. but johnny left for the military right before turning eighteen and you struggled to put yourself through university. it wasn't the easiest life and simon could understand, he had his own scars of his childhood.

"so, why are you dragging me out here again, johnny?"

"get ya out of that shoe box flat. got a little more leg room where i am."

johnny had driven the car all the way to edinburgh with a promise that a little time away would do wonders for the other man. simon had his ear talked off about how london was just too big, and while edinburgh was a city. it would be a break from the intense metropolitan of london. if need be the two of them and you could go on a getaway to the countryside.

"this better be good, johnny."

"ah, don't worry! i promise, you'll have the time of your life!" johnny reached over and slapped his friend on the back, "plus, you have to meet my sister."

the flat that you shared with johnny was well kept. of course it was, your brother was out most of the year with an automatic deposit for rent and when he was home, it was so ingrained with the military that things were kept tidy. and you on the other hand enjoyed tidiness as well.

even if cleaning the place in his absence felt a bit much sometimes, you still at least picked up your socks off the floor, put the clean dishes in the cupboard and washed out the carafe of the coffee maker. but you had worked over time to make sure everything was perfect, not for your brother (he could clean himself), but rather the mysterious guest that he was bringing.

you didn't want his lieutenant to think you lived like animals!

when the knock on the front door came, you happily welcomed them. your gaze was captured away from your grinning brother and rather the larger man beside him. he wore a black medical face mark, but you could see the tiredness in his eyes. the mop of blond hair and a slight scar over his eyebrow.

"oh, kid, this simon. simon riley, my lt." johnny smiled, patting his fellow solider on the arm.

you shot him a glance, "i'm almost thirty, johnny. i'm far from a kid." you were a bite fiery, simon liked that.

johnny beamed back at you, "but you'll always be my little sister. gotten into trouble while i was gone?"

you let both men in and replied, "well except for yelling at those stupid kids from the secondary school about smoking in front of my window. nothing else really happened."

johnny dropped his bags on the hardwood floor and kicked off his boots. he put them correctly by the door before he stretched his arms over his head, "where's that guy you were seein'. teddy or somethin'?"

simon stood a little straighter. of course you had a boyfriend, look at you!

you waved your hand, "oh, he's long gone. i guess cousin nikki's words are true." you looked at your brother, "never date a man in finance. turns out he had more than one bonnie in his pocket."

johnny dropped his shoulders and remarked, "never liked the guy anyway. seemed a little uptight, would never survive a gathering of the mactavish's." he laughed.

simon felt odd in the space. seeing the siblings interacting. he thought of his own brother for a moment. instead he just followed suit and took off his heavy boots as well.

you looked at simon, "i hope it's okay that you take the couch. this place is only two bedrooms. the couch." you gestured to it, "does pull out so hopefully you'll have enough room. but, if you don't, tomorrow my lovely brother can give up his room."

"my room!" johnny replied loudly, "i've still got sand in my crack for the mission and you're givin' my room!"

you shot your brother a glance which johnny coward from. no words had to be said. johnny knew that it would be the right thing to do. after all, simon was his guest.

the afternoon went by slowly, and you and johnny moved through the small kitchen like a team. johnny was good at dicing and you were good at keeping an eye on the sauteeing vegetables.

"simon." you said which made simon look up from his spot at the small dining table. your eyes met and you pushed some hair out of your face, "two things. one, there should be a headband on the table it's soft and used for make-up. i need to get this hair out of my eyes. secondly, johnny never said that you had any dietary issues. is there anything i should avoid? i just sort of got our normal grocery order."

simon perked a little bit more, "oh i don't have any allergies or anything, ma'am." he gave a small nod, "i could eat anythin'."

you nodded, "okay, excellent!"

the blond found in endearing. it was almost hypnotic watching you put together the vegetables with the hearty pasta sauce. you worked a stove top like no other. the only problem was that your brother kept getting in the way of his sight of you.

been a while since a woman cooked him a meal.

simon got up quickly and gave you the headband. it was soft and pink colour with two sewn on cat ears made of the same material. you put it on and simon's heart skipped a beat. you were just so beautiful.

dinner of pasta, toasted buns and salad were served with a bottle of grocery store wine. the three of you drank, ate and chatted. you and johnny had most of the conversation while simon enjoyed listening.

he figured out that he could listen to you talk forever.

"well, i'm tired." johnny said as he rubbed his eyes. he finished the rest of his wine before he got up. he patted you on the top of the head, "i'll do the dishes in the mornin'. thanks for dinner, kid."

you rolled your eyes, pouring yourself another glass, "i'm not a kid."

johnny chuckled then looked to simon, "she'll get ya comfortable for the evenin'. i'll see ya tomorrow." before his tired steps headed towards the bedroom. soon the door closed and the sound of his body hitting the bed could be softly heard.

you leaned back in the kitchen chair, one leg draped over the other with your arms crossed. you admitted, "it must be hard to date. finding someone who understands your world."

simon stretched out a little more in his chair. he eyed the empty wine glass in front of him, "i try not to think about it so hard."

"i've heard stories about you. the terrifying ghost. there one moment, gone the next." you then reached across the table to drag a finger down the inside of simon's wrist, "i wonder if i had you in my bed tonight, if you'd be gone by morning."

your admission made simon's dark eyes grow a little wider. he said, "well, i have nowhere else to go."

you smiled a little, "must be lonely. i know it's lonely for me. to feel close to someone."

simon asked, "do you want to sleep with me miss mactavish?"

you chuckled lowly, as to not awake your brother in his room. you leaned back a little once more and gazed at him. you were definitely johnny's brother. the look in your eye said it all. you tilted your head a little to the side and asked, "is it that obvious, mister riley?"

the sound of wooden chairs against the floor as the two of you made your way to the bedroom. you took simon by his tattooed wrist and got him into your room. the door was shut a little louder than you hoped. you turned on the light and simon was already working the belt of his jeans.

you were quick to get your t-shirt off and you saw simon's hungry gaze on you as you became free of your clothes. his eyes raked the exposed skin and thought you looked like a dream.

"like what you see, simon?"

he nodded, "more beautiful than the photos, ma'am."

you covered your mouth while you giggled, "no need for the formalities. if my brother is underranked by you, then i'm sure as hell as a civilian."

simon got a hold of your waist, "you deserve a little more respect than your brother." then pulled you in for a soft kiss. even with his scars that you had seen over dinner. you thought he was beautiful.

it made you warm all over as you pulled the dark t-shirt on his shoulders. he helped you get out of it. and your hands pressed against his chest. you admired the scars, the tattoos, the overall beauty of him.

"i wish my brother had said his lt was hot prior. i would've tried to get with you sooner."

simon picked you up by the waist, your legs wrapped around his waist as he brought you to the bed and sat you down. he then started to work at the button of your jeans. once they were off, he cupped the bulge in his pants.

you slipped out of your simple purple panties and the white bra you wore. you then laid out on your bed with your hands behind your head and you giggled softly.

simon was absolutely smitten by you. he had come to the conclusion that when they were talking about the beauties in scotland. they meant you. and only you. once you were both naked, he got onto the bed.

the bed was a bit smaller than he had hoped, but you two could fit into it thankfully. he was worried that his large, bulkier frame would inch you off of the mattress. but it was a lot easier when he got between your legs. his achy erection, bright red at the tip, begged for attention.

you swallowed a little, "i wonder if it'll fit."

"then you tell me if it does. got it? you mactavish's have a habit of not showing pain." simon gave you a pointed gaze.

you covered your face for a minute, "okay. talk about my brother ends here. i don't want to hear about him while you're balls deep inside of me."

simon chuckled lightly and leaned in for another kiss. he said softly, close to your lips, "if it's anything, love. you're much more a looker than he is."

you held onto his blond locks and pulled him in for a hot kiss. you made a small noise when he shifted your hips up against him. to get a better angle of his cock inside of you.

"simon."

he said softly, his voice still gravely, "beautiful, beautiful girl. i don't know what that last boyfriend of yours was thinkin'. why want another when he could have you. but, i guess that means more for me."

your cheeks grew hot and simon pressed his cock up against you wet slit. you felt your heartbeat race at the anticipation of what was to come. you tensed up at the feeling of his cock being pushed into it.

"i got ya, i got ya. you feel so good there, love."

you nodded, "it's been a while. sorry if i'm too.. tight."

simon loomed over you like a comforting shadow. he gazed down at you, but there was a softness to his tired eyes. you didn't realize how pretty his eyes were. a deep dark brown, that lured you in while in the soft lighting of your bedroom.

he started to move against you and you let out a small moan. the bed squeaked a little bit. thankfully the frame didn't hit the wall. you two had to be somewhat quiet. even if your brother could be heard snoring in the room next to yours.

the sex between you two was quick, but not rough. the idea of bruising such a beauty made simon feel disgusted. you were meant to be cherished. he wanted to know everything about you.

"you are quite handsome, simon."

"thank you, love." he said softly as he held onto your thighs and moved against you. even in missionary you looked beautiful. the slight bounce of your breasts in time with his movements. he wanted to kiss all your soft parts throughout his visit in your sweet home.

he could get used to a warm meal and a warm cunt to bury himself into every night. maybe johnny was right, staying with you was better than being in london.

maybe he could get used to scotland.

he knew he could fit easily into the chaos of the mactavish family. if he could handle johnny, then he could handle you. at least he could fuck one of you quiet.

you felt your heart hammering at the feeling of it all. your noises were so sweet that it made simon need to bury himself deeper inside of you. he needed to feel all you could offer.

call him a sick puppy, but his brain was now wired to need you. you were a hit of a feeling that simon was so painfully unfamiliar with that it almost scared him. but as he admired the sight of you under him.

those soft lips partially opened, your eyes closed. you looked like an angel, and he swore he found heaven.

"beautiful." he said softly, his rugged voice made you feel like honey. gooey and warm, filling.

you came with your hands in his shaggy blond hair. your back arched as you felt the heat through you. you moaned a little louder than you hoped for as he continued to thrust up into you.

panting breaths between heavy thrusts as you laid spread out on the bed, letting simon move quicken his pace to reach his climax. he could feel it on the tip of his tongue. and with a few more heavy thrusts, he finished inside of you. his cheeks flushed and his mouth hung open in a heavy pant.

"fuck, simon."

"beautiful." he said absently. not able to think of much else besides your beauty. you were the kind of woman that simon was into.

he pulled out of you and rested down beside you on bed. you chuckled softly, your head still a little full of post orgasmic bliss. you got the covers on top of you and cuddled him naked.

clothed would be a worry in the morning.

when morning came, simon tried to slink back to the couch before johnny woke up. but when he exited your room and entered the main living space. he found johnny sitting there at the kitchen table. he was leaned back into his seat. simon caught sight of the pistol on the worn wooden table.

"so, si." johnny said, looking away from his paper to look at his fellow solider, "what are yer intentions with my sister?"

it had been a very long time since simon felt the stone of dread in his stomach. he tried not to show it across his scarred face. simon could instantly recall every military statistic that johnny had. there could be a million and one ways that the scottish solider could kill simon. and it wasn't like simon could do anything, he couldn't kill your brother.

there was a brief moment of silence between the two of them. neither made a motion or noise. simon wondered what was to come next. no amount of training could've prepared him for this.

but johnny broke the silence with laughter, "i'm just messin' with ya! the gun's not even loaded. just wanted to scare ya." he leaned forward in his seat. he looked at simon, "i don't care how my sister sees, but i have to be a little bit intimidating, don't ya think so, si?"

simon chuckled nervously.

johnny's suddenly expression dropped and he put down his paper in favour of the unloaded pistol. he pointed the front of it to simon, one eye closed as if he was going to shoot the blond in front of him. he said, "but if you break her heart there, simon. i won't be so forgiving."

the doorway to your bedroom opened with a loud creak and your voice rang through the apartment the three of you were in, "I swear to god! john michael mactavish! you better not be intimidating him!"

-

"you're seriously crying?" you asked your brother as you watched him gently take a hold of your newborn. your brother was a military man for christ's sake. he was weeping like a baby.

simon loomed over his colleague, protective over his newborn. his stern brown gaze read simply, "don't fuck it up, soap." he was ready to jump in if johnny fucked it up.

you were resting back in the hospital room, you just had your child with simon. you two had been married for a little over three years. it became habit for simon to come with johnny post-missions. the drive up to the city and you waiting for them.

a hug for your brother, a kiss for your lover.

now you were watching your brother cry at the sight of his nephew. the chubby little boy bundled up in a blanket. unaware of his weepy uncle. you looked at him with a slightyl stunned expression.

you probably cried less when you finally pushed him out. you didn't want to tell him the news because you thought he was going to cry more. while your son's first name was oliver, his middle name was john. after the crying mactavish in the hospital room.

"he really takes after us." john remarked when his cries died down.

you chuckled, "he sure does, johnny. now hand him over before you drop him." <3

[saeist]

my personal touya headcanons (yes i will make full on fics n drabbles with these in mind):

CHRONIC manspreader. literally takes up a whole love couch with the way he spreads his legs

can drive but gets motion sick easily so counting on him for a 2+ hour roadtrip? yeah pull over we’re switching seats

damaged hair from the constant dyeing but that won’t stop this baddie from dyeing it jet black every 2 weeks

only runs on 4 separate hours of sleep and snores like a truck. (u’ll need earplugs)

surprisingly tidy in regards to his room only because rei comes and checks their rooms and if its all messy they’ll get their asses whooped

doesn’t smoke cigarettes BUT has a box of disposables/juuls hidden in his sock drawer (GOD FORBIDS rei finds his stash)

^ in addition to that, contrary to popular belief his plug is unironically natsuo..

loves icy berry related related flavors too LMFAO

is supposed to be a junior in college on paper but since he keeps dropping and switching majors, he’s technically still a freshman

^ is currently taking chemical engineering (took business ad, computer science, finance, nursing (💀) and literally god knows what. his college majors that he dropped is between him, endeavor and god now)

since he’s competitive as fuck and is a perfectionist, took up multiple sports and extra curriculars growing up

prefers soggy cereal

drinks a lot but lightweight as fuck. after one bottle he’s out 💡 but that won’t stop him from drinking more!

knows how to braid girls hair thanks to fuyumi

cats warm up to him on the street cus he’s warm n shit

prettiest resting face but makes the ugliest faces known to man just for the sake of it (still pulls)

doesn’t approach girls, girls approach him

scares them away when he’s all like 😐🧍🏻

hooded eyelids + long eyelshes (both top and bottom)

genuinely starts tweaking when people say he got endeavor’s eyes solely bc hes a momma’s boy..

grew up being SPOILED rotten amongst his siblings so he doesn’t take no for an answer and will actually start stomping his feet

once he opens his mouth however.. everyone is gonna know he’s endeavors son fr 😓

keigo is his closest irl friend but tomura is who he considers as his best friend even if they’re only internet friends

has a basic pc set up and plays valorant fortnite and roblox religiously

shits on children especially shoto and his two friends

once babysat the three of them in exchange for concert tickets

did i mention he has an indie rock emo band he formed when he was in high school? yeah

bassist obviously but sometimes he plays drums

will scare rei out of her wits when he would just magically appear on their couch when he’s supposed to be at his university

his room is in the attic

dresses like hes going to an opium concert but rei makes him change before they leave to go to church so ultimately he dresses up like a cottagecore mf but with piercings and box dye jet black hair

almost broke natsuo’s hand when he first got his nose piercing

embodies the trope of “best friends older brother”

has a soft spot for grandmas and will help them cross the road each time

picks up shoto from school with his beat up hand me down car. literally one slam on the break away from breaking (endeavor gave it to him as his 18th birthday present)

sometimes ends up driving shoto’s friends home too if shoto insists (more like demands)

will also intentionally go through a drive-thru and the kids in the backseat are expecting him to ask them what they want but touya just gets whatever the fuck he was craving, pays and leaves

“we got food at home!” - touya to a enraged shoto

also sometimes touya is shoto’s chaperone or the “parent” that goes to those parent teacher meetings when its time for get shotos report card and will deliberately say shoto has failing grades when shoto is part of the honor roll just to again, fuck with him

shamelessly flirts with the girls natsuo brings home just to fuck with him (he gets sucker punched later that night bc at the end of the day, natsuo is bigger than that man 😭)

when all the todosibs are fighting, nobody listens to him even if he’s the eldest. they all end up ganging up on him (fuyumi doesn’t stop shit, in fact she instigates further. she don’t play)

says he hates winter and likes summer more but whenever its summer time if he could he would live inside the freezer

hates the feeling of sweating 😮‍💨

sometimes goes on days without showering only popping a lil deodorant here and there so rei forces him to shower whenever he just so happened to pass by her

cooks decent meals but shoto hates it and intentionally makes gagging noises whenever he finds out touya was in charge of cooking that night

hates doing the dishes and fools shoto into doing it for him

when he goes on dates, he steals endeavors credit card and just pays for everything. will probably even take you to nobu just to do so

attempts to blame natsuo when endeavor caught on since his card decline at the supermarket but unfortunately touya cannot lie to save his own life even if he tried

OH! talks MAD game in bed but has never touched a woman in his life.. painfully a virgin. u have to teach this man PLEASEE 🙏

likes yeat and carti

basically teenager borderline adult core

[myfictionaldreams]

Last Hope // Mafia!Steve Rogers x Fem!Reader

Chapter 2

Summary: Before dating Steve and Bucky, your life felt like a steel cage that you couldn't escape from because of your family business. There was no happiness or hope but, what happens when the infamously heartless mafia leader, Steve Rogers, finds you alone?

Tags: 18+ readers only, angst, fluff, abusive brother, emotional manipulation/abuse, murder/violence, blood/injury, depression,  enemies to lovers, possessive, protective steve rogers, hurt/comfort idiots in love

A/N: ahh it’s finally here! I contemplated posting the two parts in one but its oner 19k words long so probably easier to read as two separate parts. Please enjoy!

Words: 11.2k

my masterlist 📚 AO3 Link

To an outsider looking through the glass walls of your life, it would look to be filled with excitement, thrillful, and definitely desirable. But to you, those walls were a cage, entrapping you in danger and gut-wrenching sadness and on occasions, those feelings had nearly destroyed you but now, you welcomed them, finally being able to feel something.

From the moment you were born, you’d been surrounded by criminals. The kind of people that only cared for themselves and would kill even their best friend if it meant they could increase in the hierarchy chain. This lifestyle was the way of your family, almost like it was instinct, the only way to survive in a world full of darkness and terror.

In reality, this was simply the lie that your brother had been feeding you from childhood. As if it was completely normal for parents to mysteriously disappear one evening, leaving their entire business in the hands of their greedy son, your brother Enzo who boasted that this was the only way to survive.

