#Greenway House
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cozy4countrycottages · 10 months ago
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Greenway House,the home of Dame Agatha Christie,creator of sleuths Hercule Poirot & Miss Marple
Greenway Road, Galmpton,Brixham,Devon,England TQ5 0ES
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blackramhall · 2 months ago
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Agatha Christie’s Greenway House by Julie Price
Blackram Hall: whodunit, murder mystery, hardboiled, pulp, crime, thriller, italian giallo, noir and neo-noir, detectives and serial killers, spy stories, vintage, manor houses, art, life and death.
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bombxs · 8 months ago
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– Siento que a los de la Alius les pega ser parte del universo de The Owl House, tengo la idea de que en algún momento X terminaron en el mundo humano.
– El HiroMido me recuerda al Lumity, siento que Luz se llevaría bien con Jordan y Amity con Xavier js.
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timmurleyart · 1 year ago
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Spinning records on the greenway. 🪩🟣💓🔵🔊🌛
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peterpecksen · 1 year ago
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British Columbia Road Trip
We have had an absolutely fantastic time during our 10 week swing through beautiful British Columbia. Through Karen’s organizational skills we ended up doing five house sits in five different locations around southern BC. We ran the gambit of animal personalities from dogs that were deaf, to obsessed with squirrels, to chickens that were just a little too curious at times. To blind Truffle who…
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suetravelblog · 1 year ago
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The Thin Place - Oregon Contemporary Theatre
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thethief1996 · 1 year ago
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Israel has just bombed a hospital where hundreds of wounded and refugees were taking solace. Journalists in Gaza have reported there was hardly a single body whole in the aftermath (If you can stomach it, there's a video of a father holding what remains of his child). At least 500 people killed by IOF soldiers, who planned this action, got into an airplane and dropped that bomb willingly. The deadliest attack in five wars, according to the Ministry of Health.
Israel has denied ownership of the attack and said it was a misfired Hamas rocket. Originally, they celebrated it on their social media, saying they had destroyed a Hamas target, treating the deaths like an unfortunate collateral. After international backlash, they posted videos to their social media claiming it was a Hamas rocket. The video, though, shows a second explosion 40 minutes after the airstrike, and they edited it our of their tweet in a pathetic attempt at covering up.
Israel has said multiple times that they were going to bomb hospitals. They told doctors to evacuate and leave their patients to death because they were going to bomb, namely: Al Shifa, Shuhada Al Aqsa and the Quwaiti Hospital. Al Shifa housed at least 10.000 refugees and wounded, and worked as a hub for the press because it was one of the only hospitals that still had working generators. Medical crew worked with sirens blaring to signal the hospitals were not empty. This was a purposeful massacre. These people died hungry, thirsty and in pain because of the Israeli government's cruelty.
CNN and other media outlets already tried to pin the blame on Hamas, parroting back the pathetic propaganda being sold by the IOF. Even in death, Palestinians can't be respected and are used to further their own oppression. These people's deaths are not going to be in vain. Within our lifetimes, Palestine will be free.
Take action. The Labour Party in the UK had an emergency meeting today after several councilors threatened to resign if they didn't condemn Israeli war crimes. Calling to show your complaints works.
FOR PEOPLE IN THE USA: USCPR has developed this toolkit for calls
FOR PEOPLE IN THE UK: Friends of Al-Aqsa UK and Palestine Solidarity UK have made toolkits for calls and emails
FOR PEOPLE IN GERMANY: Here's a toolkit to contact your representatives by Voices in Europe for Peace
FOR PEOPLE IN IRELAND: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace
FOR PEOPLE IN POLAND: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace
FOR PEOPLE IN DENMARK: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace
FOR PEOPLE IN SWEDEN: Here's a toolkit by Voices in Europe for Peace
Protests in support have already erupted in Beirut, Madrid and Rabat in response to the shelling of the hospital. Join your local protest and raise your voices. For people in the US, Israel has just asked for additional $10bi in aid on top of the annual $3.8bi already given to them. Palestinians are asking that you refuse this loudly, with their every breath.
Here's a constantly updating list of protests:
Global calendar
USA calendar
Here are upcoming events:
WASHINGTON, DC: Outside Congress on 18/10 at 12 PM
WASHINGTON, DC: NATIONAL MARCH in front of the White House on 4/11 at 12 PM
SAN DIEGO: 2125 Pan American E Rd. (Spreckles Organ Pavillion) on 18/10 at 7 PM
NEW YORK: 72nd st. And 5th ave., Brooklyn on 21/10 at 2 PM
NEW YORK: CUNY Grad Building on 18/10 at 2 PM
NEW YORK: Oct 18, 5pm, Steinway & Astoria Blvd.
DALLAS: 1954 Commerce Street (Dallas Morning News Building) on 19/10 at 3 PM
[CAR RALLY] KITCHENER-WATERLOO: Fairview Park, 2960 Kingsway Dr. on 18/10 at 6 PM
KITCHENER-WATERLOO: CBC Building, 117 King St. W on 19/10 at 5 PM
HOUSTON: Zionist Consulate, 24 Greenway Plaza on 18/10 at 4 PM
OMAHA: 72nd St & Dodge St on 18/10 at 6 PM
SAINT PAUL, MN: Oct. 18, 5:30pm. State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
BALTIMORE: Oct 20, 6pm. Baltimore City Hall
DUBLIN: Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 1 on 18/10 at 5 PM
THURLES: Liberty Square on 19/10 at 7 PM
LURGAN: Market Street on 21/10 at 3 PM
PORTO ALEGRE: Rua João Alfredo, 61 on 18/10 at 19h
RIO DE JANEIRO: Cinelândia on 19/10 at 17h
RECIFE: Parque Treze de Maio on 19/10 at 17h
MANAUS: Teatro Amazonas, Largo de São Sebastião on 19/10 at 17h
SÃO PAULO: Praça Oswaldo Cruz on 22/10 at 11h
FOZ DO IGUAÇU: Praça da Paz on 22/10 at 9h
TSHWANE: Belgrade Square Park, Jan Shoba Street on 20/10 at 10 AM
VEREENIGING: Roshnee Sports Grounds on 21/10 at 14h30
Feel free to add more resources
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stevenvenn · 2 years ago
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House of All - There’s More (s/t) The original members of The Fall have reformed (of course without Mark E. Smith R.I.P.) and put together a new debut as the band House of All. Going to be a great listen for those of us who have been missing The Fall. Bandcamp audio here. Nothing on Spotify yet but the album’s being released in May. You can also watch this video of the guys getting together in the studio here.
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exhuastedpigeon · 7 months ago
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wipe your mouth when you done
Buddie | Explicit | 4.1k words Hockey AU, Hurt Buck, Hockey fights, Smut
Buck would like it on record that he didn’t go looking for the video of Eddie’s fight with Jonah Greenway because he didn’t even know Eddie had gotten in a fight with Jonah Greenway. Ravi sent the video into the group chat with the comment that “Fans are weirdly horny over fights” and no other context. If Eddie had been home Buck probably wouldn’t have watched it or maybe they would have watched it together for a laugh, but Eddie was still at practice and Buck was alone in the Diaz house where he’d spent the last month recovering. He was bored, he figured watching a fan edit of a fight would be fine. The video started with a title card that said “Buddie is real” and a clip of the hit that had ended Buck’s season. He’d seen the hit a few times now, but he wasn’t sure why Ravi had mentioned a fight. The video cut to Eddie throwing his stick and gloves onto the ice and shoving Greenway away from Buck before dropping to his knees and carefully cupping Buck’s face in his hands.  He was hit with a sudden memory of that moment, of the way he hurt so much, but he'd felt safe because Eddie was there. He couldn’t hear what Eddie was saying in the video, but he remembered Eddie making him feel like everything would be okay. The next cut showed Eddie and Ravi, but mostly Eddie, helping Buck off the ice.  The video cut to a shot of Greenway being led to the penalty box with a smile on his face that made Buck’s blood boil. Greenway had just ended Buck’s season with that dirty hit and he was smiling? He wanted to hit something, but he knew that even punching a pillow with his good hand would hurt like a bitch so he restrained himself.
read on ao3
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cameronspecial · 10 months ago
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can you release another let me,angel chapter on jan 28 bc it’s my birthday 😁😁😁😁😁
You Need To Talk To Daddy, Baby
Pairing: Frat!Rafe Cameron x Reader
Warnings:  N/A
Pronouns: She/Her
Word Count: 0.6K
A/N: Happy Birthday, Anon! I hope it's okay that this is after their uni days.
Masterlist
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Asher runs up to his mother, who is waiting outside of the elementary school for her son. Y/N takes him into her arms and carries him to the car. She gets the six-year-old buckled into his car seat before getting into the driver’s seat. The car ride home was filled with a mini-concert between the mother and son. When they get home, they both notice the car in the driveway. Rafe swings the door open at the sound of his wife’s engine and jogs out in his work suit. Asher is quick to hop into his father’s arms. The family heads into the house and goes to get a snack in the kitchen. “Mommy, are Auntie Sarah and Uncle John still coming over tomorrow?” Asher asks with the heel of his feet hitting the cabinet. Y/N looks up from the tea she is making, “Yes, Baby. They are coming for dinner. Why do you want to know?” “Because I have to write about my hero for homework and I want to write about Uncle John,” her son announces. The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board stops at what Asher says. Y/N glances at her husband to see the frown on his face. He places his cutting tool down on the board and leaves the room.
“Rafe, wait,” Y/N tries to halt her husband. He doesn’t listen as he makes his way into their bedroom. The mother turns to her son and approaches him. “What’s wrong with Daddy?” Asher worries, trying to get down from the counter. Y/N keeps him on the counter, “I think he is a little hurt that he isn’t your hero.” The young boy’s face matches his father’s frown. “But he is my hero.”
“Then why do you want to write about Uncle John?”
“Because Mrs. Greenway said that we can’t write about our parents. She wants us to talk to other people.”
“Oh, well I think you need to talk to Daddy, Baby. Maybe explain that to him.”
Asher nods and holds his hand up so Y/N can help him down. She helps him off of the counter, watching him as he goes to talk to Rafe. Rafe turns at the sound of footsteps approaching the room. He turns in the other direction to wipe his tears away. He knows it’s a little silly to be upset about not being his son’s hero, most kids wouldn’t say their parents either, but it digs into Rafe’s fear of not being a good enough father. If Rafe isn’t Asher’s hero, then does that mean Asher doesn’t feel safe with him? Does that mean that Rafe isn’t providing for his son? “Daddy?” The tike’s voice spins Rafe toward him. “Hey, Bud. Is everything okay?” Rafe questions, going to pick his son up. Asher nods, “I’m sorry I made you sad, Daddy.” “It’s okay. You didn’t mean to, Bud. Why don’t you tell me more about your project? Do you need to interview Uncle John?” Rafe reassures his son. Asher gives a small smile, “Yes, Mrs. Greenway gave me a paper with the questions. I have to write the answer on the line. Daddy?” Rafe watches his son look up at him with wide eyes. “Yeah, Bud?” “You are my hero. I have to ask Uncle John the questions because Mrs. Greenway said I can’t ask Mommy or Daddy,” the boy explains.
A wide grin grows on Rafe’s face and Y/N watches from the doorway as her husband pulls their son into a hug. “How about we photocopy your assignment so you can interview Daddy too? Daddy could put it in his office,” she suggests. Rafe flinches at the surprise that his wife is in the room. Asher turns to his mother and his head vigorously moves up and down. “Yeah! I want to in-ter-view Daddy,” he agrees. Y/N starts toward the home office and Rafe follows her in tow. The family spends the afternoon interviewing each other and now, those transcripts are proudly displayed on their kitchen fridge.
Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia @thelomlisrafecameron @wickedlovely121 @queen-shadow22 @victory-in-the-llama @drewsmusee @starkowswife @maybankslover
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ramp-it-up · 2 years ago
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Doctor and Mr. Cavill
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Pairing: Henry Cavill x Veterinarian!Reader
Word Count: 5.9K 😓.
Warnings: 18+ Only, Minors DNI. RPF. SMUT, Explicit description of graphic sex. Read at your own risk. Dog in distress. Angst, pining, flirting, nerd activities, Marvel vs. DC, brat behavior, dirty talk, size kink, oral sex, raw p in v (wrap before you tap) pulling out, cum play. Not Beta’d. All errors my own.
A/N: This is in response to an ask from @notmyfault404 about Kal’s favorite Veterinarian, nerd activities and Henry. This story sucked me in. Let me know if you liked it!
I no longer have a taglist. Please follow @rampitupandread and turn on notifications to learn when I post! 😘
I Do NOT Consent to my work being reposted, translated or presented on any other blog or site other than by myself.
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The film production came to town at the end of summer, buying the now defunct airport for a production studio and moving scores of staff into town. The uptick in your business was the first indication that your life was going to change. 
The production meant two years of publicity and economic prosperity for your town. It was exciting. And the fact that Henry Cavill was the lead in the production was no small news item. 
Sightings at the grocery store, on the running trails, at GNC were all everyone could talk about, but you didn’t have time for all that. You had a business to run.
You got busier, with production increasing the population of the town by over 200 people. Including the talent, Everyone was buzzing with the fact that Henry rented a house out on State Route 60, not too far from your own. 