Enzo was as corrupt as gangsters come, his ease with murdering coming as easy to him as breathing, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone as he gained control of the underground criminal workings in Staten Island. He prided himself on his reputation, as a dangerous man with a business to run. There were multiple companies that he had close ties to but the majority of his finances were in robberies but not the kind that had banks held at gunpoint. No, Enzo had a vast team of experts that had connections with jewellery, cars, paintings - anything that could be sold through the black market and it made him untouchable and untraceable.

Where did you come into all this? You didn’t, not in the grand scheme of the business. Enzo often liked to taunt you that you didn’t have the heart to be at his esteemed level of ruthless and you were more than happy to watch from the sidelines, even though the violence was something you’d become accustomed to, it didn’t mean that you were wanting to do it. 

Instead, you were used in other ways, Enzo mostly using you as a bargaining chip for his clients, you’d have to flirt and sweet talk your way into their lives, a couple of dates and kisses to convince them to work with your brother as if you were nothing more then a piece of pretty meat for the worthless people to use. Every single interaction made you feel sick and dirty but luckily he had not asked you to fuck anyone yet however, your brother always liked to threaten that he would sell your virginity if you ever stepped out of line.

This was the life that you survived, the belittling, the threats and feeling hardly like a person at all. To you, Enzo was hardly even your brother with the way he talked about and treated you, reminding you on a daily basis that you lived under his roof so you must live by his rules or be thrown to the streets with not even a shirt to cover your back.

So you stayed and played by his rules because this was the only life that you knew, there were no other friends or family, no money stored away in a hidden box to one day set yourself free. There was only waking up and going to sleep, and everything in between to fuel your nightmares.

The only instruction you’d been given this morning was to dress up, which meant wearing as little as possible to lure people in. This wasn’t something you particularly want to be doing any day of the week but especially as the autumnal winds were beginning to brisk.

Tonight was an important event that was both well known and yet incredibly secret, most guests having to travel for hours to arrive at the underground venue. It was known as the ‘Pick-Me-Up’ event, weapons were banned upon entry and it gave goers the opportunity to meet other criminals, mafia members etc and hold business meetings, all under the disguise of a party. The concept alone caused a thick lump to lodge in your throat upon every swallow as silent nerves teetered your emotions, being around that many powerful people, it was your idea of hell.

Not for your brother though, in fact, he had been extremely nonchalant about the situation, stating: “It should be me that they’re scared of”. This was one thing you could not fault Enzo on, was his egotistical self-confidence, the man thought and believed he was untouchable. At least for this once, you weren’t instructed to flirt or speak to any of the attendees, you were only going to look pretty and draw attention to the gang.

The bass of the music vibrated deep into your bones before you even stepped into the main room of the venue, the air thick due to the number of people, sweat already gathering across your skimpily dressed body. You’d tried to stay close to Enzo and his bodyguards but with the busy crowd, your brother was able to slip away to the meeting rooms without a care for your safety, leaving you to the hungry wolves.

Not risking stopping your stride, you kept walking and pushing your way past the men and women, too frightened to look up. An empty spot at the bar caught your eye and with rushed steps, you allowed yourself a moment to catch your breath and held your body close to the counter. The space you were in was small and everyone seemed to tower over you, especially the guy sitting to your right at the bar, but you didn’t pay him or anybody any attention as you leaned further over the bar, catching the barman's attention.

“Glass of tap water, please”. You contemplated having a glass of whatever was their cheapest alcohol but realised that Enzo had rushed off without giving you any money so free tap water it was. Maybe it was a good idea to have a clear mind when surrounded by so many people.

There was a commotion next to your left side, a couple of boisterous men talking so loudly that you could easily identify what they were saying over the music. As the barman handed over your glass filled with water, one of the arguing men bashed into your arm, causing you to squeeze into the large body to your right, some of your drink spilling from the abrupt movement.

“Hey asshole, watch the lady!” the tall man stood and shoved the guy over your shoulder, instantly giving you some space as you tried to fix your posture.

“Who the fuck do you think-”, the guy who had caused all of the commotion had turned to shout at whoever had pushed him but seeing who it was, the words died in his throat. “Sor…sorry”, he mumbled an apology before the group moved away, giving you even more freedom to move.

Your heart seemed to stop however, even the music seemed quieter as fear pulsed through your body, seeing who had been standing next to you and who had just pushed someone away from you, now understanding the scared reaction.

Steve Rogers didn’t need any introductions, everyone on the East Side knew of the Rogers Mafia leader.

The gang were renowned for being ferocious, heartless and vicious and ruled over the entire Brooklyn area. You’d never even been in the same room as him before, only noticing him from files that Enzo had shown you on who to look out for when attending these events, who not to piss off and who to sweet talk, Steve Rogers was definitely someone not to piss off.

He was breathtakingly handsome, something that only made him more dangerous, his blonde hair that curled around his ears, piercing ocean-blue eyes that darkened around the iris and his hulking form that screamed power and strength.

Steve Rogers was formidable and he was staring down at you, saying something that you couldn’t hear over the panicked buzzing in your ears—a couple of seconds passed as you held the glass of water tighter to your chest, finally relaxing enough to hear what he was asking.

“Are you ok?”

“Yes… thank you”. Without wasting any further time, you rushed off in a different direction, pushing harder against the throng of people, wanting to get away as fast as you could, not caring where you ended up. The entire time, you could feel him watching you, even risking a glance over your shoulder to see that he had fully turned his body in your direction and was watching you leave with a curious expression.

Your feet stumbled quicker in your haste to find somewhere else to be, but every room seemed to be busy and locked. Eventually, there were some stairs hidden behind a gate that no one seemed to be trespassing which meant: calm and peace. Climbing the stairs, the music quietening with each step upwards, the only sound is your heavy breathing, heels clicking against the floor and the pounding of your heart in your ears.

The stairs led up to the roof and you sighed happily at the fresh, crisp air that cooled your heated skin. Relief flooded your emotions as you walked further onto the empty rooftop, stopping when you reached the ledge that was tall enough that you could lean on it. Placing your glass onto the ridge, you admired the beautiful sight of the city and night sky.

Moments like these were the ones you craved every day, the dreams that you could imagine looking up towards the sparkling stars, dreaming that you were anywhere else with a different family and a better life. It was your crutch, these moments of escape, the small spark of hope that you wished one day would blossom into reality.

You were never sure how much time slipped away when you had these daydreams but as the fire escape door opened, you knew a significant amount had passed by the chill sweeping over your body now.

Your spine straightened as you turned to see who had found your hidden corner of the party and the dread that had encompassed you downstairs returned full force as Steve Rogers stepped outside, hands in his pockets, closing his eyes and savouring the cool air, much like you had.

He hadn’t noticed your presence at first and for a moment you hoped that he would move to the other side of the roof so that you could escape the way that you came but you were never that lucky as his blue eyes snapped to yours, shock evident on his face finding someone else up here. “Sorry, I didn’t think anyone else was up here”.

“That’s ok... I can go”, your voice didn’t sound anywhere near as confident as his. Quickly picking up your glass, you began to leave but he held out a hand, a small smile on his handsome face.

“It’s fine, you don’t have to go. You were here first anyway but there’s plenty of space up for the two of us”.

Now you felt inclined to stay, not wanting to look rude, especially to the most powerful man in the state so you nodded your head once and returned to looking out over the city. From the corner of your eye, you could see Steve approaching closer, stopping a few feet away and resting his forearms against the ledge. You were hyperaware of everything, the way you couldn’t slow your breathing rate down and the slight tremble in your hands, it was hard to remain calm.

Steve glanced over, eyes flicking over your form as you pretended like you weren’t watching from the corner of your eye. “I’m Steve”, he introduced himself, voice deep and yet oddly calming, matching the serene setting.

“I know”, your automatic response caused your to wince at the rudeness and brash tone you hadn’t meant to use. You’d been in rooms with dangerous men your entire life and had to flirt with many of them to get what your brother wanted, you needed to try and regain some sort of control. “Sorry, I mean… I think everyone knows who you are. I’m Y/N.” For a second you contemplated mentioning who your brother was so that he knew who you’d arrived with but for some reason, couldn’t admit to it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Y/N”, Steve responded, sounding surprisingly genuine before looking back over the city. “Beautiful view, I much prefer being up here than being locked in a tight room full of bozos”.

The seriousness in his voice had a laugh bubbling in your chest at realising you weren’t the only one to feel like this party was utter hell. Looking up towards the night sky, admiring the twinkles you agreed, “It is beautiful”.

Feeling eyes on your face, you looked towards Steve, seeing that he was watching you with an interested expression before it turned to one of confusion, eyebrows frowning slightly as his head tilted, asking, “Have we met before?”

Now it was your turn to be confused, “No I don’t think so. I think I would remember your face”. Your cheeks immediately burned at your unfiltered response, not meaning for it to sound like you were flirting but with the smirk that formed on his face, you knew that was exactly how it sounded to him. It wasn’t like what you said was wrong, he was handsome.

Steve thankfully brushed over the comment much to your embarrassment, “I definitely feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before”. Clicking his tongue against his teeth, his eyes continued to asses your face which only made you feel more self-conscious under his watchful gaze and then his eyes brightened to match the grin spreading across his face, “Cake Bakes, right? You order cinnamon buns?”

Your jaw slackened with shock as he spoke the name of your local bakery that you visited like clockwork every Thursday. Was he following you? Was all of this an elaborate plan to get you by yourself and take you, hostage?

Steve realised how bizarre his comment must have sounded and held up his hands, showing his empty palms in defence, “Oh shit, sorry that sounded weirder than it was supposed to. I promise I’m not stalking you, quite the opposite actually I uh… I’m in there most days to refresh our bakery stocks at the office and see you quite a lot”.

The blonde Mafia leader was of course downplaying the way in which he saw you at the bakery so as to not freak you out any further than you already were. You’d been the mysterious cinnamon bun girl that he had soon become addicted to seeing even just a glimpse of your pretty face, and if he was lucky then a smile as you accepted the baked goods. Even going as far as to volunteer himself to collect the food every week so that he might see you, even though he could easily find someone else to do the job for him. He was also highly aware of how much of a creep it would seem if he approached you one day so always admired from afar and with his job, it wasn’t like he could walk up to random women and ask them on dates when he was the most prolific mobster in Brooklyn. But seeing you here now, he couldn’t help but say something, almost like his body took over before he could think any of it through and seeing you all dressed up, it took him a good while to realise the scantily-dressed woman standing before him was his precious cinnamon bun girl.

You were frowning, trying to think about all the times you’d been into Cake Bakes, surely you would notice if a dangerous man was in there enough times to recognise you? Think, think think….

A clear image popped into your mind, a smile slipping over your features as you looked up at him, “black baseball hat, and sunglasses right?”, referring to the man that was always waiting for orders in the corner of the shop.

“Guilty”, Steve grinned sheepishly, stepping closer and angling his body more towards yours from where he still leaned his weight casually against the side.

Now you were unable to hold back that laugh that shook your body, hand resting on your stomach as it ached with how much you laughed, a sight that Steve became instantly addicted to. Finally, you were able to find some composure to say, “Good disguise, I’ve never clocked on to the fact that the infamous Steve Rogers had a sweet tooth”.

“Well, can’t have my reputation ruined now, could I?”

You genuinely smiled at him, wondering if you should reveal this next piece of information but unable to hold your tongue, “You do know that they call you the Muffin Man in there after you leave? They never understand how one person can carry so many baked goods”.

Steve’s cheeks actually bloomed with a tint of rose as he attempted to hide a smile, looking at his feet in a rare show of embarrassment, “should have guessed that the Muffin Man written on the receipt wasn’t the name of the baker”.

You laughed again before picking up your water and taking a sip, finally calming enough by hiding your face behind the glass. You couldn’t believe it as it dawned on you that… you were actually laughing with Steve fucking Rogers and his presence didn’t make you want to rip your skin off from feeling dirty, it was actually quite nice even though there were still warning bells alarming at the back of your consciousness.

The two of you remained in natural silence, still admiring the view which Steve admitted to himself was definitely you but he tried not to look for too long, knowing he could be addicted to trying to mesmerise your face to memory.

His curiosity got the better of him though as he asked subtly, “Isn’t there someone looking for you downstairs?”

You tried and failed to not choke on your drink, coughing a few times before shaking your head, “No, I’m here with my brother but he’s in some meetings”.

A frown crossed over Steve’s face, “meetings? So he’s got to be pretty important to be invited to those”.

You shrugged, looking down at your feet, “Enzo’s a busy guy I guess”.

“Enzo… as in Staten Island Enzo?” Steve asked, shocked when you were nodding to his question. “Hmm”, Steve pondered, glancing over his shoulder at the empty rooftop before looking back down at you, “where are your bodyguards? Enzo’s a pretty big deal from what I’ve heard, I’m sure there's a big target on his back with people looking for him, which by association means they are looking for you too”.

You didn’t dare look up, every word that Steve spoke was true and you had to try and think hard for a professional way of answering, instead of simply revealing that Enzo just didn’t care for your safety. “I managed to sneak away from security in the crowd, needed a moment of peace to myself”, the lie dripped from your tongue relatively easily and you made sure to look up at him even though looking into his eyes made your heart beat quicken.

Steve didn’t believe your excuse, noting the fact that you were always by yourself when visiting Cake Bakes and if he noticed you then he was sure others would. “They must be some shitty guards if you’re able to sneak away from them. I think you’d have some good competition if you tried to sneak away from my guards Bucky or Sam”.

Those two names you’d also heard of before, but it seemed that everyone involved within the Rogers Mafia were highly trained and feared individuals.

A shiver shook through your body as another blast of ice-cold wind stroked over your exposed body parts, causing goosebumps to lay over your skin. Steve noticed your chill, “do you want to head back inside before you catch your death out here?”

You didn’t miss the way in which he leaned his body closer to yours so that his arm gently pressed against you and impulsively you inclined into his warmth. Shaking your head, you answered honestly, “I’d much rather prefer to be a bit cold out here than in that hell hole downstairs”.

Steve agreed with a slow nod of the head and didn’t waste another second before shrugging off his navy jacket and placing it gently over your shoulders. Before you could decline, your body instantly felt relieved at the unnaturally warm material, and when his aftershave that stained the jacket wafted into your senses, your mouth watered.

Your heart was pounding for another reason now as you accepted the jacket, pulling it close around your frame, softly thanking him with a smile that reached your eyes. What was going on?, you thought as you assessed the situation. Of course, it could all be an act on Steve’s part but he hadn’t even known you were related to Enzo when he found you so wasn’t being nice for the sake of getting into the gang but then, why were the rumours about Steve so volatile and nasty because the man standing next to you now, willing to bare the cold and genuinely asking you questions was not the man you thought he would be.

Now it was your turn to be curious, facing your body fully towards him now, “Why are you up here? I would have thought that the most sought-after leader would be in meetings all night?”

“Ah, Buck’s taking one for the team and doing them for me. I’ve been in enough bullshit meetings for a lifetime and would it be cheesy to say I preferred the company up here and in no rush to return?”

You giggled, actually giggled as your cheeks warmed, “Yes I would say that was a little cheesy you smooth talker”.

The conversation came easy for the two of you, it felt like with each word he spoke, you were desperate to ask more, see the genuine reactions on his face as you held the joinings of his jacket together, it felt like a comforting cocoon, a safe space.

Those words seemed to taunt your conscious thoughts. A safe space. You’d never felt that way before, never had someone ask questions and be interested in your life. You’d never even had someone offer a jacket before to save you from the chill, it was all building that small spark of hope that you had been wishing for.

Once more the time seemed to pass without a care in the world, even as your feet began to ache from standing in the heels you’d picked, you still wanted to stay with Steve. But reality had to ruin the little sanctuary as Steve’s phone began to buzz with a text that he read quickly and his joy seeped away before your very eyes.

“All the meetings are over”.

“Shit”, you whispered in disdain, realising that you needed to go back downstairs to find your brother. Steve offered his hand out in front of you to allow you to lead the way and you both moved in the direction that you’d arrived and down the stairs.

The music thumped louder with each descent of the stairs as the party was still in full force and most likely to continue into the early hours of the morning. As you pushed your way through the crowds with Steve behind you, his hand on your lower back to help your way through but all you could think about was how big and hot it felt, even through the clothes.

Finally, you spotted Enzo and his gang members, lounging in a booth next to the speakers, drinking beer and definitely not looking for you.

Steve leaned down so you could hear but once again, with the close proximity, all you were able to concentrate on was seeing his face this close-up and trying to take in every detail that you could, “If you get into any trouble and those shitty guards can’t look after you, you can always come and find me, sweetheart”.

Usually, you loathed pet names but coming from his full lips, you couldn’t help but smile up at him, watching as he turned and left to find his own people, not before checking over his shoulder a few times to see you still watching, a smirk playing on his lips at this thought.

As Steve disappeared into the crowd, you finally felt your feet become unglued from the floor and moved to join your brother who was watching with a fire lit in his eyes that you’d never seen before.

It was only as you sat next to him did you realise that you were still wearing Steve’s jacket and you couldn’t deny that you probably still had time to run and find him to give it back, but instead wanted to be selfish and keep this comforting material for a little while longer, deciding you could find him at the end of the party.

“What?”, you finally asked as Enzo still hadn’t looked away.

A devilish grin stretched across his face as he nodded in the direction that Steve left, “he’s your next target”, he casually revealed.

“Wh-what?” you stuttered, feeling like ice had been doused over you.

“I need a meeting with him and he’s notorious for not accepting them, but I’ve got some dealings in his area, something that he's inserted himself in so you are going to use your assets like you have been with him all night, and get me my meeting”.

There was no use arguing as Enzo turned away from you, effectively cutting off your conversation with a dismissal. You felt deflated and sick at the mission given to you. Steve had been kind and clearly hated these sorts of functions and now you were expected to betray the little trust that you’d both formed, flirt with him more just to ask for a meeting with Enzo? You hated this, hated that this was your life and even more, detested your brother more than anyone for ruining the hopeful spark that had formed.

Over the next few days, you’d been going out of your way to ignore Enzo and his dreadful request however eventually his patience ran out as he forced you to sit in a chair and swear that you’d continue with the plan. You agreed but only due to the little threatening of the gleaming knife pressed against your throat.

Enzo had increasingly become more aggressive with his threats the older you were and the more reluctant you were to go through with the orders. So with no other option, you began to make a plan, cursing yourself for not asking for Steve’s phone number on the rooftop but at least there was one place that knew he would be, on Thursday, like clockwork.

The smell of the baked goods wafted down the street and had your stomach growling in anticipation for your treat, momentarily distracting you from the plan you were reluctantly going through with. Opening the door and hearing the tinny bell ring upon entry, even if you hadn’t wanted to, your eyes searched the seating area and straight away spotted the hulking form, with his hat and glasses, sitting up straighter in his chair as he also looked you over.

Biting your lip to stop yourself from grinning, you approached the cake display, casually chatting with the store owners who prepared your order without asking what you’d like. At one point, you risked a glance over your shoulder and saw that Steve was very much still watching you, his head tilted in wonder.

“Thank you”, you accepted your order and finally moved towards Steve who was sitting at a table for two, a different spot as he was usually in the corner leaning against the shop window. He must have been hoping that you would be joining too. “Hi”, you spoke softly, suddenly full of nerves but not because of the plan, but because you were actually excited to see him which was a foreign sensation for you.

“I still can’t believe that your brother lets you walk around without a bodyguard”, Steve spoke lowly so no one could overhear, a teasing smile seen beneath his shades.

“And I still can’t believe your disguise has worked for so long”, was your sassed response as you sat in the spare seat, resting your hands on the table.

Steve subtly adjusted his hat, pulling it lower over his face to hide his grin which only made yours widen, a bubbling feeling in your stomach due to making him smile, knowing that you wanted to make him do it again.

“How was the rest of the party?”, Steve changed the subject, clasping his hands together and leaning across the table until he was only inches away from touching where your hands lay and you had to refrain from reaching for him. Even from beneath his shades, you could see his eyes searching across your face.

“I tried to find you again to return your jacket to you, but you were gone”.

Steve sat back in his chair, contemplating your words but then his posture showed slight hints of arrogance as his legs spread and his arm rested on the back of the chair, “looked better on you anyway, sweetheart”.

There he goes with the pet names again that had your pulse fluttering with excitement. And was he actually flirting with you? 

“Are you flirting with me?”, you asked with a coy smile.

“Yes, is it working?” he answered confidently.

“Maybe”, you had to turn your face towards the Cakes Bakes staff to try and hide your smile and warmed face, you noticed that they were all watching the two of you with excitement, pretending to go back to work after being caught. You guessed it must have been weird that two of their most popular customers, who were always there but never spoke were now sitting at a table and chatting like close friends. 

Steve continued speaking referring to the jacket, snapping your attention back to him, “It’s fine, you can always give it back to me tonight”.

The excitement you’d been experiencing instantly ceased to exist due to having to give the jacket back. In all honesty, maybe it was slightly odd but you had found some weird comfort in his jacket, particularly the aftershave that lingered in the material. Frequently you found yourself breathing deeply from it, savouring the scents and letting the memories of the one night of happiness you’d seemed to experience.

“Oh right, yeah, of course,  I can get someone to drop it off or-”

Steve quickly cut you off, leaning close once more as his voice lowered, “You’ve misunderstood me, Baby, you can give it back to me when I take you out to dinner tonight”.

“Ah…right”, you say in shock, letting his words tumble through your mind before not bothering to hide your smile, “there you go with the smooth-talking again Steve”.

His Adam’s apple visibly bobbed as he swallowed harshly, huskily saying, “I like it when you say my name”.

Your eyes snapped to his lips, feeling yourself becoming more heated as you stared, your imagination getting the better of you with where those lips could touch and tease and…

“Your orders ready!”, one of the workers shouted to Steve, breaking the thickening tension between the two of you.

Both of you stood as he collected his stack of boxes from the counter, thanking the workers and you politely held the door open for you. “You never answered my question by the way”, Steve stated as you both stood in the middle of the bath, looking to leave in different directions.

“Well, it hardly seemed like a question and more a statement but regardless, yes I would love to go to dinner with you”.

Steve grinned now, showing off his perfectly white teeth, “Thank god. Do you know the new restaurant three blocks over? How about I book us a table for 7? I’d offer to pick you up but I’m assuming your brother wouldn’t like me knowing his home address with our line of jobs”.

This made sense and you couldn’t help but bounce on your toes a little bit with excitement, holding the bag with your cinnamon bun tightly in your grip, “That sounds great! See you at 7 Steve”.

You turned to walk away, mostly to hide your over-the-top grin, realising it was probably too much but after a few steps, you heard Steve shout to you, “I’ll be counting down the seconds!”

You faced back towards him to see him grinning and walking backwards, before stopping next to a large black SUV that you hadn’t noticed was parked there with Bucky in the driving seat. Steve climbed into the car and you couldn’t hear what was said but by the shit-eating grin on Bucky’s face, whatever he had said was a tease as he was harshly shoved against the driver’s door.

Holy shit. You were actually going for a dinner date with Steve. But then… wasn’t this supposed to be your plan all along, to get him in a romantic setting and sweet talk your way into getting your brother a meeting? However, every second you were with Steve, the gang, your job, and your brother never once came to your mind, it was like your vision only zoned in on the Rogers leader and couldn’t see or think about anything else.

You were definitely becoming way too attracted and attached to him, that much was for sure but for once, you didn’t let these emotions scare you off, even though you knew everything would crash and burn one day, you were enjoying the here and now too much to even care. If this ended up destroying you then so be it.

Enzo was ecstatic when you revealed that you had a date with Steve, and even offered to have someone drive you there before you needed to ask. Naturally, he still had something to complain about as he saw the beautifully flowing dress that you were wearing, not satisfied that you weren’t showing enough skin but thankfully he didn’t make you change.

Staring at yourself in the mirror for far too long, you had decided to go for this look rather than your usual skin-exposed to sell your assets dress because you actually wanted to make a nice first impression. Also, the restaurant that was booked looked fancy so didn’t need more attention drawn to you when you arrived looking like a woman of the night.

Reluctantly, you bought his jacket, it wasn’t your property but the comfort you found in it, you didn’t want to return it, even though the scent on it was starting the fade to the smell of your own natural body scent instead.

You couldn’t deny your nerves, hands clammy and stomach twisting and turning with anticipation of seeing him again but that was soon replaced with excitement and almost…content, at seeing Steve outside of the restaurant, waiting for you.

“Do you need picking up?” your driver asked and you instantly said no, knowing that if he picked you up, this meant you had a limit as to how late you could be with Steve. Exiting the car, and shutting the door behind you, Steve’s eyes lit up and sparkled as he approached you, but he failed to hide the disapproved look he gave the car as it began to drive away.

“They don’t open the door for you either?” he asked, referring to your gang member driver. You shook your head, thinking ‘Were they supposed to?’ but didn’t vocalise this as you took in Steve’s appearance. He looked good, so fucking good in fact that your core clenched with arousal at seeing his obviously expensive white suit that had buttons lacing the front, a striped brown tie to match his leather shoes. “You look breathtaking”, Steve’s compliment snapped you out of your appreciative stare.

Looking up at his handsome face, you realised he was doing his own oggle at what you were wearing, your skin burned with excitement, feeling giddy as Steve finally offered his elbow for you to take. The way he looked at you, it was like he was in awe of you, rather than the usual hungry look that would make you cower from the other people you had to go on dates with.

Holding his jacket in one hand and placing your hand in the crook of his arm and letting him lead the way in. You’d never been treated this well, having doors held open for you, allowing you to lead the way through the tables to your seat which was then pushed in by Steve, it felt like you were in a movie even though in reality, these gentlemanly acts were the bare minimum in perspective.

The restaurant was stunning, it wasn’t overly full of other customers, and everything had an air of money, expensive decorations, and friendly staff, it was perfect. Your table was near the back of the restaurant, in the most quiet area giving some sort of privacy from prying eyes that all seemed to notice Steve as he walked through.

You were beaming and had to take a large drink of water to try and hide your expression, forcing yourself to calm down before Steve ran away from your overexaggerate happiness. However, as you looked over at him, watching as he undid the few buttons of his jacket, his own expression may have been calm, trying to uphold his tough exterior but, as he rested his hands on the table, you noticed that he was wringing his hands together slightly, the only sign that he was nervous which only made you smile more.

“You are looking very handsome, did you get Bucky to comb your hair?”, you joked, trying to ease the tension in your shoulders by not filtering what you wanted to say.

Steve looked to the side and chuckled, shaking his head, “Just because he’s my second-in-command, doesn’t mean that we spend every second together”.

“Are you sure about that? You guys work together, you’re best friends, he drives you everywhere you go, and I’m sure he’s waiting outside for you right now”. Steve’s eyes locked onto yours as he genuinely smiled, the gleam reaching his eyes.

“Firstly, he’s only waiting outside because he’s doing his job as my bodyguard and secondly… you may have a point but no he didn’t comb my hair”. You bite your lip, holding back the giggle with the thought of two gangsters combing each other's hair in their spare time. 

The waiter then approached and took both of your orders, returning with some fancy wine you’d never even heard of before but the alcohol helped to ease the initial nerves.

You and Steve stayed until closing and the night quickly replaced the rooftop as your favourite night of your life. Both of you didn’t even seem to blink as you held eye contact like you were scared that if you looked away, the other would disappear.

You had also never spoken so much about your life, ever before. Steve continuously asked questions and was genuinely interested, even if there weren’t many exciting things to tell him. He would continuously compliment you and at one point, after the empty plates were taken away, your hands accidentally touched on top of the table as you both simultaneously reached for your drinks but then they just stayed there, holding hands. His palms and fingertips were rough from training and there were small scars littering his knuckles but the sheer size of them dwarfed your own.

It was an odd sensation to feel so at ease with someone, especially someone so dangerous. Sure, the rumours were there for a reason, he had to be the top gangster by doing dangerous and violent acts but the way he was looking at you like you were the only one to make him smile before.

Not only this but you were surprised by just how willing he was to open up about his life when you were wanting to find out everything you could. Steve talked about his childhood, how he was quite an unwell kid, meeting Bucky and they both joined the army in their early adulthood, much to Bucky’s dismay with how ill Steve was. Then the most surprising information was when Steve’s voice quieted, glanced around so no one would overhear.

Steve and Bucky had been a part of experiments that seemed to change their DNA which caused them to be the bulky forms that they were now, with enhanced stamina, strength, and vision, everything seemed to be to an exaggerated level. It was almost unbelievable to listen to, but then he showed you a picture of him as a 20-year old and he was tiny, scrawny and ill-looking, nothing like the towering, healthy, muscular man that was sitting across the table from you now.

Steve was open and honest about everything, even though he didn’t know why he was so willing to tell the sister of his potential enemy about facts regarding his gang, but once he started he couldn’t stop. Like he wanted to share more of himself to be closer to you in some way and break down the Mafia leader wall that he automatically had around himself at all times.

“I think the servers are waiting for us to leave”,  Steve whispered as he peaked over your shoulder. Turning in your chair, you saw that all the other tables were empty and the waiters were sitting together having completed all the other work. How long had it even been? You could talk to Steve all night if you could.

Steve paid with a significant tip for everyone and placed a steady hand on your lower back as you both walked towards the exit. He had offered to have Bucky take you home but you decided that maybe a taxi would be better, still needing to keep some anonymity at your brother's home.

“You don’t have to wait with me”, you stared up at Steve as he stood close enough that you could feel his warmth, much like on the rooftop, maybe his heat was a side effect of the experiments he’d gone through. Steve didn’t answer your question, instead giving a deadpan look before looking at what you still held in your arms - his jacket.

The pit in your stomach returned as you reluctantly began to hand over his jacket but Steve held up a finger to wait as he began to pull off his white blazer. He noticed how much you found comfort in the navy jacket so gave you his white one, took the navy one from your grip and shrugged it on. “Gives me an excuse to see you again”, Steve commented as you held his white blazer close, he had to refrain from groaning as the navy jacket smelt like you, his cock twitching in his pants with how much he wanted to wake up to that smell every morning.

“Is it weird to say I wish this night wouldn’t end?” your voice was timid as you asked him, becoming slightly nervous as you stared at your shoes. Steve’s brown leather shoes moved closer to yours, the tips just brushing together with how close he now stood. One of his fingers slid underneath your jaw, tilting your face up to look at him.

You gazed at him, seeing his cheeks were slightly flushed again, lips parted and shining from where he had recently run his tongue along them, his captivating eyes half-lidded and for a moment, you thought he was going to kiss you and what scared you a little was that you desperately wanted him to.

Steve wanted to kiss you, he had since before he knew who you truly were but for now, he instead tilted your head to the side and gently kissed your cheek, his finger slipping ever so slightly over your jaw as you seemed to forget how to breathe.

“Thank you for today, for showing me that there’s more to this world than just work, that there is some hope”, Steve admitted, his breath tickling your ear.

Now you definitely didn’t want the night to end and wished that you could reciprocate his words of affection but you panicked as the taxi pulled up next to you both. “Can I have your number?”

“I thought I was going to have to beg”, he was joking but the thought seemed to unlock something in your lonely, virgin brain and instantly had to rub your thighs together as tension built. Luckily Steve didn’t notice as he pulled out his phone from his back pocket, handing it to you to type your number into and then text it, your phone vibrating a second later with a text reading: ‘Tell me you’re mine”.

Your eyes were ablaze as you snapped your attention up to him but he was leaning over to open your taxi door, offering a hand to help you into the back seat. He even helped you to do your seatbelt, making sure you were safe before leaning into the car, “when can I see you again?” you asked, hopefully.

“I’ll cancel any plans if it means I get to see you, text me when you miss me and I’ll come running”, Steve inched forward and kissed your temple slowly, breathing in your smell one last time before standing back and shutting the door. The taxi began driving as you numbly said your address, eyes not leaving Steve’s as the car began to roll away until you could no longer see the blonde man anymore.

You felt overwhelmingly sad, an exaggerated feeling for someone who had only been on one date with the man but his attentiveness, made you feel like you were the only person in the room. Never in your life had you experienced someone caring for you or showing any sort of affection that didn’t leave you feeling used.

Your life was lonely and Steve was reminding you that this wasn’t how it was supposed to be so without losing your courage that suddenly flooded your heart, you pulled up Steve’s last text, reading the word ‘mine’ over and over again and decided to send him one make.

‘I’m yours’.

Arriving into the driveway of Enzo’s home, did it then click that you hadn’t in fact asked for the meeting. The one thing you actually had gone to do, you hadn’t done, Enzo not even crossing your mind throughout the entire night. You’d hoped that maybe he was asleep and then you could text Steve maybe, even though you weren’t sure what you’d say.

Your luck seemed to run out however as Enzo was waiting with anticipation for your return, not even giving you a second to take your shoes off before gripping your arm and dragging you to his office.

You couldn’t lie, not when there was so much expected from this meeting and if you said that Steve said yes and when you eventually were able to meet with him and he said no, Enzo’s reaction would be devastating.

When your brother lost his temper, he usually liked to take his anger out on objects around you, his office walls having to be replastered multiple times from where his fist had left holes. But recently, like the day before, he began to let his anger out on you by resting his knife against your throat with the threat to press harder.

However today, he didn’t remove his knife from its sheath and instead slammed your body into the wall with his hand around your neck, cutting off your airways. A loud buzzing filled your ears as you struggled to escape, you couldn’t even hear his words of anger, not until he threw you to the floor where you desperately gasped for air which was difficult as you tried not to hyperventilate.

“So what are you going to do, huh? TELL ME!” Enzo screamed and you cringed away from where he stood over you.

“I’ll- I’ll text him to meet tomorrow and I can ask him then, it’ll be better to ask in person”, your voice shook as the tears began flowing down your cheeks.

“Well go on then!”

Reaching into your pocket, your fingers trembled violently as you tried to type to Steve, heart pounding with anxiety. ‘Could we meet tomorrow? I’m not sure if I’m sounding too eager but I’d love to replay the favour and buy you lunch if you’re free?’

As you were waiting for a response, you massaged the skin of your neck as Enzo poured himself a heft glass of whiskey, drinking it all in a few gulps before pouring another one. As he was halfway through his second glass, Steve responded.

‘I meant what I said, I’m always free if it means I get to see you. I was just about to ask you for brunch tomorrow so great minds think alike and you aren’t repaying any favours, I want to treat you. Let me know where to pick you up, baby girl’.

You would have sheepishly grinned at his text but the realisation of actually having to portray his trust set in and you instead felt numb. After informing Enzo, he stormed off to god-knows-where, leaving you to crawl back to your bedroom and cry enough that your eyes were sore and swollen.

You didn’t want Steve to feel like you were just using him to get a meeting for your brother, but it was inevitable that as soon as you asked, the whirlwind of excitement and hope would soon extinguish.

You’d arranged to have Steve pick you up outside of Cakes Bakes at 11:30 the next day. To say you were exhausted was an understatement, you had only slept for an hour and that was only because you had cried for so long that you’d passed out. Your body and emotions felt drained, scared of Enzo, and worried about seeing Steve, it was a complete difference to how you were feeling 24 hours ago.

As you were only going for a late lunch, you decided to wear a simple dress that ended mid-thigh, the fabric was soft giving you space to breathe and not feel restricted. You also made sure to style your make-up so that it wasn’t obvious that your under eyes were swollen, even if the whites of your eyes were slightly red, you could always put that off to the cool weather making your eyes water.

You stared at his white jacket for far too long, thinking whether or not to bring it, but a selfish part of your mind decided to leave it on your bed, if Steve never wanted to see you again after today, then at least you could have this as a memory.

Taking a deep breath as you saw Steve’s SUV pull up to the curb, you allowed yourself to feel somewhat excited as he grinned at you, climbing out of the car to sweetly kiss your cheek. “God, you look amazing”.

“Thank you, so do you, are you always this dressed up?” You asked, surprised that your voice sounded so confident with how awful you felt inside but you did want to know the answer to your question. Steve was dressed in a crisp white shirt, the top two buttons undone and black pants that shaped perfectly over his sculptured ass… ok wait you needed to not be so quick to stare as he held the car door open for you.

“I need to keep up appearances, don’t I?” he cockily responded with a smirk that made you flush with excitement. As Steve closed your door and began walking around the car to get back into the driver's side, another voice from behind you made you scream.

“Hey, I’m Bucky, it’s nice to finally meet you!” Turning in your chair, fast enough to make you dizzy you were greeted with a gloved hand, extended for you to shake and the owner of that hand grinning hard enough to show the dimples in his cheeks.

With one hand, you grabbed your chest feeling your pounding heart beneath, not having expected anyone else to be in the car, and with the other hand, accept Bucky’s handshake, the hand within the glove feeling solid but Steve had already explained that he had a metal arm due to an incident in the army. “Hi, I’m Y/N”.

“Sorry”, Steve apologised as he shut his door, “I should have warned you he was here. I told him I was going to grab some food and he insisted that needed to come with me”, Steve growled the last part in annoyance.

Bucky shrugged his shoulders, “I’m just doing my job Boss”, but you could tell by the hint of mischief in his eyes that he came to snoop. “Anyway, I’m like a shadow, you won’t even know I’m here”, he readjusted in his seat, getting comfortable as he looked between you and Steve.

“It’s fine,  I know you both come as a pair, you were all Steve could talk about yesterday”, you teased Steve.