You weren’t that pressed. Sure, he was fine as hell, but he was probably a jackass and you would probably never run into him.
You were so wrong.
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One blustery late fall day, an American Akita was brought into your office by a bystander who found him caught in a bush along a greenway, dirty and covered with brambles.
He was muddy, overexposed and shaky. He was agitated and growling at everyone, until you came near. You gave him a firm command.
“Sit!”
He obeyed immediately and whined, still stressed, but calmer now. You approached him and kneeled, holding out your hand and taking his paw when he offered. You smiled, and he panted in return.
“It’s okay, buddy. Let me help you.”
20 minutes later, you had him on the table in one of your examination rooms
“Now keep still. I know it’s uncomfortable right now, but I’ve got to get you unmatted and then I’ll get you some nice soothing salve for those scratches.”
The dog whined, but stopped fidgeting and stood still, as if he understood what you’d said. 
“Good boy!”
The huge animal panted at you and looked as if he smiled, but then whined again as you started detangling and brushing again. 
Regina, your nurse, came in and microchipped him, and then turned to you with her mouth wide open when she saw what came back. 
“You’ll never believe who this dog’s owner is…”
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After you found out about Kal’s parentage, you fed and watered him, cleaned and groomed him, attended to his coat and his scratches and were playing with him when Henry arrived at your office.
“Did you run away Kal? Is he a good dad?” 
You leaned over to him conspiratorially.
“I bet he’s not.”
You tutted as you worked on the last bit of matting, soothing hums falling from your lips as you applied the ointment to the lesions on his skin.
“I would take you to my house in a minute, he doesn't deserve you, does he?” 
You were concentrating on medicating his leg when you heard a response.
“You’re quite right.”
You looked up at Kal when you heard a deep British voice rumble through you. You slowly turned around and were met with the most beautiful imperfect blue eyes you’d ever seen.
“I don’t deserve him.”
You drew yourself up to your full height, which didn’t stop Henry Cavill from towering over you. Damn. 
He seemed huge, tall and burly, hair hidden under a baseball cap, but escaping out of the back into thick curls at his nape. His face was flushed, and his eyes held a look of worry and embarrassment, but held your gaze.
You felt like you were in one of those old romcoms, where the room was spinning around you. You had the urge to dive into his eyes.
“Mr. Cavill? I’m Dr. Y/LN.” 
Henry’s smile widened and he extended his hand. You looked at it as if it were a fish. You were flustered. He was even more beautiful in person.
You reached for his hand and then stopped, awkwardly.
“Gloves,” came your reply as you held up your hands.
Henry dropped his own hand, as awkwardly as you. Your stomach tumbled.
“I’m Henry. Cavill.”
“Yes,” was all you could say. You knew who he was.
“Mr. Cavill. Kal is fine, but he was exposed to the elements for quite a while.”
Henry had a stricken look on his face.
“Believe me, Dr. Y/LN. I have been distressed with worry for about 14 hours now. Kal and I went running yesterday evening and he saw and chased a squirrel. He wouldn’t respond and I couldn’t find him. I feared the worst all night…”
Henry paused, trying to compose himself. You saw his emotion and you heard his voice crack and you softened, all over. You should really stop staring. 
“That is unfortunate, but luckily someone found him and brought him in…” 
You found yourself suddenly at a loss for words. 
“Yes.” 
Henry smiled, a genuine, shy smile. 
“And it seems you are taking expert care of him.”
Kal whined and you tore your eyes away from his owner.
“Hey buddy. Yeah. I’m almost done, just gotta get this paw...”
You smiled at Kal and turned to Kal to continue your work, smiling at Henry over your shoulder.
Henry watched you with his dog and his heart melted. You were gentle, kind, and caring. And that voice. Your sultry tones were soothing, not just to Kal. You were calming Henry’s nerves.
Henry didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t you. 
Somehow he was expecting a veterinarian to be someone not quite so lovely. His heart was already racing, but when he saw you he swore that it skipped a beat. 
Henry was transfixed with you, his eyes searching for a glimpse of your body beneath your white coat. He ascertained generous curves and found himself quite pleased. 
As you turned around and caught him staring, he remembered Kal.   
“Mr. Cavill!”
Henry startled and turned red as a bashful smile graced his handsome face.
“Y-yes?”
He seemed flustered and awkward, but he was also a highly trained actor. You resisted any benevolent thoughts as you handed him a couple of tubes of salve and reminded him of the routines to make sure that Kal healed properly.
“Thank you Dr. Y/LN. Thank you for taking care of Kal …”
“No need for thanks. It’s what we do here.”
“Well…Excellent!”
Henry graced you with that beautiful smile and you wanted to melt, but you stayed strong.
You two stared at one another until Kal whined. You released him from the grooming lead and Henry prompted him to jump down from the table. 
You watched, your heart warming to the sight of Henry practically rolling on the floor with his pup. You could watch the scene forever, but you had work to do.
“Mr. Cavill.”
“Yes.”
Those bewitching blues looked up at you. You held in a gasp as Henry sat on one knee at your feet with Kal. It was quite unnerving for some reason. You cleared your throat.
“I have another patient I need to see in this room.”
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Henry was deep in thought after you kicked him out of your office. He couldn’t get you out of his head. He walked slowly to his car with Kal, almost turning around and back into your office when his phone buzzed. It was his agent.
Thoughts of you were pushed aside as he answered the phone.
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Two weeks later, you entered your exam room looking down at the patient chart with no other warning than a smirking Regina who handed the clipboard to you.
You were greeted by a big handsome brute.
And his dog.
“Kal!”
You were assaulted by licks and jumps when you got near him.
“Down, boy, sorry, Doc. Kal! That’s no way to behave.”
Henry took Kal’s collar in hand to get him off of you, but he was ignored while you laughed and hugged the dog. Soon, he obeyed Henry and sat down on the table, smiling at you and thumping his huge tail.
Speaking of huge, you noticed Henry’s hands. They were large, with thick fingers and pronounced veins which extended down his thick forearms. His muscles were flexing from the effort to restrain Kal, but Henry’s face was serene. 
And staring directly at you.
You cleared your throat.
“What are we here for this time?”
Your saucy raised eyebrow did things to Henry, he decided. He’d been thinking about you ever since that first time and he was intrigued by you.
“Our visit today is two-fold. Kal needs his yearly shots. We’re in the states for the next few months filming and you took such good care of him last time… well, I’d like you to be his veterinarian while we’re here.”
You grinned at Henry, and he paused, blinking at you as if in shock. He wanted to make you smile forever. You cocked your head at him. 
“And two?”
“What?”
Henry was outright flustered. You chuckled.
“What’s the second reason that you’re here?”
“Yes! Right! I want to thank you for taking care of Kal. How about I take you to lunch as a way to express my gratitude?”
You frowned and Henry’s stomach dropped as you appeared to have eaten something sour. He knew he shouldn’t have tried it.
“I’m trying to think of a reason not to…” 
You looked up at him with those big doe eyes and Henry turned to mush. Then he recovered and smiled, giving his best rake performance.
“Well, if you’re thinking anything about Dr/Patient ethics, I’m not your patient. Kal is.” 
Henry hadn’t had to pursue like this in quite a while. It was refreshing.
You finally smiled as you prepared to counter his argument.
“But in a veterinary practice, an animal’s owner is a client.”
“Dr. Y/LN, it’s just lunch. Nothing more.”
“Really?”
“Really. It’s just a thank you. No funny business.” 
Henry held his hands up so as to indicate he wouldn’t touch you. Why were you disappointed?
You avoided Henry’s eyes as you opened the door and called for Regina to set up the shots. Henry took the chance to subtly check you out again, making sure to have his eyes elsewhere when you turned back around.
“When did you want to go out to lunch, Mr. Cavill?”
Henry shook his head and chuckled.
“Henry. Call me Henry. Dr. Y/LN.”
He waited for you to offer your first name to him, although he could read it on the diploma on the wall. When you just smiled, he just shook his head again.
“I was thinking today.”
“I– I – ummmmm…”
“Your nurse, Regina is it? Regina told me you hadn’t eaten yet.”
Henry raised his eyebrow and looked at his watch. You couldn't help but notice the veins in his arm.
“It is 1:28 pm and you haven’t had anything to eat today except coffee.” He looked at you as if you were in trouble, but that would have been too familiar. Henry was quite displeased that you weren’t caring for yourself, but he didn’t dare say it. He hardly knew you. This wild urge to take care of you was unexpected.
“Regina cleared your afternoon.”
“Did she now?”
You went to the door and called for her. Regina appeared as if she were close by, with the shots prepared on a tray.
“Here are Kal’s shots, Doc. And I’ve rescheduled your appointments for your lunch date.”
You scowled at her and she smiled brightly as she pushed you back into the room by the tray. You would take care of her later.
You turned around and went to wash your hands and put on your gloves. You sighed and decided to go with the flow.
“How about Dave and Buster’s?”
Henry looked nonplussed.
“Do Buster and David serve good healthful food?”
“No,” you grinned.
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An hour and a half later, after dropping Kal at Henry’s place and a lunch of ribs, wings, and nachos, you and Henry were having the time of your life playing giant electronic Connect Four. When you beat him the third time, he pulled you away and started browsing the games. 
The darkness of the arcade, and the fact that it was 3 pm on a Tuesday, made it easy for Henry to not be recognized. His ball cap was quite the disguise.
“Rampage!” Henry yelled like a kid. “No wayyyy! I used to love this. One of Midway’s best games.”
You gaped at him.
“Oh Come on. I’m a massive nerd. I love stuff like this. We have to play!”
You just laughed.
“A man after my own heart! I’ll play you, but we have to scope out the other games. You have to have a plan for your game play.”
Henry stopped when you said he was after your heart. He knew it was a figure of speech, but he decided it was not an untruth. He cleared his throat.
“Right. Seems you’re a bit of a nerd yourself, Dr. Y/LN.”
You grinned.
“You should see my comic book collection.”
Henry’s heart surged, that was so fucking sexy. You out of your doctor’s coat was also damned attractive, and he was about to say so when he saw his face on an arcade game. 
You two stood in front of Injustice, a game that had many of the DC Superheroes and Villains illustrated on it. You and Henry stared at each other.
“I dare you.”
Henry never backed down from a dare.
“Challenge accepted, Doctor.”
It was on.
It was basically dinner time when Henry dropped you back at the office, but you weren’t mad. You shivered at the cold and pulled your jacket around yourself. Henry wanted to pull you into his arms for warmth, but this wasn’t that kind of date.
You smiled that smile at him.
“That was a great lunch, but you lied.”
Henry looked so cute with the frown on his face.
“That was funny business. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. I had a ball.”
Henry was relieved and followed you as you turned and went to your car.
“I’m very glad. You ate something and had some fun. Splendid.”
You were trapped between Henry and your car as he beamed down at you. This feeling could not be denied, you realized with dismay. But you were going to try with all your might. Henry was only temporary. He was probably just searching for comfort near set. You needed to guard your heart.
“Well, have a good evening, Henry.”
You reached for your door handle. Henry backed up to let you open it.
You got into the driver’s seat.
“Perhaps we can do this again sometime, Doctor.”
You just smiled at him and said, “Good night, Mr. Cavill.”
Then you closed your door, started the car, and pulling away, Henry realized that he didn’t get your number as he’d planned.
“Call me Henry!” 
He shouted at your taillights.
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This was getting inconvenient.
A week after your lunch, you’d taken to having nightly dreams of Henry, and it just wouldn’t do. You woke up in the middle of the night with your clit pounding and you’d worn out the batteries of your wand, knowing it would be a poor substitute for the man from Jersey.
You had to get Henry Cavill out of your head. Work. That was the answer.
You walked past Regina’s desk around 11:30 and didn’t realize she wore that smirk until you turned the doorknob to the examination room.
“Shit!” 
You cursed under your breath as you opened the door to Kal’s bark.
Henry stopped mid-pace when you did so. His eyes looked a little wild, just like the first time you’d met, but there was a difference now.
The difference was that Henry was distracted by need, not worry. He’d thought about you every waking moment, and woke up with a stiff reminder of his dreams every morning. He needed more of you, or to be in detox.
“Mr. Cavill.” 
Henry's jaw clenched at your continued insistence at the formality. Your core clenched in turn. You were in danger. You moved to pet Kal, seeking him to be your protector.
“Dr. Y/LN.”
Henry’s deep voice was gravelly and you tried not to gravitate nearer to him.
“We’re here today because it is a bit of an emergency. I’m headed to Britain for a couple of weeks this weekend, and I need boarding for Kal. Beginning Friday? Regina said that you had facilities?”
You really needed to talk to your meddling nurse. But you looked down at Kal who started to lick your face. You could not say no. You went over to your computer.
“I’ll check the boarding schedule. I’m sure we have room…” 
You opened your laptop and pulled up the schedule. Then you frowned, your eyes flicked over to Henry, then back at the screen.
You looked so adorable as you bit your lip. Then you huffed, seemingly miffed at what you saw.
What Henry saw was a little bit of the brat. And that made his cock a little stiff so that he had to shift his stance. That’s it, he decided. He needed to tame you.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cavill. It seems we are booked up this weekend, but we will have an opening on the following Monday…”
“Please, call me Henry.” 
He was begging now. 