“Oh really? And it’s Steve is it? Already on a first-name basis I see”, Bucky eyed you with contemplation and his comment sparked your interest. He’d introduced himself as Steve, was it unusual for him to do so? You looked towards the blonde for answers but he looked ready to punch Bucky in the face for saying too much but he quickly changed the subject.

“So what do you want to eat?” Steve asked, turning on the car.

You all decided on Subway and rather than eating in the car, the boys suggested going back to the office to eat in the comfort of Steve’s office. You agreed, happy to go wherever they wanted but with the realisation that they felt comfortable enough to show the location of Steve’s office and welcomed as a friend rather than a sister of an enemy gang, you suddenly felt nauseous. 

There were lots of people everywhere who all smiled and waved at Steve and Bucky, but also remained respectful towards their boss, it was a much nicer dynamic to have than the one you grew up around. The three of you rode up the escalator to Steve’s office, it seemed Bucky was going to be eating with you too but you didn’t mind, he was easy to be around and just as gentlemanly as Steve, holding doors open and carrying your food for you.

Steve sat behind his giant oakwood desk, as you and Bucky sat in two guest chairs facing him, food wrappers in laps as you all ate and casually chatted. But even with how at ease Steve and Bucky made you feel as you forced the food into your mouth, you couldn’t help but feel sick, and empty.

“Everything ok?” Steve asked as he noticed your eyes hadn’t wandered away from the spot on the floor and since the run-in at Cakes Bakes two days ago, you never seemed to look away from his face, he missed your eyes.

Looking up, swallowing far too quickly, you plastered a fake smile on your face, hoping it reached your eyes, “Yeah I’m fine! Sorry my mind is a little all over the place”.

Steve frowned slightly, placing his half-eaten sandwich on the desk, “I haven’t made you uncomfortable coming here, have I?”

“No, you haven't, I promise, in fact, this is making me feel a little better, even with your shadow over here blatantly gate-crashing our date”, you joked, pointing your thumb at Bucky who grinned with a mouthful of food that made you giggle again.

Steve didn’t seem convinced by your excuse though, as he questioned, “So there is something wrong for you to feel better now we are here?”

You couldn’t hold his intense stare anymore and glanced at your lap, willing your mind to work and think of an excuse, ANY excuse, “I’m just tired, I’m fine, it’s nothing”.

Steve watched you try and suppress your emotions and contemplated a few facts. Over the few days that he had been getting to know you and allowing his own obsession to play out with wanting to be with you like you were his own personal drug. There was one topic, one person that had yet to be discussed so reluctantly he asked, “Is this about your brother?”

Steve assumed that maybe Enzo had found out about Steve taking his sister on a few dates and was being an overprotective sibling and maybe the two of you had a disagreement but as he saw tears pooling in your eyes and your bottom lip beginning to wobble, he didn’t care what had caused it, there was absolutely no way he was going to let someone upset you.

You were overwhelmingly stressed, realising it was now or never and nodded your head to answer Steve’s question. Both men seemed to gravitate towards you as your emotions began to spiral, Steve kneeling directly in front of you and Bucky to your left, removing your sandwich from your lap to give Steve room to reach for your hands.

“You’re going to hate me”, you admitted to him, sighing sadly as he stroked his thumb against your cheeks, wiping away the tears.

“I don’t think I could ever hate you, you aren’t capable of doing anything severe enough to make me hate you”, Steve tried to comfort.

“You’ve only known me for a few days”, you pointed out quietly.

Steve tilted your face up to his so you could see the sincerity in his eyes, “Yes, but I’d like to think I’m able to read people well and sweetheart, you don’t have a malicious bone in your body”.

“You won’t be saying that after this, you don’t know what I’ve done”.

Taking a deep breath that did next to nothing to settle your nerves, your hands remained in Steve’s as you began to explain what was happening. How for years you had been used as a bargaining chip for Enzo, flirting with customers of his to get what he wanted and after meeting on the rooftop, Enzo had demanded that you do the same with Steve to try and get a meeting for him.

“But then every time we’ve been together, I forgot about Enzo, about his mission for me and every time I go home, he’s there, expecting me to have arranged things for him but then I haven’t and he’s mad. But then, every time we are together and the closer we get, I realise how much I don’t want to lose whatever it is that’s between us but that only makes it worse when I inevitably have to ask if you could please meet with Enzo?”

Steve’s eyes harden the longer you talked, and for a moment you expected the anger to be directed at you but his thumb continued to draw idle circles on the back of your hand as he questioned, “Does Enzo have anger issues?”

“Doesn’t everyone in this job?” you answered honestly, finding his thumb movements relaxing as you looked down at where they lay in your lap.

“Not for people you love”, Steve’s voice was calm as he spoke, sounding sincere but you could hear the rage behind his words and by the way his jaw clenched.

“Did he hurt you?” Bucky asked with icy rage. The tension in the room seemed to shift as both men waited with bated breath for your answer and for a minute you contemplated telling them the truth but if something happened to Enzo, what would happen to you? Where would you go?

So you shook your head, no. Hoping that they believed you as more tears flowed. “I didn’t want you to think I was like everyone else, that I was just using you to benefit the gang”.

Steve’s eyebrows unfurrowed as he shifted closer on his knees, “Don’t cry baby,”, he quickly wiped away your tears again, “your reaction is proof enough that you held no malicious intent behind our meetings, and that you are nothing like your brother. You’ve had plenty of opportunity to ask for this bullshit meeting and only when pushed into a corner have you asked”.

You took a few steading breaths, full of unbelieveable relief that caused the tension to ease in your chest. “I hate seeing you sad and knowing that someone’s made you feel this way. You should feel safe, I mean, are you even safe living at home with him?” There was hesitation in Steve’s voice like the answer would change everything.

“I think I’m safe, he needs me too much”, your answer wasn’t necessarily a lie as such, but the increasing violence didn’t need to be discussed.

“If you’re ever not safe, you know you can always come to me, don’t you? No one would be able to get within 2 feet of you with me around, I promise you”. 

You stared deep into his eyes, seeing them full of honesty and genuine care, and it wasn’t something you wanted to run towards, that safety net that he was offering to you.

The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift as you couldn’t blink or even force air into your lungs as Steve’s eyes captivated you. At some point, Bucky took this moment to step away, understanding that you both needed some time alone and as the office door clicked closed, the restraint both you and Steve had been holding onto shattered.

The two of you met in the middle, your body flying out of the chair, arms going around his neck as he cradled your hips, pulling you to the floor, knees pressed against him and his mouth lowered to yours. The kiss was bruising and full of desperation on both parts, wanting to be as close as possible, head tilting one way to the other, lips moving frantically needing to taste each other.

As your tongue teased his bottom lip, Steve seemed to lose some restraint as his whole body shivered, a deep groan coming from the back of his throat as his large arms wrapped around your body and he easily swapped your positions so that he now sat in the chair and you were straddling his lap. Your dress rose higher up your thighs as they burned from the stretch over his muscular thighs, your hips wanting to grind down against him however, this was unknown territory for you, but you could definitely feel the hardening lump that brushed against your thighs with his peaking arousal. Even though this wasn’t your first kiss, that was as far as your experience went.

Steve’s hands stroked up your back as he sighed with content, his tongue daring to dip into your mouth and both of your groaned as yours touched his. Your fingers were doing their own exploring, from the hard muscles of his shoulders, up to the surprisingly soft whisps of hair behind his ears, a strong contrast to the rough facial hair that was rubbing against your cheeks.

You wanted more, needed more of him and for a moment, you were ready to give it to him, but as Steve’s mouth began to kiss along your jaw, you had the sudden urge to tell him, “I’m a virgin”.

Steve pulled back immediately, hands moving to rest on your hips as his glazed-over eyes searched your face, “sorry, we don’t have to do anything that’ll make you uncomfortable-”

You swiftly cut off his chivalrous speech by attaching your mouth back to his in a longing kiss, taking your time to pull back and rest your forehead against his. “That’s not what I meant, I want to do this with you more than you could ever know but I also don’t want the first time to be in a small leather chair”.

Steve grinned, pecking your lips one more time before nuzzling into your neck, “I don’t want that for you either, sweetheart. I just want you to be happy”. Your heart felt like it was going to explode out of your chest as you held him tighter.

“I’m happy when I’m with you, I’ve never felt like this with anyone before, like I’m actually safe when you’re around.”

“That’s because you are safe, I’ll always keep you safe”. Steve pulled back so that he could look into your eyes, stroking a hand across your cheek, “I don’t want you going back to where he is, without me there, what if something happens”.

“Nothing will happen, and I’ll always come back to you”.

“Will you call me if anything does happen? Or if I give you a call, if you don’t answer by the second ring, I’ll know something is wrong and I’ll come to find you.”

Nodding your head you agreed to his terms, you were always by your phone so was pretty simple to answer unless something was wrong. “What do you want me to tell him about this meeting?”

“Tell him I can do it today, I need to see that coward's face.” Your nerves began to surface again and so Steve tenderly kissed your cheek, as your lips were slightly swollen from the make-out session. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to your brother if you don’t want me to, you’re my priority through all of this”.

Your stomach bubbled with an unknown feeling as you admitted, “I’ve never been someone's priority before”.

Steve’s eyes saddened, “I hate that it’s taken you this long to feel justified and that you matter”. Your fingers stroked across his cheek, following the direction of his hair in soft motions and you could tell he was nervous for his next statement. “During the meeting, you’re going to see a side of me that you might not recognise but, I need to be the boss if it's the boss he wants to see so bad that he’s willing to use you to get to me”.

“I know”, you say, leaning your head on his shoulders, and relaxing into his embrace and you realised that this was probably the first intimate hug you’d ever received and it felt so good and right.

“I just need you to remember this version of me, the one that wants to protect you and keep you safe”.

“I’m not scared of any version of you Steve. The boss or the one that I’m seeing now.”

He kissed your temple, “I really want to fucking kill your brother for making you cry”, he admitted, his words full of aggression, not matching the soft touches that he was providing.

“To be honest, I hardly even see him as my brother, I haven’t for a while so let’s call him Enzo and pretend that he’s not”.

Steve nodded his head and continued to hold you for a little while longer but then eventually shifted, “Go and call Enzo, I think it’s time I meet him properly”.

[604to647]

Birthday Present

1.3K / Javier Pena x fem!reader

Summary: Someone leaves you a birthday present on your desk.

Warnings: Angst, pining and yearning, but also some hurt, allusion to past relationship, allusions to smut, allusions to infidelity (possible/perceived? left ambiguous on purpose), reader is described as having hair that can be adorned with accessories, set in the Escobar seasons of Narcos (but which one/when is up to you), reader works at the embassy (my h/c is in Treasury because I only know how to write Finance girlies, but it's not important)

A/N: I've had a Javi P story swirling in my head for a long time, long before I even conceptualized Safest with You; but I'm fully committed to SwY right now, and don't think I have it in me to write another multi-chapter fic at the same time. So here is just a little angsty one shot of these two dummies; maybe one day I'll revisit and write the longer story for them that they deserve.

Multiple hands usher you to the office breakroom, where everyone from Treasury and several people from other embassy departments are waiting with a cake adorned with lit candles.  Someone dims the lights and the crowd starts singing “Happy Birthday” to you as you smile and welcome their kind attention.  After the candles are blown out and cake slices dispensed, you give your thanks after some small talk and leave most of the crowd to enjoy their midafternoon break.  Making your way back to your desk carrying the paper plate with your generous slice of cake, you’re surprised to see a small black velvet box with a red bow sitting on top of your files. Momentarily confused, you have to think back to remember that it certainly hadn’t been there when you left for the break room earlier.  You pick up the box and find it to be quite light; as you turn it over in your hands, you look around to see who it might be from.  Unfortunately, most people are either still having cake or just returning to their desks as you have, so there's no one who would have been around to see who left it.

You sit down and open the box; inside, resting on the soft black fabric, are two matching metal hair clips, each with a small, delicate looking silver bird adorning its end.  They’re beautiful and subtle, definitely something that would have caught your eye at an antique store – these were not purchased at any of the local souvenir stores near the embassy, that was for sure.  Your knee jerk reaction is to think they’re from Javier.  Among his many names of endearment for you, his favourite had been to call you his pretty bird. 

But you weren’t his pretty bird anymore.  No, you hold up one of the hand-crafted clips in your hand to admire it, these weren’t from Javi.  He had no reason to give you a gift with such sentiment.

Not when he hadn’t spoken a word to you in the two months since he had broken your heart; not even a word that night you had silently pieced together the scene in his apartment with the beautiful half naked woman on his couch and him standing in the living room shirtless, his pants unbuttoned.  You had apologized for interrupting before leaving your key to his apartment on the kitchen counter, then crying, made your way upstairs to ask the Murphys if you could use their phone to call a car.

You had felt so stupid.  It was entirely your fault for letting Javi break your heart.  You had heard all the whispered warnings around the office of Agent Javier Pena’s philandering ways; some shared as jovial gossip, but also some more bitter testimonials.  But that hadn’t been the man who had helped translate your clumsy Spanish with the Columbian embassy staff.  Or the one who had gently threaded his fingers through yours when unwinding from stressful days over long, lazy dinners. And it hadn’t been the man who had been too shy to cross the threshold of your apartment until you practically yanked him in and let him pull orgasm after orgasm from you until you nearly forgot your own name.  So you had ignored the murmurs about his reputation, allowing what had to be hubris to think it wouldn’t apply to you.  And you had fallen in love with Javier Pena.  You fell head over heels for the puppy eyed, baritone voiced gruff who cared more deeply about his work and the innocent people of Columbia than anyone knew; who had a tender heart that hurt every time Escobar’s violence touched lives that he, Javi, could not save.  With his words and his gentle and not so gentle touches, Javier had made you believe he had fallen in love with you too.  In the end, it must have simply been another weapon in his arsenal of charm to keep his bed occupied and his roster of rotating paramours never ending.  You had fallen for it, thinking you had somehow been special, when of course, you weren’t. Stupid.

No, Javi had no reason to think of you on your birthday.  The gift wasn’t from him.  But this certainty comes with another realization close on its heels: that despite everything, a small part of you wished it was.

---

Javi had waited patiently the entire day, peeking out the door of the DEA office he shared with Steve, down the hall to the big windows of the Treasury department to watch for when you would leave your desk.  All day long, people came by to wish you happy birthday, and you had smiled sweetly at everyone and thanked them for their felicitations. 

Never once did you look down the hall in his direction, but it had been months since you had done so.  It used to be a secret ritual between the two of you; when the DEA would rush down this same hallway for a raid or mission, you would lock eyes with him and mouth words of encouragement, a simple “Be careful” or “Come back”, and him countering “Always” with a cocky smirk, but eyes filled with adoration.  And he had kept that promise every time, always returning to you and proving his devotion over and over with his words, his hands, his mouth, his cock.  Worshipping you, really.  His pretty bird.  The most perfect creature to have ever stepped foot in the US Embassy; sweet, smart, a force to be reckoned with, but most of all, kind, and by some miracle, you saw those same qualities in him.  You made him feel like a better man that he was, and loved him for all that he strived to be.  He had never wanted to be separated from you.

Now he could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times you had addressed him directly in the last two months: once in a meeting and once while crossing paths in the Ambassador’s office - a polite nod followed by, “Agent.”

Agent.

As if you didn’t know his name.

As if you hadn’t cried it out over and over while writhing in pleasure beneath him.

As if you hadn’t whispered it following the three sweetest words he ever heard from you.

I love you, Javier.

I love you more, pretty bird.

And now it was “Agent”.  Now you hated him. But he still loved you so, so much.

So he had waited until your entire department had left for birthday cake before slipping into the vacated room and leaving your present on your desk.  He had seen the hair clips in the window of a little Columbian antique store while on a recon mission in a village outside of Bogota; thinking of you immediately when he saw them and how perfect they would look in your soft hair.  He had bought them that day, but the box had been sitting in his desk ever since, waiting for a way to make it into your hands where it belonged.

He knew he couldn’t give them to you directly, he was still unable to face you; he had already seen devastation and hurt replace what used to be love and admiration in your eyes the night he didn't stop you from leaving his apartment, allowing you to think he had cheated on you. He was too much of a coward to face those same eyes now and what he might see: disappointment, hate.  Impatiently, he hovers in the safety of his office doorway, waiting for you to discover your gift.  When you do, he watches your face go from surprise, to thoughtful confusion, to delight as you admire the hair clips.  Your eyes seem bright and a little bit sad as you examine the little bird decorating the barrette in the light.  He breathes a little sigh of relief when you ultimately smile and put the dainty accessory away, slipping the gift box into your purse.

Javier hopes you love your present.  He wishes he could help you attach the hair clips to your hair, but contents himself with knowing that when you wear them, you will be carrying his love with you, even if you don’t know it.

[elizabethwritesmen]

I once was poison ivy

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Part 2 but now I’m your daisy

Older!Fireman!Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Synopsis - You've spent your entire life taking men who intend to manipulate you and manipulating them instead. It's the only way you know how to survive. Then, one day, you meet Steve Harrington and you realize love and lust are so much more than survival.

A/N - This will be a two-parter. Maybe three if it runs too long.

Warnings: Fluff, sexual themes, smut to come in the second part, talks of using men for their money, vivid description of a car accident, drunk driving.

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I've been breaking hearts a long time and Fooling with them older guys Just playthings for me to use

The napkin on my lap was in pieces.

I'd been tearing it apart, whether out of anxious habit or sheer boredom I wasn't sure.

The man sitting across from me just would not stop talking. He started the second I met up with him in the parking lot and hadn't closed his mouth since. I nodded along and provided just enough commentary to seem present, but my brain was miles away.

He cleared his throat, staring at me pointedly until I met his eyes, a saccharine smile gracing my face.

"Are you alright, doll? I know all this shop talk can be a lot for a pretty girl like you to keep up with," he stated with all the confidence in the world, and I fought a scoff at his condescension.

"Oh, I'm fine!" I grinned wildly, almost childlike, "To be honest, I'm just in awe of you. Absolutely fascinated. I keep asking myself what I did to deserve a date with you!"

The lies cut through my teeth like butter, slick and smooth. I knew they worked when he puffed out his chest and a red tint covered his full cheeks, "Well darling, if you keep talking to me like that, you'll get more than one date with me!"

"There's nothing I'd love more!"

I know I should've cursed him for all he was worth, but that's not how my lifestyle worked. I didn't care how much of a pig a man was, as long as his money was louder than his mouth. And this man's money definitely was.

You see, he was older, a business man. He worked at some high end finance job, and he was most definitely the boss. I met him through my own job. I was a waitress and he frequented my corner booth on his lunch breaks. He knew my schedule and came to eat every single day I worked at 12:00 sharp with a new story about his job, his divorce, or his 1970 Chevelle. On the days I didn't work, he stayed away, claiming I was the only girl there worth looking at. And, every time, he left me a crisp 100 as a tip.