You took him in as your nipples got hard. His beauty was no question, his eyes, his hair. It was left out today, the curls unruly as he swiped his hand through them, thinking.
“Well, I… I’ll have to find another arrangement. My flight is commercial and leaves early Saturday morning, else I would take him with.”
Henry looked at you with sad eyes and so did Kal. 
“Could you recommend?”
Yours was the best facility within 50 miles. You sighed and couldn’t believe what you were about to say. 
“I can keep him at my home Mr… Henry. Just for the weekend. I have lots of land off of Route 60.” 
Henry’s eyebrow raised when you mentioned where you lived. He lived on Route 60. You continued.
“Kal will have lots of room. And I’ll bring him with me to work on Monday…”
Henry moved into your space impetuously. You stood your ground, however.
“Splendid!” 
You stared up at him, unconsciously biting your lip. The energy between you intensified. It seemed natural to go on tiptoe and reach up to brush the hair that fell into his eyes.
But you didn’t.
“Well, Kal is such a handsome boy, how could I say no to him?”
You looked into Kal’s eyes and petted him. The loving way you looked at his dog made Henry a little bit jealous. He surprised himself.
“Can I have…”
Henry’s voice was now impossibly a bit deeper, and needy. You sighed, and Henry wanted to claim those lips. He thought that outrageous, but this attraction between you was undeniable. 
“...Your number and address. I can bring him to your place Friday evening. My flight leaves at 5 am to New York Saturday for my long business layover. Then the red eye that evening to London. I wouldn’t want to wake you up in the middle of the night…”
Henry was thinking just the opposite as he smiled down at you. He’d love to wake you up. And you were thinking the same thing.
Your first instinct was to tell him that he could bring Kal by the office and you would take him home with you, boundaries. But you were exhausted of running from this feeling. Henry gazed at you hopefully and it was your turn to be flustered.
You held out your hand, palm up.
Henry, non-plussed, took your hand awkwardly and grinned, thrilled at the chance to touch you. You laughed, a melody to his ears, as you shook your head and said,
“Give me your phone, Henry”
Henry blushed at your gentle command, released your hand, and pulled out his phone while shaking his head at himself. His grin was the greatest thing ever, and the curls falling forward into his face were a distraction.
He handed his phone to you and you took it, concentrating as you entered your information, feeling his eyes on you. When you gave it back, he looked at your number and address like it was a newfound treasure.
“Thank you. I can’t tell you what this means to me… to us. Isn’t that right, Kal.”
You both looked over to Kal, who barked. 
“What time should I bring him by?”
You looked up and thought. You were so damn cute to Henry.
“Well, we close early on Fridays. 2 pm. You could bring him by 3?”
Henry thought for a moment. 
“Perfect.”
He was looking at your lips.
“We’ll see you then. Doctor.”
The title was beginning to feel like an endearment. You didn’t wipe the smile off your face for the rest of the day, despite Regina’s side eyes.
——
You don’t know why you were nervous. It was a simple thing really. Just Superman dropping off his dog at your house. No biggie.
You heard Henry’s car on your gravel driveway and went out on your porch
Henry marveled at your place. He got out of the car looking around appreciatively as he got Kal and his gear out of the SUV. You led him to the fence line behind the house. 
“You can take him off the leash. Back here he has room to run free.”
Henry did so and Kal immediately took off and galavanted around your animals there. He was cozying up to one of your rescued alpacas as you and Henry watched.
“This place is… there are no words.”
You flushed.
“It’s my childhood home. My dad was the town vet before me, and I think he loved animals more than I do. I grew up thinking he was Dr. Doolittle.”
You became wistful with memories. Then you looked at Henry, bowling him over. His heart was taken in that moment.
“I wanted to be just like him, even when he told me to get out of this town. But I would never leave. He was my hero, a single dad, saving animals. He was my why.”
“Wow. Thank you for sharing.”
You’d never heard Henry’s voice that low. You gave him a small smile.
“He passed away two years ago while I was still in vet school. It was hard.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Henry wanted to take you into his arms.
“Thank you.” 
You straightened your spine.
“I’m sure you’re very busy, with the trip and all..”
Henry smiled at you.
“Would you believe that I’m practically ready to go? Fully packed and all.I’m going to grab an early dinner and head to bed.”
You looked at your watch. It was 3:45.
“Can I make you some tea?”
Henry gave you that beautiful grin.
“I’d like nothing more.”
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In your kitchen, Henry soon got up from his seat at your kitchen island to help you make proper British tea.
You were laughing and talking as he teased you for being American. It all felt so natural.
“Where are your teaspoons? See, this is what I mean….”
Henry was standing behind you, not looking for spoons at all, but looking at that ass in your casual at-home leggings. Good god you were hot. You shook your head and turned around quickly to find him facing you.
“They’re right- oh!”
You were deliciously in Henry’s space and as you looked up at him something happened and he leaned down to kiss you. It was a quick press of the lips but it previewed so much more.
“I- I’m sorry. That was way too forward-“
Henry was cut off by you jumping up into his arms and wrapping your legs around him as you kissed him back. His surprise turned to passion as he grunted in his throat as he claimed your mouth. 
He turned you around and sat your bottom on the island, slotting his hips between your legs, his hands on your sides. The kiss was a feral expression of pent up need that was only interrupted by the whistle of the kettle.
You stopped and laughed, and Henry pulled away to take care of the pot. When he turned back around, you were down from the island and all business again. The mood was lost.
You served the tea as if nothing had happened. 
The silence between you two as you drank was big, but thoughtful, not awkward at all. Henry was smirking down into his cup, replaying the kiss in his mind. It was more than he could ever ask for. You, however, were thinking quite the opposite.
You turned to him after you finished your tea and asked, “Want to see my comic book collection?”
10 minutes later, you were upstairs in the comic book room, amid boxes and boxes of classic comic books, the collection started by your father. There were books in every conceivable surface, so you were setting in a bean bag chair while Henry kneeled and flipped through a box of Wolverine comics. 
“Holy hell! You have the Wolverine Top Secret #50! Do you know how much this is worth?!?”
Henry was impressed, and so were you.
“Not really. But I’m intrigued that you are so into a Marvel book, i would think you would be strictly a DC alcolyte, Man of Steel—“
You gasped. 
“Holy shit! I have Superman in my comic book room.”
Henry raised his eyebrow.
“Do you want Superman in your…. nevermind...”
You gaped at him, mouth hinged open at his saucy comment, and Henry was scared that you would kick him out. But you started rolling on the floor laughing instead.
“You’re such a dork, oh my god. ‘Do you want Superman in your…’ hahahaha… that’s what she said… hahahaha…”
Henry laughed too, coming over to tickle you to extend your laughter. It was musical. You two horse played until you weren’t playing any more. You lay beneath Henry, flushed and out of breath and never more beautiful, your shirt halfway up your torso and comic books strewn around you.
He had to kiss you again.
Soon, his mouth strayed from yours to your neck, sloppily marking you up and getting you wet as he rutted against your center. His jeans and your leggings were the only barrier to you full out fucking.
His hand reached under your shirt and you pushed him away, panting as you tried to get your bearings.
Henry was wild, hair in his eyes as he nodded. 
“You’re right. Too far. Too much.”
He leaned back on his knees and your eyes raked from his thick thighs to the bulge in his pants to his dilated eyes.
You stood up, still silent and so did Henry, following you out as you straightened your clothes and your hair. You were wrapped in the last string of decorum in you.
Henry ran his hand in his own hair, looking to the side and catching sight of your bedroom. Then he watched your bottom sway in front of him.
“Just want to bite that ass.”
You heard his lewd comment and wheeled around on him on the landing of the stairs.
“What are you doing? What do you want? A fuck buddy while you’re here? Because…”
“Do shut up, Doctor..”
Henry took your head in his hands and leaned in for a kiss, pausing momentarily to look into your eyes. Then Henry destroyed that string of decorum with his kiss.
Somehow, you wound up on your bed, heavy petting like two teenagers, Henry’s hand up your shirt, teasing your nipples.
When he reached for your pants and slipped his thick fingers into your panties and felt your slick, he cursed.
“Fuck, I don’t have any condoms.”
When you arched and moaned when he breached you, and he felt your tight cunt, he licked his lips.
“No matter, won’t be necessary, just let me eat you out. Take all that off.”
You obeyed, buoyed on a cloud of lust.
“Beautiful.”
Henry gazed at you for a minute, and then you reached for his zipper. He let you pull him toward you and start to work it open.
“Ah ah ah. I'm far too hard for that. Let me.” 
Henry carefully removed his pants around his massive, hard cock, which made his dark blue boxer briefs even darker at his wet tip. You licked your lips and palmed him over his underwear while looking up at him with those eyes. He knew what you were asking.
“Hmmmmm. I’m going to have to say …no.” 
You pouted as Henry chuckled and flipped you over, pulling your hips up so you were on your knees before him. You watched over your shoulder as Henry leaned down to kiss, and then in fact bite, each of your cheeks, rubbing to soothe the sting.
“Oh. If I had more time…”
Henry shook his head and then descended to the valley between, licking a large, rude stripe up the length of you.
“Yes. My dreams, Doctor. This is better than my dreams. Taste like heaven.” 
Then he went to town, feasting on you and moaning, rubbing his nose and chin into your folds, sucking your clit, and causing you to grab his head as you came all over his beautiful face.
When you opened your eyes you were on your back, Henry above you, one hand parting your lips again, and another wrapped around the biggest uncut cock you’d ever seen. You gasped when he inserted a finger into you, not realizing how big his hand really was. It made sense now.
“So gorgeous. But, it seems I’m far too big for you. I fear I’d tear you apart.”
You arched, which elicited a moan. 
“It’s amazing what a body can do. Why don’t we try, and you could always pull out…”
Henry grunted, climbing up between your legs, led by his dick.
“I’ve decided that’s not a good idea. I’ll just use my hand to finish.”
His smirk said he was teasing, but you were mad. Your pussy clenched, seeking fulfillment, as Henry jacked his cock above it, angry red tip projected now and leaking precum on his fingers.
You whined and writhed beneath him.
“Henry... you can’t do that to me…”
Henry nodded his head, eyes ablaze.
“Yes. It would hurt you too much.”
He was stroking faster now, jaw clenching with restraint.
“No. You can’t show me that magnificent cock and not give it to me.”
Henry groaned and leaned down to kiss you, continuing stroking with his hand. His tip was at your entrance, driving you mad.
“Give it to me…Henry…”
“Such a brat.”
Henry bit your ear and you arched your back as he shoved the tip in. Just the tip.
“Henry!”
“I’m giving you what you want, Doctor…”
His voice was controlled in your ear, but you felt his cock jumping inside you.
“God you feel so….. I need to go travel this silken canal.  But you’re so, so tight…”
You rotated and locked your ankles on his back, making him stop and rest his forehead on yours. You both looked down to where you were connected.
“Stretch me out.”
Your plaintive whisper caused his reserve to snap. 
“Unnnngh. I’m not strong enough to tame you tonight. I want this.” 
Henry started moving, gliding slowly inside you, fucking you open like you’d never been before.
“Hunh, Hunh, Hunh, Hunh…”
You moaned with every inch, the pain a delicious nirvana. You bit Henry’s shoulder until he was fully seated inside.
Henry looked you in your eyes and then closed his and shook his head, as if trying to snap out of a trance.
“You are exquisite, you know that?”
He’s never seen a more beautiful sight than your face when you were full of him. When you shook your head no to his question, Henry started moving.
“We’ll, I'm going to teach you…”
Your fingernails dug into his forearms as he delivered the long strokes which served to short circuit your brain. Sparks were shooting off inside you with every pull and drag of his thick cock along your walls.
When you started moaning with pleasure was when Henry reared up on his knees, pulling your bottom up to rest on his thighs. He held your waist as he pumped inside you, not able to tear his eyes away from his cock destroying you. 
The image of a naked Henry just outright fucking you, along with the heavenly way he was delivering the dick made you start cuming. Him just looking at your clit made it start pulsing. Did he really have x-ray vision?
Henry’s mouth hung open at the way your pussy started creaming around him and when he glanced up at your face, well, it was all over for him.
“Cum with me!” he commanded.
When you screamed is when Henry pulled out, pumping his creamy cum all over your torso. The velocity of his spend, the way it sprayed all over your body and reached your open mouth, extended your orgasm and you howled, literally howled.
You licked your lips, tasting him and hummed as your body vibrated down from the clouds. You felt Henry lay down beside you and start drawing his cum around your areola. Your clit jerked your entire body and Henry raised his eyebrow.
“I’m sorry that was so…”
“Amazing, perfect?”
“…Rushed, but next time, I promise you an entire night of delights.”
You shivered at the promise and bit your lip.
“It’s time to get cleaned up.” 
Henry was admiring his handiwork all over your body. You felt his cock thicken against your thigh. You couldn’t believe it.
“You need the shower?”
“Later. Now. I’m going to tidy you up a bit.”
And Henry’s lips claimed your breast, along with the rest of your body marked by him.
—-
At midnight, after some more fun in bed and the shower and takeout and more fun and another shower, you grabbed Henry’s sweatshirt and pulled it over your head. The sight of you engulfed in it, and knowing you were naked beneath made Henry want to cancel his flight. 
“Can I borrow this?”
Henry chuckled, “Borrow. Right.” Henry grabbed your neck and brought you in for a forehead kiss.
“Let’s trade. A sweatshirt for…”
He held up your still wet panties pulled out of his pocket. You gasped.
“No deal!”
Henry held it above your head as you tried in vain to jump and retrieve your underwear. You knocked him off balance into the couch and somehow wound up straddling his crotch.
Henry grabbed your ass as he felt the heat radiating off you.
“I can’t get enough, and now I have to leave…” 
His petulant pout was everything. So you kissed it.
“I’ve reconsidered, your sweatshirt smells like you. When I wake up wet from dreams of you, I want to be enveloped in your scent.”
You were trying very hard to be still, but you felt the bulge in Henry’s jeans get bigger. He brought your panties to his nose.
“My thoughts exactly.”
You started moving on Henry’s lap, your warm wetness seeping through the stiff material to his stiff dick.
“Give me one more thing before you leave.”
Henry’s eyes were dilated, lust blown and beautiful.
“Anything.”
“Your cum down my throat.”
“Christ, Doctor…”
———
Next part: The Gentleman Returns
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Fic: Something to Sink Your Teeth Into 19/?
Can I offer everyone some distraction and escape tonight? If you have sent a prompt to my inbox, I will get on those tonight and tomorrow. Just wanted to get a longer offering up as well. It's going to get worse before it ever gets better. Do what you have to do to stay safe, and try to do good where you can. I pray for better days ahead.
Pairing: Buck/Tommy
Vampire/Witch!AU
Read on AO3
From the moment Tommy’s coven master stepped into the house, Evan could tell he was powerful.
Not as powerful as Tommy. Not as old as Tommy, either…but definitely not a new vampire. Something about the way he carried himself gave Evan the impression that he was used to being listened to. Obeyed. His dark eyes zeroed in on Evan as he made his way to Tommy’s living room, and even with no fangs visible, Evan absolutely received the message that this man would neither hesitate to kill him, nor feel an ounce of guilt over it. It should have been terrifying. And make no mistake, Evan was wary.
But he wasn’t afraid.
His magic hummed in the back of his mind, strong and ready to use to defend himself. Even if he had not recovered from the effects of using the teleport spell, though…Tommy wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
The knowledge settled in his mind, startling in its surety. Its absoluteness. Tommy wouldn’t let any harm come to him. Evan knew that.
He did not know how he knew that, or why it felt like such an immutable, inarguable fact. It was an insane thought to have. Sure, Tommy had put himself between Evan and danger several times already, but what possible reason could Evan have for thinking that he’d continue to do so? Against his own coven master, no less? He didn’t have one…and yet he was so completely confident in the belief that he met the vampire’s eyes squarely, his magic swirling contentedly through his body.
He listened as Tommy argued back and forth with his coven master, tensing as Alonzo revealed that the vampires were already spreading rumors about what had happened in Greenway’s office. He’d known in the back of his mind that the men who’d attacked them weren’t likely to just ride off into the sunset, never to be heard from again…but the high coven had seemed the larger threat.
He couldn’t even really blame this Alonzo person for asking Tommy to get rid of him, to turn him over to the high coven and just cut his losses. Hadn’t Evan been begging Tommy to do just that before Alonzo appeared? It was the smart play—the only play that could possibly keep Tommy and his coven out of this.
God, he wanted to give Tommy a way out of this.
“I’ve been on my own before. I can manage. Just do what I said before…let me leave and have your coven master lodge a complaint with the high coven. Tell them I spelled you. I don’t—I don’t know what to do about the vampires, but at least that’ll get my people off of your coven.”
“Well. I wasn’t expecting you to be the voice of reason. Listen to him, Thomas. We don’t have a lot of time to go with that story—not even a powerful witch could control you for very long.”
Evan ignored Alonzo, staring at Tommy as he seemed to consider their words. He wasn’t sure how this whole mess was going to end. He hoped Grant and her coven could find what they needed to in time to avoid a coven war…but Evan knew better than most the kinds of things that powerful covens could get away with when they wanted to. He wasn’t terribly confident. He just knew he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t do everything in his power to give them the chance.
He thought Tommy felt the same way. Like everything else about the vampire, it seemed a ridiculous thought to have. Three days ago, would have laughed out loud at the idea that a vampire could care about innocent people dying in a coven war. But he’d seen firsthand how much Tommy cared about his coven. Despite the horrible way they’d come into each other’s lives, Tommy had been nothing but honest with him. Honorable. Kind.
Protective.
He wasn’t an idiot. And he wasn’t naïve. Tommy had killed people. More people than Evan could probably conceive of, given how old he was. But Evan didn’t think the vampire was faking the disgust he seemed to feel for the wanton violence and cruelty of the party he’d rescued Evan from. He didn’t think Tommy was faking his desire to get to the bottom of whatever was going on in the city. Something inside Evan told him that Tommy wanted to stop what was coming just as much as Evan did.
The difference was, if Evan died in this storm they’d somehow entered into, the collateral damage would be minimal.
Sally had cut ties with him.
His parents had never cared for him to begin with.
Maddie probably thought he was already dead…or had abandoned her.
There was no one left to care if he died, but Tommy had a whole coven who would mourn him. Hell, Evan had interacted with them for less than two hours, but he could tell how close Tommy was with the two vampires who had come to the loft. There was no reason for Tommy to go down this road with him when there were so many people who would be hurt if Tommy got himself killed. He knew Tommy wouldn’t stand for just turning Evan over to the high coven, but letting him go and then taking a story about Evan casting a compulsion over Tommy to them was the absolute best move that Tommy could make. For his coven. For himself.
“I can’t do that.” The vampire’s voice was clear. Steady. Not a hint of doubt or hesitation in the words. Tommy’s eyes bored relentlessly into his, his back ramrod straight as he refused, refused the out Evan was offering him. “Evan, whoever is orchestrating all this, I’m not leaving you to face them down by yourself.”
And…what? Evan startled, barely managing to keep his mouth from falling open in shock. Wait—wait, no, he couldn’t have heard that correctly. That made no sense. That was—
“Thomas, are you insane? You can’t be serious!” Tommy’s coven master sounded as shocked as Evan felt, the cool, calm demeanor he’d been affecting since he entered the bungalow cracking.
He started to pace back and forth, his movements quick and agitated, and Evan tucked one hand behind his back, clenching his fist and focusing on his magic the way Sally had taught him, drawing it tightly inwards, ready to spring forth at his command. No witch was powerful enough to cast without the structure of a spell…but thanks to Sally’s lessons, Evan could cast faster than most.
Tommy stepped deliberately between them, facing his coven master, and Evan felt a flush of warmth he couldn’t even try to deny. Alonzo’s next words, though, were like a bucket of ice water being poured straight down Evan’s spine.
“If you do this, then I’ll have no choice but to disavow you. Sever our alliance.”
He gasped. He knew he gasped, the soft, breathy sound of it punching out of him entirely without his permission. No. No, Alonzo couldn’t be suggesting what it sounded like he was suggesting. And even if he was, there was no way that Tommy would—
“Exactly,” Tommy said. His voice was still so steady, so sure. As though he was talking about something as minor as changing the paint color in his living room or what he might make for dinner and not…not…
Tommy and his coven master continued speaking, but Evan couldn’t make out the words over the buzzing in his ears. He felt frozen, stopped, his mind swarming with memories and feelings that he hadn’t been able to bring himself to examine in years. The blood pounded in his head, his focus on his magic splintering. No. No, Tommy couldn’t—he wouldn’t…
“Thomas. You’ll be convenless.”
“I’ve been covenless before.”
Covenless. There were a thousand other meanings for that word, and Evan had lived every one for the last five years.
To be covenless was to be nothing. Less than nothing. When Evan had been banished from his coven, he’d lost everything. His home, his family, his familiar. His future. His identity. Everything that made him who he was had been stripped from him, and he’d been left to rebuild himself from fucking scratch…only he’d never be able to. Not really.
To be covenless was to be alone. Completely alone. Unwelcome in every corner of the world you’d thought would be yours forever, unwanted and uncared for. Evan had lost his coven bonds and he���d become a ghost. He’d lost everything when he lost his coven. How could Tommy just give it up?
Why…why would he do something like that for him?
Evan watched in frozen, horrified silence as Tommy did it. Severed himself from his coven. Turned his back on his home, his family, the people he cared for…for Evan. He listened to the oddly formal words—completely devoid of the power that he’d felt when the Pennsylvania high coven handed down his sentence, and yet somehow just as heavy. Just as important. Some part of him tried to remind himself that Tommy had said vampire covens didn’t function the way witch covens did. Vampire covens were alliances, not bonds that were formed in blood and magic…but it didn’t matter. Tommy was giving up his coven. For him.
To protect him. He’d said it. He’d said he wasn’t going to leave Evan to face this storm alone.
It was impossible. It was irrational. It made absolutely no sense. He was watching it with his own eyes, and he didn’t understand. He’d given himself up for Maddie. He’d sacrificed everything he ever was or ever would be to keep her safe, to make sure that she didn’t suffer for what she had to do to set herself free from Doug. He hadn’t set out to lose his coven because of it, he’d just known it was a likely outcome. Had Tommy known he was going to do this when his coven master walked through the door? Had he looked at the situation the way Evan had all those years ago, his sister’s heartwrenching sobs ringing in his ears as they stood over Doug’s still body, and made the same choice Evan had in that moment? How? How?
It had been an easy sacrifice for him to make for Maddie. Losing his coven had been the hardest thing he’d ever experienced or ever would experience, but it had been worth it to save his sister. Keep her safe. Protect her.
But…but he loved Maddie. Loved her more than anything else in the world, loved her more than he loved himself.
What motivation did Tommy have to give up his coven for Evan?
Tommy was still for a long moment after his coven master–fuck, his ex coven master, what had he done?—left the bungalow. Evan listened to the sound of the vampire's car start up, still feeling like he'd been encased in a block of ice. Tommy's shoulders slumped slightly as the sound of the car faded down the driveway, growing more and more distant, and he cracked his neck a couple times before turning to look at Evan.
Evan didn't know what his face looked like, but Tommy's immediately softened. It was almost unbearable to watch…Tommy had just made himself covenless, how could he have room to feel sympathy for Evan?
“Evan, remember. Coven bonds aren’t like what you’re used to for us. This isn’t…it doesn’t hurt me,” he said, and his voice was so, so gentle.
As if Evan was the one who needed to be handled carefully, as though Evan was the one hurting. Because he was hurting. Evan knew that without a doubt, knew it the same way he’d known that Tommy wouldn’t let his coven master hurt him—it was a quiet certainty, a solid as stone beneath his feet. He felt suddenly sick, too hot and too cold at the same time. His heart pounded in his chest, his magic thrumming through him insistently, and he shook his head.
“Why…” He broke off, suddenly unable to meet Tommy’s eyes, and swallowed hard. “Why did you do that?” he managed to choke out, his voice sounding alien to his own ears.
Tommy tilted his head slightly, a stepped toward him, closing the distance between them until he was right in front of him. “I’m not letting you do this alone,” he said, as though that were an actual reason to leave his coven, to voluntarily give it up.
Evan shook his head again, his head still spinning. “That doesn’t make sense!” he burst out. “Tommy, you’re gonna get yourself killed!”
Infuriatingly, Tommy’s lips twitched into a smile, and he reached up to lay his hand on Evan’s shoulder. There was no heat from the touch, of course, and yet Evan swore he could feel the shape of Tommy’s hand on him like a brand. His magic sparked through him, swirling in his chest like champagne bubbles. “I’ve heard that before, Evan. Hasn’t happened, yet,” he said.
“It’s not worth it,” Evan said.
Losing your coven isn’t worth it, Evan meant.
I’m not worth it, Evan meant.
Tommy’s hand loosened briefly, his fingers twitching like he wanted to move them. For a few heartbeats, Evan had the bizarre sense that Tommy was restraining himself from reaching up, brushing the skin of Evan’s throat, skating his fingers higher and higher to touch Evan’s face. Even more bizarre was the pulse of disappointment when Tommy merely patted his shoulder and stepped back, a strange expression twisting his features.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” the vampire said. “Now…are you ready to start this snipe hunt?”
*
“How worried do we have to be about one of those locator spells?” Tommy asked as he guided the SUV onto the highway, heading for the address that his friend Chimney had provided.
Evan blinked, startled out of thoughts that would not stop racing in circles no matter how hard he tried. He was glad for the new topic to focus on, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the window. “Depends. If your, uh, if Alonzo lets the high coven have some of your stuff when he talks to them, it could be a problem. If it’s something you’re really attached to.” He opened his eyes and shot Tommy a sidelong glance. “Do you have a lot of things at your coven house?” he asked quietly.
Tommy chuckled, not taking his eyes off the road. It was hard to get a read on his expression, but he didn’t seem especially upset. “Some. Not as much as you might think someone could collect over eight hundred years. I’ve never really cared about things. Most of what I really give a shit about, I keep at the bungalow. But I can text Sal and Lucy and tell them to hide a few other things at the coven house.”
Evan nodded to himself. “We should have a day or two before it even becomes an issue—and they might not think it’s worth it. It’d be hard to hold a locator spell on a vampire. Most of our really complicated magic doesn’t work so great on you.”
Tommy made a curious hum. “Why’s that?”