The last time he'd come in, he'd ended his lunch by asking me on a date. He told me he wanted to pick a dress out for me and treat me to the nicest dinner I'd ever had. Poor thing had no idea he wasn't the first millionaire to offer that. I agreed happily, pushing down any reservations and forcing myself to look forward to it.

So there we were, at one of those restaurants where you have to dress formally and use certain etiquette. I hated those places, I knew I didn't belong there, but it was what I had to do and I always did it with a smile on my face.

He continued talking and I began fiddling with the Versace dress adorning me, tugging on the hem. I only heard snippets of what he was saying. After hearing a million men tell the same stories, I thought there was no reason to pay any real attention.

Our waitress startled me out of the trance I'd fallen into, dropping the check off at our table.

"Here," he smiled, placing $200 neatly in the little black book, "That's enough for you to add a cheesecake to-go for my beautiful companion, and to buy something pretty for yourself!"

The girl's eyes widened and she grinned, staring at the generous amount she'd been given. It took her mere moments to bring by a bag with the cheesecake in a box at the bottom, and I was finally done.

"I'll walk you to your car," Mr. Boring offered in a way that I couldn't possibly refuse.

Well, almost done.

Once we reached my Passat, he pressed me lightly against the driver's door and planted a sloppy kiss on my lips. I cringed my way through it until it was finally over, and he opened my door for me.

"Maybe we can go out again next week?" he proposed, "I'll call you and we can set it up."

"Of course!" I nodded, eagerly climbing into the seat.

"Oh, and before I forget," he sighed, pulling his wallet from his pocket and fishing out two more crisp hundred dollar bills, "This should cover gas and the rest is a thank-you for making an old man feel young again. Seeing you in that dress made my evening."

I smiled at him as he walked away, my expression dropping the second he was out of sight. And then, I was finally headed home.

Something happened for the first time In the darkest little paradise Shaking, pacing, I just need you

It was about a 30 minute drive to my house, and I had the music cranked up the entire way. I was passing through the last intersection before my highway exit when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

It was an SUV, much bigger than my car, headed straight for me. It was going so fast but in that moment time slowed down. It was too late for me to stop or get out of the way, I knew I was screwed. I yanked the wheel to the right, hoping they wouldn't hit me directly. I thought that if they caught the back end of my car it would hurt less.

They slammed into the back driver's side door, just barely missing me, sending me careening across the highway and into the ditch. I screamed as my head slammed into my window, blood running down my temple and onto my neck.

Finally, everything stopped. My car was, beyond all rationality, still playing music. I turned it all the way down, looking around.

The SUV was upside down on the highway, engulfed in flames. I saw a man laying about 20 feet away from it on the asphalt. I prayed he was okay, and that nobody else was in his vehicle.

Then, I examined myself. Glass had shattered everywhere, and there was a pile of it in my lap. My poor Versace was tattered and bloody, and I frowned momentarily in a small fit of grief. The back of my car was completely done for, and I was shocked my airbags didn't go off. Of course, there was no impact to the front of my car.

It only took minutes for sirens to overtake the scene. There were two ambulances, a firetruck, and several police cars.

I slipped my seatbelt off, groaning at the pain. It felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I guess I had, in a manner of speaking. My body was suffering from the turmoil.

Shockingly, my door opened when I pulled the handle and I climbed out, falling to the ground with a cry and a sharp wince.

"Hey, hey, hey!" the voice was deep, and I glanced up to see the fireman it belonged to running in my direction, "Don't move, just stay still. Please, stay still. God, you could've died trying to climb out of that car. Too tough for your own good!" He kneeled beside me, his arms holding me up, his eyes scanning me for all signs of injury. "Here you go, calm down. It's okay now, I've got you."

His voice was soothing me, and so was his thumb as he rubbed calming circles on my hip.

"Please," I cried, my voice almost too small to be audible. I squirmed, trying and failing to break free, "I need... I need..."

I wasn't sure what I was pleading for. I just wanted relief. My bones felt like they were combusting.

"I'm gonna get you some help, sweetheart, I promise. You're safe with me." He called the paramedics over to have a look at me. They ran straight for us and he lifted me up placing me comfortably on the stretcher.

As he began to walk away, I called out meekly, "Please stay with me!" and reached blindly for his hand. He gave it to me and nodded, squeezing my palm lightly as he helped them wheel me to the ambulance. They got me inside of it and starting poking and prodding, asking me questions.

"I don't want to go to the hospital," I whined, "I'm fine, I don't need a hospital."

"We gotta get you to the hospital, sweetheart. I'm sorry, I know it's scary, but you're tough though, huh?," his voice was still so soothing, and I nodded, holding tighter to his hand that was still intertwined with mine.

"Will you come with me?" I stared up at him, my eyes wide and pitiful in a beg.

"I can't, I have to get back and help clean all this up," he told me, his voice regretful.

"Please," I was whimpering at that point, desperate. I hated begging but he was the only thing keeping me from an anxiety attack. The only thing grounding me. The only thing keeping me from asking questions like, what if I'm seriously hurt? What's going to happen with my car? Is my cheesecake okay? How am I going to replace this dress?

Okay, some of the questions were silly but cut me some slack. I'd just been hit by a truck.

He chewed his lip in thought for a moment before sighing, "Let me talk to my boss and see what I can do."

He was gone for about five minutes, but when he came back, he was only in a white T shirt and his turnout pants. He set his jacket and hat on the bench seat next to me and climbed in beside me, grasping my hand again.

"Thank you," I whispered, and the sweet smile he gave me warmed my tummy.

Hours passed in a flurry of medical stuff I didn't understand and tests being run. When everything calmed down, I was sitting on a bed in an ER, a thick medical grade bandaid on my temple where I hit the window and some pain killers in my system. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt badly at all, just extremely sore and shaken up. I had a concussion, but that was the brunt of it.

"Okay, Miss L/N. I've got a prescription here for painkillers, it should help soothe your soreness and your headache. Other than that, you're free to go," the doctor walked in the room and told me jovially. He was nice, he made me feel comfortable. I was thankful to have him instead of someone colder. But what really made me feel comfortable was the firefighter, whose name I'd discovered was Steve. He stayed right beside me the entire time, even when I was first admitted. He even called my mom for me when I was first admitted, and that's the only time he let go of my hand.

"I think that's all, thank you," I sincerely responded.

"Great. Then I'll leave you be. If anything else happens, come back. Concussions are no joke. But I'm sure Steve knows that, so you're in good hands. He'll take care of you," he gave us a pointed look, glancing from mine and Steve's interlaced fingers to our faces.

"Bye, Joe," Steve dramatized, rolling his eyes.

"Bye Steve. Bye Y/N," the doctor responded between laughs, taking his exit.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Steve turned to me, his hard features softening the second his eyes met mine.

"Have you heard anything else from my mom?" I asked, trying to keep the hope in my voice at bay.

"She checked on you once, about an hour ago. I told her I was taking care of you."

"Oh."

His eyes were boring into me, searching. I'm sure it seemed odd to him, a mother not immediately rushing to her child's side when she hears there's been an accident. Wasn't very strange to me, though. My mom had never spared much time for me.

He cleared his throat, speaking more quietly, "She said she wants me to get you home safe, so that's what I'm gonna do. One of the nurses is gonna give us a ride to the station and I'm gonna drive you from there."

"Well it's settled, then. Let's go," I beamed, grabbing his hand and hopping off the bed. I didn't make it very far, though, nearly collapsing the second my feet hit solid ground.

Steve was quick, catching me and holding me steady. I lifted my eyes and they met his, inches away. I could feel his breath, warm against my skin.

"Be careful there, Super Girl. You're too weak to take on the world just yet," he sighed, and I had to fight the urge to lean in.

He was handsome. I'd noticed it the second he ran over to me, my knight in dirty turnout gear. I'd noticed it again in the ambulance when he told me he could go to the hospital with me. And I noticed it as his arms squeezed me tighter.

"I can walk," I mumbled.

"I'm sure you can, but you aren't. Come on, I've got you," he stated, as if there was no room for argument or disagreement. One of the arms around me slipped down to the crook of my knees and he lifted, pulling me securely into his hold. I gasped, grasping tightly to his shirt, my nails leaving imprints in the soft fabric.

"Steve, I'm heavy!" I screeched, and he chuckled.

"Even if you were heavy, I can handle it," he said, like it was obvious. My stare stayed skeptical and he sighed, "Sweetheart, you're not heavy. You're nothing compared to the gear I wear and haul, and the people I have to carry out of buildings."

I stayed stubborn for a moment longer before giving him a slight nod, "If your back starts to break, put me down!"

"I don't have any plans to put you down, sweetheart," he winked, and with that, he was carrying me to the ambulance bay where an Altima was waiting for us. One of the nurses was leaning against it. She was pretty, like a young Angelina Jolie. Her scrubs hugged every curve and jealousy pinged in my gut at how perfect she was. It turned to discomfort, though, when I saw the way she was looking at us.

There was a scowl plastered onto her face, full of judgment. Her eyes were stuck on Steve's arms around me, and if looks could kill, she'd have me dead in a second.

"Can you open the door for me, Bridget?" he asked, frustration laced in his voice from the way she was staring at us instead of helping.

"Of course, Stevie," she cooed, doing as she asked. He helped me in the back seat, going as far as to buckle the belt around me. My breath hitched as he did so, the proximity turning my cheeks bright red.

Bridget's face dropped as he slid in beside me and shut the door behind himself. She opened it right back, "What are you doing, Steve? Your spot is up front!"

"I'd rather sit back here with Y/N and make sure she's okay. Come on, we should get going. I'm sure she's ready to shower and rest."

She huffed, her anger embarrassingly evident, but she gave a slight nod and slammed the door, climbing into the driver's side and speeding off. My head was pounding, so I leaned on Steve's shoulder the whole time. Every now and then he'd shield me from the sun with his hands or run his fingers through my hair, keeping me as comfortable as he could.

Once we got to the fire station, he helped me out and we waved goodbye to Bridget. She gave me one more dirty look before leaving, and I hoped I would never see her again.

"There you are, Steve!" a voice joined into the mix, and I turned around to see a man about Steve's height with long curly hair approaching. He had a bag in his hand.

"Hey, Eddie," Steve greeted, "Thank you for covering my shift all night."

"All night and all morning. I'm assuming you won't be back after you take her home."

Steve looked bashful. It was cute, his cheeks turning red and his eyes averting downward.

"I promise I'll make it up to you, man. I just couldn't leave her, she needed me," he rushed out an explanation and I couldn't stifle my giggle.

"Yeah, sure she did. Come on, dude, I'm not mad. I needed the hours anyway and I'm not like you, I don't have a ton of beautiful women begging me to escort them to the hospital. My Friday night was all free."

"I don't have a ton of them either," Steve cried out defensively, "Just the one."

"Well then get her home before she decides she doesn't neeeeeeed you anymore," the other man, Eddie, winked then and turned to me, "Oh, by the way, I'm Eddie. Steve's best friend, confidant, life saver, shift coverer. I'm the reason he could be with you all night."

His tone was joking, so I played along, "Oh, well thank you so very much. I would've just died without him. As a matter of fact if he leaves my sight I'm sure I'll faint."

"Marry her," Eddie deadpanned, turning to Steve with the most ridiculously serious look on his face. The only response he got was an eyeroll. "Okay, whatever, get out of here. Here's the rest of your stuff, and what we managed to get out of Y/N's car. You can make the shift change up to me later." He handed Steve the bag and glanced my way, "And Y/N, I'm sure I'll be seeing you again. Until then, I'm glad you're okay."

Steve pulled his keys out of the bag, clicking them. A truck beeped across the parking lot and he wrapped his arm around me, helping me over to it.

The last we heard of Eddie was a scream over the parking lot, "Oh and Steve, put some clothes on that poor girl!"

He glanced down at my ripped up dress and blushed.

"Here," he handed me his turnout jacket, "Put this on."

I did as he asked and slipped back into his arms, allowing him to lift me into the passenger seat. I liked the way the material felt on me, warm and loose. It smelled of smoke but it also smelled of cinnamon and something muskier, all Steve.

As he pulled away, I decided to make small talk. It was a ten minute drive back to my house and I didn't want it to be awkward. Not that a single moment we'd already spent together had been. Steve had a way of making me feel like I was finally safe at home.

"Bridget and Eddie seemed nice," I commented. Obviously, I didn't mean the first part but I had a sinking feeling that Steve and Bridget were something of an item and I didn't want to upset him.

"Eddie is a great guy. We've known each other forever, and he's always had my back." He paused for a moment, "And Bridget was awful to you today. You don't have to pretend she wasn't."

"I just thought you and her were probably friends, or maybe even a thing, and I didn't want to say anything mean about her just in case," I smiled softly, apologetically.

"We're not. But she wants to be. She's a uniform chaser. She doesn't know the first thing about me other than my job."

"Do you get that a lot? Girls that are only interested in you because of what you do?"

"More often than you'd think. But it's okay. I guess it's better than not being wanted at all."

"You think if you were something else, something more boring, girls wouldn't want you?" My brows were furrowed in confusion. How could a man so wonderful have such a gaping insecurity?

"I didn't feel that way at first, but I guess I've become cynical over time."

"Well, I'm cynical with the best of them and I'm telling you that you're wrong," I started, "Don't get me wrong. The turnout gear is ruggedly sexy. Straight out of a calendar, really. But I wouldn't have wanted you to come to the hospital with me if you were any other fireman. I wanted you there because of how you made me feel. Safe, and taken care of."

Silence filled the air. I don't think he knew how to respond.

"What about you?" he finally asked, "That was a nice dress before it was ruined. You must've been on quite a date."

"I wouldn't call it that," I stared at my lap, color rising in my cheeks.

"Didn't go well?"

"It's not that, it's just... I wasn't really interested in him."

"What was wrong with him?"

"You ask a lot of questions," I breathed out a laugh, wanting a subject change. I felt shame, like if Steve found out the kind of men I date and why, he would drop me off and forget about me. I didn't want that. I craved more of him. More of his time, and his headspace. I hadn't known him long, but it's hard not to swoon over a man who spends hours of his time taking care of you.

"I'll stop. For now."

Shortly after he said that, we pulled into my driveway. He helped me out of his truck and into my house, commenting on how cute he thought everything was.

"Where's your bathroom? I'm gonna get the shower running for you," he turned to me and said.

"Oh," I blushed, "You don't have to do that. Really. I can manage to get around."

"I want to. I told you I would take care of you, and I'm not doing it halfway. Now should I go looking until I find it or are you gonna tell me where it is?"

"My room is down the hall, the bathroom is in there," I smiled shyly.

He didn't waste a second, pulling me back into him and let me lean on him the entire way there. I leaned against the sink as he looked around, taking the room in.

"A bath would probably be better than a shower. You're still weak, I don't want you to slip and hurt yourself."

I didn't respond, I just watched him as he turned the faucet on and felt the water, adjusting until the temperature was perfect.

"Thank you," I finally said as he finished up and stopped the drain.

"Of course. You gonna be able to get from the tub to the bed?" he asked me.

I giggled, nodding, "I think I'll manage."

"Okay... if you have any trouble or need anything, you're welcome to call me."

"How am I gonna do that without your number?"

His face went red, a silly smile crossing his lips, "Of course. You're right. Here."

He slipped his phone out, pulling up the screen to create a new contact and handed it to me. I quickly typed in my name and info and handed it back. He called me once, hanging up as soon as it rang, and nodded once affirmatively.

"There. Now you have mine, too."

"I'll call you, Steve."

"Yes, if you need anything at all."

"Okay."

He seemed reluctant to leave, and I was reluctant to let him, but he finally mumbled a goodbye and let himself out. I grinned into my hand, the butterflies still not settled.

I was not the kind of girl to feel things like I was feeling. I had a process, a way of getting through life, and it didn't involve getting hung up on the first handsome fireman I meet. I willed myself to come back to reality, but it was difficult. His face was stamped into my mind.

My phone pinged and I glanced down, his number filling my screen.

"I left my jacket. Can I stop by later and get it? And bring you dinner? I'd like to check on you anyway."

Any hope of coming back to reality flew out the window. I typed quickly and pressed send before I could talk myself out of it.

"It's a date."

[queenoftheworldisdead]

Need me

Chapter 2

A/N: Reader is female. No physical descriptors used. Let me know if i fucked up and not do that. Chat me up i don't bite! Thank you

Summary: Stripper just wants to work to support herself, but her bad life choices come back to bite her in the ass.

Warning: Adult content only! 18+ only please. Dark! There is potentially triggering stories ahead. non-consensual sex/ dubious consent, self loathing

Dark Mafia Bucky x Reader (stripper), Mafia AU ( mentions of past relations with Tony Stark)

👠

Bucky POV

Bucky sat behind the massive wooden desk, his gaze fixing on the ledger before him, but his thoughts were elsewhere. You dance around in his mind, tauntingly, stoking the anger that licks at his thoughts. The feeling has been there ever since you’d struck him, bold and defiant. From that moment you hadn’t just bruised his pride. No, you’d ignited something far deeper, something primal that clawed at him with a ferocity he couldn’t silence.

The guys watching your daughter said you hadn’t been back in days. Fine. You’d made him patient, each day feeding his twisted satisfaction as he crafted new punishments just for you. The thought of you bent, begging, sobbing under his unrelenting hand brought a cruel curl to his lips.

A soft knock at the door tore through his thoughts, his gaze snapping up as Steve’s broad figure filled the doorway, entering without waiting for permission.

“Hey, Buck. Still grumpy about your missing kitten?” Steve teases, a smirk tugging at his lips as he closes the door behind him.

“Is that what you came here for?” Bucky grumbles , rolling his eyes as he turned back to the ledger. Nick’s books were a mess, a black hole of debts and mismanagement that needed more than his cursory attention.

“No,” Steve replies, snatching the ledger from the desk, squinting at the numbers before tossing it aside with a chuckle. “I’m here because my friend is in desperate need of some fun. You’re bringing everyone down. We should be celebrating—new territory, new club, new girls. Why don’t I send one of them down here to help you unwind?”

The suggestion lingers, a temptation that might have been enough for another man—a distraction to pass the time. But not for Bucky. He wasn’t looking for something fleeting or shallow. He needed more. He needed you.

You had started something, a blaze that smoldered in him, and he would let it burn until there was nothing left. Until it consumed him. Until it consumed you.

👠

Reader POV

You groan loudly as you stretch uncomfortably in the front seat of the sedan. Your back nags with the stiffness of your posture, protesting after another night spent twisted awkwardly in the driver’s seat. The air in the garage feels thick, stale—pressing against your skin like a damp sheet. It’s the best cover you could do, given the lack of finances.