Evan shrugged. “No one really knows. Probably for the same reason that you can’t turn witches.” He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. “I can cast a charm that’ll let me know if someone’s trying to spell you,” he offered after a moment. “And disrupt it.”
“Will it be a drain on you? I’d rather you save your strength for when we run into trouble.”
“A disruption? Yeah, that’d be hard for me to keep up for very long…but the alert charm is simple. Sa—someone taught it to me when I was a kid, to help me channel my intentions in a spell. Those kinds of things, losing my coven bond doesn’t really, uh, doesn’t really affect me that much,” he finished quietly. “But it’s still a spell. I, I, I get it if you don’t want me casting anything on you.”
Tommy was silent for a long moment, before he said quietly, “I trust you, Evan. Do I need to pull over?”
“Wait, not? You want me to cast it now?” Evan blinked, the calm certainty in Tommy’s voice when he said he trusted him catching him off-guard. Tommy shrugged one shoulder.
“Might as well. I don’t want to risk getting distracted later—and any advantage we can get is worth taking.”
“Um, okay. Okay, yeah, that makes sense. Uh, no, it—you won’t feel anything. Maybe like, a tingle? But it won’t hurt or anything. I can do it while you’re driving.” He pressed his lips together, considering. “Can I have your hand?”
Tommy startled a little at that, shooting him a quick, bemused look. “Sure?” he said, stretching one hand out toward Evan.
Evan took it, cradling it in his palms and resting two fingers on where Tommy’s pulsepoint should be in his wrist. It was odd not to feel the beat of life underneath his fingers, to trace skin that was oddly cool, blue veins standing out more starkly than he was used to. He leaned over Tommy’s hand and started chanting, his magic all but leaping to his fingertips as he murmured the familiar spell. Tommy kept his eyes on the road, but Evan could sense him shooting quick little looks his way, even as he held his hand trustingly still.
It was strangely intimate. The thought skipped through Evan’s head and was gone as he felt the spell building, his hands beginning to glow with the white light of a witch’s power. He breathed out the last words of the spell and pressed the magic gently into the skin of Tommy’s wrist, a sigil glowing briefly before fading to near invisibility. Tommy shivered as the sigil sunk in, his fingers flexing, but he held still until the light of Evan’s magic faded. Moving slowly—almost reluctantly?—he slipped his hand from Evan’s grasp and looked at the inside of his wrist, his eyebrow twitching upwards minutely.
“That’s it?” he asked.
“That’s it,” Evan confirmed, settling back in his seat and going back to staring out the window. “If anyone tries to cast on you, I’ll know.”
“Thank you, Evan,” Tommy said.
Evan nodded silently, watching the LA scenery fly past the window as Tommy sped towards Greenway’s house. He felt like his brain was spinning as fast as the tires, too much happening for him to really get a grasp on it. He needed to. He couldn’t afford to be spiraling with them potentially heading into a hostile situation. Everything—his confusion and disbelief and, yes, all right, his guilt over Tommy giving up his coven, his worry about what they were walking into, his fear for what could happen in this city if they failed, he had to let it all go. He could almost hear Sally’s voice in his head, chidingly reminding him that he needed to stay focused.
Find an anchor, little love. A single thing to concentrate on and hold onto that, no matter what.
Good advice…but advice he’d struggled to take all his life. He looked over at Tommy again, taking in his profile as he tried to read his stoic expression, tried to figure out what might be running through the vampire’s head. Tommy said he trusted him. After knowing him only a couple of days, Tommy was willing to take risks for him that he wouldn’t have asked of anyone in his coven except maybe Maddie. Had made sacrifices for him that Evan knew down to the marrow of his bones his own parents would never have made. Tommy said he trusted him.
Evan breathed out slowly, his magic ebbing through him in time to his heartbeat. In the face of everything, he let the simple truth that had been trying to form in his mind since Tommy had given up his place in his coven to protect Evan wash over him. He trusted Tommy, too. And that was what he was going to hold onto, no matter what.
*
Jonah Greenway had lived on a surprisingly quiet street in a small, nondescript house that was neither especially nice nor especially run-down. Tommy took a couple of laps around the block in the SUV, trying to scout if there was anybody already there. Evan had been slightly worried that the place would already have been under a police investigation, but credit where credit was due—the SoCal high coven was very good at keeping their world secret.
“Looks clear,” Tommy muttered after the third lap around the block. They’d stopped a few intersections and pulled into and reversed out of a couple of driveways to hopefully make it look as though they were just lost to any nosy neighbors who might notice a large SUV with heavily tinted windows. He pulled to a stop about a block down the street from Greenway’s house.
“Wait—how are we getting you in there?” Evan asked, tipping his head towards the window…and the sun-drenched street outside it. It would have been easier to wait ‘til at least dusk to leave the bungalow, but the need to give Grant and her coven enough time to do their own investigations created a sense of urgency that would not be ignored.
“I can take sunlight for a few minutes,” Tommy said, frowning distastefully and twisting in his seat to dis around in the floor behind him. He sat up a moment later with a large black hoodie and pulled a pair of gloves out of one of the pockets. “Although no offense, I’m gonna walk a hell of a lot faster than you.”
“Dressed like the villain in an after-school special?” Evan asked dubiously, his eyebrow climbing when Tommy pulled his sun visor down and grabbed a large pair of sunglasses clipped to the edge. “Really?”
“If you have a better suggestion, I’d love to avoid the third-degree sunburn I’m about to get.”
Evan debated a moment, drumming his fingers on his thigh and poking at the edges of his magic, feeling out the strength. Then he turned in his own seat, staring hard out the back windshield at the corner of Greenway’s house that was visible. There was a decently-sized porch with a roof, and Evan knew any witch worth his salt would have had look-away charms on his house, though they might have lost power when Greenway died. Still, if that was the case, then any hexes or traps he’d laid on the property would also be defunct, and Tommy would be able to break into the place quickly. Evan felt confident he could handle any hexes that were still active, and short out an alarm system fast enough that it would register as a glitch.
“Try not to move, okay?” he said, reaching over to grab Tommy’s wrist as he focused on the corner of the porch he could see, and chanted the spell.
His ears popped, the whole world going quiet and shadowy, sound muffling almost to the point that he was enveloped in silence. The air around him turned absolutely freezing, colder than any Pennsylvania winter, and as the spell ended he couldn’t help coughing. Beside him, he heard Tommy gasp something in a language he didn’t recognize—though by the tone, he could tell it wasn’t polite—and the vampire scrambled to his feet, his wrist twisting under Evan’s to grab at his hand and yank him to his feet as well.
They were standing on Greenway’s porch, well-shaded from the afternoon sunlight.
“What the hell?! What did you do?” Tommy demanded, looking around him in shock. “That wasn’t the same thing you did at the office!”
Evan laughed shortly, pulling away so he could examine the door in front of them. The fact that no defense spells had triggered when they appeared on the porch was encouraging, but he wasn’t going to just take it on faith that Greenway didn’t have something more powerful than simple charms and hexes waiting. “No—a teleport is major magic even when you have a coven bond. I’m not risking that unless there’s no other choice. I took us through the between.” He reached out and let his hand hover over the doorknob, unable to feel the telltale tingle of magic against his skin.
“The…wasn’t that where Greenway hid the flash drive?”
“Yup.”
“And you can…go…there?” Tommy continued slowly.
“If you know how. Most of us just use it like Greenway did. Like a hiding place. Kind of a magical safe-deposit box? But the between is as big or small as you know it is, and it exists wherever you know it will. So, if you know it’s big enough to fit you, and you know it exists where you want to be, you can get to it.”
“That—okay, that actually makes a weird sort of sense and explains a couple of encounters I’ve had over the years. I haven’t met any witch who could do something like that in a century or two, though.”
Evan shrugged, still examining the door. “Not a lot of us can, anymore. It’s old magic. Like, old-fashioned magic, not, uh, not old as in ancient. It’s easy to get lost in, so it’s not like it’s in the normal, everyday lessons. Sally only taught me because—” He broke off, his brain catching up with the amount of private information his mouth was just casually giving away.
Tommy was silent for a moment. “Sally was your familiar?” he asked gently.
Evan clenched his jaw, before nodding quickly. “I don’t think there’s any kind of spell on the door,” he said. Thankfully, Tommy accepted the abrupt subject change, stepping around Evan to grip the doorknob and give the door a fast, almost casual shove with his shoulder. The deadbolt snapped in an instant, and Tommy stepped back to interpose himself between Evan and anything that might be waiting for them inside.
Only silence greeted them, however.
Tommy cocked his head, listening intently, before his shoulders relaxed. “It’s empty,” he said. “But stay close.” He stepped inside the darkened interior of Greenway’s house. Evan took a deep breath and followed, his eyes roving over his surroundings curiously.
The house was surprisingly…sterile. It had all the trappings of a home—comfortable furniture, plush carpets on the floors, bookshelves full of books and mementos, art hanging on the walls. Yet, the place felt cold to Evan. There was none of the warmth and character of Tommy’s bungalow. The place felt like a showroom or a magazine cover. Everything perfectly chosen and placed to present a picture that it just…wasn’t.
It felt, he reflected wryly, like the house he had grown up in.
“Howie and Grant already searched the place for anything useful, but the high coven hasn’t gotten here yet. We need them to think we’re looking for something, get them to waste resources trying to find it first. Toss the place?” Tommy asked, glancing back at Evan with a questioning look. Evan shrugged, turning a slow circle in the large, open-plan living space that took up most of the first floor. Something felt…off.
“They really didn’t find anything?” he asked, his eyes darting around the room.
“Nada,” Tommy confirmed, watching as Evan looked all around him. “Why? What are you thinking?”
“Nothing, I just…there’s something…” he trailed off, the frustratingly feeling of something just out of his reach dancing at the edge of his senses. His eyes fell on a mirror propped up in the corner of a set of recessed bookshelves that had been built into the walls on either side of a large picture window in what Greenway had set up as his living room. Directly in front of the window was a large, ornate wooden writing desk. Evan tilted his head and followed the line of where the mirror was facing…to another mirror mounted on the wall by the stairs to the second story. The mirror was positioned oddly, slightly off-center of where Evan would expect it to be, just enough to look a little wonky. In fact, if he stood in front of that mirror and followed the line of where it was facing, he would find…
“Oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me,” Evan muttered.
“What?” Tommy demanded immediately.
In answer, Evan spun another slow circle in the center of the room, tracing the sightlines of multiple mirrors positioned all around the room. That was what he was feeling. He hadn’t quite shaken the chill of the between from his senses, after all…and there was quite a lot of the between in this room.
“He hid something else here,” Evan said, finding the mirror that was positioned in the northernmost part of the room and pacing away from it until he was as close to the center of where the sight lines of all five of the mirrors around the living space met as he could get. “Fucking smart bastard, I’ll give him that.”
“Evan, what are you talking about? I’m pretty sure Howie and Grant would have known to look in this between place.”
“Yeah, but they might not have realized how big the between is here,” Evan countered. “Like I said…it’s not something a lot of witches learn anymore.”
Tommy tilted his head, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked curious, though, not dismissive. “You keep talking like the size of it can change. Isn’t space…you know, space? Like there have to be boundaries.”
“Ever been in one of those house of mirrors they do at fairs and theme parks?” Evan asked, centering himself and focusing hard. He murmured the appropriate spell and reached toward the desk, the way he had in the office building to find the flash drive. The way he’d—sort of, it was a little more complicated than he’d explained to Tommy—done to get them from the car to the porch to avoid the sunlight. Only this time, he reached further into the between. Through all the layers of it that Greenway had folded it upon itself, over and over, until only a witch or familiar who regularly used it to shift themselves through space and not just store and hide things in would have even realized there was that much of it to explore in this house.
Evan did not travel through the between regularly. It was not something that witches did anymore, the dangers of getting lost too great. But he had been very carefully trained by someone who had learned the art in times when it had been a valuable tool for survival.
His hand closed on something in the between, and he curled his fingers around it and yanked. There was a soft pop in the air, and when he looked at the empty desk again, there was a small, leatherbound ledger sitting innocuously in the center of it. “Gotcha,” he hissed. He hurried forward and scooped the ledger off the desk, pulling at the bands of elastic that bound it at each corner.
“Great work Ev—GET DOWN!” Tommy’s voice changed in a flash, rising to a bellow as he lunged at Evan. Between one breath and the next, Tommy had made it across the room and wrapped himself around Evan, pulling Evan tight against his chest and spinning them around so that Tommy’s back was to the window.
There was a loud sound of shattering glass.
The clatter of something hitting the desk.
And then the whole world around Evan exploded into a mass of light. And sound. And force.
Evan felt himself lifted off his feet, flung across the room. Tommy’s body was wrapped tight around him, the vampire’s arms shielding him protectively, his face pressed hard against Tommy’s throat. They hit the floor hard enough that the breath was knocked from Evan’s lungs, but he was still dimly aware of Tommy taking the brunt of the landing, rolling them with the momentum, one hand cradling the back of Evan’s head and keeping it from cracking on the hardwood floors as they came to a rolling halt.
Evan coughed, everything spinning around him in dizzying circles, his ears ringing so loudly he could barely hear anything over it. His whole body hurt, and when he pulled his head back from Tommy’s neck, the room was suddenly hazy with smoke. What…what had—
“Tommy?” he gasped, when the vampire made no move to let go, to get up. “Tommy, what—”
He could hardly hear his own voice, though he knew he was shouting. He gripped Tommy’s shoulder, more relief than he was willing to examine at the moment sweeping through him when he felt the vampire’s muscles bunch under his touch, felt Tommy shudder and start to struggle to get up. Something was wrong, though.
His vampire was moving too slowly, too sluggishly. When Evan blinked some of the hazy smoke out of his eyes, Tommy’s face—mere inches from his own—was twisted in a grimace of pain. Something hard pressed into the top of Evan’s abdomen, right under his breastbone, and he slowly became aware of a hot wetness seeping into his borrowed shirt. Gasping, he wrenched himself backwards enough so he could look down, a buzzing that had nothing to do with his ringing ears filling his head when his eyes focused on the massive, wickedly sharp chunk of splintered wood that was poking into his chest.
The massive, wickedly sharp chunk of splintered wood that had impaled Tommy through the back, gone clear through his body.
“Tommy! Tommy, what—”
“Evan…run,” his vampire managed to grit out, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth.
“Aw come on Kinard. Let the witch stay.”
Evan’s heart sank, his eyes flying to the gaping hole where Greenway’s front window had been only seconds before. The blond vampire from the office building was clambering through the jagged opening, flanked by two other vampires that Evan hadn’t seen before. They were covered head to toe in the same getup that Tommy had been going to try to use to get across the sunny street—hoodies, gloves, long pants—but every inch of exposed skin was blistered and peeling, obviously burned by even what short exposure they’d had to the sun.
Blondie pulled his hood back, glaring at Evan and Tommy, a nasty smirk firmly in place on his face. Evan’s eyes flicked between the three of them as Tommy tried to push at his shoulder, still struggling to get his feet under him, even as more blood spurted out from around the piece of fucking shrapnel sprouting out of his chest.
Tommy was hurt. Badly.
The vampire who had protected him over and over, even when it made no logical sense for him to do so. The vampire who had been kinder and gentler to him over the past two days than any one of his own kind had been over the past five years. His vampire, who had refused to let Evan walk into danger alone.
His vampire, who had given up his own coven to stay by Evan’s side, against odds that would have sent any sane person running for the hills. His vampire.
Evan curled his arm protectively over Tommy’s back and reached for every drop of magic in his body, the most dangerous spell Sally had ever taught him fairly exploding out of him in a rush of power.
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mvltisstuff · 1 year ago
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solitude - e.b
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summary: the only people who hear hen and chimney out about jonah are y/n and buck, but little do they know the hell it’ll rain down on them.
evan buckley x reader
a/n: ok but like imagine all four of them working tgt bc this storyline was actually rly good… this is literally just buck, y/n, hen and chim acting like the mystery gang for a day!! 3.4k wc 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️
“claudette and perry both had no other symptoms before full cardiac arrest,” hen starts, scanning over the patient charts left by the new paramedic. “he’s administered nebulized albuteral during transport.”
“hen, look,” chimney points to the computer screen. “he’s been at four different locations, chicago, miami, dallas, and denver. now he’s hitting up LA.”
the station sirens buzz in their ears, alerting that they could be discovered any second. hen shoves the files into her jacket as chimney logs out, and they shuffle out quickly attempting to go unnoticed. hen looked for any details in the files that she could, trying to confide in karen.
clearly, there was a pattern of extreme suspicious in jonah’s patient files. these patients had no reason to be going into arrest when they were not showing previous symptoms. hen was the best paramedic there, in medical school. she just hoped that everyone would see the obvious wrongdoings. it was painfully evident that he was a dangerous person to be placed in the system.
hen and chimney banged repeatedly on buck and y/n’s apartment, knowing that they’d be the ones to believe them. y/n’s taken note of jonah’s behaviors, but she tried not to think anything of them, just as magical saves.
“hi?” buck says, answering the door. “are you two ok?”
“we need to talk to you and y/n,” hen tells him, inviting chimney and herself in. both y/n and buck hadn’t expected visitors, so they were clearly not dressed in presentable clothing.
“hey, hen, chim,” y/n comes down the stairs. “what’s going on?”
“you two need to look at these,” hen slaps the folders down onto their kitchen counter. buck takes one as y/n reads the other.
“what’s wrong with them? aren’t these just patient files?”
“and why are they all jonahs?”
“buck, you saw claudette before she died.”
“y-yeah, i did. she was fine, though. there was probably something underlying the inhalation,” buck grows more confused at the paperwork and the accusations from his friends.
“look,” chim points. “he’s administering drugs that have nothing to do with patient conditions.”
“meaning… he had no reason to push any meds at all,” buck speaks slowly, starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
“protocol dictates that the only treatment used in that situation is respiratory, and we looked at claudette’s autopsy report. there were incredibly high amounts of potassium in her system that would’ve been present in the tests we did on scene,” hen informs the group in front of her.
“so is he some murderer paramedic?” y/n asks, looking up from the file. “i believe you, but how do we even get this to question? do we bring it to bobby?”
“i don’t know where we go from here,” hen starts. “but he needs to be out of the LAFD before he purposely kills someone else.”
buck, y/n, henrietta, and chimney had all piled over to athena’s house. they presented the activity of greenway to bobby, explaining that he has documented his cynical moves.
“i’m not approving any of your suspicions, but we have to be careful with these accusations against him getting out,” bobby tells his workers.
“listen, cap,” chim says. “he’s got a history of this. we can’t confirm what was in that syringe, but it sent claudette collins into cardiac arrest.”
“he’s been bouncing around to different cities the last few years, way too many to be looked passed.”
“so he’s just killing people for mercy?” athena asks, holding bobby’s hand and intently reading over the patient files.
“it’s way more complicated than that. when jonah was a kid, he played the hero. he’s reliving that by trying to play god and bring them back,” y/n adds, standing beside her boyfriend. buck doesn’t want to overthink this, but he’s so conflicted about the whole situation. he knows bringing up something like this is incredibly risky when dealing with a person like jonah. if things were to go awry, then he’d feel like it was his fault for not believing it.
“we tried getting news footage, but it’d be more suspicious that way,” buck tells bobby.
the group was sent away to leave bobby and athena to their own investigation, letting them work this out on their own. in the driveway, they stood by the two cars they used to come here.
“come back to my house,” hen suggests. “we can look some stuff up there on jonah and pick out any details we can get.”
“i can grab my laptop that has the proper software on it. it’s back at my place, though, i’d have to grab it,” chim states.
“ok, guys,” buck begins. “don’t you think we might just have to leave this alone? there’s only so much we can do with this.”
“who else can deal with this, though? we have the resources and the upper hand with this, buck,” hen replies back at his worries.
“look, buck,” y/n places a reassuring hand on his arm. “i’ll go with chim to get his computer, and then we’ll be over. just try and hear her out some more because this is something way deeper than what we might think.”
buck agrees, allowing himself to listen to hens convincing. she rants on about more details, slowly but surely opening up his mind to the possibility. as she portrays her concerns to him passionately, her sentence is brought to a halt when her phone rings through her car’s speaker. the unknown number is thoughtless to henrietta as she presses the green button. “hello?”
“i heard you’ve been asking people about me,” the cold, dark voice echos through the car, causing buck and her to tense up.
“jonah?” buck whispers, to not let him hear.
“got the weirdest call, something about an investigation about that dispatcher. did you four file a complaint against me?”
“jonah, i don’t know what you think is going on, but-“
“i think that you never gave me a chance. to show you what i’m capable of,” he speaks eerily into the phone, making bucks eyes widen. “so i’m gonna do that now. i’m going to show you, henrietta and evan.”
the phone beeps, signaling the hang up from the other end. “what was that?” buck panics. “hen, what is he showing us?”
“he said us four, right? he’s gonna show us four?”
“so are we next?”
“next? who’s first?”
buck heart drops to the floor, frantically reaching for his phone and dialing y/n’s number. his shaky hands slowed it down, but the prolonged ringing was painful to hear. if jonah was going to show them what he can do, he’s going to go for that group first. as evil of a man as he is, he’s amazingly smart. he’s not going to begin with buck and hen, he’s starting with y/n and chimney before going down the line. the sweet sound of y/n’s voicemail goes into bucks ears, his heart thumping against his chest. “hen, go to chimneys apartment. now!” he yells, and she presses on the gas, redirecting the two of them in his direction.
buck called y/n repeatedly, completely petrified of losing the one person he’s loved more than anything. he would be so defeated if she was hurt because of his disbelief. he called chimney, maddie, karen, and anyone who might be able to reach them. unfortunately, no one had good answers for them.
he sprinted up the stairs of the building, hen rushing behind him. the door was unlocked, and the room had an unfamiliar feel to it. the orange lighting and silence was strange to the two, searching for her best friend and his girlfriend. “chim?” hen shouts out. she gives buck an unsure look, one containing an expression of fear and confusing all mixed into one.
before buck can even turn, the thick footsteps behind him rush up. he looks at hen, ready to pounce and run out, but the man is too quick on his feet. buck is injected with a needle right where his shoulder and neck meet, twinning with hens own needle in her skin. the syringes are pushed down, forcing an unnecessary liquid into their bodies.
they recognize the feeling all too well. the fading of their hearing turning into ringing. the scene in front of them disintegrating into black dots. their bodies became heavier and heavier, before turning light again as they thumped to the ground below.
the two awoke at the same time, feeling like they were suffering with sleep paralysis. their arms were restrained behind their back and their eyes were dry and tired. their ankles were connected to the legs of the chairs, but the sight in front of them was worse than any demon that could haunt them.
jonah towered over chimney on the table, pushing more probable toxic fluids into his veins. hens heart was beating obnoxiously fast, but she couldn’t tell if it was from the drugs or from the scene that was unfolding. chimney lay shirtless and almost lifeless on the table with alarmingly slow beeping coming from the portable machine.
y/n was laying across from him in the opposite direction, the two being smushed together. she had matching IV’s in her arm and patches on her chest, the only remaining article was her bra. buck could swear he was screaming, but nothing was coming out. his face was still, but his eyes were full of tears and panic at seeing y/n unconscious. everything was completely out of his control. he glanced over at hen, complete terror in her eyes while trying to calm jonah.
the room they were placed in was unfamiliar, almost completely darkened beside the light above his two victims. or in jonah’s mind, his patients. jonah craved validation from people around him, but also from himself. he remains hungry for the feeling he had the day he saved his bus driver. he was a hero, and he had to make sure everyone knew it.
as soon as the flatline ricocheted in the room, jonah scooped up the paddles and shocked the two until the beeping commenced again. “look who decided to join us,” jonah teases. “i was too generous with the propofol, you two were out longer than i expected!”
“why are you doing this, jonah?” hen begs to know the answer. bucks dying just to give him a piece of his mind, but hen has regained more of her strength.
“you know, you can get anything on the internet these days, like medical equipment, drugs. the real answer is that you gave me no choice, henrietta. snooping around and checking up on me when we are supposed to be on the same team.”
“we are not, on the same team,” hen mumbles. “we don’t put our patients in danger.”
jonah moves over to y/n. “one sec,” he says while pushing another dose of adenosine.
“no,” buck manages to push out.
“jonah, please, you’re stopping her heart,” hen cries out.
“don’t worry, nothing a little epinephrine can’t fix, right?” he nodes with a ring of excitement in his voice. an maniacal, twisted voice. as soon as his hands move to the paddles next to him, buck frantically shuffles in his chair. he places them to her chest, her body flailing up before restoring a normal heart rhythm. “woo!” jonah screams. “nothing like it, huh? the rush of watching someone walk right up the deaths door and snatching them right back. it’s like being god.”
“we are not god,” buck replies to him, regaining some of his fight. “i swear to god, let them go right now-“
“alright, alright,” jonah says. he grabs the needles and bottles while pouring the drug into it. he injects it into both y/n and chimneys skin.
“jonah, please don’t do this, jonah!” hen yells.
“oh, my bad, i thought you wanted me to let them go…” he tells them, slyly.
“you son of a bitch, you lay another hand on her an-“
“and you’ll what? you can’t do anything, buckley,” jonah steps closer to the restrained people. “you both need a partner like me. someone more your speed.”
hens eyes land on the movement on one of the tables. chimney twitches and his eyes are squinting from weakness in his brain. he’s playing around with the machine while getting a good grip on one of the electric shock paddles. “you are not my speed. you’re sloppy, and even if i wanted to commit these heinous crimes, you think i’d let myself get caught?” hen starts to mock the man in front of her while trying to distract him to give chimney time. bucks eyes have never separated from y/n, his soft gaze was planted on her aching body, lacking life in all forms.
“you might’ve been a hero once, jonah,” buck begins to play along with the distraction act, knowing they can’t take anymore of the brunt of it than y/n and chimney have. “but now, well you’re nothing but a fucking murderer,” buck hisses out at him. as jonah begins to move over, hen gives chimney a convincing look as he presses a button on the vital machine.
“no, i’m not,” jonah laughs sarcastically.
“then why is chimney not breathing?” buck spits at him as jonah whips around, looking at the flatlining man on the table. he runs around, and chimney silently hypes himself up to act. it’s now or never, it’s live or die, and it’s jonah’s turn to taste his own medicine.
chimney shoves the paddle into jonah, causing him to shiver and collapse on the floor in front of him. “chim!” hen gasps. “oh, my god. are you ok?” chimney grunts his way over and off the table, stumbling to the ground while he crawls over to hen. he starts pulling at the ropes around her feet, letting them go as she is able to maneuver her hands out of the ropes. she wobbles over to buck, who is then released and limps over to his girlfriend.