The car feels smaller than it did last night, its silence gnawing at the edges of your nerves. You’d driven until the lines on the highway blurred, until every exit looked the same. No destination, no plan, just the desperate hope of outrunning the weight pressing on your chest.

Your eyes flick to the gas meter. The needle hovers perilously close to empty. You can’t stay here, not like this. With a sigh, you dig into the center console, your fingers scraping against old receipts and tangled wires. Nothing useful.

Leaning over, you wince as your spine protests the movement, a sharp crack echoing through the cramped space. Your hand brushes the latch of the glove box, and when it opens, something cold and heavy slides free.

The gun lands barrel-first in your direction. You pick it up gingerly and for a moment you just stare it. Its weight is heavy and unsettling. Loaded. It has to be and you don’t want to test the theory.

Your thoughts wander to the car’s owner—what he might do if he finds you. Your gut twists. But the thought doesn’t linger; you shove it down, force it away. There’s no time for that now.

You turn the gun over in your hands, the cold metal biting into your skin. Pawn it. You don’t know the name of the town or city you’re in, but pawn shops are everywhere. Digging into the blazer pocket, you find a burner phone. It’s cheap, but it’ll do to find what you need.

It’s something, at least. A plan. A small flicker of hope against the quiet panic that thrums in your veins.

👠

The pawnshop door groans as you shove it open, the bell above clanging sharply—a sound that feels too cheerful, too mocking. You step out, the thick with the sour stench of garbage and oil pooling in air as your shoe stomp over the cracks of the pavement. You clench your jaw, muttering a curse under your breath. They’d smelled the desperation on you the second you walked in—but it’s not like you hid it well.

The wad of cash in your pocket is laughably thin. One fifty. It wont get you much clothes, food, gas… shelter can wait the car will do.

The sidewalk stretches out ahead, chipped and uneven, strewn with crushed cans and sun-bleached cigarette butts. A small group of men loiters near a graffitied wall, their murmured conversation breaking into sharp laughs. One of them glances your way, then another. You shove your hands deeper into the oversized blazer pockets and keep walking, not fast enough to draw attention but brisk enough to put distance between you.

The car waits a few feet away, but with the looming stars on your back it feels like a mile. A siren wails in the distance, growing softer as you enter the sedan, it best to not stay longer than you need to.

Sliding in, you pull the door shut, locking it in one fluid motion. The engine hums to life, but your foot hovers over the gas as your eyes catch on a flickering neon sign ahead. Its vulgar glow is half-hidden behind an overgrown tree. A gentlemen's club. The lettering dull, some lights dead, but the meaning is clear—a strip club.

You drive closer observing the small lot. It’s a far cry from your old place of employment. The exterior battered, the windows boarded, yet there are still quite a few cars in the lot for this time of day.

The plan forms as you stare at the sign. If you’re lucky, you can get hired, work a few nights, and get enough money to run a little more.

Your thumb brushes over the thin stack of cash in your pocket as you chew the inside of your cheek. At least you still have your shoes—thank God for that. Dance shoes cost more than you want to think about. Clothes, though—that’s a problem, your outfit needs a wash and you don't have the time. But where there’s a club, there’s usually a shop nearby—one of those little “exotic” stores that’ll have what you need. For makeup, you could hit the drugstore, wash up in their restroom, and pull together something barely passable. It’s a gamble and you don’t have enough capital to lose.

Your reflection stares back at you from the rear-view mirror. Tired eyes, a face that looking older than it should, and a body long out of practice. The kind of gamble no one bets on.

👠

The stale stench of alcohol mixed with cigar smoke stings your nose, and you fight the urge to wrinkle it. The boy who led you to the booth—Jonny, looks too young to even be in a place like this. But it’s not your club, and truthfully, you don’t care.

You haven’t auditioned in years. The thought doesn’t rattle you, like it would've before. Just play dumb, act cute, and maybe they’ll give you a chance.

Your eyes drift to the swinging door in the distance, catching the faint motion of Jonny returning, flanked by two men. Their suits are sharp, their strides confident, but in the dim glow of the neon, their faces are hard to make out.

You rise as they approach, forcing a pleasant smile onto your lips.

“This her?” the man in the center asks, his accent thick, unfamiliar—something you’ve only ever heard on TV.

“Yeah,” Jonny replies, glancing at you with disinterest. “She says she can start now.”

The three of them size you up in silence, their gazes heavy and clinical. You keep the smile plastered on your face, even as the muscles in your cheeks begin to ache.

The tallest one gestures for you to turn. No words, just a motion, and you comply. You spin on your heels, your skimpy outfit bouncing with you, your stomach pulled tight in an effort to look better than you were. You feel like a fool, but you'll play the part. You have to.

When you stop, the three of them huddle briefly, their voices too low to catch. You step back and clasp your hands, the ache in your cheeks spreading to your chest as you pray they’ll say yes.

And then, you catch it—those icy blue eyes. They lock on you for a fraction too long, and your smile falters, just for a moment. Not him, you remind yourself. He’s not here. But the way this man carries himself—his presence, his air—it stirs the same cold dread deep in your gut.

“Alright, Arthur, your call. I’ve got other business,” the tall one says, stepping away with an air of dismissal.

You exhale, the weight on your shoulders lifting slightly as he leaves. You know he isn’t him—you can see that—but the echo of something familiar still lingers. Enough to make your pulse quicken, enough to remind you why you ran in the first place.

👠

[wroteclassicaly]

Winter is the bane of your existence, your fingertips prickling with that icy electric as they struggle to lock your door with trembling hands. You’d lost your mismatched gloves in the laundry pile you’ve yet to do, and with your dad coming for supper this weekend, you realized you had to venture out into the arctic rain to get a few things at the store. It’s only a block from your trailer, but the moment you leave the confines of a tin roof that shields you beneath safety on your porch — you wish you would have managed your finances better, to save back some cash to order a pizza instead. Holding onto the railing, your legs tighten to hold you steady, deep black sludge darkening the wood of your steps, covering your half-shoveled walkway. You clutch your Goodwill thrifted handbag, digging out your list and balancing your ink pen between your teeth.

This, of course, has you not looking as you approach your mailbox to start your journey, failing to hear snow pack itself down beneath bike tires. His big feet hit the pedals for all they’re worth, and he lets them slam into the ground to slide, cold instantly soaking through his boots, past his socks, and landing across his toes. He prevents a total collision, but his torso catches you by the shoulder and his arms release his mailbag, crashing into the ground along with your tangled limbs. Your purse goes flying across the road, list destroyed, ink pen a casualty. It takes you a few moments to realize that you’re laying back against his chest, legs wound together, his bike several feet beyond, both of you soaked in muddy rain water and discolored snow, that you pray to god Old lady Tilly’s Pomeranian didn’t piss or shit in.

Everything aches, near that numbing, throbbing process from temperatures. Baron is groaning behind you, fingerless gloves swiping his chocolate tresses from his face. Looks like he forgot his hat today, you note, drinking in his disheveled appearance beneath his patchwork coat (you’re pretty sure he got that thing from a time capsule planted in the 70’s). His green cargo pants are sopping wet, having taken the brunt of the mud, his cheeks are dusted pink, along with his damp mouth and red nose. He’s an absolute treasure, shining everytime you see him, blinding your vision and common sense.

You look down as your skin warms from your realized predicament, almost forgetting about the snow and slush soaking through your pants, and now your panties.

“You okay, doodlebug?” His accented voice is winded, his hands reaching out gently to grasp his own ankle and lift it off of yours. Once your legs are free, he pulls you up with him and that hidden strength he possesses, his coat crunching under rustling fabric.

Your snow boots smack into the watery muck below, one hand held in his massive, gloved palm, the other planting itself on his jacket clad chest. You’re nodding, lifting your chin to face him. “I’m so sorry, Baron. M’ good, I just wasn’t paying attention —“

“You know how many times I’ve done that? Knocked into your mailbox a time or two.” He reaches down beside you to knock his knuckles across several indents in your box’s post. It makes you shiver, cars driving across snowy roads in the distance, a simple backtrack to you both.

Baron clears his deep, wind—coated throat, sniffling softly, taking a few steps behind him to grab up your purse. He brings it to you with an offered hand, starting to protest as you bend to retrieve his overflowing bag. Nothing is ruined, thankfully, and you make a quick exchange, fingers lingering, grazing.

���You’re cold, sweetheart. Should be wearing somethin’ on your hands. Momma used to tell me how fast the weather works against us.”

At the mention of his mother, you note his jostled deflation. You try to lighten his spirits, thanking him for breaking your short fall. “Just grateful we didn’t seem to land on anything special. Like a clockwork present from Mrs. Tilly’s dog.”

It’s comical how his moss-shrouded eyes, kissed beneath luscious lashes — widen in fear. He whispers, just to you, with tendrils of his hair blowing over your nose, tickling, caressing, drifting from your cheekbone, and even nicking your forehead. “Did it, ya know… do its business in there, you think?”

“I considered it within the first seconds, but I think we’re safe.” You’re chuckling, and the next sentence is leaving your mouth before you can stop it. “I think your ass got the brunt of the damage, if we’re being honest.”

He marvels at your language, lips pursing and then they pop, tongue clicking at the roof of his mouth. You start to wonder if you’ve overstepped, but he smirks, the corner of his mouth, tugging in a way that makes you want to kiss him breathless, not missing a beat. “You wanna check it out for me?”

Your brows raise higher on your frozen forehead, and he’s immediately apologetic, manners kicking into overdrive. “No, oh my goodness. Doodlebug, that wasn’t very proper of me when you were just—a—kiddin’ and all.”

His flustered state gives you confidence. “Maybe if you spin real slow. As for checking it out, I’d love to, if I didn’t have to make the store before closing.” You sigh when reality pushes its way in. Here in this park it’s usually Baron that jumpstarts those reserved butterflies, giving you something to always look forward to.

“What are you needin’? I might have it at home.”

“Baron, I don’t want to take anything from you —“

“It’s not takin’ if I offered, now is it?”

He’s slipping his bag over his shoulder and yanking bike by the handlebar off the ground, one hand on his trim waistline.

“Some stuff for supper. Dad is comin’ in this weekend.” Baron’s smile melts you entirely, your energies on high alert. He knows how your lack of relationship with your father affects you. He feels a possessive need to protect. Besides, your pop doesn’t deserve you working yourself into a frenzy over a home cooked meal.

“I got a frozen pizza. I think that’ll do just fine for him.”

He raises a hand off his bike to push his hair back, and then scrambles to replace it, the heavy object almost clattering onto the ground once more.

By god, he’s too cute for his own good.

“Okay.” It’s not one word, but it’s how you say it. Pliant and secure, satiated.

“Okay.” He replies, bashful, toeing his work boot into the ground and swirling it around the slush. “You go on back in and I’ll bring it to ya after my route?”

Your response shocks his flickering gaze into finding you. “Can I walk with you, Bar?”

Because yeah, you sure can…

// Eat me paragraph //

[dksw0rld]

12 Things I’ve Learned In My Time Away

As I stated in my previous text post, I took an absolutely, and I mean absolutely, amazing break from Tumblr which, since I very rarely  use my Instagram and I don’t have TikTok or Twitter, is my only social media. Minus Pinterest, but I don’t count that as social media since I use it for inspiration. I can’t express to you how much my life has blossomed in my time away. 

During this time away I: 

- formed beautiful new friendships 

- have had absolutely amazing experiences (VIP concerts, PGA golf tournament in the VIP cabana, attending high tea, dancing the night away, day trips, road trips, trying new restaurants, etc.) 

- let my inner child run free, healing her in the process 

- broke my leasing cycle and financed a new car (that checked off EVERY single box on my car wish list - which I realized after the deal was done, so I wasn’t even thinking about it)

- met a soulmate who teaches me so much 

- let go of the need for control and learned to trust my intuition and God’s guidance (a work in progress but I’ve made huge progress in this)

- got crystal clear on my goals and have a clear plan laid out to achieve the rest of them 

- rediscovered my love for reading, writing and cooking 

- cleared my skin of the small fungal acne bumps I had 

- accidentally went vegetarian (don’t ask lol) and found it was the best non-decision decision I’ve ever made 

- grew my hair past my shoulder blades 

I wanted to share some things I’ve learned during this time in hopes it inspires / helps whoever needs it.

1. When you live in intense self love and trust of yourself, everything you desire seeks you or something better finds you. You won’t need to seek it.

2. You can love yourself deeply and know you have healing to do and trauma to work through.

3. Listen and observe who and what the Universe brings into your life. There is always a reason.

4. If you don’t find the beauty, love and romance within your life, you’re living in black and white when the world is full of color. Romanticize your life, find the beauty in everything. Vibrate with love and watch how much more love and beauty you attract.

5. Confidence in yourself, kindness, connections and putting yourself out there opens more doors than you know. 

6. Never pass up on an opportunity to experience something new.

7. Take pictures and videos. Keep mementos to remind you of that moment in time.

8. Do not let fear stop you. Be scared and do it anyways.

9. Move your body because you love yourself, not because you want to lose weight, tone, put on muscle, etc. Move your body to celebrate yourself and give thanks that you can. In whatever way that looks like for you. It’s not one size fits all.

10. Love yourself enough to take the best care of your body. You deserve it. Love yourself enough to take care of future you 50 years down the road. 

11. Honor and celebrate your sensual desires. Turn the lights off, light candles and move and feel your body. Stand in front of the mirror and admire yourself. Have a sexy photoshoot for your eyes only. Wear lingerie underneath your work clothes. Pleasure yourself. Your sexual desires are nothing to be ashamed of. Just honor them safely and with your best interest at the forefront. 

12. Private over public. Every time.

I encourage everyone reading this to take some time away from social media, from screens and from the noise of constantly being plugged in. Focus on you, your growth and your goals. Discover who you are outside of all the influences you’re bombarded with and watch how your life blossoms too.

[thelefty23]

A colleague's revenge (F/F)

Hi all, this is a story I wrote a long time ago as a request. It's the only one of the dozen or so I've written that I've shared, and is probably the tamest of all of them. Depending on how much I freak out having posted it, I might post some of the others.

A warning: this story does involve someone being made to sneeze via a hidden allergen. I have marked where that starts in the story; so if you don't like/are offended by that, please bail out of reading at that point.

Thank you for reading it. Feedback very much welcomed, and if there's follow up ideas you'd like to see me play with, drop me a DM.

Let's get to it...

Monday morning: the day Jo had been waiting seemingly forever for. It had been 6 months since she had taken on her new finance role, but to Jo, it felt far longer. 6 long months to correct the wrongs of her predecessor and put up with the "morons" as she called them. The brunette paced around her bedroom, stretching as she did so. Today was the day.

Today she was to meet the board of directors, presenting her findings about the team. “Incompetent to a man” she mused to nobody in particular.

Her thought was interrupted as she raised an eyebrow slightly feeling her throat scratching as she swallowed, and her nose twitching slightly. To her immediate horror she realised that she must have left a window open the night before, and rushed to close it- she couldn't afford for her allergies to bad today. She drew her blinds to be confronted by what most people would have called another beautiful spring day, but then again most people didn't have Jo's allergies.

Her head jolted back as the tickling in her nose intensified, as each individual grain of pollen seemed to delight in tormenting her. Her ice-blue eyes began to close as her sizable chest heaved “iieeehhh” her eyes re-opened slightly in quizzical fashion, wondering if her sneeze would come, with the feeling of a million tiny grains terrorising her nose “”IIIEEEHHH” she gasped as one hand groped trying to close the window whilst the other searched for one of the tissue boxes she had left on her bedside table. Thankful for her tall, slender frame she got a hold off both at once, and not a moment soon, as her nose finally gave in to the incessant tickling “IIIIEEEEESSSSSHHH” she yelled her first ferocious sneeze, partially spraying the now closed window. Her throat immediately sore, she dived back towards her bed, snatching another handful of tissues from the box en route and continued to try to expel the pollen from her increasingly reddening nose. “iiieeesssshh, iieeesssshhheewww, iiieesssssshhhewww” she was now facing down towards her pillows, with her wad of tissues catching her seemingly relentless sneezes. Her eyes began to tear slightly as she threw her long hair back taking a sharp intake of breath which felt mostly like inhaling fine feathers for the amount it tickled her nose “”ooohhh goooiiiiieeeesshhhh, iiiieeessshhh, iieeeeeessshhhh, iiiiieeesshhhh, iiieeeshhhhh, iiiieeessshhhhhh, ccaanniiieeeshhhh ssttotoiiiieeessshhhh iiiieeessssshhhh, iiiiesssshhhh”

Finally, her sneezes subsided, her throat raw and her slim nose red, and she headed to the bathroom with yet more tissues in hand just in case. Staring at her reddened eyes in the mirror she righted herself, let a further harsh “IIIEEESSSSHH” escape into her tissues and began to get ready for her big day.

Returning to her room after her shower, her eyes still bloodshot, and her throat still sore, Jo picked out her favourite black skirt and suit combination and prepared to head to the office. Grabbing a few tissues as she headed for the door, she pressed them to her nose as she made a dash for her car. She fumbled her key as her nose began tickling ever so slightly. Jo was becoming increasingly frantic; trying to get in the car before the pollen overtook her- she certainly didn’t want to start another of her epic sneezing fits in her work clothes. “oh no” she uttered to herself as her keys fell to the ground. At that moment her eyes began tearing once more, as she noticed the morning breeze had not only taken plenty of pollen into the air, but seemingly coated her car and parking space. Realising she was now breathing heavier through her panic, acceptance of her fate dawned upon her. “ooooh haaavv ttoooo ssnneeeeezzeeee” she gasped as her breath hitched wildly, filling her already troubled nose with yet more pollen, she tried rubbing it to relieve the incessant tickling, but it was to no avail as her notoriously long build-ups continued “iieeeeehhhhhhh hiiii hiiii hhhiiiiiiieeeessssssshhh, hiiiesssssshhh iiiissshhhewwww iiiissshhhewww iiiissssheeeww nooiiissssshhheewwww oh iiisssshhheewww iiiiisssssheeeew” Her tissues now increasingly useless, she dropped them to the floor, rummaging in her bag for ones she knew she put in their the night before, sneezing all the while, “iiiissshhhewwww iiisssshhheww iiisshhhewwwww” she sprayed left and right, finally grasping the tissues to catch the final volley “iiisssshhhewwwww iiiisssshhheww HHHIIIISSSSHHHHEWWWW” she yelled the final sneeze, as her blurry and reddened eyes finally reopened, as she clenched her keys defiantly, angered by her loss of control. She entered the car, got a glimpse of herself in the mirror, which only served to make her angrier, she took a breath to chastise herself, but immediately realised her mistake as her nose reacted fiercely “ihhhssshhhewwww iiiiihhhssshhhewww iiiihhhshhhewww iiiiiiihhh?” The last sneeze hung in the air as Jo, with head titled back, pleaded silently for release “iiiiiihhhhhsssshhhhhewwwww” she left her head buried in her tissues for a few moments, hoping that her latest allergy attack was over.