“y/n? hey, baby, c’mon wake up,” he shakes her in a desperate attempt to bring her senses back and wake her from this nightmare. when he eyes finally begin to slowly open, he releases a heavy breath.
“buck, please tell me she’s ok!” hen says, comforting chimneys panting self.
“she’ll be ok,” he leans down, pressing his lips to her forehead.
“b-buck,”
“hey, hey, it’s ok, we’re all ok.”
the red and blue lights are hard to miss behind them, reflecting in the windows and onto the walls. they hear the ruckus of the officers clattering their way into the room, placing chimney and y/n on a stretcher as buck and hen follow out. jonah is summoned away to the new reality of the back of a police car. buck finally sees another familiar face, running over to bobby as he pulls him into a strong hug. bobby’s anger is fueling in his system, not being able to control himself before his fist is connected with jonah’s face.
“hey, cap,” chimney says, clearly on some new type of drug that will actually help him. “nice punch.”
“i am so sorry, you guys. im just so happy you’re ok,” bobby rants out in pure relief at his team. hen climbed into chimneys ambulance, as buck stood in complete denial about the situation. “hey, buck.”
“she died, bobby,” buck says, glaring into the distance. “her heart stopped and now she’s pumped up with all this stuff and i couldn’t save her and he almost murdered her-“
“listen, kid,” bobby grabs bucks shoulders, trying to ground him. “she’s ok, what she needs now is you next to her. we got him, he’s going away for the rest of his life. now go get checked out, please.”
buck releases yet another exhale as a matching teardrop falls down his cheek. buck walks off, grabbing onto y/n’s hand as she’s lifted into her own ambulance. he still looks at his girlfriend in complete disbelief that she’s alive, and that he is too.
the hospital air was dry and they knew it like a best friend. the smell, the feeling, the white lights that make you think you’ve died when you wake up. they’ve walked in and out of so many hospitals, almost having no fear that they’ll never come out. until buck sees y/n in the bed is the first time he’s completely shaking in the one next to her.
“c’mon, doc,” chimney complains. “i’m fine, i don’t need to stay here.”
“it’s good that you feel good, but it’s just overnight. we want to keep an eye on you and y/n to make sure nothing changes in your blood levels,” the doctor explains.
“it’s ok, chim. just listen to her because she’s right,” hen reassures him before starting her own complaint session.
“i’m glad you feel that way, because we’re keeping you too for further tests. you as well, evan. it’s to make sure he didn’t put anything else into you guys,” hen groans and looks at her three friends.
“we’re in for a hell of a night, y’all.”
chimney and y/n were placed in one room together, needing the same type of observation as hen and buck were having a slumber party in the other. they were watching whatever crappy reality shows they could find until their boredom got the best of them. hen and buck snuck out in their twinning gowns and IV lines and made their way to the room holding their favorite people inside. when they walked in, they said, “guys, we’re breaking out of this joint.”
“and how exactly do you plan to execute that?” chimney asks, slurping on an almost empty juice box. buck moves over to sit on y/n’s bed, caressing her hand as she smiles at him.
“you two almost did die,” hen says. “you know, i never really liked him.”
“not much of a fan myself,” chimney replies in his always lighthearted spirit.
“well some people thought i was crazy, but you guys were ready to go to battle with me. with no proof, you listened and were on board from the start.”
“um, i definitely was not on board from the start,” buck interjects.
“well look at us now buck! we’re stuck together for life,” hen smiles.
“hens always right, that’s the thing between us. she’s the genius and we were the comic relief,” chimney adds.
“you guys are way more than that. chim, you’re the best friend i’ve ever had. y/n and buck, i can’t imagine my life without you two. you’re like denny’s siblings at this point and i’m one hundred percent bringing this up at your wedding.”
“well, you know what they say about parents at weddings,” y/n hints. “they always pay for it.”
“ooh! got her there,” buck laughs and looks at hen. “you know i love you guys, you’re my family.” he lifts y/n’s hand up, landing a kiss on her knuckles.
“if we weren’t in a hospital room right now, i’d say that was quite romantic, buck. i’m proud of you,” chimney pokes fun at the couple on the other side of him before looking back at hen. “we did a great job raising them, don’t you think?”
“i’m just really happy you’re ok. i cant do this without you, y/n. you’re my whole life,” buck speaks softly to his girl, looking deep into her loving eyes.
“you’ll never have to do anything without me,” y/n says. “you’re stuck with me, love.”
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dreamwritesimagines · 2 years ago
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Garden of Secrets [11] - Tuberoses
A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and support my loves, it made my whole week, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think, thank you! ❤
Thanks so much to @theskytraveler​ for helping me with the chapter!
Summary: A gift always has a meaning.
Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, some gender specific language and terms.
Word Count: 4100
Series Masterlist
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After a sleepless night, as you watched the first rays of sunlight spill into your room, you were sure of one thing;
Tonight was going to be absolute chaos.
You hadn’t liked attending balls even before all this but now that you and your betrothed had to pretend to be in love for the whole ton to see at the first ball you would attend?
You were more than ready to pretend to faint again just to avoid it.
Of course, you were the only person to feel that way. Between you and Benedict, you were the one who always found it hard to be or even sound friendly, Benedict on the other hand didn’t even have to try for the people to be drawn to him. You were beginning to feel like he could charm the whole room without so much as showing a little effort, so of course everyone was going to believe everything he said, including how in love he was.
Whereas you were going to have to show a lot of effort.
At least the wedding negotiations had been over in a day. Your uncle and Anthony -as the head of two families- had been quick with them and now all you and Benedict had to do was wait until the wedding which your aunt was very excited for.
“Y/N my dearest?”
You stopped dead in your tracks and peeked your head around the doorframe of the drawing room to look at your aunt who was writing a letter.
“Auntie?”
“Where are you going?”
“I told Lottie I would go to the florist with her,” you said. “She wants to buy flowers for her stepmother and the little ones, and for her own room.”
“Ah,” she said. “Did you decide what you will wear tonight at the ball?”
You leaned sideways to the doorframe. “Yes and it’s all ready. Paula laid them over.”
She smiled at you. “And are you very excited?” she asked. “It’ll be your first outing as a couple.”
You took in a breath and nodded. “Uh huh.”
“Everyone keeps asking me questions about you two but they really want to hear the details from you.”
You made a face. “I am aware.”
She shot you a knowing look.
“I know you’re not exactly fond of all that…attention,” she said softly. “And that you’d rather have your privacy until the wedding and afterwards.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Oh painfully so,” she said with a small laugh, making you smile as well. “You do not have to tell them anything you do not wish to.”
You bit inside your cheek. “What if I wish to tell them nothing at all?”
“Then tell them nothing.”
You let out a bitter chuckle. “Oh of course. And I’m sure they will not insist.”
“Since when what people say to you affect your actions?” she asked and you shrugged your shoulders, biting at your nail.
“I don’t know anymore.”
“You’re in love and you’re getting married,” she said. “Tell them that. And if that’s not enough for them, they can just do what they’ve always done.”
“Which is?”
“Stay curious,” she said, winking at you and you scoffed a laugh.
“I shall make sure to tell them that,” you said as you pushed yourself off the doorframe. “I should go. I’ll bring you flowers though!”
“Oh you’re the sweetest,” she said, pressing a hand on her shoulder. “I’d like that a lot. Now go, you shouldn’t keep Miss Harlowe waiting.”
You nodded and made your way downstairs, then walked out of the house to get into the carriage.
                                                          *
The florist wasn’t very far so when you and Charlotte walked into it, she was still telling you about her latest suitor.
“And Mr. Greenway wanted to know what made Benedict break our courtship, can you believe it? He did not seem convinced when I told him there was no courtship.”
You ran your palm over the lavenders. “Your suitors make me want to stab them, honestly.”
“You and my papa seem to have that in common,” she said. “He keeps saying he does not wish to see me married and leave home.”
“And your stepmother?”
“Mama says I should only marry the one I love,” she said. “Like you and Benedict!”
You dragged your tongue over your teeth, keeping your gaze on the flowers.
“Are you very excited about the wedding, Y/N?”
“Uh huh,” you said before leaning in to smell the lavenders better. “Sure.”
She nibbled on her lip, rocking on the balls of her feet but remained silent, making you turn to her.
“Lottie?”
She bit down a smile. “Yes?”
“What is it?”
“I was just wondering,” she said. “If I could be your bridesmaid perhaps?”
You stared at her before a smile warmed your face, then you took a deep breath, narrowing your eyes in an attempt to look to be in deep thought.
“Hmm…” you said, “I may need to think of it.”
“Y/N!”
You scoffed a laugh and reached out to squeeze her hand.
“Lottie of course you will be my bridesmaid!” you said. “I would like to ask you to be my maid of honor, in fact.”
She let out a squeal and wrapped her arms around you to hug you, then pulled back.
“Of course!” she said. “I already have so many ideas about my gown, can it be pale blue do you think? I really like pale blue!”
“It’s your decision, I really will not mind whichever color you choose.”
“And your wedding gown?”
“I’m not certain yet,” you said after a beat. “There’s still time to think about it—you can buy these by the way. They’re good.”
She made her way to the counter to pay for the bunch, and you grabbed a bouquet of crocuses to do the same. The florist put them into a paper bag and gave it to you, and you both started walking towards the exit.
“You at least must have an idea about what your bridal bouquet,” she insisted. “Do you not?”
“Well I—” you started but then stopped in your tracks to approach the bouquets by the window.
“Aw they’re beautiful!” Lottie said. “What are those?”
“Tuberoses,” you said with a small smile, then leaned in to inhale the scent. “I like tuberoses.”
“Perhaps they can be your bridal bouquet!” she said and you pulled back from the flowers, then looked around.
“Perhaps— excuse me,” you said to the florist who approached you upon hearing you. “How much for a bouquet of these?”
The man stole a look at the flowers, then raised his brows.
“Those are tuberoses my lady.”
“Yes I know. How much?”
He shifted his weight and glanced at your hand. “My lady, I’m afraid I cannot sell them to you.”
You pulled your brows together and Lottie tilted her head to the left like a confused puppy.
“…Why not?”
“You’re unmarried, my lady.”
“She will be married soon!” Lottie chirped happily and your frown deepened.
“How is that relevant?”
“Tuberoses, my lady,” he said. “Unmarried ladies aren’t allowed to smell them or purchase them for that matter.”
Lottie’s hands flew to her face to cover her nose and mouth and you blinked a couple of times.
“But it will be my pleasure to sell them to you once you’re married—”
“I don’t understand,” you cut him off. “Why can’t I buy them now?”
“Tuberoses can awaken certain…urges my lady,” he said. “Urges that are not appropriate for unmarried ladies such as yourself.”
A small, muffled whine escaped from Lottie and you arched a brow, then batted your eyelashes, feigning complete innocence.
“What sort of urges?”
“My lady, they’re not—” he paused. “Not appropriate to think of.”
“Why not?” you asked but Lottie reached out to grab your arm with her free hand, then tugged at it.
“Thank you,” she said from behind her palm and pulled you to the other side of the shop near the door.
“Oh dear God I accidentally smelled it I think!”
“Lottie.”
“So did you!”
“Yes and nothing is going to happen—”
“Charlotte?” you heard a voice and you looked over your shoulder to see Anthony and Benedict by the door before they both stepped in. Anthony went straight to Charlotte and Benedict smiled at you, making your heart skip a beat before you nodded in his direction.
“What are you doing here?” you asked and Benedict motioned outside.
“We were just—Charlie, what are you doing?”
“We smelled a flower we weren’t supposed to.”
Anthony frowned. “What?”
“And now it’ll awaken certain urges.”
Benedict stared at her. “Charlie, what are you talking about?”
“The florist says unmarried ladies aren’t supposed to smell tuberoses and I accidentally smelled them,” she said, making you heave a sigh, looking up at the ceiling. “And so did Y/N!”
“Mine wasn’t accidental,” you deadpanned with a shrug of your shoulders and Benedict repressed a laugh.
“Really?”
“I’m still waiting for the explanation of what urges it will awaken,” you stated, looking around for the florist. “He was not done explaining, where is he?”
“Y/N,” Benedict said, his voice a playful warning and you grinned at him.
“What?” you asked. “I’m in terrible need of explanations.”
“You are in terrible need of taunting someone, more likely.”
“How dare you?” you asked, trying to adapt a solemn expression. “You’re trying to get in the way of true knowledge here, what would your beloved philosophers say—”
“I do not feel any different,” Lottie said, worry still etched in her tone as she lowered her hand and Anthony looked around, then grabbed a flower.
“There you go Charlotte,” he said. “Peonies. Your favorite.”
Charlotte took the red peony from him, a smile warming her face before she bit at her lip.
“You remembered!”
…Ah.
This was interesting.
The realization hit you so hard that it made your head snap up and you stared at them. Now it made sense why Anthony was so furious when he had approached you concerned about Charlotte after your engagement to Benedict. It made sense why he was so gentle around her, it made sense why Charlotte insisted he was the sweetest, it made sense—
He loved her, and she loved him, and you couldn’t tell if either of them was aware of it.
Everyone kept asking how Benedict hadn’t proposed to Charlotte in two years, what you wanted to know was how this idiot hadn’t proposed to her in those same two years.
You forced yourself to avert your gaze and cleared your throat.
“I cannot believe I’m not allowed to buy flowers because the florist is an idiot.”
“You don’t think it’s dangerous?”
“No,” you and Benedict said at the same time and Charlotte turned to you.
“And you’re not worried at all?”
“There’s nothing to worry about except for the lack of logic here,” you stated. “But then again, that’s not exactly uncommon in the ton, I’m getting used to it slowly like a frog in the hot water.”
Benedict’s smile was soft as a fond look crossed his eyes and you shifted your weight, then looked around.
“I’d better go,” you said. “Lottie?”
“Oh I’m coming of course,” she said. “I’ll see you both later.”
You and she walked out of the florist to make your way down the street and Lottie twirled the single peony between her fingers with a smile.
“Y/N?”
“Yes?”
“What do peonies symbolize?”
You stole a look at her. “Love and honor.”
“Oh,” she said quietly before inhaling the scent of the flower and you repressed a smile, then pulled her to the next shop.
By the time you returned to the house, you and Charlotte had spent at least three hours outside, first checking out the bookshop, then sitting at the teahouse. Spending time with her had put you in a better mood as usual, and you had almost forgotten about tonight’s ball until you passed through the door to your house and saw one of the maids carrying your coat for the night. You shook your head, making your way upstairs as you took the flowers into your hand and entered the drawing room.
“Pretty flowers for a pretty lady,” you said, making your aunt turn and her whole face lit up.
“Aw, Clover!” she said, taking them from you before kissing your cheek. “They are absolutely gorgeous my dear!”
You smiled back at her as she gave them to a maid for her to put them into a vase, then turned to you.
“I sent yours to your room.”
Your head shot up. “Hm?”
She winked at you. “Just go there and see.”
You pulled your brows together and walked out of the drawing room to make your way to your room, then opened the door to step inside but as soon as you saw what was on your desk, you stopped dead in your tracks.
Tuberoses.
You gawked at it before slowly approaching the bouquet in the vase, then leaned forward to take in the scent, your eyes fluttering close. A smile curled your lips as you opened your eyes, then tilted your head when the tiny envelope next to the vase caught your eye, so you reached out to open it and took out the small card.
I’d hate to get in the way of true knowledge.
Benedict.
A scoff of laughter escaped from you and you shook your head, then walked to fling yourself into your bed, painfully aware of the smile warming your face.
                                                *
The night hadn’t even started yet but you were more than ready to get back in the carriage and go home already. Nervousness was rushing through you and you desperately needed some fresh air before going into that chaos, so you took a look at the couple of people in the garden making their way to the big house, then turned to your aunt.
“Auntie, I uh…” you said. “Can I wait for Lottie first?”
“We can wait for her inside?”
“Well yes, but—” you cleared your throat. “After Whistledown’s article, people will ask me some questions about the betrothal, so I fear I won’t have the time to talk to her.”
She looked around. “Y/N, I’m not sure…”
“It’s a garden.”
“You’d still be alone.”
“Barely,” you said. “There are people here.”
“My dear, it’s night time and—”
“Lady Thorne,” Benedict’s voice reached you and you turned your head to see him, an inexplicable rush of relief washing over you for some reason. “Miss Y/N.”
“Mr. Bridgerton,” your aunt greeted him with a smile and glanced at you, heaving a sigh. “I suppose you can wait for Miss Harlowe here if Mr. Bridgerton is staying.”
You turned to look up at Benedict expectantly and he raised his brows.
“Yeah I can—I’m staying, definitely.”
You held your breath and motioned at him. “See, auntie? He’s staying.”
She thought for a moment, then clicked her tongue.
“Alright but,” she said, pointing at you two. “No going anywhere by yourselves.”
Benedict held up his hands, gesturing surrender and you shook your head fervently.
“Of course not.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Lady Thorne.”
“You’re staying right here in the garden, you hear me?”
“Yes, of course. Right here.”
“We’ll follow this road to the ballroom,” Benedict motioned at the stone road. “Won’t even step anywhere else.”  
Your aunt narrowed her eyes at you two as if trying to see whether you two were lying, then shook her head.
“I will not be able to rest until you two are married,” she murmured and turned around, then made her way to the house. 
“Thank you,” you said, watching her enter the house and Benedict waved a hand in the air.
“Don’t mention it,” he said. “What’s going on?”
“I needed some fresh air before throwing myself into that gladiator pit,” you grumbled but before Benedict could even answer, Lady Anna -one of the ladies you had met when you were presented to the queen- approached you with her mama.
“Mr. Bridgerton!” her mama said. “Miss Y/N! Congratulations on your betrothal.”
Benedict shot her that irresistible crooked grin of his and bowed while Lady Anna glared at you, and turned to smile at him.
“What a hasty engagement though,” she said. “Barely anyone knew you two were in courtship.”
“Oh I was under the impression that everyone did, my lady,” Benedict said. “Thanks to Lady Whistledown.”
She let out a giddy giggle and her mother turned to you.
“Any idea when the wedding will be?” she asked you and you reminded yourself to smile.
“In a month,” you said. “Approximately.”
“I cannot wait to hear the full story from you!” she said. “We will see you inside of course?”
“Of course,” Benedict said and Lady Anna dropped a curtsy, then followed her mama to the house while you let out a breath and looked up at him.
“Get me out of here right now.”
“Way ahead of you,” he muttered, looking around. “Do you see that corner? Far end of the garden?”
“It’s such a lovely garden by the way,” you pointed out as you glanced at the flowers. “Now that you mentioned it. That being said, I feel like their gardener should take a look at the—”
“Y/N, focus.”
“Right,” you said and cleared your throat. “Yes I can see that corner.”
“There’s a bench there, we can go there when that carriage passes by here. You first—”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes I am serious— go now!” he whispered as he pushed you gently, making you repress the laughter bubbling up in your chest. You moved in the same direction as the carriage, using it to shield yourself from anyone else’s gaze before you rushed to the far end of the garden. Just as Benedict said, there was a bench in the dark half covered by the tree over it and you sat down, running a hand over your eyes.
It took a couple of minutes but soon enough you heard the footsteps and Benedict entered your sight, shooting you that mischievous grin and your heart skipped a beat but you frowned at yourself, sitting up straighter.
“May I?” he motioned at the bench and you scooted over to the side.
“Sure.”
He sat beside you and you heaved a sigh, leaning back on your palms, keeping your gaze on the sky before stealing a look at him.
“Do you think we’re actually pushing our luck?”
Benedict raised his brows and shrugged his shoulders.
“Luck pushed us first,” he said. “And honestly what are they going to do? Marry us twice?”
A laugh climbed up your throat but you covered your mouth to muffle to sound, making him smile. You lowered your hand and took a deep breath, your stomach doing a pleasant flip.
“Thank you by the way,” you said. “For the flowers.”
“Of course,” he said, his blue eyes gleaming in the dim moonlight. “Let me guess, you were overtaken by uh… what was it? Desires—”
“Inappropriate urges.”
“Yeah those, you were overtaken by inappropriate urges the moment you smelled them?”
A giggle managed to escape from you this time and you nodded.
“Certainly,” you said. “Still couldn’t get myself out of this ball though.”
“It won’t be that bad.”
You shot him a look. “Yes it will. Didn’t you see them just now?”
“It’s just until another scandal breaks out,” he said. “It’s the social season, I doubt we’ll have to wait that long.”
You pressed your palms into your eyes until you saw shiny dots in the darkness, then lowered them again.
“They’ll keep asking questions and I don’t like…” you trailed off and rubbed at your wrist. “I don’t like telling people things. Lies or not.”
Benedict nodded his head. “Send them my way.”
You scoffed. “Benedict—”
“No I’m serious,” he said. “You don’t owe anyone anything, much less an explanation. If they want to hear about it that much, they can come ask me.”
You tried to ignore the small smile threatening to pull at your lips and turned your gaze to look up at the moon again, still rubbing at your wrist absentmindedly. A peaceful silence fell upon you, the soft night breeze caressing your face and you heaved a sigh.
“Y/N?”
“Hm?”
Benedict cleared his throat. “I um…I got you something.”
You turned your head to look at him and he offered you a soft smile before reaching inside his jacket to pull out a rectangular box. Your eyebrows furrowed as you pulled back slightly.
“What’s that?”
“A gift.”
You eyed the sleek box, your frown deepening before you shook your head.
“No you can keep it, I don’t have anything to give you back.”
Benedict blinked a couple of times.
“I didn’t get it for – that would make it a trade,” he said helpfully. “It’s a gift.”
Your question was nearly a demand. “Why?”
“Because I wanted to?” he said like he was asking you back. “I saw it and thought of you.”
You looked up from the box at him. “What do you want in return?”  
“To repeat, that’s not how it—” he paused. “Has no one given you a gift before?”
You nibbled on your lip and shrugged your shoulders.
“Family,” you murmured and scoffed. “Some of them, that is.”
It’s a trick, a small voice in your said. He’ll want it back once you like it, as soon as he—
“I don’t want anything in return,” his voice cut through your thoughts and you tilted your head, your lips pulled into a pout.
“If you’re going to pull it back when I reach for it, I’ll leave.”
He stared at you for a moment as if he couldn’t tell whether you were jesting or not and he looked like he had a million of questions he wanted to ask, but in the end he decided otherwise.
“How about this?” he said. “I’ll just put it here. If you want you can open it, if not we can leave it here and go back to the ballroom.”
He placed the box between you and leaned back on the bench, crossing his arms as if he wanted to prove he wouldn’t make any sudden moves like pulling the box out of your reach. You hesitated for a second, then slowly reached out to take the box into your lap, then pulled at the ribbon and lifted the cover.
A breath left your lips as soon as you saw what was inside.
It was a pocket knife unlike any other you had seen so far. It was light, lighter than your current one and small figures of flowers were engraved on the handle, tiny rubies glimmering on silver. You flicked the knife, the blade coming out of its place instantly, and even in the dim light you could see just how sharp it looked before you pushed it back into its place, then turned to Benedict who was watching you with a soft look on his face.
“Thank you,” you said, unable to stop the smile on your face. “It’s very beautiful.”
He grinned at you. “I’m glad you like it.”
You pulled your pocket knife out of your cleavage before putting it beside you on the bench, then pushed your new knife into your cleavage, causing Benedict to instantly look up at the sky. You pursed your lips in order not to laugh, then slipped the silk skirt of your gown up your leg to tuck the old knife into your garter, painfully aware of Benedict stealing a look at you out of the corner of his eye. You fixed your skirts and turned to him to see him taking a deep breath, closing his eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“Mm hm,” he said, sounding a bit breathless for some reason and opened his eyes, then cleared his throat. “Yeah. Absolutely. Totally alright.”
A small spark ran down your spine and you arched a brow, tilting your head.
“Any inappropriate urges?”
“So many,” he said, his voice coming out like he was tormented and motioned around in a vague manner. “Tuberoses here somewhere.”
You bit down a smile, then got up from the bench and fixed your gown.
“Come on,” you said. “We should go back to the ballroom, I don’t want to be a part of yet another scandal.”
You stood on your tiptoes to take a look at the garden to see whether anyone would see you together when you walked in there but by some miracle it seemed empty enough. Judging by the music reaching even there, dancing had started already and probably everyone who was invited was already inside, dancing and socializing.
“Right,” Benedict said and stood up as well, then threw his shoulders back and offered you his arm. “To the gladiator’s pit we go then.”
“Should be interesting,” you murmured and placed your hand over his arm, that familiar warmth spreading through you and you took a shaky breath, then you both started walking to the house.
Chapter 12
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buddieunderratedgem · 5 months ago
Text
Wipe your mouth when you done
Author @exhuastedpigeon
Rating explicit
Words 4.1k
Submitted by @monsterrae1
Summary:
Buck would like it on record that he didn’t go looking for the video of Eddie’s fight with Jonah Greenway because he didn’t even know Eddie had gotten in a fight with Jonah Greenway. Ravi sent the video into the group chat with the comment that “Fans are weirdly horny over fights” and no other context.
If Eddie had been home Buck probably wouldn’t have watched it or maybe they would have watched it together for a laugh, but Eddie was still at practice and Buck was alone in the Diaz house where he’d spent the last month recovering. He was bored, he figured watching a fan edit of a fight would be fine.
The video started with a title card that said “Buddie is real” and a clip of the hit that had ended Buck’s season. He’d seen the hit a few times now, but he wasn’t sure why Ravi had mentioned a fight. The video cut to Eddie throwing his stick and gloves onto the ice and shoving Greenway away from Buck before dropping to his knees and carefully cupping Buck’s face in his hands.
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treesinurbia · 17 days ago
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Reflection of the day … Return of the Miccosukee Greenway pond - nature tends to win in the end. The pond dried up several years ago due to the damming of its source waters on behalf of a massive “small city” housing development that also required the razing of a multi-acre forest. The dam failed last winter - no surprise in swampy north Florida - causing the pond to refill and expand into the picnic park and across an athletic path. A small berm was built to protect the path. Other trails were rerouted. Birds are loving their restored habitat but the lost woodlands may take decades to return.
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