Thankful that she prided herself on being the first to the office, and for the additional time that gave her for incidents such as these, she began the short drive to work, having placed a further wad of tissues in her lap for the inevitable sneezes that would accompany her en route. Sure enough, the first set of traffic lights she came to, the constant tickling her nose was enduring scaled higher and her build ups began, much to Jo’s dismay “ooohhh nnnoooott aaaggaaaaiiiiiiiihhhh iiiihhhsssshhhhhewwww, iihhhssshhhhewwwww ihhsshhhhhewwww iiiihhhhsshhhhheeeewww iiihhhsssshhhewwww” as her right hand held the tissues to her face, her left plucked more from seat beside her, as she moved beyond the lights, head bobbing as she continued her fit.

Pulling into her car parking space, Jo steeled herself. "I'm done with allergies." She told herself. Pressing the last of her tissues across her aching nose, she quickly made her way into the relatively safety of her air-conditioned office, thankful for the closed windows. Finally now she could prepare herself for her big meeting, and forget about her ridiculous allergies.

Reviewing her team’s latest efforts only served to further Jo’s dislike of her team, they just didn’t seem to get what she was saying. “Out with the old and in with the new” she once again muttered into the silence surrounding her. She got up and began pacing around her luxurious office, perfecting her already seamless presentation. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the first few people entering the office, with Katy, one of her team, amongst them. The fiery redhead strode into the office, grinning from ear to ear.

“Finally” Jo proclaimed, and marched towards Katy, ready to confront her about the apparent substandard quality of her work. As she approached however, Jo felt her nose twitch and her breath began hitching. Pausing slightly, Jo rubbed her nose furiously as she attempted to relieve the tickle. “Cow” she thought to herself, “she’s deliberately wearing the perfume I’m allergic to” – there was never any need of proof to Jo in this mood.

(Being made to sneeze via a hidden allergen beyond this point).

“Katy, what have I told you about presenting figures which are simply guesswork? Iiiihhhh I caaahh caant keehhheep doing thhhiiiiiiiis” Jo just about managed to get out, but the need to sneeze was rapidly overtaking her, which clearly wasn’t lost on Katy.

Katy had just about had enough of her snooty boss, for whom nothing was apparently ever good enough. Katy quite enjoyed her boss’ weakness, and was keen to exploit it as much as possible. Knowing how strongly Jo reacted to her perfume the last time she wore it, she decided it was time to give it another outing particularly after yesterday’s fierce encounter.

“Can’t keep doing what, Jo? Sneezing madly, or being irrational? Either way is fine by me” smirked Katy, impressed with her wit at this time in the morning.

“Oh go to heeeeeeiiissshhheeewww hell you meeeeeeessshhhhewwww messy cow” sniped Jo between sneezes.

“Ha, you calling me messy, now that’s irony for you” laughed Katy, very much enjoying her boss’ plight.

Jo wanted to fight back but was incapacitated but the allergic reaction bought on by Katy’s perfume. Her eyes were stinging and her nose overflowing, so she beat a hasty retreat back to the relative sanctity of her office, sneezing all the while. She slumped into her chair, plucked a handful of tissues from her desk and unloaded a barrage of sneezes, desperately trying to rid her nose of the latest allergen to attack her. “Ohhhhh no noooooot aagggiiiiisssshhhewwww iiisshhhewww iissssshhheewww issshhhewww, iiiisssshhhheeewwwww caannttiisssshhhewwww sttoooooiissshhhhewww sneeiiiiiisssshhheeewwww sneeziiiissshhhewwww” Her beautiful brown her flew with each sneeze that ripped through her body. Her sneezes finally subsided, as she removed her face from her crumpled tissues. Further increasing her ire the first thing Jo saw as she looked her was Katy’s smug, smiling face: she was sure she’d worn that scent deliberately.

Katy was so pleased with how her morning had gone so far, her perfume had the desired effect, and now it was time for stage 2 of her plan. Heading back down to her car, she grabbed the bouquet of lilies which Jo had reacted to strongly when one of the girls received them as an anniversary present. Her plan was simple, make Jo lose control during her big presentation, and maybe teach her a little humility. Hiding the flowers behind her back, she moved quickly back into the office, and into the secluded meeting room at the end of the corridor.

Entering quietly so as not to arouse suspicion, she shook the flowers around the room, trying to spread the pollen as widely as possible. Noticing that Jo had obviously beaten her to it and attempted to prepare as thoroughly as she could for the meeting by placing a fresh box of tissues at the head of the table, Katy decided to get even more devious. Taking a couple of the flower heads, she scraped as much of the orange pollen as she could and spread it between the first few tissues. “That ought to really set her off” She left the remainder of the flowers in the bin in the room, closed the door behind her and headed back to her desk, exchanging a few high-fives with team mates who were in on the plan and sat, anxious to see and her the results and impact on her uppity boss.

Jo meanwhile was blissfully unaware of all that was transpiring against her, as she went about regaining her composure, brushing herself down, picking up her notes and making her way down to the meeting room. Greeted by the three person board, she sat down, took a final calming breath and was about to begin her presentation. She instantly recognised the scent of the lilies, but steeled herself, determined that she wouldn’t lose it in this critical moment. “Ladies and gentlemen of the board, firstly let me thank you for appointing me into this position, and for giving me the opportunity to meet with you today” Her throat was beginning to scratch, so she took a moment to grab some water. Her heart was pounding heavily now, forcing her to breathe more heavily, inadvertently taking more irritating pollen into her increasingly tickling nose.

“My fiiiiihhhhh” Jo’s eyes squinted as her head titled back. She pinched her nose, shook her head and tried to press on “Sorry, my findings are siiiiihhhiiii” Her eyes were becoming increasingly bloodshot as they reacted strongly to the pollen floating all around her. “Sooooissshhhheww, iiissshhhewwww, iiisssshhhewwwww” she unleashed her first few sneezes, drawing looks of concern from the board who sat across from her, one of whom kindly pushed the box of tissues nearer Jo’s reach.

She virtually dived straight for them, pulling one out and burying her nose into it to catch her next volley “hhiiiissshhhewww iisshhhewww iissssheewww IIIIISSSHHHEWWW” this louder sneeze made the board recoil in surprise, but Jo wasn’t to notice as her sore eyes were kept shut as she waited to see if she was done for the moment.

Content that she was, Jo made the mistake Katy, who was now avidly listening just outside having heard the first of Jo’s sneezes, was hoping and praying for- she took a breath with the tissue still pressed to her nose. “Oh goooooood it’s cooooaaassshhhhew coaashsheww iiin iiiisssshhewww ppooliissshh poooisshhew, pollen” By this point Jo had discarded that tissue and grabbed a couple more from the box, sneezing relentlessly into them. The board were talking amongst themselves, trying to decide whether to watch the poor girl sneeze and sneeze, or whether to simply end the discussion there and then. “Look, Jo” began Amber, the Managing Director, and Jo’s direct superior, “Now clearly isn’t a good time, perhaps we’ll reschedule for a more suitable opportunity to discuss this”

The words seemed to scare of Jo’s sneezes temporarily, as she pleaded “Miss Dempsy please, I’b fibe, jusd a few sneezes, plead let me condinue” Her stuffed up voice was desperate at this point, and her reddened eyes were streaming almost as badly as her nose.

“As I was saying” Jo began, gulping back a sneeze in the process “My sneezes” Jo shook her head in horror, her allergies had gotten to her “excuse me, my findings are simple, the teeehhhh team I inherriiiiited are, oh I haaaavve to sneeeeezze aaggaaaiiiishhew iiiisshhhew” she snatched more tissues from the box on the table and continued her fit “I’iiisshhhhheww so iiissssshhhewwww sorriiiissshhhhewww, my alleeiiisshhheww, iiisssshhewww, iiishewww, caaniisshhewww sttoopiisshhew, issshhhewww, sneeiiisssshhewww.” Jo sneezed and sneezed, and the MD signalled she had seen enough and left, closely followed by her two associates, passing Katy in the corridor.

Katy was suddenly struck by a new feeling: pity. She really had only wanted Jo to be a bit nicer to her, not to cause her the allergic fit that she was now suffering. She entered the room taking the seat next to Jo, and putting her arm around, whispered softly into her ear “Hey, let me help you” Her response was fairly predictable: a barrage of sneezes “Thhaiiissshhewww, thhankiissshhheww yoiissshhhheww, iisshheww” Katy grabbed a wad of tissues, and blew Jo’s nose before helping her back to her office, where she witnessed yet more of Jo’s amazing sneezes

[dr-alex-zarifis]

Why is Tesla selling insurance and what does it mean for drivers?

Re-published under Creative Commons license, originally published in ‘The Conversation’: https://theconversation.com/why-is-tesla-selling-insurance-and-what-does-it-mean-for-drivers-130910

In the past year, Elon Musk and Tesla have fascinated the world with new innovations like the Tesla Cybertruck. There is excitement about most new Tesla products, but one hugely important one has been largely overlooked. With far less fanfare and no stage performance by Musk, Tesla started offering car insurance last September. In the long run, this is going to have a major impact on most of our lives – perhaps even greater than Tesla’s more eye-catching innovations.

Tesla Insurance is only available for Tesla vehicles in some states of the US at present. It will expand the number of territories gradually over time. But as with the Tesla Cybertruck, the company first wants to see how the business holds up to whatever is thrown at it and whether it cracks under pressure.

For those eligible for Tesla Insurance, the company claims to offer premiums 20% to 30% lower than rivals. Yet even if you are in an area where you can request a quote, Tesla won’t necessarily make you an offer. It sometimes still refers drivers to a traditional insurance partner instead. It may be that Tesla chooses the clearer, less risky cases and sends more complex ones to insurers with more experience and appetite to handle them.

So why is Tesla selling car insurance? For one thing, it has the real-time data from all its drivers’ behaviour and the performance of its vehicle technology, including camera recordings and sensor readings, so it can estimate the risk of accidents and repair costs accurately. This reliance on data may well mean it never branches into selling insurance to drivers of other manufacturers’ cars.

At the moment, Tesla is offering insurance premiums calculated with aggregated anonymous data. In future it could roll out more customised services, like the ones offered by insurers using telematic black boxes, to offer drivers (cheaper) quotes based on how they actually drive.

Every time there is an accident, Tesla has instant access to data about the driver behaviour that led to it. One attraction for the company is that it can evaluate how some of its technologies, like autopilot, stability control, anti-theft systems and bullet-resistant steel, can reduce risk.

Another motivation for Tesla is that some insurers charge a relatively high premium for Tesla cars. One reason is that they still don’t have much historic information about the cost of repairs of electric vehicles. By vertically integrating insurance into its offering, Tesla brings down the price of owning its products.

At the same time, insurance is a barrier to many innovations that Tesla is targeting for the future. With the insurance taken care of, it will be easier to sell self-driving vehicles or send people to Mars (with sister company SpaceX). Like many things Elon Musk does, this both solves a short-term problem and fits the longer-term strategy. It’s a little like how Tesla focused on producing luxury vehicles first to finance the infrastructure for selling cheaper cars like the Tesla Model 3.

How insurance is changing

Tesla has one more reason for offering insurance, which is that the sector is changing: a tech company disrupting it fits the zeitgeist perfectly. My research at Loughborough University has looked into this disruption. I evaluated 32 insurance providers around the world including Tesla and found that artificial intelligence, big data, the internet of things, blockchain and edge computing were all rewiring insurance, both literally and metaphorically.

Broadly speaking, the work of the insurer is shifting from local human expert underwriters to automation driven by big data and AI. The existing industry players that I evaluated essentially fell into three categories. Some had recognised they cannot compete with tech companies. They were focusing on interacting with customers, branding and marketing, while outsourcing everything else to companies with the relevant skills.

Other insurers were trying to add new technologies to their existing business model. For instance, some are using chatbots that apply machine learning and natural language processing to offer live customer support. Yet another group had more fully embraced the new technological capabilities. For example, life insurers like Vitality and Bupa now encourage customers to use wearable monitoring devices to offer them guidance on improving their health and avoiding accidents.

Alongside all these were the new breed of insurers, with Tesla perhaps the best example. Others include Chinese giants Alibaba and Tencent. Just like Apple and Google are making incursions into banking and finance, these are tech-savvy companies with many existing customers who are adding insurance to their portfolio of services. In every case, the capabilities of AI and big data-driven automation have acted as a catalyst.

What it means for drivers

In the short term, Tesla drivers can look forward to insurance that is arguably more seamless and convenient and may well be cheaper – particularly if they clock up fewer miles and drive safely. (Drivers should still compare prices with other insurers: the likes of Progressive and GEICO are among those that insure Tesla vehicles.)

In the longer term, this is a sign that insurance – like banking, road tax and many services – will be driven by real-time data. It will probably change our behaviour for the better. We will probably drive slower, eat healthier food and exercise more – even if libertarians will be uneasy.

This shift will challenge our attitudes towards personal information privacy. Some of us will value the benefits of being open and transparent with our personal information, while others might seek solutions that keep their data with them. Edge computing has potential here, since it allows some data processing to be done on your device so that your personal data doesn’t need to be sent to a central server.

So Tesla and Elon Musk have not just added another revenue stream to their many successful endeavours. They are also helping to fundamentally change the way that we interact with insurance providers. In the future, insurers will be more like a partner on our journey both by car and on foot – both on Earth and beyond.

[bettysuperstore]

Betty Boop: An Everlasting Era of Charm

Walt Disney is the first name that comes to mind when considering animation. However, another man helped establish the field and challenged Walt for first place. For 20 years, Max Fleischer and his studio created a variety of cutting-edge, well-liked animated shorts. Live action and animation were combined in the "Out of the Inkwell" series starring Koko the Clown. He popularized the "follow the bouncing ball" gimmick with his song "Song Car-Tunes." Additionally, the Fleischer Studio created Popeye and Betty Boop, two cartoon icons from the 1930s.

Betty Boop, the creation of animator Max Fleischer, is, above all, a pioneer in the representation of the female character with her pin-up body and baby face that appeals to all generations. Not only is she attractive, but she is also free, enjoys herself, and works. She is self-reliant. Betty Boop is a pilot, just like Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. She ran for president and won right after women gained the right to vote.

Even the cartoon's soundtrack, which features a scat-inspired "boop-oop-a-doop" and music performed by black jazz musicians like Cab Calloway or Louis Armstrong and projected in front of a white audience, is subversive. Something like this has never been seen before on the screen! Additionally, Betty and Popeye continue to delight new generations thanks to television. So much so that items featuring Betty Boop, like the Betty Boop towels, are highly prized in the collectibles industry!

Why Buy Collectibles Like The Betty Boop Towels?

Fans of cartoons, movies, comic strips, and television shows have long enjoyed collecting memorabilia. For many fans, collecting memorabilia from these forms of entertainment is a fun, thrilling, and frequently lucrative hobby. Even after a show or character no longer piques one's interest, a collection may be sold to raise money for the newest mystery or to supplement one's finances. The Betty Boop collection and the ease of customization that is now offered in its merchandise, like Betty Boop towels, is one such memorabilia that has captured the hearts of many to date.

While many Betty Boop collectibles, such as plates, mouse pads, signs, music boxes, and cookie jars, have proven to be worthwhile, the Betty Boop towels and figurines are the most popular variations. We hypothesize that Betty Boop towels and figurines have become so popular and collectible because they show Betty in all her three-dimensional splendor and are easily customizable per your taste.

Furthermore, any collectible is worth whatever a willing buyer will pay a willing seller in an arms-length transaction. Still, when passionate collectors are involved, emotion invariably enters the equation. The simplest and fastest way to find out how much your Betty Boop towels and figurines are worth is to simply log into your eBay account and perform a "completed items" search for Betty Boop towels and figurines.

[jcmarchi]

A Game-Changer for AI: The Tsetlin Machine’s Role in Reducing Energy Consumption

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/a-game-changer-for-ai-the-tsetlin-machines-role-in-reducing-energy-consumption/

A Game-Changer for AI: The Tsetlin Machine’s Role in Reducing Energy Consumption

The rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed numerous sectors, from healthcare and finance to energy management and beyond. However, this growth in AI adoption has resulted in a significant issue of energy consumption. Modern AI models, particularly those based on deep learning and neural networks, are incredibly power-hungry. Training a single large-scale model can use as much energy as multiple households consume yearly, leading to significant environmental impact. As AI becomes more embedded in our daily lives, finding ways to reduce its energy usage is not just a technical challenge; it’s an environmental priority.

The Tsetlin Machine offers a promising solution. Unlike traditional neural networks, which rely on complex mathematical computations and massive datasets, Tsetlin Machines employ a more straightforward, rule-based approach. This unique methodology makes them easier to interpret and significantly reduces energy consumption.

Understanding the Tsetlin Machine

The Tsetlin Machine is an AI model that reimagines learning and decision-making. Unlike neural networks, which rely on layers of neurons and complex computations, Tsetlin Machines use a rule-based approach driven by simple Boolean logic. We can think of Tsetlin Machines as machines that learn by creating rules to represent data patterns. They operate using binary operations, conjunctions, disjunctions, and negations, making them inherently simpler and less computationally intensive than traditional models.

TMs operate on the principle of reinforcement learning, using Tsetlin Automata to adjust their internal states based on feedback from the environment. These automata function as state machines that learn to make decisions by flipping bits. As the machine processes more data, it refines its decision-making rules to improve accuracy.

One main feature that differentiates Tsetlin Machines from neural networks is that they are easier to understand. Neural networks often work like “black boxes,” giving results without explaining how they got there. In contrast, Tsetlin Machines create clear, human-readable rules as they learn. This transparency makes Tsetlin Machines easier to use and simplifies the process of fixing and improving them.

Recent advancements have made Tsetlin Machines even more efficient. One essential improvement is deterministic state jumps, which means the machine no longer relies on random number generation to make decisions. In the past, Tsetlin Machines used random changes to adjust their internal states, which was only sometimes efficient. By switching to a more predictable, step-by-step approach, Tsetlin Machines now learn faster, respond more quickly, and use less energy.

The Current Energy Challenge in AI

The rapid growth of AI has led to a massive increase in energy use. The main reason is the training and deployment of deep learning models. These models, which power systems like image recognition, language processing, and recommendation systems, need vast amounts of data and complex math operations. For example, training a language model like GPT-4 involves processing billions of parameters and can take days or weeks on powerful, energy-hungry hardware like GPUs.

A study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows the significant impact of AI’s high energy consumption. Researchers found that training a single AI model can emit over 626,000 pounds of CO₂, about the same as the emissions from five cars over their lifetimes​. This large carbon footprint is due to the extensive computational power needed, often using GPUs for days or weeks. Furthermore, the data centers hosting these AI models consume a lot of electricity, usually sourced from non-renewable energy. As AI use becomes more widespread, the environmental cost of running these power-hungry models is becoming a significant concern. This situation emphasizes the need for more energy-efficient AI models, like the Tsetlin Machine, which aims to balance strong performance with sustainability.

There is also the financial side to consider. High energy use means higher costs, making AI solutions less affordable, especially for smaller businesses. This situation shows why we urgently need more energy-efficient AI models that deliver strong performance without harming the environment. This is where the Tsetlin Machine comes in as a promising alternative.

The Tsetlin Machine’s Energy Efficiency and Comparative Analysis

The most notable advantage of Tsetlin Machines is their energy efficiency. Traditional AI models, especially deep learning architectures, require extensive matrix computations and floating-point operations. These processes are computationally intensive and result in high energy consumption. In contrast, Tsetlin Machines use lightweight binary operations, significantly reducing their computational burden.

To quantify this difference, let us consider the work by Literal Labs, a company leader of Tsetlin Machines applications. Literal Labs found that Tsetlin Machines can be up to 10,000 times more energy-efficient than neural networks. In tasks like image recognition or text classification, Tsetlin Machines can match the accuracy of traditional models while consuming only a fraction of the power. This makes them especially useful for energy-constrained environments, such as IoT devices, where saving every watt of power is critical.

Moreover, Tsetlin Machines are designed to operate efficiently on standard, low-power hardware. Unlike neural networks that often require specialized hardware like GPUs or TPUs for optimal performance, Tsetlin Machines can function effectively on CPUs. This reduces the need for expensive infrastructure and minimizes the overall energy footprint of AI operations. Recent benchmarks support this advantage, demonstrating that Tsetlin Machines can handle various tasks from anomaly detection to language processing using far less computational power than their neural network counterparts.

Comparing Tsetlin Machines with neural networks shows a clear difference in energy use. Neural networks require significant energy during both training and inference. They often need specialized hardware, which increases both environmental and financial costs. Tsetlin Machines, however, use simple rule-based learning and binary logic, resulting in much lower computational demands. This simplicity enables Tsetlin Machines to scale well in energy-limited settings like edge computing or IoT.

While neural networks may outperform Tsetlin Machines in some complex tasks, Tsetlin Machines excel where energy efficiency and interpretability matter most. However, they do have limitations. For example, Tsetlin Machines may struggle with extremely large datasets or complex problems. To address this, ongoing research is exploring hybrid models that combine the strengths of Tsetlin Machines with other AI techniques. This approach could help overcome current challenges and broaden their use cases.

Applications in the Energy Sector

Tsetlin Machines have substantially impacted the energy sector, where efficiency is of utmost significance. Below are some critical applications:

Smart Grids and Energy Management

Modern smart grids use real-time data to optimize energy distribution and predict demand. Tsetlin Machines analyzes consumption patterns, detects anomalies, and forecasts future energy needs. For example, in the UK’s National Grid, Tsetlin Machines assists in predictive maintenance by identifying potential failures before they happen, preventing costly outages and reducing energy waste.

Predictive Maintenance

In industries where machinery is vital, unexpected failures can waste energy and cause downtime. Tsetlin Machines analyzes sensor data to predict when maintenance is needed. This proactive approach ensures that machines run efficiently, reducing unnecessary power consumption and extending the lifespan of equipment.

Renewable Energy Management

Managing renewable energy sources like solar and wind power requires balancing production with storage and distribution. Tsetlin Machines forecasts energy generation based on weather patterns and optimizes storage systems to meet demand efficiently. Accurate predictions from Tsetlin Machines help create a more stable and sustainable energy grid, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Recent Developments and Innovations

The domain of Tsetlin Machine research is dynamic, with continuous innovations to improve performance and efficiency. Recent developments include the creation of multi-step finite-state automata, allowing Tsetlin Machines to handle more complex tasks with improved accuracy. This advancement expands the range of problems Tsetlin Machines can tackle, making them applicable to scenarios previously dominated by neural networks.

Additionally, researchers have introduced methods to reduce reliance on random number generation within Tsetlin Machines, opting for deterministic state changes instead. This shift speeds up the learning process, decreases computational requirements, and, most importantly, reduces energy consumption. As researchers refine these mechanisms, Tsetlin Machines are becoming increasingly competitive with more traditional AI models, particularly in domains where low power consumption is a priority.

The Bottom Line

The Tsetlin Machine is more than just a new AI model. It represents a shift toward sustainability in technology. Its focus on simplicity and energy efficiency challenges the idea that powerful AI must come with a high environmental cost.

Alongside the continuous AI developments, Tsetlin Machines offer a path forward where advanced technology and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. This approach is a technical breakthrough and a step toward a future where AI serves humanity and the planet. In conclusion, embracing Tsetlin Machines could be essential to building a more innovative, greener world.

[shrineofprophecy]

A black car stopped in front of a large, white, two-story building around 8 in the evening. The back door was pushed open and a young lady, no more than 17-years-old, stepped out with her sports bag on her shoulder and headed to the entrance. Home, she called it. A place where she was always greeted warmly by her mother to ask how her day was. At this time of day, her father was sitting on the couch and showed his curiosity by wishing to know how figure skating went. A big competition was coming up and it was no thanks to him that they could afford this training in the first place. There was nothing better than moving her body to the sound of music.

Unfortunately, their conversation was short-lived as a few men entered the living room to speak to her father, who was their boss. They were always friendly enough to greet her as if she was like a younger cousin to them but whenever she saw them, they didn’t give off the best vibes. Yet she couldn’t quite place her finger on it…

Leaving her father to work, she left to take a shower and do some homework before getting a well deserved rest. It was how most of her days went, scheduled yet peaceful enough to not stress too much about anything.

How the girl named [censored for protection] wished it could stay like this forever.

It was four days before the competition that her house was raided by the police. Files were taken from the office and put into boxes. They took everything they could find that was potentially useful and the rest was treated like dirt and thrown onto the floor. Her mother was having a meltdown while her father was taken into custody for criminal activities, leaving the two of them behind in confusion, anger, desperation… The unimaginary made a reality.

It wasn’t long before word spread around her family, how they financially ruined people, injured them or even killed them. But she knew nothing. What was the truth and what was a lie? It didn’t matter. Her neighborhood had formed their opinions and vandalized the walls of her home with spray paint. Filthy rats, pests should be killed and much worse. It all became too much for her poor mother who had fallen ill from the stress, another innocent victim from her father’s actions.

The man who ruined their life. Who sat behind prison bars until his judgment day would come.

Except it never came.

He ended up escaping prison, no, walking out as if it was a minor inconvenience. Someone had taken the fall for him and he was a free man again. Yet rather than making up for the damages caused, to reassure them that they would be fine, he left the country to save himself. That backstabbing bastard saved his own sorry ass while they were struggling to live! 

[name] returned home from work one day, a side job she had picked up to help their finances. It wasn’t much but they could eat and pay for basic facilities with it, her dream of becoming a professional figure skating disappearing as quickly as the life they had built for themselves. But it was fine. They had each other. Together they could achieve whatever they wanted, if they just worked hard, if they just-

“Mom? Are you home?” The lights were off even though the sun had set a long time ago. Strange. She was always indoors, unable to work from being burned out but still ready to greet her with a sad, painful smile. Yet it was completely silent. Eerily so. 

Panic was quick to set in and [name] was frantic, the light buttons pressed before she looked around the rooms she crossed in panic before she found her. Lying over the table with her upper body, head resting on top of her arms. “Mom?” Stepping closer, her hand was placed on her mother’s shoulder yet there was no response. Shaking it lightly, quickly picking up the pace before realization set in. Her feet slowly brought her backwards before her legs gave up and she fell on the floor. Tears streamed down her face when it became clear to her that she truly was left alone in this world.

The place she once called home was no more. The chapter of her childhood is closing as she will become a legal adult soon. Ready to spread her wings and live her own life. A life that would end up unlike anything she could have expected or prepared herself for. But one thing was for sure:

They would pay.  

[blogbyahad]

Explainable AI (XAI): Making AI Transparent and Trustworthy

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to become a central part of our daily lives, one challenge stands out: understanding how AI makes decisions. Explainable AI (XAI) addresses this challenge by making AI systems more transparent, interpretable, and trustworthy. It’s about opening the black box of AI, so users, developers, and regulators can see not just what decisions AI makes, but why it makes them.

Why Explainability Matters

AI systems, especially those based on complex models like deep learning, are often seen as "black boxes." They produce accurate predictions or classifications, but the reasoning behind these decisions can be opaque even to the developers who created them. This lack of transparency can be problematic in high-stakes situations, such as healthcare, finance, or criminal justice, where understanding the decision-making process is crucial.

For instance, if an AI system denies a loan application, the applicant and the lender need to know why. Was it because of the applicant’s credit score, income level, or another factor? Without clear explanations, it’s difficult to trust the system, and it becomes impossible to address any potential biases or errors.

The Role of XAI

Explainable AI aims to demystify how AI systems arrive at their conclusions. It does this by providing insights into the decision-making process, often through visualizations or simplified models that humans can understand. For example, in a medical diagnosis scenario, an XAI system might highlight which specific symptoms or test results led to a particular diagnosis. This transparency helps doctors trust and validate the AI’s recommendations.

XAI also plays a crucial role in addressing bias in AI systems. By making the decision-making process transparent, XAI allows developers to identify and correct biases that might unfairly disadvantage certain groups of people. This is particularly important in applications like hiring, where biased AI could perpetuate inequality if left unchecked.

Applications and Benefits of XAI

Healthcare: XAI helps doctors understand why an AI system recommends a specific treatment or diagnosis. This clarity not only builds trust in AI but also enhances patient care by enabling doctors to make informed decisions.

Finance: In banking and finance, XAI is used to explain credit scoring, loan approvals, and fraud detection. Transparent AI decisions ensure that financial institutions comply with regulations and maintain customer trust.

Legal Systems: XAI can be used in predictive policing and legal decision-making to ensure that AI-driven recommendations are fair and unbiased. It helps legal professionals understand the factors influencing AI decisions, reducing the risk of wrongful judgments.

Autonomous Vehicles: Explainable AI is critical for understanding and improving the decision-making processes of self-driving cars, especially in complex driving scenarios. Knowing why a car made a particular maneuver can help engineers refine the technology and build public confidence in autonomous vehicles.

The Future of XAI

As AI continues to evolve, the demand for explainability will only grow. Regulators, particularly in the European Union, are pushing for more transparency in AI systems through legislation like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This trend indicates that explainability will become a standard requirement for AI systems, not just a desirable feature.

Moreover, the development of XAI tools and techniques is likely to advance rapidly, making AI systems more user-friendly and accessible. This will help bridge the gap between AI developers and end-users, ensuring that AI’s benefits are realized without compromising transparency or trust.

Conclusion

Explainable AI is a critical step toward making AI systems more transparent, trustworthy, and fair. By opening up the black box of AI, XAI empowers users to understand, trust, and effectively use AI in various applications, from healthcare to finance and beyond. As we continue to integrate AI into more aspects of our lives, the importance of explainability cannot be overstated. It’s the key to ensuring that AI serves humanity in a fair, responsible, and ethical manner.

[pediatoday]

Ethical considerations in AI development

Ethics in AI Development: Charting a Course for the Future With responsibility

First of all, AI's Expanding Role and the Ethics Requirement

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly permeating every aspect of our life, impacting everything from education and entertainment to healthcare and finance. AI systems pose important ethical issues as they become more powerful and complex. These inquiries address potential for harm, accountability, transparency, and fairness. The ethical issues surrounding AI development are examined in this article, emphasizing the significance of developing AI systems that are not only efficient but also consistent with society norms and human values.

Fairness: Maintaining Justice and Equality

1. Handling Algorithm Bias in AI

The possibility of bias in algorithms is one of the most urgent ethical issues in AI research. Because AI systems learn from data, they may generate biased results if the data is biased. For instance, if an AI hiring system is trained using data from a business that has traditionally given preference to a particular demographic group, the system might keep favoring that group, thus sustaining inequality.

It is important to give careful thought to bias during the development process. Developers are responsible for making sure that the algorithms are tested for fairness and that the data used to train AI systems is representative of all groups. It is possible to lessen bias by using strategies like adversarial debiasing and fairness constraints. However, continual observation and assessment are necessary to preserve equity over time.

2. Explainability and Transparency

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems frequently function as "black boxes," making decisions without providing transparent justifications. Because of this lack of transparency, it may be difficult to hold AI systems responsible for their actions and may even breed mistrust. For instance, it could be difficult for the applicant to challenge a decision made by an AI system if it rejects a loan application because they won't know why.

A growing focus is on creating AI systems that are transparent and explainable in order to address this problem. This entails developing algorithms that can justify their choices in a comprehensible manner. In high-stakes fields like healthcare, criminal justice, and finance, where the results of AI decisions have significant ramifications, explainability is particularly crucial may alter one's life.

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Accountability: Who Bears the Final Say in AI?

1. Accountability and Duty

Accountability concerns arise more frequently as AI systems assume more independent roles. Who is at fault in an accident caused by an AI-driven vehicle? Who is at fault here—the car owner, the software developer, or the manufacturer? These are difficult moral and legal issues that call for precise rules and laws.

Companies and developers need to answer for the AI systems they build. This involves making certain AI systems are trustworthy, safe, and compliant with the law and moral standards. To establish accountability and culpability in situations where AI systems cause harm, regulatory frameworks are required.

2. Human Supervision

Human oversight is still necessary even as AI systems get more powerful. Artificial intelligence ought to support and enhance human judgment, not completely replace it. This is especially crucial in fields where human judgment and empathy are valued, such as healthcare and law enforcement.

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems that include human oversight can help avoid mistakes and guarantee that choices are made ethically. AI, for instance, can help physicians in the healthcare industry by suggesting diagnoses, but human professionals should always make the final decision.

Privacy: Safeguarding Individual Information 

1. Privacy Issues with Data

For AI systems to work well, enormous volumes of data are required, many of which contain sensitive and private information. There are serious privacy issues here. How are these data gathered, saved, and put to use? For what purposes, and by whom, is it accessible? The debate over AI ethics revolves around these questions.

By putting strong security measures in place and abiding by data protection laws, like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, developers can demonstrate their commitment to data privacy. The people whose data is being used must give their consent; they should also have the right to know how it is being used and, if desired, to request that it be deleted.

2. AI and Surveillance

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to greatly improve monitoring capabilities, 

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which raises issues with civil liberties and privacy. For instance, law enforcement can make use of facial recognition technology. However, there is also a chance that it will be abused, for example, by tracking people without their permission or unfairly singling out particular groups.

It's challenging to strike a balance between the advantages of AI-driven surveillance and the requirement to preserve personal privacy. To guarantee that artificial intelligence is used in ways that respect human rights and do not restrict personal freedoms, rigorous regulation, oversight, and public discussion are necessary.

Security: Preserving AI Frameworks

1. Cybersecurity and AI

The security of AI systems is becoming increasingly important as they are incorporated into vital infrastructure. Cyberattacks may target AI systems directly, and if they are taken down, the consequences could be severe. An AI system in charge of an autonomous car or power grid, for instance, could be tricked into causing mayhem.

Developers must give the security of AI systems top priority from the outset in order to mitigate these risks. This entails putting robust encryption into place, conducting frequent security audits, and creating AI systems that are capable of identifying and neutralizing possible threats. To create systems that are both powerful and secure, cooperation between cybersecurity experts and AI developers is crucial.

2. AI and Ethical Hacking

"White-hat" hacking, also known as ethical hacking, is essential for finding and fixing security holes in AI systems. Ethical hackers can assist developers in identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before malevolent actors take advantage of them by modeling attacks. Ensuring the safety and security of AI technologies requires a proactive approach.

Developers ought to think about the moral ramifications of applying AI to cybersecurity. AI, for instance, can be used to create more advanced cyberattacks as well as automate cyberdefenses. To guarantee that AI is only used defensively and does not escalate cyber conflicts, ethical guidelines are required.

Impact on Humans: AI's Social and Economic Repercussions

1. Economic inequality and job displacement

One of the most talked-about ethical issues with AI is that it could replace jobs. Many traditional jobs may be at risk as AI and automation proliferate, causing social unrest and economic inequality. For instance, manufacturing automation fueled by AI may result in a large loss of jobs for factory workers.

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To tackle this obstacle, a diverse strategy is needed. Governments, businesses, and academic institutions must collaborate to offer opportunities for retraining and upskilling to workers whose jobs are at risk from artificial intelligence. A focus on developing new employment in developing industries where AI is expected to present opportunities, like data science, AI ethics, and AI development, is also necessary.

2. Social Justice and AI

AI can either make social inequality worse or make it better, depending on how it is created and used. AI, for instance, can be used to recognize and address inequalities in criminal justice, healthcare, and education. However, if not properly controlled, AI can also reinforce preexisting biases.

AI's social impact must be taken into account by developers and policymakers, who should also work to use AI as a tool to advance social justice. This involves making certain that AI systems are usable by everyone, irrespective of financial situation, and that their purpose is to rectify rather than perpetuate social injustices.

Developing Ethical AI Frameworks: The Future of Ethical AI Development

Creating thorough ethical frameworks that direct AI development and application is crucial for navigating the ethical issues presented by AI. These frameworks ought to be founded on values like accountability, fairness, and respect for human rights. They ought to be adaptable enough to change with the quickly advancing field of artificial intelligence.

Developing these frameworks requires cooperation between governments, business executives, academics, and civil society organizations. Stakeholders can ensure AI is developed in ways that minimize potential harms and benefit society as a whole by cooperating to create guidelines.

2. The Function of Committees on AI Ethics

Experts from a variety of disciplines who serve on AI ethics committees can be extremely helpful in supervising the development of AI and guaranteeing that moral issues are at the forefront of innovation. These committees can offer advice on the moral implications of AI initiatives, check AI systems for possible biases, and assist in creating best practices for the ethical development of AI.

Creating AI ethics committees in businesses, governmental organizations, and academic institutions can guarantee that moral issues are taken into account from the outset.

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but a crucial step in the creation of AI.

In Summary: AI Ethics for a Better Tomorrow

Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize many industries and greatly enhance our quality of life. But this authority also carries a great deal of responsibility. In order to solve the ethical issues raised by AI, developers, businesses, and legislators must act now to make sure that these technologies are created and applied in a secure, transparent, accountable, and fair manner.

We can build a future where AI is a force for good, advancing social justice, economic equality, and human well-being, by giving ethical considerations top priority in AI development.

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